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The Last Chapter of History, Before
the Rapture
Focus on Jerusalem, in its continuing endeavor to make
available interesting and doctrinally sound articles associated with Bible
Prophecy is pleased to share this excellent and insightful article by Dr.
Norbert Leith. Dr. Leith resides in Denmark and is a contributing author to the
Midnight Call Ministry of Arno Frosoe. I have personally had the privilege to
hear Dr. Leith in person, and have always been intrigued with his insights into
Bible prophecy.
The Last Chapter of History,
Before
the Rapture
By: Norbert Leith
If
our society has changed so much that the statements in the epistle of Jude can
be applied to it, then we know what time it is. In focusing on the epistle of
Jude, my main goal in considering this letter is not to judge others but to
judge ourselves. Jude wrote, “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were
spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you
there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own
ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the
Spirit” (Jude 17-19).
It
is certainly not coincidental that in most Bible translations the epistle of
Jude is the last book before the Revelation. I believe the Holy Spirit also
inspired the order of the books of the Bible. This letter could be God’s urgent
call to us. It probably reflects the spiritual situation over the whole earth
directly before the Rapture and the apocalypse that takes place thereafter. It
is the last chapter of history before the Rapture.
We
find six examples of apostates in the epistle of Jude, which are mentioned by
name: the people of Israel, angels, Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain, Balaam and
Korah. The rapture of Enoch is a positive, seventh example. God
enables us by means of this example to make a comparison: if our society has
changed so much that the statements in Jude’s letter can be applied to it, then
we know what hour has come.
Paul
also wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now all these things happened unto them for
ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the
world are come.” A man named Siegfried Schleiter wrote in this connection,
“Doubtless the proclaimed symptoms of apostasy from true faith have never before
in the history of mankind been so world-embracing, nor escalated with such
vehemence as at the beginning of our new millennium.”
The
following six anti-Christian examples from the past point us to what will take
place in the future:
1. The people of Israel
“I
will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the
Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them
that believe not” (Jude 5).
Even
at that time many Israelites wanted to hear nothing about God, although they
were part of His chosen people, and they perished. In the same way, at the end
of time there will be many who claimed to be Christians but were not spiritually
born again. These nominal Christians will have nothing in common with Jesus
Christ, and will cast aside all biblical and Christian values (compare 2
Thessalonians 2:3 and 1 Timothy 4:1). Notice 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 in this
connection as well: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant,
how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat
the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they
drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But
with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the
wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust
after evil things, as they also lusted.
What
Moses said of those who left Egypt but turned away from God in the wilderness is
absolutely shocking, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are
judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have
corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a
perverse and crooked generation” (Deuteronomy 32:4-5). These “spots” are also
mentioned in Jude 12, and they characterize the nominal Christians of the last
times. Applied to the people of Israel, it meant that they were Israelites,
but not children of God. They were a part of His people in name only, but not in
their hearts. They were “as though” they were saved, but they were not really
saved. “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that
circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the
letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:28-29).
The
word “godless” does not apply only to atheists, but to people in general
(Christians) who have no fear of God and who deny Jesus. Certainly there are
people (even theologians) who say they are Christians but they are not true
believers in their hearts. It is possible to have a form of godliness with no
content. The following are examples of this condition:
• The
sons of Eli were priests, yet the Bible says, “they knew not the Lord” (1 Samuel
2:12). And, “Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord;
for men abhorred the offering of the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:17). Those who deny the
perfect offering of Jesus on the cross do not know the Lord and have no part in
the kingdom of God.
• Jesus said to the church at Smyrna, “I know the blasphemy of them which say
they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9).
• Jesus
said in the parable of the sower, “They on the rock are they, which, when they
hear, receive the word with joy; and these have not root, which for a while
believe, and in time of temptation fall away” (Luke 8:13).
•
Following this parable the Lord said, “My mother and my brethren are these which
hear the word of God, and do it” (Luke 8:21, compare also Matthew 7:21-23 and
25:1-13).
• The
fact that there are “Christians” who do not have the Spirit of life (compare
Jude 19) is made clear by the letter to the church at Sardis, “I know thy works,
that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Revelation 3:1). Our
time is characterized by nominal Christianity, which does not want to know
Christ.
2. The Angels
(at the time of Noah)
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own
habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the
judgment of the great day” (Jude 6).
We
are concerned here with fallen angels who became demons. During Noah’s time they
left their own habitation and took possession of men in order to have sexual
relations with the women of that time. Angels are sexless. Fallen angels
(demons), however, desire to enter into a body. They once entered into a herd of
swine (compare Luke 8:32). Demonism, occultism and Satanism are always connected
with perverse sexuality. “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the
face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw
the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which
they chose. There were giants in the earth in those days: and also after that,
when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children
to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” (Genesis
6:1-2, 4). The sins of these angels were so terrible that God bound them in
chains, and since then they have been kept until the final judgment.
This
is how it will be in the end-times. People will leave their “natural
habitation,” that is, they will ignore the order of creation. Driven by
demons, they will become morally corrupt. “Rosemary’s Baby” was a horror movie
that was released in 1968, after East Jerusalem was repossessed, at the
beginning of the “last stage of the end-times” (see Joel 3:1-2). This classic
horror movie was the first of its kind in dealing with the sexual union of Satan
and man. “The Exorcist,” an extremely popular movie in the 1970s, was then
described as being the most shocking movie of all time. The film industry today
is full of productions that deal with the union of the spirit world and the
human world. According to a study by Harvard University, Hollywood is producing
more sexual and violent scenes or films than ever before. And the productions
are being released for even younger people.
In
Noah’s time, the sins of the people brought the judgment of the Flood upon them,
but Enoch was saved beforehand. In the same way, the situation of the end-times
is demanding God’s judgment. The Church of Jesus Christ will be preserved
from God’s judgment through the Rapture. Of the time of Noah, Jesus said,
“But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe [Noah] entered into the
ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37- 39).
What did the people of Noah’s generation not see? The signs of the times. And
they did not listen to God speak through Noah, “by which also he went and
preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once
the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being
prepared, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Peter
3:19-20).
There was no sign of impending judgment when Noah was building the ark. Yet the
soaking rain came upon the people suddenly and unexpectedly. This is how it is
today. People think things will go on like this indefinitely, but suddenly the
Rapture will take place and disaster will come upon them (compare Revelation
1:1).
Let
us consider Noah: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,
moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith”
(Hebrews 11:7). A Bible commentary explains this verse as follows: “Noah
received a revelation from God; his faith was proved genuine in that he accepted
it without doubt or contradiction. Noah reckoned with the judgment of God. He
obeyed God and erected through the building of the ark a sign of faith.”
How
is it with us? Do we see the signs of the times? Are we telling people that
Jesus is coming back? Or do we adapt to the doubters who say that is all
speculation and disregard all biblical prophecy? Of course the question arises,
does Christianity today even reckon with the fact of the appearing of Jesus as
Judge of the world, which, according to the Bible, will be the most
revolutionary and spectacular event in world history? Does Christianity take the
Word of her Lord so seriously that it can be used in the world today as a
warning and a hope?” Hardly
3. Sodom and Gomorrah
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner,
giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set
forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).
The
phrase, “in like manner” refers to verse 6. There the angels who corrupted
mankind sexually are described. Homosexuality and sodomy, as it was practiced at
the time of Sodom (Genesis 19), is thus demonic. As far as God is concerned, it
is equivalent with the sins of the angels at the time of Noah in Genesis 6.
Homosexuality is the departure from the natural habitation of man. It is
unnatural and contradicts God’s creative order, which is why the battle over
homosexuality is being fought so vehemently. There would be no homosexual
battle if it were a natural practice. The Apostle Paul wrote of this in
Romans 1:26-27: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even
their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and
likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their
lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and
receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”
This is not about judging homosexuals, but it is about the practice of
homosexuality. How terrible it would be, however, if the state were not only to
allow such behavior but also encourage it and condemn those who opposed it. What
would we say of a person who kills another and says he did it because he felt
the urge to do it?
“Giving themselves over to fornication….” Homosexuality practiced and accepted
by society was the sin of the Sodomites at that time. They incurred the
immediate judgment of God (compare Genesis 15:16, 18:20-21, Jonah 1:2). The
judgment of God is at the door if these immoral sins continue characterizing our
society today. These words are written in the book of Isaiah: “The shew of their
countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they
hide it not. Woe unto their soul! For they have rewarded evil unto themselves”
(Isaiah 3:9).
These verses concern our time in particular. Today these things are becoming
public again and practiced shamelessly, just as they were in Lot’s time. This
should make us stop and think. If a politician today expresses favor of
homosexuality, or even outs himself as a homosexual, he is guaranteed favor and
votes, and garners widespread media support. If he publicly declares himself
against it, however, he is slandered and belittled. Unless we rediscover and
defend our Christian values. Otherwise I see no good for the future.” The
perverse people in Sodom almost forced their way into Lot’s house, and he hardly
knew how to defend himself against them.
The
homosexual movement had become a real “lobby.” “But before they lay down, the
men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and
young, all the people from every quarter: and they called unto Lot, and said
unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out
unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut
the door after him, and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly…And they
said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and
he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And
they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door”
(Genesis 19:4-7, 9). Three things took place here:
1.
Lot’s protest was strongly rejected.
2. Lot
himself became an accused person who did not belong in their society.
3. They attempted to enter his house with increased force (compare Judges
19:22ff).
Then they were struck with blindness (Genesis 19:11).
How is
it today? The homosexual lobby is breaking down doors and forcing itself upon
society. Those who protest against this practice become the accused themselves.
What wonder is it that our society becomes more and more blinded? Not only is
sexual education a part of the school curriculum, but “homosexual education” is
being introduced and this from the lowest grades. The following are three
further reports, which prove the progressive “homosexualization” of our time.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed as a result of the overwhelming homosexuality
at the time of Lot (compare Genesis 19.24ff.) Jesus also mentioned this event,
“But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from
heaven, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:29). But Lot was led out of Sodom
beforehand. This is another picture of the imminent Rapture of the Church of
Jesus Christ from this world.
A warning interjection
Jude states after this first of three
examples, “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise
dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when
contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring
against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee [compare
Zechariah 3:2]. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but
what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt
themselves” (Jude 8-10). I believe these words warn us also of unbiblical
emotionalism, and instruct us not to act upon
dreams and visions. These things are not seldomly connected with “the casting
out of demons.” Often in such assemblies the devil is addressed directly. I once
heard that a Pentecostal preacher said the following in a service, “I dreamed
that Satan came in here on crutches this morning.” This led him to perform a
ceremony of casting out demons. Everyone laughed and applauded.
Moses died on Mount Nebo in the territory of Moab, “So Moses the servant of the
Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he
buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor; but no man
knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day” (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). The Lord Himself
buried His servant Moses. Apparently Satan wanted to use Moses’ body for his own
purposes. Did he perhaps want to set it up as an object of worship? (Think, for
instance, of the Shroud of Turin, saints and other relics, which are worshipped
today. Israelis often visit the tombs of famous rabbis in order to pray for a
blessing.)
The
Lord sent Michael the archangel, however, who watches over Israel in particular
and fights for her, to prevent that (compare Daniel 10:13, 21, and 12:1,
Revelation 12:7ff). Michael fought with the devil at God’s command over the body
of Moses, which was probably then taken to heaven (compare Matthew 17:3). In
this duel, Michael did not ignore the authority of Satan, which was given him by
God and remains his until he is finally judged (compare Revelation 20:10). He is
even able to enter into heaven (compare Revelation 12:10). Michael the archangel
acknowledged the devil’s status and did not slander him. This example represents
the irrefutable creative order and the moral principles that God has ordained.
The
end-times are characterized by the fact that all these orders are despised and
rejected. The word “despite” in Jude 8 is shocking. In spite of all warnings,
the Word of God is being thrown overboard. Divine principles have been replaced
with human ones. People dream of living in their own ideal world and reject God.
They ignore all authority, which has been appointed by God, and blaspheme about
spiritual reality. And so they reap the judgment of not understanding and living
like mindless beasts.
Nihilism, a philosophy that rejects all religious and moral principles became
popular in the 1960s. In his novels, Dostoyevski thematized the connection
between nihilism, atheism, crime and self-destruction. But as Christians, we are
warned, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after
the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” in
Colossians 2:8). Not everything that sounds intelligent or reasonable is
necessarily so. The principles of the world are influenced by sin and often
manipulated by the “God of this world.” Only a life “after Christ” and His
doctrine are true.
4. Cain
“Woe unto them! For they have gone in the
way of Cain” (Jude 11). What was Cain’s way? Genesis 4:16 answers: “And Cain
went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the
east of Eden” (compare also Hebrews 11:4). Nod means “the land of the homeless,”
“unstable,” and “fugitive.” This also applies to modern man. Cain despised the
blood sacrifice and brought his own false sacrifice instead, and then he later
murdered his brother (compare 1 John 3:12). He represented a humanity that
forsakes its faith, falls away from Jesus and departs from the true God.
Therewith they contribute to the fulfilment of prophecy (compare Jude 18-19, 2
Thessalonians 2:3,
1 Timothy 4:1, Luke 8:13 and Daniel 8:23). These people find themselves in bad
company; they are described as those who “were before of old ordained to this
condemnation” (Jude 4).
Cain
brought a false, unspiritual sacrifice that did not bring him closer to God but
drove him farther away. Cain is the first type in humanity, which despises Jesus
and replaces Him with his own religious views. In this connection, we read, for
instance, “The football games of the Euro 2008 will be shown live in churches.
Even yelling, drinking and cursing will not be forbidden. Just as Cain went away
from God, so our society, family, state, politics and church, is moving farther
and farther away from God. This is why in these circles society is becoming more
and more “restless” and “fugitive.” Our fellow men are not given any support.
People are walking away from the Bible. The churches are becoming emptier and
emptier, and the buildings are being sold. Jesus is being put aside, and people
are making their own god. But those who proclaim Jesus other than how the Bible
describes Him, or teach that other ways apart from Him also lead to God, are
bringing a false sacrifice (compare Galatians 1:8-9). Quite often, however, it
is these very people who condemn sincere Christians or decry them as
fundamentalists. This is the religion of Cain.
Today, in the end-times, we live in a society that resembles Cain, and is
departing from God.
5. Balaam
“…and ran greedily after the error of
Balaam for reward” (Jude 11).
Balaam was prepared to curse Israel for the sake of money (compare Joshua
24:9-10). Today, Israel is being betrayed for the sake of oil. On account of his
greed, Balaam became a false prophet; he was responsible for Israel being
deceived (compare Numbers 25:1-3, 31:16 and Revelation 2:14). Balaam was the
first man to profit from his gift. But Balaam was not only a false prophet, he
was also a soothsayer, a fortune-teller (compare Joshua 13:22).
How
close together are false prophecy, deception and clairvoyance! Paul wrote, “For
we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as
of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17). In some
evangelical circles, false prophets promise blessing, healing, success and
prosperity. A “Christian management” system has crept in to many local churches
that is no different from that in the business world. It is only concerned with
increasing finances, not the binding standards of God’s Word. Salvation has
taken a back seat to profiteering.
6. Korah
“…and perished in the gainsaying of Core [Korah]” (Jude 11).
Korah wanted to introduce a different kind of worship. Erik Junker wrote on this
subject, “Always then when a church began to practice a false worship, false
prophecy and falsely understood ‘general priesthood,’ the church died. We need
to beware of this.” Korah deceived 250 people and rebelled against Moses and
Aaron with the words, “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and
against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the
congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore
then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?” (Numbers 16:3).
As a prophet, Moses represented the Word of God, and as a priest, Aaron
represented the valid sacrifice. We live at a time in which not only unbelievers
but also people from within Christian circles are rebelling against the Word of
God and degrading the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And is it not these very people
who accuse born-again Christians as being fundamentalists,” that they claim too
much for themselves, for instance, that Jesus is the only way to God? Many claim
that there are saints everywhere; all roads and religions somehow lead to God.
We cannot reject Allah, Mohammed, Buddha, the Dalai Lama and the Pope, etc. This
is just what Korah attempted, but it is a contradiction in itself, for instance,
where John 14:6 is concerned, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The people of the last
times will find themselves living in the contradiction that they regarded all
religions as equal, although they are mutually exclusive.
Summary
It cannot be denied that these six negative examples are present in our
generation to an unprecedented extent. From this we see in what stage of the
end-times we are living. Children of God feel through the indwelling Holy
Spirit, just like migratory birds, that our departure for heaven is imminent.
The following characteristics reflect that we are living on the precipice of the
Rapture.
• Our
society is characterized by a nominal Christianity, which to a great extent
rejects the Bible and knows nothing of consistent discipleship. The people of
Israel in the wilderness reflected this attitude.
• Our
world is being flooded by one demonic wave after another. People are reaching
out for extra-terrestrial phenomena, but hardly for the One who came from heaven
into the world to save us. The people from Noah’s generation are a good example
of this tendency.
• The homosexual initiative has become a lobby that characterizes and dominates
our society. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are a model of this evil practice.
• We
live in an “away-from-God” Christianity as did Cain.
• A
false “prophethood,” which is more like a business than it is biblical, is
permeating the churches more and more. Balaam is an example of this deception.
• Other
forms of worship, which are in contrast to the Word of God and the only valid
sacrifice of Jesus, that tolerate a mixture of spiritual things are gaining
ground. Korah’s actions are an example of this tolerance.
These examples collectively symbolize a chapter in human history that stands
shortly before its judgment. For this reason Enoch, who was raptured by God
shortly before the judgment of that time is the seventh example.
Enoch
“Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the
Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 14).
It
is written that Enoch is “the seventh from Adam.” He is also seventh in the
sequence of names in the epistle of Jude. The number 7 means “completion.”
Revelation 2 and 3 contain seven letters to the churches, which portray the
Church Age. According to 2 Corinthians 10:11, the Church is the “end,” the
“completion” of the world ages. And blindness has come upon Israel until the
“full number” of the Gentiles has been reached (compare Romans 11:25). There are
approximately 7,000 Jews in Israel who believe in Jesus, which, in a way,
proclaims the coming of the Messiah.
The
epistle of Jude is the last letter before the Revelation, and it mentions Enoch
as being a kind of completion. Could this completion be understood as a picture
of the imminent Rapture of the Church and the following apocalypse? The Church
will be removed from this earth when it is complete. And then the Lord will turn
to Israel again (compare Romans 11:25-26). Perhaps this is why Michael the
archangel, who fights in particular for the children of Israel (compare Daniel
12:1 and Revelation 12:7), is mentioned in Jude 9. Enoch was the first man to be
raptured because he walked with God (compare Genesis 5:24), and this took place
before the Flood. Doubtless this is a picture of the true Church, which follows
the Lord and will be raptured. Noah, on the other hand, is a type of Israel, who
is saved through the “flood” of the Great Tribulation.
The
“ten thousand of his saints” are the raptured believers, who will return visibly
with the Lord in glory. This is what is written in Colossians 3:4, “When Christ,
who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
Although we do not know the day or hour of Jesus’ return, we can clearly see the
last chapter in human history before the Rapture has begun. Only those who are
“in Christ” will be kept. “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of
James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus
Christ, and called: mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied” (Jude 1-
2). There is no other place where you can be preserved from the future judgment
of God than in Jesus Christ alone. What a contrast these verses are to the six
anti-Christian examples! God is calling people to His Son today. Would you like
to belong to the Lord Jesus Christ? Then put this desire into words in a prayer
to Jesus. God will hear you and lead you to the salvation that His Son
accomplished for you!
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