The phrase “the end times” is not found in either the Authorized King James nor in the corrupt so called, “modern” versions of the Bible. It is found in Daniel as “time of the end.” (Daniel 8:17, 11:35, 11:40, 12:4, 12:9, KJV). The Hebrew word translated as ‘time’ is the transliterated Hebrew word, ‘ayth’ which can mean either time of an event or an occurrence while the word translated as ‘end’ is the transliterated Hebrew word, ‘Qets,’ which refers to the end of time or the end of a space (i.e., end of the hall).

In the Bible the phrases “the last days” and “the day of the Lord” and “The day of Christ” refer to different times concerning what is generally called ‘the end times’ happenings. In that sense they all refer to the end or nearing of the end, but they are not referring to exactly the same ‘end.’

In this paper we are only concerned with; 1) the ‘end time of this age of “the grace of god” before the Tribulation period and 2) the ‘end time of the Tribulation period itself. Our coming “Day of Christ” at the Rapture is not the “Day of the Lord’s wrath” seen in and by the Tribulation judgments.

In this study I will refer alternately to the ‘time of the Tribulation period itself’ and also the time shortly before the Rapture of “the body of Christ.”

The “day of the Lord” refers to the outpouring of the Lord’s wrath in the 7-years Tribulation period. (cf. Acts 2:20, 1Thes. 5:2)

• “The day of Christ” (1Thes. 2:2), “the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor. 1:8), “until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phili 1:6) refer to His coming in the air at the Rapture or catching away of the believing members of “the body of Christ.” We will be taken to dwell “eternal in the heavens” (2Cor 5:1b).
• “The last days” refers to the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom at Christ’s 2^nd coming After the Tribulation (Isaiah 2:2, Micah 4:1).

Even today, before the Tribulation period, which also referred to as the time of “Jacob’s [Israel’s] trouble” (Jer. 30:7) for Israel, Satan has seen to it that the popular mainstream churches of Christendom already have largely forsaken Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God” and his “sound doctrine.” Satan has lulled them to sleep by the false compromised teachings of Christendom’s false teachers. Satan has also cultivated the ‘love of the world,’ in them by alluring them by its ‘so-called Christian entertainment.’ He uses this along with the false teachings from the pulpits that ‘tickle the ears’ with false notions and otherwise keep these professed believers in darkness.

Many have been deceived by Satan’s ‘lying wonders’ of temporary false healings as commonly sought among Pentecostals and Charismatics of many denomination. Satan continues to hold them under his control making sure that what little ‘seed’ of “the word of God” they may hear in these apostate churches falls upon “rocky ground” so that it will not take root in them (cf. Matt. 13:6).

Paul, as “the Apostle to the Gentles” during today’s pretribulation age of “the grace of God,” warns us that Satan works with signs and lying wonders that he will perform until the close of today’s grace age which will end with Christ’s appearing in the clouds the Rapture (1Thes 4:13-18, 1Cor 15:51-55). Satan points to these ‘signs and lying wonders’ as so called ‘evidence’ that he who really is really a false ‘angel of light,’ is not of darkness but actually God.

Those believers who are not soundly grounded on the truth of God’s word will likely be taken in by Satan’s lying miracles and delusions. He will try even to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. He will claim to be Christ, perhaps pretending to be the great healer. He lures Christians from the inner reality we have of Christ as all, to seek the outer things that he can falsify.

‘For such are FALSE apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan Himself Is Transformed Into an Angel of Light…” 2 Corinthians 11:13-14

As Revelation 13:13 confirms that for the Jews, during the Tribulation, Satan is able to cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men … as a sign to make many think that ‘he is God.’ (Rev. 13:13)

Today Satan has his army of false teachers who have been trained with his false modern Bible versions in today’s apostate Bible Schools and Christian churches, thus keeping the believers largely blinded and in his snare. He sends his false teachers in amongst God’s remnant people of God today, causing them ignorant of what to expect and to turn them away from God’s truth, preparing them for his days of deadly delusions.

It is the ‘lying wonders’ of the devil that will especially take the world captive, even causing fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men. He will work miracles, and this ‘amazing’ miracle-working power is to sweep the whole world. Some will be tempted to receive these wonders as if they are from God. Be not deceived, even when the sick appear healed and great miracles will be performed in our sight and perhaps seen on CNN.

A big number of supposed Christians today are swayed by their need for ‘good feelings,’ supposed ‘fairness,’ and ‘the niceties of ecumenism,’ in addition to the visible miracles. Such deceived people base their faith on “signs and wonders,” rather than on a ‘the truth of the word of God’… “rightly divided” - dispensationally. This is very dangerous but we who are studied in the word of truth “rightly divided” dispensationally know what to expect in these last days. We will not be deceived by lying signs and wonders as those who look to ‘healing miracles’ as a sign. Jesus Himself said;

“a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” (Matthew 16:4).

But our faith is to be founded first and foremost upon “the [written] Word of God.” As we know, Satan can perform great signs and wonders, but we look not on the outward things, rather we look unto the unseen elements of “the faith” built on “the word of truth [Gk. verity, truth is that which is real and eternal].”

Are you prepared for the trials which await us as the “lying wonders” of Satan become more fully exhibited? Have you given ourselves wholly to Jesus Christ, knowing the truth for today?

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, [so] that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [so] That they all might be damned who believed NOT the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some [so-called believers] Shall Depart From The Faith, Giving Heed To Seducing Spirits, And Doctrines Of Devils.” 1 Timothy 4:1

‘For the time will come when they will not endure [sit for] sound doctrine; but after their own lusts [desires] shall they heap to themselves [false] teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

By departing from the plain truths of the “sound doctrine” of “the word of God,” and heeding religious fables and manmade traditions, the minds of many today are being prepared to receive these ultimate ‘lying wonders’ from Satan.

“if they speak NOT according to this word, it is because there is No Light [of God] in them.” Isaiah 8:20

We even today must all arm ourselves with the truth. Knowing and having Faith in God’s word, prayerfully studied and practically applied, will be our shield from Satan’s powerful deceptions.

God’s people will NOT find safety in miracles in “the last days” before the Rapture. This is because Satan is able to perform miracles that will appear godly… the weak and stunted saints will easily be ‘deceived.’ In the last days we are to take our stand upon the sure and living “Word of truth” and upon the truth of “Christ and Him crucified” and risen again.

Only by living our lives based upon the sure foundation of the truth concerning Christ as seen in “the Word of God” rightly divided, will we have inner peace and resilience to stand in these “last days” of this age of God’s grace.