Birth Pangs Of The Tribulation

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Birth Pangs Of The Tribulation

By Dr. G. Michael Epping

Antelope Hill Publications

Revised 3nd Edition: 2018 Editor: James A. Oliveri (Ye Editor)

Copyright

All rights reserved by Gary Michael Epping

ISBN: 978-0-9754791-8-6

Licensing notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy.

Other books by Dr. G. Michael Epping

*A Revolution From Darkness To Light

*Spiritual Stirrings Of The Awakening

*Pathways Into The Glory & Out Into The World

*Strong Meat For The Spiritually Maturing Christian

*The Great Doctrinal Divide That Separates God’s People

*Daily Readings On The Obedience Of Man & God’s Blessing

*Releasing Great Grace And Great Power

*The Last Days Omission

*Tribulation Rising (Part 2)

*Unfolding of the Great Tribulation (Part 3)

Table Of Contents

Title Page

Note From The Author

Introduction

Chapter 1 - A Time Of Preparation

Chapter 2 - The Gathering

Chapter 3 - A Time Of Going Forth

Chapter 4 - After The 1st Year

Chapter 5 - After The 2nd Year

Chapter 6 - The Meeting In Phuket

Chapter 7 - A Sad Reunion

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Note From The Author

Background

Dr. Gary Michael Epping, Ph.D., received Bachelor and Graduate degrees in Business Administration, and was a University Professor for twenty-five years. During that time, he taught and published several scholarly articles about the business world. After a radical spiritual transformation at a long-running revival in the mid-1990’s, he subsequently received both Bachelor and Graduate degrees in Biblical Studies and Theology in order to prepare himself and his family for spending eight years as missionaries in Thailand. The Epping family returned to America in 2009, and is currently living in Montana, where Michael is a minister, rancher, and writer. At this time, I want to thank my wife, Diane, for standing with me as I wrote this trilogy on the Tribulation. I also want to thank Fiona Higgins, a missionary in Thailand, for helping make corrections to all three of the books in the series. I also want to thank James A. Oliveri of Ye Editor for completely re-editing the 2nd edition of this book.

Comment On The Book

I have been asked if the fictional Mobile Revival in my book was prophetic about the real revival (Bay of the Holy Spirit Revival) currently going on in the Mobile bay area, or was it written afterwards. Well, the truth is that I started chapter one in December several months before that revival broke out first in Daphne, AL and later with meetings in the Mobile convention center. At the time I started the first book, no one (myself or others) knew there was going to be a revival in the Mobile Bay area. I felt there was no reason to later change the location of the revival in my book, since that was what I was led to write in the first place. Does that mean my fictional book may be prophetic about some other things that may actually lie ahead in regard to the Tribulation? All I can say is that I felt the Lord leading me to write the first book of the trilogy that winter right after deer season was over, since I had time until the spring thaw to devote my full attention to writing. The next book was written the following winter season, and the third the winter after that. I used the scriptures from the Bible as my guide for describing real events that are prophesied to happen in the future. Of course, since the Tribulation is yet to happen, I had to add a fictional storyline with characters, scenes, places, etc., to make the book come alive. All three books tell a story of what might happen if the Rapture does not occur until the end of the Tribulation.

Was the fictional portion of the books entirely from my mind, or could some of it be prophetic of what God might do? My answer is, I do not know. All I did was follow the leading of the Lord in writing the series, much as I have in eight earlier works. The only difference is that the earlier works were non-fictional theologies about the past, while the current series is a fictional account of what might occur in the future. Was it a coincidence that I wrote about a revival in Mobile a half a year before the revival broke out in Daphne, with a later meeting in Mobile at the convention center; or not? Will other things in the trilogy also happen in the future? My answer is, "The only way to truly know if something is prophetic or not is to use the test of time. We will have to wait and see what actually happens. Maybe some of the events in my books will occur, and maybe not. One thing is for certain. In time, all of the saints will know the true story about the Tribulation, and will be caught up, either in the Resurrection or Rapture, to be with Jesus when He returns to earth. I guarantee you that it is going to be wonderful however the real story unfolds. In the meantime, I suggest you read all three of my books, so you can get a glimpse of some possibilities that might lie ahead.

One last request; I urge each of you, in your mind, to not attempt to push the Tribulation era off onto a future generation or until a later time. All the living saints need to be waiting and watching, as the next event that ushers in the Tribulation could occur as early as today or maybe tomorrow morning. We may very well be the last generation of this dispensation, who gets to enter into this long prophesized last day's scenario.

Introduction

Nearly everyone, including myself, hopes that the Rapture of the Church occurs before the start of the Tribulation, similar to the storyline that was characterized in the ‘Left Behind’ series. However, this is a recent concept that was only made popular by John Darby during the latter part of the 19th century. For the nineteen centuries prior to that time, most religious leaders held to a different view of when Jesus would return for His saints.

What if the Resurrection and Rapture did not occur at the beginning of the Great Tribulation? Would Christians lose their faith and follow the wooing of the Antichrist? Or would they return to the Bible to see if the Rapture might still occur at the end of the Tribulation? These are some of the questions that went through the minds of the revival crusaders, as they watched the news about the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and the Mediterranean Brotherhood of Muslim Nations.

Major shock waves reverberated throughout the Christian Church when no one was raptured and everyone was left behind, as Hans Auntay Khrysto negotiated a peace treaty between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. Faith becomes a central issue with some people growing stronger, and others falling away to follow the luring of the Antichrist. Those Christians who chose to endure were able to function within society by simply continuing to take the Great Commission into the world, and moving the local church underground during the growing persecution of the period. However, when the temple is desecrated during the middle of the Tribulation, people are forced to accept or reject the mark of the beast. Christians must flee and seek a place of refuge during the Great Tribulation or face certain execution. The current book is part of a Tribulation Trilogy that includes, Birth Pangs Of The Tribulation, Tribulation Rising, and ‘The Unfolding Of The Great Tribulation."

Chapter 1 - A Time Of Preparation

It was a cloudy day in April with the temperature in the low seventies. This was one of the things that Denny Secos liked about living on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. You might get snow and cold temperatures in Montana and the Midwest, but the gulf coast normally maintained pleasant living conditions even during the winter. Occasionally there would be a cold snap in January, but it did not last long. In recent years, his life had been quite fulfilling, but this was not always the case. Denny was born seventy years earlier in the small town of Houma, Louisiana, which is southwest of New Orleans. Needless to say, Denny was Cajun-born and raised in the middle of bayou country. However, he was not born again as a Christian until reaching middle age.

Images of him as a young man might reflect the song, Born to be wild, by Steppenwolf. As a young teenager, he learned to party hearty with his older cousin, Rowdy. Needless to say, hard drinking and wild women often got Denny into trouble throughout his teenage years. As a young adult, however, he was able to work on a tugboat that was owned by Rowdy. Despite his drinking habits, he was known for working hard and long, even when he had been out late the night before. Hangovers became the normal way to start each day. This behavior continued unabated during his twenties. It seemed that he worked by day only to support his nightly drinking binges. He was a man that was living for the night. Denny was married at thirty-three, but this did not last long, as his drinking ruined any chance that might have led to a lasting union. He felt that his life needed a change, but he did not seem to be able to break away from his old habits.

This lifestyle continued unabated until he met Amanda, who eventually became the love of his life. Truly, love can lift a person out of a dark deep hole, especially when the woman is not only very beautiful, but also a Christian. Denny did not know that when he met Amanda he would also be introduced to a man named Jesus. With Jesus and Amanda, Denny’s old life was a goner from the beginning, and his life was forever changed in a relatively short period of time. He became a new person in Christ, and abandoned his old habits with ease, something he would have thought impossible a few years earlier. He even changed occupations, opening a small machine shop in New Orleans. It was the love of Jesus that was the reason that led to this change.

A few years back, Denny had heard about the big revival that had been going on in Mobile for several months. He convinced Amanda to go with him for a visit. It wasn’t long before they were visiting the revival two or three times a month. Nearly a year later, the two of them decided that with all the time they spent at the revival, they could save money by moving closer to Mobile. Besides, they had already made many new friends in the area. About this same time period, Amanda’s uncle Jasper died, and she was left a pecan orchard with a large house and several out buildings. And by some odd coincidence, the property was located not far from the Revival. It did not take much convincing by Amanda before Denny was ready to make the move. Here, Denny could work and still have lots of time to attend meetings. Both Denny and Amanda went out of their way to help out many of the young people that had come to attend the bible school, which had recently opened. To many, they were simply known as Mom and Pop, and part of the DNA of the revival movement.

Today, Denny was attending to some of the beehives that he had scattered among the pecan trees. This was a new project, which he had wanted to do since childhood. Amanda hollered, Denny, you have a phone call from Charles. Denny said, Tell him to hold on until I put the top back on a hive. Denny then came running to see what was up with Charles.

Meanwhile, Amanda continued with the supper meal, and was known by many as a great cook who instinctively knew what needed to be added to make things taste right. But, this was not always the case. Amanda was five years younger than Denny, and only began cooking after she met him. She was born in New Orleans, with her father being a Baptist preacher. Her early years were much different than Denny’s, as she took to church like a frog takes to water. She loved Jesus, and helped out with functions at church during her teenage years. After high school, she went on to a bible school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduation, she left for the mission field in Southeast Asia, where she worked in several countries as a part of YWAM.

In her late thirties she was still single, having spent most of her life serving the Lord. This was despite the fact that she was quite beautiful. It was at this time that her father became ill, and she agreed to return home to help with the family and the church. Although her locale changed, she was still living for the Lord, with little time for anything else; that is, until she met Denny. This seemed an unlikely match from the outset, especially for those who believed that a Christian should not be unequally yoked. However, God had other plans. Although Amanda’s life would continue to follow God, Denny’s would dramatically change. Jesus was able to use Amanda as a witness to change Denny’s heart, and the rest is now history. Their marriage had been a good one, which became even better after making the move to Perdido Bay.

As Amanda began to set the table for supper, she could hear Denny talking to Charles in the living room. He seemed excited as he hung up the phone. Denny said, Everything seems to be coming together, and everyone from the old group is planning to come and stay here at the Ponderosa during the Easter holidays.

Denny had named the ranch Ponderosa after an old television series. It was hardly out west, but did have forty acres of rolling hills and trees along the bay. He had liked this area instantly because Perdido Bay was tucked away from the crowd, but still close enough to travel into the city. Both Mobile and Pensacola were within easy driving distance. In the region, many retirees lived along the gulf coast in Mobile Bay, or along the coast from Pensacola to the west. Some of the area around Perdido Bay has been passed over, something that Denny found very appealing. It was not that he was a recluse, but he liked to have his quiet time out and away from the crowd, while still being able to be near the city.

As Denny came into the kitchen for supper, he said, I sure miss your uncle, but am ever grateful that he left you this place.

Amanda said, Yeah, this was a God thing. I’m sure Uncle Jasper would be glad that we are living here.

Denny responded, Everyone is going to be here next week, with Charles Edwards coming in on Thursday evening. Ron and Wanda Wesley, his brother Will, George and Susanna Finney, and Bertha Pickett were set to arrive in the morning on Friday. This left Mohammed (Moe) Abadi, who would arrive late on Friday evening. At last, the revival crusaders would be gathering for a meeting before each set out on their own individual assignments. Unlike the crusaders of old that fought with carnal weapons, these new champions were armed spiritually with the sword of the Word. There would be no need for physical battles, as they were fully equipped with the spiritual armor of the Lord.

____________________

Charles Edwards said, Mom, it has been great being here with you and Dad this last week. With the revival, bible school, and visiting churches, there hasn’t been much time in recent years for me to come visit. It feels like the old days this past week.

Martha Edwards responded, Your Dad and I will always treasure our time together with you, even though it is often short-lived. At least when you get on the mission field we can keep in contact over the internet.

Charles said, Yeah, it wasn’t too many years ago when the missionary’s only way to communicate back home was by regular mail and the occasional phone call from a phone booth that cost a lot of money.

Martha replied, Your dad says technology can let us have a video conversation over the internet as often as we want.

Charles said, That’s true, but only if the area I am located in has phone lines capable of high speed data transmission. Otherwise, we will have to use email, but that still is much faster than waiting on a letter.

Martha answered, We are proud that you have answered the call of the Lord, but will always be glad to hear from you, no matter where you might be going in the world. Of course, we hope you will be able to come back every so often, so we can see you in person.

Charles responded, Nothing can keep me from coming back to see my family and friends. I think the missionary needs this kind of fellowship to keep his batteries charged and to remain fresh.

Charles left to go for his daily jog. He had been running for many years, partly to keep in shape, and also to keep weight off. One of his weaknesses was home cooking, especially his mother’s. As he left the house, and started down the trail through the woods, Charles began to think of the many changes that had taken place in his life during the last three years. Going to bible school had seemed to be the last thing Charles wanted to do, but God has a way of helping get one’s priorities straight.

He had always loved the outdoors, having been born in Raton, New Mexico. He started hiking in the mountains with his parents before he started school. Weekends in the mountain valleys offered outstanding opportunities to watch elk and deer, so he could take pictures and pattern their behavior for the fall hunting season. At the same time, Charles did not neglect his studies, maintaining high grades during high school. In college he majored in wildlife biology with honors. Rather than going to work in industry, Charles entered the Air Force to become a pilot soon after graduation, and enjoyed a ten year career in the service.

As a civilian again, he initially began to think seriously about becoming an airline pilot. But this was before he found Jesus. It was about three and a half years ago that his parents convinced him to travel from New Mexico to Alabama to attend a revival. As a child, Charles and his family did not know Jesus. But, while he was in the Air Force, his parents began attending a local church and became Christians. They had already been to the big revival once before Charles returned from active duty. A large bus of church members went down to attend a series of meetings.

Basically, Charles agreed to go with his parents to the revival to keep them off his back. Besides, Mobile has some great beaches and he might meet some interesting girls. At the first couple of meetings, Charles resisted the call of the Lord, but found the sermons preached by the evangelist quite profound. They seemed to be tailor-made especially for him. By the end of the third night, his resistance had crumbled, and he went to the front to give his life to the Lord. From that time on, his heart had been ablaze for Jesus.

Within a few months, he had enrolled in the Mobile Revival School of Ministry (MRSM), and moved to an apartment close to campus. Near the end of his two-year program, Charles had already decided to become a missionary. A short-term mission trip had convinced him that the Lord wanted him to go to Israel. Upon graduation, he quickly began to itinerate in several churches in the New Mexico area. Six weeks ago, he had finally received enough pledges of support to be able to make plans for his first outing in the mission field. Of course, this was not to happen until after the reunion with all his old friends back at the Ponderosa in Perdido Bay. He was very excited, and had already made plane reservations for the flight to Mobile. At age thirty-seven, he was again at a transition point in his life.

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Ron Wesley said to his wife Wanda, I hope you got everything in town today, as we may not have much more time before we leave for the Ponderosa.

Wanda replied, I did the best I could. If we forget something, we'll just have to make do.

Ron was as unlikely a character to become a minister as there ever was. Yet, here he was, about to leave for the mission fields of Thailand. He had never been out of the USA before, and this was a major shift in his life. Of course, it was not the most important transformation that had taken place, as that had occurred a few years earlier at the Revival, when a biker found Jesus and was never the same again.

Ron’s parents were part of the hippie movement of the 60’s, and needless to say, he did not grow up as part of mainstream America. His dad was from Alaska and met his mom at a rock concert in Atlanta. About all he could remember as a young boy was lots of traveling across America on motorcycles, and no place to really call home. He was home-schooled, but it was a different kind than most people are accustomed to. Academic learning was sparse, and most of his lessons came from real life. He got his first motorcycle at the age of sixteen, and continued to follow in his parent’s footsteps throughout his twenties, until he accidently went to a revival meeting on a dare from a fellow biker.

He had been traveling from the annual motorcycle gathering at Sturgis, South Dakota, to the beaches of Pensacola. At a beach party, several young people from a local