Tribulation Week

Importance of the Rapture

Ken

Perhaps the most difficult doctrine to believe is the Rapture of the Church. If you can believe Israel was prophesied a coming Messiah (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Daniel 9:26), then you can believe the Church has been promised a Second Coming of that same Messiah. “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11 KJV). But, is that a picture of the Rapture? No, it is not the Rapture. Then, what is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? The Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ are two separate events. Read on to see the difference. 

[This is intended as a more comprehensive read. Scan ahead to see how long. Come back later and examine the pivotal design of the Rapture.]

Question: What Scripture depicts the Rapture best? 

Answer: The Rapture (Greek, harpazō) is described best in First Thessalonians 4:16-17: “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: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō, caught up, violently but firmly plucked] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). Rapture and Resurrection are without debate, placed together by the LORD. This cannot simply be at the point of death of the individual saint. Prophecy demands more. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2). 

Christ’s Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) portrays the Rapture of the Bride of Christ: 

(1) In the Jewish custom, a marriage was contracted by the parents of the bride and the bridegroom, where the parents of the bridegroom would pay a dowry to the parents of the bride. “Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest [Greek, arrhabōn, pledge, downpayment] of the Spirit” (2Corinthians 5:5). The Father has given His Holy Spirit as the downpayment for us to be His Son’s “bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Revelation 21:9). Both the “Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (22:17). Before the Rapture is consummated, there is opportunity for the Bride of Christ to be spiritually enlarged by new members of the Body of Christ. 

(2) The betrothal of the Bride came through God saving us by the “precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Peter 19). We are now in the stage of awaiting the Bridegroom to come for us. “Which is the earnest [downpayment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14). Though the actual coming of the Bridegroom is indeterminate, it is at hand, so the Bride must be careful to be ready. Christ’s Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25) depicts the Wise Virgins as those who are ready, and the Unwise Virgins as those who were foolishly unprepared. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). Readiness involves believing and walking “in the light” (John 12:36; 1John 2:7) free of known sin, and conducting our Master’s “business” (Luke 2:49). 

(3) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb would be the next stage of the Jewish ceremony; however, even before the actual Marriage Supper, the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10) or Bema Seat Judgment (2Corinthians 5:10) would seem to coincide with the opportunity to praise the Bride to be wedded and feted. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad [Greek, kakos, worthless]” (2Corinthians 5:10). 

Question: You say you believe in the Resurrection of the Dead in Christ. When will the Marriage Supper of the Lamb take place, if the alive and remaining Christians are caught up “to meet the Lord in the air” (1Thessalonians 4:17), who then accompany Him to defeat the Antichrist at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), which is the Great Banquet of God (19:17 NET), feeding the flesh of the rebel kings to scavenger birds?

Answer: Scripturally, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) takes place directly before the Battle of Armageddon (19:16). What we know as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the Messiah’s return to defeat the Antichrist at Armageddon. “And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (19:16). The perceived difficulty is time. How can all these things take place? The answer is simple. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2Corinthians 5:8). We change from our present dimension to the dimension of eternity. Everything promised by God can easily take place, because time will have no restriction or effect upon the outcome. God can easily Rapture Christians prior to the Beginning of the Seventieth Week of Daniel, conduct a Bema Seat Judgment, entertain the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, then complete the Second Coming Return at Armageddon, all within seven years. The catching up takes place before the Tribulation Week, while the completion of the Second Coming takes place at the End of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). 

Significance of the Rapture 

First, the Literal Interpretation of the Word of God is the foundation of all doctrine, much less the Rapture. To be clear, the Literal Interpretation of the Word of God does not deny the use of figurative, parabolic, or poetic language; but, it insists that God is to be taken at His Word, meaning what He says, and saying what He means, as we allow for any other person. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good” (Numbers 23:19). God’s Word is absolutely efficient in accomplishing everything He says. “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). 

As the amillennialists, who deny a literal Millennium is intended by the words “thousand years” (Revelation 20:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7); because Peter used the comparative, “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2Peter 3:8); would they also fail to see the literalness of the Psalmist’s use of ‘thousand’ in Psalm 84? “For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). The Psalmist did not demand a ‘thousand’ to be the equivalent of a single ‘day.’ Neither should we force Peter to promote a ‘thousand years’ to mean only a day. Nor should we conclude John’s use of ‘thousand years’ to also mean only one day. “The premillennial return of Christ to institute a literal kingdom is the outcome of the literal method of interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies. It is only natural, therefore, that the same basic method of interpretation must be employed in our interpretation of the rapture question. It would be most illogical to build a premillennial system on a literal method and then depart from that method in consideration of the related questions. It can easily be seen that the literal method of interpretation demands a pretribulation rapture of the church” (p. 193, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (1965), J. Dwight Pentecost).

Second, the Doctrine of Imminency (coming at any moment) to deliver the Righteous, at Christ’s return for us, is reinforced with the Rapture, i.e., the Pre-Tribulational Rapture prior to the onset of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:26). As far as can be known, the Rapture is the next thing that must be accomplished before the Tribulation Week can begin. “Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 1:7). “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). “The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5). “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). “The Judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9). “I come quickly” (Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). 

Third, a promise of judging the earth without harming the godly (as in Lot’s deliverance from Sodom) is the promise to be kept from the ‘hour of temptation’ — not simply overcoming temptation (1Corinthians 10:13) — was and is promised to the Church of Philadelphia, of whom Christ said, “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” (Revelation 3:10). Why such a magnanimous promise? Because He is the Most Generous Master and an Utterly Capable Judge. “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word [obedience], and hast not denied My name [faithfulness]” (3:8). Oh, to be counted among that number! 

Fourth, pray that you would be worthy to escape all the events of the Tribulation Week, as a testament to the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ. “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 21:36). Though Pre-Tribulation Rapture adherents defend the concept of salvation by grace through faith, they must consistently abide by the literalness of Christ’s Luke 21:36 commandment with promise to watch and pray that we “may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (21:36), i.e., through a Pre-Tribulational Rapture. Remember, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). 

Fifth, our hope is in the Lord (Psalm 146:5), but thank God, He has emboldened us through His promise of Rapture and Deliverance, as we see the disintegration of the world around us. “But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves” (2Timothy 3:13 NET). We shrink not from admitting the boldness and hope produced by the Doctrine of the Rapture. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). 

Sixth, the Rapture solves a problem, not viewed by most as a problem. How does flesh and blood inherit eternity? Well, of course, God simply makes it to happen, when it is needed. Quite correct. But, can the Rapture be such an obvious solution? “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1Corinthians 15:50-53). The Rapture is the means to accomplish this inheriting eternity “in the twinkling of an eye” (15:52).  Thank you, Chuck Missler, for reminding of this thought (from The Rapture: Christianity’s Most Preposterous Belief). 

Seventh, the Church Age ends where Daniel’s Seventieth Week starts again. Most prophetic confusion comes from mixing or replacing the Church for Israel. When Scripture explicitly grants the New Covenant, made to Israel (Ezekiel 36:27) to be inherited also by the Gentiles, then no confusion takes place. But, when Daniel’s Seventieth Week begins, the Church Age has ended, since the Church has departed in the Pre-Tribulational Rapture. So, the Rapture returns the focus to Israel, who has been blinded since their rejection of Messiah Jesus (Romans 11:25). “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not” (Matthew 23:37).

Eighth, no Resurrection without the Rapture, and no Rapture without the Resurrection. “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” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). Debates about the Rapture would be reduced or eliminated, if the timing of the Rapture had to coincide with the Resurrection, which is what the above Sixth Point references. 

Ninth, no Church in the Seventieth Week of Daniel, and no Seventieth Week of Daniel with the Church. Ekklēsia (Greek, church) does not appear outside of Christ’s Seven Letters to the Churches in Revelation 2 and 3, except in the plural (22:16) as part of the epilogue at the end of the Revelation. The Church is absent from the discussions of the remaining 19 chapters of the Book of Revelation. Why? Because the Church has been Raptured. Immediately after the invitation given to the Church of Laodicea, the door promised to the faithful Church of Philadelphia, is offered even to Lukewarm Laodicea, of whom nothing good is said. To Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Notice, immediately after the invitation is given to Lukewarm Laodicea, Revelation 4:1 begins with, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1). 

No guarantee that any or all Lukewarm Professors of the Christian Religion repented of their lukewarmness, but it is notable that Christ cared enough to make the offer, to make it with the same door of deliverance from the “hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world” (3:10), then He opens the door with the Rapture. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (4:1). Also, notice the phrase, “Come Up Hither” (4:1), coinciding with a Pre-Tribulational Rapture, appears again in the Resurrection of the Two Witnesses, when they are Raptured into Heaven in the presence of the entire world (11:12). The Two Witnesses are first resurrected from the dead, then they are raptured; so, understandably, some term this a Pre-Wrath Rapture. And, their Enoch-like (OT, previously translated without physical death), Moses-like (called down plagues on Egypt), or Elijah-like (OT, previously translated without physical death) ministry of calling down judgments upon the earth are immediately positioned before the Seventh Trumpet Judgment (11:15). But still, notice the absence of the Church in the Tribulation. 

Tenth, the Rapture of the Church accomplishes what the Apostle Paul said, “I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you” (Romans 10:19). In other words, the Gentile world, chiefly through the Church, will arouse the obstinate Jew to jealousy, because the Church escaped the Wrath of God of the Tribulation Week, which they now face. “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy” (11:11). Our Salvation and Rapture will ultimately provoke the Jew and Israel to jealousy and finally to repentance. This is part of God’s masterplan to win back Israel. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (11:33). Pray for all men; but especially, pray for the salvation of Israel. God most certainly will answer! 

Eleventh, the Restraining Influence of the Holy Spirit will obviously be removed, when all the Spirit Indwelt people are removed at the Rapture. “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He [the Holy Spirit] who now restrains will do so until He [the Holy Spirit] is taken out of the way” (2Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV). This will have the effect: (1) The right action promoted by the Holy Spirit with all humanity, will be felt less because the Christians are removed from the world, and (2) Satan will have to immediately offset this with “signs and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:8-9). Remember, the bizarreness and outlandishness of the imagination will be available to the Wicked One, since the Holy Spirit has withdrawn His people to represent truthful opposition to Antichrist’s lie, that He is the God of the Universe. “And then shall that Wicked [Antichrist] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even him [Antichrist], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:8-9). 

Twelfth, the Rapture clearly distinguishes between Israel and the Church. The initial difficulty of the Apostles to comprehend the nature and scope of their present circumstances, i.e., do you need to become a Jew first before you become a Christian, illustrated the learning necessary to function in this Church Age. Debate as to who is “in Jesus” (1Thessalonians 4:14) or “in Christ” (4:16) “which are alive and remain” (4:17), are determined by our appreciation of the nature of faith. But, Spiritual Israel is now part of the Spiritual Church. Paul understandably answered the concerns of the Early Church over the reluctance of the nation of the Jews to admit Jesus to be their Messiah. Israel is temporarily relegated to a status of Blindness — but, not forgotten. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). The Rapture is about the Church. The Second Coming is more about Israel. “And His [Messiah Jesus] feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:4).

NOTE: I have previously posted representing the Rapture as only a part of the Second Coming, which is more attractive to those who barely admit to the Rapture as an eschatological event. However, I would like to correct that emphasis. The Rapture (1Thessalonians 4:17) is a distinct and separate event from the Second Coming (Revelation 19:11-21), and both the Lord Jesus Christ and the Antichrist are well aware of the difference. A time separation between the two events of about seven years of a Tribulation Week (Daniel 9:24-27, especially v. 27) is sufficient for the prophesied events of Revelation 4 through 19 to take place. The Rapture is a Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13) for the Saints Departed and the Church Remaining to be reunited and gathered to their Lord, while the Second Coming is a fearful time of judgment and “fiery indignation” (Hebrews 9:27) upon those, who reject the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Honesty compels me to change my position, as often as I receive increased light or understanding to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Peter 3:18).

Father, Your plans for the Church are “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). Thank You for showing us how we rightly have this Blessed Hope of the Rapture. Fortify us that we may be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as [we] know that [our] labour is not in vain in the [You]” (1Corinthians 15:58). Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Are There Few That Be Saved?

Ken

“Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved?” (Luke 13:23 KJV). Jesus replied, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (13:24). How hard should you “strive” (13:24)? “With all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). The “few” and “many” of Luke 13 are relative terms comparing the “saved” and unsaved. 

Earth’s population is 8.2 billion (2024). 

The population of the angelic host at the time of Lucifer’s Rebellion was not specified, but 1/3 of the angelic host rebelled with Lucifer. “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born” (Revelation 12:4). Satan was outnumbered in a ratio of 2 to 1. Since Satan cannot oppose the Almighty in the End Times scenario with a greater number of Fallen Angels than the LORD’s Elect Angels, the Devil must resort to a Seed War — “between thy seed and her seed” (Genesis 3:15) — to breed an army to oppose the Almighty during the Tribulation Week — “the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand” (Revelation 9:16). 

In excess of 100 million angels and representatives of the redeemed of humanity are depicted in a Heavenly Throne Scene — possibly following the Rapture (Revelation 5:11). 

More important than our knowledge of how many are saved, Is our hope of Heaven based only upon a past certainty or a present seeking, as well? 

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Father, assemble a host innumerable to praise Your name forever. May we have the joy of those who look for Your Son’s soon appearing “a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation” (Hebrews 9:28 NET). In Jesus saving name, we pray. Amen.

Has Israel Been Cursed?

Ken

Yes. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 1:19-20 KJV). If Israel is cursed, it is only because they have rebelled against the LORD. How is the cursed removed? “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14). National repentance works for any nation to return to God. How long will Israel’s curse last? Until their national blindness is lifted by Jehovah.”For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:25-27). 

When will all this happen? “I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early” (Hosea 5:15). Israel will collectively realize their offense against the Son of God. “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10). This will occur in a single day— at the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah, at the end of the Tribulation Week, the Seventieth Week of Daniel. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). Father, we pray for Israel’s repentance that You might lift the curse from Israel. Lord Jesus, return quickly, that Israel may be saved. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

You Are Not Your Own

Ken

Slavery exists in our world. Human beings are treated like cattle, bought and sold to be used and disposed of at the whim of the owner. Hard to believe for us in the modern world, yet sex trafficking and drug addiction are real and must be overcome like anything else in our environment. God is our equalizer. “They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you, says the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:19 NET). Why is God so generous? Because we belong to Him. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1Corinthians 6:19 NET). Mind you, ours is a Volunteer Slavery, for God could have created us as a soulless droid to perform His bidding, as the devil will experience with his creations during the Tribulation Week or the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Thank God, we do not have to be present then! What is the secret of our freedom? “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1Corinthians 6:19-20). May we continually remind ourselves, the price of our emancipation from the slavery of sin caused the Son of God to suffer on our behalf. Why wouldn’t we join James — Jesus’ younger half brother — as saying, “James, a servant [Greek, doulos, slave] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). We can reject the insanity of such language, but why would we? Father, we are privileged You have sacrificed Your Only Begotten Son on our behalf. We cannot comprehend You allowing us to sit at Your table, when we would deem it our honor to serve You forever. We love You and Your service. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen.

Two Olivet Discourses?

Ken1 Comment

No, but the Holy Spirit communicated different messages (Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21) by the emphasis and focus He gave the Gospel writers’ choice of words in their reporting. The difference can be as great as the Preterist insistence that all prophecy was practically fulfilled in the 70 AD Roman destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21), and the opposing Futurist insistence that the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) is coming and soon to be fulfilled (Matthew 24). 

Matthew’s Gospel was directed more to the Jewish mindset with the identification of Jesus as King, Messiah, and Savior of the Jews. Hence, Matthew points out the Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27 cp. Matthew 24:15) and Luke does not. Written in 63-68 AD, Luke foretells the upcoming 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem, where Jesus warned Christians to flee “when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies” (Luke 21:20 KJV). Christ made possible the escape from the Roman destruction of Jerusalem of all those who believed the Gospel of Luke’s warning. In similar fashion, Christ will make possible the future escape of all those who believe His warning about the prophetic “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15), when it finally occurs. 

The crucial flaw of the Preterist position, i.e., essentially all prophecy was fulfilled in the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem, is the lack of the Abomination of Desolation fulfillment at a time future to Christ’s pronouncement on the Mount of Olives, i.e., “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15), and certainly not an already occurred fulfillment, i.e., Antiochus Epiphanies (“God Manifest”) sacrificing swine flesh on the Jewish Temple altar between the OT and NT eras. “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 [Antichrist] be revealed, the son of perdition; 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” (2Thessalonians 2:3-4). 

Luke’s Gospel had more the Gentile readers in view, not mentioning the Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27), yet, both Matthew and Luke mention a crisis with Jerusalem, causing any faithful inhabitants to flee: (1) 70 AD, “when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with [Roman] armies,” then “flee” (Luke 21:20, 21), and (2) prophetic future, Tribulation Week, Seventieth Week of Daniel, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel,” then “flee” (Matthew 24:15, 16). Matthew, Mark, and Luke foresaw “nation shall rise against nation” (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:10). All the Synoptic Gospels recorded the betrayal of friends and family by those who do not share your loyalty to Christ (Matthew 24:10; Mark 13:12; Luke 21:16). If this turmoil took place within Christ’s Twelve Apostles, should we be surprised it would take place prior to Roman’s destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, or that it would characterize a future time in the Tribulation Week shortly before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? 

The confusion of Biblical interpreters amounts to whether we take the obvious message of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount (Olivet Discourse) and find fulfillment solely in the 70 AD Roman Destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21), or whether we can also discern the deeper implication of a future Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15) and the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). 

Failure to see the Futurist View of an upcoming Tribulation Week separates much of the Evangelical Church, where Israel practically has been replaced by the Church, and Israel has no future role in the Kingdom of God, but an asterisk or footnote to the future glory of the Church. Of note, this liberalization of OT prophecy is due to a distaste of taking God’s Word at face value, literally, and in my opinion, contributes to the overpowering antisemitism permeating secular society. The Church cannot restrain secular society from antisemitism because it does not view antisemitism as any worse than any other hatred. To be clear, Antisemitism is the focus of Satan’s hatred upon God’s chosen people. “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (Psalm 83:4). Remember, only “through their [Israel’s] fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles” (Romans 11:11), but it is “for to provoke them [Israel] to jealousy” (11:11) that Israel finally would be saved. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (11:25). Luke’s Gospel instructs us, the times of the Gentiles is about to end. “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).

LORD, certainly this discussion is like so much noise that must be blocked out because of the more pressing matters of day to day survival. But, Spirit of God, use this understanding to remove the blinders from our eyes, which have held us in our respective theological traditions. May the day come again where there is “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” (Ephesians 4:6), but especially, “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and in you all” (4:7). Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen and amen.

For a more developed discussion, see our article, Do You Believe There Will Be New Heavens and New Earth?

Do You Believe There Will Be New Heavens and New Earth?

Ken1 Comment

The entire universe as we know it will pass away is the meaning of “New Heavens and a New Earth” (Revelation 21:1 KJV). When I was a youngster, in the time period shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis (October 16-28, 1962), during the Cold War with the USSR (Soviet Russia), nuclear war was a reality. I was living in South Florida, only so many miles away from the nuclear warheads Nikita Kruschev placed in Fidel Castro’s Cuba. The public school systems were practicing “duck and cover” exercises, so my elementary school mind said they were serious. In particular, I remember coming across a sermon booklet by a Southern Baptist evangelist, Hyman Appleman, The Atomic Bomb and the End of the World (1954). I was convinced I’d better be ready for the end of the world. The sun came out the next morning, and I persuaded myself not to get carried away. But, it reminds me that we all can have thoughts about the end of things as we know it. “If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?” (Ezekiel 33:10). 

How do we get to New Heavens and New Earth from here? “And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1). Just as it is complicated to process everything from Creation to the Cross, it will be as much of a challenge to understand how we get from here to the end. Spirit of Christ, You alone can instruct us about the future. “And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3). 

(The following is a longer read, but hopefully, not too long. Scan ahead to preview.)

In Christ’s Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-25:56; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36), He gave an outline for the future that we may use to interpret the prophecy of the Book of Revelation’s New Heaven and New Earth. A good summary of the Olivet Discourse can be found here to make that interpretation. But chiefly, the Rapture of the Church is the next key event in the steps towards the New Heavens and New Earth, and Paul was its chief expounder (1Thessalonians 4:13-18). (1) The dead in Christ will bodily resurrect to return with Christ’s Second Coming, i.e., “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (4:14). (2) Those who are “alive and remain” (4:17) in Christ will be “caught up” (4:17) to meet the Lord “in the air” (4:17), i.e., “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” (4:17). However, “absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2Corinthians 5:8) means earthly events do not impact the Heavenly narrative, because we are immediately in another dimension, in other words, seven earth years can elapse before the Lord completes His Second Coming. 

Prophecy is all about predicted events and necessary consequences. In Daniel’s intercession for Judah and Jerusalem, he confessed his sins and the sins of his people (Daniel 9:20). The angel Gabriel gave him the Seventy Weeks Prophecy (9:24-27), concerning Messiah the Prince (9:25), where the weeks were weeks of years. After 69 weeks or 483 years (9:25) “shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself” (9:26), which is the Crucifixion of Christ. “And the people of the prince that shall come [the Romans] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary [70 AD]” (9:26). The gap between Daniel 9:26 and 9:27 is the entire History of the Church, where the Gentile nations would participate in the House of God (1Timothy 3:15). But, the Seventieth Week of Daniel resumes with a covenant made by the “prince that shall come [Antichrist]” (9:26) with Israel, where a Temple will be rebuilt. But, in the midst of the Seventieth Week, “he [Antichrist] shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate” (9:27). This is the Abomination of Desolation also spoken of by Jesus in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:15). 

The final moments of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 2:22; 7:14) or the Tribulation Week or the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) are the climactic Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-21) at the Battle of Armageddon (16:16). The Antichrist and the False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire (19:20), while the Devil is cast into the Bottomless Pit (20:1). Christ reigns over His Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6), then Satan is released (20:7) from the Bottomless Pit (the Abyss), as if to drain the dregs of anymore opposition to the Almighty forever. “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and He poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them” (Psalm 75:8). Satan stirs up a revolt and surrounds Jerusalem, but is subdued by fire out of Heaven (Revelation 20:8-9). Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire (20:10). All the wicked dead are judged at God’s White Throne (20:11-15). Next comes the New Heavens and New Earth. 

Peter described the New Heavens and New Earth, but Isaiah already prophesied of them (Isaiah 65:17; 66:12). “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2Peter 3:13). When John describes the scene, he notes “there was no more sea” (Revelation 20:1); in other words, this is the eternal state, where all land will be habitable and the necessity for water to flourish life will be satisfied supernaturally by the Alpha and Omega (21:6) and the River of Life (22:1). But, most prominent will be the New Jerusalem ascending from God out of Heaven (21:10). John calls this New Jerusalem, “the Lamb’s wife” (21:9), probably because it would be the dwelling quarters Jesus once described, “In My Father’s house are many mansions [Greek, monē, dwelling places]: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). The city is a cube of 1,400 miles long by 1,400 miles wide by 1,400 miles high (Revelation 21:14 NET), and 1,400 miles is more than half the distance from San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC. If a “mansion” or dwelling unit was 1 cubic mile, how many mansions or dwelling places could you fit into New Jerusalem? 2.744 trillion mansions.

A further description of New Jerusalem: (1) Glory of God like a crystal clear, precious jewel jasper (Revelation 21:11), (2) Walls of jasper (21:18) about 216 feet high (21:17), (3) Twelve gates with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel on each gate (21:12), (4) Twelve foundations with the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb (21:14), (5) City is pure gold like transparent glass (21:18), (6) Walls are decorated with twelve kinds of precious stones (21:19-20), (7) Twelve gates of twelve whole pearls (21:21), (8) Main Street is pure gold (21:21), (9) No Temple, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple (21:22), (10) No sun or moon, because God and the Lamb are the light (21:23), (11) Earthly kings bring their grandeur into the city (21:24), (12) No night and the gates never close (21:25), (13) The grandeur of the wealth of nations may enter but nothing detestable (21:26-27), (14) The River of the Water of Life flows from the Throne of God and the Lamb (22:1), (15) Tree of Life on each side of the River producing Twelve Kinds of Fruit, and its leaves are for the health of nations (22:2), (16) No more curse! (22:3), (17) Throne of God will be in the city (22:3), (18) His servants shall worship Him (22:3), (19) They will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads (22:4), (20) No need for light for the Lord God will shine on them (22:5), and (21) They will reign forever and ever (22:5). 

For more background for those who believe in New Heavens and New Earth, see our article, Is New Always Better?

Dealing With the Rapture (Part 3)

Ken

The Rapture is possibly the most controversial and studiously ignored issue of the Church at present, “in the fulness of the time”(Galatians 4:4 KJV), simply because it represents the culmination of our Master’s End Times strategy to tie together all the disparate issues of the Church, as well as, addressing all the clear and present circumstances of the Almighty’s Unseen Realm. Consider that the LORD’s supernatural enemy has been preparing for the departure event of the my Rapture from ancient times, especially since Enoch and Elijah (Genesis 5:24; 2Kings 2:11) were translated, to the enemy’s horror, and to their inability to explain away the Almighty’s ability to control the narrative. 

The necessity of the enemy explaining the disappearance of even a large minority of earth’s population involves carefully Articulating What the Crowd Already Believes:

First, justice from the supernatural. The suggestion of a Nephilim hybrid of angels with human females — “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4 ESV) — is rejected by most respectable, scholarly, biblical interpreters, yet most all historical human cultures have mythical traditions of such supernatural interaction with humanity, down to Hollywood’s incarnation of superheroes. What modern moviegoer doesn’t want to believe in justice finally from the supernatural? 

Second, fascination with the supernatural. Christian theology typically explains demon possession as simply bad actor fallen angels spiritually and physically molesting us. What if we more precisely defined demons as the disembodied spirits of the multitudes of Nephilim destroyed in a worldwide flood of Noah (Genesis 6-8)? “So the devils besought Him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine” (Matthew 8:31 KJV). Much of the modern fascination with witchcraft, the demonic, poltergeists, etc. is based upon what the world believes is true, or is afraid to think is true. 

Third, making things right through the supernatural. The fabric of the adversary’s explanation for the Rapture will unavoidably delve into the realm of UFO’s, since the Antichrist [a Nephilim] will supernaturally accomplish peace for Israel sufficient to allow for the building of a Third Jewish Temple, a presently unthinkable event. “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; 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” (2Thessalonians 2:3-4). Just as humanity senses a need for world justice, what human wouldn’t object to reaching out to the divinity in us all? 

Summary of the Enemy’s Response to the Rapture. Lie. What’s the most direct strategy for the enemy to deal with the Rapture? Lie. The devil “is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). His Nephilim protégé, the Antichrist, Is also a liar. “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:9). Those “lying wonders” of Antichrist will include resurrecting from the dead. “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” (Revelation 13:3). But, the Big Lie — for which Antichrist will kill the Christians — will cause their refusal to worship him as God, seated in the Temple at the middle of the Tribulation Week (2Thessalonians 2:3-4).

When you consider that Bible prophecy is so diligently avoided by much of the respectable Christian ministry, is it any wonder the Church is so ill equipped to defend the actions of our Lord in Rapturing His Church?

LORD, may Your people awaken to the challenge of giving “an answer to every man that asketh [them] a reason of the hope that is in [then] with meekness and fear” (1Peter 3:15). May we be ready for Your appearing. May we hasten Your appearing. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Come quickly and rapture Your Church. Amen. 

Dealing With the Rapture (Part 2)

Ken

Though the Rapture will be suddenly and instantaneous (Mark 13: 33, 35), the unbelieving world will notice the departure, just as they will inescapably notice the resurrection of the martyred Two Witnesses mere days before the end of the Tribulation Week. “3 And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them” (Revelation 11:3, 12). The unbelieving world will respond to the death of the Two Witnesses with glee; most likely, in the same way they responded previously to the Pre-Tribulational Rapture departure of the unwanted Christians. “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth” (11:10). When the Jews disappeared into the Holocaust of WW2, their neighbors knew of their removal. In our earth timeframe, seven years must pass, before Christ actually returns; but, in the heaven timeframe, everything precisely and necessarily can take place in the heavenlies, before all the Raptured and Resurrected Saints are returning with Christ (1Thessalonians 4:14, 17). Like the Second Coming Return of Christ with His Saints, the Two Witnesses will be visibly noticed by the world as they will be resurrected and ascend into Heaven. “11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them” (Revelation 11:11-12). LORD, may we take encouragement from the resurrection and ascension of Your Two Witnesses that our return with You will be marked by the certainty of Israel’s Great Returning to You. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen and amen. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation [Israel] be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8).

Messages From Three Angels (Revelation 14:6-13)

Ken

The Gospel, judgment for Babylon, and personal judgment are the messages of the three angels from God to the world. With the removal of the 144,000 and the Two Witnesses at the Pre-Wrath Rapture, no other outward testimony for the LORD exists on planet earth, but these three angels, before the handfuls of days left for the completion of the Seven Vial Judgments at the end of the Tribulation Week. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6 KJV). The Gospel is the Greek euaggelionor good news, but it is only good news, if you repent. The second angel announces, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (14:8). This warns of the soon and sudden demise — “in one hour” (18:17) — of the Beast’s religious and economic systems detailed in Revelation 17 and 18. And finally, the third Angel warns of the “wrath of God” (14:10) for all worshippers of the Antichrist, and blessing for those who “die in the Lord from henceforth” (14:13). The stage is now set for the final judgment of the earth. LORD, we can barely imagine the scope of what You have set for Your program of dealing with humanity. How You have wisely designed all these interactions and prophesied their fulfillment, knowing that You will bring them to pass contrary to the best efforts of the Devil, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet. Glory to Your name. We magnify You for Your mercy and grace in salvation. And, we praise and extol You for Your righteousness and judgment of the earth. Fulfill all Your prophecies and keep all Your promises. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

False Prophet: Beast Out of the Earth (Revelation 13:11)

Ken

Appearing with the religious character of a lamb, the False Prophet (Revelation 19:20) speaks like the devil, and he is no different from the Antichrist. “And I beheld another [Greek, allos, another of the same kind] beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” (Revelation 13:11 KJV). He purposely directs the worship toward the Antichrist (13:12), who the world knows is empowered by the dragon (13:4). How could religion be used so zealously against the righteous? Christianity began with the martyrdom of Jesus at the hands of the unbelieving Jews. Yet, Judaism continues to be the root of the tree. “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15). Typically, a prophet comes before in order to introduce the one appointed to receive the attention, just as John the Baptist came before Jesus of Nazareth. It should not surprise us to find a religious figure prior to the Tribulation with deep ties to historic anti-christianity, which especially depicts the adulteress character of the Thyatiran Church Age (representative of the center and bulk of Church History), who could answer to the description, the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13). This False Prophet would be active long before the Antichrist ascends to the throne of the World Temple in the middle of the Tribulation Week. Father, Your Son taught us to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Cause us to be those doves, as we advocate for Your Son. Cause the sting of the enemy’s objection to be thwarted by the power of Your Spirit blessing the message, preserving the messenger, but, most of all, justifying You. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.