D r . T albot : The Bible is like a great hand lifting the veil which would conceal the future. If you want to know what’s taking place in the world today, turn to the Word of God. It will project you into the future describing the events which will cul minate in the personal, visible, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The wisest man in the world doesn’t know what the nations will do, unless he is studying the Scripture. D r . A nderson : One of the things which is most interesting is the so- called ecumenical movement. There is a desire by some people to bring together all religious systems under one head. Revelation 17 gives us a real picture of this ultimate consum mation. The harlot who is described is a symbol of this unification which will exist after the Church has gone to be with her Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18). There is not the slightest question in my mind but that we are moving toward this gath ering of all systems of a religious nature. D r . T albot : When we speak of the translation, we do not believe in a p a r t i a l rapture. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ from every church will be there, if their faith is truly resident in the Saviour’s completed atoning work. Paul definitely refers to “all those who are Christ’s at His coming.” The professing church that is left, that is merely ritual without righteousness, will form itself into a great world church. It is sad to hear of Bible teachers who are telling people that believers will go through the Tribulation. We
are assured in Scripture of the im- minency of Christ’s return. D r . A nderson : Under the inspira tion of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote in his second letter to the Thessalonians a word of comfort to those who were very troubled about the Day of the Lord. Keep in mind that there’s a dif ference between this and the Day of Christ. You remember in Philippians we read of the latter being at hand. Now, the Day of the Lord begins after the Church is taken to be with Christ in the air. This former event is the next thing to transpire on the prophetic calendar, and it could hap pen at any moment. After this, many things can take place simultaneously as Daniel, Matthew, Revelation and other Scriptures clearly indicate: the federation of states, the rise of a po litical ruler, the formulation of a false religious system under the false prophet, and the rise of antichrist. D r . T albot : Just before the Lord’s arrest, He gathered His disciples to tell them of His departure and return and He said He might come back in the evening, at midnight or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning, and warned them: “What I say unto you, I say unto all, watch.” (Mark 13:36- 37.) What a tremendous word on imminency from the Saviour’s lips! If some Bible teacher wants to go through the tribulation, the entire thing, or only the first three and a half years, that’s his business, but I don’t want to be taken along with him, when Scripture is very clear on the subject! I’m looking for the Lord to descend from heaven with a shout. I think the word will be: “Come!” 23
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