Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Sundry times means many portions, many ways, many times. God has spoken to man over the last six thousand years from Adam and Eve all the way to people like Dana Coverstone, Romoe 10, Vicky Goforth Parnell, etc.

He has spoken to us in diverse manners. Yes, the Bible is the sure word of prophecy, but even in the Bible there have been some very strange ways that God spoke to us, just read Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Revelation.

God has also spoken to us in many portions. This is the entire point of this blog. I felt the whole discussion on the rapture was far too narrow. 25% of the Bible is prophetic, so let's pull out many, many more prophecies. Let's share links to many of these people who are watching for the Lord's return and examining these things, let's consider dreams and visions, past prophecies that are not in the Bible, heavenly signs and wonders, current events, etc.

Why?

Jeremiah 38:2 Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

How can you hear this word and not ask why? If I was a devout Jew, Jerusalem in the city of our God and yet I am being told I must leave Jerusalem and go to Babylon for 70 years. Why?

This is not the only time. The Jews were slaves to Pharaoh, they served the Philistines, Assyria ruled over them, the Medo Persians ruled over them, the Greeks ruled over them and the Romans ruled over them. Why?

We are being trained to be kings. What better training than to live as the bottom rung of a society to see what it is like under their kingship. I played football, my first coach was the best coach I have ever seen and my second coach was the worst. It is very instructive to be under both and to see the contrast. I have had excellent teachers and lousy teachers, same concept. I have worked for good companies and horrible companies, same concept.

Training begins

3 Thus saith the Lord, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.

4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.

6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

This has to be the least popular thing a prophet has ever prophesied, though telling a king he is about to die would certainly be a contender, and of course telling the entire nation you are praying for a 3 year drought, that also would rank up there, and of course telling scribes and Pharisees that they are a brood of vipers could get an honorable mention and I suppose Samuel anointing David as King would not be appreciated by Saul. The sad truth is prophets are not very popular might as well resolve to be hated.

But anyway, consider what is going on. There are people in power in Jerusalem, their little kingdom is crumbling beneath their feet so they want all the Israelis to fight to the death to preserve their kingdom. Jeremiah gets a word from the Lord that tells them, these leaders do not represent me. If you want to live go with the captors (you sinned, you will pay the price) if you refuse to go with the captors and fight to the death for these evil rulers you will die with them. This is a key lesson for any ruler. It is far better to take the right path, the narrow way, even though it is hard to find, than the broad way that leads to this destruction.

This is what we are seeing today in Brazil and the US. Evil corrupt leaders who have been exposed but who will fight to the death and bring as many others with them down to the pit of hell.

Do you think this is easy?

Jeremiah 38:17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: 18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.

When you are king you are not "an island". There are many, many people, groups, factions that have supported you. When Zedekiah makes this choice it will be like betraying all those who supported his kingship. Again, the lesson is to fear the Lord. If Zedekiah had always feared the Lord and followed Him and not all his lobbyists and supporters then this would be an easy choice, a choice he made long ago.

All of us are Kings

Jeremiah 38:19 And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

21 But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the Lord hath shewed me:

22 And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.

23 So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

Everyone must make this decision, who do you fear? Do you fear the Lord Jesus or do you fear man?

https://rumble.com/v1rdzks-the-than...8am-and-555-am-journaled-918-am-uploaded.html

The Thanksgiving Dream 10-31-22@ 12:58am & 5:55 am journaled @ 9:18 am Uploaded 11/3/22

Praying to Escape in the Rapture

Psalm 71:1 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. 2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

This is a prayer to pray before the rapture.

3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

If you have not been paying attention this is what is happening. The Pandemic was a bioweapon, the first shot across the bow in a war to see who rules the world. Supply chain issues, shutting down the supply of natural gas, fertilizer, exports from Ukraine, and targeting 120 food processing plants in the US is the second stage in this war. However, the war is about to go kinetic. They know that the result of the election next month will be hearings, investigations, and a rooting out of the CCP influence in the US. So it is now or never for them. The bubble has already burst in China's economy, so if they do not proceed with the plan China will enter a ten to 12 year period of trying to build the economy back up. The belt and road initiative will go completely belly up, the real estate market and banks in China will also go belly up. This is not an option for Emperor Xi. China has drawn the US navy away from the mainland to focus on Taiwan. Russia has brought the 101st Airborne to Ukraine, also luring them away from the US. There are five countries that want to attack the US. After the attack they will justify it with evidence that the US was behind the pandemic and was developing other bioweapons for release as well. The US is about to undergo a nuclear surprise attack and my sources say it will be before Thanksgiving and maybe even as early as this coming week. However, the rapture will rescue those saints who have been eagerly awaiting the Lord's return.

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

When I was thirteen the Lord spoke to me that I would see His return in my lifetime. He confirmed that speaking to me later with a miracle proving to me that this word was real. While in England the Lord used a hurricane in Wales to turn me in my college choice, making my fourth choice my number 1 choice. As a result I went to Houston, and the first week at Rice met Christians associated with Watchman Nee's ministry and that is where I learned the word of God. I became a full time worker in the ministry in Texas and then went to Taiwan to be a missionary. The Lord has been faithful to me for the last 50 years since becoming saved and learning I would see His return.

6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

Recently I discovered the Bible code and wanted to know what verses my name was based on. (They found my name intersecting my mom's name, my wife's name, my dad's name and my daughter's name. in addition the year of my birth and the place of my birth was in the same code. The odds of this happening randomly is 26 raised to the power of 38.) But here is the amazing thing, the verses told a story of my life. For example, the first letter of my first name falls in a word in English interpreted as "blue". This is an old world sea creature like a squid. Instead of black ink it produced blue ink which they used to make dye for the Tabernacle and the priestly garments. In that sense it depicts a writer who is writing with blue ink of the royal priesthood instead of black ink of death and darkness. But this creature is very interesting, they live for 70 years down in the depths where no one sees them and then when they are seventy they rise to the surface where they get scooped up and brought to the tabernacle. This is a picture of the rapture. So that strikes me since from my salvation I have known this was my destiny. But it gets better, when I was around 5 I wrote a book. My mom kept the book and I was able to read it later. In this book was a story called "the red rock eaters" and the point is that the red rock eaters eat the red rock and they become the red rock. Well these little creatures eat the blue rock and they become the blue rock.

7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

There are many who have tried to destroy me and I don't talk about this because I figure no one would believe it. While in Taiwan I warned President Clinton of an assassination attempt on his life. Since that time I have been surveilled by US intelligence. They never figured out how I knew, assuming that it was through the church I met with since the President of Taiwan also met with that church, my wife was in the Taiwan military, and the church had over 10,000 members. When I returned to the US and to NYC the church I was with held a rally in front of the UN and warned them if they did not deal with the genocide in Sudan that the same attack would happen here in the US. One year later, almost to the day we had 9/11. Prior to 9/11 they tried to frame me by having me open an account at the bank I worked for one of the terrorists. However, I alerted my manager that the man was a terrorist. They would have fired me but after 9/11 they couldn't because that man was one of the terrorists. I could go on. I exposed corrupt leaders in the church so they tried to destroy me. I exposed a corrupt firm on Wall street so they tried to destroy me. I exposed a Principal and his school that had institutionalized cheating at the school, so they tried to destroy me. But, the Lord is my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Look at this blog. 6,000+ posts praising the Lord and giving Him the honor. I posted everyday, even though some of these days I was driving from NY to South Dakota and back. I have made at least 7 major trips during this time.

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

I am retired and yet what a joy that I can still be useful to the Lord.

10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, 11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him. 12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

This is where we all will be at the time of the rapture.

10 Special Features unique to this Generation

1. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray

Prior to TV and the internet we have not had nearly as many false Christs that "shall come in my name". We now have "televangelists" and a proliferation of false Christs running Mega churches pushing the prosperity gospel. All of this has taken place just in this generation.

2. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars;

Notice "and ye shall hear". Democracies manipulate the population with fear. Threat level "orange" or threat level "red". It wasn't until WWI that we began to worry about wars anywhere on Earth, prior to that Americans felt what happens in China, or Russia, or the Middle East didn't have a big impact on them. It was only during this generation that the nightly news is filled not just with wars, but threats of war, troop build ups, and all these various events worldwide. One CIA director said that every key newscaster was working for them. The point of this prophecy is the Lord is telling us how they will be trying to manipulate us with what we hear. Think about that, not what we read, but what we hear. You had to have radio which did not become widespread until after WWI. So then this prophesy did not come true until this generation.

3. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.

This is a continuation of the previous verse about hearing of wars and rumors of war. Obviously kingdom has risen against kingdom for thousands of years, but only in this generation do they attack one another with propaganda on the Radio like the US did for many years, and with TV. This verse suggests a whole new level of cloak and dagger like hackers from Russia and China. Also the next half is bizarre, we will hear of wars and rumors of war because there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places? Do you realize that we have 20-40x's as many earthquakes in 2021 than we did in the 1950s? Have you heard that? No? Yet instead you hear about how N Korea is a threat, Taiwan is being threatened, we might have war in the Ukraine, etc. The news about wars and rumors of war is designed to distract you from other events going on that might wake you up. Once again, this is really something new to this generation. Prior to WWII we didn't have TV, didn't have airplanes, a newspaper in Kansas would be focused on news relevant to Kansas.

4. 8 But all these things are the beginning of travail. 9 Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name’s sake.

This is what they are trying to hide from you. The globalists have identified one common enemy, Evangelical Christians. Everything is moving towards one world government where they can eliminate Evangelicals.

5. 15 When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),

This is the first generation since the time of Jesus that might be able to see this. Prior to WWII it was thought to be an impossibility that the Jews would ever reinhabit Israel. However, September 25, 2022 Israel received 5 red heifers which can be used for a sacrifice which will enable the Jews to have the water of purification they need for all other sacrifices. Since that time there are rumors that they are already building the temple (it is prefabricated and assembled on the site, the Bible says you are not supposed to hear a hammer on the temple mount).

6. 21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Seriously? Prior to the atom bomb at the end of the WWII this verse did not make any sense. The Civil war was extremely bloody but no one ever could have conceived "no flesh would be saved". Apart from a number of battlefields and Sherman's march most people even in the US were not in danger of being killed during the Civil War. It wasn't until we had the nuclear bomb and Russia and China and many other nations had it as well that we realized we could destroy the entire world.

7. 27 For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.

Wow! This is talking about telecommunications traveling at the speed of light. CNN's coverage of the first Gulf war was the first time this happened. We saw the events coming forth in the East shining unto the West at the speed of light.

8. 32 Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; 33 even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.

Israel is the Fig tree. When she was in the diaspora that was the winter time. In 1948 when the Jews returned to Israel that was the fig tree putting forth her leaves. This is the first and only generation since the time of Jesus that this could refer to.

9. Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

When I was in high school if you wanted to do a school report you had to go to the library. Many libraries were hooked into networks where you could get any book they had only it might take a few weeks. That is the way it had been for several thousand years. But while in college they first began working on the internet hooking computers up from one university to another. You had to use a dial up modem and it could take minutes to download something from another university. Today everyone on the planet has access to the internet. Knowledge has increased. Each of us with a computer and internet access has far more knowledge at our fingertips than they had at my local library. After college I used to have 25 translations of the Bible and few reference books like a concordance and Vine's expository dictionary. That is how Bible teachers studied the word for hundreds of years. But today anyone can access the Blue Letter Bible online for free and it has all these tools built in. You can use BibleGateway and access far more than 25 translations, and click one button and you can see a bible verse in everyone of those translations. It is far easier to run to and fro through the word of God today than it was just forty years ago.

10. Daniel 12:4 many shall run to and fro

There is another possible interpretation and that is that we will have mass transit. 100 years ago people thought that trains were transformative. 200 years ago people travelled at the same speed they had for thousands of years using horses, ships, and feet. Apart from sailors and soldiers few travelled that much. When the trains came you did get a few people "riding the rails" but it was primarily for moving freight and for traveling salesmen. However, after WWII we saw cars and air travel explode. The US built the interstate highway system. We now have over 4 billion people fly each year. Recently I was in NY and decided to go to a Stop the Steal Rally in Atlanta. I didn't even tell my wife (until afterwards). On Saturday she works a double shift. I drove to the airport, caught a flight to Atlanta, took their metro to the city center, attended the rally for several hours, took the train back, caught the return flight back to NY and was home before my wife got home from work. A few months ago I drove from NY to South Dakota in 18 hours. These things were unthinkable prior to WWII.

The Case for a Pre Tribulation rapture (1)

We have had people say that the term "rapture" is not Biblical and in this blog we defended the use, pointing out that the term "Harpazo" is Biblical and my comprehensive understanding of this term is the term "the redemption of our body".

However, one debate I have ignored up to this point is the "pre tribulation" rapture. I think the main argument against this doctrine is they equate going through the tribulation with going to the cross. So then they assume that a pre tribulation rapture is a way of teaching that you don't have to take up your cross and follow Jesus.

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV).

Revelation 6:12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

If we reconcile 1Thessalonians 5:9 with the book of Revelation we see that the sixth seal being opened is when "the great day of their wrath" comes referring to "him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb". We also find the first use of the word "great" in Revelation also occurs in chapter 6 when it talks about "a great earthquake". As a result we can refer to this portion of the tribulation as "the great tribulation". The tribulation begins with the opening of the first seal with the antichrist being released and revealed, most notably by confirming the covenant with the many concerning Jerusalem, the start of the 70th week according to Daniel. The 70th week refers to a 7 year period, we often call "the tribulation" and the last half, the last 42 months or the last 3 1/2 years we call "the great tribulation". So then there is no conflict with 1Thessalonians if believers are in the tribulation prior to the opening of the sixth seal.

To be clear, even though I am persuaded that some Christians will be raptured prior to the 70th week beginning, I am not disputing with those who say some Christians will be in the tribulation. My sense is that the majority of Christians will go through the tribulation and either be martyred or raptured prior to the sixth seal being opened.

Rather, I see the Bible teaching that when the Lord comes some will be found with faith, they will be watching, they will be the faithful servants who are giving the food at the proper time. Others will be asleep and the rapture will wake them up.

The second thing we need to clear up 2Thessalonians 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him The Lord's second coming and our being gathered to the Lord are two separate events. If you think the two are the same event then of course you would say that we are raptured after the tribulation because that is when the battle of Armageddon is and that is when the Lord steps down on the Mount of Olives. Now this second coming takes place after God's wrath has been poured out on the earth and on man. It is quite clear from the book of Revelation that great wrath is poured out prior to the Lord stepping down on the Mount of Olives.

So then although there is Biblical basis to say that Christians will go into the tribulation and be beheaded (5th seal) or raptured prior to the sixth seal, to say they are raptured after the sixth seal contradicts 1Thessalonians 5:9.

John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

In a Jewish wedding the groom is betrothed to his bride in a ceremony where they both drink wine. Then he goes and builds a room for them to live in as part of his father's house. When he is done he comes back to get the bride and then they have the wedding ceremony. The beginning of the age was the Lord's table where we were betrothed to the Lord. The church age began with Pentecost where the promise of our covenant was given to us. During the church age Jesus is preparing a place for us and at the end of the age He will come to gather us to Himself. This is a blessed event, not a time of pouring out judgement and wrath.

1Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The rapture is an encouraging word. There is nothing in the Jewish marriage that would suggest the groom would put his bride through some kind of judgement and pour out his wrath on her prior to the wedding.

1Corinthians 15:
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This makes it very clear that the rapture is a victory for those who are faithful. So then if you are interpreting a "pre tribulation" rapture as meaning these believers will not be involved in the battle, in the struggle, then that is not true. No one will be raptured without it being a victory over sin and death. However, I would say that the church age was a 2,000 year battle and that is why those who are dead are also raptured in victory. We have two different covenants here. When the Jews rejected Jesus and crucified Him Daniel referred to that as "the Messiah being cut off". That was the end of the 69th week and there is a gap, a parenthesis of 2,000 years between the end of the 69th week and the start of the 70th week. This gap is the church age, a New covenant. This covenant is between Christ and the church and will result in Jesus getting His bride. However, this age should end prior to the 70th week starting. For some Christians they will be raised up in victory, but for some they will not be and they will still have 3 1/2 years to repent and rededicate themselves to the Lord.

All of these passages clearly refer to the rapture and do not refer to judgement or wrath.

This is the first point, there is much that happens during the Great tribulation that is not referring to Christians and happens after the rapture. Now it is definitely true that there will be believers on earth when the mark of the beast is enforced under pain of being beheaded. That is during the tribulation and many believers will be martyred then. This is the 5th seal. However, it is also clear that some believers are raptured in the twinkling of an eye. So let's be very clear, I am not saying that all Christians will be raptured or that all Christians will be raptured prior to the 70th week. Rather I am saying that there is a variety of outcomes for Christians. Some will be raptured, some will be martyred. Some will be kept from the hour of trial that falls on the earth, for some the Lord's coming will be like a thief in the night and they will be exposed as being blind and naked. Some will be watching when He comes, giving the saints the right food at the appointed time, others will be beating their fellow servants and eating and drinking with the drunkards. To be continued...

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

The Lord's return is as the days of Lot and Lot gets a 24 hour notice to evacuate the city.