25. Tribulation.Mid-point God's Purpose for Man

Chapter 25
The "Great" Tribulation Period
Mid-Point

 The Abomination of Desolation

When the anti-christ comes into full power at mid-tribulation point, he will turn against everyone - especially the Jews. He will claim himself as god and command that all people bow down and worship him and him alone. Thus, his exposure as the anti-christ will be revealed. Having the support of the false prophet, the Jews, as well as the rest of the world will be horrified at their deception. This mid-point time is called "The Abomination of Desolation."

Dan 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate. Even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.

Matt 24:15 Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand.)

The anti-christ will then stop all sacrifices to God in the temple and direct all worship toward himself, bringing the world into total chaos.

Dan 8:11-14 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking. "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?" And he said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.

The exposing of the anti-christ marks the mid-point of the Tribulation period - known as the "Great Tribulation." It is at this point of time that God begins to pour out His judgment upon the earth.

Dan 12:1 At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.

The Mark of the Beast

Because the world has been priming itself for a one-world government for decades, the one-world money system will already be in place. The dollar bill, along with other countries currencies will be obsolete. Will this new currency begin with a type of credit/debit card? Will it be matched with fingerprints, or will it be a chip on the forehead or on the hand? We can only speculate. Right now, all those things are available for financial exchanges. In addition, chips designated as finding devices have been implanted in some animals and infants as experiment.

What about the Mark of the Beast? Is it then an implanted computer chip on the hand or in the forehead? That, by far, is simply speculation. For decades, people have been trying to figure out who or what this Mark of the Beast is. Know this: Any mark that people would take of the Mark of the Beast would be a conscious choice, marking their loyalties to the anti-christ. It will be a badge that one takes willingly knowing their loyalties go to the anti-christ - a seal in which everyone will know.

Just as Christians have the protection of the seal of God upon them (the Holy Spirit), unbelievers who consciously choose to take the seal (or mark) of the anti-christ, will do it willingly, denying any loyalties to Christ. Thus, a Christian never has to fear any chip or any other possible ideas that people have come up with, to who or what they think the Mark of the Beast is. When it comes, everyone will know. Christians, just remain faithful to Christ and you never have to fear.

Since the Mark of the Beast will not come until after the Tribulation begins, all Christians will have left the earth. Thus, any unbeliever who would come to Christ during the Tribulation Period would have to consciously turn and deny Christ to take the Mark of the Beast. When they do it, they will know it. True Christians never have to worry about accidentally taking this mark. It cannot be given unknowingly or without understanding. It is a seal to whom one would consciously become loyal to.

The false prophet - the world's religious leader - will stand with the anti-christ to try to force people to worship him. His purpose: Deceive and force all humans to bow down to the anti-christ and take the Mark of the Beast. This mark will not be the kind of chip used today in animals or infants, or any print used at grocery stores or financial institutions. That mark will be distinctive designating loyalties to the anti-christ.

Rev 13:16-18 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understand calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man - his number is 666.

It is a waste of time trying to figure out who 666 is. When he exposes himself, everyone on earth will know.

At the destined time, it will take this mark to buy and sell. Again, however, it will be the Mark of the Beast, not a chip or finger print as we see today. Obviously, our technologies have developed to where the anti-christ can now take over, just as scripture prophecies.

Sadly, to receive the Mark of the Beast ultimately mean to be condemned to the Lake of Fire to join the anti-christ, the false prophet, and Satan for all eternity. Always remember, everyone's eternity will be spent to whom he or she has been loyal to.

Rev 19:20-21 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. NKJV

The question arises: How far will the Tribulation spread? Will this include every person on earth? How will that affect the world's financial and trade system. That answer is uncertain, but with having a one-world government and money system, controlled by the anti-christ, it seems likely that this mark will include everyone on earth.

The Sixth Seal

When the sixth seal is opened, the anti-christ will go on a rampage for the death of all Jews. These days will be the darkest ever in the history of the world - especially for the Jews.

Rev 6:12-17 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a might wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 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 hid 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?

Acts 2:19-20 I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath. Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

The scattering of the Jews

The Jews in Jerusalem, out of fear of the anti-christ will scatter and flee the city into the mountains to escape the wrath that is taking place in the city.

Matt 24:15-21 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains...but woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days. And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. Forthen there will be great tribulation, such as has not been sinced the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Another rapture

Another rapture will then take place - the rapture of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists. Just like the Rapture of the Church, the 144,000 will, in the twinkling of an eye, be raptured into heaven to spend an eternity with Christ.

Rev 12:5b And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Jer 30:4-7 And these are the words that that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling of fear and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child, wherefore do I see man with his hands on his loins, and a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! For that day is great so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

As brought out in earlier chapters, there are five raptures listed in Scripture. Four out of the five raptures have now occured.

1. Enoch (Old Covenant)
2. Elijah (Old Covenant)
3. The Church (New Covenant)
4. The 144,000 Jewish evangelists (Tribulation)

One more thing will happen at the mid-point of the Tribulation Period. Satan will be permanently cast out of heaven. He has been allowed in heaven all of this time. Michael and his angels will fight with Satan and his angels and they will be cast out of heaven permanently. As such, Satan will work through the anti-christ to persecute the Jews intensely - seeking to kill all of them. This will all happen at the time of the Abomination of Desolation.

Rev 12:7-9 And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

This first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period is also referred to as Jacob's trouble.

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