Any Moment

 “Christians must live prepared lives [and] ready to meet their Savior at any moment.” (David Jeremiah)

I have attended many churches (and small groups) that have studied eschatology (the study of the Bible teaches about the end times). Though I mentally understand the facts of what I was taught, I always felt the end times’ order of events would happen sometime in my distant future (or even after my death).

It wasn’t until I read (or listened to) all the many different books in the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins did I realize that all the events following the unexpected Rapture (of Christians to Heaven) did I come to completely see how eschatology makes sense to me (and could unfold at any time). This series was not the Bible, but better helped me understand how the scriptures could be interpreted on these events for today. Where there was mental fuzziness about this whole topic, the Left Behind series added an element of compassion and humanity to the dry (and sometimes boring) information found in the last book of the Bible.

The Left Behind series starts out like this: Panic surges through a London Heathrow-bound Boeing 747 as some passengers and crew vanish along with millions worldwide. Captain Rayford Steele fights to quell hysteria while facing personal tragedy (his wife and son are among the missing). Rumors fly, and fanatics warn about the end of the world. Could they be right? Meanwhile, a Romanian leader (Nicolae Jetty Carpathia) is scheduled to speak at the United Nations (UN).

In any eschatology study,” the Tribulation” is an important event in the end times’ “calendar.” It is a seven-year period that is divided into two halves. In the first half, Antichrist appears to be the great benefactor, protector, and friend of Israel. In the middle of this seven-year period Antichrist will turn against Israel, and begin terrorizing the country harshly. This is why the second half (known as “the Great Tribulation”) will be an unequaled time of total devastation for the world (with all the disasters that will occur).

The term “rapture” has an important connection with the Tribulation. It involves the sudden removal of Christian believers from the Earth at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Though the “rapture” is not used in the Bible, it comes from the Latin word “rapio” meaning “caught up.” The word “rapture” is implied in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (VOICE), which says: Then we who are alive and left behind will be snatched up together with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is how we, the resurrected and the living, will be with Him forever.

There are three different crucial Tribulation connections that should be understood. They are Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation.

The Pre-Tribulation (as discussed in The Left Behind series) will take place before the Tribulation. Christians are removed from this event before the Great Tribulation begins. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 which is given above is used for the basis of this belief.

The Mid-Tribulation will take place at the middle point of the Tribulation when Christians is removed from the problems caused by this event. Matthew 24:22 (ICB) is given as the basis for this belief. God has decided to make that terrible time short. If that time were not made short, then no one would go on living. But God will make that time short to help the people he has chosen.

The Post-Tribulation will take place at the end of the Tribulation when Christians are removed. They will be preserved from the divine wrath of God during this time. They will be removed quickly prior to the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. Christians will meet Jesus in the air, and come back to Earth with Him. Mark 13:24, 26-27 (ERV) is used as the foundation for this belief. During the days following that time of trouble… People will see [Jesus] coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  He will send his angels all around the earth. They will gather his chosen people from every part of the earth.

Eschatology can be a challenging topic to study, but why is it of value to you as a Christian? Here are six points to consider:

Eschatology helps Christians serve God with enthusiasm for biblical truth-Eschatology reminds Christians of the Second Coming of Christ, which is both good and dangerous. It is good in that it reminds them that there is an imminent end of all things with passionate service to Him.

 

It is bad in that it can lead to fatalistic idleness in service to God. By having a biblical understanding of eschatology, Christians will be motivated with a greater fervor for lost souls, to worship, and to live for the glory of God.

 

Eschatology helps Christians to help prepare the lost for judgment-Many people think they don’t need to prepare for their last days (or the afterlife), but that’s what Satan wants us to think. He is a successful liar (and deceiver) in making others believe they are fine apart from God. The Bible speaks differently. It tells us that everyone apart from Christ is spiritually dead in their sins.

 

It is only by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus alone that anyone can be saved. Eschatology motivates Christians to prepare the lost for God’s unavoidable judgment. If the lost will not receive Christ and believe upon all He has done in His finished and sufficient work then they will go to Hell, a place of unending, unrelenting, conscious eternal punishment.

 

Eschatology helps Christians to hope in the Lord during times of trouble-Christians face trials of all kinds like disease, pain, and injustice. It is vital to have a hope of the promises of God as you faithfully endure to the end (to an uncertain future).

 

Eschatology helps Christians to look forward to Heaven-Christians can focus so much on what’s going on in our lives that we forget about what’s most important, and where our final, eternal, celestial destination will be. The world, the flesh, and the devil entice us to believe its false truth (instead of biblical truth). 

 

Eschatology helps Christians to worship God-The end of all of theology, which is the study of God, is worship. Eschatology is concerned with the area of biblical truth about the defeat of Satan, the final and perfect judgment of Christ, the new heavens and a new earth, and eternal fellowship with Christ.

 

Such biblical truths aid the people of God and their worship to Him. If your understanding of eschatology leads to more fear than to worship God, then you are in error, or are approaching this subject with the wrong attitude.

 

Eschatology helps to teach the Church-The Church needs the teaching of eschatology because it is the foundation of organized theology. When the Church neglects to teach Christians in the pew about eschatology, it creates a dangerous vacuum. Eschatology sheds light on every biblical doctrine and answers questions that every theological subject raises.

 

“Time after time, God brings us to our absolute end, and then proves Himself faithful.” (Chuck Swindoll)[i]

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[i] Adapted from:

·        “Five Different Views on the Rapture” by John Ankerberg

·        “Rapture meaning” from Your Dictionary

·        “WHAT EVENTS WILL HAPPEN DURING THE SEVEN-YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD?” by John Ankerberg

·        “What Is Eschatology?” by Dave Jenkins

·        “What Is the Rapture? - Biblical Meaning and Significance” by Adrian Rogers

·        Left Behind (adaptation from back of book cover)