End Times Truth

Prophecies of the Second Coming of Christ

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search
  • End Times News
    • Israel News
    • Middle East News
    • Terrorism News
    • New World Order and Globalism
    • European Union News
    • Smart Card News
    • Biometrics & Identification Technology
    • RFID & Surveillance Technology
    • Nuclear Weapons and Advanced Military Systems
  • Escape to Safety
  • The Bible
  • Principles of Prophecy
    • The Test of a Prophet
    • The Purpose of a Prophet
    • Visions of the Future
  • Israel
    • The Blessing and Curse
    • The Scattering of Israel
    • The Scattering of Judah and Jerusalem
    • The Final Scattering of Israel
    • The Regathering of Israel
    • Gathered in Unbelief
    • Prophecies of 1948
    • Restored with Fury
    • Trembling and Fear
      • Wars and Battles of Israel
    • Success Teetering On the Brink of Disaster
    • The Palestinian Problem
    • Daniel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks
      • The Start Date for the Seventy Weeks
      • Calculating the Time of Messiah
      • Daniel’s Seventieth Week
  • New World Order
    • Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
    • The Final Empire
    • Daniel’s Four Beasts
    • The Dreadful and Terrible Beast
    • The Beast with Seven Heads and Ten Horns
    • The Empire-Beast Arises
    • The Empire-Beast Today
    • Rise of the European Community
    • A New World Order Arises
    • The Group of Seven
    • Globalist Movements
  • The Antichrist
    • The Persona of Pride
    • The Antichrist is Revealed
    • The Second Beast of Revelation
    • Power, Signs, and Wonders
  • Mark of the Beast
    • Branded for Death
    • The Cashless Society
    • Plastic Money
    • Electronic Funds Transfer
    • A Wired Society
    • ATM and POS
    • Rise of the Internet
    • The Identification Problem
    • Smart Cards
    • Biometrics
    • RFID
    • The Final Mark
    • Surveillance and Control
  • 666
    • The Number of the Beast
    • The Imagery of 666
    • Barcode Technology and 666
    • Security Permissions Setting 666
  • World War III
    • The Abomination of Desolation
    • The Time of the End
    • The Attack of Russia
    • The Battle Begins
    • The Attack of China
    • Nuclear War and the Great Tribulation
    • The Effects of Nuclear Weapons
      • The Mushroom Cloud
      • The Fireball and Thermal Pulse
      • Firestorms and Conflagrations
      • The Blast Wave
      • Radioactive Fallout and Clouds of Dust
      • Ozone Depletion
      • Collapse of the Ecosystem
  • Return of Christ
    • The Seventh Trumpet
    • Christ’s Predictions
    • The Sign of the Son of Man
    • The Testimony of the Disciples
    • In the Twinkling of an Eye
    • The Trumpet Sounds
    • Delivered from God’s Wrath
    • The Witness of the Old Testament
    • The Importance of Knowing When
    • Characteristics of Christ’s Return and the Rapture
  • Kingdom Age
    • The People of the Kingdom
    • The Redemption of Israel
    • Israel in the Kingdom
  • End Times Chronology
    • The Sign Posts of History
    • Israel in the Last Days
    • Events Signaling the End
You are here: Home / Return of Christ / The Importance of Knowing When
post

The Importance of Knowing When

Stephen stoned to death, Walter Ranes, Church History MuseumNow that the characteristics of the Return of Christ and the rapture have been defined in the previous sections, one may wonder why it is so necessary to understand these things. Is arguing over one event of the last days, namely the rapture, really that important? Despite the abundant evidence provided in the Bible as to when this event will occur, does it matter whether a person still believes that the rapture will happen in a pre-trib or mid-trib sense rather than post-trib?  As we will see, the importance of knowing when this occurs actually can affect your faith and destiny.

On the surface, it may seem trivial as to what a person believes about this event. After all, your opinion on the timing of the rapture is not something that makes or breaks your standing with God. As long as we realize that Christ is coming and that all who believe in him will be saved, it might at first appear superfluous to be concerned with such a small detail like when the rapture will occur.

However, this was not the attitude that Jesus or the prophets had when they taught on this subject. God obviously believed that their words were worth writing down and preserving for all time. If the timing of the rapture was just a minor point in the chronology of the last days, then the Bible would not have bothered to mention it at all—and certainly not in an elaborate series of prophecies that intricately correlate and build upon each other so beautifully.

The importance of knowing when the timing of our deliverance will occur is primarily emphasized in the seriousness of the events prophesied to happen in the last days. The things that are about to happen on this earth are so significant that the question of whether we will be around to experience them is perhaps the most important aspect of all the prophecies to understand. If the rapture was predicted to occur before the last seven years or Daniel’s Seventieth Week even got underway, then we would not need to concern ourselves with any of the events of the end. End Times prophecy would just be an interesting subject that proves the reality of God, but not one that has any real application to Christians’ lives today. On the other hand, if Christians are prophesied to go through the entire 3.5 year reign of the Antichrist as well as the subsequent 3.5 year tribulation period, then the importance of understanding the sequence of events and preparing for them suddenly becomes acute.

Jesus actually spoke in dire terms when he described the reaction that Christians will have to the events of the end. The consequences for his people if they are not prepared for the arrival of the End Times could be devastating. After describing the initial conditions of the Last Days, this is how the Lord himself went on to prophesy of what will happen to his followers:

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold.

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Matt. 24:9-13

The danger of not understanding the timing of the rapture is not merely that people might be left ignorant of interesting prophecies, but that they could easily become offended if the Lord does not deliver them at the time they had expected (e.g., before any of the bad things begin to happen). If your confidence in the future rests in an instantaneous escape via the rapture, then your faith may soon be broken by the alarming reality of the Antichrist’s rise to power. When the Evil One suddenly comes on the scene, the falseness of the pre-trib rapture position will hit home like a ton of bricks. Jesus predicted that Christians at the end will be so embittered by being left to experience the Antichrist’s reign that they will betray one another just to survive—even to the point of seeing their former brothers and sisters in the Lord being put to death!

Some people will be so surprised and shocked that the Lord did not deliver them from the persecutions of the final seven years that many of them will actually turn their back on God and decide to follow Satan’s man. Do not underestimate the temptation to obtain the Mark of the Beast. This desire will be much greater than most Christians can imagine, and many will be caught unprepared to survive without being able to buy or sell. Imagine this situation: take the Mark and you can have food and shelter and the world will treat you well; refuse the Mark and you will have nothing—no safety or security for as long as you are in this world. If you combine this temptation with the natural aversion to persecution and hardship, it won’t be so surprising to see many believers fall away. The fact is, if you’re not spiritually and physically prepared to resist the deception of the coming one-world government, then you may easily fall prey to the desire for short-term gain. This is exactly what the Lord warned about. Remember, in another instance Jesus said, “whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:25).

Notice, Jesus also states in the verses quoted above that only those believers who endure to the end will be saved. The end means exactly what it says—in other words you can’t have anything come after it. We know that the end of this age will be marked by the coming of Christ, so only at that point will the Lord rescue his people and avenge the unrighteous deaths of his martyrs. As a consequence, only those people who remain faithful to him, either to the point of their own deaths or until the very end of the age, will be raptured and saved from the wrath of God. This is exactly why Paul told Christians that they should be careful not to be deceived concerning the timing of this event (2 Thess. 2:1-3).

Being a follower of Christ in the Last Days will be difficult enough, even without having misinformation cloud true Biblical prophecy. Those who teach anything other than the plain truth of the Bible run the risk of leading many of God’s people straight into a false hope, which will soon explode right in their faces. If Christians would simply believe the simple teachings of Jesus and his prophets and heed their warnings concerning the end of the age, then nothing could possibly take us by surprise. The importance of knowing when these events will occur is truly just as critical as knowing what will occur.  Only with a complete knowledge of what’s going to happen followed by a realization that all of us may have to go through the coming time of trouble can we hope to overcome the world and survive with our faith intact and guarantee our eternal destiny. With this mindset we must now take the prophecies serious enough to actually apply them to our lives.

Next: The Characteristics of Christ’s Return and the Rapture

Recent News and Posts on End Times Prophecy

The Great Reset, from The World Economic Forum data, 2020

The Great Reset

The Globalist Plot to Change the World System In the wake of the Wuhan virus and the disruptions caused to the health, political, and economic systems of the world, many powerful leaders are now taking advantage of the pandemic in an attempt to bring about a New World Order. The advocates of globalism are calling […]

Social distancing app showing red & green labels around people

Chinese Coronavirus Fears Lead to Greater Surveillance and Control

In 2020, the world suddenly moved closer to a global surveillance system under the auspices of public “health and safety”.  The Chinese coronavirus fears stemming from a global pandemic has provided all the excuse that leaders needed to increase societal controls and implement high tech solutions to monitor entire populations. Even in countries with relative […]

Coronavirus 3D Illustration, Wikipedia

The Coronavirus Pandemic and the End Times

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 [also called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (or SARS-CoV-2)] is continuing to spread around the globe from its origin in the Wuhan region in China. It is now threatening the health and the economy of all countries, as normal life shuts down to contain the infection. Thousands of people have […]

Surveillance collage, Pixabay images

The Tyranny of Technocracy

A new type of global governance is taking form, and it’s threatening to become a monster. It is based not upon traditional political theories such as capitalism, socialism, communism, or fascism. This new system transcends all previous political systems to create something far more dangerous. Instead of being based upon a ruling class operating within […]

Israeli and Palestinian access in the West Bank

Israeli Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria

News reports from Israel on Sunday, May 12, 2019, indicated that the US won’t oppose Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, which would involve Israeli annexation of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. This region has been known to the Jews as the territories of Judea and Samaria, and it has been a hot […]

Destruction in Raqqa from the Syrian conflict

Russia, Iran, and Israel Battle for Military Advantage in Syria

The very nations that are predicted in the Bible to fight within the Middle East at the Time of the End now battle for military advantage in Syria.  Throughout 2018, Iranian forces have been setting up bases in Syria, and several times they have prompted Israel to respond militarily. On May 10th, during the early […]

The Flag of Israel

Israel’s 70th Anniversary

Israel’s 70th anniversary has occurred, which memorialized and celebrated their sudden rebirth as a nation on May 14, 1948.  Israel’s rebirth was the most momentous prophetic fulfillment in recent history as they became an independent nation again in their former homeland against all odds. After being scattered throughout the world since their rejection of Christ […]

The Destruction in Aleppo, Syria

The War in Syria and the End Times

The war in Syria that began in 2011 as a civil war between government forces and various factions seeking to overthrow the Assad regime, has now become a battleground for many opposing forces. The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, previously revealed to the UN Security Council that Iran had amassed a surrogate […]

President Trump, statement on Jerusalem, 12-7-2017, Wikipedia image

Chaos in Wake of Trump’s Recognition of Jerusalem

A massive, Hezbollah-inspired protest involving tens of thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians occurred in Beirut shortly after Trump announced he would move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. The protesters could be heard chanting that America was “the Great Satan” and Israel “the little Satan”. The Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech at the rally […]

Trump to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

President Trump said this week that the U.S. for the first time now fully recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and he also said that he will order the State Department to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.  Trump had promised since the presidential campaign in 2016 that he would move […]

Recent In-Depth Articles on End Times Prophecy

Events Signaling the End

Events Signaling the End

Bible prophecy predicts that there will be several significant events signaling the End of the Age. These seminal events will occur just prior to the beginning of a period … [more]

Great Day of His Wrath, by John Martin, artist

Collapse of the Ecosystem

The final aspect of the prophecies that relate to the effects of nuclear war is the widespread pollution of land and water by radioactive fallout, dust from the explosions and … [more]

Chronology of Israel in the Last Days

Israel in the Last Days

The incredible prophecies of Israel in the Last Days are the key to understanding just how close we are to the End of the Age.  The Bible predicts virtually everything that … [more]

Painting of the Temple, by the Temple Institute

Israel in the Kingdom

One of the first events predicted to occur in the early years of the Kingdom Age is the fulfillment of the final ingathering of all the scattered Jews back to the land of … [more]

resurrection, end times, last days, Israel, redemption of Israel, raising the dead

The Redemption of Israel

Two of the most important events for the Jewish people that are predicted to occur near the start of the Kingdom Age include the redemption of Israel and the restoration of … [more]

Largest ozone hole over Antarctica, NASA and NOAA image, Wikipedia

Ozone Depletion

In the previous sections, we have seen that everything the Bible describes as being a characteristic of the Great Tribulation also correlates precisely to what is now expected … [more]

Chagan Nuclear test, Russia

Radioactive Fallout and Clouds of Dust

Scorpions of Death As we have seen in previous sections, one of the main consequences of a nuclear explosion happening at or near ground level is that millions of tons of … [more]

Firestorms and Conflagrations

The Trumpet Judgments In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John records terrible visions of nuclear weapons causing vast destruction at the end of the age through the … [more]

The Tsar Bomba nuclear fireball

The Fireball and Thermal Pulse

Although the formation of a mushroom cloud has become the most recognizable feature of a nuclear explosion (see previous section), it is actually not the generation of smoke … [more]

Truckee Nuclear Explosion

The Mushroom Cloud

The effects of nuclear weapons have been studied extensively since the initial use of atomic bombs upon Japan in 1945. As the pillars of smoke rose above the decimated cities … [more]

Licorne Nuclear Explosion, French Polynesia test site

Nuclear War and the Great Tribulation

Fire, Smoke, and Brimstone The Battle of Armageddon is predicted to be the last and greatest conflict of mankind. Even the non-believing world has adopted this Biblical term … [more]

End Times Truth Site Map

  • 666
    • The Number of the Beast
    • The Imagery of 666
    • Barcode Technology and 666
    • Security Permissions Setting 666
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Contact
  • End Times News
    • Israel News
    • Middle East News
    • New World Order and Globalism
    • European Union News
    • Smart Card News
    • Biometrics & Identification Technology
    • RFID & Surveillance Technology
    • Nuclear Weapons and Advanced Military Systems
    • Terrorism News
  • End Times Truth Home
  • My account
  • Privacy Policy
  • Search
  • Shop
  • The Bible
  • About
  • Kingdom Age
    • The People of the Kingdom
    • The Redemption of Israel
    • Israel in the Kingdom
  • Principles of Prophecy
    • The Test of a Prophet
    • The Purpose of a Prophet
    • Visions of the Future
  • Israel
    • The Blessing and Curse
    • The Scattering of Israel
    • The Scattering of Judah and Jerusalem
    • The Final Scattering of Israel
    • The Regathering of Israel
    • Gathered in Unbelief
    • Prophecies of 1948
    • Restored with Fury
    • Wars and Battles of Israel
    • Trembling and Fear
    • Success Teetering On the Brink of Disaster
    • The Palestinian Problem
    • Daniel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks
    • The Start Date for the Seventy Weeks
    • Calculating the Time of Messiah
    • Daniel’s Seventieth Week
  • New World Order
    • Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
    • The Final Empire
    • Daniel’s Four Beasts
    • The Dreadful and Terrible Beast
    • The Beast with Seven Heads and Ten Horns
    • The Empire-Beast Arises
    • The Empire-Beast Today
    • Rise of the European Community
    • A New World Order Arises
    • The Group of Seven
    • Globalist Movements
  • The Antichrist
    • The Persona of Pride
    • The Antichrist is Revealed
    • The Second Beast of Revelation
    • Power, Signs, and Wonders
  • Mark of the Beast
    • Branded for Death
    • The Cashless Society
    • Plastic Money
    • Electronic Funds Transfer
    • A Wired Society
    • ATM and POS
    • Rise of the Internet
    • The Identification Problem
    • Smart Cards
    • Biometrics
    • RFID
    • The Final Mark
    • Surveillance and Control
  • World War III
    • The Abomination of Desolation
    • The Time of the End
    • The Attack of Russia
    • The Battle Begins
    • The Attack of China
    • Nuclear War and the Great Tribulation
    • The Mushroom Cloud
    • The Fireball and Thermal Pulse
    • Firestorms and Conflagrations
    • The Blast Wave
    • Radioactive Fallout and Clouds of Dust
    • Ozone Depletion
    • Collapse of the Ecosystem
  • Return of Christ
    • The Seventh Trumpet
    • Christ’s Predictions
    • The Sign of the Son of Man
    • The Testimony of the Disciples
    • In the Twinkling of an Eye
    • The Trumpet Sounds
    • Delivered from God’s Wrath
    • The Witness of the Old Testament
    • The Importance of Knowing When
    • Characteristics of Christ’s Return and the Rapture
  • End Times Chronology
    • The Sign Posts of History
    • Israel in the Last Days
    • Events Signaling the End
  • Escape to Safety

Escape to Safety in the End Times

The Bible provides the only solution to the evil of this world. While the world is heading for a judgment day as a result of sin and rejecting God's love through Christ, an individual can escape that fate through a simple act of faith. In fact, you can be as certain of making it through the end times and of being saved from judgment as the Lord's predictions are assured of coming true. For those that can see the truth in God's Word through prophecy, know also that the Bible provides a simple and guaranteed alternative to judgment, which is vital for every person to understand. Read more...

Bible verse of the day

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:5
DailyVerses.net
   

Michelangelo, Christ at the final judgmentPrivacy Policy

Bible Copyright Notices

Biblical quotations used throughout this web site may come from one of several authoritative translations:

1. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

2. The New Scofield Reference Bible, Authorized King James Version, Copyright 1967 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Bible text in public domain.

3. The King James Version of the Bible, in the public domain.

4. NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

 

Back to top Arrow, white

 

Copyright © 2021 End Times Truth