The Million Dollar Question

 

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION…

Mary Ann Wray

 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24: 3

Jesus’ disciples asked Him this question the same day and right after he prophesied the destruction of the Temple. Everything they held as sacred traditions were being challenged by their teacher and Master. He shifted all the rules of the law while they watched him pardon adulterers, welcome women into His inner circle, and cleanse lepers through His touch rather than ceremonial cleansing laws. He emphasized justice, mercy and faithfulness over religious duty. Now, Jesus was prophesying that the great landmark of their faith for generations would be torn down. Their world was being turned upside down. They began to ask more questions trying to understand their teacher’s logic and purpose. They knew He was revolutionary and challenged the norm of their sacred traditions, but they realized how little they knew about the Kingdom of Heaven. They had much to learn and I believe, so do we.

Perhaps it would be good for us today to question some things our ‘traditions’ have taught us, especially in this modern era. Orthodox Christianity (right belief based on core teachings of Christ and Apostolic Doctrine) has clearly drifted away from how Jesus laid things out in His earthly ministry. The Apostle’s doctrine which was established after His resurrection has been substituted with newfangled forms of “apostolic teachings.” Much of which, blatantly contradict the Apostle Paul’s writings and those of the 21 epistles penned by the foundation builders of the New Testament. We need to be reminded of what the disciples asked and later penned to see if our doctrinal conclusions mirror the Master’s.

I’ve come to realize that in the 50 years I’ve been walking with the Lord and studying the Bible, many things I once believed were based on certain denominational interpretations of Scripture. Much of my thinking has been challenged and changed as a result of asking the Holy Spirit for clarity amidst much confusion. The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible. The Holy Spirit interprets it. As such, Jesus’ words about the end times should be enough for us to understand the season we are in right now without any “modern” interpretation or explanation. In other words, if we just read and take His words into our hearts without trying to "reading into" them we may see things from a different perspective than what many modern eschatologists teach. If we honestly and humbly ask the Holy Spirit to give us His set of lenses as we read Jesus' words without mixing them in with something we have been taught previously by well meaning preachers we may ‘see things’ differently. This is true not only of end times, but many doctrines that have been mixed and muddled over the centuries.

Some of Jesus' sayings can be hard to hear and there can also be a certain amount of mystery to many of His teachings and Apostolic Doctrines. At the same time, there are those who are much smarter than me who have interpreted and dissected end time eschatology with charts, time tables, Old Testament passages and the Book of Revelations to a "T". Yet, questions still remain unanswered. Especially the number one question, “When we He return?”

We hear so many variations on end times teachings especially over the past 100 years that they seldom agree on anything regarding eschatology; even contradict the other views in many ways. It can boggle the mind. I've changed my view several times over the years, based on "who" I listened to as an end time "Revelator." Yet, I always wind up back in Matthew 24 and find great peace and satisfaction with Jesus' words alone despite not understanding the “time table.”

May I humbly suggest, that it can become a very slippery slope when trying to make an absolute doctrine out of anything that is not salvific in nature and teach it as an "absolute." There is the tendency in all of us to read into Christ's words with a “comfortable” form of a doctrine that takes away any threat of suffering or harm, especially to our physical well-being. After all, we are survivalists by nature. We want to avoid pain at any cost. As such, we truly need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us 'catch' what Jesus words meant even though we may not understand it all, especially in one sitting. I have found that I'm not always able to hear what He wants to show me any more than the disciples were ready to bear some of His teachings (John 16: 12).

Their question and Jesus’ answer makes me want to ask myself, "Do I trust God’s Sovereignty and Words more than man’s interpretations and my own tendency to hate the idea of any suffering for the cause of Christ?" Hasn't everything Jesus said already come to pass and proves the fact that what has not come to pass yet, will indeed happen? Additionally, can we discern the times and seasons we are in now similar to the way the sons of Issachar had discernment for their time? Are we prepared and do we really know what to do if and when persecution hits the western church?

1 Chronicles 12:32 (KJV)
“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”

The first three prophetic verses of Matthew 24 were fulfilled in 70 A.D., but the rest? I believe much of it is happening right now. It doesn't take a PhD to read the handwriting on the wall, so to speak. In the context of Matthew 24 Jesus said nothing about the church being “taken away” before all of this was completed. His words framed what the early church believed about the catching away of the church that we will touch on in a moment. We do know that the Apostle Paul talked about the church being "caught up" in the twinkling of an eye." Clearly, there will be a resurrection of the saints and meeting Jesus to be caught up in the air. But is there one return of the Lord or two? Jesus said He would come back again. This infers once more. He showed His disciples that the same way He was being taken up in the clouds would be the same way He would return as recorded by Luke in Acts 1: 9-11.

The phrase “caught up” comes from the Greek word harpazō (to seize, snatch away). In the Latin Vulgate, it’s translated rapiemur, which is where the word rapture comes from.

The Apostle Paul Mentions It Here:

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (KJV)
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be “caught up” together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

He mentions it again in 1 Corinthians 15:51–52
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump…”

The debate and question has been tossed around since the mid 1800's as to "when" this will occur. The early church had a completely different view of when it would happen versus the western modern church. The early church strongly affirmed the following: Jesus will visibly return. The dead will be resurrected. Believers will be gathered to Him and there will be judgment. But they viewed this as one climactic event, not two separate comings (one secret and one openly).  The did not teach the idea of a secret rapture, a two stage return of Christ, or the church being removed before a 7-year tribulation.

This ideology developed much later in the 19^th century, especially associated with John Nelson Darby and dispensational theology. That framework was not articulated in the first centuries of the early church. None of the early fathers after the apostles like Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, or Tertullian taught a secret catching away before the return of Christ as the Judge of the living and resurrected dead. They generally expected a future Antichrist, a period of tribulation, Christ’s visible return afterwards and the resurrection of all believers. They anticipated suffering, not an escape from it. This kind of suffering is quite different than the “wrath of God.” We have already been delivered from His wrath through the New Birth, but that does not mean that we will not suffer. Suffering for righteousness’ sake, is quite different than suffering for wrongdoing and sins. The former has great reward; the latter without repentance, incurs His wrath.

When the early Church read 1 Thessalonians 4:17, they understood “caught up” as believers rising to meet Christ as He returns, was like citizens going out to greet a king and escort him back to the city. Not leaving permanently to heaven. The Greek word apantesis (“to meet”) was commonly used for welcoming a visiting dignitary. Being changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye was interpreted to mean that we, as believers, will be immediately transformed when He returns.  1 John 3: 2 bears this out by saying, “When Christ appears, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” This was previewed on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter, James and John saw Jesus’ visage change. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as light (Matthew 17: 1-8). After the occurrence, He charged the three to tell no man until after His resurrection. His resurrection had to occur before there would be the evidence necessary to prove that we as His followers, would receive the same transformation in the final resurrection of the dead.

If we take Jesus’ pure and straightforward words over any modern end time eschatologist and separate it from the other voices in our heads, you can't help but wonder if we may have gotten our timeline wrong. The Million Dollar question for me is, "What does it really matter when His return and the catching away occurs if I'm truly saved from the wrath of God against sin. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s pre-trib, mid-trib or post trib. I just want to be working while it is yet day and ready for the Bridegroom’s return like the five wise virgins.

Many people do not agree with me and other believers’ views on the Great Tribulation. What you believe about the rapture won’t affect whether you will go to Heaven or not. But it may affect how you handle tribulation and suffering altogether. For me, the question isn't exactly when the catching away will occur but whether or not we are we truly spiritually prepared for the events leading up to His return? According to Jesus’ own words in Matthew 24, the end times right before He returns certainly doesn't look very pretty.

If I’m wrong, along with those who do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, we have nothing to lose. However, if the way we see Jesus' words (that the world and the church will go through tribulation before His return) is correct, a large portion of the church is not prepared for more deception and trouble that lay ahead. I, for one, do not want to be lulled to sleep by an “escapist mentality” thinking I'm going to avoid suffering and persecution as a believer. God's wrath is for the wicked not the righteous. His wrath will be poured out during the Great Tribulation, this is true, but He will protect His remnant, Bride. Some Bible scholars say there are about 3,500 scriptural promises and several dozen of them deal with God’s protection through His presence, faithfulness and covenant care. Just read Psalm 91 for example. This is one of the strongest protection passages in the Bible. It speaks of deliverance, refuge, protection from danger and angelic guarding.  

Truth be told, countless Christians were martyred for their faith up until the fourth century when Christianity was legalized and made a state religion. Then it became ‘safe’ to be a Christian. We have enjoyed ‘safety’ for hundreds of years in the West, but not so in the east. The Book of Revelation speaks of the souls of the saints who were beheaded and martyred for Christ…

Revelation 7:13–14 (KJV)

“What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? … These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

This passage describes a great multitude standing before God in heaven. They are understood by many to be believers who suffered and died during the tribulation period.

Another very direct reference: Revelation 6: 9-11

“I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held…”

These martyrs cry out for justice and are told to rest “until their fellow servants also… should be killed as they were.

And another key passage:

Revelation 20:4

“… I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God which had not worshipped the beast…”

 This is not something we hear today or much less discuss in the Western church. It’s like we’ve made up our minds we are not going to suffer like this now or later, especially in America. The ones who oppose this point of view are usually ridiculed, including me. But what happens if we do go through the Great Tribulation and witness the Anti-Christ? He's already at work and I'm afraid many have been 'hypnotized' by the spiritual anti-christ witchcraft at work. Will you discern his lies? So many don’t discern the enemies lies now creeping into the House of the Lord cleverly cloaked in verbiage like “God wants to bless you and give you your best life.” Does it really matter to a blood bought, sanctified, Holy Ghose filled child of God if we have to suffer for our faith and even have our heads cut off? After all, aren't we "Heaven bound" one way or the other? We’ll just get there sooner with a martyrs reward. “If we suffer with Him, we will reign with Him.” What are we really afraid of?

What I do fear is that many can and have become apostate in their faith because they’ve been told all you need is faith to overcome trouble. Many believe you possess the authority to turn “negative” things around like controlling the weather-not that we can. Many have been lulled into a false sense of security thinking they don't have to worry about the Anti-Christ...you won't be here when he appears. Yet many Christians don't recognize how this spirit operates even in the church today. Many believe that having faith means you don’t suffer or need to on this earth. Yet Jesus and his apostles emphasized that true faith in God is tested and tried in the fire: true faith in God not only overcomes obstacles and adversities but resounds to praise, honor and glory at His appearing. The church of the east does not believe what the church of the west believes about suffering and the catching away of the church before the great tribulation. Why? Because they suffer greatly for their faith now, and they understand the cost of true discipleship. While Christians suffer beheading, burnings, imprisonment, torture and separation from loved ones in eastern nations, we in the west seem oblivious to it.

The freedoms and liberties we enjoy in the west are being jeopardized right under our noses but not in the ways many think. There is a huge difference between a “worldview“ and a Biblical world view. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to follow Him and his example as our good Shepherd: not pop culture or claiming that all the mountains of influence will usher in the Kingdom of God in the earth. Jesus said, "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. The servant is not above His master." His words and the apostle’s doctrine found in all the epistles is our road map - not newfangled teachings that twist the Word of God to suit our wishes. We must renew our mind with what His word says-not a watered down comfortable version being presented by many morally and scripturally compromised westernized church leaders.

Wisdom says, “It’s better to be prepared while serving God 100% than taken unawares.” Standing strong with the whole armor of God, walking in godly humility, and the fear of the Lord, is better than be taken over by the spirit of wickedness at work by the antichrist spirit. A gospel of comfort and ease, and false spiritual leaders pumping out a false gospel from many pulpits and in media channels across America have not taught what true faith in Christ is all about. They have not prepared and equipped God’s Bride for the evil day in which we live and the trouble to come.

Evil, wickedness and sin is multiplying and will continue to abound until Jesus returns. Meanwhile, His grace will abound even more that forgives sins and gives the repentant, grace to rescue us from all ungodliness in this evil adulterous generation.

We are called to be soldiers of the Lord, not fearful. We are called to be battle ready with the armor of God; not feasting at worldly King’s tables sitting in a state of ease and luxury. You don’t have to agree with my view of the end times to be saved. But you do have to repent of sin, renounce the hidden works of darkness and embrace the cross daily to make it to Heaven. If you want to see the Kingdom of Heaven you must be Born Again! Jesus was born to die and rise again. So must we.

Even so, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

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Matthew  24

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
(Mark 13:1, 2; Luke 21:5, 6 )

1 ¶ Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
The Times and the End of the Age
(Mark 13:3-13; Luke 21:7-19 )
3 ¶ Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 ¶ And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8 “All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 ¶ “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
10 “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
11 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The Great Tribulation
(Mark 13:14-23; Luke 17:23, 24, 37; 21:20-24 )
15 ¶ “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),
16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.
18 “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
19 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
20 “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
23 ¶ “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.
24 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25 “See, I have told you beforehand.
26 ¶ “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
28 “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
(Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28 )
29 ¶ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
(Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33 )
32 ¶ “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
33 “So you also, when you see all these things, know that itfn is near—at the doors!
34 “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
(Mark 13:32-37; Luke 17:26, 27, 34, 35; 21:34-36 )
36 ¶ “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44 “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
(Luke 12:41-48 )
45 ¶ “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46 “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47 “Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
48 “But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
49 “and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50 “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51 “and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.