1997
“...at the last trump…”
by
G. Stephen Benton
edited by Shelley L. Benton
In these "last days" when the Church and tabloid newspapers alike are publishing fantastic and titillating stories about so called "end-time" events and prophecies, this work presents the facts. This authoritative volume unveils mysteries enfolded In the Old Testament which are now revealed to this last Church age In the New Testament. No other book on the market today dealing with the rapture and last days events contains such overwhelming scriptural evidence for the day of the coming of the Lord. Anyone claiming to possess the Spirit of Truth will recognize this work as the voice of God speaking to those who have an ear to hear!
Copyright 1995 G.S. Benton
Published by
THE HOUSE OF GOOD NEWS!
In Appreciation
There are various types of hearers of God's word but every once in a while there emerges that rare individual who recognizes the truth when he or she hears it and then siezes the moment. The core of this material was first taught at the Apostolic Faith Home Assembly Church in Los Angeles, California . The pastor of that assembly, Bishop G. Grady Benton , heard a small segment of this message by my mouth while sitting in his kitchen and embraced the message.
He then put his church and reputation on the line and opened his doors for the message to be presented to Los Angeles. Many pastors were invited: not one attended. For his fearlessness and foresight in promoting the final message from God, I say thank you.
The following list of names are those who were present on the evening of September 27, 1995 and after hearing the message for the first time, gave a special offering to express their belief in it and their desire to see it taken to the ends of the earth prior to the return of Jesus. For your bravery and for your concrete expression of faith, may the Lord give you a special reward:
~~~~~~~
Ludie White, Leathel Dixon, Mr.& Mrs. Reynold Collins, Michael Gales, Jackie Cox Cooper, Mr.& Mrs. Hadnot, Mr.& Mrs. Markham, Edith W. Johnson, Mr.& Mrs. Banks, Mr.& Mrs. Guillory, Mr.& Mrs. Armstrong, Vercie Young, Georgia Jackson, Patricia King, Carrie Rosser, Mr.& Mrs. Lindsay, Leanna Morris, Mr.& Mrs. Ferree, Peggy Johnson, Mr.& Mrs. Cohall,
Mr.& Mrs. Benjamin, Mr.& Mrs. Timothy Polk, Mr.& Mrs, Quarles,
Mr.& Mrs. Cotton, Ernie Isley, Ronald Isley, Angela Winbush, Mr.& Mrs. Earl Foster, Mr.& Mrs. Willie Phillips, Ernestine Martin, Sister Howard, Tracie Camarillo, Bettye Benton,
Lillian West, Adrienne Walden, Mr.& Mrs. Tyrone Fitzpatrick, Norman & Lisa Spriggs,
Tommie Matthews, Angela Deaver Campbell.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
A Particular Day In Time i
FOREWORD
The Inspired Word of God iii
CHAPTER ONE:
WHY WE CAN KNOW THE DATE OF
THE RAPTURE 1
Why Wouldn't God Tell Us? 1 How Satan is Telling us the Date 5
Does the Church Really Want to Know
the Date? 8
"No Man Knoweth" 12
A "Knowing" Source of Confusion 15
The Catching Away 18
Paul's Perspective on the Rapture 20
Will the Church Leave Before the
Tribulation? 22 God's Message in Numbers 24
CHAPTER TWO:
THE FEAST DAYS OF ISRAEL: GOD'S PROPHETIC CALENDAR 27
Passover: A Feast of Deliverance 29
The Feast of Unleavened Bread: God's
Guarantee of Salvation 36
The Wave Offering: A Sure Promise of More to Follow 41
The Feast of Weeks: The Birth of the Church/
the Beginning of the Last Days 44 Summary of the Feasts 52
The Dawning of a New Era 53
CHAPTER THREE:
THE UNFULFILLED FEASTS OF
ISRAEL 56
Seven: The Number of Completion 56
The Feast of Trumpets: A Sound of Mourning
and a Call to Repentance 58
The Day of Atonement: Eternal Remission
of Sin 63
The Feast of Tabernacles: God Dwelling on
Earth 66
What About the Church? 69
CHAPTER FOUR
THE YEAR OF THE RAPTURE 70
The Sabbath Year: Countdown
to Jubile 70
The Year of Jubile: The Signal
to Return Home 74
God's 50-Year Cycle 76
A Restoration of Possessions 84
We Shall All be Changed 87
CHAPTER FIVE:
A PREVIEW OF THINGS TO COME
AFTER THE RAPTURE 90
God's Reclamation of Israel 90
The Last Days 92
The Pouring Out of God's Spirit 94
The Tribulation Period 95
The Antichrist: The Prince that Shall Come 96
The Army from Heaven 101
The Ten-Nation Confederacy 102
CHAPTER SIX:
SIGNS: HERALDS OF WHAT IS
TO COME
Signs in the Heavens: Announcements of 105
Times and Judgements 109
Comets: Messengers of God
The Bombardment of Jupiter: A Preview of 113
Judgement to Come
A Message from Mars: War on Satan and His 118
Armies 122
Halley's Comet: God's Cosmic Pendulum 124
Hubble: Super Eye in the Sky 127
CHAPTER SEVEN:
EVERYBODY TALKIN' 'BOUT HEAVEN
AIN'T GOIN' THERE 129
What Difference Does it Make when Rapture will Take Place? 129
The Last Great Revival 137
The Rapture: For Those who are Alive and
Remain 140
The Church's Prayer 143
God's Eternal Desire: Dwelling Among His Sons 145
CHAPTER EIGHT:
IF THERE WERE NO PROPHECIES,
HOW LONG COULD THIS
EARTH LAST? 147
REFERENCES 155
Introduction
A PARTICULAR DAY IN TIME
The hope and the consummation of the Christian faith centers on the day when the "last trump" will sound, the day of the resurrection of the bodies of those who died believing on him, the day when the living believers will be changed from mortal to immortal, the day when we are physically removed from this planet to join our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father in the city of heaven.
The earliest Christians so anticipated that day that they sold their houses, lands, and possessions and lived as a community of believers, having all things in common. It has been over 1900 years since Jesus left this earth. He left with the promise that he would return one day and gather all believers to be with him forever. Since the day Jesus left, the only time element expressed by the church regarding his return has been, "he's coming soon." One of the many scriptures that indicates that Jesus will give us an advance notice of that day of his appearing is found in Hebrews 10:25.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." Heb 10:25
The writer is admonishing the believers to intensify their effort to faithfully gather themselves together in worship. "The day" he speaks of is the day when the entire body of Jesus Christ will be gathered together to meet the Lord in the air. The word of God is specific. Because God has admonished us to escalate our efforts to meet together on this earth and even more as we see “the day" approaching, then he must make that day known to us in order that we may actually count the days until the Rapture. There must come a point in time when the coming of the Lord moves out of the realm of someday soon to a specific date and that time is now. Amos 3:7 clearly states that the Lord may make his plans known to his prophets. There's no way that the greatest day on God's calendar, the gathering together of his Church, will arrive unannounced.
i
Although the Church may be ignorant of God's announcement plans, you can be sure that Satan knows God's ways regarding that matter. Because of his knowledge, Satan has worked a deceptive masterpiece on the Church by causing it to believe that the day of its catching away cannot be known. The Church's adversary, Satan, has had centuries of fostering that lie in the minds of believers because, knowing God's ways, he knew that God would eventually announce the day of his coming. In anticipation of that day, Satan has made it his prime objective to have the Church of Christ conditioned not to accept the possibility of that date being known and to reject any announcement of a specific date once it has been revealed.
God has announced the day of his coming and his announcement comes directly from his word. He did not write any additional scriptures but instead he has removed the veil from the oldest scriptural writings, commonly called the books of Moses or the Pentateuch. Specifically, the book that holds the secrets to understanding the time of Christ's return is the book that focuses on the priests, the book of Leviticus . It is only fitting that those who have been ordained to be kings and priests unto God should find their day of coronation revealed in Leviticus. This book is a revelation of those key passages as well as a host of other scriptures relative to that great day.
ii
Foreword
THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God..."
II Ti. 3:16
All scripture is not only inspired by God but any revelation and understanding of the scriptures must come from God. Through my years of study I have found that truth does not come in one giant gulp but it is delivered in small portions, "here a little, there a little." - (lsa.28:10) I am always amused at newborn believers who expect to acquire all knowledge of the scriptures in a couple of years.
Learning God's word and his ways is not a six-month course but a lifetime investment. I have learned after studying the Word for over thirty years that there is no such thing as knowing it all. If I live to be a million years old I will never plumb the depths of God's word.
I did not sit down one day and attempt to determine the date of the Rapture of the Church. Anyone who delves into that subject with an eye towards a specific day is on a vain course unless their compass heading is directed by God. My views on the subject used to reflect the Church's viewpoint, "no one knows the day."
My pursuit of this subject was involuntary. I was taking a study break from the book of Hebrews and picked up a novel I had started several months before. At about three o'clock in the morning God interrupted my novel with a scriptural revelation showing me that the Church had three and one-half years until his return. That scriptural revelation ultimately led to the writing of this book.
When the prophet Daniel was in captivity in Babylon he discovered some writings that allowed him to determine the time of the end of their captivity:
iii
"In the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem" (Dan.9:2.)
Once Daniel knew the total years of the captivity, he simply deducted the time they had been in Babylon and determined how much time was left. The math associated with this revelation is just as simple. I have learned that while God's depth is immeasurable, he speaks with the utmost clarity and simplicity.
This book is a compilation of the scriptures God showed me directly from his written word. I believe God can and does speak in dreams and visions (when there is no way for them to obtain His written word) but I am a Word man; a bible-based minister. If I believe God has spoken to me I must confirm the message in his own written word. If it's not there, then God did not say it and I do not write or teach it.
Doing exactly what Daniel did, making use of the inspired writings and other available information, I have performed basic addition and subtraction to establish the precise day that the Church will leave this earth. Once I thoroughly understood the revelation and checked and double-checked to confirm the accuracy of the supporting contents, I did not rush out and tell the world and neither did I have a desire to do so. The reasons for my reluctance were twofold. One, I did not want to be classified with others who have set dates, even though their evidence proves that their message did not come from God.
My second reason for being silent is because I did not expect the professing Church to hear the message or believe it. Frankly, I did not want to deal with the hassle of proclaiming this message from God to a Church who has lost its ear to hear what the Spirit has to say.
iv
It was not until later that I received an explicit command from God to get this truth out by any means necessary. God's revelation of the time of the appearing of Jesus is the issue that will separate the contenders from the pretenders in these final days before the Rapture. I have written this book because that is the best way to accomplish the mission given to me. I now fully expect to literally take this message to the streets before the Rapture occurs. In fact, to my surprise, it is the sinner and not the saint who has responded most favorably to this message.
The scriptures are a living entity. The literal meaning of any given text will not change, but the angles and intensity of spiritual light being shed on a passage are constantly changing. That is especially true of prophetic scripture. The very day itself allows prophecy to be seen in a different light as we move forward in time.
Because we are living in the final years of the last days, most of the dark passages of prophecy are now shining with a brilliance never before seen. As we move closer to the end of the last days the few remaining prophecies that are yet blurred will continue to come into focus.
For example, the book of Revelation speaks of the "mark" of the beast and that no man will be able to buy or sell unless he has the mark - in his right hand or in his forehead. When I was a teenager, those who taught on that topic had no idea of how the mark would be placed or identified. In the last 20 years technology has given us barcodes and scanners which in turn have allowed us to better interpret the possibility of Revelation's “mark.” With the development of the micro-chip, a device that stores millions of bits of information on a surface the size of a fingernail, we can easily comprehend how invisible markings on the skin or implants just under the skin can carry an entire case history of an individual.
v
Scriptures that seemed muddy a few decades ago may now be seen clearly because so much more information is now available to us. Even Daniel did not understand all of the prophecies he wrote about. He was writing about things that went far beyond his day and they stretched his imagination to the limit. God didn't explain all of them to him either:
"And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, 0 my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." Dan.12:8-9
When the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation, God told John not to seal the book because the time of the events was at hand. Because Revelation, written centuries after Daniel, was not sealed, the seal that was once placed on Daniel's prophecy has also been broken. Because we are at the end of this age it is logical that God will continue to reveal more of his secrets to those who are fervently searching his word.
Furthermore, God will actually reveal more of his plans to us because we are his friends. Abraham was the only Old Testament character recognized as God's friend and as such he is the prototype of our friendship with God. There is a general impression that Moses was called a friend of God but that is not so. God spoke with Moses face to face "as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Ex.33:11,) but Moses was never called the friend of God. Three times Daniel is called "greatly beloved" but never was he called God's friend. To the Church Jesus says the following:
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant
knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you
friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father
I have made known unto you. "
Jn.15:14-15
vi
Before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, God told his friend Abraham what he was about to do because God had promised the land to Abraham and also because Abraham's nephew was living there.
As believers, we are not only Jesus' friends, we are also the sons of God and Jesus is our older brother. As our brother, he will not keep us in the dark regarding our Father's plans.
I'm sure that the Father has made known to the Son the day of the Rapture. When Jesus promised the Holy Ghost to his disciples he said the following:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
Jn.16:13
I am fully persuaded that God has shown this generation, those who will be alive at the time of the Rapture, when that day will be. In these last days, God is still revealing His secrets to His prophets before he acts. God has always conducted himself that way. When the time comes for them to be revealed He does not keep secrets from his people.
This book will examine the scriptures that reveal the message to the Church for the time of the Rapture. It will also look at some of the signs in the heavens that have been placed there for the express purpose of confirming that our redemption is at hand.
vii
CHAPTER ONE
WHY WE CAN KNOW THE DATE OF THE
RAPTURE
WHY WOULDN'T GOD TELL US?
The prophet Amos wrote an informative passage of scripture regarding God's ways:
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but that he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
Amos 3:7
I have witnessed a parade of televangelists, preachers, and notable prophecy teachers become mute whenever a specific date for the Rapture of the Church is discussed. The Church unanimously agrees that we are living on the threshold of the fulfillment of the greatest prophecies ever written; that we are that generation prophesied by Jesus who would not pass away until all of these things be fulfilled. Even unbelievers sense an atmosphere of great change, of a "New Age", and a "New World Order" on the horizon.
Most prophecy students agree that the great change coming upon this earth will be preceded by an event called "The Rapture." The Rapture is the day when God's trumpet will sound and those who have died in Christ shall be raised from the dead. The believers who are alive at that time will be caught up with the resurrected believers to meet the Lord in the air. The believer can readily grasp the magnitude of this event because his faith is built upon the fact that Jesus passed through his own grave wrappings and through solid rock when he arose from the dead.
1
Additionally, many agree that the Rapture will occur at least seven years before the second coming of Christ. Yet, in spite of these beliefs, the Church does not believe that the date can be known.
Although I had no knowledge of the time of the Rapture, I was disturbed by the Church's ignorance on the subject. In studying other notable historic acts of God, I realized that God does not do anything involving man until he first informs those who need to know. God indicted Israel because they saw his works but never came to know his ways.
(Ps. 95: 9&10) He has an established pattern of informing his people before he acts. Why then would God not tell us when He will return in the air to gather his Church to him?
God told Noah that he was going to destroy the earth by water and that man had 120 years until he did it. The day of the flood was not a surprise to Noah and his family, it surprised the unbelieving world. Noah knew exactly how long the time would be because God told him. From the world's view, the time was a countdown to judgement; from Noah's perspective, a countdown to escape. The Rapture marks a countdown to the judgement for the world and a long awaited escape for the Church.
Later in history, when God gave his promise to make Abraham a great nation, God confirmed his word by telling Abraham that his seed would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years. He also said, The time element announced both Egypt's judgement and Israel's release.
Later still, the prophet Jonah was dispatched to Ninevah to announce their judgement. Again, a time frame was given---40 days. Jonah continuously announced the number of days until the judgement. If they repented, and they did, their predicted judgement would become a message of salvation.
2
When Judah went into captivity in Babylon, God told them that they would be there for 70 years. By telling them how long the captivity would be, he was also telling them exactly when they would be delivered out of Babylon.
"For thus saith the Lord, that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."
Jer.29:10
After the children of Israel had been in Babylon for about 68 years, during the first year of Darius the Median king, Daniel discovered the above prophecy written by Jeremiah. Daniel did not 'just happen' to find those books at that time, God orchestrated their discovery so that Daniel could compute the year of their release. When the year of a deliverance is near, such as the Rapture, God makes it known just a few years before the actual event.
Too often during the early years of my saved life I heard many preach the Rapture using incorrect scriptures. Passages such as Jesus' coming as a "thief in the night" were often used. I grew up thinking that the Lord intended to surprise us with the idea of catching many of us off guard. Erroneous truths coupled with my limited knowledge of the scriptures left me totally confused regarding the Rapture. I certainly wanted Jesus to come. I wanted to live in the city of heaven with him forever but at the same time I was afraid of that day because he might come and catch me with my works undone (whatever those works might be.) Of one thing I was certain, God did not want us to know when he would return.
I assumed that God felt that if we knew when Jesus was coming that we would sin freely and then at the last minute, repent. Yet the examples I showed earlier proved just the opposite. Those who were saved did not get saved at the last minute.
3
Nineveh did not wait until the 39th day of Jonah's preaching to call a fast. Noah was already righteous and continued to live that way for the next 120 years. In those cases, the fact that they knew their allotted time enabled them to persevere to the saving of their souls. Why wouldn't our knowing the day create the same attitude?
The Church has known about the promise of the Rapture since the apostle Paul mentioned it in his letter to the saints in Thessalonica around A.D. 54. (I Thes.4:15-17)
Paul, having laid the foundation of that truth, as a "wise master builder" (1 Cor.3:10) has left the foundation ready for another to build upon in these last days. It is consistent with God's ways to let us in on the final details in the same way as he informed Paul that the Rapture would take place on the day of the blowing of the last trump.
Daniel was given several great prophecies during his exile in Babylon, one of which is the famous "Seventy weeks" prophecy that covers major events during a 490 year period. Jesus' death on the cross occurred at the end of the 483rd year of that prophecy. There is one remaining "week" or seven year period yet to be fulfilled. The day of the Rapture will be the last major event before that seven year period begins, thus ending what prophecy teachers have often referred to as "the gap, " a period of interrupted time between the 69th and 70th week.
Because the Rapture is one of the most prominent days on God's prophetic calendar, and because God has always acted on a precise schedule, we should expect him to continue his pattern and reveal when it will occur.
4
HOW IS SATAN TELLING US THE DATE?
Satan is telling us that the date of the Rapture can be known. He's doing that by publicizing incorrect dates. In 1992 a group of Christians in Korea were looking for the Rapture in October of that year. Their expectations were advertised worldwide. When it didn't happen the entire world knew that it didn't.
Those Koreans had made the kind of plans folks would make who did not expect to see this earth again. They quit their jobs, gave away their homes and their possessions and went out to meet Jesus. Because it didn't happen then, the entire world had one more reason to consider the whole affair a giant hoax.
Satan is a liar and a master deceiver. When Jesus spoke on the signs of the last days he repeatedly said, "take heed that no man deceive you." Satan is aware of many of God's plans because he was made privy to them before he fell. In the 12th chapter of the book of Revelation when Satan is cast down to the earth, he will come down knowing exactly how much time he has left to deceive and destroy.
"Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. "
Rev.12:12
The word rendered knoweth means to know something based on factual information and not a mere gut instinct. In order to deceive the world, Satan has been and will continue to spotlight false rapture dates. It is precisely because there have been so many erroneous predictions about the time of the Rapture that the Church refuses to entertain the subject. Satan, knowing that God would eventually announce the date, prepared the Church to reject that announcement by continuously promoting false dates.
5
Now, at the very time when God is revealing the time of the event, the Church is convinced that the date of the appearing of its Savior cannot be known.
Today's Church is not merely reluctant to pin down a particular time for the Rapture, it is afraid to do so. Throughout the Church's history there have been a plethora of failed rapture predictions. No one wants to be wrong about something they predict, especially the Church. The Church is in darkness about the time of the Rapture because Satan wants it to be, not because God wills it.
During the 1980's a popular recording artist, Prince, released a hit record entitled 1999 that has since become a classic. The message of the song implies that the world will end at the end of 1999. We shall see later that the year 1999 is very significant, but Satan's portrayal of it as the end of time is as much a lie as the Korean's 1992 date.
Satan is telling his world about the Rapture but, true to form, he is doing it by lying. If he publicizes enough false Raptures he will deceive the world into believing that the entire concept is a lie.* More critical, however, he will shake the faith of many believers!
Because Satan is advertising false Rapture dates, he must know the real date. It would be in his character as a final deceptive ploy to allow a date very close to the correct date to be given by a known false prophet, i.e. a psychic or Nostradamus type to attempt to convince the Church that even the correct date is false. Satan will never reveal the true date because there is no truth in him.
The turn of every century has always created an atmosphere of expectancy. It is also marked by a significant increase of religious voices announcing judgement and the end of the world. By delivering a doomsday message to the world each time a century comes to a close, Satan has caused the world to believe that any messenger of God preaching an impending judgement is just another gainsayer prophesying doom.
*Satan has since changed his tactics. He will now use the rapture to take souls with his demons. This is explained in the update of this book written in 2014: THE LAST TRUMP: GOD’S SECRET
6
Although prophecies of doom at the tum of a century have consistently failed, there is some truth to their time element. The turn of this century and only this century will find the human race entering into the final seven years of Daniel's prophecy which will be a period of unprecedented misery for mankind. In fact, Daniel's prophecy as well as the Revelation given to John will have already begun before this 20th century closes.*
*this delay of this prophecy is explained in THE LAST TRUMP: GOD’S SECRET.
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DOES THE CHURCH REALLY WANT TO KNOW
THE DATE?
That is a fair question. We are living in the close of the last Church Age identified in the Book of Revelation as the Laodicean Church. It has pronounced itself "blessed" and does not know that it is "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev.3:17) The visible Church of today has lost sight of its purpose on the earth. Rather than pursue its mission of saving people out of the world, it is trying to change and improve the world by exerting its influence in it!
A sure way of measuring the Church's attitude regarding the Rapture is to take a look at Israel's religion, Judaism, at the time of Christ's first appearance on the earth. And that is what we shall do. The birth of Christ was pre-announced in the Old Testament writings. The irony of the so-called "Christmas story" is that the news of the birth of the King of the Jews came from "wise men" (king-makers) from the East and not from the leaders of Judaism:
"...Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." Mt.2:2
Those wise men did not travel for two years based on a hunch--they knew. They were supported by a message written in the stars. No doubt Daniel may have been the source of much of their knowledge. The Church faithfully preaches about their experience once a year but otherwise has ignored the signs in the heavens. The wise men knew enough about those signs to go to King Herod's court and confidently ask for the king of the Jews. Not one priest, scribe, or elder of the religious arm of Israel was looking for the Messiah.
8
Many Christians talk about the Rapture but they are not really looking for his appearing.
The star led the wise men to Jesus even though God had hidden him from his enemies. Contrary to most Christmas nativity scenes, the wise men were not at the manger that night with the shepherds when Christ was born. They went to a house and found a young child, not a newborn baby. (Mt.2:11)
It was the message of the outsiders that prompted Herod to gather the chief priests and scribes together demanding of them where Christ would be born. That should have embarrassed every Pharisee, Sadducee, and the entire priesthood of Judah. Though they possessed the prophetic scriptures, they did not have a clue as to when Messiah would come because they were not looking for him. All they had to do was consult the prophecies of Daniel's Seventy weeks and they could have at least determined the approximate time of the birth of their Messiah. If any of them did know, they were not announcing the news.
During his ministry in Galilee Jesus continually attacked the traditions and practices of the Jewish leaders. Three days before his crucifixion he drove the moneychangers out and took control of the Temple. During those three days Jesus denounced every major religious sect from the Pharisees to the Sadducees. At that time he spoke a parable aimed at the evil motives of the religious leaders. It is found in the 12th chapter of the gospel of
Mark:
"And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard." Mk.12:2
The vineyard had been let out to the husbandmen: (Israel 's religious leaders) with the understanding that it was not their possession.
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When the owner was ready to receive the fruit of his vineyard, he first sent a servant. They caught the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty. The owner then sent another servant. They stoned that servant, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
"And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some and killing some." Mk.12:5
These servants represent the prophets. They came declaring that it was time for the fruit of the vineyard to be relinquished into the hands of the owner. The religious leaders had no intention of relinquishing their power. Today, there are some pastors who are reluctant, if
not adamant against releasing their temporary authority over the flock.
I have experienced firsthand the rebellious nature of the last days' Church concerning the truth of God's word. It goes through all of the motions and quotes scriptures about being in the will of God, but its heart is far from God. Jesus continually preached the necessity of hearing what the Spirit has to say to the Church. The majority of today's visible Church would not recognize the voice of the Spirit of God if He screamed in their ears! Jesus continued his parable:
"Having yet therefore one son, his well beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, they will reverence my son.
But those husbandmen said among themselves, this is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard " Verses.6-8
10
When the scene played out to its conclusion they killed the Son of God in their attempt to keep control of the vineyard. When they crucified Jesus, they did it with full knowledge that he was the Messiah.
"And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way." Vs.12
They had lost sight of the fact that they were mere caretakers, temporary servants of the owner. They had grown accustomed to their place in society and they liked the power they wielded. They coveted the greetings in the marketplace and loved being called “Master.” Messiah's coming did not mesh with their plans. Judah's history is being repeated by the Church in these last days.
Once again it is time for the Son to come and collect the fruit of his vineyard. In this case, he is coming for his Church. But does his professing Church really want him to come now? The answer is no! Today's Church is just beginning to get the respect and power it has been looking for in this world. It is now a major force in Congress. Because of its wealth and power, it is now receiving recognition by state and city governments.
Because it is "rich and increased with goods, and has need of nothing, " (Rev.3:17) it has lost its desire to make its rendezvous with the Lord. The Church has ignored the words of Jesus when he said "love not the world." Instead, it has taken a firm grip in the world and is actively trying to make the world better. The Church did not receive such instructions from Jesus either by word or example.
How can a Church so entangled with this society and world order yearn for an escape from it? Having laid up treasures on the earth, why would the prospect of being "caught up" with their Savior be viewed as desirable?
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"NO MAN KNOWETH"
Incorrect interpretation of scripture is the root of the Church's problem in believing that the day of the Rapture can be known. I am not speaking of a vast collection of scriptures, only a few passages in the New Testament.
Erroneous, regurgitated traditions have taken their toll on God's truth. Jesus commanded us to "search the scriptures." Jn.5:39. Additionally, he ordered his ministers to "study" the word and he directed every convert to "learn of me." Mt. 11:29 His commandments have been ignored by most of his followers. The average preacher is too busy with peripheral matters to give adequate time to studying the word. The average believer is content to go to church once a week and listen to whatever the preacher has to say. If something is said that they do not agree with, it is dismissed as irrelevant. It is a rare individual who studies the delivered information to see whether or not it is true.
One of the greatest errors of scripture interpretation is the statement by Jesus that "no man knoweth the day or the hour" when the Lord shall come. That statement has for too long and too often been applied to the Rapture. As we take a close look at it and other similar passages purported to pertain to the Rapture, we shall see that they do not! The following statement is found in both Matthew and Mark. Except for the slightest variation, the passages are identical because Mark's gospel was written first and Matthew used the same passage in writing his gospel.
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father... " Mk.13:32
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Both Mark, Chapter 13 and Matthew, Chapter 24 are prophetic texts. Both chapters open with Jesus answering his disciples' questions. The disciples are making inquiries from the perspective of Israelites and the answers Jesus gives are restricted to the nation of Israel only. Furthermore, the Rapture topic was not even known until Paul received the revelation at least 20 years after this conversation took place! Also, just ten days before the Church was born, the disciples were still asking questions about the restoration of Israel so it is impossible that any of the questions or answers in either chapter can have reference to the Rapture.
One might reason that there are many signs in these chapters that are being fulfilled during this Church Age. That is true but they are not being fulfilled with reference to the Church. There are times given in the scriptures to surmise the time of the Rapture; but there are no signs for the event itself. Knowing that the Rapture will precede the signs of the last days recorded in Matthew and Mark, we should be even more diligent in our efforts to know the day.
The key to understanding the time element of both passages is found in verse 29 of Matthew's text and verse 24 of Mark's:
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days... " Mt. 24:29
"But in those days, after that tribulation..." Mk.13:24
The time is "after the tribulation." In both texts, after the above verses, Jesus gives a broad outline of things to come. Included in that time period is the one thousand year millennium; the release of Satan for a short season; the second resurrection; and the great White Throne Judgement. The last item he mentions in that series is the passing away of the heaven and earth.
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The statement, "of that day and hour knoweth no man," must refer to the statement immediately preceding it which is: "Heaven and earth shall pass away." What no man can know is the day of the passing away of heaven and earth. Jesus made that statement in answering their last question of when the end of the world would take place. Jesus did not tell them when it would be, he spoke only about what would happen. That day is known only to the Father and it has not and no doubt will not be revealed.
Notice also that the word "knoweth" is translated from "eido" in the Greek. It means to know something as a result of examination or study. Jesus is saying that the day and hour of the passing away of heaven and earth cannot be obtained through study.
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A KNOWING SOURCE OF CONFUSION
There are actually six Greek words translated "knoweth, knew, knowest, know, etc; in our English version of the scriptures. How they are used is essential in understanding what may or may not be known. For example, one of the Greek words translated "knoweth" is found in Acts 15:8.
"And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us."
The Greek word, kardiognostes means, "a heart knower:-which knoweth the hearts." God is the only one who knows the hearts of men and, for that reason, he has taken the definition for himself. In the study at hand we are concerned with only two Greek words translated as know, knoweth, and knowest. We have already noted one of those words, "eido."
The second word is “ginosko.” This type of knowledge is usually defined as experiential. An accurate but simple understanding of this type of knowledge would be common sense knowledge. It is knowledge that does not require study or an in-depth comprehension of the facts supporting it.
As usual, the context itself often interprets the meaning behind the usage of a word. Look at the following verse and notice how the context interprets which definition of the word knoweth is being expressed.
"And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" Jn. 7:15
It is apparent that the meaning of the word knoweth as used here is restricted to knowledge obtained through study.
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A good concordance will confirm the word as “eido.” With these definitions, let's look at a key passage that has caused confusion regarding knowing the time of the Rapture.
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Verse 42)
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (Verse 43)
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Mt.24:42-44
Because this passage is in the prophetic chapter of Matthew, it, too, is given to the Jews and has its place during the tribulation period. The first know in verse 42 is “eido,” knowledge acquired through learning. The word know in verse 43 is “ginosko” or experiential knowledge. The word known is “eido.”
Translated, Jesus is saying that we cannot learn what hour the Lord will come (second coming). But we should naturally know that if the goodman had factual information about his house being broken into, he would have watched.
I have heard countless sermons admonishing me to be in a constant state of watchfulness and readiness because the Lord could come at any time to rapture his Church out of the earth. I will continue to watch and be ready but I now know (eido) that the Lord cannot and will not come for his Church at just any time. God has a definite, set time for the Rapture as we shall see later.
Throughout the passage Jesus' coming is likened to a thief. He is coming to steal something. When Jesus comes in the clouds to take the Church out of this earth, he is not coming as a thief in the night. He doesn't have to steal the Church because he already owns it!
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When he comes the second time he will come as a thief because at that time he will wrest the kingdoms of this earth out of the hands of men and Satan. At his second coming, because he will come to recover this world's kingdoms, he will do it by stealth.
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THE CATCHING AWAY
Part of the confusion surrounding the time of the Rapture stems from the fact that the term "Rapture" is not in the Bible. It is a generic term that means to catch away.
The Greek word “harphazo” is translated "caught away." It means, "to seize (in various applications):--catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force)." It appears five times in the New Testament.
The first time “harphazo” occurs is in the Book of Acts when Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch.
"And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip... " Acts 8:39
Philip was caught away by the force of the Spirit. He simply disappeared from sight and reappeared in the city of Azotus, probably dripping wet from the baptism. One would never have to convince Philip or the Ethiopian that the Rapture is a real event.
The second and third appearance of the word is in II Corinthians.
"I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
How that he was caught up to paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. " II Cor.l2: 2&3
Here Paul speaks of his experience of being raptured to the third heaven. Like Philip, he was taken by force from one place to another. Paul did not induce himself into a holy
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trance or into an out of body experience. He did not plan this excursion but was caught up to paradise by the power and will of God.
The fourth appearance of “harphazo” is in I Thessalonians:
"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." I Th.4:17
This verse pertains to the Rapture itself. It is not by accident that God used the same expression here that he used in recording Philip's and Paul's experiences. In all four places, the event is one in which the participant is physically removed from one place to another; in one place at one moment and in the next moment, somewhere else.
The final appearance of "harphazo" is in the Book of Revelation.
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." Rev.12:5
This "man child" of Revelation is the 144,000 Jews who are sealed prior to the start of the Tribulation. They will go about preaching the gospel of the kingdom and will fulfill Matthew 24: 14. At the end of their period of prophesying, they will be raptured to heaven. The rapture of the 144,000 is one of several "catching away's" of believers. All are catalogued as being a part of the "first resurrection." (Rev .20:6)
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PAUL'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE RAPTURE
Paul wrote more about the Rapture than any other New Testament writer. The 15th chapter of I Corinthians and I Thessalonians chapter four give the most information on this event. Let's look at the Thessalonian passage first:
"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.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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. "
I Th.4:13-15
"...we which are alive and remain shall not prevent them which are asleep." The word translated prevent means precede. Those who are alive at the time of the Rapture will not go before those who have died. Also, those who are dead in Christ will precede those of us who are alive because, within that moment, described as a twinkling of an eye, their souls must be united with their changed bodies. The living will not have to be resurrected, all God has to do is change our bodies and snatch us up.
Paul is writing to comfort the Thessalonians, especially those whose saved loved ones had died. We who are saved and have lost other believers to death, should not grieve in the same way the world grieves when they lose someone. Those who die in Christ are described as being asleep. Their bodies are asleep but their souls are conscious and in the presence of the Lord.
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The Christian faith stands on the fact that Jesus died and rose again from the grave. When the early apostles preached Christ, they preached his death and resurrection as an historic fact. The resurrection of Christ from the dead is the one ingredient that distinguishes the Christian message from every other message.
Verse 14 tells us that if we believe Jesus rose from the dead, then we should also believe that we too will be raised from the dead. The latter portion of that verse, "God will bring with him, " has caused some difficulty because the Rapture is a "catching away" not a “bringing with." Combining this information with I Corinthians 15, we are told that the resurrected bodies shall be changed. What God "brings with him" are the souls of those who had died. He has been in the possession of their souls since the moment they departed from their earthly bodies when their bodies died.
"...and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
I Cor.15: 52-54
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WILL THE CHURCH LEAVE BEFORE THE TRIBULATION?
One cannot address the Rapture without addressing the segment of the Church who believe that it will go through the Tribulation period. After much study and meditation I have concluded that those who believe that the Church will go through the Tribulation have an incomplete understanding of salvation itself.
Jesus died for our sins. Both pre-tribulationists and post-tribulationists agree with that fact. The wrath of God that should have fallen on man fell instead on his son,
Jesus Christ. Isaiah wrote about the benefits of the death of Jesus:
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did e teem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted
But he was wounded (or our transgressions, he was bruised (Qr our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" Isa.53:4&5
Jesus paid it all with respect to the wrath of God falling on us. The great tribulation is a period when the wrath of God is poured out on this sinful earth. It will be a time unlike any other ever witnessed in man's history. Coupled with God's wrath will be the rampage of Anti christ and his armies. Because of the limited odds of surviving during that era, God will seal 144,000 Jewish prophets to protect them from the demons, the Antichrist, and his own wrath. (Rev. 7:3&4)
Now consider this: Why would God deliver us from his wrath through the cross of Christ and then pour it out on us during the Tribulation? Also, if God has to take
time to seal his servants who will be preaching the gospel during that time, what about those who do not receive that seal? They would surely be destroyed!
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The 144,000 are sealed in order to preserve them during that time; we are sealed with the Holy Ghost in order to leave here before that time.
God's deliverance of Lot from Sodom is a type of the Church being removed from the earth before the Tribulation. The Angel of the Lord took Lot by the hand and led him and his family out of the city before it received God's wrath. The angel's orders from God were to destroy the city after Lot was removed out of it.
Abraham had tried praying for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah but found that it was too late. He finally conceded that it was time for the wrath of God to be executed. Anyone who thinks that this society is worth saving or is able to be saved does not realize that its cup of iniquity has come to a full. This world now reflects the society of Sodom long ago. It is intelligent, prosperous, tolerant, and Godless. Paul's epistle to Timothy is a
perfect description of man in these last days.
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers,false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof." II Tim.3:1-5
Because these attributes are overflowing, judgement can only follow. The sure judgement of God will not be poured out on those who are called by his name, they will be raptured before that great, terrible day of the Lord comes on this sinful earth.
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GOD'S MESSAGE IN NUMBERS
"As He is perfect, so His works and His words also must be perfect. And when we see numbers used not by chance but by design; not as haphazard, but with significance; then we see not merely so many works and words, but the Living God working and speaking."
E.W. Bullinger
Numbers play an integral role in God's handiwork. God created numbers and has been using them to either proclaim or accent his word since antiquity. One of the greatest arguments for God's authorship of the scriptures is the way that he uses numbers to express the message of the written word. Quite frequently the numbers themselves are the message. Man simply does not possess the intellect required to arrange and present the cohesive message that has been ingeniously incorporated through numbers in God's word.
To know God's word apart from its numerical design is equivalent to watching black and white television without sound as opposed to color television with sound. Each number has its own special significance and meaning and wherever it appears its meaning will be consistent. Whenever any number makes its first appearance in the scriptures, careful observance of its use will provide the key to understanding how it will be used from that point on. The number of times that certain words appear contribute as much to the translation as the words themselves. An interesting study is to identify words that appear only once in the scriptures. Those words are always special. Because God is One, whenever he uses a word only one time, that word usually imparts a special message.
When contemplating God's use of numbers it is also important that we pay attention to the things that are repeated in God's word. For example, there should be no doubt in any believer's mind that the most important element in the believer's life is the Word of God. Throughout the scriptures God continually repeats that fact. The most repeated verse in the bible is "He that hath ears to hear let him hear." That verse appears in the New Testament in two sets of eights: eight times in the gospels and eight times in the Book of Revelation. The number eight represents "new beginnings" in God's word. The
interpretation of the number eight regarding this verse is that there can only be a new creature or a new beginning in Christ if one continually hears God's Word.
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God also speaks through numbers in his creative works. In studying the heavens the numbers themselves determine what can be identified as a sign. When we discuss signs in the heavens, those signs are actually revealed in the numbers. If we act as a detective examining evidence, we can see that some common denominators continually surface. After we have examined enough evidence, we can begin to come to some conclusions as to "who done it." So it is in looking at the evidence for the time of his coming. Certain numbers
begin to appear over and over again. Their recurrence is not a coincidence. As we begin to understand God's use of numbers, that fact will become more apparent.
Satan understands God's use of numbers better than anyone and for that reason he has made it his priority to invade this territory also. Satan has introduced numerology to the world in place of God's pure use of numbers. Numerology is the study of the occult
significance of numbers. As usual, Satan has been so successful in delivering the design of numbers into the hands of astrologers, soothsayers, magicians, fortune tellers, witches and wizards (psychics) that many in the Church are unaware that numbers are God’s domain.
many are quick to hang the numerologist label on any preacher or teacher of the Word who uses the added interpretation of numbers.
In the next chapter and particularly the chapter on signs in the heavens, we will see how God employs numbers to communicate his truth.
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