The term “apocalypse” as related to the coming Tribulation (Daniel’s seventieth week) means the “unveiling” or “revelation.” Particularly, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ in all of His power and glory, and in His judgeship over all of the world evil since Lucifer’s rebellion and the Fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden.
I’ve addressed many times the next step in Christ’s coming judgment over this fallen world. Jesus, Himself, used the word in giving what I believe is the most important prophecy for believers of this Church Age (Age of Grace):
Also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:28–30)
According to the Lord’s own words, the son of man will be revealed the very day that something occurs like it did in the days that Lot lived in the wicked city of Sodom. Again, the apocalypse—the unveiling or revealing of Jesus Christ—will take place when something happens just like it did in the days of Lot.
That “something” that brings about the revealing of Jesus in His power as Judge of the world’s evil has everything to do with Lot’s removal from Sodom. Here is what Lot was told in that regard before he and his family were taken from the doomed city:
Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. (Genesis 19:22a)
The angel charged with taking Lot and his family to safety because the city was about to be destroyed said they must be removed before the destruction could be carried out. Jesus is telling future believers in the Luke 17:28–30 prophecy that there is coming a time when we must be taken out of the wicked place we’re living in before He is revealed as Judge. The Lord said the place out of which we will be removed will be dealt with in judgment, just as Sodom and its left-behind residents.
Christ’s judgment–His revealing in his power as Judge—will begin at that very moment. The Apocalypse —that unveiling of power and authority—will begin the process of God destroying the present evil system of satanically inspired, humanistic government. In its place, through seven years of purging by twenty-one specific judgments—seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls—will come the Second Advent of Christ, the King of all kings, and His thousand-year reign on a restored, Eden-like earth—the Millennium.
Each week, I receive emails and phone calls in which I’m told: “I’ve never felt like this before. There’s something that makes me think we might not even reach the November 5 election.”
That sense of impending something-or-the-other indeed seems on the minds of many believers who are paying attention. I must admit, I’ve had those “feelings” in recent days.
Of course, we can’t go too far down the road on “feelings,” because such sensations most generally are a mere reflection of human emotion. We’re confronted with all sorts of troubled symptoms of these times. Like old Lot, whom the Bible tells us was “vexed from day to day” with the ungodliness all around him in Sodom, we sometimes can see only a bleak future for ourselves and those we love.
Certainly there seems a time immediately ahead that is portentous. There are so many symptoms that look exactly like the Lord Jesus described when He answered His disciples’ question: “What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the age?”
To the believer who observes from the pre-Trib view of Bible prophecy, it’s as if the time of the Apocalypse is very near indeed. God’s judgment–Jesus Christ revealed in His divine office of Judge—must be about to, like in the days of Lot prophecy, rain down a fire and brimstone-like cataclysm upon the ungodliness all around us.
We’re approaching Apocalypse, to be sure. Israel’s front-and-center positioning on this end-times geopolitical landscape isn’t happenstance or coincidence. The way the world is dealing with God’s chosen people makes it clear that this age of God’s grace and divine patience is about to end, and that the time of His apocalyptic judgment is poised above a planet ripe for the Almighty’s wrath.
So, in my estimation, it isn’t altogether beyond spiritual reasoning to look with trepidation at the very near future. It is an ominous picture, to be sure. However, it isn’t a picture filled with trepidation for believers. The darkening angst we rightfully have is for those who haven’t come to salvation.
As a matter of fact, for the believer in Christ’s sacrifice as the only Way to God the Father (John 14:6), the immediate future is bright with God’s glorious promise.
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
We will, at any moment, in the “twinkling of an eye,” look into the eyes of our Lord and Savior. So, while we approach Apocalypse, let’s look at all the fearful signals happening in every direction as being but reminders of Jesus’ promise.
And when ye shall see all these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your head, for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28)
If you haven’t come to Christ for salvation, here once again is the way to make sure you will not be left behind to suffer the worst time in human history, but will go into the clouds of Glory to be with Jesus when He calls:
That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10)
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Jesus’s revelation about His call to us being as the days like those of Lot (and Noah), we must be very close. Although it is not possible for our days to be exactly like those days as long as the Church is on the earth; along with the Holy Spirit, we are restraining evil. There was no Restrainer during those times. Which raises the question in my mind, just how bad will things get before the Lord snatches us away?!
It is commonplace to see people with massive tattoos, and all manner of ‘body art’…rings, and piercings, purple/pink/blue hair cut in the least flattering ways, gender-bending facades (which to be honest feel downright ghoulish to me), and unashamedly wearing clothing that would make prostitutes blush. Not to mention the perverse language and what is accepted as modern pastimes, we surely are living in the the Days of Noah and Lot. Likely those 2 men would be alarmed to see our present day culture.
Yesterday I read that the Harris campaign was claiming that if Trump is elected, he would ban porn. It took a minute for me to grasp what they were saying, that it was such a terrible threat…the elimination of porn would be a bad thing?! Yep, that is exactly what they meant. How insane and debased is our culture when eliminating porn and abortion are considered to be anathema, and valid reasons to vote for a reprobate, incompetent, power hungry POTUS??? This is in addition to their claims that upholding the Rule of Law is discrimination.
What cause me anxiety is the possibility that we will still be here in 2-5 years. That train of thought upsets my mind. I must remember to trust in the Lord and His timing:
1-God is Sovereign and His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”
2-We must stay in today, because tomorrow has its own troubles. Matthew 6: 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
3-We are commanded to be salt and light; these are such vital roles to play while we remain here. Matthew 5:13-16 “13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.14-You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16-In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
There are days (today) that I feel like more devolvement of our society will take place before we are rescued to Heaven. Certainly not what I want, but it is very comforting to see more brothers and sisters coming to saving faith, every day, which makes the delay satisfying.
I say this to myself, and as an encouragement to all: eyes on Jesus, not on the storm.
Both articles were very good Terry. Both scenarios you portray are an excellent rendition of how things will play out. I see it verymuch as you have stated it. I have a good friend that I worked with for a number of years with whom I still keep in contact. He is a dyed in the wool Roman Catholic. Every time I would send him articles on current eventscompared to end times prophecy, he would just comment that he is not into that because it makes no senseto his line of understanding. He was very nicely telling me to stop sending him Christian stuff like that.So what I have done in place of that, is to send him articles on Israel, Iran and the current Middle East beingon the brink of full blown war, hoping it will pique his curiosity about the End of The World. But time isvery short for him to come around. His last response to me where I sent him a recent article all about Israel bombing Iran strategic militarysites and missile manufacturing plants etc., was that he wasn’t even aware of it until I sent himthe article to inform him on whats going on in the world. I was appalled. I would be willing to believe that his understanding of global events reflects many many peoplewalking the face of the Earth and this country in particular. Just breezing through life and playingthe game of being a supposed Christian. Lord Bless Mark
Terry, I agree with everything you said……and I, ALSO, keep feeling likeNov. 5th is going to be monumental for the country ( and the world ). It islike everyone is sitting
That even many secular people have the sense that “something is up” along with believers strongly suggests that “something” is indeed up! If is was just a hunch, I would not give it much credit but as it is also accompanied with the increase of all the prophetic signs we now see just provides supporting evidence that this goes beyond a subjective feeling.
I think the election in America next week will reveal much as to how near the Rapture may be.
Also, we should watch for something unexpected coming out of left field that no one anticipates. Although Noah likely had a decades-long heads up, Lot had no idea until the very night that God’s judgment was about to fall on his society.
I think it may be the same for us.
🙏🙏
The Bible prophesied 7-year Tribulation is at humanity’s doorstep & the time to escape is very short.
Thankfully, we do not have to guess when the Wrath of the Lamb is expected to take place. The Wrath is heralded by cosmic signs in the heavens announcing this time in the 6th Seal of Revelation chapter 6. This corresponds with with the declaration of the Prophet Joel.
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come”- Joel 2:31.
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;”- Revelation 6:12.
Prior to the Wrath of the Lamb the 144,000 servants of God (12,000 from each tribe of Israel) must be sealed as it is written in Revelation chapter 7.
“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads”. “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel”- Revelation 7:2-4.
Although the 6th Seal announces the coming Wrath of the Lamb the 144,000 must be sealed first. We do not see the Wrath of the Lamb begin until Revelation 8 as the first Angel sounds the first trumpet judgement.
“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up”- Revelation 8:7.
As was the case for many of the judgements carried out throughout the Biblical record, Angels were the vessels to carry out the will of God. While many believe and teach that the Seals are the Wrath of the Lamb, I do not agree with their conclusion for several reasons.
It is clear based on scriptural truth that the Wrath of the Lamb is announced by Cosmic signs and will not take anyone by surprise.
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”- Revelation 6:15-17.
What occurs prior to the Wrath of the Lamb beginning with the First Trumpet sounding? We see something very interesting detailed after the sealing of the 144,000.
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb”- Revelation 7:9-10.
I find great comfort in this scriptural truth!