I have had many visions about the end times, the rapture, the tribulation and about the time in which we are living.  There is much the Bible says about these events.  When I see end-time visions, I would ask the Lord, "If this is already known, and already explained in the Bible, then why are you showing me this now?"

He has never said it audible words, but I believe the answer is that these events could potentially happen in my life-time, so he wants me to be prepared and to share with others so that they will be prepared as well.  

What I am sharing with you today, is a dream, not a vision, yet I believe it came from the Lord.  It concerns the Tribulation and the time just preceding it. 

Huis Clos - No Exit

I was sitting on my bed, getting ready for the rapture (if that were possible!). At the same time, I was getting ready to leave, to go somewhere in my car.  As I was sitting there, I knew that it will be dangerous for me to take my Bible, so I put a very small New Testament, in its tiny box, inside my purse.  I placed my large study Bible on the night table.  There were three books in my lap.  I pick them up one by one and look at each of them.

The first book is called Huis Clos which is a play written in French by an existentialist, and atheist, named Jean Paul Sartre. The title Huis Clos  means "obsolete."  However, the English title for the play is "NO EXIT."  Occasionally it will be referred to as "No Way Out." This drama, portrays hell as an afterlife, in which three deceased characters are punished by being locked in a room together for all eternity.    Existentialists are all atheists, but they differ somewhat in their beliefs.  Many believe that life here on earth is individually perceived as either heaven or hell.  

The second book that I pick up is entitled, Those Left Behind.  On the cover is a picture in black and white.  There are rows upon rows of short crosses with people crucified with their knees bent.  The crosses had been torched, so that only charred bodies on the crosses remained.  In the background is a castle or fortress.  As I sat on the bed, with the book in front of me, I studied the cover.  I thought to myself, "These must be people killed in the holocaust."  

The title of the third book,  I do not see.  But I take all three books and place them in front of my Bible, standing them upright and facing forward in order to conceal my Bible.

I've had much time to think and pray about this dream.  I believe that God is showing me that we are living in the end times.  This dream describes the tribulation.  It will truly be "Hell on earth," as the existentialist's belief.  It will also be a time of "No Exit."

"For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again.  Matthew 24:21

"During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them."  Revelation 9:6

The second book, Those Left Behind, points to the Tribulation believers.

"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.  They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?'  Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed."  Revelation 6:9-11

This dream warns us that there will be persecution before the Tribulation.  That it will be dangerous to carry a Bible, even here in the United States.  

Now is the time to seek God, to shore up our faith and a time to test ourselves.  Will I be faithful in a time of persecution?  We must hold tight to the word of God.   This is a time to memorize scripture. "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I would not sin against you."  

The word of God has to find a place in our hearts and in our minds now, for we may not always have the word of God available to us.  

My opening thoughts in this dream, were focused on preparing for the rapture.  We need to pray, and prepare our hearts for the Lord's return, we do not want to be found among those left behind.  Nor do we want to be like the foolish virgins in the parable of the Ten Virgins.  

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise ones, however took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The Bridegroom was a long time in coming and they all became drowsy and fell asleep."

"At midnight the cry rang out; 'Here's the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!'"

"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'"

"'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you.  Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'"

"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.  The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.  And the door was shut."

"Later the others also came.  'Lord, Lord, they said, 'open the door for us!'"

"But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.'

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."  Matthew 25:11-13