4. THE SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
It is obvious from comparing Matt.24, Mk.13. and Lk.21. that our Lord's answer to the apostles question about the signs which would precede the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming has been greatly condensed. In Mt.24v15. and Mk.13v14., the Gospels of Matthew and Mark both record our Lord's reference to the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. Dan.9v27. 11v31. and 12v11. Luke's Gospel does not mention the abomination of desolation, or refer to Daniel's prophecy; however, Luke alone records, in Lk.21v24., the equally important prophecy, that after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Jews would be led captive into all nations, and that Jerusalem would be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled. It appears that Matthew and Peter, did not understand these words and so did not include them in their recollections of Christ's ministry, (Peter was the real author of Mark's Gospel, Papias tells us that Mark wrote down Peter's recollections of the ministry of Christ). Luke probably had "The Times of the Gentiles" explained to him by his companion Paul, who had these things revealed to him by our Lord. Gal.1v11,12. Eph.3v1-8. It seems that the times of the Gentiles started when Judah was taken into captivity to Babylon, and will finish when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom. The Scriptures tell us that the following signs will indicate the near return of Jesus, and the setting up of the kingdom of God.

1. Numerous False Prophets and Deceivers.
Many Scriptures reveal to us the reality of the powers of darkness and their increased activity through false prophets in the last days. Dan.10. all. Mt.24v5,11,24,25. 2Thes.2v3-12. Rev.12v7-12. 13v1-18. 16v13,14. 1Jn.5v19. Eph.2v1-3. 3v10. 6v11,12. 2Cor.4v4. Jn.14v30. 8v44. The actual rulers of the world are evil angels working through wicked men; and even as the increased activity of evil angels in the time of Noah brought a speedy and terrible decline in morality and righteousness, and an alarming increase in lawlessness and iniquity, so it will be in the last days of this age. Gen.6v1-8. Mt.24v37. Christians will have to walk with God, and put on the whole armour of God, to stand in these evil days. Eph.6v10-20. Lk.21v36. Satan is the cause of the great tribulation, it is his expulsion from the heavenly places to the earth that starts the great tribulation, and results in the spiritual deterioration of the world, and great woe and sorrow for the whole earth. Mt.24v8,15-22. Dan.12v1 with Rev.12v7-12.

Jesus warned us many times of the danger of being deceived by the false prophets of the last days. He warns us that some of them will even claim that they are Christ, and do miracles to substantiate their claims, which will almost deceive the very elect, something which is already happening in our day. Mt.24v11,24. Many Christians cannot give a Scriptural answer to the lies of Modernists, Spiritists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and other sects and cults. Be warned; there are even greater deceivers to come. Many of the false prophets of the last days will not only be preaching error, they will be killing those who are preaching the truth. The most evil of all these false prophets will be the final Antichrist, who will do great lying miracles by Satan's power to deceive the wicked. Rev.13v1-3,12-15. 2Thes.2v7-12. The False Prophet will give a counterfeit demonstration of fire from heaven to prove Antichrist's claim to deity; this was the very thing that Yahweh did through Elijah at Carmel to prove that He, not Baal, was God. 1Kings.18v24-26,36-40. Rev.13v13,14. 2Thes.2v3,4.

2. A World-wide Persecution of Christians.
In Mt.24v12., Jesus said that Christians will be hated and persecuted by all nations and this will result in the love of many Christians "waxing cold." In 2Thes.2v1-4., Paul informs us that Christ cannot come before the manifestation of Antichrist, and warns us against being deceived by any teaching that tells us otherwise. Paul uses the strong verb "exapatao," "to deceive," with the double negative "me tis, medena," to emphasise his warning; "Do not let anyone deceive you in any way." Paul warns us not to be gullible and states that Antichrist and "the falling away" must come "first," "proton." The "falling away" of 2Thes.2v3., is "apostasia," and could be translated as "rebellion, revolt, or apostasy."

A.T. Robertson comments on "apostasia" in 2Thes.2v3.:
"Except the falling away come first ('ean me elthei he apostasia proton').--- 'Apostasia' is the late form of 'apostasis' and is our word apostasy. Plutarch uses it of political revolt and it occurs in 1Macc.2:15 about Antiochus Epiphanes who was enforcing the apostasy from Judaism to Hellenism. In Josh.22v22. it occurs for rebellion against the Lord. It seems clear that the word here means a religious revolt and the use of the definite article ('he') seems to mean that Paul had spoken to the Thessalonians about it. The only other New Testament use of the word is in Acts.21v21. where it means apostasy from Moses. It is not clear whether Paul means revolt of the Jews from God, of Gentiles from God, of Christians from God, or of the apostasy that includes all classes within and without the body of Christ. But it is to be first ('proton') before Christ comes again. Note this adverb ('proton') when only two events are compared (cf. Acts.1v1.)." End of quote.

A.T. Robertson has certainly stated the truth when he says that "apostasia" here may be speaking of a rebellion and apostasy from God both inside and outside of the Church. The final Antichrist is the major cause of apostasy at the end of this age. In 2Thes.2v3,8. Paul gives Antichrist three dreadful names. In 2Thes.2v3., Paul calls him "the man of sin," "ho anthropos tes hamartias," (and "hamartias," "sin," is the reading of most manuscripts; "anomias," "lawlessness," is the minority reading"). In 2Thes.2v3., Antichrist is also called "the son of perdition," "ho huios tes apoleias," which is the identical phrase used by Jesus in Jn.17v12., to describe Judas. In 2Thes2v8., Antichrist is called "the Lawless One," "ho anomos." Note that each time the definite article "the" ("ho") is applied to him, this signifies that he is both the greatest threat to mankind, and the most evil of all mankind. There will be a general rebellion against God over all the world during the great tribulation, but the persecution of Christians will be particularly ruthless and severe in the countries under the control of Antichrist, or in countries who have sympathy with him, and many Christians will die for their faith in these countries.

3. Abounding Lawlessness and Iniquity.
The spiritual conditions in the world are already alarming and the Scriptures tell us that they will get much worse. God's Word has foretold with perfect accuracy the abounding iniquity, and moral corruption and degeneration of national and home life in these last days; these prophecies are being fulfilled before our very eyes.

a. Our Lord warns of the flood and fullness of lawlessness in the last days.
In Mt.24v12., Jesus states that "because the lawlessness (anomia) is FILLED UP, the 'agape' love of most will grow cold." The prevailing climate of lawlessness and spiritual darkness will cause the "agape" love of most Christians to grow cold. The words, "lawlessness is filled up," are probably from the prophesy of Dan.8v23., which states that Antichrist will be manifested, "when transgressors are come to the full." We see from Gen.15v16., that the Amorites and other dwellers of Canaan came under divine judgement when their iniquity came to the full. Woe to the world when it comes to the same fullness of evil. The world will become lawless on a local, national and international scale. The Antichrist being the very worst of lawbreakers is called "ho anomos," "the Lawless One;" our Lord will destroy him by the brightness of His coming ("parousia"). 2Thes.2v8,9.

"As in the days of Noah." A major cause of this lawlessness is a greed which results in escalating crime and violence on a world scale, just as in the day's of Noah, when every thought of men was only evil continually, and violence filled the whole earth. Gen.6v5-13. This moral degeneration was also caused by evil spirits infiltrating mankind by taking upon themselves fleshly bodies, which though outwardly similar to human bodies were basically different from those of mankind. 1Pet.3v19,20. Jude.v6. These were the giants of Scripture. These giants are called:- The Nephilim, Gen.6v4. and Numb.13v32,33. The Anakim, Deut.1v28. 2v10,11,21. 3v11,13. 9v2. Josh.11v21,22. 14v12-14. The Emims. Deut.2v10,11. The Zamzummins, Deut.2v19-21. The Rephaim, Deut.2v11,20. 3v11,13. Josh.12v4. 13v12. 15v8. 18v16. 2Sam.21v16,18,20,22. 1Chron.20v4,6,8. The valley of the giants. Josh.15v8. 18v16. etc. Goliath and his compatriots were evil angels in flesh, the sons of the giant. 2Sam.21v15-22. The children that were born to the giants did not have souls and spirits given to them by God, they became the abode of evil spirits, these products of Satan's biological engineering will not be resurrected, for in Is.26v14., we read the "dead," the Hebrew is "rephaim," "giants," will not be resurrected by God.

Ethnic conflicts. This lawlessness will also be seen in the hatred, conflicts and wars between ethnic groups, as our Lord said in Lk.21v10., "Nation will be lifted up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; "egerthesetai ETHNOS EPI ETHNOS, kai basileia epi basileian." Our Lord warns that these are but the first travailing pains of the end of the age, much worse is to follow. Our Lord said the appalling events of the great tribulation will be a threat to the survival of mankind. Mt.24v7-9,21,22.

b. In 2Tim.3v1-17. Paul describes the appalling moral and spiritual corruption of the last days.
Paul says the last days will be "perilous times," "kairoi chalepoi," that is, grievous, hard, difficult and dangerous times. Paul then goes on to describe the moral degeneration that will make the last days perilous.

Paul warns us that people will be lovers of evil and haters of God and good.
v2. "Lovers of self," "philautoi," Paul tells us that men will become utterly self-centred, selfish lovers of themselves
"Covetous," "philaruroi," only occurs here and Lk.16v14., see 1Tim.6v10.. Covetous lovers of money.

v4. "Lovers of pleasure," "philedonoi," which only occurs here, "rather than lovers of God," "philotheoi," which also only occurs here. Men will put worldly and sensual pleasure in the place of God, and will prefer and love pleasure more than God.

Paul warns us that people will have arrogant and violent hurtful attitudes.
v2. "Boastful," "alazones," only here and Rom.1v30.. It speaks of empty pretenders, who boast and brag in order to magnify themselves and impress men, and in doing so greatly exaggerate their achievements and go beyond the boundaries of truth.
"Proud and haughty," "huperephanoi," from "huper," "above," and "phainomai," "to appear," so it means "to appear above others," that is, puffed up in pride, and arrogant in thought and conduct, in common parlance, "stuck up."
"Blasphemers," "blasphemoi," biting abusive and hurtful speech from bitter hearts, they will rail at, and speak evil of people. Paul uses it in 1Tim.1v13., where he calls himself a former blasphemer when he persecuted the Church.

v3. "Implacable trucebreakers," "aspondos," describes one who is hostile and irreconcilable, and who rejects terms and a truce with others.
"False accusers and slanderers," "diaboloi," from "diaballo," to throw, so to make accusations, malicious slanderers, scandal-mongers and promoters of lies and quarrels in the hope of personal gain. The Devil is so named because he is the chief slanderer; his whole life is taken up with accusing men to God, and slandering God to men. Rev.12v9,10.
"Incontinent," that is, "without self-control," "akrateis," only occurs here, they are dissolute and have no power and control over their tongues, appetites, actions and lives.
"Fierce," "anemeroi," from the privative "a," and "hemeros," tame; so it means untamed, fierce, savage and brutal.
"Despisers of those that are good," "aphilagathoi," it only occurs here, compare Tit.1v8. and Phil.4v8.. These despisers hate those who are good, and actively oppose good people and good laws, and make laws that are hostile to righteous people.

v4. "Traitors," "prodotai," only occurs here and Lk.6v16. and Acts.7v52., it speaks of treachery, betrayal and abandonment.
"Headstrong," "propeteis," which only occurs here and Acts.19v36., it speaks of a rushing and falling forwards, a hot-headed person ruled by emotion and passion, who is hasty and reckless in speech and actions.
"Puffed up and conceited," "tetuphomenoi," the perfect passive participle of "tuphoo," literally to fill with smoke, the perfect tense shows a settled state of puffed up pride, self-importance, and conceit.

Paul warns of juvenile delinquency and breakdown of home relationships.
Children will be disobedient to parents, "apeithes," it speaks of a refusal to listen even to reasonable arguments, and total rebellion. Homes will lack family love and natural affection, "astorgos," a breakdown of family relationships, and lack of love between kinsfolk, parents and children. They are unthankful, "acharistoi," only here and in Lk.6v35., where it speaks of people being ungrateful to God for his daily innumerable kindnesses; here in the context of home relationships, as is unholy, "anosioi," only here and 1Tim.1v9., a negative and "hosios." True holiness begins at home.

Paul warns there will be a false religious form of godliness, without the reality of true inner godliness.
God gives Paul an insight into the condition of the organised Christian Church in the last days, He told Paul that many religious leaders will have an outward religious form without true inner godliness, and they will deny the power of God. The word for "form," is "morphosin," as in Rom.2v20., where Paul speaks of a Jewish religious form without spiritual reality.

"Having denied" is "ernemenoi," the perfect middle participle of arneomai," the word involves a practice of denial, rather than a purely intellectual rejection and denial of God's power, the perfect tense again shows the settled continual state of opposition to God. Paul directs Christians to turn away from such churches. In the instruction "from such turn away," "turn away," is "apotrepou," the present middle imperative of "apotrepo," "turn yourself away from," a strong verb which gives the thought of avoiding and turning away in horror. The present tense shows the continuous nature of this command.

Paul reveals that these religious charlatans will insidiously and stealthily seduce "silly little women," and take them emotionally captive at spearpoint, "aichmalotizontes." The diminutive, "little women," "gunaikaria," is used to express, not affection, but contempt, and describes women laden with many lustful cravings. These women are led into licentiousness under the guise of religion. These evil religionists have completely corrupt minds and withstand the truth, like the sorcerers of Egypt, Jannes and Jambres, withstood and opposed Moses, Exod.7v11., and Elymas withstood Paul. Exod.7v11. ("Anthistemi," to stand against, to oppose, is used in both 2Tim.3v8. and Acts.13v8.) Paul warns us that there will be both immorality in religious leadership, and a floodtide of sensual occultism in the last days.

4. World-wide wars, hatred, strife and unrest.
Our Lord's warning of wars and rumours of wars and ethnic strife is a perfect description of the international situation today. The reports of ethnic wars, revolutions, and strife among the nations, dominate the news headlines. Mt.24v6,7. Lk.21v25,26. Dan.11v25. God's Word is coming to pass. The collapse of the Soviet empire has brought even more instability to the world situation. The brittleness and fractures in the feet of iron and clay of Nebuchadnezzar's image, reveal that the break-up of empires is a necessary forerunner to our Lord's coming. Jesus warned us that the wars of the great tribulation will be the worst that mankind has ever known. Rev.6v1-8. 9v13-21. Mt.24v15,21,22.

5. Natural catastrophes. famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and great storms.
Since the fall of man there have always been these natural disasters in the world, however, they are occurring today on a far greater scale than has ever been known before. The Scripture tells us that they will increase even more in the last seven years of this age. Mt.14v7. Lk.21v25. Zech.14v5. Rev.6v5,6. 16v18-20.

6. The Gospel has to be preached to all the world before the end can come. Mt.24v7.
This totally refutes the false teaching, that the early church taught that Christ could return at any moment, the evangelisation of the world was obviously going to take a considerable period of time. Many of the tribes and nations were unknown to the early disciples and have only recently been discovered. In Rev.7v9,13,14. we read of a great number of people out of every nation, kindred, people and tongue, who will come out of the great tribulation with a triumphant faith. They obviously experience great privation from the description given in Rev.7v15-17., but the great grace of God is sufficient under all circumstances. We read in Rev.14v6,7., that an angel will preach "the everlasting gospel," "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Another angel follows this and informs the nations of divine judgement upon "Babylon." A third angel warns the nations that those who continue to follow Antichrist will end in the lake of fire. This angelic preaching occurs in the last few hours of the great tribulation, just before our Lord returns to reap the harvest of the earth, and judge the wicked. Rev.14v8-20.

7. Signs in the heavens. Lk.21v25,26,31. Acts.2v19,20. Rev.6v12-17.
These Scriptures demand a literal fulfilment, and they will be fulfilled in the great tribulation.

8. A great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Acts.2v15-21.
Since I wrote the first edition of this book over forty years ago, there has been a remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Christians of all denominations. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit will continue right up to the great and terrible day of the Lord. Acts.2v16-21. God will give great power to His Church, they will be given gifts of mercy and grace to confirm the Gospel, and also mighty gifts of judgement to protect God's children and judge the wicked. The wickedness of the great tribulation will make these judgement gifts vitally necessary. Rev.11v5,6,10. Acts.5v1-11. 13v6-12. Dan.11v32,33.

9. Scoffers of the coming of Christ. 2Pet.3v3-14.
The increase of scepticism is a sure sign that we are in the last days, and that our Lord's return is near. These scoffers wilfully deceive themselves that the God who has made the world, and who has judged it before, will not keep His promise of judgement on the wicked, and the establishment of a world of peace and purity after that judgement. Many scoffers today hide behind a false materialistic intellectualism, they unsuccessfully try to prove that the Scriptures are unscientific and unreliable. We see in Rev.6v12-17., how this chaff will react when Christ returns in all His glory. Ps.1v4-6. 2v1-12.

10. The ability of man to destroy the world.
Jesus said, "Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." Mt.24v22. This Scripture could not be fulfilled until man had in his hands weapons that could destroy the world. Jesus returns to save a shattered world from utter destruction, and to "destroy them which destroy the earth." Rev.9v13-21. 11v18. The possession of nuclear weapons, nerve gas, bacteriological weapons, and other terrible means of destruction, prove to us beyond all doubt that the coming of the Lord is near. The great tribulation is due to the terrible wars that occur in the final 3½ years of this age, the armies of East and West confront one another in the last and most terrible war of all history.

11. The growth of the nation of Israel and the desecration of the holy of holies of the Temple.
The state of Israel was established on May 14th. 1948, a truly remarkable sign of the times. After being in the hands of the Romans, Moslems and Turks for many centuries, and then as a British Protectorate for about 30 years, Israel is now ruling herself again. This fulfils the prophecy of Ps.102v16., "When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory."

On May 8th. 1958, a building was opened in Jerusalem which was called, "Hechal Shlomo," "The Temple of Solomon." This caused great interest in secular and Christian magazines throughout the world, I will quote from one of them.

"A new Temple has arisen in Jerusalem 1,888 years after the destruction of the Temple by the Roman general, Titus, reports 'the Rand Daily Mail's correspondent from Jerusalem. Called 'The Temple of Solomon,' it is the supreme religious centre of world Jewry. Most of the Chief Rabbis of the Western world, including the Chief Rabbi of Johannesburg, Dr. L. I. Rabinowitz, are coming to Jerusalem for its dedication and opening on May 8th.(1958). The loftiest and most magnificent structure in Israel, the seven story domed 'Temple of Solomon'- built to overlook the ancient walls of Jerusalem and the 'wailing wall' of Herod's Temple, now in Arab hands- will house all the offices of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Institute for Religious Studies, one of the biggest Biblical libraries in the world, a great hall for religious gatherings, and the most inspiring synagogue in Israel The Holy Ark of the synagogue is a 220 year old Italian masterpiece, a gift of the Jewish community of Padua, Italy. Building on this marble and olive-wood religious centre began five years ago. One third of its cost of £3,000,000 was donated by Jewish communities throughout the world, and the rest by the Anglo-Jewish millionaire, Isaac Wolfson, who has also wide commercial interests in South Africa." End of quote.

When I read these articles in 1958 I thought that this was possibly the Temple that was going to be desecrated by the Antichrist; however, at that time I did give the following cautionary note in my book, "Let us wait and see, some say that another Temple is planned." These were wise words, events and further knowledge have convinced me that this is NOT the temple that Antichrist will desecrate. Where will this desecrated Sanctuary be situated? Three possibilities come to mind.

a. Could it be the Mosque of Caliph Omar?
This Mosque is on the original site of the Temple, could this be looked upon as the place where the abomination of desolation takes place? Antichrist could bring the whole Moslem world behind him, if, in one of their most holy places, he causes His image to speak and live, to prove that he is god. It must be remembered that in A.D. 70, the abomination of desolation, that is, the desecration of the Temple, took place after the temple had been destroyed by fire, not before, when the Romans acclaimed their gods on the ruins of the Temple. As the abomination of desolation took place on the ruins of the Temple in A.D. 70; could this occur again on the ruins of the Temple? Is the mosque of Caliph Omar the place of abomination and desolation? We will have to wait and see.

b. Could the original holy of holies, long buried under the rubble, have been found?
In some places in Jerusalem there are sixty or more feet of rubble over the original ground where people walked in our Lord's time, it is possible that the original site of the Sanctuary of Herod's Temple has now been found under this rubble. The Jews have been digging tunnels under the Temple mount, without disturbing the ground above. The original holy of holies is supposed to have been in line with the eastern gate, this is, it seems, just to the side of the Mosque of Caliph Omar. The original Sanctuary may well have been found now under the rubble of the Temple mount. The word "Temple" in 2Thes.2v4. is not "hieron," the whole of the Temple, but "naon," the Sanctuary, the innermost part of the Temple, into which only the priests could enter. It is possible that all of the Temple does not have to be rebuilt to fulfil the prophecy. Let us wait and see. The rabbis used to stand in order of seniority outside the wailing wall, with the most senior nearest to the site of the holy of holies. Since the tunnels have been made under the mount, these senior rabbis have long since gone from view inside these tunnels. Have they found the original holy of holies? We will have to wait and see.

c. Could the Jews be going to build another Temple?
I ask the same question today that I asked in 1958. Would the Jews desire to build their Temple on the old site? It has been dedicated to what the Jews consider a false religion since Caliph Omar built the Mosque of Omar over the site of Solomon's Temple in the 7th century. Another pertinent question is, Would the Arab nations allow the building of a Jewish Temple next to a mosque, which some say is their second most holy place, and is very sacred in their eyes? This is unlikely after the hatred of recent years. We shall have to wait and see. In.Rev.11v1,2., the outer court is excluded from measuring, "Leave without," is "ekbale exothen," which literally means, "cast without," the aorist active imperative of "ekballo," is here used in the sense of exclude; John is told, "Do not measure it." John is told that for 42 months the Gentiles will contemptuously tread the holy city (Is.48v2.) under foot, "patesousin," the future active of "pateo," here it means to trample with contempt, as in Lk.21v24., where, Jesus uses "pateo" to state that Jerusalem will be "trodden under foot of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
"The court," "ten aulen," is the uncovered outer court outside of the sanctuary. In Herod's Temple this outer court was marked off from the inner court, into which a Gentile could not go, by "the middle wall of partition." Eph.2v15. This outer court had a house of prayer for the Gentiles. Mk.11v17. As Jesus in Lk.21v25. states, will be a time of great distress and anguish ("sunecho," only here and in 2Cor.2v4.), in a world that is in perplexity and has lost the way "aporos").

Our Lord's pronouncement upon these matters.
Israel had to become a nation and "the holy place" built before the prophecy of Dan.9v27 and Mt.24v15. could come to pass. Before the peace treaty, or "covenant" could be made with Israel, it had to be an independent nation, and before the covenant could be broken, the Temple, or at very least the holy of holies, had to be found or built. When our Lord was asked the sign of His coming, He gave the fulfilment of Dan.9v27. as the pre-eminent sign of His coming. Obviously the comment of the Lord Jesus upon the subject of His second coming carries the greatest authority and we should take the most earnest heed to it.

12. Antichrist making and breaking his covenant with the Jews.
When Jesus was asked the time of His second coming and the end of the age, He referred His disciples to the prophecy of Daniel concerning the abomination of the desolation. Mt.24v15. Paul corrected the wrong ideas of the Thessalonians with the same truths. 2Thes.2v1-5. Jesus said that His second coming could not take place until the holy place had been desecrated by Antichrist. Christ told His disciples that the temple that was then standing was shortly to be destroyed, but another sanctuary was going to be built, and it would be desecrated by "the prince of the covenant," the Antichrist. Jesus also states in Mt.24v21. that the 3½ years of great tribulation spoken of in Dan.12v1,6,7. will follow this desecration of the sanctuary. In 2Thes.2v4., Paul also informs us that Antichrist "sits as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God." "The temple of God," is "ton naon tou theou;" "temple," is "naon," the sanctuary, the innermost and holiest part of the Temple, which only the priests could enter into. The phrase, "ton naon tou theou," the Sanctuary of God, is used in 1Cor.3v17., by Paul of Christians. We are made holy ground by God's indwelling presence, and His wonderful mercy and grace. See 1Cor.6v19. Eph.2v21..

Jesus informed His disciples that His second coming could be accurately foretold by certain events taking place in Israel, and for His proof referred His disciples to the amazing prophecy of Daniel.9v20-27.. See also Dan.7v24-28. 8v9-16,23-27. 11v31. 12v11. The prophecy of Dan.9v20-27., informs us of the exact time of both the first and second comings of Christ. Gabriel told Daniel that Messiah be "cut off" and "make reconciliation for iniquity," 483 years after "the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem." The second coming of Christ is to take place seven years after "the prince that shall come," or "the king of the North," as he is also called, makes a treaty with Israel. Dan.9v26,27. 11v40. Jesus said that the period of seven years that is mentioned in Dan.9v27., was yet in the future, and that their would result in His second coming and "the full end of the age," or as another translation puts it, "the conclusion of the age." Man's rule would finish and God's rule begin. After giving many signs that would indicate His coming, the Lord gives one specific sign that would date His coming, the making and breaking of Antichrist's treaty with Israel. The first "commandment" to rebuild Jerusalem was clearly seen and known by all, and the second "covenant," or treaty, will also be clearly seen and known by all, and the Lord Jesus exhorts us to keep our eyes open for it.

The first part of this prophesy was remarkably fulfilled, the commandment that brought about the building of the ruined wall of Jerusalem was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus in the 20th year of his reign. Neh.2v1-8. Usher, after 37 years of consideration, dates the accession of Artaxerxes as the year 474 B.C. on the evidence of Thucydides and Eusebius. This would give a date of 454 B.C. For the commandment being proclaimed, and according to Daniel's prophecy Christ would die at Jerusalem in A.D. 29 to 30. S. P. Tregelles believes A.D. 29 to be "the true date; first because of the day of the week on which the Passover commenced in that year; and also, because of the consuls of that year [the two Gemini] having been mentioned by several writers as those of the year when our Lord was put to death."

So we can see that there was a quite remarkable literal fulfilment of the first part of the prophecy of Dan.9v20-27.; and in Mt.24v15-31. the Lord Jesus tells us that there will be a literal fulfilment of the prophecy of Dan.9v27., and that this will be clearly seen by all. Mt.24v32,33. Paul reminds the Thessalonian Christians of this fact in 2Thes.2v1-5.. The desecration of the holy of holies at Jerusalem by Antichrist will inform us that the second coming of Christ and the millennial kingdom is only 3½ years away. Christ said that the day and hour of His coming was only known by the Father, but He definitely tells us that we shall know the year of His coming by Daniel's prophecy, and that when the signs He gave come to pass, His coming will be "near, even at the doors." Mt.24v33,36. The Jews should have known by the prophecy of Daniel the year that Christ was to die, and as soon as the treaty is signed we shall know the year of Christ's second coming. Oswald J. Smith writes in his book we shall be able to say, "Thank God the hour has struck. Within seven years at the longest Jesus will return to reign."

Jesus informs us that when the King of the North, Antichrist, breaks the treaty and puts his image in the holy place in the temple at Jerusalem, we have 3½ years to go to the coming of Christ. The King of the North could be the head of Russia, for the great power of the beast would seem to demand a more powerful country than Syria, or Turkey; which are the other two possibilities. We shall have to wait and see which one of these three fulfil the prophecy; time and world events will make it clear. Mt.24v15,16,21,29-31. 2Thes.2v1-4,8,9. Rev.13v14-18. Jesus tells us that when Antichrist breaks the treaty with the Jews, all Christians in Judea are to flee to the mountains for safety, just as they did in A.D.70., when this prophecy received a partial fulfilment. The Scriptures call the period of 3½ years after the desecration of the Temple "the great tribulation." Daniel, Paul and our Lord state that immediately after this period of great tribulation the Lord will return and set up His kingdom. Rev.7v14. Dan.12v1. Mt.24v21,29-31. Mk.13v19. The great tribulation ends with the destruction of the armies of Antichrist around a devastated Jerusalem. Lk.17v37. Rev.17v16-18. 18v1 to 19v21. 2Thes.2v8.

Jesus said that the overall picture of the conditions in the world just prior to His coming will be as bad as they were in the days of Noah and Lot. Lk.17v26-31. The expulsion of evil angels from the heavenly places into the earth results in a great increase in wickedness, and a wilful ignorance of the promised judgement of God. Gen.6v1-13. 1Pet.3v19,20. Rev.12v7-12. The wicked despise the riches of God's goodness, forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God is trying to lead them to repentance and salvation. Rom.2v1-4,9. 2Pet.3v3-9. Jude.v14-16. Many signs are now being fulfilled, they are a great warning to the Church that it is time to put on the armour of God, for no lukewarm Christian will stand in this evil day.

Se the following two charts.


CHART OF DANIEL'S 70 WEEKS OF YEARS. Dan.9v20-27.

* 49 Years plus 434 Years * Indefinite Period * 7 Years * Millennium
*-----------------------------------*-------------------------*-------------------*-------------*
| | | | *
Commandment to rebuild Death of Jesus Antichrist's treaty Christ's *
Jerusalem. Neh.2v1-9. A.D. 29 to 30. with Israel. It is Second *
20th. year of Artaxerxes broken after 3½ years. Coming. *
Longimanus. B.C. 454. Mt.24v15. 2Thes.2v1-12. *

The first six heads of the Beast of Rev.17v3,8-11., are six kingdoms that have conquered, ruled and tyrannised Israel and Jerusalem, during the 483 years of the prophecy of Dan.9v20-27. The first six kingdoms were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Egypt, Syria, and the sixth one was Rome; the 7th. head, the kingdom of Antichrist, is still to come.


THE LAST SEVEN YEARS OF THE PROPHECY OF Dan.9v20-27.

This chart looks at the 7 years of Daniel's prophecy from the information given in the book of Revelation.
| | The Great Tribulation. Dan.12v2. | The Day of the | The Millennium |
* *
| | Jer.30v7. Mt.24v15,29. Rev.7v14. | Lord. | |
| 3½ Years |<------------3½ Years-------------->|<-----One day----->|<-----1,000 Years----->|
*------------------*------------------------------------*-------------------*-----------------------*
| | | | | |
Treaty | The Seals, Antichrist's career. | | | The eternal bliss |
First Fourth Sixth Seventh | of the tribulation |
Seal Seal Seal Seal | saints. Rev.7v9-17. |
| | *The Seven Vials. Rev. 15 and 16. * |
| *--------The Seven Trumpets. Rev.8v2. to 11v19.----- ----* The judgement of the |
| * *5 months*13 months* | living nations. The |
| First Fifth Sixth Seventh | saints are rewarded. |
| Trumpet Trumpet Trumpet Trumpet | Mt.25v31-46. |
| | * | Rev.11v15-19. |
| | The resurrection of Old * The saints begin to |
| | and New Testament saints. | reign. Rev.11v15-19. |
| | Rev.7v1-17. 11v15,18. 20v4-6. | 14v1-5. 20v4-6. |
| | | | |
| 3½ Years *<-------------3½ Years------------->|<----- One day---->|<-----1,000 Years----->|
| *<---The two witnesses prophesy---->*| * Satan is chained. |
| | for 3½ years. Rev.11v1-14. | Rev.14v14-20. | Rev.20v1-3. |
| | | | |
| * Rev.12v1-17. Woman is fed, | | Jesus reigns from |
| | and protected by God. | | city of Jerusalem |
| | The manchild is martyred. | | Ps.48v2,3. |
| | | | Zech.14v1-21. |
| * Rev.13v1-18.-Antichrist * Antichrist and | |
| | and the False Prophet. | his followers | |
| | | are executed. | |
| | | Rev.19v11-21. | |
| | * | | |
| | The messages of the | |
| | angels. Rev.14v1-21. | |
| | | | |
| * The scarlet woman Jerusalem. * | |
| | Antichrist. Rev.17v1-18v24. | | |
| | * | | |
| | The Seven Thunders. The angel | |
| | and the little book. Rev.10v1-11. | |
| 3½ Years *<-------------3½ Years------------->|<-----One day----->|<------1,000 Years---->|
*------------------*------------------------------------*-------------------*-----------------------*



5. WILL THE CHURCH GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION?

1. Can Christ come at any moment without any predicted signs preceding His Advent?
The Scriptures teach that Jesus will not return until certain signs have come to pass, however, some teach that Christ can return at any moment without any prior signs taking place, we will now show why this view is not correct.

a. Does "Coming as a thief," mean "an any moment coming?"
Some take Christ's coming "as a thief in the night," to mean that He will secretly return without any prior signs. However, Paul writes, in 1Thes.5v2., that Christ's coming "as a thief" will bring "sudden destruction" on the wicked, "and they shall not escape." Peter also states, in 2Pet.3v10., that Christ's coming "as a thief" will be "with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up." Hardly a secret coming! Christ's coming will be "as a thief" to the wicked, it will certainly be a fearful unexpected shock to them. In 1Thes.5v2-4., Paul tells us that the day of the Lord will come upon the world as a thief, but it will not overtake us as a thief. Christ's coming will surprise the world, but it will be no surprise to the watching informed Church. Lk.21v34-36. 2Pet.1v19. 3v2,10-15. Paul states that the Church will still be on earth, when Christ comes to destroy Antichrist, not taken to heaven years before in a secret rapture. 2Thes.1v5-11. 2v1-12. Jesus warns us that lack of watchfulness and prayer, ignorance of the Scriptures, and a carnal worldly life will have serious consequences in the last days, and can lead to apostasy. Lk.21v34. Mt.24v42-51. 25v1-30.

b. Christ's second coming was a day only known to the Father.
Some say that our Lord's words, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only," teach that the coming of Christ can occur at any moment. Mk.13v32. Mt.24v36,42. They ignore the fact that these verses are in a context of signs which specifically state that our Lord's coming is at a preordained time. Mt.24v32,33. Mk.13v28,29. Jesus said that when these signs come to pass, we shall know that his second coming "is near, even at the doors." Mt.24v33. Jesus tells us that we will know the year of His coming by the fulfilment of certain specific signs, and mentions the prophecy of Daniel as a Scripture proof of this fact. We read in Dan.9v27., that Christ will return 3½ years after Antichrist breaks his treaty with Israel. During His humanity Jesus said that He did not know the day of His second coming; however, since His exaltation and glorification He undoubtedly knows the day and time of His return. The phrases, "must shortly come to pass," and, "the time is at hand," in Rev.1v1,3. and 22v10., must be interpreted in the light of God's eternal being, to whom a thousand years is as but a day, as Peter warns us in 2Pet.3v8. Ps.90v4.

c. Watching for His coming does not mean an any-moment coming.
Some would say that such exhortations as "look for," "watch," "wait for," and "be ready," which are addressed to the Christ's apostles, indicate that Christ taught them to expect His second coming at any moment in Church history. In fact the very opposite is true, Christ taught that some of the signs that He foretold would take a long time to come to pass. It is just as possible to eagerly look for, wait for, and be ready for events that are far off, as it is to be ready for events in the immediate future. In 2Pet.3v13., Peter exhorts us to look for a new heaven and a new earth, however, though both Heaven and Earth are renewed at our Lord's second coming, this does not occur in its fullness until the end of the Millennium. Is.65v17-25. Rev.21v1. The Scriptures clearly tell us that Christians are to look for the glorious appearing of Jesus, not a secret any-moment coming. Lk.12v36. 21v27,28. Phil.3v20,21. 1Thes.1v9,10. with 2Thes.1v7-10. Titus.2v13.

d. Christ's sure coming, not His immediate coming, is our purifying hope.
Some say that if you do away with an any moment return of Christ, you do away with a great incentive to holiness and comfort. However, going into the presence of God by death is an any moment possibility for every believer, and so we should live accordingly. It is not the immediate coming, but the sure coming of Christ that is a purifying hope, and the fact that we will have to give an account of all of our Christian life, not just our condition at His appearing. 2Cor.5v8-11,15. We do not live righteously just because Jesus might come at any time and catch us misbehaving, but because He loved us and died for us, and we love Him in return, and love to keep His commandments. Jn.14v21-24. If we love Jesus we want to please Him and not be ashamed of our life when He returns. 1Jn.2v28,29. The coming of Christ is a great comfort to believers, not because we will miss the great tribulation, but because we shall see our dear Lord Jesus face to face, and be with Him for ever. The last days will be so dark, that Christ's coming will be an even greater comfort and hope, because we know our Son of righteousness will rise with healing in His wings and will destroy the world's gross darkness. Mal.4v1-3. Titus.2v13.

2. The early Church did not expect Christ to come at any moment.
We have already considered some of these facts, however, further consideration will help to engrave them on our memories.
a. Our Lord prophesied and told Peter that he would die a martyr's death as an old man. Jn.21v18,19.

In 1Pet.1v14,15., Peter reminded his hearers about our Lord's prophecy of his death. Paul also told Timothy that he was expecting to die for the faith. 2Tim.4v6-8. So both Peter and Paul were expecting to die, and not be raptured before death. Jesus could not return until Peter and Paul had died, and the many other signs which He predicted would precede His coming had come to pass.

b. Jerusalem and the Temple had to be destroyed and the Jews regathered as an independent nation.
Their holy of holies had to be rebuilt to fulfil Lk.21v20-24. This would obviously take a considerable time.

c. The parables of Christ inform us that His return would take place after a considerable interval.
Jesus said in the parable of the talents that, "after a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them." Mt.25v19. And in the parable of the pounds Jesus expressly gave this parable to correct the wrong idea "that the kingdom of God should immediately appear." Lk.19v11. Our Lord also said that the wheat and the tares will be gathered at the harvest at "the end of the age," He said the tares are gathered first and destroyed before the kingdom gathering of the saints. Mt.13v24-30,36-43. Jesus said "at the end of the age: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire." Mt.13v47-50.

d. The commission to go and teach all nations obviously has not been fulfilled even today.
Jesus tells us that this must occur before His coming. Mt.24v14. 28v18-20 Mk.16v15. Jesus cannot return at any moment, for the Scriptures state the very opposite, they say that specific signs like this must come to pass before He returns.

3. Is the second coming of Christ a secret coming, and is the rapture secret?

a. The amazing distortion of the Scriptures by the pretribulation rapture advocates.
When commenting on Matthew 24, one of the leading pretribulation rapture writers, states that the Church has been raptured "possibly between the eighth and ninth verses of this chapter." This is a truly amazing twisting of the facts, for in Mt.24v26,27., Christ emphatically warns His disciples against the teaching of a secret coming. The only kind of second coming of Christ revealed in the Scriptures is a coming in glory. Titus.2v13. There is no other kind of coming either suggested or stated. The doctrine of a secret coming and a secret rapture stands in direct contradiction to the Scriptures.

S. P. Tregelles, in His "The Hope of Christ's Second Coming," writes on pages 63 to 65.
"Our Lord has promised that He will return in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and that then He will send forth His angels to gather His elect. The secret advent doctrine teaches that He will come privately, and that then He will raise His sleeping saints and change the living, taking them up to Himself a good while before His manifestation.

The Scripture warns the saints of perilous times, and of evils in the latter day before the coming of Christ. The secret advent theory maintains that no such events can be known as would interpose an interval between the present moment and the coming of the Lord.

The Scripture speaks only of Christ's second coming, until which He remains at the right hand of God the Father. The secret advent is a notion entirely opposed to this; for it represents our Lord coming in a private manner to take the Church to meet Him, and then at a future period (according to some, a long interval) coming in glory; and this some call His third coming.

The Scripture teaches the Church to wait for the manifestation of Christ. The secret theory bids us to expect a coming before any such manifestation. Our Lord says that the wheat and tares shall be together in the field until the harvest. The doctrine of the secret rapture affirms that at some time considerably before the harvest, all the wheat shall have been removed, leaving only tares. Our Lord bids us look for certain signs, and use them in our watching. The advocates of the secret advent contradict this, saying that the signs are not for us.

The Scripture tells us that the 'first' resurrection of the saints will be when the Lord has come forth as the conqueror, and that those will share in this resurrection who have suffered under the final Antichrist. The teachers of the secret doctrine say that the resurrection of the present Church will take place long 'before the first resurrection,' and before the manifestation of Antichrist.

Is it not surprising that men with their Bibles in their hands, can be led to adopt a theory of doctrine which not only adds to Scripture, but contradicts it at all points? This is just the simple and natural consequence of the acceptance of the one leading addition to Scripture, that there shall be a secret coming of the Lord, and a secret rapture of His Church.

When Christ distinctly states a truth, it might have been expected that at least those who profess to be His believing people would receive those words as conclusive; and thus it might have been thought that those only who avowedly reject His authority would deny the force of what He said. Now our Lord has expressly taught us that His coming shall not be secret: He has told us this, not only by saying that it will be manifest, but also by warning against any supposition of secret coming as suits some of the 'Jewish' notions. After speaking of the unequalled tribulation, He says, 'Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ, or there, believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders: insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert, go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chambers, believe it not. For as the lightening cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.' Mt.24v23-27. No man with these words in his Bible, ought to accept the doctrine of any secret coming without feeling that he is casting off, in so doing, the authority of the Lord; for this is done, virtually, when the warning of Christ is treated as if He had taught the very reverse, and as if He had charged us to believe what, in reality, He says shall never be, and against the supposition of which He warns us." End of Tregelles quote.

b. If Christ's coming is secret, how do we know that it has not happened?
If the coming of Christ is a secret coming, what proof have the secret rapture advocates that it has not already taken place? Thanks be to God, we are not left to such uncertainties, Peter tells us that the Scriptures are a sure guide to the second coming of Christ. 2Pet.1v19. However, if someone substitutes a secret coming for the glorious appearing of Christ, the prophetic Word of God becomes no guide at all, and even Christians may well ask, "Where is the promise of His coming?"

c. The correct interpretation of the Typology of Noah and Lot.
Some teach that Enoch, Elijah and Lot prove that the Church will be saved from the great tribulation. Our Lord clearly teaches the very opposite of this in Lk.17v26-30.; the flood that destroyed the world and the fire that fell and consumed Sodom, are used as pictures, not of the tribulation, but of the day of the Lord that follows that great tribulation. Christ uses these Old Testament characters as illustrations of truth, not as types, they are used to illustrate known facts, not to produce supposed facts. Christ stresses in Lk.17v22-37., that the day the saints are raptured is the day of God's wrath on the wicked, "they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, UNTIL THE DAY that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.---The SAME DAY that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. even thus shall it be IN THE DAY WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED. In that day, --- in that night --- one shall be taken and the other shall be left." The day that shall burn as an oven is the day that the Son of righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings. Mal.4v1-3.

d. Paul corrects the confused Thessalonians.
The Christians at Thessalonica were confused about the Lord's return, they thought that the rapture, "our gathering together unto Him," and the day of the Lord were at hand. 2Thes.2v1-12. They feared that they were in the terrible last days because of the dreadful persecution they were suffering. 1Thes.2v2,14. If there was to be a pretribulation rapture, here was the time for Paul to state it; but Paul does not give the slightest hint of such a doctrine; in fact he says the very opposite. Paul gives specific signs that would show them that the day of the Lord was at hand; the great apostasy, the revelation of Antichrist and his desecration of the holy of holies, and his destruction by Christ at His coming. 2Thes.2v1-12. Paul only spent three weeks at Thessalonica during his first visit there, so extensive teaching was not possible, and this is perhaps why they went astray on the doctrine of Christ's second coming. Acts.17v1-10. N.B. v2.

4. The day of Christ and the day of the Lord are the same event.
Some people say that the day of Christ and the day of the Lord are two different events, the first being the coming of Christ for His people, and the other being the revelation of Christ to the world at later date in judgement. This theory is quite unfounded, as they are both speaking of the same event. The folly of laying such an emphasis upon the difference of these two phases is seen when one considers such phases as, "that ye may be blameless in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ." 1Cor.1v7,8. 1Thes.3v13. 2Thes.2v1. In the epistles of Paul the words "Christ" and "Lord" are used interchangeably, as reference to any concordance will show. See Eph.1v3,10,12,20. 3v6,17. 4v15,20 with Eph.2v21. 4v17. 5v8. 6v1,10,21. In the Scriptures "the day of the Lord" refers to Christians standing before the judgement seat of Christ. 2Cor.1v14. 1Cor.5v5. See 2Cor.5v9-11. The day of the Lord, the day of Christ's glorious appearing, is the hope of the Church and the day when Christians are judged and rewarded. Titus.2v13. Mt.24v30. 25v31. with 16v27 Lk.9v23-26. Rev.11v15,18. 1Cor.3v10-15. 4v1-5. 2Cor.5v8-11. See also 1Cor.1v8. 2Cor.1v14. 2Pet.3v12. Phil.1v6,10. Rev.1v7.

Christ warned us not to believe in a secret advent and secret rapture, He tells us that He will not return until He comes in His power and glory. Mt.24v24-27. Lk.17v23,24. 21v8. Mk.13v21,22. Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father until He comes to destroy the wicked, there is no prior visitation years before for His saints. Ps.110v1. with Mt.22v41-45. Acts.3v20,21.
In the light of these Scriptures, can anybody say that the day of the Lord and the day of Christ are different events? The proof is conclusive that they are interchangeable synonymous phrases speaking of the same event.

5. The secret rapture doctrine is preparing the way for false prophets.
Many Christian leaders have ignored the solemn warning of Christ that we must not look for a secret advent. Jesus warns us that it is false prophets who will teach that He will return secretly. Mt.24v23-27. The doctrine of a secret advent is a false doctrine that is preached by the Jehovah's Witnesses, and it is preparing the ground for even worse false prophets. Some false prophets of the last days will possess great satanic power, and show so many signs and wonders to substantiate their claims, that they will deceive many. Mt.24v23-31. Christ tells us not to believe a secret coming because His coming will be as visible as a lightening flash, and His coming will be with power and great glory. Mt.24v23-31. The fulfilment of Acts.1v11., is a coming in glory. Rev.1v7-12. 14v14-20. Zech.14v4. We rise to meet Christ as He descends to set up His Kingdom and judge the earth. The Greek word for "meet" in 1Thes.4v17., is "apantesis," it occurs in three places in the New Testament, in 1Thes.4v17. Mt.25v1,6. and Acts.28v15., and in all three cases the people concerned went out to meet someone, and then returned with the person they went out to meet.

Christ taught that He would come in glory for His saints at the end of the great tribulation, when Antichrist's armies sack and surround Jerusalem like an evil brood of eagle vultures. Mt.24v27,28. Lk.17v22-24. 30-37. Rev.17v16 to 18v24. Our Lord Jesus gave His disciples the signs that would occur before His coming in glory, both He and His disciples only knew of one coming, as did Paul and the apostle John. 2Thes.2v1,8. 1Jn.2v28. 3v2. Rev1v7. Those who apply the teachings of Christ in Gospels on His second coming to the Jewish nation, leave the Church of Christ without any teaching from Christ as to what they may expect at the end of the age regarding His second coming. It is the utmost folly to say that Mt.24. Lk.17. and 21. and Mk.13. are accounts dealing with unconverted Jews.

It is a tragic fact that many Christian leaders have readily accepted doctrine on Christ's second coming that is directly opposed to the Scriptures, and came into being through Margaret MacDonald's false prophecy. In 2Thes.2v1-8., Paul warns us that Antichrist must first be manifested and sit in God's Temple and claim that he is God before Christ can return, and that Christ will come for His own and destroy Antichrist at the same time, and warns us not to believe any teaching that tells us otherwise. 2Thes.1v5-11. How sad it is that many Christians have ignored Paul's warning and have been deceived by a false prophecy.

N.B. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb takes place after the day of the Lord.
When is the marriage supper of the Lamb? Some confusion has arisen as to when the marriage supper of the Lamb will take place, however, Is.25v6-9. and Rev.19v1-9., tell us quite plainly that the marriage supper of the Lamb takes place after the wicked are destroyed on the day of the Lord and the Millennial kingdom is set up. The Scriptures make it quite plain that the day of the Lord is a day of judgement, at the end of the great tribulation, which ushers in the Millennial kingdom. Is.2v12. 13v6,9. 34v8. Joel.1v15. 3v14. Amos.5v18. Zeph.2v2,3. Zech.14v1-21. 2Pet.3v10. It is the time when the Lord comes for His people, and gives rewards to Christians. 2Thes.1v6-10. Rev.11v15,18. Mt.16v27. Lk.9v23-26. Paul says that it is at the day of Christ that he expects His reward. Phil.2v16. 1Cor.3v10-15. 2Cor.5v9-11. The day of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the hope of faithful Israel, as well as the hope of the Church.

Oswald Smith, in his book, "God's future Program," sums up the argument against an "any moment" rapture of the Church: "Then when I remembered that the death of Peter, his prediction of corruption and apostasy after his decease, the death of Paul, and many other events had to occur before the rapture, my "any moment" theory took wings and flew."

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