By
Pastor Mike Taylor
8” But
let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of
faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who
died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with him.” (1st Corinthians 5:8-10)
9 “For
they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto
you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true
God;
10 And
to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even
Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1st
Thessalonians 1:9-10)
The
above passages has been used many, many times to support the doctrine
of a HARPAZO, or the redemption of the Church when Jesus comes for
His own before the Tribulation starts. It is popularly called the
RAPTURE. This doctrine has been in existence since the 1st
century, but was forgotten because of the rising of a Gnostic church
in the Middle Ages, that hid those facts from the people, due to its
lust for power on earth. It was not again revealed and re-discovered
until the 18th century, and was designed by God for the
End of Age, the age we live in right now.
SOME
MOCK THAT THE RAPTURE IS AN ESCAPE HATCH
Some
take issue with that concept, saying “are we any better than the
apostles, or the untold amount of men down through the ages that
suffered persecution?” They are referring to the coming Tribulation
and why are we exempt from this time? Their mocking of the rapture as
being an escape hatch from persecution, but fail to understand that
the removal of the church is not an escape but a fulfillment of the
promises of God and we have VICTORY IN JESUS over this sinful world.
The
answer to that question they propose of course is no, we are not
better than than those who have suffered persecution from mortal men,
but in these last days of the government of men over their own
affairs, God has promised us something they did not have. We are
separated from the coming wrath of God by time and space. That is the
difference between them and us. Down through the ages, there have
always been men who would bring harm and even death to other men over
religious beliefs. Men have always persecuted other men, and that
doesn't mean we won't see some form of persecution before Jesus
comes, but we keep our faith that Jesus will protect His own, based
on the clear meanings of Psalms 91, which I proclaim to all who are
His own.
TIME
WHEN MEN PERSECUTED THOSE WHO WOULD NOT BOW
I
am reminded of the Dark Ages, when a ruling theocracy slaughtered
untold amount of people for the quest and lust for power over other
men, and destroyed all who would not bend the knee to its rule. But
down through the ages, you cannot find, or point to in the Bible an
instance where those who follow after our God, our Lord and Savior,
have experienced the wrath of the Almighty falling on their heads.
Many Biblical stories chronicle how God has a Divine habit of
removing His chosen people out of the way, when His wrath against
rebellious mankind falls on them.
Speaking
of the Dark Ages, this same church came up with a blasphemous
doctrine that all who die must pass through a “temporary” state
of punishment in fire to rid them of unforgiven sins. They called it
venial sins. If Jesus did not die for the whole earth, and those who
believe in Him are not cleansed TOTALLY from past, present and future
sins, then to pass through the wrath of God during the Tribulation is
akin to this hideous doctrine of purgatory, that the blood of Jesus
just wasn't quite able to save a man totally from His sins. Which
any truly washed in the blood of Calvary Christian knows is not true.
But let's return to the stories of the Bible that speaks of this
removal from God's wrath.
SHORT
EXAMPLES OF REMOVAL FROM GOD'S WRATH
Some
of the more obvious aspects of that fact are the children of Israel
during the Egyptian enslavement and the plague after plague brought
about to the rebellious Pharoah who defied God and His commands and
wouldn't let God's people go. These plagues were isolated to Egypt
and never came close to the land of Goshen, where the Hebrew slaves
were living.
Then
there is Noah and Lot, who both were removed from the wrath of God,
one by an ark, the other fleeing to the mountains before the angels
of God were sent to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Springing off these well know Biblical stories, I find no account
where God has subjected His people to His own righteous wrath. Can
you? Some will say that they went through, not out of the wrath of
God, but are they missing something? I think they are.
But
let us explore briefly what the Bible says we can expect as this Age
of Grace draws to a close. There are many verses scattered about that
supports that when God's wrath falls upon this planet, the Church of
the Living God will not be present.
EXPLAINING
THE CONCEPT TO A FRIEND
I
was having a conversation with an online friend, who was an admitted
post-tribulation believer, and as we conversed back and forth, I
brought up a well know verse found in your Bible:
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.
11 Behold,
I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown.” (Revelation 3:10-11)
Here
our Risen Lord speaks to the apostle John and tells him, that because
those who have kept His Word and followed His commands, our Lord
promises us that we will be kept from this hour of temptation. Our
God and Savior gave us commands to follow, and a way back to God our
Father and He is the only Way.
“I
am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh to the Father, but
by me.”
(John
14:6)
In
speaking with my online friend, who is a student of the Hebrew and
Greek translations concerning Bible text, I pointed out to him that
the original Greek shows that this passage speaks of the Church being
taken out of, not through the tribulation.
Many
people debate this verse and make assumptions that like Lot and Noah,
or even the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, that they were brought through
the wrath of God. But even my friend didn't realize that there is one
word in the Greek that is in this passage and changes the whole
meaning of the passage, and he had read it many times, and passed
right over it. The passage that tells us “I also will keep thee
from the hour of Temptation”, that the words “I will keep thee”
in the original Greek
centers
on the Greek word (εκ [ek]
) that here denotes out of
not through
the wrath of God.
My friend was flabberghasted, that the original Greek spoke that the
Church is taken “out of” the coming wrath of God that falls on
the whole world. I believe I changed his mind, as he confessed it as
so.
We
continued our discussion as I told him that even in the Old Testament
that there is proof of the Church being removed from this earth and
put into “our chambers” Needless to say, as we talked, the friend
got real quiet.
19 “Thy
dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.
Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of
herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
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.
21 For,
behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the
inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall
disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah
26:19-21)
Notice
that it speaks of the dead rising and being taken to chambers that
they are to shut the doors behind them, because the wrath of God, or
indignation is going to punish the inhabitants of the earth. It
speaks of what I believe was revealed to the Apostle Paul, when being
taught by revelation by our Lord Jesus while living in the Arabian
desert for three years, before he even came to the disciple of Jesus
in Jerusalem. Paul prophecies it even further than Isaiah in his
prophecy.
51 “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.
55 O
death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1st
Corinthians 15:51-55)
Paul
reaffirms this prophecy when speaking to the Thessalonians and adds
more visual information about our change that we will experience:
13 “But
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 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.
18 Wherefore
comfort one another with these words.” (1st
Thessalonians 4:14-18)
In
your mind, if you visualize what Isaiah wrote and what Paul repeated
twice in his epistles, you can see that those who are in the dust of
the earth, asleep in their graves (that being their mortal bodies, as
the spirit is not there), they are suddenly changed, reunited with
their physical bodies and changed into immortal Spirits into what
Jesus is right now, a Glorified Man of flesh and bones. This is the
same type of body that Jesus revealed to His apostles in their closed
room and sat and ate fish and honeycomb in their presence to prove to
them He was not a ghost or phantom. Jesus was an entirely flesh and
bone being, that they could handle and feel, and ate before them, BUT
could vanish from their site, and walk through walls. These immortal
Spirits that we will be are commanded to enter their chambers and
shut the doors behind them, till God's wrath is spent and the blood
will be disclosed on the earth and will not be hidden.
But
what bodies are we talking about here when we speak of being changed
in the twinkling of an eye?
“Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew him not.
2 Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for
we shall see him as he is.
3 And
every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure.” (1st John 3:1-3)
Till that day overtakes
us and we are transported so much like the Star Trek episodes used to
do, and many who read this can identify with a very objective visual
about “beam me up, Scotty” and being transported from one place
to another, we look for our Blessed Hope.
11 “For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”.
(Titus 2:11-14)
MORE
QUESTIONS...
Ok.
My friend asked, so where are these chambers that this passage speaks
of? Isaiah has a sister verse, I believe, that adjoins what even Paul
wrote and it was spoke of by our Lord Jesus when comforting His
disciples.
1,
“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.
4 And
whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (John 14:1-4)
This
Jesus spoke to draw off their minds from an earthly kingdom to an
heavenly one; to point out the place to them whither he was going,
and to support them with the views and hopes of glory under all their
troubles. By his "Father's house" is meant heaven;
10 “For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one
may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.” ( 2
Corinthians 5:1 )
We
are taken to His Father's house and receive rewards based on our
service for God. This is His Father's building, where he has, and
will have all his family.
Note that Jesus is coming to bring us to Himself, and to “receive
you unto myself, that where I AM, there you may be also”. Jesus is
in heaven's realm at the right hand of the Father on His Throne.
Jesus will bring us to His Father's house, not come to us, but we
come to Him. Another clue to the HARPAZO.
The
visualization of these verses brings home to those who look for our
Blessed Hope, that there is a glorious future where we will be Kings
and Priest to our God and we shall reign upon the earth. John sees a
symbolic representation of this truth that the Church is in God's
presence, that John sees in a vision of the future.
4 "And
round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats
I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and
they had on their heads crowns of gold.”( Revelation 4:4)
Note
that the description of these elders? Many have tried to hypothesize
who they are. Some say angels, some say they are not human, and
others have no idea, so they just pass over without discernment.
Angels have never been given crowns, and these saints are entirely
human. They are seated, so their work is over and they are at rest.
They are on thrones, so they are rulers along with God. They are
clothed with white raiment, which is a symbol and sign of the saints
of God. They are crowned with gold crowns, so they have been exalted
to a high position in the government of God.
This
vision shows John that the Church here is symbolized by 24 elders,
which is a multiplication of the number 12, which in the Bible, is a
sign of government. Half from the Old Testament saints, and half from
the New Testament Saints, is my belief...all comprising the Church,
each look either forward or back at the sacrifice that Jesus made on
the Roman cross of His crucifixion for the sins of the world by faith
of both groups. The first group of saints were taken to someplace
in the heavens, as Jesus emptied Paradise of Old Testament saints
when He was resurrected.
7” “But
unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the
gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore
he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and
gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now
that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into
the lower parts of the earth?
10 He
that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all
heavens, that he might fill all things.” (Ephesians 4:7-10)
Here
is a vision of the combining of the two sets of saints..the Old and
the New Testament .The
Church will be rule with Christ for a thousand years as the Bible
attest to.
8
“And
when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty
elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and
golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (this
would be tribulations saints, my emphasis)
9 And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and
to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us
to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and
nation;
10 And
hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on
the earth.” (Revelation 5:8-10)
Our
destiny is to be Kings and rule with our Lord Jesus on earth and to
point those who are born during that Millennial Reign of Christ, to
the sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross over 2000 years ago, as
priest to the Living God who is ruling from Jerusalem. Note that you
will not find the word “Church” mentioned again through the whole
of Revelation past chapter 3 of this book. We are not mentioned again
until we are spoken of in chapter 19 of this apocalyptic book of the
start of the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ. It is another clue
that the Church is not on earth for the whole of the 7 years of the
reign of the Anti-Christ.
6 “And
I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice
of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,
Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 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.
9 And
he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the
marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true
sayings of God.” (Revelation 19:77-9)
Notice
that the bride is clothed with fine line, clean and white, for fine
linen is a symbol for the righteousness of the saints, which is the
Bride of Christ...Immediately, John gives the vision of Jesus
returning with His armies from heaven.
11 “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.
16 And
he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of
Kings, And Lord Of Lords.” (Revelation 19:11-16)
Of
these two passages found in Revelation chp. 19, I want you to focus
on one thing. I know who both are, but I want you to see it...note
what the Bride is clothed with? She is clothed with linen, white and
clean. Then in the next passage quoted we see the armies of heaven
coming to witness the final defeat of all rebellion on earth by our
Great God and King, Jesus the Christ. Note what those who come with
Jesus are wearing? Exactly, they are wearing linen, white and clean,
which in both instances are a sign of the saints. The Church has been
taken to the marriage supper of the Lamb as written in previous
verses, where we receive rewards for service and are joined to our
Lord Jesus, and become part of the Family of God our Father, by the
marriage covenant and we come back with Him, riding on white horse
dressed in the same apparel.
16 “'The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
17 And
if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together.
18 For
I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For
the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation
of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:16-19)
From
the Old Testament into the New Testament, God has revealed that “we
are not appointed to wrath” from God, “but to receive
salvation”...being saved out of the coming Tribulation that refines
Israel as silver is refined in the furnace, and to extinguish all
rebellion and lawlessness on this earth where if the time were not
shortened, “no flesh would be saved, but for the elect, those times
will be shortened”...That is how near total this earth is purged of
all sin and only those who have survived the near complete
destruction of planet earth, and have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior
of their souls, will enter into the Millennium as mortals.
THE
INTERNET IS ABUZZ WITH PROPHECY
Many
people all over the internet are sensing that the time of the return
of Jesus Christ is close at hand. Some take liberty and make
predictions of what date that glorious event will be, but we cannot
know, BUT, we know the season, and from the words of the Bible, we
are bumping right up to the time of the return of our Lord
Jesus..why? Because Jesus told us in no uncertain terms that when
Israel is made a nation again, then that generation will not pass
till all thing be fulfilled..and the amazing part, the generation of
those who saw Israel born again in her own land, is 70 years old this
next year in May of 1948-2018. That my friend, is the number of a
generation, and as Psalms 90 tells us:
“ The
days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of
strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and
sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalms 90:10)
Yes,
my friend, the time of our departure grows close at hand. I have
complete trust in the Words of my Omnipotent God, who knows the end
from the beginning..the Alpha and the Omega, Jesus Christ. Question?
Will you be among those who witness His glorious return for His
Bride, at the removal of God's Church someday soon...maybe sooner
than anyone thinks? Or will you be in total astonishment, or sincere
remorse that you missed this greatest event that ever transpired on
humanity, second only to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead? Don't let this time get away from you.
“We
then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive
not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For
he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of
salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2nd Corinthians
6:1-2)
Today,
if you hear God's voice through His Holy Spirit, do not harden your
heart, as God is calling a remnant that will believe in their heart
and mind, that Jesus is who He said He was, and did what He did so
long ago...
16 “For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.
17 For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
18 He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
If
you believe those words that I have just quoted, in your heart and
your mind...then ask Jesus to come into your heart and life right
now..Repent of your sins, and make that commitment to walk with
Jesus, to read His instruction manual for the rest of your lives,
your Bible, and to confess the Lord to others the hope of your
salvation.
8 “But
what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.
10 For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10)
Don't
let this opportunity pass you by. Believe by faith that Jesus loves
you, and died for you and the sins of the whole world. Don't be
subject to the coming wrath of God, as it will be the most horrific
time in all of mankind's history. Make that decision for Christ,
today.
TILL
WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.
