As the miles and hours of travel pass on a road trip, children typically ask that frustrating question: “Are we there yet?” Every parent knows this scenario and, in response, tries to distract, entertain, or assure the kids of the great things to come when the trip is over.
As Bible-believing Christians, we, too, wonder when the journey will be over, when all the prophecies of Scripture concerning the end-times will be fulfilled and we can experience the great blessings of Messiah’s return. The Thessalonian church shared this concern 2,000 years ago (2 Thessalonians 2:1–2).
Evaluating the effects of major developments in recent years, including COVID-19 and the unprecedented unrest and confusion unleashed across the whole earth, we also find ourselves asking, “Are we there yet? Have we reached the start of the Tribulation period?”
Good Bible teachers often say, “There is nothing that has to happen before the Rapture can take place.”
Living in the Church Age, we have the privilege and responsibility of sharing the gospel and living for His glory. When this present age comes to an end, Christ will come in the air to take His church from the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18) to be with Him in heaven (John 14:1–3). This Rapture will take place suddenly (1 Corinthians 15:51–53) and without warning. We look forward to this Blessed Hope, knowing we will be with our Savior.
Following the departure of the church, an emerging world leader, the Antichrist, will make a covenant with the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:27). Then the Tribulation will have begun.
Good Bible teachers often say, “There is nothing that has to happen before the Rapture can take place.” This is true—but there are other things we need to be aware of.
The Jewish Regathering in Israel
We have seen amazing prophecies fulfilled concerning the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel (Ezekiel 36:24). This return is essential for the fulfillment of yet future prophecies requiring the Jews to be in the land. In Israel:
• Antichrist will make a covenant with the Jewish people.
• “Gog of Magog” will attack the nation and be repelled by God (Ezekiel 38).
• 144,000 Jewish witnesses of Messiah will be raised (Revelation 7:4–8), along with the two witnesses in Jerusalem (11:3–12).
• Believing Jews who obey Jesus will flee at the midpoint of the Tribulation (Matthew 24:15–20).
• Jesus will return in the Second Coming (Zechariah 12:9–10; 14:1–5).
Israel is again a nation in the Promised Land, paving a path to these prophecies. But are there any other indicators concerning the Tribulation period we need to consider?
The Antichrist’s Arrival
While the time between the Rapture of the church and the signing of the covenant is not stated, it may well be a relatively short period. It seems logical that some significant things need to develop leading up to the Tribulation.
First, the emerging leader, who will come from the old Roman Empire (Daniel 7:23–25; 9:26), needs to be “groomed and ready” (spiritually and politically) to make a covenant with Israel with authority. His identity as the Antichrist, however, may not be clearly revealed until after the Rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:3). In the early part of the Tribulation, he will “subdue three kings” and form a new kingdom, a confederation with seven other leaders (Daniel 7:24).
We believe him to be the one foretold in Revelation 6:2, riding a white horse, holding a bow, having been given a crown, and going out conquering and to conquer. Do we see any current leader with the right prerequisites emerging from the shadows? Not that we are aware of. There are other considerations too.
The Pestilence Problem
While some of the conditions necessary for the commencement of the Tribulation may be in place already, Jesus told His disciples specifically what to look for. When Jesus was asked, “When will these things be?” (Matthew 24:3), He listed several things, taken together as a cluster, that would indicate the commencement of the Tribulation:
• It will be a time of deception (v. 4).
• Many will come in His name claiming to be the Christ (v. 5).
• There will be wars and rumors of wars (v. 6).
• Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom (v. 7).
• There will be famines, pestilences (widespread and deadly plagues or diseases), and earthquakes in various places (v. 7).
While pestilence is one of the signs of the end of the age (a description COVID-19 seems to fit), we do not have all the other conditions existing at the same time. Many other pandemics have come and gone, some of which were much larger and more devastating than COVID-19 has been.
• Swine flu claimed 500,000 lives from 2009–10.
• HIV/AIDS claimed 36 million lives from 1981–2020.
• Spanish flu claimed 50 million lives from 1918–1920.
• The Black Plague claimed an estimated 135 million lives from 1346–1353.
Signs of the Times
Are all these signs evident together right now? Not yet.
Nevertheless, we can see some things in the world today that could be building up toward the end-times prophecies.
• Under COVID-19 regulations, governments all over the world exercised unprecedented control over citizens.
• Some leaders have proposed a one-world government to deal with issues like climate change, terrorism, poverty, international crime, and health crises.
• The “falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) may well be the culmination of events and moral decline we see today.
• While Russia, Turkey, and Iran do not have a formal alliance, they have shown an increasing desire to cooperate for mutual defense.
These concerning examples could be seen as a prelude to the prophetic future. While we don’t know when the Tribulation will commence, even now, God may be gradually setting the stage for its arrival.
Our Response
In light of all these things, what should be our Christian response?
1. We must not be consumed by what we see happening around us or by our own thoughts and suspicions of others. Be aware but not consumed—we belong to God, our strength and shield. His Word alone should be our guide to truth and meaning for these times. Confusion comes from Satan, but stability and peace come from faith in God Almighty. He has promised to never leave or abandon us.
2. We must fix our eyes firmly on the Lord, prayerfully trusting Him in everything. Scripture tells us to trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6); to be anxious for nothing, making our requests known to God, whose peace will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6–8); and to trust and keep our minds on God, who will keep us in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
While we don’t know when the Tribulation will commence, even now, God may be gradually setting the stage for its arrival.
As we begin 2023, we must remember that we are called to be salt and light and to testify of our faith in Christ. We need to help people around us see the Lord’s peace in our own lives and that He alone can meet the deepest needs and fears of life for them too. We need to be ready to share His Word and be His witnesses to a lost and needy world.
So, are we there yet? Not yet—but the time of Tribulation is coming, perhaps soon. And, thankfully, the Lord is returning for His church even sooner. Let’s lift our eyes to God and trust the One who is ultimately in control, no matter what stands before us.
About the Author
Comments 10
Hi Colin….and Friends of Israel, and as my wife and I are too…….
Yes, it’s pre-trib.
But do you think God would allow the massive loss of life and world panic and confusion that would follow as a result of planes, busses, trucks, trains, cars, etc.,crashing as well as hospital staff missing etc.,etc?
Pre-Trib = massive loss of life as planes,trains,busses,cars, etc., crash and hospital staff go missing,etc. = Tribulation !
Hi Graeme, I assume your question is whether of not God would allow the chaos which will be caused by the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. My answer has a couple of parts to it: 1. A literal reading of the Bible shows us that the Rapture of the Church will take place before the Tribulation period (1 Thess 4:13-18; John 14:1-3; 1 Cor 15:50-53 as well as 1 Thess 1:10; 1 Thess 5:9) It is clear that the Rapture of the Church and the 2nd Coming are two distinct events. Such an incredible and wide-spread event as the Rapture will cause all sorts of chaos and confusion by virtue of the fact that all genuine Christians have suddenly been “snatched away” (Harpadzo Gk) from the earth. So, yes, God will allow whatever happens – chaotic, devastating, etc – as a result of His removal of the Church because it is part of His End-time plan. 2. If this scenario of “loss of life… panic and confusion,” seems extreme, it will be comparatively ‘light’ compared with the coming Tribulation period of which Jesus said, “… 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” (Matt 24:21) Knowing these things should challenge us to share the Gospel so that as many as possible might be saved.
Colin, while I do think you’ve highlighted some important future events that must occur for the “appearing of the Lord” and the Great & Terrible Day of the Lord” to commence, I often wonder why ( especially amongst Jewish believers) they usually fail to at least recognize Israel’s ( Nation) failure to confess how they, as a Nation, have failed to keep the Law ( Leviticus 26: 26, 27) and how God cannot grant them their glorious Kingdom, until that confession occurs ( Leviticus 26: 40–42).?
Hi Jeffrey, I am not exactly sure of your question but there are things we do know from God’s Word: God said He would bring the Jews back into the land (Ezek 36:24) and then He would cleanse them and give them a new heart and a new Spirit (vv 25-26). At this point in time, we see God’s chosen people back in the land (the 1st essential step) but many are secular or far from God in their hearts. When we look across the Scriptures, we see that in the Tribulation period, many will turn towards Him (Rev 7:3-8; 14:1) but, it is only at the most dire time as the conclusion of the Tribulation approaches, that national repentance comes to the Jews (Zech 12:9-10; 13:8-9). Paul gives us perspective in Romans where he says that, “… all Israel will be saved,” when the Lord returns to Zion (11:25-26; see also Isa 59:20-21).
Hi Colin, today (8/1/23) is your and Sharon’s day in the FOI Prayer and Praise booklet so I googled you and was blessed by your wonderful article. Will be praying for y’all as you go forward in the strength of the Lord!
Hi Dan, thanks so much for your prayer and encouragement. Blessings!
Can you tell me who will be the 2 witnesses that spread the gospel after we are gone? I always wondered that. Will the church see them?
Hi Denise, thank you for your question. A number of issues arise from it. 1. The “two witnesses” of Rev 11 will certainly be witnesses to God’s work but we are not specifically told the content of their prophecies. We can assume they will share the Gospel but it seems their main task may be to expose and highlight the sin and wickedness of the Beast and his regime for this will be a time of widespread, unfettered evil and Satan worship. That the Beast may be the main object of prophetic utterances could arguably be suggested in Rev 11:7 where we read that the Beast, “will make war against them,” and after they are eventually killed, “the earth will rejoice…”(v 10). 2. Who are they? I hope it doen’t confuse you but, among theologians there are three possible answers: a. Moses and Elijah (similarity of their powers and miracles; they both appeared with Jesus on the Mt of Transfiguration; both were expected to return in OT and Jewish tradition; they were the most influential prophets in Jewish history), b. Enoch and Elijah (neither experienced death; a Gentile and a Jew; Early Church Fathers held this view for 300 odd years), c. Two entirely new prophets (the text could have specified famous OT prophets if they were meant; nothing prevents these being totally new). 3. As to witnesses to the Gospel, at the same time as these 2 witnesses, there are 144,000 Jewish witnesses (Rev 7:3-8) whose ministry appears to result in an innumerable number of believers who, “come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (9-17). This may suggest a different role of evangelism from that of the 2 witnesses. 4. I don’t believe we will see them because we will be raptured from the earth before the Tribulation commences. Their ministry begins in the first half of the Tribulation and lasts for 1,260 days or 3.5 years which suggests around the mid-point as the time they will be killed and then resurrected and raptured to heaven (Rev 11:11-12)
I hope this helps!
Your opinion re: the temple must be built before the rapture occurs.