SHADOWS OF THE COMING TRIBULATION

Pastor James J. Barker

Text: LUKE 21:7—28




INTRODUCTION:


  1. The other day, President Bush was in Jerusalem on a three-day visit to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the modern state of Israel.  While he was there, a rocket fired by Muslim terrorists from the Gaza Strip slammed into a shopping mall in the southern city of Ashkelon, wounding 14 people, including two babies and a young girl.
  2. The Iranian president Ahmadinejad responded to the attack by saying, “The Zionist regime is dying.  The criminals assume that by holding celebrations they can save the sinister Zionist regime from death and annihilation” (New York Sun, May 15, 2008).
  3. This sort of rhetoric is nothing new, and it is widely believed that the Iranian government was behind the attack.  “The Iranian hand is clearly visible,” a senior Jerusalem government official who spoke on condition of anonymity told The New York Sun. “Iran actively supports Hamas by training, financing, supplying logistical aid, and sending weaponry and ammunition to Gaza. There is one force in the north – Hezbollah in Lebanon – and one in the south, Hamas. We look at both as arms of Iran.”
  4. Those of us who know the Bible are not surprised by these events. Our Lord said in Luke 21:23, “for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.”
  5. The “land” is Israel, and “this people” refers to the Jewish people.
  6. In Luke 21:9 and 10, our Lord said, “But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by…Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
  7. Last Monday, May 12, there was a great earthquake in China.   It is estimated that over 20,000 people have already died.  But with many trapped, the government said the toll could reach as high as 50,000.
  8. The situation in Myanmar is far worse, with approximately 130,000 feared dead in the cyclone, and the corrupt government keeping food and supplies from the survivors.
  9. What did Jesus say?  “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven” (Luke 21:11).
  10. The apostle Paul said in II Timothy 3:1, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”  These are perilous times indeed!
  11. One writer said that the world has lost its equilibrium.  It appears that we are very, very close to the end of the age.
  12. The Book of Revelation is divided into three parts (Rev. 1:19).  I believe we are at the close of the church age.  I do not believe the church will go through the tribulation period, vividly described in Rev. 6—19.
  13. The apostle Paul said in I Thessalonians 5:9, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The idea behind “salvation” is deliverance. 
  14. “Wrath” refers to the tribulation period, when God will pour out His wrath upon this wicked, sin-loving world (cf. Matt. 24:21, 22; Rev. 3:10; 6:16, 17; I Thess. 4:18).
  15. Just yesterday we met quite a few mockers and scorners while out knocking on doors.  This world is ripe for the judgment of God.
  16. The Bible teaches us that the rapture is imminent, and those of us that are saved will be raptured before the tribulation begins.
  17. It has been rightly said, “Coming events cast their shadows before them.”  Those of us who know the Bible can see the shadows forming.   I believe we are indeed very close to the end of the age.

 

I. THE MORAL SITUATION (LUKE 17:26-32).

  1. According to the Bible, the days preceding the second coming of Christ will be similar to the days preceding the flood, and the days preceding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
  2. The days preceding the flood were evil days.  Genesis 6:5 says, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
  3. The violence and debauchery in Noah’s day was so bad that God had to send a worldwide flood to cleanse the earth.
  4. The warnings regarding Lot and his wife are very interesting (Luke 17:28-32).  Just the other day, the California Supreme Court ruled by a 4–3 margin that so-called “gay marriage” should be legal.
  5. Chief Justice George wrote the majority opinion and concluded:  “... limiting the designation of marriage to a union ‘between a man and a woman’ is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute.”
  6. Commenting on this absurd decision, one lawyer said, “This ruling defies logic.  It is a gross departure from the rule of law.  It is outrageous.  Traditional marriage is common sense.  Yet, this decision is nonsense.  No matter how you stretch California’s Constitution, you cannot find anywhere in its text, its history, or tradition that now, after so many years, it magically protects what most societies condemn.  Same-sex marriage is not part of our history nor is it woven in the fabric of fundamental freedom.  The California Supreme Court has defied logic, undermined the will of the people, and weakened our future.  This decision will ignite California voters to amend their state constitution to protect marriage and prevent judges from wrecking marriage” (Matt Staver, Liberty Counsel).
  7. The citizens of California have already expressed their disapproval of homosexual marriage, by passing Proposition 22, which declares that, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”    Proposition 22 was passed with 61 percent of the vote.
  8. But these ungodly, liberal judges disregarded the voters.  And more importantly, they disregarded the Word of God, which says, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” (Lev. 18:22).
  9. I agree with Michael Reagan, President Reagan’s son.  He said, “As the son of a former Governor of this state I am disgusted.”
  10. Americans are being brainwashed by the media and the public schools to accept so-called “gay marriage.”  I recently read that an ABC television show called “Brothers & Sisters” will feature two sodomites getting married.
  11. An actor who portrays one of the homosexual characters said in a recent interview, “It’s all very progressive, evolved and about time.”
  12. No, it’s all very wicked and disgusting, and it’s about time more people started speaking out against it.
  13. Unless Christians speak out, we can expect more and more of this filthy garbage on TV.
  14. The moral situation here in America (and all around the world) is getting worse and worse.   My daughter works part time in a steak house in Greenville, SC.  She said five of her co-workers are homosexual.
  15. It is not just NYC or San Francisco.  The whole world is sinking into the sewer – widespread adultery, pornography, abortion, etc. Surely, the Lord will soon return in judgment (cf. II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 14, 15).

 

II. THE RELIGIOUS SITUATION (REV. 17:1).

  1. In the Bible, the true church is called the bride of Christ – “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).
  2. But while the true church is referred to as a virtuous bride, the false church is called a whore (Rev. 17:1-5).
  3. Historically, most Baptists and Protestants have identified this harlot church as the RCC.
  4. Rome is urging all of the other religions to unite under leadership. A one-world religion is their goal, and many foolish Baptists and Protestants are going along with it.
  5. It is a sign of apostasy that so many evangelical Christians are in bed with the Roman harlot.  Revelation 17 and 18 is being fulfilled right before our eyes.
  6. In Revelation 17, the Bible describes this harlot church as being headquartered in “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Rev. 17:18).
  7. She is situated on “seven mountains” (Rev. 17:9).  Rome is known as “the city on seven hills.”
  8. Historically, all students of the Bible have identified this great city as Rome, since Rome was the great city in John’s day.
  9. Recently, a pastor from Texas by the name of John Hagee has apologized for preaching that the harlot church is Rome.  He was being pressured by presidential candidate John McCain to do so.
  10. There is a difference between Babylon in Revelation 17, and Babylon in Revelation 18.  Revelation 17 describes religious Babylon, whereas Revelation 18 describes commercial Babylon.
  11. We are told in Revelation 13:4 that the antichrist (“the beast”) will get his power and authority from the devil (“the dragon”).
  12. Furthermore, we are told in Revelation 17:3 that the harlot church will “sit upon a scarlet coloured beast” (i.e., the antichrist).
  13. Deluded men and women will believe this dazzling leader will lead them into a new world order – a wonderful Utopia – a day of universal peace and love and free health care, etc.
  14. They will think he is a man of peace, but he is described in the Bible as a “beast.”
  15. First Thessalonians 5:3 says, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

 

III. THE POLITICAL SITUATION (REV. 13:4-8).

  1. The beast (antichrist) will rapidly rise to power during the coming tribulation.  This is prophesied in the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation.
  2. Daniel 11:36 says he “shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods.”
  3. Second Thessalonians 2:4 says he will exalt 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.”
  4. Our Lord warned the Jews about the coming antichrist.  He said in John 5:43, “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”
  5. Referring to the antichrist, our Lord said in Matthew 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:).”
  6. Revelation 13:16—18 describes a day when no man can buy or sell without “the mark of the beast.”
  7. This technology is already being used.  Having a tiny computer chip implanted under the skin is referred to as “getting chipped.”  I recently did a Google search and discovered there are over one million articles about getting chipped!  Soon it will be mandatory for everyone to get “chipped.”

 

CONCLUSION:


  1. I could give many examples of the mark of the beast.  If you do a Yahoo or Google search for “mark of the beast,” you will find literally millions of articles.  (Many are absurd and unscriptural.)
  2. Many articles are about the “VeriChip,” a small radio frequency identification device, which is implanted in both humans and animals. It is currently being used for medical information, tracking purposes, and “infant protection.”
  3. They have their own website: www.verichipcorp.com, and there are thousands of articles about them on the Internet.
  4. Another interesting development is the “Mark VI Personal Identity Verifier (PIV),” which records the digitized silhouettes of four fingers of each hand on an AT & T “smart card.”
  5. Notice it is called the “mark 6” (cf. Rev. 13:16—18).


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