Summary of Bible references on the Rapture
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The two prophets (part 1)
When Jesus was born there were two prophets, Simeon and Anna who came in and testified of Him. We have a principle that "that which has been is that which shall be". I look at this like fractals. You can zoom in on fractals and even in the minute details you see the exact same pattern you see if you zoom out. It is a never ending geometric pattern. So then the pattern we saw at the coming of Jesus at the start of the church age gives us a pattern of what we will see at His coming at the end of the church age. The first coming gives us a pattern of the second coming.
These two prophets are a pattern. We are not told how old Simeon is, only that it was "divinely told him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord". He gives us a pattern of devout men with divine revelations, visions, and dreams of the second coming. The second prophet gives us a timeline, if you look at it literally we know she was born, she was married, her husband lived for seven years, and since his death she has been a widow for 84 years. She doesn't actually say anything in this chapter, instead it says "she was confessing likewise and speaking concerning Him to those looking for the coming redemption". I liken her to current events. WW2 lasted for six years, but if we add in the Nuremberg trials afterwards as a conclusion, then we can get seven years. If we infer she was married after puberty then she was born in 1929, at the start of the great depression. All of the current events from her life speak to those who are looking for the redemption of the Lord's second coming.
Luke 2:25 And lo, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [is] Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him, 26 and it hath been divinely told him by the Holy Spirit -- not to see death before he may see the Christ of the Lord. 27 And he came in the Spirit to the temple, and in the parents bringing in the child Jesus, for their doing according to the custom of the law regarding him, 28 then he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and he said, 29 `Now Thou dost send away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace, 30 because mine eyes did see Thy salvation, 31 which Thou didst prepare before the face of all the peoples, 32 a light to the uncovering of nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel.'
Billy Sunday, the famous whirlwind evangelist, preached dynamically in 1929 against societal backsliding, warning that the wheels of God's judgment would soon sweep through a "God-hating world" unless the nation returned to traditional faith.
William Branham: In June 1933, Branham claimed to receive seven major visions outlining the future. The final vision depicted a massive explosion that left the entire land of America a barren wasteland of craters, smoke, and debris. [1, 2, 3]
A.A. Allen: A famous Tent Revival evangelist, Allen claimed to look out over the Atlantic Ocean from atop the Empire State Building in 1954, witnessing a prophetic vision of a sudden, total obliteration of America via poisonous, radioactive fallout from an enemy attack.
Henry Gruver: Known as a "prayer walker," Gruver claimed to receive visions starting in the 1980s detailing the physical destruction of the U.S. He famously described seeing a massive Russian nuclear strike launched from submarines surrounding American ports, coinciding with total infrastructural grid failure
David Wilkerson (1970s – 2000s) an Assemblies of God pastor and founder of Times Square Church, transitioned from youth evangelism into a major prophetic voice regarding America's downfall. [1]
When Jesus was born there were two prophets, Simeon and Anna who came in and testified of Him. We have a principle that "that which has been is that which shall be". I look at this like fractals. You can zoom in on fractals and even in the minute details you see the exact same pattern you see if you zoom out. It is a never ending geometric pattern. So then the pattern we saw at the coming of Jesus at the start of the church age gives us a pattern of what we will see at His coming at the end of the church age. The first coming gives us a pattern of the second coming.
These two prophets are a pattern. We are not told how old Simeon is, only that it was "divinely told him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord". He gives us a pattern of devout men with divine revelations, visions, and dreams of the second coming. The second prophet gives us a timeline, if you look at it literally we know she was born, she was married, her husband lived for seven years, and since his death she has been a widow for 84 years. She doesn't actually say anything in this chapter, instead it says "she was confessing likewise and speaking concerning Him to those looking for the coming redemption". I liken her to current events. WW2 lasted for six years, but if we add in the Nuremberg trials afterwards as a conclusion, then we can get seven years. If we infer she was married after puberty then she was born in 1929, at the start of the great depression. All of the current events from her life speak to those who are looking for the redemption of the Lord's second coming.
Luke 2:25 And lo, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [is] Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him, 26 and it hath been divinely told him by the Holy Spirit -- not to see death before he may see the Christ of the Lord. 27 And he came in the Spirit to the temple, and in the parents bringing in the child Jesus, for their doing according to the custom of the law regarding him, 28 then he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and he said, 29 `Now Thou dost send away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace, 30 because mine eyes did see Thy salvation, 31 which Thou didst prepare before the face of all the peoples, 32 a light to the uncovering of nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel.'
Billy Sunday, the famous whirlwind evangelist, preached dynamically in 1929 against societal backsliding, warning that the wheels of God's judgment would soon sweep through a "God-hating world" unless the nation returned to traditional faith.
William Branham: In June 1933, Branham claimed to receive seven major visions outlining the future. The final vision depicted a massive explosion that left the entire land of America a barren wasteland of craters, smoke, and debris. [1, 2, 3]
A.A. Allen: A famous Tent Revival evangelist, Allen claimed to look out over the Atlantic Ocean from atop the Empire State Building in 1954, witnessing a prophetic vision of a sudden, total obliteration of America via poisonous, radioactive fallout from an enemy attack.
Henry Gruver: Known as a "prayer walker," Gruver claimed to receive visions starting in the 1980s detailing the physical destruction of the U.S. He famously described seeing a massive Russian nuclear strike launched from submarines surrounding American ports, coinciding with total infrastructural grid failure
David Wilkerson (1970s – 2000s) an Assemblies of God pastor and founder of Times Square Church, transitioned from youth evangelism into a major prophetic voice regarding America's downfall. [1]
- The 1973 Vision: Wilkerson published a famous book, The Vision, detailing a terrifying global and national calamity. He forewarned of a worldwide economic collapse starting in Europe, rampant moral decay, nature unleashing its fury through mega-disasters, and intense persecution of true Christians. [1]
- The 2009 Urgent Warning: Shortly before his death, Wilkerson issued a stark final warning. He predicted an imminent, catastrophic event that would cause widespread fires, riots, and military-like chaos across New York City and other major American metropolitan areas
- "America Will Burn": Starting in 1984, Duduman traveled across the U.S. delivering a message he claimed was given to him by an angel. He proclaimed that America is "Mystery Babylon" and would be destroyed by fire in a single day as judgment for its deep moral perversion. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Sovereign Attack: Duduman explicitly prophesied that Russia and China (alongside smaller allied nations like Cuba and Nicaragua) would launch a sudden nuclear and military assault on the U.S. mainland after first instigating geopolitical conflicts elsewhere, such as a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
The Two Prophets (part 2)
Jonathan Cahn (2010s–Present): Messianic rabbi and pastor Jonathan Cahn became one of the most commercially successful prophetic voices of the 2000s. His 2012 bestseller, The Harbinger, outlines a prophetic pattern connecting the 9/11 attacks and subsequent economic collapses to an ancient scriptural warning of judgment found in Isaiah 9:10. [1]
The First Dream (December 2019): Coverstone claimed he saw a calendar turning to March 2020. He saw a finger point to the month as a cloud of dust and chaos settled over the nation, which he and his followers later interpreted as the exact arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. He then saw the calendar flip to June, accompanied by visions of widespread civil unrest, marching, and smoke billowing over cities. [1]
The Second Dream (June 2020): In this dream, the calendar flipped to November 2020. Coverstone described seeing a "bent, torn, and dirty" calendar month. He claimed to see armed conflict in American streets, economic hyperinflation, lines at banks, and a complete breakdown of the U.S. political system following the presidential election.
The White Figure's Directive: Amidst the visual depictions of chaos, a distinct figure appeared out of a light, instructing the church to anchor itself strictly in spiritual readiness. The figure warned believers not to rely on their own physical strength or political systems to survive the impending national shaking.
33 And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him, 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, `Lo, this [one] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against -- 35 (and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) -- that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'
36 And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she [is] a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day, 38 and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the Lord, and was speaking concerning him, to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
Consider all the events that have occurred pointing to the Lord's return, whether it is the reformation of the nation of Israel, the rise of computers, internet and AI, the systems in place for the Mark of the Beast, the Great Depression, WW2, the holocaust, Nuremberg trials and the connection to the book of Esther, Israel's six day war, the Jubilee cycle with 1917, 1967, and 2017 being years declaring that Jerusalem belongs to Israel, the Pandemic as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, the Revelation 12 sign in the heavens, the Writing on the Wall sign over the US, the fulfillment of Psalm 83 war, the fulfillment of Jeremiah 49 breaking of Elam's bow, etc.
Jonathan Cahn (2010s–Present): Messianic rabbi and pastor Jonathan Cahn became one of the most commercially successful prophetic voices of the 2000s. His 2012 bestseller, The Harbinger, outlines a prophetic pattern connecting the 9/11 attacks and subsequent economic collapses to an ancient scriptural warning of judgment found in Isaiah 9:10. [1]
- The Nine Harbingers: Cahn argues that God is actively removing His "hedge of protection" from America due to rapid secularization. He points to physical signs (like the falling of specific trees and the rebuilding of Ground Zero) as exact reenactments of ancient Israel’s warning signs before its ultimate destruction.
- The Mystery of the Shemitah (2014) – Connects major global economic shakeups, stock market crashes, and political shifts to the ancient seven-year biblical agricultural and financial Sabbath cycle.
- The Book of Mysteries (2016) – A 365-day daily devotional presented as an odyssey through a desert to unpack linguistic, spiritual, and end-times biblical secrets.
- The Paradigm (2017) – Claims that ancient leaders of Northern Israel (like Ahab, Jezebel, and Jehu) serve as an exact spiritual blueprint or "master paradigm" for modern political figures.
- The Oracle (2019) – Centers on the Jubilean mysteries, connecting the 50-year biblical Jubilee cycle to the modern restoration of Israel, international wars, and geopolitical developments.
- The Harbinger II: The Return (2020) – The direct sequel to his first book, linking the social unrest, polarization, and pandemic disruptions of 2020 to the ongoing unraveling of the original omens.
- The Return of the Gods (2022) – A cultural critique arguing that ancient pagan spirits (The Trinity of the Dark Apostasy) have returned to western civilization to orchestrate rapid cultural secularization.
- The Josiah Manifesto (2023) – Formulates a "prophetic puzzle" connecting historical dates, global crises, and political events to outline a guide for how believers should live in the end times.
- The Dragon's Prophecy (2024) – Decodes the spiritual forces behind the modern conflicts in Israel, linking recent Middle Eastern warfare to ancient apocalyptic texts regarding the "End of Days".
- The Avatar (2025) – Explores the theme of modern leaders and global cultural shifting, proposing that ancient spiritual archetypes are influencing Western governments.
- The Altar of Pergamon (September 1, 2026) – Investigates over 100 historical patterns tracking an ancient archaeological object—the Throne of Satan mentioned in Revelation—to the rise and fall of modern empires.
The First Dream (December 2019): Coverstone claimed he saw a calendar turning to March 2020. He saw a finger point to the month as a cloud of dust and chaos settled over the nation, which he and his followers later interpreted as the exact arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. He then saw the calendar flip to June, accompanied by visions of widespread civil unrest, marching, and smoke billowing over cities. [1]
The Second Dream (June 2020): In this dream, the calendar flipped to November 2020. Coverstone described seeing a "bent, torn, and dirty" calendar month. He claimed to see armed conflict in American streets, economic hyperinflation, lines at banks, and a complete breakdown of the U.S. political system following the presidential election.
The White Figure's Directive: Amidst the visual depictions of chaos, a distinct figure appeared out of a light, instructing the church to anchor itself strictly in spiritual readiness. The figure warned believers not to rely on their own physical strength or political systems to survive the impending national shaking.
33 And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him, 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, `Lo, this [one] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against -- 35 (and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) -- that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'
36 And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she [is] a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day, 38 and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the Lord, and was speaking concerning him, to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
Consider all the events that have occurred pointing to the Lord's return, whether it is the reformation of the nation of Israel, the rise of computers, internet and AI, the systems in place for the Mark of the Beast, the Great Depression, WW2, the holocaust, Nuremberg trials and the connection to the book of Esther, Israel's six day war, the Jubilee cycle with 1917, 1967, and 2017 being years declaring that Jerusalem belongs to Israel, the Pandemic as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, the Revelation 12 sign in the heavens, the Writing on the Wall sign over the US, the fulfillment of Psalm 83 war, the fulfillment of Jeremiah 49 breaking of Elam's bow, etc.
Another major confirmation
THIS WONT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL PASSOVER 2033!!!
Here is why this is significant. Israel turns 85 on May 14, 2033. One month before that we have this sun being darkened followed by the moon turning to blood. This happens during Passover and I have theorized that the Lord's return in glory takes place during the 2nd Passover when the two witnesses are killed and then they are caught up and then Israel repents and says "blessed are they that come in the name of the Lord". Referring to all the witnesses who have come to them to say that Jesus is the Messiah. This also confirms that the "Day of the Lord" begins on Feast of Trumpets in 2026. This is a seven year period of judgment which begins with the judgement on the house of God, the church.
THIS WONT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL PASSOVER 2033!!!
Here is why this is significant. Israel turns 85 on May 14, 2033. One month before that we have this sun being darkened followed by the moon turning to blood. This happens during Passover and I have theorized that the Lord's return in glory takes place during the 2nd Passover when the two witnesses are killed and then they are caught up and then Israel repents and says "blessed are they that come in the name of the Lord". Referring to all the witnesses who have come to them to say that Jesus is the Messiah. This also confirms that the "Day of the Lord" begins on Feast of Trumpets in 2026. This is a seven year period of judgment which begins with the judgement on the house of God, the church.
If the shoe fits, wear it
Jeremiah 6:13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. 16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
Jeremiah 6:13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. 16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
Social media is a vain founder because the wicked are not plucked away
Jeremiah 6:27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way. 28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. 29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. 30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.
Jeremiah 6:27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way. 28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. 29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. 30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.
Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
We have used this to suggest that the rapture takes place in the fall, this is the lament of the left behind saints. However, I think it is far more instructive than that.
Think of the two cows with the sevens on their foreheads born in 2014 at Feast of Trumpets. This reminded us of Pharaoh's dream. A full grown cow is 5 years old. In 2019 these two calves were full grown cows. From 2019 to 2026 we have had good years in the harvest. Some countries have had record years of production of corn, and other feed for cattle. All in all the global harvest the last seven years has been very good, even record setting at times. However, that is over this year. Diesel, fertilizer and pesticide is in short supply because of the damage to oil refineries in Russia, Iran and the Middle East.
So then, when does the harvest season end in Israel. It is officially over on the first day of Hanukah. I believe that the first day of Hanukah when they light the first lamp will be the first day of the ministry of the two witnesses. I say this because they are called the two olive trees, I believe they are the ones who "sell the oil" in the parable of the ten virgins, and if you count 1,260 days from Hanukah in 2026 you come to 2nd Passover in 2030 which is when I think they are killed and then raised for all to see in Jerusalem.
So I believe this is a word from the start of the ministry of the two witnesses. It doesn't mean that the rapture is on the first day of Hanukah, it means for the left behind Christians this is when they have come to realize the truth, regardless of what they were taught previously. They know that those who are going to be raptured have already been raptured, they are not in that group, and they are left behind during the tribulation.
We have used this to suggest that the rapture takes place in the fall, this is the lament of the left behind saints. However, I think it is far more instructive than that.
Think of the two cows with the sevens on their foreheads born in 2014 at Feast of Trumpets. This reminded us of Pharaoh's dream. A full grown cow is 5 years old. In 2019 these two calves were full grown cows. From 2019 to 2026 we have had good years in the harvest. Some countries have had record years of production of corn, and other feed for cattle. All in all the global harvest the last seven years has been very good, even record setting at times. However, that is over this year. Diesel, fertilizer and pesticide is in short supply because of the damage to oil refineries in Russia, Iran and the Middle East.
So then, when does the harvest season end in Israel. It is officially over on the first day of Hanukah. I believe that the first day of Hanukah when they light the first lamp will be the first day of the ministry of the two witnesses. I say this because they are called the two olive trees, I believe they are the ones who "sell the oil" in the parable of the ten virgins, and if you count 1,260 days from Hanukah in 2026 you come to 2nd Passover in 2030 which is when I think they are killed and then raised for all to see in Jerusalem.
So I believe this is a word from the start of the ministry of the two witnesses. It doesn't mean that the rapture is on the first day of Hanukah, it means for the left behind Christians this is when they have come to realize the truth, regardless of what they were taught previously. They know that those who are going to be raptured have already been raptured, they are not in that group, and they are left behind during the tribulation.
Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
After Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove and the Lord out of Heaven proclaimed this is my Son in whom I am well pleased, then He returns from the Jordan. This is just like Elisha returning after Elijah was caught up. Think of this chapter as a preview of the ministry of the tribulation saints.
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
So then the tribulation begins with the tribulation saints fleeing into the wilderness and fasting for the first forty days.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
This is the first lesson for those who are left behind. The word of God is what you need, not that house, or pool, or car, or even food. Think of the seeds that fell among thorns and the cares of this life choked the word and kept them from being fruitful.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
This is a second temptation that is very common, Free Masons do this, think of all those who have shared testimonies about how they "sold their soul to the devil" to be successful. They will do the same thing during the tribulation, you will be required to worship the beast if you want to buy and sell. Prior to the tribulation the temptation is to be rich, and powerful. That is the "carrot". During the tribulation you get the stick, the "offer you can't refuse". Satan puts the gun to your head, either worship him or die.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Many wonder why some are taken and some are left behind. Those who are raptured have not allowed the cares of this world to choke the word, they are fruitful, and they have not succumbed to Satan's temptation to worship him. They choose to worship the Lord and serve Him over being rich and powerful.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
Ultimately the ministry of the tribulation saints leads the two witnesses to Jerusalem.
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
I have had this experience several times. But it wasn't intentional. I have had angels intervene to keep me from being killed and even more specifically to keep my foot from dashing against a stone. But it wasn't intentional.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Seeking after miracles and miraculous intervention, that is twisted. We are supposed to seek the Lord's face. We are supposed to delight in His word. No one wants to have a little kid who is always running out into traffic to see if you will save them. We are here with a mission. If you are left behind during the tribulation you also have a mission. It is as though you have been put into the game at the last two minutes. The clock is ticking, save as many as you can. I'm not afraid of the enemy, I am not going to back down from him, I will preach openly. But I am also not going to intentionally do something to see if the Lord will rescue me. Instead, every day you are seeking the Lord's light to lead you and guide you.
Elisha got the mantle from Elijah and got a double portion. The mantle for the church ministry is that Jesus rose from the dead. The mantle for the tribulation saints is that the raptured saints and Jesus rose from the dead.
After Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove and the Lord out of Heaven proclaimed this is my Son in whom I am well pleased, then He returns from the Jordan. This is just like Elisha returning after Elijah was caught up. Think of this chapter as a preview of the ministry of the tribulation saints.
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
So then the tribulation begins with the tribulation saints fleeing into the wilderness and fasting for the first forty days.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
This is the first lesson for those who are left behind. The word of God is what you need, not that house, or pool, or car, or even food. Think of the seeds that fell among thorns and the cares of this life choked the word and kept them from being fruitful.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
This is a second temptation that is very common, Free Masons do this, think of all those who have shared testimonies about how they "sold their soul to the devil" to be successful. They will do the same thing during the tribulation, you will be required to worship the beast if you want to buy and sell. Prior to the tribulation the temptation is to be rich, and powerful. That is the "carrot". During the tribulation you get the stick, the "offer you can't refuse". Satan puts the gun to your head, either worship him or die.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Many wonder why some are taken and some are left behind. Those who are raptured have not allowed the cares of this world to choke the word, they are fruitful, and they have not succumbed to Satan's temptation to worship him. They choose to worship the Lord and serve Him over being rich and powerful.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
Ultimately the ministry of the tribulation saints leads the two witnesses to Jerusalem.
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
I have had this experience several times. But it wasn't intentional. I have had angels intervene to keep me from being killed and even more specifically to keep my foot from dashing against a stone. But it wasn't intentional.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Seeking after miracles and miraculous intervention, that is twisted. We are supposed to seek the Lord's face. We are supposed to delight in His word. No one wants to have a little kid who is always running out into traffic to see if you will save them. We are here with a mission. If you are left behind during the tribulation you also have a mission. It is as though you have been put into the game at the last two minutes. The clock is ticking, save as many as you can. I'm not afraid of the enemy, I am not going to back down from him, I will preach openly. But I am also not going to intentionally do something to see if the Lord will rescue me. Instead, every day you are seeking the Lord's light to lead you and guide you.
Elisha got the mantle from Elijah and got a double portion. The mantle for the church ministry is that Jesus rose from the dead. The mantle for the tribulation saints is that the raptured saints and Jesus rose from the dead.
Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
So why was Elisha the one who depicts the ministry in the tribulation and Elijah the one who depicts the raptured saints? After being called Elisha returned to his family. Jesus said anyone who looks back is not fit for the plow. The Lord is sending you out, there are millions of hungry, open people wanting to hear the gospel. You may think "what about my family, doesn't the Lord care about them?" Yes, the fact that you won't go out indicates you don't trust the Lord to care about them. You can pray for them, and the Lord can send others to them. They have already seen and heard your testimony. They need that to be established by the word of two or three witnesses. Pray the Lord send those witnesses to them.
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
We need this attitude. We don't care about numbers, we care about individuals. It will be the same during the tribulation. You aren't starting from scratch, over the last 2,000 years a lot of work has been done by Christians before you. The word of God has been taken to the four corners of the earth so that when the rapture takes place they all know that this is something that distinctly prophesied in the Bible concerning the church. Famine refers to a famine for the word of God. The one reaction you don't want to your ministry is "indifference". If you are coming under attack it indicates there are those who Satan is trying to keep from hearing your word. You are "over the target".
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Lepers indicate rebellion. Think about a teenager exhibiting all the signs of rebellion. They are rebelling against the kingdom of darkness. That might include dead Christianity. But to see someone who is alive, and someone who isn't a shill. Naaman was a rich and powerful Syrian, any ministry would love to have this man saved, but the attitude was absolutely opposite to what he expected. Go to the river and wash. He expected special treatment, that arrogant attitude was the first thing that needed to be washed away.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
These ones are foreigners. They have heard that the "favored son" of their town has come home and they learn that they are not going to get any special treatment, that their arrogant attitude needs to be washed away and you immediately see it flare up as "wrath".
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Satan wants to control your ministry and the first ones he will use are friends and family. He will operate through the "weak links". Once I saw that I also just walked through their midst. The Christian ministry is not an endless debate. We are witnesses. We get on the stand and testify. Then the prosecutor cross examines us and tries to discredit our testimony. After that, we step down and move on. Let the defense attorney call another witness. Let the jury decide what they are going to do with your testimony. Your job is to testify to as many as possibl.e
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
So why was Elisha the one who depicts the ministry in the tribulation and Elijah the one who depicts the raptured saints? After being called Elisha returned to his family. Jesus said anyone who looks back is not fit for the plow. The Lord is sending you out, there are millions of hungry, open people wanting to hear the gospel. You may think "what about my family, doesn't the Lord care about them?" Yes, the fact that you won't go out indicates you don't trust the Lord to care about them. You can pray for them, and the Lord can send others to them. They have already seen and heard your testimony. They need that to be established by the word of two or three witnesses. Pray the Lord send those witnesses to them.
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
We need this attitude. We don't care about numbers, we care about individuals. It will be the same during the tribulation. You aren't starting from scratch, over the last 2,000 years a lot of work has been done by Christians before you. The word of God has been taken to the four corners of the earth so that when the rapture takes place they all know that this is something that distinctly prophesied in the Bible concerning the church. Famine refers to a famine for the word of God. The one reaction you don't want to your ministry is "indifference". If you are coming under attack it indicates there are those who Satan is trying to keep from hearing your word. You are "over the target".
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Lepers indicate rebellion. Think about a teenager exhibiting all the signs of rebellion. They are rebelling against the kingdom of darkness. That might include dead Christianity. But to see someone who is alive, and someone who isn't a shill. Naaman was a rich and powerful Syrian, any ministry would love to have this man saved, but the attitude was absolutely opposite to what he expected. Go to the river and wash. He expected special treatment, that arrogant attitude was the first thing that needed to be washed away.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
These ones are foreigners. They have heard that the "favored son" of their town has come home and they learn that they are not going to get any special treatment, that their arrogant attitude needs to be washed away and you immediately see it flare up as "wrath".
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Satan wants to control your ministry and the first ones he will use are friends and family. He will operate through the "weak links". Once I saw that I also just walked through their midst. The Christian ministry is not an endless debate. We are witnesses. We get on the stand and testify. Then the prosecutor cross examines us and tries to discredit our testimony. After that, we step down and move on. Let the defense attorney call another witness. Let the jury decide what they are going to do with your testimony. Your job is to testify to as many as possibl.e
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
The Feast of Trumpets is the day the gates are opened. In the parable of the ten virgins we have a midnight cry, and we later learn the gate has closed. Since the Feast of Trumpets begins with shouting at night, when the new moon is sighted, perhaps the midnight cry refers to the Feast of trumpets, the day the gate is opened and then when the foolish virgins return that is the day that the gates close.
Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
It was just a few verses earlier that people were trying to kill him. When people try to kill you to stop you from speaking that doesn't damage a ministry, on the contrary the number of people interested in hearing what you are saying will increase exponentially.
This is why it is a major mistake to always trying to be conciliatory and compromise with those who want to shut you up. People want to hear the truth. The truth is light and that light exposes others. There is no compromise between light and darkness. The reason people hate someone who speaks the truth is because their deeds are evil and they don't want them exposed. Therefore why are you compromising because people trying to hide their evil deeds don't like what you are saying?
It was just a few verses earlier that people were trying to kill him. When people try to kill you to stop you from speaking that doesn't damage a ministry, on the contrary the number of people interested in hearing what you are saying will increase exponentially.
This is why it is a major mistake to always trying to be conciliatory and compromise with those who want to shut you up. People want to hear the truth. The truth is light and that light exposes others. There is no compromise between light and darkness. The reason people hate someone who speaks the truth is because their deeds are evil and they don't want them exposed. Therefore why are you compromising because people trying to hide their evil deeds don't like what you are saying?
Palsy
Luke 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
I find it very interesting that this story tells us twice that he has palsy. It isn't simply that he is sick or has a bad heart or can't walk. Palsy refers to muscle weakness or paralysis. So the sequence in this healing is very interesting. Jesus saw "their" faith and said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. He didn't see the man's faith, he saw their faith. The man might not have had any faith, in fact it seems that is what is implied here. We can bring people to the Lord who don't have faith, we can pray for their sins to be forgiven even if they don't have faith. There is this false teaching in Christianity that whether or not the Lord heals someone depends on their faith. Probably because the Lord told the man "all things are possible to him who believes". But that man was not the kid who had epilepsy, it was the father. Jesus didn't say the kid needed faith, and here we see the man with Palsy didn't need faith.
The second interesting point is that Jesus said "which is easier, to say, thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?" That word was spoken to those who were saying Jesus had blasphemed because He said thy sins are forgiven. But the man with palsy heard it too. There are two things that kill our ability to minister, one is regret. We feel guilt and shame over some sin we have done and it paralyzes us. But the second thing that paralyzes us is we feel "it is too difficult". If I start to minister they'll accuse me of blasphemy. If you can't be forgiven of that sin then it follows that you can't minister, you are now disqualified. But that is where we see the Lord say "which is easier". OK, you committed a heinous sin, you can't minister, I get it. But can you forgive others? Think of forgiveness as a loop. Because Jesus forgave us we forgive others, likewise unless you forgive others God won't forgive you. Maybe it is too difficult for you to be forgiven, so then forgive others, that is easier. Once you start doing that you will start ministering grace.
Luke 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
I find it very interesting that this story tells us twice that he has palsy. It isn't simply that he is sick or has a bad heart or can't walk. Palsy refers to muscle weakness or paralysis. So the sequence in this healing is very interesting. Jesus saw "their" faith and said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. He didn't see the man's faith, he saw their faith. The man might not have had any faith, in fact it seems that is what is implied here. We can bring people to the Lord who don't have faith, we can pray for their sins to be forgiven even if they don't have faith. There is this false teaching in Christianity that whether or not the Lord heals someone depends on their faith. Probably because the Lord told the man "all things are possible to him who believes". But that man was not the kid who had epilepsy, it was the father. Jesus didn't say the kid needed faith, and here we see the man with Palsy didn't need faith.
The second interesting point is that Jesus said "which is easier, to say, thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?" That word was spoken to those who were saying Jesus had blasphemed because He said thy sins are forgiven. But the man with palsy heard it too. There are two things that kill our ability to minister, one is regret. We feel guilt and shame over some sin we have done and it paralyzes us. But the second thing that paralyzes us is we feel "it is too difficult". If I start to minister they'll accuse me of blasphemy. If you can't be forgiven of that sin then it follows that you can't minister, you are now disqualified. But that is where we see the Lord say "which is easier". OK, you committed a heinous sin, you can't minister, I get it. But can you forgive others? Think of forgiveness as a loop. Because Jesus forgave us we forgive others, likewise unless you forgive others God won't forgive you. Maybe it is too difficult for you to be forgiven, so then forgive others, that is easier. Once you start doing that you will start ministering grace.