The Tribulation… vs. 15-28

• 1^st – Abomination of Desolation… vs. 15
  • No Church…
    • Having given the SIX signs that will lead up to the END [all of which we see today]
    • Jesus told the DISCIPLES what will happen when the END comes…
    • But we must NOT forget the CONTEXT – Jesus is speaking to ISRAEL [not the church]
    • And when the END comes – the RAPTURE will have occurred – the CHURCH is in heaven!
    • Revelation 4:1 – “After these [Μετὰ ταῦτα] things… I heard… Come up here.”

• It is worth noting the word CHURCH [ἐκκλησία] appears TWENTY times in REVELATION…
• NINETEEN times in the first THREE chapters – then ONCE in – Revelation 22:16
• It is NEVER mentioned ONCE during the Tribulation – Revelation 6-18

• Because the church CANNOT be around when the ANTICHRIST comes…
• If we were still here – we would immediately know [Holy Spirit] he was a FALSE messiah…
• We need to be removed before he can rise to power!
• II Thessalonians 2:7 – “He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”

• Seventy weeks…
  • Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation – spoken of by Daniel the prophet!
  • THEREFORE – in light of knowing the SIX signs are all there…
  • What happens next [future] will occur once again in ISRAEL – in the city of JERUSALEM!
  • Israel is like a CLOCK – it is how God tells time prophetically…
  • And the SEVENTY weeks of Daniel – tell us how much time is on that CLOCK – Daniel 9:24-27
  • God told Daniel there are SEVENTY sets of SEVEN [490 years] left for Israel…
  • Until there will be no more sin – and God establishes His kingdom!
• Death of the Messiah…
  • The start of the CLOCK – was the command to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem!
  • This happened on March 14 – 445 B.C. – Nehemiah 2:1-8
  • If we count 483 years [69 x 7] – or 173,880 days [69 x 360] – it brings us to…
  • April 6 – 32 A.D. [Palm Sunday] – the day Jesus proclaimed Himself the Messiah…
  • But Daniel told us that the Messiah [מָשִׁיחַ] would be killed [כָּרַת] – Daniel 9:26
  • This stopped the CLOCK – with SEVEN years still left [been stopped for 2000 years]!
    
• Peace treaty…
  • In the wake of the RAPTURE – millions of people disappearing – I Thessalonians 4:17
  • And the destruction of the armies of Russia and Iran [Magog invasion] – Ezekiel 38
  • One man will confirm a PEACE treaty with Israel for SEVEN years – Daniel 9:27
  • The final SEVEN years – leading up to the END!
  • This man has many titles – but we most often refer to him as the ANTICHRIST – I John 2:18
  • He will be a leader who will rise out of Europe – Daniel 7:8
  • There is a good chance he will have Jewish heritage [God of his fathers] – Daniel 11:37
  • He will make PEACE by offering to build the THIRD Temple for Israel – Revelation 11:1
  • North of the Dome of the Rock [monument] – in a place called the Dome of the Spirit…
  • He will rebuild the Temple – as proof he is the messiah – and ISRAEL will embrace him!
  • John 5:43 – “I have come in My Fathers name and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name him you will receive.”
• Third Temple…
  • Standing in the holy place [whoever reads let him understand]!
  • The ANTICHRIST will stand in the HOLIEST [ἅγιος] of All…
  • To which Jesus tells us to READ [γινώσκω] and KNOW [imperative] what that means!
  • This man will NOT honor God – he thinks he is ABOVE God – II Thessalonians 2:4
  • Half way through the Tribulation – he will perform the Abomination of Desolation…
  • The Antichrist will enter the rebuilt THIRD temple – into the Holiest of All – Daniel 9:27
  • The footstool of God – where the Ark of the Covenant once stood [first Temple only]
  • There he will demand he is god – and should be worshiped!
  • There is a good chance that this man is alive today – waiting for the right time…
  • Because he cannot be revealed UNTIL the church is removed – the RAPTURE!

• 2^nd – Run… vs. 16-20
  • Petra… vs. 16
    • Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains!
    • When ISRAEL sees [future] the ABOMINATION of desolation – they MUST run [imperative]
    • They are to flee to the MOUNTAINS [ὄρος] – to the WILDERNESS – Revelation 12:14
    • There is a LOT of speculation as to WHERE this hiding place might be…
    • A common view is the city of PETRA [the rock] – in modern day Jordan…
    • The city is in the MOUNTAINS to the EAST of Israel…
    • And when Jesus returns – He first goes to BOZRAH [Jordan] – Isaiah 63:1
    • The city of PETRA [Greek] – is called in the Hebrew SELA [סֶלַע]
    • Psalm 18:2 – “The LORD is my rock [סֶלַע] and my fortress and my deliverer.”
  • Take nothing… vs. 17-18
    • Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.
    • And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes!
    • If someone is on top of the HOUSE – do NOT [imperative] go to get anything from inside…
    • If they are in the FIELD – do NOT [imperative] go home to get clothes!
    • When LOT fled from Sodom and Gomorrah – his wife LOOKED back – Genesis 19:26
    • As a results she did NOT make it out [pillar of salt] – Luke 17:32
    • The things of this life are NOT worth – losing our life over!
  • Pray… vs. 19
    • Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days.
    • Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath!
      
    • Jesus goes on to paint the struggles MOTHERS will have…
    • Trying to RUN while you are pregnant – or have toddlers – is NOT easy…
    • If it happens in the WINTER – it is much harder to TRAVEL…
    • If it happens on the SABBATH – then the Jews are NOT supposed to TRAVEL [no work]
    • Therefore PRAY [imperative] – so that God will give FAVOR in that day of TRIBULATION!
    • We do NOT have to worry about RUNNING away during the TRIBULATION…
    • But it is still wise to remember to PRAY when we are going through TRIALS…
    • NOT that PRAY will change our CIRCUMSTANCES – but it will change our PERSPECTIVE!
• 3^rd – Great Tribulation… vs. 21-22
  • Judgment of God… vs. 21
    • For then there will be great tribulation.
    • Such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time – no – nor ever shall be!
    • The reason why ISRAEL needs to RUN – is because of the GREAT [μέγας] Tribulation [θλῖψις]
    • A time unlike ANYTHING the world has [perfect] ever seen since the beginning [ἀρχή]
    • And NOTHING [οὐ μὴ subjuntive] like it will ever happen again!
    • In the Book of Revelation – there are 21 judgments [three sets of seven]
    • The SEAL and TRUMPET judgements occur the FIRST three and half years…
    • The BOWL judgements [far worse] occur in the LAST three and a half years – Revelation 16
    • This final set of BOWL judgments is known as the GREAT [μέγας] Tribulation!
  • Limited time… vs. 22
    • Unless those days were shortened – no flesh would be saved!
    • If those days were NOT limited [κολοβόω] – then NO one would be SAVED [σῴζω]
    • Not that Jesus will REDUCE the number of days – but it will NOT go longer!
    • The Bible is VERY clear on the timeline – it will be 3.5 years [half of seven]
    • The ANTICHRIST will blasphemy for FORTY two months [3.5 years] – Revelation 13:5
    • And that Israel will hide from him for 1260 days [3.5 years] – Revelation 12:6
  • The Elect… vs. 22
    • For the elects sake those days will be shortened!
    • For the SAKE of the ELECT [ἐκλεκτός] – those days are LIMITED [κολοβόω]
    • Referring to the MULTITUDES who are saved during the TRIBULATION – Revelation 7:9
    • This has caused some confusion – because the CHURCH is also called the ELECT – I Peter 2:4
    • Which has led some to believe the RAPTURE occurs in the MIDDLE of the Tribulation…
    • Those who hold this view point out the LAST trumpet – I Corinthians 15:52
    • They see this as LAST of the SEVEN trumpets blown in – Revelation 11:15
    • Believing the WRATH of God only begins halfway through the Tribulation…
    • But by the time the SIXTH trumpet is blown – 60% of the world has already perished!
    • We will NOT be RAPTURED in the MIDDLE of the tribulation [mid-trib]
    • As believers we are not appointed to WRATH – I Thessalonians 5:9
    • The CHURCH is ABSENT throughout the entire time of the Tribulation!
• 4^th – Anti Christ… vs. 23-26
  • The mark… vs. 23
    • Then if anyone says to you: Look here is the christ! or there! do not believe it!
    • In those final 3.5 years – people need to be CAREFUL…
    • If anyone says the CHRIST [מָשִׁיחַ] is here or there – do NOT put your faith [πίστις] in him!
    • The way the world will show their FAITH in this false MESSIAH…
    • Will be by taking the MARK of the beast [to buy or sell] – Revelation 13:16
    • The number of the MARK will be 666 [unholy trinity] – Revelation 13:18
    • There has been a LOT of speculation as to what this MARK might be…
    • Some say it could be a BAR code – which happens to use SIX [three times] as delineators…
    • Others say it could be a RFID chip – implanted under our skin…
    • But BAR codes – and RFID chips – are NOT the MARK in of themselves…
    • The MARK of the BEAST – is people putting their FAITH in the ANTICHRIST [beast]
    • Which is why – even if it means NOT being able to BUY or SELL…
    • NEVER take the MARK – because those who do CANNOT be saved!
    • Revelation 14:11 – “The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever… who worship the beast and his image – and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
  • Signs and wonders… vs. 24-25
    • For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders.
    • To deceive – if possible – even the elect. See I have told you beforehand!
    • We might ask – if taking the MARK means a person goes to HELL…
    • Why would ANYONE be willing to put their FAITH in the ANTICHRIST…
    • The answer is this FALSE messiah [ψευδόχριστος] – and his FALSE prophet [ψευδοπροφήτης]
    • Will performs great [μέγας] SIGNS [σημεῖον] and WONDERS [τέρας]
    • That are so CONVINCING – if possible [δυνατός] – they would deceive the ELECT [ἐκλεκτός]
    • BEHOLD [imperative] – Jesus tells us to consider ourselves WARNED [told beforehand]!
    • The ANTICHRIST will be resurrected from the dead – Revelation 13:3
    • And his FALSE prophet can call make images of the ANTICHRIST speak – Revelation 13:14
    • This is NOT come computer generated AI – or special effects…
    • This is a SIGN so convincing – if possible – it has the power [δυνατός] to deceive believers…
    • Which is why there is a very real danger to following SIGNS and WONDERS…
    • Satan can and will imitate God – he can look just like the real thing – II Corinthians 11:14
    • The only way to know the truth is by being men and women of the Word…
    • Jesus Word is the Truth – it is how we know the truth from a lie – II Timothy 2:15
  • In the desert… vs. 26
    • Therefore if they say to you: Look he is in the desert! do not go out!
    • If they claim the MESSIAH [מָשִׁיחַ] is in the DESERT – you should [subjuntive] NOT go!
    • This could be a reference to the prophecy of Zechariah – Zechariah 5:8
    • Who saw WICKEDNESS [רֶשַׁע] being taken to the DESERT – to BABYLON [plains of Shinar]
    • Perhaps pointing to where the ANTICHRIST will set up his government!
    • Revelation 17:5 – “BABYLON THE GREAT… THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
  • The room… vs. 26
    • Look he is in the inner rooms! do not believe it!
    • If they claim the MESSIAH [מָשִׁיחַ]is in the ROOM – you should [subjuntive] NOT believe them!
    • The Jehovah Witnesses claim Jesus came to New York City in October of 1914…
    • Of course ONLY the chosen few were witnesses as he came to an INNER room [ταμεῖον]
    • There is NO reason for the people to be DECEIVED by signs and wonders…
    • We have been warned about the LIES – given the TRUTH…
    • Yet Jesus says we SHOULD [subjuntive] not believe – because people do NOT listen!
• 5^th – Armageddon… vs. 27-28
  • Lightening… vs. 27
    • For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west.
    • So also will the coming of the Son of Man be!
    • Instead of being DECEIVED by FALSE messiahs and prophets…
    • We should instead recognize they are the PROOF the END is near…
    • Because just as LIGHTENING reflects across the sky [from east to west]
    • So also it will be when the SON of man [title for Jesus] – COMES [παρουσία]
    • The reason why there is a FALSE messiah – it because the real one is close!
  • Eagles… vs. 28
    • For wherever the carcass is – there the eagles will be gathered together!
    • Just as when we see VULTURES [ἀετός] – we know there are dead bodies [carrion]!
    • This may also be a foreshadowing of what is coming…
    • For when the true MESSIAH comes – He will go to the valley of MEGIDDO – Revelation 16:16
    • Where the ANTICHRIST and his armies will face off against Jesus…
    • But with a single WORD – they will all PERISH – II Thessalonians 2:8
    • And ANGEL will call the BIRDS to the great SUPPER of God – Revelation 19:17
    • Because there is no question as to how the story END – God WINS!

• 2^nd – Second coming… vs. 29-31
  • 1^st – Heaven shaken… vs. 29
    • After the Tribulation…
      • Immediately after the tribulation of those days!
      • At the end of the final SEVEN years of Daniel [490 total] 
      • 3.5 years – or 42 months – or 1260 days after the Abomination of Desolation…
      • IMMEDIATELY – right on TIME – the END will come!
    • Powers of Heaven…
      • The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.
      • The stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken!
      • The SUN and MOON will go DARK – Joel 2:10
      • And the STARS from heave will [future] FALL down…
      • So that the POWERS [δύναμις] of HEAVEN are overthrown!
      • John describes a scene in heaven where God casts out the DRAGON [satan] – Revelation 12:9
      • And when he falls – a THIRD of the STARS [his angels] fall with him!
      • There are FOUR times in the Bible we read about SATAN being CAST down…
      • FIRST – when Lucifer [satan] rebelled against God in the beginning – Isaiah 14:12
      • Jesus would go on to describe him as FALLING like LIGHTENING – Luke 10:18
      • SECOND – when he is finally CAST out of heaven for GOOD [overthrown]
      • THIRD – when he is CAST into the bottomless bit for THOUSAND years – Revelation 20:3
      • FOURTH – when he is CAST into the LAKE of fire [eternal prison] – Revelation 20:10
  • 2^nd – Son of man… vs. 30
    • The Sign… vs. 30
      • Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven!
      • Then THE [τὸ] SIGN [σημεῖον] will appear in heaven…
      • The SON of Man will come riding out of heaven on a WHITE horse!
      • Revelation 19:16 – “He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS…”
    • Mourning… vs. 30
      • Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn.
      • They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!
      • ALL [πᾶς] NATIONS [φυλαὶ] of the earth will SEE [livestream] Jesus when He RETURNS…
      • These nations will MOURN when they He comes in the clouds…
      • MOURN [κόπτω] – to beat their chest in grief – to be CUT off…
      • Because there is no more TIME to repent – the JUDGEMENT has come!
      • The POINT – is that we do not have a lot of TIME left…
      • Because BEFORE the TRIBULATION – BEFORE the SECOND coming of Jesus…
      • The CHURCH must be RAPTURED [ἁρπάζω] – I Thessalonians 4:14-17
      • The ONLY way to be sure to avoid the WRATH of God – is to receive His GRACE today!
  • 3^rd – The elect… vs. 31
    • He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet.
    • They will gather together His elect from the four winds – from one end of heaven to the other!
    • The word ELECT [ἐκλεκτός] has again caused some confusion…
    • This is again a reference to those who come to FAITH during the TRIBULATION…
    • At his return the LORD will send [ἀποστέλλω] our His ANGELS – with a great [μέγας] TRUMPET…
    • To gather the BELIEVERS from the FOUR corners of the earth – Revelation 14:15
    • POST-TRIB holds to a RAPTURE at the END of the SEVEN years…
    • But no one knows the day or the hour when the RAPTURE will occur – Mark 13:32
    • The RAPTURE will happen like a THIEF in the night – I Thessalonian 5:2 – II Peter 3:10
    • And we KNOW the exact day when the LORD will come BACK…
    • Therefore – knowing what is COMING – we need to be ready TODAY!