This is simple, folks. St. Paul spoke of the resurrection, or the Rapture, happening at the "last trump", as quoted in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52:
51 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.
There is also a mention of this trumpet in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18:
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Corinthians was written approximately between 53-57AD, while Paul was in Corinth. 1 Thessalonians was written earlier, around 52AD.
The Apostle John was given his Revelation by God on the Isle of Patmos in 95-96AD.
Since John's Revelation was written so much later than Paul's letter to the Corinthians and Thessalonians, they would have had NO idea what Paul was talking about if he referred to the last trump of Revelation.
However, being Jewish and/or interacting with Jews, they would have known the "last trump" referred to a specific ceremony, namely, the Feast of Trumpets, when 100 blasts of the shofar is made, and the very last shofar blast is loud and held for as long as possible. It is called the Tekiah Gedolah.
Everyone Paul preached to in that day would certainly know what the "last trump" meant.
They would not have known about the final trumpet judgment as recorded by the Apostle John decades later, and therefore cannot be one in the same.
~~Becka
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Jerusalem Divided
The video below was from two and a half years ago, from the pastor of Calvary Chapel Kaneohe in Hawaii. I've featured his videos before. He talks about the presidential elections a bit because that was going on around the time of the video, but the information about a divided Jerusalem is a bit chilling. This video is pertinent because of a new headline (3-30-11) I found on Haaretz.com:
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/abbas-palestinians-to-ask-for-un-recognition-if-peace-talks-fail-1.353178
The gist is this: If Abbas of the PA cannot reach peace with the Israel soon, he will go before the UN in September and outright ask for them to formally recognize Palestine as its own independent state. What does this mean? It means despite Israel's protests to the contrary, the international community would recognize Palestine and "forcibly" divide Jerusalem whether the Jews want it or not.
Zechariah 12:1-9:
1 A prophecy: The word of the LORD concerning Israel.
Heaven help the members of the UN who might end up forcing the Jews to divide their holy city. Unlike other vague prophecies that speak of events in the future, this one in Zechariah is the LORD God speaking, promising to smite those who come against Jerusalem.
And notice, once again, the date this might happen as promised by Mahmoud Abbas is in September, the very month of Rosh Hoshanah, a possible candidate for the Rapture. I think September 2011 will be a VERY important month in Bible prophecy.
~~Becka
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/abbas-palestinians-to-ask-for-un-recognition-if-peace-talks-fail-1.353178
The gist is this: If Abbas of the PA cannot reach peace with the Israel soon, he will go before the UN in September and outright ask for them to formally recognize Palestine as its own independent state. What does this mean? It means despite Israel's protests to the contrary, the international community would recognize Palestine and "forcibly" divide Jerusalem whether the Jews want it or not.
Zechariah 12:1-9:
1 A prophecy: The word of the LORD concerning Israel.
The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares: 2 “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 4 On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the LORD. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. 5 Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.’
6 “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.
7 “The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. 8 On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them. 9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.
Heaven help the members of the UN who might end up forcing the Jews to divide their holy city. Unlike other vague prophecies that speak of events in the future, this one in Zechariah is the LORD God speaking, promising to smite those who come against Jerusalem.
And notice, once again, the date this might happen as promised by Mahmoud Abbas is in September, the very month of Rosh Hoshanah, a possible candidate for the Rapture. I think September 2011 will be a VERY important month in Bible prophecy.
~~Becka
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Don't Let Your Plans Get in God's Way
I hear Christians nod and acknowledge that Christ will return all the time. However, all too often, these same Christians do not believe that time is at hand. Or it's years into the future.
Couldn't possibly be "right at the door."
My question is... why not? Christ taught that His Rapture was imminent. We know this because of the parable of the 10 virgins he gives in Matthew 25:1-13. Five were ready and waiting, five had allowed the oil to run out of their lamps. They knew the time was soon when the groom would arrive, so they ran off to the market to buy more oil. But when they were gone, the groom came, entered in, and shut the door, leaving the foolish virgins out in the cold.
Christ told us to always be ready and look for the signs, so that day should not overcome us like a thief. (1 Thess 5:1-11) We know Christ was speaking of a pre-Trib Rapture because according to Daniel 12:11-12, you will KNOW the exact day Christ's Second Coming (a separate event) from the day of the Abomination of Desolation. 1290 days. 45 days later, at 1335 days, Christ sets up His millennial Kingdom.
So if we are always to be ready, what makes these Christians poo-poo the idea that Christ's Rapture is coming, and soon?
Because the seeming "tardiness" of this looming imminent Rapture has made them complacent. They have become comfortable in their lives. They have a nice job, nice house, nice car. They love their wives and husbands. They have small children. They've been looking forward to watching their children grow up and one day have children of their own. They're planning for retirement. They have goals and milestones yet to reach, things yet to do, places yet to go.
But don't you understand? God does not rule His universe according to your life's plan. Do not get too comfortable in your life that you look on the return of Christ with trepidation. Do not put off getting right with God or thinking Jesus couldn't possibly return in your lifetime. He obviously meant another lifetime.
Do not get so numb to the tragedies all around you that they become trite and commonplace.
And remember, the Church will be Raptured before the Tribulation, so what we see here on earth is only the BEGINNING of sorrows. You think the 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, & resulting radiation disaster is bad? Beginning of sorrows. A birth pang. That was only a taste.
Rioting and uprisings in the Middle East? Another birth pang. How do I know? Well, considering most "awake" Christians are looking for the return of Christ, ultra-orthodox Jews are looking for their Messiah, and Ahmadinejad of Iran believes the rioting is heralding the 12th Imam of Islam (a Christ-like figure who will unite the world and rule in peace for 7 years -- sound like anyone familiar?), it seems a no-brainer. Never before have I witnessed in my life the fervor of three separate religions yearning for their "Savior" to come at the same time. That in and of itself should be a sign that something is going on.
Something not just the Christians are aware of.
Don't take my word for it. Read and study the Word of God. Find out these prophecies for yourself. Do your homework. God promises if we seek Him, we shall find Him. All I can do is point you in the direction. But don't be so comfortable in your life that you fail to find the hope in the one event every Christian before you has longed for.
~~Becka
Couldn't possibly be "right at the door."
My question is... why not? Christ taught that His Rapture was imminent. We know this because of the parable of the 10 virgins he gives in Matthew 25:1-13. Five were ready and waiting, five had allowed the oil to run out of their lamps. They knew the time was soon when the groom would arrive, so they ran off to the market to buy more oil. But when they were gone, the groom came, entered in, and shut the door, leaving the foolish virgins out in the cold.
Christ told us to always be ready and look for the signs, so that day should not overcome us like a thief. (1 Thess 5:1-11) We know Christ was speaking of a pre-Trib Rapture because according to Daniel 12:11-12, you will KNOW the exact day Christ's Second Coming (a separate event) from the day of the Abomination of Desolation. 1290 days. 45 days later, at 1335 days, Christ sets up His millennial Kingdom.
So if we are always to be ready, what makes these Christians poo-poo the idea that Christ's Rapture is coming, and soon?
Because the seeming "tardiness" of this looming imminent Rapture has made them complacent. They have become comfortable in their lives. They have a nice job, nice house, nice car. They love their wives and husbands. They have small children. They've been looking forward to watching their children grow up and one day have children of their own. They're planning for retirement. They have goals and milestones yet to reach, things yet to do, places yet to go.
But don't you understand? God does not rule His universe according to your life's plan. Do not get too comfortable in your life that you look on the return of Christ with trepidation. Do not put off getting right with God or thinking Jesus couldn't possibly return in your lifetime. He obviously meant another lifetime.
Do not get so numb to the tragedies all around you that they become trite and commonplace.
And remember, the Church will be Raptured before the Tribulation, so what we see here on earth is only the BEGINNING of sorrows. You think the 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, & resulting radiation disaster is bad? Beginning of sorrows. A birth pang. That was only a taste.
Rioting and uprisings in the Middle East? Another birth pang. How do I know? Well, considering most "awake" Christians are looking for the return of Christ, ultra-orthodox Jews are looking for their Messiah, and Ahmadinejad of Iran believes the rioting is heralding the 12th Imam of Islam (a Christ-like figure who will unite the world and rule in peace for 7 years -- sound like anyone familiar?), it seems a no-brainer. Never before have I witnessed in my life the fervor of three separate religions yearning for their "Savior" to come at the same time. That in and of itself should be a sign that something is going on.
Something not just the Christians are aware of.
Don't take my word for it. Read and study the Word of God. Find out these prophecies for yourself. Do your homework. God promises if we seek Him, we shall find Him. All I can do is point you in the direction. But don't be so comfortable in your life that you fail to find the hope in the one event every Christian before you has longed for.
~~Becka
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Fascinating Insight from a Messianic Jew
These videos aren't great quality, but they're great insight from a young man who grew up in a Jewish household, and yet recognizes Jesus as his Messiah. It isn't until the second video he really begins to go into the Rapture and the Second Coming, but the first video outlines different Jewish traditions that parallel God's plan, including the Passover Seder and the ancient Jewish wedding. Enjoy!
~~Becka
~~Becka
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sooner Than Anyone Thinks?
Luke 21:28
"28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Matthew 24:44
"44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
There is a fascinating teaching from Perry Stone about the Jews' barley, wheat, & fruit harvest. If you look at it as being a picture of the Rapture and the Trib, it becomes very eye-opening. It could be just a prophetic picture. It might not literally mean the Rapture will happen at the barley harvest which is after the "latter rain" in Nissan, our current month of April.
Some people believe a passage in the Song of Solomon is prophetic to the Rapture. Read and consider:
Song of Songs 2:11-13
11 See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
12 Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.”
The rains spoken of in this passage is the "latter" rain, the rain that happens on or around Nissan 1. The picture of the fig tree parallels Matthew 24: 32-33:
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door.
The fig tree in Scripture is a picture of Israel. What Christ is alluding to is this; once you see Israel reborn and flourishing, when God has restored the desert into lush gardens, that is the picture of the fig tree blossoming. Scoffers say many people through the ages have been waiting for this so-called "Rapture" and it never came. But THIS GENERATION on Earth now is the first one who can say with certainty the end times can come at any moment. Why?
Because Bible prophecy revolves around Israel and her rebirth. Israel was scattered after 70AD and didn't have a nation, a homeland, until 1948. The end of days could ONLY happen according to Scripture after 1948.
And then Christ goes on to say in Matthew 24:34:
34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
"This generation" is talking about the generation who saw the rebirth of Israel. How do I know? Because this passage comes right after the parable of the fig tree, the prophetic picture of Israel! How long is a generation? Seventy years. Seventy years from 1948 is 2018. Minus seven years for the Trib, and you come to 2011.
But according to Song of Songs, if that passage IS prophetic, perhaps Christ won't "wait" until the Feast of Trumpets (September) to Rapture His Church. It could happen any time after the latter rain of Nissan 1. This still coincides with what Paul taught about the "last trump", because priests sound the shofar on the first day of every month.
Here are three videos about the harvest that I found fascinating. The third video's teaching ends after 3 minutes in.
It amazes me how MUCH there is that alludes to the Rapture and the Trib throughout the Bible. Our God is truly awesome.
Mark 13:23:
23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
~~Becka
"28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Matthew 24:44
"44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
There is a fascinating teaching from Perry Stone about the Jews' barley, wheat, & fruit harvest. If you look at it as being a picture of the Rapture and the Trib, it becomes very eye-opening. It could be just a prophetic picture. It might not literally mean the Rapture will happen at the barley harvest which is after the "latter rain" in Nissan, our current month of April.
Some people believe a passage in the Song of Solomon is prophetic to the Rapture. Read and consider:
Song of Songs 2:11-13
11 See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
12 Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.”
The rains spoken of in this passage is the "latter" rain, the rain that happens on or around Nissan 1. The picture of the fig tree parallels Matthew 24: 32-33:
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door.
The fig tree in Scripture is a picture of Israel. What Christ is alluding to is this; once you see Israel reborn and flourishing, when God has restored the desert into lush gardens, that is the picture of the fig tree blossoming. Scoffers say many people through the ages have been waiting for this so-called "Rapture" and it never came. But THIS GENERATION on Earth now is the first one who can say with certainty the end times can come at any moment. Why?
Because Bible prophecy revolves around Israel and her rebirth. Israel was scattered after 70AD and didn't have a nation, a homeland, until 1948. The end of days could ONLY happen according to Scripture after 1948.
And then Christ goes on to say in Matthew 24:34:
34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
"This generation" is talking about the generation who saw the rebirth of Israel. How do I know? Because this passage comes right after the parable of the fig tree, the prophetic picture of Israel! How long is a generation? Seventy years. Seventy years from 1948 is 2018. Minus seven years for the Trib, and you come to 2011.
But according to Song of Songs, if that passage IS prophetic, perhaps Christ won't "wait" until the Feast of Trumpets (September) to Rapture His Church. It could happen any time after the latter rain of Nissan 1. This still coincides with what Paul taught about the "last trump", because priests sound the shofar on the first day of every month.
Here are three videos about the harvest that I found fascinating. The third video's teaching ends after 3 minutes in.
It amazes me how MUCH there is that alludes to the Rapture and the Trib throughout the Bible. Our God is truly awesome.
Mark 13:23:
23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
~~Becka
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