<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" value="+12535179195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">February 24, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>2012-02-24
- THROUGH TRIBULATION - Chapter I - H.A. Baker</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>THE
GOSPELS, THE BOOK OF ACTS,</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>THE
EPISTLES AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>ALL
TEACH THAT THE RETURN OF CHRIST</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>WILL
BE AT THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION AFTER THE</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>1)
REIGN OF THE ANTICHRIST AND AFTER</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>2)
UNPRECEDENTED PHYSICAL DISTURBANCES OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>A.
CHRIST, IN THE GOSPELS, TAUGHT THAT TWO SERIES OF EVENTS</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<b>WOULD PRECEDE HIS COMING.*</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
(* The method followed in this study is as follows:</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>1</b><span>.
Each main heading is a PROPOSITION founded on scripture.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span>2.
Immediately below the main proposition follow other </span><b>propositions</b><span>,
also founded on scripture further corroborating the main proposition.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
3. Next in order is the scripture proof-text which should show the
correctness of the preceding propositions.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
4. The scripture text is next followed by “Notes” which consist
of personal comments relating to the foregoing topic.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span>5.
The </span><b>black-faced type</b><span>
in the scripture quotations are the special proof-texts of the
preceding propositions. This black-faced part of the quotations may
be read, if so desired, without taking time to read the attendant
context, printed in ordinary type.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
6. Scripture quoted is from the American Standard Version of 1901.)</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span>(1)
The reign of the anti-Christ during the concluding years of earth's
tribulation must </span><b>precede</b><span>
the Lord's return. Christ said that wars and rumors of wars must
come, “but the end is not yet.” There must first be the definite
signs that conclude the great tribulation, one being the abomination
of desolation prophesied by Daniel. Jesus stated that His coming
would be </span><b>after</b><span> the
tribulation of those days, the days of the anti-Christ.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
(2) Before Jesus comes there will be also the second series of
events, “signs in sun and moon and stars - the roaring of the sea
and billows - when the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>Proof
Text: the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>wars
and rumors of wars;</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>the
abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel, the
prophet, ... then shall be great tribulation such as has not been
from the beginning of the world until now; no, nor ever shall be.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>But
immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall
fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven:</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>the
Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matt. 24:3-6, 15, 21, 29, 30.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>be
great earthquakes,</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>great
signs from heaven</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>the
roaring of the sea and the billows;</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>powers
of the heavens shall be shaken. Luke 21:11, 25, 26</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>Note:
</b><span>Jesus disciples asked him a
plain question, “What shall be the sign of your coming, and of the
end of the world?” Jesus gave a plain and one hundred per cent
clear answer: “There shall be great tribulation, such as has not
been from the beginning of the world ... immediately </span><b>after</b><span>
the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and
the powers of heaven shall be shaken; and </span><b>then</b><span>
... they shall see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"> <span>To
avoid this clear statement of Jesus to His disciples that His coming
would be at the end of the tribulation and </span><b>after</b><span>
the disturbances in heaven and on earth, Darby by his system of
“inference,” and by “inference” alone, said that here Jesus
was talking to Jewish disciples and all this applied to the Jews
alone and has nothing to do with us, or Gentile believers.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
Was not this group of disciples to whom Jesus was speaking the same
group to whom the Lord gave the great commission to preach the gospel
to all the world? Does that have nothing to do with us? Were only the
Jews to preach the gospel? Did not many of these same Jewish
disciples write books of the New Testament? Were these revelations to
the Jews to be the commands and promises to the Jews alone? The
promise of the Holy Spirit was made to the Jewish disciples, was it
for the Jews alone?</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
Surely any unprejudiced mind must see that here Jesus was talking to
His disciples as representatives of all the disciples to follow,
whether Jew or Gentile, for in Christ there is no distinction.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span>To
whom was this command and promise, to Jew or Gentile disciples: “Go
you, therefore, and teach all nations ... and lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world.” Who was to “Go,” only
the Jews? With whom would the Lord be present in this preaching? Only
the Jews? Who was to do this preaching to the nations till the “end
of the world,” Jews? Gentiles? Was this great promise of the Lord's
blessing to only the Jews? Were not </span><u><span>all</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
disciples, all true Christians, of the church age to preach to all
the world? Was not Jesus by His Holy Spirit to be with </span></span><u><span>all</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
disciples Jew or Gentile - all members of His true church wherever
they worked till the “end of the world?” In the same way and to
the same group represented of all disciples for all the age as was
the commission and promise given, was the information given by Jesus
that His coming would be </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">after</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
the great tribulation ended and the heavens and earth were shaken and
the stars fell.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>In
all fairness, is it not like this: Jesus told His disciples, without
distinguishing Jew or Gentile, to preach to all the world to the end
of the world and promised to be with them in this preaching till the
end of the world, and when they asked Him when the “end” would be
(that would end all preaching) He unqualifiedly replied that the end
would be after the great tribulation. In all this Jesus very
evidently included all disciples in general without race distinction.
He did not say or hint that he meant all or any of this for the Jews
alone. Darby by “inference,” without one definite statement from
the scripture to support him, said the </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Jews
alone</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>.
Here we have it: Jesus definite statement, unqualified; Darby's
contrary “inference.”</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Since
the disciples of Christ were to preach the gospel till “the end of
the world,” and since Jesus said that “the end of the world would
be </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">after</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
the greatest tribulation and </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">after</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
the physical disturbances of heaven and earth, and since the
disciples of Christ, without distinction between Jew and Gentile
constitute His Church, it follows that the Church will be on earth
witnessing till “the end of the world” </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">after</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
the great tribulation.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>B. THE HOLY SPIIRT IN THE ACTS AND EPISTLES TEACHES THAT THE
COMING OF JESUS WILL BE PRECEDED BY THESE TWO EVENTS.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">(1)
</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Here
we read, in the first place, that Jesus' coming will not be until
after “the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,” the
anti-Christ, whose reign will be during the concluding years of the
great tribulation.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">(2)
</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>The
Holy Spirit says that, in the second place, the coming of Christ will
also be preceded by physical disturbances in heaven and upon earth:
“wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath - blood
and fire and vapor of smoke; that sun shall be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood before the day of the Lord comes.”</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>Proof Text: coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering
together unto him;</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>as that day of the Lord is just at hand;</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man
of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; he that opposes and exalts
himself against all that is called God, or that is worshiped;</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus
shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to naught by the
manifestation of his coming. 2 Thess. 2:1-8.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">wonders
in the heaven above, </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>and</span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">
signs on the earth beneath;</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">the
sun shall be turned into darkness. </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>And</span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">
the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord. Acts 2:19, 20</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Note:
</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Here
we quote again Paul's definite statement about the time of the Lord's
return: “Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him ... it will
not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be
revealed, he that opposes and exalts himself against all that is
called God, or that is worshiped.”</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
Here Paul definitely says that no one is to believe a contrary
teaching about the time of the coming of Christ, even though it
claims to be a special revelation given by a “spirit.” He warns,
“Let no man beguile you in any wise, “for,” as he goes on to
say, “the coming of Christ will not be ... “except ... the man of
sin be revealed” (the anti-Christ). Here is clear, definite
statement that would appear sufficient to settle the question for any
unprejudiced mind.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Was
Paul talking about </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">two</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
comings of the Lord, or one coming? He said that “it,” that day
(singular), will not come, except - etc. What did Darby say? He said
that “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering
together unto Him” was one coming of the Lord </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">before</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
the reign of the man of sin, the anti-Christ, and that “the day of
the Lord” mentioned in this connection is another coming of Christ
</span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">after</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
the man of sin, the anti-Christ, comes. “Inference.” Wholly
“inference.” Hand the Bible to any man, woman or child who knows
nothing about the question discussed and ask such a one whether the
writer of these verses is talking about </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">one</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
coming of Christ, or </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">two</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>.
Ask whether or not, after reading these and preceding verses in the
chapter above, it is not apparent that the day of the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ is the same as the “day of the Lord.” Will not
ten out of ten such readers answer that Paul is talking about </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">one</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
event and that the day of the Lord and the day of the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ are that same day? Try this on an unprejudiced
reader and see. Were Paul talking about </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">two</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
events would he not have taken pains to make it clear, since he was
definitely writing this to the Thessalonians to clear up some
confusion they had in their minds? If he meant </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">two</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
when apparently he indicated but </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">one</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
coming of Christ, would he not have been adding confusion to
confusion, rather than clearing up a question already confused? What
say you? I say, yes.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
It is in place here to refer to another of Darby's “inferences”
in this connection. Paul said that there was something that hindered
the manifestation of the “man of sin” and that until this
hindrance was removed, the man of sin would not appear, he who is
also called “the lawless one,”: at the head of the “mystery of
lawlessness.”</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
By pure “inference,” without even a hint in scripture as to what
this hindrance was, Darby declared that this hindrance is the Church.
Therefore, Darby said, since this hindrance was the Church and since
this hindrance had to be removed before the appearance of the man of
sin, the anti-Christ, the Church will be raptured before the
so-called great tribulation under the anti-Christ.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
But where is there any scripture-statement that this hindrance is the
Church? Who can prove by even “inference” that there could be no
other that the Church to hinder? Nearly all the world has been
heathen to the present day. In the society and the governments of the
greater part of the world the church has had very little, if any,
noticeable influence. How about China? How about India? How about the
tribes of Africa? How about South America? Here is a whole continent
shut away from light by the nominal church. Who can show from the
Bible, or from history, that it is the Church that has restrained and
still hinders lawlessness from running its full course?</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
Satan is the prince of this world; he would have destroyed it long
ago, or at least, made it all his, had it not been for the
restraining hand of God, who over-rules all. God's power and ways of
restraining evil and saying, “Thus far and no further,” are not
now, nor ever were confined to the Church of the New Testament. How
about pre-church days of Old Testament time?</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
The Bible does definitely make some statements in comparing the power
of the church and that of the anti-Christ. It says: “And it was
given unto (the beast, the anti-Christ), to make war with the saints,
and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues and nations.” Rev. 13:7.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
We missionaries did not keep the lawless, godless communists out of
China. They ran us out. The church in China could not “hinder”
them. They are hindering the church.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>C. THE BOOK OF REVELATION ALSO TEACHES THAT THE LORD'S RETURN
WILL BE PRECEDED BY THESE TWO SERIES OF EVENTS.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">(1)
</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Revelation
teaches that the first series of events that will take place during
the final years of the great tribulation will precede the coming of
the Lord, for all the events of the “six seals” must take place
before Jesus' returns. The things under these seals end the great
tribulation.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">(2)
</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>The
second series of events - the physical disturbances in heaven and
earth - must also precede the Lord's return, for after the “sixth
seal,” or ending with the sixth seal, “was a great earthquake and
the sun became black as sackcloth of hair while the moon became as
blood and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth.” These
disturbances just precede the great day of “the wrath of the Lamb,”
the return of Christ.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>Proof Test: opened one of the seven seals, and - forth conquering,
and to conquer.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>he opened the second seal, - peace from the earth.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>he opened the third seal, - a measure of wheat for a shilling and
three measures of barley for a shilling;</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>he opened the fourth seal, - a black horse, - his name was Death;
- the fourth part of the earth to kill with a sword, and with famine
and with death,</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>opened the fifth seal, - had been slain for the word of God, -
their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed,</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<b>he opened the sixth seal, - a great earthquake; - sun became black
- moon became as blood; - stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, -
heaven was removed as a scroll when it is - every mountain and island
were moved out of their places. - kings of the earth - princes, chief
captains, - the rich - the strong, - every bondman - free man hid
themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they
say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from
the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb: for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to
stand? Rev. 6:1-17.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Note:
</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Darby
and his school started another line of argument by “inference”
regarding the book of Revelation. He said that since the Church is
not definitely mentioned after the fourth chapter of Revelation it
must, therefore, have been translated by rapture before the events
that will take place according to the following chapters of this
book.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
But the Church is not definitely mentioned in some of the epistles.
To be consistent with Darby's line of “inference,” must we
believe then, that Paul and Peter and John wrote these epistle to
churches that were not on earth? We know by a better “inference”
that there was the Church on earth to whom these epistles were
written, for they were written to “believers,” and it is
“believers” who constitute the Church.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Likewise,
there are “believers” all through the book of Revelation. Are not
all “believers” member of the Church, or body of Christ, till the
day He returns to set up His kingdom? Must not all true believers be
born again of the Holy Spirit to see the kingdom of God? When born of
the Holy Spirit are they not then in the real Church?</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Then
again, John was to write the book of Revelation to “the seven
churches.” Rev. 1:3, 4. That is the statement at the beginning of
the book. At the end of the book we read: “I, Jesus, have sent my
angel to testify unto you these things </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">in
the churches.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
Rev. 22:16. If all the book of Revelation did not concern the whole
Church, why write it to the “churches?” That the message of
Revelation is to more that the seven churches is proven by the facts
that the revelations of the things that “must come to pass” as
revealed to them did not come to pass in the days of these seven
churches. Who will allow Darby's “inference” to take from us all
of Revelation but the first four chapters?</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>This
whole book of Revelation harmonizes with the outline of events in the
gospels and epistles. The physical disturbances of the heavens and
the earth being considered </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>as
the last revealed events</b></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
just before the Lord's return, this book will be seen to present a
series of views and partial views of scenes and events preceding and
following the great day of the Lord's return in glory to judge and
reign over all the world. Thus considered, the events of Revelation
are not continued successive series but various pictures many of
which might be partial views of differing events of the same time.
Thus it will be seen that the judgments are followed by the </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>seventh
seal, </b></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>the</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>
seventh trumpet</b></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>
and </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>seventh
vial, </b></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>all
of which usher in the return of Christ and the setting up of His
eternal kingdom.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Conclusion:
</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span>Since
messages of the book of Revelation were written to all “the
churches” and must apply to the Church, and since these messages
indicate that the reign of the anti-Christ and the signs in the
heavens will precede the coming of Jesus, the Church will, therefore,
go through the great tribulation.</span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">
</span></b>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Replies:</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<span style="text-decoration:none">Oregon pastor - What a needed
teaching.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<span style="text-decoration:none">Oregon Leader - I'm enjoying the
Tribulation series. The Part A is very much like a teaching I heard
from David Pawson of England. He is of your age group and an
excellent Bible teacher. He reminds me of you. I've attached a
teaching he does that coincides with Part A. I think you would be
particularly interested in what he says about Darby. His family were
in the Plymouth Brethren sect - some agreed with Darby and some did
not. Anyway, if you have time, take a listen.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<span style="text-decoration:none">B.C. National Leader, Teacher and
Preacher: Thanks for this Jim. Very interesting. It is also
illustrative of how important it is to study the Word with as few of
man's preconceptions as possible. Though I have never delved in to
study this subject at depth, just my general reading of the Word had
left me to dismiss the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture. Now I'll
have to even question my mid-trib view!</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<span style="text-decoration:none">Canadian Leader: I found these
two articles on the Rapture and Tribulation very encouraging, showing
me that my understanding on these issues was scriptural. I have since
the 1970's when I first heard that the rapture theory was not
scriptural, and checked it out, and I found that Jesus told his
disciples in Matt. 24 that first tribulation would come and then the
angels would gather His Elect from the earth. Yet this false teaching
is so prevalent in almost all denominations, that if it is brought
up, in Bible studies, most think you are spreading heresy. For this
reason I would like your permission to post these two articles on my
web-site. Thanking you in advance.</span></p>
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</p>
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