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I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the true church, a period of 7 years of tribulation on earth (Daniel’s 70^th week) and an actual reign of Christ on earth of 1,000 years before “eternity” begins. Below are some of the thought processes I followed in coming to my conclusion concerning the rapture.

1. A fact – Some believers will not die. They will instantly receive their glorified body and join the believers that have gone before them to be with Jesus forever.

1Cor. 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Cor. 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Th. 4:16 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:

1Th. 4:17 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.

2. The question becomes when? I believe it will be before Antichrist is revealed.

2Th. 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2Th. 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2Th. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2Th. 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

2Th. 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2Th. 2:8 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:

“letteth” = hold down, retain, withhold

(More on the restrainer (“he who now letteth”) and why I believe it is the Holy Spirit in the Church at question #6.)

3. The question then becomes when is Antichrist revealed? In order to know when he is identified, let’s see what scripture tells us about him.

Facts re Antichrist:

He will rule a kingdom of ten parts after subduing three of the parts.

Rev. 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

Dan. 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Dan. 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

He will seek to change “times and laws.”

Dan. 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws:

He will have ultimate control for 3.5 years.

Rev. 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Dan. 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

He will come from the people responsible for destroying Jerusalem and the temple—the empire of Rome.

Dan. 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

He will confirm a covenant (treaty, agreement) with many for one week (7 years). The word for “week” is the Hebrew shabuwa which means “literal, sevened, i.e. a week (specifically, of years).”

Dan. 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The “many” would be a reference to the Jews since the angel is telling Daniel about what was determined upon his people, and the last half of the verse describes the halting of sacrifices and oblation in the middle of that week; this would only be pertinent to the people of Israel. (This would also imply that there is a functioning temple at that time.)

He will appear to be wounded unto death, yet will be healed.

Rev. 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

Rev. 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

He will blaspheme God—His name, His tabernacle, and those that dwell in heaven.

Dan. 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

Rev. 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Rev. 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

ALL the unbelievers will worship him.

Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Those who refuse to worship him will be punishable by death.

Rev. 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

He will control trade with a mark—the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Rev. 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Rev. 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

He will desecrate the temple as exemplified by Antiochus Epiphanes in Daniel 11:31.

Dan. 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Matt. 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

He will claim that he is God.

Dan. 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

2Th. 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The King of the South will rebel against him. (He is the King of the North.)

Dan. 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

He will eventually establish Jerusalem as his base.

Dan. 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

4. Considering all the facts we know about Antichrist, what will first identify him? It would seem to me that the signing of the 7-year covenant with Israel would be quite specific and obvious (Dan 9:25-27). The next most specific clue would be the desecration of the temple. If the abomination of desolation were the identifying factor:

· that would lend credence to a mid- trib rapture since the abomination occurs in the middle of the tribulation.

· It would also negate the treaty with Israel as something universally acknowledged.

Dan. 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Dan. 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,

Dan. 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The first 69 weeks were for a specified period of time, and the only way to identify the beginning of the 70^th week scripturally is by the signing of the covenant with Israel. Therefore, I believe the “confirming of the covenant” with Israel is the identifying factor that is to be recognized as the beginning of the 70^th week and identifying the man of sin.

God puts information in the Bible for us to know and understand His will and His plan. Jesus expressed great consternation that the Pharisees didn’t recognize who He was and the signs of the times as given by the prophets of old. I believe He expects the same from us. He was specific in identifying the first 69 weeks, and I believe has given us the specifics to identify the 70^th week. The Bible will still be here after the church is gone. It will be important for the people who are left to have access to His Word to learn the truth about what is happening and understand how to respond to upcoming events. Fulfillment of prophecy will continue to be an affirmation from God that He is God.

5. The next question—Does anything have to happen before he is revealed?

a) There will be a falling away.

2Th. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Is this a falling away from faith or a physical departure, i.e., the rapture? The following explanation comes from Tim LaHaye and Thomas Ice and makes a lot of sense to me.

The words “falling away” were translated departure in the first 7 Bible translations. In 11/15 uses the root word for departure in the NT is used to reference departing from another person or place, a physical departure. The one time it is used re departing from the faith is 1Timothy 4:1, which uses the qualifying words “from the faith.”

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,”

The other uses are:

Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Acts 5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him:

Acts 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men,

John Sweigert adds this information: “The history of translations of “apostasia” varied little for the first 15 centuries. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate contains the word “discessio” in 2Thess 2:3, meaning simply “departure.” Other translations up to the KJV of 1611 use variations of “departure.”

Though I am convinced the “falling away” is a physical departure, I believe the truth of a departure from the faith is also true as I observe how “Christian” leaders are putting their own spin on biblical truth, saying that the Bible doesn’t really mean what it says (i.e., homosexuality, etc.).

b) The withholder or restrainer will be removed before the wicked [one] is revealed.

2Th. 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

2Th. 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2Th. 2:8 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:

6. The question now becomes—Who is the restrainer that prevents “the Wicked” from being identified?

The restrainer is a He. It has to be the Holy Spirit in the body of the true church. The Holy Spirit can’t be taken away without our being taken away. He lives in each one who is a part of the true church. We are the salt of the earth. Salt is a preservative; it keeps things from spoiling/going bad. This also makes a more perfect fit for the 70^th week as stated in Daniel. The 70 weeks were determined upon Daniel’s people, the Jews, and the holy city, Jerusalem—not the church.

Dan. 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city,

There was no church in Daniel’s time, which lends credence to the idea of no church in the 70^th week. The Holy Spirit didn’t indwell every believer/man of faith during the first 69 weeks, but He was at work in the lives of men of faith as God directed. My first thoughts are that He will function in the 70^th week the same as He did in the first 69. On the other hand, God’s word stands forever, and the Bible (including the New Testament) will still be available during the 70^th week. I want to do a lot more study in this area.

The first 69 weeks ended when Messiah was cut off (crucified).

Dan. 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Dan. 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,

Although God is accomplishing His purpose for and through Israel during this 70^th week, it will also be the time that His wrath is poured out on planet earth. It is a specific time, yet future. The letter to the church at Philadelphia gives some key words to the church regarding this period of time.

Rev. 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Because the believers in Philadelphia have held fast to and guarded the truth of the words of Jesus with steadfastness and cheerful endurance, Jesus will keep them from (“ek”—out of) the hour of temptation (putting to proof) which shall (future tense from John’s perspective) come upon ALL the world, to try (put to the test) them that dwell on earth. Obviously, this time of testing will be appointed for a specific time, of specific duration, to a specific generation.

Rev. 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Zeph. 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

Zeph. 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Zeph. 1:16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

Zeph. 1:17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

Is. 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Is. 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Is. 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Is. 13:12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Is. 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

7. To whom is this wrath directed?

• God’s enemies/adversaries--Nah. 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. Jer. 46:10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries:

• The children of disobedience--Eph. 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Col. 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

• The wicked--Job 21:30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. Is. 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

• Those who don’t believe on the Son--John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

• The ungodly/unrighteous--Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

• Sinners--Is. 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

The “day of the Lord” is also a term used concerning God’s wrath.

Is. 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

Ezek. 30:3 For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.

Obad. 1:15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

These passages all reference the kind of people who will suffer the wrath of God whenever He chooses to exercise that wrath. His character never changes.

Mal. 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

8. Does God’s wrath/judgment encompass the whole 70^th week? I think it starts with the opening of the seals in Revelation 6 when the Antichrist is revealed. The second seal shows the advent of war. By the end of the 4^th seal, 1/4 of the people on earth have been killed.

The wording of Revelation 6:16-17 has given me some food for thought.

Rev. 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Rev. 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Is it possible that the tribulation starts here? Are the first seals just the labor pains of Matthew 24? I want to keep an open heart, but the signing of the treaty is still the most obvious defining factor of the 70^th week—and the whole week has been set aside to accomplish the Lord’s purpose for Israel. Does it necessarily mean that His time of wrath and judgment on the world coincides with the whole 70^th week? I still need to do quite a bit more study in this area. (6/06) Seal 1 doesn’t necessarily coincide with the signing of the 7-year covenant. Revelation 6:17 could precede or coincide with the signing.

9. Do any ever escape God’s wrath? Yes.

1Th. 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

1Th. 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Rom. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Rev. 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Is. 26:20 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.

Is. 26:21 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.

Is. 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

Zeph. 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.

Luke is talking about the tribulation and Jesus 2^nd coming in chapter 21. He indicates that some will be accounted worthy to escape the terrible judgments he has just described.

Luke 21:36 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.

I think the phrase “accounted worthy” is a reference to those who have truly accepted Jesus as Lord. Nothing we can do makes us “worthy.” Only the blood of Jesus can do that.

Rev. 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Rev. 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

1John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Types that give support to people of faith not experiencing God’s wrath:

Lot, a righteous man, was removed from Sodom and Gomorrah before they were destroyed by God’s wrath.

Gen. 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Gen. 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Gen. 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Gen. 18:26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

Gen. 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

Gen. 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

2Pet. 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

2Pet. 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

2Pet. 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Observations:

• Abraham expected God not to punish the righteous with the unrighteous. God did not reprimand him for or refute the truth of that expectation.
• God physically removed the righteous from the place of judgment.
• Punishment is reserved for the unjust.
• If Lot is a type of the church, then Luke 17:29 would indicate that the 70^th seek starts after the rapture. If 7 weeks = 7 years, then a day would equal a part of that year. We might conclude, then, that the rapture and covenant with antichrist would happen in the same year.

Luke 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

(6/06) An excerpt from my journal in Genesis applies here.

Gen. 19:29à “I think you could say that Abraham is a type of Christ in this situation. Just as God remembered Abraham and delivered his brethren, so too will He remember Christ and deliver His brethren from coming judgment.

I once thought of Noah as another type of the rapture. He has since been presented (Jon Courson) as a type of the Jewish remnant being preserved through the judgment, which I had to admit made better sense.

The Jewish wedding also has some wonderful parallels to the church and the coming of Christ for His bride. The information below is from an article by William Risk, with added notes from Mayim Hayim and a few additions/corrections of my own.

Shiddukhin = The Match

Initiated by the father of the groom

Agent may be used

Consent of the bride

Parallel to Church

The Father chooses the bride, John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.”

Holy Spirit acts as agent of Father in the world today, 1Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

We respond to Christ's love and accept Him, 1John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”

Mohar = The Bride Price

Required by law

Paid by the father of the groom

Reflects the value of the bride

Parallel to Church

Our mohar was the life of the Son, 2Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The price was required by the Law, Romans 8:3-4, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

The mohar was paid, as required, lCorinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

The value placed on the bride was high, Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

Ketubah = The Marriage Contract

Written document stating the mohar, the Rights of the bride, the promises of the groom.

Parallel to Church

Our written contract stating the mohar, the rights of the Bride, and the promises of the Groom is the New Testament.

Kiddushin = The Betrothal

Sealed with the 'cup of acceptance'

Groom: Preparation of huppah (According to many authorities the huppah was the groom's house, or at any rate an actual room or building other than the bride's parental home.)

Bride: Purification (Mikveh – a ritual bath of immersion used for purification)

Undistracted devotion

Anticipation

Parallel to Church

Cup of the New Covenant, Matthew 26:27-29, “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

Christ goes to prepare a place for us, John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

We are 'set apart', 2Corinthians 11:2, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Purified by 'washing,' lCorinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

We are not to be distracted by:

False Teachers, 2John 7-11, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Worldly Things, lJohn 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

We anticipate Christ's return, Luke 12:37, “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” 2Timothy 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Nissuin = The Nuptials

Groom's father decides when he may return for the bride.

Arrival unexpected by the bride

Abductlon of the bride.

Finely dressed and crowned.

Marriage Feast

Bride and Groom dwell together in happiness

Parallel to Church

Only the Father knows when the Son will return, Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Mark 13:32, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

We will be 'abducted,' 1Thessalonians 4:16-18, “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.

We will be crowned, 1Peter 5:4, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

He will be crowned, Revelation 19:12, “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns.”

Note: The huppah is the wedding room, the place of the honeymoon, which lasted for 7 days. The marriage feast takes place after this. The seven years of tribulation on earth would appear to correspond as the honeymoon time for the church in heaven.

We will take part in the marriage feast of the Lamb, Revelation 19:7-9, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

We will dwell forever with the Groom in happiness, 1Thessalonians 4 :17, “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.”

Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Reasons to believe the rapture is near:

Although no signs are given relating to the rapture, there are many signs given regarding the Second Coming of Jesus to planet earth. If the signs of the Second Coming are beginning to be fulfilled, how much closer must be the rapture.

· One of the main signs is the rebirth of the nation of Israel.

Ezek. 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

Ezek. 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,

Ezek. 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

Ezek. 37:21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:

Ezek. 37:22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

· Other signs that are mentioned in Matthew, Mark and Luke are: people claiming to be Christ, wars and rumors of wars, ethnic conflicts, famine, pestilence, earthquakes. Although these things have existed through history, they are described as the “beginnings of sorrows.”

Matt. 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

The word “sorrows” in the Greek has a direct reference to the pains of childbirth. Birth pains continue to increase in frequency and intensity as they get closer to “birth.” Just by paying attention to the news headlines, I am convinced that the “birth pains” have begun to increase and intensify. Yes, I am eager for the Lord’s return, but I don’t think one can deny the signs of the times. Jesus criticized the religious leaders of His day for not recognizing the signs of the times.

Matt. 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

They were expected to recognize Him from the “signs” given by the prophets, but they didn’t. If He didn’t expect us to look for and recognize these signs, He wouldn’t have given them.

Other thoughts concerning the Rapture:

Re post-trib rapture - Even if you ignore all the thoughts presented above, the post-tribulation cannot be right simply because of logic—Who would be left to populate the millennium?

(6/06) Matthew 24:44….”when ye think not…” could never apply. (Dave Hunt)

Re the difference in coming with Jesus and His coming for us - A quote from Thomas Ice re John 14: 1-3, "This passage, taken literally, indicates that the believer is going to go to heaven at the time of Christ's coming for Him." This will not occur at the Second Advent because that will be a time in which Christ comes with His saints, who are already in heaven, not for His saints as John 14:1-3 requires.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

When Jesus comes to earth the second time, we will be with him.

Zech. 14:5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

1Th. 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

The following verse in Revelation describes the armies of heaven coming with Jesus. Although argument could be made that He would not take His bride to war with Him, I don’t think it carries much weight since He knows that the battle is His alone; and the bride will be there only as witness to His complete victory over Satan and the forces of evil. At what other time could the prophecies from Zechariah and 1Thessalonians be fulfilled?

Col. 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Rev. 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Re “knowing” the time of His coming: The Lord told his disciples that no one except the Father knows the time of His coming; yet, in Daniel we are given a specific number of days from the time of the abomination of desolation and the Second Coming. Just as with His first coming—the prophecies imply two parts.

Matt. 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

First, Antichrist makes the covenant for a week of years—7years. Then he breaks the covenant in the middle of the week. The children of Israel will be given special protection in a wilderness location during the time of his rule—1,260 days.

Dan. 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (3.5 years = 42 months x 30 days per month = 1260 days)

Dan. 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Rev. 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Rev. 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

There is a problem posed in the last chapter of Daniel using the figure of 1290 days. After quite a bit of research, I believe there may be some basis for explanation pertaining to the Jewish leap year, but this still requires more study. I’ve yet to find a scriptural or historical explanation for the 1335 days. Human logic would allow that this is the time necessary for the sheep and goat judgment to determine who will enter the millennium. (See journal for Daniel 12:11-12 for some interesting ideas on the timing.)

Dan. 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Dan. 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

Matt. 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Matt. 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Matt. 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Matt. 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Matt. 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Who is the one that defeats the Antichrist? JESUS

Rev. 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev. 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Rev. 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

Rev. 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Re the “last trump” and the “trump of God”:

1Cor. 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Th. 4:16 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:

1Th. 4:17 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.

As I started researching the use of trumpets, these are some of the things I found.

• The sound of the trumpet has a specific purpose.

1Cor. 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

• The trumpet was used to call the people to assembly.

Jer. 4:5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly.

• The sound of the trumpet is associated with the voice of the Lord.

Rev. 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Rev. 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:

• It is an alarm of war.

Jer. 4:19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

Ezek. 33:3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

• It is a call to get ready.

Ezek. 7:14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

• It is to be used as an alarm that the day of the Lord is at hand.

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

• In Revelation the trumpets are a signal that the wrath of God is being poured out. (Wiersbe)

• Jon Courson had some interesting thoughts. In Numbers 10 we are told of two silver trumpets.

Num. 10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

Silver is associated with redemption in the scripture. In Exodus 19:10à we are told that Moses was to sanctify the people two days, and on the third day the Lord would come down on Mt. Sinai in the sight of the people. Verse 13 brings in the trumpet-- Ex. 19:13 “…when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.”

He associates the first trump with the “law, Israel and the Father.” The second, and last trump, is associated with “grace, the church and the Son.”

• Renald Showers gave some other insights in the area of trumpets. 1Corinthians 14 talks about the trumpet from a military perspective, so it would appear that thought would be continued in chapter 15. In Bible times, “when they went to war, they had a “last trump” that would be blown that would tell the fighting men, ‘Your time of fighting is over. It is time for you to go home and rest.’ A ‘last trump’ ended their time in the warfare.” Obviously, Christians are participating in spiritual warfare. “When the rapture takes place and the trumpet is blown at that time, that will be a signal to them that their part in the warfare is over…It is time for them to go home to be with the Lord and rest together with Him in heaven.”

There were also two trumpets related to guard duty. “They had a first trump that signaled when a man was to start his watch…then they had a ‘last trump’ which signaled that his time on guard duty was over and it was time for him to go home.” The comparison to the Christian is obvious.

“The fact that Paul, when he mentions the last trump, doesn’t explain to the Corinthians what he meant by that indicates that they understood what he meant by ‘the last trump.’ They were very familiar…with that terminology of ‘the last trump’ signals used for Roman soldiers, whether their fighting is done or their tour of duty on the watch is over for that day.”

Re Hosea 6:2

Hos. 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Hos. 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Using the formula one day = 1000 years, this seems to indicate that Christ will heal His people Israel after 2000 years of spiritual sickness. This leaves a lot of leeway regarding the timeframe, but we are definitely in the third day.