Sometimes questions arise during conversations that just have to have answers.
Here’s a few of those questions that I asked Pastor Jared Carlson, Senior Pastor at GracePoint Church in New Brighton. My questions are followed by his answers in red.
Me: “When people say, ‘Jesus is coming back soon, so be ready,’ are they referring to the rapture or when Jesus sets up His kingdom on earth?”
There are several different “camps” Bible-believing Christians fall into when it comes to the last things – what we refer to as, eschatology. That being said, we often maintain unity on some very basic, but important things, like the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The New Testament is so clear on the matter of Christ’s Second Coming, that 1-out-of-every-30 verses makes some kind of reference to this return.
I believe the rapture will occur before Jesus sets up his kingdom on earth. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:10 that “The day of the Lord will come like a thief…” Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that we will be “caught up together” in the clouds to meet the Lord. Even Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”
The Bible points us forward to a day that is on the horizon. We may not know how or when things are going to end, but one thing is certain, we know WHO is going to end it. Jesus is coming back, judgment will be executed, and the righteous in Christ will reign with him forever.
Me: “If someone ignores or rejects Jesus and is left behind when the rapture happens, will they have a chance to receive Jesus during the tribulation, or is that opportunity for only those who have not heard the gospel?”
One of the redeeming features of the tribulation is its purifying effect for those who accept and believe in Jesus after the rapture. What we do know from Revelation is that the judgments of God are going to cause two responses: further rejection (Revelation 9:20-21) or repentance and belief (Revelation 7, especially verse 14). We can only imagine what a powerful witness it will be when countless numbers of people simply disappear from the face of the earth. There will be hundreds of thousands, perhaps hundreds of millions, who will have heard the gospel – understood its great truths – but rejected it. The rapture will be like an evangelistic tool that calls these hearts to new life, and their newfound faith will be tested and proved throughout the seven-years of tribulation.
Me: “How do we stand firm in our faith in such evil and chaotic times?”
We must keep looking to Jesus. As Peter writes to a church already in the midst of such conflict and hardship: “Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13) We must plant ourselves next to the gospel by remaining vigilant to our reading and studying of God’s Word.
As I encounter the ongoing struggles of our day, I am reminded and encouraged to know that God is on His throne. In addition to this, I am encouraged as I read my Bible to remember that this is exactly how it’s supposed to be. God will call us to suffer because it was through suffering that His Son gave us everlasting life. Things are not supposed to get easier; if anything, things are only going to get harder. But we don’t live for now, we live for tomorrow! As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This is why we must keep looking to Jesus. He is our example for how to walk in evil days, and he is our hope for what will rescue us from evil.
Me: “What is the chronological order of end time events?”
When we think about the order of end time events, it’s important to always start with what Jesus said: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36). From my perspective, and my particular view of eschatology, I believe that Jesus could return at any moment. When we read through the “signs” of his appear in Matthew 24, almost everything has been marked. We are living in very exciting times!
I believe the first thing to happen is the rapture of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:52). Soon after this occurs, the Antichrist will rapidly rise in influence through a false promise of peace (Revelation 13:1-4). For seven years, the tribulation will occur in which God’s judgment lands upon sinful humanity.
At the midway point of the tribulation, the Antichrist will break his promise of peace – especially with Israel – and he will set himself up as the focal point of worship. This will all happen with the support of a false prophet who will rally the nations around a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:11-15). At the end of the tribulation, the great battle of Armageddon will take place (Revelation 19:11-21). At this time the Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). Christ will then judge the people of the nations who survived the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked (Matthew 25:31-46).
For the next 1,000 years, Satan will be bound in a bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3). During this time, Jesus will establish what we refer to as the “millennial” kingdom (Revelation 20). At the end of this time, the last battle will occur when Satan is released from his prison – he will once again deceive the nations, but the Lord will quickly defeat him (Revelation 20:7-10). Satan will once and for all be cast into the lake of fire – never to reappear. The Great White Throne Judgment will bring final justice against all those who lived in rebellion against their Creator, and wicked humanity will also be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). The final act of God is the glorious re-creation of the heavens and the earth (Revelation 21-22).
By the way, Pastor Jared is my pastor. He is a godly man who backs his preaching with Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit.
I hope you find the questions and his answers in this blog helpful.