When I was growing up, I always received warnings from my parents about various issues. I’m sure you did too. “Don’t touch that; you’ll cut yourself. Don’t touch that; you’ll burn yourself. Be very careful using these tools. They’re not toys. Don’t play in the road.” I’ll never forget my mother warning us not to leave our drink unattended because someone could put something in it. I didn’t understand until years later what she was referring to.

Children don’t usually appreciate the many warnings they receive from their parents until they have children of their own. Why do we receive warnings from those who are wiser? Could it be because they love us and don’t wish to see us suffer? Could it be that they know what is ahead if we ignore their warnings? Well, God loves us, and He knows what is ahead.

God warned Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16). He warned the people of Noah’s day that a worldwide flood was coming, and 120 years later, the flood came. All were drowned except eight, Noah and his family. God warned Nineveh through Jonah of judgment if they did not repent. God warned Judah for 345 years to repent or face judgment, and also Israel for 210 years. Neither listened, and both were carried off into slavery.

There is another judgment coming upon the whole world that will be even worse than the flood of Noah’s day. Jesus said of this judgment, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

The book of Revelation, which details the coming seven-year Tribulation, was written in 95 A.D. It has been warning us since that time that Jesus is coming back, and everything in this book will be fulfilled.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

The purpose of the Tribulation is for God to bring the Jewish nation back to Himself through repentance and to know their Messiah, and also to judge the world. Many will come to Christ during that time but will be martyred for doing so.

Twenty-one judgments will come upon the world; seven seal judgments, seven trumpet judgments, and seven bowl judgments.

At this point, I would like to show a very brief preview of what these judgments will be, as shown in the book of Revelation.

Seven Seal Judgments

First Seal (white horse): Antichrist appears (6:1-2)
Second Seal (red horse): World will be at war (6:3-4)
Third Seal (black horse): Worldwide famine (6:5-6)
Fourth Seal (pale horse): ¼ of mankind will die (6:7-8)
Fifth Seal: Martyrs are in Heaven (6:9-11)
Sixth Seal: World devasted and in ruin. (6:12-17)
Seventh Seal: Seven trumpets will be introduced. (8:1-2)

Seven Trumpet Judgments

First Trumpet: 1/3 of earth’s vegetation destroyed by hail, fire and blood. (8:7)
Second Trumpet: 1/3 of the oceans polluted by a fireball from heaven. (8:8-9)
Third Trumpet: 1/3 of fresh water polluted. (8:10-11)
Fourth Trumpet: 1/3 of sun, moon, stars darkened (8:12)
Fifth Trumpet: Agonizing torment by demons (9:1-12)
Sixth Trumpet: 1/3 of mankind slaughtered by demons (9:13-21)
Seventh Trumpet: Announcement of Christ’s Kingdom reign (11:15-19)

Seven Bowl Judgments

First Bowl: Sores upon followers of Antichrist (16:2)
Second Bowl: Seas turned to blood; all marine life dies (16:3)
Third Bowl: All fresh water turned to blood (16:4-7)
Fourth Bowl: Scorching heat from sun (16:8-9)
Fifth Bowl: Darkness and pain upon Antichrist’s kingdom (16:10-11)
Sixth Bowl: Euphrates River dried up; Armageddon (16:12-16)
Seventh Bowl: Earthquakes and hail (16:17-21)

Please turn in your Bibles to the Scripture references and read each of the judgments. I have only provided a skeleton of an explanation for each one. Over one-half of the world’s population will die, and the suffering during that time will be off the charts! You do not want to be here when the Tribulation begins.

Some may say, “I’ll just turn to Christ and get saved.” Actually, if you are in the Tribulation, there is a good chance you will not turn to Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12), and even if you do, you will probably suffer martyrdom.

“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

Our world right now is turned on its head and begging for the judgment of God. Most folks are saying that nothing has happened in two thousand years, so there is no God. The Lord says through Peter:

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’

“They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:3-9 NLT).

Folks, we are right on the brink of Christ’s return. Yes, He has been warning us for a long time. It seems to those who do not know Him that it will never happen, but remember this: every last prophecy of His first coming was fulfilled to the letter. There is no reason to think it will be otherwise for His return.

There is nothing more important than the eternal destination of our souls. Think about this: Do you have regrets in your life? I’m sure you do. Everyone probably has something in their life where they wish they had made a better decision. Now is the time to get it right about where you will spend eternity.

I’m sure the people in Noah’s day thought there would never be a worldwide flood since it had never rained at that time, but the flood came.

Jesus said there has never been anything like the Tribulation and never will be again, but it is coming (Matthew 24:21-22). The world is ripe for judgment, and any day now, that judgment will come.

Remember those regrets in your life? Well, once the Church is removed, you will be in the Tribulation, and there is no turning back. Then you will be forced to serve the Antichrist or be a martyr for Jesus Christ. If you choose the Antichrist, and you very well may, you will suffer hell on earth and then hell in the lake of fire for eternity.

Jesus, the true Christ, loves you very much. Now is the time to face Him as your Savior and Lord rather than your Judge later on.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Regardless of the name over the door, today’s churches have been experiencing a drop in attendance, and even more so since the COVID pandemic. Even the seeker-friendly churches have noticed a dip in attendance.

Governmental mandates caused many of the churches to close their doors during the lockdowns of the COVID episode of 2020-21. Even those who attended church somewhat regularly have found it easier to stay home than return to their church’s services. Now they spend time on the lake, in front of the TV, or elsewhere rather than go to church.

I admire pastors like John MacArthur, who refused to close the doors but instead obeyed the Lord. It’s a shame the majority of other pastors didn’t follow suit. I wonder where the churches would be today if those in the first century decided to “close their doors,” stay home, and let the government dictate when, where and how they were to worship? The churches in the first and second centuries defied the governmental authorities and met anyway, even at the peril of persecution and death.

It’s understandable that churches are concerned their numbers are down, but didn’t Jesus say, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”? (Matthew 18:20). True followers of Christ have always been in the minority. It is recorded in the Gospel of John that many of Jesus’ disciples deserted Him, and so He asked the Twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67).

Jesus also said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:37-39).

There still remains many good Bible-believing, Bible-teaching/preaching pastors throughout America. Unfortunately, they are in the minority, but again, Christ’s followers have always been in the minority. Also, even though apostasy reigns in the pulpits and pews of America, there still remains the true church built upon the Rock. Those few who remain true to the Lord and His Word simply must continue upon the road of:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Many often ask, “How can I make a difference? How can I go to all the nations?” We make a difference one person at a time, beginning in our own backyard; i.e., family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. When we each take care of our own “backyard,” God will do the rest. We must remember that we cannot save anyone, and we are not asked to do so. We are told by the Lord to be His messengers. The Holy Spirit will work on the hearts of those who will hear.

A strong local church is one that loves the Lord Jesus and knows and obeys His Word, regardless of what is happening in the world.

Some say we need a nationwide revival, and that we do. However, there is no mention of a mass revival for the days we are in, except in the Tribulation. Actually, the Lord tells us that instead of a mass revival, there will be a great apostasy in these last days. See 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 4:1-5.

The world will get worse and worse as it draws closer to the Tribulation, and that includes apostasy becoming worse and worse. That doesn’t mean that there can’t be small fires of revival here and there. As a nation, I see no revival happening, but Jesus will still save any who come to Him with a repentant heart, and He will “revive” any of his followers who want to actually live for Him.

When I open my Bible and then look at the world around me, “the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13) must be very close. The return of Jesus for His bride, the Church, is the next event on God’s calendar.

Now speaking specifically to pastors, I’m sure many today who truly want to follow the Lord’s will are very discouraged. As I mentioned earlier, there are still pastors who actually believe the Bible and teach/preach it as the Holy Spirit guides them. However, most pastors today are wolves among sheep or, at best, incompetent. They do not belong in the ministry.

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word!” He also told Titus to “… speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). In other words, pastors should be proclaiming all the Word, not just a few select verses, and they should be proclaiming them accurately.

I’ve always admired how J. Vernon McGee and others teach the entirety of the Bible, verse by verse. Jesus told Peter three times to feed His sheep. Many congregations of sheep are not being fed, or at the least, not properly fed. Instead, they receive tidbits instead of a complete meal. Others offer junk food instead of lasting nourishment. Still others speak a false gospel of lies.

Going back to Jesus’ words again to Peter to feed His sheep, every pastor should ask himself a few simple questions such as:

Am I feeding the Lord’s sheep? Am I serving meals from the entirety of God’s vast array of spiritual food in His precious Word? How is my prayer life? How much time am I spending in preparation of full course meals from the holy Word of God? Am I compromising God’s Word to comply with what the world wants to hear, or staying the course of “thus saith the Lord?”

We are all familiar with the phrase “peer pressure” in conjunction with teenagers, but can the same be true of pastors? It most certainly can and does exist. The Lord says to all who preach and/or teach God’s Word:

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Satan wants all of us, not just pastors, to get our eyes off God and stray from the truth and entirety of the Bible, but those who remain faithful will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” from the Master.

Continue in your faithfulness to Him, and let Him worry about the results.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html