Rapture and End Times

The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it are blessed, because the time is near! (Revelation 1:3)

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Is the time near?

Let’s review the latest world news:

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Trilateral Commission Declares “2023 is Year One of this new global order” Technocracy March 17, 2023

The Trilateral Commission’s 50th anniversary marks the culmination of its self-proclaimed “New International Economic Order”. On March 12, the Trilateral Commission held its plenary meeting in New Delhi, India to discuss issues relating to globalization. Trilateral Commission co-founder Zbigniew Brzezinski’s “Technetronic Era” has apparently officially arrived.

Amid the new world alliances that are forming as India and China seek to normalize relations and as China just brokered a relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the globalist narrative has opened a new, and possibly final, chapter. According to NikkeiAsia, one unnamed Trilateral Commission member addressed the plenary meeting and stated,

“Three decades of globalization — defined as integrated, free-market based and deflationary — has been replaced by what will be a multidecade period of globalization defined as fragmented, not-free-market-based but industrial-policy based and structurally inflationary. This year, 2023, is Year One of this new global order.”

This reflects Brzezinski’s early strategy to transform the world as he wrote in Between Two Ages: America’s Role in the Technetronic Era:

“The nation-state as a fundamental unit of man’s organized life has ceased to be the principal creative force: International banks and multinational corporations are acting and planning in terms that are far in advance of the political concepts of the nation-state.”

Welcome to the “new global order”.

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Russia: New Cold War is Over, We Are Now in ‘Hot Conflict With the United States’ Breitbart, April 6, 2023

The new Cold War is already over, a Kremlin spokesman has said, apparently looking past Russia’s own role in invading Ukraine and accusing the United States of “playing with fire” by pushing the world towards nuclear war that he insists Russians wish to avoid.

The comments come just hours after Russia announced it had deployed nuclear-capable missiles to the borders of NATO in Belarus, and refitted Belarussian jets with the equipment to carry and drop nuclear bombs. Moscow made a tacit accusation that the United States was to blame for this, saying Russia was doing no more than America already did, in stationing nuclear weapons in the territory of European allies.

Speaking Wednesday, Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov made the ‘hot war’ comments and said, per a release on his discussion from a government-controlled news and propaganda service: “I think we have already passed this period [of Cold War]. Now we are in the phase of a hot conflict with the United States. We are witnessing the direct involvement of that country in a hybrid war with Russia on various fronts”.

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Israel’s Pyromaniacs Could Draw It Into a Deadly Large-scale Conflict Haaretz, April 7, 2023

Wednesday night, while most Israelis sat around the seder table, police forces once again burst into Al-Aqsa Mosque and used stun grenades, foam-tipped bullets and batons. This operation, like the one that preceded it late Tuesday night, not only disrupted the Ramadan routine of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Jerusalem but also immediately diminished the security of all Israelis. In response to these actions, two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip Wednesday night, and on Thursday rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel.

The chain of events that led to police raiding the mosque began with the provocation caused by a small group of far-right activists when they tried to sacrifice a goat for Passover on the Temple Mount. Police claim they are preventing the activists from approaching the site and that in any event they won’t be allowed to disrupt Muslim worship there during the month of Ramadan. Nevertheless, the Palestinians’ fear of harm to their holy site, especially during Ramadan, is understandable: In recent years, police have allowed Jews to pray on the Temple Mount despite the status quo; furthermore, the most prominent Temple Mount and “Third Temple” activists are a key component of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, an integral member of the most extreme movements and the lawyer of participants in past animal sacrifices, is now in charge of security on the Temple Mount. The dividing line between Temple activists and the Israeli government has never been blurrier. Police officials claim the Al-Aqsa raid was unavoidable, after hundreds of young people barricaded themselves inside the mosque with rocks and fireworks. This claim, however, must be examined. The vast majority of Muslims who come to Al-Aqsa do so to pray, not to brawl. If only they had the necessary will, the police and government would have found many moderate elements in the Jerusalem Waqf and in Jordan, and dialogue with them would have made it possible to avoid the use of force.

Continuing with the current policy is liable to set off a wave of violence and another round of fighting like that in May 2021. The events on the Temple Mount and the shock waves in the south and the north are part of the price we pay for the irresponsible coalition that Netanyahu established. The pyromaniacs who make up this coalition could drag Israel into a dangerous large-scale conflict. They will bear the responsibility for its consequences.

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The end is indeed near. What is our hope as Christians?

Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

The word rapture comes from the Latin rapere, meaning, “to seize” or “to abduct.” It is translated from the Greek word that is rendered “caught up” in English Bibles today.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:18-23)

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Pretribulationism – Going up before the Tribulation

Pretribulationism teaches that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation starts. At that time, the church will meet Christ in the air, and then sometime after that the Antichrist is revealed and the Tribulation begins. In other words, the Rapture and Christ’s Second Coming (to set up His kingdom) are separated by at least seven years. According to this view, the church does not experience any of the Tribulation.

This hope should inspire us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God, knowing that we will one day be with him in heaven.

Scripturally, the pretribulational view has much to commend it. For example, the church is not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 5:9), and believers will not be overtaken by the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-9). The church of Philadelphia was promised to be kept from “the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world” (Revelation 3:10). Note that the promise is not preservation through the trial but deliverance from the hour, that is, from the time period of the trial.

Pretribulationism also finds support in what is not found in Scripture. The word “church” appears nineteen times in the first three chapters of Revelation, but, significantly, the word is not used again until chapter 22. In other words, in the entire lengthy description of the Tribulation in Revelation, the word church is noticeably absent. In fact, the Bible never uses the word “church” in a passage relating to the Tribulation.

Pretribulationism is the only theory which clearly maintains the distinction between Israel and the church and God’s separate plans for each. The seventy “sevens” of Daniel 9:24 are decreed upon Daniel’s people (the Jews) and Daniel’s holy city (Jerusalem). This prophecy makes it plain that the seventieth week (the Tribulation) is a time of purging and restoration for Israel and Jerusalem, not for the church.

Also, pretribulationism has historical support. From John 21:22-23, it would seem that the early church viewed Christ’s return as imminent, that He could return at any moment. Otherwise, the rumor would not have persisted that Jesus would return within John’s lifetime. Imminence, which is incompatible with the other two Rapture theories, is a key tenet of pretribulationism.

And the pretribulational view seems to be the most in keeping with God’s character and His desire to deliver the righteous from the judgment of the world. Biblical examples of God’s salvation include Noah, who was delivered from the worldwide flood; Lot, who was delivered from Sodom; and Rahab, who was delivered from Jericho (2 Peter 2:6-9).

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Understanding the timing of the Rapture

The key to understanding the timing of the Rapture is knowing that very soon there will be a dark seven year period called the Tribulation. Just prior to the Tribulation, Jesus will gather all true believers to him. This gathering is the Rapture!

The 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).

Jewish wedding event / Jesus and Church

* Groom pays a Bride price (Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross).

* Bride prepares herself (wears white robe representing righteous 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)

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After the Rapture

Immediately following the Rapture is the End Times. The Great Tribulation period will be a time of unprecedented suffering and persecution on earth. This period will be marked by wars, natural disasters, famine, disease, and the rise of a global political and religious system known as the Antichrist. This system will seek to dominate the world and force all people to worship it, with severe consequences for those who refuse.

The two most important chapters in the Bible relating to the Tribulation are Matthew 24 and Revelation 6:

*  This describes when the Antichrist and his prophet comes into the world to offer a false peace and to conquer:

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)

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*  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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (Matthew 24:6-7)

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)

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*  In this time period, there will be a deadly famine leading to massive death:

And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. (Matthew 24:7)

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.” (Revelation 6:5-8)

All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7)

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)

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*  Next, 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 24:9)

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 Beast 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 End Times and the Tribulation, Matthew 24 and Revelation 6, agree completely on this sequence of events: the Antichrist coming into the world to conquer, 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. Why? Jesus described it this way:

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:26-30)

In both of His examples, the righteous people were saved first, then came swift destruction for the wicked. There was no apparent warning.

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. (Matthew 24:39-41)

In other words, the Rapture will come as a complete surprise, and during normal activities. It will come before the Tribulation!

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So, when will the Rapture happen?

In the book of Matthew, we see Jesus teaching the Apostles that his Rapture of the bride will be linked to a certain generation:

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near—at the door! I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until 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 to 80 years:

Our lives last seventy years
or, if we are strong, eighty years.
Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow;
indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)

Now, applying simple addition, we can add 80 years to 1948 = 2028, and conclude that the Second Coming is near. This is the season for His return and for all that was prophesied to be fulfilled.

There a two other powerful clues:

* 6,000 Years from Adam to the Second Coming = 2018 (rough estimate)

* 2,000 years from Jesus’ First Coming to His Second Coming = 2030 (approximate)

God entire plan and timeline of the Earth and heaven were laid out from the beginning. It is amazing that these 3 dates, 2018, 2028, and 2030, are within years of each other. With just these clues, we are clearly being shown to pay attention to the signs of the times.

The Pre-Tribulational Rapture Viewpoint provides believers in Christ with hope, urgency, and motivation. We know that the time is near, and that we must be ready for Christ’s return at any moment. This knowledge should inspire us to live our lives in a way that honors God and to share the gospel message with others. While we do not know when Christ will return, we can be confident that he will come, and that we will be with him in heaven for all eternity.

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So, on what day will the Rapture happen?

No calculation can determine the day or hour.

Using another parable, Jesus describes His return this way:

“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming. It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” (Mark 13:32-37)

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But, for those who think that the end is far off, here is a word from Peter:

First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God. Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded. But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:3-9)

It should be noted that a woman travailing in birth is utilized in yet another New Testament passage, and there it also refers to the Rapture:

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3)

The “birth pains” of the world are building and converging towards an unprecedented climax. There is an upcoming “delivery date” for the Rapture, known only to the Lord.

The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

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“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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