The miraculous Signs in the Pentecostal Church

Vol 3 - No 79, April 18, 2014

Believe in the Gospel of John; Part 5:

“After Passover (Easter) the Miraculous Sign Gifts in the Church at Pentecost”

Our last few studies examined statements the Apostle John wrote in his Gospel, as well as in 1 John, specifically those where he describes the believers to whom he addressed as having been “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

313 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(see also 1 John 5:11 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

); that unless a man is born again (born from above) or of the Spirit he can not see (understand) or enter the Kingdom of God, John 3:3 - 63 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

and that those born of God would not sin and the wicked one can not touch them, 1 John 3:99 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

; 5:18. In determining how these things could come about, our last study observed that before Jesus Christ ascended into heaven He promised His Jewish followers He would baptize them with the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:44 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

- 84 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

, and He did so at Pentecost, Acts 2:1 - 41 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

. And being baptized with the Holy Spirit meant the Holy Spirit indwelled them John 14:16 & 1716 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

; Acts 2:44 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

. The miraculous sign gifts that occurred at Pentecost, described in Acts 2:4 - 224 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

, were manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit in them. However, as we proceed through the book of Acts we see those miraculous gifts did not last as disciples of the Jewish church were persecuted and either scattered abroad or killed.

An important thing to remember about this is that the Jewish Disciples of Jesus Christ who were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost were earnestly waiting for Him to bring on the earthly Kingdom that God promised their Nation Israel throughout the Old Testament. After His resurrection from the dead he spent 40 days with them “speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God,” Acts 1:33 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

. And when He told them to wait for the promise of the baptism with the Holy Spirit in a few days, that was not what they were thinking about; what they wanted to know was whether He was going to restore again the Kingdom to Israel at that time, Acts 1:4 - 64 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

. Then something happened they were not expecting; He was taken up to heaven, Acts 1:99 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

. A short time later they were filled with the Holy Spirit just as Jesus Christ promised and this came with the attendant signs and wonders.

Over the years, believers have dealt in different ways with the miracles the believers at Pentecost possessed. Some simply ignore them while others say they don’t exist today because of a “lack of faith.” Then there are those who try to replicate them, but when examined closely, they fall far short of what actually happened in the church at Pentecost. The simple fact is that what John described as being “born from above” and the attendant attributes he lists in 1 John were manifested in the believing Jews at Pentecost. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and the miracles performed were genuine. But there is good reason why the miraculous sign gifts prevalent in that Pentecostal church are not evident among believers today. This reason is found in the difference between God’s dealing with the assembly of Jewish believers at Pentecost and His dealing today with the Church, The Body of Christ.

First, the Pentecostal church consisted of Jews who believed Jesus was their Messiah. They were waiting for God to establish His Kingdom on earth as He had promised Israel in Old Testament Scriptures and then further revealed by Jesus Christ during His 3-year earthly ministry. On the other hand, the church today, which is called the Body of Christ was not known before it was revealed exclusively by the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven to the Apostle Paul, Acts 9:1 - 161 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

; Romans 16:25 & 2625 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

; Galations 1:1, 11 & 12, etc.

Further, the believing Jews at Pentecost were baptized by Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:4. On the other hand, the Apostle Paul reveals to believers today during this age of Grace, that we have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into Jesus Christ and His death, Romans 6:33 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

. And whereas the Pentecostal church was made up of Jewish believers who were obedient to the Law of Moses, Acts 21:17 - 2117 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

; 22:12; today’s Body of Christ is made up of both believing Jews and Gentiles who have been baptized into the one Body of Christ where we drink, that is, where we are sustained by the Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:12 & 13 and as many of us who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, Galations 3:27; and Paul teaches plainly that we are no longer under the Law, Galations 2:16 - 21 & 3:19 - 29

The Nation of Israel was promised a Kingdom here on earth. God called Abram (later, Abraham) out from his home country and sent him to Canaan; promising He would make from him a Great Nation and bless them that blessed his nation and curse those who curse it, Genesis 12:1 - 31 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

. God’s covenant was with Abraham, his son Isaac and Isaac’s offspring, Genesis 17:1 - 211 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

. God further revealed His plans for Israel through progressive revelation; He told Moses when He freed Israel from the bondage of Egypt that if they would keep His commandments they would be a Kingdom of Priests and a holy nation, Exodus 19:5 & 65 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

; He promised David He “will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever,” 1 Kings 9:55 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.

. And although Israel was never able to keep God’s commandments, God will never the less honor His promises to them. He will ultimately fill them with His Holy Spirit during the Tribulation and on into His 1000 year reign on earth as He did at Pentecost. (The miraculous sign gifts at Pentecost were but a taste of what that future Kingdom will experience.)

When the second person of the Trinity, “The Word of God,” came to this earth, John 1:1, 2 & 14, He came as Israel’s promised Messiah, or Christ. The 4 Gospels document the proof He was their Messiah by the many signs and wonders He performed, i.e., healing the sick, raising the dead to life, exercising control over the very laws of nature, etc., for God’s promise to Israel had included all this. Jesus Christ taught Israel the requirements for them to enter into their promised Kingdom, that is, the Kingdom of God or of Heaven on earth. Some Jews believed but Israel’s leaders and the nation as a whole rejected and had Him crucified. After Christ’s ascension into heaven at Pentecost, Israel was given another chance to repent, turn to God and receive the promised Kingdom of Heaven on earth, but they didn’t. Instead, they persecuted and killed God’s messengers, beginning with Stephen, Acts 6: 8 - 7:60. (It is worthwhile to read this passage wherein Stephen goes all the way back in history, describing God’s promises to Israel. Then, while he was stoned to death he prays, just as Jesus did on the cross, to forgive them.)

Many in the modern church have “spiritualized” the Kingdom God promised Israel, claiming Israel forfeited their right to an earthly kingdom. They claim instead, that the church today is spiritual Israel (replacement theology). However, this idea has no Scriptural basis. What God promised Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Moses, David and revealed by all the prophets, including Jesus Christ Himself, will come to fruition. God is not slack in His promises, 2 Peter 3:8 - 168 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

. The Apostle Paul reveals clearly in Romans 9 - 11 that Israel has been temporarily set aside but they will someday receive the promises God made to them for a Kingdom here on earth. However, that will not happen until after the church of this age of Grace, the Body of Christ, is taken up to heaven, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:1 - 51 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

; 1 Corinthians 15:48 - 5848 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

. These passages teach that believers today, members of the Body of Christ made up of believing Jews and Gentiles, will be caught up to heaven, our bodies changed into such that are like Jesus Christ’s resurrected Body.

Jesus taught His followers: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6: 9 & 10. Thus, they have an earthly hope for an earthly Kingdom and in the coming 1000-year Millennium period, believing Jews will again be baptized with the Holy Spirit and carry on in that Kingdom. On the other hand the Apostle Paul has taught we who are members of the Body of Christ during this age of Grace that our hope is in heaven. Paul was caught up to heaven where he received the revelation of this directly from the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 12:22 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

; our citizenship is in heaven, Philippians 3:2020 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

; our hope is in heaven, Colossians 1:55 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

. Believers today who are members of the Body of Christ look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming for us in the air and catching us up to heaven, for that is our hope: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” 1 Thessalonians 4:15 - 1815 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 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:

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.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

, because we are not appointed to the wrath of the Tribulation, 1 Thessalonians 1:1010 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

; 5:9 - 11.

But, after we are taken up, prophesy will be fulfilled; the Tribulation will come on and the Jews who believe Jesus Christ is their Messiah will have to flee to hiding places here on earth, Matthew 24:14 - 2914 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

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.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

; Mark 13:14 - 2514 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

; Luke 21:20 - 2620 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

. A group will be protected from the wrath during that time but many will be killed. Then, at the end of the Tribulation, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth in Power and great Glory, Matthew 24:30 & 3130 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

; Mark 13:26 & 2726 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

; Luke 21:2727 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

. His coming at that time will not be to meet believers in the air and take them back to heaven, it will be to establish His Kingdom here on earth and rule for 1000 years in Righteousness, Fairness and Justice.

Wishing you all a blessed Easter for Jesus is risen and is our Lord Jesus Christ, our hope.