LEFT BEHIND AND THE GOSPELOF THE KINGDOM

LEFT BEHIND AND THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM


God's purpose for end time Bible prophecy is not always very clear. That is why a lot of studying is required to get an understanding of the subject. My goal is to explain left behind and the Gospel of the Kingdom in such a simple way that a young child will understand this. If you are a Believer who has that blessed assurance of the very soon to be Rapture of the Church, then you want to do as much for Jesus Christ now but it would be a good idea to leave left behind materials in your home so family, friends, or even strangers can look it over. Then they will have a clear understanding as to where all the Christians went (Heaven) and how they are to look at the coming Tribulation period from a Biblical point of view. There are so many options.You can write a letter to loved ones and leave it out. Five Doves, Hal Lindsey and other end time Bible prophecy web sites have them posted. You could print them out if you feel in your judgment it is Biblical accurate. By leaving a left behind letter or tape out, we are actually showing those that were not a part of the Rapture a lot of courtesy which may go a long way with them. It could be an audio, video, or DVD conveying where the Believers went. I don't think that it is stretching the truth to say that the media will explain away the Rapture. The more Biblical truth that is lying around, the better it will be for that poor left behind soul that very well might be searching for answers. I am sorry if this article is a little lengthy but I want anyone that is left behind to understand how much God really does love them and what they can do to accept this insurmountable love into their very own hearts. For those people that are really searching for answers, I did not think it was my place to say "hey Guys, I'm going to be Raptured soon. Here are a couple of things-good luck." I understand this article is simple yet deep in some areas ; however, the detail is just as important as the simplicity because both speak of God's love and plan for you in this new dispensation that you have entered into. If I were left behind and some of my family members and friends were missing and if I were searching for the truth I would want simplicity, Bible, history, and detail. After all the greatest event in the history of all mankind has just taken place.
I would like to redirect my writing to the people left behind and talk about the subject of fear. Let me just say if parts of this article get a little complicated, hang on with me because I will always bring the precepts back to simplicity, so give yourself a little room and read the whole article. In Revelation 21:8, the Holy Spirit lists eight sins ( strongholds) that could cake up like concrete in the human heart and keep a person from accepting Jesus Christ into their hearts. In essence they have chosen the stronghold/strongholds over Jesus Christ. They made their choice. They unfortunately chose death. Jesus Christ is life. The very first sin ( stronghold) mentioned in this list is fear. We ( the Body of Christ; Church) are living in the closing moments of the age of Grace and mercy and even in this dispensation there is a lot of fear. The news will talk about fear and bad news because it sells. Some Christian leaders talk about fear and they call it the Gospel but it is what the Bible refers to as "another Gospel." Gal. 1:6. When 9/11, the tsunami, the atrocities of War, and a whole host of other bad things happened in the World, fear became the companion of most people but very few people bothered to ask " what is it?" Just because fear is our companion does not mean we understand it. If anything we probably won't because fear is irrational by nature. God put fear into you to be directed back to Him and a holy reverential way. He wants to use it for His glory in your life.You must worship somebody or something in your life because the Bible says " thou shalt have no other gods before me" in Exodus 20:3. In Psalm 145:18,19, the Bible says " He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them." A person will have one or the other (A) Fear in the World or (B) A holy reverential fear for God. There is no in between because fear is already inside of you so you have to make a choice. Of course there are different degrees of fear in the World and there are different degrees of reverential fear for God. There will be much talk of fear after the Rapture of the Church and there will be much reality of fear in the World, so you will have to come to terms with what the Bible says about fear. You will also have to understand that regardless of what cosmetics take place in the World the crux of the matter will be " who will you worship" and this subject will become more animated in the seven year Tribulation period. In much of the World it is rather streamlined at this point, but since the Devil is trying to usurp the throne of God the laissez faire mentality will become more blunt against God. I mentioned that fear is the first sin ( stronghold) in Revelation 21:8 and I would like to say that it is just the opposite of true faith in Jesus Christ. It is also the opposite of God's love. In 1 John 4:18 the Bible says " there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." You will also have to understand that prophecy experts in these closing hours of grace and mercy that adhere to sound doctrine and proper common sense prophetic studies disagree to the timing of Tribulation events and in some cases the place as to where and when it will happen. I don't think it is my place to be dogmatic about the timing in the Tribulation. Questions like when will the Battle of Gog and Magog take place? Ezekiel 38, 39. Is the Battle of Gog and Magog the second seal ( red horse)? Revelation 6: 3,4. When will the second seal (red horse) be unsealed? Will the Antichrist have power all seven years or will it just be the last three and a half years? When will the Two Witnesses from Heaven come? Revelation 11:3. Will the 144,000 Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel stay in Israel or will they travel around the World and be evangelists? Revelation Chapter 7, 14. When will they be sealed of God in their foreheads? Revelation 7:3. Will they be killed or will they be preserved to go into the 1,000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ? The Scripture is not really clear on this issue. Will the Two Witnesses personally anoint the 144,000 Jews? Will this select group be young, middle aged, or old? None of these questions are really directly answered. Suppositions, assumed knowledge, and presumptions are impossible for me right now. As I listened to the experts debate on these issues, I would ask the Lord and He would give me the same answer every time, " this is not for you." You see I am a part of the Body of Christ. According to James 1:18, the Body of Christ (Church) is " a kind of first fruits." I believe there are many reasons for the pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church but one of the reasons is because the Church is symbolically Raptured in Revelation 4:1,2 ( Rapture) before Revelation 6:2 ( the start of the seven year Tribulation period). We ( the Church;the Body of Christ) are a " kind of first fruits" unto Jesus Christ, not " lastfruits." I believe the 144,000 Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel will probably be converted at the beginning of the Tribulation period because according to Revelation 14:4...they " being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb." If you see and hear the Two Witnesses or somebody from this group (144,000 Jews), I would strongly suggest that you think about listening to what they have to say. Once again we on this side of the fence ( the age of Grace and mercy) have a hard time looking over the fence because we are not in or will operate in this dispensation so when is a question for most of us, but for purposes of this article as I progress you will soon find out that these questions will be answered as you travel through life. The most important thing you can do is place your faith in Jesus Christ. Obviously, as time progresses from the Age of Grace to the Tribulation period, fear will increase. I will get into this a little later. Self-preservation is our number one drive in life. This very much involves fear. Before the "Fall", Adam and Eve were not self-preservationists. When Adam sinned fear became very much a part of our World. During the Tribulation period fear will be at an all time high. Remember faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. Romans 10:17. If you read the Bible with a sincere heart fear will be translated to faith in God; however, you must be earnest, honest, and sincere with a heart that is transparent before God. God will search our heart out. He knows the secrets of our hearts. Psalm 44:21. He knows our hearts frontwards, backwards and sideways. He knows everything. As Believers in Jesus Christ, when we get to Heaven, " and it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24. God knows what is in our hearts. While we are on the subject of the heart, in the Tribulation period there will be a lot of religious deception. 2 Thes. 2, Rev. 13. This is the worst type of deception because it is usually accompanied by pride, apathy, and unbelief. It is very hard to talk to this type of person about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ but whatever you do, don't follow them or do as they say if it does not line up with what the Bible says. Fear always leaves us with the " I don't know" but faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ leaves us with " I know in whom I have trusted." In this time period the Devil will try and set up his Utopia on Earth as he attempts to usurp the throne of God. Some people on Earth will see through this and choose God's Utopia-faith in Jesus Christ. In this dispensation God will still have His message of love and grace-His Son died on the Cross as the perfect sacrificial atonement for man's sins because He never sinned and He rose from the dead on the third day. Luke 24:7. I marvel at God's plan of Salvation because it so simple. All one has to do is accept His Son into their hearts by faith and they will be Saved; however, if one chooses Law God will give them what they want. You know the old saying " they may get what they want but they may not want what they get." If a person chooses Law that will be a very heavy burden to carry, not just in this life but for all eternity. I was talking about the heart earlier. Before anybody gets consigned to Hell God will have total understanding of their heart and the sad truth of the matter is if they rejected Jesus Christ they want nothing to do with God. In fact they will die with a fixed character away from God. Many people say that this prophecy stuff does not make any sense and you should just stop talking about it. God has a plan, it is in motion and He will fulfill it through His Son, Jesus Christ. In Revelation 1:3, there is a special blessing promised to those that study the Book and subject with a sincere heart. Besides we have the " Good News" not the "bad news." The World has the 'bad news." The Gospel of Jesus Christ is "Good News." I am 99% sure that Jesus Christ is just about to Rapture His true children out of the Earth into His home-Heaven. Not only are there all kinds of clues but Israel now has their history back ( the Levitical priests, the Sanhedrin) intact. Once Israel gets their roots back into their country they will be ready for Jacob's Trouble. Jer. 30:7. This is not a report to show you how close we are to the Rapture, this is primarily an article to walk the people " left behind" into Biblical guidance and truth.
This article is called " Left Behind and The Gospel of The Kingdom." What I am going to do is write about what is explicitly stated in Scripture relative to the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom, then I am going to write about what is implied in Scripture with optimistic caution. Obviously, an explicit verse is far easier to understand than a set of verses that are implied. You are left behind, where do you stand? In Matthew 24 and 25 Jesus talks about the seven year Tribulation period. Starting in Matthew 24:4, and going all the way through Matthew 25. Jesus talks about deception, wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes and then He says in verse 8 that " these are the beginning of sorrows." Once again Jesus is talking about that future seven year Tribulation period which for all I know may be the present for you. If you witness the Rapture of the Church ( 1 Thes 4: 16- 18) and saw a man confirm a seven year peace covenant in the Middle East ( Daniel 9:27) then you are in this time period. In verse 9, Jesus talks about Israel going through much affliction. Going down the chapter people become very offended in this time period. They obviously are not appropriating fear correctly in their hearts when times get really bad so they are betraying one another, and, of course, hatred rather than love is the overruling emotion. In fact two verses down from verse ten Jesus talks about iniquity abounding and people's love waxing cold. That's what sin does, it always leads to death. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Romans 6:23. Here people have a choice to let sins and strongholds dictate to them how they will think and act ( hatred) or to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts by faith and allow His love to permeate their lives. Love and hate are both powerful emotions but with hatred you have to keep feeding it again and again and it is always hungry and never satisfied. There will never be any real sense of closure with this emotion. On the other hand there is a sense of peace about God's love in our hearts. If you choose Jesus Christ He offers that comfort that will dwell in your heart, your life will radiate the presence of God,and so will your eternity. The Tribulation period is not so much a physical battle as much as it is a struggle for the souls of men and women. Jesus talks about false prophets deceiving one another, the Antichrist, the Jewish people fleeing for their lives, and if all of this were not bad enough Jesus says " for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the World to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matthew 24:21. Then in verse 22 Jesus actually comes out and takes the reader to the end of the seven year Tribulation and talks about rescuing Israel at the climax of the Battle of Armageddon. This is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Of course the World is a complete mess at this time but the Bible is amazing because that verse just happens to be verse 22 and this number has a Biblical meaning of disorganization and disintegration. Then Jesus backs up and gets a little more specific about the end of the seven year Tribulation period, then going into Matthew 25 He arrives at His Second Advent ( Second Coming) and gets into a lengthy discourse regarding His deliberation of judgment when He arrives. The title of this article is " Left Behind and the Gospel of the Kingdom", so I specifically want to focus my attention on this particular reality that will take place. I shared with you from Scripture most of the bad things in Matthew 24 ( The Tribulation period); however, couched in verse 14 the Bible says " and this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the World for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14. God showed me some amazing things for your edification and encouragement in this very trying time period. Of course there are other chapter numbers and verses regarding this subject but I only have so much time and space. Everything has to be taken in its' proper context. Jesus talks about this subject in other chapters in the Gospels but I don't have the time to go over those numbered contexts.
Let me just give you a little history as to what the numbers 24 and 25 mean.Jesus is talking about this seven year Tribulation period in these two chapters in Matthew. The number 24 is talking about heavenly government and worship. The Biblical meaning of the number 25 is shown in 5x5. This number is emphasizing the number 5. Obviously the number means grace enlarged to a higher degree. So Jesus is talking about the worst time period in the history of all mankind but it is under the chapter headings ( 24, 25) of heavenly government and grace even though in this dispensation the world is going back to law and it is taking place on the planet. I had a hard time understanding this until God spoke to my heart and told me that He is in perfect control even in difficult times. When I started to put the numbered verses together under the chapter headings that is when the Holy Spirit really started putting this together. Since I am God's child I can claim this promise " and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. There will be people accepting Jesus Christ into their hearts in this dispensation and for purposes of explaining how much God really does care for you I will explain to you what the Lord showed me regarding the number 7 and how much He cares about getting the Gospel of the Kingdom around the World. God really does care and I was really surprised at what the Holy Spirit showed me. I will also explain a little more about the Gospel of the Kingdom but keep this simple. In Revelation 14:12 the people that are coming to know the Lord, Jesus Christ are accepting Him by faith. It says the same thing in Revelation 13:10. The Kingdom ( Gospel of the Kingdom) is referring to the 1,000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ. We in this Age of Grace beckon people to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts so they will be a part of the Rapture of the Church. If you have not accepted the Lord into your heart and you are on this side of the Rapture by all means today is the day of Salvation. It would not be wise to tarry on that all important eternal decision. If the great airlift (Rapture) has already taken place you are in a different dispensation according to the Bible. After the seven year Tribulation period the 1,000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ will take place. The Bible says Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom in Matthew 4:23. It is also mentioned in Mark 1:14,15. Fourteen-now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Fifteen-and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel. The Jewish people had an opportunity to accept the Kingdom when Jesus Christ walked the planet but they ended up rejecting His visitation. He was eventually Crucified and rose from the dead on the third day. Of course nothing takes God by surprise because He sees the future so He then enacted a time period called the Age of Grace. The Gospel of the Kingdom was postponed for approximately 2,000 years so "...that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in." Romans 11:25. I will in a very simple way explain to you (A) why the Rapture of the Church has/had to take place when the fullness of the Gentiles comes/came in, (B) why the Gospel of the Kingdom has to be preached around the World. Jesus knew all along that He was going to be rejected because He said in John 16:7 " nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." Jesus Christ died on the Cross, rose from the dead, and showed Himself alive after His Resurrection for 40 days talking about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). The Bible says in Acts 1:9 " and when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight." When Jesus left according to Acts, Chapter 2 this is when John 16:7 came true. I quoted John 16:7 a few lines ago. Jesus was saying I must go away because if I don't I won't be able to send you the Holy Spirit to live inside of you. For approximately 2,000 years God has sent His servants out into the World to preach and teach verses like John 3:16. For God so loved the World, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Or verses like Romans 10: 9,10. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be Saved. (10) for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation. Or they may have quoted Ephesians 2:8,9. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) not of works, lest any man should boast. I am writing this article at the end of the Age of Grace before the Rapture. At this very moment the Holy Spirit's restraining power is keeping the whole World from the seven year Tribulation period. And now ye know what withholdeth that He might be revealed in His time (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way. 2 Thes. 2:6,7. The Church (Body of Christ) will be removed with the Restrainer ( Holy Spirit) and we will go to Heaven. On Earth a new dispensation will start but what I want to focus on is not the bad news but the good news of Jesus Christ and His wonderful message of the Gospel of the Kingdom for this dispensation. I would recommend that you read the Book of Revelation and other books of the Bible but relative to this message of the Gospel of the Kingdom let me show you how much God really does care for you.
Let me just start by saying that the Biblical meaning of the number 7 is spiritual perfection. So if you were to take the number 7x2=14. This would be a double measure of spiritual perfection. I'm going to explain where I am going with this but let me just say even though the Holy Spirit's restraining power was removed at the Rapture of the Church the Holy Spirit will still have the function of drawing individuals to the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ ( Yeshua) ; however, He will operate the same way He did in Old Testament times. His restraining power left the Earth; however, He will not leave the Earth because the Holy Spirit's attributes are omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. OK, let me show you some encouraging Scriptures and numbers. In Matthew 24:14, I shared with you that God is going to get the Gospel of the Kingdom around the World in the midst of all the chaos. Notice it is in verse 14. Remember 7x2=14. A double measure of spiritual perfection under the canopy of Matthew 24 (emphasis 24) heavenly government. God is very much involved in getting the Gospel of the Kingdom out around the World because not only did the Holy Spirit say it in verse 14 but He juxtapositioned it in verse 14. When a person accepts Jesus Christ into their hearts the Bible says that God does something to that person. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor. 5:17. When a person accepts Jesus into their hearts God PERFECTS that individuals' spirit because..."all things become new" ( 2 Cor. 5:17). You see Salvation in Jesus Christ is a work of God through that individual's profession of faith. He makes us spiritually perfect ( the very meaning of the number 7). The number 7x2=14 ( a double measure of spiritual perfection). Another way to look at this is in the midst of the Tribulation it is almost as if God is trying to say this is My perfect message of Salvation in My Son and I am putting emphasis on this by putting My promise in my Word to get the Gospel of the Kingdom around the whole World. I hope it is becoming more evident that God cares and loves you very much. So people might be saying " oh you're reading into this"-am I, well let's find out. If parts of this are complicated all I ask is that you just hang with the whole article so you will understand the basic idea of what God is trying to convey to you as an individual to personally see His message of love for you through His Son. Most people are of the same belief that I adhere to relative to the 144,000 Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel having a key pivotal role in winning souls for Jesus Christ in the seven year Tribulation period that study and follow prophecy. In Revelation 7, the 144,000 are sealed of God in their foreheads/all twelve tribes are introduced and then a vision is giving that the Apostle John could not number. I am not going to talk about this IMPLIED vision just yet because I am at the EXPLICIT part of the article, but one thing to me is clear the progression of this Chapter is (1) 144,000 sealed (2) introduction from twelve tribes and (3) converts to Jesus Christ. Seems to me from this progression that the 144,000 had something to do with their conversion, and what Chapter is this in-SEVEN. In verse 12 there is angelic worship probably regarding the Salvation of God through Jesus Christ because of the context this is in and they give SEVEN praises (1) blessing (2) glory (3) wisdom (4) thanksgiving (5) honor (6) power (7) might. Revelation Chapter FOURTEEN is a parenthetical Chapter talking about several things regarding redemption ( this always involves being Saved by Jesus Christ through their faith) because in verse 3 the 144,000 were singing a song which no man could sing of joy because they were redeemed ( Salvation) from the Earth. I have to explain here or drift a little because the Bible says these 144,000 Jews were redeemed from the Earth. In the Book of Revelation starting from the beginning of the Tribulation to the end, off and on the people of the Earth are referred to as Earth dwellers. In 1 Peter 2:11 " Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims"...In 2 Cor. 5:20 we are referred to as ambassadors for Christ, in Heb. 11:13 the Body of Christ; Church is referred to as strangers and pilgrims on the Earth, but the Church is never referred to as Earth dwellers. This is another piece of evidence that the Church is Raptured before the Tribulation period. This terminology is not associated with the Body of Christ. The 144,000 were singing a song of praise because they were redeemed and this is in Rev., Chapter FOURTEEN. In this same chapter ( fourteen) three angels literally preach a message of Salvation from Heaven at different points and times when conditions get really horrible on Earth. The first angel in Rev. 14:7 ( notice I am in verse SEVEN) " saying with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made Heaven, and Earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." What a Salvation message! Fear God-I was talking about fear earlier in this article-worship Him-I was saying earlier in the article that you were programmed inside to worship somebody or something. The second angel talks about Babylon fallen and the third angel warns the inhabitants of the Earth not to take the Mark of the Beast in their right hand or forehead, so nobody is going to take this Mark by accident. This could be somewhere in the middle of the seven year Tribulation period. Obviously there are many drastic changes from the age of Grace and mercy to this dispensation but I am going to continue in the main theme of my message to prove to you that in the midst of all this chaos God has an overwhelming love for you and He has inscribed it in Scripture. If you are reading this as a left behind participant you may want to refer to this article several times to reaffirm God's love for you. In Rev. 17:14 ( fourteen-7x2=14) Jesus Christ is referred to as Lord of Lords, and King of Kings and then the Holy Spirit is talking about his called, chosen, and faithful ( His redeemed children). Once again in a verse numbered as double spiritual perfection. Remember God makes us perfect through His Son Jesus Christ though His simple message of Salvation. If you decide to accept Jesus into your heart then God will see you as perfect because He will be looking at you through His Son Jesus Christ. God the Father will look at the Cross and through the empty Resurrection Tomb and see you as if you never even sinned, but for this to be a reality in your life you have to make a decision to accept Him into your heart. If an individual is sincerely accepting Jesus into their heart obviously there is true repentance of sin in their spirit. Salvation is a work of God, and just think it is just one simple prayer of accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart. Are you getting a numerical picture of how much God really does care for you? Do you see that God wants you to spend eternity with Him because He has such overwhelming love for you. In Rev. 21:7..." and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." This is in verse SEVEN and it is picturing that close personal relationship that Jesus Christ will have with His children ( they were redeemed, saved from their sin and Hell). Can you just see Jesus Christ Himself walking side by side with one of His children? What a picture of a close personal relationship with His children that we will have for all eternity. I want to end with my final example of the explicit sevens for Salvation. I think we have to ask a very basic question. Why is this seven year Tribulation going to be enacted by God? It is to bring Israel back to their true Messiah, Jesus Christ (Yeshua). The verse I am about to quote is for Israel and it involves their Salvation. 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 ( emphasis mine) out of it. Jer. 30:7. Jacob's name was changed to Israel. This is in Jer. 30:7 (SEVEN). By the way the number 30 means marking the right time and moment. Jesus started His ministry at age 30. This chapter is in Jer. 30:7 (THIRTY). Thirty is also a number which Biblically means the Blood of Christ or redemption. In whom we have redemption through His Blood. Eph. 1:7. At the right moment in history God is going to enact a time period called Jacob's Trouble for Israel's redemption so they will come to know their true Messiah Jesus Christ ( Yeshua). It is couched in verse SEVEN ( spiritual perfection). Wherever you are in life as you are reading this I hope you are starting to be convinced with conviction that Jesus Christ wants to come into your life and commune with you. The Devil will throw roadblock after roadblock of deceptions to convolute God's simple plan of Salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. According to the Bible Jesus Christ will be worshipped for all eternity, not the Devil. Isaiah 66:22 to 24, Rev. 21,22. The Devil will fail in his attempt to usurp the throne of God and ultimately be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. Rev. 21:10. Do you see why I started this article with the subject of fear and worship?
Let me just say a couple of things about the explicit part of this article relative to the Gospel of the Kingdom. In this age of Grace and mercy no evangelist that bears fruit for the Kingdom of God preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom because that message is for the dispensation after the age of Grace. The Book of Revelation is surrounded by SEVENS. To understand this you would just have to read the Book. If God is juxtapositioning Salvation verses in SEVEN then understand His unconditional love for you is incomprehensible. He cares very deeply for you. Once again I don't know if I am talking to people on this side of the fence ( the age of Grace and mercy) or the other side of the fence after the Rapture ( the dispensation of the Kingdom) but know that God freely gives Salvation to a person's heart through simple faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

Talking about prophecy is like taking a small glass and putting it into a ocean. All of God's prophetic program will be instituted,not just the Gospel of the Kingdom being preached around the world, but I believe this is the best news because people's eternity destinies are being changed from death to life. They will spend eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven. I can't imagine spending eternity without Him. I will do my best to walk you through parts of Revelation Chapter 7 to show you what is implied and who I believe this group is and is not. After this I beheld,and, lo, a great multitude,which no man could number,of all nations,and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne,and before the Lamb,clothed with white robes,and palms in their hands (10) and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Rev. 7:9,10. I have heard and read many commentaries on who this group is. Before I start, this has got to be overwhelmingly obvious to you that this is a scene in Heaven not on Earth. They are before the throne, they are clothed with white robes, they have palm branches in their hands ( celebration and joy) and they together in one place are singing a song of praise to God for His Salvation through Jesus Christ. This second point I am about to make may not be so obvious. The Apostle John was placed in the Spirit in Revelation 1:10, and Revelation 4:1,2. By the time the Holy Spirit took him to this multitude in Heaven the Bible says he could not number this crowd. In fact he said " which no man could number" but if any man could it would have been John because he could somehow number the army of the horsemen in Revelation 9:16 which was 200,000,000 people. In Revelation 7:9 he did not even try and number this group. The tone of verse nine seems to be Gentile because " and kindreds and people, and tongues." This does not mean that Jewish people will not be in this group. There will be Jewish people accepting Jesus Christ into their hearts as their Messiah (Yeshua). Romans, Chapter 11. God also relative to the Gospel of the Kingdom will have another purpose for Israel. God talks about the Jewish people and their role in the Tribulation period as a country ( Israel) and who will survive to the end and see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, sayeth the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (9) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name and I will hear them: I will say, it is my people: and they shall say, the Lord is my God. Zechariah 13:8,9. When I read " that in the land" I am not sure if that is the whole Earth or just Israel. One third will go into the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ because at the end of verse 9 it says " and they shall say the Lord is my God." According to Isaiah 6:13 " but yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return"....In looking at this context I do believe this particular passage is talking about the country of Israel ( perhaps a portion of Israel). The vision that the Apostle John saw in Heaven that I quoted in Revelation 7 are a great multitude in Heaven. This is a different group in a different place with a different function.
Who is this group? Is it the Saved of all ages? In 1 Cor. 15: 52-54 the Apostle Paul is talking about the Church being Raptured and getting their new resurrected bodies. Paul is talking about this in the context of the Body of Christ. In 1 Thes. 4: 16-18 Paul is saying the Christians that already died will get their resurrected bodies first and then the Rapture will take place. For example Bill Bright who just recently passed on to be with the Lord does not have his resurrected body. He was living in the Age of Grace and he is in the Body of Christ. He will get his body first and then the living Christians will be Raptured and get their resurrected bodies. If you are left behind you witnessed this event in the sense that you see evidence of missing people around the world.The Church seems to be getting their resurrected bodies at a different time than the Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints are getting their resurrected bodies in Heaven. Besides this group in Revelation 7:14 " came out of great tribulation." Is it the Church? The Church was symbolically Raptured in Revelation 4: 1,2. Besides this passage is in a seven year Tribulation context ( Revelation, Chapter 7) and according to Revelation 7:14 John did not recognize this group. John would have observed and known the Church. Was it the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation saints? I believe it is quite possible that these two groups will get their newly resurrected bodies together; however, the part that I can't get by in the immediate context is Revelation 7:14..." these are they which came out of great tribulation." Not every Old Testament saint came out of great tribulation or even tribulation for that matter. All I can simply say is I believe the most popular interpretation of this passage in that there will be a great Gentile revival in the Tribulation period probably from the 144,000 Jews of the twelve tribes of Israel is true. I can't be 100% sure that my interpretation is correct because it is an implied vision. I tried to be as objective as I could but this is also my hearts' desire. It is good news if many people around the World from " kindreds and people, and tongues" are responding to God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ. According to Revelation 7:9 they have white robes because they accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts. In verse 14, they are only white because they were washed in the Blood of the Lamb. They were holding palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9. This is not only celebration but it sounds like a coronation process. In John 12:13 when Jesus Christ had His earthly ministry (13) " Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried "Hosanna: blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." They were trying to prematurely coronate Jesus Christ as King but it was not His time yet. They did not realize what they were doing but they were prophetically and symbolically laying those palm branches down as a future prophecy. And He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16.
It is fantastic if you have or will accept Jesus Christ into your hearts. The Scripture ( Hebrew Prophets) mention this time period thirty nine times. It is not only a seven year time period that will try Israel but it will involve the whole World. As I read the Book of Revelation the only people that end up winning are God's people through His Son. Every time people in the Tribulation period reject Jesus Christ or strike their fist against God they get judgment from Heaven . There is nothing but misery in this. Then it even gets worse when they die because they go into a Christ-less eternity void of God's love, under law and in misery. God is only going to tolerate so much rebellion and sin, otherwise He would be mocked. God is not going to allow this to happen. Regardless as to what happens to you rest assured that if you have Jesus Christ in your heart God will see you through whatever hardship that is in this World and you will be the one worshipping, praising, and serving God in Heaven. You definitely want to make sure you made or make this all important decision of accepting Jesus Christ into your heart so that you can live with Him for all eternity.
With Love and Kindness
From Bob D.