Rapture, Tribulation, and Armageddon
1999025
Topic # 1959 (premillennialism)
Introduction:
A. Perhaps as many as 80% of all religious people believe in the rapture and millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
1. These things have become known as premillennialism.
B. Does this really matter?
1. We know the Lord is going to return and in order to have the hope of heaven we need to be faithful.
2. Why is premillennialism so dangerous?
a) It alters the entire biblical view from Genesis to Revelation.
I. A brief summary of premillennial theory.
A. Before the end of the world there will be a number of ominous signs:
1. Political crisis – wars and rumors of wars.
2. Rise/increase in natural calamities: famines; diseases; earthquakes; etc.
3. Rise of immorality. Men will bask in sin & live for pleasure
4. Preaching the gospel will be outlawed in many areas.
B. The rapture is the beginning of events leading to Armageddon.
1. Rapture will happen – taking all dead & alive Christians to heaven.
2. Revival of Roman Empire; and rise of Middle East dictator.
3. 7 years before battle of Armageddon, nations of world will sign peace treaty w/Israel.
4. A world church is then established
5. 4 years before Armageddon, Russia & China attack Israel.
1. peace treaty w/Israel broken
2. results in great persecution of Christians
3. martyrdom of many Christians & Jews
6. at this time there will be catastrophic divine judgments poured out on earth
7. war breaks out in the middle east – leading to the battle of Armageddon
8. Return of Christ.
II. Will There Be a “Rapture?”
A. Proof for rapture is taken from 1 Thess. 4:13-18.
B. 4:16-18 is used to represent a silent, mysterious return of Jesus to “snatch away” those who are faithful to God.
1. Jesus will deliver the saints from earth so they will not experience the tribulation.
2. In case of rapture…this car will be unmanned… planes crashing w/no pilots; wife wakes up, no husband… etc.
3. The term “rapture” never appears in scripture…
C. But…do these verses describe a silent return of Jesus Christ?
1. Again…we often led to believe no one will know any of this happened except for the fact of the missing people. This is an abuse of scripture.
2. 4:16 gives us a detailed account of what will happen when Jesus returns:
a) Shout; hear the voice of the archangel; the trumpet of God will sound.
b) All will know when He returns.
D. How many times will Jesus return? (important to consider as we talk on this)
1. Premillennialists say Jesus will return at the Rapture
a) 4:15 – the coming of the Lord. Same phrase used in 2 Thess 2:1
2. And then again to bring destruction & punish evildoers at Armageddon 7 years after the rapture.
a) 2 Thess. 2:8 – the appearance of His coming.
3. There will only be 1 return of Jesus – after which will come at the end of the world.
E. How many resurrections will there be? Premillennialism says there will be 3.
1. resurrection at rapture – 1 Thess. 4:17
2. 2nd resurrection at end of tribulation where martyred Christians killed during tribulation will resurrect to fight evil in Armageddon
3. 3rd resurrection will take place at the end of Jesus’ 1000 year reign – evil resurrect to go to hell.
4. Compare that to John 5:28-29.
a) Only ONE resurrection – at the end of time. Resurrection will be for both the good & evil ones.
III. The Period of Tribulation
A. After rapture, 7 year period of great tribulation will pursue.
1. Mt. 24:5-14 is often used to prove what will happen during this time.
2. Important to keep Mt. 24 in proper context, however.
B. 24:2 – Jesus: temple & all its buildings will be destroyed.
C. 24:3 – disciples ask Jesus 2 questions:
1. When will these things be?
2. What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
D. Rest of Mt. 24 devoted to answering these questions.
1. Mt. 24:1-35 – deals w/the destruction of Jerusalem.
a) 24:34 – this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
2. Mt. 24:36-51 – deals w/His second coming (end times.)
E. Things in 24:5-14 did not signify the nearness of the end of the world, but the events preceding destruction of Jerusalem!
1. Jews suffered greatly in years before Jerusalem destroyed.
2. Josephus: neither did any other city suffer such miseries…from the beginning of the world.
3. Jesus mentioned this suffering Mt. 24:21-22.
F. Mt. 24:36 – absolutely no signs pointing to Jesus’ return – all going on as normal.
1. 24:38-39
2. To believe in tribulation, etc…makes Jesus contradict himself in the same chapter!
3. Mt. 24:1-35 has already been fulfilled.
IV. The Battle of Armageddon
A. Rev. 16:16; 19:14-21 – two passages referred to as proof for the last great battle.
B. Armageddon will be a battle b/t east & west. War on earth like none before.
1. Russia? China? Iran? A # of nations going in together?
2. Great battle to take place in valley of Megiddo.
3. While battle raging, Jesus to rip open the skies & put a quick end to the battle.
4. Then…he establishes His kingdom on earth & reigns in Jerusalem for 1000 years.
C. Where is Armageddon?
1. Refers to Mount Megiddo. No such place mentioned in OT. Found only in NT in Revelation. Mount Megiddo is not a literal place.
a) Megiddo means “place of troops.”
b) Area of Megiddo is in a mountain range where many battles were fought in OT times.
c) Mountain range guarded the northern entrance to Israel.
2. These mountains overlook the Plain of Esdraelon.
a) Valley 15 x 20 miles in size.
b) Accounts in Joshua; judges; 1 Samuel tell us that many historical battles took place there.
3. Mediggo would have been associated with a place of decisive battle; a place of victory for the Lord.
4. In every battle that took place here, God was glorified!
D. Fit that into the overall message of Revelation.
1. Revelation about war & conflict between good & evil – resulting in victory for the righteous & defeat for the wicked.
2. Message is all about assurance of victory & triumph for churches. Satan & his followers would be defeated decisively.
E. Biblical difficulties w/a physical battle of Armageddon.
1. Revelation was written for people of John’s day.
a) 1:1, 3, 22:10 – would shortly take place. At hand, etc.
2. Revelation made known to John by signs and symbols. Not everything is literal in Revelation.
3. Jesus & His saints do not wage physical battles for His kingdom.
a) Mt. 5:38-39; 43-45 – goes against the passive spirit exemplified by Jesus.
b) Mt. 26:52-53 – Had Jesus wanted to fight, the period just before His death would have been the perfect opportunity.
c) John 18:36 – Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world.
d) Eph. 6:11 – weapons of Christianity are not carnal.
4. Figurative symbols cannot be applied literally.
a) Ezek. 39:1-5 – Premillennialists describe this as the alliance that arises against Israel in the end.
b) If that literal, then weapons in 39:9 must be literal as well. Who fights this way today?
c) Rev. 16:16 – a literal battle w/literal blood being spilled?
1) If so, then 16:13-14 must be taken literally as well.
2) The last great battle is going to be led by frogs?
F. What does Battle of Armageddon signify?
1. The ultimate fight between good & evil, fought in context of 1st thru 3rd centuries.
2. Christians hated by Jews, Romans, and all of Greek culture.
3. Persecutors fought w/tools of devil.
a) Cruelly beat, tortured, and murdered Christians.
4. Christians fought w/the tools of the Lord:
a) Faith; trust; endurance; and the giving of their lives.
b) Ultimately the Lord was victorious and won the battle of Armageddon.
Conclusion:
A. Mt. 24:36-38 – Jesus will return – no one knows when. Are you ready?
B. 1 Thess. 4:16 – When the trumpet sounds, it will be too late for you to hurriedly get your life right.
1. Obey the gospel today.
C. I N V I T A T I O N
