Tag: Acts 1:9-11

Any Day Now – Day 52

On July 1, 2024

Why is timing so important when it comes to the Rapture? If you were expecting your parents to come visit from 3,000 miles, you would be looking forward to it. You would be preparing the guest room, making plans to take them places, as well as planning meals. It is no different when it comes to the Rapture. If you knew the date, you would most likely wait until a few days before their arrival before starting your plans.

Different views:

Pre-Tribulation (imminent – no prophecy needs to be fulfilled – it can happen at any time)
Mid-Tribulation (half-way through the Tribulation at the 1,260 day mark)
Pre-Wrath (at the sixth seal judgment)
Post-Tribulation (after the Tribulation at the 2,520 day mark)

Today we will cover the Post-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint. This one is the last of the viewpoints we will cover. It teaches the Rapture occurs near the end or at the end of the great Tribulation. We know that the Tribulation lasts 2,520 days. This belief, therefore, sets a date for the Rapture to occur.

Furthermore, this belief means that the church will be raptured to the clouds and then immediately return with Christ at the Second Coming. The two events run simultaneously. To summarize, they believe that there is only one coming of the Lord Jesus and that is at His Second Coming.

Their core belief is that God’s people suffered persecution through the centuries, and therefore, the church will go through the Tribulation. There is one major problem with this: Romans 8:1 reveals to us that the Church is not under condemnation and will never go through God’s wrath. The judgments during the Tribulation affect everyone, including believers. This contradicts Romans 8:1. Furthermore, they cannot explain the fact that Jesus went to Heaven in Acts 1:9-11 to prepare a place for us and to receive us unto Himself. (Matthew 14:1-3) Post-Tribulation Rapture believers won’t be going to Heaven because they believe that they meet Jesus in the air and then come back to earth at that point to defeat Satan’s armies. They will then enter the Millennial Kingdom. What happened to going to be with Jesus and experiencing the mansions that He prepared for them in Heaven?

Summary: All the views, except for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint, cannot explain why the Church cannot be found after Rev. 4:1 all the way through chapter 21. They assume that the word “saints” in Revelation represents the Church. These are Tribulation saints and not the Church, the Bride of Christ.

As well, there is no timeline for the Rapture. It is imminent, as we learned in our prior studies. Two other viewpoints rely on a timeline. That timeline begins the seven-year Tribulation when the Antichrist signs the peace treaty with Israel. (Daniel 9:27) Therefore, if the Mid-Tribulation Rapture were to be true, they would simply have to count three and a half years, which is 1260 days (Jewish years contain 360 days, not 365) and they would know the exact day. And if the Post-Tribulation Rapture were true, they would have 2,520. There is no imminence in these viewpoints. The Pre-Wrath Rapture viewpoint doesn’t rest its belief on a timeline. However, it does believe that the Church will experience the first five judgment Seals. They cannot find answers to the fact that the word “church” does not appear after Revelation 4:1.

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint can answer all the questions relating to timing, as well as the lack of presence of the Church from Revelation chapters 4:1 through 22:15. The word “church” can be found 7 times in Revelation chapters 1 through 3. The word “churches” can be found 12 times in Revelation chapters 1 through 3 and one time in Revelation 22:16. This alone shows that the Church is not present during any of the judgments.

You must be born again in order to participate, no matter what viewpoint you hold. Friend, if you are not born again, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 46

By Kate Plourde

On June 17, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

We have covered the “What and Who” of the Rapture. Today we are covering the “Where”! The Rapture and the Second Coming are not the same event. The Church meets Jesus Christ in the air, not on earth.

Act 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1Th 4:17 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.

When Jesus Christ comes to end World Word III at the end of the Tribulation, He actually and literally steps foot on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

So the Rapture is not going to happen after the Tribulation. The Church meets Jesus in the air. Harpazo, the Greek word for Rapture, is defined as “caught up or to snatch away.” The Church will be caught up and snatched away into the clouds to meet Jesus there. Then we will go to Heaven with Him!

At that moment, believers will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. Their earthly bodies will be changed into eternal bodies, just as Jesus had when He rose from the dead. The world will not see the changing of the old body to the new body as one cannot even measure the “twinkling of an eye.” Now the world might see us rising away from the earth, but they won’t see that change from earthly body to eternal body.

1Co 15:51-55 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) 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. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [Heaven cannot accept an earthly, corrupt body. This is why a change has to be made.] (54) 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. (55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1Th 4:14-18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [Jesus will bring the souls of those believers who died before the Rapture to meet their glorified body in the air.] (15) 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. (16) 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: (17) 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. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

What a glorious event it will be indeed! I have been waiting for the Rapture since April 1980. I longingly await the blessed hope of Titus 2:13! Friend, if you are not born again, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 32

By Kate Plourde

On May 15, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

As we continue our study on the differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming of our Lord, we will look into where these two events will take place. Some believe that they occur at the same time but let’s compare that with the Bible.

First, let’s see what Scripture says about where the Rapture will occur. The Bible says:

1 Thess 4:16-17 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: (17) 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.

As we’ve covered previously, the words “caught up” in the Greek is “harpazo,” which means to catch away.

ἁρπάζω
harpazō
har-pad’-zo
From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): – catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
STRONG’S CONCORDANCE

The English New Testament was translated from the Greek so we see exactly what was meant. I also find it interesting that Strong’s states that it is from a derivative of G138 which means:

αἱρέομαι
aihreomai
hahee-reh’-om-ahee
Probably akin to G142; to take for oneself, that is, to prefer.

The Lord Jesus Christ will take for Himself the Bride by meeting the Church in the air! The word rapture itself comes from the Latin’s translation of harpazo, which is rapturo. Now you see where we get the English word rapture. I know some of you are thinking that the word “rapture” isn’t in the Bible but neither are the words Trinity or Bible. Only the Church will take part in this event.

1 Co 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) 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.

Act 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1 Th 4:14-17 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) 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. (16) 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: (17) 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.

Remember, the unbelieving world will not see this happening because it happens so quickly: in the twinkling of an eye! Notice that the Lord Himself descends (no mention of others coming with Him as in other verses referring to the Second Coming). Also, note that He comes with the “trump OF GOD;” this trump is not the same as the seven trumpets of Revelation 8. The seven angels will have those trumpets; and those trumpets bring judgment, not joy! The Messiah will sound His own trumpet and He alone will descend with a shout! Again, this is not what happens at the Second Coming.

Now, let’s talk about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and where it will occur. The Bible states:

Zec 14:1-5 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. (2) For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (3) Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (5) And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

The Old Testament prophet, Zechariah, states that the Lord will be coming to the earth and will stand on the Mount of Olives. This is a physical coming to earth! It’s not in the air. Not only that, when Christ comes back to earth at the end of the Tribulation, the Bible says that every eye will see Him! The Scriptures say:

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

I can almost hear the skeptic saying that this verse says that Christ is coming in the clouds in this verse. However, the Scriptures say that He is coming with clouds, not coming in the clouds. These are not the puffy clouds in the air: we can see in Hebrews 12:1 that this use of the word cloud at times can refer to people:

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Do you see the difference between Christ coming at the Rapture “in the clouds and in the air” and at His Second Coming “to the earth and standing on the Mount of Olives”? The Rapture is a time of joy for the Church. The Second Coming brings an end to seven years of judgment upon the entire earth. Christ and the Church defeat the devil’s armies, and the counterfeit “trinity” is bound for 1,000 years. Christ’s Second Coming ushers in the Millennium!

If you are a student of the Bible, you know more than the smartest people on earth who misguide people; world leaders, other Christians who have been misled and many others. Bible prophecy is a blessing and is contained in almost a third of the Bible. Bible prophecy has nothing to say about other nations at the center of its prophecies. Only Israel is at the center of prophecy. This is why people are so misguided. They try to fit the war with Russia and Ukraine as an indication we are in the Tribulation. We are merely in the birth pangs – reread Matthew 24. This war may very well be a stepping stone so do not be deceived.

Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!