The Fall Feasts of Israel - By Jack Kelley

(At sunset on Sept. 18, 2009 Israel began year 5770 on the Hebrew Calendar. As I often do with articles that commemorate annual events, I have updated this study on the Fall Feasts and added new information for your review. As you can see, I’m also posting it a day early to coincide with the start of Rosh Hashanah.)

The fall is arguably the most important time of the year in Judaism. Three of Israel’s holiest days are celebrated then, and all in the space of 15 days. They are Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, followed 10 days later by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and 5 days after that the week long Feast of Tabernacles. On our calendar they usually fall (no pun intended) some time between mid September and early October due to the differences between the Jewish (lunar) calendar and the western (solar) one.

Each of these holy days has both historical and prophetic significance, the prophetic fulfillment to occur on the day itself. Therefore Christians study them for glimpses into the future as well as to gain a better understanding of Jewish culture.

Happy New Year
Gentiles are sometimes confused in their studies of these holy days by the fact that the Lord changed the Jewish calendar at the time of the Exodus (Exodus 12:2). What had been the 7th month was thereafter to be the first, moving the beginning of the year to the spring, 10 days before Passover.

But because of the harvest, the Jews retained their original calendar as well, so now they have a religious year which begins in the spring and a civil year beginning in the fall. Therefore the Jewish New Year has always been celebrated in the fall and remains so today. This feast is known by two names, Yom Teruah, which means day of blowing but is called the Feast of Trumpets, and Rosh Hashanah, which means “head of the year”.

Rosh Hashanah is a time of new beginnings. According to some Jewish traditions, the creation was completed on Rosh Hashanah, and therefore Adam was born on that day as well. Many students of prophecy place the birth of the Messiah on Rosh Hashanah, giving the day it’s historical fulfillment, and believe that the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week and 7 years later the Lord’s Second Coming will also occur on Rosh Hashanah, fufilling it’s prophetic significance.

Others think that the Rapture of the Church will happen on Rosh Hashanah, but I’m convinced that the Rapture is a number specific event rather than a date specific one, meaning the Church will be raptured when “the full number of gentiles has come in” making the day and hour unknown to us in advance, except that it will precede Israel’s re-awakening (Romans 11:25) and Daniel’s 70th week. (Acts 15:15-16)

I’m also convinced that Paul’s reference to the Rapture happening at “The Last Trump” (1 Cor. 15:52) should not be used to connect it to the Feast of Trumpets. He spoke of the same event In 1 Thes. 4:16 saying it would be accompanied by the trumpet call of God. Some scholars say there are two trumpets of God that recall the two horns of the ram caught in the thicket as Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. They call the Trumpet of Exodus 19:13 the left one, or First Trump, and say that God will call the Israelites back to the Land in the End Times by blowing the right one, or Last Trump. If, as I suspect, this will occur in conjunction with the Battle of Ezekiel 38, then my belief that the Rapture will take place before Ezekiel’s battle would be confirmed.

Religious Jews believe that in Heaven, books recording the deeds of mankind are opened on Rosh Hashanah for an annual review of man’s behavior. To this end, they spend the previous month in a sincere effort to right all the wrongs they may have committed during the year just ending.

When the books are opened, the names of those whose life has been exemplary in every respect are entered into the book for another year of life, while those who have demonstrated no redeeming qualities at all are scheduled for death. Since normal bell curve distribution would indicate that very few fit at either extreme, the majority are given 10 days until Yom Kippur to “get right with God.” These 10 days are called the Days of Awe where each man’s destiny hangs in the balance as he goes about asking forgiveness from friends and neighbors for sins he’s committed in the year just past. A common greeting among Jews during the Days of Awe is, “May your name be written in the Book.”

On the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah (it’s a two day celebration) Orthodox Jews go to a running brook or stream where fish swim and throw pebbles or crumbs they’ve gathered into the water, symbolizing God’s casting away of their sins. While doing so, they recite Micah 7:18-20. “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago.”

This is one of the most eloquent descriptions of God’s grace to be found anywhere in Scripture. It reminds God of His promise to be merciful to them in the coming judgment of Yom Kippur.

The fish’s dependence on water symbolizes their dependence on God. The fact that fish can’t close their eyes reminds them to be thorough because God sees everything. This ceremony is called Tashlich, Hebrew for “You will cast”, a reference to hurling their iniquities into the sea in Micah 7:19.

Judgment Time
Ten days later, on Yom Kippur, judgment is rendered, the books are closed and everyone’s fate is sealed for another year.

Yom Kippur was the only day of the year when it was permissible to speak the Name of God. Yes God does have a name, but it’s not Jehovah or Yahweh. These names were created out of the four letters that Hebrew scribes used to represent God’s name in the Old Testament. Wherever the word LORD appears all in caps, you’ll find the Hebrew letters JHVH, (or YHWH) in the Hebrew text. Theologians call these four letters the tetragrammaton, which is Greek for “four letters”. So, in effect these four letters are God’s initials, standing for His real name.

Since Hebrew has no vowels, early English language translators added an E, an O, and an A, (vowels they took from from Elohim, a form of the Hebrew word meaning God and Adonai, Hebrew for Lord) to JHVH and created the name Jehovah. We used to think that was God’s name. And in Hebrew the four letters are pronounced yod, hay, wah, hay, which probably gave rise to the “Yahweh” we use today. Neither one is really His name.

It was forbidden for Jews to speak God’s actual name except for once a year on Yom Kippur when it was spoken 10 times. After the Temple was destroyed, the Yom Kippur ceremony gradually changed until the name of God ceased to be used and was subsequently lost.

So no one alive today knows God’s name, and it probably hasn’t been spoken on Earth for about 1700 years. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Philippians 2:9-11 says that Jesus, or if you prefer the Hebrew, Yeshua is now the name above all names.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Back to Yom Kippur. During a great and awe inspiring ceremony at the Temple, two goats were brought before the High Priest. One was a goat “for the Lord” to be presented as a peace offering as commanded in Lev. 16:7-10. The other was called “the scapegoat” because all the sins of the nation were symbolically placed upon its head, and then it was led outside the city to be killed. The goat had done nothing to deserve this but was chosen to demonstrate the fact that only the shedding of innocent blood could atone for the sins of the people. The death of the two goats symbolically set aside the sins of the nation, made their peace offering acceptable and gave them peace with their Creator. The people spoke the Name of God in heartfelt thanks.

Here are a couple of interesting tidbits from Jewish tradition. When the goats were brought before the High Priest, their respective roles in the ceremony were determined by lot. Two golden lots were placed in a golden bowl and as he placed his hand upon the head of each goat, the High Priest reached into the bowl and pulled out one of the lots. Before the cross, the goat that was to be presented to the Lord as a peace offering always turned out to be on the right hand of the High Priest. After the cross it never was.

While the scapegoat was symbolically receiving the sins of the people upon its head a scarlet ribbon was tied from one of its horns to the door of the temple. When the time came for the goat to be taken into the wilderness the ribbon was cut, leaving some on its horn and some on the door. At a predetermined location outside the city, the goat was pushed off a cliff and fell to its death. In all the years before the cross, at the moment of the scapegoat’s death, the remnant of ribbon on the temple door turned from red to white symbolizing the passage from Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” After the cross this never happened again. The One Who now sits at the right hand of the Father and Who had fulfilled the dual role that the two goats only symbolized had come and forever taken away the sins of all who would choose to accept Him. (Source: The Fall Feasts Of Israel. Authors Mitch and Zhava Glaser, Publisher Moody Press.)

The Law Is Only A Shadow…
In Christendom a view holds that the Lord Jesus began His ministry on Yom Kippur announcing in effect that the judgment that was due mankind would be borne by Him (Luke 4:16-21) and that man no longer need live in fear of judgment nor have to endure the 10 Days of Awe every year.

It’s easy to see the Lord in the role of our scapegoat, whose shed blood purchased our pardon forever (Hebrews 10:11-14) but He was also our peace offering. “He is our peace, Who has broken down every wall.” (Ephe 2:14)

In the prophetic sense, Tribulation survivors from the nations will receive their fulfillment of the Yom Kippur judgment in the days immediately following the Lord’s return. This is described to us in the Sheep and Goat judgment (Matt 25:31-46) where Gentiles who’ve cast their sins at the foot of the cross during the Great Tribulation will be granted life in the Kingdom, and those who haven’t will be sent away for death. Their willingness to help believing Jews during the Great Tribulation will be evidence of their faith. In Matt. 19:28 the Lord told His disciples that the judgment of Jews who survive would take place then, too.

For those of all ages who reject the Lord’s vicarious atonement, the prophetic fulfillment of Yom Kippur will come at the end of the Millennium in the so-called Great White Throne judgment, when all the unsaved dead are brought back to life to be judged according to their works. (Rev. 20:11-15).

Happy Thanksgiving
The Feast of Tabernacles comes five days after Yom Kippur. It was a harvest celebration and is the inspiration for the American Thanksgiving Day. It began as a seven-day feast, later expanded to eight, when all the tithes the Israelites had set aside during the year were brought to Jerusalem for a joyous time of national celebration and thanksgiving for the Lord’s bountiful provision. The aroma of delicious foods cooking over open fires permeated the whole city. For seven days where ever you went there was an air of joy and festivity as the people remembered their Provider and gave thanks. (Deut. 14:22-26).

Historically the Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the time of God’s dwelling with the Israelites in the wilderness. Its prophetic fulfillment comes in the Millennium when the Lord will once again dwell among His people; with the Church in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21) and Israel in Jehovah Shammah, the new name of the Holy City in the Promised Land. (Isaiah 62:2 & Ezekiel 48:35)

Somewhere along the way a water libation ceremony was added to the Feast of Tabernacles. Each morning a procession of priests would descend the steps from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam and dip a silver pitcher into the water. Carrying the water back to the altar, they would pour it into the ground that had been exposed by the removal of a paving block near the altar, while offering prayers for rain. The purpose of this daily ceremony was to remind God to bring the fall rains needed to prepare the ground for planting. In Israel it doesn’t rain during the summer and the ground gets very hard. Gentle rains are needed to soften the ground so it can be prepared for the fall planting.

On the last day of the feast the High Priest himself would officiate and on this day instead of a silver pitcher one of pure gold would be used. The High Priest would be dressed in all his finest and attended by a huge contingent of similarly attired priests, blowing trumpets, singing psalms, and waving palm branches. When it was first described to me, I was struck by its beauty and pageantry. I’ve since read that extra balconies were set up around the Court of the Priests so more people could observe it.

One year just as the High Priest was about to pour the water into the ground, a loud voice interrupted the ceremony shouting, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38) It was Jesus and He was referring to the Holy Spirit, who believers would soon receive. This caused many to believe that He was indeed Israel’s Messiah. (We’re not told what the High Priest’s reaction was, but it couldn’t have been pleasant.)

Let’s Get Spiritual
Following the thought that events that were external and physical in the Old Testament are often internal and spiritual in the New, there is a sense in which these holy days also reflect the life of the believer.

As Jesus came to live in the world at His birth (Rosh Hashanah), so He comes to live in our hearts at our new birth. As He required the shedding of innocent blood to reconcile Himself with Israel (Yom Kippur) so He shed His own Blood to reconcile Himself with us. As He dwelt with the Israelites in the wilderness of Midian (Tabernacles), so He dwells with us in the wilderness of Earth. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” He promised. (Matt 28:20) Even so, Come Lord Jesus. (Rev. 22:20) You can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah.

www.gracethroughfaith.com

No One Knows The Day Or The Hour - By Jack Kelley

There are two popular phrases people use in connection with the End Times to discourage speculation about just when the Rapture might take place. One is “like a thief in the night”, and the other is “no one knows the day or the hour”.It’s been suggested from time to time that I’m sometimes “overly specific” in my teaching on the subject of End Times prophecy (even though I’ve never proposed either a day or an hour) so I’ve undertaken a study of these two phrases to see if I’m guilty as charged.

Let me say from the outset that I don’t believe the day or hour of the Rapture can be known in advance by anyone on Earth because I don’t believe it’s set to happen on any specific day or at any specific hour. I believe it’s set to happen when a specific number of born again believers is reached, and I base that conclusion on my understanding of Romans 11:25.

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

There are two Greek words in this verse that lend critical support to a proper understanding. The first is translated “full number”. It’s a nautical term that describes the pre-determined number of sailors necessary to operate a ship. Until the ship had its full number of crew members, it could not sail. This is why ship captains sometimes got unsuspecting men drunk and kidnapped them late at night and then set sail immediately. And the second, translated “come in” is also a nautical term that described the ship’s arrival at its intended destination.

By using these terms, Paul was saying that the hardening of Israel’s heart will not be fully removed until the Church reaches its pre-determined number and has been taken to heaven. There’s nothing arbitrary about God’s action here. He has already determined the number and will take the Church to its intended destination as soon as that number is reached. But as far as I can tell no one on Earth knows either the full number or the current number. All we can know is that we’ll be Raptured when the full number of Gentiles has come in and it could literally happen on any given day. Then we’ll disappear, the blinders will come off Israel and the 70th Week will commence.

Now, back to the topic at hand. What do these two phrases mean and are they intended to discourage speculation about the timing of the Rapture?

Like A Thief
This phrase appears 4 times in the New Testament. Let’s look at each one and see what it’s telling us.

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. (1 Thes. 5:1-4)

This is Paul’s only use of the phrase. It’s clear He was speaking of the day of the Lord, and that while it will come as a surprise to unbelievers, events leading up to it should not surprise us. He made no mention of the Rapture here.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:10)

Here’s Peter’s only use of the phrase, and again the reference is to the End Time Judgments, not to the Rapture.

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Rev. 3:3)

“Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Rev. 16:15)

John used the phrase twice, both times quoting the Lord. In Rev. 3:3 He was criticizing the Church in Sardis, who in my opinion represents the mainline Protestants of today. He was reminding them that they’ve gotten away from His word and had better wake up and get back into it. Otherwise they won’t know when He will come to them. Notice the wording. In the Rapture He comes for us, not to us, and we meet Him in the air. The people He’s talking to will not go in the Rapture, and if they don’t wake up, even the 2nd Coming will take them by surprise. (In verse 4 we see that not everyone in Sardis is asleep. There are a few among them who will be ready for the Rapture and will walk with Him in robes of white.)

In Rev. 16:15 the world is well into the Great Tribulation, so the Lord’s warning is for Tribulation believers who will be responsible for keeping themselves saved during the most terrifying and dangerous time the world has ever known. When used symbolically, as it is here, clothing always stands for righteousness, and tribulation believers will be responsible for maintaining theirs.

Day and Hour
Now we’ll look at that other popular phrase, “No one knows the day or the hour”.
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matt. 24:36-37)

After the Great Tribulation ends (Matt. 24:29) there will be various signs in the heavens. The sun and moon will go dark and the stars will fall from the sky. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear and all the nations will mourn. After that they’ll see Him coming in the clouds with power and great glory, having gathered His elect from all over Heaven to join Him (Matt. 24:30-31). This is confirmed in both Rev. 18:14 and Rev. 19: 11-14. From both the context and the passage itself it’s clear that the Lord was referring to the day and hour of the 2nd Coming when He’ll be coming with us not for us.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matt. 24:42-44)

A few verses later, the Lord repeated the same thought, again in the context of the 2nd Coming.

The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 24:50-51)

And another few verses later. There’s no way this can refer to the Rapture because the things He described will not be done to unbelievers at the Rapture. He’s speaking of the judgments that follow the 2nd Coming.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matt. 25:13)

For the fourth time in 28 verses the Lord has said that believers on Earth at the time of the 2nd Coming will not know the day or hour of His return. This one is in the context of the parable of the 10 bridesmaids.

In previous studies I’ve shown that this parable can’t be about the church. The Church is the Bride, not a bridesmaid, there’s only one bride, not 10, and the banquet follows the wedding, it doesn’t precede it. There’s no way a newly married bride can be excluded from her own wedding banquet by a husband who claims he doesn’t know her. The parable is about tribulation survivors, 5 of whom are saved and enter the Kingdom and 5 who are not and don’t.

What’s The Point?
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.(2 Tim. 4:8)

I’ve searched the Scriptures in vain trying to find either phrase used in connection with the Rapture. But no where can I find a single verse prohibiting or even discouraging speculation about its timing.

On the contrary, I find that the Lord rebuked the religious leaders of His time for not expecting Him, and in doing so encouraged us to be aware as well. For example, commanded us to understand Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy (Matt. 24:15), He criticized the Pharisees for not being able to read the signs of the times (Matt. 16:2-4), and had Jerusalem destroyed for not recognizing the clearly foretold time of His visitation (Luke 19:41-44). Paul warned us not to let events leading up to the Day of the Lord take us by surprise (1 Thes. 5:4), and as we see above promised that the Lord would award a crown to those who longed for His appearing. How many more reasons do we need?

So where did this idea come from? It appears that some of it can be blamed on theologians who misinterpreted the 2nd Coming parables in Matt. 24 & 25. Apparently they didn’t realize that when the Lord coined the phrase, “No one knows the day or hour” He was talking about His 2nd Coming, not the Rapture. But even then it’s the disobedient who are caught by surprise in these parables, not the faithful.

Some of it is also due to the fact that for generations church leaders have actively discouraged the study of prophecy for fear that focusing on the Lord’s return would make members less enthusiastic about funding their buildings and other Earth centered programs. They developed interpretations that allegorized it all away, making it seem like a fairy tale that no body really believes. I remember when I began to take Bible prophecy seriously my pastors warned me, “Don’t become so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good.” These are the scoffers Peter warned about, who say, “Where’s the Coming He promised?” (2 Peter 3:4)

But there’s still more. Even among pre-trib believers, there is a fear of the rapture because of false doctrines they’ve been exposed to. The “partial rapture” hypothesis holds that only the truly worthy will be taken, while the rest of the Church will be left behind to clean up their act during some or all of the End times judgments. Others say believers who are not also “overcomers” will be cast into the Outer Darkness at the rapture and excluded from the Millennium. These opinions erode our assurance by concluding that we won’t know if we’re good enough until it’s too late, and make us fearful that we won’t qualify.

Then there are the “secular Christians” who don’t want their so-called good life to end before they’ve had a chance to experience it all. Yes, they want the Lord to come, but not yet, not now.

And finally there are those who know that if the Lord came for us today, members of their family and circle of friends would be left behind. They don’t want the Lord to come until they know everyone they love will be taken too.

For all these reasons and more, being faced with the idea that the Rapture could be very close is not a comforting idea for lots of believers. Suggesting time frames makes it all seem too real, so they don’t like it.

Be Quiet. You’ll Scare Them Away
Well intended people incorrectly say that talking about the End Times frightens new believers, so we shouldn’t do it. What if we get them all excited and then it doesn’t happen? they ask. It’s no secret that the church is populated by a lot of folks who have zeal without knowledge and are easily taken in by anything that promises to either make their life easier (prosperity gospel) or help them escape it altogether (rapture mania). When I came to the Lord in the mid 1980’s a book titled 88 Reasons Why The Rapture will take place in 1988 triggered some rapture mania. A year ago the so called “Blood Moon Scenario” had folks looking for the rapture during the fall feasts. And there have been several others in between. In every case a couple of hours of study proved the theories false.

Paul called the Bereans noble because they searched the Scriptures daily to verify what he taught them (Acts 17:11) And that’s the Biblically correct response to these claims. It’s not to take other verses out of context in an effort to silence them. That only introduces another false teaching. And worse, it encourages the Church to go back to sleep.

When we hear someone suggest or even insist on this time or that one, our response should not be to automatically condemn the person for “date-setting”. It should be to “search the Scriptures daily to see if those things be true” before making a decision about it.

Personally I would much rather see the Church engaged in a lively discussion about the nearness of end times events than to see us trot out the old “No one knows the day or hour” line while sticking our heads back in the sand. What subject is a more important topic for discussion today? And think of all the extra crowns the Lord would have to order. Besides, people don’t fall away when dates come and go because if they’re saved they can’t fall away. If they fall away they weren’t saved to begin with. The Lord doesn’t miss opportunities to save people because of mistakes men make. He knew those who are His before He laid the Earth’s foundations, and promised not to lose even one of us.

So come on Church. Let’s get back to our job. The Bible warns us that there’ll be false teachers and says they’ll be held accountable. But it also admonishes us to do our homework so we’ll know one when we see one.

www.gracethrufaith.com

2012…The End Of The World? – By Jack Kelley

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” (Luke 21:25)

 

The year 2012 is lining up as a uniquely pivotal year in many respects.  Aside from the fact that some futurists are predicting world wide food and job riots by then, and the two most powerful thrones on Earth (US and UN) will be up for election, there is a never before seen confluence of signs in the heavens due to arrive then.  In case you’ve been visiting another planet for the past couple of years,  here they are.

 

Mayan Calendar Ends. Dec.21, 2012

By way of introduction, somehow the Mayans knew that the Sun travels in an orbit through the galaxy just like the planets of our solar system travel in an orbit around the Sun.  They calculated that it requires 25,625 of our years for the Sun to complete one circle, called a galactic day.  The Mayans divided this day into 5 cycles of 5125 years each.  According to their calendar the current cycle, which is the 5th,  will end on the day we know as Dec. 21, 2012, the winter solstice. 

 

The Mayan Calendar does not necessarily predict the world will end on that day, as some think,  but they did believe that the Sun, having reached the exact center of the galaxy, would receive and emit a powerful surge of light from this alignment and would reverse its polarity.  This would cause a great cosmic event on Earth and result in the end of life as we know it.  Below are some modern confirmations that will demonstrate how startlingly accurate the Mayans were.  They lend more credibility to the view that the influence of the Nephilim with their supernatural knowledge might have been much more widespread than previously thought.  Hints of their meddling can be seen world wide.

 

According to the Mayans, the effect of all this will depend on our reaction to it.  If, as a civilization, we try to cling to our current ways we’ll suffer chaos and destruction.  But if we change to become united in one positive consciousness and stop fighting each other and poisoning our environment we’ll enter our Golden Age.  Sounds straight out of the New Age, doesn’t it? 

 

Magnetic Polar Reversal, Earth And Sun Combined.  2012

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Rev. 6:12-14)

 

Over the past few years the magnetic North pole has been drifting across Canada and is headed for Siberia. Also, the Earth’s magnetic field has weakened noticeably when compared to its strength when scientists began measuring it in 1845. Based on these findings, some scientists are now convinced that a reversal of the Earth’s magnetic poles is underway. They’re predicting that in 2012 the magnetic field will be at its weakest and a polar reversal could suddenly and dramatically take place with the North pole having the polarity of the South pole and vice versa.

 

In 2012 the Sun will also experience a polar reversal producing radiation emissions at their strongest levels in 50 years.   Although the Sun’s magnetic poles reverse every eleven years, in the memory of man the Earth has never experienced such an event. While no one can predict the outcome of this double shift, it could produce massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions of a magnitude that could actually cause a measurable continental shift.

 

A study by the National Academy of Sciences released in early 2009 indicated that a “solar storm” like this could also cause catastrophic damage to the power grid and other communications as well, knocking out satellites, phones, and computers.  They confirmed that the 2012 event would be more severe than others we’ve experienced in the past.

 

If this reversal caused the magnetic field around Earth to collapse, the effect would be even more severe. According to some projections, the electromagnetic energy released from the sun during a polar reversal could cause Earth’s upper atmosphere to “erupt in flames” if our magnetic field isn’t there to deflect it. Was John referring to this in saying the sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up? No one knows. We can only imagine what a sudden reversal of magnetic poles would do to life on Earth. Predictions range all the way from a temporary increase in the frequency and severity of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to a worldwide disaster of “Biblical proportions.”

 

Galactic Alignment.  Sun At The Center Of The Milky Way.  Dec. 21, 2012

Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(Rev. 8:5)

 

The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. (Psalm 114:4)

 

In December 2012 the Sun will reach the exact center of the Milky Way Galaxy, as the Mayans predicted, with all the planets lined up in their orbits behind it, like little chicks behind their mother.  Some scientists believe this will amplify the Sun’s gravitational pull on Earth causing increased instability in its inner core.  They say the increased gravitational pull combined with  increased radiation from the twin polar reversals will heat the Earth’s molten core and cause it to spin faster.  This could result in anything from more frequent and more powerful earthquakes to volcanic eruptions, great tsunamis and even displacement of the Earth’s crust.    

 

Planet X Returns To The Solar System.  2012

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

 

The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. (Rev. 8:8-11)

 

Planet X has been the subject of much debate among scientists,  both as to its actual existence and its name. Some refer to  Planet X as Nibiru, a large planet listed in 5000 year old Sumerian tablets, but missing from the solar system today.  Others say it’s Rahab, the ancient seat of Satan, hinted at in Job 9:13 & 26:12, Psalm 87:4 & 89:10, and in Isaiah 30:7 & 51:9.  Those who advocate for its existence say it’s been privately tracked by NASA since the 1980’s and both the New York Times and the Washington Post have speculated about its appearance in the sky. Documented naked eye sightings from the Southern Hemisphere are also claimed.  

 

The name Rahab appears in the Old Testament a total of 11 times.  Five times it refers to the Rahab of Jericho who hid the 2 spies, was the mother of Boaz, and appears in the Lord’s genealogy.  The other six times, listed above, it does not.  Some believe these other references are to a planet that was once part of our Solar system and that Satan and his followers inhabited along with Earth and Mars.   These people disagree as to whether it was originally our 5th or 6th planet, but supposedly these three planets were judged at the time of Satan’s rebellion in the gap between Genesis 1 :1 & 1:2 . They also disagree as to whether it was completely destroyed leaving only the asteroid belt as a memorial, or was sent spinning out into the far reaches of the universe, or some combination of the two.  Proponents of the partial destruction theory say that the remnant of the planet Rahab can now be seen again, and that God will use it to effect some of the judgments of Revelation.

 

To many, this idea of Satan’s Kingdom planet re-entering our solar system is wild conjecture.  After all, they say, it was  developed out of a study combining the apocryphal Book of Enoch with the application of ELS (Equi-distant Letter Sequencing), commonly known as the Bible Codes.   But if we’re as close to the end as I think we are, it won’t be long until we know whether the Rahab theories are truth or fiction. For what it’s worth, some believe Nostradamus predicted a comet/planet coming in 2012.

 

In any case,  whether you call it X, or Nibiru, or Rahab, there are some serious people who believe it’s headed our way and will at least come dangerously close to Earth in 2012, showering us with the asteroids it has captured and causing great damage on Earth. 

 

What’s The Point?

The short answer to the title question is, “No.  2012 will not be the end of the world.”  But without attempting to tie these predicted events to specific prophecies, I think it’s interesting to see how similar the Biblical descriptions of end times judgments are to the scientific view of possible coming events.  Due to the nearness of 2012, I only used verses from Revelation that describe judgments during the first half of Daniel’s 70th Week , before the Great Tribulation even begins. After that it gets much worse very quickly.

 

See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—  to make the land desolate  and destroy the sinners within it.

 

The stars of heaven and their constellations  will not show their light.  The rising sun will be darkened  and the moon will not give its light.

 

I will punish the world for its evil,  the wicked for their sins.  I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty  and will humble the pride of the ruthless.  I will make man scarcer than pure gold,  more rare than the gold of Ophir.

 

Therefore I will make the heavens tremble;  and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. (Isaiah 13:9-13)

 

So what will the 2012 disasters accomplish?  I believe that God will use these and other End Times judgments to begin putting the Earth back into the condition it was when He gave it to Adam.   Remember, Jesus called the Millennium the time of restoration of all things (Matt. 19:28) and Paul said the whole creation has been groaning in anticipation of being liberated from the bondage it was subjected to. (Romans 8:20-21).  And at the beginning of the Millennium God will proclaim, “I am making everything new.” (Rev.  21:5)

 

Since the creation, mountains have been pushed up and valleys made lower to contain the enormous amounts of water generated in the Great Flood.  The protective water vapor canopy that permitted long life spans in pre-flood times collapsed at the time of the Flood.  Earth’s land mass has been pushed apart to form the current continents and islands, the Earth’s orbit has been extended by 5 ¼ days, and its axis tilted by 23.44 degrees.  All this and more will have to be fixed in order for Earth to once again be the paradise it was created to be.  

 

You and I will view all of this from the mezzanine during our time of repose with the Lord.  On Earth it will be the beginning of the most terrible time known to man.

 

Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD!  Why do you long for the day of the LORD ?  That day will be darkness, not light.  It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear,  as though he entered his house  and rested his hand on the wall  only to have a snake bite him.  Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? (Amos 5:18-20)  You can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah (08-29-09)

 

www.gracethrufaith.com

The 2012 Prophecy - By Terry James

Ominous sounds of the approaching year 2012 rumble in the ears of this generation. The thunder comes from constant media mantra-meanderings about the end of days as foretold by the Mayan calendar hundreds of years ago. Is this generation looking the end of the world squarely in the face on December 21, 2012?

Suddenly it is as if those of the news and entertainment world have forgotten that prophecy is, at best, fodder for fun-poking, and now have a date that they believe is genuinely filled with foreboding. They often snicker at Bible prophecy and those who bring it into public discourse; they aren’t snickering at the foretellings left us by the long-since extinct Mayans. Something of catastrophic nature, they are fearfully conjecturing, might be about to change life forever on Planet Earth.

But, with news and entertainment producer types, you never know. Could be they seeing in the 2012 “prophecies” a chance for numerous remunerative documentaries and films that appeal to the always-lucrative fright flicks, thus the genuine tone of reverential fear for the Mayan holy men and their prognostications?

Why the Hoopla?
The Mayans were absolutely brilliant in every area of science and mathematics, if you ask those who are giddily wrapped up in studying the calendar the Mayan shamans left for future generations.

Here’s what a blog devoted to the Mayan prophecy has to say, in part:

“The Mayan civilization was extremely advanced in mathematics, engineering and astronomy. They also had an incredible understanding of time and space. Various calendars were in use to track time in linear progressions within cycles. The ‘Great Cycle’ of the ‘Long Count’ calendar equates to 5,125.36 years. The current Great Cycle is due to be completed on the winter solstice of 2012, December 21. So, it has been interpreted that on this day, the Great Cycle ends, time ends, so the Earth must end as well” (2012endofdays.org).

They are no more in existence as a civilization, so one must wonder what did they know, really. The end for them came hundreds of years ago-not in that 2012 future time. Yet people who are mesmerized by that defunct society/culture see in the “prophecies” the end of the world, or at the very least, a cataclysm of some sort that will change life on Planet Earth in major ways.

The mindset that seems to cling so heartily to the prognostications of the Mayans are strongest among those who reject the Old and New Testament prophets, most all of whom were Jews.

Of the two peoples, again we must scratch our heads and ask which are more believable based upon the facts.

Let’s see…

The Mayans went out of business as a civilization/empire/culture, it is estimated, around 900 A.D. This is acknowledged by historians for the most part. The Hebrews-Jews-Israel went out of business as a nation after Roman emperor Hadrian caused them to scatter following the insurrection he put down in and around Jerusalem in 135 A.D.

The facts are that:

1) The Mayans are still out of business-except for their calendar, which promises, the excited Mayanists of our day extrapolate, something profound will happen in the year 2012. Beyond that, so far as I can tell, soothsayers of that era made no predictions that have come to pass–at least none that can be looked at historically, pointed to, and verified as in fact having eventuated.

2) The Jews are back from their diaspora in the second century A.D. They are back, under the same name as a nation-Israel. They were reborn as a nation in one day, just as one of their most famous prophets-Isaiah-predicted (read Isaiah 66:7-9). Israel again has its own language. The Jews have blessed the world with some of the most profound inventions, discoveries, and other achievements that have furthered mankind’s progress. They are surrounded by ancient enemies and are the center of attention, making them a worrisome nation-state for geopoliticians because of the nuclear option they hold in their weapons repertoire. This is precisely the situation their prophet Zechariah said would be the case as the end of days approach.

The first part of the Jewish foretelling is as follows: “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zech. 12:1-3).

The second part of the foretelling speaks to what seems eerily like the description of the effects of nuclear impact upon flesh: “And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth” (Zech. 14:12).

To reiterate, the Mayans simply left us some pronouncements by their shamans, their veracity as predictors of the future without historical proof. The Jewish prophets gave us prophecies that have proven true to this point. The Jews are in the land with a nation in their ancient homeland; they have the whole world of diplomats tightly cinched in angst, searching for peace those same Hebrew prophets said will not be forthcoming until Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, stands on that final day atop the Mount of Olives on the same spot from which He ascended nearly 2000 years ago.

To be fair, there are differing opinions about what the Mayan calendar verbiage indicates for the future. The blog about the Mayan calendar and the date 2012 continues:

“…However, there are different opinions on what this end date really means.

As mentioned, some believe cataclysmic events will take place in 2012 with the ultimate destruction occurring on December 21, 2012. Others believe that the world will not end, but instead humanity will enter a new age, marked by significant changes physically and mentally.

Hopefully destruction will not occur and it will be just another day. Maybe there will be some cosmic transformation. Anything is possible…”

The blogger then explains the mechanics of the Mayan timeline.

The Mayan Calendar
The Mayan calendar is not actually a single calendar that westerners are used to referring to today. It is actually a complex system of multiple calendars. The explanation is quite difficult to follow; to be honest, it’s beyond my capability to follow, so I will include only the details around which I can sort of wrap my thoughts. You can, of course, go to the referenced website if interested beyond what is included here. As a matter of fact, even the blogger in that extended explanation admits it is too difficult to follow and recommends the reader go to other sources to get the full explanation.

“December 21, 2012 marks the end of the Long Count and Precession Cycle. A fascinating astronomical occurrence will take place that day. The sun will be seen in a conjunction with the crossing point of the galactic equator and the ecliptic which is referred by the Mayans as the Sacred Tree. Since this is due to take place on the winter solstice, this should provide clear evidence that the proper end day of the Mayan calendar is December 21, 2012. Some say December 22nd, 23rd or even other dates. However, the solstice was an important day to the Mayans and it is logical to think that they would conclude their calendar cycle on this day, coupled with the fact of the rare astronomical occurrence set to take place that day…” (2012endofdays.org).

World Without End
The Hebrew prophets gave no dates for the end of the world. Actually, the Bible says the world will never end. It will be remade by holy fire.

“Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Pet. 3:13).

Paul the apostle and prophet gives us a look at the ultimate fate of Planet Earth: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:21).

No Dates
There is strong biblical prescription against date settings, whether involving days, months, years, or even seasons. When talking about the time of His return to earth while He was still here in the flesh, Jesus said, But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matt. 24:36).

Jesus gave this warning to all people, urging them to be spiritually prepared for His sudden return, the time of which no human being or even angel in Heaven knows. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matt. 25:13).

Christ’s coming for believers in the rapture of His Church-which God likens to Christ’s bride-is imminent. That is, the event can happen at any moment. No calendar-Mayan or otherwise-can predict that stupendous event.

www.raptureready.com

The Daniel Timeline: Will The Tribulation Begin In 2009/2010? - By Duncan Conner

UPDATE 08/17/2009:  I have taken some extra time this week to go through Mr. Dewey Bruton’s work again.  I have to say when I first listened to it, I was trying to just get the flow of where he was going. Going back through it I observed several critical errors in his observations.  While I think he has a lot of good points in his exegesis, I think there are a number of areas where he makes stretches and assumptions that are unfounded.  Perhaps as I have more time I will write more on this topic.  I am currently working on a series of preparedness articles and that is taking a lot of my time. One example of Bruton’s work that didn’t set right with me is the fact that he takes the 70 Week prophecy of Daniel (of which I have written extensively here on), and he has arbitrarily made what is a first coming prophecy into a second coming prophecy.  The 70 Week prophecy entails mainly the return of the Jews from captivity all the way to the time of Jesus and his death.  Afterwards it talks about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. followed by an indefinite time of wars, etc.  Then “the prince who is to come” will confirm a covenant with the Jews at the end time, and in the midst of the “week” 3 ½ years into 7-year tribulation period, he will break the covenant; then Christ will return. I don’t see how Mr. Bruton can take this prophecy and then reinterpret it to speak of Christ’s second coming by taking the numbers and making them into 70 years instead of 490 years.  And even if you do that, you still have a problem—you are taking it as individual years for a total of 69 years (which if my math is right, would only leave you 1 year), but he takes it has 7 years.  So all of the heptads, according to Bruton, represent individual years, except the last one, which represents 7 years.  That doesn’t make sense to me. 

Having said that, and again, perhaps I will write more on this soon—overall I like Mr. Bruton.  I am sure he has a heart that wants to honor God, but I cannot say that I can accept this work as being fully sound.  I assure you, the idea of Christ returning in 2016 makes me super excited.  I just can’t see the proof in this somewhat contrived pudding.  On the other hand there are a myriad of other signs that do point to the soon return of Jesus Christ.  And to that, I am still excited.  Even so, come Lord Jesus!

 ************************************************

Well if you haven’t already heard there is a set of videos on YouTube that is stirring up a lot of interest. The series is entitled “The Daniel Timeline,” and it is a Bible Prophecy teaching put out by Dewey Bruton-someone who, as his web site explains, has invested more than 20 years of his life studying Bible prophecy.

Now let me say at the outset that I do not agree with everything that he teaches in these videos. Mr. Bruton does not believe in the rapture and has some strange ideas on a number of topics and scriptures. However, the principle I use whenever I study anyone else’s material is the watermelon principle. Whenever I read what someone else has written, I eat the watermelon and spit out the seeds. I have gleaned great insights from all kinds of authors from all kinds of positions-pre, mid, post, and amillennial.

In the Daniel Timeline, Bruton makes a case, boldly I might add, that he has pinpointed the exact date of the beginning of the Tribulation. Now again, I feel I have to be very cautious here, because this is one of those areas where my alarm bells go off in me every time I see someone who thinks they can set a date. However in the back of my mind I have always wondered what would happen if a person could know the complete structure of God’s heptadic calendar-namely if one could trace back all the way to Adam, all of weeks of days, weeks of weeks, weeks of months, and weeks of years, leading all the way up to the time of the year of Jubilee. God’s time clock does seem to follow a very clear time period revolving around the number 7.

Bruton in this video series makes a very convincing argument that you can pinpoint the time of recent years of jubilee and then calculate them forward, along with looking at how those days intersect with the 7 feasts of Israel. Couple this research with Mark Blitz’s fascinating research on the blood moons and solar eclipses occurring AT THE SAME TIME as this man’s research points to the return of Christ, and you have interesting food for thought to say the least.

The jury is out in my mind as to whether Bruton’s research is accurate or not. The one thing that I think he has going for him is that it doesn’t take intricately contrived timelines to know that we are entering the final stages of the end times. Just look at the news and that is pretty easy to see. However, after watching these videos there still is that nagging question. Could this be true? I suppose the good thing is we really don’t have to wait that long to see if his calculations are correct. And if you are like me, and believe in a premillenial rapture, then that means we ain’t gonna be here that long gang! (Sorry for the southern twang there).

So here is what I would like to do. I am going to present these videos to you, and then I would love to hear your feedback and hear what you have to say on this. Please feel free to add any comments you want to make below.

God bless and look forward to worshipping with you all one day soon in heaven!

Duncan Conner

www.theomegareport.com

The Daniel Timeline
Dewey Bruton

 

Jesus Came…What’s Next? - By Nathan E. Jones

If you are reading this because millions of people have suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, then you are looking for answers to what has happened, why it has happened, and what will be happening next.

What Has Happened
First, as to what has happened - Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has returned.

For 2000 years the Bible has been proclaiming to the world that Jesus would be coming back. Jesus stated in John 14:1, “I will come again.”

Because Jesus has returned, millions of people who have put their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior, accepting His free gift of salvation, have disappeared in an event called the Rapture.

You might be thinking that there was something mysterious in the sudden disappearance of millions of people, but the Bible has already explained this so-called mystery. Jesus said that when He came again, He would come for those who are saved. He said, “I will receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-4). The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

The Rapture happened to those of us who accepted Jesus as Savior, both those alive and those who had died since Jesus was resurrected. Both groups - living and resurrected believers - were caught up to be with Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

This all happened very quickly, like a flash of lightning. Jesus left as suddenly as He came, taking those who have accepted Him and His salvation, and leaving behind those who have rejected Him. And you, sadly, have been left behind.

Well, maybe you know a loved one who has disappeared - a wife, a husband, a child, a friend - and are wondering what has become of them. In that flash, as those who had accepted Jesus as their Savior were caught up to meet Jesus in the air, they traded their earthly bodies for bodies that are perfect, imperishable and immortal (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 50-55).

They sit with Jesus now in Heaven at a great banquet called the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19). They will live in great joy and know no sorrow. They will be with their King and live in love forever. They are well taken care of, and you don’t have to worry about them.

Why It Has Happened
But, it is the why of the disappearances that is your cause to worry. For believers in Jesus were taken out of this world to spare them from the great wrath that has just begun to befall the planet (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9).

Jesus’ return for all His true believers was just a prelude to His final Second Coming. The second phase of Jesus’ return is to set up His Kingdom on earth. Jesus’ Kingdom is why this whole thing is happening.

You see, we have come to the end of one age and will soon be beginning the age of Jesus’ glorious reign right here on earth. But first, God has to deal with rebellion - sin - before setting up His Kingdom. God’s going to use this intermediate time period you now live in to pour out His wrath on mankind for its continued refusal to accept His Lordship. The time you live in is called the Tribulation.

What It’s About
What is the Tribulation all about? The unparalleled horror of the Tribulation is spelled out in detail in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Isaiah wrote that it will be a day of “the terror of the Lord” when “the pride of men will be abased” (Isaiah 2:10,17,19). Zephaniah proclaimed that it will be a “day of wrath,” “a day of trouble and distress,” and “a day of destruction and desolation.” Men will stumble around like they are blind and “their blood will be poured out like dust” (Zephaniah 1:15,17).

This dreary picture is echoed in the New Testament. Jesus said it will be a time of tribulation “such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.” In fact, Jesus said it will be so terrible that if it were not stopped at the end of seven years, it would result in the destruction of all life (Matthew 24:21-22).

The Apostle John states that the chaos will be so great that the leaders of the world will crawl into caves and cry out for the rocks of the mountains to fall upon them (Revelation 6:15-16).

Why is there going to be such carnage? How could a God of grace, mercy and love allow such an outbreak of unbridled terror and bloodshed?

One reason is to satisfy the justice of God. Yes, God is characterized by grace, mercy and love. God is a God of love. Jesus says so in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

But, God is also a God of justice. The Bible also says in John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” It is God’s very nature to love, but also in love to see justice done for evil.

What Comes Next
So, what comes next? For starters, people are going to try to explain away the Rapture with all sorts of wild theories, like possibly Global Warming or UFOs. So-called “Christian” leaders are going to come out and say the Church is still around because they didn’t disappear.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 that they cannot be believed, for the times will be filled with false religious teachers. The greatest of these false teachers the Bible calls the False Prophet, and he will seemingly be able to do many miracles and will promote a one-world religion and leader (Revelation 13:11).

Amid all the chaos from the Rapture, the Bible teaches that the world will turn to a dynamic leader to bring order and peace (Revelation 6:1-2). He will succeed where no other person has been able in establishing a peace treaty for Israel (Daniel 9:27). That treaty marks the official beginning of the 7 years that the Tribulation will last.

But, the world leader, known to believers in Jesus as the Antichrist, is anything but peaceful. He will plunge the planet into nuclear world war, resulting in terrible famines, pestilence and mass death. Violence, disease and starvation will be a way of life. A quarter of the world population - almost 2 billion people - will die from this war (Revelation 6).

In Jerusalem, 2 men will appear and preach there for 3 1/2 years that Jesus is the Messiah the Jews have been looking for (Revelation 11:3). 144,000 Jews will call Jesus their Messiah and also preach about Him throughout the whole world. Millions will accept Jesus as their Savior - hopefully you will be one of them. But, many of those millions of believers will be killed by the Antichrist for not pledging their loyalty to him by receiving his mark on either their right hand or forehead. The persecution of believers in Jesus will be awful in the Tribulation (Daniel 7:22; Revelation 7).

Next, the greatest earthquake the world has yet experienced will devastate the planet (Revelation 6:12-14). Something falling from space will then burn up a third of all the world’s vegetation. A second item from space, probably a meteor, will crash into the ocean and annihilate a third of the world’s marine life and ships. A third object from space will taint the world’s water supply, poisoning millions (Revelation 8:7-11).

The devastation to the atmosphere will block out most of the sun and moonlight so that the days appear shorter (Revelation 8:12).

Next, some supernatural “woes” will befall mankind. First, the holding place for a demonic hoard is opened and millions of locust-looking demons pour out and sting people like scorpions. The pain will last 5 whole months. Second, 200 million riders on horse-creatures will burn and impale, wiping out a remaining third of the people (Revelation 9:1-19).

Three and a half years into the Tribulation will see the 2 men witnessing in Jerusalem killed, but 3 1/2 days later come back to life (Revelation 11:7-12). It will also see the Antichrist supposedly killed and appear to come back to life as well (Revelation 13:3).

And that’s just the first half of the Tribulation. As bad as the first half of the seven years is, the next half is even worse (Revelation 16).

Those who take the Antichrist’s loyalty mark on their hand or forehead will suffer from painful boils. Those who don’t take the mark will be cut off from commerce and hunted down, but the Bible assures (Revelation 20:4-6) that those who take the mark have made a decision that will last forever - eternal damnation - so don’t take it!

The oceans and everything in them are totally destroyed, as well as all the fresh water. The heat from the sun will become scorching. The Antichrist’s kingdom will fall into pitch darkness.

An even greater earthquake than the one 7 years earlier will flatten the earth and 100 pound hailstones will crush the inhabitants.

The Euphrates River in Iraq will dry up and a massive army from the East will cross and enter the Valley of Armageddon in Israel to fight the Antichrist’s army. This is what the Book of Revelation calls the battle of Armageddon.

It is the moment that Jesus will gloriously return with all those who disappeared in the Rapture. Jesus Himself by just speaking will destroy the armies at Armageddon. Jesus will throw the Antichrist and the False Prophet into Hell, and Satan into a deep pit. Jesus will be victorious and all who continued to rebel will be put to death - all of them (Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-3). This is the Tribulation - the wrath of God.

What You Can Do
Now, you may be asking “God, why didn’t you tell us all this before the Rapture so we could get ready.” Well, He did. The Bible clearly teaches that God never pours out His wrath without warning for He is a just and loving God who does not wish that any should perish. That is why God provided the Bible, the Good News about Jesus spreading across the planet, and the many signs alerting us to the fact that we were living on the threshold of the Tribulation and soon return of Jesus Christ. God gave the world every possible chance for 2000 years to repent of its rebellion and return to Him.

But, it’s not too late for you to be with Jesus unless you’ve taken the mark. You see, this story has a happy ending. Jesus’ return at the end of the Tribulation means great joy to those who love him. Jesus will cleanse the world of evil and the damages from His wrath and restore the planet to pristine condition. Jesus will rule from Jerusalem over those who throughout human history have put their faith and trust in Him (Revelation 20:4-6,9).

You can be one of those people. Whether you die in the Tribulation or not, it is where you end up eternally that truly matters. Everybody who does not accept Jesus as Savior during the Tribulation will go to Hell for their rebellion. Anyone who accepts Jesus as Savior, though their earthly bodies may die during the Tribulation, will then live forever in glorified bodies with Jesus in His love and glory.

Remember Jesus’ promise in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Pray now for forgiveness for your sins and ask Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of your life. Don’t delay!

In what little time you have in this life, get a Bible or download one from Bible.org, so you know God’s will for your life. Download this and everything you can from our website at lamblion.com or others like raptureready.com so you can know more about Jesus and what is in store for you in the Tribulation and the glorious return of Jesus. Gather quickly with others who have accepted Jesus as Savior for support and to worship together.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, we will be waiting for you on the other side of this. May God bless you and keep you. Maranatha!

“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7 NIV)

www.raptureready.com

Why Study Prophecy? - By Jack Kelley

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. (Isaiah 46:10)

Here’s a question I’m often asked and it’s a good one. If we believe the Rapture will take us away before all the End Times events occur, then why do we need to study prophecy?

There are several good answers to this question. One of the clearest comes from the Olivet Discourse, specifically Matthew 24:15-16. “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel–let the reader understand– then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Even though the Lord was speaking primarily to Israel here, He directed everyone who reads Matthew’s gospel to understand Daniel 9:24-27, a prophecy given to Israel, and the key to understanding End Times prophecy.

Another good reason is that Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians are chock full of End Times prophecy. Every chapter of both letters contains a reference to the 2nd Coming for an average of one every 13 verses. Paul went to such lengths even though it’s pretty clear he had taught them that the rapture would take place before the anti-Christ is revealed. If the Bible really is the inspired Word of God, why did He have Paul describe events on Earth after the rapture if He didn’t think we needed to know them?

And then there’s the Book of Revelation. John shows the Rapture occurring in chapter 4 but then goes on for another 15 chapters, mostly describing conditions on Earth, before re-introducing the Church in Rev. 19. Same question. Why describe events on Earth after the rapture if He didn’t think we needed to know them?

Some say it’s so those left behind at the Rapture can read Revelation and the Thessalonian letters and find out what’s going on to help them endure the End Times. That may be OK for the middle of Revelation, but John’s book begins and ends with the Church in view, and the Thessalonian letters were written specifically to the Church. For some reason, we’re supposed to know how End Times events unfold.

And Here’s The Best One
And that leads me to what I think is the biggest reason. For that we’ll go first to Isaiah 44:6-8.

This is what the LORD says- Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come- yes, let him foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

Here is the two-part test for anyone who would be God. Part one: Accurately recall every event of the past. Part two: Accurately predict every event of the future. Of all the so-called holy writings, only the Bible answers this challenge. Other “gods” require that you take them at face value, offering neither evidence of their existence, nor proof of their trustworthiness. But ours says, “I’ll prove that I’m real and that you should trust me.” He tells us our past (sometimes as personally as Jesus did with the woman at the well in John 4:17-18) and gives us detail about the future that only someone who has already seen it can know. “I make known the end from the beginning,” He proclaims, “From ancient times, what is still to come.” (Isaiah 46:10) He’s chosen this way to authenticate Himself to us because He’s the only One who can do it and be right every time.

This is so we need never be in the position of having zeal without knowledge, (Prov. 19:2) believing passionately but unable to defend our position. When we share the Gospel with someone, and they respond with, “That’s just something you believe,” it’s good to be able to justify our beliefs with a summary of God’s 4000-year track record for truth-telling (the Old Testament) and to explain that someone who’s been that truthful about the past is likely to also be truthful about the future (the New Testament).

Some Personal Experience
When I was a kid in upstate New York, nearly every family went to church on Sunday and ours was no different. We belonged to one of the main line denominational congregations in town. With a few lapses here and there, this habit carried me into adulthood and though I lived in several different places, on most Sunday mornings you could find me in the local version of that same denominational church. But then, two important but unrelated pieces of information came to my attention at about the same time.

The first was from a man who was one of the most influential public speakers of his time and a life long student of human behavior. We happened to share one evening together and over dinner he asked, “Did you know that if you were to devote just one hour each day to the study of any subject that interests you, within 5 years you could be one of the world’s leading experts on that subject.”

The other piece of information came in the form of 3 cassette tapes that were given to me by a friend. It was a series on Bible Prophecy, a compilation of research done over the years by various scholars. Its purpose was to demonstrate that through out the 4,000 years of the Old Testament God had maintained a perfect record of predicting the future to Israel. No matter what set of standards you apply, statistical analysis, rules of evidence, forensic science or whatever, you’ll find that this could not have happened by chance. It could only have been done by someone who can see the end from the beginning, an ability unique to God.

I decided to apply the action step from the first piece of information to the subject matter of the second. Over the next several years I spent hours every day learning all I could about Bible Prophecy. In addition to studying the Bible, I read every view by nearly every respected scholar before forming my own opinion that the pre-trib, pre-millennial view is the one most consistent with a strict literal, historical, grammatical interpretation of Scripture.

If What You Believe Doesn’t Result In Action…
Even though I’ve spent a lot more than one hour a day for a lot longer than 5 years, I don’t claim to be a leading expert on prophecy. But as I studied, the logic of God’s claim from Isaiah 44:6-8 became indisputable. The history of Israel is replete with events first predicted and then performed with faultless accuracy. And when it came to the Messiah, over 300 specific prophecies, given over a span of several thousand years, were fulfilled in detail within one generation, the one in which He lived. And so after nearly 40 years of sitting in church every Sunday, I finally opened my Bible and became born again. I also became convinced that through the study of prophecy He can prove Himself to any reasonable person beyond a shadow of doubt. That’s when I began teaching what I was learning.

No rush of emotion for me, no gushing of tears while I stumbled blindly down the sawdust trail as a choir sang “Just as I am,” but a dead certainty that God has to be Who He says He is, He has to have done what He said He did, and the Bible has to be His inerrant Word. I called it a rush of logic, but the certainty I felt drove me every bit as humbly to the foot of the cross as a teary eyed confession would have, and yet it gave me a staying power that’s often missing in more emotional conversions. I knew what I believed and why I believed it and could explain it clearly to anyone who cared to listen.

As often happens to people who undertake a serious study of prophecy, I concluded that if the 40% of the Bible that’s prophecy can be trusted then the rest of it can be trusted as well, so I began studying it too. I discovered that God made a whole bunch of promises to us, such as His promises to see us through the tough times we can now see coming, and to take us to be with Him before He judges the world. These promises have more meaning because they’re backed up by His proven track record in prophecy.

If you’re not every bit as certain as I am about God, then try a study in prophecy. I bet it’ll galvanize you into action just as it did me, especially as you begin to understand how little time is left. And even if you’re already sure you know who God is, you still have a great reason to study prophecy. But it’s not just so you’ll be better informed about what’s coming. It’s so you’ll feel the urgency to tell your friends about it while there’s still time. Because if you listen carefully, you can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.

www.gracethrufaith.com

Euphrates River Drying Up: Connection to the End Times? - By Joel Rosenberg

The front page of Tuesday morning’s New York Times had a stunning headline: “Iraq Suffers as the Euphrates River Dwindles.”

The drying up of this historic river in the land of ancient Babylon is so stunning, that even the Times had to note that Bible prophecy says this will happen in the “last days” of history, in the lead up to the apocalyptic battle of Armageddon described in the Book of Revelation.

Excerpts from the Times story: “Throughout the marshes, the reed gatherers, standing on land they once floated over, cry out to visitors in a passing boat. ‘Maaku mai!’ they shout, holding up their rusty sickles. ‘There is no water!’ The Euphrates is drying up. Strangled by the water policies of Iraq’s neighbors, Turkey and Syria; a two-year drought; and years of misuse by Iraq and its farmers, the river is significantly smaller than it was just a few years ago. Some officials worry that it could soon be half of what it is now. The shrinking of the Euphrates, a river so crucial to the birth of civilization that the Book of Revelation prophesied its drying up as a sign of the end times, has decimated farms along its banks, has left fishermen impoverished and has depleted riverside towns as farmers flee to the cities looking for work.”

Please note that I did not add in the link above to the “Bible Gateway” website for Revelation 16:12. The Times’ online edition includes that link themselves. Apparently the newspaper of record now believes that the future of Iraq in light of Bible prophecy is part of “all the news that’s fit to print.”

To be clear, we will not see the complete fulfillment of Revelation 16 until during the seven-year period of judgment and bloodshed that the Bible calls the “Tribulation.” Indeed, it is possible that we will see the drought end and the Lord bless Iraq with abundant water in the coming years that will make the prophecy cited seem all that more dramatic in its proper time. Only time will tell. But it’s certainly another curious development. I’d recommend skeptics stay tuned. This is just the beginning of the dramatic headlines to come.

www.joelrosenerg.com

Earth’s Final Days - By Ron Graham

“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 1:7.

There is an aggressive world-wide push to replace natural societal behavior with that of a completely unnatural and thoroughly corrupt behavior. This push involves a tiny community of people so consumed with lust that they go so far as to flaunt their abhorrent behavior in the streets as they march in sanctioned parades in cities around the world. This is a satanic agenda of monumental proportions. As we watch Bible prophecies unfold before us, we who believe and accept this unfolding as proof that the end is very near know that many evils will become commonplace during the time leading up to the end. We might get a little dizzy in our heads at the sound of the approaching hoof beats and queasy in our stomachs as we as we see End Time prophecy come to life before our very eyes. But for now one thing is obvious, this world is turning homosexual.

The Bible tells us that there will be unusual worldwide events happen as the end days approach, as well as societies becoming thoroughly corrupt. India’s high court recently reversed a 150 year old law outlawing homosexual sex. Before the news even broke here in the US a brother emailed me from India very concerned about this decision. What do I say to this man? “Welcome to the 21st century”? Hardly. I encouraged him to look to the scriptures that show God’s sentiments on this hotly debated subject. Why? Because at the end of the day, it’s God’s word that stands strong and which believers are to look to as the only remaining truth.

This situation in India is certainly indicative of where the world is headed, and in many cases is already there. Most nations of this world harbor a very vocal, aggressive, well financed, well organized, and at times militant homosexual subculture. The homosexuals want to be recognized and legitimized as the mainstream culture. Their language leads one to believe that they are only interested in equal rights. This is a lie.

Lying in the underbelly of this monstrous, ungodly and very pervasive agenda is something else, something even more sinister. The homosexual community, which is made up of many zealots, is prepared to fight all the way to the highest courts in every country and province where they will push their agenda of legitimacy to the extreme, all in the name of equal rights? They have now become a force to be reckoned with. Not because they are some kind of enormous community that dwarfs all others on planet earth. No, what’s happening is what is normal that is marriage between a man and a woman, is quickly becoming dismissed as intolerant and bigoted. What God tells us is normal for a society is now going by way of the dodo bird. Now these once normal civilized communities are accepting, even welcoming, this lifestyle which was once perceived as wicked. Homosexuals will soon control the media, our public and private schools, and every world government. The world is bending over backwards to comply with the homosexual agenda. Why is that? God tells us why in His word.

Homosexuals have now been given access to our children as young as kindergarten and preschool so that they may corrupt their very small impressionable minds. Through the public School system they are now teaching their way of life to these innocent children. Their way of life includes, for the most part, sex. That’s the driving force behind why they lead such evil and debase lives. They are fueled by what a normal human would consider as uncontrolled lust filled minds. Sex is the motivator and the sustainer of this lifestyle. If they were honest they would admit that fact.

Obama, the usurper of the Oval Office, wants to be the leader of the pack when it comes to homosexual rights. He’s used his newly acquired powers to ensure the homosexual is given the green light in society to do as they wish in public as well as in private. He wasn’t able to attend any National Day of Prayer meetings but he certainly never misses an opportunity to promote the homosexual agenda. He’s now designated June as national LGBT pride month. Obama made the following comments at a White House reception honoring “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month”:

There are unjust laws to overturn and unfair practices to stop. And though we’ve made progress, there are still fellow citizens - perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones - who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes, who fail to see your families like their families and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted. And I know this is painful, and I know it can be heartbreaking.

- Barack Hussein Obama, June 29, 2009

When it comes to rights, homosexuals have all the same rights as heterosexuals. Except one, marriage still eludes them, but it looks as though Obama will do his level best to insure they will win on that front also.

Homosexuals want one more right than that of the heterosexual world. They want to take away our right to verbally oppose them. They don’t want to be confronted with God’s view on their lifestyle ever again. It’s alright to speak out against other sins, but speak against the sin of homosexuality and there will be dire consequences.

Right now there are an alarming number of teenaged homosexuals committing suicide or who attempt suicide. If you read the homosexuals response to this tragedy they claim that when society puts their stamp of approval on the homosexual lifestyle this will all stop. Actually, society as a whole is becoming more and more tolerant of this abomination and yet the numbers of suicides are increasing not decreasing. If you would like to do your own research on homosexual suicide statistics, just Google it.

“Gay Affirming Pastor” Jay Bakker feels God has now changed His mind about homosexuality “The more I follow grace, the more I’m drawn to him [God], the more I’m willing to stand up for people being persecuted,” said Bakker. “It sounds so churchy, but I felt like God spoke to my heart and said ‘[homosexuality] is not a sin.”

From an article by Lighthouse Trails-www.lighthousetrails.com

If God spoke to this man’s heart and told him homosexuality is not a sin then He just contradicted His very word and has now changed His mind as to what homosexuality really is. But we should all know by what we are taught in God’s word that that just isn’t possible. It wasn’t God speaking to this Gay affirming pastor’s heart. It was God’s adversary, Satan.

Of course if you don’t believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God then you will probably just write this commentary off as another homophobic spouting off. If, on the other hand, you do believe the Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God then keep reading. We’ll begin by taking a look at what the Bible tells us God did to Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities of the plains.

“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?” Genesis 18:17, 18. Abraham was a man of God and God wasn’t inclined to keep what He was about to do from Abraham, even the destruction of these two cities. “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;” Genesis 18:20. Just what was this grievous offense Sodom and Gomorrah had committed in God’s eyes?

“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. ‘…the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” Genesis 19:1-5. We’re told that all the men, young and old, from the city came and surrounded Lot’s house demanding he bring his two visitors out. Why? Were they being hospitable? Were they just being good neighbors welcoming the strangers to their city? Not hardly.

To fully understand what the men of Sodom had on their minds we must understand the following phrase “that we may know them”. Earlier in the book of Genesis we’re told Adam “knew” his wife and she bore more children. The Hebrew word is “yada” and one of the uses for this word is to know a person carnally. The men of Sodom wanted to have homosexual sex with these two strangers visiting Lot. These two cities and even the sounding plains were replete with homosexuality, to the point that God could no longer allow this all encompassing evil to continue.

Homosexuality is clearly connected to the men of Sodom. The Bible declares it to be sin. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” Romans 1:26, 27.

Side Note:

The sin of the men of Sodom is plainly connected to their homosexuality. There is no doubt the Bible declares homosexual conduct is sin (Romans 1:26-28).

The Bible condemns homosexuality in the same context as it condemns incest and bestiality (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13). If we ignore the word of God at the point of homosexual conduct, then we have no standing to say any of the other three sins are sin.

Homosexual advocates have an interest in saying homosexuals are exactly like everyone else, except they love people of their own sex. But when the conduct of homosexuals is observed, this is not the case.

We can bring out statistics on the number of partners homosexuals have: 43% of homosexuals say they have had 500 or more sexual partners in their lifetime. Only 1% of homosexuals say they have had four or less sexual partners in their lifetime. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 77% of homosexuals say they have met sexual partners in a city park, 62% in a homosexual bar, 61% in a theater, 31% in a public restroom. Only 28% of homosexuals said they had known their partners for at least a week before participating in homosexual sex.

Undoubtedly, one of the reasons why males pursue and give in to homosexual desires is because they want to immerse themselves in a lifestyle of dangerous sex with no inhibitions or obstacles, and sense that sex with other men is an easier path to this. No wonder Paul connects “burning lust” and a debased mind with male homosexuality in Romans 1:27-28.

Homosexuals also have an interest in saying that up to 10% of the population is homosexual. But the most reliable statistics show only 2.3% of men in their 20’s and 30’s report ever having had a homosexual experience. Only 1.1% reported being exclusively homosexual. These low figures agree with several other recent surveys and surveys done in Britain and France.

Homosexuals also have an interest in saying they were “born that way.” All attempts thus far to prove this have been based more on wishful thinking than solid biological research, but if it is found to be the case, so what? The Bible teaches we are all born with a predisposition to sin. It shouldn’t surprise us that some 2% of the population finds this predisposition expressed in homosexual desire.

Homosexuals also have an interest in defining themselves as “gay,” a word that used to mean “happy” or “carefree,” but it is a poor description of a lifestyle that has such a high rate of death, disease, and suicide.

David Guzik - www.enduringword.com

Even though many won’t take the Bible seriously or literally God does. Homosexuality is condemned by God. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them,” Leviticus 18:22, 20:13. This is what Obama was talking about when he addressed those homosexuals gathered at the White House, “who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes.” That’s Obama’s attitude when it comes to the word of God, and he professes to be a Christian.

If the word of God is ignored by any nation, God will, at some point, remove his blessings from that land. The more homosexuality is condoned, the more the Bible is ignored. Ergo there go God’s blessings.

Was all the above information necessary just to get to my point? I believe so. Jesus tells us that the society living in the last days just before His return will be as perverse as those societies that both Noah and Lot experienced.

Homosexuals will be and are being fully appeased and placated and earth will become much more frightening and nightmarish to all who oppose them. All civilizations on earth will ultimately accept the homosexual lifestyle as completely normal. Paul tells us in the book of Romans chapter 1 that God’s judgment is pronounced on all who practice, what’s become commonly referred in our day, as the Gay and Lesbian lifestyle, as well as all those who condone it and embrace it as normal.

That’s how it was all over the planet in Noah’s day which is why God sent the flood. Their sin was so heinous that God had no choice but to eliminate all who had corrupted themselves with this immorality. Only Noah’s genes remained untainted by this corruption, thus God spared him and his family as He saw them safely through the flood. Many have come to believe that through all the begats in the Bible and the longevity experienced by the folks before the flood that there were as many people on earth in Noah’s day as what we see currently on earth. God protected Noah and his family as He flooded the earth and eliminated a mass of fully corrupted individuals.

God’s will is that everyone would repent and turn from their evil ways, but not everyone will comply with His will. A huge portion of society will continue in their rebellion against Him. That rebellion will be their undoing, and it will be their choice.

God hates all sin, but clearly His wrath has been revealed against the sin of homosexuality most intensely in that He flooded the earth to completely eliminate it from planet earth and at another point He wiped out a whole region of earth that was consumed with it. In God’s eyes it’s a very grievous sin indeed. God tells us in His word that there is going to come a time when He will lose His patience (longsuffering) with the rebellious, but before He does He’ll remove those who belong to Him. In Lot’s case for, example, two angles came and removed Lot and his family just before God in His wrath destroyed the evil presence in that region.

In the case of the Church Jesus Himself will remove all those who belong to Him. That time is almost upon us. Then God’s wrath will once again be manifest on earth. In the meantime, as the Church sits back on its haunches and refuses to get involved in this political correctness gone completely amuck mindset, any and all evil will prevail. As we sit around wondering just how much persecution the Church will be forced to endure, before Christ returns for His own, keep in mind we did little to stop it.

God bless you all,

Ron Graham

www.raptureready.com

The Clarion Call - What Is The Last Trump? - By Gary Stearman

On the Arch of Titus, built in Rome at the end of the first century to celebrate the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, there are depictions of the loot brought from the Holy City, following the A.D. 70 sacking of Israel’s Holy Temple. This fifty-foot-high triumphal arch is the only arch of its type still standing as an ancient memorial. Pictured in sculpted reliefs on the arch are what the Romans must have considered to be the most valuable of all their prizes, the Temple Menorah, and Table of Showbread and two ceremonial trumpets. It is truly remarkable that on this arch, we see the only realistic renderings ever made of the actual instruments of Temple worship, presumably executed by a Roman sculptor who patterned them after the real articles.

The Romans rightly valued the booty from the sacked Temple of Herod as the greatest prize ever to fall into their hands. The leaders of the conquering Flavian Dynasty, Vespasian, and his two sons, Titus and Domitian, believed the existence of a Jewish state to be the chief barrier to peaceful control of the Middle East. They did everything they could to make sure that they stamped out Israel so completely that it would never rise again. Their victory cry, IUDEA CAPTA — Judea Captured — rang out across the world in triumph. It was repeatedly struck upon coins of the realm for all to see.

Forty years after Christ’s crucifixion, Vespasian and Titus overran Jerusalem, Israel and especially the Temple Mount, taking gold, silver and valuables, along with thousands of Jews to be sold in the slave markets of the world. From A.D. 66 through A.D. 73, the Romans systematically destroyed all Israel.

But as the Arch of Titus shows, it was the golden Menorah along with the Table of Showbread that the Romans regarded as the highest symbols of their victory. These two articles — the light and bread of God’s people — were displayed as a token that not just the Jewish people, but the God of Israel, Himself, had been vanquished. It was their way of saying, “God is dead.”

Interestingly, two trumpets are also carved into the picture. An important question emerges. Why are the two trumpets pictured on the arch, being given as much symbolic significance as the Menorah and Showbread table from the Holy Place? Why did the Romans consider these instruments to be so important that they, too, would occupy so important a position on the triumphal arch?

As it turns out, the blowing of trumpets is one of the Bible’s major themes. The Romans could not have known this, but in fact, the carving on the Arch of Titus validates the Lord’s view of an important fact. The trumpet is an important symbol of God’s sovereign power, and a testament to His affirmation that He would never forget His promise to a redeemed people.

The Trumpet of Grace
Within the body of Christ, there is a group (the percentage is impossible to calculate) that actively holds to the doctrine of imminency. Faithfully following the Apostolic example, they await the clarion call of the trumpet, in the belief that no intervening event must come to pass before it is sounded.

It is the trumpet of grace, that signals the transition to a glorified body and their full realization of God’s Kingdom. There is even a special reward for those who actively live in this hope, stated by Paul in his second letter to Timothy:

“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” (II Tim. 4:8).

Some would take the position that Paul is here referring to Christ’s Second Coming during the great battle at the end of the Tribulation. And indeed, there will Tribulation saints, those faithful who await His coming at the end of that horrific chain of events. But in the ordinary sense of the word, as it is perceived now, during the age of the church, he is talking about Christ’s glorious epiphany at the rapture.

Nevertheless, we are often faced with those whose theology has led them to a false conclusion: namely, that the trumpet that calls the church home is thought to be the same as the seventh trumpet of judgment in the book of Revelation.

In numerous books, pamphlets and letters to this ministry, we are more or less constantly challenged by those who want to warn us that we are wrong to teach that rapture will come before the judgments of the “Day of the Lord.” This being true, we must therefore prepare ourselves for the horrors of the Tribulation just ahead.

Listening for the Trumpet
But to the redeemed, the very thought of this event ranges from pleasant peace to thrilling anticipation. The trumpet is our signal to go home. It has nothing at all to do with judgment, wrath or divine retribution. And perhaps that is its major feature.

Of course, Paul goes to great lengths to describe this glorious event … its timing, characteristics and meaning. Most of all, he goes out of his way to emphasize the simple fact that those alive at the time of the rapture will be taken to heaven prior to a unique and cataclysmic period of judgment.

His first and second epistles to the Thessalonians are centered upon the idea of comforting a group of people who have many questions about their ultimate destiny in Christ. Several times, he uses the word “comfort” to ease any concerns they may have about the future. Of course, Christians remember these letters as the ones that outline and detail the nature and timing of the rapture.

After describing the catching-away of the church, he writes, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (I Th. 4:18). A little later, he adds, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (I Th. 5:11).

In Second Thessalonians, after describing the Antichrist’s rise to power as a sign that the Day of the Lord is present, he writes, “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, “Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (II Th. 2:16, 17).

It must be remembered that when he wrote these words, the Temple was still in daily operation. Paul’s words about the man of sin standing there and declaring himself to be God could have come to pass at any moment. But his readers never thought that they would see this event. It was, in fact, quite the opposite.

Both then and now, Paul’s words are intended to bring solace to a people with many questions about the judgment of the sinful world system — the Roman world of their day and the complex world of ours.

Thinking about life in first-century Thessalonica, the Roman capital of Macedonia, it was completely immersed in a pagan culture. The worship of Caesar and a panoply of gods and goddesses would dominate your daily existence. As a new Christian, taught by the Lord’s own Apostles that judgment was coming, you would readily believe it.

Would you be a little concerned that you might find yourself in the midst of that judgment? Of course you would. For this reason, and for the benefit of the entire Church Age, Paul was inspired to write these words of comfort. The evil world system would be judged, but before that, the Lord would appear to call the dead in Christ and the living church into the heavens. They ascend into the heavens before that Day of the Lord. They were told to await the shout and the sound of the trumpet. Paul addressed them as the generation that would experience this glorious event. No intervening experience would alert them to its proximity. They were simply to wait in faith, believing in His imminent return.

Generations of the faithful have since gone to their spiritual reward. Along the way, some have weakened, reverting to alternate forms of expectation, that the rapture and Second Coming are the same event, or that it comes in the midst of the Tribulation.

But Paul’s bold words proclaim that the catching-away into heaven come before the general judgment prophesied as the Old Testament “Day of the Lord” and the New Testament “great tribulation.” Jesus, Himself, used this graphic term: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Mt. 24:21).

Yet the Apostle’s words of comfort to the believer are so consistently misinterpreted that today, the majority of the world’s Christian denominations profess alternate views. Some say that the rapture will come at some point during the Tribulation Period, whether earlier or later. Others deny it entirely, saying that it is a mere metaphor. Given the clarity of Paul’s words, how can such misunderstanding exist?

Were it not for a single point of language, this scenario would be readily accepted by most of the church. But the wording used to describe the clarion call from on high, has come to be used as a basis for rival interpretations, clashes of opinion, and a variety of post-Apostolic theologies. Historically and intellectually, there are many reasons for this. But one of the major differences has revolved around an incomplete understanding of the trumpets of Scripture, and their application to biblical prophecy.

The “Trump”
These false conclusions are often built around the novel interpretation … or outright misinterpretation … of a certain heavenly trumpet, mentioned twice in connection with the rapture. It is first mentioned in what is commonly regarded as the earliest of Paul’s extant epistles:

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also 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 from heaven 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” (I Th. 4:14-18).

Here is the “trump of God,” sounded as Jesus and a host of angels descend into the lower atmosphere. Who has not dreamed of being alive at the moment this finally happens? The whirlwind of activities associated with this moment defy the wildest imagination, as perhaps the greatest logistical feat in history is flawlessly executed.

Graves are opened as the dead in Christ rise to receive their glorified bodies. Then the living saints somehow fly upward. They, too, receive His glory, as it is translated into their own bodies. And the whole, global operation apparently springs into motion as God blows His trumpet.

What is this “trump?” Certainly, it is no earthly instrument, though in the Greek, the word salpinx, referring to a natural musical instrument, is used. There must be a trumpet in heaven … the real thing. But what kind of trumpet will it be? What could it be made of? We try to imagine what it might sound like, knowing at the outset that there is no way to conceive the sound that a heavenly trumpet might make.

In Paul’s discourse on resurrection, the same event is described, using the same, identical word. This time, however, it is modified by an adjective:

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

“For this corruptible 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? (I Cor. 15:51-55).

This time, the rapture is mentioned in the context of the general resurrection. This time, the Greek word for trumpet — salpinx — is used twice. But here, it is called the “last trump,” raising the question about what precedes it. The context demands that it must be the last of a series.

Some suggest that since it is the last in a series of trumpets, it must be defined by the series, itself. One such series is found in Joshua, where on the seventh day, seven priests walked around Jericho’s walls, blowing their ram’s horn trumpets. Jericho was judged; the walls came down.

Following this pattern, another similar series in the Bible is found in Revelation, where seven trumpets are sounded, apparently in rapid succession. They progressively unleash an astounding series of judgments at the end of the Tribulation.

Let’s look again at the seven trumpets in Revelation. Taken in order, the first one releases hail, fire and blood; the second brings a fiery mountain which falls into the sea; the third brings down a toxic falling star, falling into a poisoned sea; the fourth, a diminished sun; the fifth opens the abyss; the sixth releases demonic powers; the seventh heralds the culmination of wrath, the spilling out of the seven vials, or bowls of wrath.

The Seventh Angel’s Trumpet
To those who believe in a mid or late-Tribulation rapture, this seventh trumpet is identical to “the last trump” of I Cor. 15:52. But in Revelation the seventh trumpet is the ultimate expression of God’s wrath, in divine retribution. The last trumpet, it unleashes the judgments of the seven bowls of wrath. Nothing in the description of this trumpet connects it in any way with the resurrection of the faithful. What it does is clearly described:

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

“And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God” (Rev. 11:15,16).

This seventh trumpet is definitely not the “trump of God.” In the original New Testament Greek, this verse plainly says, “And the seventh angel trumpeted …” This is an angelic trumpet, not “the trump of God,” which Scripture elsewhere asserts to be His voice that sounds like a trumpet.

Furthermore, it specifically announces an event recognized, hailed and affirmed by a great chorus of heavenly observers … observers already in heaven. They are not the church in the process of being raptured, as indicated by the fact that the twenty-four elders, who were there at the very beginning of the judgment process, are still present, now seated with God, as He enacts the long-awaited judgment.

But to truly understand “the last trump,” we should go all the way back to the beginning, and the sounding of the “first trump,” which is not only the first trumpet in the Bible, but God’s own voice … not a musical instrument.

The First Trumpet
Let’s begin at the beginning. It is at Mount Sinai that we find the first example of a heavenly trumpet:

“And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

“And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

“There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

“And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

“And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

“And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

“And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

“And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

“And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up” (Ex. 19:11-20).

Three times in the passage above, the trumpet of God is described for the first time in all Scripture. Here, it is identified as the ram’s horn or shofar. But the context completely rules out its identification as an ordinary ram’s horn. To the people gathered below, its sound was deafening, and so frightening that their fear increased to the breaking point. In the chapter that follows, the Israelites are described as so stricken that they moved back to a great distance from Mount Horeb:

“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off” (Ex. 20:18).

Flavius Josephus describes the event this way: “Now, as to these matters, every one of my readers may think as he pleases; but I am under a necessity of relating this history as it is described in the sacred books. This sight, and the amazing sound that came to their ears, disturbed the Hebrews to a prodigious degree, for they were not such as they were accustomed to … [Moses] brought the people with their wives and children, so near the mountain, that they might hear God himself speaking to them about the precepts which they were to practice; that the energy of what should be spoken might not be hurt by its utterance by that tongue of man, which could but imperfectly deliver it to their understanding. And they all heard a voice that came to all of them from above, insomuch that no one of these words escaped them, which Moses wrote on two tables.” [Antiquities, III, 5, 2; 4]

The book of Hebrews relates that they begged for the fearsome sounds to cease.

“For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

“And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more” (Heb. 12:18,19).

The point is clear and unmistakable. In the plainest possible language, we are informed that the first trumpet heard in Scripture was God’s own heavenly ram’s horn. Or at least, on a gigantic scale, it sounded something like a ram’s horn. It was not an earthly trumpet.

Anyone who has ever heard the tekiah, teruah, shevarim blasts of the trumpet on Rosh HaShanah knows that even an earthly trumpet will strike fear into the human heart.

A heavenly trumpet is something else, entirely. It sounded on Pentecost, and marked the giving of the Law. The “last trump” will mark the end of the church age, which also began on Pentecost. Could the final trumpet blast for the church also be sounded on a future Pentecost?

A trumpet need not be a condemnation. There are other trumpets in Scripture that sound the rallying call to move out to a new location, or to take some significant action.

Two Silver Trumpets
Typical of this are the two metal trumpets, hand-crafted from single sheets of silver by Israelite craftsmen. And here, for the first time, we get some hint as to the significance of those two trumpets on the Arch of Titus.

As can be seen in the tenth chapter of Numbers, their specific function was to call and coordinate movements of the twelve tribes:

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

“Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

“And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

“And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

“When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.

“When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

“But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.

“And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

“And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God” (Num. 10:1-10).

The trumpets are hatsotserah, made of beaten metal, with a smooth, continuously tapered bore. By skillful overblowing they, like all trumpets, can be made to sound several different clear notes, much in the same manner as the modern keyless cavalry trumpet, which can sound several complex calls when the trumpeter simply varies lip tension and air pressure.

To this day, all the armed camps of the world are trained to understand and obey trumpet calls. Perhaps this tradition dates back to the initial use of the two silver trumpets. Psalm 98, a psalm of Moses mentions both the metal trumpet and the ram’s horn shofar, here called a cornet:

“Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

“With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King” (Ps. 98:5,6).

By the time of David, Solomon and the First Temple, trumpets were used by the priests to announce the months and to celebrate the arrival of the various feasts, as seen in Psalm 81:3, where we read, “Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.”

Here, the shofar is mentioned as the herald trumpet of important events in the House of David. Whether or not the original silver trumpets survived to the age of the First Temple is unknown, but Jewish history tells us that trumpeting was an integral part of Temple worship.

First-Century Trumpets
When we come to the New Testament era, the two silver trumpets ordained in the days of Moses once again become used on a daily basis.

In Alfred Edersheim’s book, The Temple, we gain considerable insight into the use of the famous trumpets seen on the Arch of Titus. Edersheim goes to considerable length to detail their use:

“The blasts of the trumpets, blown by priests only, formed — at least in the second Temple — no part of the instrumental music of the service, but were intended for quite different purposes. Even the posture of the performers showed this, for while the Levites stood at their desks facing toward the sanctuary, or westwards, the priests, with their silver trumpets, stood exactly in the opposite direction, on the west side of the rise of the altar, by the “table of the fat,” and looking eastwards or down the courts. On ordinary days the priests blew seven times, each time three blasts - a short sound, an alarm, and again a sharp, short sound (Thekiah, Theruah, and Thekiah), or, as the Rabbis express it, “An alarm in the midst and a plain note before and after it.” According to tradition, they were intended symbolically to proclaim the kingdom of God, Divine Providence, and the final judgment. The first three blasts were blown when the great gates of the Temple — especially that of Nicanor — were opened. Then, when the drink-offering was poured out, the Levites sang the psalm of the day in three sections. After each section, there was a pause, when the priests blew three blasts, and the people worshiped. This was the practice at the evening, as at the morning sacrifice. On the eve of the Sabbath a threefold blast of the priest’s trumpets summoned the people, afar as the sound was carried over the city, to prepare for the holy day, while another threefold blast announced its actual commencement. On Sabbaths, when, besides the ordinary, an additional sacrifice was brought, and the “Song of Moses” sung — not the whole every Sabbath, but divided in six parts, one for every Sabbath — the priests sounded their trumpets additional three times in the pauses of the Sabbath psalm.” [Temple, pp. 59,60]

Edersheim’s evocative description of Temple service in the days of Jesus and His disciples stirs the imagination, as it must have the Romans, who patrolled the city day and night. Jerusalem had declined to the point that it was a Roman military procurate. The Jews were uneasy, as groups among them campaigned for a general uprising … a civil revolt.

The Romans knew this, bringing them in the days of Titus to put Jerusalem under siege, ultimately destroying it completely. But in the years preceding this catastrophe, Romans had heard the priestly blasts of the two silver trumpets on a daily basis. Imagine the awe and suspicion that must have filled them as they witnessed mysterious rites and rituals. Priestly activities were accompanied by the flow of blood in streams of water and the smell of burning offerings.

And over it all, ringing throughout Jerusalem, were the mysterious blasts of the silver trumpets, assuring the twelve tribes that God was present, and that their nation was blessed. Roman soldiers and politicians, listening to the daily resonating call, must have inwardly shuddered at the thought that Jehovah was listening.

Then, under Titus and Vespasian, Jerusalem was laid waste. Right at the top of their pile of loot were those wretched and annoying trumpets that had plagued them on a daily basis. They were taken and paraded through Rome, glistening symbols that Rome had conquered the very God of Israel. His voice lay still.

A priesthood that had fallen to corruption was no longer privileged to minister the call of God’s righteousness. Their calls were only the faint echoes of His magnificent call at Mount Sinai.

The Real Last Trump
Almost fifteen hundred years elapsed between that first trump of God at Pentecost and the arrival of Pentecost in the house where the disciples gathered to await a moving of His Spirit. This time, in the voices of a faithful few men, another announcement came to the world. Through Christ, God had extended His grace to all men.

Then and now, the custom of the Jews is to remain awake all night, before the day of Pentecost … or Shavout, the Feast of Weeks. They read special Scriptural passages in an observance now known as tikkun leil Shavuot, readings for the night of Pentecost. Then the next day dawns:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

Again, just as divine fire descended upon Mount Sinai, tongues of fire encircled the heads of Israel’s faithful. But this time, the message was grace, not Law. And this time, there was no frightening trumpet blast, only the declaration of Good News, and the joy of those receiving it in their own languages.

What a contrast! The Gospel has never been delivered with a fearful threat laid before those who would flaunt the Law. Rather, it came through love and self-sacrifice. And in the centuries that followed, that fact has never changed.

It has been said that the church — the body of Christ — is finite in nature. It began on a specific day, the day of Pentecost, and it will also end on a specific day, the day of the rapture.

Since it was initiated in grace, why would it end in a holocaust of solar and meteorological chaos, complicated by disease and famine? Why would it end with the fearful blast of the seventh trumpet, which is intended to call forth destruction upon those who have lived in iniquity and will die in judgment?

This is not the trumpet that calls the faithful home.

Jesus, speaking in the Olivet Discourse about the “abomination of desolation” at the middle of the Tribulation, addresses those who live in Judea in those days. He says that immediately following this occurrence, which we know to be a mid-Tribulation event, there will come a period characterized by the ultimate evil, when Satan and his followers rage across the earth. He then described the years immediately following the unveiling of the Antichrist:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

“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” (Mt. 24:29-31).

Here, the “elect” are the saints of the Tribulation who have persevered to the very end of the awesome “Day of the Lord.” They have received the Gospel by faith in the midst of fiery trial.

And the trumpet mentioned above must be the seventh trumpet of Revelation, sounding as the Bowls of Wrath are poured upon the earth. It precedes the Harvest Judgment of Revelation 14, perfectly corresponding with the gathering of the elect described by Jesus as He spoke to the disciples on the Mount of Olives.

“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 time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

“And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped” (Rev. 14:14-16).

Early in His public ministry, Jesus had mentioned this event as He expounded upon the sower, the soils and the weeds that grow up among them. He said, “The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels” (Mt. 13:39).

He times the harvest as coming at the same future moment as the collapse of the world system. This makes the final harvest an act of mercy and salvation to those alive at a time of great distress, not the calling-home of a church in its ordinary state of daily living.

The trumpet voice to the church will not be a call of wrath, but the gentle assertion of great power, as to John, when Christ called to him:

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet” (Rev. 1:10).

Nor is the trumpet a mere instrument. We await the very voice of God. Its characteristics are unknown to us at present, but we’ll know it when we hear it. And it will sound much like a trumpet. It has happened before, and it will happen again:

“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” (Rev. 4:10).

The first trump laid down the Law. The last trump will be a loving invitation, welcoming the redeemed to their new home, and making way for the trumpets of judgment on earth.

Titus, a corrupt despot and enemy of God, was inflated with pride as he ordered his triumphal arch emblazoned with a panel to display Israel’s destruction. But to those who know, its trumpets carry the subtle message that the Lord isn’t quite finished yet.

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