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In Matthew 24:3-51, Mark 13:3-33 and Luke 21:6-36, Jesus gave signs of the end of the church age, and then Earth’s entering the Tribulation/Wrath just before His actual “touch Earth” return. Each is just a bit different, which we would expect, coming from three different persons who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to put this in their own words (2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21). (ESV – all emphasis is mine.)
The main point in each narrative is the re-blooming of the Fig Tree, or the re-birth of Israel, that took place on May 14, 1948. Jesus said when we see this, we are to look for His coming, as “that generation” will not pass until He comes. It’s already been 78 years; however, we do not know just how long this generation will last, but it’s believed we’re very near that time.
The Rapture is an absolute unknown as to the day or hour, and could happen at any moment now. The touch-Earth second coming of Jesus is more predictable, as it will be at the end of the 7-year Tribulation/Wrath period.
First, the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible, but neither are Trinity or Bible. The first Rapture is recorded in Genesis 5:18-24 with the taking up of Enoch, father of Methuselah, grandfather of Noah.
The second Rapture that is recorded is in 2 Kings 2:1-11, which is the taking up of Elijah in the presence of Elisha. The third Rapture is Acts 1:9-10, which was when our Savior ascended back into Heaven.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53: “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the Trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”
Please note that “twinkling of an eye” is estimated by experts to be faster than 1/60th of a second, and the last trumpet is not referring to the Trumpet Judgments of Revelation.
Paul also gave us 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep [have died], that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
Paul was expecting the return of the Lord even in his day; however, there were prophecies that had to be completed first. The rebirth of Israel was the main one, and this took place on May 14, 1948. When he says bring with Him those who have fallen asleep, this will be the souls of all who died “in Christ” from Calvary to that time; they will reunite with their earthly bodies, no matter what remains of them. They will receive new immortal, imperishable bodies. Afterwards, those still alive will be “caught up” and be instantly transformed into their immortal, imperishable bodies.
The Trumpet of God is an “announcing” trumpet and is used for special occasions in Israel even today. As of now, almost all of the prophecies have been completed except for the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation/Wrath.
The main point is to have Jesus as your Savior, and be ready for His call of all believers who will rise up to meet Him in the air. We are not given any specific day or hour but are told to be ready at all times. Our Heavenly Father is not regulated by the time He created for humans in Genesis 1.
The best we as fallible humans can do is to become a part of our Savior’s precious flock. The steps are found in Romans 10:9-13.
First, we must admit that we are sinners and cannot save ourselves. Second, we must believe and have faith that Jesus came to Earth in human form, and He died on a cruel cross as our pure, sinless blood sacrifice for all our sins. He was raised from the dead by the Father and is on His throne in Heaven. Third, all who truly call on Him to be their Savior will be saved. These steps are commonly known as the “A B Cs” of Salvation.
There is coming a seven-year period of time that is known as the Tribulation/Wrath. All who will have received and accepted Jesus as their Savior before that time will be taken up from this earth to meet Jesus in the air, as given above in 1 Thessalonians 4. This is to fulfill God’s promise to keep all true believers from going through that terrible 7-years. We will be given forever/immortal bodies and have a mindset that is not subject to Satan’s temptations any more.
All who will not have Jesus as their Savior when they take their last breath will end up at that Great White Throne Judgment line of Revelation 20:11-15. No one at this Judgment will enter Heaven, but will be cast into the lake of fire with Satan and his demons forever.
Our Heavenly Father will not force anyone to decide either way. Heaven or hell, the choice is up to each individual. As stated, this choice must be made before taking your last breath here. Please understand that the choice you make is the most important decision you will ever make.
Jesus is always there for all who truly call out to be saved. Today would not be too early, as we are not promised tomorrow.
Hope to see you at Home! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
The post Jesus Foretells The Future :: By Dennis Huebshman appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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