Prophecy of the End Time by Daniel and Jesus
“At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24: 21-22
Couple #1-Every Fall, you can find her busy canning food from her garden to store away for the time of trouble. This annual exercise takes priority over everything else. She is working feverishly as if the stores are going to run out of food tomorrow. Her cellar is packed with food and other necessities to sustain the life of her and her husband for a long time. How long? She doesn’t know.
Her husband has a passion for stockpiling weapons for the time of trouble. He has enough weapons and ammunition for a small army. He reasons people will likely try to steal their food when the time comes. As a good American citizen, they have the right to defend their home and possessions. They have built a small home near the mountains, far from the crazy world of the big cities. Well water and solar panels provide everything they need to officially be off the grid and live a life of preparation for the day the world sinks into the black hole of despair, hunger, crime, and complete chaos. They have pulled all their money out of the bank and hid it in different places on their property. They are great students of the prophecies, particularly Revelation. They are Christians.
But they have missed something! There is one thing they don’t have. It is so important. If they don’t find it soon, they will never make it through the scenario they have built in their minds. The prophecy they have built in their mind comes from other survivalists, preachers in their small group, and the dark, wet news of the day. What they see in the world frightens them!
Couple #2 On the other side of the spectrum is another husband and wife. They make good money and enjoy their home and life. They believe the church will be raptured away before the time of trouble. So they make no preparation at all because they won’t be here. They believe their pastor, who proudly states,
“I don’t care about the Beast of Revelation 13 and the time of trouble. I won’t be here.”
So, the book of Revelation is not relevant to them. They hardly ever look at it. After all, it is all symbols, and no one can understand it.
This couple’s understanding of prophecies has come from isolated, out-of-context accounts of Biblical verses about end-time events preached to them through Hollywood productions, books, and passionate, well-dressed pastors. They spend little time in God’s word. They reason that the church hired a preacher to feed them. This husband and wife have missed something, too. If they don’t find it soon, they will be surprised when the time of trouble begins, and they are still here. They, too, are Christians.
Both Christian families are good people. They have heard things from false prophets that Jesus promised would come. Jesus said the deception would be of an immense scope. The whole world will be deceived! It is so tricky that even the very elect of God would be deceived if it was not for this one thing:
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24
What is the thing that the elect have that makes it impossible for them to be deceived? Is it knowledge of the Bible alone? Notice from Jesus’ words that it is signs and wonders used to deceive the people of our planet. What could this be? It is fire from heaven provided by the beast of Revelation 13. This earthly power provides the deception that will trick almost everyone on Earth:
He performs great signs so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
Revelation 13:13
Satan is Preparing for the Time of Trouble
It can be said biblically that Satan is preparing for the time of trouble, too. He is trying to keep the people of planet Earth from the one thing the two couples don’t have. Those already under his control are lost in their choice to live their version of happiness: in drink, drugs, work, and entertainment, Satan will use anything that will keep the work of God through the Holy Spirit to draw them to know Jesus.
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
The next verse is not often quoted. It gives the reader the solution and the thing missing by the two couples.
Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
1 Peter 5:9 (NLT)
But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”
Revelation 12:12 (NLT)
Satan’s preparation is not to survive but to take as many Christians as he can to eternal death because he knows he has a short time left. How does he know? Because he has had thousands of years to study God and His prophecies. He believes in the second advent but still does not love nor trust his Creator. He is a rebel from heaven!
Followers of Christ who have been baptized and perhaps have been doing good things for the church can be devoured. But not the elect because they have the one thing the two couples do not. Unconsciously, the two couples feel they deserve a place in heaven because of their church membership and good works.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7: 21-23
The couples will not survive the time of the trouble because they lack a personal knowledge of God and have not practiced trust in God. Jeremiah asked a question we should ask ourselves:
“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? Jeremiah 12:5
What the Two Couples Lack
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
If we don’t know God the Father and Jesus Christ nor trust Them in the little things of everyday life, then how can we trust Them in life-and-death situations of the time of trouble? Whether we are here on earth or not, trust in God the Father and Jesus Christ and the Truth personally is critical in being saved in the little times of trouble that come upon us or the big worldwide time of trouble that is sure to come either way. Daily trust in God is the preparation for larger times of trouble in your life.
Survival is dependent more on who you know than what you know. Although, this is not to diminish the importance of knowing God’s word. It is the truth sets a person free from fear.
“...this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3
A true knowledge of God results in following or obeying him. A person can’t follow Him if they are disobedient and say in their hearts,
“Tthe moral law of God has been done away with.”
He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:4
Conclusion
In summary, Couple #1 is prepared to save themselves by the works of their hands i.e., canning food,, stockpiling weapons, and protecting their bank account. While preparation is always a good thing, they are showing their unbelief in God’s ability to supply their needs in times of trouble. Because of lack of faith, they have fear, and they look for ways to help God provide for them during the big time of trouble. He promised Isaiah a promise we can keep for ourselves:
He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks;
Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
Isaiah 33:16
No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
Psalm 91:10
Couple #2 lacks faith in God also. They have faith, but it is faith in the easy way out. But what if the popular way of thinking about end-time events is wrong, and they find themselves in the midst of it? Only trust in God will get them through, too. They need to prepare by trusting in God, which can be difficult when you enjoy all the earthly comforts. Those will one day be of little value.
Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin. Ezekiel 7:19
Satan works especially hard on those who take the name of Jesus. He causes doubt and a lack of trust. This is where he can devour a person. If we can’t trust in God and His word, he can lead them to trust in themselves or hide behind an incorrect knowledge of God. They can even believe the worst thing possible. An angry and unforgiving God who performs the most evil act possible. Eternal torture. This idea is probably the most disgusting slap in the face of a gracious, forgiving God who wants to draw people to him through love, forgiveness, and power over sins; not through threats of unending torture in flames of fire.
Ultimately, it is faith (trust) that pleases God. That must mean that lack of trust does not please him. Jesus asks this rhetorical question about faith and the end time.
When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:8
The answer to His question is obviously No! Our two couples would do well to know this truth about God and what He desires for them:
But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:24
Do you know God personally? Do you trust Him even if your prayers are not answered the way you requested? Can you say to Him, “not my will, but yours be done?” Can you trust Him even if times of trouble fall upon you? Have you turned your back on God because of some great loss in your life? Begin today to rest in Him and find peace even though the sky falls. Trust in the small things. it will prepare you for the big things. Get to know Him daily. Make time to search for Him with all your heart. Then you can say,
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold….For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me….
In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 18:2, Psalm 44:6, Psalm 56:4