WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

THE RAPTURE
RAPTURE (the Biblical term is "caught up" or "translation") is a term used to describe the removal from the earth of all living people that have been born-again, as evidenced by their fruits. Just prior to the Tribulation coming about, the Rapture will take place. The number that will be raptured will be far fewer than most people might think. The Bible unmistakably portrays the raptured saints in heaven before the throne of God, prior to the Antichrist coming forth and the Tribulation beginning. The Scripture tells us, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed and be with Jesus in the air. 1 Cor 15:51,52-WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND; 1 Thes 4:16,17-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. We may be asleep, immediately, we will be with Jesus. All the unbelievers, the lukewarm Christians, and those that did not obey the Gospel will be left to face the dreadful Tribulation. (For an in-depth study of the Rapture, click here.)
THE TRIBULATION is the worst time in history since man has been on the earth. Immediately following the Rapture, the man of sin (called the Antichrist) comes forth and assumes control of the EU. He can be expected to be very charismatic and brilliant. He confirms a treaty with Israel and others, which begins the Tribulation.
It is a 7 year period, but the Lord may have shortened the first 3 1/2 years in some way-ref Mk 13:20; Ro 9:28. We are not setting a date; however, we are now living in that generation in which this will happen. Hate, murder, thefts, rape, and every imaginable form of evil will abound. During this horrible period of God’s wrath, Russia, Iran, and other nations will come against Israel. The USA becomes involved. One-fourth of the world’s population will die. Many of the dead will be from the USA, as well as Russia. One-third of trees are burned up. All green grass is burned up. One-third of the sea will become blood. One-third of the creatures in the sea will die. One-third of the ships are destroyed. One-third of the waters become wormwood (or poisoned, or radioactive). Massive famines, increased earthquakes, and more diseases will happen as birth pangs of a woman. Those left alive will have opportunities to receive Jesus through the preaching of 144,000 male, virgin Jews; however, death by decapitation lies ahead for most that put their trust in Jesus, unless they renounce their faith. There will also be many false Christs and false prophets. A one-world, false religion that God calls MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH will increase. This religion has existed for hundreds of years and exists today. The nations of the world have become intoxicated with her false teachings. The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt.
About 3½ years from the end of the Tribulation, the Antichrist (also called the beast) is killed with a wound in the head by a weapon, but his deadly wound will be healed. He will come back to life. He then declares himself to be God and moves into the temple in Jerusalem. A false prophet appears that will do great wonders. The sacrifices at the temple will be stopped. The abomination of desolation occurs. An image of the Antichrist will be set on a wing of the temple. Those that refuse to worship it will be beheaded. The elect born-again Jews now flee for their lives to a place where God will hide them and take care of them during the last three and a half years. Power is given to the Antichrist over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. All that dwell on the earth shall worship the Antichrist, whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life. During these last three and a half years (called the Great Tribulation), world conditions will continue to worsen. A one-world system will exist. The Antichrist shall make war against the saints and will overcome them. People will be required to take the mark of the Antichrist or the number of his name (666) in or on their forehead or right hand. If they, refuse they cannot buy or sell.
Two prophets of God will appear. One of them is Elijah. Their ministry lasts 1260 days. They warn people not to take the mark or worship the image. There is no forgiveness from God afterward for those that do. They will go to the eternal lake of fire. These two witnesses have the power to shut up heaven so that it does not rain. They have the power to bring all kinds of plagues on the earth. Multitudes will be slain for the Word of God. Some type of locusts will sting men with a sting like a scorpion. It will be so bad that men will seek death and shall not find it. There will be terrible sores upon men. The rivers and fountains will become blood. Men will be scorched with great heat. Earthquakes and diseases continue to get worse and worse. Two hundred million troops will march to Israel from the east and cross the dried up Euphrates River. One-third more of the earth’s population will be killed. After the 1260 days, the two prophets of God will be killed. People will rejoice, but then after three and a half days, they will arise and ascend up to heaven as others watch. Great fear falls on those that see this. Men will be so terrified that their hearts will fail, as they consider what is about to happen. Multitudes will hide in the rocks and say, "FALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM...HIM (Jesus)…FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?"-Rev 6:16,17.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days, the Battle of Armageddon explodes. It lasts one day. The kings and armies of the earth are gathered to make war against Jesus. Jesus Christ returns as the King of kings and Lord of lords with all His saints. If He had not returned exactly when He did, there should be no life left on earth. The Antichrist and false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire. Satan is chained for one thousand years, so he can deceive the nations no longer till the thousand years be fulfilled. Every force of nature is likely to be unleashed at once, including killer tornadoes, hurricanes, tidal waves, lightning encircling the earth, and the biggest earthquake in mankind’s history. The cities and the mountains of the world will crumble. The Bible tells that every island fled away. The mountains were not found. There is great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of 70 to l00 pounds. The earth will move out of its place. At the end of that one day, there are so few people left alive that a child could list them.
This may all sound like a fairy tale, but remember—from Israel’s rebirth to the Tribulation, there are about 365 prophecies. Incredibly, nearly all have now been fulfilled. In addition, there are over 10,000 prophecies in the Bible and every one up to this time has come true without a single exception. THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART THERE IS NO GOD-Ps 14:1.
ARE YOU READY TO MEET JESUS?
We have proven that the Bible is God's Word. Now you are faced with a decision. Will you ignore what you have learned, or will you surrender your life to Jesus? If you had a sudden heart attack or the Rapture came in the next five minutes, are you sure you are ready to meet God? You may say, "I believe I’m a good person. I sing in the choir. I attend church and give offerings." The Bible says all of your righteous deeds ARE AS FILTHY RAGS. You may be religious and go to church, but if you died right now—you would perish to hell. Why? Because you have not been born-again. You may say, "Well my church never preaches like this." Will you trust your religion or what the Bible says? If you choose not to accept God’s way to enter heaven, then you are choosing eternal separation from God.
YOU MAY ASK, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO? FOUR THINGS
1. You must admit that you are a sinner. The Bible tells us, ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.2. Be willing to change, to forsake all sin, to humble yourself and live for Jesus. Repent. Be willing to ask God for His help to make that change. The Bible tells us, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH. WHOSOEVER THEREFORE WILL BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD. Jesus tells us, HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME.3. Believe in your heart Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, God Who came to this earth in human form. Believe He died for your sins. It is written, THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED. If you are caught robbing a bank, you have to go to jail. Jesus never sinned. When He died on the cross, He did not die for the things He did. He died to pay your jail sentence.4. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for God’s mercy. By faith receive Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation. Afterwards, be willing to get baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Nicodemus was considered a very religious man in the Bible; however, in Jn 3:3, Jesus shows him it is not enough. You MUST BE BORN AGAIN. I am going to ask you to make that decision for Jesus right now. You need to humble yourself, repent and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Please kneel right where you are. Can you sense God calling you right now? Is your heart pounding? You may have been baptized or confirmed, but something inside you is saying, "Be sure." Perhaps you have strayed from God and need to rededicate your life to Jesus now. Would you rather go to be with God or the lake of fire? You have that choice right now. God wants you to receive the gift of eternal life. Are you sure there is not a sin, there is nothing that stands between you and God? But you may know there is. The Bible tells us THERE IS A WAY WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH. Jesus wants you to KNOW HIM, to have a personal relationship with Him. It’s not a matter of whether you think you know Jesus, but does Jesus know you? Right now, kneel and pray this prayer out loud, and mean it with all your heart.
DEAR JESUS, I AM A SINNER. I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD AND DIED FOR MY SINS ON THE CROSS. FORGIVE ALL OF MY SINS. JESUS, I REPENT. I ASK YOU TO HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER, AND COME INTO MY LIFE. GIVE ME YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR POWER. HELP ME TO FOLLOW AND OBEY YOUR COMMANDMENTS, AND TO LIVE FOR YOU. JESUS, I GIVE YOU MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY PRAYER. THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO MY LIFE. I ASK IT IN THE NAME OF MY LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
IF YOU JUST SAID THAT PRAYER AND MEANT IT
We recommend you now read your Bible every day faithfully—5 or more chapters a day. Begin with the Gospel of John, and read it through three times. Next go to Matthew, and read the New Testament through three times. Then begin reading the entire Bible in order, beginning with Genesis. As God opens up His Word to you, obey it. Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, deceiving yourself-ref Ja 1:22. As you are faithful, God will open your understanding of His Word more and more. Find a good Bible-teaching church that teaches God’s Word, sound doctrine, Bible prophecy, the Revelation, not just stories about worldly things. They should also love and support Israel and the Jewish people. Attend often and get baptized. Tell others that Jesus is your only hope of salvation. If you’ve just said that prayer and committed your life to Jesus, please e-mail us and let us know. We would like to pray for you and send you some free literature. Please send your postal mailing address.