Page 131 - Apologetics Student Textbook

Is the end of the world coming soon?

By this question, I am assuming you are talking about the death of all the
population of the earth. The answer to that question is NO, not anytime
soon or in the far future of the earth, according to the Bible.

However, the Bible does tell us that an event is coming which will change
the earth so that life as we know it today will be totally different. And many
Bible scholars predict that this event is coming very soon. It is called the
rapture of the church followed by the Great Tribulation and second coming
of Jesus Christ to earth, all happening in sequential fashion.

The word rapture is not found in the Bible, but the event is described in detail.

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I Thessalonians 4: 16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are
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alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and
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so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

John 14:1-3 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are
many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I
am.

The rapture is an event which will happen in an instant. All those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus
Christ as their Savior and Lord will hear a trumpet and will disappear to meet Christ in the clouds. You
can imagine the massive confusion this event will bring to the earth. Millions of people will instantly be
gone. Cars will crash, airplane will fall from the sky, and the world will be brought to utter confusion. It
could be that this event brings down the economies of many nations in the world.

Once the Lord removes believers from the world, a seven-year period of tribulation is described in the
Bible. It is described in detail in the book of Revelation.

Matthew 24:21-22 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.

It is at this period a one-world leader will rise to power and control the economy of the entire world.
People will fall down and worship him as God. Revelation 13 tells us that people will not be able to
purchase or sell items unless they receive his mark on their foreheads or fore hands. He will control
every person’s life.

This time, also called the “Time of Jacob’s Troubles” in the Bible, is a horrendous time of awful pain for
rebellious mankind and destruction of the infrastructure of all society. In fact, the agony will be so
severe that many will seek death over the torment, but not be able to find death.

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