WHY THE RAPTURE BEFORE THE GREAT TRIBULATION; Nine Powerful Reasons
THIS COULD CONVINCE THE GREATEST DOUBTERS! THE CLIMATE OF OUR WORLD, SPIRITUALLY, POLITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY ARE ALL SET IN DIRECT ORDER FOR THE GREAT TRIBULATION TO BEGIN! But that Seven year period cannot start until the Son Of God removes HIS Bride. Here are nine powerful and clear Biblical principles for a “CATCHING AWAY” to occur and then, and only then, to open the door for Satan to be cast down to the earth. Satan will be free when Christ’s Bride is removed to reveal his Antichrist. The words “CATCHING AWAY” are perfect words to translate the English word Rapture from the Greek word “HARPOSA”. The word “HARPOSA” has all of the meanings which embodies the “RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS” out of the impending darkness. It is an endearment term with all the love of Christ for His Bride.
1. It Fits Biblical Precedence Of God’s Judgment For The Wicked! David was bold in his proclamation, “I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25) To suggest that God the Father will deny 6000 years of history and judge the church in the same horrible hour as the wicked doesn’t fit His character. The nature of the tribulation period, the final judgment of man’s wickedness, makes that suggestion even less likely. When the antediluvian world reached its zenith of debauchery and the Father was ready to pour out His wrath, Noah found grace, unmerited favor, in His eyes. Noah’s family was saved while the rest of mankind was completely obliterated. The law of first mention makes this event a powerful factor. Sodom and Gomorrah had descended into the mire of sexual perversion. There is a good possibility that a disease like AIDS was proliferating and God acted to stop the plague. The very geography of the landscape had to be cleansed by fire and destruction.
2. The Church Is To Be Judged Before The Wicked World Is Judged! Rather than positioning the church in the tribulation judgment, the Biblical warning is that judgment begins at the house of God. Privilege is always a factor in determining God’s judgment. He said . . . For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (St. Luke 12:48b) Apostle Peter, clearly distinguishing himself as a New Testament leader, warned, “For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God: (Remember, it was the Jewish nation that was first to be judged in the First Testament) and if it first begin at us (the Second Testament believers) what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (I Peter 4:17) Our judgment is of a different nature from the First Testament but clearly precedes that of both the Judgement of the Jewish and the Gentile world.
3. The Bride Of Christ Is To Be Presented Unto Himself In An Exclusive Ceremony Separate From All Other End-Time Events! Redemption is much, much more than fire insurance. The root and foundation of God’s love for the world and sending His only begotten Son is a desire to have a family. The family unit is the closest thing on earth to the heart of God, His very nature. The invitation to salvation is an invitation to a marriage feast and establishes a family relationship. Worship in its truest sense is a celebration of that family relationship with our spiritual priest; we celebrate His love until we can celebrate His presence. This marriage salvation is a betrothing experience that lives everyday in expectation of the wedding celebration. We are like a young virgin looking at His picture, as we anxiously anticipate His coming for the wedding. Jesus gave a parable that shows this awaiting virgin (St. Matthew 25:11-13). (MY DESCRIPTION! Ten virgins took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Five had come under the intoxicating influence of worldliness and had let their lamps go out. Five had brightly glowing lights in their lamps. Those five went to the marriage and the door was shut. Remember, God also shut the door of the ark in Noah’s day.
4. His Absolute Promise To Keep His Faithful Bride From The Hour Of Tribulation! The Holy Scripture deals effectively with His assurance that this awful hour is not designed for His chosen. The prophet Isaiah described the final episodes with minute detail: “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:19-21) In the first verse of this quote he identified the Resurrection. Next, he calls for the chosen bride to enter with Him into her chambers (an appropriate nuptial place as she prepares for her presentation to the Groom) to be securely hidden away for a short moment until the wrath or rage of God is finished. The third verse of this text pictures the going forth of God’s righteous judgment to finish sin, disclose hidden life styles, and to give an equal response from God’s holiness to man’s evil actions.
5. The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Is The Only Reasonable Explanation Of A Time When Some Are Taken And Some are Left! No sensible explanation can be given of St. Matthew 24 that excludes the warning of a sudden rapture that catches men unprepared. Jesus warned of the suddenness of that day, that only the Father knows the time and that the day was as Noah’s day, where men were eating, drinking, and giving in marriage. Then He said, “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (St. Matthew 24:40-41) He concluded the warning by saying: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (St. Matthew 24:42) To try to rearrange the Lord’s teachings and explain away this great truth borders on arrogance. When we suggest that the one being taken away is the wicked and the believer is left, then where is the wicked taken, and for what is the believer left? Any such explanation will be hard put to fit into the pattern of events. The word for “COMING” as used in this context is the Greek “PAROUSIA” not “APOLALUPSIS”. When “PAROUSIA” is used it means a coming to a specific place at a specific time for a specific meeting. It is personal. When “apokalupsis” is used as in verses 30 and 31 of this same chapter, it means the unveiling of His awesome holiness and glory. It is general rather than personal and relates to His return to fight the battle of Armageddon and to establish His kingdom.
6. Then He Warns Of A Specific Day Coming Unawares Of Which Only Those Watching Shall Escape! These verses are so crucial for establishing this great “Hope of the Church” that we must analyze them closely. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth? Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:34-36) Christians are so casual today about what constitutes readiness for the Rapture that they make me tremble. Ask a given Sunday-morning crowd: “How many are ready to go?” And you will find it hard to see the un-lifted hands. Many have not been to church in weeks, maybe never tithe, do not read the Bible more than sporadically; and yet, they feel secure and ready. The only explanation is that we are living in the great apostasy. Please note Jesus’ warning: ” . . . take heed to yourselves.” He warned of an overcharged heart, surfeiting (reveling and rioting), drunkenness (giving opportunity to drunkenness), and the cares of this life. He said the day would come as a snare (trap) and catch men unaware. Satan is right now springing his carefully devised trap to keep the bride from her readiness for her Groom. Satan is furious with the thought of you and me in the nuptial chamber with our redeeming Prince.
7. The Law Of The Farmer Demands That The Harvest Be Gathered Before The Winter Begins! No vineyard dresser or tiller of the ground would think of laboring through the spring and summer only to leave the ripened harvest in the field as the winter arrives. A wise proverb of Solomon says, “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.” (Proverb 10:5) It contradicts everything my Father has provided and promised to suggest that He won’t gather His harvest of the world until the winter of divine retribution is in full swing. Isaiah is prolific in describing this harvest out of an impending winter of evil. He prophesied, “The righteous perisheth (escapes), and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away (removed), none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.” (Isaiah 57:1) The words taken away literally mean to “collect as in harvest”. The next verse is a perfect picture of this harvest, safely cradled in her haven of rest, as evil spreads itself in defiance of the gathering storm. “He (bride) shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” (Isaiah 57:2) That storm of evil is clearly described in the next three verses. “But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom do ye make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?” (Isaiah 57:3-5)
8. The Holy Scripture Affirms Emphatically That The Antichrist Cannot Be Revealed Until A Restraining Force Is Removed! The church at Thessalonica received this word from Apostle Paul: “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8) The word “withholdeth” in verse six and “letteth” in verse seven are identical and means to restrain or hold back. A picture emerges of this great and overwhelming force of evil that is ever ready to spread across God’s creation but is restrained because of an even greater power. It is like a reservoir of water held in check by a dam. If the dam is suddenly removed, the waters will flood the valley with great destruction. Don’t ever forget that there is an invisible church within the bosom of the visible church that will not bow to the Antichrist. This sanctified company has no other love but the one King. Any one else cannot purchase her, because she has no price. She has found the pearl of great price and forfeited all other wealth. As long as His chosen are here, the Antichrist cannot be revealed. Even the New Agers are saying that their “Age of Aquarius” cannot be realized as long as the defective seed (Christians) are filling the world with negative thought patterns (the gospel of Jesus Christ). They have suggested in their literature that we must be removed to a non-physical plane (their words) before the New Age can arrive. That is one message they got right.
9. Finally: The Lord’s Absolute Promise To Catch Away His Chosen To Meet Him In The Air! Apostle Paul said, “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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) What a climactic finish to an exciting search of Holy Scripture. The Lord isn’t sending Gabriel or Michael. He is coming Himself. You hear people say the word “rapture” is not in our Bible. To begin with, the Bible wasn’t written in English, so the only word from the English language in the Greek Bible is the word Hallelujah. As with many other words, the exact equivalent of Rapture is in the above two verses. The two words “caught up” are derived from a Greek word harpazo, which means “snatched up”. My Webster dictionary gives the meaning for rapture as “transported or to snatch away”. The original Greek goes much further than the simple but powerful meaning “to snatch up”. It means “to steal openly with no thought of hiding”. includes a removal by force in expectation of a hindering power. perfect words to describe the rapture of the church.
Satan is marshalling his forces in heaven (he is the prince of the power of the air) and on earth in his effort to stop the greatest exodus in human history. The exodus from Egypt was a Biblical foreshadow, but it pales in comparison, even as the animal sacrifice fails to rightly compare to Calvary. Jesus actually descends into the atmospheric heaven below the reigning powers of Lucifer. He then leads His resurrected and glorified army back through the evil dominion to the throne of God Himself. The triumph of that event leaves Satan weakened and Michael, with his armies, casting him out and down to earth. He will never leave the earth again until he is judged and cast into the bottomless pit. (Revelation 12)
Conclusion!Those who know and serve Jesus Christ as SAVIOR and LORD will be out of here before all TERROR is UNLEASED on this earth. I contend that the Rapture must transpire before the tribulation can begin. The gathering storm has shaken the faith of many. The fire of expectancy, of watching and waiting, of looking for His appearing, has gone out of many lives. Some are looking to build a kingdom here, while others are looking for great tribulations and planning how not to take the mark. I believe that the bride should look for His appearing, occupy His spiritual and invisible kingdom, and expect to be gone when the great “deceiver” is having one final fling. “Look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Jesus: St. Luke 21:28b)
“SEVEN YEARS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION” IS THE TITLE OF “OPEN BIBLE DIALOGUE”that started three weeks ago.. The Lying Prophets hate the END TIMES Prophesies in the Bible. You can identify almost all Doctrinal error by the absence of PRE-TRIBULATION teaching. The Emergent Church hates the GREAT TRIBULATION at the same level as the Devil hates it. Do not miss Saturdays Broadcast.
Fran Vincent
Acually what you call the great tributalion is really the wrath of God. The great tribulation are the six seals and it says so in Revelation chapter seven; verse 9 which describles the church raptured and they did come out of the great tribulation. So the tribulation period is over and now starts the wrath of God is mentioned in verse 17 of Revelation. I believe the first two seals are opened. The first is not the antichrist like everyone believes but is deception and the spirit of antichrist intesifiying. Go to Matthew 24 and the six seals in revelkation ad most of it matches up. The rapture cannot happen until the sun turns dark and moon turns dark which is going to happen in 2015!!!!!!
in Matthew 24:29 Jesus say so. this matches up with Revelation
ARTHUR
My heaven continue your great God given spiritual insight…
ARTHUR
SO A DUPLICATE COMMENT IS DETCTED. WHO ARE YOU TO DISC RIMINATE MY RIGHT TO WORDS. IT IS YOU WHO WATCHES AND CONTROLLS THE AIRWAYS, BUT NOT THE FREEDOM OF VOICE…YOUR FIRST SGT TOLD YOU MANY TIMES THE SAME THING, TELL HIM THAT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS…HELLO KP OR GUARD HOUSE…
Jane
I SO agree with you. But in the 4th point you refer to the Church as the “chosen”. Please tell me you’re not Calvinists!
Jane
I”m a “whosoever will, let him come!” No Calvinist would ever say that! All that come to Christ and fully surrender are then “His Chosen.”
Pastor Chambers
Dale
“No one knows the hour or day”, is often taken out of context in
Matthew 24. Ealier in the chapter, it teaches the elect will be
gathered in the sky\heaven after the tribulation. Christians need to be
prepared for persecution and martyrdom. A Pre-trib rapture
appears to be an itching ears heresy. 2 Timothy 4:1-4
There would have to be 2 Second Comings of Christ if a pre-trib
rapture is true. Matthew 24 presents 1 after the tribulation.
Daniel 12:1-3 teaches that Daniel’s people will be rescued at the
time of the distress.
Matthew 24
29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened,
and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall
all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in
the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall
gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Gary
Dear brother, I am yet to find anywhere in Scripture that says that thr tribulation lasts seven years or that it equates with the wrath of God. The Bible in Daniel and Revelation split the seven year period into two three and half years. Is not not wrong to say that the tribulation is the wrath of God when Scripture plainly says otherwise? I’m not being contentious here as I would truly like to read your thoughts on this.
Truth Lover
Revelation 21:9-10, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,”
Mary Mazei/Murrells Inlet, SC
Dr. Chambers,
In case your readers do not know, you are one of the most well-known and respected Prophecy Educators in the world today. You are admired by those in the Pre-Trib Research Center including Dr. Tim LaHaye, Dr. Thomas Ice, Dr. Randell Price and many other theologians who teach Bible prophecy. In view of the comments so far, it is reasonable to conclude that many do not know Bible prophecy and are confused. They would do well to listen to you during this study on the radio and in this web site. God Bless you. Mary Mazei, Murrells Inlet, SC
DR Bloomquist
There will be NO Rapture WHATSOEVER of living saints until AFTER The Millennium,
when Heaven and Earth dissolve with a loud noise in fervent heat, and
the Great White Throne descends, followed by the King separating the
proverbial “sheep” from proverbial “goats” as indicated in Matthew chapter 25.
It is at THAT time (and ONLY at that time) that The Last Trumpet will sound to signal
the start of The Last Judgment (commonly known as Judgement Day), at which time most
of the dead saints throughout previous centuries and millennia will be raised back to life
and rise to meet the Lord in the air, with yet-living saints rising up to meet them.
Ed Wood
I think you provided comprehensive evidence of why the “Pre-Trib Rapture scenario is correct, Pastor Joseph. Your clarity of thought and reasoning made this a masterful presentation.
I look upon the Tribulation like this: It is certainly a time to punish rebellious humanity for opposing God at every turn, and rightly so. But it doesn’t stop there. It is also a time, a last chance for others to accept Jesus. At the very last extremity as Jerusalem is about to fall to the armies of the Antichrist, Israel will at long last accept Jesus as Lord and Messiah (Zechariah, chapter 14). But prior to that many will come to Jesus as well and be martyred for this very thing (Trib saints – Revelation 6:9-11; 7:13-17).
******
Note to Gary:
As far as the length of the Tribulation, Daniel records this reign of the Antichrist variously as “a week” the term of the Antichrist’s “covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) also lasting “a time, times and the dividing of time” in which he will “wear out the saints,” in other words oppress and kill them (Daniel 7:25). Both examples are generally considered to represent seven years.
I believe this is the very Tribulation to which Jesus referred in the Olivet Discourse – Matthew 24:21-29.
*****
By the way, Pastor Joseph, please feel free to correct me if I have made any incorrect statements here! This is something I definitely want to get right and I don’t want to mislead anyone.
hosea jeremiah
You are totally wrong!!! You are taking a text out of context, making your own doctrins!!! According to Shaul in 2 Thess 2:3, the son of perdiction will be revealed before the bride is taking away. The bride will be taken away between the 6th and 7th seal. See REV 20: 4-6, 6:16-17, 7:14, Mathew 24:29-31 !!!
Bill Scudder
I don’t know if Christ returns before the tribulation or not. Either way I am ready. Paul seems to imply that the anti-christ has to be revealed before Christ returns.
You say, “Many have not been to church in weeks, maybe never tithe, do not read the Bible more than sporadically; as if these works would save you. It’s not that we should not do these things but we are not saved by works. As for thithing, it is o where in the New Testiment that a Christian is to thithe. We are to give from the heart not under the law. That could be 10% or more or less/
azusa755@sbcglobal.net
jaimie
Dear Pastor,
What a wonderful Wedding Invitation to the believer.
Item 5 , thanks for getting to the point on who is taken and who is left behind, it needed to be said.
Absolutely Excellent article.
God Bless
jaimie
ProRight169
Hallelujah! Pastor Joe,
Your study is very timely. Over 27 years ago I was fortunate to be drawn to a very good Bible teaching church. I always did well in history in h/s and college and when I began to study the commentaries of William Hendriksen I was super enlightened. I began with The Gospel of John and moved my way through the 4, Romans and the others he was able to write before his going home to glory. If anyone were to try to study his book More Than Conquerors, which was his commentary on Revelation what a unique experience they would have. He quotes another well respected teacher R.C.H. Lenski. And they were both well versed in the 3 or 4 of the languages of the Jews and the Greek. Talk about word studies. Whew!
These men blew me away with the anointing they had along with the Godly insight to the teaching of the scriptures. You Pastor, are those men also in the way you teach. Your presentation here was excellent. How blessed anyone would be to read this and not get tied up as ‘some’ do in the expositing of the Word. This is a definate ‘bookmark’ for me and also one I will forward to others.
So good to hear a man in the world today that is still preaching the Word aright! My prayer EVERY day Pastor for the church. None of this ‘social’ gospel or ‘kingdom’ living and most the others which you’ve heard of. Just the unadulterated WORD of God.
Thank You and To God BE All The Glory!
p.s. Pastor I’m not sure my post went through so excuse me if this is a ‘double.’ Guess you can delete.
Mark Steiner
There are fewer better foreshadowings of the coming Rapture than the example of Enoch, Genesis 5, Hebrews 11:5-6. For three hundred years Enoch walked with God and “was not, for God took him.” What did Enoch do to obtain a Rapture favor with God in his time prior to the judgment of the Flood? Same thing we are commanded to do today: walk with Father God in the Name of His Son Jesus, empowered and encouraged by His Holy Spirit.
Enoch was also fed up with violence of his day (Genesis 6) as we should be today, and assumed the office of prophet at this time. He prophesied the Saints returning with Jesus: Jude 13, 14. He knew where he was going home some day. He knew we would return with Him much (about 5000 years) later. As with Enoch, He is our blessed hope: Titus 2:12-13.
Sean
I always smile when I see the sheep bleat as they head into the Rapture Trap, theology unknown before John Darby and William Miller began calculating times for the end of the world, despite the clear cut admonition of Jesus, “No one knows the time save the Father.”
Better to prepare for your own personal end of the world than to worry about when the Good Lord decides it’s time to roll up the canvas.
By the way, St Paul says the Jews haev to all acknowledge Jesus as Messiah before the end comes. That is not happening for a while, I’m sure you agree.
Ken Raggio
Perhaps you would be willing to consider the opposite view, at least for information sake.
Sandra
Well you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. Pastor Chambers is correct on the pre-trib stuff. But no matter how much “biblical proof” you present, there will be some who just DON’T GET IT! They will continue to deny as long as they are here on earth. The no raptur, or past trib, past mill. rapture is clearly a satanic push to keep Christians doubting and scared. The Lord did not want us to be worried or wondering about our fate and what would happen. The passages Pastor Chambers has put out are indeed proof. But you could show these doubting Thomas’s a bible verse that says ” Jesus will appear in the air on on *insert date here* and all believing Christians will go up in the air, and this will happen before tribulation starts” and they would still doubt and try to find proof against it. There is so many who just don’t understand bible scripture. And then there is the common sense of it all. Why would God leave his chosen “bride” on earth for this monstrosity? This tribulation wrath is meant for the unbelieving and the Jewish people to come around. Also – 7 years is misunderstood because people fail to connect it to the last week of Daniel’s 70 weeks of trouble. It stopped at year 69 and will resume at the end of the age of Grace(church here on earth). The last half (3-1/2) years i the GREAT TRibulation, which starts when the antichrist (Piece of *$*$%$*#%) stands in the temple and declares himself God. This is when the mark starts.
ken switzer
wow – we see a lot of confusion just on this post. confusion over the “coming in the air” of our Lord which is different than the 2nd coming. confusion over whether there even is a rapture, or when it takes place.
But it is pre-trib rapture all the way!! — the kingdom (1000 year millenium) is very Jewish with a temple in Jerusalem, celebrations of the Levitical feasts of G-d, and the rule of the King of Kings in Yeshua our Messiah.
The whole Bible put together — from beginning to end — a Bible in which many commentate here — but few who have read the whole thing — fewer yet who believe it all.
I talked to a “Chritian” the other day — when I asked about “the signs of the times” or more appropriately the “the time of many signs” — the man replied ———–We are not crazy like a lot of those other Christians, so we don’t sell our cars, houses, and goods in expectation of Jesus coming back, because they have been saying that for 2000 years”
——-and really does an answer like that, from a Christian who has spent his whole life going to church have to be explained???—————
quite frankly, a lot of people who attend church every Sunday — have no clue on whether their savior is coming for them, or how close the time is, and that my dear brethren is a sad, sad, testimony of the Bride of Christ
Bruce Warner
YES BUT, the ‘great tribulation’ does NOT begin until the abomination is seen standing in the holy place according to Matthew 24:15 and Matthew 24:21. The ‘great tribulation’ begins in the middle of the seven-year-long 70th Week of Daniel. Therefore, the tribulation is “a time, times and half a time” in length ie. three and one half years long according to Daniel 12.
Ed Wood
A CORRECTION!
In my note to Gary, I mistakenly referred to the time, times and dividing of time as seven years. It is actually three and a half years, the amount of time hat passes before the Antichrist breaks his covenant with many.
The entire Tribulation time is, however seven years, as I said, with the last half being the worst part. Sorry for the error!
James Lishman
Well said Pastor Joseph,
So many have their own ideas and agendas on the Rapture, and it speaks of their ignorance of the Scriptures.
One section of Revelation (at the beginning, before any trumpets are sounded and vials opened as John is called up into Heaven he already sees the Church(24 Elders) on thrones before God. How do I know it is the Church? – just look at what the text says:
Rev 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
Who was Redeemed by HIS blood from every tribe and tongue and people and nation – us! those HE died for to save – they also had crowns on their heads, which we will receive at the Bema Seat!
Hallelujah – before any of GOD’s wrath! HIS message is a message of hope for the redeemed.
Just read the Bible the story is of Redemption for us – praise HIS name for unmerited grace and everlasting love!
Kim
Anyone who reads this report and still doesn’t see the truth that Brother chambers give’s us is blind..I knew John Darby, preach at our church in Idaho. and remember how KNOWLEDGE will explode. also we have the so many scriptures to go by. It is written that to count ourselves worthy to escape the things coming down on the earth, and we know we are worthy because of HIS BLOOD, that we believe that HE came , died and arose…and NO one can take out of HIS HAND what the Father gave HIM. Talking to the disciples and how they asked what must we do to be saved? Jesus answered just believe !! hE GAVE THE LAW TO THE Jews to show them it would not work on their behave. that is why HE CAME to die for us, the law only shows us what is sin.. NO one can do anything to purchase the promise of Salvation..HE IS OUR BLESSED Assurance..
Kenneth Acushla
Vincent, our LORD YAHSHUA has said HE was only sent to the Jews so the Gospels must be understood from the Jewish perspective. There is only one condition applied to the Rapture. “When the Fullness of the Gentiles comes in” When the number is complete that day is the Rapture whenever it will be.
Dave
Dear brother Joseph, many points are being made concerning the seven years themselves, I notice, that your teaching for today does not cover that preiod, so why are they writing about it? You have given to us all what needs to take place in our lives to prepare us for for when the Lord Jesus Christ does come and we meet Him in the air. All of us need to look to ourselves and see if we are wise virgines or foolish virgins. Life now in these last days are an individual walk with God, let us make sure that our walk and life are in line with the life of The Lord Jesus Christ, if so, then we will leave the earth with the Lord, if not! then study the tribulation period, you all will need all the help you can get.
Lorna
When the Apostle Paul was discussing eschatology with the Thessalonians he says the Lord will “descend from heaven with a shout (teruah), with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God” and gather the people to the Lord in what is called the Natzal (to pluck) or rapture.
He describes the same event to the Corinthians where he says that in a ” moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (Yom Teruah), for the trumpet will sound and the dead will raised.” Now, Paul uses “the last trump,” a Hebrew idiom for Yom Teruah, to discuss the catching away of the believer.
In Matt 24.36 Yeshua is referring to unbelievers who will not know the day or hour and Paul wrote the same thing to the Thessalonians when he wrote that “as to the times (moedim=appointmented times, a term used for the festivals in Lev 23) and the epochs (seasons, as in festival seasons), brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you (because he taught them the eschatology of the biblical festivals- 1 Cor 11.1-2;Col 2.16-17).
There is so much more of the rehearsal or convocation and the actual–too much to selfishly take up space here, but I definitely see a pre-tribulation rapture and perhaps a mid for the 144,000.
Tara
2 Thess.2:1-4 tells us that we will not be gathered up to our Lord Jesus until “the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.” The antichrist is a charismatic deceiver for the first 3 1/2 years of the 70th week of Daniel; hence, the 7-yr. treaty. He is revealed when he breaks the covenant/treaty with “many,” and sets his image up in the sanctuary, demanding to be worshipped, calling himself God (Dan. 9:27). Satan is thrown out of Heaven by Michael who is the restrainer now (as He is the protector of Israel). (Dan. 12:1) Antichrist is fully empowered by Satan and persecutes the saints for the next 3 1/2 years (Dan. 7.25; Rev. 13:5-8). These same 3 1/2 years are referred to as the worst time of distress which has ever happened (Dan 12:1; Mt 24:21.) Jesus said, “after the distress of those days” would come the signs in the heavens (sun, moon and stars) – Mt. 24:29; Rev. 6:12-13). Then the sign of Jesus (“the sky receding like a scroll”) will appear in the sky (Rev. 6:14) . . .they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory (Mt.24:30). And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Mt.24:31; I Cor.15:50-52; Rev. 14:14-16). The souls of the martyrs are seen at the altar in the 5th seal waiting for “the rest of the martyrs”; the righteous souls who are not martyrs are seen in the 6th seal as the “great multitude” also waiting; and after the harvest (rapture) in Rev. 14:14-16, but before the bowls of wrath are given to the seven angels (Rev. 15:6-8), we see those saints who have been “victorious over the antichrist” in Heaven (Rev. 15:2-4)! Now the bowls of wrath are poured out and the Battle of Armageddon is fought! Hallelujah!! The devil is locked up, the false prophet and the antichrist are thrown alive into the Lake of Fire; Jesus reigns for 1,000 yrs., then Satan is released and rounds up the last of the rebels against God; fire comes down from Heaven and devours them all; Satan is thrown into the Lake of Fire; Jesus judges at the Great White Throne and “all whose names were not found in the book of life were thrown into the Lake of Fire. Death and Hades are thrown into the Lake of Fire. It’s done. From then on, it’s perfect, perfect, perfect! God now creates a New Heaven and a New Earth with the Heavenly City (The New Jerusalem) coming down to set upon the Earth where we all live together with Our Heavenly Father Himself and Jesus ruling in person. The River of Life will flow, and the Tree of Life will grow and God will live with His people forever!! It doesn’t get any better than this!! (I felt compelled to finish the story!) shared in Jesus’ name:)!!