Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

In this thread I have tried to gather any and all references to the rapture. In doing that i have come across several brothers who have focused extensively on the feasts in Leviticus as being a shadow of thing to come and which have allusions to the rapture. I have posted all of these and it is quite amazing the details they are able to get.

However, while watching all of this I was bothered that they seemed to be focusing exclusively on the Old Testament even though the rapture that I was focused on was for the believers in the church and our covenant is the New Testament. I felt that we should be looking specifically at the New Testament and using the Old Testament to fill in the background.

I then discovered that the book of 2 Corinthians ends with a rapture and the last 8 chapters refer to the rededication of the Temple, Hanukkah. I felt that would be significant for the mid tribulation rapture, particularly since Hanukkah depicts the tribulation and the AntiChrist and because it is a festival mentioned in the New Testament and not in the Old Testament.

But there was another approach many were taking when looking at the rapture. Other events appeared to take place at the same time, namely the judgement on the Great Babylon that takes place in an hour. So I thought perhaps it will be easier to determine when the judgement on the Great Babylon takes place knowing that this event is closely linked to the rapture. The judgement on the great Babylon is the judgement on the apostasy so that led to looking into the apostasy.

I then saw reference after reference that reminded me of Christmas. I was always averse to Christmas knowing that it was a result of adopting pagan worship into the church. But then I considered that regardless of what I thought of this celebration, if you believe that the Lord Jesus is sovereign over all, especially over His church, then it is under His sovereignty that we celebrate Christmas as we do and when we do. So then I asked, what is the message here?

The celebration seems to be split into two celebrations. You have those recalling the birth of Jesus from the account in Luke. It is a sweet, wonderful worship of the Lord's coming. Why would the Lord want us to worship this on the 24th in the evening if this was not His birth? According to the OT all these festivals are Holy convocations, a rehearsal for events to take place in the future. Could this Christmas festival be when it is because we are rehearsing an event that will take place in the future?

I then considered the pagan celebration of Christmas and it was stunning. There are very many verses in the Bible that correlate with this celebration as describing the judgement on Babylon.

I have already posted all of this previously, probably since Thanksgiving of this year.

Dimitri Duduman is a very credible prophet, you can learn about him if you don't already know, and his vision of Satan coming with all the fallen angels reminds me of Santa with the red coat and big wide black belt.

It seems to me that Passover was a prophecy of exactly how the Lord would be crucified, in the same way I think Christmas is a prophecy of the judgement on the apostate church. They will wake up and realize they exchanged the glory of the Lord Jesus for a bunch of junk from the mall.

It is the midnight hour

I think we're fighting a losing battle. If it comes to it, they will use military force. Including international forces.

Years ago when I was preaching the gospel I talked about how 2 would chase ten thousand and this person responded that this is simply flowery language, it shouldn't be taken literally. That really bothered me and I prayed about it and I told the Lord I expected to see 2 chase ten thousand and I don't want to hear about the Bible being a bunch of hype. So I view what we are seeing here as the Lord answering that prayer

Yes we are outnumbered, but no biggy, we have Immanuel, God with us.

I know...I hope things go well for us.

Perhaps it would be best to let Stan answer that question.

From: https://web.archive.org/web/20000929160053/http://www.prophecyclub.com/text2/mar99.htm#when

When You Are Wrong, Admit It Quickly And Emphatically. "I Made A Mistake."

By Stan Johnson, Director and Founder of The Prophecy Club.

Please understand my calling is not as a speaker or a prophet. I'm a watchman. Eze. 33:6 says, "But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."

My job is to warn America that trouble is coming.

In August of 1991, Dumitru Duduman had his first of four dreams or visions about the Gentile Book of Life. The angel said, "When these are filled, The Book Of The Gentiles will be complete." Then on November 6, 1993, he had another dream that said one and three-quarter pages were left. The angel said, "When the total number of the Gentiles is completed, writing in this book will be finished. At that time, what I have shown you will happen. Then the beast will do battle against the Holy. Remember what I tell you; be prepared, live a holy life, and do not think you have much time to live on this earth! Jesus is soon returning!"

On January 13, 1996, Dumitru had his final vision. I was asleep in the back seat of the van as Michael drove Dumitru and me to Omaha for a meeting. The angel said, "Do you remember how many pages were left to fill when I showed you last time? Now, there is but one page left. When this is completed, what I have told you will happen to America." The man proceeded to tell Dumitru that the time it would take for this page to be filled would not be longer, but shorter.

I quickly seized the opportunity to blow the trumpet once again. The angel gave an important clue. "The time for the last page to fill will not be longer, but shorter. Recalling an earlier message called, When Will it Happen, the angel came to Dumitru at night and woke him up and, among other things, told him, "You tell the people of America that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. If they will repent and turn back to God, they will make it to the 2,000 year mark. If they do not, they will not make it to the 2,000th year."

Now, keep in mind the angel did not specify whose calender we could calculate that. Is that our calendar or the Jewish calendar? Could it be 2,000 years from Jesus' birth, or his death, or the day of Pentecost? No one knows for sure.

As a watchman, I quickly saw another cause to blow the trumpet. Wow! I must warn the people, I thought! I calculated the number of months it took for a page in the Book of Life to be filled.

I was not trying to set a date, and I mentioned we could go another year. I announced that my objective was not to set a date, but to simply say, "Do not think you have long to live on the earth. Stop sinning, turn to Jesus so he can save you in the days of trouble." I thought it better to be laughed at by scoffers and warn someone, than maintain a sterling reputation. I said on a radio broadcast, "I am not setting a date," four times in a row. I said according to my calculations regarding Dumitru's visions of the Book of Life, I estimate the following. I did say it was an estimate based on my mathematical calculations. I never said it was, "Thus saith the Lord." To say I was a false prophet is using bad terminology. "Poor Mathematician" or "Bad Estimator" might be more appropriate. It was an attempt to counter the excuse, "not in my lifetime," to put their head back into the sand. In the July/August 1997 newsletter I said: "The shortest a page filled was 12 months, the average is 17.7, and the longest is 34.6 months." "In summary, the shortest time would be January 1997; the average, June 1997; the longest, November 1998. ...We could go another year."

"Based on simple mathematics, I give America a 10% chance of making it through the summer [before trouble would start was the discussion]. That's a 90% chance we will NOT make it past September 12, 1997, unpunished! I estimate only a 5% chance of making it through 1997. It looks impossible to make it through 1998."

Trouble was defined as an internal revolution in America, war in the middle east, or a stock market collapse.

All the while, my wife was saying she thought I interpreted Dumitru's dreams wrong. She, and my long-time friend and pastor, Gary Hudson, thought the angel was saying the last page would not take longer than the first three pages, but shorter. I thought it meant not longer than the longest page. Did I listen? Not with the angel saying we would not make it to the 2,000th year, no way, could not be. By now you know "I was wrong" and perhaps she was correct. Time will tell. Why don't we listen to our wives more often? That brings me to the point of this article. For those who think people should own up to their mistakes and agree with Dale Carnegie when he said, "When you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically." "I was wrong."

I was correct to warn people and will continue to do so. I was either wrong in my calculations or wrong in assuming I understood what the angel meant. Either way, when the revolution starts our questions will be answered.

Thank you to all those that have a like heart and think warning your fellow Americans is more important than a good reputation among scoffers.

So Stan tells us in 1999 that he is a watchman and not a prophet so uses that claim to explain in humility why he got things so wrong with the so called prophecy as outlined in the extract. Now he calls himself an Apostle and his wife calls herself a Prophet.

What does any of this have to do with Dimitri's vision or what I shared?

For some reason there is this very strong temptation for those who are involved in this to give a time range. There are Biblical prophecies where that is a valid interpretation of what is being said or at the very least one plausible interpretation. But the dream did not give a date.

My interest is not in the date. I just posted a video from S4C today or yesterday where he makes a very strong case for 2021 being the year of the rapture. He makes this case from the Bible, it would be negligent in this thread on a summary of Bible verses on the rapture to not include it. He is calculating 2021 based on the Hebrew calendar where Nisan is the first month and that would be this coming April.

If he is wrong then his interpretation of many Bible verses is also wrong, however, this interpretation is considered quite fundamental.

This is how we have investigated every single doctrine in the Bible. The rapture is a doctrine.

Several things are certain. The rapture is every bit as Biblical and fundamental as the Lord's resurrection from the dead. Second, we are closer now than we have ever been in the last two thousand years to the rapture. When these guys go out and predict a day they have been foolish every single time, obviously, and if they are ever right no one will care because by the time we know they are right we don't care about their prediction.

What I am interested in is something that Peter said, searching into the nature of that day. What will things be like? I saw a video today of the lockdowns in Australia and that is definitely what it will be like. I saw another video today about natural disasters, I post these throughout this blog so that like a journal it will be very easy for someone to pull up in the future and see them day by day. What I am seeing day after day is astounding, it was nothing like this twenty years ago. The Pandemic is another key marker. The Balfour declaration in 1917, the six day war in 1967 and signs we saw in 2017 all tell us that those are Jubilee years. Many have carefully looked into the history of the Bible and are saying that 2017 was the 120th jubilee. That is a very significant fact Biblically and another marker.

Since 2017 people who are watching for the Lord's coming and speaking on it have been on edge. I have posted a number of their videos. If the entire Christian community would put their shoulder to the plow to dive into the word on this topic we would have picked up much more, but these brothers seem to be on their own, ridiculed and reviled. I consider the criticism to be hypocrisy. Every single critic has at some point or other realized their understanding of the Bible or some verse was wrong. That doesn't make you a false prophet. In this case they are interpreting Bible prophecies concerning the Lord's second coming. Anyone can make fancy charts of Revelation and tell you all about the seals, trumpets, bowls because you'll never be able to prove them wrong. But we know many if not all of them are wrong because they have conflicting interpretations. But they are fine, that is "eschatology". But theorize on the rapture and all of a sudden it isn't eschatology it is now "prophecy". Baloney. He said repeatedly, many times that he was theorizing based on common sense. He never came out and said "God told me" it was a simple interpretation of the dream that was in error.

@#3,035 must be your answer. The list of notes to the video clearly state who is promoting that vision.

Quote:

Today Pastor Stan shares a dream from Dimitru Duduman and also from Pastor Dana Coverstone. Both dreams says the same thing and that is, that a battle is coming - a Spiritual Battle, and it's time for us to pick up our Swords (The Word of God), put on our Armor and go to Batlle.

EndQuote

So that must be the clear connection with the vision - however Stan expressly states on his website his aim is to:

To continue the warning of Dumitru Duduman.
To continue the vision to find massive amounts of oil in Israel.

Do you have a transcript of the relevant vision or dream that you cited?

If you haven't I'll find one and post it - but even from the small amount in the video you posted it is flawed in almost the first words.

In rather the same way the same website says:

Quote:

"In 2017, Stan memorized the Book of Revelation in which he received 30 revelations and two visions. God showed him the word “Firstfruits” is a secret door which links the Feasts of Leviticus to the prophecies of Revelation, allowing the end time events to be placed in chronological order. One prophetic word given to Stan said, “There is a lock that I have put over a word in the Book of Revelation that I am going to open unto you. It will turn so many books written on the end time message into obsolete books.” His message helps remove the fear of the end time prophecies described in the Book of Revelation."

EndQuote

That too is a direct contraction of the book it is claiming to reveal. Do you know why? I have highlighted the lie in red. Who prophesied those words is not stated - but in context of 30 revelations and 2 visions it would seem to have its source in heavenly places.

I am not against prophetic speech - even in the gift of the Holy Spirit meaning of the gift of prophecy - and neither am I a cessastionist. But I was saved in a prison cell in solitary confinement in 1984 and all that I received then remains with me today - so whilst I am not seeking to discourage you - I am addressing things which I knew then and have seen the evidence of for nearly forty years. Much of that is to do with the prophetic ministry. Far from being against the end time need for a prophetic office - I am wholly in favour of it - conditional on the self evident fact that nothing we say must contradict the word of God. How can we say that we have received a prophecy that speaks of a lock on one word of the Book of Revelation - when the Book of Revelation tells us that it was not to be sealed? The Book of Revelation is not a sealed book. It is neither locked nor hidden. It is revealed.

As to the rapture that ought not to be a doctrine - rather it is a teaching - and its meaning is also easily understood when the Scripture is not made ruin by our dependancy of false prophetic visions and dreams because we see that our nation is in ruins spiritually.

I would estimate that at least 2/3 of what I see I do not repost and the only reason it isn't more is because there are many sites I either completely ignore or leave in the first minute or two.

However, I feel it is wrong to be too strict in editing content. I see this blog as a means by which I am gathering what is being said. I am trying my best to filter out anything that is clearly off.

If you or someone else does not like a post then by all means comment, or skip it.

My feeling about the rapture is that it is not a simple teaching. I feel it has been ignored for 2,000 years, dominated by cult leaders. The fact that I now have over 3,000 posts on this topic testifies to this. I would say I have learned something new every day since starting this blog or at the least almost every day. That is pretty amazing. I thought it was a simple topic a year ago, not anymore.

We have lost our power in America because innocent blood is on our hands -- abortion.

You likened the rapture to an equivalence of Christ' death on the cross. Given that you also say that the rapture has been hidden by cults for nearly two thousand years - it seems to me that you have overturned Scripture and made a doctrine of life equal to escaping tribulation in some measure. Whereas tribulation is the portion of every believer who sets their heart to pleasing God in every generation from the beginning - starting with Cain. He was given a clear opportunity to please God and he murdered his brother instead. Whereas his brother who was murdered was the first man in the prophetic hand of God as cited in the Gospels.

I respect your point about not editing what others have said - yet It wouldn't be possible to edit videos you haven't created - but in any case anything claiming to be prophetic must have at its heart a semblance of truth that can be upheld in the Scripture. That includes the rapture - no matter how long the subject has been overlooked.

To your last video for example - Numerology is not a basis for prophetic meanings. At best it speak of symbols in the bible - but to transpose that into a prophecy is a mistaken endeavour. You may as well read the orations of Pythagoras and study Cabal. Are you familiar with the Greeks and the Jewish mystics? No matter - your concern is for America. Just to say it brother, they correspond to the same time as Hanukkah was first celebrated.

No, I equated it to the Lord's resurrection. The Lord rising from the dead is likened to the rapture. There are similarities, however it is not equivalent to that. Why would you change "resurrection" to "Christ's death on the cross", and why would you change "likened to" to "equivalence of". This is not a simple error but rather a very clear attempt to distort and contort what I said.

Never said that either. What I did say is that many Christian teachers do not touch this subject and as a result it has been associated for the most part with cults. There are many whose first thought of this subject is to bring up Jim Jones or some other cult.

Everything you have said to this point that you try to ascribe to me I have not said, as a result your conclusion is not some reasonable or logical view of what I have posted but simply something you are trying to foist onto me.

Choosing to repost something is an editorial decision. My point was that more than 65% of the stuff I watch I choose not to repost, an editorial decision, and I chose to not even watch more than half the stuff on this topic, another editorial decision. That said the Prophecy club does have at its heart prophecies that can be scrutinized by the word of God.

I have not posted anything concerning Jewish mystics, or about Pythagoras or the study of Cabal. Nor am I aware of any posts on "numerology".

The woman had a dream in which there were 3 numbers, 105, 100 and 205. Dreams are figurative language, she got a message from that, you can take what you wish from it. But the heart of her message, even the sum total of it is that the US is being judged by God for Abortion. That is a very scriptural message which can be supported biblically and I have done that study.

She also linked her dream to current events, the tornados. I believe that nothing happens by chance, everything is under God's divine authority and that includes natural disasters. She tied these tornados to the verse "Judgement begins with the house of God".

Now people may have an issue with that message, but anyone who has an issue with the message that these storms and disasters are under the Lord's sovereignty and we need to wake up and listen to what He is saying, that is between you and God. That is a message that the Lord said when He gave us the signs of His coming, that is a message that is very relevant to this thread. Since the Day of the Lord is tied to His judgement on unrighteousness and that unrighteousness is definitely related to the legalization of abortion, that also is a message consistent with the word of God and many posts shared on this blog.

So I will repeat it.

We have lost our power in prayer in America because innocent blood is on our hands as a result of abortion.

My purpose with this blog

I did this for my own research to gather everything that I could on this topic on one spot. My primary concern was my own research but I have also wanted this to be public in the event it could help others with their investigation.

I just did a search on DuckDuckGo for "Bible references on the rapture" and this was 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th links on the list.

This is not a finished work on the subject, this is simply the notes that I have gathered from which I would put together my findings. This blog is a resource that I think will be very helpful to me and which I am providing free to anyone else who would wish to investigate this topic.

I did not expect to get as many views as this has gotten but I think this is because people all over the world are waking up to the fact that the day of the Lord is at hand.

There have been several dreams and visions that refer to a massive revival among Christians in 2021. I am wondering if that is a reference to the rapture? I think the book of Mark depicts a massive revival where everyone goes out to the wilderness to repent and that could be giving us a preview of the church after the rapture.

It was a knowing clarification of what should have been said because you seem to be unable to know what you have said sometimes - even when the connection is made for you. Thats fine of course but if we are about spiritual things then we have to define what we say accurately and what we say or imply what others have said in a true meaning. That true meaning will always be according to the Father - it will never easily rest when we make a confession or else simply state a form of words hoping that what has been said will somehow be beneficial. Resurrection is the proof of the efficacy of the blood of Christ - resurrection is therefore the cross. It is the very issue of life and death - rapture is not an issue of life. Being raptured does not save anyone and not all the saved will be raptured.

So when I say that we ought to define what others say in a true meaning I am speaking about what is prophetically implicit in any attempt we make to uphold a godly ambition and in this case to speak of the judgement of God in our day. It is not a devilish criticism. I explained that point about Judas previously and the meaning of the expression devil as applied to Judas by the Lord. I also advised avoiding its meaning in most circumstances pertaining to the brethren.

The video is based on a dream and the dream was explained and simply consisted of three dirty coins and adding a dollar. Out of that whilst awake the Sister added the entirety of the claims she made. What is that do you believe? It has nothing to do with prophecy. All truth is grounded in that which was, that which is and that which is to come. If not all three then it is not from God. That is the book of Revelation - not that which will shortly happen - but that which was, that which is and that which is to come.

A school pupil could have stated all the same things by simply researching any or all of the claims that are made. We ought to examine what we say we have dreamed before we report to expressing it as a watchman. That was the Sisters direction - but she even transgressed that boundary and rebuked the church. That is a spiritual direction equivalent to being a prophet. You may very well be gathering your resources for your studies - I am simply laying down another reality.

Why on earth would four quarters and five cents and a dollar have any meaning to the entire church in the US? And why would we take such a dream and express it as a prophetic rebuke to the entire church in the US? Brother you are free to believe and to hold what you wish - but you would be better served by examining yourself first - if you did that you would have a proper basis for examining others when they make numerology the basis for their mystical expressions. When symbols are transported into such heights and proportions then they ought to be expressed as prophetic truth and the symbols done away with otherwise there is no way to hold anyone to account. Unless of course the Lord raises up the true prophet and tears it down. Judgement begins in the household of God. We should remember that brother.

Luke 23:24-38 The ruler of this world is losing all legitimacy

24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Let’s be clear, Jesus knew that if He was going to rescue us from the Satanic kingdom He would have to be delivered to their will. This impeachment trial that we are witnessing is also about sedition and murder. They are not impeaching someone in office, they are impeaching the citizens of the US and those who are truly guilty of sedition and murder (Antifa) they are letting go free. The deplorables are the ones standing with Jesus, whereas Antifa would be Barabbas. They are asking to crucify the deplorables while letting Antifa go free. At the end of this age we are seeing the church that is bone of the Lord's bone and flesh of His flesh standing, reflecting the glory of Jesus.

26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

It seems so confusing, there is a great company of people who are lamenting Jesus being condemned to death, yet the voices of those shouting to crucify Him prevailed? How did this happen? Ten people show up to a Biden rally and 1,000,000 show up to a Trump rally and all they could hear is those ten people? How does this work? First, put up a fence and barbed wire and keep the 1,000,000 far enough away that you can’t hear them. Then bring in some guy who is clearly ANTIFA but claiming to be a Trump supporter and bring in another guy who looks like Chubaca and make sure they are the only ones anyone can hear.

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Look at how outrageous Herod, Pilate, the chief priests and the scribes behaved. Yet, the point is the horror will be much greater at the end of this age. For example, we have had many forest fires in the history of the US, but look at how horrifying they are when the forest is dried out. There has been drought, heat wave, and an infestation of bark beetles all that have caused the forest to dry out. As vehement this fire was, it was all focused on one man, Jesus Christ. But at the end of the age it will be focused on the many, on the forest. They are choosing one who will suck all the life out of the forest so that when it does burn it is a raging inferno.

I think the most logical reason to vote for Biden was this hope that it would put an end to the rancour and division and we could go back to a more pleasant time of “Leave it to Beaver” and “The Andy Griffith Show”. That has obviously not happened and instead the forest fire is raging worse than ever. But what happens when all those standing on the front lines fighting the fire are taken away? There is going to be a great tribulation.

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

John Sullivan and “Chubaca” have also been caught up in this mess.

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

This is who they are crucifying the one who would have saved them, the one who sees the coming destruction and even in this moment is warning people. Today how many people could say this, “forgive them for they know not what they do”. There is a lot of screaming back and forth that people “don’t know what they are doing” but you don’t hear any forgiving, only condemning.

Notice how this account is different from both Matthew and Mark. There is no “why have you forsaken me?” that you see in Mark. This event is different for different people. For those who are raptured at the beginning of the Great tribulation their word is to “forgive all those who didn’t know what they were doing”. For those who are not raptured but are left behind their word is “why hast thou forsaken me?” In either case the good news is that you can be one with the Lord and He will be your savior. If you are not one with the Lord you are not going to be able to say “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing”. And if you don’t know what you are doing and are left behind you can ask the Lord why and He will answer that prayer.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

Instead of forgiveness all you hear is insults. There were many saying this word, thinking that somehow Trump was going to save himself on January 20th. We were told that this is why they needed 25,000 troops.

38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.

The entire world is watching what is going on. The rulers are not only losing all legitimacy in the US but also in the world.

Luke 23:39-56 The ruler of this world is about to be cast out

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

Jesus didn’t need to be saved, we did. This is what He was doing, He was saving us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

How is it that he is able to see this and Herod, Pilate and the chief priests weren’t? I applaud him, he is admitting that entering the capitol building and whatever he did there was wrong. Be warned, you can believe in the Lord but follow according to your own idea rather than according to His speaking.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. 44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

That is pretty weird. Recently we saw some people on the West coast at mid day and the sun was darkened due to the fires. They described it as “apocalyptic”. A solar eclipse only lasts for a minute or so, this was three hours. The sun being darkened for three hours is not a solar eclipse with the moon, something else must be blocking the sun.

45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

This age began with the veil of the temple being rent. It signifies the flesh being rent so that the way to the Holy of Holies would be opened to us. This is what the Lord had to go through in order to open the way for us to meet with God. Jesus is the way, no man cometh to the Father but by Him. We have also learned that the ark of the covenant was hidden beneath where Jesus was crucified. This earthquake caused a fissure to go down from the cross to where the ark was and blood dripped from the cross onto the mercy seat.

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

It seems trivial to me to hear anyone claiming that they are in the right and that others have wronged them after watching the way in which Jesus was crucified.

47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

Jesus didn’t just rend the veil to the temple, it is as though all of flesh was torn in two. You have those who are vehemently railing against him on one side, and those who smite their breast in lament on the other. One thief is mocking, the other is believing. Pilate is doing whatever the loudest people in the mob shout, whereas the centurion can see this was a righteous man.

49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. 50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

So although the chief priests and scribes really bear a lot of judgement here, not all do. There are still good men and just men who were counselors of the people.

52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Once again we can see this is the thing, Jesus is Lord. That is what this age is about. That is why the Satanic kingdom has become so riled up and vehement. The ruler of this world is about to be cast out. You get to choose which one you want, there is still time, but the opportunity to choose will soon be over.

The US constitution says that it is government by the people, the people are Lord. You cannot be Lord until you have gone through this experience like steel being tempered.

Idols (1)

Romans 2:22 thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?

The church has robbed pagan practices from temples. The Christmas tree was robbed from an idol temple. The Germans used it in the worship to Odin and the Babylonians used it in their worship to Baal.

1Corinthians 5:10 not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: 11 but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.

It is not possible to avoid all Christmas trees and other items of pagan worship. We live in the world and are surrounded by this. You don’t need to leave a store because they have a Christmas tree or leave your company party because they have a Christmas tree. No, if someone claims to be a brother or sister and is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard or an extortioner. These are all serious issues. This does not mean that a fornicator cannot get saved, they can. The charge is not whether or not someone has sinned and repented of that sin, the charge is about someone who thinks they can openly live in sin while also claiming to be a Christian. Everyone is probably familiar with the Pedophile priests in the Catholic church, that represents about 5% of the priests. However, 50% of priests engage in consensual sex with adults. They are fornicators. The only reason the Pedophile priests were able to flourish in the Catholic church was because of the fornicating priests. If they exposed these 5% they in turn might expose the 50%. This is why Paul says to be very strict. Then what happens to those people who know about the Priests who are fornicators? No wonder they see the Church as a bunch of self righteous hypocrites condemning others for the things that they themselves do.

1Corinthians 8:8 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.

We need to come to this topic with love and with the intention of building one another up. Idol worship involves making a sacrifice to an idol. Some will claim that all the Christmas decorations are just that, decorations. The same thing with the Easter celebration, just fun and games. I would ask if you are “making a sacrifice to that idol”? Simply a question to take to the Lord.

4 Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; 6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

It is impossible to be in this world and not be surrounded by idols. You will go to a restaurant, you will go to a store, your company, even the things people wear. We do not have to walk around like some looney tunes every time we see an idol. These things are meaningless. As a teacher we are required to decorate our rooms for holidays. I would never put up a Christmas tree nor would I mention Santa Claus in my decorations. However, another teacher might, I just ignore that. It is nothing.

7 Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. 10 For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

These verses are completely misquoted by many Christians. If you go to a restaurant that has a little idol up that is an offering to their God, typical in Asian restaurants, that is eating meat in an idol temple. This does not mean you went to a Buddhist temple for lunch. In the US this could also refer to going to a football game or a baseball game. Now there are many people who get invited to these games for work or some other reason. You don’t have to respond “O no, I am a Christian, I would never go to that idol temple”. However, there are others who have season tickets, they fill up their home with all kinds of junk celebrating their favorite team or player. Buying those things is what is known as “sacrificing to an idol”. So if a brother or sister is offended that you are going to the game you simply say fine, if this stumbles you I won’t go ever again. That is evidence that you are not worshiping this thing as an idol because you are happy to cut it completely out of your life for the sake of your brother’s conscience. However, many Christians apply this to their home. That does not make sense. If a believer sees that your home is set up as an idol temple you can’t make some claim that this means nothing to you. You have already sacrificed to this idol.

Idols (2)

1Corinthians 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Such a strange definition for idol worship. They built a bronze calf, they said this is your God that brought you out of Egypt, they had a big feast and they they rose up to “play”. From ancient Jewish texts it seems this referred to a big party that got out of hand. From descriptions I have heard it was every bit as bad as any Christmas party that got out of hand. Idolatry will go hand in hand with fornication. But look how innocent the description is. You have to compare this with the Lord’s table. We sit down to eat and drink the body and blood of the Lord Jesus and then we rise up to worship Him. There is a contrast here. No one rises up to worship the Lord Jesus during idol worship.

1Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? 17 seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar? 19 What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. Many misquote the verse about those who are weak in the faith thinking that the Christians who don’t bring the pagan idols into their house are the ones who are weak in the faith. But that doesn’t make sense. You know that this practice offends your brothers and sisters, you know that Paul said that if that were the case he wouldn’t eat meat again, and yet you use this as some kind of justification? You are condemned twice over. You claim you are strong in the faith yet you refuse to behave like one who is strong in the faith.

1Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led.

A christmas tree is a dumb idol. All of the spiritual gifts are speaking gifts. What do you want, spiritual gifts or gifts from Santa? Be careful you don’t exchange your inheritance with God for a bunch of junk from the Mall.

2Corinthians 6:14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, 18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We use this verse to talk about marriage and about our job. But it also refers to the church marrying the world. According to Ephesians the church is the Temple of God. Pergamus was the church that married the world, and historically it refers to the church that adopted these pagan practices like Christmas and Easter.

Revelation 2:But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.