Will the Church Go Through “The Tribulation”?

Will the church go through the great tribulation. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hire Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to hear from you and here's our phone number is 833 the Corvettes 1-833-843-2673 you can call us for the next 25 minutes or so. So jump on your phone right now. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites and of course you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Dave calling in from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dave, what's your question for Pastor Israel was basically inked to differentiate the old covenant and the new covenant, and I was also wondering in relation to that, it if I you have any recommendation to read more on this book or anything. Thank you, thank you for that question will leave the old covenant. Often times when when Scripture speaks of the old covenant, referring to the Mosaic covenant, the covenant was made with the people of God through Moses and typically the new covenant in the New Testament is contrasted with the Mosaic. We see this especially in the book of Galatians in places like Galatians chapter 3 you have this this distinction if you will, between the law that was given and the promise of God that came to Abraham when God gave the promises to Abraham.

Of course we have the prophecy related to the new covenant in Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 31 behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was there.

Husband declares the Lord, for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put my law within them and I will write it on their hearts to love God written on tablets of stone under the old covenant given to Moses now under the new covenant given through Jesus Christ. He instituted me know when he gave the Lord's supper.

This cup is the new covenant in my blood. He by the power of the Holy Spirit, writes his law on the hearts of his people. I will be their God and they shall be my people. Jeremiah continued and no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying no, the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Now is not the old covenant was was defective. If you will just have this this built in obsolescence, it wasn't. It wasn't going to continue forever because there was something greater that the reality of the new covenant in Christ's redemptive work. The old covenant, the law was given for a time. In particular, Paul says in Galatians chapter 3 to lead us to Christ sort like a schoolmaster, leading us to Jesus and the promise of the gospel. Now that we have the promise. The reality Christ in the new covenant we no longer live under the Mosaic covenant and in the system of Old Testament law on the same sense that they did back then, of course, God's moral law you think of the 10 commitments is always binding for the people of God. But when we think about the various ceremonies and civil laws associated with the Mosaic covenant were not under that not under Moses were under Jesus Christ and and that's the beauty of what we read about their in Jeremiah Jeremiah chapter 31 he is what's unpacked in the New Testament again. I mentioned Jesus instituting the Lord's supper. This cup is the new covenant in my blood every time we take the Lord's supper is the people of God will were participating in this covenant renewal if you will. Are you clinging to the promises that God gives us the forgiveness of sins, and you can read more about that the new covenant places like the book of Hebrews, I think specifically of Hebrews chapter 8 again emphasizing the fact that the fault was not with the covenant per se. The fault was with people they broke the covenant.

For he finds fault with them. The author, the Hebrew says in Hebrews chapter 8 verse eight therefore he says the days are coming, declaring, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel with the house of Judah, and that's a covenant that you and I get to be a part of and in in terms of other books that you can read related to covenant and even covenant theology.

One of the books I recommend often times is a book called sacred bond which is an introduction to covenant theology recommend you check that out. But in terms of Scripture you're going want to be Jeremiah 31 Hebrews chapter 8 the entire book of Galatians and I think that'll get that'll get you started as you think about this crucial distinction between the old and the new. Thank you Dave for your question. Thanks Dave appreciate that love the book of Galatians for that very reason.

So thank you for mentioning those scriptural references and really important really keep this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez know there are some major themes in the Bible and we actually have a great new free resource that addresses those things one offer that to you today. Yet a free downloadable resource called five themes to help you understand the Bible. One of our goals here at core Christianity is to give you a deeper understanding of the Scriptures we know that this is just crucial to the spiritual life, rightly dividing the word of truth and so many of these free resources that we create are are about equipping you to understand the Bible and that's what this is that this does five themes to help you understand the Bible goes through some of these themes related to covenant just talking about that with the previous caller gospel. The kingdom of God deems easy over and over again in the Bible so get a hold of this resource and and use it in your own personal study as you dig into the Scriptures again. It's a free downloadable resource over our website you can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers course you can always call us for that resource for anyone of our resources is our phone number.

You can also call this number right now. If you have a question for a drill about the Bible or the Christian life doctrine theology where open to any of your questions at 833 the core that's a 33 843-2673 let's go to a voicemail that we received from one of our listeners earlier this week and share it out a little bit Christian I was a little thank you very much. Thank you for your question. You know II think this is an important one and one that we often get into on the broadcast. Let me preface all of my comments by saying were talking about eschatology were talking about the doctrine of the last things. Here's what we need to get here's what what what's at the core of Christianity. If you will, when it comes to the doctrine of the last things we need to all agree that Jesus is coming back to judge the world, there will be a physical bodily return of Jesus to judge the world that something the Scriptures make absolutely clear and that something that we can all agree on. Now there are differences pertaining to you know is is he going to rapture his church prior to the second coming and then to the rapture of the church and then there's a period of tribulation, a seven year period of tribulation. Some people think it's in a be in 03 and 1/2 peaceful years and then 3 1/2 really difficult years based on some passages in the book of Revelation. Then after that time Jesus is going to come with his church who he'd eat already enraptured out to redeem those saints were converted during the time of the tribulation, then to judge the world that's that's one way that people look at things. That's not my view. I think that a lot of times the passages of people .2 to make a case for the rapture actually just referring to the one second coming of Jesus of the dark separate comings of Jesus, one for his church and then another one later to judge the world know there's just one second coming in the Bible. And so with that I think that yes Christians are going to experience tribulation great tribulation. Even in this even in this time a part of your question assumes that's an appeal.

The literal seven years, I take that the timeframe there in the book of Revelation, where you have discussion of seven years or 3 1/2 years, specifically to be to be symbolic in nature so that it's not when talking about a literal timeframe per se, but these numbers are highly symbolic magic that is a part of rightly interpreting and understanding the book of Revelation, but more specifically to your question, even to the language of great tribulation in the Bible.

If we turn to Revelation chapter 7 John is a vision I don't read some of his vision. He says in verse nine of chapter 7 after this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice.

Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb and all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.

Amen.

Then one of the elders address me, saying, who are these clothed in white robes and from where have they come in. I said to him, sir.

You know, he said to me, these are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb that language of great tribulation is something we see in other places we see it in Jesus is his discourse in Matthew chapter 24 verse 21 a. Of great trial period of great tribulation.

It's drawing from there. In Matthew 24 and also here in Revelation chapter 7, drawing from prophecies and Daniel specifically Daniel chapter 12 it speaks of a time of great trial that's that's where that the Old Testament roots of this idea are and if you read the book of Revelation that those Daniel prophecies had already begun to be fulfilled in the church and what the church was experienced when John wrote the book of Revelation to say that this this was you know some future reality thousands of years after John wrote the book of Revelation for a period of seven years. It had nothing to do with his original audience that wouldn't make sense of the book of Revelation, we see in the book of Revelation. John says at the beginning of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 1 verse nine I John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus was a kingdom, the church, the people of God and tribulation go hand-in-hand just as that's we see throughout the book of Revelation.

Even the letters to the seven churches in chapters 2 and three.

These churches are experiencing tribulation chapter 2 verse nine I know your tribulation and your poverty but you are rich.

Another difference between the church experiencing tribulation and condemnation.

We will in this world have tribulation. Jesus said that John chapter 16. But take heart I have overcome the world so we don't need to be terrified we do experience tribulation in this world are Christians today in different parts of the world that are being persecuted put to death for their faith in Jesus Christ and we need to be praying for them.

This is this is the reality and has been the reality for 2000 years. This this time of trial. This time of tribulation, and it's our job to hold fast to the gospel to the truth of God's word and so that's I understand those passages in the book of Revelation, but again there's room for disagreement on this and I appreciate you calling in and looking for clarification. I pray that the Lord blesses you sister. Great explanation. Thank you so much for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Tricia who is calling in from Long Island, New York. Tricia what your question for a drill attending a church that follows Scripture and everything, except that they don't baptize people that believe in Jesus death on the cross is sufficient for salvation. The problem is that I feel that God wants obedience to his word and the word count of at least two times to be baptized. I steal from Genesis to Revelation. God has always been tired, obedient, the only other church anywhere near our geographical area that is scripturally sound, including baptism is one that my husband had a falling out with with the pastor. I am in a quandary.

We both baptized, but because I can feel obedience is of prime importance. How does God feel about being in a church that doesn't practice baptism Tricia thank you for that question, and there's a lot there. You are right that this is an important issue and it's something that's commanded in Scripture and in it.

The reason is given to us by Jews, that is not just the sort of empty command. Baptism is is a sign and seal of gospel realities.

And so it's a gift that God gives to us to not baptize or to not receive baptism is to deny this this wonderful gospel gift. It's meant to seal to our consciences. The love and goodwill of God toward his people.

Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 28. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the agent with this. Is this something you can be going to the very end of the age. At no point we stopped baptizing, and so to do not baptize us to minimize what Christ has commanded and to neglect a gift that God gives to his people. It's a serious thing now, I realize you're in a difficult position sister Tricia and I think that it's so unfortunate when you in situations like this where you were going to church and boy it seems like they they get some things right, but other things I just don't see them in Scripture and and and saw the nowhere else to go well here. We can distinguish between one true and false churches.

There are some churches that call themselves churches that are just not churches where the gospel is not preached were Christ is not honored and then there are true churches that we might say or less pure, that is, you know, maybe they get some things right, but there are other things that they they don't get right in this situation it seems to me like the church that your and does not get baptism right they might preach Jesus for the forgiveness of sins they might, you know, do a great job ask positing Scripture in in in other places, but for whatever reason I don't I don't fully understand what the rationale of the pastor of the church is here they they neglect this very important thing I would say get into a church that is as pure as you can find that is a church takes all of Scripture seriously and if you can't find anything nearby you I think you know maybe for a season okay we can go here. I would definitely sit talk to the leadership there and and and and try to meet it try to tell them what their newness is out there and I may have obviously graciously but really wanting to get to the bottom of this. I think this is maybe an area where you can help and provide resources, but ultimately you want to be in a place where the word of God in the worship of God is taken seriously. And baptism is part of that and I tell people system at a note this is possible for you, but I tell people is even worth moving somewhere and if there's no church where you live where the word of God is being faithfully taught and what you can fellowship with other believers. Bender there's nothing more important than being in a solid good church, and so might be something for it for you and for you, for your husband to consider will may be made. We need to go somewhere else and might I recommend San Diego for you.

By the way, because you will hear and there are plenty of charges but but all that to say. May the Lord give you wisdom. This is a serious issue.

I do think maybe for a time you can you can be there, but I would agree with you that you don't not being willing to baptize is is a significant issue in the church and so God bless you Tricia so is there particular church. You might recommend pastor Israel yeah church that I pastor yeah yeah yeah so look us up.

That's great.

I love it had.

First, thank you so much for your call. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by where we have this wonderful resource available to you today on the themes of the Bible. It's absolutely free and you can find this by going the core Christianity.com/offers again. It's called five themes to help you understand the Bible. Core, Christianity.com/offers go to Ed who is calling in from Largo, Florida that is that in the Tampa St. Petersburg area. Thank you for taking my call.

You bet what your question for Israel. I am very, very loving users teaching church nondenominational.

We celebrate communion every Sunday and I was wondering if it's biblical for the pastor to ask those who were not committed to Jesus as Savior, to not participate in communion and I'm so grateful to hear that you're in a church that loves Jesus and is committed to the word of God with regard to your question, I would say that the answer is yes is sometimes referred to as fencing the table.

The communion table.

The bread in the line of holy Communion, not just for perk for everyone, for God's covenant people similar to baptism. This is this is a sign and seal of the promises of the gospel that we receive by faith into someone doesn't have faith who is not in communion with Jesus Christ and with his church should not be baptize should not receive the gifts of holy Communion and of course we can get into the discussion of infant baptism which I enjoy talking about but but the realities of the these covenant signs are given to God's people and their children about somebody who's outside of the covenant community somebody who doesn't have faith who rejects the gospel well they should not be admitted to the Lord's table.

First you have baptism uses that the sign of entrance into the visible church for us for our children and then you have holy communion. It's this this picture of God's continued success sustenance for the Christian life.

You know you see for example Paul in first Corinthians chapter 11 talking about the Lord's supper and giving a warning to the church there. Because you had people who were approaching the table without faith in in unrepentant sin, he says, look, God is going to judge you if you do that and so this is a serious thing it gets to the very heart of our worship and what right worship is and so it's not is not unloving for your pastor to say hey if you're not a Christian were asking you to abstain from. This is such a loving thing to do because coming without faith invites God's judgment and you also want to know the people were coming to the table to understand, to be able to rightly discern the Lord's body. As Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 11. That's the language that he uses examining yourself so that you may eat of the bread and drink of the cup for anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That's first Corinthians chapter 11 verse 29 and so that I would I would see this is as a good practice for your church to have an important one and hopefully the people that are better visiting the church going to the church maybe who don't believe in Jesus have not yet been baptized as an opportunity for them to begin to ask questions and maybe to meet with the pastor, the elders or even other members including yourself so that you guys can begin to have conversations about the sweetness of God's mercy and the gifts that he gives to us as his people to remind us of and nourish us in the promises of his gospel, the forgiveness of our sins. God bless.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, we do receive emails here. If you have a question for us. You can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com again that's questions at core, Christianity.com one from Steve.

He says in the Bible there are gospel from John, Matthew, Luke and Mark. How did they write our Lord's words did they follow Jesus and write what he said or is what they have written their interpretations of Jesus words mean so.

The Gospels are given on the basis of eyewitness accounts. When I think of for example the beginning of Luke's gospel in Luke chapter 1 is much as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us. Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us. It seemed good to me. Also, having followed all things closely for some time past to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught and maybe we'll see what Mark's gospel was Mark was probably not an eyewitness, per se, but he was getting his testimony from Peter there some evidence of this later in the church fathers and so what we do have in the Gospels is or are eyewitnesses eyewitness accounts of the ministry of our Lord there's there's a general name Richard Baucom was written a wonderful book on this.

Just thinking about the eyewitness eyewitness testimony of the Gospels and why we can why we can believe that that's that's exactly what we have and were looking at the Gospels and again just thinking of Luke's words only. Why do we what we have this eyewitness orderly account so that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. Let me say something to brothers and sisters. The Christian faith rests on the reality of what God has accomplished in history we can be certain of the fact that Jesus came that he lived. He died for our sins, and that he rose again from the dead, and that there were many eyewitnesses who saw impulses this verse contains 15. Our faith is not a feeling of fact is, it's ineffective what Christ is done. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time.

As we explore the truth of God's word together