A recent bible study group which I was involved with somehow led to an epiphany on my behalf (something that most of you have probably been on to long ago, but I'm usually "late to the party", so forgive me if this is old news:).
That idea is this:
The world is rapidly heading into a new era - an era in which God reveals Himself to the entire world, and at that point the notion that "God doesn't exist" will be forever destroyed as a doctrine. That's a fascinating development in world history, so lets take a look at the scriptures:
First, we see this process of God revealing Himself to the world - quite possibly begins during the Gog-MaGog invasion of Israel, if, as many of us believe this invasion occurs before the Tribulation.
"...and all the people of the earth will tremble at my presence" (Ezekiel 38:20)
"And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 38:23)
"I will display my glory among the nations" (Ezekiel 39:21)
So you can see in these scriptures that God will reveal Himself to everyone on earth: "all the people of the earth" is pretty comprehensive isn't it? That would include everyone.
During the Tribulation, as the judgments of God begin, we see not only acknowledgement of what is happening on earth, but another reference to everyone on earth being aware of God's presence:
"Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every free slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.'" (Revelation 6:15-17)
So during the Tribulation God makes His presence abundantly clear. We see the same idea in Revelation 11, where the "Two Witnesses" proclaim the Gospel to the entire world - a world who also watches the miraculous resurrection of these same two individuals as they rise three days following their deaths.
God is moving in the entire world into a place where they will have an easy decision to make:
To choose God or to reject God, because denying God's existence will no longer be an option. I see this as an incredible act of mercy, and quite possibly the main aspect of the Tribulation period: In the last days, God completely eliminates the option of "God doesn't exist" - therefore making the decision to accept or to reject God much easier.
By eliminating a third choice - God forces mankind into a binary decision. And even with that obvious choice, people will, incredulously, choose to reject God:
"The rest of mankind...still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and the idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood - idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts." (Revelation 9:20)
"Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done." (Revelation 16:10-11)
"And they cursed God..." (Revelation 16:20)
But note that there is no denial of God in these scriptures. How interesting. People will have a very simple choice - to choose God or to reject God. And one living at that time cannot complain that God didn't reveal Himself, as God will have made His presence in the universe abundantly clear to ALL people, as stated in the scriptures.
It actually seems more than fair. God will take an unrepentant world - a world who has repeatedly denied His presence - and He will give them a second chance. Not just any second chance - but a second chance that involves making such a decision easy because God will reveal Himself, leaving only two options - he will remove any ambiguity from this process.
What more can He do?
But don't forget; God may not wait until the Tribulation to reveal Himself in this way.
If Gog-MaGog begins before the Tribulation, as many of us believe, then we may be here to witness God's initial world-wide declaration of His existence (in these last days) as the scriptures reveal. To add to that, the way things are shaping up in the Middle East, this may not be far off.
As stated before, I don't believe the Bride (aka The Church) will be here for Gog-MaGog. Recall the words of the apostle Paul:
"We live by faith not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7)
15 comments:
Great post, Scott. It's just more evidence that man in his fallen state cannot choose God, even when the evidence smacks him in the face as will occur during the tribulation. Man will just hate God all the more, and it will only be because of His mercy that He removes the veil from some. It's how it's been since the beginning.
Ooo! my thoughts have been provoked.
Maybe like the Egyptians chasing after Israel - surely they MUST have noticed the pillars of fire and cloud - the Shekinah, the visible presence of God. Yet Pharoah STILL defied the God of Israel even after seeing all the plagues.
Sue :)
Totally agree Scott! I think it is interesting that we are already seeing situations arise (before the tribulation) that are forcing people to choose sides. Another gracious act of God; to be forced to examine what we believe now, before the widespread deception of the tribulation takes place! Homosexual marriage has forced many in this country to choose sides - Do you believe what God says about it, or do you believe what man says? (although I realize that not everyone who is against homosexual marriage is a believer). Most importantly, Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to God, or just one of many ways? To side with what God says labels us as narrow-minded and intolerant. It is the price we pay for being on the side of truth. Some, in oppressive countries pay an even greater price.
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Susan
Scott, I love Bible Study. Can you teach us more about the Bible Study every week so we can get more and better understanding, especially the Revelation. Many Thanks from overseas.
oh please...show me the glory! maybe then i can finally dispose of sin in my life. the presence of the Lord burns that stuff right off of you. please show you face heavenly father. i would be satisfied to see your butt like Moses did! i hope to be out of here at rapture...not so sur its pretrib. feeling like it will be but bracing for a mid or post just in case! hurry hurry hurry. its hard to live in such evil times. as for gays...one of my best friend who loves the Lord so much is flaming gay. he struggles constantly but chooses not to act on it becuz its sinful. he is a messianic jew. i try not to judge, not my job. maranatha brothers and sisters. ally
Hello Scott
I hope you don’t mind me posting this on the blog as I don’t have your email address. It is a copy of a comment I sent to a Postie who claims the two witnesses are timed at the end of the seven years. Please correct any errors for me, and delete if necessary,
The Two Olive Trees. Zech 4:2 -14
These are the two anointed ones: In Zechariah’s day, the two anointed ones were Zerubbabel and Joshua, priests who ministered in the Temple. The two witnesses will be Jews who will minister in the re-established Temple with God given powers LIKE those He gave to Moses and Elijah.
The Two Witnesses are given exactly 1260 days (3 ½ years) to witness in Revelation 11:3
They are killed when the (4th)beast of Daniel 7:7; 19-26 rises out of the pit Revelation 11:7 which is the resurrection of the antichrist Revelation13:3 who had died after he had received a deadly wound to the ‘seventh head’ in Revelation 13:3.
Antichrist then makes war on the two witnesses Revelation 11:7-13 who had tormented unbelievers for 1260 days, and kills them. They lay dead in Jerusalem for all the world to see. Revelation 11:8,9.
The world will celebrate their death because of the plagues and droughts (vs10) issued by the two witnesses over the 3 ½ years (1260 days) of their ministry.
After 3 ½ days they rise from the dead Revelation 11:11,12, and the rejoicing stops when, in the same hour, there is a vast earthquake which destroys 1/10th of the city of Jerusalem and its population (v13). The second ‘woe’ is past… the third woe is coming quickly.
The Gentiles nations begin to worship the revived antichrist in Revelation 13:3-10 but the Jews realise the truth and give Glory to God. (They will recognise the Abomination of Desolation and escape (Matt.24:15)
Then the False Prophet, seen as a beast coming out of the earth; enters the scene Revelation 13:11-15 who sets up an image of the beast in the Temple (the AoD).
The antichrist is now given permission to continue for a further 42 months (3 ½ years) v5 to make war on the saints and to overcome them. i.e. Tribulation saints, not Church saints as God said the Church cannot be overcome. (Matt.16:18)
Antichrist is given authority over every tribe, tongue and nation. i.e. the whole world. The False Prophet Rev 13:11-18 gives power to the image of the beast. This is timed exactly half way through the seven years of Daniel 9:24
The first 3 ½ years (1260 days) of the Seventieth Week saw the rise of antichrist at the breaking of the first seal and his demise.
Plus the ministry of Elijah and the two witnesses which ended after 1260 days at the mid-point of the seven years when antichrist revived and came up out of the pit and killed them After which the AoD was set up in the Temple with the False Prophet active. The Great Tribulation begins.
The timing of the ministry of the two witnesses needs, must, have begun with the start of the first 3 ½ years (1260 days) of the seven years, and ended at the middle of the 70th Week, with a further 3 ½ years (42 months) left to run.
The Tribulation Saints respond to the gospel of the kingdom preached by the resurrected Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6) the two witnesses; the testimony of those who become saved and ‘the Gospel Angel’.Rev.14:6.
Every blessing and what do you think?
Sue :|
Scott, I have been thinking the same lately regarding the presence of God during the tribulation. One of the most beautiful verses of God's new convenant with His people are found in Hosea.
Hosea 2:19-20
"I will betroth you to Me forever;
yes. I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice,
In lovingkindness and mercy;
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
And you shall know the Lord.
~gearedup2go
Scott, I read your blog every day, and I am so blessed by your insights! You said: "To choose God or to reject God, because denying God's existence will no longer be an option. I see this as an incredible act of mercy, and quite possibly the main aspect of the Tribulation period..." Amen! Amen! God is so good!!!! Remember when Jesus told Thomas, "You believe because you have seen me - blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed." That's us, the Bride, in the age of grace!!!! But it's such a comfort to see that God's mercy is still at work after the rapture, and people will still have the chance to choose Him, even if they have to be martyred. Please keep up the good work!
Sue,
I agree with your points and before responding I double checked with Fruchtenbaum and he also uses the reference to Zechariah (in his case 4:11-14). He states basically the same and he also males the point that the two witnesses death comes after the "resurrection" of the AC...Add to that the fact that because of their death by the AC - God creates an earthquake that destroys one tenth of Jerusalem.
Gearedup - I agree - I LOVE that passage for the same reasons as you.
Anon - I agree and I plan on doing more of this kind of thing, especially on relatively slow news days.
Susan - well stated and John 17:17 a perfect reference.
hey scott don't forget the 7 thunders. which I believe maybe another series of judgments are the lord speaking nations presents for the unknown
sorry for the bad spelling that's the lord speaking making his presence known
Scott,
Ever since I saw Bill Cloud's perspective of the "cyclical", recurring "Genesis 3" theme throughout the Bible, on Perry Stone's "MannaFest", I have begun to see so many things falling into that same theme!
As you "...note that there is no denial of God in these scriptures...", I agree, "no denial of God", but what kind of "god"... - who do they think He is?!?
I am convinced that this is the final "strong delusion', the "New Age" Illuminati belief that YHVH is the evil deceiver who has been "holding us back" from our evolutionary process of "Ascending" [Satan's Gen. 3:5 lie.]!!
The A/C will maintain to the world that if we will resist His "miraculous illusions" of temporary "powers" and "judgments" on the earth, we can "ascend" with Lucifer and "become as god"...
This IS the theme that has been in all the old, 'classic' SciFi novel, and IS in all the latest SciFi - NewAge - Transcendent - Mutant - Superpowers movies...
We are 'Destined' to Ascend!!!
DrNo
You bring up an interesting point. "The A/C will maintain to the world that if we will resist His 'miraculous illusions' of temporary 'powers' and 'judgments' on the earth, we can 'ascend' with Lucifer and become as god' ----> is an interesting premise.
A friend of mine (also a prophecy watcher) used to contend this as well - his take was as follows:
The AC will tell people (well, he will lie to people) by telling them that once the trib began, it is "Too LATE" for them to align with God/Jesus. Their fate is sealed - and now their ONLY choice is to align with them, against the God of the Bible and can "win" against God and then "ascend" as a "god" after the final battle.
Thats an interesting premise - consistent with what you are saying.
Food for thought anyway
Scott,
For the same reason as you have been now noting -It is no longer a conspiracy, it is an open "agenda", I am firmly convinced, from my studies of the Illuminati, that this is key to understanding the motivation behind this "agenda"!
Genesis 3:1-5 IS the 1st slanderous Lie [creating doubt]! "God cannot be trusted... He has ulterior motives... He is holding out on you... He doesn't want you to 'ascend' and become as gods!!
Do a search [and a little research] on "Albert Pike's Satanic Vision of 3 World Wars"
The Illuminati's core belief is that the "Illuminating One", Lucifer -which means "the light bearer", is the true god and that YHVH [AKA Jesus and Allah] is the deceiver, holding us back from our next evolutionary step.
It will only be through a most horrific judgment of a final, 3rd world war, Jews, Christians, and Muslims against each other, that the deceived masses of humanity will find that their 'false gods' YHVH of the Jews, Jesus of the Christian, and Allah of the Muslims, did not show up to deliver us, and then Lucifer will reveal himself as the true "Deliverer", messiah and god!!
The New Agers also believe the Genesis 3 lie, that it is the "negative vibes" of the "fundamentalists" of the 3 major religions that are holding us back from our "destiny", and that the 'living planet' itself will "expel" us fundamentalists out into space so the next evolutionary step can begin... [see Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" {whom I believe was Illuminati}]!!
PS. It all fits the Biblical pattern, and... I am SO looking forward to being "expelled" into space!!!
;D
Hart - no one spells worse that I do :)....I always have to go back and correct misspellings even with spell-check.
DrNo - I completely agree. They are behind most of what we see today, including the wars, the uprisings, the collapse of the dollar, the push for a single currency (via SDRs initially) and a world-governance.
And you are also right (IMO) in that they don't even bother to hide the agenda anymore - which to me is one of the most shocking and disturbing elements of this whole thing.
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