Great White Throne, Pretribulational Rapture, and MORE! | Bible Questions & Answers

Jen if Adam was given a vegan diet why did his son Abel herd livestock isn't it more accurate to say that Adam was given a vegetarian diet meaning he could eat milk and milk based foods saw this question someone posted it on a youtube video of ours and I thought it was interesting and worthy of talking about so the question just so we understand it is this it is often said that Adam had a vegan diet based upon Genesis 1 but if you just go forward a couple chapters in Genesis for Abel was keeping a flock so if Abel was keeping a flock did Adam really have a vegan diet didn't he consume milk and milk based products so interesting question let's look and see if we can find the answer Genesis 1 verse 29 and God said behold I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth that's a plant and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed that's also a plant to you it shall be for meat today we use the word meat often to refer to animal flesh but it can also simply mean food which is what it means in this case well Genesis 1:29 does it say anything about animal-based products or milk or anything like that it doesn't Genesis 1:29 is simply a plant-based diet it seems to me so what's going on with Abel well look at Genesis chapter 4 Genesis chapter 4 and she again bare his brother Abel and Abel was a keeper of the sheep but Cain was a tiller of the ground so it is the case that Abel was a keeper of sheep now think about this with me if you would when does God change the dietary rules that gave to Adam so we just read in Genesis 1:29 the instruction that was given to Adam when does God change that well he changes it in Genesis 9 let's just turn there Genesis 9 verse 3 every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you even as the green herb have I given you all things so Genesis 9:3 as instructions given to Noah you can tell that from Genesis 9 verse 1 so Genesis 1:29 was instructions to Adam Genesis 9 was instructions to Noah Genesis 4 when we saw Abel that's that's before Noah quite a bit before Noah so what's going on with Abel why is he a keeper of sheep why would that be well go back to Genesis 4 if you would Genesis 4 verse 4 and it's amazing what happens when you actually read the context so Genesis 4 verse 2 says that Abel was a keeper of sheep look at verse 4 in Abel he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering so what is one of the reasons that Abel had to keep sheep because he needed sheep for an offering think through this with me if you would who made the first animal sacrifice in the Bible hopefully the answer is obvious God did because in Genesis 3 when when Adam and Eve sinned what did they do they made themselves clothes of fig leaves were those going to be sufficient clothing it seems to me they would be sort of scratchy and just rather defective as far as clothing goes but an animal sacrifice in fact look with me at Genesis chapter 3 Genesis chapter 3 and look at verse 21 and unto Adam also into his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them so there was an animal sacrifice in Genesis 3:21 that God made so it seems to me there's at least two reasons that Abel would have kept a flock that have nothing to do with milk based products number one he would have needed the animals for clothing just as Genesis 3 had indicated and secondly animals would have been needed for a sacrifice which is in fact what happened in Genesis chapter 4 get with me first Timothy chapter 6 first Timothy chapter 6 my encouragement to you is to believe what the verse is saying and the verses will will tell you they will explain to you what you should believe so when Genesis one told you that Adam ate a plant-based diet I would go with that first Timothy chapter 6 verse 7 for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out so the pursuit of riches is a vain pursuit isn't it because you you can't take it with you notice verse 8 this is the scriptural standard of contentment and having food and raiment let us be therewith content you can be content without the newest iPhone you can be content without a larger car or a bigger house or new clothing all that you really need is you need food and raiment so now think about that scriptural standard of contentment in Genesis 4 what did Abel and Cain raise Abel was a keeper of sheep that would provide clothing Cain was a tiller of the ground that would provide food so it seems to me that what's going on is God did not give man a milk based diet or he didn't include milk based products in his diet in Genesis chapter 1 it was a plant-based diet now of course we know that that is not instruction for us today because Paul gave new revelation in this it contained in first Timothy chapter 4 verse 4 for every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused next question who witnesses the great white throne judgment who witnesses the great white throne judgment so first we need to establish what the great white throne judgment is jeanna again Revelation chapter 20 Revelation chapter 20 on the chart the great white throne judgment is all the way over here at the right the in fact the great white throne judgment occurs right before the batman dispensation the batman dispensation here in white is the dispensation of the fullness of times when all things are gathered together in Christ the great white throne judgment is right before that so look with me at revelation 20 verse 11 and I saw a great white throne that's why it's called the great white throne judgment and him that sat on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them so the great white throne judgment is a remarkable judgment the universe literally recedes it moves away verse 12 and I saw the dead small and great so this is the the unsaved dead of all the ages it's a it's a massive massive multitude 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 so the unsaved dead of all the ages stand before God and the books are opened and those books essentially are the biographies of people's lives those biographies are kept in exhausting detail you and I don't remember every sin that we commit but those books capture them those books are faithful act complete biographies of a man's wife what revelation 20 verse 12 says is the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works that judgment is not according to grace it's according to their works the reality is life is not fair people get away with things in this life there are crimes that go unsolved there's misbehavior that is not punished it's not rectified in this life does that mean that people get away with it well no it doesn't what happens is those books record every action every thought every word every deed and they're all captured and then they're judged verse 13 and the sea gave up the Dead which were in it and death and he'll delivered up the Dead which were in them you can see there that there is a resurrection of the unsaved dead they are brought back into their bodies to stand judgment and they were judged every man according to their works so you can see that people are judged on the basis of their works and death and he'll were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire so the first set of books plural are the biographies of man's lives and they capture all the deeds and people are judged according to their works the book of life is a book that is the essentially the membership role of the New Jerusalem so before someone is cast into the lake of fire the book of life is consulted it's double checked if you will to make sure that that person isn't a redeemed person and so the folks at the great white throne judgment their guilt is established for every single sin it's confirmed that their name is not in the book of life and then they're cast into the lake of fire for all eternity so the question that's being asked is who witnesses that event well we know who's being judged who's being judged is the unsaved dead and we know who the judge is God the Father or God is the judge they stand before God in Revelation 20 verse 12 the question is who witnesses this who's present to watch this happen look with me at revelation 19 I first want to show you some people who are not present revelation 19 verse 20 and the Beast was taken and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped His image these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone at the second coming what happens is the beast and the false prophet that were raining during the 70th week they're cast into the lake of fire at that point so they're in the lake of fire before the the kingdom even starts look with me at revelation 20 chapter 10 revelation 20 20 verse 10 excuse me revelation 20 verse 10 is what happens at the end of the thousand years there's a satanic rebellion and notice what happens in verse 10 and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever so one thing that's fascinating is at the great white throne judgment the Beast the false prophet and Satan are already in the lake of fire they're not present at the great white throne judgment because their fate has already been determined and sealed and they are in the lake of fire already suffering the their eternal punishment you owed me Revelation chapter 6 now as to the question as to who else are the witnesses there there is not a specific verse that I am aware of that says these individuals are present at the great white throne but I'm going to show you enough versus quite a few that I think suggest that all of saved humanity is present at the great white throne and I'll show you why I believe that look at me in Revelation chapter 6 verse 9 revelation 6 verse 9 and when he had opened the fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held and they cried with a loud voice saying how long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth and white robes were given unto every one of them and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow-servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled here's what I want you to notice from that in revelation 6 we're reading about some martyrs in other words their blood was shed by people who are still on the earth it seems that's likely at minimum a reference to some of the Saints who during the 70th week were were martyred and their plea to God even in the next life is how long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth in other words what I want you to notice is that even in the next life even when there is no sin nature because these folks are in the next life is there a legitimate righteous desire to see judgment upon evildoers and the answer is yes there is God is a righteous God but he's also a God of vengeance vengeance belongs to the Lord does it not so notice in Revelation 4:6 what we're seeing here is that people in the next life still have a legitimate desire to see their their torment enters their persecutors punished get with me if you would job 22 we're gonna look at a whole bunch of verses here and the goal here is I'm gonna show you what I think is a biblical theme that should inform how you think about the great white throne judgment you can decide for yourself but look at these verses with me job 22:15 hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden which were cut down out of time whose foundation was overflown with a flood verse 19 the righteous see it and are glad and the innocent laugh them to scorn so what's happening in joke 22 is there are wicked men and they are cut down and what happens in verse 19 is the righteous see it they behold the judgment of the wicked and how do they feel according to that they feel glad look with me at Psalm 37 Psalm 37 so I'm 37 verse 34 wait on the Lord and keep his way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it what Psalm 37 describes is when the wicked are cut off when they're judged the righteous are going to see it look with me at Psalm 52 Psalm chapter 52 Psalm 52 in verse 5 Psalm 52 5 God shall likewise destroy the forever he shall take the away and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place and root thee out of the land of the living cela the righteous also shall see and fear and shall laugh at him lo this is the man that made not God his strength we see yet again that the righteous sees the judgment of the wicked get Psalm 58 Psalm chapter 58 soem 58 verse 10 the righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the Vengeance he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked that verse is about as clear as it could be isn't it the righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the Vengeance so that a man shall say verily there is a reward for the righteous verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth Psalm 91 hopefully you're following along in your own Bibles turning to these passages seeing them with your own eyes Psalm chapter 91 verse 8 only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked again the verse talks about seeing the reward the compensation the payback of the wicked Psalm 107 Psalm 107 Psalm 107 and verse 40 the poorest contempt upon princes and causeth them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way verse 42 the righteous shall see it and rejoice and all iniquity shall stop her mouth proverbs 29 proverbs 29 proverbs chapter 29 verse 16 when the wicked are multiplied transgression increases but the righteous shall see their fall get Ecclesiastes chapter 12 I've probably proven the point by now because we've gone through so many verses but I'm gonna keep on going Ecclesiastes 12 verse 14 for God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil in other words there's no secrets that are hid from God God will bring them all into judgment Luke 12 Luke chapter 12 Luke chapter 12 Luke 12 verse 2 Luke 12 to 4 there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed neither hid that shall not be known therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light and that which he have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon housetops now just to state the obvious the things that were spoken in secret and in darkness were those hid from God and now they're gonna be revealed to God well of course not they were hid from other men and they're going to be revealed to other men what happens today what happens today when people are plotting a crime do they go have a public meeting and invite witnesses and they have a public discussion and witnesses and they recorded so that there's a record and a transcript of the bank they're trying to rob and they keep minutes and no one does that because they don't want to create evidence of the crime they don't want to create proof that can be used against them so when they conspire to do wicked deeds what do they do they conspire in secret they conspire in darkness they do it covertly they use hidden signals because they're trying to hide what they're doing but all that will be manifest at the great white throne judgment I would suggest to you it's not that it's revealed to God it's revealed to mankind look at me at Romans chapter 2 Romans chapter 2 Romans chapter 2 verse 5 but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurers up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and then notice this next part and revelation of the righteous judgment of God the righteous judgment of God is revealed well who's it revealed to is it is it R is not revealed to God it's got to be revealed to humanity where we're men can see the righteous judgment of God look with me at 1st Corinthians 3 now 1st Corinthians 3 is not about the great white throne so let me make this point just so we're all clear if you are lost today if you die as a lost person you will end up at the great white throne judgment and you will be judged on the basis of your works so every sin will be judged every every evil act but if you're a believer you don't go through the great white throne judgment in the sense that you're standing trial but what you do go through is you do go through what's known as the judgment seat of Christ at the end of the dispensation of grace believers are caught up they get a new body a spiritual body designed to function in the heavens and they go through their own judgment at that time look with me at 1st Corinthians chapter 3 verse 13 every man's work shall be made manifest well to make it manifest it has to be open it has to be declared for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is so let's be clear on this if you're a saved person today you're not going to go through the great white throne judgment as a participant but you will go through the judgment seat of Christ is your work going to be revealed your work is going to be revealed and the quality of your work is going to be revealed whether it's gold silver and precious stones or wood hay and stubble see here's what happens as save people we can be just as ordinary and deceitful and prideful and wicked as we were before and the reason why we can is we still have this flesh nature and if we're honest with ourselves we all walk and hid way too much well 1st Corinthians 3 is a reminder you're not going to be judged for your sin and go to hell but as are those things gonna be made manifest they're gonna be made manifest look with me at 1st Corinthians 3:15 just so you see it if any man's work shall be burned he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire so the same person can't lose their salvation that's already a resolved issue but will there be revelation of our works yes there we'll look with me at 1st Corinthians chapter 4 first Corinthians chapter 4 verse 5 therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts let me make this point are there times where we do things for our own wicked selfish motives there are and we may claim to have pure motives we may publicly state the good reasons we do things but do we often have corrupt motives well you know that the answer to that is yes guess what happens at the judgment seat of Christ if first Corinthians 4 verse 5 is true spoiler it is therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord's come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness you're not gonna be able to hide it and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God there may be some things that are not praiseworthy in our decisions and actions and those will come to light geography Revelation 15 revelation 15 Revelation chapter 15 revelation 15 verse 1 and I saw another sign in heaven great and marvellous seven angels having the last seven plagues for in them is filled up the wrath of God verse 4 who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorify thy name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest God's judgments aren't hidden they're not kept secret what are they made open obvious they're manifested they're not secret revelation 19 Revelation chapter 19 verse 1 and after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying Alleluia salvation and glory and honor and power unto the Lord our God for true righteous are his judgments for he hath judged the great which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand and again they said Alleluia what's happening in Revelation 19 is the Saints are observing God taking judgment upon the great and what they say is Alleluia obviously they're witnessing it obviously they're perceiving it or they couldn't have said Alleluia get with me Psalm 54 Psalm 50 for we have several more verses that I want to show you I want to prove this issue beyond any doubt that's my goal Psalm 50 4 verse 7 for he hath delivered me out of all trouble and mine I have seen his desire upon mine enemies look with me at Psalm 59 Psalm 59 verse 10 Psalm 59 verse 10 the God of my mercy shall prevent me God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies Psalm 92 Psalm 92 verse 11 mine I also shall see my desire on mine enemies Psalm 112 Psalm 112 Psalm 112 verse 8 his heart is established he shall not be afraid until he see his desire upon his enemies psalm 118 psalm 118 verse 7 the Lord taketh my part with them that help me therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me Jeremiah chapter 11 Jeremiah chapter 11 verse 20 Jeremiah 11 verse 20 but O Lord of Hosts that judges righteously that triose the reins and the heart let me see thy vengeance on them God's vengeance on the wicked is not confined to this life God's vengeance upon the adversaries in Jeremiah 11 was not limited to this life because it was only a portion of God's vengeance God's wrath against their sin part of it was there on the earth but the vast majority of it is in the lake of fire Jeremiah 20 Gera Mya chapter 20 verse 12 but a Lord of Hosts that tries the righteous and see us the rains in the heart let me see thy vengeance on them get Daniel chapter 7 Daniel chapter 7 one more passage that I want to show you Daniel chapter 7 Daniel chapter 7 verse 9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down and the Ancient of Days did sit whose garment was white as snow and the hair of his head like the pure wool his throne was like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire this seems to me to be a description of the great white throne verse 10 a fiery stream issued and came forth from him from before him notice thousand thousands ministered unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him the judgment was set and the books were opened it's just like Revelation 20 where it talks about the great white throne now notice what it says there thousand thousands a thousand thousand is a million millions ministered unto him so when you think about a typical courtroom setting there's the judge but there's other court officials that are necessary for the proceedings to commence well in this case there's literally millions that are part of those court officials you know the bailiffs and so on that help make the court of function effectively and then notice what it says and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him ten thousand times ten thousand is a hundred million and we it's going to be more than that of course that stand before him because it'll be the unsaved dead of the ages that are present there at the great white throne so let me wrap it up by saying this if you think of the typical murder trial that happens in the United States there'll be a murder victim and what will happen is there will be a prosecution and there'll be a prosecuting team and there'll be a defense team and there'll be a defendant but what is almost always the case is the loved ones of the victim will attend and they attend because it's part of the process to see justice administered they they want to see the proceedings they want to see righteousness satisfied by the guilty being determined to be guilty it's necessary there's there some sort of closure some sort of satisfaction some sort of sense of justice fulfilled when the righteous see the guilty convicted and punished now in human affairs sometimes there are missed carriages of justice sometimes the guilty go free sometimes the innocent are wrongfully convicted because in human affairs things are not done perfectly but at the great white throne judgment what's going to happen is all the sins of all of humanity are going to be demonstrated conclusively and I'm just going to give you my view of this based upon oh those verses that we saw the righteous have to see it in fulfillment of those verses give you this example unfortunately the history of the body of Christ throughout time is that the body of Christ has suffered persecution after persecution hopefully what happens is that the persecutors of the body of Christ get saved that they have a change of heart that they believe the gospel and be saved people like Saul of Tarsus who had a change of heart believed the gospel and he is saved and if the persecutors do that hallelujah that would be tremendous but if they don't if they don't then what must happen is God's righteous judgment must be poured out and based upon the many many verses we looked at it seems that the righteous have to see it so who's present at the great white throne judgment I think all of the saved throughout time are present because they need to see the judgment of the wicked next question is the rapture pre-tribulational is the rapture pre-tribulational there are three different viewpoints those there's more than three but there's three basic viewpoints as to the timing of the rapture what this chart illustrates is that the rapture occurs before the 70th week begins so the rapture is pre-tribulational there are two other viewpoints one is that the rapture is mid that in other words in the middle of the 70th week that's when the body of Christ is caught up and then the third viewpoint is that the rapture the body of Christ is post tribulation all that the body of Christ goes through the entire 70th week and after the 70th week is over the body of Christ is then raptured this is a topic of interest of folks many people are looking at the events that are going on today and the Cova 19 virus and they're wondering if it's the fulfillment of prophecy they wonder how close are we to the rapture they have questions like that well one of the things that I want to give you peace of mind about is that the rapture is pre-tribulational and I'll show you three reasons why that is the case get with me Romans chapter 5 Romans chapter 5 Romans chapter 5 verse 8 but God commendeth his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us much more than being now justified by his blood notice we shall be saved from wrath through him Romans 5:9 says the body of Christ has to be saved from wrath the 70th week is a time of wrath and therefore the body of Christ has to be delivered from God's wrath and the way that that occurs is the rapture removes the body of Christ from the earth now think with me just for a moment about this if we think about the chart and just think about ax2 for a minute when Peter stood up in acts two he said this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel and the Prophet Joel talked about the last days the Sun shall be turned to darkness the moon to blood before the coming of the great notable day of the Lord in other words what Peter was saying in acts 2 is that the events you're seeing are going to lead to the 70th week and the second coming that's exactly what he was saying at that time was occurring the point is that the path that the calendar was on is it was progressing toward God's wrath it was going to be poured out during the 70th week what God did with the insertion of the dispensation of grace is he put the wrath on hold he didn't decide that he was never going to impose wrath he simply said I'm not going to do it now I'm gonna put the prophetic program on hold he called timeout and he gave this period of grace this time of amnesty to the world that's why in Romans 5 this is not a time where God's pouring out wrath it's a time of grace Romans 5 says the body of Christ shall be saved from wrath well then the body of Christ can't be on the earth during the time of wrath Romans 5:9 wouldn't be accurate get with me 1st Thessalonians 5 verse 9 first Thessalonians 5 verse 9 first Thessalonians 5:9 for God hath not appointed us to wrath well if God didn't appoint us to wrath then he shouldn't have us on the earth during a time that is the time of his wrath so the the first most basic and fundamental reason that the body of Christ will not be on the earth during the 70th week is that God hath not appointed us to wrath and the 70th week is a time of wrath therefore we're not going to be here the rapture has to be tribulation --all second reason get with me second Timothy 2:18 now this one is a little tricky but if you get it I think it's a very powerful proof 2nd Timothy 2 verse 18 start in verse 17 and their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is hymenaeus and philetus who concerning the truth have erred so they've erred saying that the resurrection is passed already and overthrow the faith of some so when it talks about the resurrection there what resurrection is the next resurrection for the body of Christ well it's the catching up the adoption to wit the redemption of the body that's where the resurrection is now notice what verse 18 is saying who concerning the truth have erred so there's an error in what they're saying saying that the resurrection is passed already so what hymenaeus and philetus we're doing is let's just say they're right here what they were telling people is the resurrection is already past you missed it in other words what they were telling people is the resurrection the rapture already occurred and you missed it now what they were doing was a false teaching but I want you to think with me for a minute get with me Matthew 24 Matthew 24 there are people today that are concerned about missing the rapture and that's a tremendous reason to get saved by the way so if you're unsaved right now you should get saved this next minute because otherwise you might miss the rapture and you'd be on the earth during the time of tribulation and that's not something you want to do so believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved now notice Matthew 24:15 when you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the Holy Place whoso readeth let him understand then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains Matthew 24:15 doesn't say flee to the mountains at the beginning of the 70th week just to get a head start what it says is flee to the mountains when you see the abomination of desolation set up which means that the abomination of desolation is a very visible event that people immediately perceive it's not going to be overlooked it's not going to be on page 817 at the bottom column you follow me when the abomination of desolation is set up it is an obvious event that no one misses I'll give you another example get with me Acts chapter 2 Acts chapter 2 now the abomination of desolation is set up in the middle of the tribulation okay Acts chapter 2 verse 19 and I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath blood and fire and vapor of smoke the Sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before that great notable day of the Lord come what acts 2 says is this before the second coming before the great notable day of the Lord come comes what happens well the Sun is turned into darkness the moon into blood is it possible that the second coming can happen and no one notices it's not possible when the moon turns to blood you're going to know it you don't need email you don't need cable news to realize that when the moon turns to blood and the Sun turns to darkness you're going to immediately know it now think carefully with me in 2nd Timothy 2 the air that was taught was that people missed the resurrection that they missed the rapture that is proof that the rapture has to be pre-tribulational you know why if the rapture is Second Coming you're not going to be able to miss it you're going to know when the Second Coming happens if the rapture is at the midpoint of the tribulation when the abomination of desolation is set up you can't miss that either the only way it's even possible to misunderstand the timing of the rapture and think you missed it is if it is pre-tribulational so second Timothy 2:18 is itself a demonstration that the rapture is pre-tribulational get with me 2nd Thessalonians 2nd Thessalonians the third proof that the rapture is pre-tribulational is frankly the book of second thessalonians but let's start if we could in chapter 1 verse 3 we are bound to thank god always for you brethren as it is meet because that your faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth so that we ourselves glory in you in the Churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure so the Thessalonians were enduring persecution verse 5 which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which he also suffer verse 6 seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you Paul's giving them the assurance that those that persecuted the Saints in Thessalonica God's gonna recompense tribulation to them he's gonna make sure it gets paid back verse 7 and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels where's the body of Christ are they waiting to get caught up or are they already resting well they're already resting according to that verse verse 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power so you can see that what's being described in 2nd Thessalonians 1 is it's addressing the issue of Saints in Thessalonica do not be troubled those who persecute you those who put you through tribulation understand that it's natural for the body of Christ to suffer that and God is gonna make it even it hasn't escaped his notice he's not unaware he will take care of it in his time and he will do so more than adequately now look with me at 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ well they're Paul's beseeching the Brethren on the basis of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ on the basis of the catching up now notice what it says now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto Him in other words that's the gathering together of the body of Christ at the catching up that she 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 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 so here's what you need to notice about this the first thing that he says in verse 3 is let no man deceive you so one of the things that believers are going to face is people are going to try to deceive you as to the timing of these events they want to deceive you as to the timing of those events because if they deceive you they can trouble you in your spirit that's why Paul says in verse 2 that ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled understand there are people that will intentionally try to trouble you to unsettle you about the timing of these events now what verse 3 tells us is there's three events that occur look at verse 3 except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition during the first half of the 70th week the beast is known as the man of sin during the second half he's described as the son of perdition so if we put these three events in order the first thing that happens is there's a falling away then there is the man of sin is revealed and then the son of perdition look with me at verse 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 showing himself that He is God the wicked one there is when he shows himself in the temple that he is God that's the abomination of desolation that's exactly what Matthew 24:15 spoke of when it talked about the abomination of desolation notice verse 5 remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things here's what happened Paul had told them the truth about the timing of these events but there were letters forgeries from him that deceived people in other words there were people actively trying to undermine the Pauline order of events that Paul had given to them notice verse 6 and now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time there's something that with holds that prevents the man of from being revealed verse 7 for the mystery of iniquity doth already work during the dispensation of grace the mystery of iniquity is already operating notice what it says only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way let their means hinder so verse 6 says there's something that withholds verse 7 says there's something that lets that hinders verse 8 and then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming so here's what I want to focus on with you what is it that withholdeth in verse 6 what is it that letteth that holdeth back in verse 7 now I'll tell you what is commonly said what people commonly say is it's the Holy Spirit that is holding back the revelation of the man of sin and what happens is that the catching up the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth because right now the Holy Spirit indwells believers at the catching up of the body of Christ the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth that's something that people say get Revelation chapter 2 Revelation chapter 2 Revelation chapter 2 verse 7 now before we read revelation 2 verse 7 let's understand the argument people say that what happens is what's holding back the man of sin is the Holy Spirit himself and the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth at the catching up and the Holy Spirit then no longer holds back the man of sin so he's revealed the problem with that is if that was true then the Holy Spirit wouldn't be on the earth during the 70th week Revelation chapter 2 verse 7 he that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches during the 70th week the Holy Spirit is speaking unto the churches get Revelation chapter 5 revelation chapter 5 verse 6 and I beheld and lo in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth you can decide for yourself I do not believe that the Holy Spirit is not on earth during the 70th week if the Holy Spirit is not on earth and if it's the spirit that leadeth into truth how does anyone get saved the Holy Spirit didn't disappear at the catching up the Holy Spirit is still on the earth during the 70th week that tells you that that he who letteth will let until he be taken out of the way can't possibly be the Holy Spirit now what I'm going to suggest to you is is the following if you just think about this what is it that holds back the man of sin and I would tell you the answer is obvious if you think about the chart without the dispensation of grace there was nothing holding back the man of sin I must report I'm very sad Batman just fell I'm gonna have to get to him after the program I do not believe the injuries are serious he's a very strong hearty fellow so I think he'll be okay but thoughts and prayers would be appreciated now if you think about the timeline what Jesus Christ said during his earthly ministry is this generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled what he contemplated was that the events of the prophetic calendar up to the 70th week would be fulfilled and in fact think with me get-get acts 2 and X 7 I want you to see this Acts chapter 2 Acts chapter 2 and acts 7 Acts chapter 2 verse 34 for David is not ascended into the heavens but he saith himself the Lord said unto my lord sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes life footstool in other words in acts 2 what did the Lord do he was sitting at the Father's right hand was he going to sit there forever nope he was going to sit there until what he makes his foes his footstool in other words he's gonna stand up make his foes his footstool and he's going to return to judge the earth look with me at Acts chapter 7 Acts chapter 7 now in acts 2 the Lord was sitting Acts chapter 7 verse 55 but he being full of the Holy Ghost looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said behold I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God when you go from acts 2 to acts 7 just five chapters later Jesus Christ has moved from a sitting position to a standing position because the 70th week has gotten closer and the pouring out of God's wrath has gotten that much nearer now what's the point the point is there was nothing to withhold the man of sin at that point in time the prophetic calendar was going to play out exactly as it is shown right there but what God did is he said no no no no no I'm putting that on hold what I would tell you withholds the revelation of the man of sin is the dispensation of grace itself the body of Christ what God is doing today during the dispensation of grace it's an offer of amnesty it's an offer of grace to the world although God was fully prepared in Acts chapter 7 in Acts chapter 8 to pour out his wrath upon a deserving earth he said I'm not going to do it I'm going to give an opportunity for people to be saved and that dispensation of grace has lasted almost 2,000 years but it will last forever the dispensation of grace will end its described in Romans 11 and when that does he who letteth will let will be taken out of the way and then the 70th week will happen hopefully that establishes in your mind with certainty the clarity of the pre-tribulation allure the dispensation of grace is what's holding back the 70th week from even happening the 70th week can't happen until the dispensation of grace ends and when the dispensation of grace ends the body of Christ is gone now I want you to notice something get second Thessalonians chapter 2 I'm gonna give you my understanding of something you can decide for yourself about this look at verse 7 and 8 together for the mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way so the body of Christ holds back the man of sin until the body of Christ is taken out of the way now notice verse 8 and then shall that wicked be revealed that's a profound verse you know what happens today many people are obsessed with identifying the Antichrist and the Antichrist here's the simple explanation you ready the Antichrist is whatever politician you don't happen to like at the moment in time past people have said Anwar Sadat was the Antichrist people have said Sodom Hussein was the Antichrist and so on and what happens is they run into this problem because the supporters suppose that Antichrist keeps dying which tells you that what people are doing is they are making stuff up they are not operating on the basis of a verse what 2nd Thessalonians 2 verse 8 in fact says is the wicked is revealed after the body of Christ is gone so how much time should you spend today trying to understand something that isn't revealed an till you're gone it's a total waste of time hopefully what that does is that gives you clarity that you're not going to be here during the 70th week you don't need to fret about the 70th week you're not going to be here we need to live in this confidence brethren God is for us who can be against us God has delivered us from wrath the moment that we had faith in Christ what God did is God saved us not only from any of his earthly wrath but also his eternal wrath there's no wrath that God has for us because we are accepted in the beloved but let me say this we need to view the time period in which we live right now as an opportunity our lost people fearful you may have seen this there's secular articles that Bible sales are up why our Bible sales up Bible sales are up because people are nervous they're panicking they're fearful they are looking for answers we need to give them the answers the answer is quite simple Christ died for our sins was buried rose again the third day all that you have to do to be saved is to trust the shed blood that He shed for you it's that simple well thank you for joining us tonight please remember that tomorrow night on Thursday we're gonna meet at 7:30 and then we will be back to 7 p.m. for our Friday meeting let's close in a word of Prayer father God thank you for the saints we thank you for their their fellowship we pray Lord that you would use these programs in a way that would please you help help us to teach your word accurately and we pray Lord that you would give us doors of utterance that we might speak the gospel clearly that people may believe it and be saved it's in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that we pray amen you

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Length: 64min 20sec (3860 seconds)

Published: Sat Apr 18 2020