Keep Looking Up!

This is part of a series of articles that is being published with the intention of being included in an upcoming book to be published in 2023.  These articles are written as useful to all prior to the Rapture, but also specifically as tidbits of information for those who will have been Left Behind to help aid in their plight.  For as we are to always be ‘watching and ready’ (Luke 12:37-40), it is quite possible that those individuals whom we walk past right now might very well be the ones who will have been Left Behind.

 

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”  1st John 3:1-3

 

There is/was an article posted on All Will Stand’s website entitled Think on These Things that exhort/ed Believers to keep focused on:

 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; think on these things.”  Philippians 4:8

 

This was addressed to the news that had been getting worse and worse, as well as economic problems that were starting to show real problems at nearly the end of 2022.  Yet on my heart to include as a short chapter in The Tribulation Handbook was to try and touch on this topic during what will be the most difficult time period in human history.

 

At least when the Flood happened (Genesis 6-8) there was very little time for humanity to live under those conditions, the Flood happened and they were simply swept away, with Noah and his family being the sole survivors, 8 souls in all (1 Pet. 3:20). 

 

Now in many ways the situation is better, after all for those who get Saved during this time period, they can look forward to eternity with their Creator.  Though the short term mindset of the body and the current life is certainly nothing to look forward to, the long term mindset is glorious and splendid beyond anything that anyone can imagine.

 

“But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it dawned upon the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  1st Corinthians 2:9

 

So the point was made available to those who read the original article about our mindset being proper according to the Word of God.  So what happens when you find yourself Left Behind and smack dab in the midst of the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), better known as the Tribulation?

 

While it is impossible to know exactly the extreme of the events that will be taking place, one can surmise from the Bible that things will get progressively worse quite quickly during the seven year time period that started when people went missing.  So make sure you have that date memorized or jotted down.

 

For while the Rapture was a mystery, unknown to any when it would happen, the Second Coming of Christ is not.  Simply add seven years from the date people went missing. 

 

After 3 1/2 years the Antichrist will have full power, given to him by Satan, and for those 42 months he will be able to overcome those who are Saved.  In other words, death is at hand.

 

So the further you get into the Tribulation the more of God’s judgments are going to appear, the more the antichrist world government system (Babylon) is going to take over, the more things are going to get crazy, the worse the news is going to get.  In fact the Bible describes the times eventually getting to this point:

 

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”  Luke 21:25-26

 

 

“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”  Revelation 6:15-17

 

Eventually at some point during the Tribulation, the mark of the beast is going to be unveiled and that is going to make covid look like a walk in the park.  There will eventually be no easy skirting of such a system that will be in place.  In fact, failure to comply will result in not only a loss of whatever normalcy can be garnered, but also a loss of life afterwards. 

 

These killings of numerous people will not be something that a lid will be able to be kept on.  So the news will be horrendous and I would imagine that it would seem as though it is nearly impossible to not have anxiety and be troubled by such news.  Even as this is being written in late 2022, nearly 2023, imagine being told that you could purchase no more food for one month and you only had what was in your home at the current.  That certainly would be troubling, a topic for discussion and something that for most, unless you were well stocked, would be a focal point.

 

So what could one do?  Will fault be found if you mind strays?  Well certainly as a Believer for many years, I can testify that while our focus is to be on such things as the original article speaks about and the listed verse above, this can be much more difficult than easy. 

 

Life is full of troubles and one could read through the Psalms to see how David was troubled, but yet then he was reminded of the goodness of God, our Creator, and how He cares for us.  Our confidence is in Him.

 

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be of sound mind and calm in your prayers.”  1st Peter 4:7

 

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares about you.”  1st Peter 5:6-7

 

So likely when it is possible to do so, when the mind isn’t racing, on one’s knees before your Creator, in prayer, God, who alone can give such peace (John 14:27), will provide what is necessary in order to calmly continue on until it is time to go Home with the Lord.  Also recall and remind yourself of the alternative, which is the Lake of Fire for all eternity (Revelation 20:11-15) for those who refuse to repent towards God and by faith believe into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Acts 20:21). 

 

So to help aid in a time where there will be no long term Believers who could have grown enough in maturity to full comprehend these things, read and memorize some of the verses that are included at the end of this chapter.

 

Helpful Verses to Memorize:

 

“And do not fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who has power to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”  Matthew 10:28 

(Gehenna is the same word as Hell.)

 

“And when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”  Luke 21:28

 

(Jewish people, not quite Saved yet, those who do not have the mark of the beast and have not worshipped the image of the beast.  The “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), while includes the judgment of the ungodly of the world, as well as God’s great redeeming hand through Jesus Christ to be merciful and save those whom will repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15) also is really about the redemption of God’s chosen people, Israel.  Yet such a verse can have implications for all Gentiles as well, as thru death comes eternal life, essentially redemption from these corrupt bodies to everlasting ones (1 Cor. 15:42).)

 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalms 23:4

 

“We are confident, yes, preferring rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”  2nd Corinthians 5:8

 

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:4

 

Keep Looking Up!