caught up

Rapture Notes

January 10, 2017 By sonserver Leave a Comment

Although the word ‘rapture’ does not appear in English translations of the Bible, it is a term commonly used in associations with events which relate to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The meaning of the idea behind ‘the Rapture’ is to be ‘caught up’ or ‘snatched out’ by Jesus who will first come to take away the ‘saved’ to heaven just before the beginning of a 7-year period of time known as ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’, ‘The 70th Week of Daniel’ or ‘The Tribulation’. The true, faithful believers will disappear in the “twinkling of an eye” as they are transformed into their new, perfect, complete spiritual bodies in an instant before being caught up to Heaven by Jesus. The sudden absence of millions of people, will, of course, not go unnoticed on Earth. There will be mass confusion and disruption of ordinary life. At the beginning of the Tribulation, the identity of the antichrist will be revealed as the one who confirms a peace treaty with Israel. Non-believers will be left behind to face severe tribulation as the antichrist rises in power and takes on the role as the Beast who is Satan incarnate and proclaims himself to be god while requiring all people on Earth to worship him. The second half of the seven year Tribulation is known as ‘The Great Tribulation’. Although the Church will be absent during this time, new Christians, who will be known as Tribulation Saints, will endure extreme persecution to the point of death by beheading. With the recent rise of ISIS in the Middle East one has to wonder if there isn’t an Islamic connection. Later, at the close of The Tribulation is when Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem in triumph and glory to defeat the antichrist and his armies. It is at this point that His return is known as the Second Coming. This is the event when Jesus will victoriously return to conquer His enemies before establishing his millennial reign of Peace on Earth for a thousand years (the millennium) with His saints, the church.

After the thousand years, the rest of the dead will be raised to kneel before their judge, Jesus Christ, at the Great White Throne judgment. They will then be separated from God forever after they are cast into the lake of fire, while the saved will live forever with Christ in a new heaven and earth (Revelation 19-22).

The important differences between the rapture and second coming are as follows:

1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).

2) The Second Coming occurs after the great and terrible Tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

3) The Rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).

4) The Rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The Second Coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).

5) The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is not precluded by any unfulfilled prophecy and is thought to be imminent; that it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Distinct Differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming are Important!

1) If the Rapture and the Second Coming are the same event, then the believers would have to go through the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

2) If the Rapture and the Second Coming are the same event, then the return of Christ would not be imminent – there are many prophesied events which must occur before He can return (Matthew 24:4-30).

3) In describing the Tribulation period, the Church is not mentioned at all in Revelation chapters 6–19. During the Tribulation, also known as “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7) – God will turn His primary attention towards the redemption of the remnant of Israel (Romans 11:17-31).

Definitions and Origin of the Rapture

The English word “Rapture” is derived from the Latin verb “Rapere” meaning “to carry off,” or “to catch up” or “catch away” or “pluck out”.
The English word “Rapture” is derived from Middle French rapture, via the Medieval Latin raptura (“seizure, kidnapping”), which derives from the Latin raptus (“a carrying off”).
The Latin Vulgate translates the Greek ἁρπαγησόμεθα as rapiemur meaning “we are caught up” or “we are taken away” from the Latin verb rapio meaning “to catch up” or “take away”.
Harpazo : the English transliteration of the Greek word for Rapture.

There are three main theories regarding the time frame of the Rapture:

Pre-Tribulation or Pre-Trib: the Rapture event happens before the 7-year Tribulation, and is also known as ‘The Blessed Hope’.
Mid-Tribulation or Mid-Trib: the Rapture event happens in the middle of the 7-year Tribulation
Post-Tribulation or Post-Trib: the Rapture event happens at the end of the 7-year Tribulation

Two other lesser known and less popular theories are Pre-Wrath and the Partial Rapture theories. In Pre-Wrath the Rapture event happens after the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation, but before God’s wrath is experienced on Earth as detailed in the Book of Revelation. The Partial Rapture is a subset of Pre-Trib, in which ONLY spirit-filled Christians who are ready, watching, and waiting for Jesus will be rewarded by being raptured.

The Rapture theory gained in popularity in the 1970’s due to books written by Hal Lindsey. In The Late Great Planet Earth Lindsey promoted the idea of an imminent Rapture based on the global situation at the time qualifying as the beginning of the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Some speculate that many non-believers who are left behind after the Rapture will finally come to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior as a result of the Rapture. The others who are left behind will persist in their stubbornness and disbelief, concocting theories to “explain away” the catalclysmic, supernatural event. Some of these theories may be tied to the great deception spoken of in Revelation, possibly even having to do with claims of ‘alien abduction’ or a ‘natural, universal, evolutionary cosmic purging’ of the inferior, intolerant Christians.

Jesus told his disciples to look for Signs which would indicate that the End was near. The Signs he mentioned included

Deception: false Christs leading people astray
Wars and Rumors or threats of Wars amongst the nations
Famine
Disease
Earthquakes and Tsunamis

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)

“…For I am going away to prepare a place for you. And when I have gone and have prepared a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself so that where I am, you also will be.”

John 14:2-3 (NIV)

I am really sorry you got left behind

January 9, 2017 By sonserver Leave a Comment

Dear Friend:

First of all let me say that I am really sorry you got left behind. In fact I feel guilty about it. We should have done more. No. Stop. That’s not right. Not “we should have done more” but I should have done more. I’ve always been a bit of a coward – to concerned about what other people might think of me rather than doing what I knew should be done.

Let me tell you a little bit about what has happened and what will happen. The Second Coming of Christ will occur in two stages. The first stage was the Rapture, which of course just recently occurred. The second stage will be the Revelation. The time between the two Stages is not less than seven years, and is occupied in the heavens by the Judgment of Believers for Works and on the earth by The Great Tribulation. At the Rapture he came for his Saints and at the Revelation He will come back with his Saints.

Weren’t those headlines something else when we all disappeared? What happened at the Rapture is best described in I Thess. 4:15-17. “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 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.”

We definitely heard the shout, the voice of the Archangel and the trump of God. I’m not sure if you heard them or not; you may have mistook them for thunder, but we heard them and we are gone. It was glorious. First the dead in Christ were caught up in the air and then those of us in Christ who were still alive were caught up next. I saw my mother who had passed on and my sister who had died when she was four. Some of my friends are here; some are not. What is really sad is that the same goes for my family. We are of all different religious faiths. There are Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Jews, Jehovah Witnesses, Catholics and even a couple of Presbyterians. (That was a joke, since I am of the Presbyterian faith). We are the true Christians. We are the body of Christ. We are the Church of which Christ is the Head. We are the Bride. Christ is the Bridegroom.

There have been many royal weddings of international interest where the invited guests and spectators witnessed a spectacle magnificent in its appointments, and rejoiced in a union that bound together different nations. But the wedding of the Lamb and His Bride the Church will surpass them all, for it shall unite Heaven and Earth in a bond that shall never be broken, for what God (the Father) shall join together no man shall ever put asunder, and that union no divorce shall ever break. We are going to have the greatest, grandest wedding feast that has ever been seen anywhere. I can hardly wait. But first we are going to the Judgment of Believers. It’s not a judgment to see if we belong here. We know we belong here because we have accepted Christ as our Savior. It is not a Judgment for sin, but for “works.” It’s going to be more like a 4H Fair. You remember the 4H Fairs where the kids were given blue ribbons for the great projects and things they did during the year? It’s going to be something like that. The New Testament mentions five Crowns to be given as rewards.

You know, one of the best things about being here – in fact it’s fantastic – there is no hate here, only love. It’s a little bit like when I was on earth and would watch my small children and later my grandchildren. They didn’t know what hate was. They were so full of beauty, innocence and love it would bring tears to my eyes. That was probably the greatest joy I had on earth. Of course we were all like that at one time before the world messed us up.

I’m sorry. I’m running off at the “computer” again. I’m so excited about being here that I’m getting carried away. I need to tell you what’s going to happen on earth and what you need to do to get ready. Some people think the Second Coming of Christ means the end of the world. It’s really just the opposite. It’s just the beginning. Once the Tribulation Period is over Satan will be bound for 1000 years and people will be able to live on earth as God meant them to. You may have a little time to prepare for the Tribulation. It may be a few months or a few years before the peace covenant with Israel is signed but once that covenant is signed you will have seven years of hell on earth. None of this time, now that the Church is caught out, will be pleasant. You may have already noticed that all the really good people are gone. Lawlessness will be rampant.

I can’t get too deep here since I’m not a theologian – heck – I can’t even explain the Trinity. After all the books I read I found the best explanation of the Trinity to me was a little poem I came across entitled:

The Trinity

Three in One
And One in Three
And the One in the middle
He died for me.

The One in the middle, Jesus Christ, is the One you need to concerned with right now. If you don’t remember any other bible verse remember John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It’s really so simple. Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and if you will accept him as your Savior you will be saved. The world has tried to add or take away from this. It was just too simple for them to understand. A man was trying to explain salvation to a carpenter friend of his who has just finished making a beautiful cabinet, but his friend just didn’t understand. The man picked up a carpenter plane and started to plane the just finished cabinet. His carpenter friend screamed at him, “Don’t touch it, you’ll ruin it. It’s finished.” “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” the man said. “It was finished on the Cross when Jesus died for your sins. You can’t add to it or take away from it.”

If you don’t have one you need to get hold of a bible. They won’t be around too much longer. I prefer the King James Version but use what your comfortable with. Go to the New Testament and start with John. After you read John go back and start with Matthew and read the whole New Testament.

You’re already at one of the best sites on the web. Download it all; print it out, whatever you have to do. It won’t be here much longer. Becoming a Christian during this time is not going to be easy. You think Hitler’s persecution of the Jews was bad? The antichrist’s persecution of people who become Christians during this period will be much worse.

I’ve read so many books on the Second Coming of Christ but the best was a 72-page book entitled “The Second Coming of Christ” by Clarence Larkin. This book was written in 1917. Think about it. Israel didn’t become a nation again until 1948, yet in this book he tells you everything that will happen. How did he know – because his only source was the bible. He also wrote a book on Daniel called “The Book of Daniel” and on Revelation called “The Book of Revelation” and another one called “Dispensational Truth” – all great books. Try to get them if you can, at least “The Second Coming of Christ”.

Remember, when this seven year peace covenant is signed with Israel this will begin the start of Daniel’s Seventieth Week or as some call it The Reign of Antichrist. I cannot begin to explain the horrors you will experience. Even in the beginning of the “week” with the opening of the Seals there is trouble. The first seal a White Horsed appears. The rider is Antichrist, as he becomes the Chief Ruler of the revived Roman Empire. Some countries won’t want him there and the Second Seal, A Red Horse that signifies blood and the sword of war, will follow this. There will be a war like you have never seen. The Third Seal, A Black Horse, Famine and then the Fourth Seal, A Pale Horse, Death, will follow this. And this is just what man will do to man. You haven’t even got to the rest of the Seals, like The Plague of Locusts, the size of which you’ve never seen. And you still have The Seven Trumpets and The Seven Vials to go. In the First Trumpet a third part of the trees and all green grass will be burnt up. In the Second Trumpet a third part of the creatures of the sea will be destroyed. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.

I need to mention the “Mark”. I’m sure you have heard about it. Everyone has heard about the Mark of The Beast – you know 666. You won’t be able to buy or sell without it. So what! Don’t get it. Please, please, please, DON’T GET IT. If you do it’s all over. You’re doomed. Let me tell you about the very first Vial. “When the First Vial is poured out a noisome and grievous sore will fall upon the men who have the Mark of the Beast and who worship his image. This is a repetition of the Sixth Egyptian Plague.

There is one more piece of bad news that I need to tell you and I’m not sure how. I have a tendency to “sugar-coat” bad news but this can’t be sugar-coated. The only way I can see for you to get from where you are now to where we are now is that not only will you have to pass through great tribulation, but also you will probably have to suffer a martyr’s death for refusing to worship the “Image of the Beast.” It’s a shame. It really is. But you had your chance, just like the rest of us. It would have been so much easier back when the Church and the Holy Spirit were on earth for you to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. It’s going to be hard now, really hard, but you can do it. YOU HAVE TO DO IT. Look at it like I used to look at my life on earth. Even if I lived to be 100 years old, that compared to eternity would be like one tiny drop of water compared to all the oceans. It’s the same with you. Even if you have to suffer 7 years of hell and even if you have to die a martyr’s death; compared to eternity it is like a tiny drop of water compared to all the oceans.

Hope to see you soon.
Yours in Christ,
Clarence

A Lot of People Vanished from the Face of the Earth

January 8, 2017 By sonserver Leave a Comment

Hey.

My name is Matt. I’m writing this near the end of August in the year 2000. I just turned twenty-four years old. You are reading this because recently a lot of people vanished from the face of the earth. Perhaps their clothes and jewelry just fell to the ground, their bodies disappearing without a trace. I’m sure you are wondering what happened, why it happened, and can it happen again. You’re reading this because you were not one of them. You are one of the people remaining on the earth. I’m writing this because I’m one of those who disappeared, and I want you to know why.

Some of this will not be easy to read, some truth never is. It may be hard to accept, some truth always seems to be. However, it is the truth, and my disappearance is a testimony to that fact. Not only that, but it may surprise you to know that what happened has been prophesied for millennia. It’s my obligation, in writing this letter, to let you know what happened, why it happened, and what’s in store. It’s my hope that you read this with an open mind, examine it for what it says, and think really hard about the ramifications.

First things first. Depending on how much time has passed since the sudden disappearance of millions, you may have heard several theories as to why. I’m sure the scientific community will try to come up with something. Perhaps some will even subscribe to an alien abduction theory. Those are simply not true.

Also, it’s my belief that from the time of the disappearances the earth as you know it only has a limited amount of time remaining. At least seven years, perhaps a few more.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, let me go ahead and tell you what happened. Have you ever heard the term “rapture”? Well that’s what has happened. Rapture means “snatched away.” The rapture is a term Christians have used to describe God’s calling up of His believers to Heaven. You may be asking yourself, “Wasn’t Jesus supposed to come back when this happened?” Well, not exactly. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is imminent, but not for at least another seven years. The rapture, the disappearance of millions, was a prelude to that. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, the apostle Paul states that “…we (Christians) will not all sleep, but we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed.”

Those who were alive and genuinely believed in Jesus Christ were the ones who disappeared. They didn’t die, but they were changed. Their physical bodies are no longer here on earth. They are in Heaven. Furthermore, those who believed in Jesus since the founding of the Church nearly two thousand years ago but died were also taken. You may find that some caskets buried in cemeteries are now empty.

Before I continue, it’s important that you know more about Jesus. He is the most important part of this. I’m sure you’ve heard of Him, but maybe have no clue as to who He really is. Well, to understand the rest of this letter, it’s imperative you understand who He is. So if you have one, I recommend you pull out a Bible. I will reference it for the duration of this letter. You will find it helpful.

Quite simply, Jesus is the Son of God; God in the form of a man. About two thousand years ago, God sent Him to earth to die for everyone’s sins. He is the Messiah that many Jews are still looking for today. Unfortunately they missed Him the first time, as did you. The good news is that you all have a second chance.

There are over one hundred prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament, books of the Bible all written at least four hundred years before Jesus was born. The first chapter of the book of the Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, goes through a genealogy, a family tree as it were, of Jesus. In fact, the very first verse of Matthew calls Jesus the Messiah “the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

Genesis is the first book of the Bible, written well over a thousand years before the birth of Christ. However, in that book (Genesis 12:3, 18:18) God says that through Abraham all the families of the earth shall be blessed, a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus coming from the lineage of David, the king of Israel, is foretold in Psalm 132:11, as well as in Isaiah 11:10, Jeremiah 23:5, and Jeremiah 33:15, all Old Testament references. There are also prophecies (Numbers 24:17) that the Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Jesus was (Matthew 1:2). All written at least hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.

Need more proof that Jesus is the Messiah? Isaiah 7:14 (Old Testament) tells us that the Messiah will be born of a virgin. Matthew 1:18-25 (New Testament) details how Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. It’s prophesied in Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in the city of Bethlehem. Matthew 2:1 says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Chapters 52 and 53 of Isaiah contain prophecies concerning the crucifixion of Jesus. Each of the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), also called The Gospels, contain details concerning the Jesus’ crucifixion. I suggest reading the nineteenth chapter of John. Also read about His resurrection on the third day, also prophesied in the Old Testament.

But you need to know why Jesus was crucified. If it was prophesied for centuries before it happened, why did it happen? Why did it have to happen? Before you know that, you need to realize something. Even though you were left behind, God loves you. God loves you as much as He loves those He took to Heaven. In fact, one of the most famous verses of the Bible speaks of God’s love:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son; that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

God loves the world… everybody. So God loves you, but that still doesn’t really answer the question of why you were left behind. Why weren’t you raptured? Well, quite simply, God sent Jesus to die for your sins, but you didn’t believe in Him, and trust in Him as your Lord and Savior. Let me tell you why you needed to do that.

1.You’re A Sinner – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

I sinned, you sinned. Everyone has sinned, except for Jesus. He was, is, and always will be God. We aren’t God, so we fall short of Him.

2.Because You’re A Sinner, You Deserve To Die – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Because we have all sinned we all deserve to die, but God sent Jesus as a free gift. He took our place on that cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says “He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf…” I’ll discuss the second half of that first in a moment. Because Jesus was sinless, perfect, He didn’t deserve to die. However, we did. But He died for us so we don’t have to. God can’t permit sin into Heaven, so for us to be able to spend be with God in Heaven, a way needed to be provided so we might be made righteous. The second half of that verse, 2 Corinthians 5:21: “… so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Since Jesus took the place of our sin, we are made righteous; therefore we can be with God. That’s a free gift of eternal life. So why the gift?

3.God Loves You – “But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 We didn’t deserve it, but God loves us so much that even though we are sinners, even though we live 2000 years after Christ died, He still died for us. No matter who you are and no matter what you’ve done, God loves you. That’s ultimate, unconditional love.

4.Confess And Believe – “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9; “for Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 You’ve got to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, that God sent Him to die in your place. You have to earnestly receive Him as your Lord and Savior, and confess it with your mouth. You can’t be ashamed of it. Part of really believing it is making it known.

5.Remember, Jesus is the only way – “…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14:6 No matter what anyone else might tell you, the Word of God is clear. There is no other way to Heaven, no other way to experience eternal life with God. Jesus is the answer… the only answer.

If you want to become a Christian, I’m going to give you the chance right now. Maybe you don’t even need to read the rest. Maybe you’re already convinced that Jesus is for real. Perhaps you knew people who were Christians that are gone. Well, if you want to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you can do it right now. Pray this prayer with all your heart.

“Lord, I am a sinner. I confess to you that I am not worthy of the gift you’ve given me. I believe that you sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. I don’t deserve that, but I recognize that You love me and that Jesus is the only way. Thank you for that gift. I also believe that You have power over death. I believe that You can give me eternal life because I believe that You raised Jesus from the dead. I recognize that You are the one and only God. I commit my life to You. Please be my Lord and Savior. I know now that You love me. I love You, too, Lord. Thank You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

If you prayed that and meant it, you are a Christian. I congratulate you and am excited for you. I praise the Lord for your decision. The Bible says that angels rejoice when someone invites Jesus Christ into their life, so rest assured that if you did pray that prayer there’s a party going on in Heaven. If you didn’t pray that prayer, I continue to pray that you will make a decision for Christ. Rest assured, everyone will make a decision about Christ, either to accept Him or reject Him, but I pray you make the right one. The rest of this will not be easy to read, whether you are a Christian or not. However, rest assured that if you are a Christian, this thing has a happy ending.

You may be thinking, “How can a God that loves so much leave people behind?” Well, God is not only loving, but He is also just. He is the one true God, and He will not tolerate sin. He will not put up with people worshipping anything but Him. He loves you, but you have to make the choice to love Him and serve Him.

The rapture was not only meant to gather up Christians into Heaven, but it was also meant to get the world’s attention. In fact, the next seven years or so God is going to pull out all the stops in an effort to get people to recognize that He is the one true God.

The sad thing is, if you were left behind, chances are you will not survive the next seven years or so. They will be, by far, the most tumultuous years in the history of the planet. You may think, “Well it certainly sounds like God is out to get me.” That’s not the case at all. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” To repent means to turn away, in this case turn away from sin. This is your chance to do just that. The remainder of your time on the earth as we know it will not be easy. This is God’s way of getting across His message to those who didn’t believe in Him before the rapture.

Let’s review what the rapture is.

Rapture means “snatched away,” and it’s the term Christians use to describe the event Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. “…We (Christians) will not all sleep, but we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed.”

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

This is the rapture, the disappearance of God’s people from the earth. Just remember that you have a second chance to become one of God’s people.

In describing the last days, the apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 that “the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” He’s referring to the rapture.

You may have heard stories about the last days, wondering why Jesus didn’t come back like so many people said He would. Well, that’s going to happen at the end of this seven-year period I’ve alluded to. Ever since Christ ascended into Heaven following His resurrection (Acts 1:9), Christians have been eagerly anticipating His return. The rapture was the first part of that. It was the part that had to occur like a thief in the night, out of nowhere. Jesus Himself said that no man would know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36). Jesus told people to be ready for it in Matthew 24:44 because it would happen unexpectedly. You have to admit that you were taken by surprise!

So what happens next?

I’m not going to dance around the truth. To put it bluntly, you’re going to be experience seven years of hell on earth. Many extraordinary things are going to happen soon, or are perhaps already happening. Before we really get into that, lets go over some of what Jesus Himself said about the end times. Turn your Bible, if you have one, to Matthew 24.

Wars and rumors of war (verse 6): As I write this in the summer of 2000, I go to the major news web sites every day and hear about skirmishes in India and Pakistan, China’s threats of Taiwan and the United States, impending war between Israel and the Palestinians, not to mention the myriad wars that don’t even get ink in the U.S.

Nation will rise against nation, kingdom will rise against kingdom (verse 7): The Greek translation of the word nation here in “ethnos,” referring to an ethnic group or race. I find that especially interesting in today’s world climate. The situation in Bosnia and other Slavic nations is just one example of this, with all of the ethnic fighting going on.

Famines and earthquakes (verse 7): Over the last twenty years we’ve heard a lot about famines in Africa. There seems to be an earthquake of at least six on the Richter scale somewhere in the world every other week.

Christians will be hated, even killed (verse 9): Christians aren’t killed in the U.S. like they are in some other parts of the world, but liberal groups, Hollywood and the media in particular, hate them. However, I read just the other day about a religious war in Indonesia where hundreds, if not thousands, of Christians have been killed. Christians are also killed frequently in the Middle East and African nations.

Many will fall away, hate and betray one another (verse 10): There is a lot of division in the Church, even as I write this. I can only imagine how much worse it has gotten. Many have abandoned their Bible-based beliefs in the name of tolerance. Many have abandoned their Christian beliefs in the liberal belief that all truths and faiths are relative and equal. Christians are hated, looked at as dogmatic, intolerant exclusivists.

Many false prophets will arise (verse 11): This is happening with more frequency as I write this. Take David Koresh and the 1993 Waco standoff for example. Sadly, there are even some false prophets masquerading today on television as Christians. Excessive lawlessness, the love of most will grow cold (verse 12): Crime is rampant. Apathy is the norm.

Even as I write this, I feel the climate is right for the rapture, and the events after the rapture. There is no really strong government in the world anymore. For most of the century the United States was looked at as the superpower. It still is, but the sphere of influence my country’s government once had is shrinking. This is due to incapable leadership and godlessness. The political weather is right for a major government shake-up.

Perhaps this is already happening to some extent, depending on how long after the disappearances you read this, but the entire world is about to be united under one government. And you need to be on the lookout for a dynamic new leader who the world will look at as perfect, the man to solve the world’s problems. The Bible calls this man Antichrist, and many scholars believe, including I, that he will be of some sort of Roman descent. The Bible says that Antichrist will come from the people who destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Roman Empire.

Antichrist will rise to power quickly, so fast you may not have heard of him before it happens. He will be immensely popular. He will continue to make waves as his new one-world government signs some sort of seven-year pact with the nation of Israel. The only real specific concerning the details of this agreement is that Israel is promised peace.

The signing of this seven-year agreement will signify the beginning of this period I’ve talked about. You may have heard of it before: the tribulation. These will be the most horrific years in the history of the planet. Three-fourths of the population that did not disappear will die before the end of the tribulation. Think about that. Seventy-five percent of, three out of four, people will be gone. This period will not be easy, but since you did not receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior before the rapture, you have to go through this. You may not live through it. In fact, if you are a Christian now, the chances of you living through it are even slimmer. But before I really get into what will happen during this seven years, let me tell you what will happen at the end of it.

When the seven years is over, this will happen: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war… And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'” (Revelation 19:11, 16)

Any time you see the word “He” capitalized it’s referring to God… Jesus. This is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When the seven-year tribulation is over Jesus will return physically to earth to set up a kingdom. He will rid the world of Satan and Antichrist during that time. You may have heard references to the millennial kingdom. That’s what this is. This period of history, the greatest ever on earth, will last for one thousand years, before Satan is gone for good.

Another thing. Once Jesus has returned to set up His millennial kingdom, you will have had to make a decision about Him. That’s what these next seven years are for. Any doubt about whether or not there is a God will be removed. People who haven’t decided one way or the other about Jesus Christ will have to make a decision to follow Him or deny Him. I implore you, if you haven’t already prayed the prayer I outlined earlier to do so. You do not want to endure these seven years without Jesus!

So what happens during the tribulation? Well, I’ve already pointed out that Antichrist will rise to power and be the leader of a new world government. Revelation is the last book of the New Testament, the last book of the Bible. A man named John, who was also one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, wrote it. The book is a written account of a vision of the future given to John by the Lord Himself back in the late first century A.D.

In the first verse of chapter four, John sees a door open up in heaven, and a voice tells him to “Come up here.” I believe this is symbolic of the rapture. Others might disagree with my assessment of this verse, but since you are only reading this if I was right, and the rapture occurred before the time of tribulation, I think it’s symbolic of God removing His people, the Church, the true believers, in this case symbolized by John, from the earth before the tribulation begins.

The tribulation is divided into three separate sets of seven judgments: (1) the seal judgments, (2) the trumpet judgments, and (3) the bowl (or vial) judgments. These judgments get progressively worse over the course of the seven years.

The Seal Judgments

1.The white horse (Revelation 6:1-2) – This is the Antichrist. He comes with a bow but no arrows, and he wears a crown. I think this signifies that the Antichrist will be the “king of the world,” the leader of the one-world government. That he comes with a bow but no arrows signifies that he will not use military force to attain his position. It will be slick diplomacy. You may have already witnessed his coming to power.

2.The red horse (Revelation 6:3-4) – War. There will be peace at the beginning of the tribulation. The Antichrist will gain the support of the large majority through seemingly miraculous diplomacy. There will be worldwide peace, but it will not last. There will be an uprising against Antichrist, creating a world war. Many will die. With today’s weaponry, there is reason to believe that mass destruction and bloodshed could occur in a short time. This war may only last a matter of weeks or months.

3.The black horse (Revelation 6:5-6) – After a war like that, famine will occur and inflation will rise. The Bible says that oil and wine will not be damaged. Many scholars believe that is a prophecy saying that the rich will get richer, they will not suffer like the rest of the world, and that there will be inflation.

4.The pale/ashen horse (Revelation 6:7-8) – This horse is named Death, and Hades follows with him. I believe this horse coincides with the previous two. Authority is given to this horse to kill a fourth of the population. It’s reasonable to believe that a war such as the one predicted with the red horse, and the famine of the black horse could wipe out a billion or more people.

5.Martyrdom of Tribulation Saints (Revelation 6:9-11) – The Bible calls those who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior after the rapture tribulation saints. When this seal is broken, many of them are killed. If you have received Christ after the rapture, the hard truth is that you may be killed for your belief in Jesus.

6.The Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:12-17) – God pours out His wrath over the killing of many of His people with a great earthquake. The sky will turn dark, the moon will look like blood, and the stars will disappear. Mountains and islands will be moved from where they sit. Verse 16 talks about men trying to hide from Him who sits on the throne. I think this means that many people will be convinced about the truth of who Jesus Christ is after this earthquake, if they survive. This will be the worst earthquake in history, and it will be worldwide.

By the time of the earthquake, there will be many Jews coming to believe in Jesus. Revelation 7:4 talks about 144,000 Jewish witnesses. These witnesses, new tribulation saints, will be protected supernaturally from the judgments to come. The previous verse talks about being sealed on their foreheads, probably some supernatural way of believers being able to tell one another apart. This may sound like science-fiction, but remember that these are the last days! God will be pulling out all the stops. There is some speculation that all tribulation saints, not just Jews, will receive this seal.

In Revelation 7:9, John sees in his vision a multitude that no one could number coming to receive Jesus Christ. This means perhaps a billion people will come to know Christ. Later on in Revelation John talks about an army numbering two hundred million. If he can see that number, but can’t see the number of the great multitude, how much more must that be. Over a billion perhaps?

7.Issuing in the Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8:1-2) – The seventh seal issues in the next series of judgments. Those judgments are so severe that the Bible says “When He (Jesus) opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” Heaven is normally portrayed as a place of great joy. Imagine how bad it will get that Heaven goes silent.

The Trumpet Judgments

1.Storm of Hail, Fire, and Blood (Revelation 8:7) – One-third of the earth’s trees and all of the grass will be scorched when hail, fire, and blood rain down from the sky. The ecological ramifications will be devastating. This judgment was predicted back in the Old Testament, too, in Joel 2:30.

2.The Mountain of Fire (Revelation 8:8-9) – Following the disaster from the first trumpet, there will be a “great mountain burning with fire.” This, perhaps, will be a giant meteor. It will land in the ocean and turned a third of the water to blood. A third of all the creatures of the sea will die, a third of the ships will sink.

3.Wormwood (Revelation 8:10-11) – Many men will die when another meteor-type object falls into the rivers of the earth. The water will become bitter and poisonous.

4.One-Third of the Sun Is Struck (Revelation 8:12) – God will do something only He is capable of doing when He somehow reduces the amount of energy and light the sun, moon, and stars radiate by a third. The earth will turn cold. We can also imagine from “a third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night,” that an extra third of the day that is now daylight will be dark. In other words, if there are twelve hours of daylight there will only be eight.

Before the last three trumpets are blown, there is an ominous warning in the book of Revelation. “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels are about to sound!” (Revelation 8:13)

5.Apollyon the Destroyer (Revelation 9:1-11) – This passage of Scripture talks about an angel (demon) unlocking a “bottomless pit.” From the pit smoke will fill the air, along with locust-type creatures that will torment those who have not received Jesus as their Lord and Savior for five months. Those who are tormented will want to die, but according to Scripture “death will flee from them.” It’s hard to imagine the kind of carnage that will result from this. People will want to die. They’ll try to kill themselves, however, they want to be able to. The Bible says these locusts had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. In Hebrew the name of that angel (or demon, as it were) is Abaddon. In Greek the name is Apollyon. The name means “destroyer”.

6.200,000,000 Horsemen (Revelation 9:13-19) – The second of the three “woes” is unleashed. There will be an army of 200 million horsemen who will kill a third of mankind, all unbelievers, those who don’t have the seal of God on their foreheads. They will be supernatural beings. Many people believe that tribulation saints will be able to see them, but unbelievers will not. They will be frightening to even look at. They will sting with their mouth and their tails.

7.Ushering In The Great Tribulation (Revelation 11:15-19) – Just as the seventh seal judgment ushered in the trumpet judgments, this seventh trumpet judgment ushers in the bowl judgments. While the seal and trumpet judgments will all talk place during the first three-and-a-half years of the tribulation, these final seven will occur during the last three-and-a-half, which is called the Great Tribulation. This judgment will not really be one that people on earth will witness, but the Bible says that heaven will rejoice because they will know that Christ’s ultimate victory, His return, is coming soon.

I’ll get into the bowl (or vial) judgments in a minute, but I think it’s important to talk about the difference between the first half (three-and-a-half years) of the tribulation and the second half, which is called the Great Tribulation. I’ll also quickly go over some events that will take place at the midpoint of the seven years. You also need to know about two men. Since you are one of those left behind after the rapture, you may have already heard of them on the news.

The Two Witnesses

“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague as often as they desire.” (Revelation 11:3-6)

These two witnesses, two men, will provide hope to those who receive Christ after the rapture. They will be a thorn in the Antichrist’s side, so to speak, because they will be invincible for the first three-and-a-half years of the tribulation. They will proclaim the name of Jesus and many will come to believe through them. People who come against them will die.

So who are these men? Many believe they are two of the following: Elijah, Enoch, and Moses. Enoch was a godly man who never died. (Genesis 5:24) Elijah was a great Hebrew prophet who also never died (2 Kings 2:11-12). Moses is the only one of the three that did die. I’m one of the people subscribing to the belief that they are Elijah and Moses, arguably the two most influential men of the Old Testament. They were also the two men who were with Jesus and three of His disciples when He was transfigured (Matthew 17). Also, Moses and Elijah are men who have already performed miracles that these two men will do.

When their three-and-a-half years of invincibility are complete, at the midpoint of the tribulation, they will be murdered by the Antichrist, and the unbelievers in the world will love it. They will not be buried, instead their bodies will be left to rot. People will be so happy they will exchange gifts. However, their celebration will turn sour three-and-a-half days later. God will raise these two men from the dead, then bring them to heaven. At that time in Jerusalem there will be an earthquake. Seven thousand people will die and a tenth of the city will fall. Many will come to believe in Jesus as a result of this.

The Murder of the Antichrist

The two witnesses will not be the only men to die at the midpoint of the tribulation. Antichrist will also be murdered (Revelation 13:3). However, Satan being a poor imitation of the one true God, Satan himself will possess the Antichrist. He will “miraculously” rise from the dead. The world will be amazed. Furthermore, the Bible says that the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, and that Satan, possessing the Antichrist, will declare himself to be god in the temple. The Bible calls this the “abomination of desolation.”

Since Satan will then possess the Antichrist, the next three-and-a-half years will be called The Great Tribulation. They will be even worse the first half.

The Great Tribulation

The Mark of the Beast

During the Great Tribulation the Antichrist will require all people to bear a special mark, either on the forehead or on the hand. It will not be forced on anyone, but you will not be able to buy or sell without it. Technology already exists as I write this to put a system like this into place. I’ve read stories about the Digital Angel, a microchip that could be placed in the forehead or hand. There are serious ramifications for taking the mark, though. It is irrevocable. Those who take it will not enter heaven. Christians will have to survive somehow without it.

The Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16)

1.Painful Sores – Those who take the mark of the beast, worshipping Antichrist, will develop painful boil-like sores. This judgment will not affect tribulation saints.

2.Seas Turn To Blood – Quite simply, the oceans and seas will turn to blood, and every living creature in them will die. Can you imagine the ramifications? The fishing industry would be destroyed, but furthermore, the dead animals would rise to the surface. The potential for disease is huge here.

3.Rivers and Springs Become Blood – The rest of the world’s water sources will be turned to blood, creating havoc. Can you imagine a world without a water supply? Well, it’s going to happen. You have to think that by this point in time, probably before, there will no doubt in anyone’s mind that there is a God. The only question is, whom do you serve? God or Antichrist?

4.Scorching Heat – The same way God took away one-third of the sun, moon, and stars in the fourth trumpet judgment, turning the earth cold, this time the sun will be scorched. Immense heat will be the result. It will be the worst heat wave in history.

5.The World Goes Dark – Revelation 16:10-11 says that the kingdom of Antichrist (the world) will be plunged into darkness, i.e. the entire world will go dark. Jesus foretold of this judgment in Mark 13:24. What will a world without light be like? I can only imagine the frustration that will envelop the people.

6.Euphrates River Dries Up – Arguably the most important river in the history of the world, the Euphrates will dry up. However, that’s not all, because Revelation 16:12 says that the drying up of the river will make way for the “kings of the east” to participate in what is widely known as the Battle of Armageddon. Who are the kings of the east? As I’m writing this most prophecy scholars I respect believe this refers to the far east (or the Orient). Because of all these calamities happening to the earth, it’s possible some sort of alliance of Oriental nations will oppose Antichrist. However, because the Antichrist will be a great deceiver, these nations will probably align with him to fight their real enemy, Jesus.

7.Babylon Destroyed – Revelation 16:17-21 describes the seventh bowl judgment. There will be an earthquake so great that the topography of the earth will be altered. Islands and mountains will be gone. “The great city” is probably a reference to Antichrist’s kingdom. It will be destroyed.

THE GLORIOUS APPEARING: THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

It’s all been leading up to this. When the seven years are complete, Jesus Christ will return to earth. Every eye will see Him. The Antichrist and his armies will try to make war with Christ. At that time all those who have failed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior will perish. The Antichrist and a False Prophet who will be at his side will be thrown into the lake of fire. Satan will be bound up for one thousand years.

The one thousand year reign of Jesus Christ will be the most glorious era in the history of this world. At the end of that time, Satan will be released for the abyss for a short time. Then he will deceive many and try one last time to overthrow God. However, Satan will then be thrown into the lake of fire, and everyone will then be judged by whether or not they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Those who have not will join Satan in the lake of fire. Those who have will be with the Lord for eternity.

Where do you stand? The rapture has already taken place. The wheels are in motion for the final stanza of history. I am no expert on Biblical prophecy, but I have studied it and these are the basics. The message is clear. I encourage you to study as well.

But most of all make a decision concerning Jesus. He loves you and He wants you to be with Him for eternity. You were left behind once. Don’t be deceived. Time is short. Make a decision today.

What is the Rapture Anyhow?

January 7, 2017 By sonserver Leave a Comment

The Rapture is an event where the groom comes to take his bride away, to be married to her forever. Seriously, that’s what it is.

Only the groom is the Messiah, the Son of God, better known as Jesus or Yeshua, and the bride is not a single person, but all people who corporately believe in Jesus and trust him, male and female alike, living and dead. The bride is better known as ‘the church’.

This supernatural event is not to be confused with the Second Coming, which happens after the Rapture, when Christ returns to defeat his enemies in Israel; namely the anti-Christ, the False Prophet, and everyone else who foolishly believes that they can fight and defeat God himself.

The Rapture is a rescue story, known as the Blessed Hope…which is the hope that all believers have, or should have, that their Savior is coming to rescue them from hell that people who remain on Earth will experience for a 7 year period of time known as The Tribulation, if they even survive it, for 2/3 of all mankind will perish, either at the hand of the anti-Christ who will tirelessly persecute and work to exterminate both Jews and new converts to Christianity, or as a result of God’s wrath that is unleashed upon earth in biblical proportions; earthquakes, tsunamis, hail storms, fire, a meteor impact,war, even nuclear war, violence, disease, famine, wild animals and more. The Bible says if these days were not cut short all mankind would perish.

The idea of the Rapture is often ridiculed and said to be something that it is not. Some people insist that the concept of the Rapture is not biblical as the word can not be found in the Bible. Others even get angry and defensive about which view on the timing of the Rapture is correct.

Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:4

While the word ‘Rapture’ itself is not in the Bible, it’s Greek equivalent is. You see, the New Testament was written entirely in Greek and later translated into Latin and English. The Greek word is ‘harpazo’ and means to be plucked out, taken up or snatched away quickly. Harpazo translated into Latin is ‘rapio’ from where we get our English word ‘Rapture’, however, in the Bible it is usually translated as ‘caught up‘.

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)

Most all Bible translations use the phase ‘caught up’, but a few say ‘carried away’, ‘caught away together’, ‘taken in the clouds’, or ‘taken up together’.

1 Corinthians 15:50-55

I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?

So there you have it, when the trumpet sounds, those who belong to Christ will be given their new immortal bodies and caught up, or taken away to the Father’s house in Heaven for a royal wedding.

Do you think such a thing is difficult for God? The Creator of the Universe…