Tag: Revelation 19:14

Any Day Now – Day 22

On April 19, 2024

Today’s picture reminds me of Christ’s coming in the clouds to Rapture His Church! It is such an exciting thought, amen? I meditate on this event every day and long to see Jesus and forever be with Him! Today’s post is a bit long but I promise a blessing (at least it was for me) when you read the part about the Jewish wedding

To truly understand the Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint, one must understand that Christ’s next return occurs in two separate occasions, not just one. One appearance is in the clouds (to take care of His Church) and the second is His return to earth in Israel to take care of His people. The Church and Israel are two separate “people”! This is where other viewpoints get confused. Replacement theology is a belief that the Church replaced Israel when Israel rejected Christ’s first coming. They are not studying the Scriptures like good Bereans to make sure that what they are being taught is in line with the Scriptures. The Bereans studied these things out for themselves: and so much more should we, Christian!

Act 17:10-11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Bereans: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. (11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The Apostle Paul teaches us about the “mystery” of the Rapture more than any other. The word mystery is 22 times in the King James Version, and all are in the New Testament. It is first spoken in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being opened to the Gentiles (see Romans 11:24-25, 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:7, Eph. 1:9, 3:3-4, 3:9, 5:32, 6:19, Col. 1:26-27, Col. 2:2, 1 Tim. 3:9, 3:16).

We can be just as studious because we have those very Scriptures to study so we can learn about this mystery! What a blessing this is, especially in times like these. The world as we once knew it twenty years ago is now gone. In its place is a more evil world than we have ever seen. We are called to witness to others about the salvation of Christ. While we accomplish His task, we are to encourage one another about this wonderful and blessed topic of the Rapture. The mystery of the Rapture is an encouraging topic for the believers in the Church because it gives us hope – it encourages us – it teaches us that we are going to be cared for just as God took care of Noah and Lot!

1 Co 15:51-54 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. (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.

What is the Apostle Paul saying here? He’s saying that the dead in Christ will get their new bodies as they are taken up into the air (their spirits went to be with Christ upon the death of their earthly body). Those which are living when the Rapture occurs will receive their immortal body as well. Why is this so important? The body, flesh and blood, dies (corrupts) and cannot go into eternity because the body cannot live forever. However, the new body that we all receive while we go up to meet Jesus will not die or decay but will live forever! Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us. Just as we discussed on my last post where Lot was removed from Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction, and Noah and his family were saved, so will Jesus come for us and physically remove us from this earth before God’s wrath is released on the entire world.

Joh 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

The “hour of temptation” in Revelation 3:10 means “ hour of trial.” So believers will be kept from that trial which will come upon all the world! Scripture makes it clear there are two separate returns. The first coming of Christ (the Rapture) is clearly not Christ coming to the earth; instead we will meet Him in the air. It is a time that no man knows the day or hour; it will come as a thief in the night. Anyone who has been robbed can tell you that they were not prepared for it. It happened quickly and at a time that was unknown to them.

1Th 4:16-18 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.

1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Proponents of the post-Trib Rapture state that this “thief in the night” is at the end of the Tribulation. But how can that be when there is a definite about of days that the seven-year Tribulation contains?

This “day of the Lord” occurs in the air – in the clouds, not here on the earth. This is when He comes to get His Bride (the Church comprised of born-again believers) to take her to His Father’s house. When does it happen? It happens like a thief in the night. The Second Coming of the Lord, however, is when He comes here to the earth, in Israel, and His bride will be with Him. (see Revelation 19:14) Therefore, we have to already be in Heaven before this happens. Only the Bride (the Church) is clothed in fine linen, white and clean because we are made clean by the Blood of the Lamb! When Christ comes to earth to wrap up the Tribulation period, He returns with us! On top of that, it is seen by all! It is not a mystery or a secret as the Rapture is.

Rev 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ( 8 ) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Rev 19:11-15 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Only Christ’s blood can make us clean from sin, amen? (1 John 1:7) The angels cannot be the ones comprising Christ’s army because they are not washed clean by the blood of Jesus. The Word doesn’t say that they will be with Christ and His Bride, but angels certainly are not made clean by the Blood of the Lamb. Revelation 19:8 says that it is the righteousness of the saints – the Church is made righteous by Jesus Christ, and Him only. Do you see why you have to read your Bible so you can be encouraged by the Scriptures??? Therefore, the army here is the Bride of Christ. Those who claim this do not compare scripture with scripture and make sure there are no contradictions in their viewpoint.

Friend and reader, how can we be raptured at the end of the Tribulation, prepare ourselves, attend the marriage supper of the Lamb, then return to earth to fight with Christ? This makes no sense when viewing the Rapture occurring at the end of the Tribulation. Let’s look at the Jewish wedding in biblical times. The sequence of the wedding will give you an idea of the comparison with the Rapture and when it occurs.

There are seven phases from the betrothal to the actual marriage consummation!!! Doesn’t this bless you? As you know, the number seven symbolizes perfection. What a blessing! The phases are:

The father of the groom made the arrangements for the marriage and paid a price for the bride. The Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to pay for the bride with His blood. (1Co 6:20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1Co 7:23) Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
The bridegroom goes back home to prepare a place for his bride. (Joh 14:2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (Joh 14:3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
The father of the groom determined the timing of when the bridegroom would return to get his bride. The bridegroom did not know the exact time. (Mat 24:36) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Mar 13:32) But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
The bride is consecrated and set apart. 1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Once the father of the groom gave the go ahead, the bridegroom would go to where the bride was. The groom returns with a shout. (1 Th 4:16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. He then takes his bride to his home. (1 Th 4:15-17) 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.
The bride and groom go to the wedding chamber. The bride and groom stay in their chamber for seven days. Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” Praise the Lord! Scripture tells us that a prophetic day can equal a year. (see Num. 14:34) The seven days the Jewish bride and groom spend in the wedding chamber appear to equate to seven years of Tribulation. Dan 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. The antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation.
After seven days/years, the marriage feast occurs. Jesus returns to earth on a white horse with His Bride to have victory over the earth. Rev 19:11-14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Lastly, after the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus reigns in Jerusalem for 1,000 years, known as the Feast of Tabernacles, where He “tabernacles” with man during the Millennial Kingdom!

Now that you have read about the Jewish wedding, do you not see that the Rapture cannot occur at the end, or even in the middle? The Groom and the Bride go into their wedding chamber for seven days/years (during the seven year Tribulation)!

You can now see that the Rapture and the Tribulation are two separate events; make no mistake about it. No hope or consolation can be given to people who are about to go through the worse time in history!

(Tit 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Does this excite you, reader? It surely does me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. 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 17

By Kate Plourde

On April 8, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Rev 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Good morning, reader! As we discussed in a previous post, when Jesus returns in Revelation 19, an army follows Him. He is riding on a white horse, and His army is clothed in fine linen that is white and clean. Who is this army?

In Revelation 19:8, the Scriptures say that the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. If the saints of God are returning with Christ to wage war on the Antichrist, then it is not possible to have a post-Tribulation Rapture view because the Tribulation has not yet ended. We see here the saints are coming with Christ to wage war.

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

One cannot base a viewpoint on Scripture’s teachings on just a few verses. This is why I repeat myself, and quote Scriptures throughout this whole series. One must take ALL of Scripture into account. One must determine who the judgments are meant for. It is clear that the church is not under judgment.

Rom 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The Church through the Rapture will be kept from this judgment that God will impose upon all the unbelieving world. Since Christ went to Heaven, there has not been any judgment that has come upon the entire earth. Jesus promised to keep His church from that time:

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

1 Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Col 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

The wrath of God does not come on those that are born again! The wrath of God comes specifically for those “children of disobedience,” which are those who are not born again. Praise the Lord! \o/ Does this excite you, reader? It surely does me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. 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 15

By Kate Plourde

On April 3, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Good morning! Today, let’s tackle the belief in some churches that share that Jesus will come back for the Rapture of the Church after the Tribulation, known as the post-Tribulation Rapture. The Bible should be our only source of information on any topic dealing with the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. To listen to a man’s findings should be the last thing we turn to. The verses listed below are about the Second Coming of Christ.

Revelation 19:14-21 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (17) And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; (18) That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. (19) And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (20) And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (21) And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

The only time the words “fine linen, white, and clean” appear together are found here in Revelation 19. Let the Bible interpret itself:

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Revelation 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Notice that the Saints are clothed in fine linen, clean and white for their fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. The Church does not possess its own righteousness but has received the righteousness of Christ! We are also sanctified through Him and are redeemed!

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Therefore, those who have received the righteousness of Christ (the Church) will come back with Him at the Second Coming, as we see in Revelation 19:14!

At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus kills all the ungodly, as we see in Revelation 19:21. If the Church would receive their new bodies at the Second Coming, who would populate the earth during the millennium? There would be no human beings left to do so. Therefore, it stands to reason that this viewpoint does not jive with Scripture.

The only belief that fits this viewpoint of the timing of the Rapture is when it occurs before the Tribulation. Then, during the Tribulation, souls will come to salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit through the two witnesses and the 144,000. Those who do not die for their faith and remain until Christ’s return to earth will be those who are saved and they will be left to populate the earth. It is also said that all living Jews at the Second Coming will be saved as they see their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Those who make it through the tribulation go into the millennium while those who took the mark of the beast are cast into hell.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Does this settle this viewpoint in your heart, reader? It surely does me! To the one who is not saved, it is a different story. There is no peace to be found for the one who enters the Tribulation. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. 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 14

By Kate Plourde

On April 1, 2024

In Any Day Now, Devotionals

Luke 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Good morning! How exciting it is for me to review the Rapture! It bubbles up within me like a spring!! We’ve been going over the various reasons supporting the Rapture occurring before the Tribulation begins. Another one of the reasons is the marriage supper of the Lamb.

When Christ returns, He will be returning from a wedding. So let’s look at Revelation 19:7-8, where we read about the marriage supper. According to Jewish custom, the marriage supper takes place before the marriage. First there is a marriage contract, which includes a dowry. That dowry is drawn up first.

Rev 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

How can we apply this to the Church? The contract is a comparison to when we trust Jesus to be our Savior. The dowry is His life, which was used to purchase our salvation. Nothing we do can ever be enough to take us to Heaven. Only Jesus’ life can do this!

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

When it’s time for the wedding, the groom goes to the bride’s house, unannounced. She comes out to meet him, and then he takes her to his father’s house. This fits perfectly with the Pre-Tribulation beliefs. Jesus, our Groom, comes down from Heaven to the clouds and calls up the Church, His bride. After meeting His bride in the air, the Groom and the bride return to His Father’s house which is Heaven. The marriage supper itself will take place there, while down here on earth the events of the tribulation will be playing out.

After the marriage supper of Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are presented to the world as man and wife. This corresponds to the time when Jesus returns to earth at His Second Coming, accompanied by an army “clothed in fine linen, white and clean”!!! Glory!!! \o/

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

The marriage supper of the Lamb occurs before He returns to earth at His Second Coming! Think about this for a moment. It occurs before Revelation 19:14 when Christ returns with His Bride. It fits perfectly with the Pre-Tribulation viewpoint.