THE SECRET RAPTURE
FACT ...... OR FICTION?

(Part Three)

BY

PASTOR CSJ CLAASSEN

CHAPTER FOUR

THE TRIBULATION

Jesus has given us a time sequence of events soon to occur. This sequence you will find in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. These three chapters contain the order of events at the close of this age of man's rule.

Notice what Jesus told His disciples. Following false teachers, proclaiming a false gospel, yet coming in the name of Christ, would be wars, famines and pestilences - occurring in that order.

Listen to the words of Jesus about what will happen next. Matthew 24: 6-9 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars .... and famines shall be and earthquakes in divers places. But all these are the beginning of sorrows. Then (NB: the very next event) shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake.

Did you notice that ?
Jesus' own disciples - those who follow Him - YOU - are to be delivered up to tribulation.

Paul states emphatically in Philippians 1: 29 that " unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. "
In 1 Peter 4: 1 it is stated even stronger: " Rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings: that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. "

The early Church certainly exemplified this: Stephen was stoned. Matthew was slain in Ethiopia. Mark was dragged to death behind horses. Luke was hanged. Peter and Simeon were crucified, Peter being crucified upside down because he said that he was unworthy to die as Jesus had died. Andrew was tied to an X-shaped cross until he died. James was beheaded. Philip was crucified and stoned. Bartholomew was flayed with knives to death. Thomas was pierced with lances. James the Lesser was hurled from a pinnacle of the Temple and his body sawed in pieces. Matthias was stoned. Jude was killed with arrows at Ararat. Paul was beheaded ......... " and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection "

They were not secretly spirited away from the arena of hardship, nor shall we be.

May God use this message to give us backbones of railroad steel for what lies ahead.
The Church must prepare Herself to go through the tribulation.

CHAPTER FIVE

THE WAY OF ESCAPE

At Christ's return, the resurrection, and the catching up of the saints to meet Jesus in the air will all take place at the same time - AT THE END OF THE WORLD - After the Great Tribulation !

Though Jesus prophesied that Christians would be persecuted in a coming great tribulation, He also said there is for some a way of escape !

And for this reason Jesus said: Matthew 28:20
Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Why would Jesus promise to be with the Church until the end of the World if He intended to take the Church out of the World before the tribulation and the End of the World ?
Can we escape the Great Tribulation ? The answer is YES !

Notice the following Scripture:
Luke 21: 36
But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Notice: Praying in order to escape.

Luke 11: 9
And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you shall find, knock, and it shall be opened to you.

God has not Changed (Malachi 3: 6)

Hebrews 13: 8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.

God's promises stand forever. Prayer is the answer !
Notice the following that will happen during the great tribulation when the Third Seal of Famine is broken and the Black Horse of Revelation rides:

Revelation 6: 6
And I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures, saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine.

Why, must the oil and the wine be spared ?
Remember the Parable that Jesus told about the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10: 34
And came to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them, and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

The oil and the wine is the symbol of God's Love. Jesus is our Good Samaritan.

Hebrews 13: 5-6
He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you, so that we can confidently say, The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me ?

No matter how great the coming Storm, the Lord will ensure that we will reach the other side, provided we put our Trust in Him. There will always be enough Oil and Wine for the Good Samaritan - Jesus - to use to bind up our wounds. We have a promise that no matter what may happen - the Lord will always be with us to bind up our wounds with the Oil and the Wine. The promises of God remain SURE even in the Great Tribulation !

(Go to The Secret Rapture, Part 4)