After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.'' Revelation 4:1
The Church Conspicuously Missing After Revelation Chapter 3
The church is mentioned repeatedly in the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation, where Christ is seen walking among the churches, and sending messages to seven churches.
But from chapter 4:2 on, "after those things," the church is not named once throughout the entire account of the Tribulation period.
From the moment John is told to "Come up here," for the remainder of the vision he is in the presence of the Lord, looking down on the dreadful events of the Tribulation on the earth. He is seeing it from heaven.
It is significant in the fact that John is told to "Come up here."
The very same words are spoken to the two witnesses before they too are raptured:
And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here.'' And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. " (Revelation 11:12).
The Church age began suddenly and unexpectedly on Pentecost.
It will also end suddenly and unexpectedly.
The is the "mystery" Paul was speaking of, the church age, something not revealed in the Old Testament and something not present when Daniel's "70th week" begins again.
There are two peoples of God, Israel and the church.
Two covenants.
Two programs.
Two "times."
In the 70th week, God is dealing with Israel and judging the world.
What Is The Trump of God?
Shall the Bridegroom come for his Bride with a trump of JUDGMENT???
Of course not!
There is more than one kind of Trumpets.
The Trumps of the Tribulation are the trumps of angels delivering the JUDGMENTS of God's WRATH.
The Rapture takes place not with the trumpet of angels but with the "Trumpet of GOD."
Let us not confuse the "Trumpet of God" with the temple trumpets or the shofar. Remember that those trumpets continue during the Millennium, so none of them are "the last trump" anyway.
The silver trumpet
Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the assembly and for directing the movement of the camps.
Numbers 10:2
The shofar or ram's horn
Rosh HaShanah is the day of "the blowing of the trumpets."
According to the Mishnah, the trumpet used for this purpose is the ram's horn not the silver trumpets mentioned in Numbers 10.
There are two FUNCTIONS of Trumpets:
1. the Trumpet call to war
2. the Trumpet call to assembly
The seven trumps of the Book of Revelation are trumps of war, trumpets of judgment.
The trumpet of the seventh angel in Rev. 10:7 is straightforwardly presented as the last of seven trumpets of angels blown in a sequence as God releases His WRATH upon a Christ-rejecting world.
The trump of Corinthians is not a trump of judgment;
it is not a trump of angels;
it is the Trump of God;
a trump of assembly.
When Jesus comes with the Trump of God, it is the call to assembly.
Paul mentions the "Trumpet of God" in connection with the rapture.
It is interesting that this term appears only twice in the Bible:
at the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai at Pentecost;
and at the Rapture.
When Jesus comes, it's with the "Trump of God." He's coming to assemble the Church, not poor judgment on her.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Of course not!
There is more than one kind of Trumpets.
The Trumps of the Tribulation are the trumps of angels delivering the JUDGMENTS of God's WRATH.
The Rapture takes place not with the trumpet of angels but with the "Trumpet of GOD."
Let us not confuse the "Trumpet of God" with the temple trumpets or the shofar. Remember that those trumpets continue during the Millennium, so none of them are "the last trump" anyway.
The silver trumpet
Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the assembly and for directing the movement of the camps.
Numbers 10:2
The shofar or ram's horn
Rosh HaShanah is the day of "the blowing of the trumpets."
According to the Mishnah, the trumpet used for this purpose is the ram's horn not the silver trumpets mentioned in Numbers 10.
There are two FUNCTIONS of Trumpets:
1. the Trumpet call to war
2. the Trumpet call to assembly
The seven trumps of the Book of Revelation are trumps of war, trumpets of judgment.
The trumpet of the seventh angel in Rev. 10:7 is straightforwardly presented as the last of seven trumpets of angels blown in a sequence as God releases His WRATH upon a Christ-rejecting world.
The trump of Corinthians is not a trump of judgment;
it is not a trump of angels;
it is the Trump of God;
a trump of assembly.
When Jesus comes with the Trump of God, it is the call to assembly.
Paul mentions the "Trumpet of God" in connection with the rapture.
It is interesting that this term appears only twice in the Bible:
at the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai at Pentecost;
and at the Rapture.
When Jesus comes, it's with the "Trump of God." He's coming to assemble the Church, not poor judgment on her.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Who Is The Restrainer?
Who is NOT "the restrainer?"
It is not the Holy Spirit.
We know that no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:3)
If the Holy Spirit were taken out of the way, no one would be saved from that point on.
We know there will be multitudes of people saved during the Tribulation, so the Holy Spirit is on the earth then.
The Holy Spirit is NOT the restrainer referred to in this passage.
Then who is taken out of the way?
Who is hindering the mystery of iniquity?
Who IS the restrainer?
The one restraining iniquity is the Body of Christ on earth.
The Body of Christ is the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
The Body of Christ is to occupy until Jesus comes.
The Body of Christ is hindering the working of iniquity.
If the Body of Christ weren't here, the whole world would be gay and killing babies, and all wickedness would have free reign without any restraint whatsoever.
It is the Church, the Body of Christ, who is testifying to the lost and inviting them to come to the Lord. And it is the Church who will be taken out of the way.
And THEN that lawless one will be revealed and will take over, when there isn't a single righteous person to restrain him. In fact, those who are left behind will welcome him.
"I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive." John 5:43
The text: 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-8
3. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4. who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6. And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
It is not the Holy Spirit.
We know that no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:3)
If the Holy Spirit were taken out of the way, no one would be saved from that point on.
We know there will be multitudes of people saved during the Tribulation, so the Holy Spirit is on the earth then.
The Holy Spirit is NOT the restrainer referred to in this passage.
Then who is taken out of the way?
Who is hindering the mystery of iniquity?
Who IS the restrainer?
The one restraining iniquity is the Body of Christ on earth.
The Body of Christ is the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
The Body of Christ is to occupy until Jesus comes.
The Body of Christ is hindering the working of iniquity.
If the Body of Christ weren't here, the whole world would be gay and killing babies, and all wickedness would have free reign without any restraint whatsoever.
It is the Church, the Body of Christ, who is testifying to the lost and inviting them to come to the Lord. And it is the Church who will be taken out of the way.
And THEN that lawless one will be revealed and will take over, when there isn't a single righteous person to restrain him. In fact, those who are left behind will welcome him.
"I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive." John 5:43
The text: 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-8
3. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4. who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6. And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Resurrection Comes Before The Judgments - Isaiah 26
There is a reference to the Rapture in the Old Testament. This passage in Isaiah clearly shows that the Rapture will take place BEFORE the judgments begin:
First the resurrection:
"Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."
Then a hiding away:
"Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past."
Then the judgments:
"For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain."
Isaiah 26:19-21
First the resurrection:
"Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."
Then a hiding away:
"Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past."
Then the judgments:
"For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain."
Isaiah 26:19-21
Are Pre-Trib Rapture Believers Escapists?
Believers who await a pre-trip Rapture are criticized for taking an "escapist" view. "Why," critics say, "should we get the easy way out when so many others are suffering all over the world?"
Why? Because Jesus TOLD us to ask for it!
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.'' Luke 21:36
This is something he counsels us to do, it's not a suggestion.
Those who are taken in the Rapture are not taken on the basis of how much they have suffered. They are taken on the basis of the church age being closed. The Rapture takes place independently of what any believers have or have not suffered.
Believers down through the ages have encountered the full spectrum of human experience, from the terrible sufferings of those who died of torture, all the way to the opposite scenario such as the sheltered woman who never knew much of any suffering in this life and dies a peaceful death. At times, babies or children are taken without having gone through suffering.
Suffering is not the issue. We're not going to be kept here during the Tribulation because of others who suffered terribly before.
There is a time set, period. Before the last week of Daniel which is determined upon Israel, and when the church age ends, Jesus will come for his believers.
Jesus told believers to ASK for this "escape," to pray for it.
It bears repeating:
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.''
Luke 21:36
Why? Because Jesus TOLD us to ask for it!
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.'' Luke 21:36
This is something he counsels us to do, it's not a suggestion.
Those who are taken in the Rapture are not taken on the basis of how much they have suffered. They are taken on the basis of the church age being closed. The Rapture takes place independently of what any believers have or have not suffered.
Believers down through the ages have encountered the full spectrum of human experience, from the terrible sufferings of those who died of torture, all the way to the opposite scenario such as the sheltered woman who never knew much of any suffering in this life and dies a peaceful death. At times, babies or children are taken without having gone through suffering.
Suffering is not the issue. We're not going to be kept here during the Tribulation because of others who suffered terribly before.
There is a time set, period. Before the last week of Daniel which is determined upon Israel, and when the church age ends, Jesus will come for his believers.
Jesus told believers to ASK for this "escape," to pray for it.
It bears repeating:
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.''
Luke 21:36
Enoch - A Type
"And Enoch walked with God: and was not; for God TOOK him."
Gen. 5:24
Enoch, a gentile, was a type of the Rapture.
He is said to have been born and raptured on the date Sivan 6.
In "The Legends of the Jews," H. L Ginzberg wrote that according to Israel's oral tradition, Enoch was raptured--taken to heaven --on the very day of Pentecost.
In Talmudic tradition, not only was Enoch raptured on Pentecost, he was also born on Pentecost.
The church was born on Pentecost.
Gen. 5:24
Enoch, a gentile, was a type of the Rapture.
He is said to have been born and raptured on the date Sivan 6.
In "The Legends of the Jews," H. L Ginzberg wrote that according to Israel's oral tradition, Enoch was raptured--taken to heaven --on the very day of Pentecost.
In Talmudic tradition, not only was Enoch raptured on Pentecost, he was also born on Pentecost.
The church was born on Pentecost.
A Personal Word
I was going to be going with some friends to a "Prophecy Conference" in a city not too far from home.
There was a question on my mind concerning the timing of the Rapture. So before the conference, I brought my thoughts to the Lord.
From the things we do know about "the last days," one thing that stood out glaringly to me is that the Temple in Jerusalem isn't yet built. The Book of Daniel -- and this passage is quoted by Jesus himself -- says that three and a half years into the Tribulation, the Antichrist goes into the Temple, into the Holy of Holies, and proclaims that he himself is God. This is called "The Abomination of Desolation."
Well, not only is the Temple not built, the Temple Mount itself is still under the jurisdiction of the Palestinians. So, I was thinking, by the time it takes for Israel to get control of the Temple Mount, and THEN considering the time it will take to build the Temple, bearing in mind that the previous Temple was compared to the seven wonders of the world, you're talking how many years for all this to be accomplished? "So," I opined to the Lord, "it's going to be awhile, right?"
Listen to this story.
We went to Portland and attended the conference. On the last day, we were just as alert and interested as during the first hour, so interesting was all we heard that weekend. Then .... suddenly ....a woman comes into the hall, goes onto the stage, and whispers into the speaker's ear, then leaves. The speaker turns to us and tells us that there's been some conflict in the schedule, and that we have to leave the hall, because a WEDDING is scheduled to take place now in this hall.
WE WERE INTERRUPTED BY A WEDDING! ! !
For those of you who don't understand -- the Rapture is when Christ comes for His Bride, the church.
The chills went up and down my spine, the way it always does when you realize the Lord has touched you. Instantly I knew that this was the direct answer to my question, "you can't be coming anytime soon, because so much needs to happen first, right?"
NOTHING needs to happen before the Rapture. In fact, this very point had been made during the teachings at the conference. Yes I did "catch" that fact, but never as powerfully as when the Lord went out of his way to show me personally that our lives are going to be INTERRUPTED BY A WEDDING!
There was a question on my mind concerning the timing of the Rapture. So before the conference, I brought my thoughts to the Lord.
From the things we do know about "the last days," one thing that stood out glaringly to me is that the Temple in Jerusalem isn't yet built. The Book of Daniel -- and this passage is quoted by Jesus himself -- says that three and a half years into the Tribulation, the Antichrist goes into the Temple, into the Holy of Holies, and proclaims that he himself is God. This is called "The Abomination of Desolation."
Well, not only is the Temple not built, the Temple Mount itself is still under the jurisdiction of the Palestinians. So, I was thinking, by the time it takes for Israel to get control of the Temple Mount, and THEN considering the time it will take to build the Temple, bearing in mind that the previous Temple was compared to the seven wonders of the world, you're talking how many years for all this to be accomplished? "So," I opined to the Lord, "it's going to be awhile, right?"
Listen to this story.
We went to Portland and attended the conference. On the last day, we were just as alert and interested as during the first hour, so interesting was all we heard that weekend. Then .... suddenly ....a woman comes into the hall, goes onto the stage, and whispers into the speaker's ear, then leaves. The speaker turns to us and tells us that there's been some conflict in the schedule, and that we have to leave the hall, because a WEDDING is scheduled to take place now in this hall.
WE WERE INTERRUPTED BY A WEDDING! ! !
For those of you who don't understand -- the Rapture is when Christ comes for His Bride, the church.
The chills went up and down my spine, the way it always does when you realize the Lord has touched you. Instantly I knew that this was the direct answer to my question, "you can't be coming anytime soon, because so much needs to happen first, right?"
NOTHING needs to happen before the Rapture. In fact, this very point had been made during the teachings at the conference. Yes I did "catch" that fact, but never as powerfully as when the Lord went out of his way to show me personally that our lives are going to be INTERRUPTED BY A WEDDING!