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Revelation 14:14-20

Harvesting (Part 2)

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Outline of the Book of Revelation

Introduction (1)
Letters to 7 Churches (2-3)
A Scene in Heaven (4)
The Scroll & the Lamb (5)
The 7 Seals (6-8)

The Sealed People of God (7)

The 7 Trumpets (8-11)

The Angel & Little Scroll (10)
The 2 Witnesses (11)

The Woman & the Dragon (12)
The Beasts (13)
People of God & People of the Beast (14)
The 7 Plagues (15)
The 7 Bowls of Wrath (16)
Babylon is Fallen (17-18)
A Fourfold Hallelujah (19)
Final Judgment (20)
New Creation (21-22)

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The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, - Revelation 1:1 (ESV)

Written by John near end of 1st century AD while exiled on island of Patmos

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Reading

Revelation 14:14-20

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Matthew 13:24-43

Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” - Matthew 13:30 (WEB)

the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. - Matthew 13:38-43 (WEB)

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Rapture

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For much of our Revelation study, I’ve aimed to “hold off until we have as much information as possible” from the book of Revelation itself when tackling a topic, unless there’s some critical need to understand something sooner.

The topic of “rapture” has come up in the past, and while there’s technically one more instance in the book where it might be applicable (Revelation 18:4), we largely have as much information as we’re going to get from this book on what might be applicable (with Revelation 14:14-20 being a potentially meaningful passage), so we’re going to tackle the topic now.

There’s a lot of theory/speculation on this topic which I’m largely going to aim to not get into. You can see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture for a decent overview of various historical interpretations/theories. While I may touch on a few such things related to such theories, I’m largely going to aim for us to examine Scripture itself and see what it says - as if coming to this topic almost “from scratch” without any preconceived notions about what it might mean. I also encourage being careful about paying attention to what is not said in verses and keeping in mind God’s eternal, outside-of-time perspective.

Note that we’re not going to get into specifics of “Christ’s second coming” much tonight - that will have to be saved for a later date.

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How many of you have heard the word “rapture” ?

If so, do you have any idea of what “meanings” might be behind that word?

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English Word “Rapture” Isn’t in the Bible

“Rapture” not in English Bible translations

Makes it harder to confirm what we’re even talking about

Basic meaning is “to be carried/taken away or caught up”

We get the “rapture” word from the Latin Vulgate Bible translation which translates a word as “rapiemur”.
This is from translation of a Greek word in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

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Reading

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

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A “Rapture” Does Exist

then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. - 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (WEB)

ἁρπαγησόμεθα - harpagēsometha

Biblically, this verse is what “rapture” is.

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Discussion (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

What is the “order” in which different things occur in this passage?

What is the “outcome” for those who are “caught up” ?

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But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (WEB)

The thrust of this verse (and one of the bigger picture aims of this passage - 1 Thessalonians 4:18) is to provide comfort that those who have already died have the hope that of being gathered with Jesus.

For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. - 1 Thessalonians 4:15 (WEB)

This indicates that some people will be left until “the coming of the Lord” - and those who are alive won’t get special precedence compared to those who have already died.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, - 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (WEB)

Continuing on from the previous first, the order is (1) Christ returns, (2) the dead in Christ rise…
An implication from this is that if when trying to establish when this “rapture” occurs, it’s connected to Christ descending from heaven in this manner.

then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. - 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (WEB)

And (3) then those who are alive will be caught up together with those dead-in-Christ who rose first to meet the Lord in the air. That is essentially the “outcome” of this being “caught up”. We’re not really told
The ultimate outcome of this is us being “with the Lord forever” (although the “timeline” of this in relation to previous events isn’t clear.

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Reading

Matthew 24:21-41

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That 1 Thessalonians 4 passage is what we can say most definitely about a “rapture” from a Biblical perspective.

The idea of a “rapture” to “rescue” Christians “early” to be spared from some horrible “great tribulation” on the earth at least seems to have become more “popular” in recent history (since the 1800s), at least from what records we have. That doesn’t mean it was completely absent from earlier interpretations (even going back to some of the earliest church writings after the Bible), but it seems to have been somewhat less common. Another common point of confusion/area for potential of misinterpretation seems to be confusing some “tribulation” with “wrath” - while both may involve human suffering, looking at Scripture, there seem to be some key distinctions. Namely, believers may experience various kinds of tribulation in this world (John 16:33, Acts 14:22, Revelation 1:9), but we are spared from God’s ultimate wrath (Romans 5:9).

Regardless of any of that, there are some other passages worth examining to see what they might have to say about this. That’s what this reading is about.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture

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Discussion (Matthew 24:21-41)

For whom is this tribulation cut short? (verse 22)

Who is gathered by the angels? (verse 31)

What should we understand from verses 37-41?

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. - Revelation 1:9 (NASB1995)

‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. - Revelation 2:9-10 (NASB1995)

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We’re now going to trace through God’s people (saints) throughout the book of Revelation to explore this “rapture” topic some more. Some things to keep in mind:

Revelation may not strictly be in chronological order.
Revelation may revisit the same topic in multiple different ways.

We won’t necessarily thoroughly exhaust every verse in Revelation that potentially discusses God’s saints, but we’ll aim to highlight key areas (and you can go read surrounding passages for more if you want).

Specific thoughts on some verses on this slide:

Revelation 1:9 - Note that John (who is a saint) considers himself a partaker “the in tribulation” which is in Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:9-10 - Revelation 2-3 are letters originally written to specific churches at the time, so those entire chapters essentially covers relevant information about God’s people. Though in these two particular verses, we see some short tribulation occurring for a particular church.

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. - Revelation 3:10 (WEB)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course. - Revelation 6:9-11 (WEB)

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Specific thoughts on some verses on this slide:

Revelation 3:10 - This is a continuation to a letter to specific church. Here, Jesus says that He will keep them from an “hour of testing” which is to come on the whole world. This could be one verse that could support more of a “pre-tribulation rapture”, although such a rapture wouldn’t have occurred for this particular church (around the end of the 1st century AD). See John 17:15 and Galatians 1:4 as well.
Revelation 6:9-11 - Here we see some saints (killed, underneath a heavenly altar) asking a “how long” question (until God’s judgment on the earth). They’re told to wait longer, as there are others servants who would be killed.

See also https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BHRj0vvfy75o6gvpfShAiKLhXeXPie-2nnIDwSin_DM/ for more on Revelation 6:9-11.

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

saying, “Don’t harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!” I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel: - Revelation 7:3-4 (WEB)

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes…These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” - Revelation 7:9-17 (NASB1995)

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Specific thoughts on some verses on this slide:

Revelation 7:3-4 - Here we have “bondservants” of God sealed (partly to protect from harm), and then it specifically mentions 144,000 out of Israel.
Revelation 7:9-17 - John also sees a “great multitude” from across the world standing before the Lamb. These are described as those who “come out of the great tribulation”. Though “come out” doesn’t necessarily have to mean “completely escaping the sufferings of something” - it could mean “coming out the other end after enduring through something). And a lot of the text at the end here seems very “future-looking” (the “will” word and correspondence to other things later in Revelation - like Revelation 21:4).

See https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1U71y15mVJogLMU_65UFPySUc1ASjQ-jw_ngJH24Ocws/ and https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_hRbZm7hJd3stUNnR9XlrL0Sx3KldjOOf00xyqHmD5g/ for more on Revelation 7.

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed. - Revelation 8:3-5 (WEB)

They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads. - Revelation 9:4 (WEB)

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands, standing before the Lord of the earth. - Revelation 11:3-4 (WEB)

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. - Revelation 11:7 (WEB)

After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. - Revelation 11:11-12 (WEB)

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God’s commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony. - Revelation 12:17 (WEB)

He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, his dwelling, and those who dwell in heaven. It was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. - Revelation 13:6-10 (WEB)

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads…the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless. - Revelation 14:1-5 (WEB)

Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow with them.” - Revelation 14:12-13 (WEB)

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished. I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying… - Revelation 15:1-3 (WEB)

For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” - Revelation 16:6 (WEB)

The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. - Revelation 17:8 (WEB)

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(The remaining verses on slides today cover things that occur “after” the harvesting of today’s passage in Revelation 14:14-20)

Specific thoughts on some verses on this slide:

Revelation 15:1-3 - Given the way the rest of the book is written, this seems to occur “more confidently” toward the end (“God’s wrath is finished” here). Note that a “sea of glass” appears before God’s heavenly throne in Revelation 4:6.
Revelation 16:6 - This occurs in the context of upcoming bowls of wrath (which sounds like it being “after” the blood of saints/prophets being poured out).
Revelation 17:8 - This passage seems to make a decision of saints whose names have been “written in the book of life” from those on the earth who aren’t written in that book. It sort of sounds like that means saints would still be on the earth at this time, though that “written in the book of life” phrase could be a generic phrase that kind of occurs outside of time (and even this verse mentions “from the foundation of the world”).

See also Revelation 17:6 and Revelation 17:14.

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues, - Revelation 18:4 (WEB)

After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God; for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.” - Revelation 19:1-2 (WEB)

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Tracing God’s People Throughout Revelation

I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war…His name is called “The Word of God.” The armies which are in heaven, clothed in white, pure, fine linen, followed him on white horses. - Revelation 19:11-14 (WEB)

I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years…Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years. - Revelation 20:4-6 (WEB)

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Appendix A:

Suffering Expected for Christians

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Through Many Afflictions We Must Enter into God’s Kingdom

But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.

When they had preached the Good News to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom. When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed. - Acts 14:19-23 (WEB)

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Carrying the Death of Jesus

We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. - 2 Corinthians 4:8 (WEB)

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See also:

Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” - Romans 8:36 (WEB)
but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. - 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (ESV)

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Joyfully Accepted the Plundering of Your Possessions

But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions, and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so. For you both had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens. Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. “In a very little while, he who comes will come and will not wait. But the righteous one will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul. - Hebrews 10:32-39 (WEB)

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This Hebrews 10 passage is right before the “hall of faith” chapter of Hebrews 11.

See also:

For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing. - 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (WBE)
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials, that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ— - 1 Peter 1:6-7 (WEB)
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace. What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets— who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth. These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls. - Hebrews 11:24-12:3 (WEB)

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We Need to Be Prepared for Suffering

Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. - 1 Peter 4:12-14 (WEB)

Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. - 1 Peter 5:8-10 (WEB)

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Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 (NIV)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? - 1 John 5:4-5 (WEB)

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See also:

and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly, and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an ungodly way, and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, - 2 Peter 2:5-9 (WEB)
For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. - 1 Peter 2:21-23 (WEB)
For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day. - 2 Timothy 1:12 (WEB)

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They Will Also Persecute You

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me. - John 15:18-21 (WEB)

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See also:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort…God…who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication... - 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (WEB)

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I Pray Not That You Would Take Them From the World

“I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me…I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours…I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are…The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, - John 17:6-20 (WEB)

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But He Who Endures to the End Will Be Saved

“Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. - Matthew 24:9-14 (WEB)

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Appendix B:

Wrath of God

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The Wrath to Come

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. - Matthew 3:7-10 (WEB)

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The Wrath of God

One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” - John 3:36 (WEB)

We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest - Ephesians 2:3 (WEB)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. - Ephesians 5:5 (WEB)

For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. - Colossians 3:6 (WEB)

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Wrath Stored Up for a Future Day

We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God, who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; but to those who are self-seeking and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath, indignation, oppression, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. - Romans 2:2-9 (WEB)

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See also:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, - Romans 1:18 (WEB)
who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them. - Romans 1:32 (WEB)
May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.” But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. May it never be! For then how will God judge the world? - Romans 3:4-6 (WEB)
For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. - Romans 4:15 (WEB)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 (WEB)
What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, - Romans 9:22 (WEB)
Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” - Romans 12:19 (WEB)
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost. - 1 Thessalonians 1:16 (WEB)
so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure. This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of God’s Kingdom, for which you also suffer. Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, - 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7 (WEB)

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Saved from God’s Wrath

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. - Romans 5:9 (WEB)

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. - 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (WEB)

For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, - 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (WEB)

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Wrath in Revelation

The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They told the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” - Revelation 6:15-17 (WEB)

The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints and those who fear your name, to the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” - Revelation 11:18 (WEB)

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Wrath in Revelation

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished. - Revelation 15:1 (WEB)

One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. - Revelation 15:7 (WEB)

I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!” - Revelation 16:1 (WEB)

The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. - Revelation 16:19 (WEB)

Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. - Revelation 19:15 (WEB)

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