What to Do If You Miss the Rapture Survival Strategies to get through the Tribulation Period

Transcription

1 9/23/12am (Bible Bap0st Church, Port Orchard, WA) Dr. Al Hughes What to Do If You Miss the Rapture Survival Strategies to get through the Tribulation Period Matthew 24:36-44 The next event on God s prophetic time-table is the imminent coming of Christ to rapture every born again believer off the planet (1 Thess. 4:16-18). The world will be left in utter chaos over millions of people who have suddenly vanished. Christians who are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, will be gone. This will leave world in spiritual darkness without anything to restrain Satan s corrupting influence. There will be world-wide panic. While the doctrinal application of Matthew 24:36-44 is Christ s second coming at the end of the tribulation period, it also gives a description of what it will be like at the rapture before the dark day of the Lord. Bible believing Christians don t worry about the world coming to an end. Before the end of the world there will be the rapture the day of the Lord and the the millennial reign of Christ. The people who worry that the world is coming to an end are the scientists and the environmentalists who are stressed out about global warming. Years ago, scientists laughed at preachers who said the world is coming to an end. Now the scientists are saying the world is coming to an end and we laugh at them! Those left behind will be left to endure terrible wrath of God to be poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth for seven years. Matthew 24:21, 22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved Revelation 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on

2 2 the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 12:12 Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. There will be a tremendous vacuum on this earth when Christians are removed. Government will be in disarray. Into that vacuum the anti- Christ, or Beast, will arise to power (Rev. 13). He will bring a temporary peace to the world and rule over a one-world government. Can a person left behind after the rapture be saved in the tribulation period? There will be some people saved. But I can t be dogmatic if those who have heard the Gospel and rejected it in this age, can be saved. In this message I m going to give some instructions on how a person might survive if they miss the rapture. I m giving these instructions now, because I won t be around to give them after the rapture occurs. I. Put regret behind you. A. It s too late for regrets. The rapture has come and gone. Now your only hope is survive til the end. Jesus said, "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (Mt. 24:13). B. If you manage to survive, and follow these instructions, you may be permitted to enter Christ s Kingdom after He returns. II. Don t read or listen to anything the media says. A. The news media and government will seek to explain the phenomena of the millions of missing people with a lie inspired by Satan. The deception will be very great and almost irresistible. Jesus said, For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Mt. 24:24) Revelation 13:13-14 tells of a coming false prophet...he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them

3 3 that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do Paul wrote, Then shall that Wicked be revealed... Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2:8-12) Insulate yourself against Satan s lie so you won t be deceived. B. Limit your reading to a King James Bible. It will be your Survival Manual. Especially read and diligently study Daniel, Matthew 24-25, and the book of Revelation. This will give you details about how to be prepared for what is going to happen next. Your Bible will be your most valuable possession. Hold on to it for dear life. Memorize as much of it as you can because the government will soon seek to confiscate and destroy all Bibles. III. Refuse to take any mark on your body (Rev. 13:16-18; 14:9-12). A. The Antichrist will institute a world-wide cashless economic system, designed that you cannot buy, sell, eat, or receive medical services unless you take his mark. B. This will involve taking a mark on your right hand or your forehead Possibly a tiny computer chip inserted under the skin. Receiving this mark will be a pledge of allegiance to the antichrist. Early Christians were told they must offer a some small act of worship to the image of Caesar, who was considered to be a god by the Roman state. Often, this took the form of burning some incense before the emperor s image while proclaiming Caesar is lord. To refuse to do so would often carry a death sentence. Likewise, the antichrist will reign over the revived Roman empire spoken of in Daniel. He will demand the world to worship

4 4 him as God and receive his mark as a sign of allegiance. Those who refuse will be beheaded. Revelation 20:4 I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; C. Once a person receives the mark of the beast their doom is sealed and they can never be redeemed They will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 14:9-11). IV. Go into hiding. Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself. A. Move out of metropolitan areas and flee as far as you can from civilization. The Antichrist's control will come last to the least populated areas. Jesus said, Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto (Luke 21:21). B. As soon as you realize you ve been left behind liquidate everything as soon as possible. Sell everything that is not essential to survival. Money will be useless Your riches are corrupted your gold and silver is cankered (James 5:2-3) So spend it on what you'll need before the mark is put into effect. 1. Store water, food, and medical supplies. You will not be able to purchase anything without the mark of the beast. Water in lakes and streams will become polluted with blood (Rev. 8:8-9; 16:3). 2. Bring different types of clothing for all seasons, as well as flashlights, batteries, and generators. Learn how to survive in the wilderness for seven years. V. Keep the commandments and have faith in Jesus.

5 5 A. After the rapture, the day of grace is over and the dispensation of Law will be back in effect. Today, a person is saved by grace through faith. Salvation in this present dispensation is not by works of righteousness which we have done. B. During the tribulation, keeping the Law and having faith with go together for a person to be saved (Rev. 14:12; 20:11-13; 22:14). VI. Support and help every Jew you can. (Mt. 25:31-46). A. The Jews are God's chosen people. One reason for the Tribulation period is to bring Israel back to God and receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah. God will seal 144,000 witnesses out of the twelve tribes of Israel to evangelize them. B. The antichrist will seek to destroy all Jews (Rev. 13:13-17). Any chance you have to support Israel and the Jews will greatly increase your chances of getting into the Kingdom of Christ. As God promised, I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee (Gen. 12:3). VII. Don t give up hope. A. Salvation in the tribulation period will depend on a person being faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10). B. The seven years of Tribulation will end with the coming of Christ with the armies of heaven at the battle of Armageddon. The Antichrist will be defeated. C. If you make it through the seven years without taking the mark of the beast you might just get into Christ s kingdom when He returns in glory. SUMMATION: The best thing you can do, is avoid all this, and get saved TODAY before the rapture occurs. Now is the day of salvation. Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your heart! He is coming at any moment. Are you ready or will you be left behind? Your comments are welcomed. Please CLICK HERE.