What Happens to Those Left Behind?
"What's Next?" Week 3
Gary Moritz
Part of "What's Next?"—Living in the Last Days
July 26, 2020

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INTRODUCTION

People all over the globe are talking about “What’s Next”. We are living in the last days, and yet the last day has not come. The Bible says that perilous times are coming, and we need to be prepared. We see these perilous times all over the news and social media.

“But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.” —2 Timothy 3:1-5

Despite these hard times, we can rest in the fact that God is in control and nothing takes Him by surprise. He has called His church to be watchful and to be prepared for His return.

In this collection of talks, we will explore some end time events by answering the following questions:

July 12         Are We Living in the Last Days?
July 19         How Will the Rapture Take Place?
July 26         What Happens to Those Left Behind?
August 2        Who Is the Antichrist?


Followers of Jesus Christ can face their future with confidence, regardless of changing circumstances and world events.


Text: Revelation 6:15-17 (CSB, New Testament)

Today’s Takeaway:

God’s judgment comes when His grace is rejected.

WEEK 3: What Happens to Those Left Behind?


  • The one sentence answer to today’s question:

    The people left behind after the rapture will have to experience the severe judgment of the

    , a time when God will pour out His anger upon the earth.


    For Christians:

    “Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” —Revelation 19:9a
    “Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: See, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’” —Matthew 22:1-4

    For Non-Christians:

    “For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again.” —Matthew 24:21

    THREE INSIGHTS INTO THE TRIBULATION

    I. THE TIME OF THE TRIBULATION

    A. The Tribulation will begin immediately after the rapture. (Revelation 4:2)

  • In God’s praise is (Revelation 4-5).
  • On God’s power is (Revelation 6-19).

  • B. The timespan of the Tribulation will be years (Daniel 9:24-27).

  • It is usually viewed as two, and a year terms.

  • The second half is often called the “ Tribulation” because of its severity.

  • The Tribulation takes place in Revelation chapters 6-18

    II. THE OF THE TRIBULATION

    “7Therefore everyone’s hands will become weak, and every man will lose heart. 8They will be horrified; pain and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look at each other, their faces flushed with fear. 9Look, the day of the Lord is coming — cruel, with fury and burning anger — to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners. 10Indeed, the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shine. 11I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their iniquities. I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant and humiliate the insolence of tyrants.” —Isaiah 13:7-11

    “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” —Luke 21:25-26

    The tribulation will include three series of judgments:

    A. The Seven

    Judgments

        Seal #1 (6:1-2) – Conquest
    
        Seal #2 (6:3-4) – War
    
        Seal #3 (6:5-6) – Famine
    
        Seal #4 (6:7-8) – Death
    
        Seal #5 (6:9-11) – Martyrs
    
        Seal #6 (6:12-17) – Earthquake
    
        Seal #7 (8:1-2) – Seven Trumpet Judgments Begin (Silence In Heaven)
    

    B. The Seven

    Judgments

        Trumpet #1 (8:6-7) – Hail & Fire Burn Vegetation
    
        Trumpet #2 (8:8-9) – Falling “Meteor” Pollutes Oceans
    
        Trumpet #3 (8:10-11) – Falling Star Pollutes Rivers
    
        Trumpet #4 (8:12-13) – Sun, Moon & Stars Darkened
    
        Trumpet #5 (9:1-12) – Terrible Locusts
    
        Trumpet #6 (9:13-21)– Army of 200 Million
    
        Trumpet #7 (11:15-19) – Seven Bowl Judgments Begin
    

    C. The Seven

    (Bowl) Judgments

        Vial #1 (16:1-2) – Terrible Sores
    
        Vial #2 (16:3) – Ocean Water Becomes Blood
    
        Vial #3 (16:4-7) – Fresh Water Becomes Blood
    
        Vial #4 (16:8-9) – Scorching Sun
    
        Vial #5 (16:10-11) – Darkness & Pain
    
        Vial #6 (16:12) – River Euphrates Dried Up
    
        Vial #7 (16:17-21) – Voices, Thunders, Lightnings, Earthquake, & Hail
    

    III. THE FOR THE TRIBULATION

    A. To

    unbelieving people

    “The great day of the Lord is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the day of the Lord — then the warrior’s cry is bitter. 15That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and total darkness, 16a day of ram’s horn and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. 17I will bring distress on mankind, and they will walk like the blind because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. 18Their silver and their gold will be unable to rescue them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of his jealousy, for he will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth.” —Zephaniah 1:14-18 (See 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)

    B. To

    the nation of Israel for her Messiah

    “How awful that day will be! There will be no other like it! It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.” —Jeremiah 30:7

    “I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” —Romans 11:25-27

    CONCLUSION:

    How has this talk changed your perspective on God’s grace?

    DEEP DIVE:

    1. The Tribulation is going to be a devastating time. What should this information inspire us to do as followers of Christ?

    2. What are you looking forward to the most about Heaven?

    3. Set aside some time this week to specifically pray for your friends and family that don’t know Christ. We want to pray with you. Fill out a digital Connect Card and add their name to the comments and our staff will pray with you.


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