by
Pastor Mike Taylor
8 “We
are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore
we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of
him.
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.
11 Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made
manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your
consciences.” (2nd Corinthians 5:8-11)
Wondering
about the end times and the rapture can cause confusion, worry and
fear for a lot of people, even Christians! For ages, people have
tried to figure out the exact time that the prophecy of Jesus's
return will happen. The best place to turn for answers about the
rapture is Scripture! God tells us everything we need to know in the
Bible. There are some things that God has left a mystery for us, but
has given us enough information in His Word that we should have
complete confidence and hope in the Hope of our Salvation, Jesus the
Messiah. The above verses speak of a time when those who are found in
Jesus Christ will stand before Him and receive what has been done in
our body, either for Him, or for ourselves.
10
"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a
wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth
thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
13 Every
man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every
man's work of what sort it is.
14 If
any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive
a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1st Corinthians 3:10-15)
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1st Corinthians 3:10-15)
WORK
TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED
As
a Christian believer in Christ our Lord, our service is to be about
our Father's business. Jesus gave us commands to follow and rewards
will be coming for a job well done. I don't know about you, but I
long to hear the words come from my Lord Jesus “well done thou good
and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord” This from
what I can gather from scripture happens to each of us who are found
with the robe of righteousness that only comes from accepting Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior and working for the coming Kingdom of God,
building on the only Foundation, which is Christ our LORD. That robe
is not our righteousness, but we are clothed with His righteousness,
and our ABBA Father only sees the glory of His Son found in us when
we finally stand before Him.
THEORIES
OF THE COMING "HARPAZO" OF THE CHURCH
Some
question the timing of the return of our Lord Jesus and have all
kinds of theories, being Pre-Trib, Pre-wrath, Post-Trib, or in the
extreme no rapture at all, as Jesus will come to us and we, by our
own endeavors create a utopia and we deliver the Church to Jesus when
He returns. But what does the Bible say? Which belief is the truth?
As I said, all the answers to this question are found in the pages of
your Bible.
What
I find among many believers, or even unbelievers, is a
misunderstanding of what scripture is saying. The Bible has the
concept of the removal of the Church BEFORE the coming tribulation
all over its pages and a wise person in these last days, mines them
out like precious jewels, or as a discovery of a vein of gold in the
earth.. Let us take a journey down the verses that speak of this time
of the “Harpazo” the snatching away of the Church of the Living
God in what is popularly called “the Rapture” .
LET'S
START IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH ISAIAH
17” Like
as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is
in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight,
O Lord.
18 We
have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were
brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth;
neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
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
26:17-21)
For
the believer in the pre-tribulation removal of the Church, this is
where I like to start, as the prophet Isaiah saw the removal of God's
people, both the living and the resurrected departed from their
graves. Isaiah speaks of the dead rising to new life, even as dew on
the herbs and the earth, its graves, casting out her dead in
resurrection. The prophet sees judgment coming upon the earth and
tells God's people to enter into their chambers and shut their doors
to hide them from the wrath of Almighty God. God will punish the
“earth dwellers” for their unrighteous acts and evil they have
done in rebellion to His authority over all creation. And Jesus will
stain His robes with their blood, as we see in Revelation chp. 19
when our Lord returns with the armies of 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.” (Revelation 19:11-13)(my emphasis)
It
is not His blood, but the blood of those He has trodden down in
righteous wrath and indignation. One wonders what chambers that God
is telling Isaiah that the people of God will enter into. Then I
remember what Jesus said to His disciples, even saying it to us.
14:1
“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)
For
nearly 2000 years, our Lord God has been preparing a glorious mansion
for each of His brethren called the Bride of Christ, and God the
Father's children. Jesus calls them mansions, and I can't imagine,
even trying to envision the splendor of what God has prepared for us.
9 “But
as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for
them that love him.
10 But
God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
(1st Corinthians 2:9-10)
But
note in one passage, God tells us to shut our doors, and Jesus tells
that we will come to Him, to be where He is, not coming to where we
are. Question. Where is Jesus right now? Of course, the answer is at
the right hand of God the Father. Jesus said He would come again, to
RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF. Note that He will do the receiving. We will
not receive Him, but He will receive us.
TWO
COMINGS OF OUR LORD FOR AND WITH THE CHURCH
The
Bible speaks of two comings, that many people cannot see, even
written right in front their eyes, or they have not read the Bible at
all, but take the word of others who convince them of this error.
As
spoken of, many people have tried to pinpoint the time of the return
of Jesus for 2000 years, and on a Christian forum that I host, I have
had people proclaim that no one knows the hour of the Lord's return
and use it as a reason to scoff that Jesus is not coming anytime
soon. And though that is true that we don't know the exact timing of
His return, we have been given many clues that point to the season of
His return, not for judgment, but for removal of His chosen people,
the Bride of Christ. So what are those verses that speak of the
return of Jesus, most likely sooner than anyone of this world even
thinks?
One
of the most quoted passage of verses that points to the coming of our
Lord is found in 1st Corinthians:
50 “Now
this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
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 15-50-55)
This
is Jesus coming for His church, and then later in Revelation chp. 19,
He proclaims that He will come to rule and reign and the saints are
with Him, clothed in linen, white and clean, a sign of the saints.
Note
verse 52 in 1st Corinthians? In the twinkling of an
eye at the last trump. Many people make an error, because they have a
preconceived notion of a post Tribulation return of Jesus Christ to
rule and reign for 1000 years and the 7th angel
blowing his trumpet, and don't take the historical aspect that many
Jewish people understand, but those who misunderstand are ignorant of
Jewish terminology, because they don't believe that the Feasts of the
Lord is still in effect for us today. What is the term that points to
a Feast of the Lord quoted above? (see next paragraph). And note that
the 7th angel of Revelation is not the same trumpet
blown in this passage. Why? One produces joy, the other indescribable
horror of the 7th angel's trumpet. They are NOT the
same trumpet Paul and John describe.
THE
COMING FEAST OF TRUMPETS
In
Jewish life, since the giving of God's Law to the Hebrew people at
Mt. Sinai, God also gave them appointed times in their calendar that
would proclaim markers, or Holy Convocations that they were to
observe. Even they did not understand, as it was for us, not for them
but they observed in the letter, but we look at it in the spiritual
sense of “God's Plan for Mankind” the salvation of humanity based
on God's appointed times. If you follow, or have in the past, any of
my messages, you know that there are four Feast unto the Lord in the
spring, and three in the fall. We have established in the past
sermons that Jesus fulfilled each of the spring Feast days, called
Holy Days on the exact day of their observance. Let me recap what
those days were completed by Jesus and then we'll look at what He
will complete in the near future. To refresh your memory go here for
that message:
Summarizing
the four Holy Days, or Feast days that were fulfilled by Christ in
the Spring were:
- Passover- Jesus became our Passover Lamb and was slain on the exact day of its observance.
- Feast of Unleavened Bread-Christ was slain outside the camp and was buried along with our sins that He took upon Himself.
- Feast of First Fruits-on the Sunday after Passover, the priest would wave a barley sheaf before the Lord in the Temple, as being the first fruits of their harvest. At the exact same time, Jesus was before God our Father, and became the first fruits of them born of the dead and completed payment in His own blood for the remission of the sins of the world and those who believe on His Name.
- Feast of Pentecost-on the exact day, the Holy Spirit came to those in the upper room and the church was born.
Now
for 2000 years or this Church Age, people have been looking for the
return of Jesus, even the apostles thought He would return in their
lifetime. But here we are, and each generation has thought Jesus was
coming for them in their lifetime, and they have been wrong. Why?
They lacked ONE ingredient to start the countdown of the final week
of Daniel's 70 week prophecy. That ingredient that started the
countdown for the return of Jesus was the founding of Israel again as
a nation.
“Who
has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the
earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall
a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She
gave birth to her children. “ (Isaiah 66:8)
But
that is exactly what happened. In May, 1948, the one thing lacking in
the return of Jesus Christ in prior generations was put into place.
Israel became a nation again, after 2000 years of desolation of the
land, and the scattering of the people of Israel to the four winds.
Israel was REBORN. Why do I say Israel is a sign that was lacking in
past generations? Let us quote what Jesus said concerning the budding
of the fig tree.
32 “Now
learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and
putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So
likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is
near, even at the doors.
34 Verily
I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things
be fulfilled.
35 Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But
of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven,
but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:32-36)
Some
say, how can we know that Jesus is close at hand for the coming for
His Church? Note that Jesus said that this generation. MY GENERATION,
of those born during or right after the forming of Israel as a nation
will not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Let us review what a
generation is, that Jesus spoke of.
“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)
God
has been shortening the lifespan of mankind down from nearly a 1000
years in Adam and Eve's time, to just 70-80 years in our modern time.
Knowing that no man knows the exact day or hour, but we can know the
season, as Jesus said, this generation will not pass till all things
be fulfilled...what will be fulfilled? Jesus will be on this earth
reigning and ruling for a 1000 years. All rebellion will be destroyed
and the earth will be returned to the time of the Garden of Eden...
But
let us observe one thing, if this generation born right after 1948
lives the outside of 80 years, that is 2028, which is 8 years from
now. BUT..there is that word, but if we believe that we will not be
on earth for that last 7 years of tribulation, then the number is
2021 approximately, not trying to pinpoint a date, but knowing the
season is close, very close at hand. That is one year from this day
you are reading this message. God is sovereign and He only knows when
the last of the Gentiles will come in and be saved. So we can't be
dogmatic about a certain year, but we know that the time of His
glorious return is close at hand.
25 “For
I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part
is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And
so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out
of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For
this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
(Romans 11:25-27)
God
is patient and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish:
“The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to
us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to
repentance.”(2nd Peter
3:9)
That
is why I say, we can look at the season, (which we are definitely in)
but we can't know the day, as the Father in heaven can extend His
mercy to Gentiles past what I have proposed above. We just watch and
pray.
The
next Feast day that Jesus, I believe will fulfill, on the exact days
of its observance by Israel, and the Christian who understands their
significance, is the Feast of Trumpets...some call the “Return of
the King” and what Israel calls “No man knoweth the day or the
hour”...coincidence? God is not about coincidences. Could Jesus
come in the near future on a Feast of Trumpets? We watch and pray,
and believe you me, I will have a trained ear listening for the sound
of a trumpet any coming fall, till this Feast is fulfilled.
THE
COMING TRIBULATION IS UPON US
But
as I read rapture verses in your Bible, I am confident, and I am full
of the Hope of Jesus Christ, that I'll not see one day of that coming
Tribulation...oh, we will see tribulation in this life, but when I
say the coming Tribulation, I'm talking about GOD”S WRATH. Many say
they don't know when God's wrath will begin, but reading Revelation
chp. 6, the 1st seal that Jesus opens unleashes the
four horsemen of the apocalypse. The first rider on a white horse is
none other than the Anti-Christ who is revealed holding a bow but no
arrows, meaning he conquers by deceit and lies. As you read this
chapter, the nations know who is bringing this calamity upon them,
and they know they will not escape.
15.
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men,
and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and
every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the
mountains;
16, And
said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the
face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb:
17, For
the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? “
(Revelation 6:15-17)
Jesus
is using men to enact His judgment, much as He used men to bring
judgment to Israel by Babylon, and Assyria. Jesus is causing events
to come to pass, as each seal is broken. He is in control of making
the earth ready for its redemption, that He has already bought with
His own blood on the cross of Calvary. And after chp. 6 of this
apocalyptic book, Divine judgment is enacted that no man can
misunderstand.
So
why am I full of Hope, and confidence that I will not see one day of
this awful time? Because Jesus my Lord told Paul the Apostle, and
John the Beloved a promise to each of them and to us:
4 “But
ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you
as a thief.
5 Ye
are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are
not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore
let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For
they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are
drunken in the night.
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 Thessalonians 5:4-10)
And
the glorified Jesus, the Son of God told John the Beloved Apostle
when He appeared to him: and spoke of what we can hold onto with both
hands and know that Jesus will NOT send His bride through the horrors
of the wrath of God that will cover the whole earth.
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.
12 Him
that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he
shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which
cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my
new name.
13 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.” (Revelation 3:10-13) (CAPS my emphasis)
Taking
that emphasis above “I also will keep thee”, when you look at the
Greek word for that phrase, it is the Greek word “EK”...which as
I have pointed out in the past the meaning;
“EK,
the word origin: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point
whence action or motion proceeds), from, out, removal (of place,
time, or cause)”
Note
we are NOT appointed to God's wrath, and Jesus will keep us from the
hour of temptation that shall try this whole earth. That is a promise
from my Savior, and I pray your Savior.
So
let's recap the nuggets that I am sharing with you. We are in the
time of the end of days, the season of the return of Jesus Christ, in
our generation since Israel was made a nation again.
We
are bumping up to the end of a generation since Israel was made a
nation 72 years ago, this coming May.
The
Tribulation starts when the saints of God are taken out “by force”
and snatched away from this earth. When? Could it be some future
Feast of Trumpets, as "No man Knoweth the day or the Hour".
A term for this day. But He could come at any time, this would just
be another Feast fulfilled, that I believe God is a God of order and
He changes not.
We
are not appointed to wrath, but receive salvation from our Lord, but
the earth will be purged of all rebellion and destruction will cover
the earth and the dwellers who inhabit its land.
Note
as I have mentioned in past messages, that the Tribulation is
designed by God for two things, and that is the redemption of Israel
through much Tribulation, that is why it is called “Jacob's
Trouble” and the nations who have rebelled against God will be
destroyed who do not accept Jesus as Savior during this time, from
witnessing from the 144,000 Jewish Evangelist, the Two Witnesses at
the Temple, and the angel who flies overhead proclaiming the Gospel.
For the last almost 2000 years, God has focused on the church, but
when the Bride of Christ is removed at the rapture, the focus will be
upon Israel to bring them to repentance and accept their Messiah that
their forefathers crucified out of ignorance and rebellion.
WILL
YOU BE READY?
If
Jesus would actually come this fall (or any fall thereafter), would
you be ready to receive the glorified body that He has planned for
those who have accepted His free gift of grace and mercy of the
sacrifice of our Lord Jesus provided by God our Father? Or would you
be in darkness and not imagine that your world just got more
dangerous than at any other time in history? Note I am not making any
predictions of the day, but stating clearly and unequivocally, that
Jesus return is close, right at the door. We don't know the exact day
or hour, so its pointless to try and nail it down. BUT we know the
season, and by all signs in the heavens, on the earth, and events of
evil men and the forming right now of a One World Government just
waiting for the green light to have a spokesman usher in the New
World Order. Then the revealing of the Anti-Christ, that God said I
will not see, that the Holy Spirit will be taken out along with those
He indwells. And then the wicked One will be revealed...not before we
are gone.
“For
the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way.
And
then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming:” 2nd Thessalonians
2:7-8)
The
One who is letting, is God's Holy Spirit and when He is taken out of
the way, all who have that earnest deposit of His Spirit dwelling
within them, will be removed as well.
Will
you still be here, and in total resignation of your fate of enduring
the tribulation. Or will you be those who have no clue, and have
pleasure in their unrighteousness? Don't be counted among these that
have little hope of being in heaven. Many will be saved during this
time, yes, but also, many will die for the truth of God's salvation
found in Jesus Christ. Many will be deluded with lies and false
doctrines of devils, or many will just not care, as they think it's
party time. Party is will not what it will be, but hell on earth for
all who inhabit the nations.
As
for me, and those like me, who have found redemption through Jesus
Christ our Lord, I will present at the Bema Judgment seat of Christ
(an appointed rewards ceremony) and will be at a feast in heaven,
called the “marriage supper of the Lamb”...I will live for
eternity in the glorious light of my God and do His will, whatever He
has in store for those who love Him...
What
about you? Will you be with me and those found in Christ, or will you
be cast away into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing
of teeth, and the worm dieth not or is consumed? I pray you will not
let that happen but embrace these next verses and confess Jesus
Christ as your Lord and Savior..
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.
11 For
the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed.” (Romans 10:8-11)
And
the three verses that brought a 10 year old boy, to the realization
that he needed a Savior..that little boy was ME...
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)
Make
Jesus the Lord of your life today, while the time is there for you to
make that decision in freedom of conscience and not in Tribulation,
if at all. Don't miss the coming rapture of the church the Bride of
Christ.
This
is pastor Mike Taylor, praying you will receive Jesus right now, and
have confidence in the coming rapture...if you need prayer,
counseling, or just a listening ear, contact me
at pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com,, ,
God bless you all,
TILL
WE MEET AT JESUS FEET
