This essay was, in a sense, a critique of a short post from Pete Garcia. You can view his page, education, and background on the Telegram app as REV310.
Part two of at least three.
The numbered points are things that you may have heard in church, however, they are rarely clarified or understood. I happen to think that most of these items need definition, especially when it comes to the Revelation.
We pick this up a 2a.)
2a.) Bema Judgment of the raptured Church in heaven. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
I have heard this for most of my life and it came across a lot like this, “You lousy sinners are going to stand before the throne of an angry God and get the punishment you finally deserve.” It turns out God did not say that, the speaker did, and they were probably expressing a tremendous amount of angst over some childhood abuse; I know I do.
Seven year tribulation (Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:5-28, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 6-18)
Mr. Garcia makes no mention of an interesting fact that Jesus informs us of. That our life, in this world, will always have tribulations associated with it.
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NASB)
So our thinking, about the things that will transpire during the seven-years, should be such that you understand that the first half will be brutal and bloody, beyond your imagination, and yet the second half gets worse.
Daniel 9 does not use the word tribulation, but the majority of the translations refer to a prince that is coming. Why does Pete Garcia mention that? That prince, acknowledged here as “he,” makes a seven-year covenant with many; it is this time frame that defines the “tribulation” as far as the length of time. We know from Jesus' explanation that the second half of this period will be worse than the first.
"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:21-22 NASB)
Note: The passages of Daniel 9, say NOTHING about Israel being included in this covenant, a fact that tends to change the dynamics of the covenant as most think that the peace is being made with Israel.
Daniel 9:27 NASB "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
The Hebrew word from which they decided should be prince is nâgı̂yd or nâgid, in either case, it means a commander, whether it be civil, military, or religious; it can also mean a governor, a leader, a noble, prince, or (chief) ruler.
The terminology supports a wide variety of characters, but the thing that demands our attention is those seven years.
Matthew 24:5-28 is where you find the phrase a great tribulation. I find it interesting how the phrase great tribulation is a single Greek word thlipsis. The Strong's concordance tells us that this word has a primary meaning of pressure. Pressure can be an everyday event for many of us. The word carries additional meaning such as afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 does not directly address a great tribulation. It does, however, use a verse, that if read in a proper translation, tells you that the church must depart from this earth before the antichrist (he, the prince, the Assyrian, the insolent king, the beast,) will come; and yes, he has many names.
The passages also help to define who the antichrist is, and inform us that we, the church, are the primary thing that is restraining this character from emerging on the scene, as yet.
Again, while none of this speaks with precision to the great tribulation, it does help to define the events are contained within that time period.
The last collection of passages that Mr. Garcia uses is Revelation chapters 6-18.
I will say this, for the vast body we call the church, this is overwhelming as this is where God's wrath is defined and poured out upon the earth.
First, you need to know that God's wrath was never meant for the church. Why? Because Jesus took all of the Father's wrath upon himself. He became the perfect and spotless, sacrificial lamb on our behalf. This is one of the reasons that we follow Him.
Secondly, people will fight with you if you say that this is God's wrath. I did not say it, God did, so get over it. While the Revelation does mention tribulation, the word is never used to define what is coming during those seven-years. Alternate words might be judgment and punishment.
Thirdly, you never see the church mentioned during any of the chapters addressed; this is only a problem as many within the church believe we are already in the time of God's wrath. Sure, what is going on is bad, but the bloody butchering that is coming will cause today's problems to take the back seat when it shows up
Let's start with 2 Corinthians 5:10 because that is where we find a direct reference to the judgment seat of Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 has NO direct statements about the Bema seat, but, if you are willing to do the work, you will notice that the passage has everything to do with this nondescript and undefined time frame. If you think about the number of people going up in the rapture, and we all, allegedly, have to stand before Jesus in individual judgment, then how long should that take? In human terms, oh, say a thousand years. Well, the reality is that Jesus, just moments after the rapture has to begin opening the seven seals that begin the judgment and wrath of God. So, He is just a little busy.
Doesn't seem feasible that this “judgment” happens to all of us at the same; and that all of us going through this transformation understand immediately that He has just stripped away all of the earthly things that we thought made us important? Allow me to enforce what I just said with a scripture passage or two. Don't panic over what these passages include, just pay attention to the idea that the things of this earth, like status and money, will pass away.
2 Peter 3:10 NASB But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
Everything burns with God's fire, including your ego. But on the positive side, I am speaking to Believers, who have their hope based on heaven and a life of acceptance and peace in Jesus.
James 4:4 CJB You unfaithful wives! Don't you know that loving the world is hating God? Whoever chooses to be the world's friend makes himself God's enemy!
Some translations open with “You adulteresses.” I hope you realize that adultery happens in both sexes, so don't go getting haughty with your wife. We, are the bride of Christ, whether you like that idea is of no consequence, it is, however, something you need to work out in your head and spirit.
Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, explains adulterous in this manner:
“...in Israel the breach of their relationship with God through their idolatry, was described as "adultery" or "harlotry" so believers who cultivate friendship with the world, thus breaking their spiritual union with Christ, are spiritual "adulteresses," having been spiritually united to Him as wife to husband.”
Keep in mind that we are still talking about the Bema seat of Christ.
Were you aware that all judgment has been given to Jesus, the Son?
In the gospel of John, we find this.
John 5:22 ERV "Also, the Father judges no one. He has given the Son power to do all the judging.
I immediately heard these words inside my head.
“Why then, have I heard church leaders talk as though God is angry and judging me now, leaving me little hope of a confident future in heaven?”
I recently attempted to have this conversation with a friend of mine, but he can be judgmental at times and did not wish to understand the question.
I will tell you why people will throw such manipulative condemnation at you; it is because they do not trust themselves to wholeheartedly follow after Christ. Therefore, whether consciously or unconsciously, they feel the need to control you by pushing you toward a sin driven mentality that constantly has you repenting before God, as though He was incapable of forgiving your sins, even though Jesus, took them on Himself, on the cross.
One last shot at the Bema and then we can move on.
In 2 Corinthians 5, where we see the Bema seat of judgment, the Greek word implies that is primarily a raised place mounted by steps. The verse continues but you rarely this next part, “so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
Recompensed is the Greek word kolumbaō and means to care for, take care of, provide for, and to carry away – as if we had been in some danger. To receive, the promised blessing.
Many have equated this to the platform at the Olympics, where the victors stand to receive their rewards for accomplishments. Even if you do not see an allusion to the Olympics, the idea is certainly there once we look at the meanings behind the Recompensed.
There is a moral to this story and it is NEVER take simple words for granted.
Whenever this conversation comes up you have to determine if the speaker is talking about Jesus coming to gather His bride, or He is coming to finish the judgment. The finality of judgment is what we see in Revelation 19:11-21. However, the final judgment takes place 1000 years later at the great white throne.
Paul, writing to the church in Thessalonica, reassured them that they had not missed the catching away of the church.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 KJV)
As I read this I am aware of the amount of celebratory noise as Jesus announces, it is time.
And where do we go?
To meet Him in the clouds.
Did I miss something?
Not really, but notice that He, in this case, did not come riding triumphantly in on a white horse, prepared for a decisive battle, with all the saints following Him, He came in the clouds.
Scripture tells us, that when He comes in this manner, the battle is quite likely over in seconds. He will stand upon the Mount of Olives and then the ground will split open and crack the old Jerusalem in two. This is the only place in the Bible where Jesus will physically come back to earth.
Does Zechariah 14:1-4 speak to the second coming? Let's see.
This is one of the specific places that it speaks about His feet touching the ground, which does NOT happen when He comes back for His church.
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:1-4 KJV)
One of the things you rarely hear about is the events that happening almost simultaneously, and leading up to Jesus' physical return.
"It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:3 NASB)
So as Jesus lands on the Mount, the nations will be represented there, most likely involved in an onslaught against Israel/Jerusalem. This speaks to a frequent question, how many wars will the world see between the catching away of the church and Christ's return?
A massive one is Ezekiel 38-39, where Gog is killed upon the hills of Israel. The arguments lean toward both sides of the rapture of the church. So, be ready.
Some feel strongly that Psalm 89 is indicative of another war, but when? Perhaps this is what we see in Zechariah 12:3.
Just know this, Israel, after the rapture, will be in constant turmoil.
Pete Garcia references Matt 24:27-31 as something that may speak to the second coming.
"For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. "But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24:27-31 NASB)
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