(Are We) THE OMEGA GENERATION?

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22: 12-13). These are the very words of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Messiah. And they are found in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible.

I am from the Baby Boomer generation. What generation do you belong to? Silent Generation? Generation X? Generation Y (Millennial)? Generation Z (Coming of Age)?Lost generation? We love to name our generations. But how often do we think about the final generation? Or, will there even be a final generation? If so, will it have a name? I think so … let’s call it the Omega Generation!

Old Testament prophetic books such as Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zechariah and New Testament books such as I & II Thessalonians and Revelation give us a wealth of information about the end times or the last days of this age. Of equal or even greater consequence are the words of Jesus, himself, given to his disciples on the Mount of Olives just a few days before his crucifixion and resurrection. This impressive disclosure of the signs of the last days can be found in Matthew 24 & 25, and the companion text in Luke 21.

Yet, from what I’ve seen and heard, many Christians don’t fully understand these passages. One reason is that the events announced by Jesus are not necessarily in chronological order. Or they refer to a period of time that precede and precipitates the final days … meaning events that take place during the birth pains; such as wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes. Or, as in the case of Luke 21: 20-24 and Matthew 24:2, Jesus is predicting (referring to) the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple that subsequently occurred in 70 AD.

“And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived” (Luke 21:20). We know that this refers to the Roman conquest of Israel by the Roman Generals Vespasian and Titus, as that is exactly what happened in 66-70 AD. This is further confirmed in verse 24: “They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world…” That, too, took place in 70 AD and continued for hundreds of years through the horrific Holocaust during WWII.

Then we read the words of Jesus in the last part of Luke 21:24: “…And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.”

The God-ordained and time-specified prophecy of seven times over as found in Leviticus 26, has been the subject of our previous three articles. As explained and documented in these articles, God’s final (phase four) discipline of Israel resulted in eviction of the people from the land of Israel and subsequent exile to nations all over the world. Because God himself designed the sequential phases of punishment, he alone would determine exactly when the discipline would begin and end. The vast majority of Bible scholars agree that the Times of the Gentiles began with Babylon’s final conquest of Israel in 586 BC. We then found that the 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 paradigm measured in historical years (including 49 Jubilee years) did, in fact, come to an end in 1967.

Furthermore, the year 1967 was/is a monumentally significant year in Jewish modern-day history as that’s when the Six-Day War occurred. One outcome of this stunning victory was the final capture of all of Jerusalem by the Israelis, including Temple Mount. This was God’s predetermined plan to end Gentile domination of the Jews, of Israel, and of Jerusalem.

That doesn’t mean, however, that Israel will not be attacked again; or, for a specified period of time (42 months), be under partial control by Gentile nations … specifically led by Antichrist. “Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, ‘Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers. But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months’” (Revelation 11: 1-2).

This allotted time matches precisely with the time given to the beast of Revelation (Antichrist). “Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his temple—that is, those who live in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation” (Revelation 13: 5-7).

But notice one thing that is transparently missing from this temporary 42-month period of God-permitted domination by Antichrist: The Jews are NOT exiled or taken captive to other nations on earth, as they were before the Times of the Gentiles ended in 1967.

Both in terms of method and time, the seven times over prophecy was very precise in its fulfillment; with the 4th and final phase incorporating God’s use of Gentile nations to discipline God’s chosen people. This was accomplished through exile of Jews to nations all over the earth. Until, that is, the rebirth of Israel in 1948, then the seizure of other sectors of Israel during the Six-Day War in June, 1967; not the least of which was all of Jerusalem, the Holy City of the Holy Land.

Scripture is very clear—through many of the Old Testament prophets: Once the Jews return to Israel, they will never again be under constant Gentile domination. As we have seen, that continuous rule ended in June, 1967. Thus, the Tribulation period of 42 months is but a temporary interlude to the cessation of Gentile rule over the Jews. In the book of Ezekiel, we find one of many promises throughout the Old Testament that, once God ends his punishment of the Jews and restores his people to the land of Israel, never again will they be held captive by Gentile enemies.

“And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile—it was punishment for sin, for they were unfaithful to their God. Therefore, I turned away from them and let their enemies destroy them. I turned my face away and punished them because of their defilement and their sins” (Ezekiel 39:21-24).

The passage continues with good news: “So now, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on all Israel, for I jealously guard my holy reputation! They will accept responsibility for their past shame and unfaithfulness after they come home to live in peace in their own land, with no one to bother them. When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, I will display my holiness among them for all the nations to see. Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind. And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!’” (Ezekiel 39: 25-29, italics for emphasis).

Now it’s time to examine more words of Jesus’s prophecy as to a potential or projected time-frame starting with the return of the Jews to Israel and their final spiritual restoration … “pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel.”

Generational Measurements of the Last Days

Another well-known, but nevertheless spectacular prophecy given by Jesus during the Mount of Olives discourse is as follows: “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:32-34).

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 life-time. 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!

Using our first example of four generations of Israel’s enslavement in Egypt, God gave Abraham the point-in-time commencement of this 400 hundred years (four generations) captivity, i.e. from the time that the Jews no longer enjoyed freedom in Egypt, which was not too long after Joseph died. Another example is the 70-year Babylonian captivity, which just happened to be the exact length of the 2nd measurement of time for a generation … 70 years. Historically, we know the beginning (586 BC) and end date (516 BC) of this time-designated punishment of Israel.

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. In addition, I partially addressed these events some time ago in the Eye of Prophecy article, entitled, When the Rapture, published 8-10-13, as well as The End of the Age article published 11-23-13.

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 (composed of all Jews and Gentiles who have been redeemed by Messiah Jesus), 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 of 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. Moreover, from the 4th Chapter through the 18th Chapter of the book of Revelation, the Church is not even mentioned, as such.

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 very 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!).

This was the 2nd significant milestone in fulfillment of hundreds of Biblical prophecies concerning the Abrahamic Covenant, i.e. the physical restoration of Israel. Most Bible scholars and historians select the statehood date of May 14, 1948 as the historical landmark, which it certainly is; however, the actual declaration of statehood was almost anticlimactic. Reason: officially, the British Mandate (rule) over Palestine expired on that date. But it was the UN Resolution that delivered the pivotal turning point or breakthrough. 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.

C. June, 1967 Six-Day War (Jubilee Years): In addition to the two Biblical measurements of a generation (100 years and 70 years), what happens if we also select the Jubilee time-frame of 50 years? As stressed in the previous seven times seven articles, the 50-year Jubilee was part of God’s formula for disciplining Israel, as the Jews also failed to keep the Jubilee. Consequently, I believe the Jubilee will also be a component part of God’s magnificent restoration of Israel.

In this instance, we will use the next epic milestone in Israel’s brief modern-history … that of the June, 1967 Six-Day War. We talked about this at great length in last week’s article, to include the fact that it occurred 50 years (not coincidentally, a Jubilee period of time) from the Balfour Declaration of 1917.

Once again we convert 50 Roman calendar years to Jewish time and we come up with: 50.7 years which is 50 years and 8.4 months (8-9 months). From June, 1967, this would take us through February or into March, 2018.

Combining All Three Events

Now comes the really exciting feature of all these conversion tables and what you might consider to be some boring mathematics. 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. I emphasize that almost to a fault in my article, When the Rapture. 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 even used the metaphor of the fig tree in bloom? Even more challenging: 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 bench mark 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 that we’ve selected as commencement dates for both the 100 and 70-year generations, as well as the equally important Jubilee? In answer to this question, I’ll give you a hint: There are NO other events that even come close to these historical mileposts. In fact, take a look at what constitutes the Jubilee year in Leviticus Chapter 25. Among other things, it is a time to free servants, debts, and captives, which is exactly what happened when the IDF captured Jerusalem and freed all Jews to return to and live in all of Jerusalem—at least in principle.

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). From our three (four, if we also use Israel’s statehood of May, 1948) examples, we will select the earliest possible month/year all the way to the latest month/year.

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 even after those dates. For the following reasons: God will determine the next Jubilee in Israel’s history. 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 time-frames, then I would be very surprised if we Christians are still on this earth after the year 2020. Although that is a speculative statement, I believe that it is a sanctified speculation! Meaning that it is based on some solid evidence from Scripture, particularly the passages quoted in this article and prior articles.

Things to Ponder
Once again, listen to the words of Jesus. He says: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13).

Are we the Omega generation?

http://www.blowingtheshofar.com/video/

THE RAPTURE (What, Why, Who, When & How)
This is the fifth and final article in our series on The Rapture.

HOW WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE?

For those who are quite familiar with the Biblical passages on the Rapture, or even those who know very little, you may be thinking, “What do you mean how will the Rapture take place? Doesn’t it take place “in the twinkling of an eye?” Isn’t that how the Bible portrays it, and isn’t that what we’ve always been taught? The answer is, “Yes.” And the answer is, “No.” Please, you say … not one of those yes and no answers! First, I completely agree with the yes part of the answer: It will be in the blink of an eye or even faster. But, in support of the no part of the answer, we need to examine the two main passages on the Rapture with microscopic magnification and intensity. And let’s see if we can pinpoint exactly what the twinkling of the eye refers to and what it doesn’t refer to.

While we’re at it, let’s scrutinize the prevalent view held by many Christians, including pastors, teachers and Bible scholars; who propose that the Rapture is only seen and heard by believers. That unbelievers left behind won’t see or hear anything except the shocking after effect of, “I can’t believe it … where did they go?” Several Christian movies and a couple of secular movies also have depicted this sudden disappearance of believers, who, one second were there, the next second gone. This view is one I held until a few years ago, and flows somewhat naturally and logically from the concept that the Rapture involves a sudden change, therefore, a “vanishing” of believers from the earth. So, here we go:

I Corinthians 15: 51-52. (Which is the 2nd revelation of the Rapture, chronologically … with the 1st revelation presented in I Thessalonians Chapter 4). We read the amazing description as follows: “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.”

This is the second key passage where the Apostle Paul reveals another aspect of the astonishing mystery (of the Rapture), and this text explains how this spectacular event will transpire: “in the blink of an eye.” 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.

Second Bible Passage, I Thessalonians 4 (Which is the 1st chronological revelation of the Rapture): Let’s examine this first reference to the Rapture so we can see what it is that many students of the Bible have condensed into a microsecond period of time. Here it is: “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: 15-17).

To Exactly What Does the Blink (Twinkling) of an Eye Refer? (Back to I Corinthians 15)
Here is where we students of the Bible (I’m 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 And shame on me in particular, as my major in college was English/Literature! I’m sure you just thought or said something to the effect, “What in the world is he talking about?” Very reasonable question; I’ll answer it, by 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.”

Next, the Apostle Paul elaborates on “it” (meaning the actual transformation itself, which as you already know is the transfiguration of our earthly body to that of our brand new heavenly, resurrected body) by explaining how it (the transfiguration) will take place. What does he say? He says, “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye” When will it happen? “…when the last trumpet is blown.” For added emphasis and understanding, what will happen in the blink of an eye? You’re right: “It.” And again, what does it refer to? Right again: It refers exclusively to the just mentioned clause, “we will all be transformed!”

In the New American Standard translation, we read, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet….” (I Corinthians 15: 51-52). 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.

Please bear with me … 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 (at the instant the last trumpet is blown) 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’ve inadvertently extended or expanded the instantaneous change found in I Corinthians 15 to include the entire sequence of events described in I Thessalonians 4.

As alluded to, somewhere along the prophetic highway, we made a wrong turn; because we missed a little warning sign that effectively said, “Detour Ahead. Watch for Pronouns.” Meaning that we stayed on the four-lane highway with a bit of tunnel vision, thinking that everything said about or encompassing the Rapture in both of these Biblical passages would take place in the twinkling of an eye. We missed the little detour that, as we’ve just seen, would have narrowed the highway (for a short distance) down to one lane–with the blink of an eye referring only to the physical transformation of our earthly bodies. All the other component parts of the Rapture will also take place in actual time/space sequence, but this real-time is not the blink of an eye. What kind of time-frame or sequence, then, am I talking about?

The Real-Time Sequence of the Entire Rapture (Before and after the Last Trumpet is Blown):
The Apostle Paul conveys the active sequence of the Rapture in I Thessalonians Chapter 4.

First: “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel…” (I Thessalonians 4: 16a). Many scholars believe this shout could very well be the same words used by Jesus to call John to heaven where John would be given the astounding revelations of the end times. In Revelation 4:1b, Jesus commanded John, “Come up here…” Equally significant is how Jesus commanded John. In the first part of the verse we read, “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” (Rev. 4:1a, italics for emphasis). The similarity between this shout from Jesus (like a trumpet blast) is too strong of a parallel to consider it a mere coincidence with I Thessalonians 4.

Second: In addition to a commanding shout and the voice of the archangel, our Lord will also descend, “with the trumpet call of God.”

Third: What happens next? The dead in Christ rise, then those believers alive are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (See I Thessalonians 4:7)

With regard to the real-time lapse of what is happening, we need to interject a healthy dose of common sense to the reality of what is taking place. We all know that “common sense” is and can be one of the best ways to look at real life experiences in order to understand what they are and what they mean. A good many people swear by common sense as a superior teacher in life, even more so than formal education. What does common sense tell us in the context of these three steps of how the Rapture will occur?

It’s fairly simple: Think about it for a couple of minutes (or longer). Does it make any sense that the entire sequence of events (first, second, and third steps listed above) could happen in “the blink of an eye?” Or a companion question: Why would it happen in a microsecond? Or, how could we as believers possibly “process” and experience in real-time (not virtual time or reality) the entire progression –the Lord descending, the trumpet call of God, the dead rising first, then those alive being caught up in the air—in a tiny fraction of a second?

There is no evidence, whatsoever, in these two passages that the Lord will set aside time, or otherwise stop the clock. In fact, wouldn’t the Lord want us to absorb (take it all in) the majesty and wonder of the whole thing in real-time? If the sequence of I Thessalonians is over in the twinkling of an eye, then why would the Lord even bother to explain the amazing order or arrangement as described in Chapter 4?

Of course, the Lord could do all this in a split second, if he wanted to. But why would he inexplicably reduce such an astonishing and majestic event to a microsecond and, thereby, deprive us of the awesome splendor of his glory and the ensuing sensory, spiritual, mental, and emotional real-life, real-time experience? (If the Lord does temporarily change the hands of time, I actually hope that it might be in slow-motion!) Wouldn’t you agree: It makes much more sense that these events–from the moment Christ descends from heaven to the instant our bodies are transfigured and everything in between–would transpire in actual time, i.e. at least a few minutes? Yet, the prevailing consensus in the Church is that all these things are over in an instant. But, if you prefer more evidence or rationale than just common sense, we have that, too!

Biblical Precedents & Jewish Tradition:

Here, we need to focus on the trumpet call, which is (not just coincidentally) mentioned in both of these Rapture passages. I Thessalonians tells us that the third and last part of Messiah’s descent from heaven comprises, “the trumpet call of God.” Now we need to return to I Corinthians 15, specifically verse 52: “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of any eye, when the last trumpet is blown … For when the trumpet sounds….” Now the Apostle Paul is telling us when “it” will happen. It—referring to the instant transformation of our earthly body–will happen, “when the last trumpet is blown.”

I placed “last trumpet” in bold letters and italics to make a reflective emphasis on and a vital examination of trumpet call(s). Why is the trumpet call in I Corinthians 15 classified as the “last” trumpet call? Why the modifier, “last?” Why not just the trumpet call as we find in I Thessalonians Chapter 4. What might “last” suggest to you? You’ve probably already thought about it. The adjective qualifier last wouldn’t be used unless it was just that, the last trumpet call. With a clear inference that there must be other trumpet calls preceding and leading to the final one. Once again, there would be no purpose whatsoever for Scripture to tell us that the transfiguration of our bodies would take place at the last (final) call, if there was only one trumpet blast. Thus, in I Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul is giving us more details on the trumpet blast first mentioned in I Thessalonians 4.

Why, then, are there two or more, or a series of trumpet calls? The answer is found primarily in the Old Testament, but also in modern-day Israel. *Note: A thorough treatise on the method and significance of the use of the trumpet and/or shofar in Jewish history would take far too much space than a blog article allows. Thus, I must condense this into a few sentences. If you like, do some research on the ancient and modern use of the Shofar in Israel.

Also, to quickly emphasize that the last trumpet call referenced in I Corinthians 15 can’t possibly be the final trumpet call of all time; thus giving possible meaning that it is the last and, therefore, only trumpet call to herald the Rapture. Reason: There are many more trumpet calls during the Great Tribulation (after the Rapture occurs) as found throughout the Book of Revelation.

Purpose of Trumpets and the Shofar:

The shofar (normally made from the horns of a ram), but also trumpets crafted from beaten silver were an integral part of Israel’s customs and heritage. In fact, trumpet blasts were a requirement by God during the Feast of Trumpets, one of the seven festivals given by God to the Jewish people, still celebrated to this day (See Leviticus 23: 23-25). Several blasts of the shofar announced other festivals, and the shofar also was used to warn the Jews of an impending attack by their enemies. And, let’s not forget the mighty shofar blasts that accompanied God’s Ten Commandments proclaimed at Mt. Sinai!

The blowing of trumpets in the book of Revelation will announce spectacular happenings, including seven of God’s judgments. Trumpets have also been used throughout Gentile history, especially during battle. Can you imagine the Calvary coming to the rescue in a Western movie without first blowing a trumpet! And they will play a huge role in the last days of this age. If you ever have the privilege of traveling to Israel, you will hear the sound of shofars throughout the year, especially during Rosh Hashanah (New Year Feast of Trumpets). Israel and the shofar are inseparable, as are trumpets and the Rapture, followed by the tribulation trumpets.

Here’s where we’re going with this: Normally, the blowing of the shofar wasn’t 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 again. That is still true today in Israel or wherever the shofar or a trumpet is sounded for Biblical reasons. Are you getting the connection to the last trumpet of the Rapture? “Last” overwhelmingly implies that there are other blasts that precede the final trumpet call. And, references to the shofar/trumpet in Scripture are very consistent, in terms of the how and why they are used. There’s every reason to believe that the trumpet call(s) of the Rapture will be the same: that is, a series of blasts. Especially when Paul stipulates that the instant change of our bodies from corruptible to incorruptible is directly connected to the “last” trumpet.

At the top of this blog article, you’ll find a link to videos that accurately depict the (four-part) blowing of the Shofar. The second (lower) video in particular could very well simulate the Rapture sounds; albeit, the Trumpet calls at the Rapture will be infinitely more powerful and extensive (world-wide).

Who Will Hear the Trumpet Calls?

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 sound of 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 times 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?

The Shout Heard Around the World:

Most know about, “the shot heard around the world,” that started the American Revolutionary War. At the Rapture, it will be the “shout heard around the world.” The shout of Christ, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God will shake the world like it’s never been shaken before. It will give a whole new meaning to “shock and awe.” And, the entire sequence of events involving Jesus descent from heaven, loud shout, voice of the archangel, trumpet call(s) of God that lead to the last blast of the trumpet, will take several minutes. This literal lapse of time needed for a literal series of visual and audio events to occur will NOT take place in a blink of the eye. Only the grand finale of it all will happen in the twinkling of an eye. Which is, as you know by now, the supernatural transformation of our earthly body.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more inclined I am to propose that those left behind may even witness our newly resurrected (the dead) and transformed (the living) bodies ascend to heaven. Why not? Isn’t that part of the whole sequence? 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 or disappear from sight. 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. Picture watching a hot-air balloon ascending. Why wouldn’t our meeting Jesus in the clouds be just like His ascension to heaven? Our transformed bodies will be like his … why not our rising to meet him be similar or identical?

SUMMARY:

Thus, I believe that common sense, reinforced heavily by Biblical precedents and even more so by accurate examination of the Rapture passages (that we’ve done in this article) lead to a very convincing conclusion: The entire episode of the Rapture from start to finish will take several minutes. 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.

This is the way the Lord intended it to be, and this is the way that the Bible passages on the Rapture tell us it will be. I believe the evidence—as summarized in this article—conclusively demonstrates that the blink of an eye relates only to the miraculous transfiguration of our mortal bodies. Whereas, the progression of events that culminate in this instantaneous change will take several minutes of actual time.

In closing, let’s put the proverbial icing on the cake by reading Isaiah 18:3 from the New American Standard: “All you inhabitants of the world and dwellers on earth, as soon as a standard is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and as soon as the trumpet (shofar) is blown, you will hear it.” This is one of many end-times prophecies found in Isaiah. Did you catch the first word of this verse?

Things to Ponder:

– Given the length of time to sound the series of trumpet calls, plus the time it will take for the other aspects of the Rapture to take place, would you care to make a guess as to how long it might take? To do so, you might want to break down all of the sequential parts of the Rapture. My own thought is that God could very well utilize the number 7 (as he does so often in the book of Revelation and other books of the Bible). I’m thinking the whole process could take seven minutes, with, perhaps, three or four minutes needed for the trumpet calls.
– Can you imagine the exclamations from the lips of those about to be transformed? Such as, “Lord you’re here!” Or, “I’m going home!” Or, “It’s actually happening!” What other shouts of joy (or sorrow from the left behind) can you think of?
– Can you think of some other things that people might do during the few minutes span of the Rapture?

The Rapture (What, Why, When, Who & How)

WHO WILL BE TAKEN IN THE RAPTURE?

Or, we could also ask the question, “Who will not be taken?” To begin with, let’s do ask that question. First, we can state the obvious: not everyone on earth will be taken. Why? Because there would be no reason for the Rapture if everyone on earth was included. If every man and woman had accepted God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, there would be no reason for God to pour out his wrath on a depraved world; thus, no point in “snatching” away believers to transfigure them, transport them, and protect them from the most apocalyptic disaster the world has even seen or will see again.

So, then, who will be left behind. Scripture is abundantly clear on this matter, as several passages in Revelation tell us. I will quote just one verse that yields a descriptive term for those who (by a choice they have already made) will remain on the earth. “And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world…” (Revelation 13:14, italics for emphasis). The “he” of this verse is the false prophet, and the “first beast” is the Antichrist. In the New Living Translation, the phrase, “all the people who belong to this world” is used several times in Revelation, and refers to those alive on the earth after the Rapture. They are the ones who deliberately (knowing full well what they are doing) take the mark of the Beast, which clearly seals their fate. Once that mark is taken, there is no turning back, no second guessing, no second chance (See Revelation 14: 9-11).

Unlike ambiguous conditions which currently exist on the earth, there will be no fence-riding or gray areas or indecisiveness concerning the choices to be made during the Tribulation period. And, there will be precious little time for procrastination. Either you follow and worship the Beast, or you die from starvation or execution. Either you see through the deception and lies of the Antichrist and (at the risk of intense deprivation, persecution, and death) turn to Messiah Jesus; or you forfeit everlasting life in Heaven and spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.

That’s why the Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Which means, don’t put it off. If death doesn’t claim unbelievers before the Rapture, then Antichrist will (lay claim to them) after the Rapture. The chances of a person turning to Christ after the Rapture are not good. The chances of taking the mark of the beast are quite good … who wants to be deprived of buying and selling, of home and property, of rights and freedom? Who wants to be hunted down and put to death? (See Revelation 13: 13-18). Which is why so many will literally sell their soul to Satan (through total allegiance to the Antichrist); meaning they will choose temporary safety and security over everlasting life. What a disastrous decision that will be. We have the same choice now, but without anything approaching the incredible pressure to choose “anti” Christ over the true Christ, during the Tribulation. Even now, what a tragic thing it is to die without believing and receiving Messiah Jesus as personal Savior.

They “belong” to the world because they love the things of the world and don’t want to part with pleasure, prosperity, prestige, power, or pride. Despite all the irrefutable evidence, not the least of which is the historically documented fact that Jesus arose from the dead, they refuse to believe that Jesus is the only way to God, the only source of salvation, the only means of everlasting life in heaven. “For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Chris Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5). During the Great Tribulation, the unbelievers will recognize and acknowledge that the majority of the apocalyptic catastrophes come from God and his Messiah, Jesus Christ. Yet (incomprehensible as it may seem), they will still refuse to repent … which means to change their minds, reject the lies foisted on them by the Antichrist and his false prophet, and accept Christ as their Savior, as the true Messiah (See Revelation 9: 20-21).

A Shocking Example of Those Who Belong to the World, Then and Now

I recently read an article on Prophecy News Watch in which (former) Archbishop of the South African Anglican Church, Desmond Tutu, said something to the effect that he would rather go to hell than live in heaven and worship a “homophobic God.” Does he have any clue what he’s really thinking or the implications of what he said? Be careful what you wish for! His reference to homophobic was in the context of LGBT equality rights; and, by implication, any other political or social issue in today’s politically correct world, that everyone is expected to be unequivocally tolerant about, such as all religions are equal to the Christian faith in finding a path to God. And his brash statement was transparently void of any Biblical truth regarding the subject that generated his comment, or his (lack of) understanding of our Great God and his attributes.

The last time I studied the attributes of God in the Bible (such as holy, love, omnipotent, omniscient, among many others) I didn’t see anywhere the attribute of “homophobia.” However, HE IS and speaks absolute Truth. Among many other eternal realities found in the Bible, God’s truth also deals with the issue of LGBT lifestyles. But, of course, if someone doesn’t happen to accept God’s truth or randomly picks and chooses what they believe, then all that person need do is to claim that Christians and even God, himself, are homophobic, and that makes it true. Then everyone is supposed to agree, because that’s what you do when you’re impartial and politically correct. But when they do that, aren’t they siding with what Mr. Tutu claims as truth, meaning that God must be homophobic if he doesn’t condone homosexuality? So they’ve taken the side of what they think is true, and when they take sides aren’t they being intolerant of those on the other side … those who claim that God’s truth IS truth?

Finally, Mr. Tutu apparently has no concept about hell either, which Jesus repeatedly described as … well, as a place you don’t want to be. And, from all people–an Archbishop. But that’s another thing the Bible says about the last days: good will be called evil, and evil will be considered good. When all is said and done, what can be so wrong in agreeing with our Creator, the true and living God?

THOSE TAKEN AT THE RAPTURE:

This is equally easy to comprehend. All those who have been “born again” (a term first used by Jesus, himself in John 3:3), will be taken. Jesus then explains to Nicodemus what born again means, i.e. a spiritual rebirth that is every bit as real and permanent as our biological birth. A born-again believer in Christ is absolutely guaranteed eternal life the minute he/she accepts Christ as personal Savior. You can no more be spiritually unborn, than you can be physically unborn. Heaven is a place where God dwells, a place promised to all true Christians when they die or when Christ takes them in the Rapture. Eternal life is a state of being, irrevocably given to us by God as a free gift the very second we place our trust in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Once you breathe your first breath of life, you are a real person on this earth. According to Scripture, you actually became a human being the moment you were conceived. Likewise, once you are born from above (spiritually), your spirit is instantly made alive. Before that, the Bible tells us that our spirit was “dead,” meaning unable to relate to God in any way, shape, or form. Think about it: Dead things can’t do anything. Then at the Rapture, our very bodies (whether dead or still alive) will be transfigured to enable us to live forever.

The minute we are redeemed, our citizenship in Heaven begins. Our real home now and then is Heaven. For the present, we’re living in a temporary shelter. But it’s just a matter of time before we move to our new address. We already have a passport … stamped, and sealed by God. On each passport is a picture of Jesus, just above these words: “Crucified, buried, and risen!” And our transportation is prearranged by Christ, himself … a catching up in the clouds to be with our Lord forever more! How good is that!

WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?

This may be the most difficult part of the Rapture to talk about, as there are many parents, even some Christian parents, who prefer not to think about the Rapture, let alone talk about it. It’s too unsettling, too uncertain, too interruptive … just too everything. And, unfortunately, many pastors/teachers in the Church consistently avoid preaching or teaching on end times prophecy. It’s disconcerting, bewildering, maybe even unnerving.

*Note: Here I need to be completely compassionate and sensitive to these thoughts and views about the end times. Meaning to relate to those (parents) who, when it comes to their children– especially those past the age of innocence–are apprehensive about not only the Rapture, but the entire scenario of the last days of this age.

Normally those Christian parents, who prefer not to think about these things, don’t like the idea of a happy home being suddenly disrupted (by anything). And, at face value, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just that sometimes we forget God’s promises in the Bible such as found in Ephesians 3:20, New American Standard Bible: “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.”

Notice, that the Apostle Paul says, ask OR think. There are some things we don’t need to ask for, such as eternal life, or the Holy Spirit, or a resurrected body. These and many other things are promised and/or freely given to us at the moment of our spiritual rebirth in Christ. On the contrary, we only need to think about these things. But whether we ask or think (or both), guess what Ephesians 3:20 promises: We can multiply exponentially what the Lord will do for us and give to us. That’s what “exceeding” and “abundant” clearly convey. When applied to the Rapture and everlasting life it means that our home and relationships (for example, with our children) in heaven will be exceedingly abundant above even the best of times we have on this earth, more than we can possibly imagine. The New Living Translation of the Bible says, “infinitely more than we might ask or think.” So, it’s okay mom and dad and kids. We will instantly realize beyond all doubt that, “We’ve never had it so good.”

Current Consensus

The prevailing thought among many Christians, including Bible scholars, pastors, and teachers is that ALL children who are still at the age of innocence–those who do not yet have the capacity either in their heart or mind to understand and, therefore, choose (accept) the free gift of salvation offered by God–will be taken in the Rapture alongside of older children and adults who have already made a decision to accept Christ as their personal Savior. The fact of the matter is that on this side of eternity, we do not know for sure; on the other hand I believe there are significant precedents in Scripture that give us cause/reason to take a second look at the children. These precedents do not support the premise that ALL children will be taken when the Rapture occurs.

In my first book, a novel entitled, O Israel, this topic is addressed, through one of the main characters, Avram Levitt. You’ll find it in the final three pages of the novel, which is the 7th world-wide email sent by Avram to those alive during the Tribulation. If you haven’t read O Israel, and would like a copy, let me know by email or on the blog site, and I will see that you get a copy.

My Premise & the Precedents:

First, a little more explanation as to the predominant view among most Christians that all innocent children will be taken in the Rapture, despite Biblical evidence to the contrary. The main reason (for some, the only reason) can best be summarized as a deduction, based mostly on sentiment; one, however, that at face value, is also logical and appealing. It’s one that any Christian, including me, would want to see happen; as we would not want innocent children exposed to the horrific things that will take place during the Great Tribulation. We would hope that they would be spared from the wrath of God’s judgments, and, of course, from the evil that will be prevalent throughout the earth, compliments of Satan and his man of lawlessness.

But, there is actually a positive or up-side to certain children of unbelievers being left behind. You might ask: “How could there be any good from leaving children behind at the Rapture?” The answer lies in I Corinthians Chapter 7, especially verse 14. We’ll get to that passage, shortly. For now, let’s examine the two Biblical events that establish a principle or pattern; with each event strongly suggesting a similar or even an identical correlation to the Rapture.

(A) The Great Flood: Here, I’d like to quote my O Israel character Avram Levitt’s analysis of God’s monumental historical judgment in the context of all children living on the earth at that time; and as placed in the context of the Rapture which had already taken place when Avram wrote this and other emails. Avram postulates, “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.” (Italics in this article for emphasis).

(B) Sodom & Gomorrah: As with Noah and his family, only Lot (with the exception of his wife, who disobeyed the angel’s command not to look back) and his family were spared from the complete destruction of these two cities (five cities all told) and obliteration of all the inhabitants. Because God knows the end from the beginning, he knew the wickedness of these cities was inevitable, perpetual, and irreversible … including the innocent children who would grow up to be as or even more wicked than their parents. Same thing with Noah’s flood.

So, I would ask the question: “If God did not spare the children from the Great Flood or from the utter destruction of Sodom, is there any reason why children of “those who belong to the world” wouldn’t or couldn’t or shouldn’t be left behind at the Rapture and, thereby, go through all or part of the Tribulation. Incidentally, only God knows whether a child has passed the age of innocence and reached the point of accountability. Some say the age of 7, some say 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 or Bat (for girls) Mitzvah.

Why do I suggest that only some of the children (age of innocence) will be left behind at the Rapture. Answer: I Corinthians 7: 14. “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.” The Greek word translated “holiness” in English does not mean perfection. Rather, like the Old Testament Hebrew word, it means “set aside for a specific purpose.”

What is the Apostle Paul saying in this passage? He’s 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 probability that one or more other members of that family will also come to Christ. The “holiness” is the influence transferred from the Christian family member to unbelieving members. And, to continue the principle, both Lot and Noah’s children were taken out of harm’s way before the floodwaters covered the earth and before the fire/brimstone destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So, too, will the innocent children of those believers caught up in the Rapture be taken with their parent or parents. But the children of the unsaved, those who are left behind, will remain. 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, rather than to give allegiance to the Antichrist.

Summary:

Either view (all children taken or only those belonging to at least one saved parent are taken) is ultimately a matter of some speculation. When, however, it comes to “spiritual” speculation, the speculating is much more viable if it has some foundational evidence in the Bible to back up the supposition. The premise that I’ve presented has Biblical support through two very strong precedents … Noah’s children and Lot’s children were spared. Conversely, the children of the Great Flood and of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction were not spared. Both establish a remarkable parallel to what probably will take place at the Rapture, concerning not only the adult believers and non-believers, but also the children.

Next week we will take a close look at the How of the Rapture, which is the fifth and final articles in this series. It includes shouts, trumpets, a speed of light transformation, and such things. And it will present a stunning alternative to the commonly accepted view of how the Rapture takes place. Don’t miss it!

Things to Ponder:
– Do you think it will be easier, harder, or about the same for someone to believe in and follow Christ during the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation (which is the time that Antichrist is given great power and authority throughout the earth), than it is now, before the Rapture?
– Can you think of any other Biblical event or events in which the children of the ungodly were not spared?
– Early in the article, I indicate that those who remain on the earth after the Rapture, will remain by choice. How can it be their decision when God is supernaturally orchestrating the Rapture?

Rapture (What, Why, When, Who & How)

WHEN Will the Rapture Take Place?

Do you know? I certainly don’t know when Christ will descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. No one knows. Except to know that it will take place exactly when God determines, at the time God has appointed … not sooner, not later. But it will happen, just as sure as the fact that Christ came to earth the first time, through Mary’s miraculous conception.

Frankly, any attempt to predict an exact date for the Rapture is an irresponsible exercise in futility, as all prior prognostications have been pathetically inaccurate. But, someone’s bound to get these end-of-the world predictions right sooner or later; so why not keep on trying to set dates? Because Jesus, himself, said so: “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return” (Matthew 25:13). This was the third time in the space of just a few verses that the Lord told his disciples: neither they nor anyone could possibly determine the hour and day of the Rapture. Which is why all previous specific date/time predictions have failed miserably. Example: What happened last December 21 (2012)? Answer: Absolutely nothing! So, you can throw your Mayan calendar away. It doesn’t work!

For the past two hundred years or so, several self-deluded individuals or religious leaders have set their own date for “the end of the world.” Sadly, some of these misguided soothsayers generated a pretty good size following; many of these followers sold all their possessions, and literally stood on rocks or roof tops scanning the skies. After failing once, at least two of these “prophets” actually had the audacity to revise their predictions, citing some technical miscalculations, then setting another date … only to be wrong again. I won’t mention their names, as I’m sure they or their descendants have experienced enough embarrassment as it is. Moreover, based on what Jesus said, I can virtually guarantee that the Lord would never return on a day that has been “prophetically selected” for his return.

But, there is an aspect of when the Rapture will occur that we can know … a component part that the Bible clearly explains by means of placing this magnificent event in real-time sequence, meaning in proximity to other global events or developments. That is to say: We can know the signs (of the times) that signal the “beginning of the end.” In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus presents some specific markers relevant to the timing of his return, and these signs correlate with and connect to the Rapture; with the Rapture then ushering in the “Day of the Lord” (the Great Tribulation followed by the Thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth).

Thus, our task is to watch ongoing developments around the world (especially in the Middle East); and wait with confident expectancy, all the while sharpening our eye of prophecy.

Jesus referred to one of these indicators as perhaps the most significant accomplishment just before the end of this age will come. “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached through-out the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). State of the art transportation and technology have literally made this possible in our life time. Since the first century when Christ commissioned his followers to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and particularly in the last hundred years or so, nearly every nation, language, ethnic group, and culture has heard God’s message of salvation one way or another, i.e. missionaries, radio, television, internet, distribution of the Bible in many languages, evangelical crusades (Billy Graham comes to mind), and person-to-person sharing of the Gospel.

Let’s examine one other major event and one correlating condition that the Bible places in very close time proximity to the Rapture.

THE PHYSICAL REBIRTH OF ISRAEL

Event: Our generation has witnessed the return of the Jews from the four corners of the earth to their God-given land, after nearly two thousand years in exile. Long ago, several prophets in hundreds of Old Testament passages prophetically announced this spectacular achievement, one that no other nation on earth has ever accomplished—Israel’s complete destruction, then restoration, then reappearance once again as a sovereign nation with a literal revival of their ancient language, Hebrew. Once again, blog space/time doesn’t allow citation of even a handful of these prophecies; thus, I will select only two:

“Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘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. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’” (Ezekiel 37: 12-14). And then Amos 9: 14-15: “I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again … I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God.”

Before the turn of the 20th century, most of Israel, especially modern-day Tel Aviv, resembled a wasteland–void of agriculture, absent new construction of office buildings and homes, and with only a sparse population of Jews and Arabs. Then an amazing series of events unfolded (good and bad) beginning with the Balfour declaration of 1917 near the end of WWI, followed by an influx of tens of thousands of Jews to Palestine, which is what Israel was called at that time. Then World War II erupted because Hitler wanted to accomplish two evil objectives: (1) complete conquest and domination of Europe; (2) total annihilation of Jews in all countries that Germany had conquered and wanted to conquer. It was a sinister plan that the Nazis euphemistically labeled, “The Final Solution,” which since has been called, The Holocaust.

*Foot Note: “Final Solution” was designed to be an inoffensive (even noble) sounding phrase that would deceitfully deflect the Nazi’s real, but warped, objective of solving the world’s problems by means of exterminating the entire Jewish race. The idea of Jewish genocide wasn’t new to Hitler; however, he took it to a diabolical level never seen before. And, as some of you have seen and heard: This same “idea” has been bluntly and publicly announced (recently) by Iran’s former president, as well as some leaders in the Arab world, i.e. “we will wipe Israel from the face of the map.”

But then something miraculous occurred: God turned the incomprehensible horror of The Holocaust into a fulfillment of prophecy and the hope and dream of every Jew the world over … “next year in Jerusalem.” God brought the Jewish people back to Israel.

The Jews had said: “Never again.” Never again must something like this happen … the cold-blooded murder of six million Jews by government and military officials who had acted on the orders of one man. It was absolutely imperative that the Jews possess their own land, and be governed by their own people; otherwise, they would continue to be at the mercy of the nations to which they had been exiled long ago.

And, only three years after the war ended in Europe, the United Nations recognized Israel as a sovereign state on May 14, 1948. In one day the nation of Israel was born! Which is exactly what the prophet Isaiah predicted nearly 2,700 years earlier. “Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment … ‘Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it? asks the Lord. No, I would never keep this nation from being born, says your God’” (Isaiah 66: 8-9).

After May 14, 1948, the immigration gates were flung open. Tens of thousands of Jews returned to Israel, despite intense opposition from Arab countries and even from a WWII ally, England.

A Personal Pilgrimage to Israel

In March, 2006, my sister, Marge, and I traveled through much of Israel (not with a tour group, but in a rental car, no less!). My primary purpose for traveling to the Holy Land was to do research on my first book, a novel, O Israel … the end is the beginning for those left behind.

We can tell you with first-hand, up close and personal affirmation: Israel has changed! She is beautiful: We saw an abundance of flowers, vineyards, trees, gardens, fields, buildings, and highways. She is self-governed: We took pictures of the Knesset, and drove by city halls, and the Supreme Court of Israel. She is strong: we watched IDF soldiers, both men and woman, as they protected the city streets and patrolled the countryside to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and foreign tourists, and as a sign of force and peace throughout the land. She is free: We traveled uninhibited, having to stop at only one checkpoint, and we watched children playing at their schools and in the streets. She is populated: Recently the Jewish population reached 6 million, a tremendously significant and symbolic number to the Jews (6 million were murdered in Nazi Germany during WW II). She is diverse: We witnessed a variety of culture, race, religion, and education that can only be found in very large countries like the USA.

We visited Nazareth where Jesus grew up as a boy. We stood by the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked on the water and commanded the raging storm to hush. We ascended the Mount of Olives from where our Lord returned to heaven forty days after his resurrection, which is also the place he will first step foot when he returns to earth. We ate and shopped in the corridors of Old Jerusalem where Jesus lovingly taught and compassionately healed so many people. We trekked up the steep pathway to Har (which means mountain) Megiddo and peered into the valley below, where Jesus will triumphantly defeat the Antichrist and his armies at the last battle of Armageddon. We strolled through the Garden where Jesus spent his last night before he was falsely arrested, illegally tried, unjustly condemned, then unmercifully nailed to a cross. We entered the tomb where he was buried. There is a sign posted in the tomb that reads: “He is not here, he is risen.” I cried when I saw that sign. They were tears of joy. And I will unashamed say along with all those who have personally placed their trust and eternal destiny in Jesus Christ, “Hallelujah, Our redeemer lives!” Soon, very soon, he will return in great power and glory. Are you ready?

THE FINAL GENERATION:

Condition: A second prominent feature of when the Rapture will take place is mentioned by Jesus, himself. Listen to his words. “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” (Matthew 24: 32-34).

What are “these things” referenced by Jesus when he made this astonishing prediction on the Mount of Olives. They are a riveting list of events that will precede his glorious appearing. Read for yourself in Matthew 24 and 25. The majority of Biblical scholars identify the representative fig tree as the nation of Israel … based on several Scriptural passages that symbolically equate Israel with a fig tree. Jesus is essentially telling us: Once these things begin to happen–like knowing that summer is right around the corner when the fig tree (Israel) begins to bud–then his return is very, very close.

When did Israel begin to bud, then blossom, then bear fruit? You’re right: first in 1917 after the Jews were permitted to possess most of what today is modern Israel. Again, when Israel became a nation in 1948. And, yet again, when they finally took back Jerusalem, the Holy City of the Holy Land, in the Six-Day War of 1967. The Bible tells us that Jerusalem is loved by God more than any other city in the world; and Scripture is clear that Jerusalem, the ancient capital of Israel and home of King David, will be The City from where Messiah Jesus will establish his rule and reign over the nations of the earth.

In the Bible, we find two basic definitions or time periods of a “generation.” They are 70 years and 100 years. You do the math. You could select the monumental historical milestone of 1917, when England declared Palestine a two-region territory, with joint occupation/possession by the Jews and Arabs. Sadly the Arabs refused, but the Jews began to return in increasing numbers, and cultivated the land. And you can select 1947/1948 which is when the United Nations voted in favor of Israel becoming a nation (November, 1947); followed a few months later by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion’s stunning declaration that Israel was now a sovereign state. Israel had been reborn from the fires of Nazi death camps and from the floods of exiled dispersion. None other than the US President, Harry Truman, was the first to recognize Israel’s right to enter the world’s family of nations.

There are other factors to consider, but these major events could very well mark the beginning of the last generation … a 100-year generation from 1917, and a 70-year generation from 1947. These two events are hugely significant milestones to Israel’s history and to Biblical prophecy. Am I saying that the Lord will return in 2017 (by doing the math)? No, I am not. But I have studied other passages of Scripture, not the least of which is the somewhat mysterious 7-times over sequence as found in the book of Leviticus. One conclusion is that the years 2017 through 2019 could very well fit all Biblical passages dealing with the short time-frame of Christ’s return. No way will I or should anyone specify the day or hour, but the Lord encourages us to recognize the seasons and signs surrounding his second coming. The fact remains: He could return at any moment!

*Note: Following the series of articles on Out of the Abyss (which begins 8-31), we’ll spend a few weeks on two incredible passages of Scripture that refer to actual periods of time in which Messiah’s first and second advent are predicted. The first (the Biblical prediction of the actual date of Christ’s first coming) was discovered by Sir Robert Anderson, as detailed in his book, The Coming Prince. The second: The end of the Jewish exile and domination by the Gentile nations, the rebirth of Israel as a nation, and, therefore, the generational period of time when Christ would return, can be identified in a relatively obscure passage in Leviticus Chapter 26, that provides an astonishing “time-frame” of the second coming. For emphasis, let me repeat: A time-frame, not a specific date or time. But, I’m convinced that this time-frame IS our generation.

Blog along with me and we’ll see just how it works.

Please join me next week. We’ll take a look at the Who of the Rapture.

Things to Ponder:
– What is meant by the term, “Imminent return of Christ”  and, what does it mean to you?

– Each time that Jesus said that we can’t know (the time), he specifically referred to the day and hour. Do you think “day/hour” was more or less a generic way of saying that no one can know even approximately when he will return. Or, in the context of the Lord’s detailed response to his disciples’ question found in Matthew 24:3 (“What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”), do you think Jesus wants us to at least know the (short time) window of his return.

– When the Rapture occurs, do you think most of those left behind will know what has happened? Or will they come up with several different reasons (trying to explain it away) why millions of people are gone?