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The Rapture / an essay
Freerepublic | 6/12/2014 | Self

Posted on 06/12/2015 8:30:49 PM PDT by MHGinTN

There is coming soon a stupendous supernatural event. Some will die because of the chaos it causes. Some will cry out to God because of what it causes them to realize. It really is coming upon the Earth, soon.

In 1217 AD a German Rabbi of great devotion, Rabbi Judah ben Samuel, was given a vision from Elijah regarding the city of Jerusalem. It went something like the following, expressed in Jubilee periods of 50 years, not actual Jubilees but periods of fifty year increments.

Six Jubilees from 1217 AD and Jerusalem will come under rule by the Turks. [In 1517 The Ottomans took Jerusalem.] Eight Jubilees will the Ottomans hold Jerusalem and then give it up to be a no man's land for one Jubilee. [In 1917 during part of the first World War campaign, the British General Allenby flew a British bi-plane over the city. Turks misunderstood the name Allenby to be a messenger of Allah and fled from the city; Allenby had sent word to the Crown that he would not fire on God's Holy city. British occupiers posted signs all around Jerusalem and in the Gaza to restrain Arabs from wandering into mine fields and free fire zones or arguing over tribal claims. Those signs read simply 'No Man's Land'.] Elijah went on to tell the Rabbi that at the end of that Jubilee Israel would once again have possession of Jerusalem, for one more Jubilee. [One of the outcomes of the 1967 Six Days War was that Israel took possession of Jerusalem rather than it being under UN controls.] At the end of Israel's Jubilee period, the Jews would make a seven year compact with someone, declaring Peace and Safety, but the one with whom they made treaty would violate the treaty midway in the seven years period, and that Jerusalem would be no more.

The Bible gives specific instructions regarding the End Times. The period is called the Tribulation, and it is seven years in length, hallmarked by The Wrath of God upon men and the Earth. It is also expressly shown as a period in which God will deal with Israel as His focus, to make an end to sin (Daniel 9). The end of this seven years has The Lord returning to set foot on the Earth, to make-over the planet and establish a one-thousand year reign of Peace and God's presence with the Earth and mankind.

One can read about the prophecies for Israel in Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and throughout Paul's writings in the new Testament and John's Revelation. Tribulation is a period when life on Earth will become rapidly, and with increasing ferocity, unbearable. But The Bride of Christ will not be here for the wrath poured out upon the planet and the followers of the antichrist who will be running amok for seven years. This little essay is a short message on The Rapture, offered it to friends because God has 'laid it on my heart' to speak and write of it since it is imminent and Christians as well as wannabees need to make ready for what is coming quickly.

The English word 'rapture' is derived from Jerome's Latin word, 'rapio' used to translate the Koine Greek word 'harpazo' (pronounced harpadzo) used in the New testament most pointedly in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. But this passage in the Letter to the Thessalonians is not the only place it is used. It is also found in the Septuagint rendering of the Old Testament, a compiled Greek translation nearly three hundred years before Jesus came. Jesus quoted from the Septuagint.

Rapture is for the living. There are at least seven places in the Bible where a 'rapture' happens. I'll list them but not detail them here: Enoch walked with God and was not; Elijah was taken away in a firy chariot; Isaiah was taken to the throne room of God, but returned with a message; Jesus ascended into Heaven in Acts 1; Paul was taken twice to Heaven as he says in 1 Corinthians 12; the Church will be taken to the Father's House, 1 Thessalonians 4; the two witnesses during the Tribulation will be resurrected then raptured into Heaven; Philip was raptured to the Gaza from the Judean wilderness where he was instructed to go to evangelize the Ethiopian.

There are many voices now rising to discuss or deny The Rapture of The Church, The Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ. What is important is to be a believer in Christ as Savior and Lord. That is absolute Justification of the unrighteous by His Righteousness. Those who are His will be raptured before the Tribulation begins.

How long the Rapture before Israel's signing of the treaty with the antichrist is anyone's guess. The Bible gives not one hint to it that I have found. But if 2017 is the year the treaty is signed, we have less than three years until the seven years of Tribulation begin. The Church will be snatched away in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-53), because believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit earnest of our inheritance, and the Holy Spirit is the restrainer of lawlessness. The Restrainer will be taken out of the way (2Thess2:7) in order that the man of Sin can emerge. We are given a foreshadowing in Ezekiel, when the Glory of The Lord had to depart the Temple before the Babylonian armies could take Jerusalem. Interestingly, Ezekiel (Ez 10&11) witnessed the Glory departing from a vantage point on the Mount of Olives.

The Rapture is a real event spoken of first by Jesus in the Upper Room (John14), prophesied in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Revelation 3:10 and 4:1, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3. It is hinted at in the Old Testament and we see a foreshadowing, of Enoch taken away before the flood. The Rapture of The Church -the believers in Christ as Savior- is not the Second Coming detailed in the Olivet Discourse Jesus gave to James, John, Andrew, and Peter (Matthew 24, Mark 13; Luke 21). The Rapture is Christ returning in the Air not setting foot on Earth, to take to Himself The Church, which will return with Him in the Second Coming. The Rapture removes His Church before God's wrath falls upon humankind, while the Second Coming is Jesus coming as the warrior fulfilling promises to Israel, and Revelation cites those Raptured will be coming with Christ in the Second Coming.

Jesus opened the mystery of the Church Age teaching His faithful disciples (Judas had left to betray Him) that He was going away to prepare a place then come to take them there. In the Church Age there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. The Tribulation is God dealing with Israel, and Jews evangelizing the world in opposition to the antichrist, the false prophet, and satan.

Salvation preached by the Jews (144,000 will be chosen by God to evangelize during the Tribulation) necessitates the Church be gone because there is no distinction between Gentile and Jew in the Church Age. Rapture ends the Church Age where God's Holy Spirit indwells believers, so they are born from above then raised up in the way that they should go (John3, Jesus speaking with Nicodemus, then Proverbs in raising up a child in the way that they should go).

To any who remain behind after the Rapture, call upon the Lord and you will be saved, spiritually. The world-wide chaos that will ensue following perhaps hundreds of millions suddenly disappearing from machines in motion will be horrendous. In this chaos people will gladly embrace a 'man of sin' to set things in order.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Religion; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: rapture; thechurch; tribulation
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To: pgyanke
Catholics are not welcome because they represent The Church as defined by passe opportunists and their apostles, both evidently erroneous in their definition of the Church, as our founders were in, say, the wording of the Second Amendment. Fortunately we now live in a more enlightened age.

In 1543 Luther published On the Jews and Their Lies in which he says that the Jews are a "base, whoring people, that is, no people of God, and their boast of lineage, circumcision, and law must be accounted as filth."[13] They are full of the "devil's feces ... which they wallow in like swine."[14] The synagogue was a "defiled bride, yes, an incorrigible whore and an evil slut ..."[15] He argues that their synagogues and schools be set on fire, their prayer books destroyed, rabbis forbidden to preach, homes razed, and property and money confiscated. They should be shown no mercy or kindness,[16] afforded no legal protection,[17] and these "poisonous envenomed worms" should be drafted into forced labor or expelled for all time.[18] He also seems to advocate their murder, writing "[w]e are at fault in not slaying them".

Oh well. At least we're "all Jews" now!
21 posted on 06/12/2015 9:00:55 PM PDT by golux
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To: MHGinTN

Now that I understand. Could you define pingalingaling and kerping for me so I can understand in the future? I have been here for about 10 years and this is the first time I have seen either expression.


22 posted on 06/12/2015 9:01:42 PM PDT by doc1019 (Blue lives matter)
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To: MHGinTN

what would you have me say?


23 posted on 06/12/2015 9:07:20 PM PDT by Boowhoknew
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To: MHGinTN

“1217 AD a German Rabbi of great devotion, Rabbi Judah ben Samuel, was given a vision from Elijah regarding the city of Jerusalem”

Why should anyone believe that?

Why would you base your premise on some abiblical, ie apostate, soothe saying?


24 posted on 06/12/2015 9:11:54 PM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: MHGinTN
Okay non-believers, here's your chance to spittle out your objections. Come on Catholics, we know you don't believe.

Nicely written, it has palpable depth - thanks for posting. But don't be so defensive. You wrote from the Spirit. Nothing else is required.

25 posted on 06/12/2015 9:13:08 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: ifinnegan

Not basing the premise upon that but it has so far been accurate. The Bible tells some of us that The Church will be Raptured out before the seventieth week of Daniel. Current conditions on the Earth are approaching a global one-world round up. Those are signs of the ‘season’, so it doesn’t hurt to look at a prophecy given in 1216 that has rung true so far. It is after all a prophecy given about the city of Jerusalem and to the Jews specifically.


26 posted on 06/12/2015 9:14:50 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: Talisker

Thank you for correction.


27 posted on 06/12/2015 9:15:43 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: MHGinTN

“Those are signs of the ‘season’, so it doesn’t hurt to look at a prophecy given in 1216 that has rung true so far.”

Yes it does. It is apostate.

It adds to scripture.

It is also a type of occultism.


28 posted on 06/12/2015 9:17:11 PM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: ifinnegan

Um, it doesn’t add to my scriptures. Don’t let it add to yours. If you’re a Catholic, just think of the considering of it as ‘tradition’.


29 posted on 06/12/2015 9:18:51 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: MHGinTN

I’m not Catholic. What denomination are you?

Back to my original question, why should anyone believe Elijah gave anyone a vision of the future in the 1200’s?


30 posted on 06/12/2015 9:24:30 PM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: MHGinTN
Thank you for correction.

No correction - just perspective :)

31 posted on 06/12/2015 9:31:06 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: ifinnegan
Back to my original question, why should anyone believe Elijah gave anyone a vision of the future in the 1200’s?

Get some reading comprehension. He already explained why - because it corresponds with his understanding of the Bible.

If you have a problem with the stated corrolation, say so. But don't just be belligerent.

32 posted on 06/12/2015 9:38:07 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: MHGinTN

Thank you so much for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!


33 posted on 06/12/2015 9:38:18 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl

Thank you for your encouragement, Dear One.


34 posted on 06/12/2015 9:42:26 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: MHGinTN
“Come on Catholics, we know you don't believe.”

Why did you say that? I am Catholic and go to mass every week. We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, and believe Jesus will come to take us home. I don't think you know what Catholics believe.

35 posted on 06/12/2015 9:43:29 PM PDT by Marcella (TED CRUZ Prepping can save your life today. Going Galt is freedom.)
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To: MHGinTN
Why I Am Not A Premillenialist by Daniel Steele, father of the Holiness Movement.
36 posted on 06/12/2015 9:43:31 PM PDT by The Grammarian
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To: Marcella

I have tried in the little essay to give the pre-trib Raoture position, which I happen to also believe because of studying scriptures for lo these many years. The Catholics who haunt these threads do not believe in the Rapture, much less a pre-tribulation Rapture. Peace be with you, Marcella.


37 posted on 06/12/2015 9:46:32 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: Salvation

pingaling


38 posted on 06/12/2015 9:47:19 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: The Grammarian

Wow! What a read! Some of those sentences were longer than the arm which reached into Belshazzar’s palace party central. Reading that is mentally exhausting ... or maybe it’s just that it seems antiquated to my mind at seventy.


39 posted on 06/12/2015 9:54:18 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: MHGinTN
Older writings usually are a bit taxing to read for formatting reasons. Try reading a book with 40-page-long paragraphs. ;)
40 posted on 06/12/2015 10:04:45 PM PDT by The Grammarian
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