Many of you are curious about what the war in Israel reveals about the End Times. I’m here to give you answers from the Word of God. This will settle your anxieties. You’ll leave here comforted.
I’m not saying that the war in Israel is a good thing. It’s terrible. The evil pouring out of Hamas is shocking. We must continue to pray and declare God’s Word over Israel.
A couple of years ago, I really didn’t know if I was a pre-trib, post-trib, or no rapture at all kind of guy. And that really bothered my wife. She would say, “How can you not know?! You’re a pastor!”
I wanted to know. So, I humbled myself before the Lord. I laid down all my preconceived ideas and what I had heard from others. I went to the scripture, trusting the Holy Spirit to make it clear.
Wouldn’t you know it, He did what I asked. I read through Revelation. I read in the gospels where Jesus talked about it. I read in Thessalonians and in Daniel.
It didn’t take long before it all came into focus. It became as clear as day. The entire Word of God agrees.
The church will be raptured, we will be caught away from this earth before the tribulation. I no longer hope this is true. I know this is true.
But don’t take my word for it. Take God’s Word for it. I will show you ten places in the Word of God that reveal this is God’s plan and you can go find even more.
I understand that this topic can get people stirred up. I brought you part one of this message at our midweek service this past Tuesday, and it is already stirring people up on YouTube.
A lady who doesn’t even attend our church shared her rebuttal in the comments. I’d be happy to address it, but I wasn’t really sure what she was getting at. So, I’ll just have to leave that one there.
Someone else brought up this common belief that the pre-tribulation rapture is man-made teaching that originated in the 1800s. I’ll address that now with two questions.
Is it a good idea to verify the Word of God with historical records found on Google? Is Wikipedia a compilation of the wisdom of God or the wisdom of man?
We’ve become accustomed to studying the Bible with Google instead of the Holy Spirit. We are consumed with the intellectual realm. We think we can understand everything with our minds.
You cannot understand the things of God with your mind alone. The scriptures can only be understood by those who are surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
That’s why the Pharisees missed Jesus! They knew the scriptures better than anyone else! But it was all intellectual. When Jesus was right in front of them, they couldn’t perceive it with their spirit.
And I don’t think I have to convince you that being the top intellectual is not a goal worth striving for. It’s the most educated people right now who are plunging culture into darkness.
Plus, God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. So if intellectual people think you are foolish, you are on the right track.
It is the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth! Not Google. Not intellect. Not the college professor. Not the things that we can make sense of with the wisdom of man.
So, I encourage you to listen with an open heart today and simply ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth.
The Lord wants to make this clear for you. If you put down your defenses, He will wash away the confusion.
I also encourage you to write down these scriptures, take them home, and do what I did. Humble yourself before the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth.
So let me take you through ten reasons in the Word of God why you should expect a pre-tribulation rapture.
I went into detail on the first five at our midweek service this past Tuesday. You can find that message on YouTube. I will briefly recap, then move on to the last five.
In Matthew 28, Jesus reveals that He now has ALL authority in heaven and on earth.
Christ is the head. The church is the body. How does Christ exercise His authority on the earth? Through the church. We are His hands and feet.
Jesus refers to the church as Himself. We truly are the body of Christ. So, as long as the church is here, the church is in charge. As the body of Christ, we have been given all authority on earth.
That brings up an interesting question. Who has dominion over the earth during the tribulation? The antichrist.
But the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church. So, how can the antichrist take his place of dominion when the church is also on the earth?
As long as the church is here, any attempt at an antichrist will fail. There is a power that resides within the church that Satan cannot overcome.
Look at Adolf Hitler. A perfect candidate for the antichrist. But he didn’t make it. Why? Because the church put a stop to it.
Look at the vaccine mandates. A perfect candidate for the mark of the beast. But it didn’t work. Why? Because the church put a stop to it.
Look at America. The enemy tried to take it out. But just like the Lord has prophesied, America is on the road to redemption. Why? Because the church is now awake!
Satan is not over our heads. He’s not looking us eye-to-eye. He is under our feet! He was under our feet yesterday and will remain under our feet from now on.
Let me make this clear as day. When you don’t believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, you don’t believe in the dominion of the church.
At what point does the Bible say the church will hand dominion to the antichrist? It’s not going to happen! Christ redeemed dominion, and He’s not giving it back.
The ONLY way for the antichrist to take dominion over the world for a seven-year period of time called the Tribulation, is for the church to be moved out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 - And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
Can you see why Satan is so frustrated right now? We are holding back the antichrist! He cannot be revealed until we step out of the way.
There are churches just like ours rising up everywhere, holding back the antichrist so that more people have the opportunity to come to Christ before the tribulation.
If you believe the church has the power to destroy the works of the devil and hold back the antichrist, rise to your feet and give God victorious praise.
Revelation chapters one through three are all about the church. There are seven letters to seven churches written by Jesus Himself.
And then, take a look at what happens in chapter four:
Revelation 4:1 NKJV - After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
Sound familiar? The sound of a trumpet calling you up to meet Jesus.
What you need to recognize here is that the church is not mentioned in Revelation again until the last chapter.
Throughout the entire prophecy of the tribulation and all the horrible judgments, there is NO mention of the church. Why? Because there is a void of the church in the tribulation. It isn’t here!
Jesus gave us several parables and Old Testament comparisons to help us understand the end times.
Matthew 24:37-41 NLT - When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
When the flood came, did Noah have to tread water for seven days first? Did he have to swim to the boat? No.
Not one drop of rain, not one drop of God’s judgment was allowed to fall until Noah and his family were safely sealed in the Ark.
God does not pour out His wrath on the righteous! He never has, and He never will.
When Jesus returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. Take a look at what it was like then:
Genesis 6:11 NLT - Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence.
Sound familiar? It’s just like it was in the days of Noah. And this is going to blow your mind. Take a look at the Hebrew word that is translated to violence in this scripture:
Ḥāmās - violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice.
I hope this gets your attention. Jesus really is coming soon!
Noah isn’t the only representation of how this will play out. We have another as well.
Luke 17:28-30,34-35 NLT - And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
Was Lot dodging burning sulfur on his way out? No!
Not one flame of God’s judgment was released until God first sent angels to remove Lot out of harm's way. God does not pour out His wrath on the righteous! He never has, and He never will.
Take a look at what Jesus said to the faithful church in Revelation chapter three:
Revelation 3:10 NLT - Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.
Did Jesus say He will protect us IN the great time of testing? No. He said He will protect us FROM it.
The great time of testing, the tribulation, is not for those who belong to God! It is for those who belong to the world. That’s why Jesus will remove us before it comes.
This concludes my recap from our midweek service. Who’s ready for the next five reasons you should expect a pre-tribulation rapture?
One of the clearest ways to determine the timing of the rapture mentioned in 1 Thessalonians is that the resurrection of the dead is not mentioned at the end of the Tribulation.
Turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter four. We’ll start here, and then I will take you to Revelation.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT - And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.
Now, let’s contrast this with a few details regarding the end of the Tribulation in Revelation.
Revelation 19:14 NLT - The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
This verse is talking about the church! When Jesus comes back, we come with Him as His army.
But wait. How did we end up with Jesus before this post-tribulation event if there wasn’t a pre-tribulation rapture?
We know that it can’t be a post-tribulation rapture because take a look at what happens after the battle has been won:
Revelation 20:4-5 NLT - Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)
Who came back to life? Only those who were beheaded during the tribulation. But didn’t Thessalonians just tell us that the dead in Christ will rise first?
Clearly, these are two separate events. Based on this Biblical evidence and the others I have shared, 1 Thessalonians has become clear. It is referring to a pre-tribulation rapture. Do you need more proof? Probably so. This is a hot topic. Let’s keep going.
God is the one who made the choice that the church would not go through the tribulation. Take a look:
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 NLT - For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.
It’s funny how we have a hard time believing this. We struggle to wrap our minds around the goodness of God. It’s like we want things to be hard.
This comes from all the religious teaching over the years. “It’s hard to serve God. You’ll live a poor, pitiful life on the earth. But hang on for your mansion in heaven!”
Hogwash. He wants us victorious NOW. He wants us full of joy NOW. We are to be the most victorious, peaceful, and joyful people the world has ever seen.
We should be confident in God’s goodness! He’s not going to make me suffer through the tribulation. He chose to save me!
The only suffering you should have before heaven is persecution. Even then, you should consider it an opportunity for great joy. For when your faith is tested through persecution, your endurance has a chance to grow!
The church in these last few years is going to become unrecognizable. Until now, the world has known us as pitiful, passive, poor, weak people. But watch out!
The Holy Spirit has given us a makeover! He’s preparing us for our wedding day! Before we are raptured, we’ll be known as people who are full of crazy joy!
The church will become a safe haven. It won’t look anything like the world. The world will become more and more evil, beaten down, and depressed while we become more and more joyful!
Passive Christianity is over. Calm Christianity is over. Depressed Christianity is over, if that ever was Christianity to begin with. Sing and shout for joy! God has chosen to save you from the coming horrors!
Let’s go back and read what the Apostle Paul said after giving details about the rapture:
1 Thessalonians 4:18 NLT - So encourage each other with these words.
If I told you that we wouldn’t be raptured until the middle or end of the tribulation, would you be encouraged?
It would sound like this, “So, uh, many bad things are about to happen. Many of us are going to die. But anyone who makes it will be raptured. Good luck!” Nope, not encouraging. But I can tell you what is encouraging.
Before the tribulation begins, Jesus is going to call us up to heaven! First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves! Then those of us who are alive will meet them in the air with the Lord! Then, we will be with the Lord forever!
Who’s encouraged now? Is encouragement a sin? How about hope? How about taking part in the goodness of God? God has never poured out His wrath on the righteous! He never has, and He never will.
Based on scripture, I think we all would agree that the church is the bride of Christ. That’s one of those things across denominations we can all agree on.
So, what groom would tell his bride, “Listen, I am going to have you beaten and raped before we get married. It’ll be so bad, it’s highly likely that you are going to die. But I’ll raise you from the dead before we get married.”
No! Jesus is not coming back for a beaten, bloody, dead bride. Here’s what Jesus is coming back for:
Ephesians 5:27 NLT - He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
This echoes many of the other points today. God does not pour out His wrath on the righteous. Jesus will protect us from the great time of testing. He is coming back for a glorious church!
If you are going to be part of that glorious church, shout to your good, good Father.
One of the things people say when mocking the pre-tribulation rapture is, “You are just looking for an escape.”
Again, this comes from religion. We want it to be hard. We want to be miserable and let everyone know we are.
But let me put this in perspective. If you were in a burning building and there was a way of escape, would you just sit there and burn?
So when people accuse me of looking for an escape, I reply, “Yes, yes I am. I am looking for the escape that Jesus told me to look for.”
Luke 21:36 NLT - Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.
Since Jesus said I can escape the coming horrors, that’s exactly what I will do. And through daily prayer, I will ensure I am strong enough to find that escape hatch.
Luke 12:37-38 NLT - The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! And what greater reward is there than to enjoy a meal with Christ while the prophecy of the Tribulation is fulfilled?
I hope you noticed how this scripture made it clear that this reward is only for the servants who are ready and waiting for His return. This should prompt a question:
We get the answer in Luke chapter 21:
Luke 21: 34-36 NLT - Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.
The Holy Spirit has done a great job over the last three years, reminding the church that we are free from sin. We’re not just forgiven, we are free.
The biggest temptation for the church was sin just a few years ago. But now, what we need to watch for are things that dull our hearts.
What are the things that dull our hearts? Alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, worldly television shows and movies, social media, worrying about money, and the cares of this life.
We are being tempted to put anything and everything above the things of God. The enemy is working to get us to do anything except spend time in God’s presence and with His people.
Recently, I’ve witnessed a frustration stirring in many people here at NoLimits. Some have even risen up with a stern rebuke for those who are not prioritizing the things of God. Now I understand why.
The Holy Spirit is issuing a stern rebuke to save you! You are being tempted to do things that dull your heart toward God, and Jesus is bringing out the rescue paddle.
Listen carefully. There will be many people who end up in hell because they became lukewarm. There was a time they did all kinds of things in Jesus name, but then they turned their attention elsewhere. They became indifferent. They ran out of oil.
Turn with me to Matthew chapter 25.
Matthew 25:1-13 NLT - “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
There is nothing more important than the things of God! We must fan the flame until we are so on fire that we wreck our schedules to be a part of what God is doing every day of our lives.
When you become indifferent about what is going on here at your own church, if you could take it or leave it, that’s a warning sign!
If something as menial as sports or work or sleep becomes more important than gathering with the body of Christ, WATCH OUT!
It’s amazing how this is coming true right in front of my eyes! It’s so obvious why Jesus issued this warning because it will be more and more common as we approach His return.
And this isn’t the first time. The same exact thing happened during His First Coming. Take a look:
Matthew 13:15 NKJV - For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.
This doesn’t have to be you! Hear me!
Luke 21: 34-36 NLT - Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.
I am shouting at you today because I love you. I want you at my table at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The TV show is not worth it. The alcohol is not worth it. The job that is trying to consume your life is not worth it. The marijuana is not worth it. Being constantly on your phone is not worth it.
This message carries an anointing to break the power of that thing that is dulling your heart. But there is a choice you have to make: surrender.
Jesus can only free you from the things that you surrender. I’m talking about a complete release. You can’t just give Him some of it. You must give Him all of it.
If there is something that is dulling your heart that you need Jesus to break off of your life, come to the front now and receive freedom. While you are coming up, I need to address those listening online. This same offer goes for you to.
If there is something that is dulling your heart that you need Jesus to break off of your life, drop to your knees, lift up your hands, and surrender it to Jesus. I can promise you that whatever you surrender to Jesus, He will give you freedom in its place.
The scriptures confirm a pre-tribulation rapture. But how do we know when it will take place?
The Bible reveals in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 that those in this world will be completely surprised. Like a thief, the church will be snatched away. But get this: we won’t be surprised.
Two things help us understand the timing. First is the parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24. This parable reveals that the sign of all signs is when Israel is reborn as a nation. That happened in 1948.
Then it says “This generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.”
There is a lot of discussion about how long a generation is. But one thing we know for sure is that there will be at least one person still alive at the end of the tribulation who was also alive in 1948.
The current life expectancy in America is 76 years. It has been 75 years since Israel became a nation. This confirms the rapture and tribulation are knocking at the door.
The second thing that helps us determine the timing is God’s overall timeline of the earth. Let me show you.
Many thought the year 2000, Y2K, was the end of the current 2,000-year period we are in. However, the current age did not begin until the resurrection of Christ.
There is a bit of an argument here, as with anything regarding end times. But it has been narrowed down to AD 27, 30, 33, or 34. Most scholars believe it is AD 30.
If this age began in AD 30, that means the tribulation must end by 2030, making it’s starting point 2023. If it is AD 33, the tribulation must end by 2033, making its starting point 2026.
We are right here at the end. And after today, you won’t be surprised when the church disappears. You’ll be ready. You’ll be expecting it. I will meet you in the air.
Every day, we should wake up thinking, “I hope today’s the day. Lord, I am watching for your return.”
And as we watch with expectation, we must be diligent to occupy until He comes. We must exercise our authority as the body of Christ to hold back the antichrist and faithfully tell others the good news of Jesus Christ and of the Kingdom of God.
If knowing about the rapture causes you to hide and do nothing, you are in error. Those who truly understand the rapture will be filled with motivation and boldness.
Time is short. The harvesters are few. It’s time to cut out all distractions and get to work telling others about the Kingdom of Heaven!
