The Rapture of the Saints
By: Jack Heckathorne Author of the book "Separation of Church and God, The Final Judgment"
The Rapture
The word “Rapture” is not found in the Bible. It is taken from the Latin word “Repair” which means to “snatch up.” It has become a common term in theology to describe the event outlined in
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18. The Greek phrase Ex-Anastasis, though less common, is more accurate meaning, exit resurrection.
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus (believers who have previously died) will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord (the rapture) shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)
The Bible speaks of Christ returning three times, once as the suffering Messiah, once in the clouds at the rapture, and once returning as a King to put down evil and establish his Kingdom on Earth for a thousand years.
Two things must happen in order for the Antichrist and the one world government to function unencumbered; the removal of the Church, i.e. believers at the rapture along with their resistance to the one world government, and the removal of the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit “indwells” (lives in) every Christian, so the Christians must be removed as well. This will trigger the tribulation period.
Dispensations.
Many people are confused about the timing of the removal of believers from the earth. In order to understand if it comes before, during or after the tribulation it is essential to know something about the theological “dispensations” (time periods) of the world’s history and how God deals with mankind in them.
There are 7 major dispensations. I have illustrated them in chronological order. God never changes but the way he deals with mankind changes in each dispensation.
ßEternity past
1. The Age of Innocence. Creation/Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
2. Age of Gentiles-Continued until the flood. Judgment of unbelievers.
3. Age of
4. Hypostatic Union-Jesus time on earth. The Cross
5. The Church Age– Interrupted the Age of
6. The Tribulation– Final seven years of the Age of Israel. Removal of the Holy Spirit. Judgment of unbelievers. “Seven days of Years”
7. The Millennium-Gods kingdom on earth for 1000 years.
Eternity future —>
The dispensations do not overlap. The church age and the age of
We will start with the dispensation of
There were seven years left in this time period for the Jews, as God’s chosen people, to initiate the preaching the gospel around the world before the church existed. The problem is that the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Someone had to preach the gospel. Therefore, God interrupted the age of
Indwelling Holy Spirit
During the entire Old Testament, which includes the age of
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war…And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean…And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God…And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11,14,15,16)
So, since the Jews refused Jesus, God instituted the gentile church as a substitute for
When the church has served its purpose-when the last person accepts Christ-the Church age will be over and it will be removed. There will be a seven year peace deal between the Antichrist, the Palestinians and
Is The Rapture after the Tribulation?
Obviously not, but this is something Satan wants Christians and non-Christians to believe for two reasons: He wants Christians to think that God will not deliver them from his wrath and to lull unbelievers into having a “wait and see” attitude concerning the acceptance of Christ so that he will have a much stronger hold on them during the tribulation.
We will receive our resurrected body at the Rapture. When Christ returns to the Earth at the end of the tribulation, with the saints to rule and reign for a thousand years, we will come with him to the Earth and already have our resurrected body. In addition, if this post-tribulation idea were true it would contradict the Bible when it says in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, that we will receive our resurrected body when we meet him in the clouds. In fact, it would preclude this event altogether.
The Seals
God will use a seal to protect the one hundred forty four thousand Jewish witnesses who become believers at the beginning of the tribulation.
“And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of
Everyone else on the Earth is an unbeliever. They will be stung by “locusts” of some sort which will be released from the bottomless pit prior to the time Satan is cast into it.
“And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star (angel) fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” (Revelation 9:1-6)
What do we notice here? There are only two groups of people, the Jewish witnesses, who are sealed, and the unbelievers which do not have the seal of God. There are no Christians other than the 144,000 Jews. The church is gone. The Jews of Israel have changed their minds (repented) about Jesus as the Messiah and the 144,000 are preaching, so the church would not be necessary during the tribulation. Therefore, the Rapture must happen prior to the last seven years of
Evaluation Judgment of Believers
While the tribulation is happening on Earth, the believers, which have been previously raptured and have received a resurrected body, will be in Heaven being evaluated for their works which they did while they were on Earth. This is God’s judgment of the believer’s works and it will take place in Heaven.
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day (of Judgment) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
. At the “Evaluation Judgment of believers” some will be called “great” and some will be called “the least.” We will be ranked similar to a military ranking, because we will rule and reign with Jesus on earth, in our indestructible resurrected spiritual bodies during the final one thousand year period of world history known as the millennium.
Some of you may be placed in charge of highly important things or personal assistant to the King and some of you may be dog catchers. Jesus will not have any important tasks for ignorant Christians, who have spent their life entertaining themselves and ignored his word, in his kingdom on earth.
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so,( dead works) he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, (good works) the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19)
Christians, which make up a large percentage of the world’s population today, will be removed at the rapture and another one third of what is left will be killed in the battle of Armageddon and other battles. In addition, many will be killed because of Gods wrath being poured out in the form of his seven judgments upon the earth (possibly one per year.) This will leave the world sparsely populated at the end of the tribulation
The final three and one half years of the tribulation will be marked with war against
The Holy Spirit has controlled history through Christians in the past to keep evil from becoming rampant in order that the Gospel could be taught and to fulfill prophecy, but once it is removed at the rapture Satan will have full control of the world, until his man, the antichrist and his armies of evil men, are destroyed seven years later by Jesus Christ himself. During this horrible tribulation period every being in the universe will be observing. They will see exactly what Satan would be like if he were a god. All love, knowledge, truth, happiness, power, life, wisdom, justice, creative ability, and righteousness originate from the true God and neither Satan, the angels or any human is capable of providing these things. Therefore, Satan is not qualified in any way to be a god. God has always known this and so will every other creature in existence at the end of the tribulation. Christ returns at the end of the tribulation to destroy the evil works of Satan.
Prior to the creation of man, God’s character was impugned by Satan and his fallen angels. Satan had declared himself to be a god when he said “I will be like the most high” God knew that Satan could not be God and would not allow this disruption in his perfect
The goal of Satan has always been to destroy the Jews in order to prevent the return of Christ, thereby negating God’s promise to the Jews that he would preserve them to the end. Since powerful client nations (such as the
Satan will have had his time to show what he would be like as a god and accomplished nothing but sending people to Hell and in the process destroyed the world. Now Jesus will demonstrate what the real God is like with his millions of righteous believers in his Kingdom on earth. We can look forward to one thousand years of world peace and a time of unparalleled happiness during the Millennium. There will no longer be nations or politicians. Jesus Christ will be the Perfect King and the righteous believers will carry out his instructions.
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms (nations), and it shall stand for ever.” (Daniel 2:44)
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms (nations) of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear(trust) thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.” Revelation 11:15-18
If you should be unfortunate enough to find yourself living in the tribulation whatever you do, DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR PLEDGE ALLIGENCE TO HIM OR WORSHIP HIS IMAGE. Remember, there will be no restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit during that time and Satan will rule the entire world. He will not want Christians around preaching the true gospel so, many tribulational believers will be killed and go to Heaven, but that is much better than the alternative of living more comfortably for those seven years and spending eternity in the Lake of Fire. Better yet, believe on the one who took the punishment of death upon himself so that he can save you right now and avoid the tribulation altogether.
God declares that we must be "made righteous" to live with him forever. Your religion will not save you, your good deeds will not save you, your denomination will not save you, nor will your unbelief change reality. Only through Christ will you receive a pardon from sin.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:5-6)
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
What are we saved from? We are saved from the wrath to come, on Earth and the
We, as believing Christians, need not worry about having to live through the tribulation. Although many of us may suffer some persecution, by Godless men, until the Rapture occurs, we will not have to endure the full brunt of Satan’s evil schemes or the wrath of God’s judgments during the Tribulation. If you are now saved you could not be unsaved by taking the mark of the beast. You have already made your decision. Only unbelievers will enter the tribulation. To Church age believers we have a promise from the Lord himself.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise (under no circumstances) cast out. (John 6:37)
God will deliver us from the wrath of the tribulation as he has delivered so many of his children in the past.
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.” (Psalms 18: 2, 17, 19, 43, 48, 50)
The prophet Isaiah wrote about Christ’s
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice (snakes) den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign (an emblem or sign that indicates authority or command) of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” (Isaiah 11: 6-10)
The Apostle Paul instructs Church age believers;
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
Jesus delivered us from the wrath of Hell at his first coming. Paul is speaking about all of the wrath to come, including the tribulation. He will deliver us from wrath at his second coming. God will never declare his wrath upon his own children.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness…For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:10, 13)
Yom Kippur- Ark of the Covenant
The Jews celebrate a day called “Yom Kippur” or as we call it “The Day of Atonement.” The blood of animals would be shed in a ritual as a picture of the blood of Christ being shed for the sins all of mankind. It points to a literal day during the tribulation as the last opportunity for salvation. Then will come the wrath of God upon the unbelieving wicked.
“The place where the blood was put was symbolic, as was the whole ritual. It was called the mercy seat. Being on the lid of the ark, (of the covenant) the mercy seat was between the stone tablets of the law of Moses (within the ark) and the space between the outstretched wings of the cherubim over the ark (symbolizing the place of God’s dwelling).
Without the blood the ark with its law and cherubim paints a terrible picture. There is the law, which we have broken. There is God, whom we have offended. Moreover, as God looks down, it is the law broken by us that he sees. It is a picture of judgment, of our hopelessness apart from grace. But then the sacrifice is performed, and the high priest enters the Holy of Holies and places the blood of the innocent victim upon the mercy seat, which thus comes between God in his holiness and ourselves and our sin. There has been substitution. An innocent has died in the place of those who should have died, and the blood is proof. Wrath is averted. Now, God looks in grace upon the sinner.” [James Boice, Foundations p. 224]
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”… (1 Peter 1:19-20)
A covenant is a solemn agreement. The Lord Jesus Christ has done his part in providing salvation by the shedding of his blood for all sin on the cross. Have you done your part?
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) ~
t t t
Holy Spirit to be removed before tribulation?
that goes against the omnipresence of Yahweh.
How can people give their life for Christ in the tribulation
without the Spirit of God?
But even in the H.S.presence no one will repent after the rapture.
Dispensations are descriptional interpretation.
The 144 000 are not Jews and they won't be witnesses
in the second half of the tribulation.
Yahweh can protect his children during the first part
of the tribulation.
All texts used for pre-trib and post-trib lack real proof.
Quote from post above:
“The 144 000 are not Jews and they won’t be witnesses
in the second half of the tribulation.”
Please read the following scripture:
Revelation 7:4-8 – These scriptures clearly state that the 144,000 sealed with God’s mark are Israelites, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes. How will they not be a witness to the unbelievers? It clearly states that they are sealed so that they won’t be harmed. The unbelievers will be forced to understand that the 144,000 aren’t being harmed because they believe in God. If that’s not a witness I don’t know what is.
I agree with your article, but I’ve been struggling with the Holy Spirit being completely taken out during the tribulation. I know that with the church removed during the tribulation, God will once again be focused on the Jewish people, and will be bringing them to knowledge of and relationship with Jesus. We find that in scripture that God has blinded them to Him for a time so that the gentiles have a chance to believe in Him. I think that during the tribulation it will go back to the way it was in the OT. Abraham had faith in God and therefore was a partaker in the Holy Spirit, but it was not the same as the church age dispensation of the Holy Spirit. What do you think?
Reply, Part 1
I agree with you! God always leaves a witness of Himself upon this earth- always! After the 144,000 and the Two Witnesses are "raptured", there will be God's ANGELS preaching the Gospel in the heavens to the WHOLE world, with the WARNING for "earth dwellers" NOT to take the Mark of the Beast:Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Reply, Part 2 :
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Apanthesis means (friendly) encounter; the french “rencontre”
is the closest correct translantion. the Vulgata bible divided
it in two different words; the germanic translations
followed “go out to meet” the other romanic translations went
with “to receive”: as used in Acts 28:15I Thes 4:17.
Anastasis doesn’t occur in Thessalonians. (in II Tim: yes).
rapture is from rapiemur (verb rapere in latin)= harpazo =greek word for “snatch away”.
Rev 7 states that there are 144 000 sealed from the children of Israel's sons; They are the first fruits.
(The word "Jews" is used only twice in Revelation: 2:9 and 3:9, referring to what is now Judaism).
The meaning is spiritual; just look at the list; Dan and Ephraim are not there (indicates absence of national Israel
And absence of judgment and fruitful in land of affliction).
Joseph and Levi became not territorial tribes but they are on the list, Mannasah (forget all toil and my father's house)
became a tribe but was not a son.
People love explanations, interpretations and in-readings
rather than deduction in YHWH Ruach which one needs to properly induce the Bible.
The 144 000 won't be witnessing, only an angel does the preaching in Rev 14:6 BEFORE the rapture in v 14-16.
God will keep his promises to the israelites during the
millennium, the tribulation won't have distinctions between
jews and gentiles. ALL Believers will go in the rapture; the second half of the tribulation is for punishment and when
Christ returns ON earth it will be for war, people won't mourn; they will try to fight Him, ever asked why Jesus wondered whether He would find faith upon his return?
Because it won't be there!
Mat 24:29 after that tribulation (for many saints), v30 sign
of Son of Man, the tribes of the earth will mourn and see Him
coming in the clouds of heaven v31(rapture); he will send his
angels with great sound of trumpet and they shall gather his
elect from the four winds (directions) from one end of heaven
(skies)to the other.after rapture tribulation turns into
punishment.
the point they all try to prove desperately is that the
anti-christ will come AFTER the rapture. well, that's not
biblical; in Mat 24, II Thes 2 and Rev 13 one can clearly
read that it's the other way around.
Many people claim Jesus is Lord, we hope and pray that this will be the case for everyone using these words. but please
let's be open to God's Spirit rather than following traditions
customs and doctrines.
Yeshua Ha masiach Wemelech Ha yehudim
It is implied that these 144,000 experience a "Rapture" :Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Part 1- Two Witnesses "Rapture":
Also, the Two Witnesses- probably Elijah and possibly Enoch experience a Rapture: Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Part 2 "Rapture of the Two Witnesses":
Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Your words: "but please
let's be open to God's Spirit rather than following traditions
customs and doctrines." I AGREE with 100 %, however the MOST PURE way to be open to God's Holy Spirit", is to PREACH HIS WORD, which I show you from "The Revelation of Jesus Christ". Can't get more CORRECT than that!
His Word says in Rev, 4, that there are 24 Elders (the number of the priests under The High Priest, Jesus Christ), in white robes, with gold crowns, seated on thrones. These are The Bride"- us, wearing white robes (our SALVATION, AKA our "Wedding gowns") already been to The Bema Seat and rewarded (the gold crowns), and the thrones we sit on are showing that we are "kings and priests unto our God," and that we "shall reign and rule with Him". ALL this BEFORE the 7 Seals are broken by The ONLY Worthy" Lamb of God," which is the Beginning of Tribulation, and the antichrist is the first Seal judgment, which happens AFTER the Rapture!
I think from your words in your posts that you are "mixing it all up", and it appears NOT to be a "rightly dividing " of The Word of God. You have "mishmashed" the "Bride of Christ" and the "Believing remnant of Jews" (who come to true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ AFTER the Rapture), and they are NOT the SAME group of Believers, nor are their "inheritances" from God the Father the same. Yaweh's promises to Abraham and His promises to the Bride of Christ are different, and their eternal reward from Him is different, even though it all works out in His eternal Plan and to the glory of Jesus Christ, His ONLY Begotten Son. All I KNOW is that everyone who gets their reward, no matter how great, nor how "small"(I would be HAPPY to be a "dogcatcher" in the New Jerusalem), will be THRILLED with whatever reward is given, and will NOT be jealous of the rewards of others, as we will all be One in His Spirit for ETERNITY!
Only text of ex-anastasis is in Philippians 3:11.
The Holy Spirit was not present during the entire Old Testament time, except for periodic appearances, but did not come to indwell the believers until the ascension of Jesus. His main purpose at that time was to enlighten and guide the Church. The 7 year Tribulation is the completion of the age of Israel. As far as the Holy Spirit is concerned, things will revert back to the way they were in the old Testament because The age of Israel is in the old Testament. The Church Age interrupted the Age of Israel and the seven year Tribulation is the completion of Israel. People can still be saved during the tribulation as they were in the old testament and as they always have been, through faith in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Author
The problem people have is; to understand that the Qahal Yhwh
is not divided in jews and gentiles, due to replacement theory
and the separation theory, it's just like several ministries trying to distinguish the gospel of Paul from the gospel of Peter as the kingdom of Heaven from the kingdom of God.
One can't totally mix or totally separate. the application
of jews and gentiles (as christians)in the Bible depends on
the contexts and is not standard, that's why we are left with
a lot of In-readings and interpretations and theories concerning the rapture.
The Word of God is set, final, unchangeable. Only fallible men with faulty logic, misinterpretaions of His Word, confuse the issues. As to the Rapture, we have MANY "types" of it in the Old Testament: Noah and his family in the Ark, Enoch being literally RAPTURED, Elijah being literally RAPTURED, Lot, his wife, and 2 daughters being snatched out of Sodom & Gomorrah literally right BEFORE the horrible judgment of God, the people of Israel escaping Egypt under the leading of The Holy Spirit and Moses, etc… Then in the New Testament we have so many of Jesus Christ's personal PROMISES to His Bride that those living in the time before the Tribulation should "Watch and pray that you many be found worthy to "escape" …" and many other verses telling us that He will bring us to His Father's House of many mansions, as His Bride, because HE is that "Jewish Bridegroom" we are waiting in His patience for, since only His Father knew the Date of our wedding!
“The Holy Spirit was not present during the entire
Old Testament, except for periodical experiences”
The continuing indwelling of the H.S. was not in the O.T.
but it was always present, it still is and always will be.
YHWH’s omnipresence is in Yah, Yehoshuwa, Ruach, Ma’lak Yhwh
and Kabod Yhwh.
Interpretation is nice but not convincing if it results
in God-restriction & limitation.
You are missing the entire point of the tribulation. It is to pass judgment upon the unbelievers and to express his wrath. God is not limited, He will not be gone. He will be deeply involved in all of the events of the tribulation. He only withdraws the restraining ministry of the HS and the believers at the rapture. Otherwise, he would be passing judgment upon his own children who are righteous in His eyes. If you believe that the HS is still restraining evil during the tribulation then how would Satan, through the Antichrist, be able to take control over the whole worlds religion, all of the worlds governments and monetary systems and kill a huge portion of the worlds population? Don't be obsessed with only one of God's characteristics…Omnipresence. God is also perfect justice and that justice demands that unbelievers be given one last chance at salvation by revealing his displeasure through his wrath to unbelievers.
Amen, Jack! Amen!!!
The Holy Spirit (nor God, Christ nor Angel of the Lord)
is not restraining the devil and the anti-christ, it is
an angel's job for satan is a falling angel.
Also God wouldn't be Omnipotent if he couldn't pass judgment
without protecting his children at the same time.
(that would be another God-limitation).
As said before the most biblical rapture theory is the
mid-trib-rap, because it has the least scripture-twisting of
the five major rapture theories.
Last chance at salvation is NOW according God's will & our
willingness (occurance), "the believers-free tribulation",
"second chance for salvation at the resurrection in Re 20"
and "all(all people) will be saved" theories are all biblical
incorrect.
Baruch ha shem Adonai YHWH.
You are misinterpreting God's Word at best, and teaching false words at the very least. Do not add to nor subtract from God's Written Word, and "twisting" Scripture is Satan's one trick that he used from the beginning: "Has God said?". That is the ploy he uses to confuse the uninformed and illiterate in God's Word, and they fall for it, because they have NOT either studied His Word as Bereans and "approved Workmen", and/or they DON'T BELIEVE His Word, in which case they are "questionably saved", because UNBELIEF is a sign of ANATHEMA. Satan is primarily a "One Trick Pony", since only God is the Creator, and Satan is the "Imitator", that "Pretender on Christ's Throne" for now, but NOT forever- thanks be to Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords!
I thought there was a difference between the "tribulation" and God's "wrath"..personally I like the sound of "pre-trib" but something doesn't sound right about it, since Jesus doesn't mention it in Matthew 24. I guess it seems too easy for us American Christians, while my bros and sis's in Christ in other countires suffer and we think we get to skate on out of here. There is so much talk about suffering and persecution for believers in the Bible and I see that as man's wrath against us not God's wrath. Don't get me wrong, my flesh does not want persecution, of course I want a pre-trib!
Either way, it will all "pan" out….so that makes me one of these "pan-tribbers"… Have a good day!
God Bless you,
Mrs. D
The wrath of God is for the unbelievers, tribulation is always part of christian life,
the harvest is pre-wrath and after all the believers tribulations, unless you die in
Christ first.
Go directly to The Word of God, Mrs. D, and look it up for yourself. Download ESword, the FREE online Bible, which you can download into the "Desktop" area of your computer, so that you do NOT even have to go online to read the whole Word of God. You can download up to FOUR different Bibles, for comparing to one another. THE best is King James +, because with every Word, there is a side- by- side Strong's Concordance in the Hebrew and the Greek, and you simply "point" to that Word, and you get the MEANING(s) instantly. It's a wonderful tool for the Berean Believer to use for deep Bible STUDY. Remember also, to ask His Holy Spirit to "guide you, personally, "into all Truth", because He WANTS TO! There is one verse, Rev.3:10,READ IT!
I don't know and neither do you. There are many theories and interpretations, but we do not know. We can know the season, but I think that is as close as we can get.
Jesus said of Judas, "it would have been better for him had he never been born". Could that not just as easily be said about us…What madness to bring any life into existence in view of the consequences of wrath and judgement…
I accept that there is no going back now. No hope of crawling back into oblivion. Jesus is my only hope for salvation, but I have to tell you it does not sound that different from this earth except that at least on earth folks have some hope of changing their circumstance while in the new heaven and new earth, that option is gone….
We CAN know IF we want to badly enough! It takes the desire to study The Word of God long enough and often enough to make it all a part of our waking life. The devoted student "hides God's Word in his heart", just as King David did. I believe that is why David was called "A man after God's Own heart", because he had MEMORIZED all of God's Word up to that point in time in which he lived., and even more, he BELIEVED God, and TRUSTED God as a dear Friend. God honors those who choose to be His dear friends, and they will stay in the straight path that leads to salvation, because they "know their Shepherd's Voice". We know our Shepherd's Voice, because we abide in Him and His Word, we OBEY His Word, and we shall not be led astray.
Why do a lot of people always try to seperate Israel and the Church. The Church gets raptured, Israel gets to stay. The gospel was preached first to the Jews. Abraham is the father of faith Romans 4. Noah found Grace in the sight of God, Genesis 6. Romans 11 tells non jews(wild olive branch) not to be arrogent, if God broke off the jews to graft in the gentiles,then he can put them back into the vine.(Jesus).Genesis 15:6 Abraham believed the Lord,and it was credited to him as righteousness.Romans 4:3 Confess Jesus and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and you shall be saved. Matthew 8:11 Jesus says Abraham Issac and Jacob are in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Church or (Gods assembly) as the gentiles now see it ,started with Abraham .After the first desciples died ,Gods Church was opened wide to the Gentiles. The test for the Gentile Church will be when God starts to graft Israel back into the vine in large numbers. Maybe that is why the church is not mentioned in Revelations after chapter 3. Israel is the Church(Gods people). Will the gentiles be like the older brother in the prodical son,and refuse to come into the Kingdom of Heaven?
This is very simple to answer.
When you become saved by Jesus' work on the cross, you are no longer Jew or Gentile, rather you become part of the body of Christ.
Remember the Jews in the church age have it wrong, they still reject Jesus. The Gentiles serve a false god. But when you become saved, you are now apart of God's family. The Jews will change, but it won't be until after the rapture takes place. Then they will know that Jesus is what is said he is. Right now they reject the idea that Jesus is the messiah.
Read Galatians
Gal 3:22 But the Scripture locked up all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to the ones believing.
Gal 3:23 But before the coming of faith, we were guarded under Law, having been locked up to the faith being about to be revealed.
Gal 3:24 So that the Law has become a trainer of us until Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But faith coming, we are no longer under a trainer;
Gal 3:26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is no slave nor freeman, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if you are of Christ, then you are a seed of Abraham, even heirs according to promise.
The Jews went so far into Idolatry at a point they even worship the building they worship in. As a saved person you are no longer apart of this world. Today most of the younger generation in Israel are not even Jewish religious. This all changes after the rapture.
Yep! And, unfortunately, many "Christians" today have gone into that very SAME "Idolatry" as Israel. It is taught in the Emergent churches, the New Apostolic Reformation teachings, all Dominionist, Replacement "theology", Preterism, who preach a FALSE "jesus", False "gospel", and are leading many DECEIVED into the coming One World Religion, that "Harlot", "Mystery, Babylon" who rides into the world on the back of the Beast! BEWARE!!!
I didn't read to many of your comments, but your right about many so-called Christians today.
The promises to the national Israel will be fulfilled in the Millennium.
All believers (christians and messianic jews alike) will reign with Christ than.
After the rapture there will be only wrath, rage, devastation, corruption, disasters
and punishment etc.
Amen! WOE to those who try to make The Body of Christ, His Bride, into those dear Israelites, who have their "piece of the pie" in the PROMISES of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
After The Tribulation, in The Millenial Reign of Christ Jesus, Israel, those who realized Jesus Christ as their Messiah (that one-third "remnant") in The Tribulation, will be fulfilled as the great Plan of God throughout the ages finds its culmination in Jesus Christ, and "His enemies" are His FOOTSTOOL!
Jack- Very good analysis of The Rapture and The Tribulation, first 3 and one half years, and The Great Tribulation, last 3 and one half years. One thing Jesus Christ Himself said to "The Philadelphia Church":
Rev 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.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
THIS is what I hang my belief in the Rapture on!
Continued… Jesus Christ gave these LAST Words in the WHOLE Book of Revelation to His Bride, The Church, the one who will be taken up to meet her Bridegroom "in the air", where He will then take her to "His Father's House", that place of "many mansions" where we shall "ever be with the Lord"! Hopefully, He is coming very soon to get His Bride- gives goosebumps, and thrills! God bless you and ALL who are The Bride of Jesus Christ!