Freeform Friday Week 17

I think it’s because many believers live with the misconception that they will have to suffer the wrath of God during the tribulation that they are so averse to being open to the possibility of going through the tribulation.

We know by way of Scripture that it is the ungodly who suffer the wrath of God, and not the saints. I believe wholeheartedly, without doubt or equivocation that though we might be physically present during the tribulation, we will not suffer the wrath of God which is being poured out.

Will times be hard? Yes, undoubtedly they will be, but they will also be times of supernatural provision, supernatural protection, and supernatural experiences.

If the days will come when the just will live by faith, then it is faith that will sustain us, and keep us. I realize some of us might like to think we’re currently living by faith, but there are safety nets and insular protocols we have in place wherein we’re close to living by faith perhaps, but not truly living by faith alone.

Whenever discussing the tribulation, and the role of the children of God in the midst of it, I always return to the land of Goshen in the midst of Egypt. It is the place where the people of God were during the time of the plagues, and consequently the only place within the whole of Egypt which did not suffer the plagues, or the wrath of God.

If we do not believe our God is able to protect us from His own wrath, then the image we have of God in our hearts and minds is one of impotence and not omnipotence.

As children of God we are as lights in the darkness, and there will be no darker a time than what is to come. As such there has never been a greater need for light than during those days wherein the cup of God’s wrath is being poured out.

What greater testimony could there be than to see the children of God spared and protected, while the godless endure His wrath?

What we must steel ourselves against is not the wrath of God for we will be protected from it, but from the persecution of the ungodly which we will undoubtedly endure during those days.

Those who fell away from truth for not having been prepared spiritually will be among the ungodly who will persecute the righteous, the elect, and the remnant of Christ.

Although the timing of Christ’s return is not a salvation issue, I do believe it is a ‘will you stand?’ issue.

If in my heart and mind I live with the full and unwavering expectation of Christ returning before tribulation descends and He does not, then although it’s my fault for believing something that was not biblically based, I will still shake my fist at God for not bringing to pass the lie I believed.

When speaking of the season of His return, Christ warns us that ‘many will be offended, betray one another, and hate one another.’

Feeling betrayed for not having been caught up before the coming of tribulation is as good a as any for many to be offended, and proceed to hate and betray one another.

If I live with the expectation of having to endure, if I live with the awareness that sooner or later ‘all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,’ then I live my life in such a way that I am not tethered to anything of this earth, and will willingly lay down my life for my Lord and King.

We will only realize the true measure of destruction the current breed of doctrines has wrought upon the household of faith when we see persecution descend, and see how few continue to stand.

I realize that to a certain extent I’m whispering in a windstorm here. The hardest segment of people to convince of something once they’ve made up their mind is believers.

Even when you show them the word of God, and prove that their doctrine is contrary to what the Book says, they’ll still shake their head, give you a pitying smile, and tell you that you just don’t understand, and haven’t yet received the revelation, whatever that’s supposed to mean.

All I can do is stand on the truth of God’s word.

I realize my stance has upset some of you, and I will likely lose supporters and readers, but it won’t have been the first time. If I am not willing to suffer the loss of some readers or supporters of the ministry for the sake of truth, how will I lay down my life when it’s required of me?

I will say the following, then just let the word of God make my case for me: I pray every day that God will count me worthy to escape these things, but I prepare every day as though I will have to endure to the end, just in case He doesn’t.

Our God is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace, but if not, He’s still God. In the end, it’s about what He’s already done for us through Christ, not what He will do for us. We have been reconciled unto the Father, through the death, burial and resurrection of the Son. We have a place in His home, in His presence, beholding His glory for all eternity. If need be that I must suffer in this present life, what is it to me when I know what awaits in the life to come?

2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

1 Peter 1:6-9, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.”

Matthew 24:21-25, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you, ‘look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “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.”

More could be said, but I leave you with these three questions: If the elect are already gone, why would those days be shortened for their sake? If the elect are already gone, how could the false christs and false prophets attempt to deceive them? If we shall all be changed at the last trumpet, how many trumpets after the last trumpet?

Bonus Scripture:

Matthew 24:29-30, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.

P.S. In the last two days I've had a wisdom tooth extracted, as well as endured a root canal. As such, the audio on the hand of help site will be a little late in coming. It's hard to talk with a mouthful of blood, and around what feels like a pound of gauze. Yeey tooth decay!