The Rapture and the End Times
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As Christians, we believe that the Holy Bible is God’s perfect Word and that it is a testimony to Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is God’s rule over the universe and also over humans who willfully acknowledge him as King. One day his Kingdom will come to earth, which the Bible describes as the personal and visible return of Jesus. This day is known as the Second Coming, the time when Jesus will establish his rule on the throne of David in Jerusalem.
Many Christians also believe that before the Second Coming there will be a dark seven year period called the Tribulation. They believe that in order to rescue his Bride from the horrors of the Tribulation, Jesus will gather all true believers to him. This is known as the futurist, pre-tribulation Rapture view. This view acknowledges God the Father's sovereignty over the timing of the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming.
Salvation
The key to unpacking this momentous occasion is understanding the Holy Bible, the customs of the Jewish people and the history of the nation of Israel. The Jewish wedding ceremony will reveal the theme and model of the Rapture, and help determine the sequence of events. We will specifically focus on comparing Matthew chapter 24 and Revelations chapter 6 to comprehend the Tribulation period.
The reestablishment of Israel as a nation and the definition of a Biblical generation help guide us to the possible year of the Rapture. The goal is a clear understanding of the Rapture, which will act as a catalyst for holy living.
We show that the Rapture could occur very shortly. Our goal is to give you a clear understanding of the Rapture, so that you are prepared!
He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(Revelations 22:20)
Jewish wedding ceremony - This ceremony is the theme and model of the Rapture, and determines the sequence of events. The Jewish wedding is a type and shadow of the return of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, for His Bride (the Church).
Wedding
Jewish wedding event / Jesus and Church
* Groom pays a Bride price (Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross).
* Bride prepares herself (wears white robe representing good deeds)
* Groom gives gifts to His chosen Bride (gifts of the Spirit)
* Groom prepares a place for the Bride and himself (New Jerusalem)
* Father tells the son when to get his Bride (God the Father has an appointed time)
* Groom comes with others at midnight with a shout! (the Rapture of the Church)
* Groom takes Bride to private chambers for 7 days (the 7 Tribulation years)
* Groom and Bride share a marriage feast (the marriage supper of the Lamb)
Matthew chapter 24 and Revelations chapter 6 - Next, we will compare the two most important chapters in the Bible relating to the Tribulation, side by side.
4 Horsemen
* This describes when the Antichrist and false prophets come into the world to conquer through a false peace:
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:4-5)
And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2)
* These scriptures outline a period of great war:
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6)
Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4)
* In this time period, there will be a deadly famine leading to massive death:
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8)
When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:5-8)
* Now a period of widespread persecution of Christians will occur:
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. (Matthew 24:7-8)
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. (Revelation 6:9)
These scriptures outline the actions of the Antichrist as he reveals his true nature:
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16)
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:5-8)
Notice that the two most important chapters in the Bible relating to the Tribulation agree completely on this sequence of events: the Antichrist coming into the world to conquer through a false peace, a great war, a deadly famine leading to massive death, widespread persecution of Christians, and the Antichrist finally revealing his true nature with people worshiping him as God. We believe that before this 7 year Tribulation period the true Christian believer will be Raptured.
rapture
The Year? - In the book of Matthew, we see Jesus teaching the Apostles that the Rapture, the Tribulation, and his Second Coming will be linked to a certain generation:
Now learn this parable from the fig tree:When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is nearat the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place (Matthew 24:32-34).
We believe that this generation started when Israel (often Biblically symbolized as a fig tree) was reestablished as a nation in 1948 after 1,900 years of dispersion, persecution and oppression. The reason we think this is the last generation is that the Rapture, Tribulation and Second Coming require the existence of the nation of Israel.
A Biblical generation is defined as 70 years in Psalm 90:10: The days of our lives are seventy years.
Israel
Now, applying simple addition, we can add 70 years to 1948 and arrive at 2018 as the possible year of the Second Coming. Subtracting 7 years for the Tribulation, we end with possible Rapture year of 2012.
Interestingly, the Psalms, which are in the 19th book of the Bible, have a prophetic significance dealing with Israel for each year in the 1900s, carrying over into the 2000s. For example, Psalm 33 points to 1933, Psalm 45 points to 1945, and so on. The Psalm chapters 113-118 have even more significance, because they are known as the "Hallel" (meaning praise), and have been recited as a prayer by observant Jews on Jewish holidays for over 3,000 years.
Biblical scholars like J.R. Church have found that many of the key events for the Jewish people and for Israel are accurately reflected by the corresponding chapter (year) in the Psalms. As you study the Psalms, please keep in mind that the Jewish years starts somewhere in our month of either March or April, so there is an overlap. This is why a few of the Psalms may seem to reference events form the previous year, of the Gregorian calendar.
In addition, the Psalms 12-18 seem to mirror Psalms 112-118, and Psalm 12 starts with this amazing verse:
Help, O Lord , for the godly are fast disappearing!
The faithful have vanished from the earth! (Psalm 12:1)
These scriptures point to the Rapture:
Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
rapture
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. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Kingdom of Heaven
Summary - In this study we have seen that the Jewish wedding ceremony is the theme and model of the Rapture, and determines the sequence of the events. We have compared Matthew chapter 24 and Revelations chapter 6 and found that they agree on the events of the Tribulation. We have noted the reestablishment of Israel as a nation, outlined the definition of a Biblical generation, and explored the scriptures relating to the Rapture.
Catalyst for holy living - There is a day when the Lord will be coming for His people in the not-too-distant future. God the Father's sovereignty is over the timing of the Rapture. But the real question is, are you ready to be taken up?
The Lord loves you and he cares for you. If you are not a Christian, ask the Lord into your life right now. Turn from your sins and turn to God, because he is coming soon for his Bride. If you are a Christian, you need to present yourself to God by separating yourself from the world and leaving your will at the Cross. Make the choice to be a bondservant (or slave) to the Lord and acknowledge in everything his ownership and authority. In everything make the Lord first (Proverbs 3:6). Live every day as if it might be your last.
pray
If you prepare yourself in this way, then you will be in a position to love and encourage all those around you to be ready no matter what day the Rapture happens. Exhort! Encourage! You can pray like you never prayed before, for the world around you. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). Teach by the example of your own life, and watch!
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:16-17)
We encourage you to forward this link to your friends and family. Read the Bible, join with a local church, and you will grow as a Christian.
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