How It Will Be…….

                                                                          By Pastor F. M. Riley

                                                                         February 20, 2020

     “For as the lightning cometh [erchomai] out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming [parousia] of the Son of Man be.

     For wheresoever the carcase [body] is, there will the eagles be gathered together,” Matthew 24:27-28. 

     Compare Luke 17:34-37 and Isaiah 40:31. 

 

     “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 

     And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

                                                                              Matthew 24:21-22

Introduction

     It will happen in an instant, like the “twinkling of an eye,” 1 Cor. 15:52.  I am referring to the coming of the Lord Jesus to resurrect all of “the dead in Christ” and change the living in Christ, and we who are true believers shall “be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord,”  1 Thess. 4:13-18. 

     The rapture of the Lord’s Church and believing people will occur as the Lord comes for us as a FLASH OF LIGHT, totally circling the entire earth from east to west in seconds.  Notice that the Lord Himself worded His statement in Matthew 24:7, explicitly saying “As the lightning cometh…….so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”  The Lord DID NOT say “like,” but rather, the Lord said “As.”  “Like” could mean in a

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Similar way, but “as” means exactly in the same manner. 

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

     Dear readers, Christ Jesus is “the light of the world,” John 8:12. I   understand perfectly the truth that all spiritual light comes from the Lord.  But what if this statement of the Lord turns out to be literal truth?  It would mean that all light giving energy flows forth from the Lord.  Have our readers ever considered this possibility?  Think about it!

     What is lightning except a great bolt of electrical power passing through the air?  And Christ, “the light of the world,” clearly stated that He would come again “as” lightning.  So as a gigantic, glorious, FLASH OF LIGHT the Lord Jesus is coming back in an instant of time, going completely around the earth in seconds.  As He goes around the earth in a FLASH OF LIGHT, every true believer saved during this present Dispensation of Grace, with two exceptions, will be instantly “caught up” from off the earth, to meet the Lord  in the air.   Give this some serious thought!

THE TWO EXCEPTIONS

     Yes!  I did say two exceptions.  There will be two true believers who will not be “caught up” when the resurrection and rapture occurrs. Why?  Because God will not leave Himself without a “witness” in the earth, Acts 14:17.   Both of these two “witnesses” left on the earth when the rapture occurs,  are very clearly identified in God’s Word, if only God’s people would believe what the Word actually and explicitly says. 

     In Malachi 4:5 the prophet was inspired to tell Israel and the Jewish people, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:…..” 

     The term, “the day of the Lord,” occurs repeatedly throughout both the Old and New Testaments.  It is referring to the seven year Tribulation period clearly prophesied and described in The Book of Revelation.  But the description given in Malachi 4:5; “the great and dreadful,” is

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describing the last half of the Tribulation.  Therefore, Elijah will be sent back to minister to Israel during the first half of the Tribulation.  Elijah will be one of God’s “two witnesses,” Revelation 11:3.

    The other “witness” will be John.  Yes, I do mean John the beloved apostle of the Lord Jesus; John the revelator.  The Lord Jesus Himself in speaking to Peter about John clearly stated, “…If I will that he tarry [remain behind] till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me,” John 21:22.  The other apostles who heard the Lord’s statement took it to mean that John would not die, 21:23.  However, the Lord did not say that John would not die, but rather that he would “tarry” [remain behind] until the Lord comes. 

     Then in Revelation 11, the Lord explicitly commanded John to “rise” [from the dead] and lay out the measurements for the Jewish Temple.  Our readers need to PAY ATTENTION to this statement.  At the time the Lord gave John this command in 96 A.D., John was not dead, and there was no Temple in exiistence.  The Temple had been destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., and John had not yet died.  

     Therefore, the entire commandment was to be fulfilled in the future.  John will be resurrected right along with all the rest of us who are true New Testament believers, but he will not be “caught up.” Rather, he will remain behind as the other “witness.”  

       Elijah and John will then preach the gospel of Christ to Israel and to the whole world during the first half  of the Tribulation period; 1,260 days, Rev. 11:3. John will also lay out the dimensions for the rebuilding of the Tribulation Temple, Rev. 11:1.  . 

      These truths are so easy to see for those of God’s people who will get serious about STUDYING God’s Word.  2 Timothy 2:15 is still in the Bible.      

 GOD’S GREAT MAGNET

     Surely all of our readers know what a magnet is, and what it does.  Have

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our readers ever used, or played with a magnet? Now what is a magnet

 other than a piece of iron or steel which has been charged with an  electrical force, causing the iron or steel to have a magnetic attraction to  other  iron or steel items.

     The magnetic force won’t work on other metals, wood, glass, plastic, etc. which are INFERIOR to iron and steel.  Think about this in relation to the salvation of true believers, for the Lord Jesus Himself said,

     “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me DRAW him: and I will raise him up at the last day,” John 6:44. 

     And again, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will DRAW all [men] unto Me,” John 12:32.  In this Scripture, the word “men,” is not in the Greek text.  It is only those who truly BELIEVE, who will be DRAWN to Christ when the rapture occurs.  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is God’s Great Magnet.   Glory to God!

     When one places a metal object close to a magnet, isn’t the object suddenly and instantly DRAWN to the magnet?  Even so it will be, when Christ Jesus comes to resurrect and rapture His Church and believing people to Himself.   Glory to God!

THE RAPTURE OR “CATCHING AWAY”

      In an instant of time we who are true believers will vanish out of this present evil world, and never again will we be troubled by  sin working in our flesh, Romans 7:17-20; 1 Corinthians 15:52-54. 

    We will meet again  our saved loved ones who preceded us by death, and we will all rejoice together around the Lord’s table in glory, Matthew 26:29.  This “blessed hope” is what every true believer has  to look forward to, Titus 2:11-15.  This is THE FUTURE that is awaiting every true believer. 

     WHAT A DAY OF REJOICING THAT WILL BE!  Praise the Lord!   

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE UNBELIEVERS LEFT BEHIND?

     Oh my!  When the Lord Jesus, as a FLASH OF LIGHT, crosses the sky in

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an instant,, it will be TOO LATE for unbelievers to escape the Tribulation.  Every lost in sin, unbelieving, Christ rejector, will be LEFT BEHIND when the rapture occurs, and they will shortly think they have entered into HELL ON  EARTH. 

MASS CONFUSION AND FEAR

The Tribulation will begin with mass confusion on the part of those LEFT BEHIND when the rapture occurs. 

     Some will have literally witnessed their loved ones, friends, or neighbors disappear right before their eyes, and it will be an experience they will never be able to forget, Luke 17:35-36. 

     Some will not see others vanish, but will awaken in the night and their believing husband or wife, as the case may be, or even their young children, will be gone.  They will  call out for  them, but there will be no answer; only stillness in the home.  Jumping out of bed, they will begin to search for their missing loved ones, but they will never find them.   Can our readers even imagine the FEAR that will sweep through the heart and mind of those unbelievers LEFT BEHIND?

     All over the earth, there will be people trying to find out what  happened to their missing loved ones or others they knew.  Then the explanations will begin. 

     Some government leaders, in order to prevent panic and keep things peaceful will falsely tell the people that the missing have “voluntarily” entered into some government program, and will return in due time.  Read Revelation 21:8.     

     Some people will convince themselves, that the missing have been taken away by “aliens” or “extra-terrestrials.”  Such people don’t have,  nor even want,  the “faith” to believe in the reality and existence of God,  and the truth and  accuracy of His Word, but they have “faith” to believe in the

reality of  “aliens” and “extra-terrestrials.”  Hypocrites and liars!

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     Some however, are so depraved in sin, wickedness, and evil, and so in rebellion against God, that even though they KNOW that God is real, and that His Word is true,  they will  refuse to acknowledge God, preferring to align themselves with Satan and his followers.  These people are usually those who are involved in Secret Societies, Witchcraft, Satanic rituals, fortune telling, and sometimes even blood sacrifices to Satan or some other false god.  Oh yes,, there are such people living in the world today.  These people are so hard hearted and wicked, they would rather go to Hell, than to bow their heart and knees  to the God of the Bible.  Read Romans 1:18.  The word, “hold” in this Scripture literally means to “hold back, hide,  or restrain.”        

     All of these people described will be LEFT BEHIND  on the earth when the rapture occurs, and will then enter into “the wrath of God,” which will   be poured out upon wicked Christ rejecting humanity during the seven years of the Tribulation. 

THE GOOD NEWS

     At this point some readers may wonder how  could there  possibly be anything GOOD about missing the rapture, and being LEFT BEHIND to enter the terrible Tribulation period?  Well, praise the Lord!  I want to share with our readers a truth which is commonly overlooked or ignored by most prophecy teachers.   

     Today, there are many “professing Christians” in the churches, and in the ranks of Christianity, who are not true believers at all.   At some point in their life, they had some emotional experience, and decided to “join the church.”  They may have been dipped, poured, or sprinkled for baptism, and they attend church services when it is convenient, and doesn’t interfere with other things they have planned.  Dear readers, the churches and ranks of “Christianity” today are filled with such people.  There are even some such people in the pulpits, pretending to preach the Word,

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when in reality, they are just encouraging people to “be good” and to do

“good works” in order to get to Heaven. Lies! That kite won’t fly!  Read Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-10, and what the Lord Himself told Nicodemus in John 3:3-7,    

     Nevertheless, many of these “professing Christians” have heard, or  been made aware of what God’s Word says about the resurrection and rapture, even though they don’t really believe it.  But when it occurs, they will understand what has happened, and that they have been LEFT BEHIND.  The resurrection and rapture will be the greatest  “witness” to the truth and accuracy of God’s Word that mankind has ever been given.  So right after the beginning of the Tribulation, there will be hundreds of p “professing Christians” who will sincerely  turn to the Lord, calling upon Him for mercy and compassion upon their souls, and our gracious  Lord God will hear their prayers and save them, for time and eternity, just as He has mercifully savcd us who are believers today.  Praise the Lord!

     Commentators and prophecy teachers have too long ignored the truth that the Tribulation will be the greatest time of evangelism and revival thus far in human history.  Read Revelation 7:9-17, and believe what it says.     

     Now if this isn’t GOOD NEWS, what would our readers call it?

CONSEQUENCES AND RESULTS

       However, the salvation of those saved right after the rapture has occurred, WILL NOT deliver them out of the Tribulation period.  They will still  have seven years of terrible tribulation to endure, but they will also have the protection and blessing of God to help them face it.  Hundreds or thousands of people will turn to the Lord during the Tribulation, and will be gloriously saved.  

       I am well aware that all or most of those saved during the Tribulation will be martyred by the anti-christ and his wicked followers.  Just as God’s

Word says, they will wash their robes, and make them white, “in the blood

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 of the Lamb, “Revelation 7:9-17 and 20:4.   But the Lord made a promise  to His Church, and to all believers who make the choice to lay down their lives, rather than to deny their faith in the Lord,  

     “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life,” Revelation 2:10.  Glory to God!  

     Right after the beginning of the Tribulation, there will  be 144,000 of the Jewish people who will turn to and receive the Lord Jesus as their Messiah and Savior.   Their salvation will restore the nation of Israel, dividing the Jewish people again into twelve tribes.  Each of the 144,000 will be sealed with the visible name of God in their foreheads.  This visible name in their

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foreheads will identify them as belonging to the Lord God of Israel, in contrast to the mark to be placed upon the wicked followers of the anti-christ.  Their sealing will place them under the special protection and blessings of God, during the first half of the Tribulation period.  We find these 144,000 on the heavenly Mt. Zion at the middle of the Trib, having been “redeemed from the earth,” Rev. 14:1-5.   Praise the Lord!

THE WORLD’S ACHILLIES HEEL

     Most of our readers have likely never read Homer’s Iliaed.  But on the other hand, most have likely heard or read the fable about Achillies.  He was a fabled Greek warrior who was supposedly invincible.  No one could stand before him, for he could defeat every enemy.  However, what his enemies didn’t know was that the tendon in his heel was weak, causing him to be vulnerable.  I don’t recall all the story, but some enemy of Achillies discovered this truth, and in battle wounded Achillies in his heel, causing him to fall headlong to the ground.  Then his enemies destroyed him.  Some of our readers are probably wondering what this story has to do with Bible prophecy?  Well, just read on…..

     Today the technology of mankind is so advanced, that most people living today think there is no limits to what mankind can do.  Didn’t men go to the moon and back?  Don’t the nations have satellites in space, observing everything happening on the surface of the earth, and even far out into space?  A public announcement was just made, saying that space travel is now available to those who are wealthy enough to pay for a trip to the International Space Station and back again. Mankind now has wireless phones, TV, computers, etc. which make possible world wide communication.  Just look what mankind living today has accomplished.  We have become INVINCABLE!   At least many living today think so!   So who needs the “mythical” God of Biblical Christianity?  Who?  I suggest our readers carefully read again Proverbs 16:18, and believe what it says. 

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        This entire present evil  world has an Achillies heel, and doesn’t even know it.  What do I mean?  I’m so glad you ask! 

     When the Lord Jesus Christ comes to resurrect and rapture His Church and believing people, He is coming in an instant of time, passing through the heavens around the entire earth as a gigantic FLASH OF LIGHT, similar to a lightning bolt, Matthew 24:27-28.  This FLASH OF LIGHT, coming forth from the Lord Himself will be supercharged electricity.  It will have the effect of gigantic E.M.P. upon the earth beneath.  Every electrical grid system and electrical circuit on earth will be instantly fried, and all electrical power on the earth will instantly cease.  The entire earth and every person LEFT BEHIND  on the earth will be instantly plunged into darkness.  Electrical power is the  “Achillies heel” of this present evil world we are living in today.  Nearly everything we use, or can even think of, depends on electrical power to operate.  Hello!   

     I am well aware that some readers will say this is one of the silliest “theories”  they have ever heard. Oh?   If it is indeed just a silly “theory,”  then perhaps some reader would like to explain why the inspired Word of God supports it?  Read it for yourself……. 

SEVEN YEARS OF DARKNESS

“Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty,” Isaiah 13:6.

 

     “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.     

     And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible,” Isaiah 13:10-11. 

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     “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord!  To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light…….Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness and not light?  Even very dark, and no brightness in it?”  Amos 5:18-20. 

 

     “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

     A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick daskness, as the morning spread upon the mountains…….” Joel 2:1-2. 

 

     “That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wastness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,” Zephaniah 1:15.   

 

     Dear readers, here are five passages in God’s Word telling us that the soon coming Tribulation period; “the day of the Lord,” iis going to be a time of darkness.  Thick clouds and darkness.  Gloominess because of a lack of light.  Now if there is ample electric power like we have today, then why should the whole earth be in darkness?  I could easily reference many more prophetic Scriptures which predict darkness over the whole earth during the day of the Lord [the Tribulation].   Look them up in the Bible for yourself. 

     What this tells me, is that there will be little to no electrical power during the Tribulation period.  It will all have been wiped out by the E.M.P. produced when the Lord comes as a mighty FLASH OF LIGHT to resurrect and rapture His believing people to glory.

     Dear readers, when this happens, nothing on this earth which presently

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requires electrical power to operate will continue to work.  No electrical lights, no TV, no  radio, no computers, no telephones, no  electrical powered tools…….but let’s get down to the basic needs of mankind.  No factories will be able to produce goods for mankind and longer, and they will close their doors.  Thousand of people will be thrown out of work.  The entire world economy will collapse.  And, oh by the way…….

     There will no longer be any transportation by automobile, truck, or bus.  All of the modern vehicles built since 1973 have computers in them with electrical circuits. When the E.M.P. occurs, millions of vehicles will cease to operate, and will likely be abandoned right where they stop.  They will become rusting, useless, heaps of metal littering the landscape.  If some mange to find an older automobile, which doesn’t require an electrical circuit to run, it will be useless too.  Why?  It takes a lot of electrical power to pump gas and oil up from beneath the earth, and to process it into motor fuel. 

      Every single thing on the earth requiring electricity to function will become useless junk.   Mankind’s modern technology will be flushed down the toilet of human history. 

     Oh yes, over a period of several weeks or months, some electrical power will likely be restored.  But probably only in a few of the large cities on the earth.  Most of the world will continue to be in darkness right through the entire seven years of the Tribulation period.   No lights at night; not even street lights to see what lurks in the darkness, and only thick clouds and gloominess in the day.  This is the “bless hope” God has prepared for every wicked, unbelieving, Christ rejector LEFT BEHIND at the rapture.  The only thing that could possibly be worse for those who have chosen to reject Christ as their Savior, will be the Great White Throne judgment, at which time every unbelieving Christ rejector will be cast into “the lake of fire and brimstone,” Revelation 20:15.

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     Now tell me, did the Lord Jesus Himself say that there would be “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time,” or did He not?  Read it for yourself in “Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19..    

     

Will the reader of this study be among the Lord’s people who will be “caught up” to glory, or will you be one who is LEFT BEHIND?     

    

 

  But having placed their faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation, they will be eternally saved.  Read Revelation 20:4 and compare with 20:15.    Glory to God! 

     This Scriptural truth, for those who believe, or claim to believe, God’s Word, places more emphasis on the inspired statement of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2.  Any reader of this study who is not a believer, or who has doubts about their salvation, should RUSH to the Lord in humble, sincere, prayer RIGHT NOW, and get the matter of the salvation of your soul settled for ever.  Do it NOW!