It is important to understand the times and seasons, and to know to some degree what the Scriptures reveal on the subject theologians call “eschatology.” This is the doctrine of the final events which will take place in the end time and open the door to the Kingdom of God on earth.
At the very end of I Thessalonians 5 is a portion of Scripture that is completely surrounded by references to the end-time coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:16 reads: Rejoice always. How does this relate to the hour in which we are living? Before the end-time coming of the Lord, there will be a great heaviness upon the world. Referring to these days, Joel wrote that “joy is withered away from the sons of men” (Joel 1:12). In the entertainment industry today we already see less in the way of humorous entertainment. Some of the old comics, such as Buster Keaton, devoted their lives to create the kind of humor that brought forth a good belly laugh. At that time one could still find much humor and laughter in the entertainment world. Now, most entertainment is centered around violence and crime and many things that would have been condemned a few years ago in the public media. People today, in the religious world as well as in the secular world, are usually very heavyhearted. They do not have joy.
The truth of the matter is that we are approaching an era that will be very difficult to endure or survive. At the present time, people must take precautions even to walk down a city street, to avoid being robbed or molested.
The Lord says, Rejoice always. I Thessalonians 5:16. If you do not do that, you will give way to what Jesus said would happen: Men’s hearts (will be) failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Luke 21:26. Never in history has there been such a sudden change and shift from one age to another. A whole new climate has come forth in the world. Presently, there is very little encouragement from economists and those who study political events and international relationships.
We learn from the Scriptures that … in the last days perilous times shall come. II Timothy 3:1. There will be … wars and rumours of wars … Matthew 24:6, and … distress of nations. Luke 21:25. In the early Thirties it was not unusual to hear sermons about the “signs of the times.” The rapture teaching was deeply ingrained within many Christians. Uppermost in their minds was the fear that the Lord would come and they might have to face the antichrist. By looking for a rapture, they had a way to escape these perilous times.
Many of us who share a burden to walk in the restored truths of the Word have been accused of saying that we do not believe in the rapture. That is a fallacy. We believe that the presence of the Lord will overwhelm and encompass His people, bringing to pass a completion of what God wants, through the Church and in the segment or remnant that will launch the Kingdom. No one should interpret from this that we do not believe in a rapture. There will be a rapture; but the occurrence which is labeled the “rapture” is scripturally titled the “first resurrection” (Revelation 20:5–6; Luke 14:14).
The people who press on into the Kingdom may live to see a great deal of tribulation before this first resurrection (I Thessalonians 4:13–18; I Corinthians 15:22–24, 51–52). The spirit of antichrist is already in the earth (I John 2:18). Are you expecting to miss the tribulation? Let me remind you that you have missed much of it already. There is presently more tribulation in the world than you may realize. The New Testament writers who refer to the end time do not describe a chronological order of events, but they do clearly stress the need to be prepared (I Thessalonians 5:1–11). You must be ready to go through these times. According to the Scriptures, it is not only possible, but most probable, that we will experience much trouble before the Lord returns in the first resurrection. This fact is repeated again and again with great intensity throughout the New Testament.
Therefore, do not look for the escape to come first. Rather, somewhere down the line in the midst of the unfolding events, look for that first resurrection and breakthrough that some call the rapture.
We have been called heretics by some people because we believe what the Scriptures point out-that we will go through at least some of the tribulation. The fact is, we are simply refusing a fairly modern doctrine which theorizes that we will escape the tribulation; and we are accepting the actual scriptural teaching that we should be prepared to experience as much of it as the Lord deems necessary to put us through. Does this mean that the rapture will not come? It certainly will come, but probably not within the time sequence that many people have placed it. Christians all over the world have experienced much tribulation already. If you do not believe that, ask some of the Russian Christians what has happened to them. Ask the Chinese martyrs who are with the Lord if they experienced tribulation. Here in America, we have not seen the severe tortures and persecutions already endured by many in other countries around the world.
There are countries today whose governments train people in torture methods which are almost unbelievable. In one country, spiritual leaders as well as political enemies were subjected to having cages placed over their heads and rats turned loose upon them to eat them alive. As recently as the Vietnam war, Christians endured horrible tortures. In South America and Africa at the present time, there are concentrated efforts to kill the Christians. In countries where revolutions have occurred, ministers and other Christians have been targets of persecution and violence. And still some people insist that there will be a rapture, by which we will all miss tribulation! There has already been a great deal of it worldwide.
It would be wise to look again to the Scriptures and examine what the Lord tells us to do. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. I Thessalonians 5:16–24. This Scripture shows us how to be prepared so that we will still be walking with God when the Lord Himself comes. What we are going through or what the world is going through is not the real issue. What is truly important is our readiness to go faithfully through these times.
What would it mean to be without this dedication in our hearts? Let us suppose that, as the proponents of the popular rapture theory claim, everyone who has ever named the name of the Lord will be suddenly caught away before this great tribulation hits the world. If, incredibly, it does happen that soon, we are as ready for it as we can be. In fact, we will be more prepared than those who believe this theory. On the other hand, suppose they are wrong and the rapture does come during or after the tribulation. Then the people who are not dedicated to go through tribulation or to walk with God, and who are not wholly prepared for the coming of the Lord, could miss it. They could be among those who might turn aside from the Lord Jesus.
We have already read verses 16–24 of I Thessalonians 5. Notice how that chapter begins: Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. This indicates that there is a new day for us to walk in, while the night rests upon the whole world.
For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. I Thessalonians 5:1–11. In a sense, the scene portrayed in this Scripture is depressing; yet the emphasis is upon your deep preparation of heart. Be prepared to walk in the rejoicing of the Lord, in prayerfulness, and in the giving of thanks.
The world’s attention is turning apprehensively toward this dark hour. The night is coming upon the whole world; but the darker it gets for them, the greater will be the light that breaks forth for us. Already there are now more prophets in the earth, as well as more revelation and more of God in His remnant, than have ever existed at any one time in the past generations. God’s people in former times did not have as deep a walk with God or the extensive revelation that many today have received. They did not have many of the ministries that have been restored to the Church in this hour. Compared to what exists now, it was more like a spiritual wilderness. Instead of our talking about the good old days, let us look forward and be prepared for a spiritual outpouring greater than has ever occurred. Those who can recall the wonderful experiences and movings of God in the past may also remember what a shallow dedication was usually prevalent among Christians, and how so many of them fell by the wayside. Now God has a people who are prepared for His presence and for His coming.
I Thessalonians 4:13–18 is a familiar passage, but view it in a new light as you read it now: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (Christians who have gone on to be with the Lord), that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. We will not get ahead of them in the first resurrection that is coming.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Notice again that this experience, which is called the “rapture,” should actually be termed the “first resurrection.” Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The fifth chapter, which we quoted previously, informs us that we should not be ignorant of the times and the seasons, the ages in which these things will take place. We know that the Lord is coming, and that there will be a first resurrection. Nothing in this message is contradictory to those truths. The Lord is simply revealing something that is important for us to grasp. Instead of preaching about the antichrist and the falling away, we want to concentrate on the Lord’s promise that He will sanctify us wholly, so that we will be without blame at His coming (I Thessalonians 5:23–24). Our preparation for His coming is far more important than quibbling over the technicalities in the chronology of events. This is the emphasis: Be ready. “That day will come as a snare on the whole earth. Take heed that it does not overtake you unawares” (Luke 21:34–35).
Paul begins his second Epistle to the Thessalonians by saying, We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater. (Something good had happened to them because of Paul’s first Epistle. They were moving out in greater love and faith, and that was what he wanted.) Therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. II Thessalonians 1:3–5.
Be ready for the Kingdom of God. This is what Paul was emphasizing. It is not enough that our doctrines be right. Our hearts must be right. There is a great deal of difference, and we want the deep work completed in our hearts. Should the Lord decide to blow the trumpet and come this very day, we would be delighted to see an end to the struggle we are under and to know that He will work things out the way He wants. However, we should also prepare to walk with God regardless of what may come.
For many years the burden of my heart has been to warn people, to teach them, to help them grow and move into dedication. I have seen many fall by the wayside for the most trivial of excuses. Jeremiah warns us, “If you have run with the footmen and they have wearied you, how will you contend with the horses? If in the days of peace you have fainted, what will you do at the swelling of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5.) If people fall away over trivial problems, what will they do when the real battle comes?
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. II Thessalonians 1:6–8. Paul mentions two major events throughout his writings to the Thessalonian church. The first is the mighty call of command which heralds the resurrection. The other is the coming of the angels in flaming fire to bring affliction and judgment upon those who have afflicted the remnant of God.
And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence (the Parousia) of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed-for our testimony to you was believed. To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power; in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Verses 9–12.
When does this presence of the Lord begin? The Greek word Parousia (presence) has a different meaning than the word Apokalupsis (the unveiling or revelation of the Lord), but the New Testament indicates that one includes the other. Both are used to describe a time in which He hovers close to us and His presence is with us. Frankly, I believe that time has come. His presence is more real to us today than ever before. We have not had a rapture, but it seems that we have seen the beginnings of the Parousia. To what extent these events overlap is irrelevant. What matters is that the Lord will be very close to His people.
Jesus said that no man knows the day or the hour of His coming (Matthew 24:36), but He urges us to be ready for it. The greatest mistake we could make would be to state dogmatically that we know exactly how everything will fall into place. Just before the outpouring of the Spirit recorded in Acts 2, the disciples asked the Lord if He would at that time restore the Kingdom to Israel. He answered by saying that it was not for them to know the times or seasons which the Father had placed in His own hand (Acts 1:6–7). Jesus could have known anything, but evidently there were some things that the Father willed Him not to know. Jesus did not know the hour of His return. Even the angels do not know. Then why should men be so dogmatic about predicting the hour? Let our only concern be that we are ready, that we walk on with God. This is the will of God: that our whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord. Let God sanctify us wholly and completely (I Thessalonians 5:23).
Let us continue to emphasize walking with God. We do not need to become sidetracked with various intriguing predictions and signs; nor do we need to delve into what will happen to Israel, Iran, Moscow, and so on. Those who do so are relying a great deal on speculation, and it is best to stay away from speculation. Let us depend on the Holy Spirit’s revelation instead. We know what God has revealed, and we need not speculate or intrude into that which we do not know.
In II Thessalonians 2, Paul wrote further about the Lord’s coming, or presence. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming (again, this is the word Parousia or presence) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Evidently, in Paul’s thinking the Parousia is directly related to our gathering together unto the Lord. I believe that is where we are now. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first. II Thessalonians 2:1–3a.
This is a clear indication that we will not experience the coming of the Lord until after the apostasy has taken place. Commonly referred to as the “falling away,” this is widely believed to be a future event. Remember, however, that this Epistle was written almost two thousand years ago at a time when the Church was already on the verge of falling away. The apostle John wrote that many antichrists had already entered into the world (I John 4:3); and it was shortly after the lifetime of the apostles that the civilized world, as we know it, was thrown into a thousand years of Dark Ages.
Furthermore, our being gathered together unto the presence of the Lord could actually be dated as beginning five to seven hundred years ago, when people began to break free from the bondage of the Roman church and seek the face of the Lord. Various groups then successively emerged, each relating different truths that God had revealed to them. Peter referred to this when he said that the heavens must receive Him, or contain Him, until the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). There had to be a restoration. What is called the Reformation actually did not reform anything. It did not reform the Catholic church or any church. It was a restoration. Each succeeding generation has had restored to it another aspect of truth from God’s holy Word. Not only has this restoration continued up to the present moment; it has accelerated. More has been restored within the past generation than in the preceding four or five centuries.
Why is this significant? It means that if believers were in tune with the times and seasons, instead of worrying about the problems they see in the world, they could break into the greatest outpouring of the Spirit that has ever occurred. We can take more steps in God today than we ever could in former generations. In these past centuries there were many who sought God, who prayed and labored for many years in order to have an experience that some receive today when they walk into the church for the first time. More than ever before, we can sense the presence of the Lord. God is meeting His people.
Notice also that the day of the Lord will not come until the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. For thousands of years there has been the blasphemy of men claiming to stand in God’s stead. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed. II Thessalonians 2:3b–6. It is difficult to pass lightly over this passage because it is worthy of a great deal of attention, but if we delve into it we may lose the focus that God wants us to have. We do not want to focus on that man of sin, that lawless one who is to come, and speculate too much about him.
In the end time, people will be more devil-conscious than they are Christ-conscious. I prefer to make a minimum of reference to the antichrist and the false prophets and the times of deception. That emphasis should be dispelled as much as possible by a focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and our preparation of heart to walk with Him. I am not in favor of ministering fear to people, but rather a deep faith that will prepare their hearts to walk with God. Then they will be able to walk with Him through anything because they have faith in Him. This was the emphasis found in the first Scripture we quoted: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. I Thessalonians 5:23–24.
In his first Epistle, John tells us how to prepare ourselves to see the Lord: And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself. I John 3:3a. This Scripture is contrary to the popular teaching about the rapture. Years ago I read an article which stated that when the Lord Jesus Christ comes, everyone who has ever named the name of Jesus will be raptured out, even those who are in a house of prostitution at the time. Evidently the author of that statement believed in eternal security, that once you believe, you are set for eternity; and he took it to an extreme in his teaching on the rapture. This is disturbing because it is contrary to the Scriptures. John wrote, … we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. I John 3:2b. If this is our hope, we purify ourselves.
The purpose of sanctification is not so that we can enjoy some superspiritual experience; rather, we want to be sanctified—spirit, soul, and body—because one of these days we will see Him. We are preparing ourselves as a bride adorns herself for the bridegoom (Revelation 21:2). We are getting ready for the greatest moment of all time, when God’s people will be redeemed unto Himself. We believe in the first resurrection, commonly called the “rapture.” And we believe something else that the proponents of the rapture teaching apparently do not believe: God is demanding of His people that they prepare their hearts to meet Him.
This is what a walk with God is all about. Where a true Word from God is being spoken, you will not hear about experiences that exalt the flesh; instead you will learn that every experience in God will ultimately crucify your flesh. You will never be made to feel that you are a superspiritual, exceptional people. You will be taught this one necessity—be ready to meet Him.