Left Behind

“Jehovah said unto my Lord, Sit at My right hand, until I place Your enemies as Your footstool.  Jehovah shall send the staff of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies.  Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, You have the dew of Your youth.  Jehovah has sworn and will not regret it: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.  The Lord at Your right hand shall shatter kings in the day of His wrath.  He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill them with dead bodies; He shall greatly shatter the heads over the earth.  He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; therefore He shall lift up the head.”  Psalms 110

Over the years I have seen many different takes on what happens when the Rapture occurs and during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), better known as the Great Tribulation or Tribulation.  There has been many fanciful charts made up lining all of the catastrophes and judgments from God throughout a seven year period.  Numerous books have been written on the subject, even movies made depicting crisis after crisis after Christians have been Raptured.  Yet with the vast majority of these books, movies, studies and articles, while interesting, I have a large problem with.

“Remember this, and be a man; refresh the memory of your heart, you who rebel.  Remember the former things from a long time ago; for I am the Mighty God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one else is like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from antiquity things which are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes my counsel from a distant land. Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have formed it; I will also do it.  Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness;  I bring near My righteousness. It shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not delay. And I will place salvation in Zion, My glory for Israel.”  Isaiah 46:8-13

 

“But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”  Daniel 12:4

 

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  2nd Corinthians 5:7

Some are clearly wrong in terms of accurate biblical prophecy, others make the assumption of devastation right from the beginning, including an immediate mark of the beast system that is up and operating.  Others separate judgments where they are lumped together and most assume to simply have it all charted out.  The Holy Scriptures declares what will take place throughout Revelation and numerous other books of the Bible, but for man to declare he can make known exactly how these things are going to play out is wrong.

The take on this book or article is to provide a warning to those who have been Left Behind.  A terrible thing has happened to the world, God has removed the restraining of the Holy Spirit, ALL true Christians at the moment the Rapture occurred ARE GONE, at that time there is only darkness on the earth.  How many people who are suddenly so startled at what has occurred can barely contain the shaking of their hands and the knocking of their knees!  This is the mindset that a person should have who has been Left Behind!

So exactly what is going to take place and when?  While I certainly have many speculations on what might be technology that would allow for the mark of the beast to prevent man from buying and selling without it, how could I declare what it will be?  I don’t know, preciously the same when it comes to exactly how God’s judgment against mankind plays out and the timeframes for those ordeals.  What I do know is that most people will die throughout the Great Tribulation. 

I have seen an article about numbers computed by a friend who showed that it appears 90% of all humanity will die during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7) or 70th Week (Dan. 9:26-27), better known as the Great Tribulation, with Israel this will be lower at 2/3 of all Jewish people, with 1/3 remaining at the time of Christ’s Second Coming. 

“And it shall come to pass in all the land, says Jehovah, that two parts in it shall be cut off and perish, but the third shall be left in it.  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and I will refine them as silver is refined. And I will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, It is My people, and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.”  Zechariah 13:8-9

 

“I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land where they dwell, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. And you will know that I am Jehovah.”  Ezekiel 20:38

So if you are looking for a roadmap of events during the Great Tribulation, it would make no difference if someone could preciously declare exactly what/when/how/where the judgments would take place.  You need to be focusing on the ‘why’ and understand that God’s hand of mercy STILL extends to you, if you are willing to hear and obey, even unto death.  Even with such a roadmap, there is a 90% chance that you would not make it to the end, even then what are your odds of making it to the end without accepting the mark of the beast?  For those who accept the mark of the beast or worship the beast or his image are UNABLE to accept Salvation and be Saved, therefore they will ultimately be cast into the Lake of Fire.  I would dare say that your chance of making it to the end, unscathed, is near zero, if not just numerically impossible.  So verses from the Holy Scriptures about what will occur are as follows:

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be kept safe alive; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.  Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ; or, There; do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.  Behold, I have told you beforehand.”  Matthew 24:22-25

 

“And I heard the angel of the waters saying: You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things, for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, for they are deserving.  And I heard another out of the altar saying, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”  Revelation 16:5-7

 

“Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.  And it shall be that he who flees from the sound of terror shall fall into the pit. And he who comes up out of the midst of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For the windows from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth quake.  The earth has been badly broken! The earth is split open and cracked through! The earth has shaken greatly and is tottering!  Like a drunkard the earth is staggering back and forth! And it sways to and fro like a hut! Its transgressions have been heavy upon it; and it shall fall and not rise again.”  Isaiah 24:17-20

 

“And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth; to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; also, do homage to Him who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and springs of water.  And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual perversion.  And a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone does homage to the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His anger. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who do homage to the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.  Here is the perseverance of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.  And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow with them.”  Revelation 14:6-13

 

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, out of the things which were written in the books.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works.  And Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”  Revelation 20:12-15

If you are reading this and you have been Left Behind, you must quickly understand that if you are seeking answers, you must turn to your Creator and His Son, Jesus Christ.  You must repent and believe into Jesus Christ, accepting God’s free gift of Salvation, understanding that you will lay down your life for the Lord Jesus Christ, but in doing so you will save your life.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of Me will save it.”  Luke 9:24

 

“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life on account of Me will find it.”  Matthew 10:39

This is a VERY serious matter, one of utmost importance.  There is no more serious matter than the eternal destination of each soul and every man, every woman, every child of understanding age, must equally consider the importance and understand that they are lost, destined to and deserving of Hell and without Christ, who died on the Cross for your sins, Salvation is impossible.  There is no other way to Heaven than through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  If you are reading this and already in the midst of the Great Tribulation than understand at the moment the Rapture happened there were no more Christians left on the earth, despite the fact there are numerous people left who call themselves Christians, but those who truly knew Jesus Christ are gone. 

Do not seek after the knowledge of those who were Left Behind, they didn’t get it right the first time, seek rather after the Most High and He will be found.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many entering in through it.  Because narrow is the gate and distressing is the way which leads unto life, and there are few who find it.  Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them from their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree produces excellent fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit.  A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, nor is a corrupt tree able to produce excellent fruit.  Every tree that does not produce excellent fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore from their fruits you will know them.  Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many works of power in Your name?  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work out lawlessness!”  Matthew 7:13-23

“Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”  Isaiah 55:6-7

Time is running out, do not delay!

“And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth; to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; also, do homage to Him who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and springs of water.”  Revelation 14:7

Amen!