This is JUST the beginning of Jesus' prophecy:
Luke 21:17 And ye shall be" hated" of all men (means mankind) for my name's sake.
Indeed. For there is coming a time when ALL, and I mean ALL," non-Christians; be they "muslims, jews, hindus, bhudists, atheists, heathenists, agnostics, secularists, paganists, satanists, communists, socialists, liberals, etc, and etc, WILL join hands (literally); in ONE hate-filled endeavor to destroy EVERY vestige of Jesus AND His Kingdom (His children) from the face of this planet.
Oh indeed yes. That is why He called it a "Great Tribulation".
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be "great tribulation", such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (again).
It IS coming Christians. There is NO way to stop it. Sadder, WE have caused this. OH indeed yes. Just like God turned His back on those who call themselves "jews" (that did NOT believe IN Jesus); and He called them "liars" and they were "Synagogues of satan".
Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are "Jews", and are not, but are the "synagogue of Satan". Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the "synagogue of Satan", which say they are Jews, and are not, but do "lie"; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Oh indeed yes. For even "they" will join forces WITH "muslims" and all other NON believers in Jesus; with the above satan fomented goal. Mark my words. It IS coming.
And ANY one that believes IN Jesus; will NOT be safe ANY where on earth. And NO the "rapture" will NOT occur "before" the GT, to be saved from this holocaust; as MOST Christians believe; AS I did for 70 yrs!
That is a satan-led, fomented "myth"; promulgated by him in hell; to give us a "false" sense of security; which is NOT going to happen. Nor will there be a mass influx of those who call themselves "jews"; that will return to that land (wrongly dubbed) "israel" in the middleast. NOR will there be a "New Temple" built in Jerusalem in the middle east. It is NOT going to happen. Believe it or not. Although I believed that will all of my being for 70 yrs!
There WILL be a "New Temple". But is will NOT be built "by the hands of man". It will Be "JESUS". Oh indeed yes. On a "New earth, turned into a New Heaven, New Jerusalem and that "New Temple" WILL be Jesus. In addition: Believers IN Jesus, will have a New body, a New name, and a New Life; which will last forever. Where there will never be another tear, sorrow, pain or death.
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all "tears" from their eyes; and there shall be no more "death", neither" sorrow", nor crying, neither shall there be any more "pain": for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things "New". And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Hallelujah and Amen.
Will there be a "rapture"? NO! There will be a "calling up" of the "saints" (saved). The word rapture does NOT appear in the bible. Use it if you wish for it is a pretty word. But the real word is when Jesus "calls" all saints UP from the graves, in the "First resurrection" and we join Him forever.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the "last"* trump(et): for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (forgiven and "cleansed" from ALL sin forever).
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the (last) trump(et) of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the "first resurrection": on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign (be) with him a thousand (earthly time-in Heaven it is one day) years.
(Note: The "1,000 yrs" is "ONE" day in Heaven. But this is the "OLD" Heaven. Those that are dead "left behind", will remain IN the graves for a "1,000" years (earthly time) waiting for the "second" resurrection"; to then appear IN the "OLD" Heaven to joins US in the "Great White Throne" Judgement day. Where ALL will be "judged" by Jesus (God). We will ALL be judged guilty of sin from birth to death. On indeed yes.
Where all who did NOT believe in Jesus (who WAS God manifest IN the flesh-1Timothy 3:16) WILL be bound hand and foot and cast into "Outer Darkness" ("Burning lake of fire") which is the "2nd death".
In a word, the lost will be cast into hell. The "saved" will receive a "full" pardon (even though ALL deserve to go to hell); and be "saved" from the ultimate punishment possible; known as Hell!
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in "hell".
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell (should be written "the grave" in this context*) were cast into the "lake of fire". This is the "second death.
During the 7 yr Great Tribulation, the first half will be the "7 Trumpet" period. The last half of the GT, will be the 7 "bowl" or "vial" Trumpet period. So AS the "LAST" Trumpet will sound, AND then and ONLY then will the "rapture" (calling up) occur.
During the first half, is when Jesus punishes his own for what we have allowed to happen, and he allows the "world" and satan (last 5 months) to persecute all Christians. and we deserve it; no different than Daniel admitted in chapter 9 that all of their punishment was brought about by themselves.
Daniel 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Daniel 9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. Daniel 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
(Please read the entire chapter 9. It is SO important to understand why and when God punishes us while IN the flesh for our innate sins)
During the last half of the GT, is when Jesus PUNISHES ALL who persecuted the saved during the first half. The difference is: Jesus exudes His wrath WITH mercy during the first half. But in the second half, there will be NO mercy. Where they will beg to die, but death will not come UNTIL the end of the last half.
"There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth".
Note" the next verse is part of a "parable". I have taken the liberty to explain some of the symbologies that are often intrinsic to "parables" or "examples", etc.
Matthew 22:13 Then said the king (Jesus on Judgment day) to the servants (angels), Bind him (the lost) hand and foot, and take him (them) away, and cast him (them) into outer darkness ("burning lake of fire"), there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (UN believable angst and sorrow upon those who NOW realize the horrendous mistakes they made by NOT believing in the God of Abraham, who was "manifest IN the flesh" 'circa 2,000 yrs after Abraham died.)
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was "manifest in the flesh", justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Believe it or not!
In any case, May Jesus richly bless you,
patdee
* This verse has been one of THE most confusing verses to really understand of most verses. I believe the word Hell is dead wrong, and the translators should NOT have used the word.
I believe that "hades" has many meanings when translated from Greek. In a word it is talking about those who are lost in the GT that joined their "comrades" IN the "grave" awaiting the 2nd resurrection.
If per chance, I am wrong, I will sincerely ask Jesus to forgive me on Judgment day. Praise His Holy Name