Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

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Adapted from Psalm 1

A prophecy for the Last days

Oh blessed is the man who shuns the wicked's ways, Who stands not with sinners, nor scornful displays, But in the Lord's law finds his pure delight, Meditating day and night.

Like a tree by rivers, his roots doth grow, Bringing forth fruit in season's flow, His leaves shall not wither, his path shall shine, And prosper shall all that he design.

But the ungodly, like chaff, shall the wind disperse, Their fate shall not stand in righteous converse, For the Lord shall not favor their wicked race, And their way shall perish without a trace.
 
I heard that a generation is 70-80 years, in relation to the Lords return, but here it’s 100 years.
Genesis 15:13,16 KJV
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

[16] But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
 
Adapted from Psalm 122

My feet move towards Jerusalem's gates

Amidst a call that echoes through the air, "Come enter in, and leave your mortal care," I felt my feet move towards Jerusalem's gates, Towards a place where divine name resonates.

This city stands strong, compact, and bound, With tribes of the Lord, where history is found, To bear witness to Israel's story, And give thanks to the Lord in His glory.

Thrones of judgment set in place, The house of David, where justice finds its space, A holy abode where peace prospers and thrives, For those who love this place and its vibrant lives.

Within the walls, the palaces of grandeur, May peace reign supreme, and prosperity sure, For my brethren and companions, I wish to say, Peace be with thee, every night and every day.

For the Lord's house, our God and King, I seek the good of Jerusalem in everything.
 
Underwhosewings said:
I heard that a generation is 70-80 years, in relation to the Lords return, but here it’s 100 years.
Genesis 15:13,16 KJV
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

[16] But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
Click to expand...
1. The Lord said 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. in Matthew 24.

Now "all these things" clearly referred to the destruction of the temple in AD 70 when He said there shall not be left here one stone upon another and clearly refers to the end of the age when He says "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

The destruction of the temple in AD 70 was in "this generation" or in "His nativity". It is believed that He was crucified in AD 30 and 40 years later the Temple was destroyed.

It is also believed that putting these two events together, the start of the age of grace with the end of the age of grace we are being given a pattern.

According to the Bible years are divided up into groups of seven with the seventh year being a sabbath year, and after seven sabbaths the next year, the fiftieth year (the first year of the 8th set of seven years) is the jubilee. 40 x 49 = 1960, add 1960 years to 70 AD and you get 2030 with the Next year being the start of the Millennial reign.

We are told in the Psalms that a generation is 70-80 years, with the difference being "if you are strong" which may indicate if you are rebellious. Jesus was not rebellious, it was 70 years, Israel is rebellious, it will be 80 years.

There are many reasons to understand that everything will be fulfilled by 2030.

Many confuse the word about all these things being fulfilled to think that includes Armageddon, but when Jesus said that concerning the Fig tree generation the context included everything up to the Lord returning in great glory in the clouds. This precedes 'Armageddon.

Israel was reformed in May of 1948, 81 years later would be May 2029, so we understand that the Lord returns in glory prior to the 81st birthday of Israel.

Therefore it is perfectly reasonable to think that the 70th week, the last seven years of this age has already begun. The Lord said 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Yes, the 70th week is 7 years, but the "great tribulation" is shortened. There are many reasons from the book of Revelation to believe that the end of the 70th week is "set in stone" and will fulfill the Fall feasts. Therefore if the time is shortened you have to delay the beginning of the tribulation.

It stands to reason that if the Fall feasts must be fulfilled to the day, and if no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture, that the rapture takes place not during one of the appointed times of the OT.

So then at this point the only doctrine that has been discarded is the thought that the rapture takes place prior to the 70th week (the Bible never said or even hinted at that). What the Bible does say is some will be kept "from the hour of trial" (a time period that is clearly not equivalent to the 70th week or even to the 42 months before the great tribulation). We still know that when the restrainer is taken out of the way then evil will fall and be revealed on the earth. We also know that the amount of time evil will have to run wild has been shortened for the elects sake.
 
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A prayer for the Lord's mercy

To thee, O dweller of the heavens above, I lift mine eyes in faith and love. As servants look to their masters' hand, And maidens to their mistress' command,

So do our eyes wait for thee, O Lord, Till mercy be upon us poured. Have mercy, for we're filled with shame, Contempt has filled our hearts with blame.

Our souls are weighed down by the scorn Of those at ease, so proudly born. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, we pray, And lift our spirits to a brighter day.

adapted from Psalm 123
 
A Lament for King Saul and Jonathan

Hark! Israel's beauty is slain upon her heights, How are the mighty fallen in dreadful sights! Tell it not in Gath, nor in Askelon's streets, Lest Philistines' daughters rejoice in defeat.

Oh, mountains of Gilboa, no dew nor rain, Nor fields of offerings on your barren terrain. For there the shield of the mighty was cast, Vilely cast away as though it were last.

From blood of the slain, from the fat of the great, Jonathan's bow never turned back from the hate, And Saul's sword returned not empty nor vain, Their glory in life and death shall remain.

Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul's fate, Who clothed you in scarlet, adorned with grace. Oh, how are the mighty fallen in the fight, Jonathan slain upon his lofty height!

My brother Jonathan, I'm distressed for thee, Thou wert very pleasant and kind to me. Thy love to me was wondrous, passing women's love, Oh, how are the mighty fallen, weapons lost above!

adapted from 2Samuel 1.
 
Which door do you choose?

John 10:7 Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

When you repeat a word it gives it emphasis. There are a lot of phony "doors" out there. They promise to lead you out to some kind of utopia. These are the multitude of false Christs, antichrists, that John told us we already have.

8 All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

Do you know how you identify the real door? This is like that game show where you were to choose one of three doors. The real door has blood on it. The crucified Jesus is the real door, He didn't come to steal or rob you, He came that you might have life and He did that by dying in our stead on the cross.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.

This is like a pretty girl with a long line of suitors, but one laid down his life that she might live. Not hard to figure out which is the good shepherd.

12 He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: 13 he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Wake up, the wolves are coming and these thieves and robbers in the government are fleeing the sinking ship like rats.

14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, 15 even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.

This is a commandment! Jesus was commanded to lay His life down for us to save us and He also had power to rise from the dead.

So what is Jesus telling us? All the sheep from two flocks, Jews and Gentiles will be made one flock, they will be led out the door which is Jesus. How do we know He is the door, because He was crucified for our salvation. So the way out is the way of the cross. When you see the sheep go out the door (the rapture) it will be a very strong confirmation that this is the real door in the same way that Jesus' resurrection and ascension was a strong confirmation to those that saw Him that He was the real door.
 
ZNP said:
1. The Lord said 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. in Matthew 24.

Now "all these things" clearly referred to the destruction of the temple in AD 70 when He said there shall not be left here one stone upon another and clearly refers to the end of the age when He says "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

The destruction of the temple in AD 70 was in "this generation" or in "His nativity". It is believed that He was crucified in AD 30 and 40 years later the Temple was destroyed.

It is also believed that putting these two events together, the start of the age of grace with the end of the age of grace we are being given a pattern.

According to the Bible years are divided up into groups of seven with the seventh year being a sabbath year, and after seven sabbaths the next year, the fiftieth year (the first year of the 8th set of seven years) is the jubilee. 40 x 49 = 1960, add 1960 years to 70 AD and you get 2030 with the Next year being the start of the Millennial reign.

We are told in the Psalms that a generation is 70-80 years, with the difference being "if you are strong" which may indicate if you are rebellious. Jesus was not rebellious, it was 70 years, Israel is rebellious, it will be 80 years.

There are many reasons to understand that everything will be fulfilled by 2030.

Many confuse the word about all these things being fulfilled to think that includes Armageddon, but when Jesus said that concerning the Fig tree generation the context included everything up to the Lord returning in great glory in the clouds. This precedes 'Armageddon.

Israel was reformed in May of 1948, 81 years later would be May 2029, so we understand that the Lord returns in glory prior to the 81st birthday of Israel.

Therefore it is perfectly reasonable to think that the 70th week, the last seven years of this age has already begun. The Lord said 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Yes, the 70th week is 7 years, but the "great tribulation" is shortened. There are many reasons from the book of Revelation to believe that the end of the 70th week is "set in stone" and will fulfill the Fall feasts. Therefore if the time is shortened you have to delay the beginning of the tribulation.

It stands to reason that if the Fall feasts must be fulfilled to the day, and if no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture, that the rapture takes place not during one of the appointed times of the OT.

So then at this point the only doctrine that has been discarded is the thought that the rapture takes place prior to the 70th week (the Bible never said or even hinted at that). What the Bible does say is some will be kept "from the hour of trial" (a time period that is clearly not equivalent to the 70th week or even to the 42 months before the great tribulation). We still know that when the restrainer is taken out of the way then evil will fall and be revealed on the earth. We also know that the amount of time evil will have to run wild has been shortened for the elects sake.
Click to expand...
What about the covenant?
 
Underwhosewings said:
What about the covenant?
Click to expand...
He confirms the covenant for one week, the 70th week. This doesn't say he "makes the covenant" so we are looking at a covenant that most likely has already been made, and it is not clear if we will know on that day that he confirmed the covenant.

We have a couple of pieces to this puzzle.

1. The Antichrist is revealed after the restrainer steps aside, which I believe refers to the rapture of the saints who are filled with the Spirit and they resist the Devil, hence he fled from them.

2. The days are shortened, there are three possible ways to understand that. The final day is sooner and I don't think that can be true as it would have many conflicts with other portions of the word. Or, the year is shortened due to the Earth revolving around the sun faster. There are a couple of verses that indicate that the Earth's orbit is disrupted, but nothing that indicates the orbit will be faster. This would be stunning for that to be the way the days are shortened as we don't see any indication of it in the prophecies. That would mean that the start date is delayed so that the tribulation is less than 7 years. I believe that is the best guess we have.

3. No one knows the day of the rapture and therefore it does not seem that it would take place at the start of the 70th week since we can calculate that just like the Bible allows you to calculate the start of the 69th week when Jesus was crucified. This also supports the idea that the rapture does not coincide with the start of the 70th week.

4. We are told that many Christians will be asleep at the time of the rapture (spoken to the church in Sardis), I don't think that would be true if there were a big announcement that the Antichrist had confirmed the covenant with Israel for seven years and we now have peace and security. Therefore it is very possible that the covenant was confirmed without any public announcement. But there are other indications of the covenant being confirmed because it appears that this covenant (Abraham accords?) will allow Israel to rebuild the Temple and we already see Israel with Red Heifers that are ready to be sacrificed. They actually cleared customs to fully arrive in Israel on the Feast of Trumpets in 2022, don't believe that could a coincidence.
 
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The Bible says "no one knows the day"

1. Many watchers are looking at the OT Feasts, but if no one knows the day would the Lord pick a day that everyone knows?

2. Some argue that "no one knows the day" refers to the world which is not watching for the Lord's return, but I think it also refers to the angels and therefore to Satan and he is certainly watching and he knows the Bible.

3. Others point out you can see rapture scenarios in every feast and therefore "no one knows the day" even if it is a feast since it could be any one of them. However, I would point out that the Lord's Table is all of the feasts wrapped up into one. It is our Passover feast sacrificed for us, our feast of unleavened bread, and our celebration of the firstfruits. We also celebrate our covenant we have with God, it is a dress rehearsal for the wedding feast, and we conclude with a calling out to the Lord to "come Lord Jesus" looking to His second coming. Our practice of examining ourselves is similar to the ten days prior to the feast of atonement where the Jews were to examine themselves. I would also point out that the "Lord's table" meets on "whatever day". We have a new calendar that is no longer based on new moons and full moons. So for the Lord during the gospels to say "no one knows the day" could easily be referring to the fact that we would be using a new calendar.

4. Some argue that the Gregorian calendar is not scriptural. Why? Ephesians says that the Lord is the cornerstone which joins the two walls of the house, the Jews and the Gentiles. John tells us there is nothing that came into existence apart from the word of God. Our calendar begins with Jesus. Why would you think this calendar is not of God? Why would Gentiles use the Jews calendar?

Therefore I have a few conclusions. I believe that the Bible does tell us a few things. I believe that if the Lord's table is the dress rehearsal for the rapture then that will be the day we are raptured since God is the same today, yesterday and forever. All of the feasts in the OT were dress rehearsals and they are prophetic, surely the Lord establishing the Lord's table is also prophetic.

Second, there are several rapture scenarios in the OT, the three that I think are clearly a reference to the rapture of the church are: Leah's wedding (weak eyes can refer to blue eyes and would therefore be a reference to Gentiles, that was one week before Rachel's wedding), Ruth's wedding (clearly a Gentile wedding, that was during the Barley harvest) and the first rapture in Song of Songs where the Lord says to "come away my fair one, my love". That was during the early spring.
 
In a world of chaos, find your refuge in the Lord.

Adapted from Psalm 91

In a world full of danger and uncertainty, there is a place of safety. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. In this place, there is no need to fear the snares of the fowler or the noisome pestilence.

For the Lord is a refuge and a fortress, a shield and buckler. His truth shall be thy guide and protector. Even in the face of a thousand falling at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, you shall not be afraid.

With the Lord as your habitation, no evil shall befall you, and no plague shall come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

With the power of the Lord, you shall tread upon the lion and adder, and trample the young lion and dragon underfoot. For He hath set His love upon thee, and will deliver and honor thee.

When trouble comes, call upon the Lord, and He shall answer thee. He shall be with thee in trouble, and deliver thee. With long life, He shall satisfy thee and show thee His salvation.

In a world of chaos, find your refuge in the Lord. This is the story of a journey to the secret place of the Most High, where safety and protection await those who seek it.
 
Where does the pandemic, the vaccine, and the shutdown fit into Bible prophecy?

1. It seems quite clear that Joel refers to a worldwide shutdown as God declaring a sabbath, that this is a pandemic, but even more this eats up the world's economy and it is a major sign that "the day of the Lord is at hand".

2. Shutting down the world's economy is similar to stopping the Jordan river so that the river piles up on itself just like all the ships piled up on themselves outside of ports.

3. The vaccine seems similar to the children of Israel being bitten by snakes in the wilderness and that was because they despised the manna. If you had been in the word of God daily as you were instructed you would have seen that the worldwide shutdown due to a pandemic was a warning that the day of the Lord was at hand, you would have therefore been alert to the news and seen through the lies and deceit.

3. During the pandemic they were able to shut down the economy and even shut down churches, this was a "proof of concept". They proved that if they threaten people with a "deadly disease" they will be obedient subjects who mindlessly help the government enforce such rules despite violating the US constitution. In this way it is a precursor to the Mark of the Beast, not that it in any way prevents you from being saved, but rather, it demonstrates that we need a "digital ID that acts like a vaccine passport". Also, the fact that people forged these helps them push for this digital passport to be injected into your body so that it cannot be forged. They sold the idea that everyone will feel threatened by someone who doesn't have this and so will help the government enforce this.

Therefore it is definitely a major step towards having one world currency that is digital and based on a mark that is put on/into your body.
 
The RAPTURE at the second Passover would be special for the Bride. No siesta por favor!

 
Find out in "The King of the World"

In a world where power and politics collide, one man finds himself at the mercy of those who hold it. Jesus, a man who claims to be a king, is brought before Pilate by a furious crowd who accuse him of perverting the nation and forbidding tribute to Caesar. But Pilate can find no fault in him. Herod, too, is intrigued by the man and hopes to see him perform a miracle. But Jesus remains silent, even as the chief priests and scribes furiously accuse him. As the tension mounts and Pilate tries to release him, the crowd cries out for Jesus to be crucified. And so, he is led away, along with two other criminals, to be put to death on a hill called Calvary. But even in the midst of his suffering, Jesus remains steadfast, forgiving his tormentors and promising salvation to a criminal who believes in him. Will his death bring about the change the people seek or will it only serve to cement the power of those who seek to destroy him? Find out in "The King of the World."
 
ZNP said:
He confirms the covenant for one week, the 70th week. This doesn't say he "makes the covenant" so we are looking at a covenant that most likely has already been made, and it is not clear if we will know on that day that he confirmed the covenant.

We have a couple of pieces to this puzzle.

1. The Antichrist is revealed after the restrainer steps aside, which I believe refers to the rapture of the saints who are filled with the Spirit and they resist the Devil, hence he fled from them.

2. The days are shortened, there are three possible ways to understand that. The final day is sooner and I don't think that can be true as it would have many conflicts with other portions of the word. Or, the year is shortened due to the Earth revolving around the sun faster. There are a couple of verses that indicate that the Earth's orbit is disrupted, but nothing that indicates the orbit will be faster. This would be stunning for that to be the way the days are shortened as we don't see any indication of it in the prophecies. That would mean that the start date is delayed so that the tribulation is less than 7 years. I believe that is the best guess we have.

3. No one knows the day of the rapture and therefore it does not seem that it would take place at the start of the 70th week since we can calculate that just like the Bible allows you to calculate the start of the 69th week when Jesus was crucified. This also supports the idea that the rapture does not coincide with the start of the 70th week.

4. We are told that many Christians will be asleep at the time of the rapture (spoken to the church in Sardis), I don't think that would be true if there were a big announcement that the Antichrist had confirmed the covenant with Israel for seven years and we now have peace and security. Therefore it is very possible that the covenant was confirmed without any public announcement. But there are other indications of the covenant being confirmed because it appears that this covenant (Abraham accords?) will allow Israel to rebuild the Temple and we already see Israel with Red Heifers that are ready to be sacrificed. They actually cleared customs to fully arrive in Israel on the Feast of Trumpets in 2022, don't believe that could a coincidence.
Click to expand...
Just wondering how the days are shortened, maybe less sunlight = less hours. Or God simply commands, and the clock goes forward. Or because He hears “the cry of the humble.”
Revelation 8:12 KJV
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

2 Kings 20:11 KJV
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord : and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

Psalm 9:12 KJV
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
 
Underwhosewings said:
Just wondering how the days are shortened, maybe less sunlight = less hours. Or God simply commands, and the clock goes forward. Or because He hears “the cry of the humble.”
Revelation 8:12 KJV
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

2 Kings 20:11 KJV
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord : and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

Psalm 9:12 KJV
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Click to expand...
Yes, one suggestion about Revelation 8:12 is that the rotation of the Earth speeds up so that it takes 16 hours instead of 24, cutting a third of the day (the sun) and a third of the night (moon). But it sounds more like we have dust in the air from volcanoes blocking out a third of the light. So I am not sure what it is. We are told that a great earthquake kicks off the sixth seal, and I think the sixth seal is associated with the rapture as earthquakes in the bible are often associated with the rising from the dead. This great earthquake could also be associated with a super volcano.

What happened when the shadow on the sun dial moved back ten degrees is very similar to the description of the earth wobbling like a drunken man.
 
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Summary of the signs pointing to the 2nd Passover

Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

I think the "great and dreadful day of the Lord" would refer to the opening of the sixth seal which may very well include the rapture.

This would indicate a solar eclipse followed by a blood moon two weeks later. This has only happened a couple of times, once this last fall, and now again right now (March 21 -- eclipse followed by blood moon on May 5).

We are told this sign comes before the great and notable day, so by itself it doesn't tell us the day, though it does narrow it down dramatically. If you agree with the work done by Pastor Sandy pointing to this last year as the year of the going up, and an imminent rapture after Nisan 1 (March 21) then it really narrows it down. If you also agree with the work done by Dr. Barry Awe and God a Minute to interpret the signs in the heavens as depicting a rapture scenario with this upcoming conjunction then these three factors, Joel 2:31, the prophecies in the Psalms and the signs in the heavens as well as the fig tree prophecies and the prophecies in Daniel, they all would greatly narrow down the rapture window as coming after this upcoming blood moon.

I do agree that we should expect this to be on an appointed day, which should be the Lord's table. Also, the term "appointed day" can be interpreted to be a full moon and a blood moon will always take place on a full moon.

Song of Songs and Ruth both indicate the first rapture takes place in the Spring during the barley harvest.

I also like the idea of the 2nd Passover. I understand many feel this is not a true feast day, but my thinking is the Lord said He would not drink of the fruit of the vine until he drinks anew with us. He went to the cross, so it makes sense that we also should go to the cross, especially since He told us we would have to go to the cross if we want to follow Him. He also said that He was going to the father and we know the way. The way being the way of the cross.

We have nothing to do with the accomplishment of the Lord's redemption on the cross so no reason we would replay the Passover, besides we were dead in our trespasses and sins at the time. However, if we have to go to the cross and we missed out the first time, then the 2nd Passover does make sense. The full moon (blood moon) would be the day of crucifixion, while the Lord's day would be the day of resurrection.
 
Will come and take away both our place and our nation

John 11:45 Many therefore of the Jews, who came to Mary and beheld that which he did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.

Two kinds of religious people. You have the lukewarm believers who wake up when they see the rapture and you have the hired hands that are not going to lose their grip on the church without a fight.

47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.

You cannot worship God and Mammon. Notice the word "our". They are not servants of the Lord, they don't see this as His nation or His place, but rather theirs. These are the elites who rule the world and usurp the Lord's headship.

49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 Now this he said not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; 52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death.

"This he said not of himself but being high priest that year". That is a strange expression. God does not do anything without telling His prophets. However, being High Priest it seems God gave this man a word, not because he himself was a man of God, or devout or righteous, but because of the position he had. We need to learn this, speaking a prophecy of the Lord does not prove that you are a man of God. Balaam, a false prophet did, and so did a donkey.

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples.

This sounds like the tribulation, believers can no longer walk openly because they are seeking to kill you. So then it would seem that raising Lazarus from the dead is the event prior to the tribulation, the "pre tribulation rapture".

55 Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves.

This sounds strange to me, "Passover of the Jews". Is there any other Passover? Why the emphasis of the Jews? I am thinking this is an indication that the times of the Gentiles have come to an end and the 70th week has begun.

56 They sought therefore for Jesus, and spake one with another, as they stood in the temple, What think ye? That he will not come to the feast? 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him.

Think of this, before PalmSunday this was the situation. Two years ago it would have been very difficult to imagine this ever being the case in the US but today it is simple to see things deteriorating to this point.
 
Going deeper

  1. 1 Samuel 15:22, which reads:

"And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

Anyone and everyone can and does make sacrifices. That is not evidence of faith or love for the Lord. Obeying the Lord's word, that is evidence of faith and love. For example, we are told to believe and be baptized, being baptized is our first step in obeying the Lord's commands.

Obadiah 1:11:
"On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them."

But Obadiah takes us deeper, we might think that "we didn't carry off their wealth" -- but standing aloof while you see your brother being pillaged, the Lord commanded us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Stand with the persecuted one.

2 Thessalonians 2:15
"So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."

And Paul takes this one step further. What is the apostasy but not holding fast to the teachings of the apostles. The apostasy is like King Saul, they do what is right in their own mind and ignore the commands of the Bible.

But then 2 Samuel takes this even deeper
  1. 2 Samuel 12:15, which reads:

"And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick."

We are all sinners and we must all deal with sin. That is what it means to take up your cross and follow the Lord. We crucify the flesh with the passions and lusts. The wages of sin is death. The child died, it was the fruit of adultery. David's reign also suffers the eventual coup masterminded by Ahithophel, who was related to Bathsheba and Uriah. We would think that committing adultery with Bathsheba and having Uriah killed is worse than what Saul did.

Jonah 2:8:
"Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them."

But look at what Jonah says, the key is not how terrible the sin is, the key is are you still clinging to your idols after being exposed, or do you come to God, confessing your sins and repenting?

1 Timothy 3:16
"Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."

Paul points this out. For example, you can have two people with cancer, one is in the last stages, about to die, the other is in the very early stages. However, the person who is about to die is miraculously healed by God while the person in the early stages goes on to die later. What happened? One person turned to the great physician to heal him while the other didn't. True godliness does not spring from within you, it is from God. If you receive the Lord's salvation then you will receive true godliness, and that seed can grow into a full grown man.
 
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