Are you really ready for His Appearing?
Timing Of The Seals, Trumps, Bowls
Which Jesus? Who? When?
Except those days be shortened
Jesus -our blessed hope- returns in the flesh!
Are you really ready for His Appearing?
Timing Of The Seals, Trumps, Bowls
Which Jesus? Who? When?
Except those days be shortened
Jesus -our blessed hope- returns in the flesh!
Are you really prepared and waiting; properly dressed with the Word of God, for Jesus to Appear in glory; in Person; in the flesh??? OR - Are you expecting to be "Zapped up" at any second without a moments notice into some mysterious, dark cloud, and meet some invisible and gloriless (to the world) Christ, based on a false belief in a pre trib rapture doctrine??? If so you desperately need to compare what you've been taught against the following Scriptures....
*** Col 3:4 "WHEN Christ, who is our life, shall appear, THEN shall ye also appear WITH him in glory."
(please note my emphasis on the words 'when', 'then' and 'with', and read it again)
*** I Jn 3:2 "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."
(Also read Phil 3:20-21) (note my emphasis is on 'when' and 'see', and read this again)
*** I Jn 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in him; that, WHEN he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him AT his coming."
(Also read 1 Tim.6:14) (note my emphasis on 'when' and 'at', and read it all again)
*** Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the GLORIOUS appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
note the emphasis on His 'Glorious' appearing)
The return of Jesus Christ is going to be nothing short of pure brilliance, glorious, spectacular and "Visible" where Every Eye will see Him...AFTER the tribulation (cf Matt.24:29-31) exactly when He said He would return!!
If your hope is on the return of a Jesus who will come before the trib and/or who will remain hidden from the view of others when He comes, then your BASE of operations is true (For He will indeed return!) but what you've built on it is made of wood, hay and stubble (rather than the word of God) and it's all going to be burned up.
1 Cor 3:
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.
If you haven't prepared yourself to take oil in your lamp with you as the 5 wise virgins standing on Word of Truth have done, then you will suffer loss at the last day when the dead will be raised to new life and the living will be caught up to join them in the clouds.
II Th 1:7-10 "...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day."
Acts 1:11 and other Scriptures make it perfectly clear that Jesus; when He does come, won't remain hidden in some clouds as pre trib believes, but will APPEAR in all of the Glory of His might and in the Power of His Coming and His Kingdom where EVERY EYE will see Him, and they also which pierced Him...
2 Tim 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
The question you now MUST ask yourself is: "Which of His 'Appearings' do I believe in and love and keep?" (There's only going to be ONE appearing, ONE return, ONE catching up! and that 'One' has to do with the laying up of a crown.)
The Word of God clearly tells us that we won't appear with Him in glory (i.e. we won't be raptured, raised and glorified) until after He Himself first appears in glory! 'WHEN' He does 'THEN' we shall all (be caught up and) appear 'WITH' Him, and not one moment before or after.
(Please read Titus 2:13 below to dispell any doubts you may have as to what I mean by His command that we (the church) are to be looking for Him to "Appear" in glory.)
Notice we won't be changed to be like Him (i.e. we won't be raptured, raised and glorified with Him) until He 'Appears' first, and 'WHEN' He does then we'll 'SEE' Him as He is, then we'll appear with Him, then we'll be like Him.
Notice it will be 'AT' His coming (His second coming/parousia) 'WHEN' He is going to appear.
Notice we are to be Looking For that blessed hope (cf Romans 8:23 we groan within ourselves waiting for the redemption of our bodies; and 1 Cor.15:53-54 when the mortal puts on immortality and death is no more), and the 'GLORIOUS' APPEARING of our Lord.
We are commanded to look for nothing else (i.e. for an unblessed/unscriptural hope)! Here, nothing is hidden from view! Nothing mysterious! No one being zapped to some unknown destination hidden away with Him in the clouds hiding His glory.)
His sudden appearing; like a bolt of lightening in a black sky, will end Satan's wrath and begin His own...
#1. THE 6th TRUMP IS **BEFORE** THE 6th SEAL!
6th seal tells us that: "In fear men want rocks to fall and hide them from presence of the Lord...because the time of Thy WRATH is come!"
Now, compare the meaning of the 6th seal with Isaiah...
Isa.2:10, 19, 21 - "men go into rocks and caves" (WHY?) "For fear of His majesty, because the Lord Arises (i.e. the time of His wrath is come)...and shakes the earth greatly"....
Isa.2:12 - In the day of the Lord: "EVERYONE will be brought low...the LORD ALONE will be exalted"...
Isa.2:18 - in that day "HE WILL UTTERLY ABOLISH THE IDOLS"!
Isa.2:20 - in that day "A MAN WILL CAST AWAY HIS IDOLS TO THE MOLES AND THE BATS."
Now compare Isa 2:18 & 20 with the end of the 6th Trump - Rev.9:21 says:
"and the
remainder...DID NOT REPENT OF THEIR IDOLS."
(In the 6th seal men will repent (too late. cf Isa.2:20) as they behold the Lord on high coming in wrath. Yet after the 6th trumpet (the 2nd woe) men still did not repent)
This means that the 6th trumpet occures before the 6th seal is opened.
I know that the 6th seal ushers in the Day of the Lord and His wrath...a day when He will utterly abolish all of the idols, and they will cast them away from them altogether.
#2. The 7th TRUMP **PARALLELS** THE 6th SEAL!
7th Trump: "Thy wrath is come"
6th Seal: "the great day of His wrath is come"
#3. The 6th TRUMP **PARALLELS** THE 5th BOWL!
6th Trump: "and they did not repent of...works of their hands...murders, fornications,thefts..."
5th Bowl: "they did not repent of their deeds"
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
"Is Your Blessed Hope truly founded upon the return of the Exact Same, Visible, God manifest in the flesh Jesus who will come & appear again as He came and left the first time?" (All the Scriptures) -or- is it founded upon a different Jesus - a preterist Jesus (Zero Scriptures) - or one who will secretly rapture His Church several years before His visible return? (Zero Scriptures) -or- is it founded upon the manifest sons/dominionist theory that when He does appear (after they've taken over the world for Him) He will come and be manifested in whole only through His Corporate Body??? (Zero Scriptures)
We have "Several different Grounds" we can stand on concerning the return of Christ. Only "One" is founded upon the solid bedrock of God's word. The others are based on a false premise giving a false hope, one that is based on sand - the quicksand of mans own wisdom, through spiritualizing their own interpretation into the word, refusing to take it as is at face value.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3..."Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition..." Look at all of the "Literal" Truth...
#1. Paul is not speaking to Jews but to "Christians",
#2. Christians who were deceived into thinking (because of the great tribulation they were in for their faith) that they had already missed the resurrection, and that Jesus already came and went without them (1 Th.4:13-18).
#3. But Paul clearly straightens them out by saying to them that the blessed day they are looking for: The coming of the Lord AND their being gathered together unto Him, cannot and will not occur until After the Apostacy takes place and After the antiChrist is known.
And he backs this up perfectly by saying to these "Christians" (1 Th. 4:13-18) that any who are left alive (after their onslaught by the antiChrist) and remain unto the coming of the Lord, as He descends from heaven with a mighty roar, will be gathered/caught up (raptured) to meet Him in the air immediately After the bodies of the dead saints are resurrected first and reunited with their souls.
Acts 1:11..."...men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Check out the "Literal" Truth...
#1. "This Same Jesus"! The angels are not talking about the appearing of some different Jesus in some different form, but are stating that it will be the same Jesus as they once saw.
#2. He will appear as Visibly as He left, coming on the same clouds that engulfed Him into heaven and out of their sight, that will come again and roll away showing Him in all His glory.
#3. The Apostles did not see any of this with "spiritual" or "gnostic" eyes, but with their own "physical" eyes,. The "same eyes" that everyone else on earth uses to see with!
#4. There is no mention anywhere in Scriptures of any hidden, mysterious, spiritual, or corporate Jesus that no one but Christians can see who'll suddenly rapture them home. Acts 1:11 assures us by its literallness of this never happening.
#5. A Blessed-Hope founded upon any other return, rapture or manifestation of Jesus other than visibly in the flesh just as He left (for ALL eyes to see), will play right into the hands of Satan as he comes on the scene as "(anti)Christ returning" for his bride, in mighty, lying and deceiving signs and wonders!
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17.."For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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.
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:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord (cf 2 Th.2:1) in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Again, look at all of the "Literal" Truth...
#1. 2 Th.2:1 and 1 Th.4:17 are exactly identical! They both describe ("Christians") being gathered/caught up together to meet the Lord when He comes!!! In both settings Paul is speaking of the same events, the same time, how, when and where this will all take place. When you place them together they reveal the entire, marvelous picture of His second coming...
#2. That...Jesus will return and we will be gathered up unto Him...
a) After the Apostacy and the antiChrist is on the scene...
b) After the dead are resurrected (in the first resurrection)...
c) After the Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout..
d) After the voice of the archangel...
e) After the trump of God.. .....(This is ALL future, yet to be fulfilled prophecy)
f) Then we'll be caught up in the clouds to be forever with Him!
So you'll want to make sure that the Jesus you are banking your life on is the exact same Jesus (nail holes and all) who came and left the first time...visibly...for all eyes to see...in the flesh! Only this time He'll come as a Lion - as Lord of Lords and King of Kings - in full regalia of splendor and glory - revealed as coming from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not His gospel - who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power - "When He shall come and be glorified in His saints" (2 Th.1:7-10):
"For the trumpet shall sound...and in the twinkling of an eye...the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we (who are alive) will be changed " (cf 1 Cor.15:50-53) ***
Many times I have found that Scriptures as, "those days being shortened" seem to always be the ones that get twisted around to mean something other than what the Spirit of truth intended.
In this case the "shortening of those days" are used by the originators of the pre-wrath rapture doctrine (Van Kampen and Rosenthal) in order that they may shorten the "TERROR" of the tribulation's 3 1/2 years towards Christians and the Jewish remnant, by having the church raptured before the Lord's wrath.
There are several profound Scriptures which clearly show us that both the terribleness of the great tribulation as well as the great tribulation itself will last 3 1/2 years.
And I know that many believe, as I do, that if those days were not "cut short" (i.e. were made to last "more" than 3 1/2 years) then no flesh would be saved.
I state below what I believe are 3 powerful arguments against the pre-wrath rapture position...
#1. When Jesus said, "but for the elects sake those days will be cut short", he did not bring in a new doctrine. For both the OT and the NT already have it clearly laid out that it will go the full 3 1/2 years with the antichrist in power to the very end.
"Now, if I find the Scriptures verifying that the tribulation period will last for 3 1/2 years and none saying otherwise, then I know that Matt.24:22 is taken out of context by them, and does not, can not mean what pre-wrath claims it means."
#2. Jesus said He will return immediately after those days (cf Matt.24:29ff) ...immediately after the tribulation of those days is "THE DAY OF THE LORD", a day of darkness, etc....sun/dark, moon/blood, stars/fall...
However, Pre-wrath doctrine has it set up where He will return (as many as several times) "BEFORE" the 3 1/2 year great trib period has even ended!
Once again many Scriptures (see especially Joel 2 and 3) refer to this time as the Lord is "PRESENT". He is seen before His armies. This, His one and only coming, at the end of the great tribulation, is also the time of His wrath!
In and of itself the pre wrath doctrine is every bit as dangerous as is the pre-trib. doctrine, because they both point to a DIFFERENT COMING(S) of Jesus, all invisible - all before His final appearing, all coming for His church BEFORE His one and only appearing!
Once again when we compare Scripture with Scripture we see that it is THE DAY OF THE LORD; which occurs immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days, that Day that will usher in the real Christ (as Lightning), and not one moment before or after.
#3. Pre-trib believes in "2" comings (one prior to the trib. and one after the trib.), and pre-wrath believes in up to "4" comings (and all of them supposedly occuring from 1 1/2 years before the great trib. is over to well past the trib. period itself by several days to weeks)... coming and going, coming and going.
Pre wrath believes that only His LAST coming is "Visible" to the world.
(This teaching is no different than what pre trib. believes!)
Dan., Acts 1:11, Olivet, 6th seal, Rev.19, 2 Thess 2, and many others only go to PROVE that Christ returns in glory, visibly, taking vengeance, transforming us, destroying the beast, etc.
To have our eyes on any other Jesus other than the Jesus laid down and taught to us by the Spirit of truth...
***Those who hold fast to these false teachings are being "deceived" by them. Jesus especially warns us of deceivers in the last days!!!
If someone who believes in a pre-trib or pre-wrath doctrine says they are not deceived; especially when they find themselves smack-dab in the middle of it all, then I would like them to study Matt. 24:24 and 2 Thes.2:10-12, and explain to me how they're not, before the bottom falls out from under them.***
At the appointed time both pre tribbers and pre wrathers will be busy looking for an earlier appearing of Christ (one before the end of the trib.), an appearance of Christ whom they presume will return at an earlier time other than the time God has appointed for Him.
Any letter, spirit, or word that DIVIDES CHRIST (from Him who was, and is and is to come - the Almighty!) is, according to Gal 1:8-9
IMO the reason that pre wrathers and pre tribbers aren't accursed is because they (like the post tribber) believe that Jesus is yet to come, thus they KEEP the word of His having yet to come intact.
The Basic Gospel = Jesus came as a Lamb and died, Jesus rose, Jesus is coming again as a Lion!
All three comprise the gospel. And in that gospel is:
Therefore, ANY word or prophecy that says that Jesus will come back, but "earlier" than expected and/or will remain "hidden" when He does return, is one that has deceived many. How bad? Time will tell!
While ANY Gospel/Testimony of Jesus that says Jesus is NEVER going to return or that He has already returned, is accursed.
Once again we go to Scripture for the answers. Again and again we see that there is only ONE return of Christ: VISIBLE, and in that ONE return of His He accomplishes "everything".
the Jesus who came and died and saved us by the shedding of His blood...
the same Jesus who rose again and sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us...
the same Jesus who said He is going to return like a thief in the night immediately after the tribulation of those days...
is "Ludicrous"!
These "teachings" are obvious setups for the acceptance of the anti-Christ at 'his' appointed time instead. At the very least, some of those who are not prepared to meet Him will hear, "I don't know you!"
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (also 2 Thes.2:1-3).
Jesus came in the flesh...all eyes see Him
Jesus died in the flesh...all eyes saw Him
Jesus rose in the flesh...all eyes saw Him (Acts 1:11)
Jesus will come again in the flesh...and all eyes will see Him (Rev.1:7)
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isa 8:20"
What we as Christians must understand here is that Jesus came in the flesh...it is also written that He rose in the flesh and will return in the flesh (Acts 1:11, etc.) He is not to be separated from His flesh!
Pre-tribbers please note...there can be nothing 'invisible' concerning the Lord's return. To do so denies Him coming (a second time) in the flesh, where every eye will see Him.
When He returns it will be in the flesh... where all eyes will see Him... coming in the clouds with power and great glory.
And...
Also...
There is no other 'first resurrection' before this anywhere in the Bible! Those who remain and are alive at His coming cannot be raised until the dead saints (the first resurrection) are caught up first.
So, anything that has Christ coming in any other way other than in His 'visible' flesh, or in another time frame (earlier or later) that in any way tries to 'conceal' His coming again in the flesh (as does a pre- trib. rapture), is, in reality, robbing Him of His continual fullness of His being in the flesh: He who came in the flesh, and rose in the flesh, and is coming again...IN THE FLESH (2 John 1:7) - where every eye will see Him.
>>>The confession that "Jesus Christ is come" (eleluthota, a perfect 'having come,' not a mere past historical fact but present and continuing in its blessed effects) "IN THE FLESH", also asserts our Lord's real humanity *past - present- and continuing* in the flesh.<<<
When He first came He came in the flesh.
Now He is seated at the right hand still in the flesh but hidden from view with the clouds surrounding Him and hiding His great power and glory.
#1. when He 'Appears' that's when we'll be changed into His likeness and receive immortal bodies, as the scriptures say, and not one moment before...or after.
#2. we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air at His coming, but only AFTER the dead in Christ are raised up first. This is the 'first' resurrection and is where Daniel and Revelations put it, at the end of the tribulation period after the antichrist came to power.
