Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey - Ep 134 | End Times

Episode Date: July 8, 2019

Pre-mil, post-mil, a-mil, pre-trib, post-trib?! We wade through the various biblical perspectives on the end times, and I tell you what I believe eschatologically, based on God's word....

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello, hello. How is everyone doing? Great. I hope on this hot summer day. Okay, we have a ton to cover today. As you can tell from the title in the description, we are talking about the end times. Now, it is absolutely insane for anyone to try to cover the end times in a 30 to 40 minute episode. But we're kind of crazy around here. So that's what we're going to try to do. I always give this caveat. There is not any possible way for us to cover every. about eschatology, everything about the end times in this, in this frame that we have. There's just not a way for us to do that. And so I'm going to try to give you all of the information that I possibly can without holding you here for like six hours, because that's at least how long it would take to cover all of the prophecy and all of the theological intricacies about the end times because the fact of the matter is this is a very complicated subject. But I'm going to go through at least the basic points on what a Christian belief is on the end times and what the varying viewpoints between Bible believing Christians are. And then I will also reveal to you what I think.
Starting point is 00:01:12 I've gotten a lot of messages asking me, are you a premillennialist, post-millanialist, pre-trib, post-trip, all this stuff. I will tell you exactly what I believe based on scripture at the end of this. And you might disagree with me and that's perfectly fine. and a lot of you listening might not have any idea whatsoever about what the Bible says about the end times and I want you to know that that is totally okay. You are in the right place. And some of you who have been studying this for a long time, you probably know a lot more than I do. And there might be some things that you correct me on or you think that I should add. Always feel free to email me, Allie at the conservative millennial blog.com.
Starting point is 00:01:48 I love listening or I love hearing from you guys. I get emails from pastors and from seminary students or from seminary grads all of the time, both giving me encouragement and support and also saying, here's another way to look at this or here's something that you could add to this. I love those kinds of emails. And always, as always, if there's something that I say, theologically that you don't agree with or that you think is wrong, I always want and appreciate and actually demand.
Starting point is 00:02:19 I don't want to say that, but kind of necessitate, I guess, a scriptural basis for your disagreement because I think that it's only productive if we can say we go back to the infallible word of God for our source of wisdom and truth. I don't really care what my opinion is or your opinion. I care about what the Bible says. The fact of the matter is we're going to see in this particular podcast episode is that even with the Bible as our ultimate source of truth, even as people who all believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God is sufficient for truth. is sufficient for wisdom, is sufficient for instruction and reproof, and all that good stuff. There are disagreements, honest disagreements.
Starting point is 00:02:56 These are not disagreements on salvation. This is not disagreements on the gospel. This is not disagreements on the Trinity, on the person of Jesus Christ. These are secondary and sometimes even consider tertiary disagreements that don't mean that if we don't agree that one of us isn't saved and the other one is, it might affect how we look at the Bible and how we live our lives, but it doesn't affect our plagues. place as a son or daughter of God, as a chosen one of God. So I just want to get that out there. There's no need for us to hate each other at the end of this episode if we end up disagreeing.
Starting point is 00:03:30 We can all come together and have a wonderful, vibrant conversation about all of this stuff. Now, to be honest, this isn't something that I had studied very much because I kind of thought, okay, you know, this doesn't really affect me that much. I'm going to obey what the Bible says or I'm going to try to obey what the Bible says regardless of, you know, when the rapture, is going to happen, what the rapture is, tribulation, the Antichrist, et cetera. So what's really the point of kind of confusing myself with all of this stuff? There's so many disagreements in different directions that we could go, like we've already said, between Bible-believing Christians on what's going to happen. People who are smarter than me have figured all of this stuff out or have at least
Starting point is 00:04:10 debated this stuff from a confident position. So maybe it's not something that I need to worry about. but as I studied this more, as I started getting more and more questions about it and listening and learning, of course, this is something that I've thought about before and that I have read about before. I've read Revelation, Thessalonians. I've read, you know, Daniel. I've learned about these prophecies, but it hadn't been something that I had invested a whole lot of time into personally. It had been more of like a passive thing. And I hadn't really taken the time to say, okay, what do I believe based on what the Bible says? And my perspective on why, I should care about this shifted the more that I studied for myself.
Starting point is 00:04:48 I realized that the understanding that we have of what's going to happen or what we think, at least based on scripture, is going to happen increases anticipation for Christ's return, which is important. That in turn increases our urgency to make disciples, which is a command. It also renews. I've realized our pursuit of holiness. It inspires a godly fear of what's to come by reminding us that eternity is at stake in all that we say and do. It also offers us comfort and confidence as we remember that God is a God of justice, that he is not idle in the face of evil,
Starting point is 00:05:29 that his recompense is on its way, and that in the end, Jesus and his people will prevail. So that is why it is important to study the end times and to have a grasp on what the Bible says is going to happen at the end of time. So let me list those reasons again in a more itemized way for why we study this stuff, what is known as eschatology. It encourages anticipation, urgency, holiness or obedience, godly fear, comfort and confidence, anticipation, urgency, holiness, godly fear, comfort, and confidence, all things that the Bible tells us to have. So that's why it is important for us to study this. Eschatology, as we've already said, is difficult to discuss because it's really complex. I'm not going to say that it's not. I'm not going to say, oh, come on. All you got to do is read the stuff.
Starting point is 00:06:19 It's just right there. There are some things that are simpler to understand within Christianity, eschatology, idol, at least to me, it is not one of those things. It is contested, as we've already said, and it's probably one of the more befuddling aspects of theology from a non-Christian perspective. So it's very, we don't talk about it as much because we know it's not something that we're going to use as often in a gospel sharing conversation or in a conversation with someone who is not a Christian. Non-Christians, of course, mock Christians' view of the end of time if they even are familiar with it. And mostly because many of them believe that the world is going to end in 12 years because of climate change. So just kidding. Okay, so here's what 2nd Peter 3.1 through 13 has to say about this.
Starting point is 00:07:07 In the interest of time, I'm going to take some chunks out of this, because reading the whole thing is going to take a lot, and we don't have all the time. But it's 2. Peter 3, 1 through 13, if you want to read it in its entirety on your own. This is now the second letter that I am writing to, Beloved, and both of them, I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder that you should remember the predictions of the Holy Prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this, first of all, that scoffers will come. come in the last days with scoffing following their own simple desires. They will say, where is the promise of his coming? But by the same word, the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day.
Starting point is 00:08:06 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promises. Some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. And then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Starting point is 00:08:27 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn. But according to his promise, we are waiting for the new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. So really, in that passage, we see all of the reasons to study that in times that we originally cited, anticipation, urgency, holiness, godly fear, comfort, and confidence. Colossians 127 also says that Jesus is our hope of glory, which is, again, that confidence piece that we were discussing.
Starting point is 00:09:08 Titus II also says, for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. And so it seems that the coming of Jesus is an extremely important aspect of our theology that it's not just an accessory as I for a long time believe, but that is actually important. It's very important. It is our hope. I think most of us believe probably that we're going to die before Jesus comes back. Maybe we will. Maybe we won't. We don't really know as we will get into
Starting point is 00:09:49 in just a little bit. But the fact of the matter is we should be waiting in anticipation and waiting with a sense of urgency for Jesus's return and for things to be made right. So here's what we have to figure out when we are anticipating Jesus is coming or when we're trying to figure out our viewpoint or our point of view on, I don't know why I said viewpoint, the point of view. They're the same thing. I don't know what I was trying to say. When we're trying to figure out what we believe based on scripture will be the end times and the things leading up to that and the signs that will show us that it's coming or that it's here, all of these things. We have to figure out what the Bible says about the return of Christ, which is when Jesus will come back.
Starting point is 00:10:35 This is also can be known as the day of the Lord. We have to figure out the tribulation. This is a period of great suffering that the Bible says will take place. The Antichrist. We have to figure out what that is. This is a false Messiah in the end times. The rapture. This is the snatching up of Christians by their Lord Jesus.
Starting point is 00:10:56 The resurrection of the bodies when the bodies of both believers and unbelievers will unite with their spirits. We need to know about the millennium or the millennial reign. This is the thousand-year reign, either figurative or literal, depending on what you believe of believers reigning with Christ. We need to know about the last judgment when Jesus Christ will judge both the living and the dead. And then we also need to know about the eternal state after Jesus has defeated the enemy once and for all. And believers reign with Christ forever. So within and between all of these subjects are different or different.
Starting point is 00:11:32 different nuances that we're probably not going to get to cover every single nuance of every single different kinds of belief about all of these, but we're going to talk about the main differences. And so the differences typically center on the chronology of the events, what happens within these events, whether or not, you know, for example, Christians endure the tribulation or not. And these are differences, as we've said, not between heretics and theologically sound people, but between Bible-believing Christians who believe that the Word of God is inerrant. simply come to different conclusions on that. And that's, that's okay. That can be okay. So the questions are, when is all of this going to happen? In what order? How is this going to happen?
Starting point is 00:12:13 What do these things really look like? Will Christians experience the trials that the Bible talks about? So let's first talk about each of the points that we just listed of an in times outlook. and let us talk about, let's talk about each of them and what the Bible has to say about them. So first, the return of Christ. This is referred to as the second coming of Jesus. So if you don't know anything about the Bible or about Jesus, that's totally fine. I'm going to try to explain this the best I can, although some of it might still be like, what are you talking about?
Starting point is 00:12:49 That's totally fine too. So Jesus came over 2000 years ago to offer himself as a sacrifice for those who believe, thus offering reconciliation between an unholy people. That's both Jews and Gentiles, so human beings and a holy God. Through Jesus's birth, death, and resurrection, he fulfilled prophecies. And his second coming, the Bible says, will also be the fulfillment of prophecy. This time he will come to conquer sin and death in Satan once and for all. First Thessalonians 5 calls this the day of the Lord.
Starting point is 00:13:21 There is, again, some disagreement on that. Titus 2.13 calls this the glorious appearance. What does this glorious appearing look like when Jesus will come back? Matthew 2430 says, Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of man. 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. Revelation 1.7,
Starting point is 00:13:45 Behold, he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so, amen. Revelation 1911 through 16. I, that's John, saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose writer was called faithful and true. That's Jesus. With justice he judges and makes war, his eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many
Starting point is 00:14:12 crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe, dipped in blood, and his name is the word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, writing on white horses and dressed in fun. linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, he is the name written king of kings and lord of lords. The next question about the return of Christ is when will this happen? So scripture tells us,
Starting point is 00:14:50 on the one hand, that his coming is going to be like a thief in the night. First Thessalonians 5, 2, for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Matthew 2424, be ready because the son of man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Jesus also says in Matthew 24 that this is all going to happen, that Jesus is going to come back immediately after the tribulation of those days. Matthew 24 also tells us about this tribulation and the things that have to happen before his return, like the wars and the rumors of wars, nations, right, and against nation, kingdom against kingdom. Every nation has to hear the gospel. Lawlessness is going to increase.
Starting point is 00:15:29 The abomination of desolation will occur via the Antichrist, who will make a covenant with Israel for seven years and then betray them. After three and a half years, I believe it is. There will be a great tribulation like no one has ever seen before. And then he will return. Here's what verses 29 through 31 says. This is Jesus speaking to his disciples. Immediately after the tribulation of those days,
Starting point is 00:15:52 the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. and the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. We read this part and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds and one end of heaven to the other. So there are prophecies that have to be fulfilled before Jesus returns. But Jesus also says, in other parts of the Bible say, that we don't know. We don't know when it's going to happen. Jesus says, but concerning that day an hour, no one knows,
Starting point is 00:16:30 not even the angels of heaven nor the son, but the father only. There are other passages that we've already read that say basically the same thing. So what we can conclude from this is that though there are tangible signs, according to Matthew 24, there are tangible signs and Daniel 9 that we can see and will recognize as pointing to Jesus's return. Sorry, my voice just cracked. We don't know. exactly how much time will pass between the last sign that is fulfilled in Jesus' return. So we don't know. Ultimately, we don't know the day or the hour. The Bible says that not even the sun knows, not even the angels of heaven knows, which is just kind of mind-boggling, I think, but the father knows only. So we ultimately are not going to be able to protect the precise day
Starting point is 00:17:17 and the hour that Jesus will return, although the signs that we see happening leading to his return like increased lawlessness in every nation knowing the gospel, all of this will create urgency and anticipation knowing that it is coming. Okay, so the second thing that we have to discuss as tribulation, which we already discussed, was described in Matthew 24 by Jesus, but this is a period of seven years. This is established in Daniel 9 in which people will severely suffer. Now, there are disagreements, like I've said, about whether or not Christians are going to actually endure this tribulation or whether or not Jesus is going to take us up before the tribulation and I'll get to what I believe about that based on scripture soon. And then number three, we have to talk about
Starting point is 00:18:03 this Antichrist or this man of lawlessness as the Bible refers to him. So second Thessalonians two, three through four says, don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed. The man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped so that he sets himself up in God's temple proclaiming himself to be God. A revelation 13-5-3-8 says, The Beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for 42 months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. and he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.
Starting point is 00:18:54 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the land that was slain from the creation of the world. Daniel 7 calls him an imposing boastful king who will try to change the set times and the laws. This is a leader who establishes the seven-year covenant with Israel and then breaks it. this is from Daniel 9. It is a king who sets up the abomination of desolation that is talked about in Mark 1314 and in Daniel 927. He is, as we have already said, the man of lawlessness that Second Thessalonians talks about.
Starting point is 00:19:34 He is also a writer on a white horse representing his claim to be a man of peace. He will say that he is bringing peace. That's Revelation 6-2. The first beast, the one from the sea in Revelation 13, this beast receives power from the dragon, which is Satan and speaks proud words and blasphemes, and we just war against the saints. Thankfully, though, this is what we can be grateful for, the Antichrist along with his false
Starting point is 00:20:00 prophet. So those are the two people I was just talking about will be thrown into the lake of fire where they will spend eternity in all of torment. So that's what we know about this Antichrist. Then we need to know, fourthly, about the rapture, which is the gathering up of believers by Jesus. This comes from 1st Thessalonians 417, Matthew 24. First Thessalonian says, then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord. Number five, the millennium,
Starting point is 00:20:34 that's the 1,000 year reign in which Christians will rule with Christ. Some people believe this is a literal 1,000 years. Some people believe this is a figurative thousand years. It really just means like a very long time. During this time, Satan will be bound. Revelation 22 through 3 says, and he seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended.
Starting point is 00:21:03 After that, he must be released for a little while. Then we need to know number six, the last judgment or the final judgment, when Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead, Revelation 21, through 15. and I saw a great white throne and him sitting on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and a place
Starting point is 00:21:21 was not found for them and I saw the dead the small and the great stand before God and books were open and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of the things
Starting point is 00:21:30 which were written in the books according to their works and the sea gave up the dead in it and death in how delivered up the dead in them and each one of them was judged according to their works and death and how were cast into the lake of fire
Starting point is 00:21:42 this is the second death and if anyone was not found having been written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. Number five, the eternal state. This is after Jesus has defeated the enemy once and for all. And believers reign with Christ forever after the final judgment, after the final defeat of Satan and unbelievers are thrown into the lake of fire. So here are some terms that describe. And I'm sorry if your head is like already throbbing right now. Revelation is a beast for lack of a better term or maybe no pun intended. There's so much more than I need to study when it comes to Revelation.
Starting point is 00:22:18 Honestly, like I said, that's just not a book that I've spent a whole lot of time in that I need to spend even more time in. And so just trust me that I understand how you're feeling. But let's keep trucking because we're going to get to some kind of point of clarity, I hope. So here are some terms that are used to describe how different Christians view that in time. So there's a millennial, a millennialist. They're even hard to say. a millennialist, pre-millennialist, and post-millennialist.
Starting point is 00:22:48 As you probably notice, the differences in these views depends on what you think of the millennium or of the 1,000-year reign. This comes from that passage, Revelation 24 through 5, which says that particular believers will come to life and will reign with Christ for a thousand years. So let's talk about, let's talk about an a-millanist. An a-millanist believes that this thousand-year reign that's described in Revelation 20 is actually happening right now.
Starting point is 00:23:14 So it's happening right now in eschological terms. Right now is called the church age. So a millennialist believe that the 1,000 years is figurative language to describe the time period and the phrase that the phrase reign with Christ. They believe that it's referring to those that are in heaven right now. So they think that it's happening. There's not a future millennium. It's all happening right now.
Starting point is 00:23:37 It just happens to be a long period of time that's longer than a thousand years. The a millennialist believes that Satan's power right. now is being held back currently so the gospel can be spread to all of the earth. They believe that when Christ returns, there's going to be a resurrection of both believers and unbelievers. At that time, there's going to be a final judgment. Believers will be eternally condemned. Believers will have the degree of their reward in heaven decreed. Of course, that's what everyone who has any kind of biblical eschatological beliefs holds. But it's the chronology of this that differs in the A-Millennialist view.
Starting point is 00:24:14 very simple view because it has all of the in-times events happening at the same time. There's no future millennial happening. It's all happening right now. It's just, like I said, this figure of speech for the period of time that has been happening and will happen until Jesus comes back. And then you have a post-millennialist view, which believes at the church age. So again, this time before Jesus returns will grow. gradually turn into the millennium. So it will gradually turn into the 1,000-year reign where there will be a larger and larger population of people who are Christians. They believe that society will become more and more governed by God's law, that they will warm up to God's law. And for a long period of time,
Starting point is 00:25:05 not necessarily a thousand years, righteousness and peace will flourish on the earth. And then after that, So Church Age turns into the millennial reign where the beast is held back, where the gospel flourishes, where God's law is just taking off all over the earth, and then they believe Christ will return. Believers and unbelievers will be resurrected. Jesus will judge the world. Then believers will reign with Christ in the eternal state. So post-millennialists are really, in general, very optimistic about what the gospel is doing right now.
Starting point is 00:25:37 How many people are going to become Christians? They're very optimistic about implementing God's law here. on earth because they believe that that is hastening the coming of the Lord, or at least that that is, uh, that can happen before the coming of the Lord that righteousness and peace will reign before Jesus comes back. And so they believe that they have a responsibility because of that particular eschatological view as a change society to adhere to the law of God now. And then you have a pre-millennialist view, which is very, which I would say is more the classic, traditional view that most believers probably have held throughout history.
Starting point is 00:26:15 Now they believe that there is a church age, which is happening right now. Then the tribulation will come. Then Jesus will return after the tribulation, rapturing the believers, including the dead in Christ. And then Jesus and believers will return to the new earth. There's some disagreement on that part. And will reign with Christ for the millennium while Satan is bound and many people come to Christ. And then the final judgment. on believers thrown into the lake of fire, Satan defeated, and then Jesus and those who are saved
Starting point is 00:26:45 will live together on the new earth for all of eternity. And then you also have pre-tribulational pre-millennialists, also called dispensational, yes, dispensational pre-millanalists who say that believers will be raptured before the tribulation, and then after the tribulation will return to reign with Christ, and the judgment will come, and then the eternal state. So here is what I am, given all of that. if you have been following that. I am a post-tribulation pre-millialist.
Starting point is 00:27:17 So post-trib premil. So what that means is that I believe, it's the classic kind of, I would say, traditional belief. And as I was doing all of this research, I made sure not to look at what any teacher I know believes, not to look at what any kind of pastor or writer has talked about. I just wanted to read the scriptures in figure out, this stuff for myself. I didn't want to look at the opinions of other people. And so based on
Starting point is 00:27:46 scripture, this is what I believe to be the most, um, the most valid argument to be made for what will happen at the end of the age. Post-tribulation pre-millennial. So I believe that Jesus is coming back will call believers to himself after believers and unbelievers are like have suffered during the tribulation. Then we will reign with him during the millennium while Satan is bound. Many during that rain will come to Christ and the final judgment occurs and we will enjoy the eternal state in Christ. So I don't believe, the biggest thing, I don't believe that Christians are going to avoid tribulation. I think that we are going to endure the tribulation and that those who persevere, as the Bible says, will be saved because that will mean that they have always truly been Christians. To me,
Starting point is 00:28:33 Matthew 24 makes this really clear. I just can't, I can't see any biblical evidence, really, any solid biblical evidence that we avoid, that Christians get to avoid persecution and avoid tribulation. Matthew 24, verse 9, they will, then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake. Versus 21 through 22, for then there will be great tribulation, such has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no and will never be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would ever be saved. but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Starting point is 00:29:13 Versus 30 through 31, then will appear in heaven the sign of the son of man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory, and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. Jesus is talking to his disciples in this chapter. He's talking to Christians. So it seems to me unavoidable,
Starting point is 00:29:38 according to this passage and other passages, that Christians who are alive will be here during the tribulation. And after the tribulation, we'll be resurrected with Christ or will be caught up with Christ and then will reign with Christ while Satan is bound until the final judgment, after which all believers will be with and raiding with Christ for all of eternity, sin and death, all abolished, done. Second Thessalonians 2.3, Paul warns believers, let no one deceive you in way for that day will come unless the rebellion comes first will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness has revealed the son of destruction. So why would it be necessary for Paul in this passage to warn believers of this if they weren't going to be present during the tribulation
Starting point is 00:30:24 in the first place? Why didn't he just say, well, hey, you're not going to be there. So you don't need to worry about this because the church in Thessalonica was worried about the end times and what all is going to happen. Why didn't he just say you're not going to endured the tribulations. Don't worry about that, but he didn't. He didn't say that. And this was a warning. It seems like two believers. It also seems like martyrdom at the end of the age is something that is going to happen. Revelation 6.9 through 11 talks about this, talks about martyrs and how they are going to shed their blood for the name of Christ. So pre-tribulationists. So people who think that we are going to be raptured before the tribulation.
Starting point is 00:31:08 They usually go to Revelation 310, which says, because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth. I don't know if that actually means a literal removal from the earth. And this juxtaposition I actually did get from a teacher that I respect because I had the same question. And so I thought this was interesting and I found it compelling. He says, so in that verse, he said, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the world to try those who dwell on the earth.
Starting point is 00:31:42 But if you look at John 1715, there's similar language that Jesus uses about his disciples when he's praying. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. So that keep you and keep them language could just be about protection and preserving of their faith rather than a physical removal. So that's why I think Revelation 310 doesn't necessarily point to the fact that believers are going to. to miss out on the tribulation. So here's the deal. Even if we disagree on all of this stuff, or even if we disagree on the chronology of events or what's going to happen when we agree on the big stuff, we agree that we need to be watchful and ready because Jesus is coming back, that we are called to persevere no matter what, that we are called to make disciples of all
Starting point is 00:32:24 nations, no matter what, to live in holiness, to live in obedience to God with a sense of urgency, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We are called no matter what, whether you are a pre-millennialist or post-millennialist to seek justice, God's justice, to love mercy, to walk humbly with God. We are called to do good works. We are called to live with a sense of confidence with an assurance of hope, knowing that Jesus will come back, that we will reign forever with him and that Satan will be defeated once and for all. So that's what we can agree on. And like I said, I know I didn't cover everything. There's so much to cover in all of this. and I can't wait to get you your emails.
Starting point is 00:33:03 For those of you who have been studying this for much longer than I have, where I'm wrong, what I missed, all of that. Please feel free to send me an email, Allie, the conservative millennial blog.com. If you love this podcast, please feel free to give me five stars. On iTunes, it helps me out a lot.
Starting point is 00:33:18 And if you want to subscribe to YouTube, that's great. Of course, you can follow me on social media if you don't do that already, and I will see you guys soon.

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