Evacuation and Invasion (Part B)

In my younger years as a Christian it was very easy to feel I can feel it when I sing I could feel it. But as the years rolled by taking so many hits. Any pastor will tell you this in around long. It's more faith than anything else is more of. I know this is the way the truth and the life. And I don't care how I feel. I know this is it. This is my God this is my Savior and I don't need anything to help me with this.

I have him. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the gospel of Mark. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue his message called evacuation and invasion as he teaches through Mark chapter 13 there are some that cannot meet they cannot assemble. They may have some illness or some other condition. Of course, that's understandable, but there are others that I I fear are neglecting a very easy calling.

It is hard to go to church and stay continued to go to church. Satan hates you doing it. He wants to break down your loyalty.

If we could have Christians that had truth and love and loyalty. We get a lot more done as a body of believers. What these things are evasive.

While that was just part of everything else that's coming back to this statement Jesus makes to the church in ancient Turkey in a city called Philadelphia. He says because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth well when he spoke it to that church. There was no trial. Coming upon the whole earth, and there has not been a trial. Come upon the whole earth like the one that's coming. He is talking about the great tribulation.

And so he says to this body of believers who have persevered and kept to his command, which is his word. I'm going to spare you from this tribulation that is coming. I'm not gonna wrap you in bubble wrap. I'm going to snatch you out of here is a lot of era in human theology due to a misunderstanding as far as making the difference between the church and the nation Israel.

They're not the same they are connected. There are similarities, but they are not identical, and if you if you cannot make that distinction, you're likely going to be a legalistic person you going to miss the emphasis of grace in your Christian walk.

At least that's been my experience. But this tribulation. The 3 1/2 with Israel. As I mentioned, comes from this verse one of many but Jeremiah 30 verse seven, the prophet says alas for that day is great so that none is like it and it is the time of Israel's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it see that the original Hebrew says Jacobs trouble while Jacob's name change is we know is talking about Israel. I have just given you an interpretive rendering of that verse and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, and how will they be saved out of it by the return of the Lord with the armies of heaven us along with him, the church age with its removal completes that dispensation that period of time, but it leaves behind the false church which is two parts to the false church.

It is apostate. In other words it's falling away from the Scripture from God's word. It really does he believe in God's word then then brings in the second part is ecumenical.

That means that it can pray with and include and mix in other religions without any disturbance to its conscience because it is dead completely. It is the apostate church. It is the great harlot that is mentioned in Revelation 18 and 19 and the harlot is the one that is unfaithful. She rides the beast. She is so to speak, the state church that is tolerated for a while by antichrist until finally he exalts himself and have will have none of that and but destroys even that the true church is not apostate again. Revelation chapter 3, the same church that he said I'm going to spare you this great tribulation. He says I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door. When did he do that Pentecost church was born come back to that moment, and no one can shut it. The church will be here. The true church that will be at the very least, a remnant of the true church preaching the word of God from the word of God.

He says, for you have a little strength is that not the church have kept my word and have not denied my name. You see the contrast between all of these ecumenical churches that are out there that have denied the Lord's name that are not keeping his word that are not persevering according to his commandments that are telling you. There are many roads that go to heaven and just pick one that we are not the only ones with it you can find it in the Jewish synagogue hindered in the in the Muslim mosque. You can find it under some tree if you doing Zen Buddhism is something all these roads lead to heaven. That's the lie that the telling people and you will know them by their fruits and the fruit will be.

Of course, whether it is true and sweet. According to Scripture, or if it's rotten, according to men, the church, the New Testament church. It was supernaturally injected into human history at Pentecost. There's no explanation for this, no wishing to survive those Jews to shut it down. If it weren't for God, but it was for God so it was supernaturally injected. It will be supernaturally ejected.

That is the rapture of the church.

The evacuation of believers. The removal of the true assembly which will be outlawed during antichrist time anyway and God knows he sees this happening. So I believe in the pre-tribulation. Removal of the church because I believe the Bible teaches it, and I'm not ever going to be in a mood to explain it away. Also one who needs 144,002 witnesses at the church is still here preaching the truth.

We need these supernaturally that's divinely protected believers because their message will be intolerant but God will protect them because there is again this assembly of believers outlawed. Listen, we just saw this and hope you been listening with just saw in our country in the world. Citizen pit is pitted against citizen to make sure you're wearing your master right way will in the time of antichrist are going to be citizen pitted against any citizen who decided to preach from the Bible what it says my point is it there will be those to make sure there's no preaching of the truth without consequence, and thus the tribulation converts in the tribulation martyrs and the tribulation of 144,000 who are protected in the two intolerant preachers of God's truth lead the 144,000 to Christ they will be protected only for a while and then they too will not be tolerated. So the return of Christ welcome the return for his church is the evacuation return. Seven years later with his church is the invasion, Jude chapter of apartment.

Jude 1414 verse of Jude. Behold, the Lord comes with 10,000s of his saints that goes along with what Jesus was saying herein. Verse 24 but in those days after the tribulation and he talks about the sun being dark dark increases then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory that will be us with him.

He is not coming alone, though he could. Revelation 1914 and the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses taking no-nonsense doesn't say that last part but that was happening. The alcohol that into your thoughts. That part about clothes in fine linen, white and clean. Just bookmark that the objective when he returns with us is to rescue Israel from extinction and to rescue humanity what's left of it from extinction. Second Thessalonians chapter 1.

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power not satellite. That's too bad you're not liking is not a legal way and not liking what the Bible teaches is not stop it. It continues on, and it will outlive every body who is against it with Aaron second Thessalonians, Paul is saying God is going to come deal with this is not going to wink at injustice and corruption all the evil done to his people and the blasphemy against his name and then he continues when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all who believe to be admired to scope. Yes, the beauty of the Lord something to behold is going to happen. You don't it will upset this week in my younger years as a Christian it was very easy to feel Christianity.

I could feel it when I did sing.

I could feel it. But as the years rolled by, and I've taken so many hits.

Any pastor will tell you this to be been around long enough.

It's more faith than anything else. It's more of. I know this is the way the truth and the life.

And I don't care how I feel. I know this is it.

This is my God this is my Savior and I don't need anything to help me with this. I have him and so my pointers when the end comes. Whether you like it or not it's coming, it's best to be on that side that is going to win and that is a side of Jesus Christ. So the two stages nonnormative. I'm repeating myself and I must because there are those who do not have a clear understanding of the end times and it to to sort of reinforce the lesson. I will repeat things such as first comes the rapture, the removal of the church that is the ignites the powder cake that lights the wick and then the seven year period of great tribulation. Then the Lord returns, then comes this thousand year reign and then Satan is let loose again for a little while after a thousand years, and Satan metals with humans were born doing that thousand year.

And he will gain those who come to his side and they will rebel against God and God will take him out instantly and then God will end the world as we know it. There will be a new heavens and a new earth and these things won't even come to mind, and he'll all get to that quote later if you stop slowing me down so the two stages of his return to rapture launching the great tribulation, just as when the Jews took the Passover feast while they were eating that meal the feast of Passover of of wheat of unleavened bread would then start it.

It would it would rolled it with a will merge. They were joined together.

One would move right into the other and so in Scripture.

Sometimes when they talk about these two fees they put them together as though it's one feast and you'd have to know the details to make the distinction.

While the rapture the rapture starts the great tribulation. That is, from evacuation and ending when Christ invades the world to take it back the great tribulation. That is coming is not hell broke loose. Hell can break loose. God is sovereign and he is not subject to anything from hell. Hell, is not the opposite of God is no union kind of thing going on here. God is sovereign over hell and he will let it loose, giving those the world as a unit everything they want. They want to listen to the lies out of hell. So God is going to give him the hell that they want to listen to the extends the messengers to give an alternative a way of escape, and they going to kill most of them. Isaiah 13 verse nine, the day of the Lord starts with the rapture. Behold, the day of Yahweh comes cool with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate, and he will destroy its sinners from it until he is going to read you that the great tribulation. Was his wrath of God poured out on the earth, and there is one of the verses that teaches us about those submitted to God will enter the kingdom of God when he returns those who reject him will be taken away to judgment and so when he says in Luke the map. One of these apostles Mark, then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Okay, then what happens then he judges those living during the great tribulation. And having sent his angels out to preach the gospel and the servants they will have no excuse. Then Luke 17 verse 35. Two women will be grinding together. One will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field will be taken one will be left. I know that when you read that it did result.

This is the rapture. While it's true of the rapture but in the context that it was given is the judgment, and in the beginning of his return Matthew 25, 46, all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats and these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. So you see, there's the context of it being at his return because it does not take place at the rapture. So the three aspects, one more time. Evacuation the invasion. Seven years later, and then the judgment and occupation, so it kinda works out because I'm really that smart know that's not funny. I got feelings evacuation invasion and occupation. That's just too easy. Anyway, so the question I was asked about all this last week was will we be rapture without closing is a good question. It's cute but it's a good question because I'm fighting thoughts about full moons and things like that on the way up yes and no doubt we will have close on that's the first answer but they won't be these close and for some of you that will be a great relief for the rest of us, but I see you been reading the lost and found again. I'm a men's fashion has been dead for LK back to this second Corinthians chapter 5. If, indeed, having been clothes we shall not be found naked as a dual meaning it's a spiritual yes were covered in Christ but also remember were riding back in white linen that's connected and aren't we glad that we not going up that way. First Corinthians 1551, this is is where Paul is talking about the rapture is as behold, I tell you a mystery.

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed so we have that justification, sanctification, glorification, these bodies unfit for the eternal. For the atmosphere to me. We can even make it in in places on earth.

So the body has to be change and so will the garment be changes an indication of all these things. Glorified bodies fit for a glorious atmosphere while our present clothing will vanish into oblivion. Cotton is just not going to help you out in the spiritual realm and is going to have to first review I want stillness little bit because I liked it and and and and I got the okay from God to do it, so I hope it's beneficial.

Go back to with me and for strength is what he says we shall not all sleep shall not all die but we shall be changed in a moment in an instant twinkling light just like that is going take place when God says when he's the last trumpet sounds a change is going to be instant the last trumpet Roman Army which Paul uses as his template for these analogies, and even the Jews in the in the wilderness. But back to the Roman one had three trumpets for their armies of the first trumpet meant break. The second trumpet meant lineup in the third trumpet said let's march and ask the last trumpet let's let's march, so in Christ close that last trumpet to pull his church out. That's the reference Matthew nine verse six no lesson first 2053 for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality would not fit for heaven physically.

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. We can't die, we were fitted with a new body. The organs will break down the things that make us live there will not fail. So Matthew 916 no one puts on a piece of unstrung cloth on an old garment for the patch pulls away from the garment and the tear is made worse. And of course he's talking about is coming and you know this you you can't take all things and put them on new things when it's time for the new thing is not a good fit is the precedence.

Yes, this happened before second Kings this is Eliza being taken up in that chariot. Then it happened, as they continued on and talk. It's Elijah and Elisha's disciple that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two men and Elijah went up in a whirlwind into heaven and Elisha sought, and he cried out, my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and his horsemen.

That's a lamentation and amazement at the same time so he saw him no more. And he took all hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood with the bank of the Jordan soaked the cloak that Elijah the prophet had that was discarded and Elisha pick it up, picked it up and with that he part of the Jordan. It was part of his ministry's tool anyway. There, the great prophet was taken up into heaven, he had no need for a cloak where he was going and back to the white robes. No jeans, T-shirts, dresses, suits and ties in heaven appears and you can cross-reference this in Revelation 113 were Jesus himself manifest himself to John and he is clothed with a robe down to his feet and Revelation 4479 you just throughout Revelation, just take a concordance. Look up the word clothed in the book of Revelation and you will see that there is an emphasis placed on our being in proper attire. Matthew 22 verse 11. When the Kings the parable of Christ be speaking about showing up in in proper attire, but when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment and he was speechless. And then he was judged and Soviet there. It matters, it does count and I thought it was a good question.

Verse 28 now. Now we begin now we begin verse 28 now learn this parable from the fig tree when his branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So he's drawing from the surrounding a singular accompanist of lay something to illustrate for you pound of illustration is worth a ton of explanation, but here's another for metaphor with the old with the fig tree, which is the Old Testament standard for singling out Israel and making a distinction between Israel and all the other nations.

Israel is the fig tree that you wouldn't say that of the of Egypt you would not say that of Syria. It was Israel. That's the fig tree, so when he says learn this parable from Israel. You see, now, now we understand that this is making a lot more sense. The fruitless fig tree that he talked about in chapter 11 symbolize the corruption of her leaders, but this is different. This is he's picturing this fig tree, with its foliage reviving, indicating a new season, a productive nation, indicating that his return is imminent. It's it's going to happen and he puts the barrier on older brother boundaries on it. In this generation, which will get to and so having taught about his return after the great tribulation in verse 24.

He now returns to events leading up to the great tribulation. That's what we are in the sequence of end times events here in verse 28. What happens before the rapture rapture is coming, the removal of the church. What happens right before that this 20 verse and he is indicating that those who are going to be living right before that moment there will be signs day of the Lord is about to happen.

Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick.

We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of Mark right here on cross reference radio