As both Texans and many others are aware, today (Aug. 6) - under the appelation of "The Response: a call to prayer for a nation in crisis" - has been designated a day of prayer and fasting by Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Reaction has ranged from enthusiastic support to political cynicism and open opposition - objective discernment being little required to anticipate the negative response of various liberally oriented groups and associations. Thus the following:
In a recent radio broadcast, Pastor Erwin Lutzer of Chicago's Moody Church - in our estimation, one of today's premier preachers - shared his conviction of an approaching hostility toward the faith whereby, in America itself, the preaching of the Gospel will be attended by "great suffering."
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As previously noted, one of the difficulties frequently attendant prophetic pursuit lies in the not infrequent appeal of "insight" more reflective of predetermined surmise than biblical intent. Thus, for example, much present-day teaching concerning Jesus' reply to his Disciples' inquiry: "What shall be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matt. 24:3).
As strange as it may seem, no small irony obtains at this point in that few portions of biblical prophecy are of a more organized, detailed and clearly stated character than that of our Lord's response to the Disciples' question. What, in actuality, did Jesus say?
BASIC OVERVIEW (Matt. 24:4-14)
The end time world, Jesus advised, will witness a series of progressively worsening trends and events. Beginning with the turmoil engendered by religious charlatans who, in preying upon the anxieties of an increasingly apprehensive world, claim to be the returned Christ (Matt. 24:4-5), the intensifying chaos and confusion will be further compounded by political violence, famine and geophysical havoc (earthquakes, etc., vv. 6,7).
Despite all such, the believing community is exhorted to hold steady: "See that you are not frightened, for those things must come to pass" (vs. 6). Not only so, but times of greater desperation are yet to come. Indeed, "all these things are but the beginning of birth pangs" (vs. 8).
The need for stability will become increasingly evidenced in that the Body of Christ will itself be "hated by all nations." Combined with "the increase of wickedness" (NIV), "many will fall away...betray one another...and hate one another." Given such, "most people's love will grow cold" as violence and persecution increasingly characterize the times (vv. 9-12); here note Rev. 20:4-6 in which "the first resurrection" - itself seen by the Pre-tribulation Rapture school as concurrent to Christ's return - includes those martyred for resisting the Antichrist.
Reiterating his warning of verse 5, Jesus again stresses the fact that "many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many" (vs. 11 - an emphasis augmented in the latter portion of his Discourse by the observation that "were it possible, the very elect should be deceived;" vs. 24).
That the believing Church will yet proclaim the "gospel of the kingdom in all the world for a witness to all nations" within such setting becomes particularly significant, for...
"Then shall the end come" (vs. 14).
"THEREFORE..."
"When you therefore (i.e., in light of the foregoing) shall see..." (Matt. 24:15). Simply put: That which follows is designed to grant additional insight into that which has just been shared. As with the first segment of Christ's Discourse (vv. 4-14), and in keeping with the concordance of his reply to the Disciples' question, reference throughout his dissertation is to the believing Church as represented by the Twelve. Given such, "When you therefore shall see..."
The preceding, of course, effectively counters the claim of those adherent the Pre-tribulation Rapture position that the Holy Spirit is withdrawn from the earth in conjunction with the "Rapture of the Church." Given the fact that conversion is a work of the Holy Spirit, this unavoidably places one in the untenable position of explaining the great numbers purportedly being won to Christ during the ensuing Tribulation apart from the presence and dynamic of the Spirit. Might it be that biblical consistency leaves little option to an alternate persuasion at this point? Permit us to so suggest.
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In the further development of Christ's introductory outline (vv. 4-14), the spurious "Christs" to which he refers in verse 5 finds climactic expression in that ultimate false claimant to deity, the "Abomination of Desolation" (more commonly identified in current terminology as the Antichrist; vs, 15). Upon this evil personage's ascent to earthly rule, "great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world" ensues. Indeed, "unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short." Having established the foregoing, Jesus then proceeds to the focal point of the Disciples' question.
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days" (and subsequent phenomena of darkened skies and terrifying celestial phenomena), "the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky...and He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect (again, the Church) from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other" (vv. 29-31).
Thus the "sign of [Christ's] coming" concerning which the Disciples had made inquiry in Matthew 24:3. (Time and space here preclude our sharing of Paul's further affirmation as to our Lord's return after the the final apostasy and emergence of the "man of lawlessness...the son of destruction" (again, the Antichrist; II Thess. 2:1-5).
At the same time, a concluding word of encouragement:
"He who endures to the end will be saved" (i.e., delivered; Matt. 24:13).
Blessings!
Burl Ratzsch
