Are You Prepared for the Rapture? Where do you find it in the Bible? May 29, 2011 at 11:34pm The Rapture and the Return of Jesus Christ by Marino B Bual Updated October 1, 2011 May 29, 2011 at 11:34pm The Rapture and The Return of Jesus Christ There has been a lot of speculations about the return of Jesus Christ but the most recent prophecy was the Rapture - - the belief that Jesus Christ would secretly gather His followers in the clouds and proceed to heaven. This event was supposed to happen on May 21, 2011. Of course, it did not take place and the leader of this group lately stated that he made an error in his calculation and that the rapture will finally occur on October 21, 2011. (Of course it did not happen either) The adherents of the Rapture use the following Scripture as their basis: 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - 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 be always with the Lord. In verse 4:17 the words caught up in Latin is rapio - - translated as a verb to mean caught up or taken away or rapture and this is where the believers in the Rapture base their theory. But the above Scripture really refers to the First Resurrection when those elect who will rule with Jesus Christ here on earth will be changed from mortal to immortal (I Corinthians 15:51-54) and will meet Christ in the clouds. From the clouds they are not going to heaven. From the clouds, Christ together with the 144,000 elect, will descend on Mt. Olives where He will establish His foothold in taking over all the governments and kingdoms of this world when He will reign with the 144,000 (Revelation 14:1) new members of the God Kingdom family for a thousand years. Christs seat of government will be in Jerusalem and not in heaven. So, carefully note the following Scriptures: Matthew 24:30 - Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:31 - And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other. Years before and specifically three and a half years before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth, there are two specific eras of His Church that will be in existence: The Faithful Church: This is the Church that will be a nucleus in The Kingdom of God. Revelation 3:7 - And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. 8 - I know your works. See, I have set before you and open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have my My word, and have not denied my name. 9 - Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie – indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 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. This verse is an explicit offer of protection to the members of the Philadelphia era Church. In Revelation 12:13 -16, Satan (who is represented as the serpent and the dragon) will try to destroy the woman (the Church) . But God gave the woman the means to fly or go to the wilderness to her place (Place of Safety). Daniel 12:11-12 indicate that the members of the Philadelphia era Church will be fleeing to a Place of Safety seventy-five days before the start of World War III. A place prepared by God where the Philadelphia era Church will be nourished by God and protected from the devil and the demons for 3 1/2 years. The needs of the members of the Church (woman) will be provided by God during this entire period of the Great Tribulation. 11 - Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 - He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, an he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The Lukewarm Church - This era of Gods Church will suffer the Great Tribulation. In Revelation 12:17 Satan will be able to persecute and make the lives of the Laodicean era Church members miserable as they are the rest or remnants who are not taken to the Place of Safety. 14 - And to the Angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God. 15 - I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 - So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. 17 - Because you say, ‘I am rich have become wealthy, and have need of nothing –-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 - To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Please note that Jesus was in the hearth of the earth (grave) for three days and three nights (72 hours) - - as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights (72 hours) - - and after Jesus was resurrected from the grave and before He ascended into heaven, He stated in: Acts 1:7 - And He said to them, It is not for you to know time or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Jesus Ascends to Heaven 9 - Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 - And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel. 11 - who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. The Return of Jesus Christ Zechariah 14:1 - Behold the day of the Lord is coming. And your spoil will be divided in your midst. Revelation 1:7 - Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, and they also who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. This verse clearly tells us that when Christ returns from heaven, everyone will see Him when he goes past the clouds on His way to earth. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - 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 be always with the Lord. Is there a secret coming of Jesus Christ as advocated by people who believe in the Rapture? Revelation 11:15 - Then the seventh angel sounded. And there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world, have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. 1 Corinthians 15:51 - Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (be dead), but we shall all be changed— (This is the first Resurrection - - - and there are three distinct and separate resurrections mentioned in the Bible) 52 - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet Revelation 20:4 - And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (The Millennium) Note: In John 14:2, Jesus Christ states In My Fathers house are many mansions (positions and offices); If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place (positions and offices) for you. In the last two thousand years, since Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and sitting on His throne at the right side of God The Father, they have been working on an organizational and functional chart and filling the positions with the names of the 144,000 (Revelation 14:1) who will be in the Book of Life. Is your name going to be in The Book of Life? This Chart will be implemented when Christ returns to this earth to take over all the governments and kingdoms of this world - - - this earth. The 144,000 will rule the world as kings (and priests) under Jesus Christ. The Coming of the Son of Man Mark 13:26 - Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 - And then He will send His angels , and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven. Ephesians 4:9 - (Now this, He ascended--- what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 - He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (Note: There are no clouds in the atmosphere above 30,000 feet. So when Christ went past the clouds when He ascended, the entire space was completely clear and Christ travelled much faster than lightning and Gods throne is on the north side of the third heavens - - millions of miles away from earth.) Matthew 24: 27 - For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man be. Acts 1:11 - who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. Matthew 24:36 - But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Mark 13:32 - But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. The two scriptures above plainly point out that the angels and even Jesus Christ do not know the hour and date that Jesus will be returning to this earth - - - only God, the Father, knows! And when Christ returns everyone will see Him and He will be heralded with the sounds of trumpets that can be heard in the entire world. However, Jesus Christ has given clear warnings that we are supposed to Watch (watch our spiritual condition and world events) and hopefully be among the elite 144,000 new members of Gods royal family and kingdom here on earth. Matthew 24:42 - Watch therefore: for you do not know what hour your Lord will come. Matthew 25:13 - Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. 1 Peter 4:7 - But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 John 2:17 - And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. Luke 21:25 - And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Luke 21:26 - Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Luke 21:29 - And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; Luke 21:30 - When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now near at hand. Luke 21:31 - So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Luke 21:32 - Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Luke 21:33 - Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Luke 21:34 - And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Luke 21:35 - For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Luke 21:36 - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass (World War III,The Great Tribulation. and Gods Plagues), and to stand, before the Son of man. The original twelve tribes of Israel, primarily the United States of America (Manasseh) and Britain (Ephraim) (Genesis Chapter 48) are now in the throes of Jacobs Trouble and we have entered the perilous times. World War III beckons and the shadow of The Great Tribulation in the Book of Revelation looms upon us. Remember that at the end of the three and a half years of The Great Tribulation, which includes World War III, only one third of the worlds population will survive. The last part of The Great Tribulation is the horror of all horrors that Almighty God will inflict upon this world and its inhabitants. If you have watched the movie The Ten Commandments, the plagues in that movie would be like a picnic compared to the plagues that God will unleash upon the entire world as the climax of the 3 1/2 years of The Great Tribulation. Gods punishments are clearly stated in series in the Book of Revelation. Precisely, the title says Revelation because God is disclosing what events must come to pass immediately before, during, and after Jesus Christs return to this earth finally deposing the rule of Satan (the devil), and the one third of the angels (demons) who followed Satan, from this present world! So, Quo Vadis? Our loving Eternal God has provided us with the means to escape all these horrors that will surely come to pass but certainly not through the Rapture. By the way, a website is offering free relevant articles that will significantly impact you and your loved ones in your life time. The articles are Seven Prophecies That Must Be Fulfilled Before Jesus Christs Return and Are You Ready for the Time of the End? and The Book of Revelation Unveiled. The articles can be accessed at ucg.org/booklets/. Once you are in the website, just type the title of the article on the Search engine of the website. You can read the articles online, or download them into your PC or you can request on-line for a printed copy to be mailed to you - - - everything is free of charge. Everything in the web-site is free and there is no catch, no follow-up, no request for donation and there are a lot of other thought-provoking literature - yours free for the asking. Jesus Christ said in John 6:44 No man can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws (calls) him: And Matthew 22:14 says For many are called, but few are chosen. The reason? Please read Matthew 22 entirely particularly verses 2-6. Being called and also chosen is really your choice! So, Quo Vadis? May the Eternal God and our loving heavenly Father guide and bless us all!. Till then . . . Marino B Bual Hillsboro, Oregon [email protected] Updated October 1, 2011 May 30, 2011
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:25:43 +0000
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