It is said that all things must end. That is true with the tribulation, also. This devotion looks at the last three and a half years of the tribulation.
Nuggets
- After the Antichrist is resurrected, he doubles down on his hatred of God’s followers — Jews and disciples alike.
- The “fun” begins when God cuts loose with the seven trumpets.
- If the trumpets are designed to inflict pain, the bowls are going to finish us off.
- Jesus and His army will defeat the Antichrist and his army.
Devotions in the What I Believe series
Devotions in the End Times category
End Times Churchy Words Focus
We’ve been looking at the tribulation. In this devotion, we are going to look at the last half, known as the great tribulation.
Note: these four devotions give a very broad overview. There were some high points left out (like the two witnesses).
We’ll come back sometime and pick those up. There just wasn’t room in these series.
Let's Put It into Context
According to Compelling Truth, the tribulation “… is the period during the end times wherein God judges Israel and the world for their unrighteousness and prepares to establish Jesus as the King of the world.”
Resource
The tribulation will last for seven years. It can be divided into two halves with a identifiable middle in between.
Second Half of the Tribulation
Persecution Begins
“Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name” (Mt. 24: 9 CSB)
After the Antichrist is resurrected, he doubles down on his hatred of God’s followers — Jews and disciples alike. I guess he will figure he has made his point that he is God’s equal.
Something that seems to get air play from time to time is the mark of the beast. Some will think the advantages of having the mark will outweigh the disadvantages. “And it makes everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave — to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name.” (Rev. 13: 16-17 CSB).
It may be something tattooed on either our foreheads or hands. With today’s technology, it might be a microchip. It may start out as something innocuous and morph into something entirely different as technology advances.
That may help the situation at the time, but the consequences will be paid throughout eternity. Accepting the mark of the beast is forever choosing to give our allegiance to Satan. Satan = torment in hell for eternity.
To read a devotion in the Hell Does Have Fury series, click the appropriate button below.
Seven Trumpets
Then the “fun” begins. God is going to cut loose. It starts with seven trumpets.
But the trumpets are only heralds. More fun is to follow.
Seven Bowls
If the trumpets are designed to inflict pain, the bowls are going to finish us off.
When we live through the trumpets and bowls, there will be a lot of pain associated with it. Part of me wants to ask how anyone who will live through this could not believe in God. Oh, there will be some who stay with Satan.
Praise God, He will still be in the business of salvation. “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7: 14 ESV). All they have to do is ABCD.
The End
“Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22: 5 CSB)
Jesus and His army will defeat the Antichrist and his army (Rev. 19: 11-21). Sturgeon wrote, “Everything which sets up itself in opposition to the sacrifice of Christ is to be hurled down, and made to sink like a millstone in the flood.”
That means judgment for those who did not ABCD. That means reward for those of us who did. We’ve already talked about judgment.
Devotions in the What I Believe series
End Times category
Judgment Day Focus
Disciples are called the bride of Christ because there will be a marriage ceremony once we are called home. In this ceremony, Christ’s church will be made perfect (Spurgeon).
It seems logical that it is referred to as a marriage. It signifies the “… and they become one” (Gen. 2: 24 GNT) thing. It generally entails a residency change. It takes love.
We become one with Christ. We become as He is.
This heaven and earth dissolve. “… Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them” (Rev. 20: 11 CSB). New heaven, earth, and Jerusalem replace it. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21: 1-2 CSB).
Then eternity begins.
Making the Connections
Yes, we have been reading some scary words. No, they are not fiction. They will be fact one day.
We need to believe them. We need to tell those around us about them.
That is our part of our job: to proclaim the gospel and make disciples.
The Disciple’s Job Description
Complete Job Description
Individual Description
Job Duty #4
Proclaim the Gospel (Mark 16: 15)
Job Duty #6
Make Disciples (Matthew 28: 19-20)
We aren’t supposed to figure it all out. We are just supposed to have faith. Faith is the belief that the doctrines stated in God’s Word are true, even if we do not understand all aspects of them.
Our focus should be on God because He has it figured out.
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
When the tribulation begins, non-believers will see that prophecy is true. Convincing some before they see the horror will be challenging.
But we have to witness to them. We want them to know the loving God we do.
We’ve been looking at defending our beliefs when we are witnessing. That means we have to be secure enough to convince someone to accept our beliefs.
Our questions should still serve us to determine on what we need to focus.
- What does the Scriptures say?
- What do I believe?
- Why do I believe the same/differently than the Scriptures?
- What are the talking points when witnessing to a non-believer?
Related Links
I have created a worksheet of the questions above. Click on the button below to access it.
How Do We Apply This?
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Father God. You are Sovereign God. You know what the end is. You know the how and the when. Lord, help us to remain faithful to You. Strengthen us so that we are not pulled into the worldview. We look forward to when we can see You face to face. Amen.
What do you think?
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