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
36,778
6,743
113
Ezekiel 21:25-31 Overturn, overturn, overturn it

25 And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, 26 Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.

Who is this wicked prince of Israel whose day has come when iniquity shall have an end? It seems it is the Biden crime family that has been involved in selling out this country for 47 years. The Biden family is clearly profane. It appears that they worked with Clinton, Kerry and Obama as well. The elites, representing the richest 1% appear to be working on a plan to have one world government, something they refer to as "the great reset". The only real hinderance to this plan is the US, if they can bankrupt the US there would be nothing to stand in the way. What really gives them power is "one world currency". If you control the currency you can tax the world by simply printing more money. However, you have to exercise great control to make sure they don't barter or use their own currency. Multinational corporations like this because wages are low and the market is big, 8 billion people in the world compared to 350 million in the US. This word appears to demonstrate that it is God's will that the deplorables would take the crown from the elites.

27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.


Three times He will overturn it. Overturn the Presidential election, overturn election of many legislators, and overturn the attempt by the Democrats to pack the Supreme court. This will be the outcome of Giuliani’s and Lin Wood’s legal cases. We can see all that Biden has tried to ram through. If we can stop this then it will be a great hinderance to this one world government run by the Antichrist.

28 And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering: 29 Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.

This will be the outcome of the investigation into election fraud. They will be slain and their iniquity will come to an end. What is happening in Maricopa county is very exciting, if they uncover significant fraud it will open the way for Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania to also do audits. Who knows, every state might want to do a thorough investigation. A glittering sword could refer to the US military but I think it is more likely that it refers to the very large planet pulling a long train of debris behind it that is traveling through our solar system. As I understand we will have a meteor shower in the US from the tail of this thing and it will be catastrophic like the sword of God coming down on the US.

30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity. 31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

So this is still not the end. These BLM protests were the result of people being manipulated by those who wanted to bring in a socialist regime with George Soros being the chief architect of this. The idea is to undermine the social order and the middle class so that a tyrannical government could take power. When these “brutish” people realize they have been “played” they will turn on them. It will be like the hyena’s turning on Scar in the Lion king.

32 Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the Lord have spoken it.

So these ones who have been pulling down statues will make sure to wipe out any remembrance of those involved in this fraud. But this still leaves us with a big, huge question! He said that His sword would cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Earlier He said essentially that "as you have done it will be done to you".

31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skillful to destroy.

Once the righteous are taken in the rapture all those left on earth will be delivered into the hands of brutish men, and skillful to destroy. Already we are seeing this mark of the beast as a chip that is injected into you with the vaccine. It is “skillful” and it will give brutish men the power to destroy. So this chapter presents three groups of people to us. The righteous who are taken in the rapture. The wicked who will be slain with this sword of the law. Then there is the third group, they were not involved with the wickedness nor did they stand with the righteous. They will be left behind when the “Hyenas” are able to take power and destroy everything.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
A blast from the past (2018)

 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
This is a thirty second video of a very weird looking object in the sky which is definitely not the Sun nor is it the moon. But it is about as big in the sky as either one of them.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
More references concerning the 2nd Passover

1Corinthians 10:13 but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

The Red Sea was a way of escape. Noah’s ark was a way of escape from the flood. The rapture is a way of escape from the trial that is about to come on the whole earth.

1Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Until He comes refers to the Lord’s second coming. We proclaim His death refers to the preaching of righteousness, like Noah. Until He comes also refers to the Lord who has gone on a long journey. Also, eating the bread and drinking the wine proclaims His death is similar to the passover feast where they ate the Passover while the blood on the door proclaimed His death. One thing has really struck me is that God is meticulous when it comes to time, and to the calendar and to the feast days. Paul told us those feast days were a shadow of things to come, so they are prophetic. Yet how come the God who is the same today and yesterday isn’t like that in the New Testament? The only feast we are given to keep is the Lord’s table which is the New Covenant version of the Passover, the only difference is we do this “until He comes” back from a long journey! That refers to the second Passover which is to be kept by those who were unclean due to a dead body or who were on a long journey during the first passover. We were dead in our offences and sins, so that refers to everyone in the New Testament, meanwhile Jesus was on a long journey.

1Corinthians 15: 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

The rapture is equivalent to the resurrection of the dead. Once again, this points to the feast of Passover, or better yet the 2nd Passover and the festival of firstfruits. If the Lord’s return at the end of the age is the harvest then shouldn’t it begin with the first fruits?

1Corinthians 15: 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Luke 12:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only. 37 And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 40 Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left: 41 two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.


Couple of big things here. No one knows the day or hour and then likens that to Noah who is completely focused on this day, is preparing for this day, can see when the ark is ready, can see when the animals are on board, and then last of all he enters the ark and the door is closed. Not knowing the day or the hour does not mean we are oblivious and ignore the Lord’s coming and the day drawing near. Second thing that is quite interesting is that people are working in the field. They wouldn’t be doing that on a holy day so it seems it isn’t on a holy day. However it seems stunning to me that such an important day would not be marked by a Holy day. In fact there is one Holy day where people would be working, that is the second Passover, this is only kept by those who missed the first one.

Luke 12: 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

This verse refers to the Passover. The avenging angel was coming and was going to steal the first born of man and beast from every house. In the first Passover the Lord stood over the houses with the blood and guarded them from the avenging angel. But here it is a little different, in this case it is not the avenging angel who is coming but the Son of Man. Once again this is the Lord returning from His long journey, that again refers to the second Passover. The word Passover is often thought of as being “to skip over” but in reality the root of the word is much closer to stand guard. In the first Passover God stood guard as we proclaimed the Lord’s blood and partook of Christ our Passover slain for us. In the Second passover it is our job to stand guard and make sure our house is not broken into as the Lord returns at an hour when you do not expect him. There was a man (Dana Coverstone) who had a dream that “big things were going to happen at Passover” and when nothing happened many were disappointed. This just shows how many people do not think about the 2nd Passover, it is an hour when you do not expect Him.

Matthew 27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.


At the time the first lamb was slain we had the resurrection of the holy people, this is a type of the rapture.

Another interesting point -- in the letter to the seven churches the Lord refers to His second coming in the last four letters. To Thyatira and Sardis he says some will be taken, not all and certainly not the majority (to Sardis He says you have a few). Philadelphia is taken as the entire church. So I am wondering, perhaps at the time of the first rapture the Lord’s people are in one of three different church situations (Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia), but after the rapture all those who are left are in only one church situation: Laodicea. To Laodicea He says He is outside knocking, He has left the church. It could be that “the light” in the church refers to all those who are taken in the first rapture, once they are taken the Lord is now outside.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
Sorcery -- is from the same Greek word that we get Pharmacy

There is a word in Scripture that brings to light the potions created by witches or sorcerers. This aspect of sorcery has great application to living our lives as Christians. It is seen in the Geek word, pharmakeia, (5) which is where we get the word, pharmaceuticals, or drugs. References to this word are found in the following verses:

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. (Revelation 9:20-21)

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. (Revelation 18:23)

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:14-15)

There is an argument that vaccines have transformed our health but I think we should examine that. The biggest health risk today is obesity and yet it is the most profitable health condition for the drug companies. We have companies that help you lose weight, we have gyms that have proliferated in the last seventy years, and we have drugs to treat all the conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Watch a TV show from the 50s like Leave it to Beaver or Father Knows Best, or watch an old Jimmie Stewart movie and you are shocked at how thin everyone is. We had a significant change in our diet that was promoted as healthy by the FDA and next thing you know we have an epidemic in obesity and instead of going after the root cause they simply treat the symptoms.

A few years ago I had an ulcer and the doctor wanted to prescribe medicine. I asked how long will I need to take this and he said forever. I thought forget that, so I figured if I just gave my stomach a rest it could heal itself. So I would try to fast during the weekend. If the acid built up in my stomach I would just drink a lot of water to dilute it and wash it out of my stomach. After about two weeks the ulcer never bothered me again. I didn't just make this up, I read a book by Gandhi where he said that fasting like this could cure an ulcer. But if you prescribe this method no one makes any money. If you prescribe drugs that people take for the rest of their life then the drug company can make a very nice profit off of you. I am in my sixties and when I go to the doctor they always seem so surprised that I am not taking any medicine at all. It seems to me that a lot of people must be taking all kinds of medication. Is it healthy? Does it really improve health or is it simply profitable?

Children get shots for "childhood diseases". These are actually diseases that reside in flocks and herds of animals. Because we have cows, horses, pigs, sheep, and chickens we have these diseases. If you are exposed to them as a kid they don't harm you, but if you get them as an adult for the first time they can kill you. This is what happened to the native Americans. It is fair to look at the benefit of these shots but that should also be weighed against the cost. There is a financial cost, and there is a health cost as a small percentage of the population will have an adverse effect to the vaccine. Now if the vaccine only needs to be taken once and it has been proven to be effective it is very likely that the benefit will outweigh the cost. But suppose you have to get a booster shot after ten years. Now you have doubled the risk of an adverse effect, and yet the benefit may still outweigh the cost. But suppose as in the case of the Covid vaccine you need a booster every six months? Not only so but we cannot say that the vaccine has been proven safe because we have no idea of the long term consequences over 5-10 years.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
Ezekiel 34 -- Shepherds who only take care of themselves

34 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?

Joe Biden pulled our military out of our air base in Afghanistan before evacuating the Americans and any other civilians who had worked with America. The military is there to protect the flock and they want to do their job but it is the idiotic orders coming from above that have stopped them. Not only so but they left billions of dollars worth of military equipment which within a week was in the hands of the Taliban. They then gave the Taliban a list of every American in Afghanistan with their location and description. It is a kill list. It is as though Biden wants every American he leaves behind killed the same way some mafioso might want to go around and kill all the witnesses.

3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

Vladimir Putin is reported to have $200 billion. Xi Jinping is reputed to be worth $1.5 billion. The NY Times ran an article calling the Chinese Parliament a “billionaires club”.

4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

The Black Lives Matter protests are all about how harshly and brutally the leaders have ruled. In Belarus they are protesting their “president” and in Lebanon they are protesting their rulers. Hong Kong is protesting their rulers and the Stop the Steal rallies are protesting what is happening in the US.

5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.

The gang violence, the warehouse explosion in Beirut, the deaths from Chernobyl, the people are like sheep being scattered because there is no shepherd. Seeing thousands of people trying to get into the airport in Kabul, handing babies over the barbed wire, they have become prey for all these wild animals.

6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

New Jersey wants to require micro ID on the bullets. That is a fantastic idea since the person who bought the ammunition used in a crime would be identified. What we need is a computerized network that the police can access to match a gun with a bullet and shell casing. The manufacturer of the gun could have that, and they could have the registration of who bought the gun. The police send a warrant to the company and the in turn tell the police who owns the gun.

7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.

This is what the defund the police movement is all about. If the police are not protecting and serving the public, then the public needs to stop paying for their services. The same is true of the politicians. Corruption is so prevalent that many governments fear rooting it out as it will root the entire government out. Consider Cuomo, the former governor of NY, it is now coming out that he intentionally had tens of thousands of elderly residents of NY put at risk during the covid pandemic. We need to be rescued from the "shepherds".

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel Will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

This age is all about seeing that Jesus is Lord. Every other government is a failure, every other leader has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The end of this age will see an end to these corrupt governments, corrupt rulers, corrupt shepherds.

17 “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

This judgement will extend to all of us. These protests have included those who have rioted and looted. They destroy the shops of local businessmen. They are not simply protesting injustice, they are filled with envy and jealousy for their neighbor who is lifting themself out of the pit.

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.

Bernie Madoff was a fat sheep who plundered the “weak sheep”. The gangs prey on the weaker sheep, extorting them. The mortgage meltdown where Obama declared the banks were too big to fail is an example of fat sheep bullying the the lean sheep. We need a shepherd with the courage of David to take on the Lion and the Bear.

25 “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. 27 The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.

Slavery is alive and well all over the world. The prison system in the US is a form of slavery. People sell themselves as slaves because of indebtedness. The mortgage crisis was a way to put tens of millions of people into indebtedness and enslave them all over again. The $3.5 trillion stimulus packages are a great example of shepherds taking care of themselves and then leaving the lean sheep with the bill. All the suckers, the tax payers, will become slaves trying to pay off the debt of these "stimulus packages" which only enrich the elite.

28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.

I saw a video about Venezuela, a place considered to be one of the most dangerous places in the world. That is a place where the gangs truly do plunder the people and devour the people. Everyone in the poor neighborhoods lives in fear.

29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations.

Venezuela is very rich with oil. It is amazing that the country could be so poorly managed that a few people are extremely rich and the rest live in abject poverty terrified by the roving gangs. It provides a vision for what Detroit can become, and what Chicago can become after that.

30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. 31 You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

The end of the age is not the end of the world. The end of the age is the end of the rule of evil and corrupt rulers. It ushers in a new age where Jesus is Lord.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113

1. Airlift -- Caught up in the air
2. Left Behind
3. Evacuation -- Harpazo
4. Desperation -- feeling of those who are left behind
5. Pushing and shoving and crying -- gnashing of teeth
6. Race against time -- The devil knows his time is short
7. Made it out alive -- Just like Lot
8. Valid Identification -- Mark of the Beast vs Baptism
9. Taliban and Isis -- Army of the devil enforcing the law of the Beast
10. Escaped -- We are to pray that we are able to escape the coming wrath
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
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".
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113

An image from NASA -- please note they are now deleting hours of images each day from these cameras.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
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. He 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 man 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 was 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 don’t believe anyone seeing the day approaching is not 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 learned 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.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
Matthew 25:13-30 Watch Therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour

13 Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.

This is really incredible. There are Bible teachers who say you don't need to watch because no one knows the day or the hour, yet the context of this verse is that this is precisely why we do need to watch.

14 For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.

Again, He is telling us about the rapture, but from a different angle. Jesus has delivered the word to us, His spirit to us, the church and the saints to us. It is our job to build up the heavenly economy while He is gone. The rapture is the one festival that occurs when the Lord returns from a long journey. You can view the two years spent building the house as a long journey or you can view this example, either way the rapture is after the Lord returns from a long journey. There is only one festival in the Old Testament that is specifically for a man who returns from a long journey, that is the second Passover.

16 Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. 17 In like manner he also that received the two gained other two. 18 But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Again, many of us are nervous about the Lord’s coming, will He be happy with what I have done. Did you hide your talent? He is not going to be happy about that. But just because you aren’t some “great evangelist” doesn’t mean you haven’t invested your talent. He seems quite happy with everyone who did invest, it is just the guy who hid the talent that He is not happy with. This sounds like the kid who always gets his lunch money stolen by the bully so he hides the money rather than stand up to the Bully. At the end of the age we are supposed to take a stand to prevent our house from being broken into, a stand against the bully.

19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. 20 And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 And he also that received the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Enter into the joy of the Lord. The Lord’s return is joyful for some. I tell all my students that the exam is “an opportunity for them to shine”. It is a running joke with foolish virgins that people hate exams, it isn’t true. I have students who get 100 on exams, they don’t hate them. This is also another way of looking at filling your vessel with oil. He gave them talents according to their ability like giving them oil according to the size of the vessel.

24 And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; 25 and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.

Quick question, this doesn’t seem to be my experience, I have had times when I felt I should speak but didn’t. I have had experiences where I was afraid to share my experience. Never once was it because I thought “oh the Lord is a hard man reaping where He doesn’t sow”. Either this guy is very different from me, or else he isn’t being honest. I suspect he fashioned what he thought would be a clever explanation for why he had done nothing as he saw all the other saints sharing their experiences. Bad strategy, lying to the Lord. If you were truly scared of the Lord you would be way too scared to lie. Better to be a "slothful" servant who is honest than one who is a liar.

26 But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; 27 thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.

If he had simply done nothing he would have been slothful but not wicked. Fabricating a lie to justify his action indicates he was also wicked. Then the Lord hits the real objection, I was afraid of man. If you were afraid of man then share with the saints, they welcome all testimonies. I used to be a stock broker and you can do much better with wise investing in the market, but at the same time I can understand someone who is scared to do that. There are guaranteed investments with banks, easy peasy.

28 Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.

Wow, this guy thought he had nothing and yet what he did have the Lord and all the saints want. Too bad he didn’t appreciate what he had.

30 And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

This is where it gets confusing. What does this mean? I suspect there have been a lot of erroneous theories posited on this. Things like purgatory and indulgences. All I know is if the Lord comes tomorrow and I am left out in the dark I will be weeping and gnashing my teeth. I’ll have 1,260 days to turn things around.

So let me just add a word of appreciation for some saints who may feel under appreciated. This brother Jeffrey Magha has been posting videos about a meteor shower that is scheduled to hit the earth September 23/24th. He has also been showing how the elites are aware of this coming cataclysmic event but are hiding it from the public. Many think that the reason the Democrats have thrown the border wide open to human traffickers, drug smugglers and cartel members is because they are trying to swing the 2022 election. I disagree. They see this coming catastrophe in a month and rather than try and save people alive they see an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. They have already decided not to do anything for the "unwashed masses" but hey let's gather as many of them as possible before this event.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
Matthew 25:13-30 Watch Therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour

13 Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour...19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.
This is what we are "watching for". All of that investing, every single word you spoke was your "watching for the day of reckoning". The Bible says there are those who "love the Lord's appearing". Sure, if you had turned 5 talents into 10 you also would love to see the Lord's appearing. The people who hate it, that mock others are the wicked and slothful servants. They aren't ready for the Lord to appear. The more you mock the harder it is to be ready because just like Paul they will be saying "hey, isn't this the guy who just yesterday was making fun of those Christians?"
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113
Romans 1:1-20 -- Holding down the Truth in unrighteousness

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

There are a lot of protestors claiming to be standing for righteousness. That is a worthy goal, but are you a servant of Jesus Christ? Are you separated to the gospel of God?

2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

The prophets have promised a kingdom in which righteousness dwells, they have promised that the wicked and evil men will be judged.

3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

But the focus on all their words are on Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

The resurrection from the dead is what started the church age, it is what started the age of grace.

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Again, where did you receive grace? What is the basis for your call to obedience of all the nations? Many of the protestors are demanding everyone obey them, but based on what? Do they have power over death?

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Yes, it isn’t just Paul. We all have been called of Jesus Christ.

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel of grace brings peace from God our Father. Right now there are a lot of things happening that are causing people to be troubled in the world. But in Jesus Christ we have peace.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Isn’t the internet, Youtube, and online forums awesome? Thank the Lord our faith is being spoken of throughout the whole world.

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

I see this in many of the testimonies on Youtube and on these forums. People are ministering what they have seen and heard so that others might be established and comforted.

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

We aren’t ignorant, we know that there has been censorship, government lockdowns, and government persecution in many areas of the world. We used to think that censorship was only a problem in China and Russia and Iran and North Korea. But recently we are seeing widespread censorship everywhere including the US.

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

This is so true, you can pick up stuff from so many. I saw a video on the Beresheet prophecy, that was amazing. He shows how the entire story of the Bible is told in this one word which is the Hebrew word for beginning. So when God says “I told you the end from the beginning” it is truly a double entendre. Then I saw another testimony from a girl who literally knew nothing of the Bible, she didn’t even know about the rapture, yet she had a rapture dream that was very encouraging. Jeffrey McGaha was the first to point out this approaching meteor shower that will be catastrophic according to Revelation 12.

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

All of these protests in the US prove that you need a revelation of the righteousness of God. It is a very narrow road and clearly there are few that find it.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Holding down the truth in unrighteousness is censorship. But notice the caveat that Paul doesn’t simply say it is holding down the truth, but that they do it in unrighteousness. You may feel that the truth is that Covid19 is a hoax. Your speech may be censored for that, yet holding down speech that is considered to create a health risk for others can be done in a way that is not unrighteous. No, an example of holding down the truth in unrighteousness is what the NFL did about the truth concerning CTE, the brain damage to people in the NFL. Another example is what Facebook, Twitter, ABC, NBC, CBS, New York Times, Washington Post and the AP are doing with the scandal concerning Hunter Biden’s emails. We are seeing the wrath of God revealed against what the NFL did, what the cigarette companies did, and what these media companies are doing. In my own experience I decided to retire when Deblasio mandated the vaccine for all teachers, the union explained there is a 3 week process that you must go through of attending three consultations first. However, they will not begin registering for them until the second week of school in September which begins September 20th and yet Deblasio's mandate is for September 27th. It is an attempt to hold down people from retiring in unrighteousness.

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For 2,000 years the truth concerning Jesus has been suppressed.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The Shroud of Turin is an excellent example. This one artifact has undergone a more rigorous forensic examination than any other artifact in human history. Scientists involved in this process that were sure it was a fake have been convinced they were mistaken. One scientist said that they would have confirmed it’s authenticity years ago if not for the implication of that.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113

luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,778
6,743
113

Confirms all kinds of ancient texts including an explanation of how the sun dial would move back an hour and how the sun would stand still at the time of Joshua.