Part 2
Reference and Study Notes
Below are my notes for What Now? What’s Next? Notes from bible study.com and the Blue Letter Bible app (BLB) and biblestudytools.com. Feel free to spend time researching. You will always be blessed through the study and reading of God’s Word. I also would encourage you to purchase a good study Bible. May God bless your journey and find you in His grace, mercy and love. In Jesus’ name I pray and ask for God’s leading in your life. May He send His angels of salvation and protection to guide and guard your steps.
Some believe the Rapture of the Church precedes and ushers in the Great Tribulation.
What does that mean? Scripture highlights Jesus coming back for His Bride— the Church before the Great Tribulation. These final events are considered catastrophic because it is the coming judgment for Satan and his demons and the people who do not know or follow Jesus— the Son of God as LORD and Savior.
Scripture states that the born again believers described by Jesus in John 3 will be caught up to meet Him.
Deception will be a catalyst for those who fall under Satin’s lure. Deception begins when we do not obey or surrender to God’s plan for us. His plan is to come to Him in obedience surrendering to His will for our lives. His will is that all mankind come to Him with the assurance of His salvation. If you turn and walk away, you are in danger.
Times will be tumultuous because Satin knows his time is short. He wants nothing more than to steal your salvation, kill all efforts to you submitting to God, and destroy your future at eternal life with Jesus as LORD. Jesus said,
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
The way I think of this . Those born again believers are – no where to be found— leaving us with these questions. What do we do now and what is next on the global agenda?
I have to admit, this as a most difficult article to write because it literally hasn’t happened, yet. Bible prophecy, or promises to Christians state that He will return for His Bride—the Church. Yes, even Jude quotes manuscripts written by Enoch, close to the days of Adam and Eve in the following verses,
“14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him. ”
16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.”
Jesus’ Warning
“Jesus ends a prophetic message by warning believers not to be so preoccupied with the cares and pleasures of the world and that they are fully prepared for His coming.” (FireBible Study Notes from Luke 21: 34.) We have to always be ready.
Watch Yourselves
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. ” (Luke 21:34-36)
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,(Ephesians 6:10-18, ESV).
| The Triumphs of Faith 1 ¶ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. |
| 2 For by it the men of old fngained approval. |
| 3 ¶ By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible |
(Hebrews 11: 1-3)
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
(Revelations )
The Beast
| 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform fnin the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. |
| 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even fnspeak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. |
| 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, fnto be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, |
| 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. |
| 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is fnsix hundred and sixty-six. |
Many sincere believers say the tribulation will start before the rapture, but the Bible itself makes an important distinction that must not be ignored.
The rapture and the tribulation are two different events with two different purposes.
1. The Church is promised deliverance from God’s wrath
The tribulation is clearly described as a period of God’s wrath, not ordinary persecution.
📖 1 Thessalonians 1:10
“…Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:9
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
📖 Revelation 3:10
“I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world…”
If the Church is kept from the hour, not through it, then removal must come before it begins.
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2. The tribulation begins after the Restrainer is removed
The Antichrist cannot be fully revealed until the restrainer is taken out of the way.
📖 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7
“…only he who now letteth (restrains) will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed…”
The Holy Spirit indwelling the Church is the restrainer.
The Church must be removed before the Antichrist and the tribulation system can be revealed.
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3. The Church is absent from Revelation chapters 6–18
Revelation chapters 1–3 speak clearly to the Church. From chapter 6 onward (the tribulation judgments), the Church is no longer mentioned on earth.
Instead we see:
Israel (144,000 sealed Jews – Rev. 7)
Tribulation saints
Nations under judgment
📖 Revelation 4:1
“Come up hither…”
This is a picture of the Church being caught up before the seals are opened in chapter 6.
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4. Jesus describes the rapture as sudden and signless
If the tribulation must begin first, the rapture could be calculated.
But Scripture says it cannot be predicted.
📖 Matthew 24:44
“In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
📖 1 Corinthians 15:52
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…”
The tribulation has clear signs.
The rapture does not.
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5. Tribulation saints are not the Church
Some confuse believers during the tribulation with the Church.
📖 Revelation 7:14
“These are they which came out of great tribulation…”
They are people who believed after the rapture, often at the cost of their lives.
They are not called the Bride or the Body of Christ.
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Conclusion (balanced and biblical)
The Bible does not teach that the Church will enter the tribulation.
It teaches:
The Church is removed first
Then the seals, wrath, and tribulation begin
Timeless Treasures 