The Rapture Mystery

The Rapture of the Church 

The Next Major Biblical Event in History - by Ron Graff and Lambert Dolphin 

www.ldolphin.org

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Meaning of "Rapture"

What follows is a summary discussion of a very important event in Bible prophecy. The Appendix goes into more detail for the benefit of the serious student.

"Rapture" comes from the words "caught up" in I Thessalonians 4:17. In the Greek the word is harpazo - "to seize upon by force", "to snatch up." The Latin translators used the word rapturo. Some people claim that "rapture" is not a Biblical term. This is untrue, unless they want to say that "God" and "Jesus" are not Biblical Terms. Almost all words in our English Bible are translations of Greek or Hebrew expressions, and are, therefore, not in the Bible in the form we know them. "God" is a proper and meaningful translation of certain words in the original languages, and "Jesus" is a good translation for us of His name (Yeshua, "Joshua," "The Lord Saves," in Hebrew). In the same way, the English word "rapture" which means "to be caught up" is an excellent translation for the Greek harpazo.

Three Events That Happen at The Rapture

The scriptures of First Thessalonians 4 and 5 are familiar to most Christians as a description of the so-called "rapture of the church." The rapture can be thought of as a point in eternity which will protrude into our historical time frame at some fixed point on God's calendar. However, as we have seen, God has not given us the date.

Three specific events take place at the time Jesus calls his church out of the world:

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven

(a) with a cry of command,

(b) with the archangel's call,

(c) and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

The "cry of command" from the lips of Jesus is to awake the dead in Christ and to call them forth from their graves as God called his friend Lazarus forth (John 11:43).

Only one archangel is called by name in Scripture. He is Michael whose specific jurisdiction is over the people of Israel. At the time of the Rapture, the archangel will signal to Israel that God has returned the focus of his attention at last to the final redemption of his chosen nation. This event was spoken of by Daniel:

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered." (Daniel 12:1)

The trumpet call, not to be confused with the last of the seven trumpets in Revelation, is a trumpet call associated with the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. It will be used to call the living saints at the time of the Rapture to be caught up and transformed together with the just-raised saints of the past. This is described also in 1 Corinthians 15,

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

When an individual dies he or she leaves time and enters eternity. Some scholars think that all believers travel through eternity immediately, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," to arrive at the Rapture the next instant in his or her personal experience. If that is the case, all believers arrive in heaven at the same "time." Thus, "to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8) We may have difficulty picturing this if we do not realize that eternity runs according to an entirely different time than the one-dimensional time frame in which we are constrained to live while in our mortal bodies. For more on the issue of Time, see Appendix: The Complexities Of Time, toward the end of the book.

Other Important Terms

As you probably know, there are many different ways of looking at Biblical prophecy. Here are a few other terms you will hear in discussions about the future.

Millennium - 1000 years of history during which Christ will reign as King of Kings (Rev. 20:2-7).

Premillennialism - The belief that Christ returns visibly and bodily at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth. He will rule the nations from Jerusalem.

Postmillennialism - The belief that Christ will return at the end of the present age to take over the earth. Meantime, He is assumed to reign on earth through the church now. Postmillenialists do not necessarily believe in a literal millennial age. Satan was defeated at the cross and is now bound, hence the final triumph of the church in history is assured.

Amillennialism - The belief that there will no literal 1000 year reign of Christ. Thus Revelation 20 is taken symbolically, not literally, by adherents of this view. Amillennialists generally believe that Israel has been permanently set aside for all time and that God's current plan of salvation involves only the church.

(See also: Definition of common terms found in Eschatology, Appendix)

The authors' understanding of future things is firmly premillennial. A literal interpretation of Scripture requires belief in an actual thousand year period of time during which Christ will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The book of Revelation describes these periods of time clearly: The Church Age (chapters 1-3), The Tribulation (chapters 4-19), The Millennium (chapter 20), and then The New Heaven and Earth (chapters 21-22).

Most of the Bible teachers who write and speak about prophecy are also premillennial. Among them there are various viewpoints about the timing of The Rapture. Here is a brief summary of these positions:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture - That Christ will rapture the church before the Tribulation begins

Mid-Tribulation Rapture - That Christ will rapture the church at the Mid-point of The Tribulation

Post Tribulation Rapture - That Christ will rapture the church at the end of the Tribulation

Pre-Wrath Rapture - That Christ will rapture the church just before the Battle of Armageddon

Partial Rapture - That Christ will rapture those who are ready and leave the rest to go through the Tribulation

Multiple Rapture - That there are more than one raptures, during which Christ receives those who are ready

"Pan-Trib" Position - No clue about future events, but think it will "all pan out in the end"

The last term is not really funny. There are too many people who just claim ignorance of this vital subject. When one pastor was asked recently what his views of prophecy were, he said, "I just don't handle it." Can you imagine? A pastor, who has the responsibility of teaching the whole counsel of God's Word, refusing to "handle" nearly one third of Scripture?!

Those who are "in Christ"

Returning to the rapture passage in 1 Thessalonians 4, the last part of verse 16 and first part of verse 17 say,

"...the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with the Lord."

This event is only for those "in Christ." It does not, therefore, include Old Testament Saints. We will study the time of their resurrection later. The point here is that all believers of the church age, and only believers of this age are included--those who have died "in Christ," and those believers who are alive at the time. It should be added that the Rapture does include all Jewish people during this present time who have placed their faith in Jesus as Messiah. They too are part of the church, though they have not lost their identity as descendants of Israel.

Why the Rapture will take place before the Tribulation

We believe that, by far, the strongest Biblical evidence is in favor of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture position. There are many reasons for this. Here are some of the most obvious ones.

Any-moment expectation (Imminence)

In every age Christians have been expecting the return of Our Lord. Twice in the last chapter of the Revelation He tells us, "I am coming quickly." (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20)

Paul referred to this ever-present possibility of Christ's return as "the blessed hope." (Titus 2:13)

He also taught that His coming will be like a thief in the night.

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. (1Thessalonians 5:1-6)

John also spoke often of Christ's appearing:

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

The pre-Tribulation position is the best from this point of view. If the Rapture takes place before the Tribulation, we can truly expect it "any day." If it is delayed to the middle or end of the Tribulation, we could not honestly have that expectation now.

Deliverance of the Saints from wrath

Here are some of the passages which indicate that believers of this Church Age will not be left to suffer the outpouring of God's wrath:

"But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36)

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (1Thessalonians 5:9)

And if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day with their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment... (2 Peter 2:6-9)

In the message to the Church of Philadelphia (Missions Period), God said:

Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

Please keep in mind that the Bible does not teach that Christians are delivered from persecution, trials and temptations. In fact, the opposite is true. In 2 Timothy 3:12 we are told, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (KJV) The books of James and 1 Peter were written to encourage Christians when they are called upon to go through trials. Paul himself spoke about his "thorn in the flesh" as a trial allowed by God in order that God's strength could be shown through him. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Belief in the pre-Tribulation Rapture has nothing to do with a cowardly desire to escape persecution. Scriptural examples and history itself teach us that, when called upon to suffer for the name of Christ, it is actually a privilege to die for Him. In fact, we are being reminded today that more Christians have been persecuted and even put to death in our own generation than in all other periods of church history combined. For two thousand years God has allowed his people to suffer trials and persecution and even martyrdom. Why, however, should He ask only the final generation of the church to endure an unprecedented time of terrible destruction which is not intended for the church, but as a judgment of unbelieving world?

The belief that the church will be delivered from the Tribulation is based in part on the Biblical pattern that when God pours out His wrath He always gives opportunity for the righteous to escape it. This was true of Noah and his family, of Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Lot, and even of the pagan Ninevites to whom Jonah was sent.

The church is the Bride of Christ. God intends that she join her Bridegroom for a great wedding feast and after that share with Him in ruling the nations. Allowing His bride to suffer through the tribulation is inconsistent with the specific purposes for which He has called out the church from the world, why He has rescued her "from the coming wrath." (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

Some recent teaching about the Tribulation tries to make a distinction between Satan's wrath, which they say characterizes most of the book of Revelation, and God's wrath which is poured out at the Battle of Armageddon. From their point of view, the church could then be subjected to most of the Tribulation, but delivered from the last part. The problem with this position is that it ascribes to Satan the powers of nature: weather conditions, earthquakes, asteroid collisions, and other "terrors in the heavens." Satan, however, has no power to do anything that has not been appointed for him by God. This theory also fails to notice that the church is missing from the Tribulation, as explained toward the end of this chapter. See Appendix: Pretribulation or Prewrath?

Antichrist not revealed until hindering force removed

In 2 Thessalonians we are told that the "man of sin (or lawlessness)" will not be revealed until "He who now restrains" is taken out of the way.

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; (II Thessalonians 2:1-8)

In John 16:7-8 we are told that it is The Holy Spirit who will "convict the world concerning sin..." God The Holy Spirit can never be removed from the earth, but, in the sense that He is effectively restraining sin through Christians in whom He dwells, the time will come, once those Christians are gone, that wickedness will abound. Today Christians are everywhere: in their occupations, in the market place, in the schools, even in government halls. But during the Tribulation, true believers will be persecuted and either killed or driven underground, so that their godly influence will not be felt in the world. When the church is taken in the Rapture, the world will be ripe for Antichrist to step forth with his ungodly plans. True, multitudes of people will turn to Christ and will become true believers in the tribulation period. They will also be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but they will not be permitted to take the place of the missing Christians in society. They will be outcasts, and therefore the Holy Spirit will not have the same restraining influence on the world that He now has. Most, or even all of them, will be quickly put to death by the man of sin.

The Death of the Believer: Time and Eternity

The Apostle Paul adds further to our understanding of what happens when an individual Christian dies:

Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Now we know that if the earthly tent [skenos, the present body is a temporary tent] we live in is destroyed, we have a building [oikodome, a permanent house] from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. (2 Corinthians 4:14-5:9)

There is no hint here of an intermediate state between dying and going into the presence of the Lord. Indeed the Apostle tells us that our resurrection bodies are already prepared for us, they are waiting for us to "put on" exactly as one would put on a new set of clothes over the old!

Events between The Rapture and Christ's Return

There are certain future events which evidently will take place between the Rapture and Christ's glorious return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Two of them are The Bema Seat Judgment, and The Marriage of the Lamb.

The Bema Seat Judgment

According to 2 Corinthians 5:10, all believers of this age must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Information about this event is also found in Romans 14:10; in 1 Corinthians. 3:10-15; and in 1 Corinthians 4:2-5. This evaluation of every believer is not for the purpose of dealing with sin --which was fully dealt with on the cross by the Lord Jesus. Rather it is a reviewing stand where quality of our Christian performance can be evaluated and rewarded. The motives of the heart will be made known, and most importantly, only the works the believer has undertaken by faith "in the Spirit"--by faith in the indwelling presence of God, will survive. The "works of the flesh" (our self-efforts to serve God) will be taken away and only what God has built into our lives since we came to know Him will go with us into the next life. See Appendix, The Judgment Seat of Christ, for further details.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb - Revelation 19:7-9

During his lifetime on earth, Jesus did not marry. For a man not to marry was very rare in Israel (then as now). Following the typology in the story of Abraham's servant going to a far country to select a bride (Rebekah) for the patriarchs beloved son Isaac, (Genesis 24) we could say that God the Father dispatched the Holy Spirit into the world to call out and prepare a people who would be a suitable bride. The Spirit would also give the church a suitable wedding dowry that she might be a fitting love-gift from the Father to His beloved Son, Jesus. All sorts of people are welcome to be part of Christ's wife, the invitation is open to everyone,

Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'

"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

"'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'" (Luke 14:16-24)

The church can be thought of as the "Second Eve." But whereas the original Eve was one woman, the Bride of Christ consists of millions of men and children! When we are all brought together as a family following the rapture we shall join with our Lord is a great marriage feast.

Christ's Bride is in Heaven before He returns in glory to the earth!

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God." (Revelation 19:7-9)

Our return with Christ

To understand the events which take place after the Rapture, we need to bear in mind that there is a sequence of events taking place which occurs "in heaven" and there is a parallel sequence of events occurring "on earth." In the book of Revelation note is made of those who "dwell in heaven" and those who dwell on earth" during the tribulation period. The former group "dwelling in heaven" is the church. We who comprise the church will have been given our resurrection bodies and will walk in the company of the Lamb and His holy angels. Those who are (during this same time period) dwelling on earth--include non-believers, but also God's 144,000 Jewish evangelists. (they are regenerated men but do not yet have resurrection bodies), and likewise their converts, who are the saints of the Tribulation period. Many of these saints will become martyrs during the tribulation period, but they will not be given their resurrection bodies until the tribulation ends. (Revelation 20:4)

Appendix L helps to understand better the return of Christ as having two aspects. His silent return for His church at the Rapture is described by the use of the Greek word parousia which means "coming alongside and remaining with" someone. We should think of the Rapture as the first phase of the second coming of Christ. He will come for His church, and He will remain with them forever after. But He will also come to be with the 144,000 and with the Tribulation Saints as well during the final seven years of world evangelism, and of Israel's judgment and restoration. After the seven years of the Tribulation has run its course Jesus will step out of hiding, and appears in the sky, bringing us with Him. This event, described by the Greek word epiphaneia, which means "shining forth," is the open public unveiling of Jesus--the second coming in power and glory.

All this careful reading of scripture this tells us that heaven is not far away. It is in fact merely another dimension of reality. Earthly, material realities occupy only a small localized region of the realm the Bible calls the heavenly places. The material world is embedded in the spiritual. Therefore Jesus is never far away from any of us. The old notion that when Jesus takes us to heaven we are somehow far removed to a golden land beyond the furthest star is not a Biblical view of heaven at all! We need to adjust our thinking to the view that Jesus will be on the earth during the entire tribulation period, invisible, but probably appearing and disappearing in the same mysterious manner He did during the 40 days following his resurrection and His ascension. On earth, but unseen by unbelievers, Jesus will be the Commander and Chief of the armies of the Lord. He will also direct the 144,000 and their strategic work. Jesus will apparently involve Himself personally in the shepherding of His faithful remnant hidden at Petra during the last half of the Tribulation period. When Jesus returns, He will come not from "outer space," but simply step back into our space-time frame once again, bringing His church with Him.

The title of this book is drawn from the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples. This prayer assures us that Jesus now rules the entire universe. All authority has been given to Him. However, He does not yet reign on the earth. For two thousand years the saints of God have prayed that He might soon come and reign on earth as He already does reign in heaven. In Revelation Chapter 4, a great scroll, which we may think of as the title deed to the earth, is handed to Jesus by His Father. Jesus is called to begin His long awaited reign on earth. He will accomplish this in stages, by first coming for His church, and then by strategically directing and orchestrating all of the events of the end time. Evidently He will establish a beachhead on the planet, a command center for those military operations which will culminate in His final appearance in public as earth's legal King of kings and Lord of lords. His activities during the Tribulation will not be detected by unbelievers, though there will be rumors He has returned. Many events occurring on earth, due to the clandestine operations of the 144,000, will cause earth's inhabitants to be nervous.

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-- and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-- if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.

"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

"Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:21-30)

If we consider all the parallel events the book of Revelation describes, including the throwing -down of Satan and His hosts to earth during this last three and a half years, then it makes sense that our Commander-and-Chief should establish His battle headquarters for the end time right here on earth. This is where the final conflict will be fought, including the Seed of the Woman winning a final victory over the Seed of the Serpent.

But the church is the Body of Christ and the Head can not be separated from the Body! So we must begin to think of ourselves as present on earth with Jesus during the Tribulation period. Our resurrection bodies will make us invulnerable to sin and death. Furthermore, like our Lord, we will be invisible to the inhabitants of the earth.

When Christ returns, it is with "armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. (Revelation 19:11-14)

This is undoubtedly a picture of the His redeemed (Revelation 3:18) with glorified, immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:35-50), able to descend from the heavens without the aid of a spacecraft!

We are told in Colossians 3:4, "When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. And 1 Thessalonians talks about the "coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints."

The book of Revelation tells what we will do, once we have returned with Christ:

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

The Centrality of Israel and Jewish People During The Tribulation

A great body of converted people from all the nations are mentioned several times in the book of the Revelation--after the Rapture of the church. Usually they are called the "Saints." They are believers in Christ--Jews and Gentiles alike, but they are not referred to as the church, nor are any of the usual descriptions of the church attached to them. The apostate church of the period will be corrupt, and will give its influence to Antichrist (Revelation 18), so these Tribulation Saints will not in any way be associated with this apostate church, the great harlot of Revelation 17.

The theme of Israel's place during the tribulation period will be expanded in the third section of the book, but here are some of the key points which illustrate the centrality of Israel and Jewish people during this period of time:

It is synonymous with Daniel's 70th Week - Daniel 9:27; Revelation 13

The 144,000 Sealed from the 12 Tribes of Israel - Revelation 7:1-8

The Two Witnesses - probably Old Testament leaders - Moses and Elijah (or, as some think, Enoch and Elijah) - Revelation 11:1-12

Flight of Israel - Revelation 12

Treaty with Israel, Defilement of the Temple - Revelation 13

Dr. Renald Showers explains the significance of viewing the Tribulation as a period of Israel's history.

"All other views of the Rapture have the church going through at least part of the 70th week, meaning that all other views mix God's 70-weeks program for Israel and Jerusalem together with His program for the church."

Population of The Millennium by mortal believers

The pre-Tribulation Rapture interpretation best explains this important feature of God's future plan. According to Jesus' teaching on the Mount of Olives, there will be a judgment of the nations (Sheep and Goats - Matthew 25:31-46) just before the Millennium, just prior to the commencement of the thousand-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1-6). This taking of some and leaving of others is not the Rapture, but it corresponds to the Parable of The Wheat and The Tares (Matthew 13:24-30). In that parable, the tares are collected FIRST, and tied into bundles to be burned (later - The Great White Throne judgment), then the wheat is gathered into the barn. The wheat represents true believers who have survived the Tribulation period, and are thus permitted to enter the Millennial Age.

If the Rapture took place at, or near the end of the Tribulation, all believers would have glorified bodies, and there would be no righteous mortals left to enter the Millennium!

Differences between The Rapture and The 2nd Coming

We believe that much of the confusion about the Rapture is caused by a lack of understanding that Christ comes first for believers, and then comes later in what is properly called the Second Coming, or His Glorious Return as King of Kings. Here are some of the differences between these two events.

The Rapture

· Christ comes for His own 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

· Believers taken to Father's House John 14:3

· Seen only by believers 1 Corinthians 15:52, 19:11-16;

· No reference to Satan

· Earth not judged

· A Mystery 1 Corinthians 15:51

The 2nd Coming

· Christ return with His own Revelation 19:14

· Believers come to Earth Matthew 24:30

· Every eye will see Him Revelation 1:7 Matthew 24:30

· Satan bound Revelation 20:1-3

· Earth judged Revelation 20:4-5

· Foretold in Old Testament

· Dan. 12:1-3; Zech. 12:10; 14:4

One way to better understand the clear distinction between The Rapture and the Second Coming in glory can be see by carefully considering the different Greek words used for these two events.

Absence of the Church

Finally, and probably most significant of all, is this fact:

The Church is Missing From The Tribulation - Revelation 4-19

In the first three chapters of Revelation, there are constant references to the church and to the Seven Churches. However, starting at chapter 4, verse 1, where John is told to "come up here," the church is obviously absent throughout the Tribulation period. The expression "come up here" does mean leaving the earth in Revelation 11:12 where the translation of the Two Witnesses takes place. (We are not suggesting that the Rapture takes place in chapter 11, only that the same expression, used there, does mean virtually the same thing for the Two Witnesses that the Rapture does to the church.)

There are numerous references to believers in these chapters, but they are not called the church. What might be called the church on the earth during this time is the apostate shell of nominal Christianity, which has lost its true believers, and has joined with other religions of the world to become a "United Religion," which, in turn will give its power to Antichrist. This apostate church is pictured as a prostitute riding the beast in Revelation 18.

Finally, the absence of the church will undoubtedly account for the lawlessness spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

It is all happenning!

Bible Prophecy - Where to Begin? 

By Edward Wood 

www.raptureready.com

It has been said that 25% of the Bible is comprised of prophecy in one manner or another. Considering the length of the Bible, anyone who wishes to begin an exploration of this subject, might wonder just where to start. I know I did. Interestingly enough, the answer was not long in coming. Now this in no way should be construed as some kind of inherent brilliance on my part but should instead be looked upon as a practical example of what James said: [James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

In other words, any wisdom you might find here isn't generated from yours truly. Next, I strongly urge you to do your own homework and arrive at your own conclusions not only on what you read here, but on any commentary regarding Scripture. Why? Because Paul reminds us that "we see through a glass darkly" (1 Cor. 13:11-12) - even the greatest of Bible scholars. As a layman with no formal Bible training, I'm sure this adds more layers of tint to my particular glass, making this advice even more relevant in the present circumstances. This being said, let's proceed. So, then, where is a good place to begin to study Bible Prophecy? My personal answer - the Olivet Discourse. From this last of Jesus' public sermons, his followers, including us, are given a broad view of the future. Some think that the events described have already happened. In fact, there are even those who have the view that all Bible prophecy has been fulfilled, culminating with the invasion of Jerusalem, circa 70 A.D.

Others believe that the Bible's prophetic pronouncements are allegorical. While it is true that a great deal of symbolism occurs in such great books as Daniel and Revelation, the Olivet Discourse is direct and clear. I believe that the Lord meant exactly what he said. It is from that basis I will attempt to present an overview of its contents. I do recommend you read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 yourself before proceeding. It will greatly help you follow along.

Intriguingly Olivet's physical location ties together accounts of Jesus' return to Earth in the Old and New Testaments. The words he himself spoke likewise connect the essentials of Old and New Testament prophecy as well. Let's now look at the highlights of the Olivet Discourse and see where they lead. Since on occasion events are repeated in more than one place throughout Jesus' address, I'll endeavor to present them topically.

Olivet would no doubt be remembered in history alone for what Jesus said there almost 2000 years ago. but there is much more to the story than that. In fact, a little over forty days from the time he gave his discourse it would also be the scene of his last post-resurrection appearance to most of those very same people!

From there they would watch in awe as he rode into the clouds, with two men "in white apparel" promising them that he would return in the same manner (Acts 1:1-12). But this isn't all. In Zechariah, chapter 14, we read how the Lord's return to Olivet at the end of this age will bring incredible changes to our world for all time!

The Mount of Olives stands east of Jerusalem overlooking the city from which vantage point the temple which had been rebuilt to magnificent splendor by the volatile and often ruthless Herod the Great in an attempt to curry favor from the populace. His being appointed by Rome to this position and being descended from the Judean's traditional adversaries the Edomites engendered no shortage of resentment from his subjects. Yet despite his character flaws, he was a master builder and the temple was the crown jewel of his accomplishments. It had been described from those of that time as often glowing in gleaming splendor in the Judean sunlight.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke record that the first thing that Jesus revealed was that the temple which so impressed his audience would one day no longer exist. His listeners must have been incredulous as they looked down upon its immensity and grandeur from the Mount of Olives. How could such a structure be so destroyed that there would not be "one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Matt. 24:1-2)? It must have been as unbelievable to them as the thought that our own World Trade Towers would crumble to the ground as a result of a terrorist attack on 9-11 was prior to that terrible event. But it happened all the same.

This was not the first time the temple would fall. Almost 600 years earlier Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces destroyed Jerusalem and everything in it, temple included. What Jesus described was to occur exactly as he related almost forty years later. When Titus' Roman Legion finally broke into the city, the historian Josephus recorded that even he couldn't stop his troops from setting this grand structure on fire. Its huge porous limestone blocks exploded from the moisture within them as it turned to steam. As if that wasn't enough, the soldiers pried part the wreckage to get at the gold with which it had been adorned that had melted and flowed down into the ruins.

From this point on. Jesus spoke of events that are future even to our time, but, I believe, are very close at hand. I think you will find many of them are now sounding very familiar in our Twenty-first Century World. The very next thing Jesus warned of was the coming of false prophets. One of the biggest problems of the early church was this very problem. (See Acts 13:1-11; 2 Cor. 11:12-26; Galatians 2:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1-6.) It still is today, and, in my opinion, is getting much worse.

I personally have watched the particular denomination of which I had belonged give its blessing to actively homosexual clergy, denies Jesus as the only means of salvation, and select for itself clerical and lay leaders that are telling people only what they want to hear. It is like watching Paul's words to his young protégé' Timothy come true before one's own eyes across many of the largest denominations (1 Timothy 4:1-4).This action will all intensify and culminate in the advent of the Antichrist (Daniel 8:23-25; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Rev. 17:7-17, 19:11-21). The fall of the western church to false doctrine in the past few decades is not only rendering it incapable of standing against the growing forces of darkness but actually aiding them.

The Lord related that famines would come. The population of our planet stands near seven billion, a large percentage of which go to bed hungry every night. Recently there are ominous signs that it could get worse very quickly. As I write, there is a potential for the Ug-99 wheat fungus to devastate 80% of the world's wheat if it should manage to spread around the globe. In this case, the warning given on Olivet might very well be pointing to the Black Horse of Revelation 6:5-6 wherein a measure (quart) of wheat or three of barley cost a penny, or denarius, depending on which Bible translation you are using. This doesn't mean much to our modern ears unless we understand that the denarius was a day's wages to a common laborer (Matt. 20:1-16), and that a measure of wheat or three of barley were considered the minimum dietary requirement for a person of those times. In other words, there will come a time when a person's entire income will be needed to buy enough food to survive. The passage continues with "the oil and wine" not being harmed. I've heard various interpretations of this but the one that seems to make sense is that these last two items were commodities of the rich. Is it possible that this points to a time when most people will suffer while the wealthy continue to live opulently? Does this sound awfully familiar? Notice how Jesus' words link us to an event written by John in Revelation sixty years later about something that hasn't even happened in our time, but one in which we are beginning to see the manner in which it can.

Along with famines, Jesus told of the coming pestilences and earthquakes. It is hard to imagine any other time in human history when we have seen so much of both! About thirty years ago HIV-AIDS exploded across our world and is still running rampant, especially in Africa. I personally can't remember any communicable affliction ever existing which has had such a wide range, lasted so long, or resisted a cure. In affluent societies such as the United States, the main vectors are drug use and fornication, the details of the latter I'm sure you already know. I've heard many say it's a "judgment" disease because of this. Well, knowing that God is a loving God, I'm pretty sure he didn't create HIV. But whenever people disregard his rules of living and push him out of their lives, how can they expect him to protect them from the consequences of their own free will?

Regarding earthquakes, a visit to the United States Geological Survey website is most revealing. I decided to count only the larger quakes of Richter Scale magnitude 6.0 and above. Until the turn of this century, most years had less than six per year, with only sporadic counts of ten or twelve. Since 2002, the numbers I got ranged from 22 for that year up to a high of 47 in 2007! Even 2008 had 35! As I write, the count for 2009 is already over 20. Being human, my counts might not be perfect but even so it is clear that geologically speaking, it is no longer "business as usual" for Planet Earth.

Jesus predicted that Christians would again be persecuted, that even people within families would betray each other. This is already well under way throughout the world where being a follower of Christ can get one killed in some regions. In fact, he said that people in general would become more cruel in the End Times, that their "love would wax cold." When one sees regularly the increase and appalling viciousness of crimes being committed even within the United States, it makes one wonder just what is going on. In Romans 1:19-32, Paul presents a sobering description so accurate of the way people will become as this age winds down that it is hard to escape the fact that we must indeed be very close to the end. Jesus said that as the time of the end draws near, the Gospel would be preached "in all the world." Isn't it fascinating that our present-day technology has made this literally possible instantly anywhere on the planet? In addition to this even as the Tribulation is well under way, God will employ an angel to preach the "everlasting gospel" to all nations in every language (Rev. 14:6). I believe that this proves God will go to every length he can to get his message out. Anyone who chooses to ignore it will therefore have no excuse for the judgment that will fall upon them.

The Lord spoke of military conflicts that would come. Did you know that the Twentieth Century had more casualties due to war than any other time in human history? When was the last time you watched the news on TV or read your paper without reports of some conflict somewhere? The stakes grow higher each day as more and more very bad people gain access to more and more very bad weapons. One day it will all come to a head on the Plain of Esdraelon which lies below a place called Har (Mount) Megiddo - otherwise known as Armageddon (Rev. 16:13-15)!

Regarding the author of this ultimate battle mentioned above, Jesus provides an important clue as to the means by which to identify him in Matthew and Mark's accounts. When the "abomination of desolation" appears in the "holy place," this will be a sign for the people of Judea to "flee to the mountains." Daniel tells us who it is that will do this (Daniel 9:27). Referred to variously as the "king of fierce countenance" (Daniel 8:23), "son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3), "that Wicked" (2 Thess.:2-3), and the "beast" (Revelation, particularly chapters 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, and 20), this man will embody the worst of every despot that has ever walked on this planet. In common parlance he is best known as the "Antichrist."

Satan has always wanted to be "god" and this man will have access to demonic power to do whatever is necessary for the devil to accomplish this goal. One day the war will come which will cause all prior military campaigns to pale in comparison when the Antichrist gathers the armies of the world to attempt to carry out the "Final Solution" against the Jews that the pharaoh of Moses' time, Haman, and Hitler had also attempted.

But why have so many tried to wipe out a people who, except for relatively short periods, have been virtually powerless? Well, just suppose the pharaoh (Exodus), Haman (Esther), or Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah, Daniel) had succeeded in making the Hebrews cease to exist. In such a case the tribe of Judah would have disappeared into history and with it King David and his descendant Jesus of Nazareth. But since these men failed, Jesus has indeed come and with him the only sacrifice God could accept to save us all. Satan's only chance remaining is to prevent the prophecies of the Bible regarding Israel to ultimately fulfill its role in becoming the pre-eminent nation of the millennial age to come (Zech. 8:23, 12:5-10, 13:1, 14:1-20). Adolf Hitler, who was very much a type of the coming Antichrist, was well on the way to doing just that.

The "son of perdition" will be Satan's last shot at accomplishing that goal. But he will not succeed, either. As his forces are about to capture the entirety of Jerusalem, they are stopped by the return of Jesus Christ himself in a cloud accompanied by the "host" or armies of heaven (Zech. 1:1-3, Luke 21:26-27, Rev. chapter 19). From that moment on, everything will change. The Antichrist and his false prophet henchman will be cast into the lake of fire while his army is routed. Satan will be locked away for 1000 years during which time Jesus will personally establish and rule his Millennial Kingdom.

As magnificent as this time will be, it will be followed by a final disposition of Satan, his demons, and all who refused God's offer of salvation throughout all ages as they are themselves cast eternally into the lake of fire. Now with all traces of evil forever banished, God will create a new everlasting heaven and Earth in which he will come with his city, the New Jerusalem, to dwell among humankind for all time (Rev. chapters 20-22).

I'll conclude our exploration by telling you that I believe in a Pre-Tribulation rapture. Out of all the other possibilities, it seems best to explain the apparent contradiction of Jesus returning completely unexpectedly "as a thief" (Rev. 3:3) and then an exact time of his coming being given three and a half years after the erecting of the "abomination of desolation" in the rebuilt temple's "holy place" (Daniel 12:7-12, Rev. 12:14) when the persecution of God's people ends - no doubt by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The rapture of the church will be totally unexpected and virtually instantaneous (1 Cor. 15:51-53). The Second Coming three and a half years after the "holy place" is defiled will be seen by the whole world (Luke 17:24, Rev. 19:11-21).

There are several more passages that I find further support the Pre-Trib scenario: [Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.] Though other versions of the Bible have varying translations of this verse, this from King James is very accurate. It suggests in clear terms that there is a means of escape before the Tribulation. Belief in Jesus is what makes us "worthy."

[1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivers us from the wrath to come.

Though Paul was speaking to those who had turned from idolatry in his day, how much more applicable are these words to the believers of today! [Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

These words by Jesus were originally intended for the Apostle John be conveyed to the faithful Asia Minor church of Philadelphia. Many believe this church is also representative of the "true church" of all times comprised of all faithful believers in Christ which will allow them to escape the "hour of temptation" (trial) which will come upon all the world. This certainly sounds like the Tribulation to me!

Since this obviously hasn't happened yet, it must be something which is yet to come. If, therefore, you are a believer in Jesus, you are a "Philadelphian" and this promise is for YOU! This means that there lies just up ahead a destiny for us that exceed our wildest dreams and our greatest hopes. You mansion is already being built in the New Jerusalem and before long it'll be Moving Day (John 14:1-3).

End Times

2012 … The End Of The World?

This Week’s Feature Article by Jack Kelley

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” (Luke 21:25)

The year 2012 is lining up as a uniquely pivotal year in many respects. Aside from the fact that some futurists are predicting world wide food and job riots by then, and the two most powerful thrones on Earth (US and UN) will be up for election, there is a never before seen confluence of signs in the heavens due to arrive then. In case you’ve been visiting another planet for the past couple of years, here they are.

Mayan Calendar Ends. Dec.21, 2012

By way of introduction, somehow the Mayans knew that the Sun travels in an orbit through the galaxy just like the planets of our solar system travel in an orbit around the Sun. They calculated that it requires 25,625 of our years for the Sun to complete one circle, called a galactic day. The Mayans divided this day into 5 cycles of 5125 years each. According to their calendar the current cycle, which is the 5th, will end on the day we know as Dec. 21, 2012, the winter solstice.

The Mayan Calendar does not necessarily predict the world will end on that day, as some think, but they did believe that the Sun, having reached the exact center of the galaxy, would receive and emit a powerful surge of light from this alignment and would reverse its polarity. This would cause a great cosmic event on Earth and result in the end of life as we know it. Below are some modern confirmations that will demonstrate how startlingly accurate the Mayans were. They lend more credibility to the view that the influence of the Nephilim with their supernatural knowledge might have been much more widespread than previously thought. Hints of their meddling can be seen world wide.

According to the Mayans, the effect of all this will depend on our reaction to it. If, as a civilization, we try to cling to our current ways we’ll suffer chaos and destruction. But if we change to become united in one positive consciousness and stop fighting each other and poisoning our environment we’ll enter our Golden Age. Sounds straight out of the New Age, doesn’t it?

Magnetic Polar Reversal, Earth And Sun Combined. 2012

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Rev. 6:12-14)

Over the past few years the magnetic North pole has been drifting across Canada and is headed for Siberia. Also, the Earth’s magnetic field has weakened noticeably when compared to its strength when scientists began measuring it in 1845. Based on these findings, some scientists are now convinced that a reversal of the Earth’s magnetic poles is underway. They’re predicting that in 2012 the magnetic field will be at its weakest and a polar reversal could suddenly and dramatically take place with the North pole having the polarity of the South pole and vice versa.

In 2012 the Sun will also experience a polar reversal producing radiation emissions at their strongest levels in 50 years. Although the Sun’s magnetic poles reverse every eleven years, in the memory of man the Earth has never experienced such an event. While no one can predict the outcome of this double shift, it could produce massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions of a magnitude that could actually cause a measurable continental shift.

A study by the National Academy of Sciences released in early 2009 indicated that a “solar storm” like this could also cause catastrophic damage to the power grid and other communications as well, knocking out satellites, phones, and computers. They confirmed that the 2012 event would be more severe than others we’ve experienced in the past.

If this reversal caused the magnetic field around Earth to collapse, the effect would be even more severe. According to some projections, the electromagnetic energy released from the sun during a polar reversal could cause Earth’s upper atmosphere to “erupt in flames” if our magnetic field isn’t there to deflect it. Was John referring to this in saying the sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up? No one knows. We can only imagine what a sudden reversal of magnetic poles would do to life on Earth. Predictions range all the way from a temporary increase in the frequency and severity of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to a worldwide disaster of “Biblical proportions.”

Galactic Alignment. Sun At The Center Of The Milky Way. Dec. 21, 2012

Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(Rev. 8:5)

The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. (Psalm 114:4)

In December 2012 the Sun will reach the exact center of the Milky Way Galaxy, as the Mayans predicted, with all the planets lined up in their orbits behind it, like little chicks behind their mother. Some scientists believe this will amplify the Sun’s gravitational pull on Earth causing increased instability in its inner core. They say the increased gravitational pull combined with increased radiation from the twin polar reversals will heat the Earth’s molten core and cause it to spin faster. This could result in anything from more frequent and more powerful earthquakes to volcanic eruptions, great tsunamis and even displacement of the Earth’s crust.

Planet X Returns To The Solar System. 2012

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water- the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. (Rev. 8:8-11)

Planet X has been the subject of much debate among scientists, both as to its actual existence and its name. Some refer to Planet X as Nibiru, a large planet listed in 5000 year old Sumerian tablets, but missing from the Solar system today. Others say it’s Rahab, the ancient seat of Satan, hinted at in Job 9:13 & 26:12, Psalm 87:4 & 89:10, and in Isaiah 30:7 & 51:9. Those who advocate for its existence say it’s been privately tracked by NASA since the 1980’s and both the New York Times and the Washington Post have speculated about its appearance in the sky. Documented naked eye sightings from the Southern Hemisphere are also claimed.

The name Rahab appears in the Old Testament a total of 11 times. Five times it refers to the Rahab of Jericho who hid the 2 spies, was the mother of Boaz, and appears in the Lord’s genealogy. The other six times, listed above, it does not. Some believe these other references are to a planet that was once part of our Solar system and that Satan and his followers inhabited along with Earth and Mars. These people disagree as to whether it was originally our 5th or 6th planet, but supposedly these three planets were judged at the time of Satan’s rebellion in the gap between Genesis 1 :1 & 1:2 . They also disagree as to whether it was completely destroyed leaving only the asteroid belt as a memorial, or was sent spinning out into the far reaches of the universe, or some combination of the two. Proponents of the partial destruction theory say that the remnant of the planet Rahab can now be seen again, and that God will use it to effect some of the judgments of Revelation.

To many, this idea of Satan’s Kingdom planet re-entering our solar system is wild conjecture. After all, they say, it was developed out of a study combining the apocryphal Book of Enoch with the application of ELS (Equi-distant Letter Sequencing), commonly known as the Bible Codes. But if we’re as close to the end as I think we are, it won’t be long until we know whether the Rahab theories are truth or fiction. For what it’s worth, some believe Nostradamus predicted a comet/planet coming in 2012.

In any case, whether you call it X, or Nibiru, or Rahab, there are some serious people who believe it’s headed our way and will at least come dangerously close to Earth in 2012, showering us with the asteroids it has captured and causing great damage on Earth.

What’s The Point?

The short answer to the title question is, “No. 2012 will not bring the end of the world.” But without attempting to tie these predicted events to specific prophecies, I think it’s interesting to see how similar the Biblical descriptions of end times judgments are to the scientific view of possible coming events. Due to the nearness of 2012, I only used verses from Revelation that describe judgments during the first half of Daniel’s 70th Week , before the Great Tribulation even begins. After that it gets much worse very quickly.

See, the day of the LORD is coming -a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. (Isaiah 13:9-13)

So what will the 2012 disasters accomplish? I believe that God will use these and other End Times judgments to begin putting the Earth back into the condition it was when He gave it to Adam. Remember, Jesus called the Millennium the time of restoration of all things (Matt. 19:28) and Paul said the whole creation has been groaning in anticipation of being liberated from the bondage it was subjected to. (Romans 8:20-21). And at the beginning of the Millennium God will proclaim, “I am making everything new.” (Rev. 21:5)

Since the creation, mountains have been pushed up and valleys made lower to contain the enormous amounts of water generated in the Great Flood. The protective water vapor canopy that permitted long life spans in pre-flood times collapsed at the time of the Flood. Earth’s land mass has been pushed apart to form the current continents and islands, the Earth’s orbit has been extended by 5 ¼ days, and its axis tilted by 23.44 degrees. All this and more will have to be fixed in order for Earth to once again be the paradise it was created to be.

You and I will view all of this from the mezzanine during our time of repose with the Lord. On Earth it will be the beginning of the most terrible time known to man.

Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD ? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light-pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? (Amos 5:18-20) You can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah (08-29-09)

Israeli News

Israel's unexpected gas bonanza gets bigger 

www.worldtribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has reported an expanded offshore natural gas reserve.

A prime contractor in a consortium to search and develop gas reserves reported that Israel's Tamar well contained 16 percent more energy than in previous estimates.

Noble Energy said reserves at Tamar were estimated at 207 billion cubic meters rather than 178 billion cubic meters.

"There is already enough Israeli-made natural gas to provide the country's needs for years to come, and we plan to determinedly seek out additional reserves in our many licenses along the coast of Israel," the consortium said in a statement on Aug. 11.

Delek Group president Yitzhak Tshuva, a member of the consortium, said Tamar could fulfill Israel's gas requirements for up to the next 25 years.

Other consortium members were identified as Isramco Negev 2 with 28.75 percent, Avner Oil Exploration with 15.625 percent and Dor Gas Exploration with four percent.

Is the Third Temple Legitimate?

The Third Temple 

Jack Kinsella  – Omega Letter Editor 

www.omegaletter.com

 

According to 2nd Thessalonians 2:4. in the last days, the antichrist will desecrate the Third Temple which Paul calls, "the Temple of God." Is the Third Temple legitimate? How does that square with Church Age doctrines of salvation by grace through faith?

The Thessalonians were in the grip of a heresy spreading through their church to the effect that the Day of Christ [the Rapture] had come and gone and they had been left behind.

Paul sought to reassure them by giving them a series of signs that will precede the revelation of the antichrist. Paul said that before the antichrist would be revealed, there would first come a great 'falling away' from the true faith.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, (Gk apostasia)and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."

So there is general 'falling away' or apostasy. We saw an example of that in Obama's Cairo speech where it was all about religion and God and faith and peace and love.

As he wound it up, Obama admitted that HIS real faith is in human beings, not in Yahweh, Jesus or Mohammed, although he invoked all three names throughout his speech -- and nobody blinked an eye.

Obama has made much of his alleged Christianity, but the world-wide apostasia is so pervasive I don't think anybody even noticed there's a difference between faith in Christ and faith in humanity.

I've been paying attention to the reaction to the Cairo speech, as I am sure most of you have been as well. Obama didn't catch it. His speechwriters didn't catch it. His fact-checkers didn't catch it. He delivered it as written and nobody that heard his speech caught it either.

At least, nobody noticed it that I am aware of -- a textbook example of the world-wide apostasy of the last days.

Paul says that this 'falling away' is so grievous that nobody will notice how wrong the antichrist is until he "as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

Exasperated, Paul asks, "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"

The resumption of Temple worship and animal sacrifices during the Tribulation has no saving value. Nobody will be saved because they brought an unblemished lamb to the Temple for sacrifice.

Salvation is and always has been an outpouring of God's grace by faith from every Dispensation.

Among the great heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 are Abel, the world's first murder victim; Enoch, the first person to be Raptured; Noah, who was faithful to build the Ark; Jacob, who blessed the sons of Joseph; Abraham, who was willing to offer Isaac; Moses, who led the children of Israel to the Promised land.

And just to prove God is no 'respecter of persons' when it comes to salvation, the writer of Hebrews included Rahab, the harlot, as one of the great heroes of faith, who "perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace." (Hebrews 11:31)

What is my point? Not one of these heroes of the faith lived in New Testament times. Not one of these heroes of the faith had yet seen their sins paid for at the Cross. Still, they were saved by grace through faith.

There is a reason why the Third Temple is consecrated and a reason why Paul calls it the "Temple of God" instead of just 'the Temple'.

First, if it weren't consecrated, it couldn't be defiled. You can't defile something which isn't holy in the first place. The abomination of desolation would neither be an abomination nor could it make the Temple desolate unless the Temple itself were legitimate in the first place.

Secondly, God isn't going back to an "old system" because salvation is not a product of the Temple system, as we've already seen. The Age of the Law had yet to run its full course when it was interrupted by the Age of Grace.

Daniel notes that in the 69th Week, the "Messiah is cut off, but not for Himself"; the Temple is destroyed by the people of the coming prince (antichrist) and then there is a temporal disconnect when Daniel's clock stops for the Church Age.

The Age of Grace concludes with the Rapture and Daniel's clock restarts on the final week, the reasons for which are clearly outlined in Daniel 9:24.

It isn't a re-institution of the Age of the Law. It is the resumption of an unfilled Dispensational Period for which there is a definite purpose.

So, then, what is the purpose of the Law? Why did God give Moses the Ten Commandments?

According to the Apostle Paul, the reason for the Ten Commandments was to prove we couldn't keep them and to point out our need for a Savior. That realization is offered to both Jew and Gentile. BUT, says Paul;

"I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

The 'fullness of the Gentiles be come in' is a reference to the conclusion of the Church Age, which ends when the last Gentile who is going to accept Christ does so. Once the Body of Christ is complete, the Rapture takes place, and God turns His attention back to Israel.

"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:26-27)

The 70th Week of Daniel is also called "the Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7) because it is set aside for the judgment of the Gentiles and the national salvation of the Jews.

To summarize: the purpose of the Tribulation is two-fold. First and foremost, its purpose is to effect the national reconciliation of the Jews and their salvation -- as a nation.

The unbelieving Gentiles have already had their chance and rejected it. Revelation Chapter 7 tells of 144,000 Jews who will be 'sealed' with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Jews of Israel aren't saved during the Tribulation by the Temple practices or law. Zechariah 12:10 makes it clear that the Jews of Israel during the Tribulation are saved the same way we are -- by grace and supplications (prayer).

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

It is the Temple desecration that causes the Jews to turn their backs on the Antichrist and turn towards Christ.

Secondarily, it is a time set aside for the judgment of a Christ-rejecting world (the Church having already been judged at the Cross.) The Age of Grace is over, but salvation by grace through faith is still extended to the Jews.

The 144,000 are sealed with the Holy Spirit, which gives them the power to share the Gospel and enables the hearer to be regenerated spiritually. Without the active indwelling of the Holy Spirit within these 144,000 Jewish evangelists, nobody could be saved.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1st Corinthians 2:14)

Finally, David's question, by its very nature, establishes the fact that the Church cannot be present during the Tribulation Period. If it were, then the sealing of the 144,000 Jews with the Holy Spirit would be meaningless.

They would be able to get their infilling of the Holy Spirit the same way that we do now. There would be no need for an angel to come down and give them the Gospel and seal them with the Holy Spirit.

During the Church Age, that is the job of the Church. God does not impose His Spirit on Jews during the Church Age. First they come to Christ, then the Holy Spirit comes to them.

According to Revelation Chapters 7 and 14, during the Tribulation, the Holy Spirit comes to the 144,000, and then they come to Christ. After that, they go out and lead others (the "Tribulation Saints") to Christ.

(If there were no distinction between the saints of the Church Age and the saints of the Tribulation, then why does the Bible reference "Tribulation Saints" separately?)

So, the chronology is like this. The Age of the Law wasn't replaced by the Age of Grace, it was interrupted by it. The Age of Grace concludes at the Rapture. Then the Age of the Law is resumed for one final week of years to effect the national redemption of Israel in fulfillment of the promise of Romans 11:26-27.

The Age of the Law concludes with the 2nd Coming of Christ to usher in the final Dispensation, the Millennial Kingdom, which is also part of the promise to the Jews. (Isaiah 60-66)

After that comes the new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, 2nd Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1) and eternity future.

But first, the Rapture!