Posted 2-19-01
Just for a rough estimate, let's assume that when a child is 7, he has about 7 x 10, or 70 years total to live. Then, if a child can be 100 during the Millennium, the total lifespan might be 100 x 10, or nearly 1000 years. This long lifespan may be because the Lord will refresh the heavens and the earth as he did in Adam's day. With no unhealthy pollutants in the air and with the correct nutrients in the ground, man could be healthier than now. Agape
It was my understanding that taught that Christianity itself was a mystery religion. With your studies, is that what you found also? Thank you.
Satan must have had advance notice of how man was to be saved, because he set up his counterfeit religion before Jesus was born. It seems that mankind may have been created to prove to Satan that one of the attributes of God is perfect justice. Satan was tested and failed. He evidently was judged and sentenced to prison. He probably appealed his sentence, saying something like, "How could a loving God consign any of his creatures to prison? If man, less powerful and created not able to see God, could still obey Him, God would be proved perfectly just in consigning Satan, who could see God, to prison. If this scenario is correct, it would explain why Satan is so determined to make man disobey God.
Christianity is not a mystery religion. Those Mystery Religions were set up more like the Freemasons. There are various levels, and only certain things are taught at each level. At each level, the initiate is told certain things. He thinks he understands it, but because he doesn't know everything, he does not really understand where he is being led, little by little. Because it is a secret society, he cannot talk to just anyone about it, either.
Christianity is different from all other religions of the world. It is simple. Man has disobeyed the laws of God and deserves death. Rom. 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Therefore, all men are lost unless they accept Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour. Salvation is free, but for it to apply to you, you have to accept Christ as your Saviour. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Christ is the only man who did not sin, ever. His was the perfect sacrifice for sin. Because of his shed blood, we can be accepted by God if we accept Christ as our Saviour. Otherwise, we will also end up in prison with the second death as the end result.
Rom. 10:9,10 tells us how to be saved. It says, "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
When we accept Christ, he baptizes us with the Spirit of God. This seals us as one of his own until the day of redemption. We are born again, born into God's family, accepted as an adopted son. We can't get unborn from God's family any more than we can get unborn from our earthly family.
All sins committed previously are wiped off the books. Christ's death paid for those. We are given a fresh start. If we commit sin after accepting Christ, we should confess it to God so he can cleanse us of all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Then the level of the Holy Spirit will well up within us as a fountain of living water. We want to be full of the Holy Spirit. Then we are classed as wise virgins (Mt. 25:1f) ready to go with Christ, the Bridegroom, when he comes for his Bride. Those members of the Bride of Christ will be close to Christ in Heaven. Agape
Luke 19:13, says, "he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." I think that means we live normal lives, but watch for new developments so we know how close we are to the Tribulation. If we are watching, we also should recognize any signs that should appear.
I don't know about animals, but Isa. 35:9 says, "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there." Maybe that leaves it open for other beasts to be there." Dr. Talbot once said that we would be happy, and if it took pets to make us happy, they would be there. Agape
BTW, some of my church friends wonder what else has to happen before the rapture. Most say it could be a long way off. ANy verses that show its SOON? thanks.
How close to the Rapture are we? Here's my opinion.
We have already seen the Sign of the End of the Age. Israel fulfilled the parable of the fig tree in Mt. 24:32-34 when she grew leaves (Sinai, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights) in the Six-Day War of 1967. The parable says that summer is nigh. The war started June 5 and Summer came June 21. One generation from then should be the end of this age.
We can know how to count one generation. In Mt. 23:36, Jesus told the Pharisees, "Verily (amen, so be it) I say unto you, All these things shall come upon THIS GENERATION." They did--in 70 AD. Counting Palm Sunday, when Jesus presented himself as King and was rejected by the Pharisees, as day # 1, there were 40 years plus another 120 days to the burning of the temple on Av 10 in 70 AD.
Applying 40 years + another 120 days to our times, from June 7, 1967, when the temple area was regained by Israel, + 40 years and another 120 days is the Feast of Trumpets, Tishri 1, 5768 (Sept. 13, 2007). I think that is the 2300th day of the Tribulation, the 1st day of the millennial Day of the Lord and the Day of God's Wrath. I think the Pre-Wrath Rapture will take place that day.
The Tribulation is shortened. Actually, it is the last half, the Great Tribulation that is shortened. The whole time, when Israel can sacrifice plus when she can't because the False Prophet desecrates the temple, is 2300 days (Dan. 8:13,14). Counting backward by Jewish Inclusive Reckoning, we find that the Tribulation/70th week of Daniel begins on the appropriate Feast of Weeks/Pentecost in 2001. I think the Rapture should take place between now and Pentecost, Sivan 6/7, 5761 (May 28/29, 2001).
There is something that makes me wonder about the Jewish year we are in, 5761. The dates on our calendar that correspond to the Jewish dates are the same as in 30 AD. The day of the week is one day later, but otherwise they are the same. The Crucifixion was on the preparation of the Passover (Nisan 13), which in 30 AD was April 6, our son David's birthday. The Resurrection was on Firstfruits (Nisan 16). Adding 50 days, the countdown of the omer, to Nisan 16 brings us to Sivan 7, which is May 29, 2001, Pentecost. It was also on May 29 in 30 AD that the Holy Spirit came to indwell believers. That was the birthday of the church. Our daughter Carol's birthday is May 29. hmmm
In 2008, Nisan 1 (the Second Advent) will be on April 6, the anniversary of the Crucifixion on our calendar. The end of the 2520 days is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Nisan 15. If the Judgment of the Nations takes place on Nisan 16, and Armageddon lasts 40 days, it will end on Iyar 25, 5768 (May 30, Carol's son James' birthday). Millennial peace would start on May 31, my brother Bob's birthday. Strange things happen. Agape
> > prophesied that Jesus would return "secretly" when He warned sternly against that.
1. Where does the Bible say he will return "secretly"? 2. Where in the Bible does Jesus warn sternly against that?
When Moses and Elijah ascend up to Heaven when they hear a great voice from Heaven saying, "Come up hither," "THEIR ENEMIES BEHELD THEM" (Rev. 11:12). Psa. 40:2,3 says, " He brought me UP also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay (Earth), and set my feet upon a rock (Heaven), and established my goings. And he hath put a NEW SONG (as in Rev. 5:9) in my mouth, even praise unto our God: MANY SHALL SEE IT, AND FEAR, AND SHALL TRUST IN THE LORD." II Kings 2:11,12 says, "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. And ELISHA SAW IT."
Mt. 24:26's "behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not" is talking about "false Christs, and false prophets" (v.24).
Luke 8:17 says, "NOTHING IS SECRET, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, THAT SHALL NOT BE KNOWN AND COME ABROAD."
> > There is no doctrine that says He will forsake me or cast me out because I don't believe in your pretribulation rapture theory
In Rev. 3:3, Jesus tells the church, "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a THIEF, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." If you turn this around, it would say that if we watch, he will not come on us as a thief.
3. When will he NOT come on us as a thief?
I Thess. 5:1-6 says, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. BUT YE, BRETHREN, ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, THAT THAT DAY SHOULD OVERTAKE YOU AS A THIEF. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: WE ARE NOT OF THE NIGHT, nor of darkness. Therefore LET US NOT SLEEP, AS DO OTHERS; but let us watch and be sober."
Rev. 16:15,16 says, "Behold, I come as a THIEF. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
4. What brethren (believers) are NOT IN DARKNESS, that that day should overtake them as a thief?
Verses to ponder: Rev. 3:10 (The Bible in Basic English) "Because you have kept my word in quiet strength, I will keep you FROM the hour of testing which is coming on all the world, to put to the test those who are on earth."
Rev. 4:1 (Weymouth) "After all this I looked and saw a door in Heaven standing open, and the voice that I had previously heard, which resembled the blast of a trumpet, again spoke to me and said, "COME UP HERE (the Rapture), and I will show you things which ARE TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE" (after the Rapture).
Lu 12:46 (Weymouth) "that (foolish) servant's Master will come on a day when he is not expecting Him and at an hour that he knows not of, and will punish him severely, and make him SHARE THE LOT OF THE UNFAITHFUL."
Lu 21:36 (Weymouth) "But beware of slumbering; and every moment pray that you may be fully strengthened to ESCAPE FROM ALL THESE COMING EVILS, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man."
I Thess. 4:16,17 (BBE) "Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a word of authority, with the voice of the chief angel, with the sound of a horn: and the dead in Christ will come to life first; Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord."
I Thess. 4:17 (Vulgate) "deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul RAPIEMUR (English: RAPTURE) cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus."
I have been trying to get an overall sense of what you are presenting on your web site (and your books as soon as they arrive) and now I am going back through to study your material more carefully and compare it against what I find in the Bible. By the way, thanks for quoting scripture when you are backing up an idea presented - this is why I am very excited about the information you are presenting - it is not just something you came up with. Here is an example of a typical question I have:
You wrote in Pro / Con 305:
*******They make sense to me. In Rev. 5:9, we see the first group, "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," in Heaven before the Tribulation starts in Rev. 6. In Rev. 7:9,14, we see "a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" that have come "out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes" standing before the throne in Heaven before the seven trumpet judgments are cast on Earth in Rev. 8. Notice how the first group did not have to wash their robes, but the second group did.*******
When I read Rev. 5:9 (NKJV...), it says "And they sang a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation"
"They" are the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders from verse 8 - is this correct? If so, then in order for your statement to be true (that the first group "Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation" are the pre-tribulation rapture participants) these in verse 8 must be representative of this larger group. Is this correct? If this is so, do you just see this (is it obvious to you) or can it be determined from other parts of the Bible?? I feel that I may be missing basic information like this that may hinder my understanding. I know that I can't learn in a few months what you have been studying for years, but to know how you determine this kind of information would be helpful.
If you have time to respond, I would appreciate it. I am really enjoying your web site and am trying to read with an open mind (but not too open as I don't want to get in the habit of believing or going along with everything I read). This is difficult since, as you might imagine, much of the information is not in agreement with what I have been taught at church for more than 25 years. I daily ask God for wisdon to discern the truth from that which is not true.
> > "They" are the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders from verse 8 - is this correct?
Here is the way I understand it. Rev. 5:8 ends with "the prayers of saints. Verse 9 says, "And they." They refers back to saints. The 24 elders (12 apostles and 12 patriarchs) are all Israelites. They are our Representatives, but here we see the saints, "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."
Re: Representatives, the type. There were 24 courses of priests (I Chron. 24). The course on duty represented all the priests. In Rev. 4 and 5, there are 24 elders that are the representatives of all the believer priests. Prophecies are easier to understand after we realize that Israel played out little dramatic skits that help us understand prophecy.
In Rev. 5:8, the elders present the prayers of saints. This demonstrates that they are our Representatives in the Lord's government. Agape
http://wedg.westhost.com/cgi-bin/forum03.cgi?fn=980790993&topic_page=980736314&msgdate=0101
Re: Two theories / could it be? Author: LEK, Posted: 1-29-01
I do believe that a "partial rapture" theory is probable. There is too much in the New Testement where the Lord admonishes us to be "watching".
My husband is Greek and reads classical greek. In Luke, CH 21, Verse 36 Jesus says, "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass. and to stand before the Son of Man."
Mike tells me the greek for "watch therefore" is a word they use for "sleeping with one eye open". The "pray always" is to literally "begging" to be found worthy.
Food for thought.
A pre-trib partial rapture ("Harpazo") for those found watching and ready. Then the rest to join Jesus and the saints at the 2nd coming.
My pastor has taught on this - there are several verses he uses to support this theory. Look at the story of the 4 stewards in Luke 12:41-48. All 4 types are saved...but all are not raptured. In Jesus
Thanks much for this very interesting word study. I think the 2nd Rapture will be just before God's Wrath (Eze. 38:18-20, Rev. 8f) is poured out on unbelievers 7 Jewish months (Eze. 39:12,13) BEFORE the Second Advent though. Agape
***Where in the Bible does it say that?
The Scroll announces or prophesies what is to come upon the Earth during the 70th week of Daniel. Upon the opening of the Seventh Seal the 70th Week will begin on Earth.
***Since the 7 trumpet judgments that hit the Earth on the Day of God's Wrath come out of the 7th seal, I think the 7th seal will be opened on the Feast of Trumpets in 2007. I expect the 1st seal to be opened as the Tribulation begins, when the rider of the white horse rides on the scene.
The silence in Heaven is God allowing Satan to reveal his White Horse Rider, the Antichrist, who brings peace for about half of the 70th Week or Hour of Temptation. The Two witnesses will break the silence on Day 869 of the 70th Week.
***What Bible verse gives us day 869? Rev. 11:3 mentions that they will prophesy 1260 days.
The Rapture will be explained by those left behind in at least two ways. First, the Pope, the U.S. President and remaining apostate Christendom will say, "Jesus indeed came and removed all those who were divisive and misunderstood God's prophetic plan for the Church to establish peace on the Earth." Otherwise they would have to admit they weren't saved and ready for the Rapture.
Secondly, the non-Christian New Agers will say that UFO's or ascended masters have removed those who oppose the Golden Age or the Age of Aquarius. These two answers will be part of the lie the Apostle Paul spoke of. The whole world might even hear and see on TV from the familiar spirit who calls himself "Mary" who will confirm the Pope's explanation of the Rapture. This supernatural happening will cause other religions to take notice and go along with the Arab/Israeli peace making for awhile. Satan controls these religions anyway.
The following are scripturally highlighted Days of the 70th Week:
1st Day
Peace Covenant signed between Israel and her enemies. Daniel 9:27, Rev. 6:2, 8:1. Construction of Temple begins. Rapture is history. The Body of Christ is in Heaven, Rev. 4. Jesus comes in 2520 days.
***I think Jesus will come on the 1st day of the Jewish Regnal Year, Nisan 1 (Eze. 29:17,21; Hos. 6:3) and the 2520 days will start on the Feast of Weeks in 2001 and end on Nisan 15, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in 2008.
220th Day Temple construction allows for sacrifices to begin. Taken away in 1010 days by Russian/Syrian leader. Daniel 8:13-14. Jesus comes in 2300 days.
***Where in the Bible do we get 1010 days? I think the 2300th day is the end of the shortened Tribulation on Tishri 1 and 7 months before the Second Advent on Nisan 1.
869th Day Two witnesses begin their 1260 day ministry, Rev. 11:3. Witnesses preach for the coming of Jesus and against the Beast and the False Prophet. They will warn of the impending invasion coming out of the North. The Russian confederacy will invade and overwhelm Israel sometime between the 869th and 1230th day, Ezekiel 38, and Daniel 11. This invasion takes peace from the Earth, Rev. 6:4. Jesus comes in 1651 days.
***I think Moses and Elijah start to prophesy at the beginning of the Tribulation. They are to prophesy 1260 days. Since the Great Tribulation, the 2nd 1260 days, is to be shortened to 1040 days (2300 - 1260 = 1040), they could not prophesy the full 1260 days unless it is the first half of the Tribulation.
1230th Day The Russian/Syrian leader takes away sacrifices of the Jews, Daniel 8:11, 11:31 and 12:11. Within 30 days the first of 7 Trumpet Judgments begins with God Himself destroying the Russian Confederation armies who are occupying Israel. Ezekiel 38:22, Rev. 8:7. Days of war and sudden destruction shortened or all flesh will perish, Matthew 24:22. Jesus comes in 1290 days. Daniel 12:11.
***Where in the Bible does it give us 1230 days?
1260th Day The Antichrist from America, who arranged the peace covenant will have suffered a mortal head wound and come back to life as though resurrected.
***I think the Beast will be the Tribulation Pope and the False Prophet will be an Israelite from the tribe of Dan. The 2nd beast of Rev. 13:11 is "another," not the 1st one come back to life. He is "another little horn" in Dan. 7:8. Dan. 7:24 says, "the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and ANOTHER shall rise after them; and HE SHALL BE DIVERSE FROM THE FIRST, and he shall subdue three kings. Isa. 9:15 says, "The ancient and honourable, he is the head (6th head of the great red dragon); and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail." He is the 7th head and Satan is the tail that inhabits the False Prophet. Therefore the False Prophet is also the tail of the great red dragon. Zech 5:4 says, "I will bring it (the curse, the asteroid) forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief (the False Prophet), and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name (the Tribulation Pope): and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof." Therefore, the 2 beasts of Rev. 13 are 2 different men.
The Armies of America and Western Europe now occupy Israel and the entire Middle East. The Antichrist causes the sacrifices to be ceased. Desecrates the Temple by saying he is God, Daniel 9:27, 12:11. The Antichrist or Beast is given power over all nations, Rev. 13:7. The world will now know that "someone is out there" and unite to fight the alien invasion to come, Rev. 17:14, 19:19. Israel will be scattered and persecuted. One Hundred and Forty-four thousand Jewish missionaries will win multitudes to Jesus. Jesus comes in 1260 days.
1979th Day The 5th Trumpet Angel sounds for 5 months (150 days). Demon locusts torment the unsaved of the Earth, Rev. 9:5. The first 4 Trumpet Judgments covered approximately 719 days. Jesus comes in 541 days.
2129th Day The 6th Trumpet Angel sounds for 3 1/2 days.
***I think all 7 trumpet judgments hit Earth in quick succession. Both asteroids, of Rev. 8:8,10, strike Earth at noon (Zeph. 2:4,5; Job 20:23; Eze. 25:16; Amos 8:9; Psa 91:6; Zech 9:5).
The two witnesses complete their 1260 day ministry. God allows them to be killed by the Antichrist from America. Their bodies are left in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days, Rev. 11:8, 11. Their death and display of bodies angers God, who intensifies his wrath. The last hour, day, month, and year (391 days) of bowl judgments the result. This is the fullness of God's wrath, Rev. 9:15, 10:7 and 15:7. Jesus comes in 391 days.
2132 1/2 Day The two witnesses rise from the dead and ascend to Heaven before multitudes. - probably on worldwide television, Rev. 11:11-12, 15. The 7th Trumpet sounds announcing the beginning of the 7 Bowl Judgments. The last 387 1/2 days begin.
***I think Moses and Elijah are killed on the 1260th day, Mid-Trib, and are resurrected and raptured after 3.5 more days.
2520th Day Fire from Heaven will have destroyed America (Babylon the Great),
***I think Babylon is on the Euphrates River.
Rev. 18. Jesus Christ appears in the skies for all eyes to see Him. Jesus destroys all the world's armies who have been gathered together to fight against Him, thinking that He is an alien invading force, Rev. 19:11-21. Judgment of all surviving people of the nations will begin. The scattered Jewish remnant will be gathered by the angels of God in Israel before the eyes of all. The Temple Mount will be cleansed of Antichrist (2300 days completed), Daniel 8:13 & 14. The Millennium begins. Praise God.
***I agree that the millennial Day of the Lord begins on the 2300th day of the Tribulation. Dan. 8:13,14 includes in the 2300 days the time when Israel can sacrifice and the time when she cannot because the False Prophet desecrates the temple Mid-Trib.
If you're interested in responding, please do. I want to assure all who have read this, that I believe in the foundation of our faith: the Trinity, the incarnation, death, burial, blood atonement and physical resurrection of Jesus, the ascension, repentance and new birth, and walking in the Holy Spirit's power. Thank you for time. Jack & Carol Hook. chook@uswest.net
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Updated 2-19-01