RAPTURE IMMINENT!
The Rapture of the Church
foreword
“....We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with a 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 (rapturos in Latin) to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1Thess. 4:15-17.
There are many people who scoff as to how certain "wacky" Christians believe in the doctrine known as the Pre-tribulational “Rapture” of the church. "Knowing this first: that SCOFFERS WILL COME IN THE LAST DAYS, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING." (2 Peter 3:3,4). Many of these scoffers have embraced an erroneous doctrine they call the post-tribulation Rapture.
The reason for my perceived preoccupation with prophecy, in particular the Rapture and the subsequent fullfillment of 'The Day of the Lord,' is my love and passion for Jesus. ('The Day of the Lord' is synonymous with “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” “the Great Tribulation,” and “the Apocalypse”). The bible intimates that the normal disposition of the believer is a heartfelt longing and patient waiting for Jesus. It is not the event itself that should be our focus, but rather the One who is coming for us. This doctrine also reveals to us the greatest hope that any human being can ever have; the hope of redemption. There are many that wrongly say that a preoccupation with Jesus and His coming, is based on wrong interpretation, and fosters an "escapist" type of mentality. There are many who believe that the Rapture and the Second Coming are references to the same event, when the promise of scripture is clear that “God did not appoint us to [go through His} wrath...” (1 Thes. 5:9 The bride that is ready, will not go through the judgment and wrath of God‘s Tribulation! Though many will become Christian martyrs during that time.) ... We are not to be “asleep” (5:6) at the wheel about the Lord’s return for us but are supposed to “WATCH AND BE SOBER” (5:6) because the Rapture of the church will happen UNEXPECTEDLY, like a “THIEF IN THE NIGHT” (1 Thes. 5:2), which is exactly how an ancient Hebrew bridegroom would traditionally come for His bride. It was meant to be an exciting, heart pounding, dramatic, and romantic, stealing away of His bride.
The birthpangs indicating the Lord's return, are getting closer now and even more intense. Israel is under seige and is the focus of the whole world. Israel is now the "cup of trembling" and offense to the pagan world. The war of Gog and Magog is about to be unleashed and current news headlines prove that we are in the neck of the hourglass concerning Israel and the church! The apostle Paul made it very clear that the Lord’s coming for His church was not just a “fringe” teaching but is in fact the most 'Blessed Hope' that we have because Jesus IS our Blessed Hope and our Redemption. It is the Apostle Paul who exhorts us to be ever...
“Looking for the Blessed Hope and glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ... speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” (Titus 2:13)
We are instructed to have a joyous preoccupation and expectation of Christ’ return for us! Jesus is the most Blessed Hope that we have. He is our very hope of Redemption. It is a Biblical commandment then, that we are to be passionate about our Lord’s return for us! This is particularly confirmed in the way that the people in the early church greeted one another with MARANATHA, which means LORD COME! Jesus instructs us to “look up, for our redemption draweth nigh,” (Luke 21:27, 28) that we “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP (RAPTURED) with them in the CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR...THEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS!” (1Thes.4:16-18)
These scriptures are crystal clear and proclaim and command us that it is godly and Biblical for us to live with the expectant, Blessed Hope of Christ’ imminent return for us! Paul exhorted us with these deep truths for the purpose of our comfort: “Therefore comfort one another with these words” ( [1 Thes. 4:18] in the context about the Rapture of His church!).
Jesus and the apostles gave us many specifics of what would have to happen before Jesus returns. The bible also says that we are to “comfort one another”, with these words. Anyone, whose foremost desire in life is to worship, love and be with Jesus, will take great comfort through the Holy Spirit, in these scriptures. If you long for the Lord's return as I do, you will also take comfort in the words of Dave Hunt (a super article with more documentation about the Rapture), from his book; “How Close are We?
“Our’s is a “heavenly calling” (Heb. 1:3) We have been “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3); and it is in Heaven that God has reserved for us “an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away”(1 Peter 1:4). Indeed, our hope is in heaven ( Col. 1:5) where our names have been written (Luke 10:20). No wonder, then that our resurrection bodies are “spiritual” ( 1 Cor. 15:44) and “heavenly” ( v. 49; 2 Cor. 5:2), suited for living in God’s presence.” p.203
Our’s is a “heavenly calling” that I and many others are preoccupied with. Jesus is our very focus. I have to share this passion because that is what my Lord wants me to do. I pray that God will anoint and bless this message to your understanding and spirit, that you too may have the quickening of Jesus our “Blessed Hope” that we all can have if we are truly abiding and trusting completely in Jesus.
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The Rapture of the Church
Jesus Our Blessed Hope!
The apostle Paul makes it very clear in his epistles that we are to live with the “Blessed Hope” of Christ’s imminent return. Jesus and His inspired writers, repeatedly and confidently make statements about His appearing and revelation. It is known as the “Day of the Lord,” which starts when He comes to gather His Bride to Himself. There is a massive amount of scripture that intimates the Rapture, or evacuation of the church from the earth, at some point in the future. The following verses pertain to that blessed event and are a preponderance of biblical prophecy and evidence for the coming Rapture!
“Looking for that Blessed Hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ”. Titus 2:13.
“...Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28
“ When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with Him in glory” Col. 3:4
“Yet a little while and He that shall come shall come, and will not tarry.” Heb. 10:37
“....We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with a 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 (rapturos in Latin) to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1Thess. 4:15-17.
“.....we shall not all sleep but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump for the trump shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.”
1Cor. 15:51-52
“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away......For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”1Cor. 13:10,12.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as He is pure.”1John 3:2,3.
“And now little children abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 1John 2:28.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”Phil. 1:6.
“....that Ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” Phil. 1:10.
“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. Phil. 2:16.
“If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus......Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Phil. 3:11-15.
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” Phil.3:20,21.
“....The Lord is at hand.” Phil. 4:5.
“And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1Thess. 1:10.
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” 1Thess. 2:19
“To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His Saints”. 1Thess. 3:13.
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and saftey; then sudden destruction cometh upon them,(the slogan on the banner that Netanyahu ran under) as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye bretheren, are not in darkness, that that day should take you as a thief......Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober .......For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation....wherefore comfort yourselves together. 1Thess.5:2-4,6,9,11.
“wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1Thess.4:18.
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt. 25:13
“And at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” Matt. 25:6.
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matt. 24:44.
“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matt. 24:40-42.
“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Cor. 1:7,8.
“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.” Eph. 1:10.
“That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:27.
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2Thess. 2:1-3.
“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Him.” 2Thess. 3:5.
“that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” 2Tim. 6:14,15.
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom;” 2Tim. 4:1.
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of rightousness, which the Lord , the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2Tim. 4:8
“Be patient therefore, bretheren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early rain and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:7,8.
“That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1Peter 1:7.
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1Peter 1:13.
“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ”s sufferings; that , when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1Peter 4:13.
“.....and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:” 1Pet.5:1
“and when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” 1Peter 5:4.
The following scripture is describing the Lord's Second Coming, because He is appearing to ALL of the earth, not just His bride. Jesus promises here to appear with His elect, which will include all of the Saints that have been previously raptured:
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet to gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:30, 31
The scriptural evidence for the 'snatching away'(Rapture 1Thess.4:17) of the sanctified Bride of Christ is overwhelming. The clear truth and intent of these verses is self evident. We are to live in joyous expectation of His appearing. He will come when many will not expect Him. (Matt.25) We will be caught up to meet Him in the air. (1Thess.4:17) He has not destined us for the wrath of God (1 Thess.5:9). which in part, is the judgment that will be poured out during the tribulation period on the ungodly. There are at least two distinct and different appearances of Jesus that will happen in the last 7 years of this present age. The first is when Jesus reveals Himself to His saints “in the air” as He comes to “snatch,” steal, and gather His Bride away to heaven. The other is where He will come with His saints (us!) and reveal Himself in power as the Judge the earth, and to establish His kingdom that will reign for ever.
The first judgment happens to the saints before the wedding supper of the Lamb, but there are differences in interpretation as to when the Saints will receive the judgment of our works, and when the Wedding Supper of the Lamb will commence. There is scripture that indicates that we will receive our reward right after “running the race,” which means that not only will we be “changed in the twinkling of an eye,” “when we see Him as He is,” but soon afterward will receive the “crown(s)” of our reward. The saints will be judged and rewarded according to their works. The ultimate judgment of the world will happen at the end of armageddon in which the saints will judge the world and even the angels, with Jesus. Saints will judge and rule with Jesus.
There are distinct differences between the Rapture and the 2nd coming. The first appearance will happen unexpectedly in stealth, “like a thief.” The latter will be the most powerful display that the universe will ever know. Jesus especially, blends the two events together as if they were one (Day of the Lord), which makes it intentionally more difficult to understand. The Rapture will take place just prior (perhaps years) to the begining of the last week (Tribulation) of the seventy weeks of Daniel, which is clearly a 7 year period of time. The “day of the Lord,” may actually refer to a period of time that will continue until the end of the millennium. (1Peter3:10)
There is evidence in the High Priesthood of Jesus that precludes any possibility of the Rapture happening during the Tribulation. If the High Holy Days of the Jewish calendar are the foreshadowing of the revelation of Jesus. The Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits (Easter) and Pentecost have all been fulfilled quite literally by Jesus. If The “Days of Awe” (days between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur) on the Jewish festival calendar are going to be fulfilled literally as well, then Jesus would be unavailable to rapture His church during the tribulation. Why? If the High Priesthood is the foreshadowing of what Jesus is going to do during the 10 days of awe that commence with Rosh HaShanah until Yom Kippur, then Jesus will be doing what He commanded the High Priest to do during that time, which was to seclude himself in the temple before and during the rigors of the liturgy of sacrifice, in this case, judgment upon mankind. The sacrifices that are completed in the Temple are all metaphors of the judgments that Jesus will pour out on the earth during the Tribulation. Jesus will not be available to His earthbound Bride during that time. That precludes anything but a pre-trib Rapture, which infers that the bride that was ready to meet the Bridegroom, will already be with Him. This scenario increases the probability that the church will be Raptured possibly several years prior to the Tribulation. The “post-tribulational” scenario does not line up with God’s word, which states that His return will come unexpectedly, “like a thief in the night.” The Second Coming of Christ (with us in tow!) will be a completely PREDICTABLE event in that it will happen EXACTLY 3½ years after the Antichrist defiles the temple. It would also be easy to know the exact date of His Second Coming because it will occur exactly 7 years after the signing of the “peace treaty,” which commences God’s wrath of the Tribulation. If the Apostle John is the representative of the church in Revelation, then when he is called up to Heaven in chapter four, (“Come up hither”) we can see the Rapture happening long before the trumpet judgments. The “Wedding Supper,” mentioned in Rev. 19, indicates that it will still be going on in heaven during the Tribulation but will become rapturous again when the Jewish portion of God’s bride (144,000, hopefully more) and remaining Tribulation martyrs is added to our number.
“It should be clear then, that if the Marriage Supper is in view here, the wedding has already been legally consumated and the Bridegroom has already come for His Bride. As applied to the church, Romans 7:4 indicates that legally the church is already the wife of Christ. At the Rapture, Christ will come for His Bride. At the return to the earth, the wedding feast will be held....The Wedding Feast is future, but the previous two stages are already accomplished in Rev. 19.” (1. Legal marriage consumated, 2. groom goes to take his Bride) John Walvoord, The Rapture Question, pp. 161,162.
The entire Bride will not be with the Lord until we return with Him to Jerusalem (Armageddon), to rescue the remainder of the Jewish Bride (144,000). There will also be millions of “martyred Saints” who will have come out of the Tribulation. My point is that the Wedding takes place when we are born again, it is then that we have the opportunity to “become one” with Him. The zenith of the Wedding Supper will happen after we have returned with Jesus to destroy Satan and his armies, rescue Jerusalem and the remaining Bride. The marriage will be consummated when Jesus comes to steal us away and we are made perfect (redeemed). “.....When He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming....it does not yet appear what we shall be (like) but we know that, when He shall appear WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS. AND EVERY MAN THAT HATH THIS HOPE IN HIM, PURIFIETH HIMSELF AS HE (JESUS) IS PURE. This wonderful hope is at the very core of promises that He has made us. This promise is so very powerful that it sanctifies us! This deep spiritual truth is at the heart of the gospel, it is not a fringe belief, for this speaks of the true moment of redemption for the church and the most blessed promise, that of seeing Jesus “face to face” and being changed into His image. This is not dogmatic detail, this is vital doctrine!
It is clear that the pre-trib rapture of His church would be the greatest surprise of all the rapture scenarios, as it would precede all of the very definable events of the tribulation. If ancient Jewish wedding custom is prophetic, it seems to reveal the spirit and way in which Christ will come; “as a thief in the night”, for His Bride. A Jewish groom used to disappear for years sometimes and then literally steal His bride away. In the parable of the ten virgins, (Matt.25) Jesus tells us of the Bridegroom that was delaying His coming and of the 5 virgins that had become careless and complacent. Then the Bridegroom came as a thief and took only those who were prudent and watching for Him and whose lamps were full of oil. This parable closely follows ancient Jewish marriage tradition. The Bridegroom would, after betrothal, often depart from her to add a room to His Father’s house, a “wedding chamber”, (“I go to prepare a place for you” John 14) The progress on this intimate project, was classified, as it was part of the surprise of the actual wedding. Ancient custom would have the Bridegroom delaying His arrival, sometime for years, while all preparations were completed. Then, unexpectedly, and often like a “thief in the night,”(Matt 24) the Bridegroom would arrive to claim His Bride and take her to His bridal chamber. Jesus tells us to “be on the alert”(Matt25). Jesus is that Bridegroom and we are that Bride. The Lord has made it intimately clear that we are His Bride. God has revealed His passion for us in numerous books of the bible but none is so intimate and passionate toward us, as the Song of Solomon.
The Song of Solomon is not primarily a story of the love affair between Solomon and one of his brides. I am aghast at the fact that even many great evangelical preachers, think that the Song of Solomon is the “most secular book in the bible.” I heard Charles Swindoll just recently say that! Song of Solomon is most importantly, a prophetic lovesong, a duet between Jesus and His Bride. The Song of Solomon prophesies the consummation of the love of the ages: Jesus and His beloved Bride. The Bride’s emotions for Her Bridegroom are expressed to Him, in this ultimate prophetic love story! This passionate party will begin the day that Jesus shouts for His Bride: “The voice of My Beloved! behold, He cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills... My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. (Rapture) For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.” (Song of Solomon 2:10-14)
Some day soon, our loving Bridegroom is going to come and whisk us away to our Bridal chamber. I know that it sounds romanticized but it is true! “I am My Beloved’s and He is mine...His banner over me is love”! (Song 6:3 & 2:4) To those that are truly lovesick for Him, He has revealed His intentions and His destiny for His Bride: “ Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.” (Song 1:2-4) Jesus is in love with His Bride and drawing us to His chambers. He will “bring us to His banqueting house” (heaven) where we will proclaim our love for each other! He has promised that He will be married to His people, to His Bride: “ I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yes, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. ... I will say ...“thou art my people” and thou shalt say; “thou art My God”!! “And I will betroth thee unto Me FOREVER”! “I will call you Hepzibah (wife)” (Hosea 2:19,20,23)
“And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. 3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. 4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” (Isaiah 62:2-5)
Jesus is about to come for His beloved. He desires us and is moved by our love: “Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!” (Song 4:9,10)
“I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am love sick.” (Song 5:1-8)
This is a poetical prophecy of our mutual eagerness to be joined together. It is almost as if He is playing hard to get but the purpose is to make sure His Bride is pure and passionate for Him. These verses remind me of the way in which the world now buffets us, but how we must earnestly pursue for our Bridegroom! In verse 7, she is released into the city and abused by the watchmen who obviously did not know who she was, but she does not lose her love for her king. In fact her wounds seems to have made her that much more lovesick for Him. Do these passages also prophesy of the courtship that will ensue between Jesus and the Jewish portion of His Bride that is still on the earth during the tribulation? Does it confirm the interpretation that Jesus will reveal Himself to Israel at the beginning of “the Day of the Lord” also known as “the Day of Jacob’s trouble.” Do these last passages that describe a lonely and lovesick bride, searching for her king, also prophesy the hardship that the 144,000 Jews will endure before being reunited to their groom? They will have met Him and fallen in love with Jesus only to be temporarily separated. It will only make her that much more lovesick for Him, just as this crazy world makes me long for Jesus. In fact I am lovesick for Jesus. I want to be with Him more than anything. I can’t stand this world any longer. I’m not giving up or getting depressed about it, but I can’t wait to see my Jesus!
The Lord has also brought to my heart the meaning of the love that Jacob had for Rachel, a love that caused him to work 7 long years more, to have her. Israel, is the original betrothed of the Lord. The seven years of “Jacob’s trouble” in finally obtaining Rachel, is a prophecy of the 7 years that Jesus is going to wait for His first beloved; Israel, after claiming His predominantly gentile Bride. There was deception involved in father Laban’s swapping of Rachel for Leah. Jacob did not love Leah as he should have and was punished by having a temporarily unfruitful union with Rachel. The Lord eventually blessed Rachel with son Joseph. Jacob’s first union with Leah is somewhat symbolic of God’s first marriage to Israel. Leah is more symbolic of God in that marriage however, in that she remains loyal although Jacob mistreats her and doesn‘t love her the way he does Rachel. Rachel is symbolic of the bride of Christ, the second bride whom the Lord is passionate for (though we don’t replace Israel). When both brides (Israel and the church) have received Yeshua as Messiah and Savior, then the Wedding Supper can truly begin. After we come back to earth with Jesus, and the enemy has been defeated, the wedding supper will welcome the remainder of His Bride. He longs for us and He longs for Israel, after all, we gentiles have been “grafted” into the lineage of Abraham. I understand and I am blessed by His special love for His Jewish bride! At the end of Jacob’s trouble the vine and the fig tree shall become one with the Bridegroom. The “fig tree”, is “putting forth her green figs” (Israel, beginning to bloom and pursue the Lord) and “the vines with the tender grape give a good smell” (the early Bride is ready, her fruit is ripe). “Let the Bridegroom go forth of His chamber, and the Bride out of her closet” (Joel 2:16). In Joel, the context of this verse is within the “Day of the Lord,” when He “blows the trumpet in Zion” and readies His angelic troops to defend Israel. Joel 2:16 proclaims the rapture of His waiting Bride who has cloistered herself in preparation for His arrival (also according to ancient Jewish wedding traditions). The next promise in Joel is that the Lord will pour out His “rain and latter rain” upon the green figs that have not yet been harvested. A late crop requires a latter rain to bring it to harvest! There has been some miraculous last day’s revelations concerning messages that are encoded in the bible. Could the bible itself, in the originally inspired texts, be the “Book of Life?”
There are Rabbis over in Israel that have discovered a buried treasure. This treasure is in the bible. They have discovered that there are awesome messages and names and dates and places all encoded at “equidistant letter spacing” throughout the Old Testament! This means that by using a computer or by hand, one can find these gems encoded at equal letter spacings. Some messages or names have been encoded at every 22 letters and some at every 600 letters. They have been encoded in different spacings and some are astronomically complex. The odds of this being possible are billions to one and do prove that God Almighty wrote the Bible.
Yacov Rambsel, is a Messianic Jew who came to believe in Jesus 40 years ago. He has been discovering this miraculous encoding and has put his findings in a book called “Yeshua, the Hebrew Factor.” He especially reveals the stunning presence of the name of Jesus in the Old Testament. Jesus name is encoded into many prophetic scriptures that proclaim the Messiah. “In exodus 19:16, beginning with the third letter in the first word, counting every 600th letter from left to right, spells “THE MESSIAH” or “HA MASHIACH!!” This is only one example of the hundreds that have been found. The Hebrew words for “rapture” have been found encoded in several different places! The ancient Hebrew word that means to be snatched up, saved or rescued is: “NATZAL.” It is encoded in Ruth 1:1 at every 75th letter, in Ruth 1:13 from the 12th word counting every 18th letter , in Ruth 1:14 beginning with the sixth letter of the third word and counting every 25 letters. The odds of this alone are astronomical! In Ruth 1:13, not only is the “rapture” encoded but “BEHOLD THE RAPTURE” is encoded! The marriage of Ruth to her “mighty man of wealth,” and that story is a definite allegory of Jesus and His Bride! Ruth is the gentile bride who had lost her husband and left her family to find her destiny. She gave up everything and abandoned herself at the feet of Boaz, right on the threshing floor! We are that gentile bride that was so graciously accepted and grafted into our Bridegroom! Ruth and Boaz lived only 2 generations before the King that came out of their seed; King David. From Ruth, the gentile Bride! Ruth offered herself to Boaz at the time of Pentecost. Is this a possible time for the Rapture? We cannot know for sure and we must not predict! In Ruth 1:8, “MELEK YESHUA” (KING JESUS) has been encoded into the verse. Mind you, there is no chance that any human brain could have encoded these names and messages and still make the scripture sensible! Daniel prophesied that at the time of the end “knowledge would increase”. God is most definitely revealing many deep and wonderful mysteries in and about His word. As the rapture draws closer; “the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10) as God reveals more and more of the meaning of His Word. Jesus is coming soon!
Another powerful way that the Lord reveals Himself, is through visions. We must be very careful, and most of all discerning before we put any weight on visions. They must be confirmed by “the prophets” and must not be counter to God’s Word. There have been visions that have passed these tests, and ring more true now, than ever before. There is just such a vision that came out of a mighty move of God in the early 19th century. I believe that perhaps the greatest revivals ever, happened in the 19th century, certainly some of the greatest preaching and teaching occurred in the 19th century. This vision is recorded in Robert Norton’s; “The Restoration of Apostles and Prophets; In the Catholic Apostolic Church (1861).” This vision of Margaret MacDonald, is a vivid description of the state of the country and the church at the time of the Rapture. Many Christians that that believe in a "post-tribulation" Rapture, often try to claim that the pre-trib Rapture came into vogue in the 19th century, which is patently false. Newly translated texts prove that respected, early church fathers, believed passionately in the pre-trib Rapture.
The following prophetic excerpt of Margaret MacDonald, circa 1861, is cited by anti pre-trib people as proof that the "pre-trib Rapture" theology originated in the 19th century. I came across this powerful prophetic vision only after I had received my understanding from the Spirit. It is also a confirmation of God's word, written as though she is there on the day when Jesus comes for us:
“It was first the awful state of the land that pressed upon me. I saw the blindness and infatuation of the people to be very great. I felt the cry of liberty to be the hiss of the serpant, to drown them in perdition. It was just ‘no God.’ I repeated the words, Now there is distress of nations, with perplexity, the seas and the waves roaring, men’s hearts failing them for fear--now look for the sign of the Son of man....I saw it was the Lord Himself descending from heaven with a shout.....Only those who have the light within them will see the sign of His appearance.....Tis Christ in us that will lift us up--He is the Light--’tis only those that are alive in Him that will be caught up to meet HIM in the air.....but the spiritual temple must and shall be reared, and the fullness of Christ be poured into His Body, and then we shall be caught up to meet Him....Oh the glorious temple which is now about to be reared, the Bride adorned for he Husband; and Oh what a Holy, Holy Bride she must be, to be prepared for such a glorious Bridegroom.....I felt that the revelation of Jesus Christ had yet to be opened up--IT IS NOT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD THAT IT CONTAINS, BUT IT IS AN ENTERING INTO GOD.....I felt that those who are filled with the Spirit could see spiritual things, and feel walking in the midst of them, while those who had not the Spirit could see nothing--so that two shall be in one bed, the one taken and the other left, because the one has the light of God within while the other cannot see the Kingdom of God.
I saw the people of God in an awfully dangerous situation, surrounded by nets and entanglements, about to be tried, and many about to be deceived and fall....This is the fiery trial which is to try us. It will be for the purging and purifying of the real members of the Body of Jesus; but Oh it will be a fiery trial. Every soul will be shaken to the very center. The enemy will try to shake in everything we have believed --but the trial of real faith will be found to honor and praise and glory. Nothing but what is of God will stand. The stony ground hearers will be made manifest--the love of many will wax cold.
...The Spirit must and will be poured out on the church, that she may be purified and filled with God...
There will be an outward trial too, but ‘tis principally temptation. It is brought on by the outpouring of the Spirit, and will just increase in proportions as the Spirit is poured out. The trial of the Church is from antichrist. It is by being filled with the Spirit that we shall be kept....submit to be filled, filled with God. THIS WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE. It is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord. This will fit us to enter into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. I saw it to be the will of God that all should be filled.
But what hindered the real life of God from being received by His people, was their turning away from Jesus....they were not entering in by the Door...They were passing the cross, through which every drop of the Spirit of God flows to us. All power that comes not through the blood of the Christ, is not of God.
I saw that night, and often since, that there will be an outpouring of the Spirit on the Body, such as has not been, a baptism of fire, that all the dross may be put away. Oh there must and will be such an indwelling of the living God as has not been...great conformity to Jesus--just the Bride made comely, by His comeliness put on her. This is what we are at present made to pray much for, that speedily we may all be made ready to meet our Lord in the air....Jesus wants His Bride.” (Vision of Margaret MacDonald, printed in 1861)
I believe that she had a vision and a prophetic interpretation of this very period in time, and that God “quickened” or interpreted many scripture passages to her understanding. I know that the Jesus has inspired me to share exactly the same message that she received in this vision over 150 years ago. This vision had resonated in my spirit long before I read it!
Earlier in this chapter about the rapture, I examined how it is that ancient Jewish marriage customs are the foreshadowing of how Jesus will come for His Bride; “like a thief in the night.” There are even more possible foreshadowing and prophetic events that are found in the Jewish Feasts and Holy Days.
There is an overpowering message to the Church in the Jewish Festivals and Holy Days, that are a prophetic celebration of the coming of Messiah and all that He would fulfill. In the cycle of feasts and Holy Days, Jesus has already fulfilled half of what the Jews have celebrated for over 3000 years! The major holidays on this festival calendar are in this order; Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Firstfruits, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashana), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and the Feast of Tabernacles. Every Christian should know what these Holy celebrations are all about because they are a prophetic outline for redemption through Jesus. The Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of Firstfruits are all prophetic analogy for His death and resurrection. The detail of the celebration of Passover is absolutely vital for every believer to understand. You cannot appreciate the meaning of “this is My Body, broken for you,” unless you understand the deep prophetic metaphor contained in the ritual of Passover. In the Passover celebration there is what amounts to Communion. The rabbi wraps three pieces of unleavened bread (represents trinity) that were first broken, then placed into a special compartmentalized bag. One of the pieces is ceremonially “buried” and at a later time “resurrected.” The symbols in the Passover that the Jews celebrated for 1500 years before Jesus came, precisely tell the story of His suffering, death and resurrection. When Jesus held the bread in His hand and broke it, He was revealing the true meaning of what the unleavened bread had always symbolized. It symbolized His Body and prophesied His sacrifice. The Feast of Firstfruits historically is a celebration of the firstfruits of the grain harvest which takes place between the Sabbath after Passover, and until Pentecost. Firstfruits is really the prophecy of His resurrection. We call it “Easter,” after a pagan celebration named for the goddess “Ishtar,” but we should call it “Firstfruits,” or at the least; Resurrection Sunday!
Pentecost is also called the “Feast of Weeks” because it was celebrated exactly 7 weeks or 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits. Do you begin to see how precisely Jesus came to “fulfill the law and the prophets?” The entire Jewish calendar and it’s festivals, are proscribed by the Lord in the scriptures! Pentecost, was all about harvest, and the report in the 2nd chapter of Acts, clearly fulfilled and began the ultimate harvest, a harvest of souls for Jesus Christ. These celebrations in the Jewish calendar have been fulfilled, and if they are going to continue to be fulfilled in the order of the calendar, the Feast of Trumpets, is the next celebration.
“Many theologians regard the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashana) as a prophetic picture of the Resurrection and Rapture. Some have even speculated that the Resurrection could occur on that very day. The trumpet blasts on Rosh Hashanah appear to correspond with the “trump of God,” which, according to the Apostle Paul, will attend the Resurrection:” (J. R. Church; Hidden prophecies in the Song of Moses p.287)
“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 together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:16- 17)
This is not at all to predict when the Rapture will take place, but there is a disticnt hope that is apparent in all of the remaining Feasts which are yet to be fulfilled. The bible teaches that we are to be “watching” and “waiting” for His glorious appearing. This is all meant to increase our hope in His appearance, when He shall“change us in the twinkling of an eye.” Jesus our Firstfruits, is coming soon to change us into His very image and being, for “we shall be like Him, when we see Him as He is.” We are soon going to experience His complete glory! We do not know the date but He said that we would know the signs of His coming: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then LOOK UP, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28.)
If this is incomprehensible to you, please continue to read this message. You have nothing to loose by giving your life to Jesus, and everything to gain. The fact that He is coming for us, is a legitimate hope, a “BLESSED HOPE” (Titus 2:13). For what we have now, is the down payment. What we as Christians hope for; is Jesus and the hope of being completely changed into His image. (1John 3:3). This is not the indulgence of an escapist mentality; “pie in the sky, by and by,” nor is it the twisting of scriptures by someone that has given up on this life. The “Blessed Hope,” is the Hope of spending this life and eternity with Jesus.
We don’t know the exact time or date when He will come but there are very significant prophetic scriptures that have all come to pass, except the revealing of the antichrist, and that will probably happen after the rapture. Many “Christians” don’t want to believe this because many “Christians” aren’t really living for Jesus and can’t deal with the possibility of His return. They enjoy this world and it’s pleasures too much instead of knowing the Blessed Hope of His imminent return, and Jesus as the treasure of their lives. “ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2Tim. 4:3,4)
During the tribulation it will be possible to commit to Jesus but the price will be very high. Tribulation saints will be slaughtered during those 7 years as it says in revelation, where they seem to appear in great number before the throne. (6:9-11) This world will pass away, and will eventually be burned up, only those, whose whole hope and trust is in Jesus, and that live for Him will enter the kingdom.
Most of these doctrines are widely held by many orthodox (biblically conservative and that interpret the Bible more literally) Christians today. Some of these interpretations go farther than many would go, but I believe that the weight of scripture confers these interpretations. A post-trib rapture just doesn’t make any sense: most Christians will be dead by then and will already be with Him. Due to the defined events of the tribulation, we would know when He is coming. (if a post-tribulational scenario were viable). The “abomination of desolation” (antichrist) enters the temple to declare himself “god” exactly 3 and a half years before the last battle and Christ’s second coming. God has promised not to pour out His wrath on Christians, why would He want us earth during that time? He doesn’t want us here! “HE HAS NOT DESTINED US FOR WRATH.” This verse refers to God’s wrath, that will be poured out upon an unrepentant world, during the seven year tribulation. God is not going to punish His Bride before He comes for her! (we will go through trials and purification) His Word promises this! We won’t be here during that time, you can look forward to His Appearing. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; ”and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Heb. 9:27,28)
All that have accepted Jesus as their Saviour, (born again) will be raptured. Dave Hunt has said it best; “Our going to heaven at the rapture does not depend upon whether we even believe in that blessed hope much less are looking for Christ at that particular moment. Our ticket to heaven is the finished redemptive work of Christ on the Cross. If one’s faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, he will be taken to heaven at the rapture even if he has never heard of such an event.” (Dave Hunt from: How Close are We? p.251)
Christians are the “salt of the earth”. We are quite literally the preservative that permeates and has preserved the world from God’s wrath. Many Bible scholars believe that the Holy Spirit’s presence in us, His tabernacles, is the “restrainer”(2Thess.2:7-8) that prevents the unveiling of the antichrist. The presence of the Church makes it impossible for satan to come to power physically, as the world ruler. The sudden evacuation of all Christians will usher in the world wide stage for the antichrist. There will be a sudden and overwhelming impact on the earth when the Church is raptured. Pandemonium will prevail until a central leader steps forward with his explaination of what has happened. He will tell the world that the innocuous and evil people have been cleansed from the earth. (possibly by “aliens” aka: demons) He will seize control of everything. The people will clamor for him and his powerful elite to deliver them. This scenario is being prophesied already in many occultic, new age books; that the Christian “fundamentalists” (their definition of Christian fundamentalist is anyone who believes in Jesus and lives according to the scriptures) will be cleansed from the earth. What is really alarming is that many churches and denominations consider many truths in the Bible, now to be only fairy tails. There are many liberal theologians and pastors that despise basic Christian principals and doctrine not to mention the more controversial views about the rapture and His 2nd coming. Although I have felt the judgment and disdain of some that have a much different opinion on these subjects, I try not to have the same reaction to these brothers and sisters that disagree with me, some unfortunately get angry. Why do such well founded biblical doctrines anger such people? Could it be that many of them have abandoned the Word of God and the true Jesus of the bible and they get angry when they are convicted? Hopefully, they are in error in only these areas of the Word. I pray that if I am in error that God will show me and correct me quickly.
In my eschatalogical research, I have found that most well known bible scholars that are obedient to the word, and interpret it literally, also beleive in the immininency of Christ’s coming and the Pre-trib rapture. John F. Walvoord; president of Dallas theological seminary, Dave Hunt; author and scholar; Timothy Lahaye; author and scholar, Dr. Renald Showers; author and professor; Trinity Divinity, David Wilkerson; author and pastor, Peter Lalonde; author and teacher, Grant Jeffrey; author and teacher, J.R. Church; Gary Stearman; Zola Leavitt; Messianic teacher and author, Dave Breese; author and teacher, John Ankerberg; author, teacher and Hal Lindsey; author, teacher and Timothy LaHaye, pastor, author, teacher. On the major issues and most minor ones concerning Christ’s return these men seem to confer: There is yet to be at least two more appearances of Jesus Christ to this earth. The first shall be the rapture; His glorious appearing for His Saints, when Jesus will call us up out of the earth and snatch us away. This is when we shall see Him “face to face” and be “changed into His image” (redeemed). The second coming, is His glorious appearing when we will come back with Him to vanquish all of His enemies. This is when He will come as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, (Rev.19:16) “glorified in His Saints” and coming to judge the world.
The rapture starts what is known as “the day of the Lord”. God’s appointed time when the “church age” will come to an abrupt close, (the rapture) and God’s primary focal point on earth will be Israel. It will begin a pouring out of God’s wrath on an unrepentant world. The tribulation period will begin with the unveiling of the antichrist. This seven year period is the fulfillment of the last week of Daniel’s seventy weeks prophecy and will be a time of destruction and apocalypse that the world has never known. Israel will play a pivotal role during these seven years, first by vanquishing a mighty invasion led by Russia and most of Israel’s Arab neighbors, that will lead in all probability to a thermonuclear exchange. America’s role is not known. My deep impression is that America may be destroyed during this war. Israel will enter or will have entered into a peace agreement with the antichrist just prior to, or after this war. After 3 and a half years, the antichrist will enter the rebuilt temple (Dome of the Rock will probably have been destroyed in war), and declare himself to be messiah. Many Israelis will accept him in this capacity but some will not. Some Israelis will accept Jesus early in the Tribulation and start preaching boldly, 144,000 to be exact. Three and one half years to the day that antichrist proclaims his own deity, in the Temple, Jesus and all of His Saints will descend upon Armageddon, (Rev. 19:11-21) where the antichrist will gather his armies to destroy Israel. He and his armies will be destroyed by Jesus.
This is my interpretation of scripture, though I am in agreement with many orthodox scholars. I don’t hold it to be Gospel. (there is only one real Gospel) My interpretation is open to reproof and correction. I hold it to be the strongest possible scenario but I don’t hold on to all of the details as a core belief, or as a necessary belief for salvation, by any means.
My motivation for writing this is to comfort and encourage and convince people as we are instructed by scripture: “that that day should (not) overtake you as a thief... let us not sleep...let us watch and be sober...putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation...comfort yourselves together, and edify one another.” (1Thess.5:4-11) “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (rapturos = raptured) together with Him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. WHEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.”(1 Thess. 4:17,18) Please remember the warning of Peter: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2Peter3:3,4)
Understanding prophecy and it’s spiritual significance, leads me deeper into Jesus, “for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.” (Rev. 19:10) The single most important thing in this life, is to receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour and to love, serve and follow Him! Jesusrapture.com Jacobsen©2001-2002
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BIBLE CODE "Rapture" Joel chp. 1:14-15 -- by Tom Gaston
Joel chapter 1:14-15 says: " Consecrate a fast,proclaim a solemn assembly: Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the Lord you God, And cry out to the Lord."
Verse 15 says: "Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near. And it will come as a destruction frothe Almighty."
I was reading this text one nioght and I wondered if God might have encoded the word "Rapture" (Shin-Lamed-Hay-vau-Beth) in this text. In the surface text it is speaking about Israel, but I wondered if God might have encoded "Rapture" here because it speaks of "gathering the elders"( Type of the Church) into the house of the Lord.
I thought that God may have encoded it hear because of the language of the text. Lo and behold He did. The code "Rapture" is found in these two verses 14 and 15 at a skip interval of 15.
When you bring up this small matrix of 15 lines wide of the code "Rapture," and ask for "on day Jehovah"( day of the Lord,) it puts the phrase "on day Jehovah" solid right across the code "Rapture."
This is the most exciting thing. You see, it shows that the Rapture happens and "THEN" the "day of the Lord" begins. This is what the apostle Paul says in the New Testament scriptures in "first and secondd Thessalonians."
The codes that are connected to the base code "Rapture" and " on day Jehovah" are " The Bride, Vanished, Captivity the earth temple." These codes are above the base code "Rapture." They are "Yeshua, return, day 3rd, reunion ( a 5 letter code, and very difficult to find,) to heaven, married."
There was more here in this little code of only 15 lines wide. This is an incredible find giving credence to a " pre-tribulation Rapture" before the "day of the Lord" begins. The Rabbis in Israel this week have declared a day of "FASTING AND PRAYER" this week. "WE ARE VERY CLOSE."
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