6. JERUSALEM'S HOLOCAUST IN A.D.70 WAS NOT THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
There is a dual fulfilment of our Lord's prophecies in Mt.24. In Mt.24v3., the apostles asked two questions, "Tell us, when shall these things be? The destruction of the temple. And, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the age?" Whereas, Lk.21v6,7., (like Mk.13v2-4.), only mentions the stones of the temple being torn down, and both Luke and Mark omit Christ's statement on the end of the age; Luke records the question, "Master, but when shall these things be? And, "What sign will there be when these things come to pass?" The prophecy in Lk.21v20. of "Jerusalem surrounded by armies" was fulfilled in A.D. 70.; whereas, in Lk.17v37. the destruction of Jerusalem by Antichrist at the end of the age, is likened to a carcase which is surrounded by eagle vultures picking at the bones of a carcase. The abomination of desolation and the period known as the great tribulation were not fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70., for the following reasons.

1. In A.D. 70 the abomination of desolation took place after the burning of the Temple.
The abomination of desolation and the great tribulation were not fulfilled in A.D. 70. Josephus states the Temple was destroyed by fire before it was defiled by sacrifice to the Roman standards and gods, and the Emperor. Philip Schaff writes in his "Church History," Vol. 1. page 398; that AFTER the fire, that the Romans planted their eagles on the shapeless ruins, against the eastern gate, and offered sacrifices to them, and proclaimed Titus, "Imperator," with the greatest acclamations of joy.

Josephus tells us in "Wars," Book 6. Chapter 4, paragraphs 4 to 7, that Titus did not want the temple to be destroyed, and with a loud voice ordered the soldiers to quench the fire, but they did not hear what he said with the distraction and noise of battle. Josephus writes that Titus "was in no way able to restrain the enthusiastic fury of the soldiers, and the fire proceeded on more and more, ... and thus was the holy house burned down, without Caesar's approbation." End of quote.

2. The Jews could not flee from Jerusalem after the destruction and desecration of the Temple.
It was impossible for the Jews to flee from Jerusalem after the destruction and desecration of the temple by Titus, for Titus built a wall around the city and closely guarded it. If the Christians had applied the prophecy of the abomination of desolation to the events of A.D. 70, and waited for the desecration of the temple, it would have meant the death of them all. Christ, therefore, so that none of his disciples would misinterpret His prophecy, warned certain "approved men" in Jerusalem of the approaching disaster, just before the start of the war in A.D. 66, and commanded them to leave Jerusalem and go to Pella in Perea.

The Church historian Eusebius lived about 260 to 339 A.D., and was the Bishop of Ceasarea." On page 75 of the translation of "The Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus," by the Rev. C. F. Cruse, in his 1892 edition, in Book 3, Chapter 5. "The whole body, however, of the Church at Jerusalem, having been commanded by a divine revelation, given to men of approved piety there before the war, removed from the city, and dwelt at a certain town beyond the Jordan, called Pella."

Our Lord's broken hearted weeping over Jerusalem in Lk.19v41-44., contradicts the conclusion of Eusebius, that Jerusalem's destruction was God's punishment of the Jews for rejecting Christ. Josephus was an eye witness of these events, and he writes in his "Wars," Book 6, Chapter 5, paragraph 4.: that the Jews perished by the miseries which they madly and voluntarily brought upon themselves; many of the wise men were deceived in their determination to misinterpret and misapply to themselves an ambiguous oracle that, at "about that time one from their own country should become governor of the habitable earth." Josephus applies this to Vespasian, who was appointed Emperor in Judea by the armies there.

Schaff's "Church History," page 402, says, "Eusebius puts the flight to Pella before the war...four years before the destruction of Jerusalem." Epiphanius says the Christians at Jerusalem went to Pella after Christ warned them of the approaching siege, and in another place he states that an angel told them to flee to Pella. So it appears that our Lord personally, and through angels, warned of the destruction of Jerusalem, just as he did over the destruction of Sodom. Gen.18v16-33. 19v1,12-29.

3. Neither Vespasian nor Titus remotely resemble the Prince of the Covenant.
Neither Vespasian or Titus made a covenant with the Jews; there was no 7 year period, no break after 3½ years, nor anything that could fulfil the abomination of desolation of Dan.9v24-27. and Rev.12v11.. The Jews themselves stopped the sacrifices, not Titus. Schaff tells us in his "Church History," Vol. 1, page 397, "The daily sacrifices ceased July 17th, because all hands were needed for the defence." On page 398 he states the temple "was burned on the tenth of August, A.D. 70."

4. The Prince of the Covenant is destroyed by Jesus at His second coming.
The prince of the covenant "shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." Dan.8v25. He is thrown into the lake of fire. Rev.19v20. Jesus destroys Antichrist at His appearing. Mt.24v30. 2Thes.2v8,9.

5. The dead will be raised at the end of these 3½ years.
This is definitely stated in Dan.12v2. Is.25v6-9. 1Thes.4v13-17. 1Cor.15v50-53. Rev.11v15-18. and 20v4-6.. Jesus gathers His elect after the great tribulation, with the sound of a great trumpet. Mt.24v31. with 1Thes.4v16. and Is.27v13.

6. Everlasting righteousness is brought in at the fulfilment of this prophecy. Dan.9v24.
Everlasting righteousness will be brought in, and prophecy will be sealed up, and transgression finished, when the prophecies of the Millennial kingdom are fulfilled, and God's reign of righteousness begins. Is.32v1,17. Rev.10v7.

7. The death of Jesus did not fulfil the cessation of the daily sacrifices. Dan.9v27. 11v31.
The Jewish rituals and sacrifices continued after the death of Christ. Heb.8v4. Jesus died 483 years after the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem; the last 7 years and the abomination of desolation is in the future until the prophecies are fulfilled.

These historical and prophetical facts refute the conclusion that the Jerusalem Church fled because they saw the fulfilment of Daniel's prophecy of the abomination of desolation. The flight to Pella partly fits Lk.21v20-24., but it in no way fits in with the prophecy of the abomination of desolation and the great tribulation as recorded in Mt.24v15-31. and Mk.13v14-27..


THE AMAZING SIGNS GOD GAVE TO WARN JERUSALEM OF HER DESTRUCTION IN A.D. 70.
The Jews having rejected Jesus, their true prophet and Messiah, were deluded by a great number of false prophets. Josephus tells us in "Wars," Book 6, Chapter 5, paragraphs 2,3,4, that they refused great signs and warnings from God of their impending doom and believed their false prophets, and that not one escaped with their life who had obeyed a false prophet's proclamation "that God commanded them to get up upon the temple, and that there they should receive miraculous signs of their deliverance."

Josephus continues: "Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied God himself; while they did not attend, nor give credit, to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretell their future desolation; but like men infatuated, without either eyes to see, or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them.
(1) Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet that continued a whole year.

(2) Thus also before the Jew's rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened bread, on the eighth day of the month Xanthicus (Nisan, April), and at the ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time; which light lasted for half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskilful, but was so interpreted by the sacred scribes, as to portend those events that followed immediately upon it.

(3) At the same festival also, an heifer, as she was led by the high priest to be sacrificed, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple.

(4) Moreover, the eastern gate of the inner (court of the) temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, and had been with difficulty shut by twenty men, and rested upon a basis armed with iron, and had bolts fastened very deep into the firm floor, which was there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of its own accord about the sixth hour of the night. Now those that kept watch in the temple came hereupon running to the captain of the temple, and told him of it; who then came up thither, and, not without great difficulty, was able to shut the gate again. This also appeared to the vulgar to be a very happy prodigy, as if God did thereby open them the gate of happiness. But the men of learning understood it, that the security of their holy house was dissolved of its own accord, and that the gate was opened for the advantage of their enemies. So these publicly declared, that the signal foreshowed the desolation that was coming upon them.

(5) Besides these, a few days after that feast, on the one-and-twentieth day of the month Artemisius (Jyar, May), a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armour were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding cities. Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the high priests were going by night in to the inner (court of the) temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, 'Let us remove hence.'

(6) But what is still more terrible, there was one Jesus (the son of Ananias according to Eusebius), the son of a plebeian and an husbandman, who, and at a time when the city was in very great peace and prosperity, came to that feast, whereon it is our custom for every one to make tabernacles to God in the temple, began to cry aloud, 'A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, and a voice against this whole people!' This was his cry, as he went about by day and by night, in all the lanes of the city. However, certain of the most eminent among the populace had great indignation at this dire cry of his, and took up the man, and gave him a great number of severe stripes; yet did not he either say anything for himself, or any thing peculiar to those that chastised him, but still he went on with the same words which he cried before. Hereupon our rulers, supposing, as the case proved to be, that this was a sort of divine fury in the man, brought him to the Roman procurator: where he was whipped till his bones were laid bare; yet he did not make any supplication for himself, nor shed any tears, but turning his voice to the most lamentable tone possible, at every stroke of the whip his answer was, 'Woe, woe, to Jerusalem!' And when Albinus (for he was then our procurator) asked him, Who he was? and whence he came? and why he uttered such words? he made no manner of reply to what he said, but still did not leave off his melancholy ditty, till Albinus took him to be a madman, and dismissed him.

Now, during all the time that passed before the war began, this man did not go near any of the citizens, nor was seen by them while he said so; but he every day uttered these lamentable words, as if it were his premeditated vow,- 'Woe, woe to Jerusalem!' Nor did he give ill words to any of them that beat him every day, nor good words to those that gave him food; but this was his reply to all men, and indeed no other than a melancholy presage of what was to come. This cry of his was the loudest at the festivals; and he continued this ditty for seven years and five months without growing hoarse or being tired therewith, until the very time that he saw his presage in earnest fulfilled in our siege, when it ceased; for as he was going round upon the wall, he cried out with his utmost force, 'Woe, woe to the city again, and to this people, and to the holy house!' And just as he added to the last,-'Woe, woe to myself also!' there came a stone out of one of the engines, and smote him and killed him immediately; and as he was uttering the same presages, he gave up the ghost." End of quote.

Josephus well sums up the loving purpose of God's warning signs at the start of paragraph 4. "Now, if any one consider these things, he will find that God takes care of mankind, and by all ways possible foreshows to our race, what is for their preservation; but that men perish by those miseries which they madly and voluntarily bring upon themselves."


7. WHAT IS PAUL TEACHING IN 2THES.2v1-12.?
This is one of the most important Scriptures for determining when the second coming of Christ will take place, so it deserves special attention. In 2Thes.2v1., Paul is certainly not appealing to the Thessalonians "by" the coming of the Lord, as the Authorised Version seems to state, he is stating the subject about which he is going to write. The Authorised Version has translated the Greek word "huper" as "by," but it is the only place in the New Testament where it is translated in this way. Paul "earnestly entreats," ("erotomen," the present active indicative), the Thessalonians to take heed to the doctrine concerning the second coming of Jesus. Where Paul appeals to Christians, "by the mercies of God" and "by the name of our Lord Jesus," etc., Paul uses the Greek word "dia," that is "through." Rom.12v1. 1Cor.1v10. 2Cor.10v1. 5v20. Most translators make it very clear that Paul is stating the subject which he intends to consider.

The Abbot Smith Lexicon states, "In a more colourless sense, it equals 'peri,' for, concerning, with regard to: Rom.9v27., 2Cor.1v6. 8v23. 12v8. Phil.1v7. 2Thes.2v1.." A.T. Robertson makes a similar comment on 2Thes.2v1.. "'Huper' originally meant over, in behalf of, instead of, but here it is used like 'peri,' around, concerning as in 1v4; 1Thes.3v2; 5v10, common in the papyri (Robertson 'Grammar,' p.632)."
Young's Literal Translation translates, "in regard to the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The Revised Standard Version, "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet Him."
These translators make it clear that Paul is stating the subject which he is trying to clarify and clear from misconception. The Thessalonians thought the great tribulation had come, because of how they were suffering, Paul told them that it was not so, and warned them not to accept any supposed revelation, message, or letter, that the day of the Lord was at hand; and, like his Lord, told them that the following unmistakable signs and events that must take place before Christ can return.

a. A great falling away, and a powerless imitation of true Christianity. Mt.24v12. 1Tim.4v1-5. 2Tim.3v1-17.
b. The coming of the Antichrist with "the workings of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." 2Thes.2v9.; and the placing of His image in the holy place "topo agio," Mt.24v15.; in the sanctuary, "naon," the innermost part of the Temple. 2Thes.2v4. Our Lord and Paul both state that His second coming cannot take place until Antichrist and the accompanying signs are manifested. Jesus destroys Antichrist with the brightness of His coming, "parousia." The use of "parousia" in connection with Christ's coming to destroy the wicked, deals the death blow to the argument that "parousia" is used for Christ's coming to His people in a secret presence and rapture.

The Greek word "parousia" is used to speak of the actual presence of a person, the Corinthians expressed contempt for Paul's weak bodily presence. 1Cor.16v17. 2Cor.7v6. 10v10. Phil.2v12. In the Hellenistic Greek, "parousia" was used as a technical word describing the arrival of an Emperor, King, or famous person into a town or province. It was also used to describe the invasion of a new and conquering general or power. In the New Testament the word "parousia" is used mainly in connection with the second coming of Christ, it tells us that King Jesus is coming to reign in power and glory. "Parousia" is used in connection with the second coming of Christ in; Mt.24v3,27,27,39. 1Cor.15v23. 1Thes.2v19. 3v13. 4v15. 5v23. 2Thes.2v1,8. James.5v7,8. 2Pet.1v16. 3v4,12. 1Jn.2v28. In 2Thes.2v8,9., Paul uses the word "parousia" to describe both the coming of Christ and the coming of Antichrist, and Paul states that the evil presence of Antichrist will be destroyed by the brightness and glory of Christ's presence. Even as the world will see and know of the presence of Antichrist, they will see and know of the presence of Christ. The "parousia" of Christ is linked with the day of the Lord and the destruction of the wicked. 2Thes.2v1,8. 2Pet.3v4,12. See Zech.14v4-12. with Acts.1v10-12. Mal.4v1,31. with 25v31,41. Luke.17v22-27. 2Thes.1v6-10. 2v1-12. 2Pet.3v1-14. Jude.v14,15. with 1Thes.4v14. Rev.6v12-17. 19v1-21. That the "parousia" of Christ is His coming in glory is also proved by the fact that it is used in Mt.24v27., in connection with the glorious coming of Christ. See Appendix.

Who is the restrainer of 2Thes.2v7.?
The restrainer is undoubtedly God, for though "that which restraineth" in verse 6, is the neuter "to katechon; in verse 7 Paul uses the masculine "ho katechon," "He who restrains." "Katechon," is the present active participle of "katecho," "to hold down, to restrain." Only God can exercise this continuous active restraint on the powers of darkness. Some have suggested that the neuter is used in verse 6 because the Greek word for "spirit" is neuter. Paul had to use the neuter to speak of the impersonal restraining power of God, whereas in verse 7 Paul is speaking of the person of God who manifests that power. "Taken out of the way," is "genetai," the aorist middle subjunctive of "ginomai," Paul speaks of that future point of time when God removes His restraint off the plans of the powers of darkness. This certainly does not mean that God's presence leaves the earth. Ps.139v7-10. God has promised that He will do mighty acts of power in the world, right up to the day of the Lord at the end of the great tribulation. Acts.2v17-21.

God is exercising a restraining influence on the powers of darkness, He only allows them to go so far with their evil plans, however, God is going to remove this limiting influence for a few years at the close of the age, and that is what is referred to in 2Thes.2v7.. God allows this manifestation of evil because everyone has to see the folly and horrific end of following Satan and His plans, and the wisdom of God's loving purposes. To this end God allows the Devil to have his way in the world for 3½ years and the world ends up smashed and broken, and with it the proud claims of man and Satan, that they can live and manage without the Creator's wisdom, guidance and grace. To say that the removal of the restraining influence of God, is the removal of the Holy Spirit from the world altogether, is in direct contradiction to the teaching of the Scriptures. The two witnesses are doing mighty works of power, many of God's saints are doing mighty exploits, and many people are saved and kept during the great tribulation, all by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rev.11v3-12. 7v14. Dan.11v32. These miracles can only be performed by God, and prove conclusively His active presence in the world. Jn.3v27. 16v7-11. Those who say that the Church is raptured and the Holy Spirit is taken from the earth during the great tribulation, have to explain how with no preachers and no Holy Spirit, and in a world dominated by Satan, the world has its greatest revival! Acts.2v17-21. Mt.11v25,26. John.6v44. Rev.7v14.

There can be no doubt that in 2Thes.2v1-12., Paul is teaching that Christ's second coming is preceded by the career of Antichrist and the great tribulation, no other interpretation is possible without Paul's words being mangled and distorted beyond all recognition. Let us read these Scriptures in the fear of God, and be prepared to accept their very clear teaching.


8. IS IT UNKIND OF GOD TO LET US TO GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION?
Some Christians become afraid when they learn of the horrific events of the great tribulation. This is the real reason why people prefer to believe the theory of a secret advent of Christ and a secret rapture of the Church before the great Tribulation. One exponent of this doctrine has said, "If the Church is to pass through the tribulation, then farewell blessed hope, then welcome the coffin, then thrice welcome the undertaker." This attitude springs from several false assumptions:

1. The false assumption that the great tribulation is the wrath of God.
Some Christians say that the great tribulation is the wrath of God, so on the basis of 1Thes.5v9., "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," they say Christians may be quite sure that they will escape going through the great tribulation. How unscriptural this reasoning is will be seen from the following facts. In Rev.7v9,14., God says that there will be a great number of Christians who will not only be in the great tribulation, but will come through it in glorious victory. God says that He will allow "a great multitude, which no man could number of ALL nations" to go through the great tribulation. How dare people say that God will not let His saints go through the great tribulation, when God has already said that He will. Dan.7v21,22. 11v35. Rev.6v9-11. 12v4,11,17. 13v7,10. 14v12,13. 15v2. 20v4.

N.B. The great tribulation is the result of Satan's wrath, not God's wrath.
We read in Rev.12v12., that the great tribulation is caused by the wrath of Satan, who knows that he only has a short time of freedom before he is put in God's prison, Hades. Rev.12v7-17. 13v7. God allows the career of Antichrist in order to reveal the horrific end of sin, and the malevolent and destructive nature of Satan. and the folly of going his way. Only God can give true pleasure, joy and happiness. Mt.24v15-22. Jn.10v10. 2Thes.2v7,8. Rev.9v11. 11v18. 1Pet.5v8. Is.35v10.

The wrath of God will be poured out on the wicked during the great tribulation through the ministry of the two witnesses and others, or directly by angelic action. But these judgements will only come on the wicked, God's people are sealed and safe from them as they have always been in the past. The faithful Israelites were safe from God's judgements upon the wicked, in Egypt, the wilderness, and Canaan. Rev.9v4. 11v36. Numb.11v1-3,33,34. 16v1-3. 28-35,49. Ezek.9v3-6. God has power over His plagues, they don't fall on the saints, and even the wicked can escape them by turning to God in real repentance. Rev.16v9. The vials of the wrath of God appear to be poured out during the last weeks or months of the great tribulation. There is the final great act of judgement on the great day of the wrath of God. Is.42v13-15. 63v1-6. Rev.6v16,17. 11v18. 14v9,10,19. 15v1,7. 16v1. Some have suggested that the great tribulation and the day of the Lord are the same, however, a comparison of Mt.24v29,30. with Acts.2v20., proves that this is incorrect, the great day of God's wrath is a single day. The Christian is safe from the wrath of God, but not from the wrath of wicked men, as our Lord has warned us. John.14v30.

Some say that it is no comfort to look for Christ's return, if His Church is to expect great tribulation before it. This is foolish, for the greater the extent of the darkness, the greater will be the comfort that our Lord's coming will bring. Paul informs us that the day when the saints are comforted by Christ's return and find rest from their persecutors, is the same day that our Lord punishes the wicked with everlasting destruction from His presence. 2Thes.1v5-10. 2v8. Titus.2v13. In Lk.17v26-30., Jesus emphasises this same point, when He states that His persecuted Church will be delivered on the same day that Antichrist is destroyed, just as the day of Lot's deliverance was the day of the destruction of Sodom.

2. That God would not let His children suffer so.
God has always allowed His people to suffer tribulation, temptation and trial, because they purify and perfect faith. and "we are to arm ourselves by recognising this fact." Heb.11v35-38. 1Pet.4v1. James.1v2-4,12. 1Pet.1v3-7. Rom.5v3-5. Christ's Church has been warned that it can expect persecution for Christ's sake, and it is our glory and privilege to suffer for Him, for, "If we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him." 2Tim.2v12. 3v12. See Jn.15v19,20. 16v33. 17v15. Acts.5v41. 14v22. 2Cor.1v7. 1Thes.1v4-6. 3v3,4. Phil.1v29. 3v10. 1Pet.4v13. 2v19-24. Jesus said that faith in Him would bring death, suffering and persecution upon Christians, in addition to the normal suffering that comes upon men and nations. Jesus rebuked Peter, when Peter rebuked Him for saying that He must suffer and die, Jesus said Peter was thinking like men. Mt.16v22. Mk.8v31-38. What of the glorious company of martyrs of whom our Lord was the leader? John Wesley says, "Some have computed, that, from the year 1518 to 1548, fifteen millions of Protestants have perished by the Inquisition. This may be over charged; but certainly the number of them in those years, as well as since, is almost incredible. To these we add innumerable martyrs, in ancient, middle, and late ages." The Scriptures and Church history prove that God does allow His people to suffer at the hands of evil men. In the great tribulation the Church again has to endure suffering for Christ's sake. However, we read that because God loves His children, He will limit the length of the great tribulation, "For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Mt.24v22.

N.B. The early Church Fathers expected the Church to suffer at the hands of Antichrist.
Mr. G. Ladd in his book, "The Blessed Hope," writes, "Every Church father who deals with the subject expects the Church to suffer at the hands of Antichrist." Ladd cites amongst others, The Didache, (early 2nd Century), Justin Martyr, (A.D.150), Irenaeus, (A.D.115-202.), Tertullian, (A.D.160-240), Lactantius, (Late 3rd. early 4th. Cent.), Hippolytus, (3rd.Cent.). Certainly the early Church fathers do not support the pre-tribulation advent and rapture theory.

Those who make Paul's statement in 1Thes.5v9., "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," as one of their main proof texts for Christians being raptured before the great tribulation, have clearly twisted the Scriptures. Paul is dealing with the truth of salvation from sin, and how we can escape from the wrath of God by repentance and a holy life. 2Pet.3v16. 1Thes.1v10. Paul, like our Lord, warns us to be watchful lest we should be led away with the error of the wicked, like the evil servant of Mt.24v48-51., and share in his punishment. The fact that people have to resort to such texts proves the weakness of their arguments.

In spite of the fact that Jesus said that the prophecies concerning the events at the close of the age do not start until Rev.4v1., some use Rev.3v10., to prove the Church is going to be delivered from the great tribulation by a secret advent and rapture. There is no proof that "the hour of temptation," is the great tribulation, or that "keep thee from the hour of temptation," means the rapture. Indeed, it is a fact that this was spoken by Jesus to meet the local circumstances at Philadelphia in John's time. When people are driven to confirm their viewpoint with texts like this, texts which have nothing whatever to do with Christ's second coming, it shows the weakness of their arguments.

3. Does Luke.21v36. teach that Christians will escape the great tribulation?
The Authorised Version of Lk.21v36., "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man:" has been used to prove that we will be raptured before the great tribulation. However, careful study shows that it teaches the very opposite, and proves that Christians will not escape FROM the great tribulation, but they can only come THROUGH IT and OUT OF it by watching and praying.

The Majority Text reading of Lk.21v36., "that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things," "hina kataxiothete ekphugein tauta panta," occurs in A, C, D, R, Theta, f13, the Byzantine manuscripts, the Latin, the Syriac, the A.V., and T.R.. "Accounted worthy," is "kataxiothete," the aorist passive subj. of "kataxioo," "to account worthy of." 2Thes.1v5. Acts.5v41.

The Critical Text reading, "hina katischusete ekphugein tauta panta," "that you may prevail to escape all these things;" is supported by Aleph, B, L, and Psi. "Katischusete," is the aorist active subjunctive of "katischuo," "to have strength against." or, "to be strong or powerful against;" from "kata," "against;" and "ischuo," "to be strong or powerful, to prevail." Rotheram follows the Critical Text reading and translates Luke.21v36., "But be watching at every season, making supplication that ye may gain full vigour to escape all these things that are about to be coming to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." The Revised Standard Version follows the minority Critical Text reading and translates Lk.21v36., "But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." May we take heed to His warning. 2Thes.2v3. Mt.24v12.

No matter which Greek reading we may prefer, both the Majority Text and Critical texts read "ekphugein," the aorist active infinitive of "ekpheugo," "to escape out, to flee out of." "Ekphugein" is made up of two Greek words, "PHEUGO," which means, "to flee or escape," and "EK," which means, "out of." Both the Greek word "EK," "out of," and "APO," which means, "from;" are frequently translated "from," and they are very close in meaning to each another. However, the difference between them is that "APO" suggests that there is a starting point from without; whereas "EK" suggests a starting point from within; "out of," must first enter before it can come out. Sometimes "EK" can be said to have much the same meaning as "APO," the context must decide what is the best rendering. However, from the use of "ekpheugo" in the Scriptures, we can definitely say that it signifies NOT an escaping FROM the great tribulation by never entering it, but an escaping OUT OF it after entering it, this is shown in the following places where "ekpheugo" is used.

a. "Ekpheugo" is used in Acts.16v27., to describe the escape of prisoners out of prison.
b. "Ekpheugo," is used in 2Cor.11v23., to describe Paul's escape out of Damascus.
c. "Ekphugein," the aorist infinitive of "ekpheugo," is used in Acts.19v16., of the escape of the seven sons of Sceva out of the house, when the demon possessed man attacked them.
d. In 1Thes.5v3., Paul emphasises the destruction of the followers of Antichrist with a strong double negative, "ou me ekphugosin," "they shall certainly not escape." See Rom.2v3. Heb.2v3. 12v25. Paul reveals that Antichrist's followers will be saying "peace and safety" in the final hours of the great tribulation, after their victory over the two witnesses and the armies of the West. Their exultation and joy, and their feeling of safety and security, ("asphaleia," only here and Lk.1v4., where it is translated "certainty"), disappears at Christ's return, when they are suddenly and completely destroyed by the Lord Jesus.

No matter which of the two Greek readings of Lk.21v36. we accept; Christ was certainly not teaching that Christians would escape the great tribulation by a secret advent or secret rapture before it started. Indeed, Jesus tells us that the very opposite is true, and solemnly warns us that we will need great patience and faith, and a life of real watchfulness and prevailing prayer to spiritually survive these times. Lk.18v1-8. Rev.14v12. 13v10. Heb.6v12. Mk.13v13. Lk.21v12-19. Mt.24v12,13. N.B. "endureth to the end." In Mt.24v44 to 25v13., our Lord warns us that Christians who are not prepared for the evils of the great tribulation will apostacise and go back into the world. Jesus exhorts us to prepare for these evil last days, and warns us that the lamps of those who have no reserve of oil for the dark last days, will go out.

4. Who are the elect of Matthew 24v22,24,31. and Mark 13v20,22,27.?
Some have foolishly stated, that the mention of "Judea" and "the Sabbath" in Mt.24v16,20., shows that Mt.24. was addressed to the Jews, and not Christians. They say this because Mt.24v30., is undoubtedly a coming in glory, and to admit that it. was addressed to Christians would destroy the pretribulation advent theory, and so the argument was advanced that Mt.24. was not addressed to the Church. In Mt.24v20., Jesus gives specific warning signs to Christians who will be in Judea in the time of Antichrist. The fact that Mt.24v20., speaks of people who are willing to listen to Christ and willing to flee on the Sabbath, proves that it is not addressed to strict Jews, who would do neither. Only Christians would take heed to the words of Christ. Jews will certainly not obey a prophet they do not believe in.

Is Matthew 24 addressed to the Church of Christ, or the Jews?
Jesus gives the answer in Mk.13v37., "What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch." By giving this command to His apostles, Jesus instructs all His Church. The apostles were Israelites, but they were the apostles of the Church, and Jesus spoke to them in this capacity, as Christian believers. If Mt.24. is not to be looked upon as applicable to Christians, because it is "Jewish," who is to decide what is Jewish and what is Christian? The Gospels are, with a few exceptions, a record of Christ's ministry to Israelites, but they contain His vital teachings for His Church. The epistles of Peter, James and Hebrews are written to Jews, are we to set these aside? Never! They contain indispensable Christian truth. Was the New Covenant of Mt.26v28., just for the Jews, because it was only spoken to the apostles? Of course not! it is for every believer in Christ Jesus.

The refusal to recognise that the truths of Mt.24. were addressed to the Church, has driven some to utter folly in their reasoning, it is reported that some have even looked upon the Lord's prayer and the Lord's Supper as "Jewish ordinances," and not applicable to the Church of Christ. If Mt.24. was spoken to the apostles as Jews and not as Christians, how were they to know it? How shall we know what New Testament Scriptures apply to us? What use would these prophecies be to Jews who do not believe in Christ? It would be very strange if the earnest warnings of Christ in Mt.24., Mk.13., and Lk.17 and 21., were not addressed to Christians, but to Jews who have no faith in Christ. How can those who say that Mt.24. was written for Jews, use Mt.24v36,42. as their major text to prove that Christ may come at any moment for His Church? What kind of Scripture expositor uses a chapter which states that the coming of Christ is preceded by very clear signs, and warns against a secret second advent, to prove that there is a secret advent and rapture of the Church without those signs? Particularly when its advocates say that Mt.24. is addressed only to the Jews, and not to the Church. The pretribulation rapture theory has become widely accepted because Western Christians are unwilling to suffer persecution for Christ's sake. Heb.11v25. As someone has said, "It is an interesting fact that the pretribulation rapture theory did not arise out of a suffering Church. It has come out of a Western civilisation that has been the most comfortable and pleasant in the whole history of Christianity."

Some have said that the Church was not founded until the day of Pentecost; however, this can be shown to be wrong by many passages of Scripture. The apostles were converted before Pentecost; their names were "written in heaven," Lk.10v20.; they were "clean," Jn.15v3.; and they belonged to God. Jn.15v3. Pentecost was not the time when they were saved, they were rejoicing in their salvation before this, Pentecost was the time when they received the promise of the Father to His children, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Lk.24v49,52,53. Christ said the Law and the prophets were until John, the age of grace and truth started when Jesus started His ministry. Mt.11v13. Lk.16v16. Jn.1v17. It is nonsense to say that Mt.24. was not spoken to the Church, because the Church did not exist until the day of Pentecost; many promises that belong to the Church were given by God to the Old Testament prophets, many centuries before the day of Pentecost.

The facts and context prove the elect of Mt.24 are Christians, and that Mt.24. is addressed to Christians.
a. The elect are Christians who are all over the world, and preaching the Gospel to all the world. Mt.24v14.
b. The elect are Christians who are hated, persecuted and dying for Christ all over the world. Mt.24v9,16-20. Mk.13v9-13.
c. The elect are Christians who are looking for Christ's return and are warned about false Christs. Mt.24v13-27. Lk.21v19,28.
d. The elect are Christians who are gathered by angels, for we know from Is.65v15-21., that the Israelites, who are scattered throughout the world are gathered, not by angels, but by the Gentiles, who bring them to Jerusalem as an offering to God.
e. We read that Mt.25v1. begins with a "Then," connecting it with Mt.24v44-48.; Jesus said the subject is the kingdom of Heaven, not the kingdom of Israel. The parable of the ten virgins is a parable on the truth stated in Mt.24v42-51., the good servant who follows Jesus faithfully to the end of the great tribulation, and the evil servant who backslides into the world in those dark and evil days. This is a very definite Christian truth which is addressed to all of the Church of Christ.
f. Jesus warns us that Christians will have to persevere in prayer or they will faint and lose their faith in Him. Lk.18v1-8. Jesus speaks of an elect which are crying day and night for deliverance, and of a God that will avenge the sufferings of His elect at the hands of the wicked. This is certainly not the kind of language that we would expect if we were sure to miss the tribulation. Those who endure as far as the rapture are those who have prayed and not fainted, but many will backslide, and Jesus warns us, "and when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" Lk.17v34-36. 18v8. Mt.24v12,13. Rev.13v10.16v15.

Paul states in Rom.11v5,6., that people have to believe in Jesus to receive the "election of grace." Paul was heartbroken that most of Israel were blinded by unbelief, and in becoming enemies of Jesus and His Church,. were "broken off" from their promises and election, Rom.9v31-33. 10v3,21. 11v7-10,20,28. However, in Rom.11v25,26,28., Paul states that the promises given to Abraham and his faithful seed will be fulfilled. The Jews are beloved for their forefather's sakes, and God will keep His covenant promises to faithful Jews. Exod.3v14-16. God gave the Israelites His word, and godly Jews are loved and precious to Him; and when they are presented with a sign-attested Gospel they often respond to the truth in Jesus. God has always given the Jews time to consider His Word, and has invited them to reason with Him. God welcomes scarlet sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, with sweet forgiving reasonableness. Is.1v18.

We see from Acts.10v1-48. N.B. v34,35., that, "In truth God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." Cornelius was justified on an Old Testament basis, and he was loved, acceptable, and precious to God, even before He heard the Gospel; and so are godly Jews. Paul states that there is now no difference between Jew and Greek, the elect consists of those who call on the Lord to save them. Rom.10v8-14. N.B. v13. Mt.1v21. In Christ, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male or female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal.3v28. No one can be among the New Testament "elect" unless they believe in Jesus as Saviour. Jn.6v37,45,53. 8v24,42. 1Thes.1v4. 2Pet.1v10. 1Jn.5v9-13. 1Pet.1v9-12.

Some have stated that Mt.24. and Thes.4v13 to 5v5. are different events, one speaking of a coming in glory and the other speaking of a secret rapture. However, though their aim was different, Mt.24. was given to show the signs of Christ's coming and the end of the age, and 1Thes.4v13 to 5v5. was given to comfort and challenge the relatives of departed believers, they are both speaking of the same event, they both use the same descriptive language, they speak of angelic powers, a great voice, a great trumpet, the clouds of heavenly glory, and the elect being gathered and caught up to meet their Lord. I agree with Sidlow Baxter, on pages 219, 220 of his, "Explore the book," that the parallels between 1Thes.4 and Mt.24., are irresistible to an honest mind. Both have angels, voice, trumpet, clouds, and gathered congregating saints. What kind of Bible interpretation can take exactly the same phrases and symbols, and teach a glorious public coming in Mt.24, and a secret coming in 1Thes.4v13-18.? It proves that 1Thes.4v13-18. does not teach a secret rapture. With Baxter, I exhort Bible students to test doctrines by the Scriptures, and appeal for Christian love in studying such doctrines. Our study of Mt.24. has made it absolutely clear that it is addressed to the Church of Christ, and that there will be a post-tribulation advent of Christ and rapture of the Church.


9. WHEN WILL THE RESURRECTION OF CHRISTIANS TAKE PLACE?
Paul informs us in 1Thes.4v13-18., that the resurrection immediately precedes the rapture. In 1Cor.15v51-54., Paul states that the transformation and glorification of our earthly bodies takes place almost instantly, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet," Therefore, as the resurrection and rapture of the Church take place in a matter of seconds or minutes, if the time of the resurrection can be accurately fixed, the exact time of the rapture of the Church can be fixed at that time too. The Scriptures unanimously state that the resurrection will take place after the great tribulation. In.1Cor.15v54., Paul writes that death will be swallowed up in victory at the resurrection; this promise is quoted from Is.25v7,8., and states that this will occur at the time when the Lord begins to reign, and Israel is restored to her land, and receives the Millennial promises, and takes pride of place in the world. The wicked are also said to be judged at the same time. Is.26v19-21. Dan.12v1,2. Rev.19v1 to 20v6.

There are three resurrections stated in 1Cor.15v23,24..
The resurrection of Christ has already occurred, the Scriptures clearly state that there are only two general resurrections, and they have yet to take place. Jn.5v28,29. Rev.20v4-15.

1. Christ the first-fruits.
The partial resurrection of many Old Testament Saints when Jesus was resurrected in Mt.27v51-53., was an act of mercy from God to give absolute proof of the resurrection of Christ. The Jews did not see the resurrected body of Jesus, but many of them saw the resurrected bodies of many saints, probably some godly relatives or people they knew, and they noised abroad what they had seen and heard. This created an enormous stir and was a major reason for the revival on the day of Pentecost.

2. "They that are Christ's at His coming."
In Rev.20v4-6., this is referred to as "the first resurrection." At this resurrection the faithful saints of Israel come to life as well as Christian believers. Ez.37v1-28. Hosea.13v14. Dan.12v1-3. Is.24v21. 25v7-9. 26v19-21. 1Thes.4v13,14. This is called the resurrection of the just, Lk.14v14.; and the resurrection of life. Jn.5v28,29. Paul states that the resurrection of all Christians will take place at the last trumpet, and the transformation of their bodies will take place in the twinkling of an eye. 1Cor.15v51-53.

In 1Thes.4v13., Paul speaks of the bodies of Christians as being "asleep;" our word "cemetery" is derived from the Greek "koimeterion," which means "sleeping place." The Christians who have died are in no sense asleep, they are enjoying the glories of paradise in the presence of God in heaven. Jn.11v25,26. 2Cor.5v1-10. 12v1-4. Rev.2v7. 6v9-11. 21v2. 22v2. The souls of the saints will return with Jesus and will be clothed upon with glorified bodies at the resurrection. 1Thes.4v14-16. The resurrection and the rapture are so closely linked in time, that to fix the time of one is to fix the time of the other.

N.B. It must be remembered that though the wicked do not come before Christ for judgement at the first resurrection, they are judged in the sense that they are weighed and found wanting and not worthy of that resurrection because of their wickedness. Jn.12v48. The public judgement of the wicked does not take place till 1,000 years later at the Great White Throne judgement, the wicked are resurrected for this judgement. Lk.20v35. Phil.3v11. Heb.11v35. Rev. 20v5,6,11-15.

3. "Then cometh the end."
This is the second general resurrection, and is called the resurrection of damnation, it occurs at the end of the Millennium, just prior to the Great White Throne judgement, this is in contrast to the first resurrection, the resurrection of life. Jn.5v28,29.

a. THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE LAST TRUMPET. 1Cor.15v52.
This can only be the seventh trumpet of Rev.11v15.. The word "last" means last, so trumpets must sound before it, and none sound after it, if it is the last trumpet. What other trumpets can these be but the seven trumpets of the book of Revelation? Some have made this last trumpet anything but the last, by saying that it sounds before the seven trumpets of Revelation.

In Rev.11v15., God says that at this seventh trumpet, "The kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ." To confirm that the resurrection takes place at this seventh trumpet, verse 18 says, "thy wrath is come AND THE TIME OF THE DEAD THAT THEY SHOULD BE JUDGED," and that at this time the saints are rewarded. The seventh trumpet of Rev.11v15., is the "great sound of a trumpet" of Mt.24v31., "the trumpet of God" of 1Thes.4v16., and "the great trumpet" of Is.27v13.. It is necessary to state that the seven trumpets of Revelation are in chronological order. Rev.8v13. 9v12. It is also essential to note that the vials are not poured out after the trumpets have finished, but that they also finish on that great last day, the day of the Lord, as do the trumpets and the seals. This can be proved to be true from a comparison of the following Scriptures. Mt.24v27-31. Acts.2v19-21. Rev.6v12-17. 11v15-19. 16v12-21. with Zech.14v1-21. N.B. v1,4,5.

b. THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL OCCUR JUST BEFORE THE SAINTS BEGIN TO REIGN..
The Scriptures state that ALL Christians will be resurrected and receive their glorified bodies in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, at the first resurrection, on the last day, at the end of the great tribulation. 1Cor.15v51-54. Is.25v8. Phil.3v20,21. Some do not accept this and say that the first resurrection covers several years and has several stages. This directly contradicts Rev.20v4-6., which states that the resurrection takes place at the start of the Millennial reign of Christ. It is folly to say that there is a resurrection of Christians that takes place several years before the first resurrection. To say that first does not mean first, makes words devoid of any meaning and worthless.

c. THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE LAST DAY. John.6v39,40,44,54. 11v24. 12v48.
Jesus taught that those who believed in Him were to be raised from the dead at the first resurrection on the last day. This "last day" is the day of the Lord, or as it is also called, the day of Christ. These phrases denote the last day of this age, the great and terrible day of the Lord, when the Lord Jesus sets up His kingdom upon earth. It is the last day of five things.

A. The mystery, that is, the gracious plan, of God Rev.10v7. Eph.3v9-11.
The word "mystery" does not mean mysterious, but rather the secret plan of God which He has made known unto His children. The world does not think that God has got any plan at all, but He has always had a very complex and wonderful plan, "the plan of the ages," and at the coming of Christ this plan will have been completed. Eph.3v10,11. God has planned to put Heaven and earth under faithful loving rulers, these He has found in His Son Jesus and His faithful brethren and the faithful angels. The Lord has also to fulfil His promise to the faithful Israelites, that they should have an earthly inheritance. Both of these things will come to pass on the last day when the seventh trumpet sounds, God's plan will then be finished. Rev.10v7. Dan.9v24. This is the day that God is waiting and longing for, He can then start and bestow upon His children all the riches of His grace, the pleasures and joys that will last forever. During the ages of ages we shall be astonished again and again at the blessedness of the glorious plans that God has for His children. Heb.10v13. Eph.2v6,7.

B. The mystery, that is, the evil plan, of Satan. 2Thes.2v7. Rev.2v24.
Satan and his angels are doomed to Hell for ever because of their impenitence and wickedness. Sin has destroyed their characters, and they only find pleasure in causing misery and destruction. They are filled with a murderous hatred of God and man, and their only desire is to hurt and damage God and mankind as much as possible before their final ruin. The Devil's kingdom is ruled by the most fierce and most powerful angels, it is a kingdom of violence, hatred, suspicion and every evil work. The only thing that binds these evil angels together is a common hatred of God, and that which is good. God has restrained these evil beings from their plans of destruction in the past, they have only been allowed to go so far, but during the last 7 years, and particularly in the last 3½ years, they will have their plan fulfilled. They will stage a mock kingdom of heaven upon earth, a kingdom of death and destruction, which brings terrible misery and suffering upon mankind. God will allow this to take place in order to show to all the horror of sin, and the folly of preferring Satan's evil rule to His gracious rule. God will destroy this evil plan of Satan at the seventh trumpet on the last day. Jn.8v44. 10v10. Rev.11v18. 6v1-17. 12v12. 20v1-3.

C. The times of the Gentile nations. "Hou plerothosin kairoi ethnon." Lk.21v24. Rev.11v1,2.
This appears to have began with the Babylonian captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar, and will end with the destruction of Gentile power at the coming of Christ. Dan.2v31-45. During all this time, Jerusalem has only known temporary periods of freedom from foreign rule, like the one she is at present enjoying, and even now her sacred Temple area has the Mosque upon it which was built by Caliph Omar in the 7th. century, and so it is being "trodden down of the Gentiles," and it appears will continue to be so trodden under, "until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Lk.21v24. The rule of Jerusalem by foreign powers will only cease when Christ returns to reign.

"Kairoi," "times," is used to show these are special divine times and epochs which are ordained by God, and prove that, "The Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will." Dan.4v17,25. The times of the Gentiles is, then, the period when God has allowed Gentile nations in sequence to have empires and rule large areas of the world, and for much of this time Israel has been subjugated under Gentile nations. The sinfulness of these nations and their leaders has allowed Satan to dominate and control them, as we can see from the seven heads of the beast in Rev.13 and 17.. God has allowed these Gentile nations to have empires in order to reveal their hearts and break the pride of the Gentiles by their total failure to produce justice and the desired happiness of their subjugated nations. This will demonstrate that without God's loving rule, sin will dominate and happiness will be impossible and all will fail. The appalling misery, carnage and destruction brought about by Satan and Antichrist will demonstrate the fearful end of evil, and break the pride of man. It will be obvious that man cannot manage to rule the world without the grace of God. The nations entering the Millennium will realise the wisdom and righteousness of God's ways, and also be willing to learn from the despised Jew. Zech.8v23.

When we consider the plans and purposes of God we are left in wonder and amazement at God's unsearchable wisdom. When Jesus comes to terminate the times of the Gentiles, He will also terminate the age of grace and the fullness of the Gentiles.

D. The fullness of the Gentile nations. "To pleroma ton ethnon." Rom.11v25,26. 15v16,18.
The apostle Paul says, "I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery ... that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob." Rom.11v25,26. In Rom.11v25,26., Paul is quoting and explaining the prophecy of Is.59v16-21.; which confirms that the fullness of the Gentiles and the times of the Gentiles finish at the same time, the day when Christ comes to set up His kingdom and judge the wicked. The fullness of the Gentiles is the time when Christ returns and the purpose of God in calling out Gentile believers into Christ's Church is completed. Eph.1v22,23. 2v11-22. Acts.15v14. 1Cor.12v12,13. In Rom.15v16., Paul writes of "the offering up of the Gentiles," "he prosphora ton ethnon." Paul looks upon himself as a minister ("leitourgon," someone who performs a public service, and particularly a religious service), who is ministering the Gospel, ("hierourgounta," to serve as a priest, to work in sacred things, particularly of sacrifices), and he sees his sanctified Gentile converts as a pleasing and acceptable offering to God. This is the "obedience of the Gentiles," "to hupakoen ethnon," which Paul refers in Rom.15v18..

The blindness of the Israelites will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in at the close of the age, when Christ appears in His glory to deliver the godly seed of Jacob. If the Church were to be removed before the great tribulation it would make nonsense of Paul's statement in Rom.11v25,26., that Israel experiences a "blindness in part until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in;" for Israel is almost completely deceived and corrupted by Antichrist and experiences her time of greatest spiritual blindness during the great tribulation. The fullness of the Gentiles takes place on the same day that the times of the Gentiles closes, the same day that Jesus, "The Deliverer," comes out of Zion and sets up His kingdom on earth, this is when "the fullness of Israel" starts, and the reproach of Israel is taken away. Rom.11v12. Which, according to Is.25v6-9., is when the marriage supper of the Lamb, the resurrection, and the binding and execution of Satan and his angels occurs. "The fullness of the Gentiles" is a major part of the divine purposes for this age of grace.

E. The age of grace. John.1v14,17. Gal.1v3. Rom.1v1-5 5v1,2,15,20,21.
The age of grace commenced at the first coming of Christ and will continue right up to the day when Christ comes to judge the wicked as Peter is careful to make quite clear. Mt.11v13,14. Lk.16v16. Jn.1v17. 2Pet.3v9,10.. Acts.2v19-21.
Many people accept Christ and are kept by Christ in the great tribulation, and opportunity for salvation is given right to the end of the great tribulation, an angel even preaches the Gospel right at the very end of the age. Rev.7v14. 14v6,7. The Church of Christ is assured of His presence right up to the close of the age of grace. Mt.28v18-20. 24v14. N.B. "then shall the end come." Mt.13 10. We know from Acts.2v16-21 and 2Pet.3v9,10., that the age of grace continues right up to the commencement of the Millennium on the last day. To say, as some do, that this "last day" is the rapture of the Church years before the Millennial kingdom is set up, is without any Scriptural foundation. There is a great multitude of Christians out of every nation who overcome the darkness of the great tribulation.

In the parables of the tares and the wheat, and the drag net, our Lord tells us that the age of grace will continue up to the start of the Millennial Kingdom. Mt.13v24-30. 36-43, 47-50. The wheat and the tares grow together until "the end of the age," and at the same harvest the wheat and tares are gathered, not two different harvests. Jesus said that this is a parable of the kingdom of heaven, not of the nation of Israel, and He also states that the wheat are gathered by angels, as in Mt.24v31., again proving that they are speaking of the same event. Jesus tells us in Mt.11v11-13. 4v17,23. 13v11,17. and 16v18., that the Church age has superseded the nation of Israel. God is now calling people out of all nations into the Church of Christ, to inherit an heavenly kingdom. Lk.16v16.

The parable of the drag net also teaches that at the consummation of the age, there will be a severing of the wicked from the just; and again there is the same insistence that these events occur together. When the age ends, the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Mt.13v43. These parables make it quite clear that the close of the age of grace, and the commencement of the Millennial kingdom occur at the same time. Our Lord gives a solemn and striking warning of a furnace of fire. Jesus also tells how the wicked will react on this day, they will wail with remorse, but not with repentance, and they will gnash their teeth in bitter hatred and anger against God.

It is quite clear that the last day is the day when the age of grace is consummated and the Millennial kingdom is set up. There is also overwhelming evidence to convince the honest mind, that the resurrection of life, the first resurrection, occurs after the great tribulation on the last day, at the seventh trumpet, in a moment of time, and that the rapture follows immediately after it.

N.B. THIS RESURRECTION IS CERTAINLY NOT A SECRET RESURRECTION.

1. It will be accompanied with tremendous noise.
The Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, there will also be the mighty voice of the archangel, and the great trumpet of God. 1Thes.4v13-18 Is.27v13. Mt.24v31. There are also mighty thunderings and great voices. Rev.19v6. 11v15.

2. It will be accompanied with tremendous glory and a blaze of light.
Christ coming will be as visible and more glorious than a mighty lightening flash, He will come with power and great glory.Mt.24v27. Lk.17v24. Is.24v23 1Tim.6v12. Millions of glorious saints and angels will accompany their conquering and glorious Lord. Rev.19v11-16.

3. It will be accompanied by a rocking heaven and earth.
Many Scriptures state that there will be great earthquakes. Is.24v18-20 Joel.2v30-32. Zech.14. all. Mt.24v29. 2Pet.3v10-13. Rev.6v12-17. 11v13,19. 16v18,20,21. Anyone who can make a secret rapture out of these Scriptures is straining both their imagination and the Scripture, and having heard someone use 2Pet.3v10-13. as the basis of a sermon on a secret rapture, I can assure you that some do try to manage this astonishing perversion of Scripture. I have never known anyone who has been able to explain away the fact that the first resurrection takes place after the great tribulation, at the seventh trumpet, on the last day. This is an unanswerable argument in favour of the post-tribulation rapture of the Church.

OUR CHRISTIAN WALK IN THE LIGHT OF OUR LORD'S RETURN.
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come... Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." Mt.24v42-44. "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day came upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all of them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." Lk.21v34-36. "Therefore, my beloved brethren be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1Cor.15v58. "Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." 1Cor.4v5.

THERE IS NO PRETRIBULATION RESURRECTION OF THE CHURCH.
In Mt.24v29-31., Jesus states that the "parousia" will not take place until "immediately after the tribulation of those days." Paul writes in 1Cor.15v23,51-53., that Christ's coming, "parousia," takes place at the last trumpet of Rev.11v15-19., at the end of the tribulation. The martyrs killed by Antichrist in the great tribulation are partakers of the first resurrection at the start of the Millennium. Rev.20v4-6. 1Cor.15v23,24. Jn.5v25-29. Acts.24v15. This is confirmed by Dan.7v21,22,25., which tells us that Antichrist will make war with the saints and prevail against them, until the Lord comes to judge him, and the saints possess the kingdom. Jesus tells us in Mt.13v30-41., that tares and wheat are "both" to "grow together until the harvest;" and that "in the time of harvest" He "will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into My barn:" this is explained as "the harvest" at "the end of this age," when, "the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity." Jesus promised to be with us, "unto the end of the age." Mt.28v20. Antichrist will be destroyed "with the brightness, "epiphaneia," of Christ's "Parousia." 2Thes.2v8. Christians who are being persecuted will rest at Christ's "Apokalupsis." 2Thes.1v7.

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