Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Copyright 2004 by
Doug Batchelor
All rights reserved.
Printed in the USA.
Published by:
Amazing Facts, Inc.
P.O. Box 1058
Roseville, CA 95678-8058
800-538-7275
Edited by Debra J. Hicks
Layout by Greg Solie - Altamont Graphics
Cover design by Haley Trimmer
Visit us online at
www.amazingfacts.org
and check out our online catalog
lled with other great books, videos,
CDs, audiotapes, and more!
Or call 800-538-7275.
Dont miss our FREE online
Bible Prophecy course at
www.bibleuniverse.com
Enroll today and
expand your universe!
BY
DOUG BATCHELOR
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Gods Warning 2
Not a Secret 6
Basis for Confusion 13
Not Left Behind 16
Through the Tribulation
With Christ 18
Times of Trouble 21
Just Before the Plagues 23
No Second Chance 26
God on Trial 27
No Need to Fear 29
Rescue From the Skies 31
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Chapter One
Gods Warning
n the early 1500s, the Aztec empire was one of the
most powerful and sophisticated civilizations in
the western hemisphere. However, within one years
time this mighty nation of over 2 million people was
conquered and enslaved by just 600 men. How did
it happen?
The Aztecs had a prophecy about Quetzalcoatl
(kt-slko--tal), a legendary feathered god-king who
was light-skinned and bearded. It predicted that he
would return to Mexico from across the sea and that he
would come in the clouds from the east to save them.
Well, in 1519 Spanish galleons arrived in Mexico
carrying a group of conquistadors led by Hernando
Cortez. When the Aztecs saw these ships, they
thought their billowing sails looked like clouds.
Cortez heard about the Aztec legend from some
Indians who lived on the shore and decided to try
to use it to his advantage. By assuming the mantle
of deity, he hoped to befuddle superstitious King
Montezuma II.
While the king was waiting to receive the lightskinned visitor with honor, Cortez marched his army
right into the center of the Aztec capital. By the time
the people realized that Cortez was not the savior they
were expecting, it was too late.
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battles have been won because of a clever diversionary tactic. While one army was distracted and
looking at the diversion, the enemy came up from
behind to conquer them. In the devils final assault,
he will do the same thing. The archdeceiver has
always wanted to be God. Now he knows that he is
doomed, but his last taunting gesture against heaven
will be to personate Jesus and receive the worship of
a lost world.
Satans deceptions will be strong and convincing, but Christ has given us ample information in
order to help us discern truth from error.
Chapter Two
Not a Secret
ill there be a rapture? Yes. Will it be a secret?
NO!
Rapture means to be carried away with
power, and it is true that when Jesus comes the
living righteous will be caught up to meet the Lord
in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). But many have
come to believe that this rapture will take place quietlythat faithful Christians all around the world
will suddenly disappear and that life here on earth
will continue for a seven-year period of tribulation.
During this time, they say, many will be converted
and have a second chance at salvation before
Christs final coming.
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Chapter Three
Basis for Confusion
ith so much evidence in the Bible as to the
manner of Christs coming, how did people
get the idea that the rapture will be a secret event?
As with most deceptions, the secret rapture
theory is based on a few texts that have been taken
out of context. Two main concepts in Scripture have
been used to substantiate a secret rapture.
The primary one is that Jesus will come as a
thief in the night. The secret rapture theory assumes
this means that Christ will come secretly to steal away
the righteous and carry them quietly to heaven.
Christs coming is described as a thief several
times throughout the New Testament. Lets look at
one of these passages and see if it describes a secret
rapture. 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 (2 Peter 3:10). That
doesnt sound like a secret event, does it?
In describing His return as a thief, Christ did
not intend to show that it would be quiet, but that it
would be sudden and unexpectedthat the wicked
would be taken by surprise. He said, If the goodman
of the house had known what hour the thief would
come, he would have watched, and not have suffered
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time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days
should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved:
but for the elects sake those days shall be shortened
(Matthew 24:21, 22).
If the elect were not in the world during the
great tribulation, they would not need the days to
be shortened!
All throughout Scripture we see examples of
the Lord saving His people through tribulation, not
from it.
Noah was not saved from the Flood, but through it.
Daniel was not saved from the lions den, but
through it.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not
saved from the fiery furnace, but through it. In
fact, Jesus went through it with them, and He
will go through the great tribulation with us, as
well!
The children of Israel were not saved from Egypt
before the plagues fell, but afterward. God demonstrated His love and power by preserving them
in Egypt through the 10 plagues. In the same
way, the righteous will be in the world when the
seven last plagues fall (Revelation chapter 16),
but God will preserve them.
God never promises that our lives will always be
easy. Christ prayed to His Father for His disciples, I
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As dark as each of these times was for Gods people, none will compare with the final, great tribulation that is yet to take place. The great tribulation corresponds with the time during which the seven last
plagues of Revelation chapter 16 will fall. And I saw
another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven
angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is
filled up the wrath of God (Revelation 15:1).
Gods wrath will be directed against the ones
who disobey His law, distort His truth, and oppress
His people. For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness
(Romans 1:18).
The great tribulation also coincides with the
Battle of Armageddon. Both take place immediately
before Christs second coming. And he gathered
them together into a place called in the Hebrew
tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured
out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice
out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,
It is done (Revelation 16:16, 17).
It is my belief that the great time of trouble will
last only a month or two. Here are a few Scriptures
that indicate it will be a short period of time.
Revelation 18:8 tells us, Therefore shall
her plagues come in one day. A day in Bible
prophecy represents one literal year (Ezekiel 4:6;
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Chapter Ten
No Need to Fear
erhaps your picture of the great tribulation has
always resembled this terrifying recipe:
Pour the entire contents of Armageddon
into a pressure cooker, then slowly mix in
the seven last plagues with one full bottle
of Jacobs trouble and one whole crushed
Babylon. Next, evenly stir in two full boxes
of wrathone from God and one from
Satan. Cover securely and cook on high.
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Then Christ said to them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Jesus rested with
the peace of a baby because He lived by faith in His
heavenly Father. One message He delivered repeatedly throughout His ministry was Fear not.
In John 16:33, Jesus said, These things I have
spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer; I have overcome the world.
God does not want us to live by fear, but rather
by faith. There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that
feareth is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18).
During the worlds darkest hour and greatest
trial, God will supply the greatest peace and faith. We
need only to remember that Jesus is in the boat with
us. Though the furnace be heated seven times over,
we can pass safely through it if Jesus is at our side.
The ninety-first Psalm contains special promises for those living during the last great tribulation. It says, You shall not be afraid of the terror
by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of
the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the
destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand
may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your
right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only
with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward
of the wicked (Psalm 91:58, NKJV).
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Copyright 2004 by
Doug Batchelor
All rights reserved.
Printed in the USA.
Published by:
Amazing Facts, Inc.
P.O. Box 1058
Roseville, CA 95678-8058
800-538-7275
Edited by Debra J. Hicks
Layout by Greg Solie - Altamont Graphics
Cover design by Haley Trimmer
Visit us online at
www.amazingfacts.org
and check out our online catalog
lled with other great books, videos,
CDs, audiotapes, and more!
Or call 800-538-7275.
Dont miss our FREE online
Bible Prophecy course at
www.bibleuniverse.com
Enroll today and
expand your universe!