Summary of Bible references on the Rapture
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When did the church age begin? Some would say at Pentecost, but I would say it started when Jesus breathed into the disciples and said receive ye the Holy Spirit.
John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
This is where it begins for us and it ends when we are raptured, which is resurrection day. That also makes sense because this will make one complete year. Right after Jesus rose from the dead He breathed into the disciples and one year later (in a shadow) they are raised.
Try another question, when did the 69th week pause for the Jews? It wasn't when they crucified Jesus. Instead when God resurrected Jesus He testified that Jesus was the Messiah and He annulled the ruling of the Jews. That was when they lost their standing with God. So then, it makes sense that right after the rapture the seventieth week would begin.
It also makes sense that the seventieth week would be tied to May 14th.
John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
This is where it begins for us and it ends when we are raptured, which is resurrection day. That also makes sense because this will make one complete year. Right after Jesus rose from the dead He breathed into the disciples and one year later (in a shadow) they are raised.
Try another question, when did the 69th week pause for the Jews? It wasn't when they crucified Jesus. Instead when God resurrected Jesus He testified that Jesus was the Messiah and He annulled the ruling of the Jews. That was when they lost their standing with God. So then, it makes sense that right after the rapture the seventieth week would begin.
It also makes sense that the seventieth week would be tied to May 14th.
2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
People who push the "once saved always saved" are ignoring this. If you are a vessel in God's house you are "saved". But not all the vessels are gold and silver, not all the vessels are to honor. You are required to purge yourself of the vessels unto dishonor. That doesn't mean you are saving yourself. This doesn't say that, it says you purge yourself of these and then you are sanctified, meet for the master's use. We have plates and bowls and cups, we also have garbage cans and commodes. Which vessel do you want to be?
People who push the "once saved always saved" are ignoring this. If you are a vessel in God's house you are "saved". But not all the vessels are gold and silver, not all the vessels are to honor. You are required to purge yourself of the vessels unto dishonor. That doesn't mean you are saving yourself. This doesn't say that, it says you purge yourself of these and then you are sanctified, meet for the master's use. We have plates and bowls and cups, we also have garbage cans and commodes. Which vessel do you want to be?
2 Chronicles 36:12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord. 13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel. 14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
Is this the situation today in the US?
15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Is this the situation today in the US?
15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed
Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
The Bible is the more sure word of prophecy.
This word translated "certainty" is used three times in the New Testament. This is the first use. The second is also by Luke in the book of Acts, the prison was shut up with all "safety", the same word that we are translating as certainty here. The final example is by Paul in 1 Thessalonians "when they say peace and safety". Again, the word translated "safety" is the word here for certainty. The word means certainty, undoubted proof, security from enemies and danger, hence safety.
The Bible is the undoubted truth, when Antichrist tells you that he has the undoubted truth you should know it is a trap, a snare.
Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
The Bible is the more sure word of prophecy.
This word translated "certainty" is used three times in the New Testament. This is the first use. The second is also by Luke in the book of Acts, the prison was shut up with all "safety", the same word that we are translating as certainty here. The final example is by Paul in 1 Thessalonians "when they say peace and safety". Again, the word translated "safety" is the word here for certainty. The word means certainty, undoubted proof, security from enemies and danger, hence safety.
The Bible is the undoubted truth, when Antichrist tells you that he has the undoubted truth you should know it is a trap, a snare.
What is most interesting to me from this interview is that they are about to unearth the tabernacle. Think of the seventieth week as those who are left behind going through the wilderness with the tabernacle. I would repeat that there is no verse in OT or NT that says the temple will be rebuilt. That is based on erroneous translations of "Holy Place" as "temple". There is however, several verse references to the Tabernacle of David being raised again at the end of the age.
This also solves the problem of the cemetery on the mount of olives and could explain why that mountain splits in two. In order to walk through it without becoming defiled by the dead.
This also solves the problem of the cemetery on the mount of olives and could explain why that mountain splits in two. In order to walk through it without becoming defiled by the dead.
Truckin to the Rapture
2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Gilgal is where the 12 stones taken out of the Jordan were pitched and where Israel camped before invading Jericho. It is where the reproach of Egypt was rolled away from Israel. It is also where the children of Israel kept the Passover after crossing the Jordan. Gilgal is also where Samuel made Saul king. It is also where Samuel cursed Saul. This is where Judah escorted King David back to Jerusalem after Absalom was killed. This is where the nation of Israel and the kingdom of Israel and the restoration of the Kingdom all started.
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
Bethel is where Abraham made an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. It is where Abrahams journey of the tent and the altar began. Bethel is where God appeared unto Jacob and Genesis refers to Him as “the God of Bethel”. Jacob dwelt in Bethel and built an altar to the Lord there. Rebekah’s nurse was buried there. Rachel died between Bethel and Ephrath, the place she died is now called Bethlehem. It was the second place that Joshua went to after entering the good land. Gilgal was a camp for attacking Jericho and Bethel was a camp for attacking AI. When Samuel was a judge he went in a circuit from three cities, Gilgal and Bethel were two of the three. Gilgal means a wheel, rolling. Bethel means house of God. So these two cities depict the apostles at the start of the church age as they went from town to town, rolling like a wheel, establishing churches and then becoming the church age with churches in every city.
3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
We have ten verses before Elijah is raptured and think of this as a review of church history. Think of these as a ten day countdown, and on the third day, the day of resurrection we get our first prophecy that Elijah is to be raptured today.
4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
Jericho is a weird derivation. It might be from the word for “fragrant” or it might be “Its month”. It is a cursed city, one of the few specifically cursed to never be built again. I think the city refers to censorship. This reminds me of the journey we have taken. First we reviewed the fellowship of the apostles and prophets. Then we considered church history. Then we realized that the month that the Jews were celebrating Passover was wrong. I had assumed the Jews were the experts, but they are the same ones who reject that Jesus is the Messiah, they reject that Jesus is Lord and they reject that His blood redeems us. By definition they are false prophets. So I read Leviticus again and the first month is Aviv, the is the month of “ears of grain”. The timing of that will depend on where you live. The harvest for Barley in Egypt is one month earlier than the harvest in Israel. The month is not based on the Equinox, or some constellation, no, Genesis tells us the one constant is seedtime and harvest. The year begins with the month of “ears of grain”. I live in corn country and there is one month everyone looks forward to, the month where the grocery store is filled with ears of corn just harvested. Because I am surrounded by farmers I know that they would not be so stupid as to have a harvest festival during the first week of the harvest. No farmer is going to take a one week or even ten day vacation in the middle of the harvest.
5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
This is now the second time the prophets prophesied about the time of the rapture. It was essential to get a clear view of the month, just as it was essential to have a good review of the fellowship of the Apostles, prophets and church history. The first time was when they realized it would be the third day, the second time was when they realized what the month would be.
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
The name Jordan refers to the river flowing down, it means “descender”. The first mention is when Lot looked at the plains of Jordan and decided to move there. The plains of Jordan are also called the plains of Moab. This is a good picture of fallen Christianity. In fallen Christianity they lack faith to believe God will give them an Isaac so instead their ministries are the product of incest.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
Jeremiah tells us Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan which is a reference to Springtime and also to the Lord coming as a lion, not as a lamb. That is a reference to the rapture. Fifty is a number of grace. So these are prophets of the grace of God and salvation through faith which is the grace of God. But notice they stand afar off, they don’t want to get involved in speaking about the rapture, the Lord’s coming or the day of the Lord.
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
The mantle depicts his ministry and he splits the Jordan indicating he is leaving this ministry of grace and returning to the history of the Jews in the wilderness before they crossed the Jordan. This is similar to what the Lord said to the church in Sardis. At first they dug into the word and mined the truths concerning salvation by faith, and live in Christ. But then they refused to continue to dig and we see this in Christianity. Many good brothers and sisters who preach the gospel but refuse to touch the 25% of the Bible that is prophetic for the Day of the Lord.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
Elisha did not abandon Elijah. He didn’t get stuck with this kingdom doctrine that some preach, he didn’t get hung up on “the church” which is another major doctrine. All the church fathers built altars on these doctrines just as Abraham, and Jacob and other men of faith in the Old Testament. He did not fear to follow Elijah when he crossed the Jordan. The teaching of salvation being a gift of God, that we are saved by grace through faith is like a line that most Christians will not cross. But he didn’t cross it with a man made bridge, no the mantle of Elijah, his ministry struck the water and it was God that divided it. The word of God divided it. But here is is prayer, a double portion of the Spirit for the tribulation saints.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
We have faith in things that we don’t see. However, we need to have faith like a pit bull, once we latch on we don’t let go until we see it fulfilled. Don’t quit. If the game is sixty minutes long and you quit with two minutes left to go the Lord will have no pleasure in you.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
What a long, strange trip its been.
2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Gilgal is where the 12 stones taken out of the Jordan were pitched and where Israel camped before invading Jericho. It is where the reproach of Egypt was rolled away from Israel. It is also where the children of Israel kept the Passover after crossing the Jordan. Gilgal is also where Samuel made Saul king. It is also where Samuel cursed Saul. This is where Judah escorted King David back to Jerusalem after Absalom was killed. This is where the nation of Israel and the kingdom of Israel and the restoration of the Kingdom all started.
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
Bethel is where Abraham made an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. It is where Abrahams journey of the tent and the altar began. Bethel is where God appeared unto Jacob and Genesis refers to Him as “the God of Bethel”. Jacob dwelt in Bethel and built an altar to the Lord there. Rebekah’s nurse was buried there. Rachel died between Bethel and Ephrath, the place she died is now called Bethlehem. It was the second place that Joshua went to after entering the good land. Gilgal was a camp for attacking Jericho and Bethel was a camp for attacking AI. When Samuel was a judge he went in a circuit from three cities, Gilgal and Bethel were two of the three. Gilgal means a wheel, rolling. Bethel means house of God. So these two cities depict the apostles at the start of the church age as they went from town to town, rolling like a wheel, establishing churches and then becoming the church age with churches in every city.
3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
We have ten verses before Elijah is raptured and think of this as a review of church history. Think of these as a ten day countdown, and on the third day, the day of resurrection we get our first prophecy that Elijah is to be raptured today.
4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
Jericho is a weird derivation. It might be from the word for “fragrant” or it might be “Its month”. It is a cursed city, one of the few specifically cursed to never be built again. I think the city refers to censorship. This reminds me of the journey we have taken. First we reviewed the fellowship of the apostles and prophets. Then we considered church history. Then we realized that the month that the Jews were celebrating Passover was wrong. I had assumed the Jews were the experts, but they are the same ones who reject that Jesus is the Messiah, they reject that Jesus is Lord and they reject that His blood redeems us. By definition they are false prophets. So I read Leviticus again and the first month is Aviv, the is the month of “ears of grain”. The timing of that will depend on where you live. The harvest for Barley in Egypt is one month earlier than the harvest in Israel. The month is not based on the Equinox, or some constellation, no, Genesis tells us the one constant is seedtime and harvest. The year begins with the month of “ears of grain”. I live in corn country and there is one month everyone looks forward to, the month where the grocery store is filled with ears of corn just harvested. Because I am surrounded by farmers I know that they would not be so stupid as to have a harvest festival during the first week of the harvest. No farmer is going to take a one week or even ten day vacation in the middle of the harvest.
5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
This is now the second time the prophets prophesied about the time of the rapture. It was essential to get a clear view of the month, just as it was essential to have a good review of the fellowship of the Apostles, prophets and church history. The first time was when they realized it would be the third day, the second time was when they realized what the month would be.
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
The name Jordan refers to the river flowing down, it means “descender”. The first mention is when Lot looked at the plains of Jordan and decided to move there. The plains of Jordan are also called the plains of Moab. This is a good picture of fallen Christianity. In fallen Christianity they lack faith to believe God will give them an Isaac so instead their ministries are the product of incest.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
Jeremiah tells us Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan which is a reference to Springtime and also to the Lord coming as a lion, not as a lamb. That is a reference to the rapture. Fifty is a number of grace. So these are prophets of the grace of God and salvation through faith which is the grace of God. But notice they stand afar off, they don’t want to get involved in speaking about the rapture, the Lord’s coming or the day of the Lord.
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
The mantle depicts his ministry and he splits the Jordan indicating he is leaving this ministry of grace and returning to the history of the Jews in the wilderness before they crossed the Jordan. This is similar to what the Lord said to the church in Sardis. At first they dug into the word and mined the truths concerning salvation by faith, and live in Christ. But then they refused to continue to dig and we see this in Christianity. Many good brothers and sisters who preach the gospel but refuse to touch the 25% of the Bible that is prophetic for the Day of the Lord.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
Elisha did not abandon Elijah. He didn’t get stuck with this kingdom doctrine that some preach, he didn’t get hung up on “the church” which is another major doctrine. All the church fathers built altars on these doctrines just as Abraham, and Jacob and other men of faith in the Old Testament. He did not fear to follow Elijah when he crossed the Jordan. The teaching of salvation being a gift of God, that we are saved by grace through faith is like a line that most Christians will not cross. But he didn’t cross it with a man made bridge, no the mantle of Elijah, his ministry struck the water and it was God that divided it. The word of God divided it. But here is is prayer, a double portion of the Spirit for the tribulation saints.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
We have faith in things that we don’t see. However, we need to have faith like a pit bull, once we latch on we don’t let go until we see it fulfilled. Don’t quit. If the game is sixty minutes long and you quit with two minutes left to go the Lord will have no pleasure in you.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
What a long, strange trip its been.