Part 2: Introduction

 

Copyright 2024 Michael A. Brown

        Whereas Part 1 of this book focused on the theme of the pre-tribulation rapture, as the event which all believers should be looking forward to with joy and anticipation, much of Part 2 which follows is taken up with the theme of what happens in this world after the rapture, in the end-period of this age.  As such, it makes much use of the book of Revelation, and generally follows a moderate futurist interpretation.  However, it is not intended to be a commentary on Revelation, and indeed there are many things in Revelation that it does not address.

      The prophetic scriptures speak about the sunteleia, the consummation or end-period of this age after the rapture, more than about any other event or period of time in history, apart from the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ.  The fact that the Holy Spirit spoke so much about this period of time emphasises that God wants us to know, and that we therefore can know and need to know, what is going to happen in the world after the rapture.  To be or to remain ignorant of this would be to do ourselves a great disservice.  It is something we need to know about, so that we can warn people, both believers and unbelievers, so that they can prepare themselves by repenting from sin and living a pure and obedient life in Christ, and therefore be ready when the Bridegroom comes for his bride.

      The simple (and to some people the unpalatable) truth is that the end-times are now upon us.  They are not ‘coming soon,’ they are already here!  Events around us everywhere, and in every relevant sphere of human life, confirm this fact.  We have already entered the time when what the Bible says about the end-times is playing out before our eyes.  To live in denial of this is either ignorance or blindness, or it is simply to bury our head in the sand and pretend that it is not really happening.  We need to be prophetically aware of these end-times in which we live, and to live in the light of this.

      The teaching of eschatology (i.e. teaching about the end-times), is neglected in too many churches in our generation, especially in UK.  And this therefore leaves many believers woefully ignorant about many things which they ought to know and understand.  The influence of left-wing liberalism has made such inroads into church life generally that it has shifted people’s attention away from – or even silenced altogether – the prophetic voice about what is ahead.

      The apostle Peter tells us that, in their day, the Old Testament prophets searched the Scriptures intently and with the greatest care to try to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ within them was pointing, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow (1 Peter 1:10-11).  In the same way, the Lord’s prophets and watchmen today also search the Scriptures intently and with the same great care to find out the timing and circumstances of the end-time events which are even now beginning to unfold on planet earth.  We are consciously aware that the Holy Spirit within us is pointing to these events, and he is giving us a deep inner witness that they are to be fulfilled very soon.  He is telling us as the body of Christ that the time has come, and that we therefore need to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord!

      As I said in my introduction to Part 1, this book presents a pre-tribulation view of the rapture, and this is embedded in a premillennial view of the end-times.  In doing this, it is not my desire or intention to enter into polemical conflict with anyone, but simply to present my own convictions on what I believe the Scriptures teach about these matters.

      So Part 2 has been written not just to inform you as the reader of what lies just ahead, it is an exhortation to prepare yourself, by getting right with God through the gospel message of Christ and living a life that pleases him.  Time is short, and we need to focus on that which is worthwhile for eternity, rather than simply allowing our time to be consumed and our life wasted by almost non-stop trivia which is of no eternal value.  To live on the watchtower is to carry responsibility.  It is to warn people, by blowing the trumpet and sounding the alarm, so that sleeping believers and those who do not yet know Christ can wake up and respond accordingly.  To be forewarned is to be forearmed: the apocalypse is rising!

      Although this book was first published in 2022, yet I have endeavoured since then to keep up it up to date with the unfolding development of end-times events by occasionally inserting relevant details or footnotes.  This should be clear to the reader.