Many reports of earthquakes are coming out of Iran in recent days! Some believe they are caused by nuclear testing by the Iranians who are likely getting assistance from the Russians, and, or, the Chinese!

The Scriptures inform us that earthquakes, whatever their causes, are going to be used by the Lord as signs of His coming!

The false cults of Islam, Marxism and Leftist Humanism hate the Jews and want to destroy Israel; and God is not happy about this!

Therefore, it is important for Christians to remember, that there will be two phases of the Lord’s coming which are much neglected in Christian and church teaching today.

First, Jesus Christ will come in the upper atmosphere to take away His Bride, which is the true church. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6, and other New Testament Scriptures make clear that Jesus will come for His church at the Rapture. This could happen at any moment! Jesus will not come down to the earth in Jerusalem at this first phase, but Jesus will descend into the upper atmosphere over the earth, likely over Israel, and we who believe in Him will be suddenly caught up to meet Him in the air. The Apostle Paul clearly taught this in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the Trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we shall ever be with them in the Lord.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)”

After the Rapture of the church, there will follow a seven year tribulation period during which the Antichrist will arise. At the closing days of this period of darkness, trial and judgment, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth in Jerusalem, Israel. From there He will establish His 1,000 year kingdom upon the earth (Revelation 19, Zachariah 15).

The events we see happing in Iran today involving Israel’s attack on the false prophets (Islamic Mullahs) in Iran and attempts to destroy their nuclear installations are related to the many prophecies of events of the last days. Some of these are outlined in Ezekiel 38 and 39.

In these days of “wars and rumors of wars,” believers should be bold and confident that we need not fear the events taking place on the earth. We should be dynamic witnesses for Christ as we watch for his soon coming for the church at the Rapture.