Recommended reading: Mathew chapter 24 – note – the fig tree refers to the nation of Israel.
Let me say, if not the first time, not the last…. This topic is too large for me to cover every aspect of it in a short post. So, this is condensed. Do more research, if desired. There is a lot on the internet about this topic.
To many non-Christians, the Rapture is a new term. The word is not in The Bible. But, it means to be snatched out of or carried away. The Christian groups have different opinions of when the Rapture will occur. So, I will quickly cover some points that are all part of this topic and then discuss further.
“The seventieth week of Daniel” is noted in the book of Daniel, chapter 9. This was a mystery that was kept sealed (man could not understand) until fairly recently. The Bible talks about seventy weeks for the Nation of Israel. These are weeks of years, so one week of years = seven years. Seventy weeks=four hundred ninety years. This period appears to have started when Israel was to rebuild the city of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. Well, obviously, that was more than 490 years ago, so, what’s up?
After sixty-nine weeks of years, 483 years, Jesus Christ died on the cross. This put a pause on the counter, and began what is referred to as “The Church Age.” In Daniel, the seventieth week is also called “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” This is the last week for Israel and is referred to as The Tribulation period.
In this tribulation time, there are two periods, each 3-1/2 years in length. The first part will be fairly easy. Very easy compared to the second half. There will be a new world order, one world currency, a new world leader, a new single world currency, and promises for peace. The second half of the week of years will be God’s pouring out His wrath on the world due to sin. The events are written in Revelation, but there is no way anyone could understand how bad this will be. At the end of this tribulation, Jesus Christ will return, put an end to the war by killing all evil, and standing on the Mount of Olives.
When Christ returns at this time, it is called the second coming of Christ.
I could have put a lot more in the above, but, I don’t want this post to be a book!
In short form, here is the history and future of the world in different time periods of how God deals/dealt with mankind. These are called “dispensations”.
- Innocence – after creation, before sin
- Conscience – after the first sin, man ruled himself
- Human Government – this was just after the flood – God established laws and told mankind to fill and cover the earth
- Promise – after God promised Abraham his future family would become a great nation
- Law – this started with the ten commandments and included many other laws
- Grace – this started when Christ rose from the dead and forgiveness and everlasting life was made available to all
- Millennial Kingdom of Christ – this is after the second coming and Christ will rule as King on Earth for 1,000 years
We are currently in period 6 – the age of grace. When this age started, the 69th week was finished and that calendar was put on hold. At the end of grace and before the millennial reign, that is a time called the last days, followed by the tribulation. I, and many others, believe we are in the last days, a short period prior to the tribulation.
There are several key “players” in the last days/tribulation and there is a bit of confusion, due to us being individuals. These players include:
- Mankind – Christians
- Israel (Jews)
- Mankind – non-Christians
- Jesus
- The Holy Spirit
- The Beast
- Satan
- The Dragon
- The False Prophet
- The Tribulation Saints
- The two witnesses
God presents Himself in 3 distinct beings – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Satan tries to take God’s place, so I see that as the beast, the false prophet, and the dragon. The beast could refer to a being or a government or a ruling process. Some people say the beast is a computer. Well, I don’t expect to need to know all that, but let’s see….
In the process (immediate) of salvation, a lot of thing happen…. The Holy Spirt indwells you and seals you. The Holy Spirit will never leave you. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7, it says “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” Many of us believe the “one who now holds it back” is The Holy Spirit. So, that is what I am saying.
So, this is what we call The Rapture: 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4:13-18:
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[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 together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
So, today, we see mankind – both Christians and non-Christians, and Jews. Note that some Jews are Christians, being a Jew is not by belief, but by blood, per The Bible. The Holy Spirit is active on the Earth and in the hearts of Christians. The Bible also says in Matthew 24:37, “But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” The days of Noah, before the flood, the world was full of violence and evil activities.
Today, in America, we see criminals being released from prison, people protecting their lives and property are being imprisoned, riots are happening, police forces are being reduced or abolished, and sexual perversion is rampant. This is a small part of before the flood and now. There is more. My question in this verse, is this before or after the Rapture? Well, it is underway now, and getting worse. But, remember, America is not “the world” – some parts of the world have experienced a lot worse than we have now. Some are not yet as bad as we have it in some areas, and most of America, as I write this, is still very blessed and peaceful.
So, the next thing is the Rapture…. This could be before or after national and international financial collapse. It could be before or after famine and pestilence (i.e. COVID-19). It could be before or after war, including nuclear war. Possibly even after the new world order is implemented.
Some people believe God will not allow His people, Christians, to go through that. Well, I say, look at other countries…. Christians have watched their family members get raped, beat, and killed in grotesque methods. So, I disagree with that thought. The Bible tells us we will be kept from experiencing God’s wrath in the tribulation, not from the evil of man or any “minor” disaster.
At the Rapture, only Christians will be taken. All others will be left behind. After the Rapture, a new world leader (the beast) will take over and there will be a single financial system – only one currency – but likely only electronic. They will also complete the implementation of the “marking” of people to buy or sell – “the mark of the beast”. There will also be a peace treaty with Israel for 7 years… There is a battle noted in Ezekiel 38&39 that may begin before or shortly after the Rapture. This is when several nations go against Israel, but God prevents damage.
The first 3-1/2 years will see people turn to God and they will be the tribulation saints. Most of them will be beheaded for not worshiping the beast or his statue. There will be 144,000 Jewish witnesses that will cover the Earth. Additionally, there will be two additional witnesses that will also proclaim God’s word and the need for repentance. These two will cause plagues and other things to them against God. At the end of the first 3-1/2 years, they will be killed and the people will see their bodies laying on the ground and they will celebrate their death with parties and gifts. These two are not named. Some think it could be Enoch and Elijah, as they were the only people noted in The Bible who did not die, but were taken alive, by God, to Himself. Also, the beast, the dragon and the false prophet will be in charge during that first 3-1/2 years.
I believe it is during the festivities celebrating the death of the two prophets that God starts pouring out His wrath on the Earth and its inhabitants. For the most part, Israel will be spared. The whole world will stand up together and attack Israel. God will allow Israel to receive much damage, but before total ruin, Jesus returns and kills the evil ones and there is so much blood, it fills a large valley. And God calls all the birds to eat the bodies of the dead. The evil ones are thrown into the lake of fire forever, where there is everlasting torment. This will be when Jesus delivers a “new world and new Jerusalem”. Then, the 1,000 year reign begins.
For details, read Revelation. It has a lot of symbolism that may be difficult to understand, but it spells out some of the details.
So, now the question, when will the Rapture happen? What year? What month? What day? Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” in Matthew 24:36. It is also believed that Jesus said the generation to see Israel (the Jews) have a nation (1948) (but got Jerusalem 1967 in the Six-Day War) will not pass away before these things happen.
The important thing is to realize that you may not be around for the Rapture. You may not finish reading this paragraph. You don’t know when you will breathe your last breath. You need to be ready for the Rapture NOW!
I had a magnetic sign I had made for my truck that had this message:
To help some of you… it means: Are you ready for the Rapture? You need to be ready.
How you can be ready….
- Admit you are a sinner – we all have sinned, no matter how good we think we are.
- Ask God to forgive you of your sin.
- Ask Jesus to come into your heart and become your Savior.
Here is a sample prayer:
God, You know I am a sinner. I have come to realize I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. Will you please forgive me of my sins and help me to stop sinning? Jesus, will you please come into my heart and be my Savior? Thank You, Jesus for saving me and thank You, God, for forgiving me. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
That’s it. Now that you are saved from God’s wrath, hell, and the lake of fire, try to live like it. No, you won’t stop sinning, just keep asking God for help. Realize everybody needs Jesus. Read The Bible and talk to God frequently.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be able to tell others about You. Thank You for all you have done in my life and help me to fight away the old thoughts and think more about You. I pray this in the name of the Creator Christ, Jesus. Amen.