THE BATTLE

THE BATTLE IS GOOD AGAINST EVIL OR CHRIST VERSES SATAN. AS CHRIST SUFFERED TRIBULATIONS AND PERSECUTION FOR US WE MUST ALSO MAKE A STAND FOR HIM. THOSE THAT WOULD TRY TO HAVE US BELIEVE THAT THE "CHURCH" WILL SOMEHOW BE MYSTERIOUSLY RAPTURED BEFORE THE TRIBULATION ARE NOT GETTING THIS FROM THE WORD OF GOD. THE PROPHETS HAVE TOLD US AND JESUS HIMSELF HAS TOLD US.

Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

IN 1 PETER WE LEARN THAT SALVATION WILL BE A THIN LINE TO HOLD AND THAT JUDGEMENT MUST BEGIN WITH THE BELIEVERS. THE LORD NEEDS US TO STAND FIRM IN OUR FAITH AND GLORIFY HIS NAME.

1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

PAUL TELLS US THAT WE MUST SUFFER THE COMING OF THE EVIL ONE IN THE SECOND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS. JESUS SPEAKS OF THE ABOMINATION OF THE DESALATION IN THE GOSPELS THAT DANIEL SPOKE OF.

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2Th 2:2 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 the day of Christ is at hand.

2Th 2:3 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;

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

WE HAVE A COMPLETE PAGE ON MATTHEW CHAPTER 24

 THE DAYS OF VENGEANCE

Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS TELL US OF THESE SAME EVENTS.

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Nah 1:11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.

Nah 1:12 Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

READ: Hab. CHAPTER 2 ; Nah. 1.7-9; Dan. 11.36-37

STAND PREPARED

Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

THE PERSECUTION OF HIS PEOPLE WILL BE TO THE DEATH IN MANY INSTANCES. THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US THAT SATAN WILL BE GIVEN POWER TO OVERCOME THE SAINTS AS WELL AS ALL OF THIS EARTH.

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

GOD IS PATIENT AND MERCIFUL AND ALL WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO TURN AND REPENT. BUT WHEN THE LORD RETURNS FOR HIS PEOPLE ALL CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION IS OVER. DON’T BE DECEIVED INTO THINKING THAT LOVED ONES WILL BE LEFT TO WONDER WHY CHRISTIANS HAVE DISAPPEARED. DON’T HAVE FALSE HOPES THEY WILL STILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR SALVATION BECAUSE IT JUST ISN’T SO. THE BELIEVERS WILL NOT SUFFER THE WRATH BUT WOE TO THE NONBELIEVERS.

Zec 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

YES, THE "CHURCH" OR TRUE BELIEVERS WILL SUFFER TO GLORIFY THE NAME OF CHRIST AND THEY MUST ENDURE THE TRIBULATION BUT THEY WILL NOT SUFFER GOD’S WRATH. THAT IS FOR THE WICKED.

Joe 3:15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Joe 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

READ: 2 THES. CHAPTER 1

Rev 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Mal 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

AS HE SUFFERED SO MUST WE. WE MUST ENDURE THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATION. WE MUST MAKE OUR STAND FOR HIS TESTIMONY. WE MUST STAND FOR THE GLORIFICATION OF HIS NAME. HE MUST BE PROCLAIMED AS OUR ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THEN HE WILL PROCLAIM US AS HIS PEOPLE.

A BROTHER HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT IN GREAT DETAIL AT HIS OWN SITE. CHECK IT OUT AND MANY OTHER SUBJECTS AS WELL AT http://www.restoringthevision.com/

ALSO SEE THE STUDY ON MATTHEW 24 AND PRETRIB RAPTURE.

 08/30/00