Three Raptures

One of the most precious of promises for the people of God is the eventual return of our Savior Jesus and being whisked away via the Rapture*. The term “Rapture”comes from the Latin Translation of the Bible, whereas the Greek translation is Harpazo’ meaning “Caught Up”. But such an event has remained a mystery for thousands of years beginning with insights coming from the Prophet Daniel. However as we come closer to the end of the age God is beginning to shine light on end time events like never before. This is especially true as we see the seven year Tribulation unfolding right before our very eyes.

Now the Word of God combined with our human curiosity has come up with three well known explanations regarding the churches rapture. These biblical theories amount to a Pre, a Mid and a Post rapture event. But let me say in advance that I am using the term “rapture” very loosely here only to point out that God will one day have to be supernatural in order to bring His children home.

Personally I believe that there is enough evidence to suggest that a “pre-tribulation rapture” never materialized. Current world events align so very well with Prophetic scripture that the “Pre” opportunity has come and gone. But surprisingly the Word still offers us three opportunities to be carried away. So let’s see what scripture has to say about each potential moment of departure.

1. In real time we have begun to suffer the effects of the “Seal judgments” of Revelation. These judgments have introduced us to the four horsemen of the apocalypse who have imposed upon humanity the Jab, medical murder, famine as well as death and hades. The later is still a mystery though its looking a lot like a nuclear event. What will then follow are a series of natural disasters that start blackening the skies, turning the moon to blood and leveling mountains (Possible pole shift event as described in Rev 6:12). So as we approach chapter seven of Revelation the church should be wide awake by now. This then introduces us to our first example of departure which gains merit from a number of key passages.

• We first gain insight in regard to the Church of Philadelphia.

Rev 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

It was assumed by many that this meant being raptured ahead of a seven year Tribulation. However as we have discovered it only refers to 3.5 years of that event. We see this in relation to what Daniel had to say about the work of the Antichrist and his control over the people of God.

Daniel 7:25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

The message continues by stating that the children of God are released after 3.5 years but then are given the kingdom.

Daniel 7:26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

The language is unique in that it parallels something Jesus once said after His resurrection.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

In this regard the Church finds a new commission under the Headship of Christ and gets lifted up in the process.

• Another witness to the churches time of departure (mid-point) we should remember the words of the Apostle Paul that speaks of a Restrainer being taken out of the way.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 And you know what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains (will do so) until He is removed. ⁸ Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

• Since the Bible makes mention of the saints being set free after 3.5 years; surprising that period of time coincides with another of Daniels prophecies which talks about 1290 days and 1335 days.

Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate is set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

Another unique witness to the rapture relies upon scriptures mention of the wrath of God. The culmination of God’s six thousand year plan includes the release of His wrath upon the earth and upon rebellious humanity. This coincides with the giving of the law of Moses by angels. This covenant was a conditional agreement and dependent on the Hebrews level of devotion in keeping God’s law. But that same law also represented a standard of righteousness that all men would be measured by if they chose to reject Jesus as their Redeemer. Now that we are at the end of the age the wrath of God is about to be unleashed. However the wrath of God is not being apportioned to us

Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

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

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.   

Of course we are still at the mercy of God to get the timing right, but none the less we keep looking for signs. Another window of opportunity exist within the 2020 time period.

The Abrahamic Accords —  Israel was recognized as a nation, Jerusalem was recognized as its capital on August 13, 2020

As these passages come to life in our day they confirm an initial moment of exodus which comes about just after the first 3.5 years of the tribulation. Why do I believe this? Matthew 24:22 says “unless the time of the tribulation is shortened no human life could be saved”. Hence since 1290 and 1335 days are not cut short, we can conclude that our departure coincides with the first 3.5 years. What is then revealed is a remarkable heavenly event where believers are found worshiping at the throne of the Most High.

Rev 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Rev 7:13-15 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know. ”And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

Please notice this one line of scripture;

“They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

This one line defines which Saints are chosen. The departing Saints, both Jew and gentile, having come out of the great tribulation gained redemption through Christ alone. It was His blood, His sacrifice and His ability to pass through death, burial and resurrection that brought us into favor with God and into His divine rest. But now there is another group of Saints waiting to depart.

2. Chapter 12 of Revelation reveals there will be children of Israel who have also gained redemption in Jesus/Yeshua; however this is after the first rapture has past. No doubt, the radical disappearance of the saints will make nations rethink their way in faith and prompt the Jew to conclude that Jesus/Yeshua really was the Messiah. Those that then place their faith in Him will be saved and find a place of rest for the duration of the Tribulation period. Here’s what we learn about this place of departure.

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. ² She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. ³ Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. ⁴ Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. ⁵ She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. ⁶ The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

The occurrence that is being described is mirroring an astrological event that actually took place back in 2017. The stars aligned themselves in such away as to tell the story of the Virgin daughter of Israel gestating for nine mouths and then birthing the Redeemer. This celestial event goes on to tell the story of the dragon’s (The Devil’s) attempt to destroy the child. However after Jesus departs the earth, the dragon turns his attention to destroying the woman (Israel) and her offspring. However the woman flees into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God. More specifically this place of sanctuary is to protect the Jews that have found redemption in Christ. This no doubt parallels what Paul the Apostle was saying about the Children of Israel coming back to the vine through Christ (Romans 11:25-27). But why a different path for the Jew and the Christian in the first place; why the difference in covenants?

Creation began with Adam having been given a commission from God to take dominion; he was master of his earthly domain. So after the fall, besides being instructed on redemption, that would one day come through a future Redeemer, he needed to understand what it would take to appease God if he could redeem himself; enter the Law of Moses. However obedience to the law was short lived and we then read of Israel’s long journey back into favor with God.

Daniel 9:24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

Subsequently 490 “seven year” periods of correction were decreed, due to 490 years of rebellion against the covenant. As it stands all “seven year” transgressions have been satisfied, accept for one; the present Tribulation. So with the departure of believers who gained redemption through Christ, the Jew is still seeking to be made complete based on the dictates of the law. In this respect the woman that gets hidden away for 3.5 years found the Messiah in time and will be protected from any harm as the rest of humanity seek to avoid destructive and horrific consequences.

On a side Note: Those that are wondering why God specifies a place of hiding in the desert for Messianic believers; but leaves a question mark as to how Christians get brought before the throne; the Christian finds their way by a trust in the Holy Spirit’s leading (Recall the story of the ten virgins having oil in their lamps). Where as the Children of Israel are prone to seeking after a sign.

3. As to the existence of a final rapture there will be Jews and Gentiles that make it through the chaos but YOU DON’T WANT TO BE EXPOSED TO SUCH TRAUMA. These believers will have had to dodge major earth changes, celestial events and contend with the loss of so much human life. But know that God is still willing to receive them to Himself if they choose to repent and glorify Him. This third and final example of departure is the great gathering of the saints who say yes to Jesus/Yeshua; both the living and the dead. Those that come out of the devastation as well as faithful Jews once hidden away in the desert meet their Lord and Savior. The particulars as to which Saints will participate in this last example of Rapture is over shadowed by Jesus/Yeshua coming in the clouds.

Dispelling a Myth

On a side note:  If you have ever heard the term “Preterist” it is a term and movement that believes the prophecies of the book of Daniel, and that of the gospels; as well as most other New Testament prophetic references were completed with the fall of the second temple in 70 AD. Yes there is reason to give thought to some of their claims; especially when the language of the prophets addresses that specific 70ad destruction. However these apocalyptic books also speak about a severity in the heavens, in the weather and upon the earth that will never ever be repeated again. Such changes go beyond anything produced by that localized temple event. Furthermore there is a recurring message coming from the Apostles when they share  their expectations for the “coming of Jesus in the clouds”. Seventeen times they reiterate that “He is coming, He is coming”. The message comes through load and clear their is reason to hope in a future event that cant compare to what took place back in 70AD.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Let this sink in:

If we are on schedule with the events of Revelation; the clock says we are 4 years into the Tribulation right now. That means we could be looking at some serious devastation right around the corner. Expect the next three months to reflect hell on earth.

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. Luke 21:36

I challenge you to not wait for a crises to decide your fate, but rather find time as long as it is called today to rededicate your life to Jesus/Yeshua and get your spiritual house in order. Here are some helps in order to gain a heart transformation in Christ and come to know Him intimately.

Out from the Shadow of Other Gods

Every Christian is desperate for a true relationship and life changing experience with God, but our most prevalent model of success and failure has been religion. The things that have been taught us have had more to do with man’s search for a god, rather than in God showing us His ways. There is a place where religion dies and genuine relationship begins. The first in a series, the author provides a platform for change and a simple yet powerful way out from the trappings of humanities religion. Ministering with honor to the pastor as well as to the prodigal and revealing a surprising bounty of Jesus in every page. Get ready to be encouraged, challenged, and renewed in your walk of faith.

The Shadow of the Spiritual

Got Spirit?

That’s an interesting question, but after two thousand years of Christian history, maybe we should be asking “which spirit?” Though the Christian faith has been provided with a sure foundation in Christ, our propensity to get worldly or even religious has actually pushed us past safe boundaries. There is a quagmire of spiritual alternatives all vying for our attention, yet none of them has anything to do with a true faith in Jesus. “The Shadow of the Spiritual” is meaty, thought provoking, in-depth look into the rising tide of spiritual pollution within the Church. Its lingering effects remain oppressive and damaging to any believer who desires a pure expression of relationship with the Son of God. This self help book is a must read for any Christian wanting to understand how improper spiritual connections get formed, fed and how unhealthy spiritual bondage gets passed around. Yet, by embracing a simple biblical truth, we can separate ourselves from all sorts of added trouble. The second in a series, the author provides a platform for change and a simple yet powerful way out from the trappings of humanities many fallen exploits.

Lord I Want To Change!

Is It time for a change? The Christian life is not always an easy life. Though we are assured that all things have become new, “New life” may end up looking a lot like the old one. This is due to our inability to properly transition away from certain worldly influences. A growing number of our troubles include the weight of family dysfunction, years of social conditioning and any number of personal failures remaining a black mark on our record. All of these issues have a tendency to warp our sense of “self” and we walk through life emotionally crippled; yet Jesus has other plans for us. The Bible provides the Christian a “get out of jail free card”. Jesus offers us a simple and effective way of escape out from the trappings of a difficult past. If you have ever wondered whether there is more to the Christian life, then get ready to be encouraged, challenged, and set free in your walk of faith.

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• Out from the shadow of Other Gods = ofs
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