CHAPTER 1 THE GREAT TRIBULATION, THE RAPTURE, AND

As I have been reading and meditating deeply on the Great Tribulation and the Rapture, three truths have become increasingly clear to me:

-The Great Tribulation will be a time of unimaginable suffering.

-Israel and Jerusalem have a significant place in biblical prophecy concerning the end of the age.

-We must prepare for eternity, even amid the busyness and distractions of our daily lives.

These truths are sobering, but they are also a call to watchfulness, prayer, faithfulness, and spiritual readiness.

This is not a message intended to produce fear. Jesus did not warn His disciples about the things to come so that they would live in terror. He warned them so that they would watch, pray, endure, and remain faithful to Him.

THE UNIMAGINABLE TERROR OF THE LAST DAYS

Reflecting on the first truth, I feel a deep sadness.

The hope held out to us in Christ is eternal life with God. Yet Scripture also gives solemn warnings that not everyone will be ready for that day. That is why the condition of people's souls matters so deeply.

Jesus Himself described the Great Tribulation in these words:

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

— Matthew 24:21, NKJV

The prophet Daniel was given a similar vision:

“And at that time Michael shall stand up,

The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;

And there shall be a time of trouble,

Such as never was since there was a nation,

Even to that time.”

— Daniel 12:1, NKJV

Daniel's prophecy continues, however, with a message of deliverance for God's people. It then speaks of resurrection:

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake...”

— Daniel 12:2, NKJV

The Bible therefore presents the coming time of trouble as extraordinarily severe—but it does not end with darkness.

God is still sovereign.

God still knows His people.

God still delivers.

And resurrection is still coming.

THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS

Jesus also warned His disciples about events that would precede the end:

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

— Matthew 24:6–8, NKJV

Jesus' words are important.

He did not tell us that every war, every earthquake, every famine, or every disease outbreak would itself be a specific fulfillment of end-time prophecy. Rather, He described these things as “the beginning of sorrows.”

They remind us that this present world is not our final home and that we should remain spiritually awake.

Jesus also warned:

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

— Matthew 24:12, NKJV

Scripture repeatedly warns about rebellion against God, deception, lawlessness, and spiritual unfaithfulness.

Isaiah wrote:

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness...”

— Isaiah 5:20, NKJV

The temptation in every generation is to redefine good and evil according to human wisdom rather than according to God's Word.

And Scripture warns that deception and lawlessness will be serious realities as the end approaches.

But we must be careful.

We are not called to examine every headline and declare, “This is that prophecy being fulfilled.”

We are called to watch, discern, remain faithful, and keep our eyes on Jesus.

FEAR NOT — OUR REDEMPTION IS NEAR

Amid the darkness, Jesus gives His people words of hope:

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

— Luke 21:28, NKJV

What a beautiful command:

Look up.

Not down.

Not merely at the darkness.

Not merely at the news.

Not merely at what is happening in the world.

Look up.

Our hope is in Christ.

The coming of Christ is not ultimately a message of defeat for those who belong to Him. It is the promise of redemption.

THE RAPTURE AND THE COMING OF CHRIST

Because we are considering both the Great Tribulation and the Rapture, we must allow Scripture itself to speak carefully.

Paul writes:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

— 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, NKJV

This is the glorious hope of believers.

The dead in Christ will rise.

Believers who are alive will be caught up together with them.

And we will be with the Lord.

Jesus also spoke of His coming in Matthew 24. Significantly, He said:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days...”

— Matthew 24:29, NKJV

He then described the coming of the Son of Man and the gathering of His elect.

This passage is important because it reminds us to distinguish carefully between what Scripture clearly says and the conclusions we draw about the precise chronology of end-time events.

Christ is coming.

The dead in Christ will be raised.

His people will be gathered to Him.

But Scripture does not tell us the day or hour.

Therefore, our calling is not to calculate the date, but to be ready.

ISRAEL — A SIGNIFICANT PLACE IN END-TIME PROPHECY

The second truth that has become increasingly clear to me is the significant place Israel and Jerusalem occupy in biblical prophecy.

From the promises given to Abraham and his descendants, through the prophets and into the New Testament, Israel remains an important part of the biblical story.

The prophet Zechariah recorded this remarkable prophecy concerning Jerusalem:

“And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”

— Zechariah 12:3, NKJV

The prophecy specifically speaks about Jerusalem and the nations being gathered against it.

Zechariah continues by describing God's intervention and, later in the chapter, speaks of a profound turning toward the One who was pierced.

Therefore, when we look at Jerusalem and Israel, we should not dismiss their place in biblical prophecy.

Scripture gives us the prophecy.

History continues to unfold.

God alone knows exactly how every prophetic detail will ultimately be fulfilled.

Ezekiel 38–39 likewise describes a future conflict involving Gog, Magog, and other nations, and places the event in connection with the “latter years.” The passage describes Israel dwelling in the land and a great coalition coming against it.

Christians have proposed different interpretations concerning the identity of these nations and the timing and fulfillment of this prophecy.

Therefore, I do not want to claim more than Scripture allows us to claim.

What we can say with confidence is this:

God has not forgotten His purposes.

God is sovereign over the nations.

And His prophetic Word will stand.

GOD WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD

The nations may gather.

Armies may rise.

Jerusalem may become a focal point of conflict.

But Scripture does not leave the story in the hands of men.

Zechariah declares:

“Then the Lord will go forth

And fight against those nations,

As He fights in the day of battle.”

— Zechariah 14:3, NKJV

The message is ultimately not about the power of the nations.

It is about the sovereignty of God.

THE CALL TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY

The third truth is perhaps the most personal and urgent:

We must prepare for eternity.

Preparation is not simply about studying prophecy.

It is not merely about knowing the sequence of end-time events.

It is not about becoming experts at identifying every possible sign.

It is about knowing God through Jesus Christ and remaining faithful to Him.

Jesus said:

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”

— Matthew 24:42, NKJV

And again:

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

— Matthew 24:44, NKJV

We do not know the day or hour.

Therefore, we must live ready.

Spiritual preparation means walking with God in prayer.

It means knowing His Word.

It means repentance.

It means faith.

It means obedience.

It means loving Christ.

It means remaining faithful when faithfulness becomes costly.

Jesus said:

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

— Revelation 2:10, NKJV

The danger is that we can become so occupied with this temporary life that we forget eternity.

Work.

Money.

Technology.

Entertainment.

Personal ambitions.

Family responsibilities.

Everyday concerns.

None of these things is necessarily wrong.

But they can become distractions if they take the place of God.

Jesus warned about this very danger when He described people eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting, and building while failing to recognize the seriousness of the hour.

So the question is not simply:

“Do I understand prophecy?”

The deeper question is:

“Am I ready to meet Jesus?”

LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF HIS COMING

Paul wrote:

“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:2, NKJV

But Paul immediately gives believers encouragement:

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:4, NKJV

We are therefore called to live as children of light.