Practical Implications for Believers in Tribulation
We’ve just absorbed a lot of information concerning end-time events in the previous sections. What does this all mean for us?
The Great Tribulation is going to be a time of global chaos. We, as Christians, will be targeted. We will be persecuted, beaten, raped, tortured, beheaded, killed in other manners, imprisoned, etc. Friends and even family will turn on us.
The mark of the beast will be incorporated on a global level. Think of everything that you’ll need money for. You won’t be able to buy or sell without the mark. You won’t be able to pay your mortgage, buy gas for your vehicles, purchase food, pay your utilities (water, heat, electricity, etc.), you won’t even be allowed to have a job without the mark! Employers will be forced to comply with the mark and the global economy. Those who do not take the mark will suffer incredibly and we need to help those, and ourselves, in any way that we can.
You cannot, under any circumstances, accept this mark! Even if it means starving to death. Death for us is not the end! It is the beginning!
Revelation 13:15-18 (LITV) "And was given to it to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak, and might cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. [16] And the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, it causes that they give to them all a mark on their right hand, or on their foreheads, [17] even that not any could buy or sell, except the one having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name. [18] Here is wisdom: Let the one having reason count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man and its number is six hundred and sixty six."
Revelation 14:9-11 (LITV) "And a third angel followed them, saying in a great voice, If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or in his hand, [10] he also shall drink of the wine of the anger of God having been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented by fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. And those worshiping the beast and its image have no rest night and day, even if anyone receives the mark of its name."
Revelation 14:12 (LITV) "Here is the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping the commands of God, and the faith of Jesus."
If we are confronted during the tribulation period, we are to submit and carry our crosses just as Yeshua did… the Lamb to the slaughter! My sinful nature immediately conjures up images of loading my guns to the hilt and killing every man that strolls up my driveway. We cannot do this… Yeshua specifically commanded us not to do that! He will use our capture, and possibly death, to be a testimony to Himself! He will give us the words to speak and the actions to take if we allow Him, and obey Him, to do so!
We learned this earlier from the mouth of our Savior Himself:
Luke 21:12-15 (LITV) "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you, and will persecute you, delivering you into the synagogues and prisons, being led away before kings and governors on account of My name. [13] But it will return to you for a testimony. [14] Then put into your hearts not to premeditate to make a defense. [15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all those opposing you will not be able to withstand or contradict."
We must remain strong until the end… even death at the hands of our enemies! You really need to set your hearts now and begin praying for courage and strength now! You need to focus on finishing the race according to the words, and the example of our King! We will be rewarded and He will take vengeance for us!
Our King is returning for us. He will literally walk the earth again, He will literally setup His Kingdom, and we will literally rule and reign, here on earth, with Him.
Revelation 11:15-18 (LITV) "And the seventh angel trumpeted. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of the world became our Lord's, even of His Christ; and He shall reign to the ages of the ages. [16] And the twenty four elders sitting before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, [17] saying, We thank You, Lord God Almighty, the One who is, and who was, and who is coming, because You took Your great power and reigned. [18] And the nations were full of wrath; and Your wrath came, and the time of the judging of the dead, and to give the reward to Your slaves, to the prophets, and to the saints, and to the ones fearing Your name, to the small and to the great, and to destroy those destroying the earth."
This world, as we know it, is not our permanent home! We were placed here to learn how to be Holy as He is Holy! That is the purpose of this brief life… to grow, and learn, as children of the Almighty Creator! We will inherit our permanent home very soon! I cannot wait to depart from this crappy world and move on to Glory!
2 Peter 3:9-13 (LITV) "The Lord of the promise is not slow, as some deem slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not having purposed any to perish, but all to come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with rushing sound, and having burned the elements will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be burned up. [11] Then all these being about to be dissolved, of what sort ought you to be in holy behavior and godliness, [12] looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, through which the heavens having been set afire will be dissolved; and burning, the elements will melt? [13] But according to His promise, we look for 'new heavens and a new earth,' in which righteousness dwells." Isa. 65:17
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