PROPHECY

Prologue

 

Bill received a telephone call from Joe, who is his best friend. Joe said he was on a long trip but would be flying back into Chicago and wanted Bill to pick him up when he arrived. He also said that Bill would not be able to contact him during his travels, that he was looking forward to seeing Bill, that he had to go and then hung up. Bill was confused. Joe expected Bill to meet and pick him up but had neglected to tell him what he needed to know in order to comply with his request. First of all, Bill needed to know whether Joe would be arriving at O’Hare or Midway airport. He also needed to know the airline Joe would be using along with the date and time of his arrival. Without this information it would be unreasonable and illogical of Joe to expect Bill or anyone else to meet and greet him when he landed.

Bill called every airline that had flights going to O’hare or Midway to learn if they had reservations in Joe’s name. None of the airlines was able to give him that information. Bill then called mutual acquaintances of Joe to check if they might have information that would enable him to meet his friend. All said that they did not know any more than he did. Bill then decided to do the only thing that was logical and that was to do nothing. It was not his fault that Joe had failed to tell him what he had to know to pick him up. Thus, Joe could not hold him accountable for not being there when he arrived. Bill would just wait until Joe called him after his arrival in Chicago!

Things to Consider

 

The Lord Jesus Christ declared, “But take heed; behold, I have foretold you all things” (Mk. 13:23)! He did not say that He told us a “few” things, “some” things or “many” things, but that He told us “all” things. With that in mind, the following question must be asked and answered. Could the Lord Jesus Christ have made that statement if He had not taught about the “Rapture?” The reason for this question is because there are many learned, fundamental Bible scholars, clergy, and lay people who take the position that He did not teach about the “Rapture” of His “Church.” In fact, their position is that the Lord Jesus Christ never “taught,” “spoke,” or even “alluded” to His return now known as the “Rapture” during His earthly ministry.

Ironically, these same people who said He never taught or spoke about the “Rapture,” will always quote Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32-33, if it should be said that the day of the “Rapture” and the day of His “Second Coming” to earth can and will be known. The “nay sayers” are unaware that by quoting these verses, they contradict themselves and are confirming that the Lord Jesus Christ did in fact speak about the “Rapture” and they are being illogical!

A composite of the two passages will read as follows: “But of that day and (Mt. 24:36a; Mk. 13:32a) that (Mk. 13:32b) hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels (Mt. 24:36b; Mk. 13:32c) of heaven (Mt. 24:36c), who are in heaven, neither the Son (Mk. 13:32d), but (Mt. 24:36d; Mk. 13:32e) the Father (Mk. 13:32f), my Father only (Mt. 24:36e). Take heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is” (Mk. 13:33). This statement, by the Lord Jesus Christ, was in answer to the question, “And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled” (Mk. 13:4b)? It is part of what has become known as, “The Olivet Discourse of Christ.” This entire conversation between the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter, James, John and Andrew has been recorded in Matthew 24:3-26:2, Mark 13:3-37 and Luke 21:7-36.

It would not be logical to state that the Lord Jesus Christ never taught about, spoke about, or even alluded to His return known as the “Rapture,” and then quote Him to refute someone who dares to say that we can know when it is to happen. To do so is both dishonest and illogical! The word “logic” by definition is, “a science that deals with the principles and criteria of validity of inference and demonstration: the science of the formal principles of reasoning.” The definition of the word “logical” is, “capable of reasoning or of using reason in an orderly cogent fashion.” Not to be “logical” is to be “illogical.” The definition of “illogical” is: (1) “not observing the principles of logic, and (2) devoid of logic: senseless.”

The New Testament of the Holy Bible teaches us that the Lord Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah, would leave “heaven” three different times! The first time He came UNTO his own (Jn. 1:11). This is called, “the 1st Advent.” The second time He will come FOR His own (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Th. 4:17). This is called, “the Rapture.” The third time He will come WITH His own (Zech. 14:1-5; Rev. 19:14). This is called “the Second Coming” or “the 2nd Advent.”

One of the reasons why the Lord Jesus Christ was rejected by the people of Israel at His “1st Advent” to earth, is that they did not know the purpose of His coming (Mt. 2:1-3; Lk. 2:17-18). It is the same in our day and age because most people, including “professing” Christians, do not know or understand the threefold purpose of the return by the Lord Jesus Christ that is known as the “Rapture.” The first reason for this return is the “Church” is to be presented to Him as a “virgin” to her “espoused” husband (Rom. 7:4; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:27, 32). This was the custom of the Jews during the time of His “1st Advent” to earth (Mt. 1:18-19; 25:1-13; Lk. 1:27).

The second reason for the “Rapture” is because those who are in the “body” of Christ are not subject to God’s judgment (Rom. 8:1; 1 Th. 5:9; Rev. 3:10). The seven years preceding the “2nd Advent” of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth will be a time of unprecedented trouble and judgment from God upon the entire world in general, and upon the nation of Israel in particular, for their rejection of Him as their promised Messiah (Isa. 53:3; Mt. 21:42-44; Mk. 12:10; Lk. 20:17-18).

The third reason for the “Rapture” is it will be a supernatural “sign” that will authenticate God’s “Word,” the Holy Bible (Mk. 16:20), that warns of coming judgment. The “Rapture” will be the greatest supernatural “sign” since the Lord Jesus Christ arose bodily from the dead in 30 A.D.

The “Rapture” will be a “sign” for those who chose to ignore the Scriptures and those who had been deceived by false teachers with their false teachings. The “Rapture” will be the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the bridegroom (Mk. 2:19-20; Jn. 3:29), for His “bride,” that is also called the “Church.” This is the “true” body of believers in Him of which He is the head (Eph. 5:23). The people who make up the “bride” are members of the “Church” who, by faith alone, believe that the Lord Jesus Christ took both their sins and the righteous judgment of God for those sins upon Himself while on the cross at Calvary.

The word “theology” means “the study of God” and the word “eschatology” means “the study of future things.” In our day and age many professing Christians seem to frown upon one who uses logic or is logical while studying either of these subjects. Their attitude seems to be that if one uses logic or tries to be logical in their attempt to understand the Scriptures they are either unspiritual, worldly or lacking in faith. Yet God said, “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isa. 1:18). The apostles used logical arguments that were based upon the Scriptures to prove the Lord Jesus Christ was indeed the promised Messiah of the Old Testament (Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; 53), who had risen from the dead. They also argued that salvation was by faith alone in His finished work for both Jew and Gentile alike (Acts 15:1-29; 17:10-12, 16-34; 19:8-10; 22:1-21; 23:6-10).

I am well aware that most Christians have been taught and believe that no one can know the day when the “Rapture” or the “2nd Advent” will happen. It has been said so often, and for so long, and by so many that anyone who says differently is viewed as a heretic! I would like to begin the process of refuting these doctrines by asking questions that must be answered logically.

1. Is the day that the Lord Jesus Christ is referring to in Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32 the “Rapture” (Jn.  14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Th. 4:15-17), or His “2nd Advent” (Rev. 1:7; 19:14)?

2. How could Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32 be in reference to the “Rapture,” if the Lord Jesus Christ never spoke, taught about or even alluded to the “Rapture” during His earthly ministry?

3. How could people be living like we now do, at the end of the seven years of tribulation which precedes the “2nd Advent,” since it will be the worst period of time in history (Mt. 24:21-22, 38-39), when one half of the world’s population will die before it concludes (Rev. 6:8; 9:15-19)?

4. Is Matthew 24:37-39 in reference to the day of the “Rapture,” or of the “2nd Advent?”

5. How difficult is it to count 2520 days (Rev. 11:3; 12:5-6) beginning from the day of the signing of the “defense treaty” between the Antichrist and the nation of Israel (Dan. 9:27), in order to determine when the “2nd Advent” of the Lord Jesus Christ to planet Earth would be?

6. Isn’t it true that anyone can know the day of the “2nd Advent” by simply counting forward 1260 days from the day when the Antichrist proclaims himself God, in the rebuilt temple in the city of Jerusalem (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14; 2 Th. 2:4; Rev. 11:2; 12:5-6; 13:5)?
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7. Why would anyone be caught by surprise at the “Second Coming” when, “Every eye will see Him” (Isa. 2:10-21; Zech. 12:10-11; 14:4-7; Mt. 24:30; Mk. 13:26; Lk. 21:27; Rev. 1:7)?

8. What return of the Lord Jesus Christ could be compared to the unpreparedness of the people for what came upon them and what they were doing when the flood of Noah and the destruction of Sodom took place (Lk. 17:26-30)? Those living prior to the time of the “Rapture” or those living prior to His “Second Coming” to earth?

An honest contrast between the “revealing” of the Lord Jesus Christ at the day of the “Rapture” and at the day of His “Second Coming” to earth will now be done. Hopefully, the distinction between these two “blessed events” will be obvious to all who study the holy Scriptures.

“RAPTURE”

1. The Lord Jesus will return FOR His own (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Th. 4:16-17; 2 Th. 2:1).
2. His return will be in the AIR (1 Th. 4:17).
3. He will return FOR His bride (Mt. 25:1-13).
4. ONLY His own will see Him (1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Jn. 3:2).
5. TRIBULATION will begin afterward (Mt. 24:21; 2 Th. 1:6-9; Rev. 6; 7:13-14).
6. The saved are DELIVERED from wrath (1 Th. 1:10; 5:9).
7. THREE things that must precede this event include a great turning away from
fundamental, biblical, Christian doctrines, the Antichrist will be known, and
Israel will have a sense of peace and safety (1 Th. 5:3; 2 Th. 2:3).

“2nd ADVENT”

1. The Lord Jesus returns WITH His own (Jude 14-15; Rev. 19:14).
2. His return is to the EARTH (Zech. 14:3-4, 9; Mt. 25:29-30; Acts 1:11).
3. He returns WITH His bride (Rev. 19:7-14)
4. EVERY one will see Him (Mt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7).
5. KINGDOM Age will begin afterward (Mt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:4).
6. The unsaved EXPERIENCE wrath (Rev. 6:12-17).
7. ONE thing that must precede this event is the signing of a seven year ‘defense treaty’ between
the President of the European Union and the leaders of Israel (Dan. 9:27).

The Greek word “harpazo” means to “catch away,” “snatch,” or “seize.” The Latin word “rapere” also means to “take away,” “snatch out,” or “the actual removal from one place to another,” and is translated from the Greek word “harpazo” (1 Th. 4:17). The term “Rapture,” however, is not a biblical one! It is term that is used by Christians to describe their anticipated “ecstasy” or “bliss” with this event.

A little known fact is that almost all references to the “revealing,” “coming,” or “return” of the Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the letters of the New Testament, are in regards to the “Rapture” and  NOT to  His “Second  Coming”  to earth.  It is the “Rapture” that is  “the blessed hope” (2 Tim. 4:8; Ti. 2:13; Heb. 9:28; 2 Pet. 3:3-4) of the “assembly” of believers known as “the body” of Christ, “the bride” of Christ, or “the church” of Christ. It is not the “2nd Advent.”  Those who trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, by faith alone, during the “Church Age” are only to anticipate the “Rapture” (1 Th. 1:10; 5:9). Those who come to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, by faith alone, after the “Rapture” has taken place are to look forward to His “Second Coming” to earth!

It is commonly taught and believed that the meaning of the word “mystery” when used in the Holy Bible is, “a teaching not previously revealed or known.” This has caused the teaching of the “Rapture” to be called a “mystery” that was not known or taught about until the apostle Paul wrote about it to the church in Corinth. He wrote, “Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51-53). What has been overlooked is that Paul first wrote about the “Rapture” in his two letters to the church in Thessalonica which were BEFORE he wrote his letter to the church in Corinth. Yet, it is in his letter to the church in Corinth in which he tells about this “mystery.” Thus, the word “mystery” cannot logically mean, “a teaching not previously revealed or known!”

The English word “mystery” is derived from the Greek word “musterion,” which was used by secret Greek fraternities in ancient times. When used, “musterion” meant “What is known only to the initiated” [Young’s Analytical  Concordance to the Bible, Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1975 edition]. Thus, the “Rapture” is a teaching that the apostles knew of “by the word of the Lord” (1 Th. 4:15), as did the members of the church at Thessalonica (1 Th. 1:10; 2:19; 2 Th. 2:1) who were all members of the “fraternity” of Christ. The apostle Paul is now simply revealing this return of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:7-8), that is known in our day and age as the “Rapture,” to the “Church” in Corinth and to the world at large (1 Cor. 15:51)!

Another false teaching believed by many sincere Christians in our day and age is that the “Rapture” is “imminent.” This means that the “Rapture” could take place at any moment, of any day, in any year. The members of the church in Thessalonica believed this teaching to be true and this belief motivated them to evangelize their city, state and country (1 Th. 1:8-10). This belief was as incorrect, however, as their belief that the “Rapture” had taken place and they had been “left behind.” They were given this false information from an unknown source (2 Th. 2:1-3). Many who thought the “Rapture” had taken place without them, then became idle (2 Th. 3:6-15).

The apostle Paul did not correct the church in Thessalonica in their false belief that the “Rapture” was “imminent.” Thus, the false teaching of the “imminency” of the “Rapture” is believed to be true by the majority of Christians today. This includes fundamentalists, charismatics, lay people, clergy and theologians. Those who believe the teaching of “imminency” are as mistaken as the Thessalonians were more than 1,900 years ago! This teaching that the “Rapture” could occur at any moment can only be taught from not knowing or understanding the prophetic significance of “The Seven Holy Feasts of the LORD” (1 Cor. 13:12), or from fear of being labeled a date-setter.

“The Seven Holy Feasts of the LORD” [the self-existent One], were given by God to Moses as recorded in Leviticus 23. These seven festivals were to be observed each year by the people of Israel in remembrance of what the LORD had done for them before their exodus from Egypt and afterward during their years of wandering. They are: (1) The Feast of the Passover. (2) The Feast of Unleavened Bread. (3) The Feast of First Fruits. (4) The Feast of Weeks [Pentecost]. (5) The Feast of Trumpets. (6) The Feast of Atonement. (7) The Feast of Tabernacles [booths].

The prophetic “significance” for each of the “Seven Holy Feasts of the LORD” are now given for the edification of the readers of this treatise. All Christians should know the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the “Feast of the Passover” with His death. Some Christians know the Lord Jesus Christ also fulfilled the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” with His burial, the “Feast of First Fruits” with His bodily resurrection, and the “Feast of Weeks” [Pentecost] with the birth of His Church. Few Christians know that the Lord Jesus Christ will fulfill the “Feast of Trumpets” with the “Rapture,” the “Feast of a Day of Atonement” with His “2nd Advent” to earth, and the “Feast of Tabernacles” [booths] with His one thousand year reign on earth from the city of Jerusalem.

The church at Thessalonica “assumed” that the return of the Lord Jesus Christ at the “Rapture” was “imminent.” The pioneers of “eschatology” during the 19th century picked up on their belief and it has been carried forward to our present time. It would not seem logical for anyone to hold to a belief by early Christians that has been proven to be incorrect for more than 1900 years. Yet this teaching is still believed by the majority of Christians in our day and age even though the “correct” doctrine is that the “Rapture” must and will take place on “The Feast of Trumpets!”

The “Feast of Trumpets” is the fifth of the seven feasts that is to be observed by the nation of Israel each year. It is also the third and final “harvest” feast of the year for the Israelites. This last “harvest” of the year was to end the moment the field workers of Israel heard the sound of the “shofar” blown by the high priest. It was a call for the field workers to immediately stop their work of “harvesting” and go to worship the LORD. They were to stop working even if there were crops remaining in the field, and they were not to return to the fields afterward to “harvest” what remained. Their work was officially over when the “shofar” was blown and heard by them! The “Feast of Trumpets” has been supplanted by a “manmade” holiday called “Rosh Hashanah.”

There has been a great harvest taking place ever since the “Feast of Weeks” [Pentecost] in 30 A.D! It is a harvest of Jewish and Gentile believers who have been redeemed by first hearing (Rom. 10:17) of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation (1 Cor. 15:1-4) and then ‘believing’ it by faith alone (Gal. 2:16, 20; Eph. 1:6-14). This “harvest of the saved” in what is called the “Church Age” will cease immediately when the “shofar” sounds (Jn. 4:34-35; 1 Cor. 15:51-52) and the “Church” is snatched out by the Lord Jesus Christ, its great high priest (Heb. 4:14), to meet Him in the air (1 Th. 4:13-18; 2 Th. 2:1). The “Church” will then worship its Savior in a temple in Heaven on the same feast day the Israelites had in the past.

The Israelites  knew when the “shofar” was to sound,  and that when it did,  it would begin  “The Feast of Trumpets.” This festival was “ordained” of God, and it was never intended to take the Israelites by surprise! So also will Christians, who are alive at the time of the “Rapture,” know when the “shofar” will be blown from Heaven to signal their time to be “caught up” by their great high priest who is the Lord Jesus Christ. This teaching is consistent with the fact that God has always told mankind what He was going to do, why He was going to do it and when He would act. This truth is confirmed in the Old Testament with people like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Moses, David and Daniel. The same is true in the New Testament with people like Zacharias, Mary, Simeon, Anna, John the Baptist and the apostles.

The Lord Jesus Christ warned in 30 A.D. “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its desolation is near” (Lk. 21:20). In 68 A.D. the city of Jerusalem was surrounded by a Roman legion. It was after this siege had ended that those who believed Y’Shua of Nazareth to be the promised Messiah, remembered His warning and advice (Lk. 21:21-24). These Christians left Jerusalem and were not among those trapped in the city when four Roman legions, under the command of the Roman General Titus, placed Jerusalem under siege in 70 A.D. during the “Feast of the Passover.” The total destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple along with the death of more than 1,100,000 Jews, who had been trapped in the city, was the end result of this siege by the Roman legions. We know why and how it all happened by the eyewitness account of the Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, in his book, “The Wars of the Jews.”

God has never played the game of “gotcha” with mankind! Unfortunately, most people throughout the various “ages” have chosen not to take Him at His “Word” and for that reason they have had to suffer the consequences of their disbelief and disobedience to Him. The Lord Jesus Christ warned “unbelievers” to take heed (Lk. 21:34), or the “Rapture” would happen while they were “unaware.” He also said, of those left behind, “For like a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Lk. 21:35). In contrast, the “Rapture” should not take “true” Christians by surprise because they are in the light and not the dark (1 Th. 5:1, 4). As the Lord Jesus Christ illustrated in “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” (Mt. 25:1-13), some “true” and “professing” Christians will know when the “Rapture” is about to happen. This is indicated by the ten “virgins” waking from their “sleep,” getting up and then going to meet Him (Mt. 25:5-10).

The people who are “left behind” after the “Rapture” will then know that the Lord Jesus Christ is alive and well and that His “Word,” the Holy Bible is true and to be trusted. They will also know that God has remained true to his way of always telling mankind what He was going to do and why He was going to do it and when He would act. This is why it can be said that God is a date-setter. God cannot change and neither will He change His ways (Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:17-20; Jas. 1:17). Those who are alive during the “seven years of tribulation” that precede the “2nd Advent” can know what is going to happen on the earth by simply reading and believing the “Book of Revelation” (Rev. 1:3, 19; 22:6-7, 9-10, 18-19). Not to do so will be illogical!

The Lord Jesus Christ “expects” Christians who are members of His “Church” to know when He will return to “snatch them out” at the “Rapture” no matter what has been taught and believed by “professing” Christians during the last two centuries. It will be the same for those who become Christians AFTER the “Rapture.” These people will be looking forward to His “2nd Advent.”  An honest examination of these stated positions, from the Scriptures, will prove this to be true!

Epilogue

 

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “. . . for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and hidden, that shall not be known” (Mt. 10:26). “For there is nothing hidden, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come [to light]” (Mk. 4:22). “But take heed; behold, I have foretold you ALL things” (Mk. 13:23). “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hidden, that shall not be known and come [to light]” (Lk. 8:17). “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hidden, that shall not be known” (Lk. 12:2). “Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing” (Jn. 18:20). [Capital letters and bold type added for emphasis!]