Snapshot Series: Tribulaion

Community Group Questions

1.  How do you feel when you think about the events of the tribulation?
2.  Does knowing about the tribulation change your perspective on the way you live life?

3.  Does the tribulation inspire you to get right with God?

4.  Does the tribulation inspire you to tell others about the Lord?

Snapshots 39 Mark 13:14-27  "tribulation"

Today we are going to look a specific section of the end times events called "the tribulation" but before I go into detail about the tribulation I want to give all of you the basic biblical overview of the end times events.

Explain the timeline by looking at the slide.

vrs 14-23

Go into the passage and explain the sections of the tribulation in which the passage speaks.

"Let the reader understand" is a curious statement because they are hearing?  This is intended for the future generations.   And those who know the OT prophetic Scriptures such as Daniel.  who are hard toward the truth and will not believe the Lord based on His love shown through us in Jesus Christ.

Purposes of the Tribulation

1.  To save Israel or turn them to Jesus.  God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 and promised to bless him and his descendants.  This is last effort in God’s plan to bring Israel back to Him

2.  To judge unbelievers

Tribulation Slide

Key figures and events.

7 Year tribulation kicks off when a peace treaty is signed by the Anti-Christ and Israel

Dan 9:27 & Isa 28:14-22

So there is a strong possibility there is a gap between the Rapture and the start of the trib. Not long but could be a few weeks or months

Anti-Christ 1 John 2:18, Revelation 13 He is a man powered by Satan.  Smart, good leader, convincing & Powerful

Names

Ø Beast ,Man of Sin/Lawlessness, Willful King

Career- 

Phase 1 – Political leader that that comes out of the western world (Roman Empire)  he will be in the world before the Rapture occurs.  He is a powerful enough ruler to sign a covenant with Israel and guarantee safety.

Phase 2 – During first half of the Tribulation he will become the ruler of the restored Roman empire.  And of a 10/11 nation confederacy.   He will be killed and restored back to life again. Rev. 13:3, 12, 14

“Abomination of Desolation”  The Anti-Christ sets himself up in the Temple to be worshiped with sacrificial offerings

BKC Historically, the first fulfillment of Daniel’s prophetic use of the expression (Dan. 11:31-32) was the desecration of the temple in 167 b.c. by the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. He erected an altar to the pagan Greek god Zeus over the altar of burnt offering and sacrificed a pig on it

The abomination of desolation (cf. Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) points to the Antichrist’s ultimate desecration of God’s temple (where he ought not to be, which some understand as a literal, rebuilt temple, and others understand as the people of God; see 2 Thess. 2:1–12; 1 John 2:18). This event was anticipated in the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (see note on Matt. 24:15). flee to the mountains. See note on Matt. 24:16.

Phase 3 Rev 13:5-7 Dictator of the world

Apostate Church = man-made religion “Mystery Babylon”

Jewish Levitical System back in effect.

Satan Cast out of Heaven and the “Abomination of Desolation” happens.  Ushers in worship of Satan and the Mark “666”

                   

The False prophet

Anti-Christ is a human with power from Satan/ Desire is to mimic God

Counterfeit Trinity.  Anti-Christ=son ,  False Prophet=spirit, Father=Satan

Events that happening

Seal Judgments

1^st 4 seals are the four Horsemen ¼ population will die

5^th seal cry of the Martyr’s to avenge their blood.

This illustrates how God takes care of the wicked people. Comfort to know that God is just.

Cosmic Disturbances, shows that God is in control of nature.  Rev 6:15-17  it affects everyone and it shows that we need to come to a point in which we trust Him.

Trumpet Judgments  Vegetation, seas, water supply, heavens (stars, sun moon) Plague of Locusts

Bowl Judgments  Similar to the plagues that fell upon Egypt.

"Be on guard I told you beforehand" I will show you my love now and for 2000 plus years but when the tribulation occurs if will not be good. 

Vrs 24-27 The end of the tribulation and Jesus' second coming.

What is the good news 

1.  More people then ever before will trust in Christ.

2.  This has not taken place, this will end when Christ comes again. 

In view of the Scriptures that help us to understand that we will not be here on the earth for the time of tribulation how do we respond?

How should Christians Respond?

-Pray

-Realize the urgency of the Gospel message for all people. As Church we need to embrace evangelism. 

Bruce Shelly said It is easy to determine when something is aflame. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction in terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction. 

-Communicate His love

One Sunday evening, William Booth was walking in London with his son, Bramwell, who was then 12 or 13 years old. The father surprised the son by taking him into a saloon! The place was crowded with men and women, many of them bearing on their faces the marks of vice and crime; some were drunk. The fumes of alcohol and tobacco were poisonous. "Willie," Booth said to his son, "These are our people; these are the people I want you to live for and bring to Christ." Years later, Bramwell Booth wrote, "The impression never left me." 

As non-Christians  

-Understand that if you don't respond to His love you will deal with wrath

-Realize His love is calling you.  The GOSPEL