IMPORTANT NOTE: Again I must repeat that this book gives my own personal observations of Bible prophecy and are my own opinions and are not to be construed as "Revelations from God." The following are merely examples of how prophetic scriptures could be fulfilled. Only time will show the truth.
The Rapture of the Church is another controversial subject. The word "Rapture" is not mentioned in the Bible. Other terms are used. Many scriptures are given concerning this subject. The seventh descendant from Adam was a man named Enoch. He walked very close to God; so close that one day God "took" him to heaven. Enoch was taken out of the world and did not have to go through the Flood. He is a type of the church. I believe the Church will be taken out of the world and will not have to go through the Great Tribulation.
Genesis 5:21-24 - - And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God and he was not; for God took him.
Enoch's great-grandson was Noah. Noah preached that it was going to rain. No one believed him because it had never rained before. The Rapture is the same: preached about but not believed. Noah went through the Flood but survived. Noah is a type of Israel. I believe that Israel will go through the Great Tribulation, but will survive.
Genesis 2:5, 6 - - . . . and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, . . . but there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
Matthew 24:37-39 - - But as the days of Noah were; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
1 Peter 3:20 - - . . . when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
The Ultimate Prophetic Power Wrangler Jesus spoke of Lot who escaped the judgment of Sodom. Lot is also a type of the Church. The Church will be taken out of the world and will not have to go through the Great Tribulation.
Luke 17:28, 30 - - Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; . . . Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
The Prophetic Power Wrangler Elijah was also raptured or "taken".
2 Kings 2:9-11 - - And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when l am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee, but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, 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.
The Prophetic Power Wranglers Isaiah and Ezekiel saw that the Rapture would take place at the same time when Russia would be defeated by united nations.
Isaiah 41:12 - - Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contendeth with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
Ezekiel 39:6 - - And I will send a fire on Magog . . .
The Prophetic Power Wrangler Jeremiah saw that the Bride of Christ would be taken out before the Lord's judgment called the Great Tribulation.
Jeremiah 7:34 - - Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.
Jeremiah 8:7 - - Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.
God will reveal to us everything we need to know to recognize the last days. There does not have to be mysteries or things we weren't meant to know, except for the exact time of the Rapture.
Amos 3:7 - - Surely the Lord will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.
We are told to watch for the return of Christ because He will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
Matthew 24:42-51 - - Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over His household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that He shall make him ruler over all His goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2 Peter 3:10 - - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night . . .
Who will go up in the Rapture?
Malachi 4:2 - - But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mark 9:1 - - And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the Kingdom of God come with power.
Luke 17:37 - - And they answered and said unto Him, Where, Lord? And He said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Luke 21:34-36 - - And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (excesses), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
Romans 8:23 - - And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Hebrews 9:28 - - So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Finally, the last Gentile will be "born again."
Romans 11:25 - - For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles is come in.
2 Corinthians 6:2 - - (For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
1 Peter 4:1 7 - - For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?
Revelation 4:1 - - After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Revelation 14:14-16 - - And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud trust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Revelation 18:4 - - And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
If the wicked people on the earth were to see Jesus when He removes His Church, they would die. To prevent this, I believe the earth will be covered with clouds.
Ezekiel 30:3 - - For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.
Joel 2:2 - - A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains . . .
Amos 5:20 - - Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
Zephaniah 1:15 - - That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Matthew 24:29 - - Immediately . . . shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light . . .
Matthew 26:64 - - . . . hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Revelation 1:7 - - Behold, He cometh with clouds . . .
Jesus will first come with His angels.
Matthew 16:27, 28 - - For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels . . .
1 Thessalonians 1:7 - - And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.
His angels will help to gather us.
Matthew 24:31 - - And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark 13:27 - - And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
The righteous dead will be raised first.
Daniel 12:2 - - And many of them that sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life . . .
1 Corinthians 6:14 - - And God hath both raised up the Lord and will also raise up us by His own power.
1 Corinthians 15:23 - - But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.
2 Corinthians 4:14 - - Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend with a shout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 - - Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him.
Some will be raptured and some will be left behind. Get right or get left.
Matthew 24:40, 41 - - Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Matthew 25:1-13 - - Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight, there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.
Luke 17:34-36 - - I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
King Solomon was a Prophetic Power Wrangler who saw the reaction of a young lady when she awakens to find her Christian husband is gone.
Song of Solomon 3:1-3 - - By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise up now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
Our body will have to change to fit our new environment. I believe our body will go through a thermal nuclear reaction and we will become pure energy with bones and flesh, but without blood. I believe Jesus has this type of body.
Zechariah 3:4 - - And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-44, 51-55 - - But some will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Philippians 3:21 - - Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself
1 John 3:2 - - Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
Then what happens to us?
Isaiah 41:9-11,13 -- Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Matthew 24:30 - - . . . and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Revelation 1:7 - - . . . and every eye shall see Him . . .
Revelation 4:2, 3 - - And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
I believe the Rapture of the Church will take place when the United Nations fire their missiles to attack Russia. As the missiles go up, so will the church. I believe the Church will not go through the Great Tribulation.
Ezekiel 39:6 - - And I will send a fire on Magog. . .
Zephaniah 2:3 - - Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 - - And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 - - For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 - - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.
2 Peter 2:9 - - The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations . . .
Revelation 3:10 - - Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
The Bible speaks of five different judgments. In the first judgment sin was judged on the cross of Calvary. This judgment is past. The second judgment is when the Christians are judged according to their works. This happens at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Christians will be brought to the Judgment Seat by the Rapture.
1. SIN - Past - Judged on the Cross
2. CHRISTIANS - Future - After the Rapture, at the Judgment Seat of Christ
3. JEWS - Future - During the Great Tribulation
4. NATIONS - Future - During the Millennium
5. WICKED - Future - After the Millennium, at the Great White Throne
Chart 4-1. Five JudgmentsRomans 14:10-12 - - But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 - - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Romans 2:6, 7, 10 - - Who will render to every man according to his deeds. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.
1 Corinthians 4:5 - - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Revelation 22:12 - - . . . and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.
Christians will go through a baptism of fire to burn away our bad works.
Matthew 3:11 - - . . . He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 - - For other foundation can no may lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Christ will then reward us with gifts like and Olympic athlete receives in front of the judges' stand.
1 Corinthians 1:7, 8 - - So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:21 - - His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Luke 22:29, 30 - - And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom . . .
Revelation 2:7, 17 - - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.
Revelation 3:5 - - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.
The scriptures also speak of five different crowns that Jesus will give to certain Christians (see chart 4-2).
Chart 4-2. Judgment of Reward
(click to enlarge)The first crown is given to every believer in Jesus Christ and is called a crown of "life".
Zechariah 3:5 - - And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.
James 1:12 - - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.
Revelation 2:10 - - . . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
The elders or pastors will receive a crown of "glory" if they have not served God for money.
1 Peter 5:4 - - And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Those who have helped others to enter the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ will receive a crown of "rejoicing". When Jesus gives you this crown, His joy will fill you.
1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20 - - For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and our joy.
Philippians 4:1 - - Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy
and my crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.We all seek to be righteous. All Christians who love His appearing will receive a crown of "righteousness".
2 Timothy 4:8 - - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.
In Greek Olympics, the winners received laurel leaf crowns that withered and died. This was a corruptible crown. Christians will receive an "incorruptible" crown that will never die.
1 Corinthians 9:25 - - And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
The Judgment Seat of Christ is sort of a marriage ceremony, and since we are the Bride of Christ, we next go to the reception, or marriage supper.
Matthew 22:2-14 - - The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Revelation 19:7-9 - - Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God.
At the Marriage Supper we will have communion with Jesus,
Matthew 26:29 - - But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
The Rapture of the Church will usher in the Great Tribulation, and will cause the people left behind to mourn.
Matthew 24:30 - - And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn . . .
Revelation 1:7 - - . . . and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him . . .
The Marriage Supper will seem to last only an hour, but on the earth forty-two months will pass. This called the Great Tribulation and is detailed in Chapter 5, The Great Tribulation.
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