Jesus said the days of His second coming would be like the days of Noah. How will the time before Jesus’ return be like the days of Noah? For one, Jesus tells us that the unsaved will be totally unaware of God’s coming wrath as they were in Noah’s day. The people will also be lawless, a total rejection of God and His values.
“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”Matthew 24:37-39
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:9-12
Does the comparison with Noah’s Day even include parallels between the number of days of the Flood when God poured out His wrath for the first time on this earth and the coming Wrath of God that will be poured out with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements?
Does God’s Word tell us plainly how long the Wrath of God lasts, and will it be a surprise to almost everyone? Yes, God does with a number of Scriptures so that we can know for sure.
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed (Jesus), saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then He will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”Psalms 2:1-12
If they did heed Psalm 2 then they would not face the wrath of God that is coming in the not-too-distant future.
“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (Jesus), for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”Revelation 6:15-17
The Thousand Yearsreign of Jesus Christ with the resurrected Saints ”Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:1-6
Sadly, the Left Behind books by Tim Le Haye and Jerry Jenkins and now this film adopt a Pretribulation rapture position which was not what the early church fathers taught nor is it what the Bible teaches.
The foundational text in the New Testament related to the specific timing of the Rapture can be found in Matthew 24:29-31. In this passage, Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms the general timeframe during which believers will be supernaturally gathered to meet Him in the air. It is “immediately after the tribulation of those daysand supernatural celestial signs in the sky“.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31
Paul tells us that the rapture does not take place until after the Antichrist is on the scene and claims to be God. This occurs halfway through the tribulation periodso the Saints are still on earth at that time.
“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
John tells us that at the fifth seal, he sees the souls of the martyrs under the altar crying out to God when will you judge and avenge our blood? At the fifth seal, the rapture has not occurred.This is at the fifth year of the last seven years of Daniel’s 70th week.
“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 witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”Revelation 6:9-10
At the sixth seal, the supernatural celestial signs that Jesus spoke of appear in the sky and as well as “the great day of His wrath has come”.
“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth... Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone…calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”Revelation 6:12, 15, 16-17
It is at the trumpet blast at the opening of the seventh seal that the rapture occurs and John sees the resurrected Saints clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands praising God the Father and Jesus.
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10
God promises to protect us from the wrath of God, not the tribulation which He uses to purify His churchprior to the Rapture.
Each of the seven churches in Revelation represents the church in each of the seven years. It is the church in the sixth year, the church of Philadelphia that is raptured
“Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name… Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:8, 10-11
The people in the church in the seventh year, the church of Laodicea thought they were saved but were not. Note, Jesus still stands at the door and knocks so they had not taken the Mark of the Beast and still have the opportunity to repent and be saved.
“Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” Revelation 3:15-18
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Christians know God loves us all and does not want any to perish. The following Scripture, 2 Peter 3:9, is given in relation to the coming “Day of the Lord“. The Day of the Lord is when God pours out His wrath on an unbelieving world just as He did in Noah’s day. Both Isaiah and Joel are given this message for us, so we need to take it to heart.
The Day of the Lord
“For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low… And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day... And the idols shall utterly pass away. And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when He rises to terrify the earth.” Isaiah 2:12,17-18
“Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, forthe day of the Lord, is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations... The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes His word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?Joel 2:1-2,10-11
As mentioned, the following Scripture is given in relation to this coming judgement on “The Day of the Lord”.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.“2 Peter 3:9
Pro-abortion protestors outside the White House 9th July 2022
However, we are also told that few are prepared to humble themselves and repent of their rebellion against their Creator God. Just look at the faces of these young women. Do you think that they will come to repentance? They have no understanding of God and His Word.
David understood who controlled His life even before his birth.
“For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.Upon youI have leaned from before my birth; you are He who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.” Psalms 71:5-6
Jesus told us what the world will be like before His return to put things right and we are seeing the prophesied events playing out in our world NOW.
“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:12-14
The Day of the Lordextends from Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) of the Sixth Year of the 70th Week until Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) at the end of Year Seven. That period is one year and ten days. It is the same amount of time God’s wrath was poured out on the earth at the first judgement – Noah spent 1 year and 10 days on the ark.
This is just one aspect of Jesus saying that the time of His return would be like the days of Noah (Matthew24:37-39). It encompasses the Trumpet and Bowl judgements when God pours out His wrath upon the earth.
The Rapture of the Saints and then the wrath of God is poured out immediately after Jesus meets the Saints in the clouds and takes them to heaven.
The time God pours out His wrath upon the earth is supported by the witness of Isaiah:
“For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion” Isaiah 34:8.
“For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come.” Isaiah 63:4
There are many Scriptures on the coming Day of the Lord and sadly the church does not tell the world of the coming judgement. If it did perhaps we would see more souls saved.
“For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills; against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; against all the ships of Tarshish, snd against all the beautiful craft. And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. And the idols shall utterly pass away. And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.” Isaiah 2:12-21
“Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness, there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations. Fire devours before them and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them, a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them. Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses, they run. As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle. Before them peoples are in anguish; all faces grow pale. Like warriors they charge; like soldiers, they scale the wall. They march each on his way; they do not swerve from their paths. They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path; they burst through the weapons and are not halted. They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?” Joel 2:1-11
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” Malachi 4:1-2
“For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.” Obadiah 1:15-16
“The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring distress on mankind so that they shall walk like the blind because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end, he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.” Zephaniah 1:14-18
And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Acts 2:19-21
“For you, yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
Note what is in store for the leaders of nations and those that follow them that set themselves against God and His commandments. “He will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury.”
“Why do the nations rage, and the people’s plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed (Saints), saying, Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens laughs: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then He will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury. As for me, I will set my King on Zion, my holy hill. I will declare the decree: The Lord said to Me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.Now, therefore, O’ kings be wise: be warned O’ rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He is angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.Psalms 2: 1-12
This cannot be about King David as he never ruled the ends of the earth, nor did he or any of his sons ever enjoy unrivaled control over all the nations. David endured a constant state of warfare until the end of his life. It only makes sense to conclude that it is the Messiah himself, Jesus who is receiving his inheritance from God the Father in these verses, which he will possess when he establishes the Messianic Kingdom in the future.
“They (Saints) came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”Revelation 20:4-6
“Wail, for The day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty, it will come! Therefore, all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt. They will be dismayed: pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labour. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame.” Isaiah 13:6-8
“Behold, The day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.” Isaiah 13:9-10
JESUS SPEAKING TO HIS DISCIPLES ABOUT THE END TIMES
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Matthew 24:29
When Jesus referenced this prophecy from Isaiah 13 in Matthew 24:29 and said that all of these things will not take place until “after the tribulation,” this was His way of saying that The Day of the Lord is what takes place after the portion of the Great Tribulation that believers will endure.
Paul echoes the same message:
“you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
The Day of the Lord is what initiates and immediately follows the resurrection of the dead Saints and the rapture of the Saints alive on earth. It’s also the time when God will call the world to account and pour out His wrath upon an unrepentant world.
God does not rescue believers from all suffering during the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:3-28; Rev. 13:5-10). Rather, He rescues us from the “wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:9-10) which is poured out with the Trumpet (Rev. 6:8-13) and Bowl (Rev. 16:1-20) judgements.
Finally, Paul makes it clear that before The day of the Lord, the Antichrist takes his seat in the temple and declares he is God. As this does not take place until halfway through the final seven years it is obvious believers will experience the time of great tribulation.
“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us to the effect that The day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
“Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken [paralambano], and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [paralambano] and one will be left. Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:40-42
Of an estimated 176 million American adults who identify as Christian, just 6% or 15 million of them actually hold a biblical worldview, a new study from Arizona Christian University shows. The finding was published by the Cultural Research Centre of Arizona Christian University in its recently released American Worldview Inventory, an annual survey that evaluates the worldview of the U.S. adult population.
The study shows, in general, that while a majority of America’s self-identified Christians, including many who identify as evangelicals, believe that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and is the Creator of the universe, more than half reject a number of biblical teachings and principles, including the existence of the Holy Spirit.
Strong majorities also errantly believe that all religious faiths are of equal value, people are basically good, and that people can use acts of goodness to earn their way into Heaven. The study further showed that majorities don’t believe in moral absolutes; consider feelings, experience, or the input of friends and family as their most trusted sources of moral guidance; and say that having faith matters more than which faith you pursue. “Too often, it seems, people who are simply religious, or regular churchgoers, or perhaps people who want a certain reputation or image embrace the label ‘Christian,’ regardless of their spiritual life and intentions,” George Barna, the lead researcher at the Cultural Research Center, explained in a statement.
“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:30-31
Some 62% of self-identified born-again Christians contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity.
Another 61% say that all religious faiths are of equal value, and 60% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their way into Heaven.
“As the groundbreaking American Worldview Inventory surveys have demonstrated, just 6% of U.S. adults possess a biblical worldview. Labelled ‘Integrated Disciples’ for their demonstrated ability to assimilate their beliefs into their lifestyle, this group consistently, albeit imperfectly, comes closest to reflecting biblical principles into their opinions, beliefs, behaviours, and preferences,” Barna explained.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14
More than 99% of this group “believe that the Bible is the accurate and reliable words of God, believe that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful and just Creator of the universe who still rules the universe today” and “say they have a unique, God-given calling.” Significant minorities still held beliefs that challenge the biblical worldview. These include: 25% say there is no absolute moral truth; 33% believe in karma; 39% contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity; 42% believe that having faith matters more than which faith you pursue, and 52% argue that people are basically good. “The survey results clearly demonstrate how careful you have to be when interpreting data associated with a particular segment of people who are labelled as Christians,” Barna warned.
Great testimony and teaching from Dr Sam on our heart attitude towards things of this world and God. Dr Sam learned the hard way as he made becoming a doctor the idol he worshipped most and it was not until he cast that idol aside in favour of God, did God open up the door for him to become not only a doctor but a leading cardiologist.
I almost did not post his testimony as Dr Sam has got the timing of The Rapture wrong, but his testimony is so good I have posted it regardless. Dr Sam has The Rapture occurring before the last seven years (70th week of Daniel) before Jesus returns to earth with the Saints to rescue Israel at the battle of Armageddon. However, as most of you would know, I contend that the Bible makes it clear we go through the tribulation period but God does not pour out His wrath upon the Saints and that His wrath is poured out when the scroll is opened with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. God uses the tribulation, even great tribulation which occurs during the seals being opened to sort the wheat from the chaff, The hot from the cold and the lukewarm. It will only be the overcomers that are taken up at the Rapture. It will occur with the trumpet blast at the opening of the seventh seal. The church of Philadelphia is taken up but the church of Laodicea is left behind. Each church represents the church during each year of the seven years as do the seals. The seventh seal heralds the Rapture and the Wrath of God being poured out on an unrepentant world for one year and ten days. Jesus said His return would be like the days of Noah and it will be in terms of lawlessness but also the wrath of God in Noah’s day lasted one year and ten days.
CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA: “Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name… Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:8,10
CHURCH OF LAODICEA: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked… Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:15-17,19
The Scriptures make it clear, particularly Romans 1:18-32, that God’s patience with people’s rejection of Him clearly ends. The following Scripture then describes what He does to them.
“God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” Romans 1:24-25
The next Scripture describes what we see playing out in the world today as it rejects God and His values.
“For this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Romans 1:26-27
“They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:29-32
Finally, the Scriptures make it clear that God’s wrath will be poured out on an unrepentant word. Also, Jesus has revealed in His Word the events that will take place prior to His wrath being poured out on the world with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. What is happening in the world today, remarkably lines up with these prophesied “last days” signs.
“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” Romans 2:5
We are told the intensity of God’s judgements increase as His wrath is poured out first with the Trumpet judgements.
“The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed... ” Revelation 8:7-9
With the Bowl judgements the wrath of God further intensifies and I would like to think that some people who read these “end times” Scriptures will repent and ask God to forgive them for rejecting Him and His values. Jesus has made it possible for all of us to get right with God, our Father. If only they will repent and accept Him as Saviour and Lord. Only then will they escape the coming wrath of God spelled out so vividly in the following Scripture.
“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished…. Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea...” Revelation 16:1-3
God’s people will not experience the coming wrath of God. They are taken up to heaven, first the dead in Christ and then those that are still living here on earth.
“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrathof God.” Romans 5:9
“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1Thessalonians 4:16-17
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 