“After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!’” (Acts 1:9-11, emphasis added).

This phenomenon took place while Jesus and his disciples were on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem.

Since Messiah Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after his earth-shaking, penalty (of sin) taking, salvation making, precedent breaking (Elijah needed a chariot), hope waking resurrection, those who have believed and received him as their personal Savior have staked their eternal destiny on this powerful promise of his return.

If he does not leave heaven again, neither of the following events will happen.

(1) The Rapture: Catching up of believers from the earth to heaven in which the dead in Christ will be raised to life. They along with living believers will be transformed into immortal bodies like that of our Lord Jesus. However, Christ does not touch down on earth when this occurs; rather, believers will meet him in the air. See I Thessalonians 4 & I Corinthians 15 for the dazzling details.

(2) The Kingdom of God on Earth: Which requires the reappearance (Second Coming) of Messiah Jesus in the same manner and place as when he left this planet nearly 2,000 years ago. Hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth the first time, Zechariah prophesied this spectacular event which will take place near the end of the Great Tribulation. The perfect timing and powerful purpose of Christ’s physical return is to rescue Israel from annihilation at the hands of Antichrist and his ten-nation coalition. Also, to complete the wrath of God at Armageddon preceded by the seven bowl judgments on an unrepentant and irreversibly wicked world.

“Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west…” (Zechariah 14:3-4).

Christ will bring an end to this seven-year period of global travail and tribulation greater than … well let’s read what Jesus’s said:

Messiah’s reappearance is often referred to as, The Imminent Return of Christ.

Webster’s Dictionary defines imminent: “ready to take place … hanging threateningly over one’s head.”

The intrinsic idea is something that will take place, at any time. And, without warning.

Invariably, there are two types of reactions to something spectacular that occurs suddenly (without immediate warning) even if the impending event has been common knowledge for a long time. One response is surprise … in a delightful sense.

The other (opposite) is shock. Which is what those left behind (unbelievers) at the Rapture will experience. Which is why the Imminent Return of Messiah Jesus has been and will continue to be something that hangs threateningly over their heads.

That is why the Apostle Peter wrote passionately about the last days of the end times.

His words would be an encouragement to believers (mixed with a little admonishment … to live godly lives); and a warning to unbelievers … be (get) ready. The getting ready is through repentance—changing one’s mind/heart by accepting Christ as Savior. Which, in turn, would change their adversarial attitude toward Christians in general and Messiah’s promised return in particular.

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’

“They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord (Rapture phase) will come as unexpectedly as a thief… and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment” (II Peter 3:3-10, parenthesis mine).

Just How Imminent is the Imminent Return of Messiah?

That is the title of an Eye of Prophecy article posted over three years ago (11-18-17).

In the 20^th & 21^st centuries, there have been and still are an abundance of flashpoint signs to signal that the return of Messiah Jesus is more imminent than ever. There are also patterns, parallels, and principles plus correlations (including certain numbers) in Scripture that strongly suggest that we are in the last days of the end times.

We just read about one of these parallel principles and comparable use of numbers. A day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. Which was originally penned by Moses.

Concerning the amazing prophecies in Scripture that often involve extraordinary episodes and numbers (years, days) to or during their fulfillment, there is often a literal application that is more than just an analogy … metaphoric. Or they are both symbolic and actual—in terms of a dedicated time-lapse fulfillment. Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article, The Phenomenal Thousand Years / One Day Parallel (Posted 4-4-18). Also, Extraordinary Biblical Prophecies w/Predicted Times of Fulfillment, Part I & II (March 2019).

As applied to the 1^st century resurrection of Jesus Christ—which was also his return to earth on the 3^rd day—and the Second Coming of Messiah, the correlation could conceivably be that of Jesus in the grave for a full two days (only part of the 3^rd day) as a pattern parallel to two thousand years between his First and Second Advents.

Christ arose (returned to the earth) on the third day. Accordingly, there is every reason to make the compelling connection that he will return soon to establish the third thousand-year era since he changed time itself (B.C. to A.D.) … The Millennial Reign of Messiah on earth!

However, because it has been nearly 2,000 years (close to 1,988 years) since Jesus ascended to heaven, we need to reexamine the question posed earlier that Peter said would be in the form of mockery from unbelievers in the last days (and it certainly is): “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?”

In other words, repeating: Just How Imminent is the Imminent Return of Christ?

Or in stronger terms: Is his return imminent at all? Could it be hundreds of years from now? Might it not even be in this Third A.D. Millennium?

It’s not just the skepticism, sarcasm, and scorn coming from many unbelievers. That’s to be expected; in fact, the Apostle Peter prophesied of such. Unfortunately, in the last few years some disillusionment has developed concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ even among believers. There is a growing concern that the imminent return of Christ is anything but that.

Instead, the Second Coming appears more indefinite than ever.

I believe there are two reasons (sources) for this concern that is causing varying degrees of complacency and/or pessimism in the hearts and lives of some Christians.

(1) From Without: This is particularly true of American Christians in the context of the current state of our Union. Or should I say: the (deplorable) state of our disunion within these (dis)United States of America. Not since the Civil War (blue vs. gray) have we been so divided (blue vs. red). Violent radicals on both sides (liberals and conservatives) have crossed the lines of democratic decency, of moral accountability, of law and order which is (should be) the heart of a republic. Some say that we have irretrievably breached the middle ground of cooperation in this country and are holding tight to ground on opposite sides of an unbridgeable gulf between left and right, democrat and republican.

However, there’s another source of this spreading consternation among believers (even the evangelicals) pertaining to Bible end-time prophecies and unfolding events. To the extent that some of even the most ardent believers are showing signs of declining interest in and/or indifference to Biblical prophecy.

(2) From Within: Not disbelief in the sure Biblical prophecy (fact) of the literal return of Messiah Jesus to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, preceded by the Rapture some seven years earlier. Rather, perhaps a growing weariness with Bible teachers (like me) periodically or even constantly reminding them of the imminent return of Christ; to sometimes include the approximate timeframe (within years) of his Second Coming!

I’m certainly not referring to precise calendar days, as some misguided and misinformed prophecy seers (most are Christian in name only) have erroneously calculated, to their embarrassment. Considering that Jesus himself said three times that no one could/would know the day or hour of the Rapture—the first phase of his return (Matthew 24 & 25).

After 323 articles posted in Eye of Prophecy website (ministry) with 52 of those in the category of The Rapture, it occurs to me that I may be facing a choice when it comes to appraisal of the approximate period when the Day of the Lord will begin.

I can stop writing about this specific aspect of Biblical prophecy with the thought that there should be absolutely no speculation at all. Even though Christ said it was important to wait and watch for the signs of the last days, then presented many of those markers himself.

This could conceivably involve deletion of two or three Eye of Prophecy posts from the archive of articles. Such as, The Omega Generation (posted 2-15-14). And the post identified earlier … Just How Imminent is Messiah’s Imminent Return?

Conversely, to leave those articles intact and even revisit them (which is what this week’s article is doing)!

With, however, a minimum of speculation and a maximum of Biblical evidence and concise commentary to provide further clarification and correlation that the approximate time table of his return can be assessed. And with a robust reliance on Jesus’s clear message that the primary measuring criteria (benchmark or milestone) is that of a generation.

“I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen…” (Matthew 24:34-36a).

My Decision: To Double Down but with More Clarification!

Beginning with:

The Certainty of The Second Coming of Messiah Jesus

Just as Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled all the prophecies concerning the Messiah’s (first) arrival on earth in dramatic detail, so will he fulfill the two primary panoramic prophecies of the last days: (A) His return to earth, preceded by the Rapture and Tribulation. (B) His final restoration of God’s Promised Land Israel and the final rescue and redemption of God’s chosen people, the Jews.

In fact, hundreds of other Biblical prophecies have also been fulfilled throughout history, many of them through God’s majestic miracles. Not the least of which was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

*Note: A brief pause here to boldly and bluntly state, but with compassion and humility, that any unbeliever reading this article should heed the overwhelming Biblical and historical evidence regarding God’s (only) plan of salvation available (only) through His Son, Messiah Jesus. To distort, disregard, or deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ from his substitutionary death on the cross for their (our sins) is to do so at their own peril.

“Said John the Baptist about Jesus as found in the Apostle John’s Gospel:

“He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment” (John 3:31-36).

Among many other points of truth about God and about himself, Jesus emphatically and exclusively said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Returning to the sure scenario that Jesus will assuredly return, let’s revisit the passage cited earlier. Beginning with that same chapter, we read:

“This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago, and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles. Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come…” (II Peter 3:1-3a).

The Holy Prophets

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us…” (Isaiah 9:6a). Jesus is the Son of God, the Son of David, and (as he often referred to himself) the Son of Man. He was the (universal) child born for and son given to redeem mankind … all who would personally believe and receive him as Savior.

That child became a man, like no other who has ever walked this earth. Listen as God speaks of his Messiah through the prophet Isaiah:

“My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief…. But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:2-6).

In his First Advent, Jesus was, “…led like a lamb to the slaughter…” (Isaiah 53:7). John the Baptist acknowledged and addressed Jesus as, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Upon Messiah’s glorious return, “…The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:6b-7).

From the suffering Savior of Isaiah 53, Christ will return as the King of all kings. Listen again as God speaks about his Messiah:

(Yeshua Ha Mashiach is Hebrew for Jesus the Messiah … Verses 7 & 8 go on to say: “The Lord, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations, to the one who is the servant of rulers: ‘Kings will stand at attention when you pass by. Princes will also bow low because of the Lord, the faithful one, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you… Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel and assign it to its own people again’”)

Through the Apostles

The Apostle John—A Direct Command & Second Coming Promise From Jesus:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:1-3).

The Apostle Paul—Through His Letter to Titus:

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds” (Titus 2:11-14).

Although Not an Apostle, James—The (Half) Brother of Jesus:

“Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near (at any time)” (James 5:7-8, parenthesis mine).

Perhaps this patience could even be extended to Bible prophecy teachers who keep reminding us of these passages and others like them! To be sure, it is vital that we thoroughly examine what is presented; to determine the accuracy of it and whether there may be too much speculation with too little Biblical and historical documentation. Particularly true when the subject is when (approximate timeframe) the Day of the Lord might begin.

*Note: I would encourage you to read Eye of Prophecy article (a short one) entitled Value of Prophecy (posted 8-29-13).

The Apostle Peter—Returning to II Peter Chapter 3:

“But the Day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire…. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness” (II Peter 3:10-13, emphasis added).

“And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters….” (Verse 15).

How and when will the Day of the Lord begin?

Answer: With the Rapture.

What we cannot know: The day/hour of the Rapture.

What we can know: The general (generational) timeframe … a window of time.

Listen again to the definitive words of Jesus himself: “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.”

What things? Everything he described during his Mount Olivet discourse to his disciples, PLUS (of course) all the other last days prophecies found in Scripture, many of which have come to pass or are still unfolding in the 20^th & 21^st centuries … the birth pains.

All in a generation’s time. Moreover, I am still convinced that we are living in and are part of that very generation … The Final Generation.

A Revisit of the Omega Generation

Before we reexamine Eye of Prophecy article, The Omega Generation (posted 2-15-14), here is an excerpt from article, Look Up, Redemption is Near Part II (July 2015) including the summary list of twelve (flashpoint) events discussed in Part I & Part II:

I’m going to conclude by saying something a bit unexpected, something that at face value may seem contradictory to the flash point theme of this article.

All these twelve indicators, including the restoration of Israel as a nation, could have developed and taken place in the first century or any century thereafter. For example, the transportation and communication advances have been relative to each generation … progressively expanding in quantity and quality. The reason that all these things could have been in place is that Christ could have returned at any time in history, what we call the imminent return of Messiah.

What is different now from then is that all twelve have synchronized with a frequency and magnitude never seen before. With intensity that really can’t get much more extreme or enhanced than it already is. Together they have formed a combustible concoction ready to spontaneously ignite. The accumulative impact of these flash point prophecies fits precisely with the Lord’s comparison to childbirth, all in a generation’s time.

Here is the list of the twelve in a handy concise format. Check each one to see if they either have been fulfilled or if they have reached or nearly reached their optimum and maximum flash point.

1. Rebirth of Israel as a Sovereign Nation, 1948
2. Recapture of Jerusalem in the June, 1967 Six-Day War
3. Jerusalem, a Heavy Burden to the Nations
4. The 3^rd Rebuilt Temple
5. Israel’s Phenomenal Agricultural Accomplishments
6. Modern-Day Alignment of Gog/Magog Nations against Israel
7. National and Ethnic Wars in the 20^th & 21^st Centuries
8. Amazing Increase of Natural Disasters
9. Moral & Spiritual Decline & Intense Persecution of Christians
10. False Messiahs & Prophets
11. Unequaled Increase in Quantity and Speed of Transportation and Information
12. Unprecedented Spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the World

Next is an excerpt from The Omega Generation article (also in italics):

When Jesus says, “this generation” he is not referring to some vague, unspecified, undefined, ambiguous period of time. Rather, he is identifying the precise generation that will be alive and witness the amazing end time’s events described in Matthew and Luke. In other words, this is a literal, identifiable generation. Scripture gives us two primary designations or parameters of a generation, both of which are measured in real time.

1. One Hundred Years: “Then the Lord said to Abram, ‘You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years … After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction’” (Genesis 15: 13-15).

This is a phenomenal prophecy given to Abraham even before Isaac was born, in which God not only talks about the (many) descendants of Abraham; but hundreds of years before the fact announces that they (the Israelites) would be slaves in a foreign land (Egypt), only to return to the Promised Land of Israel. Moreover, God equates a generation to 100 years … 400 hundred years equals four generations. Think about it for a moment. Although unusual (perhaps even rare), there are people the world over who live to be one hundred … some even a few years more. Yet, 100 years of age is pretty much the maximum scope of any given lifetime or generation.

2. Seventy Years: “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty” (Psalms 90:10).

This insight as to the customary lifespan of a human being was given to Moses, who is the author of Psalms 90, the only Psalm credited to Moses. Again, think about it. By and large, the normal or average lifespan of most people the world over is between 70 and 80 years of age. By seventy, virtually no more children are conceived and birthed by a woman. For all practical purposes, a person who reaches 70 years of age (perhaps a few more years) has lived a generational lifetime. They have children and grandchildren who are the progeny of the next generation. King David, himself, died at exactly 70 years of age.

Application of Biblical Generations to the Last Generation

If Jesus is referring specifically to the last generation, and I believe the text/context is crystal clear that he is; then this generation must have a designated start-up date or dates. Without an actual event (which can be identified by a specific calendar year) to begin the generation, the 70-year or 100-year generational time frame is much too vague … meaning there’s too much overlap or ambiguity as to the actual decades involved. If you were explaining your generation to someone, what would be your reference point? How would you describe it? Wouldn’t you say, “In my generation….” Essentially, then, your reference or starting point is the date of your birth!

…Is it, then, possible to select or identify events/dates in Israel’s contemporary history that correspond to the Biblical definition of a generation … that is one hundred years and/or seventy years? The answer is a resounding, YES. In fact, we’ve already touched on these dates in the previous three articles.

…Some Christians are confused about or don’t entirely understand the role of the Church and Israel during the last days beginning with the Rapture.

Please fathom one critical premise/truth: Although the Mount of Olives discourse indirectly applies to the Church … the whole purpose of Christ’s majestic return is to set up the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God) on the earth IN the Holy Land and THROUGH / FOR his chosen people, the Jews. And what triggers the need for Christ to return to Israel is none other than the ultimate and final rescue of the Jews (Israel) from conquest and destruction at the hands of Antichrist.

Concerning the Church, the sole purpose of the Rapture is to snatch away believers from the earth so that we do not have to experience the final wrath of God poured out on an ungodly generation of unbelievers. Otherwise, ALL the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Last Days or End Times focus on Israel, not the Church; in fact, the Church (consisted of all Jews/Gentiles who place their trust in Christ’s sacrificial death) doesn’t even come into existence for over 400 years after the last book of the Old Testament was written….

So, let’s look again at the three monumentally crucial events of the last 100 years, relating to the return of the Jews to Israel.

A. Balfour Declaration of November 1917: England extended official support that Palestine could be a home for the Jews. This was the beginning of Jewish autonomy in Israel, although the land was still called Palestine at that time.

Recognizing this especially important event/date, we can then apply the Biblical generational measurement of 100 years. Once again, however, we need to convert Roman calendar years to Jewish years. Doing the math, we come up with 101.4 Jewish years which translates to 101 years and 5 months. From November 1917, this would take us to March or April 2019.

B. United Nations Resolution of November 1947: UN voted to grant statehood rights to the Jews; the nation would be called Israel. (May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion proclaimed the reborn existence of the State of Israel!).

…Without the UN resolution of November 1947, there would have been no recognized Israeli State in May 1948. Yet, there is only a period of 6 months separating these two events; thus, selection of either one would be a legitimate application to the 70-year generational measurement of time.

Again, doing the conversion math, we arrive at a total of 70.97 or (rounding it off) 71 Jewish years. Adding 71 years to November 1947, we arrive at November 2018. If we utilize May 1948 as the benchmark date, the 71 years would take us to May 2019.

*Note: For more detail on the Balfour Declaration, please see Eye of Prophecy articles, The Balfour Declaration … Beginning of the Omega Generation Part I & Part II (May 2017).

Time/space in today’s article does not permit elaboration on the third milestone, which is the Six-Day War of 1967 in which the Israelis reclaimed all of Israel. After some more facts and figures, that article concluded with the following summary:

… First, none of these three possibilities give us an exact day/hour of Christ’s return that begins with the first phase which is the Rapture and ends with his physical return at the end of the Tribulation. And that’s good. Why? Because Jesus, himself, said that no one can possibly know the day or hour of his return…. Therefore, I wouldn’t even pretend to know the exact date of Christ’ return, nor would I ever venture a guess. Forget it!

On the contrary, Jesus did advise us to recognize the seasons, the times, the signs, and the symptoms if you will, of his glorious return. If he didn’t want us to put 2 and 2 together, then why did Jesus provide so many clues and signals? ….Why would he have selected a time-measured or time-dedicated point of reference (generation), if he didn’t want us to identify the noteworthy benchmark events of the final days, aligned alongside the pre-Rapture birth pains and post-Rapture (Tribulation) incidents that he describes.

With these questions in mind, what other specific events have occurred relating to Israel during the 20th or 21st century that would surpass or supplant the 1917, 1947 (48), and 1967 highlights….?  I’ll give you a hint: There are NO other events that even come close to these historical mileposts….

Summary

Here’s what we find when we combine all three projected dates of generational or Jubilee time-lapse… meaning 100 years, 70 years, and 50 years (Roman calendar….

It’s conceivable that we will hear the blast of the last Rapture trumpet: BETWEEN FEBRUARY 2018 and MAY 2019!!

Of course, Christ may Rapture the Church any day between now and the above listed dates, or after those dates…. Concerning a generation (whether 70 or 100 years): unless the prophecy specifies actual periods of time such as found in Daniel 9, there is normally some flexibility built-in to God’s use of numbers in Scripture. For example, there are, relatively speaking, a handful of people on the earth who live to be 105 or 110, or whatever. Also, the average life expectancy in many developed countries is in the vicinity of 76, 77, or 78 years.

But, if the Lord decides to combine all three timeframes, then I would be very surprised if we Christians are still on this earth after the year 2020 …. based on some solid evidence from Scripture, particularly the passages quoted in this article and prior articles.

(End of excerpt from The Omega Generation)

Please consider reading (for the first time or again) Eye of Prophecy article, Just How Imminent is Messiah’s Imminent Return? (posted 11-18-17) which contains even more facts and figures. Which also includes Ezekiel’s Dry Bones prophecy that fits perfectly with our Omega Generation. Here is an excerpt from that article:

“Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel’ … This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel’” (Ezekiel 37:11-12).

In verses 15 through 20, Ezekiel is told that Israel (ten northern tribes) and Judah (two southern tribes) would both be returned to the Promised Land.

“…I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms” (Verses 21-22).

…Several times this passage in Ezekiel refers to “they” and “them.” With the unmistakable meaning and application that they are the very ones brought “home to their own land,” some of whom will be alive when “one king (Messiah Jesus) will rule them all.”

We need to fully understand: The unfolding of Ezekiel’s Dry Bones prophecy has taken place ONLY in our generation, with the time-lapse definition of generation to be explained in a moment.

Let’s read on:

“They will live in the land I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation … I will give them their land and increase their numbers…” (Ezekiel 37:25-26).

Do you see semantically what’s going on here?

Who are “they?” Answer: The remnant of Jews who will be returned to the land of Israel. And Israel wouldn’t be Israel until she once again became a Sovereign Nation (1948); the reality of which began with and was prepared by the Balfour Declaration of 1917—declaring the Jewish right of return to Israel. The Lord makes this even clearer by then referring to their (they or them of the passage) children and grandchildren. Then even more so by saying this would continue from generation to generation.

From which generation does this perpetual generational cycle begin? Answer: From the generation that returns to the Promised Land in which Israel is “born in a single day (Isaiah 66:8).

Ezekiel’s prophecy is time-dedicated and generational-specific to those Jews who return to and are born-in Israel in the last days (same) generation referred to by Jesus … the one which will see his return. Right now as you are reading this article, most Jews in Israel (and the world over) are first, second, and third generations since Israel was reborn in 1948. Those are the, “they,” the “children,” and the “grandchildren” distinctively identified in this passage.

Things to Ponder

Again, listen to the prophetic words of Messiah Jesus concerning the last days of the end times just a few verses before his “this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” statement.

“Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near” (Matthew 24:28, emphasis added).

As indicated, I’m even more convinced that the most accurate Scriptural criteria (benchmark) to use in identifying the approximate period for commencement of the Day of the Lord (Rapture), is that of our Lord’s reference to a (the final) generation.

Am I surprised that the Rapture has not happened yet (2020 has come and gone!), as stated some seven years ago in The Omega Generation article?

Yes, but not as much as otherwise would/could be. For two reasons:

(1) With regard to the first definition (parameter) of a generation, to have given more weight to the San Remo Conference of 1920 which affirmed the Balfour Declaration of 1917. Then, perhaps, even more consideration to the 1922 League of Nations ratification (on a more global scale) of the San Remo Conference decisions and declarations. Therefore, the milepost beginning of the final generation would be revised to 1922 instead of 1917.

Which takes us to the year 2022 (100-year generation).

*Please see Eye of Prophecy article, Israel’s Annexation of Occupied Territory? We Must Define The Terms (6-27-20), for a more detailed account of the San Remo Conference.

(2) In hindsight I would have placed even more emphasis on the built-in flexibility of God’s timetable with more highlighting in a few prior articles on our passage of II Peter 3 … the Lord’s patience in extending the prophetic clock so that more people would be saved.

Thus, we could stretch the 100-year generation to the maximum life expectancy of say the oldest person in the world at any given year, conceivably from 110 to 115 years old. Which, using the age of 110 years, would take us to the year 2032. Same thing with the 70-year generational span to accommodate the increased longevity of people in several nations.

For example: The oldest (highest average) life expectancy on Planet Earth is found in Hong Kong; women at 87.8 years and men at 82 years, with their combined average at 85 years (rounded off). Second highest—combining both men and women—is in Japan … 84 years. With the beginning point of Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948, we could then add some 14 years (to the generational age/figure of 70 years) which takes us to the same year 2032.

Accordingly, I’ll revise my surprise year to 2032. If I live that long, I will definitely be surprised that the Rapture has not yet occurred, fully understanding that no one knows the day of the Rapture! Nevertheless, the signs of the times (there are so many that some are calling them the “times of the signs”) strongly suggest that believers will meet the Lord in the air even sooner.

“He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon! (at any moment). Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people” (Revelation 22:20-21, parenthesis mine).

Let’s begin with an unusual beginning: an excerpt from an unusual Eye of Prophecy article.

Entitled: A Dramatic Enactment of the Rapture (posted 4-20-19), which was a seven-act play … preceded and followed by commentary.

In Acts One, Two, and Three, characters were introduced from Israel, the United States, and Australia … respectively. With the initial stage of the Rapture beginning in those three acts, then ending for each set of characters in Acts Four through Six.

The following scene is Act Four which fits nicely with Rapture Essentials Number Four and Five, coming up shortly.

*Note: Netanya is a real town in Israel. In this (fictitious) Jewish family Eitan is the husband; Esther is the wife; Netanya (named after the town) and Naphtali their daughter and son.

Netanya, Israel (7:10 PM)

Eitan Shaked nestled close to his wife. He held the hand of their son, Naphtali. Esther grasped Netanya’s arm. As they stood at Benjamin’s gravesite, Eitan counted five other believers from his congregation who evidently had the same idea as him. They, too, were standing near graves of family or friends. They waved to each other with shouts of, “Yes!”

The Shofar sounded again. If there was any doubt that the first three were global, this fourth blast was surely being carried on every sound wave existing in and above the earth’s atmosphere. Millions of megaphones and loudspeakers could not have produced a sound so strong, so pure, so universal; yet so moderate as to not burst ear drums.

He immediately recognized it as the fourth and final of the Jewish Shofar sequence that had been handed down through tradition by and to the Jews for centuries. But now it was for all believers in Messiah … Jew and Gentile alike.

Though it was difficult to speak and hear, Esther asked, “Will this be the final Shofar?”

“Yes, I’m sure it will,” Eitan said. “It’s almost time.”

He had just finished speaking when they heard the voice from above, “Children of the Most High God; the appointed time has come.”

“I’m pretty sure that was the voice of the archangel,” Eitan said.

Eitan glanced at his watch again. He was about to tell Esther how much time had elapsed from the first blast, when the fourth Shofar stopped suddenly, not gradually like the others. Within seconds, the expected, but nonetheless stunning scene unfolded. Benjamin’s grave exploded as did a few others in the cemetery.

“Mom, Dad, look!” Netanya yelled.

They watched in total awe as Benjamin’s remains were lifted from his grave by an unseen hand. Then, ten, maybe fifteen seconds later, his skeletal form was radically changed. Too fast for Eitan or anyone else to see how. They only saw the results.

Benjamin stood on the ground and looked directly at them, then at his body.

He was enshrouded in white clothing they had never seen before or knew existed. If it was a robe, it seemed almost transparent, as if it was part of his form. His entire body and face were indescribably perfect. As though he had just been born that way without the imperfections that develop with age.

Immediately, Eitan realized this was the spiritual body spoken of by the Apostle Paul. It was as though Benjamin’s spirit was on the outside enveloping his flawless features, instead of the unseen spirit on the inside of a natural blemished body. The two, body and spirit were one. Beautifully blended one with the other. Both visible, yet indivisible.

Eitan knew that the same thing was happening to resurrected believers the world over. For those who had been cremated, the Lord was raising their ashes, bringing them together with the same supernatural force that rolled away the stone at Jesus’s tomb. With the same instantaneous transformation as the decomposing and skeleton bodies. So, too, the remains of those buried at sea.

“Benjamin, it’s you. You’re much better than…” Eitan couldn’t finish.

He felt a burst of energy that seemed to come from inside out but also outside in. It was over before he saw anything else. His wife Esther had been an attractive woman. It was not just in his beholding eye; others had told him the same thing. There she stood next to him more beautiful than she had ever been. An appearance that wasn’t sexual at all; rather a supernatural loveliness that transcended anything natural. An ageless beauty that was immortal.

So, too, Netanya and Naphtali. Changed dramatically, but just as dramatically the same person … each one of them.

“Look at you!” Benjamin pointed to Eitan.

“Look at you!” Eitan trumpeted in return.

“Look at our kids,” Esther exclaimed. “Same age, but older. How can that be!”

“Hallelujah,” Eitan roared.

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised,” Esther shouted.

In unison, Netanya and Naphtali said, “We love you Jesus.”

Which as it turned out was right on cue. The next voice thundered from above, from everywhere.

“COME UP HERE!”

“That was Jesus himself,” Eitan shouted. His watch was gone, but he estimated that from the first shofar had been maybe fourteen or fifteen minutes.

Immediately the raised dead and those still alive and transformed began to rise in the air … exactly how, they did not know. By whom, they knew for sure. It wasn’t a fast ascent like a kite, nor was it slow like a hot air balloon. There was time for ecstasy to look around at other believers within sight rising simultaneously. And for a passing moment, a time of sadness when looking down at the many who were staring into the sky.

A Brief Review

Before examining the next four essentials of the Rapture, here are the first three covered in last week’s article:

Essential Number One: The Rapture Is Real

Essential Number Two: The Rapture Precedes The Great Tribulation

Essential Number Three: The Rapture & Physical Return of Christ Are Different Events

To include the following excerpt from that previous post:

*Note: A reminder before we continue with the remaining Rapture essentials. These Part I & Part II articles are but a summary of the Rapture features that are examined in much more detail through several prior Eye of Prophecy articles….

Also, a reminder that—with a modified exception (as close as it gets to doctrinally requiring a Pre-Tribulation Rapture) of the next essential, Number Two—the component features of the Rapture itself is something that should not separate true believers to the point of division. That for the following well-known paradigm (and only this paradigm or purpose) the Rapture would best fit into the non-essentials category:

That every prophecy is vital to the Christian faith, even if there is a difference of opinion over some prophecies.

Although the next feature of the Rapture is no more or less important than the other six, it is, perhaps, the most intriguing. One that many believers, including Bible prophecy teachers, have not considered carefully enough. Why? Because they assume that the “the blink of an eye” phenomenon in I Corinthians 15 applies or equates to the entire Rapture episode which is found in I Thessalonians 4.

Essential Number Four: Only the Transformation (Itself) of Believers Will Take Place in the Blink of an Eye

Conversely, the series of Rapture events revealed in I Thessalonians Chapter 4, will assuredly take several minutes. In fact, as glorious as it will be for believers, would be even better if it lasted an hour or so!

For an in-depth examination and clarification of this extraordinary component of the Rapture, please refer to Eye of Prophecy post: The Shout Heard Around the World (4-22-17). Early in that article I established a premise—the first part of which applies more to Rapture Essential Number Five, with the last sentence relating to Essential Number Four:

Premise: Contrary to the prevailing notion even among well-known students of prophecy, this shout and series of trumpet calls will be heard by the entire world, not just believers taken to heaven in the Rapture. And, all the sights and sounds of the entire sequence of the Rapture will last for several minutes. Only the transfiguration of the bodies of both the dead in Christ and believers alive at the Rapture will take place in “the blink of an eye.”

From there, I went on to emphasize the importance of correctly separating but also correlating (both are necessary) the two main Rapture passages. As follows:

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up (harpazo) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17, parenthesis mine; harpazo is the Greek world for “caught up” from which we get the Latin term Rapture).

Next is Paul’s second disclosure of the Rapture, which provides additional information to I Thessalonians 4:

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed… our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies” (I Corinthians 15:51-53).

That article included excerpts from one of the first five Eye of Prophecy articles: How the Rapture?

For the past several decades, every commentary, sermon, book, or article that deals with this passage–at least everything I’ve heard and read–consolidates, by default, the dynamics of this passage on the Rapture with the other main passage found in I Thessalonians Chapter 4. With a resulting conclusion that the entire scope or sequential events of the Rapture will transpire at warp speed … blink of an eye. For sure, the two passages are intricately related; but there is also a specific variance found in I Corinthians 15 that is profoundly distinct from the companion passage in I Thessalonians Chapter 4.

In I Corinthians 15, what is it precisely that takes place in the nanosecond blink of an eye? A little hint: To one thing only, which (blink of an eye) does not apply to the rest of the Rapture events described in I Thessalonians 4, in terms of those events also taking place in a split-second.

Here is where we students of the Bible (including myself) overlooked or took for granted one little (impersonal) pronoun. Because we skimmed over this two-letter word, we missed or dismissed the important textual relationship of this pronoun to the antecedent that immediately precedes it….

First defining “antecedent.” Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines antecedent as: “One that goes before … a substantive word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun …a word or group of words replaced and referred to by a substitute…”

The substitute is almost always a pronoun found immediately after the “substantive word or phrase”, which is the case in I Corinthians 15: 51-52. So let’s break it down.

First, the phrase in this passage: “…but we will all be transformed!”

Second, the pronoun, “It “, which begins the very next verse, “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye….”

Can you make the connection? What specifically is “it” referencing or taking the place of in the text? You got it: It is referring to and the same thing as what Paul just said would occur which is, “…but we will all be transformed.”

The Apostle Paul further explains “it” (meaning the actual transformation itself, which is the astonishing change of our earthly body to that of our brand new heavenly body) by explaining how it (the transfiguration) will take place. “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye.”

When will it happen?

Answer: “…when the last trumpet is blown.”

In the New King James Version of the Bible we read:

Continuing with the excerpt:

Notice, that the pronoun (it) is not found in this translation. Why? Because the connection between the action of “changed” (transformed) and the how of the change (twinkling of an eye) is inseparable, irrefutable, and exclusive. Both passages contain essentially the same composition; with the New Living Translation and other translations (such as the Jewish Bible) accurately and emphatically reinforcing the translation from Greek to English, by use of a pronoun that substitutes for the mystery of the transformation itself.

I hope you see this as much more than just a boring exercise in grammar and syntax. It is exceptionally significant that we understand what is going on in this passage. Saying it another way: The only thing that will happen in a moment or blink of an eye … is the actual physical transfiguration of our earthly bodies. The “it” does not apply to anything else in this passage; nor can “the transformation” specifically apply to the events so majestically portrayed in I Thessalonians Chapter 4. In fact, I Thessalonians 4 doesn’t say anything about the blink of an eye transformation at all. But we have inadvertently extended or expanded the instantaneous change found in I Corinthians 15 to include the entire sequence of events described in I Thessalonians 4.

It is (obviously) speculation regarding the precise time involved … no one can know for sure. But based on the supreme significance of the number seven or its multiples (especially applicable for the end times—including the sevens in Revelation), the progression of the Rapture will most likely take…?

Well, here is a final excerpt from, The Shout Heard Around the World.

Whether the entire Rapture sequence takes seven minutes or fourteen or somewhere in between….

This will allow time for such things as: pulling cars over to the side of the road; awaking in the middle of the night from a deep sleep; turning off the T.V or loud music; stop the yelling at someone; hugging your un-believing spouse or friend good-bye; the short, but most intense praise and worship ever experienced by Christians on this earth; and, hopefully, a few minutes for some foxhole conversions all over the world.

Do you see what difference it would make and how it could enhance and expand our view of and increase even more our enthusiasm for the Rapture, if the order of events in the Rapture took place over several minutes? It would be far more than just a “poof” one second here, next second gone type of experience. Next to the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ, it will be the greatest celebration of joy ever experienced by believers in Christ. And in real-time and space no less; no special effects, no suspension of time, no virtual reality … just the real thing. None of which (except for the transfiguration of our bodies) can or will take place in the twinkling of an eye.

Now that’s something to shout about!

This fourth essential seamlessly leads to the next one that is also misjudged by many Bible teachers and students.

Essential Number Five: The Rapture Will Be Seen and Heard by Those Left Behind

For several decades and for whatever reason, the prevalent portrayal of the Rapture is that believers will simply disappear without those left behind hearing or seeing anything.

Why? Perhaps because of the Bible’s description of Enoch’s departure from the earth while still alive. “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah… So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years” (Genesis 5:21-23).

Then in that genealogy chapter of Genesis, Scripture simply but mysteriously, says:

That is a quote from the New American Standard Bible, with other older translations of Scripture virtually identical.

However, The New Living Translation—from which I use and quote most often—translates verse 24 as, “Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.”

Although I understand why the NLT translators wanted to emphasize the descriptive abruptness of Enoch’s departure from the earth, the word “disappeared” is probably stretching the text a bit too far.

When God took Enoch to heaven without dying, the implication from the text is that this departure was somewhat abrupt. Meaning one day he was there and the next day, hour, or minute he was not. But not necessarily that abrupt; not necessarily without warning or preparation.

There is certainly nothing in this passage to indisputably indicate that Enoch just disappeared without any warning whatsoever—although it could have happened that way. Nor any statement or suggestion that no one saw Enoch being taken to heaven. It very well could have occurred somewhat like Elijah’s transition to heaven. I am not speaking of the supernatural way in which Elijah was taken (chariot of fire). Rather, I’m referring to the fact that Elijah’s protégé Elisha (and other prophets) were told ahead of time and even saw him being taken away.

Although Enoch was a personal preview of the Rapture, this prototype of raptured believers is in principle only. He (his departure) was not a precise pattern. Other than the parallel principle of Enoch taken to heaven without experiencing death, there is no indication in the Genesis text (stated or implied) that he experienced anything like what I Thessalonians 4 describes for believers at the Rapture, from beginning to end. For that matter, neither I Thessalonians 4 nor I Corinthians 15 state or even imply that believers will disappear (in a nanosecond) at the Rapture.

Moreover, there is nothing in those passages to insinuate that the left behind will neither see nor hear the sights and sounds of the Rapture.

Here is another excerpt from How the Rapture? Posted August 2013. (In italics):

Normally, the blowing of the shofar was not a simple quick, one-time burst of sound. Rather, it entailed a series of blasts lasting several minutes, with each part of the series different from the others, and sometimes each component part repeated.

Nowhere in Scripture do we find that only God’s people heard trumpet calls or the blasts from a shofar. All within earshot, including their enemies, heard the shofar sound. In the Bible, we also see events in which God’s prophets and sometimes the people saw and heard angels or the pre-incarnate Christ, but so did unbelievers. Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel. Those three were thrown into the hotter-than-hot furnace, but how many men did Nebuchadnezzar see when he peered into the furnace? That’s right: Four. And the fourth was none other than the pre-incarnate Messiah.

Was it only Saul who heard the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus? No, his accomplices also heard the voice that spoke to Saul. They didn’t actually see Jesus, but then neither did Saul; he only saw the blinding light that caused him three days of blindness. My point and premise: I’m wondering how we ever arrived at the notion that those left behind at the Rapture won’t hear the trumpet calls, and not see perhaps a flash of light or afterglow or radiance or some tangible evidence at the precise spot where a believer miraculously changed in front of them when the final trumpet call was sounded. Why would God close the ears or the eyes of the unsaved? Seeing and hearing is often believing.

With the Biblical precedents and parallels to support the premise that the entire world will hear the trumpets and, conversely, the lack of reference in Scripture to say otherwise, why wouldn’t God want the world to see and hear the Rapture? I’m convinced that many will immediately fall down on their knees and call upon the name of the Lord to save them. This applies not only to the trumpets, but also to the Lord’s shout and the voice of the archangel. Why wouldn’t they be heard the world over?

…We’ve mistakenly (meaning without any direct support or evidence from Scripture), assumed that the microsecond change of our bodies’ means that those bodies instantly vanish. Since the blink of an eye phenomenon relates only to the actual transfiguration itself, why do we also equate that with a split-second disappearance?

I Thessalonians 4 tells us that we will be “caught up” in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Why would caught up necessarily equate to an instant vanishing? Remember how Jesus ascended to heaven as described in Acts 1: 9-11? All who were with him saw him rising into heaven, until they could no longer see him. One of the two angels who showed up even said, “Why are you standing here staring into heaven?” There was no vanishing going on… Why wouldn’t our meeting Jesus in the clouds be just like His ascension to heaven?

In summary: The lightning quick transfiguration of believers will preclude those left behind from seeing or processing that phenomenal part of the Rapture. However, many of those left behind will witness most if not all the other Rapture dynamics, including the astonishing ascension of transformed believers on their way to meet Jesus in the air.

Essential Number Six: Only Some Children Will Be Taken

This essential of the Rapture might be the most controversial.

Reason: Nearly all teachers and students of the Bible hold to the notion (as did I at one time) that ALL children under the age of innocence or accountability—too young to make an informed decision whether to accept Jesus as personal Savior—will be taken during the Rapture.

However, for reasons provided in a couple of Eye of Prophecy articles and also in my first book (novel), O Israel … the end is the beginning for those left behind, I am convinced that none of the children of those left behind (unbelievers) will be taken.

Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article: Will All Children Be Taken in the Rapture? (posted 2-23-19).

In the Epilogue of O Israel, one of the main characters (Avram Levitt) posts his final email to those left behind at the Rapture, which had taken place about a year earlier. Beginning with:

Why were only some of the children taken on that fateful day? Why were more children left behind than taken? … Are there answers to these difficult and heart-wrenching questions? Yes, I believe there are, but they will not be fully understood until Messiah returns to earth to set up his kingdom.

Then referring to Noah’s flood and Sodom and Gomorrah followed by the passage in I Corinthians Chapter 7, Avram explains why the children (age of innocence) of those taken (raptured) were also taken. But the children of those left behind were also left behind. That God did not spare the children in the first world-wide judgment (Noah’s flood) nor in the regional judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah and surrounding cities.

Avram continues:

Both Noah and Lot were allowed to take their children with them, although the children were grown. So, too, the Lord took the children of believers to spare them from the devastation to come. I realize this is a harsh explanation. Yet God left your children with you as both a comfort and a conviction. He wants you to understand there is still time. But this time is shorter than ever before in history.

Listen to the prophet Micah: “…Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:7-8).

The Bible also says there is no one who is righteous, for all have sinned…. Scripture says that all have fallen short of his beautiful and perfect standard of holiness, of the essence of his glory. How then is it possible to do what is right?

“Yet God with underserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:24).

Essential Number Seven: Believers Will Be Like Messiah Jesus

Not only will the raptured transformation (the extreme makeover of raised-from-the-dead believer’s remains and of living believer’s bodies) be a profound privilege to possess the same kind of indestructible body as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The spiritual bodies of believers will also be a physical necessity to live in the Kingdom of God on earth during our millennial reign with Messiah Jesus and forever in heaven (New Jerusalem).

Please see Eye of Prophecy article, Spiritual Bodies … A Contradiction of Terms? Part I & II (9-26, 10-3-15).

Listen to the Holy Spirit inspired words of the Apostle John as he reminds Christians:

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (I John 3:1-3, emphasis added).

An excerpt from another Eye of Prophecy post concerning the Rapture: Superhuman Bodies for Believers / How & Why (posted 12-14-19):

Here’s how the Apostle Paul explained it to the believers in Corinth, some of whom doubted there was such a thing as bodily resurrection:

“And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!” (I Corinthians 15:16-18).

Obviously, Paul was speaking of a physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. In the early verses of this same chapter, Paul reminded the believers that: “…Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died” (I Corinthians 15:3-6).

To them, being born-again was (only) a spiritual phenomenon. That believers would spend eternity in spirit-form only…. Paul wanted them to understand that their spirit was born again (made alive), but their bodies also would undergo a rebirth as it were … in the same manner that Messiah Jesus was transfigured….

Said Jesus to Nicodemus: “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:6-7).

The Apostle Paul proclaimed that the immediate result of believing and receiving Messiah Jesus as personal Savior is a revival of our human spirit which had been dead (to God). “Once you were dead (referring to the human spirit) because of your disobedience and your many sins” (Ephesians 2:1, parenthesis mine).

As a result of Biblical salvation, we are first resurrected spiritually from the dead. Paul goes on to say:

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6, parenthesis in the text).

There was even more to God’s magnificent plan of salvation than spiritual rebirth.

…As clearly contained in Scripture (both Old and New Testaments), the Kingdom of God will be a physical kingdom on earth beginning with the Millennial Reign of Christ after the Great Tribulation. In order to live forever in that Kingdom as well as heaven itself, there must be a resurrection and transformation of our temporal earthly bodies into a boundless body (not bound or limited by time, physics, disease, disabilities, pain, aging, or even by death). Until then, it is the Kingdom of Heaven that has been established in the hearts and minds of believers.

The eternal life spoken of by Jesus (and others in the Bible) clearly conveys the continuance of life as it was meant to be when God created Adam and Eve; their complete being—body, soul, and spirit. Their body was meant to live forever along with their soul and spirit.

Things to Ponder

Jesus means so much in so many ways to so many people. Beginning with: “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Jesus declared (promised): “…I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25).

There is no greater thing (truth) than to know beyond any doubt whatsoever that Messiah Jesus arose from the dead. It is an historical fact.

His resurrection is the very essence of our redemption; proving that:

And proving that he is: “…our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13).

“God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown (more proof) to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:2-4, parenthesis mine).

The Rapture will be resurrection from the dead for millions of saints. It is also the transfiguration of believers from our old earthly bodies to our new spiritual bodies (yet bodies, nonetheless).

“…we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved…” (Romans 8:23-24).

Mortal to immortal!

“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, the Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:54-57).

If you want to refer to the essentials of the Rapture more often and/or discuss them with others, then you may want to print the following list as a handy reference guide:

Essential Number One: The Rapture Is Real

Essential Number Two: The Rapture Precedes The Great Tribulation

Essential Number Three: The Rapture & Physical Return of Christ Are Different Events

Essential Number Four: Only the Transformation (Itself) of Believers Will Take Place in the Blink of an Eye

Essential Number Five: The Rapture Will Be Seen and Heard by Those Left Behind

Essential Number Six: Only Some Children Will Be Taken

Essential Number Seven: Believers Will Be Like Messiah Jesus

For the first five years of Eye of Prophecy blogsite, an article was published every Saturday.

Due in part to the increased mileage (some call it getting old … I prefer older!) on your administrator/author, I have found it necessary to throttle back a bit.

Nonetheless, as the Lord guides and provides, posts should continue periodically. Hopefully at least one each month … perhaps two.

This week’s post marks a milestone: the 7^th anniversary (almost to the day) of the first Eye of Prophecy article published on 7-26-13. And what more fitting subject than the title of the first article: What is the Rapture?

Followed in August of that year by the Why, When, Who, and How of the Rapture. Of the 315 Eye of Prophecy posts to date, 50 are in the category of The Rapture. However, in this anniversary special, there will be only one sequel … Part II posted next week.

Other than the marvelous resurrection of Messiah Jesus some two thousand years ago, the Rapture will be the most extraordinary experience of human history—for those taken and for those left behind. Followed by one enormous episode after another over a period of seven years. Only to be eclipsed in magnitude by another stunning spectacle—the physical return of Jesus Christ to this earth.

There may not be any other Biblical prophecy that elicits such expectancy, while at the same time causes confusion with (some) Christians. Uncertainty that comes from misunderstanding some, most, or even all the essentials and dynamics of the Rapture. With the principal reason: inadequate consideration (scrutiny) and correlation (one with another) of the three powerful passages on the Rapture.

The term rapture equates to euphoria, ecstasy, excitement, exhilaration, and exultation. Good old-fashion joy. Rapture and its synonyms are nouns—which can be altered to adjectives, such as euphoric or exciting—that express our emotional state over an exceptional event.

But in Biblical prophecy (The) Rapture is also the event itself.

Some of the more neutral synonyms of confusion: misunderstanding, mix-up, mystification, and even mistakes. Regarding the Rapture, misperceptions are found among even the most sincere and astute Bible students, teachers, and scholars.

Is The Rapture an Essential or a Non-essential Tenet of the Christian Faith?

The answer: Both … I’ll explain.

A believer’s (correct or incorrect) view on any feature of the Rapture is not on the same level as truth/error over one of the essentials of the Christian faith. Such as found in the Apostle’s Creed. Or as summed up in the Apostle Paul’s magnificent Holy-Spirt inspired statement that salvation comes by faith (in Christ and his substitutionary death for our sins), not by works … Ephesians 2:8-9.

Good works are a result of redemption, not the means.

The Rapture events are neither the start nor the end of Biblical salvation, but rather the instrument to connect the remarkable beginning (born again … John Chapter 3) to the glorious end of our redemption (spiritual bodies equipped to live forever in heaven … I Corinthians Chapter 15).

Thus, it technically can be classified as a non-essential to the Christian faith. Notice I said “a” non-essential, as opposed to non-essential. There is a difference.

However, a crucial (essential) component of the Day of the Lord—Seven Year Tribulation; Physical Return of Jesus Christ; his Millennial Reign—is that the Rapture will take place BEFORE the Great Tribulation. What has been theologically classified as the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. With the opposing view (Mid-Tribulation or Post-Tribulation) a direct contradiction of one of the main reasons for the Rapture … protecting believers in Messiah Jesus from the Great Tribulation by removing them from harm’s way.

Putting it another way: Different views on the Rapture, including those that are incorrect, does not determine one’s eternal destiny. With, however, a clarified emphasis that non-essential (in general terms) does not mean that the essential (specific) features of the Rapture are insignificant or unnecessary to correctly comprehend and appreciate.

I am convinced that the Lord wants his people to be accurate regarding (especially the more prominent) Bible end-time events; to grasp the essentials of these prophecies. Of which the imminently pending Rapture is—in the opinion of many Bible teachers and students—the most significant for true believers in Messiah Jesus … Jew and Gentile alike. With the prophetically fulfilled 1948 rebirth and subsequent (soon-to-come) final restoration of Israel the most prominent prophecies concerning God’s plan (destiny) for Israel and the Jews

For several reasons, the Rapture will be a monumental milestone of human history; including the flashpoint catalyst to the seven-year treaty (Daniel 9) orchestrated by the Antichrist beast upon his reappearance from the Abyss (Revelation 17). Followed by the magnificent bodily return of Messiah Jesus to rescue Israel from utter defeat at the hands of Antichrist’s (Nero) ten-nation coalition. Which will include the final battle of Armageddon, in which this ten-kingdom alliance joins with their enemy (Kings of the East) to dare take on the King of all kings.

We believers will ride to victory with Christ during his final conquest of all that is evil (Revelation 17:14 & 19:11-21). Then Messiah Jesus will rule the Kingdom of God from Jerusalem, accompanied by believers reigning with him over all the earth (Revelation 20:4-6).

The seven essentials of the Rapture in this week’s and next week’s Eye of Prophecy article will be a condensed summary of a few previous articles that clarified, correlated, and/or corrected one or more features of the Rapture in depth.

The first three essentials will be presented in this week’s post. To examine misunderstandings including outright errors (made mostly by unbelievers or believers who have studied little about the Rapture) which have been rationally and responsibly refuted by several Bible commentators, including myself. The last four will be examined next week in Part II. Those that even mainstream Bible prophecy pundits have inexactly or insufficiently presented since Bible prophecy exploded on the scene in the 1960s.

In those four essentials, I have proposed an alternative application to the stunning Scriptural passages that deal specifically with how the Rapture will unfold … in what manner and approximate duration of time. Accordingly, whether those left behind will both see and hear what happens. And whether all children at/below the age of innocence will be taken in the Rapture.

Essential Number One: The Rapture Is Real

In the past few decades (especially since Y2K), we have seen and heard many unbelievers do precisely what the Apostle Peter said they would do during the end times. Just as bad, if not worse: the increasing apathy of some Christians concerning the last days—an indifference that rivals the mindset and (live-for-only-the-present) lifestyle of unbelievers.

“Most importantly (the Apostle Peter said it was/is important!), I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created’” (II Peter 3:3-4, parenthesis mine).

Denial or even disregard of the obvious (Rapture) may be the most puzzling, if not provocative inaccuracy of all.

This view held by some believers (especially those who are amillennial … who do not believe in the literal 1,000-year reign of Messiah Jesus on earth) is not only surprising.

It is inexplicable.

And then, what do they do with the extraordinarily clear Bible passages on the Rapture: (I Thessalonians Chapter 4; I Corinthians Chapter 15; Matthew Chapters 24-25; Luke Chapter 17)?

The defense of this denial most often used is that the passages are symbolic or “spiritual” rather than literal. But figurative of what? Or that the word Rapture is not found in the Bible. Please see Eye of Prophecy post: Biblical Terms Not In The Bible … Are They Biblical? (posted 3-10-18).

In a moment we will peruse these pivotal passages in their New Testament chronological order. With a reminder that there are Old Testament precedents that prophetically preview and parallel the Rapture. For instance: the whisking away of Enoch and Elijah to heaven without either man dying first. And the removal of Noah (and family) and Lot (and family) out of harm’s way before God poured out his judgment, globally, then regionally.

But first, an excerpt from the first Eye of Prophecy article ever posted: What is the Rapture? (In italics):

Where in the Bible do we find the term, Rapture? We don’t, so you can stop searching for the word in Scripture…. Are you surprised that such a Biblically oriented word, one that has been heard or spoken by many Christians and non-Christians alike, isn’t even in the Bible?

…the term, Rapture, is derived from a Latin word, raptus (to carry off or away), and the Bible was not written in Latin. Rather … the New Testament was written in Greek. Although the English word itself is not found in the pages of Scripture, the concept and truth of it certainly is. In fact, the Apostle Paul attributes this amazing disclosure as coming from the Lord Jesus, himself, as found in I Thessalonians 4:15, “We tell you this directly from the Lord…”

*Note: A brief interruption of the excerpt with this observation: Not that the inspiration of Scripture from the Holy Spirit to the respective authors is insignificant. It is of utmost importance (II Timothy 3:16-17). Yet in similar fashion to the many times when God spoke directly to Old Testament prophets, Jesus himself disclosed this amazing prophetic truth “directly” to Paul. Which is another rock-solid confirmation that the Rapture will take place.

Back to the excerpt:

The Greek word translated “caught up” in the I Thessalonians 4 passage is harpazo, which literally means to seize or snatch away….

Yet the English word “Rapture” is entirely appropriate as a one-word description of the remarkable prophetic proclamations found in I Thessalonians 4 and I Corinthians 15.

Remember, the word Rapture is not a direct translation of the Greek word, although it is a very close transliteration of the Latin word; rather it is a substitute or alternative or expanded way to describe emotionally or spiritually what is taking place. One of the definitions for rapture found in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary is, “a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things,” and a companion definition is, “an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion.”

Thus, we have a captivating combination of the original Latin and Greek words, which is accurately rendered “caught up” in most English translations of the Bible. These words convey the dynamics of the actual time/space sequence involved in this literal transfiguration of the Christian’s physical body, with the spiritual joy, emotional bliss, and mental delight in what is taking place. Those who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior (both the dead and the living), will experience the highest degree of spiritual and physical euphoria possible, as we will be instantly changed and then transported to heaven, there to be with our Lord and King forever.

As the sayings go, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” And, “What a way to go!”

In 1^st century chronological order of the disclosure, beginning with Jesus himself, we find three powerful purposes for the Rapture, as contained in the following three passages. Though close to, they are not technically (the same as) the seven essentials or features or characteristics of the Rapture covered in this and next week’s article. Rather, they are what can better be described as the dynamics of the Rapture. They are supernatural actions that literally separate believers from unbelievers: resurrection (from the grave); transformation (to immortal spiritual bodies); and transportation (to heaven).

The Phenomenon of Those Left Behind (A Warning): “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquests and parties and weddings right up to time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left” (Matthew 24:37-41).

Those prophetic words of Messiah Jesus are part of his lengthy explanation of signs and events of the last days. And are in the context of the exponential increase in natural disasters, false prophets and messiahs, persecution of Jews and Christians, rampant sin, before (birth pains) and especially during the Great Tribulation. Followed by his physical return to earth, “with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). The flashpoint of which will be those who are taken (Rapture of believers) before God’s second and final judgment of the entire earth.

Those left behind will be “swept away” (in the Seal, Trumpet, & Bowl judgements).

Resurrection of Dead Believers & Catching Up of All Believers: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:16-18, italics to emphasize the Greek word, harpazo).

In this preeminent Rapture passage the Apostle Paul discloses the astounding sequence of events, to include (by means of confirmation of the resurrection) dead believers first raised to life, then they and living believers “caught up” (literally rising together) in the clouds to meet the Lord.

Unless the Scriptural text is clearly and exclusively symbolic, or specifically interprets an image of something, or explains the imagery by such words as like, many scholars (including me) contend that the word or phrase or passage should be taken literally. For one thing it is far less confusing to understand the verse or verses literally. For another thing, a figurative interpretation could often have two or more meanings. Which one is correct?

This is particularly true when the Bible is conveying dynamic events … past, present, or future. Seldom is the action itself figurative. When it is, it’s presented as a simile. Such as: “He fought like a lion.”

Jesus said if anyone wanted to be his follower, he/she must “take up your cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). The cross in this case was figurative (a figure of speech). But it also could be and sometimes was/is literal … for the many who have been martyred for their faith in and obedience to Messiah Jesus.

(Depiction of Simon carrying the cross when Jesus could no longer carry it. A scene from 2004 movie, The Passion of the Christ)

On the other hand, when describing beings (human or angelic or even sometimes Messiah Jesus, e.g. sword coming from his mouth with the sword representing His Word) symbolism—particularly in prophecy—is sometimes utilized. Such as the Antichrist characterized as a beast (Revelation) or a little horn (Daniel). However, what the Antichrist beast does (action) is literal.

Then there are the plain crystal-clear metaphors, e.g. Jesus is “the bread of life.”

There is nothing (repeat for emphasis … “nothing”) in the I Thessalonians 4 passage or any other passage on the Rapture to suggest symbolism of any kind. On the contrary: the (Lord’s) descension from heaven, the shout, the voice of the angel, the trumpet call, dead believers rising from their grave, then they and living believers “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air; all are literal … as real as anything could be.

Transformation of Believers Bodies From Mortal to Immortal (Spiritual Bodies): “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed” (I Corinthians 15:51-52).

This third dramatic dynamic of the Rapture also confirms that the dead in Christ will be raised.

However, in this passage, the Apostle Paul adds what he didn’t tell us in I Thessalonians 4: all believers—those raised and those alive at the Rapture—will be “transformed” to immortal or “spiritual bodies” (I Corinthians 15:40-46). And it will take place in an instant … blink of an eye.

In one of the four essentials in next week’s Part II article we’ll again see that it’s only the transfiguration itself that takes place in a nanosecond; with the entire sequence of the Rapture itself, beginning with Jesus’s descending in the clouds, covering several minutes.

*Note: A reminder before we continue with the remaining Rapture essentials. These Part I & Part II articles are but a summary of the Rapture features that are examined in much more detail through several prior Eye of Prophecy articles. In that regard, a composite list of the seven essentials will be summarized at the end of next week’s article. Just in case you wanted to print-out this “nutshell” list for future reference.

Also, a reminder that—with a modified exception (as close as it gets to doctrinally requiring a Pre-Tribulation Rapture) of the next essential, Number Two—the component features of the Rapture itself is something that should not separate true believers to the point of division. That for the following well-known paradigm (and only this paradigm or purpose) the Rapture would best fit into the non-essentials category:

To also remember that there are accurate (versus inaccurate) applications to Biblical prophecies.

That every prophecy is vital to the Christian faith, even if there is a difference of opinion over some prophecies.

However, there will be no “I told you so(s)” when we believers get to heaven in our new undefiled spiritual bodies!

Essential Number Two: The Rapture Precedes The Great Tribulation

As indicated, this feature of the Rapture is often referred to as the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. As opposed to the Rapture taking place at the end of the Tribulation or part way through it.

What makes this feature doctrinally essential to the Christian faith is the clear Scriptural evidence (fact) that believers are not subject to the end-times wrath of God which will be poured out it all its fury during the Great Tribulation. A primary purpose of the Rapture is to spare living believers from this terrible time of one colossal catastrophe after another. Jesus himself said: “For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones (Israel and the Jews)” (Matthew 24:21-22, parenthesis mine).

Immediately following the amazing passage on the Rapture in I Thessalonians 4, Paul continues the subject of the Day of the Lord (consisting of the Tribulation, then Millennial Reign of Christ to reverse all the terror and turmoil of the Great Tribulation) by warning of the disaster that will befall the unsaved … much like Jesus’s description that we just read.

Said Paul: “When people are saying, ‘Everything is peaceful and secure,’ then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape” (I Thessalonians 5:3).

Then just a few verses later while still on the same subject, Paul penned this pivotal and precious promise to affirm what could be argued as the main purpose of the Rapture, i.e. taking believers from the earth and sparing us from the Tribulation. “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever” (I Thessalonians 5:9-10).

Moreover, the resurrection of dead believers and subsequent transformation of their bodies and the bodies of living believers into imperishable bodies is vitally necessary so that, “we can live with him forever.” In that regard, the transfiguration itself could be considered a secondary (albeit extraordinarily significant means-to-an-end) event to the “snatching away” from the earth aspect of the Rapture. For the express purpose of taking us out of harm’s way.

In fact, the Rapture is the trigger point; the catalyst from which the Tribulation will commence and continue for seven years.

Here is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article: Why the Rapture (A Revisit). Posted 11-5-16.

“For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us” (I Thessalonians 5:9). By virtue of this verse’s proximity to the Rapture verses in Chapter 4, it clearly puts it in the context of the soon-to-follow Great Tribulation; with both direct and indirect affirmation that believers will be spared from God’s final dispensing of justice on the wickedness of a world gone mad.

Thus, when Christians use the term, “saved,” we are not only referring to being saved from the justly deserved penalty of our sins which is eternal separation from God; but also for the generation alive at the time of the Rapture being “saved” or rescued from the unimaginable deceit, violence, death, and horror perpetrated by the Antichrist, followed rapidly by God’s justice directed to a very depraved, and rebellious world.

It will be the second, and final, time in history that God will effectively say, “Enough is enough.”

After thousands of years in which God has exercised great patience, it will be time for God to finally pour out his wrath on a corrupt world that has twisted the truth of the Gospel, has blatantly rejected Jesus as Savior and Messiah, has thumbed their noses at their Creator–the true and living God–and has yielded all their loyalty and worship to the Antichrist.

But thanks be to the love, grace, and mercy of God, he has chosen to spare the bride of Christ (believers) from this dreadful apocalypse….

For more detailed analysis, you might want to refer to the following Eye of Prophecy articles: The Rapture / Before or After The Great Tribulation? (posted 9-7-19); Will Believers Go Through The Great Tribulation? Part I & II (June 2019).

The next essential facet of the Rapture flows from Essential Number Two:

Essential Number Three: The Rapture & Physical Return of Christ Are Different Events

The following exceprt is from: Messiah’s Return & The Rapture (Same or Separate Events?) Posted 12-3-16:

Perhaps the biggest distinction between the Rapture and the Return of Messiah to the earth is found in the respective purpose they serve. Rapture is exclusively for the Church, the body of Christ, consisting of all Jews and Gentiles who have placed their faith in our Jewish Messiah, Jesus. The Second Coming of Christ to the earth is for the preliminary purpose of rescuing Israel from destruction and the Jews from annihilation at the hands of the Antichrist. In doing so, Jesus will destroy the armies of Antichrist; thereby, completing the wrath of God on a very wicked world.

Then, towards the end of that article:

The Rapture and the Return of Messiah Are not “Yo-Yo” Events

Although the Biblical evidence is conclusive, we can also rely on the common sense of it all. Or in reverse, the nonsensical notion of being caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds/air, only to immediately go back down to the earth with the Lord to dispense the final wrath of the Lamb at the final battle of Armageddon.

All phases of the Second Coming of Christ will take place in real time and space (place), not virtual time or reality. Among other things, how is it possible for the wedding feast with our Savior to take place before we return with Christ at the final battle of Armageddon, if we’re caught up to heaven at the same time Christ is coming down to the earth? Revelation is crystal clear that believers will celebrate the wedding feast with Messiah BEFORE Jesus returns to do battle at Armageddon.

Believers will not meet Christ going (up) and coming (down) all at once. That makes no sense at all. That would be like an elevator full of employees going up to meet their boss with the unmistakable understanding that he is waiting for them in the Penthouse Suite having prepared a great Christmas party for them. Only for the boss to change his mind after they arrive, and then take the elevator back down with all the guests to first “take care of business” below.

Praise and thanks to God … born again believers will sit out the tribulation! There will be seven years between our elevator rides!

As indicated: I and other Bible scholars/teachers have confirmed and defended these three essentials of the Rapture (especially #2). Scripture convincedly supports the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church and a clear (7-year Tribulation) gap between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ when he sets foot on the Mount of Olives, from where he ascended to heaven some 2000 years ago.

Don’t miss next week’s final four features of the Rapture. They are those given as insight to me by the Lord for the purpose of correlating, clarifying, and perhaps even correcting a few of the details of what will (soon) be the most spectacular event in human history since the resurrection of Messiah Jesus from the grave.

Even if you have already read them in previous Eye of Prophecy articles, it will be a good review.

Things to Ponder

Although I infrequently provide an excerpt from a prior Eye of Prophecy article in the final Things to Ponder section of every post, it would be fitting to do so this week … given the 7^th anniversary of this blog site and the topic.

From: The Tremendous Transfiguration of Believers (posted 7-23-16).

“Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light” (Matthew 17:1-2, NASB).

Normally I would have quoted the above passage from the New Living Translation; all Scriptural references in Eye of Prophecy articles are from the NLT, unless otherwise designated. In Matthew 17, the NLT uses the English word, transformed, which is the same word it uses in the I Corinthians 15 passage concerning the change of our earthly bodies to spiritual bodies at the Rapture. The reason I chose the NASB (which translates the Greek word to transfigured) is because that Greek word is different than the word, allesso, found in I Corinthians 15.

Although the meanings are substantially similar (transformation or transfiguration … both are accurate and appropriate), the Greek word used in the exceptional scene we just read is, metamorphoo. Which makes the saying, “It’s all Greek to me,” not entirely true! There are several Greek words that are nearly identical to their transliterated English counterpart. This is one of those words. So what is the English word? You’re right: It is metamorphosis.

Webster’s definition of metamorphosis: “change of physical form, structure, or substance (especially) by supernatural means; striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances.”

Which is why the English word, transfiguration, is the better description of the astounding change in Jesus’s appearance on what most Bible scholars refer to as the Mount of Transfiguration.

Transfiguration is defined by Webster’s Dictionary at two different levels. The first level is more closely akin to transform, which is: change in form or appearance. But the second (higher) level of transfiguration is defined as: “an exalting, glorifying, or spiritual change.” In fact, Webster’s cites the transfiguration of Christ as an example. As noted, both definitions for metamorphosis and transfigured directly attribute this kind of “striking, exalted, glorified” change to one that is supernatural … by (the power of) God.

Which is exactly what Jesus experienced on the Mount of Transfiguration. It was a preliminary divine demonstration that Jesus was fully God and fully man. It was also a stunning “preview of coming attractions.” The greatest of which was the resurrection of Messiah Jesus in a new glorified body; one that was exalted even above and beyond the human body he was born with. It was a spiritual, heavenly body that could never die.

Although our great God and Savior, Messiah Jesus, is far above us in every way (for all the reasons found in Scripture), God has promised born again believers that we, too, will someday be graciously given the same kind of eternal, indestructible body like Jesus has; whether we have died before Jesus returns or are still alive.

How great is that!

Yes, we will be transformed at the Rapture, but at the higher level of transfigured! Immediately after the transfiguration of our mortal earthly bodies to heavenly spiritual bodies, we will be “transported” directly to heaven. The change in our bodies and in our address and living quarters will involve a “transition.”

While we’re still in Webster’s Dictionary (at least I am), let’s also define, transition: “A passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another; a movement … from one form … to another; an abrupt change in energy state or level…”

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for my transfiguration and transition!

And away we go!

“Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!”

Who could do such things?

“Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird. It’s a plane.”

If you’re a Baby Boomer, then you know.

“It’s Superman!”

I fully realize that late 20^th century and (now) 21^st century movie and television technology make the original Adventures of Superman seem … well, comical. And considering the dazzling special effects that we’ve grown accustomed to in our viewing pleasure, it’s natural to trivialize that television series with its low-budget feeble attempt to make Superman fly, burst through (flimsy) walls, and twist (toy) guns into pretzels.

On the other hand, millions of children were captivated by the idea of our comic book hero appearing on the magical medium of its time—Television.

“Yes, it’s Superman … strange visitor from another planet who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Who can change the course of mighty rivers; bend steel with his bare hands…”

Those captivating words grabbed our attention at the outset of each episode. In fact, the introduction often exceeded and even saved the mundane show itself. I don’t want to admit it but will anyway: Although looking them up just to be sure, I had remembered verbatim the opening to every show!

Introduced in September 1952 when television was still in its infancy, the Adventures of Superman lasted until April 1958. The very next year George Reeves (who played Superman) died from a gunshot wound to his head. The official report ruled his death as a suicide; that he had been depressed over his, “failed career.” However, there are those to this day who believe he was murdered … only 45 years old when he died.

Naturally, we’re talking about a fictional person played by Reeves; a character that began with the original comic book superhero. Still, how ironic that Reeves’ main claim to fame was as an actor who portrayed the “man of steel.” A super man (Superman) who, for all intents and purposes, was indestructible. With powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.

These are the kind of superhuman powers that people can only dream about … science fiction fantasy found in comic books, novels, radio, movies, and television.

Fast forward to 1978 when the first of several blockbuster movies simply entitled Superman was released, starring Christopher Reeve (eerily similar last name to George Reeves). The special effects of those movies were stunning … state of the art at the time. As were the Star Wars films released during the same period. Plus, Christopher Reeve’s portrayal was much more what we wanted and expected Superman to be.

Oddly, Christopher Reeve was born in 1952, a few days after the first T.V. episode of Superman aired.

Tragically, in 1995, he was dramatically disabled in the prime of life when he fell from his horse during an Equestrian event. Rendered a quadriplegic, Reeve was barely able to survive until his eventual death in 2004—at the age of 52. Which is also a taste of irony—considering his real-life physical features. And, of course, his portrayal of the extraordinary (but fictional) exploits of Superman whose immortality was a foregone conclusion.

From Fiction to Fact!

Alas, death brings an end to it all. To the most gifted athletes on this planet whose physical skills are substantially beyond those of the average person, so much so that we pay to watch them perform. Also, to the authors and artists and actors and directors and producers who create and immortalize our legendary super men and super women.

And so, people the world over wonder: “Is that all there is (to life)?” Only what we can think, read, or dream about? Only what’s not (really) real?

Not according to the Bible, the very Word of God. There’s more … much more!

There’s life after death. There’s a real body in which life will be forever lived and a real place where only that body can live … heaven. And there’s a person who has proved there is such an existence, because he has now and forever a supernatural body—immortal, indestructible.

Though Messiah Jesus was/is fully God and existed as the Son of God before the beginning of time, he came into this world as a human being; conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a Virgin. A miracle birth, but a birth, nonetheless. God Incarnate. Immanuel … God with us. A baby who grew as a child into manhood, but in a body that needed food, water, and sleep. Fully human.

Yet, he could do things that no mortal man has ever done. Real-life feats that can only be imitated through works of fiction and Superman-like fantasies. One way or another, Jesus’s miracles were accomplished by the power and authority to change the course of nature. To transcend the natural. Turning water into wine—his very first miracle. Walking on water, itself.

When he silenced a great storm on the Sea of Galilee, his disciples fully realized that this was no ordinary man. In fact, he was extraordinary.

“…The disciples were terrified and amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him?’” (Luke 8:25).

He was/is the authentic Super Man.

Synonyms for Super: Wonderful, Great, Marvelous, Tremendous, Superb, Outstanding, Superior.

Super: “over and above; higher in quantity, quality, or degree than; more than (superhuman) … situated or placed above, on, or at the top of; superior in status, title, or position” (Webster’s Dictionary).

Jesus healed the deformed and terminally ill; cast out demons; caused the lame to walk, the dumb to talk, the deaf to hear, and the blind to see with but a word of his mouth or a touch of his hand. Instantly they were cured. No complicated medical treatment or surgery or drug therapy—much of which is still ineffective against certain diseases even in our post-modern world.

Still, those supernaturally healed by Jesus eventually died. Even those that Jesus raised from the dead had to die again. Same thing with Elijah and Elisha, each raising a young boy from the dead as recorded in the Old Testament. Or the Apostles Peter and Paul (through the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus) after Jesus returned to heaven.

DEATH: Therein lies the problem (pun intended).

The few times in history when someone was raised from the dead, it was a demonstration that death itself could be overcome. And only the Triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) had that kind of power, because it was God who created life. But complete and conclusive victory over death must be accomplished once and for all.

Also, that which causes death must (first) be dealt with once and for all—Sin.

That’s why Messiah Jesus came to this earth. To solve the problem of sin and death, through death itself—a substitutionary, sacrificial atonement for the sins of every person who has ever lived. With only one thing required of us by God—believe in Christ and humbly receive him as our personal Savior (John 6:29). Recognizing that he did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

We have eternal life the nanosecond that we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Our dead (to God) human spirit is instantly given life and we immediately become “citizens of heaven.” But in order to live forever in heaven, we also will be given the same immortal body in which Jesus arose from the dead and ascended to heaven. First there is eternal spiritual life; then a never-ending spiritual body to complete so great a salvation.

Yet, even Jesus’s death on the cross in payment of the penalty of our sins wasn’t enough to conquer death. If he had remained in the grave like all those before him and after him, then there would be no proof that Jesus was different from any other person—religious or otherwise. Despite his amazing teachings and astounding miracles, he would have been just an ordinary mortal man.

He would not have been a Super Man.

Moreover, his claim that he was the Son of God and that he would rise from the dead on the third day would have been nothing more than idle boasts had he remained in the grave. Worse, God’s marvelous promise of redemption and eternal life for all who believe and receive His Son would have been nullified. No one would or could be saved from the penalty of their sins, let alone spend eternity with God.

Praise God. “He isn’t here (in his tomb)! He is risen from the dead!” (Luke 24:6).

Resurrection!

Jesus did the one thing that no other man or woman had ever done: RESURRECTION.

Not the raising from the dead only to die again as occurred a few times in the Bible (history).

Rather, a once-for-all permanent resurrection! With a new body that is truly imperishable.

(See Eye of Prophecy article: There’s Resurrection; And There’s Resurrection! Posted 3-19-16)

Here’s how the Apostle Paul explained it to the believers in Corinth, some of whom doubted there was such a thing as bodily resurrection:

“And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!” (I Corinthians 15:16-18).

Obviously, Paul was speaking of a physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. In the early verses of this same chapter, Paul reminded the believers that: “…Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died” (I Corinthians 15:3-6).

To them, being born-again was (only) a spiritual phenomenon. That believers would spend eternity in spirit-form only. What some of the early Christians didn’t fully grasp is that our human spirit had already been formed by God to live forever from the moment we were conceived, then took our first breath from the womb. Paul wanted them to understand that their spirit was born again (made alive), but their bodies also would undergo a rebirth as it were … in the same manner that Messiah Jesus was transfigured. On the Mount of Transfiguration as a dynamic preview of what was to come; then perpetually when Christ arose from the dead.

Certainly, the new birth in Christ is spiritual, which effectively makes our human spirit alive to God. Enabling us to enter God’s presence anytime and anywhere, communicate with him, and better appreciate the precious and powerful promises contained in God’s Word—The Bible.

Said Jesus to Nicodemus: “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:6-7).

The Apostle Paul proclaimed that the immediate result of believing and receiving Messiah Jesus as personal Savior is a revival of our human spirit which had been dead (to God). “Once you were dead (referring to the human spirit) because of your disobedience and your many sins” (Ephesians 2:1, parenthesis mine).

As a result of Biblical salvation, we are first resurrected spiritually from the dead. Paul goes on to say:

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6, parenthesis in the text).

There was even more to God’s magnificent plan of salvation than spiritual rebirth. Both Jesus (and later Paul) announced everlasting life produced by this spiritual resurrection that would and could be lived bodily in heaven and on the earth. Which is why Jesus also said: “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water (physical birth) and the Spirit” (John 3:5, italics for emphasis, parenthesis mine).

As clearly contained in Scripture (both Old and New Testaments), the Kingdom of God will be a physical kingdom on earth beginning with the Millennial Reign of Christ after the Great Tribulation. In order to live forever in that Kingdom as well as heaven itself, there must be a resurrection and transformation of our temporal earthly bodies into a boundless body (not bound or limited by time, physics, disease, disabilities, pain, aging, or even by death). Until then, it is the Kingdom of Heaven that has been established in the hearts and minds of believers. Which qualifies us to be spiritually seated with him in the heavenly realms. Then one day, in our immortal bodies, to literally be seated with him in heaven.

The eternal life spoken of by Jesus (and others in the Bible) clearly conveys the continuance of life as it was meant to be when God created Adam and Eve; their complete being—body, soul, and spirit. Their body was meant to live forever along with their soul and spirit.

However, when they disobeyed God, they experienced physical death. Thus, there’s only one way to accomplish this final phase of so great a salvation that Messiah Jesus purchased on the cross for us. It would be a spectacular reuniting of the human spirit of believers with their new superhuman body.

Returning to the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he continues: “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died” (I Corinthians 15:20).

Do you know or care to guess when this great harvest will take place? For that matter, what is this great harvest? If you know the answer to the last question, then you probably know the answer to the first question. And, yes, this harvest is physical. Though the terminology itself is metaphorical, i.e. comparing the event to a great harvest.

This great harvest is the resurrection of dead (and dying … stay with me on that one) believers at what has been called: The Rapture.

(Scene from movie, Field of Dreams, starring Keven Costner. Tugs at your heart, but is pure fiction. Fact: There will be a resurrection/transformation of believers in Messiah Jesus at the Rapture. A Great Harvest!)

Unless Messiah Jesus had been raised from the dead first (in his glorified body), there would be no resurrection of dead believers or transformation of both dead and living believers into an eternal body like our Lord and Savior.

However, even the transformation of living believer’s bodies is a form of “dying.”

(See Eye of Prophecy article: Scripture Says Everyone Will Die / But What About The Rapture? Published 6-23-18)

Here is an excerpt from that article, beginning with one of most well-known passages in the Bible (in italics):

“For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting.’

“For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:53-55).

First, a reminder of what death is or what is means. The Greek word for death (Thanatos, used 119 times in the King James Version) is defined as separation, not annihilation or cessation of existence. In Hebrews 9:27, the Greek phrase “to die” is apothnesko (ap-oth-nace-ko), which means just that, to die. Which is defined as, the natural death of a person. Thus, when someone dies, he or she has entered the state of death (Thanatos) which is separation of their spirit from their physical body.

Spiritual death is separation from God eternally for those who have not accepted God’s (Biblical) salvation by believing and receiving his Son’s substitutionary death (and resurrection!) as the only remedy for the penalty of sin and rebellion against the Lord (John 3:16).

Notice: Paul says that our “dying bodies” will (need to) be transformed. As we’ve already seen, the Bible proclaims that all must die.

We begin to die the moment we are born. It’s just a matter of time, longer for some than others. Without intending to be morbid (as opposed to celebrating life with gratitude for God in giving us that life) we could accurately say, “After we’re born, we’re as good as dead.”

Which is exactly what Paul is saying: “For our dying bodies must be transformed…”

Here, Paul is expanding on his prior statement that, “We will not all die…”

This clarification is not merely a technical distinction between those who have (actually) died before the Rapture and those who are dying … having not fully reached the otherwise inevitable point of death. In the context of what death is and means, Paul is saying that even those “alive” at the Rapture will experience death.

Seriously? Yes, seriously. Even living believers will encounter death the instant they are transformed. Just like the “dead in Christ” they, too, will be resurrected from that death.

The moment the dead in Christ are raised then shortly thereafter the “living in Christ,” the body of both groups of believers will be “transformed into bodies that will never die…”

Which unmistakably means that even the spirit of those believers who are alive when this transformation takes place will be separated (Thanatos) from their earthly body and intricately united with their glorious new spiritual body that will never die. Nonetheless, a body recognizable by friends and family as the same person (the new replacing the old) but with an amazingly altered appearance.

…Thus, when he says, “we will not all die,” he’s referring to those believers who are not actually in the grave. And why he continues by describing those alive are nevertheless in “dying bodies” that must be transformed (from death to life) precisely like those who have preceded them in death. With the action and result of this tremendous transfiguration that of each “living” believer’s spirit separated from their earthly body and placed into a glorious spiritual body that will never ever die or even begin to die in any way, shape, or form.

The only difference is the timing of it all. The spirit of believers whose body is in the grave has been waiting (some much longer than others) for this reunion of their spirit into a transformed spiritual body. Whereas those alive at the Rapture will experience this instantly.

…In either case, the heart of the believer will beat one last time; each will draw one last breath in this earthly body

The Apostle Paul characterizes the transfigured bodies of believers as: “Spiritual Bodies.” In contrast to earthly bodies. Nonetheless, a body; one that will undergo what we describe in today’s terms as an Extreme Makeover.

“Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies” (I Corinthians 15:43-44).

God doesn’t start from scratch with the spiritual body. Instead, he uses that which we were born with; through a transformation that will transfer believers from mortal to immortal. From a dying or dead body that will be resplendently restored for everlasting life in heaven and on the new earth.

Read with me: “So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back (at the Rapture, the first of his two-part second return)” (I Corinthians 15:21-23, parenthesis mine).

Paul continues by explaining that there are different kinds of bodies in the world, i.e. plants, animals, birds, fish, the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, planets, stars) and, of course, the human body.

Then he writes: “The Scriptures tell us, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living person.’ But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man… our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever” (I Corinthians 15:45-50).

(Refer to Eye of Prophecy articles: Spiritual Bodies … A Contradiction of Terms? Part I & II. Posted 9-26 & 10-3-15).

After first revealing the tremendous truth of the Rapture to the Thessalonians (I Thessalonians 4) which provides the stunning sequence of events during that soon-to-come event—including the catching up of all believers to meet Christ in the air—Paul then discloses another remarkable feature of this experience as he continues in I Corinthians 15:

“…We (believers in Messiah Jesus) will not all die, but we all be transformed! It (the transformation itself, not the entire sequence of the Rapture) will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies” (I Corinthians 15:51-53, parenthesis mine).

What Will Believers Be Like at the Rapture Transformation of Our Earthly Bodies?

This question has been asked by nearly all born-again believers. Until it happens, we don’t know for sure exactly what we’ll be like. Except, that is, for one incredible fact, which will be part of the eternal inheritance Messiah Jesus will share with those whom he has redeemed. Listen to this powerful promise from the Apostle John:

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world (the unsaved) don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (I John 3:1-2; italics for emphasis, parenthesis mine).

Nevertheless, there are some fascinating facts to draw on—mostly from Jesus’s post-resurrection appearances. To, at least in general terms, imagine what we will be and be able to do. Things that would make Superman envious! For one thing, there will be no Kryptonite to weaken our indestructible bodies (Only partially kidding!).

When it comes to this area of Biblical prophecy, there’s nothing wrong with some creative speculation that (for now) will allow us fill in some of the blanks. In fact, thinking about some of these superhuman abilities that our spiritual bodies will possess (enabling us to more perfectly rule and reign with Christ in the Kingdom of God) intensifies our hope for the Rapture and give us even more incentive to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

In a moment, we’ll examine three (there are obviously more) astounding attributes of Messiah Jesus after he arose from the dead. Although Christ had provided a preview of coming (resurrected body) attractions when he walked on the Sea of Galilee, what he did after his resurrection was even more remarkable. With the reasonable conclusion that believers also will be able to do some, perhaps all these things. Because we, too, will be transformed into the same kind of imperishable, indestructible body that Jesus possesses in heaven to this very day.

But first, here is a scene from Eye of Prophecy article, A Dramatic Enactment of the Rapture! (4-20-19) to stir our imagination and heighten our hope as to what could take place at the Rapture.

Beginning with the introduction to that article/play:

It could be the proverbial understatement to say that this week’s Eye of Prophecy article is different.

But then we are in the last days of the end times, when many things are going to be different, supernaturally so. Not the least of which is an extraordinary event to prepare for the triumphant physical return of Messiah Jesus to establish the glorious Kingdom of God on earth.

That trigger point is none other than the Rapture. Followed by seven years of unmitigated deceit, destruction, and death before Jesus steps in and puts an end to the violence, injustice, and corruption of this wicked world we live in.

Today’s post is not a docudrama, as those are reserved for events which have already occurred.

Rather, it will be in the form of Seven-Act Play (the scenes are short); to reasonably represent and dramatically depict what could and probably will occur during the Rapture.

It is based primarily on a previous article, which provides Scriptural documentation and correlation accompanied with commentary to support a rational premise: The entire sequence of the Rapture will take several minutes; only the bodily transfiguration of raised from the dead believers and believers still alive will be instantaneous.

(Note: The article referenced is: The Shout Heard Around the World, posted 4-22-17).

If you like, grab a soda or whatever and plop a bag of popcorn in the microwave.

Open your mind and heart; picture what’s happening; fill in your own details if you like; and stretch your imagination to accommodate the reality of what’s going to take place in what I’m convinced is the near future.

Now the excerpt from Act Four of the play:

The Shofar sounded again. If there was any doubt that the first three were global, this fourth blast was surely being carried on every sound wave existing in and above the earth’s atmosphere. Millions of megaphones and loudspeakers couldn’t have produced a sound so strong, so pure, so universal; yet so moderate as to not burst ear drums.

He immediately recognized it as the fourth and final of the Jewish Shofar sequence that had been handed down through tradition by and to the Jews for centuries. But now it was for all believers in Messiah, Jew and Gentile alike.

Though it was difficult to speak and hear, Esther asked, “Will this be the final Shofar?”

“Yes, I’m sure it will,” Eitan said. “It’s almost time.”

He had just finished speaking when they heard the voice from above, “Children of the Most High God; the appointed time has come.”

“I’m pretty sure that was the voice of the archangel,” Eitan said.

Eitan glanced at his watch again. He was about to tell Esther how much time had elapsed from the first blast, when the fourth Shofar stopped suddenly, not gradually like the others. Within seconds, the expected, but nonetheless stunning scene unfolded. Benjamin’s grave exploded as did a few others in the cemetery.

“Mom, Dad, look!” Netanya yelled.

They watched in total awe as Benjamin’s remains were lifted from his grave by an unseen hand. Then, ten, maybe fifteen seconds later, his skeletal form was radically changed. Too fast for Eitan or anyone else to see how. They only saw the results.

Benjamin stood on the ground and looked directly at them, then at his body.

He was enshrouded in white clothing they had never seen before or knew existed. If it was a robe, it seemed almost transparent, as if it was part of his form. His entire body and face were indescribably perfect. As though he had just been born that way without the imperfections that develop with age.

Immediately, Eitan realized this was the spiritual body spoken of by the Apostle Paul. It was as though Benjamin’s spirit was on the outside enveloping his flawless features, instead of the unseen spirit on the inside of a natural blemished body. The two, body and spirit were one. Beautifully blended one with the other. Both visible, yet indivisible.

Eitan knew that the same thing was happening to resurrected believers the world over. For those who had been cremated, the Lord was raising their ashes, bringing them together with the same supernatural force that rolled away the stone at Jesus’s tomb. With the same instantaneous transformation as the decomposing and skeleton bodies. So, too, the remains of those buried at sea.

“Benjamin, it’s you. You’re much better than…” Eitan couldn’t finish.

He felt a burst of energy that seemed to come from inside out but also outside in. It was over before he saw anything else. His wife Esther had been an attractive woman. It wasn’t just in his beholding eye; others had told him the same thing. There she stood next to him more beautiful than she had ever been. An appearance that wasn’t sexual at all; rather a supernatural loveliness that transcended anything natural. An ageless beauty that was immortal.

So, too, Netanya and Naphtali. Changed dramatically, but just as dramatically the same person … each one of them.

“Look at you!” Benjamin pointed to Eitan.

“Look at you!” Eitan trumpeted in return.

“Look at our kids,” Esther exclaimed. “Same age, but older. How can that be!”

“Hallelujah,” Eitan roared.

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised,” Esther shouted.

In unison, Netanya and Naphtali said, “We love you Jesus.”

Which as it turned out was right on cue. The next voice thundered from above, from everywhere.

“COME UP HERE!”

“That was Jesus himself,” Eitan shouted. His watch was gone, but he estimated that from the first shofar had been maybe fourteen or fifteen minutes.

Immediately the raised dead and those still alive and transformed began to rise in the air … exactly how, they didn’t know. By whom, they knew for sure. It wasn’t a fast ascent like a kite, nor was it slow like a hot air balloon. There was time for ecstasy to look around at other believers within sight rising simultaneously. And for a passing moment, a time of sadness when looking down at the many who were staring into the sky.

Things to Ponder

Time/space doesn’t permit quotation of the passages; however, most believers are familiar with the scene of Jesus’s sudden post-Resurrection appearance to his disciples in a locked room without waiting for the door to be opened. Then his sudden appearance and disappearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, after they finally realized who he was—the risen Christ.

Speaking of time and space, it’s abundantly clear that Jesus could go into and out of different dimensions. No need to open doors, just go through them. Same thing with believers at and after the Rapture. We know that we will be lifted from this earth and transported to heaven; we also know that we will be given positions of power and authority on the earth during the Millennium. No speculation is needed to determine that we will be able to go back and forth between heaven and earth at any time during the magnificent Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus.

Faster than a speeding bullet?

More like the speed of light. No, much more than that. Even light traveling at 186,000 miles per second from the nearest star that is not our sun, takes four years to reach the earth.

Think in terms of the speed of thought! But, if we like, we can travel more leisurely by simply flying to our destination. And I’m not talking about supersonic jets.

In addition to instant access from one dimension to another (limited only by our imagination but with a Biblical perspective), it’s evident that our eternal spiritual bodies will at the very minimum possess the following three attributes:

1. Defying Gravity: Beginning with our ascent to meet our Lord in the air at the Rapture. Then descending with him on white horses from heaven to earth to watch in awe as Jesus vanquishes Antichrist, the False Prophet and their massive military in the Valley of Megiddo (Armageddon … Revelation 19).
2. Eclipses Time: No longer restricted by time, as we will never grow old again. Nor be concerned about how much time it takes to get from one end of the earth to the other, or even from one galaxy to another!
3. Transcends Space: From a timeless existence in heaven to a (still) time-locked earth (and back again) at any moment with what will most likely be a mere thought.

And away we go!

To infinity and beyond!

“So encourage each other with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:18).

What are the words referred to by the Apostle Paul? Do you recognize the context of this verse?

If your answer is the resurrection of dead believers in Christ, their transformation into immortal bodies along with those Christians who are still alive; then the “catching up” (Greek word, harpazo) of both living and raised believers to meet the Lord in the air, you would be 100% correct.

Congratulations!

This earth-shaking event is commonly referred to as, The Rapture. The following is an excerpt from the very first Eye of Prophecy article posted (July 2013), entitled, What Is The Rapture? (in italics):

Remember, the word Rapture is not a direct translation of the Greek word, although it is a very close transliteration of the Latin word; rather it is a substitute or alternative or expanded way to describe emotionally or spiritually what is taking place. One of the definitions for rapture found in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary is, “a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things,” and a companion definition is, “an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion.”

Thus, we have a captivating combination of the original Latin and Greek words, which is accurately rendered “caught up” in most English translations of the Bible. These words convey the dynamics of the actual time/space sequence involved in this literal transfiguration of the Christian’s physical body, with the spiritual joy, emotional bliss, and mental delight in what is taking place. Those who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior (both the dead and the living), will experience the highest degree of spiritual and physical euphoria possible, as we will be instantly changed and then transported to heaven, there to be with our Lord and King forever. As the sayings go, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” And, “What a way to go!”

Messiah Jesus was the first to dramatically describe the Rapture: “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken (believer), the other left (unbeliever). Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left” (Matthew 24:40, parenthesis mine).

And, “That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left” (Luke 17:34).

Those verses clearly convey that the Rapture will be a global phenomenon. Reason: Half of the earth will be day; the other half will be night.

The Apostle Paul’s amazing account of the Rapture in I Thessalonians 4 contains the full sequence of the Rapture. Every time I read this priceless passage; I’m as thrilled as the time before. Here it is again:

Later, in I Corinthians 15, Paul explains the tremendous transfiguration of believers into imperishable bodies … equipped to live forever.

Although the extreme makeover of believer’s bodies will take place in a nanosecond, the entire episode of the Rapture will take several minutes. Please refer to Eye of Prophecy articles: The Shout Heard Around the World (posted 4-22-17); also, A Dramatic Enactment of the Rapture! (4-20-19).

Is that, then, why Paul exhorts believers to “encourage each other with these words”?

Answer: Obviously, yes; but also, no (not entirely).

Yes, because the resurrection of believers who have already died and their transfiguration and transportation to heaven along with living believers is one of the two powerful purposes of the Rapture. It is the grand finale of Biblical redemption that began when we believed and received Jesus as our personal Savior. At that moment, we were given eternal life. The Rapture will then usher us into heaven (also the new earth to come)—our home for eternity.

No (not entirely), because there is a significant second reason for the Rapture; one that some Christians have misunderstood, sometimes to the point of discouragement and disagreement.

More Encouraging Words

A few verses later, The Apostle Paul again urges 1^st century believers: “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (I Thessalonians 5:11).

Although the broader perspective of that verse is still that of the Rapture, there is a narrower context which begins with Chapter 5. Paul elaborates on what Jesus had said earlier about the Rapture, both stated and implied: Such as: no one knows the precise day/hour when Jesus will snatch away both living and raised from the dead believers from the earth. And, the Rapture itself will precede the physical return of Messiah Jesus … they are different events. See Eye of Prophecy article, Messiah’s Return & The Rapture (Same or Separate Events?) Published 12-3-16.

Consequently, Scripture cautions believers to be on the highest alert and fully aware of the signs and seasons of the Omega (final) generation.

Both Jesus and Paul use the term, “return” or “the Lord’s return.” However, in their description it is explicitly evident that the Rapture phase of Messiah’s return is different than and separate from his physical return; with each stage an integral part of his Second Coming.

Unfortunately, the question that some believers have incorrectly answered is whether the Rapture will take place shortly (days, weeks, months) before Messiah descends to earth. Or whether it will occur before the seven-year Tribulation begins. These two views are identified in the terms: Pre-Tribulation Rapture or Post-Tribulation Rapture. Abbreviated as Pre-Trib or Post-Trib.

I’ve written about this subject in several articles, the most comprehensive of which is: Will Believers Go Through the Tribulation? Part I & II (posted 6-15 & 6-22-19). Later, we’ll concentrate on a couple of other passages, which were mentioned more in passing in previous articles.

But first, in a brief review of the above referenced articles, let’s return to I Thessalonians Chapter 5; one of the most convincing statements to demonstrate that the Rapture will take place before the onset of the Great Tribulation.

There, we find the second purpose for the Rapture, as well as the reason why the Apostle Paul again tells believers to reassure each other, as we just read in I Thessalonians 5:11. In fact, the cause for encouragement is stated just two verses earlier:

“For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us” (I Thessalonians 5:9).

The saving us (believers in Messiah Jesus) is NOT a direct reference to or in the context of our salvation when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord. That is found in passages such as John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10, and a host of others. Nor does it apply to the general trials, tribulation, and suffering during a believer’s time on this earth spoken of by Jesus, Paul, and Peter—which some Christians confuse with the specific seven-year Tribulation. Thus, claiming that believers will go through the Tribulation.

Rather the clear context of God’s choosing “to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ” is still in the parameters of the Day of the Lord, in which God’s final wrath is meted out globally on those left behind at the Rapture who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and his salvation available only through the true Messiah, Jesus. Instead they will follow the false Messiah. They will be, “…on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them … Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth” (II Thessalonians 2:10 & 12).

That’s precisely what Paul is talking about in I Thessalonians Chapter 5; a direct extension of the Rapture revelation in the last three verses of Chapter 4. He’s telling us that—in addition to the resurrection of the dead in Christ and transfiguration of their bodies—living believers will be also be transfigured AND taken from the earth.

Why? Because God has chosen to save us from the Great Tribulation. God has chosen, not to pour out his anger on us (believers). Rather, that wrath will be directed to a wicked, unbelieving world who will embrace the lies foisted on them by Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet.

As indicated, there are several other passages (covered in detail in a few Eye of Prophecy articles) to convincingly confirm that there is absolutely no way that believers will experience the Great Tribulation. Here, I’m referring to pre-Rapture believers, not those who accept Christ after the Rapture, called Tribulation saints. Even then, many of the plagues described in Revelation will be confined to unbelievers, including most of the seven bowl judgments.

However, this one verse (I Thessalonians 5:9) is more than enough to decisively demonstrate that the Rapture will spare believers from the apocalyptic death and destruction during the inconceivable horror of the Tribulation.

For emphasis, here is the passage again, this time adding verse 10: “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns (Paul is again referring to the Rapture phase of Christ’s return), we can live with him forever. So encourage each other…” (I Thessalonians 5:9-11a, parenthesis mine).

How could this verse be any clearer or more emphatic?

Not just the words of the verse in the context of the Tribulation, but also the common-sense application of it. Certainly, believers could and should encourage each other after Paul’s dynamic disclosure of the Rapture itself, as an enhancement of what Jesus had already said. On the other hand, how could believers possibly be encouraged (again) if they/we must go through the Tribulation?

Webster’s Definition of Encouraging: “giving hope or promise.”

Encouragement: “the act of encouraging; the state of being encouraged; something that encourages.”

Paul isn’t telling the believers to be encouraged despite the Tribulation, i.e. having to experience it.

Instead, he’s telling them to encourage each other because they wouldn’t have to undergo God’s final judgment poured out on a wicked, corrupt world whose left-behind unbelieving inhabitants will follow a man even more perverse than they are. As optimistic as Paul was during his amazing life on this earth and ministry for Messiah Jesus in which he experienced great hardship, he wouldn’t tell his brothers and sisters in Christ to “grin and bear it.” Not in the context of what would be the most terrible time on earth imaginable.

According to the Bible (directly from Jesus and the prophets and apostles) there’s a vast difference between the daily trials and heartaches of life—including varying levels of persecution brought by unbelievers against believers during our lifetime on this earth—and the greatest calamity of all time that will take place during the Tribulation in only seven-years’ time.

Said Jesus:

*Note: The “chosen ones” are God’s chosen people the Jews; time doesn’t permit in this week’s article to document that.

More Evidence of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

In the remainder of this week’s article, we’ll focus on two primary passages in Scripture which I’ve not covered as extensively as other passages in prior articles pertaining to the Rapture and Physical Return of Christ.

First Passage:

“Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.’ And instantly I was in the Spirit…” (Revelation 4:1-2a).

In this remarkable scene, John—the author of Revelation—is instantly transported to heaven from the Isle of Patmos. We’ll see why this is a prototype preview and replica representation of believers taken from the earth during the Rapture. Therefore, why the Rapture must and will take place before the Great Tribulation begins.

Come up here. These are the words of Christ Jesus himself, because it was the same voice that John heard as recorded in Revelation Chapter 1. John had not only heard the voice of Jesus but had seen him in all his resurrection splendor, as well. We know that John was taken to heaven, because Messiah Jesus told him to, “come up here.” In that regard, John was a foreshadow of living believers who will be taken from the earth at the Rapture; thereby, spared from the Tribulation.

Prophetically, John was given the awesome privilege of watching the entire Tribulation unfold before his eyes. Then to record these apocalyptic scenes for all believers.

Although it’s unlikely that raptured believers will witness the seven seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments while we’re in heaven, it’s crystal clear that we will accompany Messiah Jesus upon his final return to earth (Revelation 19:11-21 & Revelation 17:14). But the fact remains that both John (as a prefigure representation) and raptured believers will sit out the Tribulation in heaven. Nowhere in the successive Tribulation scenes of Revelation (Chapters 5 through 19), do we find John personally experiencing any part of God’s solemn and sovereign judgment of the earth. Instead, he is a bystander to and recorder of these cataclysmic events.

NOR DO WE FIND any mention of the church (born-again believers) in Chapters 5 through 18. That fact is intentional, not merely coincidental.

Only the Tribulation saints are identified—those who were left behind at the Rapture but then chose Messiah Jesus over Antichrist (Nero). Not until Chapter 19, when all raptured believers (not including Tribulation saints, for they won’t be raised from being martyred until Chapter 20) will ride to victory with Messiah Jesus. The latter part of Chapter 19 is the final battle of all time, known by virtually the entire world as Armageddon. In this crushing victory Jesus will throw the Antichrist and False Prophet into the Lake of Fire. He will then destroy their entire army, whose military leaders would dare fight against the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Shortly, thereafter, Satan (in bodily form … the dragon) will be cast into and chained in the Abyss for 1,000 years—during the magnificent Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ on earth.

Most believers are familiar, if not well versed, with Jesus’s letters to the seven churches as found in Revelation Chapters 2 and 3. The chronological sequence of these letters in juxtaposition to John’s subsequent and sudden ascent into heaven is unmistakable. They were written to seven existing churches in the 1^st century but are obviously meant for all churches thereafter. Each of the congregations had its own distinct set of conditions (two of them positive and five mostly negative).

However, the main purpose for the Lord’s assessment of and advice to each church was to prepare them for his return. With rewards of eternal significance for listening and obeying; just as he warned all believers in his end-times discourse found in Matthew Chapters 24-25 to be ready for his two-phase return. First the Rapture, then his physical reappearance on earth to complete God’s final judgment (Armageddon). But nowhere in these letters do we find any shred of evidence whatsoever that these churches (even the miserable, apathetic Laodicean church) would be part of or subject to the final wrath of God poured out on a rebellious and unrepentant world.

Instead, there would be discipline (of churches and individual believers) when necessary.

Specifically, to the church at Laodicea, Jesus said: “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference” (Revelation 3:19).

Followed by one of the most loving and compassionate offers Jesus makes to any believer—especially to those who have gone their own way: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelation 3:20).

That verse is often quoted as an invitation for unbelievers to open the door of their heart to Jesus. Although there’s nothing wrong with that extended application, the concise context of Jesus’s invitation is to lukewarm believers who were saying, “I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!” With Jesus’s response: “And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

John was still on the Isle of Patmos when Jesus gave him these seven letters. But the very next scene is that of John being whisked away to heaven. The prototype parallel to all born-again believers is clear-cut. Neither the seven churches of the 1^st Century—when Christ could certainly have returned—nor believers in the centuries to follow (right up to the present time) would need go through the Tribulation. Like our forerunner, John, we will be snatched away, exempt from the terror to come. In the meantime, we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18). And that sometimes includes the Lord’s discipline of believers, when we get bigheaded; or, a little too big for our britches.

In summary: The absence of any reference to individual believers or individual churches during the Tribulation Chapters (Revelation 5 – 18 + 19:11-21), preceded by John’s instant transport to heaven as an observer of (not a participant in) the Great Tribulation, is more validation of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture.

If there was any possibility that John (representing his brothers and sisters in Christ as stated in Revelation 19:10) would experience the Tribulation, then John would have been given his visions of the future on Patmos. Instead, he was removed to heaven in the Spirit. An electrifying experience so real that he might as well have been there bodily. And, although we don’t know for sure, he very well could have been (Paul said the same thing … II Corinthians 12:1-4).

Which, in turn, is a foretaste of the wonderful immortal spiritual bodies that every believer will be given just before being taken to heaven.

Second Passage (Sets of):

Just before the Rapture segment of I Thessalonians 4:15-18, we read: “For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died” (I Thessalonians 4:14).

This is a pivotal verse to further confirm that the Rapture will take place before the Tribulation. But we must combine it with verses in and commentary on Revelation 19 & 20 to explain this additional proof.

First, an observation of the obvious: For believers who have died to be (brought back) with Jesus upon his physical return to earth, they must be raised from the dead. Exactly what Paul proceeds to say in the ensuring verses 15 & 16. But don’t forget that this passage is referring to the Rapture, not the physical return of Christ to earth, as our Lord doesn’t descend to earth during the Rapture. Instead, believers will meet him in the air.

Please see Eye of Prophecy article: Armageddon and Messiah’s Return … An Amazing Sequence of Events (2-3-18) for an in-depth examination of Jesus’s two-part return to earth, near the end of the Tribulation. The first to fight alongside Israel (Jews) in the heroic battle for Jerusalem (Zechariah 12 & 14). The second (final) time: to crush Antichrist and his coalition, which by then will include the Kings of the East (Revelation 16).

This epic battle in the Valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) is vividly described in Revelation 19 (also a few Old Testament passages). With Christ are, “…the armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.” (Revelation 19:14). These are clearly the raised from the dead (plus raptured living believers) identified in I Thessalonians 4. Or, in the form of a question: Who else could they be?

(Jezreel Valley in Israel; also known as Megiddo Valley, in which Har (hill) Megiddo is location, from which the term Armageddon comes)

So, the all-important question: when will they be raised from the dead? In other words, when will the Rapture take place? Before the Tribulation or afterwards?

To further verify a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, let’s look at a sequential event that happens soon after Christ’s magnificent victory at Armageddon. Chronologically, it comes in the next chapter of Revelation, just after Satan is bound for a thousand years.

“Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

Along with a few other passages in Scripture, this verse coupled with believers accompanying Messiah Jesus during his victorious descent from heaven (Revelation 19), presents a serious problem for those who endorse a Post Tribulation Rapture, as opposed to the clear Biblical evidence of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture.

It goes like this: Those who subscribe to the Rapture taking place after the Tribulation must then explain why believers are able to ride with Christ during the final battle of Armageddon, which is still part of the seven-year Tribulation (the final stage); if they haven’t been raised from the dead yet. Because the resurrection taking place in Revelation 20 doesn’t occur until after Armageddon.

In that same vein, to be consistent with a resurrection of the dead for all believers, a Post-Trib position cannot distinguish between Tribulation saints (which Revelation 20 is referring to) and believers both dead and alive before the Tribulation begins. To hold to a Post-Tribulation Rapture, they must concede that all living believers will “enter” the Tribulation and those killed during that time will arise from the dead along with those who died before the Tribulation began. Which further compounds the same problem: How can dead believers return with Christ at Armageddon, if they’re not raised from the dead (via the Rapture) until the Tribulation has ended—which it won’t until Armageddon?

Revelation Chapter 20 is clearly referring only to believers who were killed (beheaded) during the Tribulation … also see Revelation 7:14. Which doesn’t account for all believers throughout history who died before the Tribulation begins. There are believers who will descend with Christ to earth for the final event of the Tribulation (Armageddon). But they couldn’t be the Tribulation saints, because those believers won’t be raised from the dead until after the Tribulation is over. The only possible explanation is that the believers mentioned in Revelation 19:11-21 were already raised from the dead or were living AT THE TIME OF THE RAPTURE.

By default, then, the Rapture must take place before the Tribulation begins.

There’s another problem with a Post-Tribulation Rapture. How can believers participate in the Wedding Feast of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 19:7-9) which also takes place before Armageddon; if, in fact, they are still on the earth … either dead or alive? (Meaning they haven’t been raptured yet according to the Post-Tribulation theory).

When the opposite of that is so evident: The true Church (all believers both dead and living) must be taken (raptured) BEFORE the Tribulation begins in order to celebrate the greatest wedding feast of all time. In preparation for our victorious ride with Christ from heaven to earth as we watch up close and personal his righteous and just war against the forces of evil.

*Note: Immediately after the tribulation saints are raised from the dead, we read: “This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)” (Revelation 20:5, parenthesis in the text).

Then, “Blessed are those who share in the first resurrection…” (Verse 6a, italics for emphasis).

In Revelation 20:11-15, we’re told of the Great White Throne Judgment which is the final judgment of all unbelievers—those who were raised after the Millennial Reign of Christ.

The “first resurrection” is labeled such in contrast to the second resurrection of the dead. The first resurrection combines the Rapture resurrection of dead believers described in I Thessalonians 4 and I Corinthians 15; PLUS, the subsequent resurrection of Tribulation saints at the end of the Tribulation. That is the sharing cited in verse 6. But they are at different times, because the evidence is clear in I Thessalonians 4 that Jesus does not descend to the earth at the actual Rapture. Then the second resurrection is only for unbelievers.

Summary

Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul clearly depict the Rapture as taking place abruptly, without warning. Like Paul’s analogy: “a thief in the night” suddenness. Whereas, all the Tribulation events are prophetically categorized in sequence with a known collective duration of seven-years. Thus, for a Post-Tribulation Rapture conjecture to be accurate, the Rapture would occur shortly after the series of known Tribulation events have run their course.

Question: How could a Rapture at that time be sudden or without warning? It would be fully expected because the Tribulation had ended.

And by that time, why would one person be taken and another close by be left? Left behind for what? Christ has already defeated the armies of the world, arrogantly aligned to wage war against him. Left behind to follow the Antichrist, who “…will use every kind of deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them” (II Thessalonians 2:10)? That’s already taken place throughout and by the end of the Tribulation. Billions have already met their destruction, but pre-Tribulation believers won’t be among them.

If you are a believer in Messiah Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then be totally encouraged that you won’t have to go through the greatest series of catastrophes ever experienced by humanity. You are not destined to experience the wrath of God. He has already promised to save you from that terrible time.

Yes, there will be believers on earth during the Tribulation, but only because they believed and received Christ after the Rapture. Included are 144,000 powerful Jewish witnesses who will lead millions to Jesus. Most of these believers will be killed for their testimony of Jesus.

If you don’t know Messiah Jesus as your personal Savior, now is the time to make that decision.

Not only will you be saved from your sins and live forever in heaven, you will be spared from the Tribulation which could begin any day now, soon after the Rapture. You don’t want to be left behind!

“…Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2).

“For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12).

Things to Ponder

We are living in the last days of the end times. Please see Eye of Prophecy articles: Look Up, Redemption is Near Part I & II (7-11 & 7-18-15), in which I’ve detailed twelve prophetic flashpoints that have been or are being fulfilled in this generation. Here is an excerpt from Part II (in italics):

What is different now from then is that all twelve have synchronized with a frequency and magnitude never seen before. With intensity that really can’t get much more extreme or enhanced than it already is. Together they have formed a combustible concoction ready to spontaneously ignite. The accumulative impact of these flash point prophecies fits precisely with the Lord’s comparison to childbirth, all in a generation’s time.

Here is the list of the twelve in a handy concise format. Check each one to see if they either have been fulfilled or if they have reached or nearly reached their optimum and maximum flash point.

1. Rebirth of Israel as a Sovereign Nation, 1948
2. Recapture of Jerusalem in the June 1967 Six-Day War
3. Jerusalem, a Heavy Burden to the Nations
4. The 3^rd Rebuilt Temple
5. Israel’s Phenomenal Agricultural Accomplishments
6. Modern-Day Alignment of Gog/Magog Nations against Israel
7. National and Ethnic Wars in the 20^th & 21^st Centuries
8. Amazing Increase of Natural Disasters
9. Moral & Spiritual Decline & Intense Persecution of Christians
10. False Messiahs & Prophets
11. Unequaled Increase in Quantity and Speed of Transportation and Information
12. Unprecedented Spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the World

Listen to the Apostle Peter’s warning:

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’

“They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand days is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief…” (II Peter 3:3-10).

“…Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come” (Revelation 4:8).

“Dad, I want to be just like you when I grow up!”

What father wouldn’t want to hear those words from his son? Or from his daughter, “Daddy, I’m going to marry a man just like you.”

Or a mother whose daughter praises her: “I hope I’m as good a Mom as you.” Whose son hugs her and beams, “You’re the best Mom ever.”

Precedents, prototypes, patterns, parallels, models, blueprints, and examples; both positive and negative. We recognize them. We relate to them. We learn from them. We literally and figurately build on them. World views and lifestyles are influenced by them.

How many times have you read, heard, or said: “For example…”?

One of several definitions in Webster’s Dictionary of example: “one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated; a parallel or closely similar case … when serving as a precedent or model.”

Precedent: “an earlier occurrence of something similar; something done or said that may serve as an example … or justify a subsequent act of the same or of an analogous kind.”

“Have you ever seen anything like that. It’s unprecedented.” Or: “They have a perfect marriage.” Or: “This is a pattern you want to follow.” And: “That’s a blueprint for success.”

On the other end of the spectrum: “What a terrible example.”

Even many unbelievers know that the first book of the Bible is called Genesis—the very name of which means beginnings. In it we find the (unprecedented) origin of all things, the epitome of which is life itself. With the embodiment of God’s masterpiece: creation of man and woman, husband and wife. And, ever so sadly, Adam and Eve’s introduction of sin through disobedience to God’s one and only command not to do something. With devastating results, the most tragic of which is death.

It is a model that has been physically reproduced and spiritually replicated in every person because we all are born with a sin nature, molded by our original parents and inherited from them. A paradigm that has produced all the ills of humanity. A pattern that can only be changed by God himself, by making all those who believe and receive His Son, Messiah Jesus, into new creations. A new beginning; a changed heart and life; a permanent right standing with God; a different eternal destiny (heaven).

This new life begins the moment we consciously accept Messiah Jesus as our Savior. Notice the present tense action (italicized for emphasis) in the following verses:

“And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life…” (John 3:36).

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life” (I John 5:11-12, emphasis added).

This new life will one day soon bring about an extreme make-over of our bodies, the astonishing result (completion) of being born again spiritually. Spiritual Bodies! (I Corinthians 15:44).

“…For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies” (I Corinthians 15:52-53).

Christ Jesus came to earth as a human being, born of a Virgin—fully God and fully man. His sacrificial death purchased our salvation by the highest price ever paid. But then: HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD! Death could not defeat him. The grave could not hold him. The gates of hell will not prevail against him nor his redeemed followers.

He was the first to rise with an everlasting body. His is the unprecedented prototype. He is our living model and perfect example of what’s in eternal store for all who have believed and received him as Savior. Which will (begin to) take place at the Rapture.

Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Last week’s article provided direct Scriptural corroboration of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. This week we’ll focus on what might be called indirect proof; nonetheless, evidence just as convincing because it includes Biblical examples and precedents.

Here is an excerpt from the previous post in preparation for this week’s article:

Biblical Precedents, Parallels, Prototypes, & Patterns

Virtually everything that happened during early New Testament times and those that will take place in the end-times of the last days (in which we are living), has an Old Testament forerunner—in terms of both correlation and contrast.

In the Old Testament we read: “Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants his prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Those plans include specific people, places, and events obviously relevant to Old Testament times. But also:

“These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age” (I Corinthians 10:11).

This is God’s way of preparing New Covenant believers, Jew and Gentile alike, to fully grasp the promises that are part and parcel of the New Covenant of Grace. Not the least of which is the Rapture and its two-fold purpose: (A) Resurrection of dead believers followed by their transformation (along with living believers) to our imperishable spiritual bodies equipped to live in heaven forever. (B) Sparing living believers from the Great Tribulation by removing us from the earth.

All of which validate the oft-quoted axiom:

There’s a multitude of Old Testament people, places, events, or things that possess and preview the most prominent and powerful promises of God’s Word the Bible: (1) Individual redemption both spiritually and physically through Israel’s (Jewish) Messiah. (2) National restoration of the Jews to Israel followed by, “And so all Israel will be saved… And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins” (Romans 11:26-27).

Such things as the Old Covenant Tabernacle, then the Temple in which God’s presence dwelt among his people. Giving way to the New Covenant in which the Lord would dwell in the hearts of men and women. Even the furnishings of the Tabernacle were shadow types of the real thing. For example, the Menorah lampstand representing the Messiah.

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life’” (John 8:12).

And the seven Jewish Festivals, four of which have been fulfilled literally by the First Advent of Messiah Jesus beginning with Passover. The remaining three to be fulfilled when he returns, the last of which is Sukkot, the Festival of Shelters. “…Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them” (Revelation 21:3).

The writer of Hebrews compares the Old Covenant with the New: “They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: ‘Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.’

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But when God found fault with the people, he said: ‘The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah’” (Hebrews 8:5-8, the writer then quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Scripture is replete with precedents of something or someone that would be a foreshadow pattern of those things that would take place at the end of the age … The Day of the Lord that would usher in the Kingdom of God on earth.

Such as the parallel pattern of Joseph and his brothers that prophetically portrayed the first coming of Messiah. Were it not for Joseph’s forgiveness of what his brothers did to him, they would not have been saved from famine (starvation).

Jesus proclaimed: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). And, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25).

Or King David’s prototype eternal dynasty bequeathed to him by God; to be triumphantly restored upon the soon-to-be glorious return of his descendant, Jesus of Nazareth; who is also David’s Lord (Psalm 110).

Like Joseph’s brothers and their father Jacob were exempted from the massive seven-year famine (no coincidence that the Great Tribulation is also seven years in length) of their time, there are other Old Testament events to show that believers will be spared from the Great Tribulation to come.

Let’s begin with one that nearly all students of the Bible agree constitutes the most prominent prototype. In fact, it’s referred to it as an Old Testament Rapture.

First Example: Enoch

Both the New American Standard Bible and the New King James Version read as follows: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).

From the New Living Translation (which I quote from most of the time): “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah… Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared because God took him” (Genesis 5:21, 23-24).

I’m fairly certain that one of the reasons the NLT translators/commentators chose disappeared was to match the prevailing premise that the Rapture will take place in “the blink of an eye. With the derivative presumption that believers will suddenly disappear without the left behind unbelievers knowing or seeing what happened.

As detailed in three prior Eye of Prophecy with a magnifying glass scrutiny of I Thessalonians 4 and I Corinthians 15, it’s impossible for the entire sequence of the Rapture to be over in a nanosecond. Only the actual bodily transformation of dead and living believers will take place in the blink of an eye. With the entire episode of the Rapture itself requiring several minutes.

Please see articles: How the Rapture? (Posted 8-24-13); The Shout Heard Around the World (4-2217); A Dramatic Enactment of the Rapture! (4-20-19).

Whether in the more traditional translations of the Bible or the relatively newer (easier to read contemporary language) translations like the NLT, nowhere in this passage is it stated or even implied that Enoch’s departure from the earth was not witnessed by someone. Or that he was alone at the time. Others certainly saw Elijah taken away.

It’s certainly logical and reasonable to conclude that when God took Enoch it happened quickly, perhaps even, “here one second, the next second gone.” But we shouldn’t presume that no one saw him disappear. Those who assume he did are making a retroactive (reverse) analogy that raptured believers will instantaneously vanish based on that assumption. That’s effectively arguing in a circle. It’s using one presupposed feature of Point A (Enoch) to prove all facets of Point B (Rapture of believers) to further prove Point A.

In fact, Enoch as a composite preview prototype of the Rapture breaks down at this point. Why? Because there are none of the Rapture events described in I Thessalonians 4 that fit with Enoch’s example, excepting that he was taken to heaven while still alive.

Which is why the older translations better reflect what took place. “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

How he was taken and whether anyone saw what happened (“He was right beside us. Where did he go?”) is unknown.

If Enoch is, indeed, a foreshadow of raptured believers (and he is but in limited way) there’s only two reasons that God would take him from the earth: (1) For the sake of precedence itself. (2) To spare Enoch from God’s first global judgment of the earth … The Great Flood. As a preview of living believers taken out of harm’s way before God’s 2^nd and final judgment of the earth … The Great Tribulation.

Time/space doesn’t permit presentation of the calculations. But based on life expectancy (up to a thousand years) in the pre-Flood world, Enoch very well could have been alive when Noah’s Flood began. Would he have been spared? Of course, for the same reason Noah was delivered. But that’s not what God wanted us to see and know. He wanted New Testament believers to fully realize and marvel at the awesome privileges we have as his sons and daughters in Christ. Which among a plethora of promises is that of being spared from his final judgment of this wicked world.

Thus, Enoch is the optimum example of the Rapture, in terms of why believers will be taken from the earth and when (Pre-Flood and Pre-Tribulation, respectively).

Second Example: Noah

“When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, ‘Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous…. Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights, until I have wiped from the earth all the living things I have created” (Genesis 7:1 & 4).

Here we have another prototype parallel to the Rapture, but only in terms of preserving Noah from the lethal result of God’s first global judgment. It further establishes that New Testament events (linked to the First & Second Advents of Messiah Jesus) including the Rapture, are at the very least generically rooted in Old Testament paradigms.

As stressed in last week’s Part I article: of paramount importance is that God’s judgment of the earth during the Great Tribulation is ONLY on and against the unsaved. So, it was when Noah’s flood occurred. Consequently, Noah (and by God’s merciful exemption of Noah’s family—for his sons and their wives to repopulate the earth) was spared because of his close relationship with God.

“…By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world (condemned because they didn’t believe God or in God), and he received the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7, parenthesis mine).

This was exactly how and why the Lord declared Abraham righteous (in right standing with God for eternity … Genesis 15:6). Since Messiah Jesus’s death and resurrection, people’s faith must now be placed directly in his substitutionary sacrificial death—paying the penalty of our sins to be made right with God. There’s absolutely no other way (John 14:6; Romans 3:21-26, and many other passages).

Obviously, Noah and his family weren’t taken from the earth (to heaven). But they were taken off the earth (on top of the water that covered the earth)! No matter the nature and extent of their departure, they were spared from God’s global judgment. In that respect, they were examples of believers taken out of harm’s way at the Rapture.

Third Example: Lot

“The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, ‘Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? … Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked… Should not the judge of all the earth do what is right?’” (Genesis 18:22-23 & 25).

“Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation” (Genesis 19:24-25).

This is also one of the most well-known events recorded in the Bible. Beginning with the Lord’s disclosure to Abraham: Sodom (and surrounding cities) were about to be destroyed because, “their sin is so flagrant” (Genesis 18:20).

Then Abraham’s amazing negotiation with the Lord, commencing with his statement of the obvious: the Lord is the righteous judge of all the earth. Surely the righteous wouldn’t be obliterated with the wicked. Abraham began his intersession with a plea for the Lord to spare the cities if 50 righteous people could be found. Six requests later, it was all the way down to 10.

As it turned out, there weren’t even ten. Only 4 escaped this monumental judgment—Lot, his wife, and their two daughters. And as many know, Lot’s wife didn’t make it all the way.

Although the destruction of these wicked cities was regional (as opposed to a global event), it was nonetheless massive … engulfing the plains.

Followed by a few others recorded in Scripture, such as one angel annihilating 185,000 Assyrian soldiers before they could attack Jerusalem … without even one Jewish casualty (II Kings 18 & 19). And who knows how many incidents since the Canon of Scripture was closed with the 66 books of the Bible. For example: I’m convinced that most natural disasters are a direct result of the steady deterioration of and disturbances in the earth; but there are those in which God has directly intervened (caused) to get our attention. We can speculate which ones are which, but we don’t know for sure. However, Tribulation unbelievers will know beyond any doubt when God’s judgements begin.

The dynamics of this ancient yet timeless event is another illustration of God’s perfect justice. Had there been but six more who believed in and trusted the true and living God, all the cities would have been spared. That’s grace and mercy at their divine best. Plus: “…The earnest prayer of a righteous person (in this case Abraham) has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16, parenthesis obviously mine).

However, the sins of the inhabitants of these cities was “so flagrant” it was time for the Lord to intervene. Not only to deal with an out-of-control wickedness so perversely detestable that the men of Sodom intended to rape the two strangers (angels of the Lord no less); but as an object lesson for millennia to come.

Some synonyms for flagrant: blatant, brazen, scandalous, shameless, and glaring. The fact that the population of entire cities had openly committed such vile and reprehensible acts was a contemptuous red line crossing of God’s tolerance.

While preparing for this portion of today’s article, there was something I hadn’t considered before.

As we know, the Lord removed Lot from the pending disaster. Which is another forerunner Rapture-like action on the part of God to spare believers from enormous destruction. Like Noah, Lot and his daughters weren’t taken from the earth; however, the practical result was the same.

But I don’t think Abraham anticipated that Lot would be spared, if the Lord carried out his verdict and sentence. Here’s why:

When Noah pleaded with God to spare these cities, they finally agreed on ten. “…And the Lord replied, ‘Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten’” (Genesis 18:32).

There’s no direct or even indirect indication that Abraham expected his nephew (and family) to be spared from this judgment unless there were a total of ten. If there were ten, then no one would be destroyed. Conversely, it’s evident that Abraham confidently anticipated that there would be at least that many. Thus, he didn’t specifically add to his request that the Lord spare the cities, if there were, for example, five.

Then we read: “Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace” (Genesis 19:27-28).

Surely, Abraham was distraught at what he saw. Not just because the cities had been destroyed, but also because he assumed that Lot had not been spared. Even though Abraham had reminded the Lord that He was the righteous judge who would (should) not condemn the righteous with the wicked, Abraham didn’t know for sure what would happen. For one thing, he knew all too well that his nephew Lot had made a bad choice to live in Sodom in the first place.

In the very next verse: “But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain” (Genesis 19:29).

Since Abraham had not specifically asked that Lot be spared regardless of the outcome, the convincing conclusion is that the Lord listened to Abraham’s heart’s desire (unspoken request) to keep Lot safe. A vivid Old Testament precedent of not only removing him from disaster in Rapture-like manner, but also validated in the New Covenant promise:

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

Fourth Example: Elijah

“When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.’ And Elisha replied, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.’

‘You have asked a difficult thing,’ Elijah replied. ‘If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.’

“As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven” (II Kings 2:9-11).

This stunning scene is another renowned event in Scripture. Elijah and his amazing transfer to heaven while still alive is also a (partial) preview of the Rapture. However, in a different way and for a different purpose.

Elijah was taken to heaven without dying. Which fits with living believers caught up in the Rapture. With, however, one major distinction as covered extensively in my second book, Out of the Abyss, then again in Eye of Prophecy trilogy, The Two Witnesses (Posted in June 2014); and Moses and Elijah vs. The Antichrist and The False Prophet (2-10-18). That variance is Raptured believers will ascend to heaven with our transfigured eternal bodies.

The Lord’s reason for taking Elijah became evident when he and Moses met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. In that riveting scene, we know both prophets are in their original bodies. Why? Because Scripture is crystal clear: Jesus would be the first to rise from the dead in a glorified eternal body. Not until he was transfigured permanently at his resurrection (Mount of Transfiguration was a preview of coming attractions!), would or could Old and New Testaments saints receive their transformed bodies.

*Note: Time/space doesn’t allow today; thus, refer to the above articles for dramatic details and compelling commentary that Moses was revived shortly after he died and was buried by God himself.

The above referenced articles also provide elaborate evidence from Scripture coupled with correlative commentary to demonstrate that Moses and Elijah are the two powerful prophets (witnesses) who will return to the earth a second time during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 11). For 3 ½ years they will perform mighty miracles which will hold Antichrist and his confederation at bay—for a while. During that period, God will make them untouchable.

Yet, when the time comes, the Lord will allow Antichrist to kill both Moses and Elijah. Which is also why we know that they return to earth (a second time) with the same bodies in which they left the earth. If they were in their new eternal bodies, they would have been indestructible.

As we know, they will be raised from the dead after 3 ½ days. That’s when they will be given their resurrected spiritual bodies.

The following is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article: Will All Children Be Taken in the Rapture? (2-23-19). Part of the evidence/rationale presented in that article includes reference to Elijah. As follows:

…Elijah was taken in preparation for his return in his earthly body to Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation, for the express purpose of doing battle (alongside Moses) with the Antichrist and the False Prophet.

However, both Elijah and Moses will be raptured after their spectacular service to God and dramatic defense of Jerusalem. Their sudden transportation to heaven will vividly depict and convincingly demonstrate to the world how and why believers, both dead and alive, were taken earlier from the earth.

The how of their ascent to heaven was in full view of those left behind. The why was to protect them from the Great Tribulation, equivalent to that of Raptured believers a few months earlier. In other words, their resurrected transference (with eternal spiritual bodies) to heaven will be a Post-Rapture reminder (after the fact) of what the left behind unsaved missed.

You may be asking: “How will/could Moses and Elijah be spared from the Great Tribulation; when, in fact, they’re right in the middle of it and they will be killed?”

Good reasonable question.

Answer: During their 3 ½ years in Jerusalem, they suffer no harm, though it won’t be for lack of intent and action on the part of Antichrist and his followers. Instead, Moses and Elijah will, unscathed, demonstrate and dispense God’s awesome power during their appointed time.

“And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire” (Revelation 11:5-6, NASB).

As I’ve written before, the plagues they inflict on a wicked and rebellious world closely resemble some of the judgments in Revelation.

Here is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article, Major Earthquake in Israel … When & Where It Will Strike (posted 11-25-17). In italics:

Revelation Chapter 11 begins with an (interlude) introduction to the two witnesses; however, it also chronologically continues the set of trumpet judgments ending with the 7^th trumpet. Because the two witnesses are killed after 3 ½ years of their time on earth and this occurs between the 6^th and 7^th trumpet judgments, I believe we can determine what part of the Great Tribulation during which they testify.

I would encourage you to read Eye of Prophecy article, Stunning Catastrophes of the Tribulation / Their Timing and Purpose, recently posted on 11-4-17. As explained in that article: Based on the chronological sequence and evidence of all twenty-one judgments (actually twenty plagues as the 5^th seal depicts slain tribulation saints, not a judgment as such) in Revelation, we can accurately estimate the approximate time duration of or gap between the judgments. The projected time between a preceding and successive judgment will be 4-5 months. Because the two witnesses are killed (and come back to life 3 ½ days later) between the 6^th and 7^th trumpet judgments, that would place their time of death at 48-50 months into the tribulation. They would have begun their mission 3 ½ years earlier (42 months) or about 6-8 months after the tribulation begins…

If their 3 ½ years on earth fall within the above period of the Tribulation (which I believe it will approximate), then they, by virtue of being taken to heaven after they arise from the dead, will miss the horrific final eight judgments. That’s as Rapture-like as you can get, considering that they also will not be subject to any of the Revelation plagues while on the earth. Instead, they will themselves dole out some of the punishment!

Killed at the hands of the Antichrist is NOT commensurate with going through the Great Tribulation as such and suffering all the horrors thereof. Rather, their deaths mirror the deaths of the Apostles Paul and Peter as a result of their heroic service for Christ. Ironically, both Paul and Peter were killed by Nero—during his tenure as Caesar before his return from the Abyss as the Antichrist beast.

Things to Ponder

Will Believers Go through the Great Tribulation?

On the authority of Scripture, No. Repeated for emphasis: No way!

In last week’s article we examined several passages to conclusively demonstrate that God’s final judgement of the earth during the seven-year Great Tribulation is directed only against unbelievers.

Consequently, the Rapture will occur BEFORE this great time of anguish takes place. By transporting living believers directly to heaven—after they have been transformed into eternal bodies, along with our brothers and sisters in Christ who have already died.

Believers who will go through the Tribulation are commonly referred to as Tribulation saints. Many (most) of them will be killed by Antichrist Nero. They are not spared from this great time of anguish because they were unbelievers when the Rapture takes place.

Those passages directly declaring that believers will be exempt from the Great Tribulation are affirmed by more indirect evidence, in the form of examples found both before and after the Rapture occurs … as we looked at in this week’s article.

Once again quoting Paul who summarized the Day of the Lord with these stirring and encouraging words written specifically within the context of God’s anger released during the seven-year Tribulation.

“For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us (during the Great Tribulation)” (I Thessalonians 5:9, parenthesis mine).

Necessity as the mother of invention has produced unprecedented technological wonders through the ages, especially in the 19^th, 20^th, & 21^st centuries.

The list is long.

We all have our favorites—unrivaled innovations most of which are followed by immense improvements; not just in the side-benefits thereof, but of advances in the invention itself.

What would be the favorite on your list: electricity, radio, the automobile, the airplane, television, the computer, or the smart phone (sure choice of Millennials!)? I’m sure one invention is on everyone’s list—the Microwave!

My choice is mega-ton ships. Oh, I know and at least partially understand Archimedes principal of water displacement, etc. But come on… huge aircraft carriers or titanic cruise ships (lower case “t” so as not to bring up bad memories of that capital “T” ship) are simply stunning. And submarines … above and below the water!

However, when thinking of things that can change not just the external world, but the significantly more valuable internal dimension of our life’s experiences, let’s briefly consider the most remarkable and unparalleled event of all time.

Prefaced by first remembering King Solomon’s astute observation that: there’s nothing new under the sun. He was referring to the basic stuff of life as he penned in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, including true wisdom and its divine source. Then the pleasures and problems encountered in work, recreation, creativity, wealth or lack thereof, human intimacy, and a host of other pursuits.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).

The essence of which has little or nothing to do with technological achievements and the like. The core of which is meaningless unless we consider Solomon’s final conclusion: “Fear (respect, hold in awe) God and obey his commands (the last and most important of which is expressed through God’s New Covenant with mankind), for this is everyone’s duty” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, parenthesis mine).

Some 300 years later, God announced this New Covenant through Jeremiah, one that was without precedent for Israel.

This astonishing New Covenant would be accomplished by and through Israel’s prophesied Messiah, born of a Virgin (Isaiah 7:14), God’s very Son (Psalm 110). He would die for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53 + a plethora of New Testament passages). In unprecedented fashion (resurrection from the dead), Messiah Jesus would bring about a once and for all right-standing with God that would guarantee resurrection and eternity in heaven for those who believed in Him (Psalm 16, Luke 24, John 11:25-26). Moreover, he would be the only Way to God (John 14:6). When his mission on earth was complete, he would ascend back to heaven (Daniel 7:13-14 & Acts 1).

Finally, Jesus as King of all kings will one day rule the nations in the Kingdom of God on earth upon his return to establish that Kingdom (several passages).

Do you believe that? Then say, “Yes,” to Messiah Jesus. If you do:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ…” (II Corinthians 5:17-18a).

The soon-to-come end-times events that comprise the Day of Lord begin with another first-time occurrence in its scope and nature; but not one without a prototype or pattern. Which is referred to as the Rapture of all those who have believed and received Messiah Jesus as their personal Savior.

Although many believers firmly believe that the Rapture will precede the Great Tribulation, there are more than just a few who maintain there’s no such thing as the Rapture; or it won’t take place until the end of the Great Tribulation. Which implies that the Rapture and the physical return of Messiah Jesus to earth are virtually simultaneous.

Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article, Messiah’s Return & The Rapture (Same Or Separate Events?) Posted 12-3-16.

What is of more concern is their contention that believers must go through the Tribulation.

Consequently, we’re going to examine:

Biblical Evidence to Confirm That Believers Will Not Experience the Great Tribulation

There are two template-like sources in Scripture to demonstrate decisively that the Rapture will occur and when. Not “when” in terms of the time/date (setting). As you may know, Jesus himself said three times that no one knows the day or hour of his return. He was explicitly referring to the Rapture phase of His Second Coming. Thus, we’ll examine when the Rapture will take place in juxtaposition to the Great Tribulation.

Those two sources are:

(1) Actual Biblical Passages: Discussed in this week’s Part I post. They will be separated into two main components:

(A) Passages cited by those who place the Rapture half-way through or at the end of the Great Tribulation; thereby, concluding that believers will experience the Tribulation either partially or in its entirety. Yet, this deduction is derived from a misunderstanding or misapplication of tribulation in the lower-case (general) meaning of the word contrasted to the upper-case Tribulation, which is the one-time series of events taking place in a designated period.

(B) Companion passages stating succinctly that believers will be spared from the Great Tribulation. That God’s wrath during this 7-year calamity will be directed only to unbelievers.

To that end, we’ll focus on not only the text, but the context of these passages; which is critical to understanding the on-going tribulation, trials, and testing of believers. Contrasted to the specified apocalyptic episodes completely unparalleled in human history, in terms of scope and severity—the Great Tribulation.

Then in next week’s Part II article, we’ll scrutinize another significant paradigm of Scripture. Which will present more convincing evidence that the spectacular experience of the Rapture will precede the Tribulation.

With just a brief overview in this week’s article, I’m referring to:

(2) Biblical Precedents, Parallels, Prototypes, & Patterns

Virtually everything that happened during early New Testament times and those that will take place in the end-times of the last days (in which we are living), has an Old Testament forerunner—in terms of both correlation and contrast.

In the Old Testament we read: “Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants his prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Those plans include specific people, places, and events obviously relevant to Old Testament times. But also:

This is God’s way of preparing New Covenant believers, Jew and Gentile alike, to fully grasp the promises that are part and parcel of the New Covenant of Grace. Not the least of which is the Rapture and its two-fold purpose: (A) Resurrection of dead believers followed by their transformation (along with living believers) to our imperishable spiritual bodies equipped to live in heaven forever. (B) Sparing living believers from the Great Tribulation by removing us from the earth.

Biblical Text and Context

The Bible is replete with universal truth of and from God concerning the epic matters of creation, sin and its penalty, salvation only through God’s Son, eternal destiny (heaven or hell) and more. There are several stand-alone precepts in which the context is important and interesting, but not necessarily crucial to the truth announced. Such as the most well-known and oft-quoted verse in the Bible:

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

This powerful life-changing promise could be placed in the framework of virtually any passage of the Bible. That verse and many others like it can be and are reasonably cited independently of the setting or situation, without affecting the essential meaning of the statement whatsoever.

However, of interest and even intrigue about the scene in John Chapter 3, is the fact that a Jewish religious leader, Nicodemus—a member of the elite Jewish Sanhedrin of the 1^st century—came to Jesus to find out for himself who Jesus was/is … especially in light of the miracles Jesus had already performed. As well as the way in which Jesus taught, i.e. with power and authority. Quite unlike any of the religious leaders, including Nicodemus himself.

Jesus knew why Nicodemus was there and that even (especially) a Jewish religious leader needed to realize what and who it was that could permanently reconcile him to God, the result of which would be everlasting life. Thus, the first words out of Jesus’s mouth were: “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

On the other hand, background is of paramount importance for many Biblical truths.

To the extent that if the verse or verses are “taken out of context,” or if the context is simply discarded or misunderstood, it could and sometimes will distort the intended purpose and meaning of the message. Also contributing to this error is failure to correlate any given passage with others on the same subject in order to gain a proper perspective on the matter at hand, i.e. the whole counsel of God. Another error is that of skimming over key modifiers, e.g. adjectives, adverbs, definite vs indefinite articles. In short, simply not scrutinizing the text/context with any degree of diligence.

Thus, let’s look at the text/context regarding Points A & B, listed earlier.

(A) Passages Cited to Infer a Post-Tribulation Rapture vs Pre-Tribulation

There are a couple of prominent passages cited by those who contend that born-again believers will go through the Great Tribulation. We’ll examine them in and with their contextual meaning; followed by other passages (also in context) which irrefutably confirm that believers will not be subject to or physically present when God’s Wrath is poured out on a wicked world during the Great Tribulation.

First Passage: You may want to read the entire 16^th Chapter of John, the setting of which is just a few hours before Jesus’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The final three verses are:

“Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world’” (John 16:31-33, NASB, emphasis added).

The Greek word translated “tribulation” in this passage is: Thlipsis.

Synonyms for tribulation: affliction, distress, trouble, persecution, and anguish. Also, trials and sorrows which are the words used in the New Living Translation of this passage.

Note that Jesus told his disciples, “in the world you have tribulation.” He’s clearly speaking in general terms regarding the troubles that believers in Jesus would experience. This is evident by the present tense dynamics of his words … you have tribulation. Meaning now and continuing throughout their/our life as we follow and serve the Lord. The NLT reads, “you will have tribulation.” Which is saying the same thing, i.e. now and throughout our lives. However, note that there is no definite or even indefinite article or modifying terms. Which, conversely, are attached to and expressly define the Great Tribulation—as we will soon see.

In the immediate context, the tribulation described by the Lord is plainly generic.

This foregone conclusion of generalized tribulation for born-again believers (including suffering and persecution) is prevalent in Paul and Peter’s epistles, and to a lesser extent in the book of James. As Christ suffered, so will his born-again followers. To some degree or another, at one time or another—individually or collectively as the body of Christ—anyone who speaks out or lives for the Lord (even sporadically) will experience some measure of rejection, derision, ostracism, or even hostility.

However, thlipsis also entails all of life’s negative experiences, e.g. distress, trial, sorrow, and just plain ole trouble.

In this passage, Messiah Jesus is NOT referring to the Great Tribulation, which is part of the Day of the Lord and will take place between the Rapture and His Millennial Reign. In fact, Jesus had already told his disciples about that coming great time of anguish and did so in dramatic detail, to include the (Pre-Tribulation) Rapture and his (Post-Tribulation) Second Coming … Matthew Chapters 24-25. We’ll get to that in a moment.

So, too, do several Old Testament prophets warn of that great and glorious (for believers) but terrible Day of the Lord (for unbelievers), particularly those who have and will continue to persecute God’s chosen people, the Jews, during the Great Tribulation.

Such as: “At the time of those events, says the Lord, when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat (which means valley of decision). There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession (Israel), for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land” (Joel 3:1-2, parenthesis mine).

The time of those events leads us to the 2^nd passage sometimes referred to by those who claim that believers must go through the Great Tribulation. Which is found in the 24th & 25th chapters of Matthew, just referenced.

Second Passage (A combination of two passages): In addition to misidentifying the generalized tribulation/trouble that believers face during our time on this earth with the Great Tribulation, another error made by the Mid or Post-Tribulation viewpoint is mistaken identity of the elect.

Said Jesus: “For then there will be a great tribulation (as opposed to general tribulation), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matthew 24:21-22, NASB, emphasis added, parenthesis mine).

If the elect are all believers who enter and experience the Great Tribulation, as proposed by the Post-Tribulation Rapture hypothesis, why would this great time of anguish be cut short just for them? I pose this question in the light of: (1) most of the Tribulation saints (believers in Christ AFTER the Rapture) already have been killed by the Antichrist by the end of the Tribulation … Revelation 7 & 20. (2) For reason #1, if so many of them had already died, the idea of for the sake of the elect is anticlimactic. By and large, it would be too late (for them) when Jesus returns. The massive damage (death) had already been done.

Although I’ve written about this in a few prior articles, time/space in this article doesn’t permit extensive discussion (passages and commentary, much of it from the Old Testament) to demonstrate that “the elect” are God’s chosen people, the Jews. Except to say that when Jesus physically returns to earth, his primary purpose is to rescue Israel and the Jews from annihilation at the hands of Antichrist’s confederation (Daniel 11, Zechariah 12 & 14, and other passages).

After seeing a great crowd of (post-Rapture) Tribulation saints, John was asked, “…Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” Because John didn’t know for sure, he replies, “Sir, you are the one who knows” (Revelation 7:13-14).

If these believers had entered the tribulation (without there being a Rapture yet), he certainly would have known from where they came and why they were there. They would have been born-again believers still in the Church age (body of Christ) alive when the Tribulation began. But John didn’t know, because these saints had been redeemed after the original set of believers in the (our current) Church age were no longer on the earth. It’s a foregone conclusion that John already knew about the Rapture, as it was disclosed not only by Jesus, but by Paul many years earlier. It’s just that neither John nor other believers yet knew—until the book of Revelation was written—that there would be those (post-Rapture) born-again after the Day of the Lord began.

The following is another reason why the Rapture will most assuredly precede the Great Tribulation.

After describing those (birth-pain) Pre-Tribulation events and then the Tribulation itself (explained in much more detail in the final Revelation of Jesus Christ as recorded by John of Revelation), Jesus returns to a description of the days leading to God’s first global judgment of the earth—Noah’s flood. Then he makes a compelling comparison to the unsaved world’s ignorance of and willful oblivion to the 2^nd and final of God’s wrath poured out on the earth.

“In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:38-39).

Then, immediately after conveying the apathetic condition of humanity just before the Day of the Lord begins, Jesus reveals something utterly remarkable:

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left” (Verses 40-41).

In Luke’s Gospel, we read of a third example Jesus presented: “That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left” (Luke 17:34).

Then, of course, the Apostle Paul in I Thessalonians 4 describes the entire sequence of the Rapture.

This sudden and unexpected taking or catching up (Greek term harpazo in I Thessalonians 4) of some on the earth (believers) right in front of unbelievers is in stark contrast to Messiah’s physical return to the earth, preceded in time and space by signs and wonders during the Tribulation. Not the least of which was: “the sign that the Son of Man is coming…” (Matthew 24:30). Unbelievers, as well as surviving Tribulation believers saved after the Rapture, will have plenty of time and indicators—not the least of which is the linear sequence of the seven seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments—prior to the physical return of Christ to earth. With Jesus first stepping foot on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).

Although the physical return of Messiah Jesus to earth will be an awesome event and will stun many, especially the unsaved, it won’t be sudden in the sense of being totally unexpected.

Not so, the Rapture. It will dramatically catch everyone off guard (believers included, but in a good and joyful way).

*Note: When Jesus spoke of his “return”, he was referring to the composite scope and entire length of the Day of the Lord, that begins with one person taken, the other left … the Rapture. Then the agonizing time of anguish (tribulation) to follow. Mercifully ending with his glorious physical return to establish the incomparable Kingdom of God on earth. However, Jesus mixed these stages of his return together, as his greater emphasis was “get ready.”

These three phases are then expounded sequentially by the Apostle Paul and by John of Revelation. Thus, Jesus’s sweeping disclosure of these stunning events is better understood in the context of Paul’s and John’s exposition (I & II Thessalonians and Revelation, respectively). Which, in turn, helps to identify which of the three phases Jesus is describing in the Olivet Discourse.

(B) Direct Text/Context Confirmation of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

The Apostle Paul’s first letter (epistle) to believers is found in the book Galatians. Shortly thereafter (A.D. 51-52), he wrote I & II Thessalonians; both books speak of the suffering and persecution that believers in Christ were already undergoing throughout the Roman Empire.

At that time, the persecutors were almost exclusively the religious Jews. In fact, Paul himself had been a devout Pharisee who tormented Christians, imprisoning many and even participated in killing them. That is, until he had a life-changing, destiny-altering encounter with the risen Jesus (Acts 9). Gentile persecution began several years later with the brutal murder of thousands of Christians at the hand of Nero Caesar.

James was the first to remind his brothers and sisters in Christ that they would undergo testing, trials, and suffering. In effect, James was echoing Jesus’s words that we looked at earlier … in the world you have tribulation.

Wrote James: “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return… You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near…. For examples of patience in suffering … look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” (James 5:7-8 & 10).

Next, Paul, then Peter wrote extensively about persecution that they and other believers were experiencing and would continue to endure. All three men addressed this fact in the context of their eager expectation that Jesus would return very soon—in their lifetime.

However, the Apostles Paul and Peter made it crystal clear that believers alive just before God’s final wrath was poured out on the world would not have to go through that terrible time of terror. This in keeping with Jesus’s startling revelation to his disciples (Peter was obviously present during that discourse), that believers would be taken out of harm’s way.

For it was this great time of anguish that Jesus was warning about, as well as the world’s indifference when it struck. In other words: if believers were meant to go through the Tribulation, then there would be no reason for them to be abruptly removed from the earth, let alone for Jesus to reveal that fantastic fact.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered!

The Apostle Paul writes:

What a magnificent promise! One made in the past tense with a future tense application, which indisputably demonstrates that believers had already (the moment they were born again) been spared from the coming judgment before it even occurred. It was a done deal! Believers had not only been saved from the penalty of their sins (eternal separation from God) in advance. So, too, had they been delivered in advance from the coming Great Tribulation.

Furthermore, this “coming judgment” is clearly referring to and in the immediate context of the seven-year Great Tribulation followed by the Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus.

It is NOT referring to the Great White Throne Judgment which takes place soon after the Millennium. For one thing, that applies only to the raised-from-the-dead unbelievers and their final sentence (doom) to the Lake of Fire because they refused to believe and receive God’s Son as the only source of their salvation. (Revelation 20:11-15).

After Paul discloses the sequential details of the Rapture itself in I Thessalonians 4, which is an elaboration on what Jesus had already revealed, he expounds even more on the return of Messiah Jesus in Chapter 5. It’s vitally important to grasp that he’s still talking about the Day of the Lord, having already announced the resurrection of dead believers, transfiguration of both dead and living believers into our eternal indestructible bodies, and being caught up to heaven.

Then Paul writes: “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectantly, like a thief in the night (referring pointblank to the Rapture that he had just revealed). When people are saying, ‘Everything is peaceful and secure,’ then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape” (I Thessalonians 5:2-3, parenthesis mine).

The people referred to by Paul are obviously unbelievers who will be totally unprepared, both physically and spiritually for the Rapture. Then Paul puts the contextual finishing touches on the entire sequence of events by making this astounding statement of security for believers in Christ:

“For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever” (Verses 9-10, emphasis added).

God’s anger referenced by Paul unmistakably pertains to God’s final wrath poured out on the world as also prophesied by several Old Testament prophets.

Then again in II Thessalonians, Paul decisively declares by default deduction that God’s (Tribulation-time) judgment applies only to unbelievers. Why? Because Jesus takes believers home to heaven.

“And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven…” (II Thessalonians 1:7a). This “rest” is in the immediate context of the Day of the Lord theme that dominates the last two chapters of I Thessalonians and the first two chapters of II Thessalonians.

It would be the Rapture that would provide rest for them (generation of believers alive) when God’s 2^nd and final global judgment of the earth commenced. The word rest also includes the idea of rescue, security, and safety.

Of course, they didn’t know for sure, but Paul and believers in the 1^st century eagerly expected that Jesus would return in their time. This rest would be from their present-day sufferings for Christ plus out-of-harm’s-way rescue from the Great Tribulation. A seven-year period (Daniel 9) that would begin when the Antichrist beast (man of lawlessness) would return from the Abyss (Revelation 17:7-8). Which believers weren’t aware of until later, when John saw incredibly detailed visions of the Day of the Lord.

Continuing in the passage: “…He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power” (II Thessalonians 1:7b-9).

The “flaming fire … judgment” is a direct allusion to the Tribulation judgments of God, which are graphically depicted in Revelation. The eternal destruction is a reference to the final fate of unbelievers in the Lake of Fire.

Of paramount importance: God’s anger that will be unleashed on a corrupt and violent world is a specific time-dedicated series of events relayed as a prophesy. As opposed to generic tribulation (troubles) that believers were already experiencing. AND, as Paul explicitly specifies: this final judgment would be only on the unsaved … not believers. God’s way of totally protecting believers from his global wrath is to remove us from the earth. And while he’s at it, the dead in Christ are resurrected and both dead and living believers are transfigured into our spiritual bodies!

As is said: It doesn’t get any better than that!

Will there be believers during the Tribulation? Of course. However, that fact was not revealed until John wrote the book of Revelation. Neither Paul nor any of the Christians (including John the author of Revelation, until the angel told him) knew that would be the case. Which also confirms that the Rapture would take place before the Tribulation began.

One more passage to cement the unmistakable Biblical evidence that pre-Tribulation believers will be taken out of harm’s way, as God’s judgments are directed only at unbelievers.

This time from the Apostle Peter: “And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire (instead of a flood as with God’s first global punishment). They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed” (II Peter 3:7, parenthesis mine; italics to emphasize that the day of God’s final wrath is only for/against the unsaved).

Summary

Think about it once more: It would make no sense for the Rapture to be one and the same as Messiah’s physical return to the earth as some speculate. What purpose would it serve for the Lord to abruptly take believers home to heaven after they had gone through (the survivors) the horrific Tribulation? The entire reason for Jesus and Paul to remind believers (encourage them because they would be taken out of harm’s way) and warn unbelievers (to take heed and accept Jesus as their personal Savior) is to prepare for the coming judgment.

Summarized in the words of the song, “People get ready, Jesus is coming, to take from the earth his own.”

Here is an excerpt from the Eye of Prophecy article, Messiah’s Return & The Rapture … Same or Separate Events? (in italics):

Although the Biblical evidence is conclusive, we can also rely on the common sense of it all. Or in reverse, the nonsensical notion of being caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds/air, only to immediately go back down to the earth with the Lord to dispense the final wrath of the Lamb at the final battle of Armageddon.

All phases of the Second Coming of Christ will take place in real time and space (place), not virtual time or reality. Among other things, how is it possible for the wedding feast with our Savior to take place before we return with Christ at the final battle of Armageddon, if we’re caught up to heaven at the same time Christ is coming down to the earth? Revelation is crystal clear that believers will celebrate the wedding feast with Messiah BEFORE Jesus returns to do battle at Armageddon.

Believers will not meet Christ going (up) and coming (down) all at once. That makes no sense at all. That would be like an elevator full of employees going up to meet their boss with the unmistakable understanding that he is waiting for them in the Penthouse Suite having prepared a great Christmas party for them. Only for the boss to change his mind after they arrive, and then take the elevator back down with all the guests, to first “take care of business” below.

Praise and thanks to God … born again believers will sit out the tribulation! There will be seven years between our elevator rides!

Things to Ponder

In addition to misapplying Biblical passages that describe the general suffering and/or persecution of believers during their life on earth to the Great Tribulation, I’ve also heard and read such things as:

“Why shouldn’t Christians go through the Tribulation? We’re not better than non-believers, just different.”

I totally agree with the second part of that statement. Believers are not innately or intrinsically better than unbelievers, for God loves everyone the same.

But we are (far) better off, by virtue of our irrevocable adoption as God’s children with an unprecedented inheritance that Christ will share with all believers. With spectacular promises such as eternal life, resurrection of the dead in Christ, along with living believers at the Rapture to be transformed into eternal spiritual bodies. And that most assuredly includes being spared from God’s 2^nd and final global judgment.

“And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation” (Romans 5:9).

From the whole counsel of Scripture, we know that God’s condemnation entails two distinct events and times: (1) Wrath of God during the Tribulation; (2) Sentencing of unbelievers to the Lake of Fire at the beginning of Eternity.

“We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:15-18).

There would be no encouragement whatsoever if believers in what we call the Church Age of Grace were required to go through the Tribulation. Instead, the comfort comes from knowing that we will be sovereignly spared from the greatest time of calamity ever experienced by humanity.

Great is our God and His Messiah, and greatly to be praised!

It could be the proverbial understatement to say that this week’s Eye of Prophecy article is different.

But then we are in the last days of the end times, when many things are going to be different, supernaturally so. Not the least of which is an extraordinary event to prepare for the triumphant physical return of Messiah Jesus to establish the glorious Kingdom of God on earth.

That trigger point is none other than the Rapture. Followed by seven years of unmitigated deceit, destruction, and death before Jesus steps in and puts an end to the violence, injustice, and corruption of this wicked world we live in.

Today’s post is not a docudrama, as those are reserved for events which have already occurred.

Rather, it will be in the form of Seven-Act Play (the scenes are short); to reasonably represent and dramatically depict what could and probably will occur during the Rapture.

It is based primarily on a previous article, which provides Scriptural documentation and correlation accompanied with commentary to support a rational premise: The entire sequence of the Rapture will take several minutes; only the bodily transfiguration of raised from the dead believers and believers still alive will be instantaneous.

If you like, grab a soda or whatever and plop a bag of popcorn in the microwave.

Open your mind and heart; picture what’s happening; fill in your own details if you like; and stretch your imagination to accommodate the reality of what’s going to take place in what I’m convinced is the near-future.

ACT ONE

Netanya, Israel (7:00 PM)

For the Israeli family of four, their Passover Seder meal was nearly over. Eitan Shaked looked admirably at his wife Esther and grinned at their 14-year old daughter, Netanya, whom they had named after their beloved town. Eitan then directed a smile to his 12-year old son, Naphtali, named after the tribe, that was Eitan’s and Esther’s favorite—for a reason they hadn’t fully grasped. They just liked the name … Naphtali. And they wanted their son’s name to begin with the same letter as their daughter’s name.

He picked up the fourth small cup of wine and motioned for his wife and children to do the same with theirs.

For nearly all Jews, whether religious or secular or in between—Passover was the epitome of all that was Jewish. It was the High Holy Day that seamlessly blended fun and somberness. Singing Dayenu; asking and answering the five questions; the children searching for the hidden afikomen … generated smiles and laughter. Reading of the Torah and partaking of the four cups solemnly reminded them of their ancient heritage, brought vividly to life with the amazing return of the Jews to their Promised Land and miraculous rebirth of Israel as a sovereign nation.

But this and the past two Seders were remarkably different. Eitan and his family celebrated Passover with an enthusiasm and meaning that exceeded the traditional Seder. Three years earlier … father, mother, daughter, and son: all had believed in and received Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah on the same day and place—the Messianic Congregation of Beit Mashiach (House of Messiah) in Netanya, Israel.

As he held the cup of wine, Eitan’s departed friend, Benjamin, flashed before his eyes. A year before he died in a car accident, Benjamin had persuaded the entire family to attend just one meeting at Beit Mashiach. That’s all it took. Like many other Israelis, both Eitan and Esther had longed for Messiah to appear, to bring final redemption to Israel—though they knew little of what that redemption would be or how it would be accomplished.

On that fateful Shabbat service, the pastor of Beit Mashiach had delivered a message like nothing the Shaked family had ever heard. A message of love, hope, and redemption purchased by the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus—the very Messiah who they and most Jews assumed hadn’t yet arrived. The same Messiah who would return to take all those who had believed and received him as Lord and Savior—Jew and Gentile alike—home to heaven.

Their Passover celebration now included Messiah Jesus, Son of God. The Passover Lamb whose precious blood shed at the cross meant that God had forgiven all their sins and they would not have to experience God’s final judgment on humanity. They had already been pardoned and passed over. All they had to do was believe in Jesus and what he did for them.

Earlier Esther had read aloud Exodus 6:6-7. As they each held the fourth cup of wine, Eitan reminded them of the significance of each cup, but as Jews who had found the very essence of their Jewishness in Messiah himself. They were God’s promises to his people symbolized by the four cups of wine, expanded to a Messianic message: I will bring you out (of being part of the world system); I will deliver you (from the bondage of sin); I will redeem you (with a great price to purchase pardon from the penalty of sin); I will take you (to be with me in heaven and to spare you from the final wrath of God).

And then it happened.

As they began to sip their fourth cup of wine, the sound of a Shofar shook the entire house. But it was a gentle shaking, more like vibrations reverberating through every piece of furniture. They could even feel the resonance in their hands and arms, as the wine in their cups quivered from the majestic call.

It was the loudest sound they had ever heard. Yet, it was inexplicably soft enough not to traumatize. Eitan instantly knew that it came from high above and far beyond their house, their town, and Israel itself. The dropped jaws and wide eyes of Esther and the children silently echoed their agreement. This was no ordinary Shofar.

“Abba!” Netanya exclaimed. “What is that?”

They put down their cups.

“Exactly, what you think it is,” Eitan answered. “It couldn’t be anything else. Esther, Netanya, Naphtali; the time has come for Messiah to take us home.”

“I’m a little scared,” Naphtali whispered.

“It’s okay my boy,” Esther said. “Just trust Jesus. This is going to be more wonderful than we can imagine. I wonder how long it will take?”

They listened intently as the Shofar blast subsided. Soon, another began … different from the first.

“Quick, let’s get in the car and drive to the cemetery,” Eitan said. “If I’m right, there will be two more Shofars after this one. The cemetery is five minutes away. We should have time.”

“Time for what?” Esther asked.

“Time to see Benjamin coming out of his grave.”

On the way, Eitan hurriedly told them about an internet article he had read not long ago, though he couldn’t recall the name of the website. But he remembered the title: The Shout Heard Around the World.

“If that article is correct, then we could have up to fourteen minutes or even longer” said Eitan. “Of course, the author didn’t know for sure and said so. But he presented some compelling evidence from Scripture that the whole sequence of the Rapture is much longer than the split-second change of our bodies that’s going to happen any minute now.”

During their frenzied trip to the cemetery that took less than four minutes, they saw what seemed to be the entire population of Netanya spilling out of their homes; looking up, shielding their eyes from the blazing light in the east that made the western sunset seem pitch black. They had just stepped out of the car when another blast of the Shofar softly shook the ground on which they stood.

Eitan looked at his watch. 7:09 PM.

ACT TWO

New York City (12:00 PM) – 7 hours behind Israeli time

Nancy and her co-worker friend Susan slid out of their office chairs in one of New York’s largest banks. It was time for the best lunch of the week, as it was TGIF. Nancy was in a hurry; Susan strained to keep pace.

When the sound exploded, both sank back into their chairs. In disbelief at what she was hearing, Nancy scanned the entire office floor. Everyone had the same dazed expression that she was certain had enveloped her face. No one spoke, as they listened to what seemed like a dozen orchestras each with a hundred trumpets echoing one symphonic sound.

As the massive trumpet sound ended gradually, Susan spoke first. It was an utterance of sheer delight.

“Lord, it’s really happening!”

Only one person responded before the second blast began. From across the floor, a woman who disliked Susan’s occasional break-room talk about her faith in Christ yelled sarcastically, “Oh my God, what IS happening?”

Susan didn’t reply.

Though it was difficult to talk or even think above the second blast, Nancy remembered the two times that Susan had personally told her about Jesus. That he alone can save people from their sin; and the second conversation—he would be coming soon in the Rapture. Something about trumpets sounding.

Nancy whispered in Susan’s ear: “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

“Yes,” Susan said with unbridled enthusiasm. “Jesus is coming for me … for all who believe in him. It’s going to happen any second now.”

Nancy shook her head. “It’s just too unbelievable.”

Susan peered intently but compassionately at her. “Nancy, Jesus loves you. He wants you to be with him, too. You need to get saved right now.”

As if cued by a maestro, everyone around them began to pour out of their second-floor office, many using the stairs; the elevators were already in overflow capacity. It wasn’t just the sound that was so close it seemed to penetrate their bodies, a surround-a-sound emanating from what was clearly a vast distance yet permeating the atmosphere around them; it was the brilliant light pouring through the eastside windows. That and hundreds of people already spilling out of nearby buildings onto sidewalks and streets.

Nancy assumed that millions of other New Yorkers had hurried outside from office buildings, homes, schools, restaurants, stores, buses, and cars, and when they could … from subways. Some eagerly, like Susan. Most with trepidation, like herself.

Nancy quickly surveyed the scene. Half of the people were silent as they listened to the third incredible blast. The other half were on their phones with family or friends in New York, in other cities and states and countries.

“Can you hear it there in Houston?”

“Yes, I can see the light, too.”

ACT THREE

Sydney, Australia (2:00 AM) – 7 hours ahead of Israeli time

Peggy’s deep sleep was no match for the blast of the Shofar.

Now twenty-eight, she had accepted Jesus as her Savior at the tender age of nine. But only for the past four years had she really begun to grow in her faith and walk with the Lord.

Married at nineteen, Peggy’s husband was kind, somewhat loving and respectful, but not when it came to her relationship with Christ. He detested anything Biblical and, except for her, could barely tolerate Jews and Christians. He had flatly refused to attend church with her; just a month ago he had ordered her never to “preach to me again.”

Out of curiosity Peggy had attended a Jewish Messianic synagogue not far from her home. She was developing a passion for Israel and Biblical end-times prophecies concerning the return of the Jews and restoration of Israel in God’s providential plan for humanity. Though she was Gentile, one Jewish couple with four children befriended her when she had, without being asked, told them she couldn’t have children. Three times they had invited her to dinner, during days when her husband was on 24-hour duty at the local fire station.

The Jewish husband was skilled with the Shofar and was always eager to blow it for family and guests. Jolted from her sleep, Peggy immediately knew that the powerful blast was from a Shofar. Her husband used ear plugs; he couldn’t stand any noise whatsoever during the sometimes day-hours when he slept.

Stunned again by the second blast of the ubiquitous Shofar, she was still skeptical that this was the Rapture. She arose and sat on the edge of the bed. Though she had heard a few messages and read I Thessalonians 4 and I Corinthians 15 several times, she couldn’t imagine that it would happen like this. She assumed or at least wanted to be in church when the time came.

And, along with nearly all believers, she thought the whole thing would be over in a nanosecond.

Her husband stirred but was otherwise oblivious to the steady staccato of the Shofar. How could he not hear it?

Their bedroom was on the west side of the house. Absorbed in the second sounding of the Shofar, Peggy hadn’t noticed the soft but intense glow that had enveloped the bedroom. She sprinted to the living room, pushed aside the curtains, and stumbled back in wonder at the brilliant light that had dissolved the darkness of the eastern sky.

She lifted her hands to the heavens and yelled jubilantly, “Lord, this is it, isn’t it!”

She ran back to the bedroom and shook her husband violently.

“Jason, get up … now! You need to ask Jesus to save you. There’s no time to lose.”

Grumbling, Jason pulled out the ear plugs; however, the second blast had ended. “What’s the matter with you? Are you crazy?”

Barely able to contain her excitement, Peggy realized that she needed to calm down. He had seen enough hysterical people in his fire rescue efforts but didn’t appreciate panic for no reason.

“Listen to me. Any second now I’m going up to heaven with Christians all over the world. I told you about the Rapture once before. It’s happening right now.”

“It’s a lie,” he retorted. “You’re just resorting to this insane tactic in order…”

At that instant, the third blast of the Shofar split the atmosphere and reverberated throughout the house.

“Come, look.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the living room. “Is the sound of the trumpet and that light a lie? You know you’ve never heard or seen anything like that in your life.”

Jason’s expression turned from a furrowed frown to a dropped jaw. Peggy could clearly see that the awe-inspiring resonance of the Shofar and the brilliant eastern sky belied all that was reasonable to him. He faced her and their eyes met. Doubt quickly returned to his face.

“There’s got to be a logical explanation,” he muttered.

“Please, Jason, can’t you for once in your life believe what the Bible says. It’s happening right in front of your ears and eyes.”

“I don’t know…”

Peggy was beside herself at Jason’s stubbornness, but she gathered her thoughts and interrupted him: “I love you, and so does Jesus. I’m going outside. Do you want to come with and watch me go up to heaven? Or would you prefer we stay here, and you can watch me disappear through the ceiling?”

She didn’t wait for his answer. He followed her. People were already standing outside their houses with heads lifted.

INTERLUDE

Complements of smart phones, laptops, iPads, 24-hour T.V. News stations, and short-wave radio, nearly the entire world knew in a few minutes that this was a global event.

Pilots radioing control towers: “We’re turning around. Find a runway for us to land.”

More than one Christian air controller replied: “Captain, are you or your co-pilot a believer in Christ?”

Loved ones calling and being called: “Can you believe what’s happening!” Or, “I should have listened to you.”

“Is this the end?”

Some answered: “No, it’s the Rapture … the beginning of the end!”

Media sources sent mixed messages.

“Please stay inside. Don’t make the crowds any bigger. Whatever this is; even if it’s the so-called Rapture, it will be over soon. How bad can it be? Things will only get better for those of us who remain.”

With a few broadcasts programmed to continue their caption in case the entire staff was taken:

“It is the Rapture! CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD AND YOU WILL BE SAVED. If you are left behind, then: Call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved. Though not from the Great Tribulation to come.”

ACT FOUR

Netanya, Israel (7:10 PM)

Eitan Shaked nestled close to his wife. He held the hand of their son, Naphtali. Esther grasped Netanya’s arm. As they stood at Benjamin’s gravesite, Eitan counted five other believers from his congregation who evidently had the same idea as him. They, too, were standing near graves of family or friends. They waved to each other with shouts of, “Yes!”

The Shofar sounded again. If there was any doubt that the first three were global, this fourth blast was surely being carried on every sound wave existing in and above the earth’s atmosphere. Millions of megaphones and loud speakers couldn’t have produced a sound so strong, so pure, so universal; yet so moderate as to not burst ear drums.

He immediately recognized it as the fourth and final of the Jewish Shofar sequence that had been handed down through tradition by and to the Jews for centuries. But now it was for all believers in Messiah, Jew and Gentile alike.

Though it was difficult to speak and hear, Esther asked, “Will this be the final Shofar?”

“Yes, I’m sure it will,” Eitan said. “It’s almost time.”

He had just finished speaking when they heard the voice from above, “Children of the most High God; the appointed time has come.”

“I’m pretty sure that was the voice of the archangel,” Eitan said.

Eitan glanced at his watch again. He was about to tell Esther how much time had elapsed from the first blast, when the fourth Shofar stopped suddenly, not gradually like the others. Within seconds, the expected, but nonetheless stunning scene unfolded. Benjamin’s grave exploded as did a few others in the cemetery.

“Mom, Dad, look!” Netanya yelled.

They watched in total awe as Benjamin’s remains were lifted from his grave by an unseen hand. Then, ten, maybe fifteen seconds later, his skeletal form was radically changed. Too fast for Eitan or anyone else to see how. They only saw the results.

Benjamin stood on the ground and looked directly at them, then at his body.

He was enshrouded in white clothing they had never seen before or knew existed. If it was a robe, it seemed almost transparent, as if it was part of his form. His entire body and face were indescribably perfect. As though he had just been born that way without the imperfections that develop with age.

Immediately, Eitan realized this was the spiritual body spoken of by the Apostle Paul. It was as though Benjamin’s spirit was on the outside enveloping his flawless features, instead of the unseen spirit on the inside of a natural blemished body. The two, body and spirit were one. Beautifully blended one with the other. Both visible, yet indivisible.

Eitan knew that the same thing was happening to resurrected believers the world over. For those who had been cremated, the Lord was raising their ashes, bringing them together with the same supernatural force that rolled away the stone at Jesus’s tomb. With the same instantaneous transformation as the decomposing and skeleton bodies. So, too, the remains of those buried at sea.

“Benjamin, it’s you. You’re much better than…” Eitan couldn’t finish.

He felt a burst of energy that seemed to come from inside out but also outside in. It was over before he saw anything else. His wife Esther had been an attractive woman. It wasn’t just in his beholding eye; others had told him the same thing. There she stood next to him more beautiful than she had ever been. An appearance that wasn’t sexual at all; rather a supernatural loveliness that transcended anything natural. An ageless beauty that was immortal.

So, too, Netanya and Naphtali. Changed dramatically, but just as dramatically the same person … each one of them.

“Look at you!” Benjamin pointed to Eitan.

“Look at you!” Eitan trumpeted in return.

“Look at our kids,” Esther exclaimed. “Same age, but older. How can that be!”

“Hallelujah,” Eitan roared.

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised,” Esther shouted.

In unison, Netanya and Naphtali said, “We love you Jesus.”

Which as it turned out was right on cue. The next voice thundered from above, from everywhere.

“COME UP HERE!”

“That was Jesus himself,” Eitan shouted. His watch was gone, but he estimated that from the first shofar had been maybe fourteen or fifteen minutes.

Immediately the raised dead and those still alive and transformed began to rise in the air … exactly how, they didn’t know. By whom, they knew for sure. It wasn’t a fast ascent like a kite, nor was it slow like a hot air balloon. There was time for ecstasy to look around at other believers within sight rising simultaneously. And for a passing moment, a time of sadness when looking down at the many who were staring into the sky.

ACT FIVE

New York City (2:10 PM)

Nancy’s arm locked with Susan’s as they stood on the New York sidewalk adjacent to their office building. When the fourth Shofar split the heavens, the general silence of the crowd—prevalent at the beginning of the Shofars—had fully erupted into a pendulum-swinging cacophony of murmuring and exclamations, of anger and jubilation, of fear and confidence, of perplexity and certainty.

Though scared, Nancy mustered as much poise as she could: “Susan, I know practically nothing about it; but is this really the Rapture?”

“Yes, Nancy. I already told you that. Each second that you question what’s happening may be one second too long. Please, join me and my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s go to heaven together.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that,” Susan answered. You know John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.’ Put your name in place of whosoever. Ask Jesus to be your Savior but do it now.”

Nancy paused as she heard someone telling someone else the same thing just a few feet away. “I want to Susan, but how can I leave my husband and daughter?”

“You told me once, but I forgot,” Susan said. “How old is your daughter?”

“Six.”

“Then, she, too, will be going to heaven in a moment.”

“Oh, Susan, I want to believe you, but…”

“Don’t believe me,” Susan said sharply. “Believe God and believe what’s happening in front of you. Listen, what do you hear?”

“Only people talking,” Nancy said.

“Exactly … the trumpet stopped blowing over a minute ago. And apparently you didn’t hear the voice of the archangel. Please, Nancy, right now…”

Susan abruptly stopped talking. Nancy looked on in disbelief. She thought she felt a field of energy surround Susan. One thing was all too evident. Susan had changed inexpressibly. Her face beamed. Her body seemed almost to glow. Her features were recognizable but stunningly different—in a picture-perfect sort of way. Nancy never saw the transformation; it was much too fast.

Susan’s look was that of love and joy. “I’m so happy!”

“I can see why,” Nancy said as she choked back a tear. “You look heavenly.”

“Why didn’t you listen to me?”

Susan suddenly looked up again at the sound of a thunderous voice that gave a whole new meaning to majestic. So did Nancy and thousands of others around them still shocked at everything that was happening.

“Nancy, that was Jesus. He said, ‘Come up here!’”

“I couldn’t make out the words,” Nancy groaned.

Susan began to rise in the air as though by an invisible elevator, only slower. Still within earshot, she called out, “Bye Nancy. Remember, Jesus loves you. Turn to him, soon … very soon.”

Her voice melted into the sky, as did Susan herself.

Nancy watched spellbound but also with anguish as hundreds of people joined Susan in the air.

She fell to the ground and burst into tears.

ACT SIX

Sydney, Australia (2:10 AM)

The night was almost as bright as day.

Peggy scanned the faces of their neighbors, as did Jason. There were looks of bewilderment. But she could see terror engraved on most faces as the fourth Shofar shattered the sound waves.

“How is this possible?” Jason said. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say the whole world could hear it.”

“They can,” she said. “With God anything is possible.”

“How long is this is going to last?”

“I’m surprised it’s taken this long,” she replied.

“What’s next?” Jason asked, as though he acknowledged that she really did understand what was happening and why.

“I already told you. Jesus is going to take me and everyone who believes in him to our home in heaven. He promised he would 2,000 years ago. He is going to spare believers from the horrible tribulation to come.”

“Okay, but…”

“Stop it, Jason. There’s no time to argue or even discuss it. You’ve got to decide right now, right here. Do you want to go with me or not?”

“Of course, I want to be with you, but why can’t I go to heaven later, after I die? I still have my life to live.”

“Jason, even if you live through it, your life is going to be a living hell for the next seven years. And, if you keep saying no to Jesus; after that, hell itself. Please…”

The Shofar had stopped blowing a short time earlier, but Peggy still didn’t finish her sentence.

“What’s the matter?”

“Did you hear the voice?” she asked wide-eyed.

“What voice?”

“I’m sure it was one of God’s angels. He told us believers to get ready.”

“So, this is it?” Jason said … part sarcasm, part serious.

She quickly hugged him, kissed him, and stepped back. “Please, Jason, with all your heart just say ‘Yes,’ to Jesus right now.”

“I can’t… If this really happens, I’ll take my chance with the others. You told me once before there will be many more left behind than not.” He shifted his stance and partially turned his back to her. She sensed that he wanted to say more but couldn’t face her.

“I do love you, but I…” He turned around but he couldn’t finish the words. His jaw dropped. She was not the same woman, yet she was. Quantum light years different, but still Peggy.

“What … how … what happened to you?” he stammered.

“It’s the new me,” she squealed with delight.

“But I only turned around for a second or two.”

“I know,” she said. “Look at Stuart and his wife across the street. They, too, have been changed.”

Jason slumped to the ground on one knee. “This is a dream, and I’m going to wake up right now.”

At that moment, a resounding voice louder than the Shofar blasts rocked the atmosphere like a seismic sonic boom. Peggy saw Jason’s look of dismay as he abruptly stood up.

“Was that a voice? What did it say?”

“That was Jesus,” Peggy smiled radiantly. “He said, ‘Come up here.’”

“Can’t you stay with me,” he groaned.

She looked lovingly at him as she began her ascent. “I love you; but it’s going to be so hard for you. Promise me that you’ll choose Jesus over his imposter.”

She watched him watching her and six others from the neighborhood rising softly toward the sky. Then she looked up and raised both arms.

He heard her last words: “Thank you God. I love you Jesus!”

ACT SEVEN

Jason sat at the Fire Station’s lunchroom with his fellow firefighters. They were glued to the television and their smart phones. The entire world had done nothing else for the past three days.

A CNN anchorwoman was speaking: “We’re going to show you recent footage of a man dressed in a scarlet and purple robe being escorted by Italian military personnel from the beaches of Anzio, Italy. It’s reported that he will be flown by helicopter to Rome where government officials and a high-ranking Cardinal from the Vatican have agreed to meet with this man who claims to be the Roman Emperor Nero. If he really is Nero, then it appears we have an even greater miracle than three days ago.”

Things to Ponder

Though (it should be) apparent, to make sure that we separate the fictional from non-fictional facets of this play, I’ll provide the following observations:

Obviously, the three cities are real (four, counting Anzio; see Eye of Prophecy article: Antichrist and Anzio … What Do They Have in Common? posted 4-29-17), as are the respective time zones for each. The Messianic congregation in Netanya, Israel (coastal town north of Tel Aviv) is fictitious.

The created characters are not intended to depict any specific person; but they are or could be representative of anyone, anywhere.

The setting selection of the Jewish Passover and the precise time is in no way a statement or even suggestion that the Rapture will occur on that day or time. There are 24 hours in every day; 360 days on the Hebrew calendar and 365 on the Gregorian calendar. Three times Jesus said: “…For you do not know the day or hour of my return” (Matthew 25:13).

Whereas the exact words (voice of the archangel) as portrayed in the play are mostly speculative, not so with the commanding shout of Messiah Jesus … “Come Up Here!”

Just before John was transported to heaven to witness the Tribulation events, Jesus commands him to, “Come up here…” (Revelation 4:1).

After the two mighty witnesses are killed by the Antichrist and their bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem, we view this stunning scene: “But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, ‘Come up here!’ And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched” (Revelation 11:11-12).

Jesus’s command coupled with people everywhere on earth (in person, via internet or television) watching the two prophets (Moses and Elijah) ascending to heaven provides more than enough precedential authenticity for what will most likely happen during the Rapture. That and the fact that Jesus’s disciples (and probably others nearby) visibly saw Jesus ascending to heaven, slow enough for them to keep staring for a while (Acts 1:9-11).

Then we have Saul (later called the Apostle Paul) who saw the blinding light emanating from Jesus on the road to Damascus. His traveling companions were surrounded by the same light and they heard the “voice” but couldn’t see Jesus, nor (by obvious inference) determine what the voice said (Acts Chapter 9).

No one knows the incomparable intricacy and spectacular scope of just how the bodies of believers will be transfigured. Yet, we have an insightful idea and powerful preview from the Mount of Transfiguration experience of our Lord and Savior, Jesus; then his resurrection from the grave.

“…We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It (the transformation) will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet (last trumpet as Paul has already stated, with clear inference that there are several trumpet blasts) sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed” (I Corinthians 15:51-52, parenthesis mine).

“…For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies” (I Corinthians 15:44).

No one knows the precise time-lapse or exact details of how the Rapture will unfold. But the Bible does give us the foundational framework including the sequential component parts of what will happen.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up (harpazo) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17, parenthesis mine; harpazo is the Greek world for “caught up” from which we get the Latin term Rapture).

If you haven’t please consider reading Eye of Prophecy article: The Shout Heard Around the World (Posted 4-22-17; strangely, two years ago this very weekend, with this weekend unusual because Passover and Good Friday/Resurrection Day overlap).

I’ll conclude with an excerpt from that post which, in turn, was a quote from the first article on this subject, How the Rapture (8-24-13). In italics:

Do you see what difference it would make and how it could enhance and expand our view of and increase even more our enthusiasm for the Rapture, if the order of events in the Rapture took place over several minutes? It would be far more than just a “poof” one second here, next second gone type of experience. Next to the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ, it will be the greatest celebration of joy ever experienced by believers in Christ. And in real-time and space no less; no special effects, no suspension of time, no virtual reality … just the real thing. None of which (except for the transfiguration of our bodies) can or will take place in the twinkling of an eye.

Now that’s something to shout about!

To believers in Jesus, the Apostle John wrote:

A Time of Terrifying Trouble is Coming Soon

Once before, God judged the entire world for its evil and violence.

“The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil…. Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:5 & 11).

Hence, the Great Flood; a cataclysmic global event that eliminated all but eight people and drastically changed the earth’s geological and ecological dynamics.

Subsequently, God made a covenant with Noah: Never again would a flood devastate the earth, destroying all life. Every time we see a rainbow, we are reminded of God’s promise (Genesis 9:8-17).

But the Lord didn’t promise that the earth and mankind would be spared from another global disaster. Just the opposite: Old Testament prophets, New Testament Apostles, and Jesus, himself, warned of the second (and final) apocalypse. In fact, the Apostle Peter cites the Great Flood in the context of this soon-to-come series of one catastrophe after another.

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’

“They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed” (II Peter 3:3-7).

Not since before the Great Flood has there been a global saturation of violence and corruption than we have experienced in the 20^th & 21^st centuries. There are many examples to support this observation, including but not limited to: (1) Two world-wars that caused the combined deaths of some 90 million people, soldiers and civilians alike. (2) Violent terrorism that has taken hundreds of thousands of innocent lives; plus, widespread abortion has snuffed out the lives of hundreds of millions of babies. (3) Political corruption, financial dishonesty, social upheaval, and moral decay that are off the charts.

Jesus also referred to the global flood of Noah’s time. However, his warning focused on the other feature of the world’s condition just before his return (in two phases: first the Rapture, then his physical return to earth).

Please see Eye of Prophecy article: Messiah’s Return & The Rapture (Same or Separate Events?) Posted 12-3-16.

Said Jesus: “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered the boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:37-39).

Early in that prophetic message to his disciples, Jesus described the incredible devastation (caused by people and by God’s wrath during the Tribulation), including the staggering number of casualties.

“For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones (the Jews and nation of Israel)” (Matthew 24:21-22, parenthesis mine).

Who Will Not Survive the Great Tribulation?

Most of the world’s population will be left behind at the Rapture, and most of those left behind will not make it through the Tribulation.

Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article: Shocking Statistics of the Great Tribulation (6-6-15).

If participating in and even passively supporting the Gog/Magog coalition against Israel (early in the Tribulation) or Antichrist Nero and his ten-nation confederation and all those kings and kingdoms who march on Jerusalem via the Valley of Megiddo (near the end of the Tribulation); they will not be spared from the inconceivable carnage. Many of those who don’t die will wish they had. For example, see Revelation 9:1-12; and that’s only half-way through the Tribulation!

Destruction and death at the hands of men.

Plus, God’s divine judgment when he pours out his wrath on those who: “…did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:21).

On those, “…who have caused destruction on the earth” (Revelation 11:18).

On Babylon (Rome): “…because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality” (Revelation 14:8 & Revelation Chapter 18).

On those who “…shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets…” (Revelation 16:6).

On, “…the rulers of the world (gathered) for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty” (Revelation 16:14).

On Antichrist and his ten-nation coalition that, “…go to war against the Lamb…” (Revelation 17:14).

On all those who, “…had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshipped his statue…” (Revelation 19:20).

(This last set of three sets of seven judgments will be primarily against Antichrist’s empire)

There will also be friendly casualties such as many of the Tribulation saints murdered for their faith in and testimony for Jesus (Revelation 20:4). And, some innocent children born during the Tribulation as well as other innocent children who…. (Stay tuned and see).

Billions will die during this horrific time. Those who survive will experience a time of unimaginable terror and horror, of appalling conditions not thought possible even during the two world-wars of the 20^th century. For one thing, there won’t be enough people or time between the twenty-one plagues to bury or cremate most of the dead, individually. The only way to dispose of the countless bodies is through mass graves and massive bonfires.

Which is another picture of how the world will be judged by fire, not by flood.

For those still alive as the 7-year Great Tribulation nears an end, it will seem like 70 years (a lifetime) to them.

Who Will Be Spared (From the Tribulation Itself)?

The answer is known by virtually all believers; a miraculous event that even some unbelievers have heard and wondered about.

It is found in a spectacular revelation given directly by Jesus to the Apostle Paul. Much like God the Father and Jesus in his Pre-Incarnate appearances in the Old Testament directly spoke to (verbally or through dreams and visions) the prophets and a few others. As opposed to the more common inspiration of God’s Word through the Holy Spirit.

Most likely you know or know of the passage; one I’ve quoted several times in prior articles, as have other scholars, commentators, pastors, and everyday believers from time to time. However, I’m going to include two preceding verses not often quoted with the remarkable event itself.

“And now dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people (unbelievers) who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died” (I Thessalonians 4:13-14, parenthesis mine).

“We tell you this directly from the Lord (emphasis added, affirming that the source of the revelation was from Jesus himself). We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up (Greek word, harpazo, from which we get the term Rapture) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:15-18, parenthesis mine).

Then, a few verses later in Chapter 5, Paul explains the purpose of the Rapture: “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us” (I Thessalonians 5:9).

The pouring out of God’s anger is contextually and explicitly referring precisely to the tribulation period when, “…disaster will fall on them (those left behind at the Rapture) as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape” (I Thessalonians 5:3, parenthesis mine).

The Apostle Paul also described the Rapture phase of Messiah’s Second Coming as:

Not only did Jesus convey this astonishing sequence of the Rapture to Paul, it was Jesus while he was still on earth who first spoke about the Rapture—as part of his discourse on the multiple features and signs of his Second Coming, culminating in his physical return to earth. After comparing Noah’s time to the condition of the world in the last days of the end times, Jesus provides this stunning disclosure; one that Paul metaphorically relates to a thief in the night as we just read:

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left” (Matthew 24:40-41).

In his gospel, Luke adds one other scenario spoken of by Jesus: “That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left” (Luke 17:34).

In these examples, Jesus is NOT referring to his physical return to the earth at the end of the Tribulation. When that happens, everyone will clearly see the signs of his impending return (Matthew 24:29-30). Many will be traumatically shocked but not dramatically surprised, as they were when the Rapture occurred seven years earlier.

Sparing Believers from Judgment … Biblical Precedents

Enoch

The soon to come Rapture will take place for two distinct purposes: (1) Resurrection from the grave for believers who have died; (2) Removal of living believers, sparing them from the Great Tribulation.

Yet, both sets of believers will be transfigured to our immortal spiritual bodies and whisked away to heaven to be with the Lord forever!

The phenomenal news that born-again believers in Messiah Jesus would be taken from the earth (Rapture) was a mystery that Jesus unveiled to Paul. It answered the question of the Thessalonian Christians (all believers) concerning their loved ones who had died and what would happen to believers still alive when the Day of the Lord began. However, the reality of the (a) Rapture was not itself new, i.e. the catching up to heaven while still alive. The first incident in which someone was taken to heaven without dying was a prototype precedent for reason #2 above.

As found in Genesis 5:21-24, we read of Enoch: “…Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (Verse 24). Then in the New Testament: “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying— ‘he disappeared, because God took him’” (Hebrews 11:5, which quotes Genesis 5:24).

Why did the Lord take Enoch in that fashion?

For the same reason that the Lord will take living believers to heaven before the Great Tribulation begins … to exclude Enoch from God’s global judgment (the Flood) which was justifiably necessary because of the world-wide violence and corruption. The same kind of deplorable conditions this woeful world in which we live is experiencing daily—within families, communities, cities, states, nations, and internationally. This magnitude of evil will intensify even more during the Tribulation.

Because people lived to be hundreds of years old before the flood (albeit no one made it to 1,000 years of age), it’s conceivable that Enoch would have been alive just before the Flood struck. But even if he wouldn’t have been around, he was spared decades of unbridled wickedness that was increasing exponentially to the time the rains began.

Elijah

So, too, was Elijah transported to heaven without dying but not as a prototype of the Rapture, as was Enoch. Rather, Elijah was taken in preparation for his return in his earthly body to Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation, for the express purpose of doing battle (alongside Moses) with the Antichrist and the False Prophet. See Eye of Prophecy article: Moses & Elijah vs Antichrist & The False Prophet (Posted 2-10-18).

However, both Elijah and Moses will be raptured after their spectacular service to God and dramatic defense of Jerusalem. Their sudden transportation to heaven will vividly depict and convincingly demonstrate to the world how and why believers, both dead and alive, were taken earlier from the earth.

Moses and Elijah will be killed by the Antichrist (Nero) 3 ½ years after they begin their mighty ministry on earth during the Tribulation.

Then we read what happens next: “But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, ‘Come up here!’ And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched” (Revelation 11:11-12).

Take that Mr. Six Hundred and sixty-six!

Noah & His Family / Lot & His Family

Although not raptured as such, both Noah and Lot (and their respective families) were taken out of harm’s way before God’s judgment. The Flood was obviously massive in scope. The extent of God’s wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah was regionalized, but still extensive (there were five cities destroyed), as no one survived in those towns. Nevertheless, both Noah and Lot were evacuated and relocated directly by the hand of God. Noah through God’s divine architectural blueprint of the Ark, and Lot by God’s angels.

The massive retribution (ten plagues) against Pharaoh and Egypt was another example of God protecting his people without removing them completely from the earth or even the region.

Each of these people and the cataclysmic events from which they were shielded illustrate God’s protection of his people from judgment on an epic scale. With, however, Enoch the representative forerunner (1^st world-wide judgment) of believers taken at the Rapture (2^nd global judgment).

God Loves the Little Children!

“For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).

In addition to the most well-known verse in the New Testament, if not the entire Bible (virtually all Christians and even some unbelievers would be able to finish the verse above), there are numerous passages in the Bible that speak of God’s love for Israel and for all people. First, for them to be forgiven and saved; then for believers, Jew and Gentile alike, to experience God’s love during their lifetime and throughout eternity.

Such as: “…I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love” (Jude 1:1-2).

Scripture is also clear that children are exceptionally precious to our triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that children are both a gift and a blessing to their parents. They are to be loved, nourished, and protected. Accordingly, God will be particularly harsh on those who (deliberately) harm children … physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Said Jesus: “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

Our faith (as adults or teenagers) in God and His Son’s substitutionary death for our sins on the cross must be childlike … complete trust in and dependence on God’s plan and means for salvation and living the Christian life.

Combining these two principles of caring for children and childlike faith, Jesus said: “…Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it” (Luke 18:16-17).

In fact, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple that a child can understand (enough) and be redeemed.

*On a personal note, I was born-again at the age of eight. I recall believing with my whole child’s heart that only Jesus could save me from my sins (of course children at some point know they’ve done wrong). And, though I don’t remember the exact words, I said so aloud.

What About Children and the Rapture? Will Some Children Be Left Behind?

When it comes to their children, even some Christian parents prefer not to think about the Rapture, let alone talk about it. Although they realize the Rapture is a wonderfully good thing; when it comes to everyday life, the Rapture seems too unsettling, too uncertain, too disruptive, too … whatever. And, unfortunately, many pastors/teachers in the Church consistently avoid teaching on end times prophecy. It’s bewildering, maybe even unnerving. Which, however, begs the rhetorical question that many ask themselves despite the plain answer. Is Biblical prophecy (which constitutes 1/3 of the Bible) all that important?

Although that question is addressed in several Eye of Prophecy articles, I’ll refer you to one of my older articles: Value of Prophecy (Published 8-29-13).

Before we scrutinize Biblical precedents addressing the differences of opinion as to whether all children still at the age of innocence will be taken in the Rapture or not, let me say this: I am sensitive to these thoughts and views about the end times. To relate to those, who, when it comes to their children, are apprehensive about not only the Rapture, but the entire scenario of the last days of this age.

It’s just that sometimes we forget God’s magnificent promises in the Bible (every prophecy is essentially a promise from the Lord). Whether a prophetic promise is good or bad does not depend on one’s point of view. Rather, upon a person’s position in Christ or outside of Christ … saved or unsaved.

Such as Scripture’s declaration to believers (a promise combined with praise): “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20, NASB).

When applied to the Rapture and everlasting life it means that our home and relationships (for example, with our children) in heaven will far surpass even the best of times we have on this planet, more than we can possibly imagine. So, it’s okay mom and dad and kids. At the Rapture, during the Millennium, and throughout Eternity we will fully realize: We’ve never had it so good.

The Prevailing Premise

In the Christian community, the mainstream assumption is as follows: ALL children who haven’t reached the age of accountability will be taken in the Rapture. Alongside of everyone else who has already accepted Christ as their personal Savior.

This rationale can best be summarized as a deduction, based mostly on sentiment; one that is the most appealing. It’s one that any Christian, including me, would prefer. We would not want innocent children exposed to the dreadful things that will take place during the Great Tribulation, even the children of unbelievers. We would hope that they would be spared from the wrath of God’s judgments; and, of course, from the evil that will flood the earth (pun intended), compliments of Satan and his man of lawlessness.

Whereas, on this side of the Rapture, we do not know for sure; I believe there are persuasive precedents in Scripture that present compelling evidence to consider the alternative:

Not ALL children (at the age of innocence) will be taken when the Rapture occurs.

In fact, there is an up-side to children of unbelievers being left behind. Your immediate reaction might be: “How could there be any good from leaving “innocent” children behind at the Rapture?” The answer lies in Scripture (where else)! We’ll get to that passage, shortly.

First, let’s refer to the two Biblical events cited earlier; however, this time we’ll examine them in the immediate context of the question posed in the title of this week’s article.

The Great Flood

Here, I’d like to quote Avram Levitt—one of the main characters in my first book entitled O Israel! … the end is the beginning for those left behind (Published 2007). The setting of this novel is just prior to and a period up to about one year after the Rapture.

In the last of seven emails, Avram explains why some children were NOT taken in the Rapture. He alludes to the Great Flood as it relates to—in precedent and principle—the Rapture:

“Scripture is clear as to the purpose of this calamity: to deal with the irreversible wickedness and depravity of man. But this judgment also gave mankind another chance to acknowledge and serve his Creator. Noah and his family were spared to repopulate the earth. What is the relevance of this example to the question of the children? The significance is that the children were not spared” (Pages 340-341; italics in today’s article for emphasis).

In searching online, you’ll find varied estimations of the earth’s population at the time of Noah’s flood. Anywhere from a few hundred million to several billion, perhaps even as many people as in today’s world. Although I lean toward the lower range, it’s evident that there were many children under the age of accountability. None of them were in the ark.

Sodom & Gomorrah (As indicated earlier, five cities and their inhabitants were obliterated)

As with Noah and his family, only Lot (his wife instantly died when she disobeyed the angel’s command not to look back) and his family (two daughters) were taken out of harm’s way. Because God knows the end from the beginning, he knew the increased wickedness of these cities was inevitable, perpetual, and irreversible. Including the children who would grow up to be as or even more wicked than their parents. Same thing with Noah’s flood.

(Hold tight to the Lord; Press on with hope; Don’t look back)

Which leads to a solemn but reasonable conclusion in the form of a question:

If God did not spare innocent children from the Great Flood or from the utter destruction of Sodom and surrounding cities, is there any reason why at least some children wouldn’t or shouldn’t be left behind at the Rapture and, thereby, go through part or all the Tribulation?

*Note: Only God knows when a child has passed the age of innocence and reached the point of accountability. Some suggest the age of 6, 7, or 8; others say 12 or 13. For example: in Jewish culture a boy or girl becomes a man or woman at the age of 13, after their Bar Mitzvah … Bat Mitzvah (for girls).

Why do I propose that not all children still at the age of innocence will be taken at the Rapture? Saying it another way: Why would only some of the children be left behind at the Rapture?

Whose children, are they?

A Thought-Provoking Passage, Principle, & Precedent Applicable to the Rapture

Let’s look at the passage alluded to earlier that I believe contains the answer. It is a lengthy explanative text primarily concerning married couples in which one spouse is a believer and the other is an unbeliever; however, I’ll quote just two verses:

“For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy…. Don’t you wives realize that your husband might be saved because of you! And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?” (I Corinthians 7:14 & 16, emphasis added).

The Greek word translated holiness (holy) in English does not mean perfection. Instead, like the Old Testament Hebrew word as applied to people, it means set aside for a specific purpose.

The Apostle Paul is telling us that when a wife or a husband, or (by implication and by the same principle) when a child is saved, there’s a strong possibility that one or more unsaved members of that family will also come to Christ for their (personal) salvation.

This holiness is the influence transferred from the Christian family member to unbelieving members.

Both Noah’s and Lot’s children were taken out of harm’s way before the floodwaters covered the earth and before the fire/brimstone destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Though Noah’s three sons and Lot’s two daughters were grown, they were still Noah’s and Lot’s children. In God’s eyes they were innocent, because of their right standing with God (based on their personal choice to trust God), which was a result of Noah’s and Lot’s righteous influence.

So, too, will the innocent children of those adult believers (even if only one parent is saved) be caught up in the Rapture with their parent or parents. But ALL children of unsaved adults left behind will also remain on the earth. Yet, I’m convinced that God will use these children to help influence, if not persuade parents (if they have any love or concern for their children) to turn to Christ during the most terrible time on earth that has ever been or ever will be again.

One more quote from Avram Levitt writing to the unsaved (from O Israel! page 342 … in italics):

Do you love your child? Do you care about your own soul? Are you willing to yield to the false messiah and thereby forfeit eternal life with the true and living God and his Messiah?

Then Avram quoted this passage:

Things to Ponder

All children will go to heaven if they are still at the age of innocence when they die, including those left behind at the Rapture who may perish during the Tribulation.

The Bible is exceedingly clear that salvation and eternal life is only possible by choosing (at whatever age someone is capable of that choice) to believe and receive Messiah Jesus as Lord and Savior. Conversely, eternal separation from God for those who do not believe.

Consequently, Baptism and good works are a result of Biblical salvation, not the means. Which is why infant baptism is a waste of time. Moreover, it’s downright dangerous; as is any religion or cult that requires baptism as a means of redemption and then membership to maintain a good standing in that organization. It gives the child (anyone) a false sense of (eternal) security.

“For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe (a conscious choice from the heart and mind) that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…” (Romans 3:25, parenthesis mine).

Aside from knowing how people, especially children, die “before their time” (disease, famine, war, natural disasters, murder, accidents) we often ask, Why?

I’m not making this observation based merely on generalities; nor based on a detached abstract attempt to commiserate with those who have lost children. On a personal level, I lost a six-week old child to crib death years ago. It hurts deeply. I wanted him to live and watch him grow up as my son. However, one day I will rejoice to see him again in heaven, without concern all these years whether he would have accepted Jesus as his personal Savior.

Ultimately, the individual reasons (particularly the timing of the death) are known only to God. With, however, one overriding explanation as clearly found in Scripture. Not only are all the ills of this world caused by the innumerable wrong things we think, say, and do; so is the ultimate consequence, thereof.

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). Beginning with separation of spirit from body when we die physically and culminating in eternal separation from God (second death) for those who have not been made right with God.

But thank God for his Mercy and his Grace through the gift of his precious Son, Messiah Jesus, there is one sure hope.

“…but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

The great and glorious Day of the Lord begins dramatically with the most phenomenal event since the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Departed believers in Messiah Jesus will be raised from the dead!

Along with living believers, they will be transfigured into eternal bodies; “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air and immediately transported to heaven. Rapture is a Latin word used to describe this spectacular scene, soon to come.

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We (believers in Christ) will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye (the transformation itself, not the entire sequence of the Rapture events as described in I Thessalonians 4), when the last trumpet is blown…. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies” (I Corinthians 15:51-53, parenthesis mine).

See Eye of Prophecy articles: The Tremendous Transfiguration of Believers (Posted 7-23-16) & The Shout Heard Around the World (4-22-17; with detailed description of the entire Rapture sequence).

In addition to the amazing transformation of believers from dead or dying bodies on earth (we begin to die the moment we’re born) to immortal bodies in heaven, the Rapture is also the trigger point of four individual reappearances that will shake the planet, culminating in the bodily return of Messiah to establish his Millennial Kingdom on earth.

In fact, the Rapture and the subsequent seven-year Tribulation entails one supernatural episode after another. To even include God’s angels personally proclaiming the Gospel.

The physical reappearance of these four beings has been covered to one extent or another in prior Eye of Prophecy articles. In this week’s article we’re going to bring them altogether in order of their arrival on the Tribulation scene, along with a summary review from where each one appears, i.e. where they currently are. Successively, they first arrived on earth as follows: (1) creation of Adam and Eve; (2) approximately 3,400 years ago; (3) about 2,900 years ago; (4) 1,982 years ago.

Join me on a stimulating journey that will reveal a panoramic prophetic picture of the Fantastic Four. With fantastic in the eye of the beholder because: “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).

Two of them are bad guys, two of them good guys.

The Dragon—Satan … Garden of Eden

The other three are human beings; whereas, we know that Satan was one of the angelic beings created by God, originally called Lucifer. Later he was given the name, Satan—which means accuser or deceiver (liar). However, his first corporeal appearance on earth was in the form of a serpent.

Two things are important to grasp: (1) Every created being has a body, including angels … angelic being/body. Both fallen angels and God’s good angels have taken on human form. In Satan’s case, he possessed the serpent’s body in the Garden of Eden and proceeded to deceive Adam and Eve; accusing God of lying to them about dying if they did the one and only thing God told them not to do. However, there is no incident in the Bible in which Satan himself takes on human form.

(2) Don’t entirely equate the serpent(s) of Eden with snakes. The Garden of Eden, “…serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman…” (Genesis 3:1).

There are two options here to consider. One is that the serpent itself could talk. There’s no indication that Eve was surprised when the serpent spoke to her. The other scenario is that Adam and Eve already knew about Satan … fully aware it was the devil embodied in and speaking through the serpent. Either way, the original serpent possessed some measure of intelligence and status above the other animals.

As we know: When Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord, He pronounced a curse on them; on all creation including the animals—but particularly the serpent.

“Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He (Messiah) will strike your head, and you will strike his heel (physically—the death of Jesus; and spiritually—sins of all people laid on Jesus)” (Genesis 3:14-15, parenthesis mine).

In view of the remarkable restorative changes in the animal kingdom during the Millennial Reign of Christ, it’s evident that all animals were originally created in a higher state than we see them today. Especially, the serpent. The serpent didn’t crawl until after God announced judgment on it.

(As it once was, so will it be again … some day soon)

In the comparative context of Satan’s first appearance to mankind (Garden of Eden) and his reappearance (outset of Tribulation) in bodily form, the Bible slightly modifies the imagery of a (the) serpent to that of a (the) dragon. The express purpose of both images is that of identifying Satan … physically (actually) not metaphorically! Serpent and dragon are terms (names of Satan) that reveal him in bodily form, which is exactly what happened in his first tangible appearance to our original parents on earth.

And will be how Satan reappears (tangibly, bodily) on the earth quite soon after the Rapture! Which probably surprises you; unless, that is, you’ve read Eye of Prophecy articles, Satan in Bodily Form … When and Why? Part I & II (Published 11-12 & 11-19-16).

The term dragon is used as a physical manifestation of Satan’s (demonized) angelic body, in which he will be materially confined to the Abyss during the 1,000-year reign of Messiah and believers on earth. Also, the body in which he will be thrown out of heaven (forever) to the earth. When Satan realizes that this eviction from the heavenly sphere and bodily confinement to earth is permanent, he will be furious. He’ll vent his wrath against Jews and Christians of the Tribulation period (Revelation 12:13-18).

Sequence of Satan’s Reappearance on Earth Embodied as “the Dragon”

Beginning with the first event (even before Antichrist reappears on the scene) after the Rapture.

“Then there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels” (Revelation 12:7-9).

(Refer to Eye of Prophecy article, A Mysterious Sign in Virgo … What Does It Mean? (9-23-17; which includes a detailed study of Revelation 12).

One (strongly inferred) reason why this epic event will take place immediately after the Rapture is because all believers will be in heaven. The Lord will not allow Satan access to heaven to (now directly) get in the face of believers and accuse us before God as the devil has done through the ages, while believers were still on the earth. Redemption will be gloriously completed for believers at the Rapture, including no more temptations and accusations from the devil.

Another reason that Satan’s reappearance on earth (immediately) precedes that of Antichrist is found in the last verse of Revelation Chapter 12 (verse 18). With, however, other/older Bible translations placing this as verse one in Chapter 13.

Quoting the New American Standard Bible: “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea…” (Revelation 13:1). Or, in the New Living Translation: “Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea” (Revelation 12:18).

In other words, the dragon will physically be watching from the shore of the sea (undoubtedly the Mediterranean Sea) waiting for his Antichrist beast to ascend from the Abyss (Revelation 17:8). If Antichrist rises out of the Abyss and the Sea (as we just read), then the Abyss must be located beneath the sea.

Satan’s original loss of his once permanent home in heaven and his (subsequent) battle with Michael that resulted in total banishment to earth are entirely different events.

(Depiction of Michael in his battle with Satan)

The first eviction involved Satan’s residence in heaven, but not his ongoing access to heaven—visitation rights permitted by God (example, Job 1 & 2). With Satan’s initial expulsion from his heavenly home, one-third of the angels followed him. This event took place even before God created Adam and Eve. In fact, Satan’s initial removal from (his home in) heaven is mentioned earlier in that same chapter of Revelation 12 (verses 3-4). Originally this ancient incident is found in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28.

Jesus, himself, described this first fall of Satan to his disciples (further confirmation that Jesus existed as God before becoming the God-man): “…I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning” (Luke 10:18, NASB). Notice that Jesus’s description was past tense. Whereas, the second reference to Satan’s (permanent) eviction from heaven in Revelation 12 is still to come.

Lucifer’s heavenly status was one of the mighty cherubim angels, to whom God had given great authority over other angels—one reason so many angels rebelled with him.

Satan’s reappearance on earth in his angelic body will be visible in our earthly dimension; albeit an angelic form that has been demonically degraded and perhaps even deformed by his evil nature. But dragon is NOT a symbolic term for Satan; it is Satan in literal form and appearance.

Two of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2 & 3 refer to Satan. However, after John’s sudden transportation to heaven (preview of the Rapture) in Revelation 4:1 and subsequent chapters about the Tribulation, Satan is referred to as “the dragon.” With one exception and the reason thereof, which we’ll get to in a moment.

As with the serpent and snakes, don’t think in terms of dragons characterized in literature or in the movies. The ultimate purpose for and use of “dragon” to depict Satan is to realize that he will be visibly embodied during the Tribulation and thereafter. Although, for the most part, I believe he will be behind the scenes energizing Antichrist (and the False Prophet) and not readily available on anything approaching a regular basis. That’s always been his style. Plus, he may not want many to see him in his abysmal (pun intended) fallen condition. Even if he’s still able to switch from one dimension to another, he will be restricted to the earth.

Satan is referred to as the dragon in Revelation Chapters 12, 13, 16, & 20. In his reference to Satan as the dragon, John even reminds the reader: “This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world…” (Revelation 12:9). There’s no reason for John to remind us unless there was the need to realize that Satan had physically reappeared on earth, just like he did the first time in Eden.

When John tells us in Revelation that the dragon took his stand on the seashore beside the sea, there is no symbolism whatsoever going on. Even more convincing is when Satan is bound (bodily as the dragon) and literally thrown into the Abyss. Again, John reminds us for emphasis who/what the dragon is.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while” (Revelation 20:1-3, emphasis added).

(Depiction of Satan–the dragon–locked in the Abyss)

Here, John calls the dragon Satan again, but for a specific reason. The dragon is bound and locked in the Abyss so that he (as Satan) could not deceive the nations. Likewise, when Satan is released from the Abyss one thousand years later it is to: deceive the nations. (Revelation 20:8).

Consider it this way: Dragon is who Satan is (embodied angelic being); Satan is what the dragon does (lies, deceives, accuses); Devil is a (devilish) combination of the two … dragon and Satan.

In the Bible’s last reference to Satan, we read: “Then, the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

The designation of “devil” is used because it encompasses both who he is (angelic being … the dragon) and what he does (deceives … Satan).

More Evidence of Satan’s Bodily Reappearance on Earth

To further demonstrate that (the) dragon and other terms used by John in Revelation 20 are literal and not figurative, I’ll ask some questions. Prefaced by this observation:

When Satan and his demons are defeated by the Archangel Michael and his angels, Satan will be thrown down AND confined to the earth in/as his embodied (demonic angel) self. Thus, he will be able to function only in our earthly element, subject to all the restrictions within the parameters of that existence. No longer in a fourth or fifth or whatever otherworldly dimension that angels otherwise occupy.

First question: How could the angel “seize the dragon” if Satan was still in an ethereal (spiritual) dimension with all the intangible features of that sphere? The very definition and meaning of seize is a material concept. It is taking literal possession of or physically capturing something or someone by force. For example, the beast and false prophet are “captured” during the final battle of Armageddon and physically thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20).

For that matter, there would be no reason for all the successive terms to be used in Revelation 20 if this whole scene was merely metaphorical. If all we were meant to know is that Satan, the deceiver, would be confined to the Abyss for 1,000 years, then that’s all the passage need tell us. We wouldn’t need all the specifics. But there are tangible details, because the earthly features of the dragon and the means of his imprisonment are real, not figurative.

Next question: Is the bottomless pit a real place? Does it exist? According to Scripture, absolutely. It is the actual abode for the exceptionally evil embodied angels (II Peter 2 and Jude based on Genesis 6); for the Antichrist beast (Revelation 17); and for Satan as the dragon (Revelation 20) during the Millennium. There’s nothing allegorical about the Abyss, any more than Hell is symbolic. In fact, the Abyss and Hell are separate locations. You remember that the demons cast out by Jesus in the region of Gerasene begged him not to (literally) send them to the Abyss (Luke 8).

Is, then, the “key to the bottomless pit” real? Why wouldn’t it be? The same term is used in Revelation 9, when an angel uses that key to open the “shaft of the bottomless pit.” To release those same wicked angels to torment Antichrist’s followers with stings so painful, the people stung wished they could die. The key is literal, but it could be a seal of some sort. Not in the sense of a parallel purpose; rather in terms of confinement, we could think of the sealed stone rolled across the tomb of Jesus.

Similar question: Is the angel’s shutting and locking of the Abyss (shaft) also literal? Yes, it is, as demonstrated by a subsequent question: How do we or why would we symbolically shut and lock anything tangible? Allegory is not only not needed in this passage; it’s noticeably awkward to symbolize anything or (in this case) everything going on in the seizing, chaining, throwing, shutting, and locking of the dragon in the literal Abyss.

(What good is a prison cell, unless shut and locked while the prisoner is there!)

Last question on that subject, and perhaps the most obvious reason why there is no symbolism at all going on concerning Satan’s confinement in the Abyss as an embodied being.

We read that the angel bound the dragon with a “heavy chain.”

If, indeed, the chain was merely metaphorical, then why is it a heavy chain? If the chain is figurative, there’s no need whatsoever to make it heavy. Or even to (allegorically) use a chain at all. It was a “heavy chain” because that is what it will take to secure a powerful dragon (embodied angelic being) in a literal prison.

Thus, Satan himself will be the first to reappear in bodily form after the Rapture.

The Antichrist Beast … Born 37 A.D.

The next supernatural reappearance (return) will be a man who died nearly 2,000 years ago. As with Satan—the dragon, and with the next two men who reappear later, this man returns in his same body.

Because I’ve presented extensive evidence in my book, Out of the Abyss and in many of the Eye of Prophecy articles to date in the category of Antichrist, this week’s article will provide only a brief review:

• The Antichrist could not be a modern-day born man, because Revelation 17:7-8 clearly states that this man had already lived and died even before John wrote the book of Revelation.
• By thorough scrutiny of every Biblical passage on the Antichrist, including but not limited to the number of the beast (Revelation 13) and the fact that the seven heads of Revelation 13 & 17 are Roman Emperors, I believe the evidence is overwhelming that the Antichrist is the Roman Emperor Nero.
• The Antichrist beast who had died returns to earth from the Abyss (Revelation 11 and 17). For this to happen, he obviously must first be placed in the Abyss—which is where the Lord confined Nero … reviving him shortly after Nero died.
• As Caesar, Nero was the ruler prophesied by Daniel whose armies would destroy Jerusalem and the Temple. It was Nero who ordered his generals, Vespasian and Titus, to march on Israel in 66 A.D. After Nero died in 68 A.D., Titus finished the conquest and destroyed the Temple in 70 A.D.
• For a comprehensive examination of all this evidence, I would encourage you to get a copy of Out of the Abyss. Or read some of the Eye of Prophecy articles in the category of Antichrist. For example, in keeping with the theme of this week’s article: Antichrist’s Dreaded Arrival / First or Second Appearance? (Posted 7-2-16). Or: Soon Comes the Antichrist … Straight from the Abyss Part I & II (8-20 & 8-27-16). Or, Sudden Appearance of Antichrist … Why So Different? (1-21-17). Or the most recent: Antichrist / A “Back to the Future” Prophecy (11-17-18)

It’s unlikely that Nero knows why he was brought back to life or why he is the only human being ever imprisoned in the Abyss—along with exceptionally evil angels. I’m guessing that he doesn’t regard himself as evil. Or, maybe he does, and prefers it that way.

As indicated, the Abyss is a real place under the earth (sea); not an intangible, ethereal, extra-dimensional domain. Neither Satan nor his demons have access to the Abyss, nor want to go there. Satan is not a mind reader, nor omnipresent, nor omniscient. And certainly not omnipotent. Thus, it’s highly improbable that he has been able to communicate with his Antichrist; that’s why the dragon will be waiting by the sea for Nero to come up out of the Abyss. To brief Nero on the power and authority that awaits him, including Satanic manipulation over what and whom God allows Satan to control in his capacity as the dragon (Revelation 13:3-8).

Antichrist Nero will reappear shortly after the Rapture. But not until the dragon (Satan) is defeated by Michael, thrown down to the earth in his (earth-bound) angelic body, and banned forever from heaven and heavenly places.

The Two Prophets (Witnesses) of Revelation 11

The next two (third and fourth) are powerful prophets from long ago who will also return in the same bodies in which they left the earth. One without dying; the other revived by the Lord soon after his death. Both taken directly to heaven where they have been preserved in their original bodies for their reappearance rendezvous during the Great Tribulation.

I’ve written about these two men in a few articles, most extensively in the trilogy of articles, The Two Witnesses I, II, III (published June 2014). And the more recent: Moses & Elijah vs. Antichrist & The False Prophet (2-10-18).

The Lord refers to them as follows: “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days (3 ½ years of the Tribulation)” (Revelation 11:3).

Then we read: “These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies” (Verses 4-5).

The tree and lampstand images are taken directly from a prophecy of these two men given over 500 years earlier. Which concludes with an answer to Zechariah’s question concerning the two olive trees: “…They represent the two heavenly beings who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth” (Zechariah 4:14).

In The Two Witnesses trilogy, I cited passages that both Moses and Elijah were the only two prophets who it is said: “stood before the Lord of all the earth.”

The reason that the angel described these two men as heavenly beings is because both Elijah and Moses have been kept in heaven in their original bodies.

Many Bible scholars and students agree that the two witnesses of Revelation are Moses and Elijah, with Elijah an easier connection to make because he was taken alive from the earth to heaven without dying. But not so, Moses … as he died. Consequently, there is hardly any commentary on how (therefore, why) Elijah and (especially) Moses appear, i.e. in their original earthly bodies. I’ll provide an explanation shortly.

The bodily return of these two mighty prophets will rivet global attention. They will also rival the awe and allegiance afforded to Nero because of his bodily return to the earth; as well as the adulation given to the False Prophet who speaks and acts on behalf of the Antichrist beast (Revelation 13).

Elijah … Born Some 2,900 Years Ago

The Biblical account of Elijah’s astonishing transportation to heaven in a chariot is well-known by believers and unbelievers alike. Like Enoch, Elijah was taken directly to heaven without first dying; however, Enoch won’t be the other prophet alongside Elijah. That role goes to Moses. Enoch is not designated as a prophet, by the definition and duties of a prophet delineated in Scripture. In fact, the first prophet was Moses. Revelation 11 clearly calls these two witnesses, prophets.

*Note: Enoch’s transportation to heaven was a prototype of raptured believers. Just like Enoch was spared from the Great Flood (based on life expectancy back then he would have been alive to see his great-grandson Noah build the ark); so, too, will the Rapture of living believers spare them from God’s second (and final) global judgment.

Time/space doesn’t permit elaboration regarding Elijah’s tremendous transference to heaven, except the event itself found in the following verse, plus one brief commentary from my second book.

“As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, driven by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven” (II Kings 2:11).

Do you know or recall who the other man was? Correct: Elisha.

Elijah was still alive; thus, God provided special transportation for his journey. Talk about a joy ride! Beats any roller coaster, race car, speed boat, supersonic jet, or spaceship known to man. As is said, “What a way to go!” (Out of the Abyss, Page 245).

Elijah was taken to heaven to join Moses for the express purpose of (1) brief return to earth to meet with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration; (2) reappear some 2,000 years later in Jerusalem to directly take on Antichrist Nero and the False Prophet. And, indirectly, the dragon.

Moses … Born About 3,400 Years Ago

Concerning the Mount of Transfiguration, it’s easier to grasp how Elijah could have appeared in his original body, than Moses’ bodily appearance—as Moses had died. Because Jesus had not yet died and risen from the grave, no one would be resurrected or transformed if still alive with new spiritual bodies given to all believers (including Moses and Elijah) until Jesus’s resurrection and later the Rapture.

So how in the world could (did) Moses appear on the Mount of Transfiguration and will return during the Tribulation in that same earthly body?

To explain why and how Moses could appear in his original body (alongside of Elijah) at both events, we’re going to look at one of the most intriguing verses in all of Scripture, found in the one-chapter book of Jude. One that is virtually devoid of commentary from Bible scholars and teachers, but one that will (when compared to the death and burial of Moses) solve the mystery of Moses’ reappearances with Elijah.

To encourage those who haven’t yet read Out of the Abyss (to do so), but also because I explained it in the book as well as could be written again, here is an excerpt beginning with the sub-heading:

Satan and the Body of Moses

Next, we find a brief but extraordinary and mysterious scene involving Michael, Moses, and Satan.

“But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body)” (Jude 1:9, parenthesis in the text).

Why on earth, or under the earth, or above the earth would Satan argue with the archangel Michael over Moses’ body? What was it that Lucifer disputed? Though I’ve never heard or read any definitive commentary on this, I’m sure that some scholars have addressed it…. But knowing what we know about Scripture, let’s try the following on for size:

At this point in Biblical history, it had been the destiny of every person on earth to die, except Enoch. Man’s sin resulted in the curse of death…. At the time of Moses, there had not yet been any physical evidence of bodily resurrection from the dead. Of course, Satan knew where the spirits of the dead went after the person died; to Sheol (Hades in the New Testament) with a great gulf between the unsaved and those declared righteous because of their faith.

But the fact was then, and still is today; a person’s body stays in the grave and decays. Not until the Rapture of Christians and the subsequent Great White Throne Judgment of all unbelievers, will there be a permanent bodily resurrection from the grave. Even those that Elijah, Elisha, Peter, and Jesus raised from the dead had to die again.

Why was Satan so bent out of shape over the body of Moses? The only rational, logical explanation is that Michael, on orders from God, had arrived to take the body of Moses directly to heaven. In fact, can you think of any other reason? This may also explain why no one knew where God had buried Moses. For that matter, how often does God directly bury someone himself, let alone conceal the burial site?

*Note: A pause to answer that rhetorical question. No other person in Scripture was buried by God. In fact, the Lord even prepared Moses by telling him ahead of time when Moses would die and where (Deuteronomy 32:48-52). Because Moses was still healthy at age 120, it’s as if God “took” him in the fashion of Enoch and Elijah; except that for Moses it was by death. You may want to read the account of Moses’ death and burial as found in Deuteronomy Chapter 34.

(Moses overlooking the Promised Land from Mount Nebo.  I wonder?: If the Lord hadn’t forbidden Moses to enter the Promised Land because of Moses’ disobedience, would the Lord have later taken Moses to heaven without dying?)

But since Moses died, let’s continue in Out of the Abyss with the reason Satan argued with Michael over Moses’s body.

Moses would be raised from the grave with his original body intact, and this didn’t set well with Satan… It is entirely credible that Satan reminded Michael (and God) that the curse of sin was physical death and bodily decay. God had no right to make an exception to this rule, as it was God’s decree in the first place that Adam and Eve would surely die if they sinned….

In no uncertain terms, Michael reminded Satan that God is in control; God has the final say in all things. If the Lord wanted to take Enoch from the earth directly to heaven (and later Elijah), then the Lord would do just that. Same thing with Moses; the only difference is that Moses had died, but that’s a mere technicality with God.

…Plus, Moses needed more help than Elijah, as Moses was dead! He needed the Archangel Michael’s assistance, whereas, Elijah needed only a chariot of fire!

…I am with those Bible students who believe Elijah and Moses will be the two witnesses, all the more because of Jude’s account of Moses’ body. That means Elijah will die once, and that Moses will have to die a second time at the hand of the Antichrist as depicted in Revelation 11; but then so did Lazarus and a few others have to die twice (pages 243-245).

Things to Ponder

The spectacular, but surreal special effects and portentous plots of Hollywood movies, television programs, and Si-fi novels are preparing the world with virtual apocalyptic images of supernatural beings who suddenly are transformed, or do extraordinary things in their natural bodies—both heroes and villains.

Pure fiction.

However, these four beings of the Tribulation appearing from the distant past are alive and real.

Two of them diabolically evil; anti-God and anti-Christ, with an equally wicked accomplice who appears for the first time … the False Prophet.

The other two are mighty men of God who will demonstrate His power as they did in times gone by.

For those left behind, there will be a crystal-clear choice to make. No more doubt or indecision or fence-riding. Either believe in Messiah Jesus, whose 144,000 Jewish post-Rapture born-again followers (Revelation 7 & 14) and whose two powerful prophets performing miracles of old (Revelation 11) will challenge the world to choose Christ.

Or believe the counterfeit miracles of the False Prophet and a colossal statue. Both will speak and act for the Antichrist, whose astonishing reappearance from the grave will profess to rival and replace the true Messiah, Jesus. With the dragon (embodied Satan) empowering and egging them on from the sidelines.

Above all, the most magnificent return will be that of Messiah Jesus. In the same glorified body and at the same location where he ascended to heaven 2,000 years ago—the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

“His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:7).

Hallelujah to the King of kings!