ziggy88 Loc: quincy illinois 62301

A Fresh Look at the Rapture
By Joel Joseph
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
Conclusion by Pastor Boyd

Introduction:

Maranatha! (Our Lord is coming)

Warning, warning, warning!

2 Peter 3:17 (Amp) “Let me warn you therefore beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of the wicked and the lawless, and fall from your present firm condition and steadfastness of mind.”

If we do not heed God’s warnings, He removes the t***h. We see that numerous times in the Bible, both in the Old and New Covenants.

People say, be careful of date setters. I do too. That is dates cast in stone, and without full scriptural backing. But there is a far greater warning here and it is: Be careful of those who don’t look at, and examine dates! They are ignorant of the Bible’s commands and the voice of God speaking now.

Some word meanings and terms:

●The word used to describe the rapture is:Harpazo: Strong’s G 726 meaning: Seize, snatch by force, catch away.

●Another very interesting word for the rapture is: Epiphaneia: Strong’s G2015 meaning: Appearance, manifestation, glorious display, like a lightning bolt, sudden appearance, and sudden realisation. (1 Timothy 6:14, 2 Timothy 1:10, 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:8)

●The word used to describe the Second Coming is: Parousia: Strong’s G3918 meaning: Arrival, advent, presence, coming.

This word “Parousia,” is mostly used in association with judgement. It is the word used in all the verses relating to the Second Coming of our Lord. It is never used for the rapture or catching away of the church. That word is always “Harpazo,” or “Epiphaneia.”

The fact that there are distinctly different words, with different meanings used for the coming of our Lord, means without any doubt that there are two different types of comings being spoken of. One is the rapture, and the other is the Second Coming.

●“Maranatha” was a secret word used by the early church to identify themselves amongst one another. (1 Corinthians 16:22) It’s an Aramaic word meaning “Our Lord is coming.”

Some verse expositions:

●Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My word to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.”

In this amazing verse above to the church at Philadelphia, we see some interesting meanings. “Keep you from,” are the original words, Tereo ek. Tereo is where we get “territory” from. “Ek” means, “to be kept clean out away from”.

The word “hour,” is Hora, which means a certain fixed season of the year bounded by a definite time. It is not a sixty minute hour being referred to. It is the tribulation period.

Now, let’s write the verse including these word meanings:

“Because you have kept My word to persevere, I also will keep you clean out away from the territory of the tribulation period...”

●Isaiah 66:19 “I will set a sign among them (Jews)...they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.”

What is that sign? It is the rapture of the church! We don’t know that for sure, because it does not say so, but it is most logical and most probable.

It ties up with the other similar verse in Romans 10:19, where the Bible says that the Jews will be “provoked to jealousy and anger by a foolish nation.” This again refers to the rapture of the church, who is the “foolish nation,” to Jews.

The very next verse is almost universally believed to be a reference to the church: Romans 10:20 “I was found by those who did not seek Me. I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

So, here we have a “sign” that turns that Jews into God’s evangelists, which is also an event that shocks the Jews, into jealousy and anger.

Jews, being God’s chosen, now being left behind at the rapture, would most certainly see this as a sign to themselves, leaving them jealous and angry, but also motivating them to rip off the veil of blindness fast, in repentance.

●Mark 13:32-33 “Of that day and hour, no one knows, neither the angles in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray for you do not know when the time is.”

This verse requires some exposition. Firstly, it says “day and hour”, not week, month or year. A day and hour is a very short specific time. Could we know the week or month? Yes of course, according to these words. Then it says, “You do not know the time.” The original word for “time” here means a small, specific, definite time.

Please note the timeframes in the verse above. They cover a period of at most two days and not years or more. In other words, those watching will see when the Lord is coming to within a short space of time. Those not watching are the ones condemned.

The term “No one knows the day and hour,” is a well known Hebrew idiom for the Feast of trumpets. (Rosh Hashanah) One of its names is “The feast of which no one knows the day and hour.” This is because it has an indeterminate starting date, because it begins on the sighting of the new moon, which could take place on one of two days.

Is this giving us a hint that these things will take place on the Feast of Trumpets? I think so!

Those who say that the Feasts of the Lord were all fulfilled in Messiah are right but more wrong than you can imagine.



Obviously they had fulfilment in the events of the cross, but there is a great secondary, prophetic aspect to the feasts as well, which we must see, know, accept and understand.

●Mark 13:35-37 “Watch because you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest coming suddenly, he finds you asleep. What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Some say the verse above relates to the Second Coming and not the rapture. That may be so (or not) but either way the principle is the same for both.

Note the time frames used. They are not long distances apart at all. They are very short!

This verse parallels with the verses of the watchman watching for the brideg***m to arrive at the wedding. He is not going to sit on the rooftop and watch for six months. He knows the time to within a short period.

Acts 1:7 “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority”

Quite simply, here, our Lord was speaking to His disciples at that time. It is not to the church generally throughout the age. Other verses clearly say that we are to know the times and season of His coming.

In fact, the verse speaking of the fig tree ripening, which refers to Israel’s awakening, says this: “So when you see all these things, know that it is very near, even at the door.” (Matthew 24:33) The word “know” is in the imperative tense, meaning it is a command. “I command you to know.”

●2 Thessalonians 2:3-7 “Let no one deceive you by any means ; for that Day (tribulation period) will not come unless (or until) the falling away (departure) comes first, and the man of sin(antichrist) is revealed, the son of perdition...he sits as God in the temple (3rd temple) of God...and now you know what is restraining, (Holy Spirit indwelt church) that he may be revealed in his own time, for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he (church) who now restrains will do so until He (Holy Spirit) is taken out of the way (rapture).”

It is very important to see the use of the words “he” and “He” in the verse above. The “he refers to the church and the “He” refers to the Holy Spirit. So the verse is telling us that the restrainer is the church filled with the Holy Spirit. (The Holy Spirit will be on earth during the tribulation, but in a restricted form, like in Old Covenant times.)

The original word used for “Taken” in verse seven is Strong’s G1096 “Ginomai” “meanings: To be completed, wrought of miracles. To arise. To be married to. How amazing!

The original word used for “out of the way” is Strong’s G1537 “Ek” meaning: Clean out away from, by force.”

The original word used for “apostasy” is Strong’s G646, “Apostasia.” Meaning: a “defection” or “departure.” To get the right one we need to look at the context. In these verses the context necessitates the use of “departure” and not “falling away from the faith.”

A falling away from the faith happens over time as it did in the dark ages. A departure happens suddenly, which is the context.

This word “apostasy” is derived from the root word, “aphistemi” which is found fifteen times in the Bible. Eleven times it is t***slated “departure.” Wuest’s commentary says that the root word also means a “disappearance.”





The amazing Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)

The seven feats of the Lord each have a prophetic fulfilment to them. They are required by the Bible to be kept in order. They are: Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.

The first four in red, were fulfilled in the events of the first coming of our Lord and the cross, and the birth of the church. The last three, in blue relate prophetically to the rapture, and tribulation, through to the Second Coming - still to be fulfilled.

It is absolutely inconceivable that the same pattern of literal fulfilment will not continue in the same manner as the first four. The next to be fulfilled is Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah).

There are so many rich and amazing things about Trumpets. The big ticket item is that it will represent a dispensation change, ending the church age, and beginning the final seven year dispensation, completing the Old Covenant.

Trumpets will mark the start of the tribulation, which itself sees the rapture of the church first.

Now, let’s have a look at some interesting historic events that took place on Trumpets:

●Joseph was released from prison in Egypt on the Feast of Trumpets (Psalm 81:3-6) (Genesis 41) Joseph, with a Gentile bride, represents both Gentile believers (Ephraim) and Israel. (Ezekiel 37:16-19, Amos 5:6 Obadiah 1:18, Zechariah 10:6)

Does this speak prophetically of the rapture of the church as well as Israel’s release to and recognition of her Jewish Messiah?

●Another notable event happened on Rosh Hashanah, which was the end of s***ery for the children of Israel in Egypt. Again there are prophetic overtones here for Israel.

● Noah sent out the dove on this day. (Genesis 8:5-8)

●Noah’s birthday was on Rosh Hashanah, which was also when dry land appeared. (Genesis 8:13)

●The revelation of Yeshua on Patmos took place on Rosh Hashanah. (Revelation 1:9-11)

●Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were all born on a Rosh Hashanah.

●The number seventy is an important biblical number. It means divine order, captivity and judgement. It is specifically connected with Jerusalem.

Israel recently celebrated its seventieth birthday (in modern times) since its independence. We are still in the seventy year period, which ends on Rosh Hashanah this year.

The best candidate by far for the rapture and tribulation start is the Feast of Trumpets. If not, what else could fulfil that feast prophetically? The answer is nothing. It would remain a prophetically unfulfilled event.

Am I setting that date, Rosh Hashanah (September 30th / October 1st 2019)? No, I’m saying it is highly possible and most probable. We will see if the other pieces of the puzzle all fall into place as we get nearer. So we will watch and pray as we go – with anticipation.

Types and Shadows:



●Rapture: From the time God told Noah to enter the Ark, He gave the world seven more days to repent, before the flood came. That is a type of the seven year tribulation. Noah going into the Ark before the seven days is a type of the rapture. (Genesis 7:1-10)

●The judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah could not fall until Lot was removed. “Hurry (Lot) and escape there for I cannot do anything until you arrive there (get out)...Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of the heavens.” (Genesis 9:16-22)

Lot represents the righteous being removed before the judgement of God falls. The Bible says that God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked. (Genesis 18:25) This means a pre-tribulation rapture! “He reserves His wrath for His enemies.” (Nahum 1:2)

●Rahab and her family (a type of the Gentile church) were removed from Jericho (Joshua 6:23) to a camp outside of the city and then Jericho was destroyed. The reason for the destruction of Jericho was because they stood in the way of and obstructed the children of Israel on their way into the Promised Land. That has significant prophetic overtones now, as Israel is about to enter her spiritual Promised Land.

●Elijah was raptured and Enoch was too, before the flood came. (2 Kings 2:1-18)

Israel’s Christian watchmen:

Jeremiah 31:6 “There shall be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, ‘Arise and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’”

This is a most insightful verse above! Who or what is Mount Ephraim?

From numerous sources, Ephraim represents the Gentiles. But most interestingly, the original word used here for “watchmen” is not the normal word. It is “Notzrim.” It comes from the root word “Nazareth.” Today the Jews, in Hebrew, refer to Christians as the Notzrim (the Nazarenes)

So this verse is actually saying: There will come a day, when the Christian watchmen, will cry out for Israel, instructing the Jews to go up to Zion, which is a type of salvation!

Don’t you think that’s just amazing?

We are to set our sights and focus on Zion in the sky! (I just invented that term, I like it!)

Here are some more verses about Zion in the sky:

Hebrews 13:14 “Here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come (Zion in the sky).”

Philippians 3:20 “Our citizenship is in heaven (Zion in the sky)...”

Colossian 3:2 “Set your mind on things above (Zion in the sky) and not on things of the earth.”

The prophet and the true watchmen authenticate and give authority to the word and most importantly to the messenger. “My sheep hear My voice” not the voice of Rome! (Or of the hierarchy of church denominationalism.)

Basic knowledge of Bible prophecy gives strength, stability, assurance, hope, holiness, purity, energy, fear of the Lord and knowledge of what to avoid.

Some serious warnings:

The Catholic church invented the most absurd doctrine ever, called “deicide.” That means the murder of God. They believe that the Jews murdered the Messiah. Firstly, how can you murder God? – You fool. Secondly, if Messiah is dead, He is not resurrected – fool! Thirdly, it was you, reading these very words, who put our Messiah on the cross.

Don’t you dare ever tell a Jew, “They k**led God!”

To finish this article go to: http://garyboyd2244.blogspot.com