The Key to the End Times

INTRODUCTION

A. How should Christians view the troubling events in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon?

1. Does it fit into what the Bible teaches in Revelation?

2. Are we on the cusp of eternity or in just another time of turmoil?

B. Why should Christians study eschatology (end times)?

1. Prominence of prophecy in the Word of God - 20% of Bible is prophetic.

2. Importance of prophecy

a. The promised return of Christ.

b. Promised hope for those who trust God’s Word, the Bible.

c. It should encourage Christians to faithful service as we anticipate our Lord’s

return.

d. The proper study of the Bible enables one to know fact from fiction.

e. It was important to the disciples of Jesus, Matthew 24:3, As he sat on the

Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when

will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end

of the age?”

C. Concerns in study of prophecy

1. It can be a divisive issue in Christianity - be gracious to those who don’t have the

same understanding.

2. Seek God’s wisdom on disputed issues.

3. Keep the right perspective - major on majors.

D. Principles for interpreting prophecy

1. A literal method of interpretation

a. It is historical - cultural background and circumstances of the prophets are

considered.

b. It is grammatical: words are taken in a normal sense unless it is evident that a

figure of speech or symbol is used but it does allow for figurative and

symbolic language.

c. It is Christological.

2. Compare parallel passages

a. Recognize principle of perspective - events separated by many years are

seen together.

1) Isaiah 9:6, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the

government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

2) The Church Age is between Christ’s first and second coming.

b. Fit prophetic passages together in a unified whole.

1) Daniel and Revelation

2) Have a comprehensive grid for all prophetic passages.

3) The grid I recommend is Pretribulation Premillennialsim.

PRETRIBULATION PREMILLENNIALISM

A. Pretribulationism

1. Definitions

a. Pretribulation - all Christians will be raptured by Christ to Heaven before the

Tribulation.

b. Rapture - instantaneous gathering up of the entire church to meet Christ in

the air by resurrection of the dead and translation of the living from the

earth.

c. Tribulation - 7-year period before 2nd Coming of Christ during which there

will be great suffering on earth.

d. Second Coming of Christ - bodily return of Christ with His church to the earth

in glory.

2. Why will Christians not go through the Tribulation?

a. Purposes

1) It is to prepare the nation of Israel for her Messiah

a) Jeremiah 30:7, Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a

time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.

b) Deuteronomy 4:30-31, When you are in tribulation, and all these

things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the

LORD your God and obey his voice. 31 For the LORD your God is

a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the

covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

2) It completes the salvation of Gentiles through preaching by a saved

remnant, Revelation 7:9, 13-14, After this I looked, and behold, a great

multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes

and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the

Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands ... Then

one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in

white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir,

you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the

great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in

the blood of the Lamb.

3) It pours out judgment on unbelieving people and nations.

a) Isaiah 26:21, For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to

punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth

will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

b) 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Therefore God sends them a strong

delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all

may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure

in unrighteousness.

b. The Tribulation is not for the Church

1) There is no reference to Church in Revelation 6-18, chapters dealing

with the Tribulation.

2) The church is saved away from the coming wrath.

a) 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, For they themselves report concerning us

the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to

God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for

his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who

delivers us from the wrath to come.

b) Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation for those

who are in Christ Jesus.

3) The restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit must be removed from earth

before the Tribulation.

a) 2 Thessalonians 2:7, For the mystery of lawlessness is already at

work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the

way.

b) The restrainer is the Holy Spirit so Christians must be removed

since we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

c) The Tribulation pertains to Israel, "time of Jacob’s trouble,”

Jeremiah 30:7, Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.

d) The Tribulation pertains to the world which rejects Christ,

Revelation 6:15-17, Then the kings of the earth and the great ones

and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone,

slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of

the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us

and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and

from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has

come, and who can stand?”

3. Why will there be a rapture?

a. The Rapture of the Church is the key to the end times. The timeline of the

Book of Revelation can’t begin until every Christian is removed from earth.

At that point, the Tribulation begins.

b. Distinctives of the Rapture

1) There is comfort for believers.

a) John 14:1-3, Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;

believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it

were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for

you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again

and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

b) 1 Thessalonians 5:9, For God has not destined us for wrath, but to

obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

c) 1 John 3:2-3, Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will

be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we

shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And

everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

2) It is imminent with no events necessary before it takes place, James 5:7-

8, Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how

the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about

it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient.

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

3) It is not a reward for faithful service but the fulfillment of Christ’s

redemptive work, Philippians 3:20, But our citizenship is in heaven, and

from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

4) Distinctions between Rapture and Second Coming

a) There is a necessity for an interval between these two events

b) Rapture - Christ will come for His saints

c) The Second Coming - Christ will return with His saints to establish

the Millennial Kingdom.

B. Premillennialism

1. Definitions

a. Premillennial - Jesus Christ will return bodily to earth and establish His 1,000-

year earthly kingdom.

b. Millennium - 1,000 years mentioned in Revelation 20:1-6 during which Christ

will reign on earth.

1) Satan will be bound for 1,000 years.

2) He will be loosed for a short period of time.

3) Martyred Tribulation saints are given special resurrection and share with

other saints in Millennial reign.

4) Wicked dead are not raised until after the Millennium.

2. Why is Premillennialism so important?

a. God made unconditional covenants to the nation of Israel.

1) Abrahamic Covenant, Genesis 12:1-3, Land-Seed-Blessing

2) Davidic Covenant, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Name-Land-House-Throne

3) New Covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Heart

b. All promises made to Israel have not been fulfilled.

c. The church does not fulfill God’s unconditional promises to Israel because

the Church has not become Israel.

c. God keeps His promises to Israel during the Millennium.

3. Purposes of the Millennium

a. Promises made to the nation of Israel will be fulfilled in the Millennium,

Jeremiah 31:33, But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of

Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will

write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

b. The kingdom promised David will be instituted, note Revelation 19:15-16,

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations,

and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury

of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name

inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.

c. The dual role of Jesus’ ministry will be completed during the Millennium -

suffering Messiah when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. We

expectantly await His return to earth to fulfill His role as King, sitting on the

throne of David in the Millennial Kingdom.

C. What is the timeline for the Premillennial - Pretribulational View?

1. Rapture of the Church to heaven with Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, For

the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice

of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in

Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up

together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always

be with the

Lord.

2. A seven-year time of trouble - the Tribulation, Revelation 3:10, Because you have

kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is

coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

3. Israel turns to Christ during the Tribulation, Jeremiah 31:33, For this is the

covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the

LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be

their God, and they shall be my people.

4. The Second Coming of Christ to earth with the Church -, Matthew 24:29-30,

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the

moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of

the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of

Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of

Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

5. Satan imprisoned for 1,000 years in the abyss, Revelation 20:1-2, Then I saw an

angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless

pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the

devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

6. The physical reign of Christ in the Millennium, Isaiah 40:11, He will tend his flock

like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his

bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

7. Satan released from the abyss and defeated at Armageddon, Revelation 20:3, and

threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not

deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he

must be released for a little while.

8. Judgments, Revelation 19:15-16, He will tread the winepress of the fury of the

wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name

written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

9. New Heaven and New Earth, Revelation 21:1-3, Then I saw a new heaven and a

new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea

was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of

heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a

loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with

man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be

with them as their God.

10. Eternal State, Revelation 11:15, Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and

there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become

the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.

WHEN WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE?

• The disciples wanted to know when Jesus would return and Jesus said to look for signs

of the times, Matthew 24:5-13. false teachers, wars and rumors of wars, famines and

earthquakes, persecution of Christians, apostasy, false prophets, increase of

lawlessness, love will grow cold.

• Only our Heavenly Father knows the date and time of the Rapture, Matthew 24:36, But

concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the

Son, but the Father only.

• Why has God withheld judgment?

Some say time to repent was granted by God since the death of Christ, Luke 23:34,

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

God wants none to perish, 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as

some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but

that all should reach repentance.

He is waiting for the last person to be saved in this age of grace, Matthew 24:14, And

this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a

testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

• How close are we to the time when the last person is saved?

Consider a new company that is using AI (artificial intelligence) to speed the process of

taking a people group’s verbal only language and making it a written language, as

well. Then, they take the Bible and translate it into that language. It normally takes

missionaries 24 to 30 years to accomplish that invaluable task. The AI method takes 18

months! Let me quote Matthew 24:14 again, And this gospel of the kingdom will be

proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end

will come.

EVEN SO LORD, COME QUICKLY!

A view of Genesis from God's Perspective

A. (Genesis 1-2): Creation

• God spoke creation into existence.

• Garden of Eden was shalom (peace ) and perfection, at rest with God and creation.

• Human life is to be cherished because mankind is created in the image of God.

• Genesis 1:31, And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very

good ...

B. (Genesis 3): The Fall

• Shalom was broken by human choice, resulting in death. Genesis 3:7, Then the

eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed

fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Genesis 3:21, And the LORD

God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

• Satan encouraged Eve to doubt God’s word by distorting God’s Word, then, to

disobey God’s Word.

• Protoeveangelium - God’s first promise of restoration and God’s grace,

Genesis 3:15, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your

offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

• Charles Cochrane, The bruising of the head suggests that the serpent’s wound will

be fatal; the bruising of the heel is a warning that even the victor will not come

away unscathed.

• Adam and Eve were judged, not cursed. Satan and the ground were cursed.

C. (Genesis 4-11): Consequences: Death and Life

• Death - Cain and Abell (Genesis 4:1-26)

Genesis 4:8-9, ... Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the

LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I

my brother’s keeper?

• Life - The Genealogy from Adam to Noah (Genesis 5:1-32)

Genesis 5:24, Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

• Death - Worldwide sin (Genesis 6:1-22)

Genesis 6:5-8, The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,

and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him

to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the

face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens,

for I am sorry that I have made them.

• Life - God’s covenant with Noah (Genesis 9-10)

Genesis 9:8-13, Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I

establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every

living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the

earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth.

11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the

waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and

you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have

set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and

the earth.

• Rebellion -The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)

Genesis 11:4, ... Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the

heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face

of the whole earth.

D. (Genesis 12-50): God’s dealing with His chosen people

1. Key words: Promise, Covenant, Loving Kindness

a. Promise

• The Hebrew word dabar means to speak. When God speaks, it is a

promise, guaranteed.

• Promise is foundational to the book of Genesis. It is how God deals

with mankind.

• Genesis 15:1, 4, After these things the word of the LORD came to

Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall

be very great.” 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This

man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”

• Genesis 21:1, The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did

to Sarah as he had promised.

 b. Covenant

• The Hebrew word berit is parallel or equivalent to dabar. Again, it

emphasizes a pact between two parties. It can be unconditional

(Abrahamic, Genesis 12:1-3) or conditional (Mosaic, Exodus 19-24). Our

focus will be on the unconditional promises of God.

• Genesis 17:4-7, Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the

father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called

Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father

of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will

make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will

establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you

throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to

you and to your offspring after you.

• Mark Yarbrough, God’s grace and plan for redemption are intricately

woven into the covenants (or promises) he made with His people.

c. Loving kindness

• The Hebrew word hesed is how God relates to His creatures by favor,

goodness, especially in keeping the covenants with Abraham, Moses

and Israel.

• It is loyal love that is steadfast based on a prior relationship, covenant.

• Psalm 89:28, My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my

covenant will stand firm for him.

• Psalm 98:3, He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to

the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of

our God.

2. Abram: Covenant - Faith and Failure (Genesis 12-20)

• Faith - Counted as righteousness

Genesis 15:5-10a, 17-18, And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness 7 And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other ... 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

• God’s unconditional covenant with Abraham was demonstrated by the

smoking fire pot and flaming torch passing through the sacrifice.

• God obligated Himself to keep His promise to Abraham who was an

observer.

• Failure: A faulty plan - Ishmael

Genesis 16:1-2, Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

• There is grace yet there are consequences for wavering faith - Ishmael.

• Donald Grey Barnhouse, No perfect feet walk the path of faith (except Jesus).

• God is faithful to His promises despite our disobedience.

3. Isaac: Provision promised (Genesis 21-26)

• Faith: A sacrificial lamb

Genesis 22:1-2, 7, After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”

• Failure: Genesis 26:6-7, So Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place

asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My

wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,”

because she was attractive in appearance.

• The location of Abraham’s test of faith is what became known as Calvary. God

provided the lamb!

• Mark Yarbrough, Every presentation of every person in Scripture has flaws except

Jesus because they are tainted by sin as we are.

 • God’s promise is greater than our mistakes.

4. Jacob: Deception yet promise (Genesis 27-36)

• Faith: Wrestling with God

Genesis 32:22-28, The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female

servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

• Thomas Constable, Note that God took the initiative in wrestling with Jacob,

not vice versa. God was bringing Jacob to the end of himself. He was leading him to a settled conviction that God was superior to him, and that he must submit to God’s leadership in his life ...

• Derek Kidner, The great encounter with God came when Jacob knew himself to

be exposed to a situation wholly beyond him.

• Thomas Constable, God gave him a new name that indicated his new

relationship to God. “Israel” means “God’s Warrior” ... When Jacob behaved like the “old Jacob,” Moses referred to him as “Jacob,” but when he behaved like the new “Israel” (“God’s Warrior”), Moses referred to him as “Israel.”

• Failure: Personal protection

Genesis 33:1-3, And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was

coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

• Israel became Jacob again by problem solving instead of resting in God’s

promise.

• He separated his family into groups, expecting Esau to attack him, of course,

Rachel was in the back and Leah in the front.

• When God makes a promise, there is provision.

5. Joseph: God is in control (Genesis 37-50)

• Trust: Despite the circumstances

Genesis 45:5, 7, And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because

you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life ... And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.

• Mark Bailey, God’s timing is perfect - wait for it in dependent faith.

• Mark Yarbrough, Remember God is with you and He is faithful to promise.

SUMMARY

• The Book of Genesis is the story of God and how He deals with His creation.

• God’s unconditional promises are not based on our faithfulness but on His unchanging

character.

• God’s loving kindness for His children is an expression of His faithfulness to His

promises.

The Greatest Miracle, Ever!

The Garden of Gethsemane, at the base of the Mount of Olives, was a familiar place for Jesus and His disciples. It was a place of rest, solitude, fellowship and prayer. Also, it was a time of intense agony for our Savior. It was a time when He urged His disciples to pray diligently but they slept soundly.

Jesus prayed by Himself, a short distance away from His disciples, requesting that His heavenly Father remove the cup, the symbol of His sufferings to come. I. Howard Marshall, He does not seek to disobey the will of God, but longs that God's will might be different. Have you had similar prayers? There is nothing wrong with the request as long as we choose to submit to the will of our Heavenly Father.

Some have asked why Jesus, fully God and fully man, would be so distraught at the prospect of death. It is said that Jesus prayed so intensely that His sweat became like great drops of blood. Warren Wiersbe states ... there is a rare physical phenomenon known as hematidrosis, in which, under great emotional stress, the tiny blood vessels rupture in the sweat glands and produce a mixture of blood and sweat. Jesus knew He would die and rise again. Again, why was He so upset?

The questions warrants an answer which is not tied to the physical trauma but the spiritual. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:21, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus’ agony was a result of the thought of becoming sin, the Sinless one, covered with your sins and mine. God does not allow sin in His presence. For the only time, past, present and future, Jesus was to be separated from His Father because He chose to submit His will for our good.

It is interesting to note that God sent an angel to minister to Jesus. The cup was not taken away from Jesus but He made the choice to submit. I can affirm the statement from Darrell Bock, God does not always spare us trials, but He provides strength to face them. How about you? Can you give a hearty amen to the words of George Morrison, Every life has its Gethsemane, and every Gethsemane has its angel.

I encourage you to consider the words of William Barclay, There is no scene like this in all history. This was the very hinge and turning point in Jesus’ life. He could have turned back even yet. He could have refused the cross. The salvation of the world hung in the balance as the Son of God literally sweated it out in Gethsemane; and he won. Yes, Jesus won, and all who place faith in Jesus Christ alone.

This is the greatest miracle, ever! The sinless one became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus chose not to turn away from the cross. It is frightful to think of where we would be if he chose not to take our sins upon Himself.

As a Christian, not every situation or circumstance is painless. Submit to the will of God in advance, expect God’s comforting angel and rest in God’s grace.

I encourage you to examine The Miracles of Jesus series under the Topical Studies tab.