The totalitarianism drift of this nation and all the other nations will result in earth's final dictatorship- the Antichrist's regime. It doesn't take a genius to see the totalitarian drift our own US government is taking, and it doesn't take a theological scholar to see that the earth's final human government will be a complete dictatorship. (Rev 13:3). In between the now and the then, people are becoming increasingly worried about a rumor of "FEMA camps". These camps are allegedly locations around the nation that are reportedly being built, or have been built, to contain massive segments of the population in repressive times to come. The US government is reportedly fusing together the alphabet organizations (CIA-FBI-HSA-FEMA-NSA etc) to become one gargantuan monolithic governmental agency designed to hold the US populations in containment camps, perhaps to torture or even kill us. That is the rumor.
I do know about the FEMA camp rumors. Those rumors have been circulating for a very long time. I know that this week the heated rhetoric has ramped up even more and that people are getting fairly worried about it. Former Navy SEAL and MN Governor Jesse Ventura had a recent show on TruTV about it but a careful watching didn't really illuminate any further facts about the camps than any other show.The burial vaults that were allegedly piled up for use by the government featured on the show are actually burial vaults ... and they are stored at that location because they are, um, a burial vault manufacturing and storage facility.
Here is what the bible says: Luke 21:12- "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake." Hal Lindsey interprets that verse as happening beginning now and into and throughout the Tribulation. Watch his Hal Lindsey Report about it for 1-21-11 here to decide of you interpret it that was too. I don't. The parallel verse in Matthew 24:4-9 is more chronological "And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake."
Prior to Christians being persecuted all the previous signs will have occurred, and the famines and pestilences Jesus is talking about are depicted in Revelation 6, and there is no doubt that the tribulation has begun.
Additionally, the Olivet Discourse is given completely to the Jews for their understanding, because the church age will have ended and Gentile believers will have vanished. Notice the verse in Luke says that they will be delivered up to synagogues. Not churches. The rounding up as described in the Olivet Discourse and in Revelation 13 is separate and distinct from the normal persecution that Christians have always endured on this earth since Stephen's martyrdom in 34-35 AD. Revelation 13 says "The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed." By then, yes, some kind of containment facility will likely have been developed, because I cannot envision how all the peoples all around the world will be rounded up and contained until their murder unless there are some facilities to do so. Just as likely, existing jails will be used.
I won't write about the FEMA camps for a few reasons. I am not convinced we will be here for the coming Christian roundup and encampment, times that include persecution in prisons and death through martyrdom. (Although a case could be made that NOW is a tough time, it is a picnic compared to what's coming.) Secondly, I try really hard in the delivering of this blog's information not to add to the general confusion. I want to bring light to the situation, comfort in the face of what is coming. Also, I try to keep the focus on Jesus. FEMA camps are a rumor that is hard to pin down, doesn't add to anyone's general comfort, and is a sign that that doesn't stem from biblical knowledge and is better interpreted as being against the timing of the end time as opposed to occurring in the Tribulation.
Last, even IF we are sent to camps prior to the Tribulation (which I DO NOT believe) Jesus is still in our hearts and that would be a great place to be a light for Him. Many people became saved in the concentration camps in WWII. Luke 21:12b-15 goes on to say of the people put into prisons for His name's sake: "You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist."
I believe our Federal government has become our enemy. I believe that wholeheartedly. However I do not believe Christians will be rounded up and placed in government-run FEMA camps anytime soon. That is giving our government too much credit. Not for their will and intent, but for their ability to execute.
Jesus said not to worry. I am not worried about the FEMA camps. The FEMA camp conspiracy contributes to a climate of fear in the world. The scriptures contribute to a climate of peace in the heart. I choose peace.
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I've been enjoying your posts and knowledge about the Bible the last couple of weeks. I too agree that we won't be rounded up anytime soon. For one, I think the nation still has too many people who would put up a fight (as in too many Christians, it would just be too many people to go unnoticed) if we were selected due to religious reasons. I think our constitution would have to be null and void before that happened. With the way our government is being run, I do see that happening one day but not in my lifetime or toward the end of it. People need to remember not to panic about this and that God has you in His hands, whatever happens. Thanks for the great posts!
ReplyDeleteI agree Anonymous. Well said!
ReplyDeleteThe Olivet Discourse is only for the Jews? Who is Jesus speaking to privately? When He says "You will be handed over..." Who is the "You" here?
ReplyDelete"Synagogue" and "Church" both mean "assembly"
You really have to twist scripture with allegoric interpretation to come to such a conclusion.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 cannot be interpretated any other way but post trib unless you twist the scriptures to mean what you "wish" them to mean.
I believe we can have a mature discussion about bible interpretation without calling anyone a liar, or accusing of "twisting" scriptures. A clear-eyed reading of the bible indicates plainly that the tribulation is a Jewish event. Jews are not exclusively affected, of course, the entire world is, but the tribulation is Jesus dealing with the last 7 years of the prophesied decree in Daniel 9:25. Here is another explanation for you: http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/more-on-the-olivet-discourse/
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Keep in mind the whole passage is a response to questions from Jewish disciples to their Jewish teacher about the future of Israel. From their perspective at the time, Israel had been given a 490 year period of time to accomplish 6 objectives that would bring about the End of the Age (Daniel 9:24-27). 483 of these years had past, and because of statements Jesus had made about the temple being destroyed, they wanted clarification on the remaining 7 years. They didn’t know anything about a 2,000 year pause while the Lord built a Gentile Church and the Lord didn’t enlighten them. In fact there isn’t even a hint of the Church in the entire passage. For my explanation on why this this, click here
Matt. 24:4-14 contains several overview statements relative to their question about signs that point to His coming and the End of the Age. None of them are time specific but are common to the entire 2000 years. There will be false messiahs, wars and rumors of war, natural disasters. The Jews will be persecuted and put to death, many would turn away from the faith, and false prophets would deceive them. Because of this the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Then the Gospel will be preached to the whole world and the end will come.
This entire summary was intended for the Lord’s Jewish audience, not the Church. We know this because we’re not told that if we stand firm till the end we’ll be saved. We’re told that our salvation was guaranteed from the first moment we believed (Ephes. 1:13-14), and that it’s God Himself who makes us stand firm in Christ (2 Cor. 1:21-22)
Neither is the Church required to preach the Gospel to the whole world before the end can come. We’ve spent 2,000 years doing that and are no where near finished. But Rev. 14:6 says that at the beginning of the Great Tribulation God will send an angel to preach the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people. He will fulfill the Lord’s promise, not the Church.
Beginning in verse 15, the remainder of the chapter contains more detailed and specific prophecies, all of which were still intended for Israel. “Let those in Judea (Israel) flee to the mountains” (Matt. 24:16) and “Pray that your flight not be on the Sabbath” (Matt. 24:20) are clear examples. As you pointed out, this portion begins with the Great Tribulation and ends just after the 2nd Coming.
The bottom line is nothing in the Olivet Discourse was intended for the Church. It’s all about Israel.
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Hope this helps you understand more, and if you have further questions I'll be glad to point you in the right direction.
Anonymous, 2 Thess 2:1-3 interpretation has nothing to do with the rapture. Paul is speaking of the 2nd coming. As Matthew Henry says, "The apostle is very careful to hinder the spreading of an error into which some among them had fallen concerning the coming of Christ, as being very near (v. 1-3). Then he proceeds to confute the error he cautioned them against, by telling them of two great events that were antecedent to the coming of Christ-a general apostasy, and the revelation of antichrist, concerning whom the apostle tells them many remarkable things, about his name, his character, his rise, his fall, his reign, and the sin and ruin of his subjects (v. 4-12). He then comforts them against the terror of this apostasy, and exhorts them to steadfastness (v. 13-15). And concludes with a prayer for them (v. 16, 17)." That's all. Don't know how you interpret it any other way. It help to look at the big picture of the dispensations, the 490 year decree, the 1000 year pause for the church age and the 7 year resumption to finish the decree. Look at God's work globally and then the individual scriptures will have more meaningful context for you...
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