Torch, Spring 1985

to God for His glory. The Situation on Earth The people who thought their problems would be mitigated be– cause all those pesky Christians de– parted at the rapture will be in for some rather disheartening surprises as post-rapture events unfold. Con– trary to what many secular writers tell us now, the world will not be better off when the restraining influence of Christianity is taken out of this world . It may seem so at the begin– ning, but during much of the time period in which the believers are being rewarded in heaven, earthly so– ciety will face two incredibly devas– tating occurrences . The first - the revealing of Antichrist - will precipi– tate the second - the tribulation . Referred to as the "man of sin" in I Thessalonians 2 and as the "willful king" . in Daniel 11 :36, Antichrist (I John 4:3) will gain power as the final king of the restored Roman Empire. Of course , a man who achieves the measure of worldwide power that will go to Antichrist can– not do so without first conning his fellow man into following him. How he will do this is not exactly known, but he will probably do so by show– ing that he can create an orderly society out of one that has been reel– ing in chaos. In addition, he will work miraculous wonders under the power of Satan. Yet as the first years after the rapture pass, his benevo– lence will tum to malevolence. He '.¥ill persecute any who dare not wor– ship him, and he will slaughter many people who accept Christ during the tribulation (Revelation 6:9-11). But Antichrist will not be the only source of suffering during this time of tribulation . In addition, this time period will be marked by great calamity that will come as a result of God's judgment and wrath (Joel 1:15, Revelation 11: 18, Revelation 15 :9). Among this devastation will be the deaths of one quarter of the world's population (Revelation 6:8); massive earthquakes (Isaiah 2: 19); catastrophic fire (Isaiah 24:1,3,6); and sudden de– struction (I Thessalonians 5:3). The tribulation will be as much of a contrast to the simultaneous events going on in heaven as we could possibly imagine . But why? Why will a loving God allow such tragedy on His earth? Why will He not simply wipe the slate clean for everyone and draw all of mankind into glory with him? Such questions, often asked by those who do not like the prospects of a tribulation period, suggest a simplis– tic view of God. God, however, has a nature that can exercise love only when justice is also served. For all unbelieving mankind to escape judg– ment would not be just. The why of tribulation then is twofold: (1) to ready an unbelieving nation of Israel to accept her Messiah (Jeremiah 30:7); and (2) to judge un– believing humanity (Isaiah 26:21 , II Thessalonians 2: 12) . As terrible as all this seems, it will result in a great good - multitudes of Jews and Gen– tiles alike will come to the Savior during the tribulation (Revelation 7). Preparing for the Glorious Return Near the end of the second three and one-half years of the tribulation , Antichrist will unwittingly begin set– ting the stage for an event on God's prophetic calendar that will be the grandest event of all time - the reve– lation of Jesus Christ at His glorious return. But before that happens, thousands of Jews will have been killed when Antichrist erects the "abomination of desolations" in the temple . Also, he will have estab– lished himself as a military hero , and his conquests will have included a confederation of countries supported by the king of the north and the king of the south (Daniel 11 :36-45) . This victory will enable Antichrist to defeat Israel and to begin her most devastating suffering . But just as Antichrist brings Israel to her knees, just as two-thirds of the people have been killed, and just as Antichrist be– gins to do battle in the valley of Megiddo with an amassed army from · around the world , Jesus will return. This return of the Savior will be far different from His coming in the air seven years before. This time He will not appear just for a brief moment. At this appearing , He will bring with Him His bride - the millions of glorified church-age saints who have been with him in glory during those past seven years. These believers have experienced three significant changes since they first joined their Messiah. First, of course, they will have received their glorified bodies - bodies like Christ's. Second, as men– tioned , they will have received their "good works" crowns . And third they will have been wedded to Jesu~ at the marriage of the Lamb . This consummation of the marriage of Christ and the church has set the stage on the heavenly side for Christ's triumphant and victorious touch– down on the Mount of Olives (Revelation 19:11 -16, Joel 3:2,12). Immediately, the earthly scene will have changed . What had ap– peared to be a world hopelessly en– cased in the grip of the evil one will have suddenly become a world pre– paring for Jesus' one thousand year reign. Antichrist and his partner in crime , the false prophet, will be cast into the lake of fire, and their amassed troops will suddenly be killed . Christ's appearance and the sudden demise of the enemy's forces will be the first steps toward the uni – versal peace that only the Prince of Peace can bring. Soon, God ' s re– maining judgments will be enacted , the still-unresurrected saints will be given new bodies, and the millenial kingdom will be established. The rapture . What does our society think about that term? It probably has no idea of the true meaning . And when that wonderful day finally comes to unwrap God's final pro– gram for the ages, society will proba– bly not understand its significance . Yet we as believers know what glory awaits the Christian and what tragedy awaits the unbeliever. Shouldn't we get to work to let society in on this most wonderful, yet most frightening secret of human history? David Branon serves with the Radio Bible Class ministry where he is assistant editor of "Our Dai ly Bread," editor of Radio Bible Class news– letter, and a contributor to "Discovery Digest. " A graduate of Cedar– ville College, Branon also has a masters degree in English from Western Michigan University. 13