Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

But of that day and hour knoweth no one

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.

1. Is he talking about the rapture or is he talking about heaven and earth passing away?

2. No one knows is not equal to no one can know or no one will ever know. There are other verses that contradict the idea that you can't know the day or the hour. Without a doubt you can see the day approaching and you can see your redemption drawing near.

There is another way to look at this as well. Many of the "watchmen" have latched onto Paul's word that the feasts are a shadow of things to come to look at all the holy days of the Jewish Bible. But think about that, July 4th, that is a day that everyone knows. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Labor day, etc. These are all days that everyone knows. He may have been saying it isn't one of the holy days, it's a day that no one knows (present tense, not in the future). Since the Feast of Trumpets we have gone through all the Holy days and festivals and we have learned about the calendars and all that is valuable. The process has been valuable but we have essentially eliminated all the "known days".

Matthew 25:1-12 What does it mean to fill your vessel with oil?

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

This refers to an ancient custom for weddings. The first step is the man decides who he wants to marry and goes to the father with the proposal. The father then checks with his daughter to see if she is willing to marry this man. If she is the man pays a price for the daughter and they have a marriage contract, they are engaged. This is very similar to our experience. Each one of us had to accept the gospel ourselves, no one could force it upon us. Also, the Lord paid the price for us by giving His life and redeeming us from sin. Then the bridegroom has two years to go and prepare a house for them to live in and during that time the bride is to prepare the things she’ll need. She can use the money that her bridegroom paid for her. In the same way the Lord has given us His word, His spirit, the fellowship of the saints, and the church. Then the bridegroom will come back secretly and steal the bride. This just makes things much more exciting. He might come in the middle of the night, he might come when the father is at work. But once he steals her his friends begin blowing trumpets and announcing that the Bridegroom has come. This depicts the rapture of the saints at the end of this age. I think many of us are worried, are we ready? Remember, the Lord will be coming as the Bridegroom, He is going to be in a very good mood, and He is coming for all those He has redeemed. Every single one. The Bible doesn’t say that some are left out of the feast because He rejected them but because they were foolish and didn’t watch.

2 And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them: 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

So what should we be doing? Filling our vessels with oil. That means going into the Bible in prayer. For your lamp to be lit you need to be speaking and sharing with others. Think how great this type of wedding is. It is fun. It is exciting. It is a little rebellious. There were two years of anticipation. And it is a big deal for the entire community. If the man has spent two years building a house in the community you know they aren’t going somewhere else after they get married. The bride doesn’t have to give up all her friends and relatives to get married, she gets to stay in the community where she grew up. Today no one wants to go to a wedding where two years later you learn they got divorced. Also, This man’s friends and this woman’s friends will spend seven days celebrating the wedding. They all grew up together and they are expecting to live in the same community for the rest of their lives, so you want to make this an event you can remember for the next 50 years. This is a great event for everyone in this village. They didn’t force everyone to fly to Bermuda for the wedding, they have invested in the town, they have put down roots, and the celebration is about people, not beaches and resorts. If you go to one of these areas where a forest fire has just burned thru it is a scene of total destruction. But come back in six months and you will see little plants budding and flowering. That is such a hopeful sight, you are seeing restoration and renewal. That is what this wedding is, the budding and flowering of a plant that is putting down roots and renewing the community. Their marriage is not some narcissistic exercise of fleshly gratification, it is something the entire community can rejoice in.

5 Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

There are two stories here about the rapture, one has ten people, the other two. Combined they are twelve, a complete number for eternity, and you see those who have died (fallen asleep) and those who are still alive at the Lord’s coming.

6 But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Wow, I love this. The virgins who had vessels filled with oil were still worried there might not be enough for them. I believe anyone seeing the day approaching is nervous. I remember times when there were big exams, big tests, sometimes I would have to stand in front of a thousand people or more to speak. There is that worry, did I do enough? I took this attitude: “I have been preparing and I am going to lay it all down on the line, if it isn’t enough at least I know I gave it my all”.

10 And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

That is the crux of what it means to fill your vessel with oil. Do you know the Lord? If you know Him, if you spend time with Him everyday then you can be sure He knows you. If when He speaks you listen and obey, then surely He knows you. Jesus is the incarnated word, when you spend time in His word in prayer you are spending time with Him. If your conscience does not bother you about sin, then you don't know the Lord.

The most important lesson

Luke 21:34 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: 35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Isn't it something how many people will ignore the most important lesson in Luke 21. The entire chapter has bookends, a portion at the start of the chapter and this concluding remark (and there is also a post script to this chapter which we'll get to in a coming post). We skipped the opening verses of this chapter so let's look at them now.

Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all: 4 for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.

This woman is held up as an example to us all. She "cast in all the living that she had". This is what the Lord is looking for. There are a whole lot of people who are giving of their superfluity, their excess, their abundance, their overflow, what they have "left over". It indicates that the primary concern is their needs and wants, and if they have anything extra, that they toss in.

That is how this chapter begins and it concludes with a warning about not letting your heart be "overcharged". It means to be weighed down. This word is unique to the gospel of Luke and is not used elsewhere in the New Testament. It means to be burdened. With what? With surfeiting. Once again, another word unique to Luke, used only here in the New Testament. This word refers to the sensation you get when you are drunk with wine, you get giddy, stumble around, foggy, slur speech and headache. The world, the internet, this high technology, AI, Satanic rituals, all of the various things we are seeing today can snare you, can befuddle you, can cause a person to be weighed down. Keep your life simple. Ask yourself, do you really need this thing or is it just going to be another headache? Will this help you to walk the narrow path and speak the word, or will it cause you to stumble and be unable to witness for the Lord?

If you are daily looking and praying that you may escape what is coming it indicates that you are not befuddled, you are not overcharged.

Consider something else, you see a guy who works out every day, he can handle a much greater weight in the weight room than the person who never works out. What will "overcharge" one will not overcharge someone who is working out constantly. What we see coming our way is certainly capable of pushing one person into depression and despair while another one is filled with praise and thanksgiving. If you are being pushed to depression and despair then you are overcharged. Dial down how much of the things of the earth you are seeing and turn up how much time you are spending in the word and prayer.

Can A Woman Preach And Teach The Word Of God? 3/12/23

Yes!

Time to suit up

Before you can get into a spiritual battle you need to be fully armored up. The battlefield is littered with many, many who thought they could fight the battle without being fully covered in the armor.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally,

The book of Ephesians is to the church, and it says the church is the Body of Christ, it is the one new man and it is the warrior. No one can fight the spiritual battle alone. We are an army and we are all connected to the head, one with the head, and take orders from the head.

be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

Do not be strong in yourself, or your opinion, or your might. Jesus is wiser, He has all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Himself, and He has built the church to win this war.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

You cannot stand against the wiles of the devil if you do not put on the whole armor. This act of "putting on" involves prayer, fellowship, and time in the word of God.

12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

You cannot wrestle if you don't know who or what you are wrestling. I pass out bibles at a food bank and it was clear to me that we were being cursed by some Satanists. So I decided to go on the offensive. I went online and I got the name of 11 Catholic priests charged with sexual crimes, and I got the name of every Free Mason in the city, and I got the name of all the Mormons in the area. I then prayed that they would repent of their sins, confess, be saved, and bring forth fruit worthy or repentance. Think what a huge blow it was to the Jewish cults during the early church when the apostle Paul was saved. The goal is to plunder Satan's kingdom. People need to be prayed over by name before they can receive salvation. Once I did that it was as though the Satanists turned tail and ran.

13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

Do not needlessly expose yourself to Satan's attacks. They will come, you will be slandered, and accused of terrible things. If you were going to get into the ring with Mike Tyson you know you are going to get hit, so before that make sure you are completely covered with the armor of God so that you can take those hits.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth,

First and foremost you need to know the truth. You need to be gird about with the truth. I used to be a goalie in hockey and goalies have the most extreme cup. You can get hit with a puck traveling 100 mph. If you are not properly armored up you will flinch or even crumple over, if you are then you can stare down a slap shot without fear. For example, Mike Lindell has published his testimony and in there he admits to having used crack. He shows up on a late night comedy show and the host is trying to attack him as being paranoid about the election because paranoia is a symptom of using crack cocaine. Mike responded "if that were true then you are saying every person who ever used drugs can't vote". That destroyed the comedian. Mike didn't try to lie about his past, or cover it up. You confess, you repent, then you learn the truth. Everyone is a sinner, so I don't need to let anyone condemn me, Jesus has forgiven me and paid the price. But if you try to hide or cover up those sins without confessing and dealing with them then you are not living in the truth, you are not gird about, and you will crumple up in a heap.

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Jesus is our righteousness, but you have to put Him on. Mike Lindell repented for his drug use and as a result hired drug addicts trying to start again and he ran a clinic to deal with addiction. This is called fruit worthy of repentance.

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

I did a lot of hiking in the Southwest, spent two weeks in the hills of Nevada mapping the geology of the area. There were many rattlesnakes and scorpions. I never worried about them because I had on good boots. If you are planning to go to battle and you know there are lots of snakes and scorpions you have to have good boots. The gospel of judgment is not a good boot. Self righteousness is not a good boot. I am not here to condemn sinners, I condemn sin, but I preach the good news to sinners. I'm not trying to start a war between God and sinners, instead I am telling sinners that God has made peace with them and the good news is the price is paid, all they need to do is receive it.

16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You need to take up the word of God daily. Satan will be firing flaming darts, think of gossip that has the potential to go viral. Think of the nastiest, ugliest slander you can think of, doesn't have to be true, just has to have some reference to you that might be true. The more you try to put out that fire the more you just fan it into flames. That is the temptation, you want to quench it, forget it, your faith will quench it. Fill yourself up with the word, like being filled with cold water. You get hit with one of those darts it is immediately extinguished.

17 And take the helmet of salvation,

After all that you need the assurance that you are saved. When I rode a motorcycle I would wear a helmet, and when I put that helmet on it changes your attitude. When you go to battle you need to have the attitude of someone who is saved. A saved person doesn't curse others. He isn't insulting. He isn't an accuser of the brethren. Sometimes the attacks on you are true, you are a sinner saved by grace. Sometimes the best response is not to fight back but to give thanks to the Lord.

You need to make sure all of that armor is on and in place before you even consider taking up the sword.

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

This does not mean that now for the first time you open the word of God. No, you needed to be in the word of God to be gird about with the truth. No, the sword of the spirit is sharper than any two edged sword, you want to speak a word that will divide the soul from the spirit. However, don't try that until you are fully armored up otherwise you will make some ugly cuts and reap what you sow. You will be a self righteous hypocrite. If you were a heart surgeon, the best in the country, and you tried to do a heart transplant anywhere other than the operating room you will go to prison.

18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit,

If you take up the sword of the spirit without prayer and supplication then you will be clanging brass. This is like football, you have nine blockers and one runner. Prayer and supplication is blocking the enemy, the slander, the insults, the misunderstandings, the offenses, etc.

and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

This is a team game, we are on a team. If you are not a team player then you should be praying that the Lord would transform you.

19 and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

Most of us are nobody, but a few of the saints are well known. If you are well known and are speaking the mystery of the gospel and making it known with boldness then you can be certain you are a critical target of the enemy. The enemy attacks all of us, but the attack will be especially brutal and well thought out when going after these ones. Think of the "Jordan rules". When Jordan played every team he played against had a special strategy and special rules in defending against him. The same is true with brothers like Paul.

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

You want to be in chains. Many are timid to speak the word lest it cause them to be put in chains. But once you are there, what more can they do to you?

PROPHECY-- OUT OF CONTROL

Postscript

Luke 21:37 And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet. 38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.

Luke 21 is the Olivet discourse according to Luke. It is strikingly different from Matthew and Mark.

Woman casts in her whole living --> Jesus warns of coming judgment--> Disciples ask for the signs of this coming event and Jesus describes what will happen to the apostles and then at the end of the age when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled --> Jesus concludes with a warning about not being drunk on this world.

That is the chapter but then we get this postscript. It isn't in Mark, that gospel concludes with the warning to not be sleeping. It isn't in Matthew, chapter 24 leads right into 25, many stories saying what it would be like, but not this postscript.

This word is what we have seen for the last two thousand years, every day Jesus has been in the temple teaching and everyday people came early in the morning to hear him. By the time you get to the 70th week (the last seven years, commonly called the tribulation) it is no longer early in the morning, it is late, and summer is here. Also the temple is no longer referring to the first six churches in the book of revelation, but to Laodicea. Jesus is no longer in there, He is outside knocking on the door to see who will come out to Him.

So then, being in the word of God and being in the fellowship and meeting with one another is a critical component to this age. In addition to that you don't want to be befuddled by the world and you want to be one who gives all they have to the Lord.

So then in Luke 21 there is a critical turning point, we are in the word, in the temple right up until we see these things begin to take place. It is as though our heads are buried in the word but when we see these things begin to take place we are to look up.

What are these things? Wars, the rumors of war, the earthquakes, famines, pestilences -- those things happen throughout the two thousand years, we aren't to become unbalanced when we see those.

But when you see Israel and "all the trees" sprouting in the middle east you know that summer is near. That could be when we see these things begin to take place.

But for the apostles the "fire alarm" is seeing Jerusalem compassed about with an army. That was in 70 AD, but patter is prophecy. The Lord is clearly overlaying these two, they are like matching bookends to the age of grace. So then the mirror image of this is when we see the US surrounded by armies. The US is the "Christian" nation, we made a contract with the Lord 400 years ago just like the Jews who went to Egypt because of a famine. The pilgrims came to the US and became slaves of this Babylonian system.

Right now we have Russian submarines parked off the East and West Coast of the US. We have a Destroyer parked off of Bermuda with supersonic nuclear missiles. We have Iranian warships off the coast of Brazil. We have Chinese ships off the coast of Mexico. And we have missiles aimed at us from over the North Pole from Russia and also from North Korea. We are surrounded by armies. Meanwhile Russia claims to have the documents proving we were working on biological weapons to release on the world, and BRICS is making a full assault on the US dollar. Meanwhile we have had 12 million illegals enter our country the last two years and some are thought to be a militia designed to sabotage key infrastructure.

The sign of the Son of man begins...

Compare Luke 21 with Mark 13

Mark 13:1 And as he went forth out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings! 2 And Jesus said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down.

When the 70th week begins it is the end of the "times of the Gentiles". You will have the rapture of the saints who are ready and you will have the judgement on the apostate church. Hence, the believers will be "going out of the temple" at the start of the 70th week.

This is quite different from Luke. Jesus is in the temple beholding the poor widow and the rich men casting into the treasury and He hears others speaking of the temple and He gives them this prophecy that it will be judged and destroyed.

3 And as he sat on the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

In Luke "they" ask Him, in Mark we are told the names of the four and that "they ask Him privately". This morning I learn that they want to censor any discussion online of the current bank failure (SVB, Signature Bank, and Silvergate have all gone bankrupt in the last seven days). Two weeks ago there was plenty of discussion of an imminent collapse of the dollar and bank runs, but now it is not allowed. Luke is like the discussion two weeks ago while Mark is the discussion today.

Now look at who asks, these are the four leading apostles. (cf Mark 3:16-18). Suppose you were a leader in the Christian church, a genuine believer, someone who knows the word of God, and yet the rapture takes place and you are left behind. The boldness will be gone, now you will also be going to the Lord privately. This also reminds me of the verse, the first shall be last and the last first. In Luke they don't have a name, in Mark they do.

4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished?

This word accomplished is often translated "end" or "end together" or "be fulfilled" or "completed". This is different from Luke which is asking "to become" or "to come into existence". In Luke they are asking when these things will happen and in Mark they are asking when will these things be over.

Compare Luke 21 with Mark 13 (v.5-13)

Mark 13:5 And Jesus began to say unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. 6 Many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and shall lead many astray.

Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.

Look at the difference, before the rapture they are saying "the time is at hand", after the rapture they are saying "I am he", ie the AntiChrist.

Mark 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not troubled: these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail.

Luke 21:9 And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Compare these two sections, only Mark says these things are the beginning of travail. Comparing the 70th week to the woman going into labor while prior to the 70th week the woman had birth pains but hadn't gone into labor yet. The rapture is likened to the woman's water breaking. Pre labor rupture = rapture.


Mark 13:9 But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.

Luke 21:12 But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, [b]bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It shall turn out unto you for a testimony.

Look at the difference here. The apostles gave their lives as a testimony for the entire age of grace. It wasn't specifically for the Roman rulers, it was for all believers as a testimony of the truth of their ministry. However, in Mark the martyrdom during the tribulation is specifically for a testimony to those who are doing that. It is a testimony that they will soon be judged by God.


Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations. 11 And when they lead you to judgment, and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.

Wow! Look what is missing! Mark says the gospel must be first preached unto all the nations, Luke doesn't! Prior to the rapture it is not essential that the gospel be preached to all the nations. Yes, we have gone out into the world to preach, and yes we have gone to the uttermost part of the world. But during the tribulation every single person will have to choose between the mark of the beast or standing for Jesus. This is when it is essential that the gospel must be preached unto all the nations. Every nation will be enforcing this decree and so every nation must see those who take a stand for the Lord, preaching the gospel.

Mark 13:12 And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 21:16 But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 And not a hair of your head shall perish. 19 In your patience ye shall win your souls.

Again some interesting differences. Mark makes it very clear your own children will be brainwashed into turning against their parents, that is not stated directly in Luke. In Luke only "some of you" will be put to death, but in Mark you need to endure to the end to be saved, do not recant.

California homes completely buried in snow from crazy winter storms! Drone and interviews

What is the Image of the Beast? 03/13/2023

https://rumble.com/v2cwnl2-what-is-the-image-of-the-beast-03132023.html

Compare Luke 21 with Mark 13 (v.14-27)

Mark 13:14 But when ye see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains: 15 and let him that is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house: 16 and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 17 But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! 18 And pray ye that it be not in the winter. 19 For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.

Luke 21:20 But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. 21 Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Luke is referring to the destruction of the temple in AD 70 at the beginning of the two thousand year church age referred to as "the times of the Gentiles". Mark is referring to the Great tribulation when the wrath of God is poured out at the end of this age. In Mark it says "for those days shall be tribulation, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now and never shall be". Luke doesn't say that, it says Jerusalem will be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Once again, the "times of the Gentiles being fulfilled" would be marked by the rapture of the church and the beginning of the 70th week, the last seven years of this age.

This results in mind boggling twist to the timeline of the end of the age. I have shunned timelines, but this is amazing. How do you reconcile Rosh Hashanah with Nisan 1, the beginning of the Jewish year with the "head of the year" based on the creation. The answer is right here.

1. The Feast of Trumpets is ten days before the day of atonement and signifies the ten years of Jacob's trouble. Assuming the fulfillment of the day of atonement will be in 2030 that would mean the Feast of Trumpets was in 2020, the year of the pandemic.

2. Meanwhile, within this ten year period you have the 7 year period known as the 70th week in Daniel. This would begin in Nisan 1 of 2023 and conclude in 2030 when Jesus returns on the clouds in great glory and rescues a third of the Jewish nation because at this point they have looked upon Him whom they pierced, confessed and repented leading to their salvation.

3. However, Armageddon is a judgement on the world and so completes this ten year period prior to the day of Atonement when we must appear before God to be judged.

Mark 13:20 And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ; or, Lo, there; believe it not: 22 for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have told you all things beforehand.

Now look at this portion, it isn't in Luke. The days for the church age were not shortened, and it has not been so severe that no flesh would have been saved. Also the warning about false Christs for Luke is at the beginning, prior to the rapture, not here, right after the fall of Jerusalem. There are no phony Christs that will show signs and wonders during the church age, you won't see that until we get to the 70th week. This portion in Mark is referring to the Antichrist and the False prophet that will be here during the 70th week. Mark is considered the "cliff notes" version of the gospel, but this portion here is the exception to the rule.

Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

25 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Look at the difference, the two words are identical, except in Mark it is present tense and in Luke it is future tense. Also in Mark it says "after that tribulation" specifically referring to the portion previously about them in the days of the 70th week. It is a reference to the middle of the seven week period where we go from "tribulation" to the pouring out of God's wrath. In Luke there is no such reference.

Mark 13:27 And then shall he send forth the angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.part of the earth to the uttermost part of the earth.

Luke 21:28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.

Once again, look at the difference. Prior to the rapture we should be watching and waiting and when we see these things we look up. Once you are in the tribulation you can forget about that, the goal there is to "endure to the end".

Compare Luke 21 with Mark 13 (v.28-37)

Mark 13:28 Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; 29 even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, until all these things be accomplished. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees: 30 when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. 31 Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

So despite there being very interesting and significant differences all throughout these two chapters, in this case there doesn't appear to be any difference and why should there be? If Luke is talking about what we will see prior to the rapture and Mark is talking about those in the tribulation (70th week of Daniel) then in both cases you will see Israel bud again prior to all this happening and it will be a warning that summer is near.

Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch. 35 Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning; 36 lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Luke 21:34 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: 35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Here we see a completely different conclusion. So let's begin with Luke. It would be pointless to pray to escape all these things since those in the tribulation did not escape. It would also be pointless to warn them not let their hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life since they were and that is why they did not escape. The rapture did come on them suddenly. So whereas the word about Israel sprouting again applies to both, this warning to Luke does not apply to anyone who is left behind.

This brings up a stunning point, Mark says "no one knows the day or hour, but Luke doesn't. Can this possibly mean that this word about no one knowing the day or hour does not apply to the rapture?

1. The only day where the 70th week begins is Nisan 1. It is the first day of the year, and the 70th week is a shemitah, a seven year period, why would it start on any day other than the first day of the year?

2. If this understanding is correct, if Mark is referring to the saints left behind in the tribulation and Luke is referring to those who are raptured prior to the 70th week, that would mean the comparison between the apostles ministry in Acts after the Lord's resurrection would be comparable to the left behind saints ministry during the 70th week after the rapture.

3. If this is the case then Lazarus rising from the dead to set the stage for Jesus entering Jerusalem in His earthly ministry is like the rapture setting the stage for Jesus to return to Jerusalem during the 70th week.

Do we know when Lazarus was raised? According to Jesus there are 12 hours in the day which takes place on the Equinox, or March 21st. If he were raised on or around Nisan 1 it would be about nine days prior to Palm Sunday. Some have said that since Mary and Martha had handled the dead body of Lazarus they would have been unclean to have that meal immediately. So it could have been a week later.

Anyway I would point out that Pastor Sandy Armstrong has done a powerful and persuasive job of showing that 2022 is the year of the rapture (using the Hebrew calendar where 2023 would begin on Nisan 1).

Comparing Mark 1:1-3 with Luke

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins;

The difference between these two accounts is stunning. Luke begins the gospel with what was happening before Jesus was even born. We see Anna and Simeon, and Zacharias, and Elizabeth and Mary and Joseph. We read about the census, the wise men, two thousand babies killed, and Jesus’ flight to Egypt. Mark is oblivious to all of this. It seems to me this is the gospel to those who were sleeping, those who were drunk on the world, those who were clueless to what was going on. Look at how detailed Luke is about who is in power, people who are very significant. Luke does not ignore the political situation or the news of the day. He knows that wise men from the East, or a massacre in a rural area, or strange celestial signs all are significant. Meanwhile those in the gospel of Mark looked like they have just rolled out of bed.

Mark 1:2 Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
Who shall prepare thy way;
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Make ye ready the way of the Lord,
Make his paths straight;

Luke 3:4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Make ye ready the way of the Lord,
Make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled,
And every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
And the crooked shall become straight,
And the rough ways smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Notice how Mark only quotes down to make His paths straight. The valley has already been filled in, the mountain has already been brought low, the crooked have already become straight, the rough have become smooth and all flesh saw the salvation of God at the rapture. During the church age this is what we have been doing. We are lifting those in the valley up and we are bringing those who think they are high and might low. We have been shining a light on the crooked that they would become straight. The world tries to make it rough for someone of low degree to rise up, but the church and the word makes this way smooth. All of that work has been done already. But for those who are left behind they can now hear the voice of one crying in the wilderness that the day of the Lord is here, make ready the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight. Think about the US highway system. That was a lot of work leveling the highway, building bridges, digging tunnels, etc. But once that road is laid you still need to paint straight lines on it, you still need to put up the road signs and make that path straight. During the church age the path was laid, during the tribulation it will be made ready for the triumphal entry of the Lord.

Is this the day the water breaks?


10 HEAVENLY SIGNS IN WATER... WORLD WATER DAY... WATER BREAK MARCH 21-23, 2023?