Rapture/Resurrection

What is it?:

Yes, it is true that the word 'rapture' is not found in the English Bible translations! The original Greek word harpazo (ἁρπάζω) is the origin of the term "rapture" in the Bible. It appears in the First Epistle to the Thessalonians and is translated as "caught up" or "caught away" five times in relation to the rapture. In the other eight instances, it is translated as "to forcibly seize upon, snatch away, take to oneself or use force on someone" A supernatural, instantaneous catching away...a rescue and removal ' of them that love Him and 'love' His Appearing, they are looking, longing for the 'sudden appearance of their Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ'. (2Tim 4:8; Titus 2:13 ) This stunning and supernatural event is surpassed only by the Creation of Heaven and Earth in 6 days by Jesus Christ, Himself. This event is described in detail in two of Paul's letters to the churches at Thessalonica and Corinth. ( I Thes (4:15-18) and I Cor (15:51-53))

It is so important to add that at this exact same moment the true church of Christ will be given new Glorified, Eternal, Imperishable, Indestructible physical Bodies completely absent the Adamic, sin nature! No one, even Hollywood could make up a story like this! The 'push-back, lack of interest and knowledge of this event and even antagonism and anger vented toward this Biblical event is further proof of the spiritually sad times we live.

Why?:

During Daniel's 70th Week*, as detailed to Daniel by the angel Gabriel, (see Daniel chapter 9!). God will turn his full attention to unrepentant national Israel for the sole purpose of their salvation! His wrath is focused totally and completely on a world that has rejected and mocked him. Furthermore, Satan will be allowed free reign to murder everyone who refuses the infamous 'mark of the beast' . Therefore, why would the Bridegroom not rescue and remove his Bride from 'the wrath to come'? Jesus is the bridegroom, the church is his bride... these are not my ideas but his actual words. There is absolutely no reason or purpose for the church to be present on earth during a time of global calamity the likes of which the world has never seen! And also, we shall see, the Lord gives instructions to the Jews of what to do during this time but gives no instructions to the church... they are not even mentioned!

Therefore, If God so loved the world that he sent his only son to receive 'our' punishment upon himself, to literally purchase his church, his Bride with his own blood then it is predictable and consistent with' his character and nature that he would remove his bride from harm's way before he, Jesus, unleashes his wrath on a world that mocks and hates him!

This 7-year event, the tribulation, will make all world wars seem like a Sunday school picnic and I am not trying to be cute. Jesus, himself, said this. So move over Stalin, Hitler, Hirohito, Mao, Putin et al.... Satan himself will be allowed to scour the earth for 2 groups of people... Jews and Christians and by Christians I mean tribulation-saints... people who come to the Lord during the tribulation. Not a single born-again believer will miss out on this on this stunning supernatural world changing event... the rapture/resurrection of the church. This is the most beautiful thing imaginable! What is wrong with people? To be rescued from hell on earth AND given an imperishable, indestructible, glorified, supernatural, ., eternal body... like the Angels... .Jesus said this! (and we can expect athleticism, energy and vitality to exceed that of the top Olympic athletes!)

Jn 10: 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Beautiful words of hope for them that love him and love his appearing!

Biblical Case for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Highlights and Brief outline... to be continued and expanded

1. After mentioning the church 19 times in the first 3 chapters of Revelation, Jesus offers the church no instructions of what to do or where to go to seek protection and safety during this time of unprecedented death and destruction being unleashed by God Himself upon Satan and the entire world! The church is not even mentioned until Jesus physically returns with the church to Earth at Armageddon... to deal with Satan and his followers! What about that? Why would the Bridegroom provide supernatural protection for the Jewish remnant on earth but say or do nothing for his Bride? Remember, Jesus has told them to 'comfort ye one another in this: ye are not destined for the wrath of God to come" He has stated this repeatedly. (The answer is obvious: It is because the Church, His Bride, has been 'removed/rescued right before these terrible times begin. They are gone from Earth and are now and forever with Him!)

2. In Rev 3:10 Jesus commends the church at Philadelphia for their faithfulness and courage as they undergo severe persecution... He tells them: "I will remove you from the hour of testing that is coming upon the entire world" The original Greek means to be physically removed/extricated from the earth. This is my favorite most definitive statement by the Lord, Himself regarding this entire matter of the Pre-Trib Rapture (harpazo) event.

3. Jesus explicitly tells his own "comfort ye one anther in that you are not destined for the wrath to come" in Romans 5:10 and Thes. 5:9 1:10 4:18 . If the church is left on earth without any instructions whatsoever and 1/4 of humanity is destroyed in just the 2nd of 21 divine punishments unleashed in 3 groups of 7 each... why and how could the Lord tell his church1. they are not destined for the wrath of God and 2. to "comfort ye one another in the knowledge that you are NOT destined for the wrath of God?

4. Types and Foreshadowing... This incredible event of instantaneously removing/rescuing millions of people from the earth was foreshadowed by an Old Testament event and by John in Revelation Chap 4... In Genesis the 'rapture' of Enoch! Immediately before the Flood of Noah, Enoch, who 'walked with God' was raptured up to heaven. The point here is Enoch is a 'type' of the church and Noah and his family are a type of the Jews who were left on earth but protected by God in the Ark, in the case of Noah and protected supernaturally in Petra during the Tribulation! Another example of a 'rapture' event is with John the Apostle. John is a prisoner on a penal colony in Patmos. Jesus appears to him in such stunning, spectacular, glorious and radiant appearance that John nearly 'dies' just from his appearance! (just read the first few lines of the first chapter of Revelation for yourselves) He tells John to 'write letters to the Seven churches. By the end of Chapter 3, Jesus has mentioned the church, his church, 19 times ! He then tells the Apostle John in Chapt 4, to 'come up hither'. He literally 'raptures' John at that point... and as stated before, does not mention the church a single time as he begins to show John the judgements that are to come... the 7 Seal, 7 Trumpet and 7 Bowl judgements which He, Jesus is unleashing on Satan, his demons and the 'earth dwellers. John's 'rapture' is clearly a 'type' of the church being raptured BEFORE God's wrath is unleashed. Repeating, the church after being mentioned 19 times is not mentioned again until Jesus returns to earth WITH the church behind Him!

The Bible provides many Old and New Testament parallels, analogies, types and shadows, repeating patterns and prophetic timelines which give us insights, teachings, and hope enabling us to understand God's plans for our future and even the timing of future events. We are told hundreds of times 'Do not fear', 'Do not be afraid' etc. etc. A truly beautiful example of this is the format Jewish Wedding at the time of Jesus!

to be continued... The Jewish Wedding for example: 1 1. After the betrothal, the Groom returns to his father's house to prepare a place for him and his bride wherein he promises to 'return' for her. But he does NOT say when he will return!... . She is to remain faithful to him and wait until he comes for her. 2. When he returns for her the Shofar, (trumpet) is blown upon his arrival. 3. He then takes her to his father's house where the consummation of the marriage lasts exactly 7 days! At the end of this time, there is a huge celebration and feast. Please read John Capter 14.

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(Notes to be expanded pointing to the Fall of 2024 for beginning of Jacob's Trouble, theTribulation....)taken from CJ Lovik's Mystery of the 120 year Prophecy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVrc3fO1bqA&t=1421s

The Time of Jacob's Trouble is surely upon us ... if you apply God's warning of 7x more punishment to follow if no repentance from sin/ idolatry. This mentioned not once but 4 times in Leviticus Chapter 26... if you apply this to Ezekiel's amazing instructions to 'lie on his left and right side for 40 days and 390 days respectively, for the 'sins of Judah and Israel , realizing God's punishments here amounted to 2 sieges of Jerusalem one in 701 BC and the other in 70 AD. In the first siege by the Assyrians in 701 BC, God sent a single angel to slew 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night. King Hezekiah had repented in sackcloth and ashes but soon after Israel returned to horrendous idolatry... thus 7x factor applied to 390 day of Ezekiel lying on his left side . In other words, 390 days/years times7 equals 2730 years punishment starting in 701 BC takes you to 2031*.

Regarding the Second Siege of Jerusalem in 70AD we apply the 7x factor to the 40 year (Ezekiel's other day for a year instruction)time of testing/trial for Israel -after crucifying the Son of God in 30 AD. Unlike the 1st siege the second siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD resulted in a bloodbath of over 1 million Jews being slaughtered by Roman Emperor Titus and 5 Roman legions. This is well documented by 1st Century Jewish historian, Josephus. God spared Jerusalem in 701 BC but this time after crucifying His son..... He did not. Jesus prophesied, in detail, this would occur.

So, therefore, the Jewish Sanhedrin did not repent even after the 7x was applied per Leviticus Chap 26. In other words 7 x 40 = 280 added to 70 AD takes us to 350 AD where we see by the writings at that time... no repentance, remorse. Actually they had dug down with hateful writing about Jesus. Therefore, per God's clear warning, He applies the 7x ...again.... ie 40 x 7 X7 =1960 years total punishment. 1960 added to 70 AD, the starting date for this punishment... because they did not repent after a 40 year 'timeout' and then did not repent again after the 40 x 7 or 280 time... therefore 7x more punishment was due which takes them to 2030/2031* This is amazing! In 2031 national Israel's divine punishment sentence will be completed.... which could only be at the END of the Tribulation when the remnant cries out to Him for forgiveness and shouts "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" Lk 13:35

Do you see what is going on here? Both of Ezekiel's prophecies which must be combined with God's 7x warning nearly 900 years earlier from the mouth of Moses in Deuteronomy... both of these take you to 2031 which MUST be the END of the Tribulation in the year 2031, 7 years AFTER its beginning!! Add to this we are told in Hosea 6:2 that 'after 2 days, He, Messiah, will return. 2 days here can mean 2000 years*.... 2000 years plus 30 AD when He left also takes us to 2030/31*

Summary.... What is 2031 - 7? 2024. National Israel will not repent and come to the true Messiah until the END of the Tribulation... as stated earlier, the entire purpose of the Tribulation is for this very purpose and only this purpose ! So, If the 7-year Tribulation ENDS in 2031 when does it begin....2024!

One more thing.... Moses was commanded by God on his last day on earth at the exact age of 120 to tell the Israelites what to do immediately after entering the Promised land having wandered in the wilderness for 40 years... this occurred In the year 1408 BC, Moses was told to instruct the Israelites to 'declare a year of Jubilee*. The year following 7 Sabbatical years ... ie year 50. Seven sevens... 49 years to be followed by a year of Jubilee... year 50.... forgiveness of debts, freeing of slaves, return of properties and possessions ... to be done every year of Jubilee. The point is.. at the age 120 in the year 1408 BC ... so how many years are there from 1408 BC to 2023 AD? 2023 ushers in the year 2024. The answer is 3430 years. 3430 is not only divisible by 7, it is also divisible by 49 (remember the seven sevens that precede every year of jubilee... year 50) 3430 divided by 49 is ...... 70! 70 is one of God's very important numbers! Daniel's 70 weeks of years, Prophet Jeremiah's 70 years of Babylonian captivity.... 70 Table of Nations instituted by God in Genesis... Jesus responded forgive your neighbor not 7 times but 7 times 70... there are many more examples than these... to be continued.

(Notes to be expanded... Biblical case for Time of Jacob's trouble to begin this Fall) Oh my, it gets better... God said after the Flood of Noah, " My Spirit will not always strive with man, his years will be 120 years! (Gen 6:3) Now of course, there is symbolic meaning here but the point is Moses' life was ended by God at exactly 120 years where and when he instructed Moses on the importance of declaring the year of Jubilee (Year 50 following 7 7's ) first thing before entering the Promised land. The Jubilee is a 'Type' of the ultimate, final forgiveness and eternal Rest... a type of the Millennial Kingdom to come exactly 6000 years after mankind's time on earth from the sin of Adam. So it is more than interesting that 120 times 50 = 6000! It is logical that Jesus, the Second Adam, who was crucified in 30 AD was crucified exactly 4000 years AFTER Adam fell in the year 3971 BC. And then, only then, in the year following, 3970 BC, would God's 7000 year sabbatical prophetic calendar start ticking with the final 1000 years being the Millennial Kingdom on Earth.

So, summarizing on this point with Moses... 70 Jubilees will have or have occurred from Moses being commanded to Declare a year of jubilee in 1408 BC and the year 2023, the year that would usher in another Year of Jubilee...2024 an event the type of the Rapture of the Saints, the Rapture of the church.

...to be continued

---Life is ALL About a relationship with this Infinitely Powerful, Beautiful person, Jesus, who created you for Himself, for His pleasure. (Rev 4:11) He is intensely jealous for you but He will allow you to reject Him... to your eternal regret! If we Repent and Surrender to Him then and only then will we know real peace, hope and the love He desires for us! God Bless.

Rick Allen July, 2024