I grew up listening to ministers preach a “pre-tribulation” rapture, and I have believed it for most of my life. But recently as I read the Bible I see verses like the one here that have made me change my mind.
Read Mark 13
I am referring to verses 24-27 in this chapter. “at that time” and AFTER the anguish of those days….he will send out His angels to gather His chosen ones from all over the earth and heaven.
I can understand that “everyone” includes those who died in centuries past. I know that you could read the word “heaven” in verse 27 to mean that Christians are already there, and are returning. But what I can’t escape is the clear descriptive words of Jesus that say “chosen people” will be collected from the earth…from the farthest of the earth, and it will happen after the calamity of those days. It sounds like the rapture is at least partway through the tribulation to me. If I were you, I would be preparing myself spiritually to stay through the tribulation, and then if God takes us early it will be a pleasant surprise. Far better to have it that way than to avoid preparation because you think you won’t be here….only to find out that staying is required. I think some Christians are looking for the easy way out, which creates a weak faith, the kind that is in danger of being led astray or collapsing under the weight of suffering.
Having just finished reading the Old Testament, I notice that the “abomination causing desolation” has occurred at least once already when Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig on the altar in 167 BC. Since that was identified as an abomination causing desolation, we know that something similar is going to happen in the future. Jesus was telling us this, and He lived in 30 AD….so it had been 200 years since the last “abomination”.
The event foreseen by Daniel and spoken of here and in Matthew 24 must be another event. It brings with it a 7 year peace treaty crafted by the AntiChrist. Since that event has not occurred yet, we must assume that the temple will be rebuilt! How can this prophecy be fulfilled without having a temple where the abomination causing desolation stands? I guess you could consider the entire temple mount the “holy place” but that terminology was always used to describe a room in the temple where the altar was. Sacrifices weren’t made in the “Holy of Holies”, but the blood of the sacrifices was sometimes carried in there.
Is the end near? Perhaps. But it seems to me that the temple will have to be rebuilt. However, I would be ready, just like the end of the chapter suggests because we don’t know when the Master will return. Just like the pre-trib rapture dilemma, it’s better to be prepared to meet Jesus at any time, and also understand that there should be some sort of temple erected before He comes. I strongly urge anyone reading this to not think “since there is no temple yet I don’t have to be prepared right now…I have some time” I cannot emphasize this strongly enough: “there is certainly less time than you think you have, and if you put it off until you think the time is close, time will run out on you while you are still unprepared.” Don’t wait, my friend. Acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and ultimate authority in the universe, and ask Him for forgive you of your sins and to adopt you as His child. Ask Him to include your name in His “Book of life” that will permit you entrance into heaven. And then (and this is important) spend your time learning more about Him, and learning to behave in a way that makes Him proud. Get someone to explain the role of the Holy Spirit to you, He is your guide and counselor and makes all of this possible. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you. Ask Him to lead you to a Bible believing, healthy church where you can learn and grow.
I only know of a few locals who read anything that I have blogged, and that’s okay. It’s not about the number of people who see it. But if for some reason you happen to read this and it leads you to make a change in your life, then I celebrate that with you. Maybe we won’t meet on earth, but I would like to see you in heaven. What a conversation we could have!
Faithfully,
PR