Concerning the seemingly infinite number of false doctrines we are constantly bombarded
with, as many of you very well know, GOD's Word is always correct and will consistently
un-cloud our mind should we choose a routine of diligent study in the oracles of
Wisdom (The Bible) and inquire through The Holy Spirit appertaining Truth. He reveals
secrets hidden throughout the ages to whomsoever would put forth the effort, but
there are no “private” or personalized interpretations of Scriptures given to anyone
(2 Peter 1: 20-21). The Bible fits rightly together from beginning to end, but the
recreants who propagate the fallible doctrines of the world are wrong; as good as
dead wrong until they drop their dangerously confusing sectarian beliefs in order
to choose The Bible as it is written instead. False teachings such as “rapture” or
“soul sleep” are destroyed by the light of the Scriptures upon closer examination,
but if a person remains entrenched in any false doctrine while trying to envision
the Bible fitting harmoniously together, they will be left with so many places where
understanding completely escapes them. More often than not, this error causes people
to abandon Bible study altogether as they are left with the only alternative of clinging
to the commandments and doctrines of men; thereby nullifying much of what GOD has
chosen to reveal. He has certainly chosen to reveal all should we opt to exercise
the measure of faith dealt to each of us and simply believe, but we must forsake
our own understanding and expectations in the process (Proverbs 3: 5).
If it comes to pleasing men or GOD, we must always choose pleasing GOD. If you have
followed after GOD’s Righteousness for very long, you will realize there are very
few people who will not be offended when you only seek to please GOD through personal
Bible study and to strip your mind of every doctrine you’ve ever heard - until you
find proof of a doctrines’ validity within Scriptures. That is what I call “getting
a fresh start”. In this day and age it is really the only sound start. GOD’s Word
speaks for itself and if pleasing GOD is not sufficient for acceptance, so be it.
We must absolutely take Scriptures for face value regardless of who it offends. That
is pleasing to GOD.
Isaiah 1: 28-31 speaks to us of the unfaithful ones on the great and notable day
of The Lord, as well as the sinners. To elucidate the terms “faithful” and “unfaithful”
- “faith” is to be faithful to GOD and His Word. “Unfaithful” is to put trust in
a congregation (called “Church” in error) and their doctrines over GOD’s Word. Isaiah
1: 28-31 relates to those who forsake GOD and HIS Words to create “rose gardens”
in their own minds (false doctrines of peace, safety, and escape). They also help
other people build gardens of peace in their minds; great gardens of oak trees to
protect their plans of escape apart from GOD and His appointed trials upon all those
living on earth, for both saint and sinner alike. GOD says no flesh shall have peace
during sentences of tribulations, trials, and judgment being passed (Jeremiah 12:
12). Just read of the righteous Jeremiah’s troubles, but he was living a spirit led
life and took no concerns for his flesh. The Bible teaches us this is the correct
attitude to have. Being in tribulation is where it pays great dividends to the soul
to be spiritually minded and not carnal minded. The carnal mind is the enemy of GOD,
and those who are not spiritual in their life’s walk cannot please GOD (Romans 8:
6-14). Spirit filled Christians meditate in His Words day and night. They also inquire
of The Lord concerning Truth. GOD will not hold back wisdom from those who seek,
ask, and knock (Matthew 7: 7-11 and James 1: 5-8).
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Those who aren’t spiritually minded have forsaken The Holy Covenant, which is in
actuality a Spiritual Covenant, and again we read of these in Daniel 11: 28-45. These
are the same ones which satan shall have intelligence with in a twisted covenant
to his own beneficial liking. These passages mentioned in Daniel 11 are a second
witness to 2 Thessalonians 2; or vice-versa. In Daniel 11: 32 and 35 we see the saints
of GOD tried and tested so as to purify and prepare them to meet GOD uprightly and
strong of spirit. In Revelation 14: 12, remarked on in the previous section, we see
the mention of the saints’ patience during the beast’s tribulation of deception and
blasphemy; when he seals the minds of apostates and sinners with his assumed name
and blasphemous covenant.
Can we understand that these “saints” and the “elect” written of in Scriptures are
Christians during the great tribulation? Can we understand that Daniel 11: 32 and
35 points us to persecuted Christian saints during the great tribulation? Similarly,
in Daniel 12: 1, 7, and 10 we also see reference to GOD’s holy and wise people as
Christians who are written in The Lamb’s Book of Life (Daniel 12: 1). Yes, Christians
- living on earth during the final tribulation. GOD’s holy and wise people mentioned
there are absolutely Christians, because no one who refuses Jesus and His Salvation
can be considered holy or wise, and certainly not by GOD’s standards, otherwise Christ’s
earthly pleadings and sufferings were all in vain and that is surely not the case.
Salvation through Christ Jesus’ Sacrificial Blood was ordained long before the foundation
of the world was laid and is of prime importance in determining the eternal fate
of every human being (Romans 8: 29-30 ◦ Ephesians chapter 1 ◦ 2 Thessalonians 2:
13).
Daniel 7: 25 also bears witness of these persecuted Christian saints who fall into
satan’s captivity during the last days, yet they shall overcome at the later end
by the Blood of The Lamb and the Word of Testimony which GOD puts into their mouths
through The Holy Spirit (Revelation 12: 11-13); against all gainsayers and accusers
- even against satan (e.g. Matthew 10: 17-39 and Luke 21: 12-28). Revelation 12:
9-17 is a snapshot of how the end-time saints overcome anti-christ and his tribulation
of persecution to the Christians. We will go into detail on this in an upcoming section.
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GOD gives us a quiz in Revelation 13: 10 concerning who will be on earth during the
time of the greatest tribulation the earth will ever see. Read that chapter and pay
close attention to verse 10 which I mentioned and notice the preceding and following
verses of the time you are reading about. Then examine the other verses that are
given in the prior paragraphs and tell me if there is a “rapture”. And also please
answer to me if you feel the saints mentioned in those Scriptures are unsaved Jews
who don’t recognize or acknowledge The Holy Spirit or Jesus The Christ. Did GOD change
His Mind concerning what it takes to obtain Salvation? ..... No. There are no saints
without The Holy Spirit of GOD dwelling within their flesh body temple, but there
are those of “the election” which are yet to be saved. GOD seals their mind with
The Holy Spirit and writes His Name there before the end of this age. These ones
are some of the house of Israel as well as some of Korea (North and South), China,
India, Iraq, Iran, and all other nations. Amen ! ..... Such ones as should be saved,
GOD adds to The Church daily (Acts 2: 47); all of the way until the latter end (Deuteronomy
4: 29-31).
The Bible fits completely together if we allow it to and disallow our fleshly feelings
of getting in the way through fear. Who is it that shall harm us or separate us from
the Love of Christ if we are His true followers. Shall tribulations, distress, persecutions,
famine, nakedness, peril, sword, death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things
present, things to come, height, depth, or creatures separate us from the Love of
Christ (Romans 8: 35-39) ? Absolutely not! Fear not those who can destroy the flesh
body and after that have nothing they can do to us (Matthew 10: 28), but instead,
we must love and respect our Heavenly Father’s ability to keep us through the age
and the ages; against all odds and devices formed against us. In fact, GOD gives
some very comforting Words to those who are faithful to Him during the very last
days, as written in Luke 21: 16-20 as well as the chapter of Psalms 91 (among other
places). We as Christians are GOD’s heirs along with Jesus (Romans 8: 16-17), and
we also inherit Psalms 91’s promises of protection. After all, we have His Holy Spirit;
why wouldn't we have surety. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at
thy right hand, but the curse, plague, or death does not come near to GOD’s children
during the end-time tribulation (Psalms 91). Do you believe that? You can count on
that more than what you see when you look at the floor! But, don’t let that man who
wavers back and forth between faith and fear think he will receive comfort from GOD
during the end-time, because he won’t (James 1: 6-8). And that would be one tough
field to plow without the comfort of His Holy Spirit. At a point during the final
tribulation men shall seek to die, but death shall flee from them (read Revelations
chapter 9 - also see verses 4-6 there). At that time, “death / satan” will be playing
the role of “life / Christ”. The prophet Amos has something to mention about the
turmoil on earth during that time in Amos 5: 13-20. It shall be well with the prudent
Christian though (see Amos 5: 13 and much of The Bible). There are many today who
seek the Day of The Lord (His Coming), but GOD tells us this is not wise in that
fifth chapter of Amos.
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We know all of the answers the unlearned come up with in order to prove their points.
The truth is, any faithful Bible student can give at least two counterclaims from
Scriptures to disprove each single claim in favor of the “rapture” doctrine. Furthermore,
the Biblical doctrine against “rapture” will carry throughout the whole Bible - front
to back and top to bottom, whereas evidence for “rapture” will not. It is necessary
that it have total Scriptural support to have any validity, not just a “here and
there - hit and miss” kind of thing.
We know very well that Jesus’ first Advent was depicted as a sacrificial lamb for
the slaughter, and His second Advent is portrayed as “The Lion of the tribe of Judah”
or “The Lion of GOD”. I have studied The Bible intensely for years, in several languages,
and there are only two Advents of GOD The Son recorded. There is no secret entry
by Jesus in the end times written anywhere.
How can Christ in His full Magnificence of Glory, seven times brighter than the sun
(Isaiah 30: 26), secretly step out on a cloud to call certain “christians” away from
tribulation? It would be an impossibility for The Lord’s Glory to remain hidden from
the face of the earth longer than one second (see Psalms 18: 12 and 1 Corinthians
15: 51-52), once He raises up out of His place to perform judgment upon satan, apostates,
and sinners alike. Jesus’ sevenfold brilliance begins melting mountains (take note
of Psalms 46), with fire raining down upon earth, including great hailstones and
brimstone upon His arrival (2 Peter 3: 7 and verses 10-12). The sun’s present summertime
intensity can kindle forest fires as it now stands. How can anyone even conceive
that GOD The Son’s complete Glory is less than or even equal to that. He and The
Father shall be the Light of the eternal Kingdom to come, and the inhabitants thereof
shall have no need for the sun to light upon them (Revelation 22: 5). The sun will
be very dim compared to The Lord’s total Glory. Very dim !
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But still, some say the Christians will disappear and the unsaved will remain upon
earth to suffer, or only Jews will suffer - or both. The Truth is, when Christ comes
all flesh bodies will be destroyed in the presence of His Glory. Some false reports
propose that the human body of certain Christians will disappear into Heaven while
the unsaved are wondering where they went. Flesh and blood cannot inherit The Kingdom
of GOD (1 Corinthians 15: 50). Corruptible and perishable flesh is not able to inherit
the incorruptible spirit dimension or abide near GOD’s consuming fire for even a
millisecond length of time (2 Peter 3: 10 and 12), let alone make it into the atmosphere
of any ample altitude in His Presence. To think otherwise portrays an ignorance which
is taught by the commandments and doctrines of men. Those same doctrines will make
GOD’s Words void in our minds. I am speaking from experience on this. If we choose
to believe those unlearned interpretations, we may as well toss our Bible onto the
book heap, because we will not understand sound Biblical doctrine from henceforth
after accepting those dim views, until we start leaning on The Bible as it is so
plainly written. If or when we forsake GOD’s simple containment of facts in exchange
for another broken down cistern of rapidly leaking water, we are in the saddle of
apostasy my friends ..... period.
There are also different teachings on the disappeared (“raptured”) Christians. One
belief is, they will be reunited with a glorified flesh body at the second advent
of Christ, which is supposed to be (some say) seven years after a “rapture”. Others
claim the disappeared “christians'” flesh body will be glorified at the time of a
“rapture”, before the second Advent of Christ (some say seven years - some say three
and one half years before then). It seems they arrive at these conclusions partly
from misunderstanding Job 19: 25-27 (discussed soon) and Ezekiel chapter 37 (and
also by generally misunderstanding the “Meat” of The Word).
Ezekiel 37 is concerning the vision of “the valley of dry bones”, which uses an example
of a valley with many decayed human bodies and nothing remaining but dried bones.
Then GOD instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, at which time the sinews
and flesh reforms as if the bodies are coming back to life. At that point there is
no “breath” (Ruwach [Hebrew] ◦ Spirit) in them, so Ezekiel must prophesy for the
“wind” (same word: Ruwach [Hebrew] ◦ Spirit) to enter into the “reassembled” bodies.
But there in verse 11 GOD tells Ezekiel what this vision means.
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He uses that prophetic example as the bodies of the whole house of Israel rising
out of their graves and coming back together into a great army (company, host), BECAUSE,
..... Israel said to GOD they are in a hopeless condition and cut off from all of
their other body parts; meaning all of the body of Israel, i.e., all of the tribes
were not joined together and there was no hope for them to reunite into a whole nation
again. In verse 12 GOD instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the whole house of Israel
(this is a prophecy of Salvation through The Messiah and His Holy Spirit), and tell
them He would bring them out of their graves and put His Spirit (Ruwach) in them.
He accomplished that when Jesus was given as a Sacrifice to take away sins from before
GOD’s Eyes. After Jesus’ Crucifixion and before His Resurrection, He went to the
imprisoned (dead) spirits (1 Peter 3: 18-20 ◦ 4: 4-6) and set the captives free (all
who would accept Him; probably all - see Matthew 27: 52-53). This could not happen
before Jesus fulfilled the plan of Salvation on the Cross, because Scripture teaches
us that Christ is the firstborn from the dead (Romans 8: 29 and Colossians 1: 12-20).
Yahshua’s (Jesus’) Sacrificial atonement broke all holds of death and all holds of
satan on GOD’s people - even on those who were in the grave for centuries (also see
John 5: 25 ◦ John 5: 28 is another time-frame apart from verse 25 and will be discussed
later, but it is rather in relation to Revelation 20: 4-7). Much of the above prophesy
was fulfilled by the Power of Christ’s Perfect Blood. The other part remaining to
be fulfilled in this prophecy is explained by the following:
Then GOD uses another example in the same chapter of Ezekiel 37 (verses 15-28) of
two sticks portraying the two separated “houses” of Israel; with one stick for Judah
(representing Benjamin and Levi also) and the other stick for Joseph, which was in
Ephraim’s hand (the heir of Joseph - representing the 10 northern tribes symbolically).
At GOD’s command, Ezekiel then joined the two sticks together and they became as
one in his hand. These two split kingdoms of Israel have not been reunited since
they were separated in the time of king Solomon’s son (king Rehoboam). They will
not be reunited in the land of Israel until Christ’s second Advent. Ezekiel 37 has
absolutely nothing to do with a resurrection of any flesh bodies at a “rapture” or
at any time. This is a classic example of how crucial it is that we understand the
basic and metaphoric uses of many prophecies. The faithful Bible student will understand
the interpretation, thereby understanding the appointed times for the fulfillment
of each part. GOD has brought certain tribes of Israel back into their land throughout
history, but never all together at once while they all had The Holy Spirit in them
as prophesied in that chapter and certainly never with GOD dwelling among them forever
as Ezekiel 37: 24-28 explains. So while some of that chapter has been fulfilled to
various degrees at various times, it has not been completely and ultimately fulfilled
yet, and won’t be until Christ’s second Advent.
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As for Job 19: 25-27 mentioned above and quoted below, this is another area which
genders much confusion about “flesh resurrections” at a time of a so-called “rapture".
The Hebrew word “basar [baw-sawr']”, used in Job 19: 26 for “flesh”, was translated
the overwhelming majority of times as “flesh” in the Authorized King James Version
Bible of 1611 (AKJV). Yet, that Hebrew word means: “(my-)self” ◦ “in person” ◦ “my
own being” ◦ “body” ◦ “kin” ◦ “kind” ◦ “likeness” ◦ “mankind” and even “type” or
“animal-kind” - more revealing than the word “flesh”. I consider the ultimate coverall
translation for “basar”, especially when the context insists, to be: “kind [i.e.,
type]” or “likeness”, but I can easily accept “self” also, but the word “flesh” is
too close minded for proper use in certain areas such as Job 19: 26. So, the better
translation for Job 19: 26 would have been “self” ◦ “likeness” ◦ “being” or “kind”,
because Job made the statement in Job 14: 14 (below) that he waited for a change
of body to occur, i.e., from a flesh body into a spirit body. With that being the
same principle taught in all of The Bible, wisdom instructs us to look at the conflicting
verse of Job 19: 26 to see why it conflicts with sound Biblical doctrine. We have
determined the error to be one mistranslated English word; “flesh”. It seems that
flesh always gets in the way - does it not? Ecclesiastes 12: 7 also states the flesh
body permanently goes back to the dust from which it is formed and the spirit goes
back to GOD who gave it (also the same idea in Genesis 3: 19 ◦ Psalms 49: 12-20 ◦
Ecclesiastes 3: 18-21 ◦ 1 Corinthians 15: 35-44, 53). The evidence is overwhelmingly
in our favor to the effect we have found an error and corrected it in our minds.
There is absolutely no need for the weak flesh in GOD's kingdom, nor can it exist
there. But, we are not dealing with a second Advent resurrection at all in the following
verses of Job 19. Job is writing: “Even though my flesh body (person) shall die and
decay back into the elements of earth from which it is formed, yet shall I live as
a spirit body (person) to see my Redeemer for myself. Another person won't see Him
for me and report it back to me. I shall see Him for myself with my own eyes; with
my own understanding and consciousness - when He shall stand upon earth at the end
of days.” Job is expressing to us: “though he will die, yet shall he live again,
because of his Redeemer.”
Job 19: 25-27
25 For I know [that] my Redeemer liveth, and [that] He shall stand at the latter
[day] upon the earth:
26 And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh [i.e.,
own self - in my own being and with my own consciousness] shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though]
my reins be consumed within me.
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See Job 14: 14 below. He knew very well the flesh body must be changed into a spirit
body and so did all of the Old and New Testament writers in all of the verses mentioned
in the preceding paragraph. Job did not contradict himself in Job 14: 14 and Job
19: 26. The translators evidently misunderstood the doctrine of changing bodies from
flesh to spirit and failed to properly interpret the word “basar” and it's ideal
in Job 19: 26. At least they did at that point in their translations or a scribe
took it upon himself to imply the idea of a flesh resurrection; the rest of The Bible
simply doesn’t support that idea, though.
Job 14: 1-22
1 Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and
continueth not.
3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with
thee?
4 Who can bring a clean [thing] out of an unclean? not one [note: Meaning, who can
take a perishable flesh body and make it otherwise. GOD had no intentions for flesh
man to live forever. That is why He made it out of temporary and perishable materials,
but He did put a spirit man inside who had the opportunity to live forever through
His Son - Christ Jesus].
5 Seeing his days [are] determined, the number of his months [are] with thee, thou
hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass [note: GOD limits the life of all flesh
bodies to a certain number of days that cannot be passed];
6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his
day.
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and
that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the
ground;
9 [Yet] through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant
[note: There is a possibility that a tree can live again after it is cut down].
10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is]
he? [note: But, the flesh man's body wastes away to nothing after it is “cut down”,
then he gives up the spirit to go back to GOD (Ecclesiastes 12: 7).]
11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up [note: After
the flood is gone, it is gone. It may come back, but it will never be the same. So
it is with life - after it is gone, it is gone. If it returns, it shall be completely
different]:
12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not
awake, nor be raised out of their sleep [note: the flesh man lies down and shall
never awake, even through all of the time and space of eternity].
{Note: Let's look at the literal translation of verse 12 from the Hebrew and leave
out the extra English words which were added. It is helpful to first read verses
11 and 12 above, then verse 12 below. Sorry to the Hebrew readers for the somewhat
backwards Hebrew "transcription".}
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Job 14: 12 from the Hebrew with transliterations (uses SIL Apparatus Fonts partly):
even so - man lies down and not - lives even to - no more
heaven(-s), air
[‛iysh] [shâkab] [Vålô yåqûwm] [‛ad biltîy]
[shâmayim]
(eesh) (shaw-kab') (vehl-ow yek-oom') (ad bil-tee')
(shaw-mah'-yim)
not will they awake and not - be roused out
of sleep.
[lô] [yâqûwtsrû] [Vålô yê‛ûwr] [mishnâtâm]
(low) (yaw-kootsroo') (veh-low yay-oor') (mish'-naw-tawm)
13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret,
until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
[note: Job is totally disgusted about living and suffering in the flesh body.]
14 If a man die, shall he live [again]? all the days of my appointed time will I
wait, till my change come [note: Job knows the answer is “no”. The flesh man shall
not live again. Man must receive a change from the flesh body into the spirit body.].
15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of
thine hands.
16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17 My transgression [is] sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out
of his place.
19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow [out] of the
dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man [note: Flesh man has nothing
to hope in or look forward to. Once the mountain falls, it will lie where it fell.
Similarly, the stone which is worn away by the waters shall not reverse the process
to re-accumulate the loss. So it is for all things made from the elements of earth].
20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance,
and sendest him away.
21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth [it] not; and they are brought low, but
he perceiveth [it] not of them.
22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
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Job is stating that GOD will call and he (Job) will answer (verse 15 above) as a
spirit man, not a flesh man.
Again, touching on the “rapture” doctrine, so much time must necessarily be devoted
on these pages to that because of the major damage it has inflicted upon understanding
throughout history. It is not a new thing as Ezekiel chapter 13 conveys. We need
to envision this further please. Let’s just say that Christians were “snatched away”
from the earth while the sinner remained. All should know that flesh and blood cannot
enter into Heaven (1 Corinthians 15: 50-55), or the coming Heaven age upon earth;
“glorified” or not - as if flesh could actually be glorified as some hope. If the
“rapture” doctrine had any value whatsoever, it should be understood when Jesus came
to call them out, (silently as many believe), their flesh body would drop from the
sky unto the ground at the speed of earth’s gravitational pull as with any dead weight
falling object; if they even got off of the ground at all. There would be consumed
flesh bodies falling or lying all over the place. So then, how would the rest of
the human beings endure the presence of GOD’s full Majestic Glory upon earth? .....
Can’t see Christ’s Coming? ..... Don’t count on that:
Isaiah 40: 5
5 And The Glory of The LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together:
for the mouth of The LORD hath spoken [it].
Revelation 1: 7
7 Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they [also] which
pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Disappearance?
Some invariably divide Christ’s Second Coming into two separate Advents separated
by a tribulation. These same ones say the above verses indicates the second Advent
of Christ which occurs after a “rapture” and tribulation. They claim that during
a “rapture”, which some say is either before or in the middle of the great tribulation,
Jesus “steps out on a cloud” and secretly snatches them from earth. That would mean
Jesus comes 2 more times after His first Advent (as Savior). What we’ve already studied
has denied the possibility of a third Advent, but still they cling to the idea just
the same. However, there is even more solid evidence against the “rapture” doctrine
yet to come - much, much more.
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As of several years ago, the doctrines of the unlearned have worked towards polluting
everyone's understanding (and done a good job of it), by labeling all Christians
as believing in one of three “rapture” doctrines:
(ir-)respectively}- Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation; on the
assumption there is even such a thing as “rapture”. Confusion now abounds for the
population in general by forcing everyone to wade through the mud of three different
doctrines, when in reality there are no such divisions within Scriptures. There used
to be nothing wrong with the word “rapture”, before it became a “religiosity decree”,
but it has taken on a whole new description. It is no longer defined [by them] as
“overcome with ecstasy”. Now it invariably means; “I'll be happy to escape the great
tribulation”, and you can gather that from the tone of anyone who is hopeful for
a “rapture”.
In relation to the above, many say Jesus will remain hidden in a cloud, similar to
when GOD was in the presence of the children of Israel in the wilderness, on Mount
Sinai, and in The Temple. That was evidence of GOD’s Presence, yes, but if we begin
to think that, that was the complete Glory of His undimmed Personage, we’re fooling
ourselves loved ones. There is no cloud that could hide the brightness of seven strengths
of the sun’s radiance for very long (again, see Psalms 18: 12 - below). It is written
He will come in the clouds, yes, we just read that above, but the day before His
coming will be a dim day of cloudy darkness (see Joel 2: 1-2 ◦ Amos 5: 18-20 ◦ Zechariah
14: 6-7) and war, because the battles preceding and including the final battles of
Armageddon and Hamon-gog will fill the skies with thick pillars of smoke; in the
Middle East region for example. Additionally, there will be great earthquakes with
volcanoes erupting worldwide, spewing ash and smoke into the heavens; the latter
example much greater than the former. Revelation 6: 12 (the sixth seal), and Joel
2: 31 gives the description of the sun being darkened near the time of a great earthquake
and the description of the moon being turned into blood (red) gives indication of
atmospheric haze from pillars of volcanic smoke filling the skies (see Ezekiel 30:
3 ◦ Amos 5: 20 ◦ Joel 2: 30). We can easily reason that immediately after Jesus arrives,
the earth will be profoundly different, so the moon appearing blood red would indicate
the haze in the skies has accumulated over a period of time in order to give that
appearance, but we can't lock ourselves into that interpretation alone. Concerning
the sun, it will be darkened in Christ Jesus’ presence (Isaiah 60: 19). He outshines
the sun when He comes, as mentioned, but we are examining the earth just before that
time. We can’t rule out solar, lunar, or planetary eclipses either, as well as other
signs and wonders in the heavens. Another view of the great earthquakes just before
The Lord comes can be read in Zechariah 14: 4-5. That description is of the ‘quake
in Israel preceding Christ's coming (also see Revelation 16: 18-19). We must understand
this to be one of the most important times in history and we can’t go far from Truth
by using our imagination regarding all of the signs and wonders in the heavens and
earth (Joel 2: 30); including asteroids (stars) hitting earth (see Revelation 6:
12-13). The Lord did say the earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard (Isaiah 24:
17-23), and asteroid hits would have a two fold effect. Firstly, this would be bound
to cause earth tremors and secondly it would cause the skies to fill with dust and
debris. Also remember, great hail stones weighing over one hundred pounds will fall
to earth too (Revelation 16: 21). But on a spiritual level, the word “stars” in many
prophecies indicates “angels” as we are instructed in Revelation 1: 20, for example,
and Revelation 12: 7-9 tells us satan and his angels will be cast out of heaven to
earth. With the knowledge and understanding that GOD refers to the angels as “stars”,
we know the truth of the matter concerning that, but we can't leave it at that while
examining this most major catastrophic earth (and Heaven) changing event.
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Prophetic significance is also applied to the words: “sun”, “moon”, and “blood” which
we will get a glimpse of as we continue studying. The various descriptions from the
prophecies mentioned above are usually only recognized by people through literal
understanding in many instances, but the book of Revelation (and much of The Bible
for that matter), is mainly a spiritual book (see John 6: 63) containing symbolism,
analogies, types, patterns, and metaphors - even though there are literal interpretations
indeed and even dual interpretations. To those who lean upon their own understanding
it is only mysterious riddles. It will all become more clear towards the end of course;
as Scriptures declare. Naturally, the book of Revelation gives credence to spiritual
matters of the utmost. As a matter of fact, throughout The Bible, “Prophetic Call
Words” are used which retain their prophetic meaning through the two original languages
of the Old and New Testaments. By GOD's design, this makes prophecies easy to remember.
The following is a short list of “Prophetic Call Words” - not complete by any means:
“sun, moon, stars, blood, grass, trees, cedar (fir), thorn, green, horn,
bitter, sweet, dust, dry, iron, clay, fire, water, sword, wing, oil, and bread”
Many common everyday words within Scriptures have prophetic and spiritual significance
far more than the physical / literal description implies. The whole Bible contains
so many precious “keys” referencing the spiritual sayings in each of the other books,
known as “dark sayings”; meaning “hidden” (hidden from the world in general). These
“keys” are especially true for understanding the book of Revelation. The word “revelation”
however, or “apokalupto (Grk.)”, means to “reveal” or “uncover”, but it is ultimately
The Spirit of GOD who is able to reveal the matters in the book of Revelation and
even all books to any of us. Yet prophecy is meant to be understood and not remain
hidden - not for the world, but for The Spirit led Christian (e.g., Mark 4: 11-12).
Here are a couple more mysteries of the “Prophetic Call Words” revealed by GOD in
various Scriptures. Most people understand these, because The Lord made it so simple
that most people would understand; by outright declaration of it:
Flesh men and women are referred in Scriptures as “clay”, “dust”, and even “grass”.
These terms show us that flesh man is made up of the more base elements of the earth.
“Trees” however, refers to the angels or those living completely within spirit bodies,
basically because trees are of more ancient days than what grass abides and greater
of strength and stature. Jesus also referred to Himself as a green tree in Luke 23:
31.
Daniel 2: 32-43 gives a prophetic example to show one descriptive difference between
mankind and the angels. There, mankind (the seed of men) is likened unto “clay” and
the angels as “iron”. These “Prophetic Call Words” retain their significance in practically
all instances throughout both Testaments, but it is easily understood when an actual
physical tree, for example, is referenced. However, we should not limit our understanding
to a literal interpretation only; never should we do that. In some cases, kings and
their dominions are likened unto “trees” (e.g., Daniel chapter 4), but “cedar trees”
describe The Lord's “angels” and even GOD refers to Himself as a “Great Fir Tree”,
meaning always green and without faded foliage. When dealing with Bible prophecy,
there is a whole lot more to it than it appears materially. It mostly extends to
a spiritual level of understanding given for the last days as we will apprize. But
that is an outstanding feature of Scriptures really; to know what shall be by examining
that thing which has already been (Ecclesiastes 3: 15 - see the section “Prophecy
Patterns”), as well as for seeing reality.
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Back To:
“Bible Prophecy Basics - Part 1”
Next:
“Bible Prophecy Basics - Part 3”
“Prophecy Patterns”
“Rapture - Part 1”
“Rapture - Part 2”
“666 - Mark Of The Beast”
“The Great Tribulation”
“Babylon”
“Closing Words”
“Invitation To Salvation - Come To Know The Lord”
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