All The Rapture Articles!

This page is dedicated to the blogs about the Rapture that have previously been posted.  Putting them all in one place seemed appropriate for those who just want to study this subject.

Rapture 1 — Is it Real, Or Is It Rubbish

According to Old Testament Scripture, it is very real.

Did you know that that the when God came down on Mt. Sinai and Moses went up (Exodus 19), this was a picture or fore type of the coming rapture? Consider these parallels between the Exodus passage and Paul’s writings in the New Testament. In Exodus:
— God came down from heaven in a cloud and His voice was heard, sounding like thunder.
— The people were consecrated then gathered together as a people holy to the Lord
— They were only allowed to go up to the mountain when a ram’s horn (trumpet) sounded a long blast

Now read 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17: “And the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a loud shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are still alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

These two passages are but a tiny sample of the scriptures that speak of the rapture. I firmly believe in the rapture, and suspect it’s not far off. I hope your studies of scripture will convince you that the rapture is real as well.

Rapture 2 — The Word Translated Rapture

Many who use the word rapture are called Heretics because “rapture” isn’t found in scripture.

The word “demons” is not found in the NT either. But, the Greek word possessed, meaning: to have an evil, foul, or seducing spirit, is – daimonion. The term “millennial reign” is not found either, but the phrase 1,000 years is! Neither is the phrase “2nd coming” found anywhere in the Bible. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 3:13, and 5:23 Paul writes about the coming of the Lord Jesus. We call it the 2nd coming because he already came once before! Likewise, the word “trinity” isn’t found in the Bible, but we talk freely about God in three persons, the blessed trinity! 1 John 5:7-8 For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. None of these words, except rapture, gets anyone labeled a heretic!

The word rapture, comes from the Latin translation of the Koiné Greek of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. Eventually, the language in the church changed from Greek to Latin. Saint Jerome was given this task, and used the word raptus (other Latin translations use rapiemur, or rapturo) to translate the Greek word harpazo, which in English is “caught up”. One example of this is the following translation: Dominus in iussu et in voce archangeli et in tuba Dei descendet de caelo et mortui qui in Christo sunt resurgent primi deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus.

The word rapture (gathered up) is the Latin translation “rapturo” (from a noun form of the verb “rapiemur”) of the Greek word harpazo, which means to be seized or plucked up by force, to catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force). This has the image of someone who has been grabbed by the hair and yanked out of trouble. On that day, it may be that some of you will be simply caught up and some will have to be yanked out of here! Which person will you be?

Rapture 3 — The Gathering!

Paul writes to us about the gathering together, the resurrection of the dead, and the final return of Christ in Ephesians, Hebrews, and Thessalonians:
— Hebrews 12:22-24: “general assembly”; to assemble all together
— Ephesians: 1:10: “gathered together in one”; to sum all up together in one
— 2 Thessalonians 1:2-3: “gathering together to him.”; a complete collection of
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “gathered up” to be seized or plucked up by force

John 14:1-3, John 5:28-29, and John 6:39-40 speak about His return to gather us together. Jesus, when talking to Martha after the death of Lazarus, put it this way: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Martha, do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). In other words, the dead are resurrected first, and then the living are changed from mortal to immortal!

In Nehemiah and Ezra, every seven years, during the Sabbath rest for the land, all of the people would gather at the Temple Mount for a great assembly, at which the Torah Scroll was received by the King from the High Priest. In Revelation 4 & 5, the saints gather together with the angels in a great assembly at the crystal sea of glass, or the platform where God’s throne is. Revelation 5:5-7 tells us that The King enters the platform at the Temple and reads from the seven sealed scroll.

Some English versions use the word translated, rather than caught up, or gathered together, or taken up because Hebrews 11:5 says: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” So, we could say that some day we’re “going through the translation”, or we are “going to the great assembly”, or we are “going to the gathering together”.

Either way, it is just as simple to say we are “going to be raptured!”.

Rapture 4 — The Great Escape

We know that the time of God’s wrath is also known as the great tribulation (Revelation 2:22, 7:14). It is also called the time of Jacob’s trouble in Jeremiah 30:7, and a time great earthly and heavenly changes in Isaiah 13:13. Jesus warns about these things in Matthew 24. Daniel 9:27 identifies this time as one week, or one shabua, in other words, a period of seven years. Revelation 4-19 talks about a period of 42 months, times 2, or seven years. It comprises both the time of the “Wrath of the Lamb” and the “Wrath of God”.

— Zephaniah 2:1-2 warns us to: Gather yourselves together, yes, gather, . . . . before the decree (time of wrath) takes effect. In other words, The humble of the earth will be hidden in the day of the LORD’S anger.
— Deuteronomy 32:21 tells us that an undesirable nation (the church) will be raised up to provoke Israel to jealousy. This undesirable nation is to be gathered together before the day of God’s wrath: Mathew 21:43, 1 Peter 2:9, Daniel 9:27, Revelation 12:14.
— Psalm 27:5 In the day of trouble we will be conceaed in His tabernacle, In the secret place of His tent, we will be lifted up on a rock.
— Luke 21:36 – pray that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place.
— 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Those who have died will be raised to live forever, and we will all be changed in an instant.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: We are gathered up in the clouds to meet the Lord and will be with the Lord forever.
— Matthew 25:1-13 Those who are ready go in with him to the wedding feast; and the door is shut.

What scripture teaches absolutely in Isaiah 26 is that when the dead are raised, the righteous people will be hidden in a chamber (behind closed doors) during the time of wrath (or time of indignation) until it has passed. Since Jesus is in heaven during the time of wrath, so also shall the righteous be in heaven with Him.  According to John 14:3 – After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.

Rapture 5 — The Wedding Pattern

John 14:1-3 – Jesus said,“¹Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. ²There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.”

The Jewish marriage ceremony is a perfect prophetic parallel of the coming of Jesus to take his church to be his bride, and the rapture. Just as the bride in a Jewish marriage ceremony is hidden away for seven days, similarly the believer is hidden away for seven years during the time of God’s indignation or wrath ( i.e.; the tribulation period).

In a Jewish Wedding, the woman is “lifted up” and carried to the new home (where her husband is) “I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am” (John 14:2). When the bridegroom comes, they go to his fathers house and the couple enters the Chuppah, or marital chamber. Once there they shut and lock the doors and stay within for seven days. “The bridesmaids who were ready went in with the bridegroom to the wedding feast. Then the door was closed and locked” (Matthew 25:10).

In English thinking, we get the idea that you simply go into a bedroom and shut the door. However, in Hebrew, the picture is one of concealment – the husband and wife go into the chamber and are hidden away for seven days. After the concealment, or consummation of the marriage, then they exit for the marriage supper or celebration meal.

Two more examples of this concealment are found in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 26:19-21, we see the picture of those who come into their chambers and shut the door until the day of indignation is over. This is repeated in Song of Solomon 2:8 and 13: 10 My lover spoke and said to me, “Get up, my darling; let’s go away, my beautiful one.” Again, this Hebrew image of concealment.

These three patterns are perfect pictures of the concealment of the Bride of Christ in Heaven during the tribulation.

The Complete Marriage/Rapture Pattern:
In a Jewish marriage, the husband-to-be (groom) would leave his father’s home and travel to his betrothed’s (bride) home. Jesus left his heavenly home, where his father dwells, and traveled to the home of his betrothed, the church, here on earth.

At this point, the groom would establish and pay the purchase price for the bride. Jesus paid the ultimate price by being crucified and shedding his blood.    He would then offer the cup of betrothal to his prospective bride, thereby pledging his life to and for his bride.  If the bride accepted this promise, she would then drink of the cup confirming that she, too, would pledge her life to and for her betrothed.

The groom would then go back to his father’s home and build an addition for himself and his bride, promising to return for his betrothed. Jesus has returned to heaven and promises to return for his bride, the church.

At the end of the separation, the groom would show up unannounced to take his bride home, but only after his father had given him permission to do so. Again, Jesus will show up when we do not expect him to do so, and only the Father in Heaven knows the date and time!

When the groom got to his bride’s home, he would wait outside for the bride to join him. When Jesus returns, he will not come all the way to the Earth, but will wait for us to join him in the clouds.

Once the groom and betrothed were together, they proceeded to the groom’s new home, which was the same home as his father’s. Jesus will return with his betrothed to the Father’s heavenly home.

Once back at the father’s home, the groom and bride then would be concealed in the Chuppah for seven days. Jesus will keep his bride, the church, in heaven during the entire seven year tribulation period.

At the end of the seven day period, the husband brings forth his bride so that everyone can see her, and the marriage supper begins. At the end of the tribulation period Jesus will come with all his saints and every eye shall see heaven opened!

Conclusion:
The marriage ceremony is a perfect prophetic parallel of the rapture. Jesus is in his Father’s home, preparing a place for us, his bride. He will come to take us there, and we will be hidden in heaven during the tribulation period. At the end of the tribulation period Jesus will then bring forth his bride so that everyone can see her.

Rapture 6 — The Righteous Are Spared

Scripture tells us that the righteous are not condemmed to wrath, but are spared, whereas the unrighteous are punished. It tells us that as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so it will be in the day when Christ returns.

So, how was it in the days of Noah and Lot?
— Noah escaped the flood: Hebrews 11:7
— Lot escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: Genesis 18:25-19:29

And in other days?
— The Hebrews escaped from death: Exodus 12:23
— Rahab escaped death when Jericho is overthrown: Hebrews 11:31
— The Godly are saved: 2 Peter 2:9
— There are those who will escape during the tribulation period by heading to or living in Jordan: Luke 21:21 and Daniel 11:41
— The righteous will escape the famines and death that will be brought against a land that sins against God: Ezekiel 14:13-14
— There are 144,000 that escape the antichrist: Revelation 7:3
— Matthew is a study in this separation of the Righteous and the Unrighteous
— The good fish and bad fish are separated from the net
— The wheat is separated from the tares at the harvest
— The five wise and five foolish bridesmaids are separated at the door
— Those with wedding garments are separated from those who have none
— The sheep are separated from the goats
— The profitable and unprofitable servants
— One worker is taken, the other left
— Even Luke states that One sleeper in bed is taken, the other left

And the ungodly or unrighteous?
— The unrighteous are kept under punishment for the day of judgment: 2 Peter 2:9

Rapture 7 — Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, or Post-Trib?

Fourteen Reasons For A Pre-Tribulation Rapture:
1.  Isaiah 1:9 –  The tribulation is a time to bring forth a remnant from within Israel.
2.  Isaiah 13:9 – The tribulation is a time to destroy sinners from the earth.
3.  Jeremiah 30:7 – The tribulation is a time of Jacob’s trouble, not a time of judging the church.
4.  Nahum 1& 2 – God reserves His wrath for His enemies.
5.  Zephaniah 2:1-2 – We are gathered together before the decree takes effect.
6.  Luke 21:36 – We are to pray to escape all these things.
7.  John 5, 6, 14 – Jesus returns to take us to be where He is.  He is in heaven during the tribulation period.
8.  I Thessalonians 5:9 – The Lord has not appointed us to wrath.
9.  Hebrews 4:9 – The church will have a time of Sabbath rest in heaven.
10. Hebrews 12:22-24 – The church is enrolled in heaven.
11. 2 Peter 2:9 – the Lord keeps the unrighteous for the day of judgment.
12. Revelation 3:10 – The Lord will keep the church from the hour of testing that will come upon all the earth.
13. Revelation 11:18 – The tribulation is a time to judge the nations for their sins against God’s chosen people, not the saints and not the church which is judged at the Bema seat of Christ.
14. Revelation 12:17 –  The tribulation is a time to bring forth a remnant from within Israel.

Rapture 8 — Advance Notice?

“Advance Notice” on the rapture? Surely you jest. Didn’t Jesus say of that day and hour now one knows? Jesus did, indeed, say that, but in other scriptures, a definite pattern showing “Advance Notice” of rapture-like events can be noticed. How so?

ENOCH
Enoch walked with the Lord 300 more years after Methuselah was born, then was taken. Scholars interpret Methuselah’s name to mean: his death brings, specifically his death would bring the flood that would destroy the world. Did Enoch, perhaps, have “Advance Notice” of when he would be taken? Scripture doesn’t specifically tell us . . .

LOT
Lot didn’t get much advance notice to leave town before disaster, no more than a few hours at best. Jesus tells us that the rapture will occur at a time when life will be as it was in the days of Noah and Lot. Since both Noah’s and Lot’s rescue from disaster are pictures of the rapture, Could the angel’s warnings to him the eve before his departure to the mountain town of Zoar be considered “Advance Notice”? . . .

NOAH
When the flood came, Noah and his family were safely kept out of the flood on the ark. Throughout his life prior to the flood Methuselah was alive. Seven days after his death, the flood began. Could his death be considered “Advance Notice” to Noah and those living at that time? Certainly the shutting of the door to the ark seven days before the flood would have been “Advance Notice” to Noah and his family inside the ark!

ELIJAH
Twice, scripture tells us that the day of Elijah’s departure, or rapture, was known to the sons of the prophets (2 Kings 2, verses 3 and 5). This definitely sounds like it could be considered “Advance Notice” . . .

JESUS
While Jesus and his disciples were discussing the restoration of the kingdom, Jesus was taken up into the clouds. In those days, there was no Facebook, Twitter, nor cell phone service! Is it possible that Jesus knew when He would be taken up, and timed it so that His disciples would be there with Him at the time? Perhaps Jesus had some “Advance Notice” of this event. Scripture simply doesn’t tell us . . .

BIRTH PANGS
From the moment a woman conceives a nine month “Advance Notice” is given that she is going to have a baby. Some women go months and not even realize they are pregnant, and in rare cases, not even until the baby is coming out!!! Some babies are born early without much warning, and in other cases are “overdue”. No matter when the actual day and hour of the birth, all know the “season”. Jesus links His next coming with birth pangs, and since the birth pangs appear to be increasing in both frequency and intensity, consider yourself, without doubt, to have been given “Advance Notice” that the event is immanent — we aren’t just in the warning phase!

THE THREE DAYS
Numerous times before a gathering together, the people are commanded to cleanse themselves and prepare for the gathering. Two notable instances of “Advance Notice” occur in Old Testament Scripture. In Exodus 19, the gathering at the mountain is definitely a picture of the rapture – the parallels between this passage and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 are quite clear. In Joshua, prior to the people being brought into the promised land, a picture of the rapture when the bride of Christ is taken in their promised land, Heaven, the people must first prepare for three days. Notice that after the preparation, the people follow the Ark of the Covenant at about 2000 cubits. We are now about 2000 years behind our ark, Jesus, returning to His father’s side in Heaven! Hosea 6:1-3 tells us that He will raise us up in the third day, and we shall live in his sight.

ROSH HASHANAH
Rosh Hashanah, also called The Feast of Trumpets or the New Moon, celebrates the Resurrection of the Righteous, Kingship of the Lord, and Marriage of the Lamb. Only when two witnesses see the edge of the moon, can the festival start. They had a two day period in which they knew it would happen, but not the exact day or time. Hence, the expression Jesus used: You do not know the day or the hour.”

THE WEDDING
In a Jewish Wedding, after agreeing on the bride-price, the groom would then go back to his father’s home and build an addition for himself and his bride, promising to return for his betrothed, but only after his father had given him permission to do so. Once the father gave permission, the friend of the groom would go to the bride’s home to announce that the groom was on his way to lift up his bride and carry her to the new home. In effect, the bride and her bridesmaids were given a very minimal “Advance Notice” that the wedding was about to begin.

Conclusion:
While some of the above examples may be stretching the idea of an “Advance Notice” a bit, a definite pattern showing “Advance Notice” of rapture-like events can be noticed and the possibility that an “Advance Notice” may be given. Will it be a hundred year notice? Will it be a week’s notice? Will it be a three day notice? Will it be just a few hours or minutes? Scripture doesn’t give us a definite answer to this question. However, the two final examples were well known to Jesus’ Disciples, and when he said: “You do not know the day or the hour” they would have immediately thought of one or both and understood that He wasn’t saying they would be caught totally blind as to the timing, and would more than likely have some “Advance Notice”. Paul may be confirming this possibility in 1 Thessalonians 5:4, when he says: “But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”

Whether or not God chooses to give us “Advance Notice”, the patterns indicate that He might. Whether or not we get an “Advance Notice” matters not. One can only ask: “How close are we to the return of Christ?”

Rapture 9 — In A Twinkling or In A Time?

Poof! We’re gone in an instant but our clothes, jewelry, and other worldly items simply fall to the ground. This “in the blink of an eye” image of the rapture being instantaneous has been popularized by numerous books, including Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins’ Left Behind series, and Joel C. Richardson’s Dead Heat. This “gone in an instant” image makes for great reading, but is this image supported by scripture or is it fiction? My answer may surprise you!

A Twinkling
1st Corinthians 15:52-53 says: “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 this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Is Paul talking about the rapture, or about a change that must occur before we are raptured to stand in the presence of God? I say, the latter. Before we can enter into Heaven itself, our mortal, corrupt bodies must be fully cleansed and renewed, taking on their immortal and incorruptible form. This I believe, is what Paul is saying. An interesting parallel is found in Luke Chapter 9, when Jesus first becomes transfigured before entering the cloud to speak to Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:29&34 “29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.”). The change, then is instantaneous!

A Time
But what about the rapture, itself? Is it also an instantaneous event? I think not. There are too many patterns of the rapture in scripture that do not fit this image.

Exodus Chapter 19 is one of the most accurate patterns of the coming rapture. When Moses (and Aaron) went up into the cloud, he was carefully watched by the Hebrews below until he entered into the cloud. When Elijah was taken up, or raptured, Elisha, and undoubtedly one or both schools of prophets, watched him enter the chariot and ascend into heaven (2 Kings 2:11 “As they were walking and talking, a chariot and horses of fire appeared and separated Elijah from Elisha. Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw it and shouted, “My father! My father!” I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.”). In neither instance was there an instantaneous disappearance, and nobody’s clothing was left behind in a heap!

The same method can be seen in Acts Chapter 1 when Jesus ascended to the Father. Acts 1:9-11 puts it this way: “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” This ascension was so fascinating to those watching that two “men” had to interrupt them and basically tell them to get on with their lives until Jesus returned!

Note that scripture tells us that people were watching as Jesus was going, not when he disappeared into thin air! The word, going, is the Greek word πορεύομαι poreuomai (G4198). It means: to traverse, that is, to travel, to depart, to go away, to make or to take a journey or a walk. In no way does poreuomai (going) indicate an instantaneous disappearance.

Conclusion:
While the “gone in an instant” image of the rapture is great reading, I believe it is simply good fiction and not supported by scripture. The rapture patterns clearly show that it will be a visible event, that it will take a moment or two in time from beginning to end, and that it will be clearly able to be watched as it transpires. It is only the change from mortal to immortal that scripture describes as instant in nature, immediately followed by the rapture. I see the sequence of events as follows:
1. We are changed in an instant: 1st Corinthians 15:52-53
2. We are then immediately taken up into the clouds to meet Jesus: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

As you ponder these things, ask yourself: “How close are we to the return of Christ?”

Rapture 10— No One Knows The Hour

Matthew 24:36 – “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”

1. We do not know the day or the hour: A Reference to Rosh Hashanah?
The Feast of Trumpets is also called Rosh Hashanah. It is the festival of the Jewish New Year, and the only feast that celebrates the New Moon. It starts on the first day of the first month. Its three main themes are Resurrection of the Righteous, Kingship of the Lord, and Marriage of the Lamb. Another name for Rosh Hashanah is Yom Hakish – the day of hiding. This comes from the New Moon being “hidden”. When there is a full moon, it is not concealed or hidden. But, when there is a new moon, it is hidden or concealed. Only when two witnesses see the edge of the moon, can the festival start. They had a two day period in which they knew it would happen, but not the exact time. Hence, “You do not know the day or the hour.”

The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) uses 100 distinct shofar blasts but only four different types of blasts during the festival. The first type is the tekia (3 second sustained notes), the second type is the shevarim (three 1 second notes rising in tone), the third type is the tehruav (a short series of staccato blasts extending over 3 seconds). The fourth and final type is the tekia hagodulah (a final longest and loudest blast that sounds as long as the sounder can expel breath through the shofar). This fourth type is known to the Jews as the “Last Trump” or as the “Trump of God”. In Exodus 19, when this trump was sounded, God came down and Moses went up! In Thesalonians 4, when this trump is sounded, the Bride of Christ rises to meet Jesus in the clouds.

2. We do not know the day or the hour: A Reference to The Wedding?
Only the father of the groom can determine when the new home that his son is building for himself and his bride is finished. Only the father of the groom can determine when it is time for the groom to go get his bride. Hence, “You do not know the day or the hour.”

3. But We can tell the season.
Matthew 24:33 – “In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to come.”

When we see the beginnings of pains (often translated sorrows), we know that the time is near – Matthew 24:1-14. As the pregnant woman approaches the time to give birth, She writhes and cries out in her labor pains . . . Isaiah 26:17-18.

The word know, γινώσκω ginōskō [G1097], a prolonged form of a primary verb; to “know” (absolutely), means to — allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) known (-ledge), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand. The word translated near, εγγύς eggus [G1451], means: literally or figuratively, of place or time which is at hand, near, nigh (at hand, unto), ready. Hence, the season will be known.

The Greek word for pains is: ωδίν ōdin [G5604] “a pang or throe, especially of childbirth:—pain, sorrow, travail” The Hebrew word for pains is: חֵבֶל chebel [H2256b]. Again, when we see the whole creation, especially the Earth, groaning with “birth pains”, wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, etc., we know that the time (or season) is near.

Therefore:
Jesus, in proclaiming that “No one knows the day or hour” was not stating that the rapture event would be impossible to see coming. Just the opposite – he clearly states that the season during which this will happen should be plainly obvious to everyone. If we look at the Rosh Hashanah model, everyone knows within two days when this celebration will begin. If we look at the wedding model, everyone in town would know when completion was getting close, but not which day the father would tell his son to go get his bride.

Given the many birth pains that are beginning to happen in these days, one can only ask: “How close are we to the return of Christ?”

Rapture 11— So, just where, on God’s timeline, are we?

– Russia and Iran have formed an alliance based on sales of weapons from Russia to Iran that states that Russia will help defend Iran in the event of a war with Israel and its allies.
– Russia has also formed and alliance with China, called the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and has ties to Libya and other Arab/Muslin nations.
– Turkey has formed key alliances with Lebanon, Syria, and Iran for mutual defense against enemy attacks.
– There have been several recent shake-ups of governments in Jordon, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and other countries
– War is endemic around the globe, and terrorist attacks are almost a daily occurrence.

The Rapture is Imminent!
All of these things point to the nearness of the Rapture, but none tells us exactly when it will be. We simply know that because of these thing, the Rapture is at hand, or near. The words at hand, or near, mean “imminent.” Imminent means “impending.” Hence it could happen immediately, within ten minutes, ten months, or ten years. “Imminence” is always the meaning of at hand when speaking about the return of the Lord. For example,
– Romans 13:12 – ¹²the night is far gone, the day is near.
– Philippians 4:5 – ⁵Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
– 1 Peter 4:7 – ⁷The time is near when all things will end.

Ok, so the Rapture is imminent, but exactly where are we on the timeline?
Here’s where I see the timeline:
++ The Rapture may happen.
– The immediate nations surrounding Israel join together to go to war against Israel. Psalm 83 and Isaiah 14-19
– Israel will win this war and be at peace.
++ The Rapture may happen.
– Russia and its allies will then come against Israel. Ezekiel 38-39
– God Himself will win the victory, and once again Israel will be at peace.
++ The Rapture may happen.
– The seven year treaty is signed, and the tribulation period of seven years begins.

Notice that I’ve given several possibilities for when the Rapture may happen!
It could take place before major war breaks out in the Middle East, hence before the immediate nations surrounding Israel invade. OR, it could happen after one or more major wars, as God does not want anyone to be lost, and what better way to show His omnipotence than to let everyone witness His people’s victory over their immediate enemies or after His victory over Russia and its allies.

As of late 2010, there seemed to be a lull in the fulfillment of end times prophecies. It was as if the stage was set, but the actors and actresses were still in the changing rooms putting on their makeup and costumes. Now, in the fall of 2011, fulfillment of end times prophecies seem to be picking up once again. Russia and Libya are on the road to forming a coalition. The comet Elenin which has spent close to 3000 years at the feet of the lion (Constellation Leo) is once again active along with other heavenly signs in relation to the woman of Revelation 12 (Constellation Virgo). Today we are one day closer to the return of Christ than we were yesterday. Tomorrow we will be even one day closer. Jesus’s return is imminent. Amen, Maranatha!!

Rapture 12— What Are We To Do While We Wait?

Five things we should be doing while we wait for our Lord and Savior to appear are listed below:
Watch And Be Ready
Mark 13:33 . . . “Be careful! Always be ready, because you don’t know when that time will be.”
Pray And Be Ready:
Luke 21:36 . . .” So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Purify Oneself:
1 John 3:2-3 . . . 2But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him, because we will see him as he really is. 3Christ is pure, and all who have this hope in Christ keep themselves pure like Christ.
Abide In Christ:
1 John 2:28 . . . Yes, my dear children, live in him so that when Christ comes back, we can be without fear and not be ashamed in his presence.
Look For His Coming:
Hebrews 9:28 . . . And he will come a second time, not to offer himself for sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Either way, One can only ask: “How close are we to the return of Christ?” The return of Jesus to gather His people together and keep them from the time of wrath is imminent. Be sure you are prepared. We are not yet in the Tribulation, a period of seven years, but we are very close. The sand in God’s hourglass is running out!

Scripture confirms this. Amen and Amen, Maranatha, Hallelujah!