Summary of Bible references on the Rapture
- Thread starter ZNP
- Start date
-
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.
What is the Lord telling us here?
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
The warning in the previous 5 verses is not just for unbelievers. If you are a tree planted in the Lord's vineyard then you need to produce fruit. If there is no fruit you will be cut down. The prophecies are like dung helping you grow and produce fruit. Some accuse me of being a fear monger when I share these words or when I share the events leading up to war, famine and plague form the paper. Hey, I'm not the certain man saying to cut down the tree, that is the Lord. I am not the one saying unless you repent you will likewise perish, that is the Lord.
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
The warning in the previous 5 verses is not just for unbelievers. If you are a tree planted in the Lord's vineyard then you need to produce fruit. If there is no fruit you will be cut down. The prophecies are like dung helping you grow and produce fruit. Some accuse me of being a fear monger when I share these words or when I share the events leading up to war, famine and plague form the paper. Hey, I'm not the certain man saying to cut down the tree, that is the Lord. I am not the one saying unless you repent you will likewise perish, that is the Lord.
Is this a heavy burden?
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
The Lord just said if we don't bear fruit he will cut us down. Is this a heavy burden? The Lord told us His burden is light and His yoke is easy. So let's make this very easy. We need to read the word every day. There is no requirement as to how much you read. Some read through the Bible every year, others read more, and others read less. But the requirement is to come to the Bible every day. There is no requirement to read through the Bible each year, some gather more, some gather less. That is easy.
But let's talk about bearing fruit. In my experience only Jesus saves people. Evangelists are simply a witness. Every one of us is a witness. There is no requirement to be "the star witness" simply share your testimony and that will be all the Lord requires. You cannot save your family, friends and colleagues. However, you can pray for them by name. So even if they are no longer interested in hearing you speak about the Lord, fine, you can pray for them. This is a team sport, pray that the Lord sends laborers to help. You pray for them by name and the laborers come and reap. This is easy, pray for those you care about by name.
Still we need to share. We need our lamps lit, we need our light to shine, we need to be witnesses. Good, witness on the internet. You may think no one will read your testimony or no one will listen to your video. That is what I thought when I started this blog. But now after two years there have been 190,000 different ones who have come to this blog. Imagine if every single believer on earth is speaking, sharing, writing, testifying.
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
The Lord just said if we don't bear fruit he will cut us down. Is this a heavy burden? The Lord told us His burden is light and His yoke is easy. So let's make this very easy. We need to read the word every day. There is no requirement as to how much you read. Some read through the Bible every year, others read more, and others read less. But the requirement is to come to the Bible every day. There is no requirement to read through the Bible each year, some gather more, some gather less. That is easy.
But let's talk about bearing fruit. In my experience only Jesus saves people. Evangelists are simply a witness. Every one of us is a witness. There is no requirement to be "the star witness" simply share your testimony and that will be all the Lord requires. You cannot save your family, friends and colleagues. However, you can pray for them by name. So even if they are no longer interested in hearing you speak about the Lord, fine, you can pray for them. This is a team sport, pray that the Lord sends laborers to help. You pray for them by name and the laborers come and reap. This is easy, pray for those you care about by name.
Still we need to share. We need our lamps lit, we need our light to shine, we need to be witnesses. Good, witness on the internet. You may think no one will read your testimony or no one will listen to your video. That is what I thought when I started this blog. But now after two years there have been 190,000 different ones who have come to this blog. Imagine if every single believer on earth is speaking, sharing, writing, testifying.
Why do you make this so hard?
18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
The kingdom is supposed to be like a small herb that will also repel pests. So why do you turn it into this great edifice? The Lord asked you to have home meetings and so you decide to build a cathedral? You are supposed to repel pests and instead you make a home for them? Every believer is supposed to be a witness and instead you hire professionals to do your job for you. Instead of reading the word you hire someone to do it for you and then once a week listen to what he has to say. So instead of listening to God every day you listen to this professional go between once a week. Instead of you being the witness you think your Cathedral will witness for you.
20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Anyone can make pancakes. Mix some flour, water, and an egg together, fry it in a pan. However, leavened bread is far more complex. The Bible tells us to have water, salt, flour and oil together to make these pancakes. But for some reason you have a woman making your bread that also adds the secret ingredient, leaven. Leavened bread looks much more appetizing than crackers. You get this big loaf instead of some flat crackers. So what is this secret ingredient that is hidden in the church and that has leavened the entire loaf? We think that we need professionals, people who have graduated from seminary to be the pastors, to teach the messages, and everyone else needs to listen like spectators. There are variations on that theme with the worship becoming more and more elaborate, the sound system more and more expensive, but as a rule most churches that you visit will have pastors who graduated from seminary and the congregation for the most part listens with little or no involvement in the message. That is our tradition and it is not in the Bible. 1Corinthians 14 is the only chapter in the NT that talks about our meeting together and it says "whenever you come together each one has". Have you ever seen a Christian meeting where that was the case, that whenever they came together, not some special once a year meeting, but whenever, that each one has? I have seen something similar to that, and of course home meetings are almost always like that. But Christianity as a whole? Nope, the tradition is get dressed up, be polite, put money in the offering, and for the most part keep quiet. The reason it is so hard for us to share our testimony is because we never get any practice. The church meeting is supposed to be the easiest, most welcoming place to share your testimony. By keeping all the members as spectators it makes it doubly hard to go out and share your testimony to unbelievers.
18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
The kingdom is supposed to be like a small herb that will also repel pests. So why do you turn it into this great edifice? The Lord asked you to have home meetings and so you decide to build a cathedral? You are supposed to repel pests and instead you make a home for them? Every believer is supposed to be a witness and instead you hire professionals to do your job for you. Instead of reading the word you hire someone to do it for you and then once a week listen to what he has to say. So instead of listening to God every day you listen to this professional go between once a week. Instead of you being the witness you think your Cathedral will witness for you.
20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Anyone can make pancakes. Mix some flour, water, and an egg together, fry it in a pan. However, leavened bread is far more complex. The Bible tells us to have water, salt, flour and oil together to make these pancakes. But for some reason you have a woman making your bread that also adds the secret ingredient, leaven. Leavened bread looks much more appetizing than crackers. You get this big loaf instead of some flat crackers. So what is this secret ingredient that is hidden in the church and that has leavened the entire loaf? We think that we need professionals, people who have graduated from seminary to be the pastors, to teach the messages, and everyone else needs to listen like spectators. There are variations on that theme with the worship becoming more and more elaborate, the sound system more and more expensive, but as a rule most churches that you visit will have pastors who graduated from seminary and the congregation for the most part listens with little or no involvement in the message. That is our tradition and it is not in the Bible. 1Corinthians 14 is the only chapter in the NT that talks about our meeting together and it says "whenever you come together each one has". Have you ever seen a Christian meeting where that was the case, that whenever they came together, not some special once a year meeting, but whenever, that each one has? I have seen something similar to that, and of course home meetings are almost always like that. But Christianity as a whole? Nope, the tradition is get dressed up, be polite, put money in the offering, and for the most part keep quiet. The reason it is so hard for us to share our testimony is because we never get any practice. The church meeting is supposed to be the easiest, most welcoming place to share your testimony. By keeping all the members as spectators it makes it doubly hard to go out and share your testimony to unbelievers.
I have no idea where you got the idea that would save you.
22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
This is confusing. These are people who think that they will be raptured into the Father's house and yet the Lord says He doesn't know them. The context of this are these two bizarre comparisons of the church to a weird mustard plant that had become a tree and to leaven. Jesus is the bread of life, we are supposed to eat the bread and drink the wine, but imagine being compared to leaven.
Those two stories describe organized Christianity growing from a small herb into a great tree, a cathedral, and Christians becoming leaven instead of bread. Leaven signifies the traditions of man, this is what Christianity has become.
So then what would people in Christianity say if the Lord locked them out? Hey we went to the church meeting every week, we ate communion and we listened to the preacher preach. The Lord would respond I have no idea where you got the idea that would save you.
22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
This is confusing. These are people who think that they will be raptured into the Father's house and yet the Lord says He doesn't know them. The context of this are these two bizarre comparisons of the church to a weird mustard plant that had become a tree and to leaven. Jesus is the bread of life, we are supposed to eat the bread and drink the wine, but imagine being compared to leaven.
Those two stories describe organized Christianity growing from a small herb into a great tree, a cathedral, and Christians becoming leaven instead of bread. Leaven signifies the traditions of man, this is what Christianity has become.
So then what would people in Christianity say if the Lord locked them out? Hey we went to the church meeting every week, we ate communion and we listened to the preacher preach. The Lord would respond I have no idea where you got the idea that would save you.
Traditional religion will kill your heart for the Lord
Luke 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
6 And they could not answer him again to these things.
Dropsy is what we call congestive heart failure. Fluid builds up around the heart and it becomes very difficult for the heart to beat. We are the body of Christ. We are not meant to be a cathedral with a whole lot of evil birds perched in the organization. We are supposed to be a small herb that repels pests. We don't need or want "professional" christians who have graduated from seminary to take our place. Also we are supposed to be eating the bread and the wine, the Lord's body and blood that He gave us, whereas if we are indoctrinated in many denominations we will become the embodiment of all the traditions that have been hidden in the church and become so intertwined with the word of God we don't even know the difference. One day you wake up and discover you don't know the Lord, you are not a disciple of the Lord, you are a disciple of your particular denomination and their practices and traditions. You realize if the Lord were to come back today you would be locked out of the feast. It gives you a heart attack, but when you try to exercise your spirit everything is all clogged up. This is illustrated in their religious practices concerning the sabbath. You can't do this on the sabbath, you can't do that. You can't heal this man and yet everyone knows if they had an ox fall into a pit they won't leave him there till the next day, they'll pull him out immediately.
Get into the word and let the Lord pull you out of all these traditions that are suffocating your heart. Five minutes every day with the Lord in the word is far better for your heart than spending five hours helping to prepare for the Christmas play. Sharing your testimony is better exercise for your heart than listening to someone else. Attending a home meeting with ten or eleven other saints will do more to pull you out of a pit than going to a Cathedral.
Luke 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
6 And they could not answer him again to these things.
Dropsy is what we call congestive heart failure. Fluid builds up around the heart and it becomes very difficult for the heart to beat. We are the body of Christ. We are not meant to be a cathedral with a whole lot of evil birds perched in the organization. We are supposed to be a small herb that repels pests. We don't need or want "professional" christians who have graduated from seminary to take our place. Also we are supposed to be eating the bread and the wine, the Lord's body and blood that He gave us, whereas if we are indoctrinated in many denominations we will become the embodiment of all the traditions that have been hidden in the church and become so intertwined with the word of God we don't even know the difference. One day you wake up and discover you don't know the Lord, you are not a disciple of the Lord, you are a disciple of your particular denomination and their practices and traditions. You realize if the Lord were to come back today you would be locked out of the feast. It gives you a heart attack, but when you try to exercise your spirit everything is all clogged up. This is illustrated in their religious practices concerning the sabbath. You can't do this on the sabbath, you can't do that. You can't heal this man and yet everyone knows if they had an ox fall into a pit they won't leave him there till the next day, they'll pull him out immediately.
Get into the word and let the Lord pull you out of all these traditions that are suffocating your heart. Five minutes every day with the Lord in the word is far better for your heart than spending five hours helping to prepare for the Christmas play. Sharing your testimony is better exercise for your heart than listening to someone else. Attending a home meeting with ten or eleven other saints will do more to pull you out of a pit than going to a Cathedral.
How do you pick a healthy church to fellowship at?
7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
If you find a group of Christians who appear to be the weakest, poorest and most humble, start there. If they are poor they cannot afford to have evil birds roosting in their branches. If they are weak and humble they won't be completely infused with their own ego, pride and traditions. If they don't have a professional pastor from a seminary who is paid to be there then they might have an opportunity for everyone to speak, making it easy for you to be a witness. Avoid the churches that are exalted, with TV, radio and internet ministries.
12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Consider the members, are these the wealthy and elite members of the community? Look for the church with the members who are the poor, maimed, lame and blind. Better to know your situation than to be delusional and self deceived. You will know this is the case because they will be thankful to be there.
7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
If you find a group of Christians who appear to be the weakest, poorest and most humble, start there. If they are poor they cannot afford to have evil birds roosting in their branches. If they are weak and humble they won't be completely infused with their own ego, pride and traditions. If they don't have a professional pastor from a seminary who is paid to be there then they might have an opportunity for everyone to speak, making it easy for you to be a witness. Avoid the churches that are exalted, with TV, radio and internet ministries.
12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Consider the members, are these the wealthy and elite members of the community? Look for the church with the members who are the poor, maimed, lame and blind. Better to know your situation than to be delusional and self deceived. You will know this is the case because they will be thankful to be there.
Is this what the church in the US has become?
15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
I heard a pastor share that they get pressure from the members to be done by a certain time so they can go to their football game or some other activity. Attendance at church in the US is down by 30%. Apparently people got used to sitting at home and watching the meeting on Facebook. You don't want to have anything to do with a church like that. Bad company can corrupt good morals. Find a church where the members know they have been saved and coming to the meeting is a salvation. If the church has a problem with bringing in members from the highways and byways find another place to meet that doesn't have a problem with that.
15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
I heard a pastor share that they get pressure from the members to be done by a certain time so they can go to their football game or some other activity. Attendance at church in the US is down by 30%. Apparently people got used to sitting at home and watching the meeting on Facebook. You don't want to have anything to do with a church like that. Bad company can corrupt good morals. Find a church where the members know they have been saved and coming to the meeting is a salvation. If the church has a problem with bringing in members from the highways and byways find another place to meet that doesn't have a problem with that.
I wonder if I ever heard a sermon on these verses?
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
This word hate has three meanings in Vine's
1. A malicious and unjustified feeling towards others
2. A right feeling of aversion from what is evil
3. A relative preference for one thing over another.
This is the same word in Matthew where you were told to love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but the Lord tells us to love our enemies and to do good to those that hate you.
That is not the sense I get here. Instead the verse "no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
The context we have been dealing with is religion that is infused with tradition. Very often we are told "this is how your father did it, this is how your grandfather did it". The Lord is telling us we will have to renounce all of that to follow Him. He is not telling us to be malicious or unjustified, but to determine we will follow the Lord, we will be His disciple, and if that means blazing a new path, walking contrary to human tradition, then so be it. If you want to serve the Lord you must love Him and honor him.
This is also the same word where the Lord said "and ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake but he that endureth to the end shall be saved". If you were following them, and letting them lead you about they wouldn't hate you. They hate you because you are clearly not their disciple, you follow the Lord.
This is the same word where the Lord said "and His citizens hated Him and sent a message saying, We will not have this man reign over us". What an insult to let people who despise the Lord to reign over you.
Now let us consider this in light of our apostasy. The church doesn't want to offend people in the world, they let the LGBTQ+ crowd give them directions, they bow to the government, they let all these different ones that hate the Lord lead them about. It is a horrible insult to the Lord.
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
This word hate has three meanings in Vine's
1. A malicious and unjustified feeling towards others
2. A right feeling of aversion from what is evil
3. A relative preference for one thing over another.
This is the same word in Matthew where you were told to love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but the Lord tells us to love our enemies and to do good to those that hate you.
That is not the sense I get here. Instead the verse "no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
The context we have been dealing with is religion that is infused with tradition. Very often we are told "this is how your father did it, this is how your grandfather did it". The Lord is telling us we will have to renounce all of that to follow Him. He is not telling us to be malicious or unjustified, but to determine we will follow the Lord, we will be His disciple, and if that means blazing a new path, walking contrary to human tradition, then so be it. If you want to serve the Lord you must love Him and honor him.
This is also the same word where the Lord said "and ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake but he that endureth to the end shall be saved". If you were following them, and letting them lead you about they wouldn't hate you. They hate you because you are clearly not their disciple, you follow the Lord.
This is the same word where the Lord said "and His citizens hated Him and sent a message saying, We will not have this man reign over us". What an insult to let people who despise the Lord to reign over you.
Now let us consider this in light of our apostasy. The church doesn't want to offend people in the world, they let the LGBTQ+ crowd give them directions, they bow to the government, they let all these different ones that hate the Lord lead them about. It is a horrible insult to the Lord.
Why are you still here?
Psalm 123:1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
After the rapture you will have Christians who are left behind and they will be exceedingly filled with contempt. Why is that? Well, if you are a Christian why are you still here? So let's answer that question.
Jesus told you
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
But you didn't listen. You despised His word. He told you that you couldn't have two masters because you would hate the one and despise them. Well that is what you did and now you are reaping what you have sown. Not only so the elites will be ruling the world, not just one man, "the Antichrist", but there will be many, many of them. You can be sure the world will be much more like hell than it was prior to the rapture. These elites, these managers, rulers, they will be filled with scorn towards Christians. You haven't seen anything yet. You could have chosen to go outside the camp to where the Lord was crucified and bear His shame, but you chose not to get your pretty little feet muddy. Well, now you get a second chance to suffer the contempt of the proud, and this is also your last chance at salvation.
Psalm 123:1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
After the rapture you will have Christians who are left behind and they will be exceedingly filled with contempt. Why is that? Well, if you are a Christian why are you still here? So let's answer that question.
Jesus told you
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
But you didn't listen. You despised His word. He told you that you couldn't have two masters because you would hate the one and despise them. Well that is what you did and now you are reaping what you have sown. Not only so the elites will be ruling the world, not just one man, "the Antichrist", but there will be many, many of them. You can be sure the world will be much more like hell than it was prior to the rapture. These elites, these managers, rulers, they will be filled with scorn towards Christians. You haven't seen anything yet. You could have chosen to go outside the camp to where the Lord was crucified and bear His shame, but you chose not to get your pretty little feet muddy. Well, now you get a second chance to suffer the contempt of the proud, and this is also your last chance at salvation.
The Sign of Jonah
29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. 30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
We are told in Matthew that as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish so also Jesus will be in the belly of the earth and that is the sign of Jonah. So clearly the resurrection of Jesus is being referred to here “as the sign of Jonah”. We should also remember that when Jesus was resurrected there were other dead who were also resurrected at the same time and walked about the city. So then, the resurrection of the dead, Jesus and the Firstfruits, was the sign of Jonah given to this evil generation.
But that brings up a very interesting point. It isn’t the monkey trial, or the injustice of convicting Jesus to death that was the sign, it was the resurrection. The people of Nineveh repented after seeing that sign, hence they will be able to judge those that don’t repent at Jesus resurrection. As amazing as the sign of Jonah is, and it was prophesied to the Ninevites that this would happen, it pales in comparison to the resurrection of Jesus and the other dead who walked around Jerusalem, hence the Lord says “a greater than Jonah is here”.
This is why the early sign for the church was a fish, not a cross.
But there is more to this sign.
After coming out of the fish Jonah walked around the streets of Nineveh for forty days telling them to repent. There is strong evidence that Jesus was crucified and resurrected in 30ad. 40 years later in 70 AD Jerusalem was sacked, the temple destroyed and the Jews scattered to the four corners of the earth. They were given 40 “days” while the apostles and evangelists walked the streets of Israel telling them to repent.
But there is more to this sign than that.
A jubilee year is on the “50th” year, but that doesn’t mean that each jubilee year is 50 years from the next. The Bible breaks up years into Shemitah’s (a week of years, ie 7 years). After seven shemitahs the first year of the eighth shemitah is the Jubilee year. So actually jubilee’s are 49 years apart. 40 jubilees is 1,960 years. If you add 1,960 years to 70 AD you get 2030. There is a very strong case to be made that this age will end with Armageddon in 2030 AD, this is only one of the compelling reasons to think this.
Now let’s consider this 40 days of protest in the streets of Nineveh. They had been slave holders of the Jews and had been oppressive and abusive as slave holders. This is why Jonah hated them. The picture of Jonah travelling in the belly of the fish across the ocean and being spit up on the beach by Nineveh correlates with the slave trade in the US. The BLM protests that filled the streets of the US also reminded us of Jonah. In that book it says God looked down from heaven and saw how they humbled themselves. There were big letters saying “Black Lives Matter” in front of the Whitehouse and in front of Trump tower which remind us of that. There is also another matter, if you read Jonah carefully you can see what will remind you of protests for climate change. There is a blasting heat that kills the gourd shading Jonah, he is very angry and cares more for the plant than the people. That in itself reminds us of these climate activists. But then the Lord talks about having mercy on the people and the cattle! It appears that the protests in Nineveh were about both the past injustices concerning slavery and also about climate change and blaming cows for their farts.
Add to this we had Michael Packard recently swallowed by a whale in Cape Cod and then spit out. That was June 11, 2021. A reminder of the sign of Jonah. To add to this on June 23, 2021 the Surfside condo collapsed and the lone survivor was a teen named Jonah.
With that as the background, we should also understand there is a sign in the heavens this weekend that we will never see again and it is being called the sign of Jonah.
The signs in the heavens
Genesis tells us that God put the stars in the heavens for signs. When Jesus came the first time there were signs in the heavens telling the wise men He had been born and where. There were signs in the heavens when He was crucified. In 2017 we had the Revelation 12 sign.
In that sign the conception comet (name of comet is Barisov which means to bestow or conceive) came out of the Lion, king of Judah, and entered the womb of Virgo at the same time that Jupiter entered the womb and was there for 9 months before exiting. Jupiter exited the womb on the Feast of Trumpets in 2017. At that time Virgo was crowned with 12 stars and was clothed with the Sun and the moon was at her feet. That sign had never taken place before in human history and will not take place again for many thousands of years.
Jupiter is called the king planet because it is striped and pierced. Hence the “manchild” in Revelation 12 which is to rule all the nations.
According to the gospels they tried to kill Jesus when he was two. In 2019 at the Feast of Trumpets we have the release of the Covid19 pandemic in Wuhan China. In Revelation 12 it talks about the woman crying to be delivered and a great red dragon stood before her to devour her child when it was delivered. So again, this aligns with the pandemic coming out of China, the great red dragon. The Pandemic shut down churches and small businesses worldwide. In the heavens there is a dragon that stands between Virgo and the throne. So what Jupiter does is to go around to the other side. Over the last six years Jupiter has moved from Virgo, to Pisces (the two fish that are held by bands by Cetus the great sea monster -- ie the fish that swallowed Jonah).
Revelation 12 does not say “her baby” is caught up, or “her toddler” is caught up, but “her child” is caught up.
So let’s look at this verse a little more closely:
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
These two words for “child” are not the same.
The first word translated “man child” means “a son”. As in, she bore a son.
The second word translated child is a very different word. Teknon. Pupils or disciples in the NT are called “My child” or “children”. It is also used for children of God.
Now the Bible says “He drew me out of many waters”. That is true of Moses, true of Jonah, and true of us. Jupiter goes through the waters of Aquarius before it comes to Pisces. How old was Moses when he was drawn out? Bible says they could hide him no longer, so obviously more than a toddler. How old was Samuel when he was taken to the house of God? He had just been weaned. Children generally start school and become pupils at six years old. You have the sun and Jupiter together and you have Venus and Mercury, the two witnesses with them. It will be 12 years before Jupiter returns to what they call “the rapture fish” and at that time you won’t have Mercury and Venus.
There is much more to this sign if you are interested, books like “The Gospel in the Stars” and a few Bible expositors are now telling how all these signs in the heavens tell the story of the gospel which includes the rapture.
But this now brings us back to the beginning. This age began with the sign of Jonah, the church age will also conclude with the rapture, which also will be the sign of Jonah and demonstrating that there is a greater than Jonah here. This in turn will result in 40 days (40 months) of the world being told to repent. Many people quote the verse that the gospel must go out into the whole earth before the end comes, but that verse is not in Luke. It is in Mark. Luke is the word to those taken prior to the tribulation. Mark is to those who go through the tribulation. During these last 40 months the gospel will go out completely to the entire earth telling them to repent. For example, suppose we are making fine furniture. You build it, you sand it, you finish it. But after that first coat is put on you are not done. At that point there is a whole nother process which in the finest lacquered pieces can involve seven coats which are sanded and polished in between these coats. The fine finish work to the gospel will be done during the tribulation.
Now who are these ones that will be doing that? The left behind are those who didn’t want to preach the gospel, they went in the other direction, and they hated these evil people in the world. After the rapture it will be like they are spit up on the beach to finish the job that God had called them to do.
Also in the story of Jonah Nineveh repents and is not destroyed. However, that repentance is flimsy and soon they return to their evil ways and then later God does destroy them. In the same way we have preached for 40 jubilees, the rapture takes place, they repent, but it is wishy washy and after 40 months the Antichrist is fully in control and then the wrath of God is poured out on the world.
29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. 30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
We are told in Matthew that as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish so also Jesus will be in the belly of the earth and that is the sign of Jonah. So clearly the resurrection of Jesus is being referred to here “as the sign of Jonah”. We should also remember that when Jesus was resurrected there were other dead who were also resurrected at the same time and walked about the city. So then, the resurrection of the dead, Jesus and the Firstfruits, was the sign of Jonah given to this evil generation.
But that brings up a very interesting point. It isn’t the monkey trial, or the injustice of convicting Jesus to death that was the sign, it was the resurrection. The people of Nineveh repented after seeing that sign, hence they will be able to judge those that don’t repent at Jesus resurrection. As amazing as the sign of Jonah is, and it was prophesied to the Ninevites that this would happen, it pales in comparison to the resurrection of Jesus and the other dead who walked around Jerusalem, hence the Lord says “a greater than Jonah is here”.
This is why the early sign for the church was a fish, not a cross.
But there is more to this sign.
After coming out of the fish Jonah walked around the streets of Nineveh for forty days telling them to repent. There is strong evidence that Jesus was crucified and resurrected in 30ad. 40 years later in 70 AD Jerusalem was sacked, the temple destroyed and the Jews scattered to the four corners of the earth. They were given 40 “days” while the apostles and evangelists walked the streets of Israel telling them to repent.
But there is more to this sign than that.
A jubilee year is on the “50th” year, but that doesn’t mean that each jubilee year is 50 years from the next. The Bible breaks up years into Shemitah’s (a week of years, ie 7 years). After seven shemitahs the first year of the eighth shemitah is the Jubilee year. So actually jubilee’s are 49 years apart. 40 jubilees is 1,960 years. If you add 1,960 years to 70 AD you get 2030. There is a very strong case to be made that this age will end with Armageddon in 2030 AD, this is only one of the compelling reasons to think this.
Now let’s consider this 40 days of protest in the streets of Nineveh. They had been slave holders of the Jews and had been oppressive and abusive as slave holders. This is why Jonah hated them. The picture of Jonah travelling in the belly of the fish across the ocean and being spit up on the beach by Nineveh correlates with the slave trade in the US. The BLM protests that filled the streets of the US also reminded us of Jonah. In that book it says God looked down from heaven and saw how they humbled themselves. There were big letters saying “Black Lives Matter” in front of the Whitehouse and in front of Trump tower which remind us of that. There is also another matter, if you read Jonah carefully you can see what will remind you of protests for climate change. There is a blasting heat that kills the gourd shading Jonah, he is very angry and cares more for the plant than the people. That in itself reminds us of these climate activists. But then the Lord talks about having mercy on the people and the cattle! It appears that the protests in Nineveh were about both the past injustices concerning slavery and also about climate change and blaming cows for their farts.
Add to this we had Michael Packard recently swallowed by a whale in Cape Cod and then spit out. That was June 11, 2021. A reminder of the sign of Jonah. To add to this on June 23, 2021 the Surfside condo collapsed and the lone survivor was a teen named Jonah.
With that as the background, we should also understand there is a sign in the heavens this weekend that we will never see again and it is being called the sign of Jonah.
The signs in the heavens
Genesis tells us that God put the stars in the heavens for signs. When Jesus came the first time there were signs in the heavens telling the wise men He had been born and where. There were signs in the heavens when He was crucified. In 2017 we had the Revelation 12 sign.
In that sign the conception comet (name of comet is Barisov which means to bestow or conceive) came out of the Lion, king of Judah, and entered the womb of Virgo at the same time that Jupiter entered the womb and was there for 9 months before exiting. Jupiter exited the womb on the Feast of Trumpets in 2017. At that time Virgo was crowned with 12 stars and was clothed with the Sun and the moon was at her feet. That sign had never taken place before in human history and will not take place again for many thousands of years.
Jupiter is called the king planet because it is striped and pierced. Hence the “manchild” in Revelation 12 which is to rule all the nations.
According to the gospels they tried to kill Jesus when he was two. In 2019 at the Feast of Trumpets we have the release of the Covid19 pandemic in Wuhan China. In Revelation 12 it talks about the woman crying to be delivered and a great red dragon stood before her to devour her child when it was delivered. So again, this aligns with the pandemic coming out of China, the great red dragon. The Pandemic shut down churches and small businesses worldwide. In the heavens there is a dragon that stands between Virgo and the throne. So what Jupiter does is to go around to the other side. Over the last six years Jupiter has moved from Virgo, to Pisces (the two fish that are held by bands by Cetus the great sea monster -- ie the fish that swallowed Jonah).
Revelation 12 does not say “her baby” is caught up, or “her toddler” is caught up, but “her child” is caught up.
So let’s look at this verse a little more closely:
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
These two words for “child” are not the same.
The first word translated “man child” means “a son”. As in, she bore a son.
The second word translated child is a very different word. Teknon. Pupils or disciples in the NT are called “My child” or “children”. It is also used for children of God.
Now the Bible says “He drew me out of many waters”. That is true of Moses, true of Jonah, and true of us. Jupiter goes through the waters of Aquarius before it comes to Pisces. How old was Moses when he was drawn out? Bible says they could hide him no longer, so obviously more than a toddler. How old was Samuel when he was taken to the house of God? He had just been weaned. Children generally start school and become pupils at six years old. You have the sun and Jupiter together and you have Venus and Mercury, the two witnesses with them. It will be 12 years before Jupiter returns to what they call “the rapture fish” and at that time you won’t have Mercury and Venus.
There is much more to this sign if you are interested, books like “The Gospel in the Stars” and a few Bible expositors are now telling how all these signs in the heavens tell the story of the gospel which includes the rapture.
But this now brings us back to the beginning. This age began with the sign of Jonah, the church age will also conclude with the rapture, which also will be the sign of Jonah and demonstrating that there is a greater than Jonah here. This in turn will result in 40 days (40 months) of the world being told to repent. Many people quote the verse that the gospel must go out into the whole earth before the end comes, but that verse is not in Luke. It is in Mark. Luke is the word to those taken prior to the tribulation. Mark is to those who go through the tribulation. During these last 40 months the gospel will go out completely to the entire earth telling them to repent. For example, suppose we are making fine furniture. You build it, you sand it, you finish it. But after that first coat is put on you are not done. At that point there is a whole nother process which in the finest lacquered pieces can involve seven coats which are sanded and polished in between these coats. The fine finish work to the gospel will be done during the tribulation.
Now who are these ones that will be doing that? The left behind are those who didn’t want to preach the gospel, they went in the other direction, and they hated these evil people in the world. After the rapture it will be like they are spit up on the beach to finish the job that God had called them to do.
Also in the story of Jonah Nineveh repents and is not destroyed. However, that repentance is flimsy and soon they return to their evil ways and then later God does destroy them. In the same way we have preached for 40 jubilees, the rapture takes place, they repent, but it is wishy washy and after 40 months the Antichrist is fully in control and then the wrath of God is poured out on the world.
Out of the famine we get Ruth
Ruth 1:1 1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
There are three famines recorded in Genesis with the big one with Joseph referenced the most.
In Exodus this word is used when the children of Israel cried out for bread and God gave them manna.
In Deuteronomy this word is used twice to refer to the judgement that comes from not obeying the Lord's voice.
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
Now this word is not used in Judges but we are told that Ruth took place at the time of the Judges.
In the New Testament famines are a sign of the Lord's coming. He specifically refers to the great famine that lasted 3 1/2 years during the time of Elijah.
And you have the story of the prodigal son where the famine causes the profligate son to repent.
In the book of Ruth the famine is thought to be caused by an invading army, similar to the way Russia invading Ukraine is causing a shortage of wheat and natural gas.
Therefore I think we can make a couple of conclusions. During judges everyone did what was right in their own eyes, they didn't hearken to the word of the Lord and so the famine came. Naomi returns repentant, saying she should now be called "bitter" and that she went out full and returned empty, just like the prodigal son. However, from God's point of view, that isn't true. She returned with Ruth and that is what furthered the kingdom. God's will was that Ruth would be part of the lineage of David. This book transforms the law from something that is cold and ruthless to something that is just and merciful.
According to the law a Moabitess cannot enter the congregation and you could not marry a Moabitess. But God doesn't judge according to the flesh but rather according to the heart. According to the heart Ruth is an Israelite and according to her status she is the widow of an Israelite.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
This reminds me of Jesus when people saw that He was set to go to Jerusalem and be crucified. This reminds me of the hymn "no turning back".
Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
That is what this famine and these deaths have done, they have searched the heart of Ruth. The Spirit knows what we need, we need Jesus, and so He has made intercession according to the will of God, and that is bringing Ruth back to Israel. The Bible is not ruthless, and God is not merciless.
Ruth 1:1 1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
There are three famines recorded in Genesis with the big one with Joseph referenced the most.
In Exodus this word is used when the children of Israel cried out for bread and God gave them manna.
In Deuteronomy this word is used twice to refer to the judgement that comes from not obeying the Lord's voice.
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
Now this word is not used in Judges but we are told that Ruth took place at the time of the Judges.
In the New Testament famines are a sign of the Lord's coming. He specifically refers to the great famine that lasted 3 1/2 years during the time of Elijah.
And you have the story of the prodigal son where the famine causes the profligate son to repent.
In the book of Ruth the famine is thought to be caused by an invading army, similar to the way Russia invading Ukraine is causing a shortage of wheat and natural gas.
Therefore I think we can make a couple of conclusions. During judges everyone did what was right in their own eyes, they didn't hearken to the word of the Lord and so the famine came. Naomi returns repentant, saying she should now be called "bitter" and that she went out full and returned empty, just like the prodigal son. However, from God's point of view, that isn't true. She returned with Ruth and that is what furthered the kingdom. God's will was that Ruth would be part of the lineage of David. This book transforms the law from something that is cold and ruthless to something that is just and merciful.
According to the law a Moabitess cannot enter the congregation and you could not marry a Moabitess. But God doesn't judge according to the flesh but rather according to the heart. According to the heart Ruth is an Israelite and according to her status she is the widow of an Israelite.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
This reminds me of Jesus when people saw that He was set to go to Jerusalem and be crucified. This reminds me of the hymn "no turning back".
Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
That is what this famine and these deaths have done, they have searched the heart of Ruth. The Spirit knows what we need, we need Jesus, and so He has made intercession according to the will of God, and that is bringing Ruth back to Israel. The Bible is not ruthless, and God is not merciless.
I'm wondering if when the Lord says "tomorrow" He is referring to this verse.
Leviticus 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Also I'm wondering if this ascension is a reference to the rapture.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Leviticus 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Also I'm wondering if this ascension is a reference to the rapture.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
What was Ruth's testimony?
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Jesus appeared unto the Disciples
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you...
So then the first time Jesus appears to all the disciples after the resurrection was that evening, which would be the start of the next day.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
It would seem that this was the second time.
21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
We don't know which time this was but it seems clear that there is no effort in the account to suggest that these 40 times were equal to 40 days.
So then let's look at Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
This translation implies it was 40 days, but the word for days could easily be translated "times", Jesus appeared to the disciples 40 times. If I take a class at college for a semester that meets 40 times no one would assume that it was 40 days in a row. This is important because there is no appointed time 40 days after the resurrection. However, there is and appointed day after seven sabbaths, that would be Shavuot which describes Moses going up the mountain and so could certainly refer to Jesus ascension.
According to tradition ascension day is about ten days before Pentecost, however, I think this is a complete misunderstanding. I think ascension day is Shavuot and Pentecost is the feast of new wine which is 50 days after Shavuot. Jesus incarnation, death and resurrection all took place on appointed times, it seems incongruent that His ascension would not also take place on an appointed time.
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you...
So then the first time Jesus appears to all the disciples after the resurrection was that evening, which would be the start of the next day.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
It would seem that this was the second time.
21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
We don't know which time this was but it seems clear that there is no effort in the account to suggest that these 40 times were equal to 40 days.
So then let's look at Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
This translation implies it was 40 days, but the word for days could easily be translated "times", Jesus appeared to the disciples 40 times. If I take a class at college for a semester that meets 40 times no one would assume that it was 40 days in a row. This is important because there is no appointed time 40 days after the resurrection. However, there is and appointed day after seven sabbaths, that would be Shavuot which describes Moses going up the mountain and so could certainly refer to Jesus ascension.
According to tradition ascension day is about ten days before Pentecost, however, I think this is a complete misunderstanding. I think ascension day is Shavuot and Pentecost is the feast of new wine which is 50 days after Shavuot. Jesus incarnation, death and resurrection all took place on appointed times, it seems incongruent that His ascension would not also take place on an appointed time.