Bible Answers for Hot Button Questions
Part 5
Q: I heard you say on the radio that the Great Tribulation is the wrath of God poured out on the world. I do not believe that the Great Tribulation is the wrath of God. It is the wrath of the prince of this world as he knows his time is short.
Revelation 12:12 NASB
“For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.”
A: In order to better understand this passage, we need to back up to verse 9 where we read:
Revelation 12:9 ESV
“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
Isaiah 14:12 ESV
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!”
After this first casting out, we know that he still had access to heaven. Scripture shows him before God’s throne challenging God about Job (Job 1:6). And Jesus said that the devil also approached God about Simon Peter, asking permission to “sift him like wheat” (Luke 22:31).
However, Satan will be cast out again during the Tribulation period where he will lose all access to heaven. This will infuriate him for he will then realize his time is short.
Revelation 15:1 NIV
“I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.”
So the Tribulation Period of 7 years is the wrath of God poured out on a Christ-rejecting world.
Notes
Q: I believe we (the church) will be here for the Tribulation period, but from studying scripture I believe that Jordan, Israel and the USA will escape the clutches of the Antichrist, the world government and his control. Therefore we will not be subject to taking the mark.
A: Okay, as for Israel, Jordan, and the USA being exempt from Antichrist’s world government, again, I must turn to Scripture. John writes,
Revelation 13:7 NKJV
“It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
Revelation 13:16 NKJV
“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.”
All, Every, and All make it quite clear that no one will escape the short-lived rule of antichrist.
Notes
Q: What are your thoughts on predestination, and why it seems to have become a popular idea throughout the Christian community? I had never heard of Calvinism until the last couple of years.
A: Ok, first, Calvinism is the theological belief system that brought predestination into major focus. It originated with John Calvin, who was born on July 10, 1509, and died May 27, 1564, at the age of 55.
He was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation, and was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology that later bore his name.
Calvinism includes the doctrines of predestination and of the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and eternal damnation.
Now, Calvinistic predestination includes the belief that God appointed the eternal destiny of some to salvation by grace, while leaving all others to receive eternal damnation for all their sins. This is also called “unconditional election.” If God elects to save me, I will be saved. If He doesn’t, I won’t.
I don’t believe that this view of predestination lines up with Scripture. The Bible teaches predestination, but not Calvinistic Predestination. Bible predestination is where God has pre-determined, not who is saved, but the character of the saved.
Romans 8:28-29
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,”
Illustration
Look at it like this. Let’s say the entire human race is offered a free ticket to board a train whose destination is a beautiful ocean village. Anyone who doesn’t take a ticket will suffer a massive fire that will one day engulf them.
Many men and women are sent out into the crowd of humanity with the good news that these free tickets are available. All the recipients must do is confess that they have muddy shoes, and must receive new, clean shoes in order to board the train. Once done, they are saved from what is coming.
Now, Calvinism would say that there is no choice, but those that receive tickets are chosen to receive them to the exclusion of everyone else. All others have no hope of a ticket. Only those chosen will board the train to safety, headed for the beautiful ocean town.
Acts 10:34 NKJV
“Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.”
Titus 2:11 NKJV
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,”
1 Timothy 2:3-4 NKJV
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
John 3:16 NKJV
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Notes
Q: I know some would say we should never question God’s actions but why did the spirit of the Lord leave Saul and why would a harmful spirit enter Saul?
A:
1 Samuel 16:14 NIV
“The Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.”
This is also mentioned in 1 Samuel 16:15–16, 23; 18:10; and 19:9.
First, the evil spirit was “from” the Lord in that it was allowed by God to harass Saul. Ultimately, all created things are under God’s control. It is likely that this evil spirit was part of God’s judgment upon Saul for his disobedience.
Saul had directly disobeyed God on two occasions—when he offered an offering only the priest was ordained to do, and when he spared wicked King Agag when Samuel had commanded him to kill him.
Therefore, God removed His Spirit from Saul and allowed an evil spirit to torment him. Likely, Satan and the demons had always wanted to attack Saul; God was now simply giving them permission to do so.
Second, the evil spirit was used to bring David into Saul’s life. This account is recorded immediately following David’s anointing as the future king of Israel.
1 Samuel 16:15-16 NIV
“… ‘See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”
So the sovereignty of God was at work in all of this. Saul disobeyed God and opened the door to Satanic harassment. Yet God, Who never causes evil but uses man’s evil designs to weave together His plan, used Saul’s torment to bring David into his presence.
As to whether or not he was saved, the Bible says yes.
1 Samuel 28:19 NIV
“The LORD will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
Notes
Q: Dear pastor, if only one of the spouse pays tithe at church, How does the promises of God ( Malachi 3:10-12) get fulfilled in the household?
A: Ok, this person is asking whether God will still bless a household with two incomes if only one of the two spouses tithes. First, God looks on the heart. The Bible teaches that God deals with us as individuals. We will each individually answer to God for how we walked out our Christianity.
Philippians 2:12 NKJV
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”
It is each man’s own work; no human friend, no pastor, not even an apostle (like Paul), can work it for him. We will answer at the Judgment Seat of Christ, not for our sins which are forgiven, but for our works—how we obeyed Christ in this life. What our lives produced for His glory.
I just don’t find God cursing people for not giving in the NT. NT giving is grace-driven out of a thankful heart, not mandated by law. Christians are under the law of grace and the guidance of the Spirit, not the letter of the law.
Matthew 6:21 KJV
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Acts 30:35 KJV
“… It is more blessed to give than to receive.”