By Pastor Adeolu Olawale Ogunnubi
The book Wake Up, The King is Coming by Aaron Ukodie focused primarily on Eschatological events that would lead up to and immediately proceed from the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as he views them, especially from the book of Revelation.
It also covers a gamut of biblical truths that address several widespread mainstream Christian behaviours that the author regards as errant.
From the introduction, where he set the agenda for the work and the FIRST THINGS, the author took a great length to address false doctrines. ..I commend the work. It’s a great display of scriptural scholarship, a good addition that will help believers understand end-time events. The author mostly tried to allow the scriptures to speak for themselves, but, as is to be expected, he brought a few of his conclusions and interpretations to bear on certain truths.
The author boldly and diligently tackled these issues that several people do not attempt to touch, for they view them as abstract. He frontally attended to the various traditional views on the issues, picking his view among them, defending that view, while giving reasons while the opposing views are not tenable.
All these traditional views agree that there will be a rapture (catching up) of Christians from the earth to meet with the Lord on the air, basing this conviction mainly on 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
They also agree that the 70th week (seven-year period) described in Daniel 9:24-27 still awaits, and during this time, evil will reign, and God’s wrath will be poured out on the world before Jesus’ return at the end of the seven years. They typically see the Book of Revelation covering these seven years and the various elements discussed in this book as happening during this period. For example, Revelation 6 talks about seven seals: conquest, war, famine, and death.
Revelation 8-11 mentions seven trumpets sounded by angels that cause hail and fire to fall to the earth, the destruction of sea life, and water turning into the blood by a great mountain thrown down from heaven (among other events which you can read about). This period would also feature great persecution of God’s people with the Antichrist (the beast of Revelation) in power, forcing all to follow him or suffer dire consequences (including death).
Because there are discussions about three and a half years in Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 15; and 13:5 (also see Daniel 9:27 and 12:11), some view the last half of these years to be exceptionally bad. It would seem safe to say most people would prefer not to experience these situations!
Now, as the author also stated in the book, the people differ:
a- The timing of the Rapture, whether before the great tribulation, in the middle, or at the end.
b- As to whether Christians would go through the great tribulation or not.
The author categorized these divergent views into pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation.
He made a solid case for his conviction, post-tribulation, while stating what he felt were the messages of the other two and attempting to denounce them.
Not all Christians believe in a seven-year tribulation that Christians can be removed from. One of the views through the ages has been that the present time is this period of Tribulation, with the Book of Revelation describing the challenges the Church will face throughout time rather than specific events. There will be an increase in evil at the end (as Paul notes in places like 2 Timothy 3:1-5, but with no timeline on the length), with the return of Jesus happening after the man of lawlessness is revealed (see 2 Thessalonians 2), and the Church will experience these things. Therefore, many say Christians will remain until the end and share the sufferings of the last times.
Ukodie has written a compelling book that adds to scriptural scholarship about end-times.
Something that should be noted, regardless of one’s view, is that Christians will face sufferings in this world; we will have trials and tribulations. Jesus told us, “In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Paul told us, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).
We should not fear to suffer as Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you, persecute you, and falsely utter all kinds of evil against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
The Apostles took these words to heart: “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name” (Acts 5:41).
Many of our brothers and sisters worldwide regularly face suffering and persecution. While we may desire to be spared from great suffering in the future, we need to recognize that suffering is not antithetical to the Christian life but rather part of everyday life as we follow Christ in this world.
We may or may not experience this “tribulation” period, but we will go through the tribulation, so let us heed the call to the Church in the Book of Revelation to hold fast to our faith in all circumstances.
Jesus continually tells us that we should be ready because He will come at an hour we do not know or expect. Our lives could end anytime, or He could return at any time, so let us remain faithful and remind others of these crucial truths.
By Fidel Aduaye-Odiete, Pastor and Bible teacher
After going through the line-by-line presentation of facts and truths with explicit scriptural references, I have moved from my mid-Trib school of thought to post-Trib
*Pastor Adeolu Olawale Ogunnubi, CEO, Paracletos Networks International
