The Rapture [RAPTURE CAUCUS]

What is it? Who will it affect? When is it most likely to take place?
by Dr. David R. Reagan
http://www.lamblion.com/about_staff_reagan.php

The promise is that someday very soon, at the blowing of a trumpet and the shout of an archangel, Jesus will appear in the sky and take up His Church, living and dead, to Heaven.

The term "Rapture" comes from a Latin word, "rapio," that means "to catch up, to snatch away, or to take out." It is, in turn, a translation of the Greek word, "harpazo."

So, "Rapture" is a Biblical word that comes right out of the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible. The word is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. In the New American Standard Version, the English phrase, "caught up," is used. The same phrase is used in the King James and New International Versions.

The concept of the Rapture was not revealed to the Old Testament prophets because it is a promise to the New Testament Church and not to the saints of God who lived before the establishment of the Church. Jesus will return as a bridegroom for His bride, and that bride consists only of Church Age saints.

The saints of Old Testament times will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation and not at the time of the Rapture of the Church. Daniel reveals this fact in Daniel 12:1-2 where he says that the saints of that age will be resurrected at the end of the "time of distress."

The first clear mention of the Rapture in Scripture is found in the words of Jesus recorded in John 14:1-4. Jesus said, "I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

The most detailed revelation of the actual events related to the Rapture is given by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. He says that when Jesus appears, the dead in Christ (Church Age saints) will be resurrected and caught up first. Then, those of us who are alive in Christ will be translated "to meet the Lord in the air."

Paul mentions the Rapture again in 1 Corinthians 15 — his famous chapter on the resurrection of the dead: "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet" (verses 51-52).

Paul's reference here to being changed is an allusion to the fact that the saints will receive glorified bodies that will be imperishable, immortal, and perfected (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 50-55 and Isaiah 35:5-6).

To summarize, these passages teach that the shout of an archangel and the blowing of a trumpet will herald the sudden appearance of Jesus in the heavens (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The dead in Christ will be resurrected and rise up to meet the Lord in the sky. Then, those saints who are alive will be "caught up" to the Lord. Paul concludes his description in 1 Thessalonians 4 by encouraging his readers to "comfort one another with these words."

And truly the Rapture is a comforting thought! Consider the promises contained in the concept of the Rapture. Jesus will bring with Him the spirits of those who have died in Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14). He will resurrect their bodies in a great miracle of re-creation; He will reunite their bodies with their spirits; and He will then glorify their bodies, making them immortal. And those believers who are living will not even taste death. Rather, they will be caught up to the Lord, and in transit, they will be translated from mortal to immortal.

All my life I have heard that there are two things no one can avoid: taxes and death. Well, that is not true. According to 1 Thessalonians 4, a whole generation of believers will escape death. Taxes appear to be the only inevitability!

The most controversial aspect of the Rapture is its timing. Some place it at the end of the Tribulation, making it one and the same event as the Second Coming. Others place it in the middle of the Tribulation. Still others believe that it will occur at the beginning of the Tribulation.

The reason for these differing viewpoints is that the exact time of the Rapture is not precisely revealed in scripture. It is only inferred. There is, therefore, room for honest differences of opinion, and lines of fellowship should certainly not be drawn over differences regarding this point, even though it is an important point.

Those who place the timing at the end of the Tribulation usually base their argument on two parables in Matthew 13 and on the Lord's Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24.

In Matthew 24 the Lord portrays His gathering of the saints as an event that will take place "immediately after the tribulation of those days" (Matthew 24:29). This certainly sounds like a post-Tribulation Rapture. But it must be kept in mind that the book of Matthew was written to the Jews, and therefore the recording of Jesus' speech by Matthew has a distinctively Jewish flavor to it as compared to Luke's record of the same speech.

Note, for example, Matthew's references to Judea and to Jewish law regarding travel on the Sabbath (Matthew 24:15-20). These are omitted in Luke's account. Instead, Luke speaks of the saints looking up for deliverance "to escape all these things" when the end time signs "begin to take place" (Luke 21:28, 36). The saints in Matthew are instructed to flee from Judea and hide. The saints in Luke are told to look up for deliverance.

It appears, therefore, that Matthew and Luke are speaking of two different sets of saints. The saints in Matthew's account are most likely Jews who receive Jesus as their Messiah during the Tribulation. The saints in Luke are those who receive Christ before the Tribulation begins. Most of those who accept the Lord during the Tribulation will be martyred (Revelation 7:9-14). Those who live to the end will be gathered by the angels of the Lord (Matthew 24:31).

The parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30) and the parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50) can be explained in the same way. They refer to a separation of saints and sinners that will take place at the end of the Tribulation. The saints are those who receive Jesus as their Savior during the Tribulation (Gentile and Jew) and who live to the end of that awful period.

The Bible clearly teaches that the Rapture is an event that is separate and apart from the Second Coming. The two simply cannot be combined into one event.

There are variations of the mid-Tribulation Rapture concept. The most common is that the Church will be taken out in the exact middle of the Tribulation, at the point in time when the Antichrist is revealed.

This concept is based upon a statement in 1 Corinthians 15:52 which says that the Rapture will occur at the blowing of "the last trumpet." This trumpet is then identified with the seventh trumpet of the trumpet judgments in the book of Revelation. Since the blowing of the seventh trumpet is recorded in Revelation 11, the mid-point of the Tribulation, the conclusion is that the Rapture must occur in the middle of the Tribulation.

But there are two problems with this interpretation. The first is that the last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15 is blown for believers whereas the seven trumpets of Revelation 8, 9 and 11 are sounded for unbelievers. The Revelation trumpets have no relevance for the Church. The last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15 is a trumpet for the righteous. The last trumpet for the unrighteous is the one described in Revelation 11.

Another problem with this interpretation is that the passage in Revelation 11 that portrays the sounding of the seventh trumpet is a "flash forward" to the end of the Tribulation. Flash forwards are very common in the book of Revelation. They occur after something terrible is described in order to assure the reader that everything is going to turn out all right when Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation.

Thus, the eighth and ninth chapters of Revelation, which describe the horrors of the trumpet judgments, are followed immediately by a flash forward in chapter 10 that pictures the return of Jesus in victory at the end of the Tribulation. The mid-Tribulation action resumes in chapter 11 with a description of the killing of the two great prophets of God by the Antichrist. Then, to offset that terrible event, we are presented with another flash forward, beginning with verse 15. The seventh trumpet is sounded and we find ourselves propelled forward to the end of the Tribulation when "the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of our Lord."

The point is that the seventh trumpet of Revelation relates to the end of the Tribulation and not the middle. It is the same trumpet that is referred to in Matthew 24:31, the trumpet that will be blown to announce the Second Coming of Jesus. It is therefore no basis for an argument in behalf of a mid-Tribulation Rapture.

A variation of the mid-Tribulation Rapture is the pre-wrath Rapture concept that places the Rapture at the beginning of the last quarter of the Tribulation, about five and a half years into the Tribulation.

The argument for this view is that the Church is promised protection only from the wrath of God and not the wrath of Man or of Satan. It is then argued that only the bowl judgments in the last quarter of the Tribulation (Revelation 16) represent the wrath of God.

But the argument for this view disintegrates when you consider two facts. First, it is Jesus Himself who breaks the seals that launch each of the seal judgments recorded in Revelation 6. These judgments occur at the beginning of the Tribulation. Second, the seven angels who blow the trumpets that initiate each of the trumpet judgments are given their trumpets at the throne of God (Revelation 8:2).

All the judgments of Revelation are clearly superintended by God. That is the reason we are told in Revelation 15:1 that the bowl judgments at the end of the Tribulation will finish the wrath of God, not begin His wrath.

I believe the best inference of Scripture is that the Rapture will occur at the beginning of the Tribulation. The most important reason I believe this has to do with the issue of imminence.

Over and over in Scripture we are told to watch for the appearing of the Lord. We are told "to be ready" (Matthew 24:44), "to be on the alert" (Matthew 24:42), "to be dressed in readiness" (Luke 12:35), and to "keep your lamps alight" (Luke 12:35). The clear force of these persistent warnings is that Jesus can appear at any moment.

Only the pre-Tribulation concept of the Rapture allows for the imminence of the Lord's appearing for His Church. When the Rapture is placed at any other point in time, the imminence of the Lord's appearing is destroyed because other prophetic events must happen first.

For example, if the Rapture is going to occur in mid-Tribulation, then why should I live looking for the Lord's appearing at any moment? I would be looking instead for an Israeli peace treaty, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the revelation of the Antichrist. Then and only then could the Lord appear.

This raises the issue of what we are to be looking for. Nowhere are believers told to watch for the appearance of the Antichrist. On the contrary, we are told to watch for Jesus Christ. In Titus 2:13 Paul says we are to live "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus." Likewise, Peter urges us to "fix our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13). John completes the apostolic chorus by similarly urging us to "fix our hope on Him" at His appearing (1 John 3:2-3).

Only Matthew speaks of watching for the Antichrist (Matthew 24:15), but he is speaking to the Jews living in Israel in the middle of the Tribulation when the Antichrist desecrates the rebuilt Temple.

Another argument in behalf of a pre-Tribulation Rapture has to do with the promises of God to protect the Church from His wrath. As has already been demonstrated, the book of Revelation shows that the wrath of God will be poured out during the entire period of the Tribulation.

The Word promises over and over that the Church will be delivered from God's wrath. Romans 5:9 says that "we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him [Jesus]." 1 Thessalonians 1:10 states that we are waiting "for His Son from heaven... who will deliver us from the wrath to come." The promise is repeated in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 — "God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Some argue that God could supernaturally protect the Church during the Tribulation. Yes, He could. In fact, He promises to do just that for the 144,000 Jews who will be sealed as bond-servants at the beginning of the Tribulation (Revelation 7:1-8).

But God's promise to the Church during the Tribulation is not one of protection but one of deliverance. Jesus said we would "escape" the horrors of the Tribulation (Luke 21:3-6). Paul says Jesus is coming to "deliver" us from God's wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

There are several prophetic types that seem to affirm the concept of deliverance from Tribulation.

Take Enoch for example. He was a prophet to the Gentiles who was raptured out of the world before God poured out His wrath in the great flood of Noah's time. Enoch appears to be a type of the Gentile Church that will be taken out of the world before God pours out His wrath again. If so, then Noah and his family are a type of the Jewish remnant that will be protected through the Tribulation.

Another Old Testament symbolic type which points toward a pre-Tribulation Rapture is the experience of Lot and his family. They were delivered out of Sodom and Gomorrah before those cities were destroyed.

The Apostle Peter alludes to both of these examples in his second epistle. He states that if God spared Noah and Lot, then He surely "knows how to rescue the godly from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment" (2 Peter 2:4-9).

Another beautiful prophetic type is to be found in the Jewish wedding traditions of Jesus' time. After the betrothal, the groom would return to his father's house to prepare a wedding chamber for his bride. He would return for his bride at an unexpected moment, so the bride had to be ready constantly. When he returned, he would take his bride back to his father's house to the chamber he had prepared. He and his bride would then be sealed in the chamber for seven days. When they emerged, a great wedding feast would be celebrated.

Likewise, Jesus has returned to Heaven to prepare a place for His bride, the Church. When He returns for His bride, He will take her to His Father's heavenly home. There He will remain with His bride for seven years (the duration of the Tribulation). The period will end with "the marriage supper of the Lamb" described in Revelation 19. Thus the seven days in the wedding chamber point prophetically to the seven years that Jesus and His bride will remain in Heaven during the Tribulation.

Speaking of Revelation, the structure of that book also implies a pre-Tribulation Rapture in a symbolic sense.

The first three chapters focus on the Church. Chapter 4 begins with the door of Heaven opening and John being raptured from the Isle of Patmos to the throne of God in Heaven. The Church is not mentioned thereafter until Revelation 19:7-9 when it is portrayed as the "bride of Christ" in Heaven with Jesus celebrating the "marriage supper of the Lamb." At Revelation 19:11 the door of Heaven opens again, and Jesus emerges riding a white horse on His way to earth, followed by His Church (Revelation 19:14).

The rapture of the Apostle John in Revelation 4 appears to be a symbolic type of the Rapture of the Church. Note that it is initiated by the cry of a voice that sounds like the blowing of a trumpet (Revelation 4:1). Since the Tribulation does not begin until Revelation 6, the rapture of John in Revelation 4 appears to be a symbolic type that points to a pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church.

Some counter this argument by pointing out that although the Church is not mentioned in Revelation during that book's description of the Tribulation, there is constant mention of "saints" (for example, Revelation 13:7). But that term is not used in the Bible exclusively to refer to members of the Church. Daniel uses it to refer to Old Testament believers who lived long before the Church was established (Daniel 7:18). The saints referred to in the book of Revelation are most likely those people who will be saved during the Tribulation, after the Church has been taken out of the world.

An interesting argument in behalf of the pre-Tribulation timing of the Rapture can be found in 2 Thessalonians. The church at Thessalonica was in a turmoil because someone had written them a letter under Paul's name stating that they had missed the "gathering to the Lord" and were, in fact, living in "the day of the Lord" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).

Paul attempted to calm them down by reminding them of his teaching that the day of the Lord would not come until after the Antichrist is revealed. He then stated that the Antichrist would not be revealed until a restraining force "is taken out of the way" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-7).

There has been much speculation as to the identity of this restraining force that Paul refers to. Some have identified it as the Holy Spirit. But it cannot be the Holy Spirit because there will be people saved during the Tribulation, and no one can be saved apart from the testimony of the Spirit (John 16:8-11 & 1 John 5:7).

Others have identified the restrainer as human government. It is true that government was ordained by God to restrain evil (Romans 13:1-4). But the governments of the world are in rebellion against God and His Son (Psalm 2), and they are therefore a contributor to the evil that characterizes the world. Furthermore, the Tribulation will not be characterized by a lack of government. Rather, it will feature the first true worldwide government (Revelation 13:7).

In my opinion that leaves only one other candidate for Paul's restrainer — and that is the Church. It is the Church that serves as the primary restrainer of evil in the world today as it proclaims the Gospel and stands for righteousness. When the Church fails in this mission, evil multiplies, as Paul graphically points out in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Paul says that society in the end times will be characterized by chaos and despair because "men will hold to a form of religion but will deny its power." When the Church is removed from the world, all hell will literally break loose.

The pre-Tribulation concept of the Rapture has often been condemned as "escapism." I think this criticism is unjustified. The Bible itself says that Christians are to "comfort one another" with the thought of the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Is it a comfort to think of the Rapture occurring at the end of the world's worst period of war instead of at the beginning?

Regardless of when the Rapture actually occurs, we need to keep in mind that the Bible teaches that societal conditions are going to grow increasingly worse the closer we get to the Lord's return. That means Christians will suffer tribulation whether or not they go into the Great Tribulation. And that means all of us had better be preparing ourselves for unprecedented suffering and spiritual warfare.

If you are a Christian, you can do that on a daily basis by putting on "the full armor of God" (Ephesians 6:13), praying at all times in the Spirit that you will be able to stand firm against the attacks of Satan (Ephesians 6:14-18).

If you are not a Christian, your only hope is to reach out in faith and receive the free gift of God's salvation which He has provided through His Son, Jesus (John 3:16).

Okay, the crux of the whole thing, as to what you were saying was — “What if the rapture will be a non event in the eyes of the world due to the lack of numbers of live members of the body of Christ at the time that may be involved?”

—

Okay, we’re talking about the Rapture, and then we’re also talking about how many will be taken in the Rapture.

First, there is a wee-little variance of belief on the Rapture regarding who will be taken. I should clear that up, before starting in the rest of it.

Some say that only those who are (sorta...) “faithful Christians” will be taken in the Rapture, while other (so-called) backsliding or unfaithful Christians will be “left behind” along with the unbelievers.

Okay, so in that regard, are we talking about the one view where *all Christians* are taken up in the Rapture, regardless of how “faithful” they are (and we all have varied somewhat in that regard at various times...)? Or is this in reference to just the very committed, faithful, diligent, working-hard, no-nonsense, spirit-filled (add your own adjective here...) Christian?

I’m going on the basis that if one is a Christian, and has Salvation in the Lord, Jesus Christ, they are taken up in the Rapture, regardless of their current state of “faithfulness” (if you will...). Their “salvation” is intact, while their “works” will be judged and rewarded or not, at the Judgement Seat of Christ, as a subsequent matter to Salvation.

If that is settled (and for the sake of me continuing the comments here, in this post, I’ll assume it is, at least temporarily... LOL...) — then we’re wondering about how many Christians there are in the world and/or in the United States, since most of us talking here are in the U.S.

In short, all who have confessed Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and who do truly know Him, per the Scriptures, as Paul says — then they’re “going” in the Rapture. So, how many of those people exist? That’s the question.

Percentage-wise, in the U.S., you may get estimates ranging anywhere from 10% to 90% — a wide-range... :-)

I’m going to say that my estimate is 10-20% of the U.S. population.

So, the next question is (again for the sake of simply continuing my comment), if it’s 10-20% of the U.S. population — are you saying that this many people missing at one time would not be noticed or reported or mentioned in the press?

I think if it were just 10% of the U.S. population missing in an instant — it would be chaos and confusion among many, many people and institutions and governments would be inundated with demands from people related to these 10-20% of missing people to find out what is going on.

It would be a really, really big and huge news story and wouldn’t die down overnight. This would dominate news and headlines and TV reports and so on for a very long time.

Anyway..., that’s my thinking on the matter... :-) for whatever it’s worth.

—

Next, I wanted to run down that list of Bible verses you included...

You quoted — Matthew 7:13 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

I’ll just briefly tell you what I think it pertains to and how these verses pertain to the Rapture.

To me, this is a message about salvation, in general, over all the period of time for man’s history. It compares salvation by the way God has provided for mankind versus — the hundreds and thousands of other ways (the wide and broad road) of supposed “other ways to God” (namely the false gods...).

It’s not a verse that is directly related to the Rapture. But, the Rapture is related to this “idea” in that only the saved, in Christ, are going to be in the Rapture, at *that particular time* in history (out of those who are “alive”; there will be the “dead in Christ” in the Rapture, too...).

Then you quoted — Luke 18:8 (NIV) I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

To me, this refers to the Second Coming of Christ, to set up the Kingdom of God on this earth and rule and reign over the nations of the world, from Jerusalem, on the Throne of David, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This isn’t (at least to me) a reference to the Rapture. And yes, when you consider how many are lost to all the judgements and plagues and disasters during that time of the Tribulation, and then, with the Sheep and Goat Judgement after the Messiah is here on earth — it’s a good question as to whether the Son of Man (another name for the Messiah of Israel) will find faith on the earth. By that time, the numbers will be dramatically reduced to almost nothing in comparison to the time before Tribulation.

And lastly you quoted — Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

This particular quote, to me, is not the Rapture. This is the Sheep and Goat Judgment, at the return of the Messiah to the earth and when He says that as you have done to my brethren (i.e., the Jews on the earth during the Tribulation time) you have done to me... Thus, this is the comment that those who have preached a so-called “Christianity” that is not real and thinks that the “church” has taken the position of Israel and that Israel is of no significance any longer, and have *contributed* to the persecution of the Jews, as a result of that — will be cast into outer darkness for them preaching such “doctrines of demons” in that time, during the Tribulation.

Those are my thoughts on the matter and, of course, we welcome any and all others (from the Rapture Caucus) to pitch in here, too.

Here is the article from khouse. I am not sure if Chuck Misseler wrote it

The Feasts of Weeks:
Pentecost in May
On May 16-17 (the 6th of Sivan) Israel will celebrate Hag Ha Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost.
This is based on Leviticus 23:15-22, which points to “the morrow after shabbat after Passover” (the Feast of First Fruits) plus 50 days—in Greek, Pentecost.
(For another insight into the interval of 49 days, review our article on the hidden message in the Torah, found in the May, 1993 newsletter.)
Pentecost is one of only three of the seven feasts of Moses that was compulsory for every able male to attend.1 This seems to indicate that these three were of particular significance.
The Feast of Weeks is associated with the birth of Israel and the giving of the Law in Exodus 19. Thus, it is also called the Feast of Revelation.
Since the Passover was on the 14th of Nisan, and there were three days to the Red Sea crossing, then 46 days into the wilderness, and three days of Moses’ preparation, this is deemed to correspond to the 49-day interval between the Feast of First Fruits (17th of Nisan) and the 6th of Sivan.
There is also a tradition that David died on the 6th of Sivan.
Prophetic Implications
The seven Feasts of Moses are not only commemorative; they are also prophetic.2 The first three, in the month of Nisan, are predictive of the First Coming of Jesus. The

last three, in the month of Tishri, are associated with His Second Coming. It is this one, in between, which is associated with the Church.3
The Birth of the Church
The Birth of the Church appears to be a fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost, or Shavout. Jesus predicted it,4 and it was also fulfilled precisely on the Feast of Pentecost.5
(It is interesting to carefully compare Acts 2 with Exodus 19, both of which apparently occurred on the 6th of Sivan.)

It is also interesting that this is the only Feast of Moses in which leavened bread is allowed, which seems to give it a Gentile flavor! (Leaven is always a “type” of sin. Jesus and Paul both used it this way.6 It corrupts by puffing up.)
Most writers assume that the Feast of Pentecost was completely fulfilled in Acts 2. But maybe there’s still more to come.
Enoch Traditions
It is interesting that there is a rabbinical tradition that Enoch was born on the 6th of Sivan. Enoch is an extremely interesting mystery in the Old Testament. (The first prophecy by a prophet in the Bible is a prophecy of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,7 uttered by Enoch before the flood of Noah!)
Another tradition about Enoch is that he was translated (”raptured?”) on his birthday, the 6th of Sivan.
There were three groups of people facing the judgement of the flood of Noah:
1) those that perished in the flood;
2) those that were preserved through the flood (in the Ark);
3) those that were removed prior to the judgement of the flood.

It is interesting that Enoch might be a foreshadowing of a removal prior to judgement, in contrast to Noah and his family who were protected through it.
The Trumpet of God
Paul mentions the “Trumpet of God” in connection with the rapture.8 It is interesting that this term appears only twice in the Bible: at the giving of the Law at Sinai9 and at the rapture.
(Don’t confuse the “Trumpet of God” with the temple trumpets or the shofar. Also, remember that these trumpets continue during the Millennium, so they aren’t “the last trump.”)
Could both of these references to the “Trumpet of God” be connected with the 6th of Sivan?
The Feast of Harvest
Another name for the Feast of Weeks is Hag Ha Kazir, The Feast of Harvest, since it is celebrated at the time of the “first harvest.” It is interesting that Jesus frequently used “the harvest” as an idiom to refer to the ingathering of believers.10
An Interval in God’s Plan for Israel
In the famed Seventy Week prophecy in Daniel 9, where the Angel Gabriel outlines God’s plan for Israel, we find four key verses:
9:24 the scope of the prophecy;
9:25 69 weeks (of years) climaxing in the presentation of the Messiah the King;

9:26 an interval before the 70th week;
9:27 the 70th week.

(See our Briefing Package, The Seventy Weeks of Daniel for a review of this most amazing passage in the Bible.)
It appears that the sequence of events regarding Israel directly is interrupted for a period of time. This interruption appears to be associated with Israel’s rejection of the Messiah11 and God’s program for Israel is resumed at the completion of the Church.12
Paul tells us that the Church is a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament13 and if we examine the scriptures carefully we can find this mysterious interval throughout the scriptures.14
The day is approaching when the Church is “complete” and God will remove it and again continue with His program with Israel. Is it possible that His “clock” will restart on the 6th of Sivan, the very day that it was halted?
Caveat
While these conjectures are fun to explore, let’s remember they are always just conjectures. We don’t believe in setting dates: expect Him at any moment. “For in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man commeth.”
The Master Counter
Paul tells us that there will be a time coming when the “fullness of the Gentiles” will be complete.15 There is apparently a heavenly tally counter that is yet to be full or complete. It seems that every time someone trusts the Lord Jesus for their salvation, that counter is incremented by one. Someday, when it is finally complete, the Father will say to the Son, “Go get them!” But only He knows the completing number; no one else does.16
Satan also knows of this counter but not the final number when it will be complete. Every time someone comes to Jesus, Satan doesn’t know whether or not

the counter is finally full! When it is, and the rapture occurs, he knows that he has but a little time to unfold his final schemes.
(Do you realize that for almost 2,000 years, Satan has been in shock treatment? We can understand why he is so anxious for each of us to be unfruitful: he will do anything to slow that counter down!)
Our Opportunity

Every day that the Lord tarries is another day for us to do His work, to share His blessings, and to pray for our unsaved loved ones.
Have you taken the imminent return of the Lord Jesus seriously? Are you personally really ready? Is this just a conceptual acknowledgement or is it the active dynamic in your personal life? How about in your professional life? Or your family life?
Isn’t it time to take the Bible seriously? Isn’t it time to take Him seriously?
Are you one of the ones remaining to complete the counter—and holding all the rest of us up?
* * *
Notes:
1. Deut 16:16.
2. Col 2:16-17.6.
3. See our Briefing Package, The Feasts of Israel, on page 16.
4. Jn 14:25-26
5. Acts 2:1-47
6. Matt 16:6; Lk 13:21; 1 Cor 5:6-8; Gal 5:7-9
7. Jude 14-15
8. 1 Thess 4:16

9. Ex 19:13; 16 et al.
10. Matt 12:29-30; 3:12; 2 Thess 2:1
11. Lk 19:42
12. Rom 11:25
13. Eph 3:3-7
14. Lk 4:18-19 vs. Isa 61:1-2 (note omission); Rev 12:5-6 et al.
15. Rom 11:25
16. Mk 13:32
For Further Study
A study of the Feast of Pentecost is not complete without a review of the Book of Ruth. The Jewish observance of the Feast of Weeks has always included the reading of this particular book. Why? It is provocative to note the interesting parallels relating to the Church.
This elegant love story exemplifies the role of the goel, or kinsman-redeemer. As we examine Boaz’s role, we notice that he, in many ways, pre-figures our own kinsman-redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Through his act of redemption, Boaz returns Naomi (Israel) to her land, and also takes Ruth (a Gentile) as his wife. This suggests a parallel with the Church as the Gentile bride of the kinsman-redeemer.
The parallels between Boaz, Naomi, and Ruth with Christ, Israel, and the Church, have been widely recognized, but it is remarkable to notice how many additional details of the story are consistent with this viewpoint. For example, who first introduces Boaz to Ruth? An unnamed servant! (John 16:13)
(For further details, see The Romance of Redemption, on page 16. One cannot fully appreciate Revelation Chapter 5 without it.)

1. Deut 16:16.
2.Col 2:16-17
3. See our Briefing Package,The Feasts of Israel, on page 16.
4. John 14:25,26; Acts 1:8.
5. Acts 2:1-47.

6. Matt 16:6; Luke 13:21; 1 Cor 5:6-8; Gal 5:7-9.
7. Jude 14,15.
8. 1 Thess. 4:16.
9. Exodus 19:13, 16 et al.
10. Matt. 12:29-30; 3:12; 2 Thess. 2:1.

11. Luke 19:42.
12. Rom. 11:25.
13. Eph. 3:3-7.
14. Luke 4:18,19 vs Isa. 61:1,2 (note omission); Rev 12:5,6; et al.
15. Rom 11:25.
16. Mark 13:32.

Hi marbren, you were saying — Star Traveler I would appreciate your perspective on two concepts. Wheat and weeds and sheep and goats. My understanding is that wheat and weeds refer to the church (which is removed in the rapture as the Bride of Christ) and sheep and goats are Israelites and Tribulation saints which are separated after the tribulation.

—

Well, don’t think I’m “wimping out” here... LOL...

An answer — in brief — is that I would tend to agree with what is presented in the two papers at the bottom.

And so, giving a “pre-statement” here..., really, when we get right down to it, we’re all standing on the shoulders of a lot of others who have studied and devoted their entire lives to the Scriptures and these very issues. And much of what we say here is simply repetition of that, although we also understand what is being said and agree with it, in that we see this is what the Bible says, too (in what we read from some of these others).

I think it’s the height of presumption for anyone to think that they came up with all this themselves and didn’t need any of these others to study and devote all their efforts to these many issues, as they have.

But, even so, even with saying that, I do think that taking the Bible as the literal and authoritative Word of God will lead people in the same direction, so sooner or later, we will all get to the same place that Scripture is leading us.

So, I say all that to give you this...

A couple of written papers submitted to the Pre-Trib Research Center in their annual meetings. See at the bottom...

Pre-Trib Research Center
http://www.pre-trib.org/

The Pre-Trib Research Center has over 200 members in association with its efforts. Most of the top prophecy scholars, authors, and popularizes are members of the Center and Study Group. The association of these prophecy experts, which have been facilitated by the Pre-Trib organization, has contributed to the inspiration of dozens of books, articles, conferences, and events that express and defend the literal interpretation of Bible prophecy and the pre-trib rapture. PTRC and the Study Group have worked to bring together veteran prophecy experts to share their knowledge and encouragement concerning these matters to a younger generation of students and advocates. In this way the torch is being passed to a new generation.

PTRC Mission Statement

The Pre-Trib Research Center is a “think tank” committed to the study, proclamation, teaching and defending of the Pretribulational Rapture (pre-70th week of Daniel) and related end-time prophecy.

PTRC Doctrinal Statement

We believe that the sixty-six, canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, alone and in their entirety, comprise the God-inspired Scriptures which, therefore, are inerrant in their autographs.

We believe the Bible should be interpreted normally, as with any other piece of sane literature, by a consistently literal hermeneutic which recognizes the clear usage of speech figures.

We believe that Christ will literally rapture His church prior to the 70th week of Daniel, followed by His glorious, premillennial arrival on the earth at least seven years later to set up His 1,000 year kingdom rule from Jerusalem over the earth.

We believe that God’s plan for history demands a consistent distinction between national Israel and the church which includes an ongoing plan for national, ethnic Israel that culminates in Christ’s millennial kingdom.

—

The Kingdom in Matthew 13
by Dr. Stanley Toussaint
2003 Pre-Trib Study Group

http://www.pre-trib.org/data/pdf/Toussaint-TheKingdomInMatthew13.pdf

... and ...

Consistent Pretribulationism and Jewish Questions of the End
by Dr. Ron Bigalke
2002 Pre-Trib Study Group

http://www.pre-trib.org/data/pdf/Bigalke-ConsistentPretribulat.pdf

And a note to all the others, whomever may read it, and the pinged ones..., it’s well worth a read for these papers, since they are giving a solid and foundational presentation for the basis of what is considered to be the Pre-Millennial, Dispensational framework for understanding what the Bible says — and *especially* for the *foundational understanding* of what God has in mind for “future Israel”....

The kingdom issue is not settled for me yet. When we are born again don’t we experience the kingdom relationship with Jesus? Are we not already in the vine?

—

Well, I’ll preface my statements with a few remarks.

First, the topic of the “Rapture” (given that it’s an accepted and real event in this thread) is closely tied in and together with the accompanying event of the “Tribulation” and then the next event of the “Millennial Reign of Christ” (the 1,000 year “kingdom”).

It’s only with “other” interpretations (not named here...) that these things are “not real” and are “spiritualized away” or “allegorized” as representing something else, other than what they *really* are, as plainly stated in the Bible — and said to be “in your heart”...

Note in that first article quoted up above, the statement...

“...it is quite clear the term kingdom is a noun describing the literal messianic reign of Christ on earth.”

Thus, that’s what Jesus is talking about to the Jews, his disciples, who were actually expecting that to come about soon, and thus they were asking Jesus about that. They wanted to know if He was setting up that kingdom *now* (at their time). Jesus didn’t tell them that they were wrong in expecting it, but that it wasn’t for them to know “when” it was going to come about (they have a lot of evangelizing to do first, as we well know, now, since almost 2,000 years have passed by and the kingdom is not set up on earth yet).

So, in answer to your question..., “When we are born again don’t we experience the kingdom relationship with Jesus?”

To tell you the truth, I don’t really know what a “kingdom relationship” is.

I know what being saved is. I know that a person is a new creation in Christ, when He accepts Christ as his Savior (and that happens immediately). I know that we have the Holy Spirit that indwells us, but a body that is called a “body of death” (per the Apostle Paul). We’ll have that body of death (even though we are a new creation in Christ, and the Holy Spirit indwells us), until the time when we are given our new glorified and permanent bodies to match up with being a new creature in Christ — which is at the time of the Rapture.

But, in all that (in being saved) — there’s nothing there that has anything to do with the “Millennial Kingdom”..., which is a kingdom on earth, which Jesus the Messiah of Israel sets up, in which He sits on the Throne of David (an throne for the nation of Israel), and He rules and reigns over all the nations on earth, in this earthly kingdom.

Those are two different things — being saved... and... the Millennial Kingdom.

—

I think the possible confusion comes about — in this case — because of others, in the past, equating the “kingdom” with being saved — in the course of rejecting Israel, and rejecting the “literal” and “real” kingdom that will be set up on earth.

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