Covenant Presbyterian Church

Sunday morning Foundations Classes
God's Positioning System (GPS)

Angels/Demons & the End Times -- Lesson #7

(press or click on a slide to enlarge it)

scroll down for earlier lessons in descending order

You can click on earlier lesson by date to the right "Blog Archive".

(Lessons are posted once a week on Friday afternoon

For Lesson #1 click on 5/31 at Blog Archive.

Is “the Rapture” a literal biblical event or just symbolism? Christians cannot agree on when the Rapture occurs, or even if it does occur. Why are there different views? People of equal intellect can come to different conclusions. The principle reason, as I see it, is everyone sees things from their own perspective, and there are a lot of things, especially in today’s world, that influence our perception of things—the History channel for one and even the evening news can pique our interest and stir an opinion—even fake news can affect how we see things.  

This is not intended as an in-depth scholarly theological, seminary level study. It will give an adequate level of insight into the main views. I have to restrain myself from adding too much information. Bible verses are added where needed. Questions are always welcome via email (available in the church directory). Nevertheless, I believe setting the stage is important to every study, this one is no different. 

Anyone who watched the “Monk” TV series—reruns are still being aired—will know what I mean.  Monk sees details and clues not readily apparent to others; he “connects the dots” in a way that isn’t all that apparent to others. I believe the same is true for the Book of Revelation, in that the dots aren’t always equally apparent to everyone. That is why I read the different views and don’t just lock onto one and ignore the others. This is not an easy straight forward study, but I think it’s worth the effort. 

I participated in two lecture series on the Book of Revelation—one advocated a Mid-tribulation rapture; the other was Amillennial rejecting the rapture and professing the millennium as symbolism and not a literal 1,000 years—both offered Bible verses to support their views. So, who was right? Both were seminary educated and well versed in the Bible. With a lot of unanswered questions, it wasn’t all that “cut-and-dried”. At the end of each series, the presenter admitted he could be wrong. Nevertheless, all of which is worth discussing for a number of reasons, especially if those events began to unfold in our own lifetime. Are they starting to do so?

When it comes to the End Times and the Rapture, and even the Millennium, not all Christian agree…. both in the pulpit and in the pews. Prior to WWII some prominent Americans, like Charles Lindbergh, did not see Nazi Germany as a threat to world peace. President Roosevelt saw them as an imminent threat; most Americans did not. BUT, as circumstances unfolded, it became apparent to everyone that they were a threat to liberty. I believe the same will be true of the End Times. As events unfold, the biblical truth will become equally apparent to everyone. It may be next week or a hundred years from now. It’s God’s timetable. 

When there was only one Christian Church, during the first thousand years when theological disagreements arose—and they did—the Church called a formal council to discuss, debate, pray, decide and defend what was biblical versus what wasn’t. This and the next slide show the key doctrinal issues that the Church defended against heresies that arose within the Church. You can click on the slide to enlarge it. Hit esc to return to normal view. 

We no longer have the means of speaking with one voice as “the Church”. So everyone is free to decide for themselves, and they do, and the world-wide-web is awash with opinions. And there are no consequences for being wrong. Most End Times’ disagreements are not doctrinal in nature. We can presume that one view will be closer to the truth than the others, but the differences between them are the result of interpretation—and not doctrinal or heretical. Some may take exception to that, but that’s okay.

After the great doctrinal debates were settled, the Church over time split over what were considered major differences. The first major split was in 1054 AD—the Great Schism—between East (Orthodox) and West (Roman). The second major split was in 16th century Europe between Protestant and Catholic. There is no evidence that the issue of when or even if the Rapture occurred was debated in the Church during that entire time, or even came up until the 1800s. Some in the early Church may have written about it, but it was never debated as a doctrinal issue. Many believed the events in Revelation addressed the Roman Empire, and Nero who persecuted Christians was viewed as the Antichrist. The point being…….(next slide)

There are strong opinions, with scriptural texts for each view, and also a lot of personal perspectives thrown in. And I can say the same for my own opinion. We can be certain one view is closer to the truth than the others, but that will only be apparent to everyone when events begin to unfold in the evening news. 

Everyone will draw his or her own conclusions. I lean toward one of the views over the others, but am I 100% certain? No. Why? Because certain the biblical scholars that I respect express different views. So, who’s wrong? A question that I’m sure many Christians ask themselves. Most likely many reading this have already formed an opinion and are expecting me to substantiate it. I am not trying to change anyone’s mind, just help put it into perspective of the larger picture by showing all the views. 

The chart shows four different views. Only #2 professes a pre-tribulation rapture. #3 is generally not mentioned. #1, #2 & #4 are the three commonly stated views. Before we delve into them let’s see what Jesus tells us in Luke 17:26-35 (next 2 slide)…

Luke 17:26-35: Jesus seems to be highlighting the Tribulation and God’s wrath on a sinful, unrepentant world, using Noah’s flood and Lot’s rescue from Sodom’s destruction as examples of God’s wrath on a sinful world; a world where people reject Him and are not willing to repent of their sins. (Rev. 15 & 16, God’s wrath poured out).   

Many associate v.34-35 with the Rapture. These verses served as a warning of pending doom, just as with Noah and Lot. Putting it into perspective: the people were snatched away, not during the time of doom, but before God’s wrath was poured out, which seems to fit the Pre-tribulation and Mid-tribulation timing of the Rapture. It certainly sounds like a literal Rapture, but, yes, others have drawn different conclusions. So, we will proceed to the other views. 

This slide provides a closeup of two of the four commonly held views. Post-tribulation does not include the rapture, and Pre-tribulation shows the rapture occurring prior to the seven-year tribulation. Both of which show the last judgment when Christ returns for His Church and to judge the sinful world.  

This shows the Postmillennial and Amillennial views, both exclude the rapture, but highlight the Second Coming of Christ and last judgment. Amillennnial, as its name indicates, does not profess a literal 1,000-year millennium seeing it as a symbolic representation of the church age. Amillennialism emphasizes that much of the Book of Revelation is symbolism and not literal and should be viewed from that perspective. 

The Tribulation marks a seven-year period when the Antichrist reigns and rules. Some Bible scholars teach it is a time when God will complete his discipline of Israel and bring His final judgment upon a sinful world. They believed it even before there was the State of Israel created in 1948 or that it was even possible since the Jews were deeply rooted across Europe, which give credence to that view. I strongly believe prophesy often becomes fact as history unfolds and reveals it as such. 

I attended two study-series on the Book of Revelation, one proposed an Amillennial perspective; the other a pre-tribulation perspective. Even after 24 lessons, the view that I found least appealing was the Amillennial view with a heavy emphasis on symbolism, presented by a well-respected Bible scholar—someone that I hold in high esteem. There in lies my dilemma. It causes me to wonder, if it is so difficult to understand because of the symbolism, why did John even write so much of it, and for whom? John begins, addressing his letter with Jesus’ instructions to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Why didn’t it end there? Obviously, the Holy Spirit inspired the letter for John, which makes all of it relevant. 

In the book of Revelation (Rev. 6:1-8), we see four horsemen that personify God’s wrath with pestilence, war, famine, and death, sent as harbingers of the end of the world system under Satan and the Antichrist. Can a pandemic (i.e., pestilence) like COVID-19 fit this prophetic profile? 

The Rapture and the Tribulation go hand in hand for most, but not for those that subscribe to the Amillennial view, which sees most of it as symbolism rather than literal. Truthfully, the array of symbolism is a little too much for me to chew on in a comprehensive way and digest sufficiently to be comfortable with adding it as part of our study—I don’t think I would do it justice by providing way too little or way too much information.  I never thought I would see the end of America in my lifetime, but I feel like we are very close to that reality. A nation divided against itself cannot stand, (Matthew 12:25; Luke 11:14; Mark 3:24). If America destroys itself we can be certain that we have entered the End Times. 

We looked at this in the last lesson, but I think it’s worth repeating. This is one perspective that focuses on Israel as part of God’s End Times plan. Not only have the Arab nations aligned against Israel, but many in the West have done so as well. Do you see shades of the Antichrist here? I do. 

Image on the left shows the Jerusalem temple at the time of Jesus, on right is the mosque that now stands on that location--the temple of the mount. If you see anything coming out of Israel regarding rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, hold onto you seat and pay close attention. 

The most commonly held view among Evangelicals is that the Rapture occurs before the 7-year Tribulation—before the antichrist enters the world scene, assumes power and begins his dictatorial reign over the world system, yes, even the USA. 

This chart shows the three principle views as to when the Rapture is expected to occur. Click on slide to enlarge it. And esc to return to the normal view. They all support the 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth. 

This shows the views of Protestant Pastors on the Rapture, pre-trib with the highest percentage; but a close second are those who do not believe in a literal Rapture, contrary to the belief that almost all Christians believe in a literal Rapture. 

You can sit carefully read the Book of Revelation, and most likely you will have a multiple of questions in trying to understanding what it is means. Unless someone walks you through it, or you get a comprehensive commentary; join the club!  

When John addressed Jesus’ Words to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor (Rev. Chap. 1-3), it addressed a fundamental issue in churches, then and now. Some faithfully abided in Him and others were caught up in the world system. All of human history is reflected in the Book of Revelation, for there were many antichrist (1 John 2:18). The rise of the Antichrist is in response to a sinful world system, from the Roman Empire to the League of Nations & United Nations, to the Worldwide Council of Churches where Christian member-churches put all religions on equal footing, which is not the biblical Gospel, nor does it honor God and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

The Tribulation marks the time of the Antichrist. Some believe the true Church will be raptured during the Tribulation but before the Great Tribulation (second 3 ½ years of the 7-year tribulation). Yet, as popular as the pretribulation view may be, we have to ask, which view seems to serve God’s plan best: a trial-free Church or a suffering Church where perhaps mediocre and somewhat indifferent Christians become fervent, passionate Christians?  Think of the 1st century Christians suffering persecution in the Roman Empire. 

The pandemic is being used by mayors to shutdown churches and ban worship services altogether as seen on the slide, noted for Chicago. Antichrist? We can only imagine what it would be like during the Tribulation. 

The increase in murder rate as noted is the result of lawlessness during the pandemic and the restraint and defunding of police in major cities across America. Just a representative sampling of what one can expect during the Tribulation period. 

Throughout history the Church has gone through many periods of persecution. Some see the Tribulation as a time of persecution for the Church, potentially leading from apathy and even indifference, to fervor and passion for Christ. They also see it as a time when the Church will be purged of those who are in the Church but not of the Church; those individuals will not be raptured and perhaps even repent during the Great Tribulation, with a renewed fervor for Christ.

Tribulation or not, God’s grace is sufficient to overcome all circumstances, no matter what we see and hear on the evening news. So as not to overwhelm you with too much stuff, we will conclude our lesson at this point and pick up again next week. For now, I give up trying to predict the exact number of lessons. Until then, blessings to all. 

Pray for our President and our Nation. 

END OF LESSON #7