WHY I BELIEVE IN THE RAPTURE-HISTORY AND PROPHECY-PART 2

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NOTICE: My articles are NOT grammatically correct. I am a college graduate and understand all the rules of proper writing. I do use CAPITAL LETTERS to stress and emphasize important points. I do this to enhance your UNDERSTANDING. To me understanding is far more important then proper writing skills.

This article is: Why I believe in the Rapture-History and Prophecy-Part 2. I do hope that you took the time to read Part-1. I want to start part 2 with a few scriptures. (1.) Romans 3:4 says, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” This means God is to be recognized as “true” (truthful) no matter how many fallible and rebellious men disagree with him, dispute him, or viciously oppose him. His integrity and plans are everlastingly and stable. (2.)  Hebrew 6:17 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”  (3.) Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Does God have plans, secrets and mysteries that we do not know about? The answer has to be YES. Has God chosen to reveal ALL of his plans, purpose, mysteries, secrets or knowledge to us? NO. God reveals to us what He wants us to know in His own timing, not ours. When Jesus walked on the earth with his disciples, did He “reveal” everything He knew to them, even about Prophecy? The answer is NO.  Daniel the prophet told King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2:28. “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;”.

GODS PLAN FOR DANIEL AND ISRAEL

Daniel 12:4 “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Why did God tell Daniel to seal up the book? Daniel was confused and did not see or understand “the church age.” It was a mystery or secret that had not been revealed to him. It was for the end and it was not time yet. Yet, in Revelation John was told to unseal the book. “Then he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true.’ And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book’… And he said to me, ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand‘” (Revelation 22:6-10). WHAT IS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT CONCEALED IS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT REVEALED. The book of Daniel and the book of Revelation go hand in hand. BOTH CONTAIN END TIME PROPHECY.

At the time this book was written, Daniel and other Jews were in captivity in Babylon. Jerusalem and the temple had been robbed and destroyed. GOD REVEALED THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL AND THE GENTILE WORLD. Daniel is shown how these future events center around the holy city of Jerusalem. When studying prophecy, we find events in the world are directly related to events in Jerusalem. That is why Daniel was given a chronology of future events pertaining to Jerusalem and the world. 1. A specific amount of time (years) was determined for Israelites/Jews and Jerusalem.
2. There would be a decree to rebuild Jerusalem.
3. Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt.
4. An Anointed One (Messiah) would be “cut off” (meaning “rejected” or “killed”).
5. Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed again.
6. A peace covenant over Jerusalem will be offered by the Antichrist then broken mid-way.
7. The Antichrist will be an abomination that desolates in Jerusalem, but he is destroyed in the end. This is why I keep telling everyone, that all of end time prophecy centers around the Jews, Israel and the Temple. ESPECIALLY THE TRIBULATION.

The Book of Daniel, is the key that unlocks the Book of revelation. Without unlocking the Book of Revelation from its key, the book remains a mystery to us. Much of what Daniel wrote was fulfilled (has come to pass) but the entire future is fully prophesied and presented in the Book of Daniel, and Daniel pictures fully paint the Book of Revelation. Studying The Book of Revelation only, will not give you the full picture. You need to see, all Old Testament Revelations of Jesus, as well as putting together, all future prophesies from the Old Testament.

GODS WORKING AND PROMISES WITH HIS PEOPLE

There are 8 “COVENANTS” In the Bible. Each Covenant addresses a specific set of participants and circumstances. The Edenic Covenant, The Adamic Covenant, The Noahic Covenant, The Abrahamic Covenant, The Mosaic Covenant. The Land Covenant, The Davidic Covenant, The New Covenant. Some of these covenants are conditional and some are “UNCONDITIONAL.” You see, GOD IS FAITHFUL WITH HIS PROMISES EVEN WHEN WE ARE NOT FAITHFUL. God Chose a people, at Mt. Sinai and entered a covenant relationship. That would be the Jews and the nation of Israel. The Jews broke this covenant and judgement came upon them. They did reject their Messiah (Jesus) that God had promised and sent to them.

We read all about our beginning and history all throughout the Old Testament. This is also Jewish history. God chose the Jews as His own special people. God made promises to the Jews and God will fulfill every promise He made to them. The Apostle Paul said, God has not “thrown away the Jews, nor replaced them. Paul said they are in partial blindness, but their eyes will be opened in the future. There is a new doctrine called “Replacement Theology” which states that the Jews have been replaced by the Church. This states that all the promises made to Jews, now, belong to the church–THIS IS TOTALLY FALSE. Here is what you must understand: THE JEWS AND THE CHURCH ARE 2 SEPARATE GROUPS. The Jews and Christians have DIFFERENT Promises and different purposes. Without the Old Covenant (Testament) there would be no New Covenant (Testament). The book of Hebrews makes this plain and clear.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” Simply put, God spoke and worked differently during different periods of time. The greater part of prophecy (and end time prophecy) comes from the Old Testament. There are 66 books in the Bible. There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. Our problem today is this: Christians think the Old Testament is outdated (after all it is old) and is not relevant for today. THERE WERE MANY WRITES AND PROPHETS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHO WROTE WHAT GOD GAVE THEM.

NEW TESTAMENT THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS

We come to the opening of the New Testament and we find the Jews in their homeland under Roman rule. Jesus is born and starts His earthly ministry. He has chosen 12 Jews as disciples and trains them. Understand that Jesus is the promised Messiah to the Jews. All they know at this time is Jewish history (the old testament), the Jewish writings from God and their writings of the prophets. Of course they have many questions about their prophecy. Jesus answers much of what they ask and need to know. Did Jesus tell them everything He knew? NO. They surely did not know or understand the death, burial and resurrection that was coming soon to Jesus. (even though it was prophesied in the scriptures).

Jesus does tell His disciples, He will institute the Church (this was unknown to the Jews). Jesus tells the disciples that He will be going away. Their natural questions was, When will you come back? Matthew 24, Mark 13, (2ND COMING). Jesus answers their questions and tells them the signs and what to look for. Jesus is REJECTED BY THE JEWS AS MESSIAH,  crucified, buried and resurrect from the grave. Jesus commissions them and tells them to Go into all the world and preach the Gospel. 40 days later Jesus ascends back to heaven, 10 days later The disciples are indwelled and given power by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This was the birthday of the church.

The disciples are now Apostles and start a brand new ministry of their own. Their message was preaching the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The Apostles use the old testament prophecies to show that Jesus  was the Jewish Messiah they had missed. Jews were saved and the gospel spread fast. Primarily Jews were being saved, not Gentiles. THE “CHURCH” has now officially been started. In Acts chapter 10 Peter is sent to the house of Cornelius and preached Jesus. Cornelius and his house were saved and THIS OPENED THE DOOR OF SALVATION TO THE GENTILES. The Gentiles were now members of the Church just like the new converts that were Jews. (GODS TIMING AND GODS PLAN).  Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. The church grew but was also persecuted by the Jewish Rulers and Romans.

GODS PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR PAUL AND THE CHURCH

One such feared persecuted Jew was Saul of Tarsus who was converted and became a Christian. God had said, Saul was a “CHOSEN VESSEL” that he would use. Acts 9: 15 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” God changed Saul’s name to Paul and had a special plan for him. Think of the timing here. Saul had been born a Jew but was also a Roman citizen. Saul was a scholar of Judaism and the old testament scriptures.

Notice the verse above where God said, “HE WILL WITNESS OF ME BEFORE THE “GENTILES.” Saul, now Paul knew both worlds, Jew and Gentile. HE HAD LIVED BOTH, AND HAS A ROMAN GENTILE CITIZENSHIP. I do not believe that could have been said of the other Jewish disciples. Paul had advantages through his life the other disciples had not? Saul began his studies of the Hebrew Scriptures in the city of Jerusalem under Rabbi Gamaliel. It was under Gamaliel that Saul would begin an in-depth study of the Law with the famous rabbi.

What Paul told  various churches, about his life before his conversion, revealed even more about his background. In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul describes himself as a Hebrew, an Israelite, and a descendant of Abraham (2 Corinthians 11:22). In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul says he was a Pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). IN ADDITION PAUL WOULD WRITE HALF OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. GOD HAD A SPECIAL PLAN FOR PAUL’S LIFE AND A SPECIAL MESSAGE.

God REVEALED many things to Paul that He did not reveal to others. Paul spent 3 years in the Arabian desert before going to Jerusalem and meeting with the other Apostles.GOD REVEALED MANY MYSTERIES TO PAUL ALONE. Many of those revelations and mysteries, Paul was not allowed to speak about. Would it surprise you to know that Paul had personally EXPERIENCED “A RAPTURE?”

You can read about the Rapture of Paul in II Corinthians 12:1-12. Also read Chapter 3 of Ephesians, it is a 2 minute read. Paul’s message and ministry came directly from Jesus Christ. Paul was the ONLY APOSTLE sent directly to the Gentiles. Paul was the Apostle who Personally, was given the revelation of the Rapture, by Jesus Christ. Paul not only wrote about the Rapture in First and Second Thessalonians but he wrote about The Resurrection of Christ and the Resurrection of our bodies at the Rapture. I Corinthians Chapter 15.This was also another “MYSTERY” God had revealed to Paul.

John would experience a Rapture event later in life, in the year 96 on the isle of Patmos. Did the writings and Revelations of Paul CONTRADICT Revelation of John? NO Paul wrote while the churches were being established (Paul helped establish many of those churches). Johns’ Revelation was written after the churches had been established.

Saul/Paul had persecuted the church-JEWS WHO HAD BECOME CHRISTIANS.. Saul/Paul had never persecuted Gentiles. Paul was not one of the Gospel writers who walked with Jesus here on earth (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). But Paul was given his own Gospel news called “the gospel of the grace of God.” And his Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul was born a Jew, but was a Roman citizen. Paul had lived as a Jew. With Paul’s background and education, do you think he understood Old Testament Scriptures and Prophecy concerning his own People? YES. And with his new ministry to the Gentiles, and the Mysteries and Revelations given to him by God, He would know MANY of the hidden and secret things of God and Christ. Paul would understand many mysteries, and understand the “TOTAL PLAN AND PICTURE OF CHRIST.”  

Paul had an occupation, he was a tent maker and most likely sold tents to the Roman soldiers. Tents were needed more in Paul’s day then IPhones today. Paul supported himself, he was the overseer of the churches he established and did not take any salary. Any collections taken from churches went to the poor, widows and orphans. Paul was educated and ordained by Jesus but never held a Degree. Paul did not have a Mega-Chruch, he was not a televangelist, He never appeared on Oprah, he did not have a large salary, he did not have a jet to fly in, or a multi-million dollar mansion. We do not even know if Paul had a “CAMEL.” (Sorry, I just had to throw that in).

CONCLUSION

I have written this because I find too many Christians have no idea about the writers of the Bible and its history. It is a sad state when even Christians do not understand, the difference in the Jews and the Church. It is also sad when people and Christians have no understanding how God has worked with the Jews and the Church in the past, how God is working with the Jews and The Church right now, and how God will work with the Jews and The Church in the future. YES, GOD HAS A PLAN FOR BOTH AND THEY ARE LINKED TOGETHER. THE CHURCH DEVELOPED OUT OF JUDAISM.

I keep telling people how “ALL” the signs (end time prophecy) in the Bible regarding the “RETURN OF THE LORD” points to the TRIBULATION and the Jews. BUT WE KNOW THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE TRIBULATION. Gods purpose and plan for the Jews in the past, has not been the purpose and plan for the Church in the past. Gods purpose and plan for the Jews and the Church are not the same at this present time. (Yet both Jews and Christians look for Messiah to come).

At this present time as I write, the stage is being set for the Tribulation period. This world is a dangerous place. There is a global push for a One World Government, One World Money System, and One World Religion. The threat of World War is a reality, and a very IMMINENT threat. Prophecies from the Old and New Testament are coming to pass before our very eyes. THE TRIBULATION IS BEING SET FOR THE REIGN OF THE ANTI-CHRIST. Gods Word and Prophecies will not fail, but will be fulfilled-WE ARE SEEING IT HAPPEN.

Israel, the Jews are in their own land. Just recently some nations finally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Jews are making preparation of the 3rd Temple, the priesthood, the animal sacrificial system being restored. The temple mount faithful are replicating all of the holy vessels used in the Temple service. The red heifer for the consecration of the priest has been bred. Jews are persecuted today and hated world wide. The Jews are under constant attack. And the Jews are looking for their Messiah to come. PROPHECY BEING FULFILLED.

Gods purpose and plan for the Jews and the Church in the FUTURE-WILL NOT BE THE SAME. What has been the “MAIN FACTOR” FOR THIS DIVISION OF THE JEWS AND THE CHURCH? I can answer that question in only 3 words. “MESSIAH  JESUS  CHRIST.” Please take a look at this link and see the Old Testament Prophecies about Jesus the Messiah.

Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

If you do not understand the “TRIBULATION PERIOD”  then click on the blue link and read what it is all about, and YES, it is coming. ARE YOU READY TO MEET THE LORD OR GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION?

I do hope you can see  How this relates to ALL end time prophecy and the coming of the Lord. Your thoughts, opinions and comments are welcome so leave them below in comments section.  RAY

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