The prophecy that some of Jesus' disciples will see his kingdom

28 "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."    Matthew 16:28

"Some" is also translated 'certain," more often than "some."   Could that certain one be John and his receiving the revelation of Jesus' coming?  There is the plural verb translated "there are," but maybe that is used with some ambiguity.  

John the apostle would receive the revelation of Jesus coming in his glory.

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. Revelation 19:11-12

2 Harvests at the time of the end

There are two harvests at the time of the end:  one is the harvest of the saints, and the other is the judgment of the nations through war, both come in connection with the "Day of the Lord," which is the second coming of Christ.

Joel speaks of a harvest:  "Let the nations be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, the vats overflow— For their wickedness is great." Joel 3:12-13

Joel connects this harvest with the "day of the Lord": "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.  The sun and moon will grow dark,  and the stars will diminish their brightness." Joel 3:14-15  

The "day of the Lord" is preceded by the cosmic events of Joel 3:15:   "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD." Joel 2:30-31

The cosmic events come after the "great tribulation," and so the "Day of the Lord" comes after the great tribulation, Jesus said:,  "21 For 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. ...  29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."  Matthew 24:21, 29-31

Luke also records Jesus saying, "25 And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:25-28 

The Revelation of Christ says:  "I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Revelation 6:12-17

The above Scriptures connect the cosmic events with the end of the "Great Tribulation," to be followed by the "Day of the Lord" which is the coming wrath of the "Son of man," the "lamb of God," to gather the elect and to judge the nations.

The Revelation of Christ speaks of two harvests to come:  The first harvest is the gathering of the elect, and the second harvest is the judgment of nations.

The first harvest would correspond to the gathering of the elect at Christ's coming: "4 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, 'Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.' 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped." Revelation 14:14-16

The second Harvest is the judgment of nations through war: "17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs." Revelation 14:17-20

The sixth Bowl of wrath of Revelation speaks of preparing the way for the great battle of "Armageddon" for when Jesus comes as a "thief":  the battle of Armageddon is the gathering of nations and the harvest spoken by the prophet Joel; it is the second harvest to follow that first harvest which is the gathering of the elect:  "12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.  15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."  16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon." Revelation 16:12-16

The two harvests of Revelation are two different kinds of reaping at the end of the Great Tribulation: the first one being the gathering of the elect, and the second one being the judgment of nations through war by the coming of Christ for that great day called the "Day of the Lord."

the AntiChrist's reach?

The kings and kingdoms of Daniel 2 were of the Mediterranean world.  We live in a much different world today, so how far reaching the antichrist economic system will reach probably goes beyond the Mediterranean world, but I don't think in 3 1/2 years (the "Great Tribulation" period) it will get completely implemented. However, the handling of Covid and the vaccine does reveal that the beast economic system could get implemented in many countries in a relatively short period.    The beast will have a lot of opposition near the end, if the last part of Daniel 11 speaks of that opposition (see Daniel 11:40-45).  Believing the rapture happens at the end of the great tribulation, there must be a lot of people (See Isaiah 66:18-21) who are not saved and yet did not take the Mark of the beast, and they will believe in Christ when he comes, just like many Jews will, and these will enter the kingdom in flesh and blood bodies.  

Daniel 11:40-45 reveals opposition towards the beast:

40 "At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him."  

Isaiah 66:18-21 reveals that some will believe in Christ after He comes:

"For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD, "as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites," says the LORD." 

Jesus warned and instructed concerning the coming affliction.

Jesus instructed his disciples to expect persecution and affliction ("tribulation") in the near future and in the far future near the time of His return. 

Aligning with Jesus will bring conflict and adversity: 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'" 37 Matthew 10:34-37

Jesus prepared his disciples:  "16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues." Matthew 10:16-17 

Jesus warned them of the severity of the conflict they will face: 21 "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake." Matthew 10:21-22   

Jesus reminded his disciples to put their trust in God:  "28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:28-31  

All this was what the disciples would face in their lifetime, but it can be the expectation of all believers in their own times. 

There are similar expectations in the far future, near the coming of Christ, though the threat and intensity of persecution will increase as society becomes more opposed to the knowledge of God.

Jesus instructed his disciples on how it will be near the time of the end: 9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved." Matthew 24:9-13  

Jesus speaking of that great affliction to come, says, "21 For 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. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." Matthew 24:21-22 

But even during that time to come, the believer can still trust God with the same understanding, that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."  The numbering of the hairs of your head is really a figure of speech, saying God has you: you are fully accounted for--nothing can separate you from God. 

"35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; 
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

John Walvoord admitted a "Pretribulation rapture" is not explicitly taught in Scripture.

 A "Pretribulation rapture" is not explicitly or expressly taught in Scripture. Dr John Walvoord (a Pretribulationalist) admitted this more than once, though something caused him to remove this admittance from his first release of his book "The Rapture Question."

"Tribulation" is the designation commonly applied to that 7-year period that the book of Daniel calls a "Week" (Daniel 9:27), and that "Week" is understood by many as the "70th Week of Daniel," because it is the unfulfilled part of a prophecy of which the first 69 weeks have been fulfilled in the past.  The "Rapture" (to be "caught up") is the removal of the "Church," that is, living believers from the earth. A "Pretribulation" rapture view believes this catching up can happen at any moment, but at least before the beginning of the "70th Week."  The end of the 70th Week involves the Second Coming of Christ, and so the pretribulation-rapture-view sees Christ coming for His church before the 70th Week begins.

Dr. John Walvoord was a President of Dallas Theological Seminary and wrote many books on theology, especially on Bible Prophecy, and commentaries on Scripture.  I used to believe as he did on the rapture, but later had a change of mind to the posttribulation-rapture-view.   

I want to point out that Walvoord admitted in his book, 'The Rapture Question," that it was a "fact" that "neither Posttribulationalism nor Pretribulationalism is an explicit teaching of Scripture. The Bible does not state in so many words either."  This statement was removed from later printings of his book.  Why did he do it?  I don't know.  My copy of the book reads differently, it says, "The fact is that posttribulationism is an interpretation of Scripture that pretribulationists believe is contradicted by many passages which imply otherwise." 

There was an accusation by certain parties that Walvoord never admitted to what his first printing (1957) of "The Rapture Question" said, since later copies did not have the statements.  Though that first edition can be found, and photocopies of it are available, I found a similar statement by Walvoord many years later in an article he wrote in the "Grace Theological Journal" (Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana, Fall 1985).  The article was titled, "Is a Posttribulational rapture Revealed in Matthew 24?"  He wrote: "Both pretribulationists and posttribulationists are confronted with the fact that Scripture does not expressly state either view."  So this statement says essentially the same thing as in the first printing of his book.  So why was the book changed, and yet this article many years later admits the same thing that was removed from the book?   

I would like to point out that if the Apostle Paul got his eschatology (the doctrine of last things / prophecy) from the Lord, and there are obvious parallels between the words of Jesus and Paul on end of the age and the coming of Christ, then there are some strong arguments for a posttribulational rapture.

Consider that Jesus said: 

29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will **gather together His elect **from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Matthew 24:29-31

Compare this to what Paul said:

"1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and **our gathering together to Him**"

2 Thessalonians 2:1

Filled with the knowledge of God's will

Paul writes to the Colossians saying he prays for them to be filled with the knowledge of God's will "in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians1:9). What this will of God is not defined in the words that follow, for what words follow seem to speak of the affect from being filled with the knowledge of that will of God, whatever it is. That will of God could be his revealed moral will as found in the Scriptures, but there are some parallels between what is said here in chapter one of Colossians and Ephesians chapter one that would indicate that the will of God in view is what God has determined for those who have believed.

First notice the similarities of how Paul addresses the Colossians and the Ephesians.

 Colossians 1:3-4:

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.

Ephesians 1:15-16:

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers

Next notice the similarities of how Paul prays for both the Colossians and Ephesians:

 Colossians 1:9:

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

Ephesians 1:17:

 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

The two references don't read exactly the same, but they both seek by prayer that the recipients obtain an understanding that must come from Divine revelation, for the wisdom, spiritual understanding, and revelation must all come from God. In Colossians, it is for the will of God, and in Ephesians, it is the knowledge of God. One way to know God is to know his will. But what is that will that God has revealed for us to know?

I believe what Paul says in Colossians 1:10 is what the affect of being filled with that knowledge will produce, being, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord,” etc. But the explanation of that will is stated in Ephesians, and it is not God's moral will for us, but what God has determined for those who believe.

Ephesians 1:18-19 says:

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,

The word “will” is not used there, but it speaks of God's intentions for “us who believe.” We do read of some things there that he has planned for believers, such as the “hope of his calling,” the “glory of his inheritance,” and his “power” towards believers.

Ephesians does speak of the will of God toward those who believe:

Ephesians 1:5:

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:9-12:

 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Colossians 1:19-20:

Colossians speaks of the reconciling of all things to God in Christ: For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

We are called to live in a manner that is becoming of that will of God, being what God has determined for “us who believe.”

And so, as Paul said to the Colossians:

Colossians 1:10-12:

that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

The Christian Prepper and coming affliction

The goal of the Christian is not to see how long he can physically survive in this world, but to live faithfully for God according to his revealed moral will and as an intentional minister of both reconciliation (of people to God through faith in Christ for salvation) and edification (building up) of the body of Christ (the "church") through the role(s) (or "gift") he/she is inclined/ enabled towards. 

The Christian who is more inclined towards DYI and survivalism and is more keenly aware of coming affliction (mostly from opposition from those who oppose God and the Bible, but also from cultural and social trends that can make life more difficult for all) will desire to seek to prepare physically to make enduring such affliction possible.

Such a desire and effort is not unwise, for it may provide in the time of trouble for both the preparer and others who have not prepared.  But such preparation should not be just to try to "endure to the end" physically.  The intent should always include the calling of the believer to fulfill his ministries of reconciliation and edification.  But it is natural to prepare for difficult times, and it isn't unwise to do so.  But it should not be the all-consuming aim of one's life, for there are some who devote their lives to prepping, and it almost seems that their goal in life is to make it to the end physically.  

When God pronounced judgment on Judea for her sins by the Babylonians, he said their life would be a prize to them.  Judgment was coming, and if they submitted to God's will, they would only get out with their lives.   Jeremiah the prophet speaks of their life being a prize to them, and he also spoke of some would be appointed to captivity and some the sword.   Revelation 13 speaks of this same thing in the context of the saints being given into the authority of the "Beast."  This understanding of how it will be is to be for the "patience of the saints."  One is to entrust their life to God.  If he wants to save you through it all, he will.  You can prepare, and you can run, if possible, but you must trust God with your life.  

8 "Now you shall say to this people, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him. 10 For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good," says the LORD. "It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire."'   Jeremiah 21:8-10

2 "Thus says the LORD: He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.' 3 Thus says the LORD: This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.'"  Jeremiah 38:2-3

15 Meanwhile the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 "Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. 17 But I will deliver you in that day," says the LORD, "and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me," says the LORD.'"  Jeremiah 39:15-18

4 "Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the LORD. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go."'"  Jeremiah 45:4-5

1 Then the LORD said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth. 2 And it shall be, if they say to you, 'Where should we go?' then you shall tell them, 'Thus says the LORD:

"Such as are for death, to death;

And such as are for the sword, to the sword;

And such as are for the famine, to the famine;

And such as are for the captivity, to the captivity."' 

Jeremiah 15:1-2

So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God - to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, 8 and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. 9 If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!

10 If anyone is meant for captivity,

into captivity he will go.

If anyone is to be killed by the sword,

then by the sword he must be killed.

Revelation 13:6-10 NET Bible

2 Then the LORD answered me and said:  "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him;

But the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:2-4