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.
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)
The
opening 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.
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 and contributing to the building
of the Kingdom of God. 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. 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.
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” or 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. It is not His blood,
but the blood of those He has trodden down in His righteous wrath.
One wonders what chambers is God 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, 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.
THE
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
pre-conceived 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 are still in effect for us today. What is the term that points
to a Feast of the Lord quoted above? 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” or 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.
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.
And
what of the coming fall feast of the Lord, what is God's plan that
continues?
- the Feast of Trumpets, or return of the King, called “no man knoweth the day or the hour,” because they keep two days, as it is the only day that starts when a small sliver of the moon is visible.
- After this, the Jewish people call the next 10 days, the Days of Awe, proclaiming to one another “may your name be found in the book”...This COULD correspond to the coming Tribulation that leads up to the next Feast in God's plan.
- Day of Atonement (At-One-ment) with God...could coincided with the return of Jesus second coming and putting down all rebellion on this earth and setting up His Millennial Kingdom for a 1000 years.
- Feast of Tabernacles, or God dwelling with us in reigning with justice and with a rod of iron.
- And last is the Great White Throne Judgment, called the Last Great Day, or the judgment of all mankind who have failed to accept Jesus as Savior...this is the second resurrection and they are cast into the Lake of Fire where the Anti-Christ and False Prophet are.For 2000 years or this Church Age (or the Age of Grace), 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 nearly 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 just a year from this
day you are reading this message.
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 this coming fall, and every fall there after 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.
And
I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels,
Go
your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the
earth.” Revelation 16:1)
Read
the whole of the 16th
Chapter of Revelation that shows mankind
who are in rebellion will not
repent and give God glory to their own destruction:
10 “And
the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and
his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for
pain,
11 And
blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores,
and repented not of their deeds.”(Revelation 16:10-11)
We
Are Children of Light
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)
I
repeat here, as I often have done...in verse 10 of the above passage,
the words “I also will keep thee from” is the Greek word,
“EK”...or by definition, “being removed from the time and place
of the event.” What event is Jesus speaking of to the Apostle John?
The coming Tribulation is what the Son of God is referring to.
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..
The
Tribulation starts when the saints of God are taken out “by force”
and snatched away from this earth. When? At 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.
WILL
YOU BE READY?
If
Jesus would actually come this fall, 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 through 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 and 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.(the Holy Spirit, my
explanation)
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)
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 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 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 be at a feast in heaven, called the “marriage
supper of the Lamb” and at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ do
receive rewards for salvation and works done in His Name...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, 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.
12 For
there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
(Romans 10:8-13, my emphasis)
And
the three verses that brought a 10 year old boy, to the realization
that he needed a Savior..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. Because friend and brother, we are close, as the
pre-tribulation RAPTURE IS REAL.
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
