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I have been an Elder at the Community Bible Church in Minneapolis Kansas. For 35+ years.  During that time I have been writing these thought...

Friday, October 14, 2016

"What's Next?"


Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #58 – “What’s Next?”

               Following the rapture of the church, the Lord will return to earth, “They also said, ‘men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’”  (Acts 1:11)  From this passage, we find that as He was raised He will also return.  Before the Lord returns the second time, following the rapture of the church, a period of seven years of tribulation takes place.  This is the final seven years of the Jewish age, a time of God’s wrath being poured out upon unbelievers.  This subject stirs up a great deal of controversy.   Due to time and space considerations, we will only look at what I believe the Scripture says on the matter, my understanding to the best of my abilities.  My position is that of a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, followed by the seven years of tribulation, followed by the return of Jesus and His bride, the church.

               Immediately following the rapture, the anti-Christ is revealed and makes a world-wide contract for a one-world government to bring peace to the world.  It makes sense that when all Christians on the earth disappear, there will be mass confusion and despair.  Something drastic will be necessary to calm the masses.  Some charismatic person will have to rise to the occasion and therefore, the covenant for peace.  After three and a half years, the anti-Christ breaks the covenant and the great tribulation takes place for another three and a half years.  Jesus said, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now nor ever will.  Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved, but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matt. 24: 21, 22)   If the Lord does not intervene, no life would survive.  We cannot possibly understand or imagine the evil that will exist during this time.  The restrainer of evil will have been removed where evil and chaos reigns supreme in all the world.

               The Lord returns to earth to bring an end to the terrible devastation taking place.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords will return to earth to set up His kingdom. The Lord then chained Satan and cast him into the abyss where he will remain for a thousand years.  At this time the first resurrection occurs where Jesus raises those who have been martyred during the tribulation period. (Rev. 19; Matt. 24, 25)  “Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.  And I saw the soul of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and 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 completed, this is the first resurrection.   Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4-6)

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to come.


Lowell Parrish

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