Frequently Asked Questions

Psalm 11:5 says, “The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked.” Matthew 24:10 says that “many will fall away” and betray one another during the tribulation era. Matthew 24:13 says, “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” So, if the tribulation period does not include testing and refining, then why do many fall away and why is endurance specified? And if the tribulation is about God’s wrath rather than His testing, why are the elect here? Matthew 24:22 says, “For the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.” Whenever we walk through fires of suffering and persecution, our faith is revealed - and will undoubtedly be tested in that day, because "many will fall away.”

Not preparing to endure the rigors and hardships of the tribulation period is to miss the importance of Christ’s timeline in Matthew 24, His revelation to John, and the prophecies of Daniel. All of this as well as many other Old and New Testament references declare the coming day of the Lord and urge us to prepare. Not preparing our hearts and minds for the deluge of deception that results in a major “falling away,” is to forgo the opportunity we have TODAY to draw near to God. Only preparing for the return of Christ and not the great tribulation is to disregard the significance of Christ’s warnings - See that you are not deceived or frightened. (Mt. 24:4-6)

Since the first coming of Jesus was literal, we should expect His return to be literal as well. He clearly designates the Antichrist in Matthew 24:15 as the sign of His return, which is reiterated by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, acknowledged by Daniel (7:8, 20-22) and revealed again to John in Revelation 13. So, yes, there is a literal Antichrist who will take his seat in a third Jewish temple and demand to be worshipped as God. That event is called the “Abomination of Desolation” spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:15. Will the Antichrist have dominion over the entire world or only the Middle East region? That remains to be seen but we can assume the tentacles of his influence will undoubtedly be global.

In Matthew 24:40-41, when the “Son of Man comes,” one will be "taken" and another "left.” Dispensational proponents teach that the wicked are “taken” and while the righteous are the ones “left.” They use the Parable of the Wheat and Tares in Matthew 13:24-30 as the basis for their interpretation. In that parable, Jesus refers to the consummation of the ages (vs. 39-43), after the 1,000-year reign of Christ and before the new heaven and earth. In the study of Just Like the Days of Noah, we examine an alternative interpretation in keeping with the context of Christ’s timeline. Then you decide for yourself.

Prophecy contains an element of mystery, raising the difficulty level in our interpretation. As we get closer to their fulfillment however, we should be able to recognize the signs we’ve been told to watch for - if we know them. In the meantime, consider interpreting the Scriptures literally rather than figuratively. Go with what is clear rather than dying hills of theoretical speculation. Some theologians teach that the Bible is allegorical and characterized by hyperbole. Some will say the prophecies and promises of Scripture have already been fulfilled. All of these different views make accurate interpretation difficult and fruitful application impossible.

My advice is to get out of the weeds and let the Word of God speak both literally and freely. Keep the Scriptures in their proper context and under the protective umbrella of the Bible as a whole. Some prophetic passages are not meant to be fully understood just as it was impossible to know how Jesus would be from Nazareth, born of a virgin in Bethlehem and be called out of Egypt with a ministry in Galilee. On several fronts, we have to patiently wait and see. But the signs provided by Christ in Matthew 24 are both concise and clear. Study them. Know them. That’s the purpose of their provision.

Jesus was rejected by the Jewish aristocracy because He did not meet their expectations. They expected deliverance from their enemies. He instead delivered them from their sins. The Messiah should have restored Jerusalem to prominence and gathered His elect. He came first as the Lamb of God to be slain for the sins of the world. He will gather His elect and restore Jerusalem to her glory when He returns. And every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Romans 14:11; Phil. 2:9-11) Just so it shall be.

The Church is Jew and Gentile, united by the Holy Spirit as the bride of Jesus Christ to be revealed together with Him when He is revealed. (Ro. 8:19). In the first chapter of Revelation, Jesus is seen standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, which represent seven churches in existence at that time. In chapters 2-3, letters are sent to the churches to prepare them for the “things to come.” Those “things to come” unfold in chapters 4-22. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” The Church of Jesus Christ (Jew and Gentile) is blessed by being prepared. During the tribulation period, Israel is awakened and grafted back into God’s vine (Jesus). All of the prophecies regarding this nation, yet to be fulfilled, will be. But that doesn’t mean Gentile saints are removed.

John was told to, “Come up here,” so he could see earth from heaven, and all that was to unfold. Extrapolating that the Church is being raptured at this juncture is to “add” to the Word of God which we are warned not to do. (Rev. 22:18-19)

There is another reason we can be sure that the entire book of Revelation is for the Church of Jesus Christ - Jew and Gentile. The book opens with Christ standing in the midst of His churches (Rev. 1), to whom He sends letters of preparation prior to the “things to come” (Rev. 2-3), and finally the book concludes with, I Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star (Revelation 22:16). When Revelation opens and closes as a book for the churches of Christ, then we should conclude that everything written in-between is for the churches as well.

Revelation is a book of visions John received to benefit the saints who endure the tribulation period. If studied, they will be blessed by knowing what’s happening as well as why and how long the events will last. Why would God give us information about the tribulation if we weren’t going to be here? To scare us or to prepare us?

Yes, but that doesn't mean the book of Matthew applies only to His Jewish elect. If we separate Bible books by audience, then the entire Old Testament is Jewish along with New Testament books such as Hebrews, 1 and 2 Timothy, James, and Titus. Does God’s Word for the Jewish elect, not apply to the Gentile elect? Do we not all inherit the promises of God together?

Gentiles, by the mercies of Christ, have been united with Israel. We are no longer strangers to the covenant and blessings of God. (Eph. 2:14) Galatians 3:28-29 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 is the passage many use to support a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church. They claim that either the Church or the Holy Spirit presently restrains the Antichrist. And when “he is taken out of the way” the Church is removed from the earth. The Church is a “she,” not a “he,” so this does not refer to the Church being removed. And it wouldn’t be the Holy Spirit being removed because there are elect on earth and God has promised “never to leave or forsake” them. Look closely at that passage and surrounding text. This passage is ONLY saying that the Antichrist is being restrained until the "restrainer" is removed. This could easily refer to an archangel because we read of restraining angels throughout the Bible. Apart from being restrained, the Antichrist would have already emerged, but God's timing is perfect. Thus, His restrainer is presently in place and preventing this.