VII. Universal Propagation of the Gospel of the Kingdom

Lesson Three – Signs Of The Times Cont. (part 1)

VII. Universal Propagation Of The Gospel Of The Kingdom

This scripture is another proof that that preterism is false. Jesus declared the end of the age would come only when the gospel of the kingdom has been declared to all nations. Certainly all nations had not heard the gospel of the kingdom by 70 A.D. It also proclaims the power of God getting His message out regardless of all the false annointed ones doing Satan’s bidding. Though many will be deceived by the false messiahs, the false teachers can’t stop the real gospel from going forth. The “end” that shall come has to do with the end of the age. The end of the age will introduce another age whereby Jesus will return and establish His kingdom on the earth for 1000 years. (Rev. 20:1-6)

Question:

What is the gospel of the kingdom? Is it different than what the apostle Paul preached to the Gentiles? (see – Acts 19:8; 20:5; 28:23.31; Rom. 14:17; I Cor. 4:20; 6:9; Eph. 5:5; I Thes. 2:12)

Does this mean that only when we have preached the gospel to all nations that Jesus can return to the earth?

Should this verse be used as a clarion call for missions?

VIII. The Sign Of The Abomination Of Desolation

Once again, the preterist use this verse to prove that scripture had to be fulfilled in the lifetime of the disciples because Jesus said, “When you shall see”. To hold such a view means that the prophecy of Daniel (11:31) would have to be fulfilled by 70 A.D.

Though the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. there is no historical record of any great king/Leader ever coming into the temple and profaning it by declaring himself to be God. One simply can’t place all the things that Daniel spoke in chapter eleven and make it fit Titus and the Roman army. “The King”of Daniel chapter eleven doesn’t destroy the temple as Titus did. The King mentioned in Daniel 11 declares himself to be God and will place an image of Himself within the temple. (see Rev. 13:14,15)

Jesus reminds usof what was prophesied in Daniel 11. The comment “whoever reads, let him understand”appears to have been placed by Matthew by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul speaks of this in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4:

That day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Daniel goes on to say in 12:11, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.”By these words we know that the end of the age is around 3 1/2 years from the setting up of the abomination.

Jesus gives some actions that should be taken by those that understand who will actualy be present in Israel when the event takes place.

For those in Judea, head for the Mountains – Judean wilderness
Don’t take the time to pack up your stuff, not even extra clothes – The moment you see it happen leave immediately. (It appears that all that heed this warning will survive the horrible time to come – see Rev. 12:6-16)

With these instructions Jesus calls on people that understand to pray the Abomination of Desolation doesn’t take place on a sabbath, in the winter. He also declares the extra hardship it will carry on those with child with a “woe” which is an expression of a terrible and dificult time.

It is important to see just how Jewish all this is. Jesus is speaking to the believing Jews that will be alive in that day. The church will be gone. Later we will discuss why that is the case. The information Jesus gives is valuable to us as the church so we will know His plans concerning the future, and will also be extremely valuable for those who will become His disciples in the Great Tribulation after the church is gone.

IX. The Sign Of Great tribulation

The time of tribulation will be so fierce that if the Lord didn’t shorten the days there would not be a single human being left alive on the earth. There is a legitimate question to be asked here; Since the tribulation is spoken about in the OT and the NT with a specific length of time, how could the days be shortened and maintain the integrity of scripture? I believe the shortening of days could also have to do with the actual time of daylight. (see – Rev. 8:2) This shortening was actually done for the elect who will be living in this awful time period. It would be impossible for even God’s people to survive the harsh conditions unless God intervened.

Questions:

Who is the elect? (see – is. 45:4; Is. 65:9; Mic. 2:12; Zep. 3:18-20; Zech. 10:10; Mt. 24:31
Will people be saved during the time of the tribulation? Scripture verse please
What will happen to people that enter the tribulation that have previously rejected Christ? (Read II Thess. 2: 8-12)

Understanding The Tribulation period

There are several different points of view pertaining to whether or not christianswill have to go through the “Great Tribulation”. The following are the various views:

Christians will be raptured up before the tribulation takes place.
Christians will have to go through one half of the tribulation period.
Christians will go through most of the tribualtion but towards the very end they will be raptured out before the bowl judgments of Revelation take place.
Christians will go through the entire time of the tribulation.

Only time will tell for sure which view is correct. One thing for sure, whatever our views on the subject is, it won’t determine when the rapture will take place. I am a pre-tribulation rapture theology preacher. I believe the pre-tribulation rapture theory is the most congruent and reasonable view than any of the others. To help you understand why, we need understand a few things about the nature and purpose of the great tribulation period.

Some Biblical Terms For The Tribulation

The Great Tribulation - Mt. 24:21
Daniel’s Seventieth Week - “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression,” Dan. 9:24
The Time Of Jacob’s Trouble - Alas! for that day [is] great, so that none [is] like it: it [is] even the time of Jacob's trouble ; but he shall be saved out of it. Jer. 30:7
The Day of the Lord – Multiple Ref.

The Nature of the Tribulation

As Jesus already spoke, the nature of the tribulation is unprecedented in the world. Before Jesus spoke of of this time period the prophet Daniel also spoke of its unprecedneted intensity.

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Dan 12:1

The Tribulation will be a time of unprecedented:

Tribulation
Satanic and Human Wrath
Wrath of God on Unbelievers
Destruction/War
Global Famine, Disease, and Starvation
Global Death - Billions
Persecution of Israel/Jews
Martyrdom of the Saints
Global Government Authority
Supernatural Events

The Three-Fold Purpose of the 70th Week

There are only three stated reasons given in the scripture as to the purpose of a “Great Tribulation”.

1. To Punish the Whole World

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Is. 26:21

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation Rev. 14:10

Why? Because the earth chooses an anti-Christ and rejects His Christ, and chooses a harlot religion who kills God’s saints.

2. To Complete Israel’s punishment

Dan. 9:24 - Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city….

The following is the purpose of the seventy weeks which is included in the verse 24:

To Finish the Transgression To Make an End to Sins To Make Reconciliation for Iniquity To Bring in Everlasting Righteousness To Seal Up the Vision To Anoint the Most Holy

3. To prepare Israel to receive their Messiah

Read – Jer. 30:7-10 – Zech. 12:10 – Zech. 13:7-9 - Rom. 11:26

If one reads all the above carefully one can clearly see the Jewish nature of the Tribulation

The Time period Of Tribulation

For a visual aid please examine the chart below to see the flow of the prophetic timetable. A common name for the tribulation is Daniel’s 70th week. The chart will help you see when it begins.

(download “Lesson Three-part 2” for chart and continuation of lesson!)