Matthew 24:21 - "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (22) "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

Even most who have read but little of the Bible will remember these verses of warning. The Bible is definitely and rapidly coming true to fulfill its prophesies; but it is sad and disturbing to see so little attention being paid to its warnings.

Jesus was teaching about the end of the world in much of the 24th chapter of Matthew and again in Revelations. The warning of the end-time tribulation is greatly feared and it has even been exposed and taught many times in the Old Testament.

You probably have not heard that preached from many, if any, modern day pulpits; but they were familiar with it and warned about it as far back as Deuteronomy 4:29-31 - "But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him; if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient to His voice: for the Lord thy God is a merciful God: He will not forsake thee; neither destroy thee."

But for some reason, many preachers of today are preaching a strange theory that has never been found in any Christian Bible, but can be traced from the evil imagination of a mentally sick girl's mind. That theory is called a rapture and was never mentioned in any way by Jesus. If it was as important as some preachers teach, He would have taught it. But He actually taught exactly the opposite. John 17:15 - "I pray not that Thou should take them out of this world; but that Thou should keepest them from the evil." Jesus spoke this while praying to God, His Father.

Then Peter, Paul, and Jesus all said in different verses: "For through much tribulation ye must enter into the Kingdom of God. Acts 14:22 - "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God." Revelation 7:14 - "What are these attired in white robes, and whence came they? And He said, these are they which came out of great tribulation." If Jesus said they came out of great tribulation, they could not have possibly been raptured.

Will you believe the Bible as God has had it written, or believe how scriptures have been twisted to try to make it fit evil minds and imaginations? Rapture denies you the need of faith for God to lead you through the tribulation.

And now at this point, can you see evidence and signs that the great tribulation is actually beginning to happen? Remember Jesus said it would come like birth pangs upon a woman giving birth. This great tribulation will be exactly like that. Many do not feel or see it now; but it will definitely get worse and will not go away until there is evidence of repentance and a turning back towards God. If you can believe that, you will make all your thoughts and plans to include seeking a closer relationship with God. Praise Him always; He is your salvation, strength, and entrance into His wonderful Heaven that will be eternal.