Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
Christ our Passover

1Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:


Jesus Christ is our Passover lamb. That means we did not keep the passover when Jesus was crucified because we were touching a dead body, the Body of Jesus.

Therefore there is a special appointed day just for us, that is 2nd Passover, and not just for us only but also for Jesus who returns from a long journey.

We are told in the gospels that the leaven is the traditions and teachings of the old religion. During the age of grace we purged all that old traditions out as we kept Jesus as our Passover. As a result we become a new lump of unleavened bread. When Jesus was crucified He said "this is my body and blood" that is given for you. That is what we ate for our Passover, so on the 2nd Passover it will be our body and blood, our experiences of the crucified and resurrected Christ that we will enjoy.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113

The Man Child & HIS Story In The Stars ⬆ (16:00-26:00 Skip Bad Sound)
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
The 15th day of the 2nd month

16 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

The 15th day is the full moon of the 2nd month, hence 2nd Passover

4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. 5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

They ate manna for 40 years in the wilderness and the church has eaten manna for 40 jubilees during the church age. The sixth day is they 6,000 years from Adam, it is this last thousand years, we had the Gutenberg Bible, we saw 2.5 billion Gideon Bibles handed out, and we have the internet and an explosion of Christian ministry.

6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: 7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?

This would be the 16th day, kind of a variation of the feast of unleavened bread.

8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord. 9 And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the Lord: for he hath heard your murmurings. 10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.


The manna supplied the children of Israel right up until the day they entered the good land.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113

"He Led Captivity Captive" Mid-Week Bible Study 4/26/23 Pastor Sandy

Pastor Sandy has a different view than Dr. Barry Awe.

Dr. Barry is very strong for 2nd Passover, the Barley harvest, and he sees Shavuot as being a different day than Pentecost.

I subscribe to that, I believe the Biblical record is very clear that although Jesus met with the disciples 40 days prior to the ascension it is very clear that it was not 40 days in a row, that is very clear from the book of John. Therefore I believe that Ascension day is not 40 days from Passover but rather 50 days after, at Shavuot and that Pentecost is 50 days after that on the feast of new wine.

Pastor Sandy's view is much more traditional. He thinks that ascension day is 40 days after the resurrection, and that about a week later was Shavuot which he calls Pentecost. He also does not think 2nd Passover is an appointed day.

None of these doctrines are a matter of the faith and so there is no reason to become divisive over these. We can hear both men out, and be fully persuaded in our own minds.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
Ye are not come unto Mt. Sinai, but unto Mt. Zion

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.


This debate over Pentecost is critical. Was the engagement ceremony of the church on Shavuot or on Pentecost? Was it done at Sinai or at Zion?

Yes, Shavuot was terrifying, but that was fulfilled not by us, but by the Lord Jesus ascending to the Father. Pentecost, the feast of new wine, was when we became engaged, not with the Old Covenant of keeping the law, but with the new covenant of grace. In this covenant Jesus is with us, He supplies us, He helps us, the Spirit comforts us.

Yes, Shavuot was an appointed day, but our covenant is not Mt. Sinai, that is the covenant that is compared to Hagar, a servant. Our covenant is the Jerusalem which is above, a covenant of promise. Does the OT refer to Pentecost? No, because the OT is talking about Israel which God divorced. However, is the feast of new wine in the Bible, yes. It doesn't get revealed until the New Testament because it belongs to the New covenant. Likewise the day we get taken up should also be an appointed time, it should also be in the Bible and it must refer to both Jesus and the church. Jesus is the one who is on a long journey. The church is the one who took care of His dead body after the crucifixion. The word in the OT about the 2nd Passover is about Jesus and if that is true then it must be about him returning from a long journey, hence it is about His second coming.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113

Did The Bible Predict This? Russia, Turkey, Iran and Syria meet in Russia
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
RMBC HEBREWCLUB #190: Pt2 "He Led Captivity Captive" 4/27/23 Phn: 877.426.9778


As I said in previous posts a few months ago, if we go past Nisan 1 people will have to adjust their teaching/understanding of the rapture. We have gone past Nisan 1 and you see both Dr. Barry Awe and Pastor Sandy adjusting their teaching.

The most significant adjustments/tweeks are this

1. The Lord said He would shorten the days and they are saying that means the time from the rapture to the end of the 70th week is being shortened, not by changing the end date but by delaying the rapture so that the period of tribulation is shortened.

2. The Revelation sign from chapter 12 has now become a 5 1/2 year odyssey as we we see the man child born and then spend the next 5 1/2 years travelling from Virgo to Pisces. I would say the exposition on the signs in the heavens has become truly amazing and can easily fill up a sixty minute sermon.

But now Pastor Sandy is pushing for a Shavuot rapture and Dr. Barry Awe is pushing for a 2nd Passover rapture.

The Bible says "the Lord's Passover" Exodus 12:11. 12:27. It does not say this about the Feast of unleavened bread, or the feast of weeks or the feast of tabernacles. Those are the three feasts when all of Israel is to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem, those three feasts belong to everyone, but the "Lord's Passover" refers to something that the Lord alone accomplished.

We had nothing to do with the Lord's redemptive work on the cross. Jesus was crucified to put the flesh, sins and the world to death. He did that alone, hence it is "the Lord's passover".

However, every believer is charged by the Lord to follow Jesus to the cross.


Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

That sure sounds like what the Lord tells those who do not get to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

This is all inclusive. Do you want to be a faithful servant in the church watching for the Lord's return when He comes back? No doubt this will include denying yourself and taking up your cross. Do you want to be one with their lamps lit and vessel filled with oil? Again, you will have to deny yourself and take up your cross. Do you want to be one who He says "well done thou good and faithful servant" again, you will need to take up your cross and follow Him. So although we had nothing to do with the cross of Christ when we were redeemed, our Christian life has everything to do with the cross of Christ.

Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

This is what you must do if you want to be a disciple of the Lord.

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

This is the one thing that all those who want to inherit eternal life lack.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

This is daily. We are not talking about once a year.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

You cannot be the Lord's disciple if you don't do this. The first rapture is not "Everyone". There is a general harvest during the tribulation and like any harvest it does not take place in the twinkling of the eye, rather there is a "harvest season" where the crops are reaped, threshed and brought into the barns. What that first rapture says is "you cannot be my disciple if you don't take up the cross and deny yourself".

1Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.


The preaching of the gospel is the preaching of the cross, the preaching of the power of God is the preaching of the cross, the preaching of the resurrection is the preaching of the cross.

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.


This is the testimony of the rapture. These are the ones to whom the world was crucified and they to the world. The ones who are left behind are the ones who thought they could straddle the fence.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.


This is the path that we must take if we want to work out our own salvation.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This chapter is our version of Shavuot. It compares the Jews at Sinai with us at Jerusalem. It says it was a fearful sight and the cross of Christ is a fearful sight. This is the path to the throne, do you want to be with Jesus in the heavens, the author and finisher of our faith? Well then you must endure the cross, despise the shame, to experience the outstanding resurrection.

This is why I think there is a 2nd Passover. It wasn't a big deal in the OT because the Lord had not been crucified yet. Until we have the Lord sacrificed as our Passover there is no point in having a 2nd Passover. But just like a 2nd coming of the Lord there is also a 2nd Passover and this is the one where all those who loved the Lord and embraced His dead body on the cross can celebrate.

So then do we use Shavuot or 2nd Passover? Look at Hebrews 12, the chapter describes the Christian life as a race that is being run. The chapter is an exhortation to run this race which is really an exhortation to be crucified with Christ. Then the chapter makes it clear we didn't come to Mt. Sinai but rather we came to the heavenly Jerusalem.

My feeling is this, we have three "harvests" during the last seven years, the "pre tribulation" rapture (even though the Bible never actually uses that term), you have the harvest of the believers during the first half of the tribulation and then you have the harvest of Israel at the end of the tribulation. The general harvest of believers is likened to a wheat harvest and the harvest of the nation of Israel is likened to a fruit harvest. We have several types and shadows that indicate the pretribulation rapture is a barley harvest.

Therefore I am persuaded by Dr. Barry Awe concerning 2nd Passover rather than by Pastor Sandy with Shavuot. Also, his strongest case for Shavuot is because he equates it with Pentecost and I disagree with that as well. I believe Jesus ascended on Shavuot and Pentecost was fifty days later.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113

PROPHECY--GOD'S VOICE

1Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same

2Samuel 13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

This chapter follows immediately after what happened with David and Bathsheba. Jonadab is David's nephew, and he is very subtle. He coaches Amnon on how to rape Tamar and then he coaches Absalom on how to murder Amnon. This sets Absalom on a path where he will rebel against David, fulfill the judgement that Nathan pronounced and ultimately be killed. So we heard the judgment from Nathan and now we see it being worked out, starting with this person Jonadab.

When you commit a terrible sin and it becomes public as David's sin did, it changes people's opinion of you. Prior to this Jonadab might have looked on David with great respect, he is a king, a hero, a great warrior. But after this he is an adulterer, a murderer, and a despicable person.

Proverbs 22:8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.

Job 4:8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.

If you consider what Jonadab did, it was very much what David did. David sent for Bathsheba to come to the palace and he lay with her, not unlike Amnon sending for Tamar and laying with her. However, Jonadab then got Absalom to kill Amnon, not unlike David getting Joab to get Uriah killed. This will ultimately result in Absalom laying with David's concubines on the rooftop of the palace just like Nathan said.


Hosea 10:12-13 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors,

We compared what David did to what the US did when they robbed people's houses in the Mortgage crisis of 2008 and they sent their children to go and die in Afghanistan and Iraq. When people see how evil and corrupt the government is it will change them and you will discover that people in your own house will learn from you. Today we are seeing this take place. It is abundantly obvious on many levels that the people in high places in the US government are betraying the US. The border being wide open is one example. Another is opening up the prisons and letting felons out onto the streets. Another is what they are doing the public schools with CRT and grooming children. Another is the censorship we are witnessing including the recent firing of Tucker Carlson. Another is the $115 billion sent to Ukraine. Fauci's lies, the pandemic, the vaccine, the list would go on and on. The US has plowed iniquity and we will reap injustice.

Romans 2:25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.


The US claims to be a Christian nation, in God they trust. That is only beneficial if you obey the Lord and repent of your evil. Otherwise the rest of the world sees you as being deceitful liar, "the great Satan".
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
So Joab put the words in her mouth

2Samuel 14:2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

Joab creates a similar story to what Nathan did when he came to David. I would describe it as a counterfeit prophecy. They do not claim to be speaking from God, so it is not a "false" prophecy, and David immediately perceives that this is Joab pulling the strings and she admits it immediately, so it isn't deceitful, it is simply an imitation. You have the real cup and you have the plastic one.

Again, this is like what David did when he called Uriah back from the front to give him a phony report on the war. People think they are clever, in reality they are just pathetic liars. Joah is bringing Absalom back who will then commit insurrection, divide the country, and wind up dead.

We see this with our media. The government has lied to us repeatedly, and now the media has figured out the way to succeed is to be a liar and so they are all brazen liars. They think they are clever, and wise when in reality they are simply fools running headlong to destruction.

Joab is the leader of the military, it has been common for thousands of years that the Military tries to control the narrative. In the US it is the CIA who has worked very hard to control the media. My dad worked for UPI and was asked to approve the purchase of a small news outlet in Florida. He rejected it because the company was a front for the CIA. George Bush called him into his office to convince him to reconsider. He said if I approve this Russia could seize one of his reporters claiming they are working for the CIA. Bush countered by telling my dad it would be very good for his career if he would approve the purchase. He refused and was later forced to leave UPI. He then went to the NY Times and after a very short time he parted ways with them. They had run a bogus story about the JFK assassination, basically pushing a disinformation story from the CIA to confuse people. On the front page of the NY Times there was a short paragraph about his leaving saying that "he had a disagreement on the business practices". Yes, he disagreed with the NY Times being a puppet allowing the CIA to put words in their mouth.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
Absalom campaigns by promising the world

2Samuel 15:2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

Absalom promises people whatever they want to hear. This is like the word Paul shared that people who deceive will also be deceived. People hear what they want to hear. Think of how foolish some things are. Social Security, we give our money to the government, they in turn promise to give it back to us when we retire. In the meantime they take the money and spend it. But then they put an IOU into Social Security so it looks legal. Did we agree to the IOU? No, they are in charge of our money and do as they please. As a result Social Security is gutted and will fail. Why, people worked for 40 years putting the money in and now it is gone? Does that make sense? Yes, you put it into a bag with holes that was managed by thieves. But people don't think about any of that, they hear you give me a little each month out of your paycheck and I'll take care of your retirement. They hear what they want to hear and ignore common sense.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
Revenge, dig two graves

2Samuel 16:21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

This phrase really bothers me that Ahithophel's counsel was as if a man enquired at the oracle of God. Absalom didn't enquire of God, did he? That is the real difference in this story, David understands this is all coming from God's hand while Absalom is doing everything at Ahithophel's bidding. Ahithophel was related to Bathsheba and hated David for what he had done to her and Uriah. I suspect he was the architect of this rebellion. He allowed a root of bitterness to grow within him and it will utterly destroy him. Bathsheba probably was blamed for enticing David and being a dragon lady who got her husband killed. It was probably horrible for her, perhaps she was as disliked as we see today with Camilla, the divorced woman who married King Charles. Therefore it seems this advice to sleep with the ten concubines in front of all Israel seems to come straight out of hate. Yes, it was a fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy, but it came from the heart of one of the ones hurt by David's sin.

David sinned, but he confessed, he repented, and he put himself into God's hands. But holding a grudge is also a sin, and if you allow it to grow it will become a root of bitterness that will destroy you.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
This reminds me of Jan 6th

17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

If Biden had attacked Trump immediately after January 6th and charged him with sedition and they moved speedily it might be that they could have convinced the majority of the country. But without a doubt that was his one and only chance. Since that time many people have changed their opinion about Trump and about January 6th and about Biden. I heard a poll today that said that 70% of the people in Massachusetts preferred Trump over Biden! That is supposed to be a blue state. If you had asked that same question when Biden was inaugurated it would have been about 59% supporting Biden.

Ahithophel's hatred blinded him. Absalom was not a warrior and he waffled at the very first time he needed to make a gutsy call. Ahithophel might have had the strategy to pull off a coup, but he didn't have the right person to execute it. The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. For the last two thousand years He has been building a warrior that will obey His commands.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
The debate over 2nd Passover

I realize that Pastor Sandy thinks this is absurd, so although I do have a number of questions the one I think has to be answered to debunk this theory is this one:

The scripture, all scripture testifies of Jesus, that is not up for debate. Jesus was at the first Passover and was sacrificed as our Passover, that also is not up for debate.

The question is when does Jesus celebrate the 2nd Passover. Since He is not made unclean by dead bodies, rather they rise from the dead, He will be the one who was on a long trip. So then, when does Jesus return from this long trip to celebrate 2nd Passover?
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
3 Robes = 3 Harvests

Matthew 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.


The Jews at the end of the 7 year tribulation are the fruit harvest, like scarlet wine.

Mark 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

There is "purple wheat", so although you usually think of "golden grains" there is also purple grains, and we always associate purple with being beaten. The wheat grains get crushed under the "tribulum" to remove the chaff.

Luke 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.


This term "gorgeous" means glistening white. Barley grains can be a bright white color.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
David returns as the conquering king

When we go through the suffering of the cross we wonder why, but afterwards there is a good reward.

19:9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

It is very clear that after this event with Absalom the entire country is fully behind David

14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. 15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

Now for the first time all of Judah is completely devoted to David. Prior to that even his nephew is treating him despitefully.

16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. 18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

This trial caused David to be reconciled to the house of Saul! This is what it takes to be a peacemaker, to have even your enemies be at peace with you.

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed? 22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? 23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

With a strong king who has built his kingdom on righteousness there is forgiveness that he might be feared. If there is no forgiveness, then no one will repent. In the Mafia there is no forgiveness, so you lie, you deny, and if necessary you become a rat or a traitor, because there is no alternative. If you confess your sin they will kill you. So there is no reconciliation. As a result once the Mafia starts killing each other they can do a thorough house cleaning.

24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? 26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 28 For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? 29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

This is how you build loyalty among those in your camp.

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? 36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

This is how you gain people's trust. The reason David was so formidable was because he had solid friends, people who had come to fully appreciate him so in the midst of this catastrophe they stood solid by his side. In events like this you discover who your true friends are and who you can trust.

39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan? 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift? 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Everyone wants to be with a winner, so now you have all 12 tribes fighting over David. So yes, God judged David, scourged David, but also reconciled and restored David. By doing this He established the kingdom under David's feet.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
What about Hebrews 12?

Hebrews 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,


This word means to approach. it doesn't mean to be caught up to.

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,


Paul is contrasting the church with the children of Israel. They came to Mt. Sinai, we come to Mt. Zion. This is abundantly clear in the book of Galatians. The two mountains are two covenants. We have not come to the old covenant, we have come to the new covenant.

But it is very clear from the chapter that the Christian life is like running a marathon, we are supposed to be coming to Zion, not to Sinai. However, even at the time of Galatians when the church first began we had the judaizers trying to turn Christians into a religion of law keepers. Therefore it is reasonable that we will have a dichotomy at the end of the age with some worshipping the Lord in Zion and others down by Sinai. This is the apostate church. What happens to those who are left behind, the woman flees to the wilderness, that is where Sinai is. That will be the mountain that burns with fire and is terrifying.

So the reference to Sinai is not a reference to the raptured saints, to the manchild which is caught up, but rather to the woman who has fled to the wilderness.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
33,956
6,002
113
2nd Passover is clearly a reference to the rapture and to the 2nd coming of Jesus.

2Chronicles 30:1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel.

Here is an account of the 2nd Passover, and the focus is on uniting all the various tribes into one.

2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

The ones who are keeping this missed the first passover, they had not sanctified themselves and the people had not been gathered together. This is a great picture of the church at the end of the age, it is divided, it is not sanctified and it surely is not gathered together as one.

4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.

Why hadn't they kept it like that? Because since Jeroboam they had been divided. All the denominations and divisions divided the people.

6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

Once again, this sounds like those who flee to the wilderness after the manchild is caught up.

7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.

This sounds like the words of the watchmen.

10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

This sounds like the scorn that his heaped on the watchmen.

11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord. 13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.

When I started this blog three years ago (I know it seems like two but I had to move from another forum after one year) I figured ten other people might also read it. That was probably reasonable three years ago, but today we have just about 200,000 who have visited this blog. There is tremendous interest and a very large number of saints who have become interested in all the prophecies, the rapture, and returning to the Lord according to the word of God.

14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.

What happens at the time of the rapture? Babylon will be destroyed with its idol worship and the apostate priests.

15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one 19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

This sounds like the impact that the apostasy has had on people. Many today do not know the word of God and yet they are seeking and want to follow the Lord.


...25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.

They are comparing this Passover to one at the time of Solomon. This would be like comparing a Passover feast at the end of the church age to one at the beginning. Jesus is the greater Solomon, the Bible is comparing the 2nd Passover celebrated here with the one celebrated in the Gospels when Jesus was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, and many who were dead were also raised. Therefore whatever you think about 2nd Passover it is clearly a reference to the rapture and to the 2nd coming of Jesus.