Great Tribulation Travails
The Great Tribulation period will be a time of great sin and lawlessness, making it essential to decide for the Rapture now and serve God with all our hearts.
E.A. Adeboye emphasizes the importance of not delaying in serving God, especially in the face of increasing corruption and challenges in the world. He warns against compromising one's faith and waiting until the Great Tribulation to get serious with God, highlighting the extreme conditions and lawlessness that will prevail during that time under the rule of the Antichrist. Adeboye urges believers to rely on God's grace to stay pure and faithful, rather than succumbing to the temptations and depravity that will escalate during the Great Tribulation, making current struggles seem minor in comparison.
Text
MEMORISE: 'If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee,
then how canst thou contend with horses?' (Jer 12:5a)
READ: Jeremiah 12:1-6
We live in an era of grace. In the Old Testament, God dealt with man under the law. The Bible tells us that the law was a shadow of things to come, the reality of which came into being when Jesus was born. Grace affords every Christian an opportunity to serve God. However, some Christians have argued that the times we live in are so corrupt that it is more difficult to serve God now than under any other dispensation. Some have even used this as an excuse to compromise their faith, hoping to get serious with God during the Great Tribulation.
In the first place, the Scripture says: 'Where sin abounds grace did much more abound.' This means that no matter how corrupt and defiled the world may be, if you look to the Lord, he will give you all you need to stay out of defilement. However, to reject the grace of God and defer serving God until after the rapture, is a most tragic step. The Great Tribulation period will be characterized by several extreme conditions that will make it really difficult to serve God. Satan's helmsman, the Antichrist, will be the world's ruler. He will compel all into satanic worship. He will regulate commerce and other essential services and ensure that those who do not agree with him (who refuse his mark) have no means of livelihood. He will lead the world in open rebellion against God (Rev 12).
The Antichrist will lead the world into lawlessness. He will create a very permissive and depraved world. Robbers, adulterers and delinquents will receive worldwide acclaim. Immorality will be free for all. Ritual murders will become normal. Marriages will collapse. Law enforcement agencies will become a tool under the Antichrist to punish the just and acquit the wicked. Many will lose property, children and spouses will be molested. The Great Tribulation period will epitomize sin at its peak in the history of man, making Sodom and Gomorrah seem like child's play. If you find it difficult to overcome the temptation to lust when you see a few nude scenes on television now, how easily will you overcome when most women around you are nude everywhere you do? At this time you will have to pay for your salvation with your own blood! Now is the time to decide to make the Rapture!
ACTION POINT
Ask God to uproot anything in your life that can cause you to miss
the Rapture, and to make you heaven bound.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction
- A. The era of grace
- B. The law as a shadow of things to come
- C. The reality of Jesus' birth
- II. The Great Tribulation
- A. Characterized by extreme conditions
- B. The Antichrist as the world's ruler
- C. Lawlessness and sin at its peak
- III. The consequences of delaying service to God
- A. Compromise and loss of salvation
- B. The need to decide for the Rapture now
- C. The importance of being heaven-bound
Key Quotes
“''Where sin abounds grace did much more abound.''” — E.A. Adeboye
“''If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?'' (Jer 12:5a)” — E.A. Adeboye
“''At this time you will have to pay for your salvation with your own blood!''” — E.A. Adeboye
Application Points
- You must ask God to uproot anything in your life that can cause you to miss the Rapture and to make you heaven-bound.
- The time to decide for the Rapture is now, and not to wait until the Great Tribulation period.
- It is essential to serve God with all our hearts and not to compromise our faith in times of great corruption.