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Facing Two Tomorrows
Dear Mr. Wilson:
Do you still think the Great
Tribulation will begin in 2011? More and more, I
feel uneasy about the world conditions and my
fear of the future has changed my way of life. My
wife also believes the end is near, but she wants
to hurry up and do everything that she has always
wanted to do before she can’t. Other than
dealing with our monthly obligations and focusing
on matters that are short term, how do I look
ahead and make plans for the future when I
believe the end is imminent?
Thanks,
Jeff
Hello Jeff:
Thank you for your email.
You asked if I still believe the Great
Tribulation will begin in 2011. To be accurate, I
must restate your question. I do believe the
Great Tribulation could begin any time
now, including 2011. I do not know when the
censer will be cast down. Please consider two
facts: First, there is a big difference between
time study and time setting and second, a date of
interest does not necessarily mean it will become
the date of importance.
The books of Daniel and
Revelation produce an interesting dilemma.
Together, they contain eighteen prophetic time
periods and every student of apocalyptic prophecy
is forced to put them somewhere on a time line.
Putting each time period in its rightful place
constitutes time study. As you know, many
Christians avoid the books of Daniel and
Revelation. They say, “Bible prophecy is a
mystery and solving the mystery is not essential
for salvation. All that matters is having a
relationship with Jesus.” Of course, a
relationship with Jesus is important, but how can
a person have a great relationship with someone
he or she does not know?
The book of Revelation is a
tell-all book about Jesus. The book of Revelation
reveals many things about Jesus that are both
shocking and wonderful. When the Great
Tribulation begins, the imaginary Jesus (the
mental image that worship due to their religious
mindset) will disappear and the real Jesus will
appear. This abrupt transition will cause
millions of Christians to become bitter. The four
gospels do not give us a complete picture of
Jesus. There is far more to Jesus Christ than His
ministry on Earth. For example, study the words
of Jesus to the seven churches (Revelation 2 and
3). If He were on Earth today, He would not fit
in very well with any Christian church. Consider
the description of the seven trumpets and seven
bowls in the book of Revelation. Very few people
realize that Jesus destroyed the world in Noah’s
day and these same Jesus will soon destroy the
whole world again. If we are going to have a
relationship with the real Jesus, we need to
understand that Jesus has been given sovereign
power, and at this time, He rules on the throne
as Almighty God! (Revelation 11:17; 1 Corinthians
15:24-28) Christians desperately need, as
the late Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of
the story,” and there is no other place to
get the rest of the story about Jesus than in the
books of Daniel and Revelation.
Dates of Interest
Through the years, I have
openly discussed dates of interest. Am I
discouraged because the Great Tribulation has not
begun? Not at all. Have I thought the Great
Tribulation would begin before now? Yes! Like
Peter, John, James, and Paul, I thought Jesus
would be here long before now. Should I be
discouraged and angry with God because dates of
interest came and went without becoming dates of
importance? Not at all. Like Thomas Edison, who
conducted more than 10,000 failed experiments to
create the light bulb, we cannot give up or give
in to discouragement. Faith is the substance of
things hoped for. “Now faith is
being sure of what we hope for and certain of
what we do not see. This is what the ancients
were commended for.” (Hebrews 11:1, 2)
I think there are several
“signs” indicating the end of the world
is near. These signs are not date specific, but
they are time related. First, nuclear
proliferation and massive military armament by
dozens of nations are ticking time bombs. (Pun
intended) Second, Earth itself cannot sustain a
population of seven billion people. Inevitably,
war will break out because there are insufficient
amounts of food and water. Third, the nations of
Earth are bankrupt (both morally and
financially). On small nation in financial
despair (like Greece) can threaten the whole
economy of Europe, and if the European Union
falls, the world’s economy will also
implode. It is interesting how one significant
domino can fall and cause a chain reaction of a
whole string of larger dominos to follow.
Even though these three
matters are very serious, they do not necessarily
indicate that the Second Coming is near. However,
when 2,600 years of fulfilled apocalyptic
prophecy is combined with these ominous signs,
students of Daniel and Revelation see harmony
rising from all the parts. World problems are
rapidly expanding, and soon, all of the
elasticity will be used up. This old balloon
called Earth will burst and at the very moment,
the whole world will need a Savior and just at
the right moment, the censer will be cast down.
Seven trumpets will sound because Jesus is on His
way!
The essential difference
between time study and time setting is caution.
Consider this: Our faith in Jesus and the Word of
God is not based on some date for our Lord’s
return. Our confidence in bible prophecy does not
hang on a future date. Actually, it’s the
other way around. Our confidence in Bible
prophecy is built upon many fulfilled prophecies
that have occurred over the last twenty-six
centuries. Because we live in the twenty-first
century, we have the joy to examine the Bible and
observe the steady march of time toward the
return of Jesus. Even though Christians have been
watching and waiting for the Second Coming for
2,000 years, there is no doubt in my mind that
Jesus will return very soon. When He will return
is a question that is worthy of investigation.
(See 1 Peter 1:10-12.)
Our investigation into the
timing of Christ’s return must involve
prophetic truth, as well as prophetic faith.
There is an important distinction between
prophetic truth and prophetic faith. Prophetic
truth is solid. Prophetic truth is a proven fact.
When an element of prophetic is fulfilled, that
element becomes a fact. On the other hand,
prophetic faith is “cautiously solid”
if our conclusions are built upon valid rules of
interpretation. Since no one prove
something true that has not happened, prophetic
faith must be built upon self-evident rules of
interpretation that consistently explains the
past, the present, and the future. Every
Christian should stand in awe at the prophetic
truths contained in the books of Daniel and
Revelation. Looking backward, we see God’s
Word validated. Looking forward, there is good
reason to anticipate the soon arrival of “the
day of the Lord.”
Noah and the Censer
Long ago, the Father set
future dates by His own authority. (Acts 1:7) For
example, the Father set a date for the
commencement of the Great Tribulation, but no one
knows the date. Jesus said, “No one knows
about that day or hour, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the
Father. As it was in the days of
Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of
Man.” (Matthew 24:36,37, italics and
insertion mine) Many people think this text
concerns the date of the Second Coming, but this
is not the case. Jesus is talking about “the
day of the Lord.”
Look at this verse: “Now,
brother, about the times and dates we do not need
to write to you, for you know very well that the
day of the Lord will come like a thief
in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace
and safety,’ destruction will come on them
suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and
they will not escape. But you brothers are not in
darkness so this day should surprise you like a
thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4, italics
mine)
The phrase, “the day of
the Lord,” does not point to some day of the
week such as Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. This
phrase is used nineteen times in the Bible and it
refers to a span of time that concludes with a
physical appearing of Jesus. This span of time
has several different names. For example, it is
called “a time of wrath, distress, anguish,
trouble, ruin, darkness, gloom, clouds, and
blackness.” (Daniel 8:19,
Zephaniah 1:15; Ezekiel 30:3) It is also
called “the appointed time of the end”
(Daniel 8:19; 11:35) and we are told it will come
unexpectedly like a thief. (2 Peter 3:10; 1
Thessalonians 5:2; Luke 12:39; Matthew 24:42) A
time is coming when the awesome authority of
Jesus Christ will be clearly seen and everyone
will feel His anger with man’s decadent and
degenerate behavior.
In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus
drew a parallel between the commencement of
“the day of the Lord” in Noah’s
day and in our day. Why the parallel? In both
cases God’s wrath suddenly begins. Clouds
gathered and the rain fell in Noah’s day.
The rain caught the distracted antediluvians by
complete surprise! In our day, the censer being
cast down will catch even the ten virgins by
complete surprise! (Matthew 25:1-12) Remember
this; the day of the Lord will come as a surprise
– even for those who anticipate His return!
The Second Coming Will
Not Surprise Anyone
While the day of the Lord
will come as a surprise, the Second Coming will
NOT come as a surprise to anyone – even the
wicked! Here is why:
When the censer is cast down
(Revelation 8:5), the righteous will count down
the days until the Second Coming because Daniel
indicates the Lord will appear on the 1,335th
day! (Daniel 12: 11, 12) Gabriel even told Daniel
that he would be resurrected at the end of the
1,335 days! “As for you, go your
way till the end. You will rest, and then at the
end of the [1,335] days you will rise to
receive your allotted inheritance.” (Daniel
12:13, insertion mine)
The date of the Second
Coming will not catch the wicked by surprise
because the devil will tell his followers the
date of Christ’s appearing. About twenty
days before the 1,335th day, the sixth
bowl will be poured out. (Revelation 16:12)
Demons will be sent throughout Earth to rally all
the kings along with their armies to make war on
the soon appearing Jesus. John wrote, “Then
I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs;
they came out of the mouth of the dragon [the
devil*], out of the mouth of the beast
[the devil] and out of the mouth of the false
prophet [the devil]. They are spirits of
demons performing miraculous signs, and they go
out to the kings of the whole world, to gather
them for the battle on the great day of God
Almighty…. Then I saw the beast [the
devil] and the kings of the earth and their
armies gathered together to make war against the
rider on the horse and his army.” (Revelation
16:13, 14; 19:19) The wicked will be armed and
ready to make war against Jesus! There is no
surprise for anyone, and certainly no ambush.
*Note: The great red
dragon (revelation 12:9), the lamblike beast
(Revelation 13:11) and the false prophet
(Revelation 19:20, Revelation 13:14) are the same
entity. John refers to Lucifer as three
distinct entities because the devil is given
three different caricatures in the book of
Revelation. The devil’s activities are
divided into thirds so that mankind might better
grasp an enormous picture – the devil’s
sophisticated efforts to lead the world astray.)
Two Tomorrows: Earthly
and heavenly
Jeff, you know that
Christian’s have been anticipating the end
of the world for 2,000 years. If every
Christian had followed Paul’s advice and
shut down their dreams and future plans because
the coming of Jesus was near, no Christians would
be on Earth today. They would have vanished!
Notice his words: “What I mean, brothers,
is that the time is short. From now on those who
have wives should live as if they had none.”
(1 Corinthians 7:29 – See Exodus
19:10-15.)
For 2,000 years, Christians
have been dealing with two tomorrows in different
ways. This diversity is caused by our two natures
(spiritual and carnal) and the influence of
different personalities. Have you heard the old
saying, “Don’t be so heavenly –
minded that you are of no earthly good?”
There is wisdom in this axiom because, like it or
not, a productive and happy life requires the
fulfillment of a number of earthly obligations.
How can anything of
substance be accomplished without planning,
commitment, and execution? Hospitals, schools,
universities, business corporations, and churches
are valuable parts of society. Such
institutions can take many years to establish.
Doing good requires plans, commitment, and labor.
There is nothing wrong with looking forward and
planning accordingly. We have to live on Earth
until Jesus comes, so let us make the best of
this assignment! On the other hand, we must
be careful, it is one thing to occupy until the
Lord comes, and it is another to become totally
preoccupied.
Jesus told a parable one
day. Speaking of Himself, He said to His
disciples, “A man of noble birth went to
a distant country to have himself appointed king
and then to return. So he called ten of his
servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this
money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come
back.’” (Luke 19: 12, 13)
When the king returned, he richly rewarded the
nine servants who had put the king’s money
to work. The parable ends when the king confronts
the servant who had received one mina. (A mina
represents three months wages.) “Then
another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is
your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of
cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a
hard man. You take out what you did not put in
and reap what you did not sow.’ His master
replied, ‘I will judge you by your own
words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you,
that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not
put in, and reaping what I did not sow! Why didn’t
you put my money on deposit, so when I came back,
I could have collected it with interest?’
Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his
mina away from him and give it to the one who has
ten minas.’ ‘Sir,’ they said,
‘he already has ten!’ He replied,
‘I tell you that to everyone who has [been
faithful with what was given them], more will
be given, but as for one who has nothing [to
show for the money I gave him], even what he
has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine
who did not want me to be king over them –
bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
(Luke 19:20-27, insertion mine)
When properly understood,
this parable speaks volumes. Jesus has gone away
to heaven to be crowned King of kings. He has
given His followers some assets. Some followers
have been given much and some have been given
little. The servant given one mina became angry
with the king when he saw that the others had
much and he had little. So, the servant did not
want to serve the king. The servant wrapped the
mina in a piece of cloth and went about his own
business. When the king confronted the servant
about his actions, the man justified himself by
saying the king was unfair. The king had given
him one mina. The king then killed the servant
because he was unwilling to serve the king. The
moral of the parable is elegant: If you have
received much or little, you have to be wise and
faithful stewards until the Lord returns.
Watch for the Providence
Providence should be one of
the cornerstones of our relationship with Jesus.
The Lord invites us to bring our thoughts and
plans, our perplexities and goals to Him. (Hebrew
4:26) If we walk with the Lord, obeying His
commands, He will hear our prayers and respond
accordingly. Of course, the Lord will not respond
to our prayers if we are rebellious. (Isaiah
1:15) We cannot see beyond today, because we do
not know the higher plans Jesus has in mind for
us. It is a privilege to seek the Lord and learn
His plans. The Lord will hear our prayers if we
are humble and willing to listen. The Lord
answers the prayers of every sincere person who
seeks Him with all of his or her heart. (Jeremiah
29:13) Therefore, after presenting your concerns
to the Lord, leave them with Him. My prayers go
something like this: “Lord you know my
concerns. I’m not sure that I am aware of
everything that I should be concerned about!
Therefore, I am asking you to show me the
direction that I should go. If I do not see a
providential opening before the deadline, I will
take this to mean that I must use my best
judgment. If I respond correctly, please make
your will very clear so I cannot miss your
instruction! Whether I succeed or fail, may your
holy name be glorified. Amen.” Each of
us needs to be on our knees each day, requesting
the Lord’s guidance in our lives and
listening for His response.
The Book of James
There is one book in the
Bible that was written for people facing two
tomorrows. It was written by a man who thought
Jesus was soon to return. James wrote, “Be
patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s
coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to
yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for
the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient
and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is
near.” (James 5:7, 8)
James lived at a time in
Earth’s history when the two tomorrows
presented a tremendous problem. All of the
disciples, including James, thought they were
living in the last days. Severe
persecution caused many of the early believers to
be destitute, so the early Christians came
together and sold their goods and possessions to
share the proceeds with other believers. (Acts
4:32 – 5:11) As time passed, James began to
analyze some of the problems of living with two
tomorrows and the Holy Spirit led him to write
five short chapters. Read the book of James in
one sitting. It can be done in less than thirty
minutes. It’s full of wisdom!!!
If James were writing this
article today, I am sure he would close with the
following admonition: “Now listen, you
who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to
this city or that city, spend a year there, carry
on business and make money.’ Why, you do not
even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your
life? You are a mist that appears for a while and
then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If
it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do
this or that.” (James 4:13-15) As long
as we live here, we have to be responsible and
take care of Earthly matters in a way that is
pleasing to God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Do not
forget the parable in Luke 19. We are here to
serve a king who will surely return and He will
require a return on the money and time He has
given us. Watch for God’s providence. Submit
all your plans to the Lord and see what He has to
say. (This is an essential cornerstone in having
a relationship with Jesus.) Our ultimate
purpose on this Earth is to please God. God’s
timing is perfect and He will fulfill His perfect
plans. When He does, everyone will be rewarded
according to what they have done, “…Well
done, good and faithful servant! You have been
faithful with a few things; I will put you in
charge of many things.” (Matthew 25:21) While
you are going about the King’s business,
just remember the words of Jesus: “So you
also must be ready, because the Son of Man will [begin
to] come at an hour when you do not expect
him.” (Matthew 24:44)
Larry Wilson
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