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His Grace Magazine!
April 2022
Are you Watching?
The Rapture, the Tribulation and Christ's Return
L
uke chapter 21 speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Roman armies. When the conquest was complete, not a single Jew was left alive in the city. Over one million Jews were killed and another 97,000 were taken captive. The Jewish nation was obliterated and the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and became a desolation. In 1948, after almost two thousand years in exile, Israel was miraculously established, but it wasn't until 1968 that Jerusalem again became the territory of the nation of Israel, when the Jordanian troops were driven out. However, according to the Bible, Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the 'time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.' God has a purpose in the 'time of the Gentiles,' and that is to spread the gospel throughout the whole world. During this period of time, God's grace gives others an opportunity
to become part of His kingdom before He gathers His church together unto Himself. When the Jewish
known as the Church Age. In prophetic history, the Church Age falls between the 69th and 70th weeks of
people rejected Christ, they were temporarily cut off from the blessings of a relationship with God. So the gospel was given to the Gentiles, and they received it. This partial hardening of heart for Israel prevents the nation from accepting Christ as Messiah until God's plans are finished. When the time is right, God will restore the entire nation, and they will, once again, come to faith in Him, ending the 'time of the Gentiles.' So right now, we're living in a period of God's extended grace to man,
Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) and is made up of people who have, by faith, accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord. However, this present age will come to an end when Jesus returns in power and glory to save His own and judge His enemies. The majority of Christians believe that His return will come in three phases: 1) The Rapture of the Church: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 describes the Rapture as: "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: 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." PreTribulation believers feel they will not go through the coming Tribulation. Jesus tells us to pray always that we be found worthy to escape the horrible destruction that is destined to come. Whether you believe in Pre-Tribulation, MidTribulation, or PostTribulation, one thing is true for all: the Church may experience some turmoil leading up to it. We are to carry out the Lord's work until He returns to take us home. Jesus warns us to watch for His return by being spiritually ready and working faithfully at the tasks He has given us. Don't let your mind and spirit be dulled by careless living or foolishly pursuing pleasure.
