Booklet with pictures, the Pre-tribulation Rapture

For videos on the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, by Dr Richard Kent, please click on this YouTube link:

 

My teaching comes mainly from Chuck Missler and Pastor Derek Walker, of Oxford Bible Church, UK. There are many Christians, such as David Pawson, who do not believe in the Rapture. This is NOT a salvation issue, and I have NEVER insisted I am correct in my understanding of events! This is simply my understanding, and expectation!

 

1- The Rapture

What Is The Rapture?

1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

 

2. The “Beginning of Sorrows” Before The Rapture

MATTHEW 24: 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows

a) The Greek word “nation” is actually, ἔθνος (ethnos). This implies that ETHNIC GROUPS will rise up against other ETHNIC GROUPS, which we are very much seeing worldwide today.

b) The Greek word “kingdom” is actually βασιλεία (basileia). In the New Testament, where this word is used 77 times, the usual use of this word is concerning the spiritual kingdoms of God and Satan.

c) We are currently experiencing a word-wide pandemic.

d) Earthquakes are dramatically increasing.

e) Famine is dramatically increasing, but not widely reported in the Media.

Jesus spoke of a time in world history when ALL FIVE events would be seen at the same time, and described these as the beginning of sorrows.

 

3. The Deliverance of All Believers From Planet Earth

Jesus said, in Luke 21:28, “So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near”.

As we see the world in turmoil, as now, look up for our REDEMPTION! Our REDEMPTION from a world in turmoil is to be removed from Planet Earth, which is the Rapture!

 

4. We Should Encourage Each Other About The Rapture!

1 Thessalonians 4: 15, For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [d]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words

NB. Paul said we should encourage each other!!!

Why Should we encourage each other? because we will not have to go through the tribulation!

 

5. The Rapture is The Blessed Hope

Titus 2:13-14 “while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good”

6. Jesus Told us Not to Fear, Because he Will Come From Heaven, And Take us to Heaven!

John 14:1-4

14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus says he will go to Heaven, and then return from Heaven to receive believers to Heaven! This could not be clearer, and I believe the Rapture is imminent!

 

7. Believers are Not Under Judgement!

The English word “JESUS” comes from the Hebrew word, YESHUA, which means SALVATION.

Christians are not under judgement!

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The world is under judgement!

John 3:36
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

 

8. Noah and His Family Were Delivered by God From a World- Wide Flood in Genesis Chapter 8.

 

9. Lot and His Family Were Delivered by God From Sodom & Gomorrah Which Were Destroyed, In Genesis 19:24

 

10. Believers Will Escape The Great Tribulation!

Genesis 19:22 “Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there”.

God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, but instructed Lot and his family to flee to the nearby small town of Zoar.

Importantly, God said he could NOT destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot and his family were safe! God will NOT pour his wrath on Planet Earth until His Bride, the Church, are safely in Heaven, at the Rapture!

 

11. The Egyptians Were Judged by God With The Ten Plagues in Exodus 9,10, and 11, But The Children of Israel in Goshen Escaped, Because They Were Not Judged! The Rapture Will be the Same!

12. God Parted the Red Sea at the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Children of Israel Escaped, but the Egyptian Army All Drowned, Judged by God. The Rapture Will be the Same!

Exodus14, 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

13. The Prostute Rahab, and all Her Family, Were Saved by God, but Everyone in Jericho Perished. The Rapture Will be the Same!

Joshua 6:21, And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword., 22, But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.” 23 And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. 24 But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire.

14. Jesus Christ Saved Shadrach Meshack and Abednego From the Fiery Furnace. It will be the Same at the Rapture!

Daniel 3:24, Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a Son of the Gods.”

15. God Saved Daniel From the Lions Den. During the Imminent Tribulation Period, Two Thirds of the Inhabitants of Planet Earth will Die, but the Believers will not be Present, Because God will have Raptured them!

Daniel 6:20 , The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

16. Jesus Christ gave very specific instructions to Jewish Believers in AD 33, About the Imminent Destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, under the Roman General, Titus. Similarly, God has given specific instructions to believers that they will escape the imminent seven year tribulation period!

Luke 21:20-23
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfilment of all that has been written.

Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from (from =Greek, ἐκ, out of) the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth

In the original Greek, “keep you from” uses the Greek word ἐκ which means “out from among” in the New Testament.

God will keep all believers completely OUT of the Tribulation period, by removing them ALL from Planet Earth to Heaven!

 

17. The Prophets of Elijah knew the actual day that Elijah would be raptured up to heaven!

I believe that Christians too will know the actual day of the Rapture too, nearer the time!

2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.

3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

18. The Rapture will come like A thief in the night to unbelievers, and they will be taken completely by surprise!

1 Thessalonians 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

19. The rapture will not come like a thief in the night to believers, and wise believers will prepare themselves for the rapture!

1 Thessalonians 5: 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be [a]sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night

20. Wise believers will be prepared for the rapture, and will be full of the holy spirit!

Matthew 25
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [a] is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the
wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour [b] in which the Son of Man is coming.

 

21. Biblical prophecy concerning the 400 year captivity in Egypt. This is relevant because of Jesus’ prophecy that he would return within one generation of the re-birth of Israel on 14th May 1948.

God revealed to Abraham that the Children of Israel would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years.

Genesis 15:13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for 400 years.”

 

22. Biblical prophecy concerning the 70 years in Babylon. this is relevant because of Jesus’ prophecy that he would return within one generation of the re-birth of Israel on 14th May 1948.

God revealed to Jeremiah that the Jewish people would be in captivity in Babylon for 70 years. Daniel almost certainly knew this, which is perhaps why Daniel became such a devoted believer himself!

Jeremiah 29:10, For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.

23. Daniel’s amazing prophecy about the exact day when Jesus Christ would come to Jerusalem on 3rd April 33 ad. This is relevant because of Jesus’ prophecy that he would return within one generation of the re-birth of Israel on 14th May 1948.

Sir Robert Anderson, described in his book The Coming Prince the exact date of the very first Palm Sunday, on 3rd April 33AD!

Daniel 9:25, “Know now therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.”

In this prophecy (written 538 years before Christ was born), Daniel claimed there would be 69 “weeks of years” between the issuing of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the appearance of the Messiah.

In 464 BC, Artaxerxes, a Persian king, ascended to the throne.

Nehemiah, the Jewish cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, was deeply concerned about the ruined condition of Jerusalem following the defeat of the Jews (Nehemiah 1:1-4). As a result, he petitioned the king:

Nehemiah 2:5,6
“Send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it. So it please the king to send me”.

The decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem was issued “in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king” (Nehemiah 2:1).

In the Julian calendar we presently use, the corresponding date would be March 5, 444 BC.

Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey on March 30, 33 A.D, and everyone shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord”.

Let’s compare then, the date of the decree (March 5, 444 BC) with the date of Jesus’ declaration (March 30, 33 AD). Before we begin, we must clarify (as noted by Anderson) an important feature of the Jewish prophetic year, which was comprised of twelve 30-day months. The Jewish prophetic year has 360 days, not 365 days, as our current Julian calendar does.

Since Daniel states 69 weeks of seven years each, and each year has 360 days, the following equation calculates the number of days between March 5, 444 BC (the twentieth year of Artaxerxes) and March 30, 33 AD (the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey):

69 x 7 x 360 = 173,880 days

In other words, Daniel prophesied the EXACT date when Jesus Christ would come to Jerusalem, in the same week as He was crucified.

 

I am CERTAIN that the MAGI, the Jewish believers from Babylon, who visited Jesus Christ at his birth, knew about this prophecy, and were actively looking for the Star over Bethlehem! This is adapted from the following website:

https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/perhaps-the-greatest-old-testament-prophecy-of-all/

 

24. Jesus Christ’s prophecy about his resurrection after three days and three nights. this is highly relevant because of Jesus Christ’s additional prophecy concerning the rapture, within one generation of the re-birth of Israel, which happened on May 14th 1948.

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 

25. Christians will not know the day or the hour of the rapture
Jesus clearly said, in Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only”. So I am NOT date-setting!

 

26. Christians must be able to discern the signs of the times
Jesus said clearly in Matthew 16:3 “Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times”. The implication here is that Believers WILL know the GENERAL TIMES of the Rapture, but NOT the day or the hour! This is further supported by I Thessalonians 5:4 “But you, brothers and sisters, are NOT in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief”. Jesus said that the MAIN sign for the return of Jesus Christ was the re-birth of Israel, on May 14th 1948.

 

27. Jesus Christ’s parable of the fig tree

Matthew 24 The Parable of the Fig Tree

Matthew 24:32, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its
branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that
summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things,
know that [e] it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this
generation will by no means pass away till all these things take 36  place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no
means pass away NKJV

28. Pastor Derek Walker’s interpretation of the parable of the fig tree.

Jesus Christ’s parable of the fig tree is so important to understand, that I am simply quoting directly from pastor Derek Walker, of Oxford Bible Church, UK.

Derek and Hilary are close friends of ours, and I have frequently visited his church, and interviewed Derek on Revelation TV! for further study please visit this link:
http://www.oxford-bible-church.co.uk/media/End-Time1.pdf

PAGE 125

SIGN (1): THE FIG-TREE “Now learn the Parable of the FIG TREE: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that Summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it (the Kingdom) is near – at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matthew 24:32-34).

It is clear that the first thing to look for is the FIG TREE, but what is it? The Fig-Tree in the Bible represents ISRAEL. Jeremiah 24 shows Israel in captivity as a basket of figs. This is because they are no longer a Fig-Tree planted in the Land but scattered). See also Hosea 9:10, Joel 1:6,7; Ezekiel 36:8. The Fig-Tree as Israel is confirmed by Jesus’ use of this symbol in Luke 13:6-9.

 

Thus the major sign of being in the end-times, just before the Tribulation is the reappearance of Israel as a living nation.
Jesus had started this Parable of the Fig Tree earlier. He is now bringing it to its conclusion. This parable is therefore in two parts:

(1) Jesus came to the Fig-Tree (Israel) to inspect its fruit (faith) and found none so he announced that he will cut it down and remove it from the land (Luke 13:1-9). He symbolically acted this out when He cursed a Fig-Tree and it withered from its roots (Mark 11:12-24, Matthew 21:18-19). The judgment started immediately (but invisibly – at the roots, the trees’ source of life) but was only visibly manifested sometime later (’the next day’). This was fulfilled in AD33 when Israel was cut off spiritually, and then in AD70 this judgment was manifested when Israel was expelled from the land.

(2) But Jesus also predicted that the Fig-Tree will rise again! “Learn the parable of the FIG TREE (ISRAEL), when his branch is become tender, and puts forth leaves (not fruit) you know SUMMER (the Millennial Kingdom) is nigh” (Matthew 24:32). So, the Fig-tree is Israel which was cut down and cursed by Christ for rejecting her Messiah. But she will spring up again and then we can know that Summer 125 (the Kingdom) is near.

Luke confirms this: “Look at the Fig Tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that Summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:29-31). Luke makes it clear that Summer represents the Messianic Kingdom. The sign of being in the final generation before the Kingdom is the Fig-Tree with its leaves shooting forth, for all to see.

All of history is moving towards the Kingdom (Summer) when Israel (the Fig-Tree) will bear mature fruit. In the Tribulation, especially by the end, as Summer approaches, this fruit (faith) will start to appear.

In the Spring (the season before Summer) the Tree grows and puts forth leaves and these are signs that Summer is soon to come.

So Jesus is saying that the sign of being in the time-season just before the end of the age is the reappearance of Israel on the world-scene. The Fig-Tree is now putting forth its leaves for all to see.

 

The Rebirth of Israel (1948) and her further growth (1967) is the clear-cut sign that we are in the last days of the Church Age!
The Fig-Tree has reappeared and put forth leaves (but not fruit) as Jesus predicted! This confirms other prophecies that Israel as a nation will first of all be regathered to the land in unbelief (leaves only) and will only come to faith in Christ (bear fruit) later. Next, Jesus went even further saying that Israel was God’s Time Clock. The Rebirth of Israel would start the final countdown: “Verily I say to you, this generation (that sees the Fig-Tree) shall not pass away, until ALL THESE THINGS be fulfilled” (Luke 21:32).

 

The generation who see this amazing Sign of the Fig-Tree (those alive to see the events of 1948) will not all die (pass away) before all the events of the Tribulation and Second Coming are fulfilled.
Jesus reinforced this amazing claim with great emphasis on its truth: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (v33). The Clock started at Israel’s Rebirth and runs for a man’s lifetime.

 

Thus we can see the SIGN OF THE FIG-TREE and KNOW that we are IN THE LAST GENERATION.
As Israel gets older and puts forth leaves, she is a sure sign of the imminent start of the Tribulation (the short transition into the Millennial Summer) when she will increasingly bear fruit.

The Fig-Tree gives the general, but not the exact time of Christ’s Coming. Jesus said: “The generation that sees the Fig-Tree (the nation of Israel) put forth her leaves shall not all pass away before the end shall come.”

 

Israel was reborn in the land in 1948, and began putting forth her leaves for all to see!
Out of the labour-pains of the World-Wars and Holocaust came the rebirth of the nation of Israel – the major miracle of this century. A nation dispersed to the nations regathered in her land once again as an independent nation after 2000 years. This is unheard of in all history! Moreover it was predicted by the prophets and by Jesus (Luke 21:24).

 

The fact that Jesus gave the restored Fig-Tree as the key sign for the last generation is appropriate because the end time prophecies require Israel to be restored to the land before the start of the Tribulation, and for Israel to be centre stage again and in control of Jerusalem, with a rebuilt Temple (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-20).
The stage has to be set before the final scene (the Tribulation) begins. Bible Prophecy of the nations is all centred on Israel and the Land, so we should expect this miraculous event to be a major end-time sign.

29. Brief summary of Derek Walker’s analysis of the parable of the fig tree

The Parable of the Fig Tree

Matthew 24:32, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its
branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that
summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things,
know that [e] it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this
generation will by no means pass away till all these things take
place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no
means pass away NKJV

a) The FIG TREE represents that NATION OF ISRAEL
b) Jesus said that the Nation of Israel would become a nation again in the future.
c) The Declaration of the State of Israel was on 14th May 1948.
d) Jesus said that he would some back within ONE GENERATION of the Re-birth of Israel on May 14th 1948.

 

30. The whole world is clearly setting itself up for the mark of the beast in Revelation 13, see below!

The technology is now available, and many politicians around the world are pushing for more control of the people, partly to control the spread of the virus, and partly to control the world’s economy. However, the GOOD NEWS is the Believers will be long gone at the Rapture, in Revelation 4:1, which happens BEFORE the Tribulation. This is VERY GOOD NEWS! It is, in fact, the BLESSED HOPE of Titus 2:13 “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ”.

Revelation 13: 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

 

31. Antichrist is not revealed until after the rapture

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be
revealed at the proper time. 7 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.

The Holy Spirit indwells all believers, and holds back the spirit of Antichrist, until the Rapture!

After the Rapture this restraining force is no longer present, and Antichrist will be released!

 

32. Jesus said believers will escape the tribulation

Luke 21:36
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to
escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the
Son of Man.”
NKJV

Revelation 3:10
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep
you from (EK = OUT OF, NOT THROUGH) the hour of trial that is going to
come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

 

33. The imminent escape of believers from Earth to Heaven!

Luke 21: 36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted
worthy to ESCAPE all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of Man”. The word ESCAPE here is ἐκφυγεῖν. It is only used twice in
the New Testament. The other occasion is in Acts 19:16, where they “fled out
of that house”. This means ESCAPE from one place to another place, from
Earth to Heaven!

I am expecting the Rapture IMMINENTLY, and if you are a believer, so should you!

 

34. The timeline of the Tribulation

 

35. The events in the book of Revelation

Chapters 1-3: 7 letters to the 7 churches

Chapters 4,5: Open door = RAPTURE + HEAVEN

Chapters 6-18 = Tribulation

Chapter 19: Wedding Supper of the Lamb, Second Coming, Battle of Armageddon

Chapter 20: Millennium & Great White Throne Judgement

Chapters 21,22 New Heaven & New Earth

 

36. The seven candlesticks in Revelation chapter 1 represent the Church

At the Rapture, the church is moved up to Heaven!

The seven candlesticks in Revelation Chapter 1 represent the 7 churches of Revelation chapters 1-3.

Revelation 1: 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band

After the RAPTURE, the Seven Candlesticks appear in Heaven!

See Revelation 4:5 “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God”.

 

37. The sequence of events in the book of Revelation

Chapters 1-3 is about 7 church ages.

In Revelation 3:7-10 Jesus describes the Open Door

THE OPEN DOOR TO HEAVEN

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of
David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can
open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door
that no one can shut.

Revelation 4:1-2
4:1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in
heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet
said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after
this.”

 

In Revelation 4, we find in Heaven:

a) The 24 elders: 12 from the Old Testament, and 12 from the New Testament, the complete church

b) The seven lamps of fire, first mentioned in Revelation 1. These are the 7 churches, now all in heaven!

The Throne Room of Heaven

Revelation 4:1

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open
in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with
me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place
after this.”

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven,
and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was[a] like a jasper and a
sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in
appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones,
and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and
they had crowns[b] of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded
lightnings, thunderings, and voices.[c]Seven lamps of fire were burning before
the throne, which are the[d]seven Spirits of God.

 

38. The open door to Heaven ready for the rapture!

Jesus said to the faithful Philadelphian church, “See, I have set before you an OPEN DOOR, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My Name”. Revelation 3: 8.

This OPEN DOOR appears again in Revelation 4:1 “After these things I looked, and behold, a DOOR standing OPEN in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in HEAVEN, and One sat on the throne.”

Jesus said to the same faithful Philadelphian church, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from (Greek:ek=out of) the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

So believers are about to experience the Rapture into the OPEN DOOR IN HEAVEN, and find themselves standing before Jesus Christ!

“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to “stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:26.

When we are raptured, we will truly stand before the Son of Man!

 

39. The doctrine of imminence

Matthew 24:36-44
36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it
will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the
flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about
what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is
how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field;

one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding
with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your
Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had
known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept
watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also
must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you
do not expect him.

 

40. The Jewish wedding is a picture of the rapture

The bridegroom left his father’s house and travels to the bride’s home

A price is agreed purchase the bride

The marriage covenant was established

The bride was set apart exclusively for her bridegroom

The groom and bride would drink from a cup of wine

The groom would leave the bride’s home and return to his father’s house
for 12 months

The bride would use this time to prepare for her married life

The groom prepared a marital home in his father’s house

At the end of the 12 months the groom would come to his bride at night, by torchlight

The groom and his party left his father’s house and went to the home of the bride

This journey usually happened at night, by torchlight

The bride did not know the exact time of the groom’s coming

The groom’s arrival would be preceded by a shout

The wedding party would return from the bride’s home to the groom’s father’s house

The wedding party would find that the wedding guests had assembled already

The bride and groom would be escorted to the bridal chamber

The marriage was privately consummated

The wedding guests would begin the wedding feast for the next 7 days

During those 7 days the bride remained hidden in the bridal chamber

Then the groom would bring his bride out of the bridal chamber

The bride now removed her veil

 

41. The transfiguration was an event horizon

An event horizon occurs when the normal laws of Physics are suspended. At the Transfiguration, Jesus appeared with Moses and Elijah, from Eternity, a heavenly time zone!

 

42. The rapture is an event-horizon, identical to the transfiguration of Jesus Christ!

Event horizon, or wormhole

See 1 Corinthians 15: 51 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality”.

I believe the Rapture is really imminent and has been described in the Bible as the Blessed Hope!

What exactly IS the Rapture? It is described above, and is actually an EVENT HORIZON, when we are changed, by God, from one part of spacetime to another part of spacetime, instantly!

This is described in theoretical physics as an Einstein-Rosen Bridge, more commonly known as a WORM-HOLE

 

43. The difference between the rapture and the second coming.

At the Rapture, Jesus Christ receives His Bride in the air, to RECEIVE HIS BRIDE TO HEAVEN!…

John 4 v1-4.1. Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

 

At the Second Coming, Jesus Christ RETURNS TO EARTH with the church, his Bride, at the Battle of Armageddon, with a sword, to judge and rule the nations with a rod of iron….

Revelation 19:14-19 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in [fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

These are NOT the same events! In John 14, Jesus Christ takes His Bride to Heaven. In Revelation 19, Jesus Christ comes to judge the Earth, on the Earth, with the armies of Heaven, which include the Church!

 

44. The “coming of the son of man” refers to the rapture, and could not possibly refer to the second coming of Christ!

 

(Matthew 24:36-42, Jesus speaking)
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

Various points:
1. Noah’s Flood was a JUDGEMENT on Planet Earth, and everyone not on Noah’s ark was drowned!

2. During the seven-year tribulation period, life will NOT be normal! At least two thirds of the population of Planet Earth will die during this period!

3. The “coming of the Son of Man” will be at a time when life will be relatively normal, and “they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage”, despite warnings from Noah about coming Judgement.

4. Life during the Tribulation period will be the WORST PERIOD ON PLANET EARTH, hardly normal!

5. The RAPTURE will be a complete surprise to most of the world, including many Christians!

6. According to 1 Thessalonians 5, vv 1 to 5, the RAPTURE will NOT come as a surprise to Christians who are anticipating it!

“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

7. The word “church” is mentioned in the Book of Revelation 19 times in Chapters 1,2 and 3.

8. The word “church” is mentioned NOT ONCE in Revelation Chapters 6 to 19, because the church will be in Heaven for the seven-year Marriage Feast of the Lamb!

9. The church returns to Earth with Christ in Revelation 19.

10. Titus 2:13, refers to the BLESSED HOPE, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”. How can going through the Tribulation be blessed!

11. Luke 21: 36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”.

12. Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from (Greek: ek, out of) the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

There is a lot more that I could add, but that is probably enough for now

 

45. Great respect for Christians who do not believe in the rapture

I would like to say how stunned I am by the vitriolic remarks on my Facebook from Christians who do not believe in the Rapture. I have MANY close friends, such as Bob Mitchell who have differing views on this non-salvation subject.

Bob Mitchell and I had a two-hour debate on Revelation TV on this subject. It was perfectly civilised before, during and afterwards, mediated by another dear friend Gordon Pettie . I became a Christian in 1974, and my earliest teaching, for many years, was from David Pawson, who also does not believe in the Rapture.

I have the greatest respect for all believers who do not believe in the Rapture, and have never insisted that I am right! Titus 2:13 speaks of “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”.

In this dreadful worldwide lockdown, during which many people are losing both their lives and their incomes, I am simply trying to encourage people that I believe the Rapture is very near, immediately before the revealing of Antichrist, and a One World Government.

I do NOT think it is a Blessed Hope to await execution by beheading in the very near future during the Tribulation period. However, I do respect the opinions of those Christians who honestly believe that this is the future that awaits us.

 

46. Believers may never know the identity of the antichrist

Believers will never know the identity of the Antichrist, or the False Prophet, and will never be asked to take the Mark of the Beast. Revelation 4:1 “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

In the Book of Revelation, the 7 church ages are described in Chapters 1-3. The Rapture is in Revelation 4,1, and the Great Tribulation does not start until Revelation Chapter 6. Believers will simply not be present during the Great Tribulation on Earth, because they will be in Heaven, except for the Tribulation saints and martyrs!

 

47. The imminent rapture of believers from Earth to Heaven!

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you FROM the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” The word here “FROM the hour of trouble” is ἐκ in Greek. This word, ἐκ, means “out from among”. It does NOT mean THROUGH! I am expecting the Rapture IMMINENTLY, and if you are a believer, so should you!

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