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A Picture of a Pentecost Rapture in Hebrews 12 (Pentecost Study Part 4)




“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
(Hebrews 12:22-24)


My dear watchmen, how have we not seen this?  When is it that we will come to the heavenly Mount Zion and the city of the living God? When do we enter our chambers, the ones that Jesus has been preparing for us in the Heavenly Jerusalem? When will we attend a festal gathering? When will the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven assemble? Surely this is describing the rapture!



But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem...

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2-3)


But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)


Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain. (Isaiah 26:20-21)


Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants.  Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. (Joel 2:15-17)


“Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. (Revelation 21:9-11)


Our chambers are found in our Father's house, in the heavenly Jerusalem, on the heavenly Mount Zion. We enter them at the rapture event to be hidden during the time of God's wrath, and we leave them to come back with Him at the second coming (Revelation 19).  It seems we may be able to come and go from our chambers in the holy city of New Jerusalem during the Millennial Kingdom.






...and to innumerable angels in festal gathering...


Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:9) 


“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32) 


And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10)


Remember in Part 1 of our study, we noted that on the original Pentecost (Shavuot), the elders of Israel ascended Mount Sinai to eat a “covenant affirmation” meal with the LORD?


Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. (Exodus 24:9-11)




...and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven...


Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him... (2 Thessalonians 2:1)


Our assembly is described in the interlinear as Strong's #3831:

panéguris: a festal assembly

Original Word: πανήγυρις, εως, ἡ

Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine

Transliteration: panéguris Phonetic Spelling: (pan-ay'-goo-ris)

Definition: a festival assembly.


HELPS Word-studies:

3831 panḗgyris (from 3956 /pás, “all” and 58 /agorá, “the public square, meeting place”) – properly, an assembly-place where people met for a common purpose, especially to celebrate (commemorate) or be festive (BAGD).


Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3)


Note how Jesus will receive us unto Himself as you read the next passage.


Two men will be in the field; one will be taken [received] and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken [received] and the other left. (Matthew 24:40-41; Mark 13:34-35)


I acknowledge there are differing interpretations of this passage.  What I found interesting was that the word used, paralambanetai, is used elsewhere to represent “received” – as in, the ones taken will be received unto the Lamb. Our reception into heaven is when we are taken from the earth and assemble together before the Lamb. That we are enrolled in heaven means that we are in the Lamb's book of life from the foundation of the world (Rev 17:8).



...and to God, the judge of all...

I believe this is a reference to the Judgment Seat of Christ, where saints will receive or lose their rewards:


And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28)


For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10) 


Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12) 


Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) 


Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25) 


Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8) 


Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12) (Also Rev 2:10: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”) 


And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:4) 


Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to what he has done. (Revelation 22:12)


I believe that the Day of Christ is the heavenly track while the Day of the Lord runs its course on earth. The Day of Christ is the redemption and rewarding of the saints, when the “age of grace” is complete and the true body of Christ is called up to join Jesus in glory. The Day of the Lord is the day of judgment for those who “refused to love the truth and so be saved”  (2 Thessalonians 2:10).



...and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect...

I believe this is related to our complete redemption through the blood of the Lamb.


Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)


And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) 


In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:7-14)



...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant...


Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.(Hebrews 9:15-28 ESV)



...and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The sprinkled blood refers back to the blood of the Lamb, Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant. The blood of Abel refers to the purpose of the Day of the Lord, which is to cleanse the earth of its bloodguilt and wickedness and punish those who refused to love the truth and be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:12).



The Pentecost Connection

Ok, you are saying, I can see the rapture here, with our assembling together in heaven at the redemption of our bodies. But where does Pentecost fit in? For this we turn to the entire passage to ascertain context:


For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 


The passage starts out describing the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai on what day? PENTECOST. It continues with no interruption:


But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 


This is the rapture connection we have discussed above.


And what follows? Keep going... See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:18-29)


Did you note the connection which confirms that the author is connecting the escaping at Mount Sinai and the escaping what is to come next? The author then describes a shaking of the heavens and the earth, to remove the powers from them in order to establish Jesus' Kingdom that will never be shaken! We know that at the rapture there is an escape route, followed by a time of wrath on earth.


But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36) 


The giving of the Law on Mount Sinai was a somber and dramatic occasion, ON PENTECOST, which the author of Hebrews ties together with a future festal gathering in heaven as an escape, followed by a shaking of the heavens and the earth. Could this be a clue that this gathering will also occur on a future PENTECOST, followed by a time of tribulation on earth?




Are you confident of your place at the festal gathering? If you have doubts, please read Blessed Assurance: A Guide to Rapture Readiness.



Further reading on Hebrews 12:

Church of the Firstborn (Part I)

Church of the Firstborn (Part II)

Church of the Firstborn (Part III)

Post A Comment

85 comments:

  1. Oh I so hope you are right this world is getting so ugly and I am "homesick for a place I've never been"

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    1. Amen & Amen. I am but a stranger here, Heaven is my Home!! TITUS 2 v 13!!

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    2. Acts 2:2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

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    3. Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. -

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  2. Wow! I have got to share this with my congregation. I am doing a series on the book of Hebrews. I am in chapter 8. Could I use some of your points?

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    1. Absolutely. Stephanie wrote this, but I'm sure she'd be happy with that.

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  3. I found this passage this week. Yes, I have read it numerous times before, but then it jumped out at me. It too points to a Pretribulation Rapture, but is not linked to Pentecost.

    Psalm 50 - A psalm of Asaph (ESV)
    1 - The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
    2 - Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    3 - Our God comes; he does not keep his silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.
    4. - He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
    5 - "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by my sacrifice!"

    This screamed to me of The Rapture BEFORE the judgement!

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    1. I love that: "by ***MY*** sacrifice!"

      God provided the sacrifice Himself by which we can be gathered.

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    2. Psalm 50:5 - As I've said many times before, Jesus asks, "But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15-17 ESV)

      Personally discovering the correct answer to that question is the BIGGEST "AH-HA!" moment of all time.

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    3. I love those verses in Psalm 50, but I can't find any translation that says; by "My" sacrifice, including the ESV which you listed. It may very well be implied though.

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    4. You're right that "My" is not included in any translations but then again I expect that's "why" there are "quotation" marks around that passage in the post while the other quoted verses didn't.

      We know "who" paid that price!

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    5. The Psalm number 50 speaks of PENTECOST which means 50

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  4. Stephanie,

    Well laid-out and yes, this could be a clue of our gathering at Pentecost. When I think of it as a wedding it makes the most sense. Consider also the perspective of the lost?

    On the day of Shavuot we are told,

    6 And at this sound the
    multitude came together, and
    they were bewildered, because
    each one was hearing them
    speak in his own language.

    7 And they were amazed and
    astonished, saying "Are not
    all these who are speaking
    Galileans?"

    (Acts 2:6-7 ESV)


    In this we see those anointed by the Holy Spirit witnessed by those dwelling in the land. Their speaking in tongues was a mystery thus the worldly ask one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:12 ESV)

    Exactly! What does this mean? What is this mystery?!

    When Jesus was asked privately by the disciples, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered them,

    13 "...the one who endures to
    the end will be saved.

    14 And this gospel of the
    kingdom will be proclaimed
    throughout the whole world
    as a testimony to all nations,
    and then the end will come."

    (Matthew 24:13-14 ESV)


    Surely as the Holy Spirit was given on that Day and indwelt the faithful, the newly conceived Church, is this not the gospel being preached? Is this not the kingdom proclaiming the good news and proclaiming the gospel in every tongue? Are we seeing a shadow of Christ's prophecy of the coming Day? From this beginning, the beginning of the Church, the end is proclaimed just as the Spirit proclaimed through the prophet Isaiah,

    8 "Remember this and stand firm,
    recall it to mind, you transgressors,

    9 remember the former things
    of old; for I am God, and there
    is no other; I am God, and
    there is none like me,

    10 declaring the end from the
    beginning and from ancient times
    things not yet done, saying,

    'My counsel shall stand, and I
    will accomplish all my purpose'"

    (Isaiah 46:8-10 ESV)


    Yes, I can clearly see a Pentecost harpazo as the Day our Bridegroom returns at an hour unknown to take us to the place prepared for us. Without a doubt I can see it for in one instance He comes for His bride; yet at another time we return as legions of Christ with Christ our beloved for His people Israel.

    Indeed, time is short. Stay awake and keep looking UP!

    Thank you for a brilliant study!


    PR

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  5. How I hope the rapture is very soon, I'm ready to leave this world and be with the Lord forever! Come soon and come quickly Lord Jesus!

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  6. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.- Exodus 19:13

    Remembering Enoch, the 7th from Adam, the first rapture, in Jewish tradition was born and raptured on Shavuot (Pentacost).

    Thanks Stephanie, you made some very good points -

    loved this Scripture which I never thought about -

    they beheld God, and ate and drank. (Exodus 24:9-11)

    www.itwasaplan.com

    for the lost - time is short - www.HeDied4u.com

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  7. countdown to Pentacost - 23 Days to go - Only God knows for sure the day and hour -

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  8. OMER DAY 29

    Welcome to Omer Day 29, M2D14, (14 Iyar, 5780), Friday, May 8, 2020 or what is otherwise known as Pesach Sheni -- the Second Passover.

    Blessings to you and yours!

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  9. How do we know Enoch was raptured on Pentecost?

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    1. "He was taken up to heaven in the month sivan on the 6th day, on the very same day on which he was born, and at the very same hour.” (2 Enoch 68:1-3) Source: The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha (Ed. James H. Charlesworth) Doubleday (New York, NY: 1983), Vol. 1, p. 196

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    2. ABOUT ENOCH

      We really don't know when he was born or taken. Extra-biblical writings provide *detail* that is not accepted as Bible canon. Part of that is the tradition that Enoch was born and taken (for the second time) on the day the Law was given. Here is an article that covers some of the Enoch tradition but the links to the reference material don't look accurate.

      The Rapture in Enochian Tradition

      NOTE: I don't know the author of this article nor the owner(s) of the website. It was simply a first hit on a Google search so proceed with discretion but on first pass it looks safe.

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    3. Enoch Traditions --from chuck missler ---https://www.khouse.org/articles/1994/101/

      It is interesting that there is a rabbinical tradition that Enoch was born on the 6th of Sivan. Enoch is an extremely interesting mystery in the Old Testament. (The first prophecy by a prophet in the Bible is a prophecy of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,7 uttered by Enoch before the flood of Noah!)

      Another tradition about Enoch is that he was translated ("raptured?") on his birthday, the 6th of Sivan.

      There were three groups of people facing the judgement of the flood of Noah:

      those that perished in the flood;
      those that were preserved through the flood (in the Ark);
      those that were removed prior to the judgement of the flood.
      It is interesting that Enoch might be a foreshadowing of a removal prior to judgement, in contrast to Noah and his family who were protected through it.

      The Trumpet of God

      Paul mentions the "Trumpet of God" in connection with the rapture.8 It is interesting that this term appears only twice in the Bible: at the giving of the Law at Sinai9 and at the rapture.

      (Don't confuse the "Trumpet of God" with the temple trumpets or the shofar. Also, remember that these trumpets continue during the Millennium, so they aren't "the last trump.")

      Could both of these references to the "Trumpet of God" be connected with the 6th of Sivan?

      The Feast of Harvest

      Another name for the Feast of Weeks is Hag Ha Kazir, The Feast of Harvest, since it is celebrated at the time of the "first harvest." It is interesting that Jesus frequently used "the harvest" as an idiom to refer to the ingathering of believer

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    4. So Rhonda, we can't really say we "know"...it is just a tradition in some Jewish thought. But it is interesting...as we hope for the great day...we are in suspense waiting for the day...and it is also a reasonable point that He will come on a day we do not expect...so only God knows for sure...Keep Watching...Pray for Emma to get saved. Thanks...

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  10. I have been studying the feast days many years. And clearly expect the rapture on 1 of 2 days. Unfortunately this has become a 2 edged sword because after such a long time, each time the rapture does not come, the disappointment becomes worse until now when it is all but unbearable. IF WE EXPECT the rapture on these days, ARE WE NOT FORGETTING THE ADMONITION that the RAPTURE COMES ON A DAY WE DO NOT EXPECT?

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    1. There is certainly some danger is having too high of expectations for a particular date. So plan your future as if it won't happen, but the Bible clearly commands that we "watch", so some level of expectant hope is a good thing. Finding a balance between hightened anticipation and unrealistic expectations that lead to depressed disappointment can be tough. If you find looking to a particular day doesn't work for you, I don't think there's anything wrong with ignoring that teaching and focusing on other aspects of your walk with Jesus while remaining sure He'll come back Some Day.

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    2. @sherrill7775/08/2020 11:07 PM

      You are right, expecting the Rapture on specific dates is foolishness. Let us show some respect to those who believe in a Mid-Trib or even in a Post-Trib Rapture.

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    3. HI SFG, There was a similar comment on T.W. Tramm's latest post about the Harvest. I will reiterate what I said over there. While we do get "disappointed" when the high expectancy days come and go, I find I'm no more disappointed than any other morning I wake up and we are all still here--lol. I came to the Lord through Bible prophecy back in 1979 (Hal Lindsey's Late Great Planet Earth) and have been "watching" for the past 40 years. Certainly we have more reason to be hopeful today than ever before, but I don't let myself get too "attached" to any particular watch date, no matter how good the case can be made for it. God is, after all, God. And He will do as He will do, when He will do it. I frankly think it pleases Him that we are looking, longing to be with Him. At the same time could it be that it pleases Him when we are disappointed? We are still longing for Him, and that pleases Him also. Win/Win. For now we are like little children waiting for the Christmas presents. We know when it's coming; we know when it is, we just don't know when Mom and Dad will wake up and let us go downstairs! Maranatha! Don't grow weary, our Bridegroom cometh! Hallelujah--

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    4. Hmewrdbd - Amen - Countdown to 50 days - 19 days till Pentacost -

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    5. "IF WE EXPECT the rapture on these days, ARE WE NOT FORGETTING THE ADMONITION that the RAPTURE COMES ON A DAY WE DO NOT EXPECT?"

      Take care with verses like Matthew 24:44 and Luke 12:40, where the Lord talks about how He is coming on a day "we think not." On the surface, these verses seem to make it sound as if He could only come on a day that do NOT expect Him, but that doesn't make any sense.

      We are told in Scripture to expect the Lord to come *every* day--at any moment. If we interpret the above verses in that manner, it would be a logical contradiction:

      "I'm commanding you to expect me every day, but I CAN'T come on a day you expect me."

      Huh? I trust you see the problem.

      As you might expect, the problem goes straight to the English translations. The word in Greek that is often translated "expect" or "think" or "suppose" is a form of "dokeo," which is the root from which we get the English word "dogma." It can mean to think, suppose, or form a subjective opinion based on your own logic or suppositions. In other words, it's sort of like "to think something, because that's the way you have it figured out in your own mind."

      So, I am convinced a better way to view what Jesus is saying in these verses might be a bit more along the following lines:

      "I am coming at a time you won't able to figure out or cultivate on opinion about through your own thinking, suppositions, or logic."

      In other words, both these verses are essentially restating what we are told in many other places in Scripture:

      WE. WILL. NEVER. KNOW.

      Jesus couldn't have made this any clearer if He had carved a picture on the side of the empty tomb. Point blank: It's not for us to know (Acts 1:7).

      Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with biblically based speculation, as long as you keep in mind that it's precisely that: speck-you-lay-shun. One should never allow it to become a distraction, however. But like many things, that's easier said than done.

      So how do we do that?

      The same way we do anything:

      We obey the Word.

      We are commanded in Scripture to wait, but the word used implies an *active* waiting--not waiting and daydreaming, but waiting while we keep busy with what we're supposed to be doing. For example, when Jesus said "Occupy until I come" (Luke 19:13) the word He uses (a form of "pragmateuomaia") means to take care of practical matters, and is related to the English word "pragmatic." In other words:

      Do your job.

      So that's what you do with date speculation, if you do anything at all with it:

      You stick it in your back pocket and get back to work.

      Trust me...that 5 o'clock whistle is going to blow soon enough. =:)

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  11. A Pentecost rapture would be great. We will know shortly.

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  12. There's a YT channel called Ministry Revealed, and the guy regularly goes into 1.5 to 2 hour explanations of prophecy stuff. His conclusion is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are talking to three different groups; unrepentant Jews, post-tribulation saints, and pre-tribulation saints, respectively. One of his examples is that the color of Jesus' robe he's wearing when he's being beaten is three different colors in each of the Books. In Matthew, it is red. In Mark, it is purple. In Luke, it is white. Another example he uses is that Luke never hears Jesus say "you will not know the day and hour." Only Matthew and Mark hear those words. Luke hears that if you don't watch, you won't know the day and hour (which implies that if you do watch, you will know). A third example Ministry Revealed uses is Jesus's last words on the Cross. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus says "Father, why have you forsaken me?" Where Luke hears, "Into you hands I offer up my spirit." The YT channel suggests that the "first will be last and the last will be first" is also relevant to the order of the three gospels presented, meaning it would be in this order instead: Luke (pretrib belivers), Mark (post-trib saints), and lastly Matthew (the unrepentant Jews and world in the Great Tribulation). It's hard for me to refute this person's studies; I've watched a few of his videos, and his proof seems pretty undeniable as his sources are the Bible, and that Blue Window program that helps you find the Strong's meanings for each word. He also suggests the Tribulation is 14 years, not 7. He calls (what we call the Rapture) the Escape, and he uses the Rapture for after 7 years for the mid-trib saints. Then 6 years of Great Tribulation, followed by Jesus coming back after the 6th to clean up for a year (being the 14th year) to then start the Millennial Reign.

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    1. Well, I'm no theologian; I've only studied Scripture for forty-two years, but I honestly can't make heads nor tales of what that guy's saying. His "explanation" of 2 Corinthians 12 is FAR too confusing (and, imho, just wrong) to make any sense of. He seems to take a few verses, rip them out of context, and then he creates a (false) doctrine of a 14 year tribulation period from them. Huh??? I'd stay clear of that "ministry" were I you. It's just an opinion, but my Discernment Meter went pretty high with this one. No offense intended.

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    2. No, I don't take offense. I'm not a loyal follower or anything of this guy. I have only watched a couple of his videos. But I do agree that he makes things very complicated basically implying that we cannot know the real truth without the Blue Window program (Strong's). While I do think that Strong's is a beneficial tool, I feel that some people make Strong's EQUAL to the Bible in it's necessity for knowledge and wisdom. My original point is that I'm not a huge proponent to Strong's, but this guy seems to know what he's talking about when it comes to it. I know people find numbers and words and match them to Scripture, finding meanings, but I do not agree that it is a program that is vital to understanding the Word of God. That's why I say it's hard for me to refute what he's saying as reliable. To me, somebody who's not well doctored in Strong's, the layman's of what he's describing throughout his studies SEEMS to make sense. That's why I brought his channel up here. I know some of you guys are way more versed in the Bible than me. But I was also hoping that some different perspective might bring something to light at the same time. Again, like the whole Matthew, Mark, and Luke describing Jesus wearing different colored clothes.

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    3. ABOUT STRONG'S

      If you want to dive deep, dig in and understand the Bible it is advised you understand the languages it was written in. Both Greek and Hebrew/Aramaic are precise languages and a concordance is one way of digging deeper into the meaning of the words used in Scripture. Each word is catalogued by number alphabetically so it's not random. Anyone can benefit from Strong's as a resource but our FIRST and BEST source of teaching and wisdom will ALWAYS be the Holy Spirit.

      Translations from original languages (especially dynamic translations) may leave out a lot that a reader would otherwise get from studying original keywords with the benefit of a concordance. Again, it's all about what is the meaning of the words used in their context and how we understand them.

      If you're not careful you might find yourself learning Greek or Hebrew!

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    5. Ooops...made a typo.

      I wish I could learn Greek and Hebrew, but learning another language can be tremendously difficult the older you get unless you're virtually immersed in it. However, I found a very useful tool which might be helpful to those, like me, who don't know the original languages:

      STEPBible by Tyndale House Cambridge. It can be found at https://www.stepbible.org/

      "STEPBible lets you explore the Bible in many languages and provides tools for many kinds of study."

      Best of all, it's free! :O)

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    6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    7. What an AWESOME find! STEPBible. I just downloaded it to my phone. Very nice. Thank you for sharing Ava!

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  13. I have working on something that involves Hebrews 12:22 mentioned in this article and the "heavenly Mt.Zion"

    What I conclude from this will be a little controversial but im by no means dogmatic about anything. It involves the identity of the male child in Rev. 12:5. I agree with the authors of this site that it is NOT referring to Jesus. Jesus was not harpazoed when he ascended to heaven. Another greek word is used to describe that and also Jesus was not in any danger when he ascended. The problem I have is that I dont believe its referring to us the current Body of Christ either. So who is it?

    In Rev.7, it talks about 144,000 jewish preachers 12,000 for each tribe who will go forth preach the gospel of the Kingdom. The rules of salvation will change after the rapture and they will return to the O.T. rules. No more saved by faith/grace, works will be required and the salvation will not be guaranteed at this time.

    Lets go forward to Rev. 14:1-6. I wont quote it all but I invite you to look at it. In verse 1 it says that Jesus( the Lamb) is meeting with the 144,000 on Mt. Zion. In verse 2-4 it seems to be talking about a meeting on heavenly Mt. Zion not on earth. Compare verse 3 to Rev. 5:8. It mentions the same things present. Harpers, the four beasts, elders. This meeting takes place in heaven and thus my reference now to Hebrews 12:22. For some reason I always thought that New Jerusalem was a place that will be built in the future but no longer. It exists now and always has, its where God lives!

    My conclusion is that the male child of Rev. 12:5 is the 144,000 who will have their own rapture to join us in heaven.

    I also disagree with the idea that the third of the stars is talking about meteorites or the like. In Rev. 12:4-10 where it says the devil was cast out of heaven with the stars its talking about the literal banishment of the adversary from the presence of the throne. There are three layers to heaven. The third is where God lives, the second is outer space and the first is where the birds fly. The devil was removed from the third heaven after the original battle with God eons ago. Rev. 12 is describing the second banishment and confinement to earth. Up until this time the devil could still approach the throne. "for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night." Rev.12:10b.

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    1. Hi Mainer ;

      I think you might have missed this one. Rev 12:5, in my opinion, is referencing an escape from satan, before the Tribulation. So this will be all saved, dead and alive.The 144,000 will be sealed during the Tribulation and raptured prior to the 2nd Coming. I think you are right on with satan and banishment to Earth. This will happen at Mid-Trib.

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  14. I am working on something else which shows that the book of Revelation wasnot, is not written to us, the body of Christ.

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    1. A THOUGHT

      Torah was written by G-d, about G-d and for G-d. All of Torah, the writings and the prophets were written for God in the person of Christ Jesus our Lord. The New Testament is also written by God in the person of the Holy Spirit about Emmanuel, God with us. It is the way we see God in us, with us and through us.

      The *parenthetical* Revelations of Jesus Christ was given to the church, the children of Israel and all mankind. Revelation begins with the church, the body of Christ and ends with the same as One with God the Father through Christ Jesus. Israel is the focus of most of the narrative but it also comes with warnings to the new church that is yet to be born -- the believers (saints) of the tribulation. The tribulation saints are very much a part of what is to come and a church I pray for and *feed* daily through our ministry.

      It is good and proper to understand who is who in these respects. Jew, gentile, saved and the lost. (Not to mention Satan, understanding what the AC is and how it wages war on God and man).

      In the end we who are saved are saved by abiding in Christ. Jew and Gentile. We are all grafted as One in Jesus. The stubble is gathered and thrown into the fire. They too are included as Christ's Revelation was given for them as well as a warning.

      The Revelation of Jesus Christ is part of the whole of Scripture that was written for all mankind, by God, about God and for God to the glory of His Name.

      Looking forward to reading more on your personal study.

      Happy hunting!

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    2. Adding a Scriptual pin-point to expand upon the above,

      44 Then he [Jesus] said to them,

      "These are my words that I spoke
      to you while I was still with you,
      that everything written about me
      in the Law of Moses [Torah] and
      the Prophets [Nevi'im] and the Psalms
      [Kethuvim] must be fulfilled."

      RED LETTERS (Luke 24:44 ESV)


      Jesus tells us that all of Book of the Law, the writings and the prophets were written by Him, about Him and through Him. Jews call that the Tanakh (TNK) -- or what we call the Old Testament. Afterall, is He not the Word of God? (John 1:1 ESV)

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  15. I've had a Revelation~ Praise the Lord Jesus, first I would like to express how I look forward to each new article. I read every word slow and several times, like a hungry dog looking up at the table of his master waiting for that next crumb to fall.I'm thinking it may not be long before our Lord pays us a visit. Greg, and some of you can recall for the last several years I have witness of the three Hebrew letters left on my face while in prayer for a healing of my broken back ten years ago now.
    As I was telling in my witnessing, I had had a Jewish doctor tell me it said our God, then I had a Spanish Jew that was a F-18 pilot in the US Navy tell me it said Yahweh, then a Jehovah's Witness😨 said it was Jehovah/Yahweh.
    Back A few months ago I was still on the hunt for the letters to tell me if what they said was it. I ended up on a site listing all of God's names He was called in the Old Testament, and there spellings in the old Testament Hebrew way.
    Nothing I saw was three letters or even close looking to mine. So I'm like what!...are these people seeing on my face. Here it is, God is letting them see it as( I God put that there) and wasn't ready to reveal it to me yet, and wasn't going to let Them be first, just giving me nuggets.

    OK~ A little farther down the page of where all God's different names He was called were these three Hebrew letters all by themselves. As soon as I saw them, I knew they were the closest I've ever seen to what's on my face.
    The two on each end are pretty dead on, the one in the middle is a little different, but so close I think God's Holy Spirit would write it the way it's right, not a scribe.
    Being that as it is, what was the clincher was when I saw it on Bible Lexicons Old Testament Hebrew Lexical Dictionary. As for Strong's #5341-
    The translation, then the Phonetics, then the confirmation the Lord gave letting me know this was it.
    Word Definition [Brown-Driver-Briggs
    These define me for the last ten years since the miracle healing, especially the last one WATCHMAN as what I always expressed and claimed I was to be after the Holy Spirit had me start with the book of Revelation when I first read the bible, then the second book was Daniel.
    just by the emails I've sent out sense the obama days, and all these years of warnings of what comes our way, and that was the job of the watchman on the walls of Jerusalem. Also last Pentecost the Holy Spirit told me the letters are burn scars from inside out when His healing heat (fire) entered me. Bible Lexicons
    Old Testament Hebrew Lexical Dictionary
    Entry for Strong's #5341 - נָצַר Transliteration
    nâtsar
    Phonetics
    naw-tsar'
    Word Definition [ Brown-Drivers-Briggs | Strong ]
    Brown-Driver-Briggs' Definition

    1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep

    1a) (Qal)

    1a1) to watch, guard, keep

    1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers

    1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity

    1a4) to guard, keep secret

    1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded

    1a6) watchman (participle)
    As I had also witness, three years after the blessed healing/sealing I found out I was Jewish from my mother's side. All these things I had to go through, and that Is why God sent me into the LIGHT of Yeshua when I was shot down in my helicopter in Vietnam and shown my life review before being sent back to my body trapped under the wreckage.
    I see it all now unfolding through the years, from God bringing me back from a first death to healing me while in a prayer, sealing me on the face after humbling myself, to showing me my Hebrew blood roots.Everything has sped up since last Pentecost, telling me to not describe the letters as looking like a white tattoo, but as burn scars from inside from His healing fire, to last January sending me to the page that would give me the meaning of the three old Hebrew letters.
    I feel as you all do, our Father is sending His Son soon.
    If you know of a way,I would gladly send a picture of the letters on my face, or my full testimony.Shalom...James Scott

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    1. Hello, James!

      You may have found that modern Hebrew script falls into two categories, block script and cursive. For the most part you see block script and see it w/o vowels -- only consonants. Modern script is very different from that which Moses would have recognized. Ancient (paleo) Hebrew text had different letter forms and could account for differences you are seeing.

      Paleo-Hebrew can be further translated mechanically as each character has its own set of meanings AND numeric value(s). Hebrew can be thought of as an alephbet, a set of hieroglyphs as well as numbers. For example, the character "א" (aleph) means, "strong", "power", "leader" or other synonyms bearing that function. (Remember, Hebrew language is more about function than form!)

      In paleo-Hebrew the letter aleph looked like the head of a bull or ox -- not too different from the constellation Taurus. Form, function and meaning were all tied together. The numeric value of "א" is one (1).

      Take the first two letters of the alephbet, "א" and "ב" then add them together the sum is "ג" or three. We all know that 1 + 2 = 3 but the first two letters of the alephbet also form the word, "אב" which many may recognize as root to the familiar word "אבא" meaning "dad" or "daddy" but has more formal meaning imparting authority.

      Thus the first two characters of the alephbet summed together equals three and a meaning pointing to authoritative leadership or lordship.

      The first Hebrew letter in the Torah is "ב". You might think that the first letter should have been "א". There are many hypotheses as to why "א" is not the first character. I like to think of it this way, "א" is often silent and being so is holy. The inexpressible Name of G-d is rendered "יהוה" but traditionally not spoken in Jewish tradition. The number of the inexpressible Name of G-d is 26. Given that the Name representing G-d is not spoken I wonder if the first letter, often silent, was not written as it represents the holiness of G-d and the authority of His Word?

      A thought...


      As far as "נצר", (H5341) mechanically translates something like this,

      Value...Letter...Meaning(s)
      ==================================================
      נ......50........Seed, continue, heir, son
      צ......90........Trail, journey, chase, hunt
      ר....200........Head, first, top, beginning

      The number of the name of "נצר" is 340.

      Find more resources and study guides for ancient Hebrew at the Ancient Hebrew Research Center. A chart providing all of the ancient Hebrew characters and functional meanings can be found HERE.

      I hope this helps in your journey!

      Blessings,


      PR

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    2. Thank you Pastor Rich, it has been a long ten year search. Funny how none of the Orthodox Jews had a clue that I have shown it to in person except the IDF Apache Helo pilot last Spring that said it was very old Hebrew. I would be honored to send you a pic to see what you think of it, I'm at jkscott@gmail.com Shalom

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    3. Pastor Rich~ please send to my email again, it must have shown up in spam and got deleted automatic in the 30 day cycle......jkscottco@gmail.com...or it got attacked, I was warned five years ago by an 85 year old man that was so strange I had to ask him if he was an angel, he said no, but be careful who you show that seal to being the enemy is waiting.

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  16. The Lord's timing will be perfect. We pray with Jesus..."not My will but Thine be done"...we hope for the rapture...because we hope to see Jesus today...we hope for the next Festival...Pentacost...but if it does not come, by faith we will rejoice that we have one more day or a few more months to share the gospel to the lost...Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom...Luke 12:32-33

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  17. No one knows the day or the hour. I expect the rapture everyday. My morning pray is that today is the day and that those in my family who are not saved be saved during the great wake up call. Tell me what prophecy there is left to fulfill. Perhaps the last Gentile to accept the free gift of grace, only God knows who that is. So I will set a date: tomorrow. And if that does not come to pass I will get up, say my prayers and ask God what he would like me to do today. Maybe I will be that instrument to bring someone to Christ. I guess what I am saying is expect it everyday.

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    1. Indeed, we don't even know if we'll see the next hour. Whether the Lord comes to take me or He calls me Home I only know one thing and that is Christ. Jesus is the author and finisher of the faith in which I walk daily and the One in whom I place all my trust.

      That is good enough for me.

      Am I saying that we do not watch? Absolutely not!

      The Lord Himself teaches us,

      33 Be on guard, keep awake.
      For you do not know when the
      time will come.

      34 It is like a man going on
      a journey, when he leaves
      home and puts his servants in
      charge, each with his work,
      and commands the doorkeeper
      to stay awake.

      35 Therefore stay awake --
      for you do not know when the
      master of the house will
      come, in the evening, or at
      midnight, or when the rooster
      crows, or in the morning --

      36 lest he come suddenly and
      find you asleep.

      37 And what I say to you I
      say to all: Stay awake."

      RED LETTERS (Mark 13:33-37 ESV)


      I model Scripture in ways that suggest dates but I cannot say that any day is the Day. Even if I did know by special Revelation how could I prove it without the greater Revelation? Nobody would believe and why should they?

      Certain dates pop out to us but what does that do? It helps give our days value as we understand that they are few and fleeting. The simple "I do!" of a new believer is worth another day. I have to (and do) trust in what the Lord is up to here and in eternity. This is why I am not disappointed when dates come and go. My time is not His and His time will be mine.

      Back to my yard work!

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    2. ME TOO! I pray everyday "Come now Lord Jesus" which is His last command at the end of Revelation & which I think perfectly bookmarks His first: "Thy Kingdom COME!" I REALLY REALLY wish I had people around me IN PERSON to pray with because even before social distancing I have been completely isolated from enlightened believers with any Bible knowledge nor one bit of interest in Bible prophecy. Sad but true.

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    3. Sfg....Christian's, especially those of us that literally take the Bible, are so mocked, labeled as tin foil hat wearers, feeble minded, unscientific,uneducated....it is with an honor I let those banana peels get flung upon me...cause someday I will be in the tree eating the fruit of those peels, and they that cast the peels will be wailing for their lives that were lost to deception.

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    4. SO TRUE! When I am mocked, I mention that Isaac Newton actually spent more time studying the Bible than physics & people just look back at me blankly. They do think we are all stupid. By the way, Newton studied Daniel & dated the 2nd coming but he lacked an important data point, namely 1948. His writings were in Jefferson's library. So there was a time scholars loved the Bible & since that is long past, I take it as a sign the end is soon.

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  18. Here's a slightly different take on Pentecost and the pandemic from Pray4Zion run by Alf & Julie Saunders out of South Africa.
    http://www.pray4zion.org/TheDivineReSet.html

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  19. thanks, Jenny. Outstanding article

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  20. sfg, You do have people around you. The church! We are together in Christ and we surround you and would love to pray with you, please let us know how. While we are not in person yet, there will come a day. Know that you are surrounded with other believers on this site and others no matter where you are or what your circumstances. There are lots of ministries on-line that you could plug into if you don't have one locally. Please know we are all here with you.

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    1. How kind. I watch David Jeremiah, JD Farag, Adrian Rogers, & Studies With Stearman every Sunday. I read Jan Markell's advice on how to "survive" in the remnant church BUT I think there should be a 21st Century way for us to NETWORK since so many of these scattered vibrant ministries have data bases with all our names. THE BODY OF CHRIST SHOULD NOT BE FRAGMENTED NOR SHOULD WE SETTLE FOR A VAPID CHURCH. I fully remember when church was once great.

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    2. Oh ya, love me some JD Farag. He has been so on fire lately. Can't wait to meet him one day.

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  21. sfg, I think you may be on to something important. I am reaching out to see if there is a way we can safely connect. I would love to hear more on your thoughts as there certainly is technology and it may become extremely important for the tribulation saints and perhaps the 144,000 remnant.

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    1. Well my alumni association is able to connect thousands of grads. Facebook has a lock on "social media" & is, well you know... Then how is it so impossible for US to find one another?? So a few times I live streamed prophecy conferences where people come from all over the country because getting good Bible prophecy locally is impossible. The persons who did the conferences often mention how people show up CRYING since they are so STARVED. That got me to thinking to contact these ministries since they have a data base & THEY often write when they want money from US. I all but BEGGED for HELP that the disjointed remnant may NETWORK & had NO SUCCESS. I am beyond beside myself that satan has one that battle of divide & conquer for reasons I do not understand.

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    2. I have found that disconnect has existed for a very long time, and isn’t some new aberration. Maybe it’s always been there, outside of a few select pockets that tend to come and go over time. I’ve known many fine and devout Christians that simply do NOT want to discuss it. Many just think it’s too “weird”. Part of the problem is that there are far too many factions and schools of thought. There seems to be more disagreement than agreement. I’m confounded that so many people can eagerly and solidly accept all the supernatural basis of Christian doctrine historically, but all of that unravels when it comes to dealing with miraculous and startling events that they may be alive to witness firsthand. I think it’s a foible of human nature that runs like a vein through both Christian and non-Christian.

      DW

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  22. There are literally tens of thousands of different Christian churches. The number I heard is around 33,000 worldwide. Its because people cant agree on what the Word says. The Baptists disagree with the Pentecostals, the Pentecostals think the Methodists are out to lunch etc.

    The devil has been quite successful at causing this division among the Church unfortunately and thats not going to change.

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  23. The Resurrection/Rapture is a Pentecostal event. It will occur at a day and hour only known to the Lord. Although a feast day sets the stage for the event, no one knows how to correctly count from Passover to Pentecost. It is probably on a Sunday (Jerusalem time) in the Spring of the Year. Personally, I anticipate it every weekend from mid May to the first weekend in June. I am curious, just as the prophets as to what manner of time Christ's glory shall appear.( 1 Peter 1:11)

    The Pentecostal symbolism of the priestly offering (Leviticus 23:17), the two loaves of bread offered up to God, the wave offering, represents the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the catching out of the living in Christ. We follow Jesus who was the first fruits of the resurrection. He was being resurrected in the symbolism of the grain sheaf waver offering. Pentecost has two parts: (1) deposit of the Holy Spirit (an earnest deposit/guaranty) of the (2) redemption of the body. Both events are pentecostal. When we depart, so does the restrainer. (2 Thessalonians 2:6)

    Paul states that there are three orders to the first resurrection. (1Corinthians 15:20-28) Christ was the (1) first order during the Feast of unleavened bread at the festival of first fruits, (2) Christ's own at His appearing (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:52), and (3) then comes the end (Revelation 20:4-5). These three resurrections follow the three pilgrimage feasts of the Lord, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost and Tabernacles. They are holy convocations (chag). (Exodus 23:14)

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  24. AN OBSERVATION

    Looking over my notes I see from the Spring Equinox to Shavuot is 70-days. The Vernal Equinox occurred at 0349 UTC (0649 IDT). At 0924 UTC the SOHO/LASCO front-side sun (earth view) coronagraph captured a massive Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) from the surface of the sun in the shape of a crown. This plasma ejection was not directed toward Earth and can be seen in the following video on space weather,

    The Sun Blows a Smoke Ring | Space Weather News 03.24.2020

    Space weather forecaster Tamitha Skov compares the CME to a *smoke ring*. I cannot help but see a wreath or a crown.

    Signs in the Sun?

    Interesting...


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  25. Psalm 84:1-2 Psalm 84:3-4 Psalm 84:5 Psalm 84:10

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  26. I was also thinking about the numbers. Pentecost- Pente meaning 5. Five in the Bible meaning grace. Israel is now 72 years old again. 7 meaning complete or perfection. Also in Luke 10, the first Christians 72 of them, sent out 2 by 2 to bring peace to the household and village and tell the good news of Jesus. This year in February, the second month, I turned 57. When I thanked God for my life and my years He laid on my heart that grace was complete!

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  27. So I have a scattered theory/thought/idea: speculation that I would love to get some feedback, curious thoughts. I will try to keep in a little organized, but Im ADD.

    Okay so we know the first Feasts were fulfilled with Jesus at the death and resurrection. And we are awaiting the fulfillment of the fall feasts. Ive always been taught the fulfillment of Feast of Trumpets is the rapture of the church, however what IF the FOT is actually fulfilled with the start of the Tribulation.

    Now my thought is maybe Penecost is fulfilled with Rapture and FOT start Trib, Day of Atonement, Second Coming, Feast of Tabernacles, millennium falcon.

    I also had read an interpretation from daniel11truth; that suggested the seals had already be broken and theres compelling suggestions of fulfillment with Seal 6 being the rapture. (Note I am not certain I am fully on board with this line of thinking)
    So what if that is the case, and rapture is Pentecost, and the time between that and FOT, gives time for the dust to settle with all trying to regroup after millions disappear, and allows time for the 144000 to be sealed and when the first Trumpet is blown is of FOT and begins the Tribulation. (See it- Trumpet Judgements started of FOT?). No? Okay just an idea I had, seemed possible.

    All in all, I know Jesus is coming, and coming soon, and the aftermath will happen but I wont be here. I am just so excited to see it coming!!

    Anyway feel free to share thoughts.

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    1. ** millennium kingdom

      My bad guys

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    2. Lyndsey,

      A couple of thoughts...

      If even the first seal had already been broken; we are given to ask, "Who are the 24 elders in the presence of God?" (Revelation 4:4) This is an important question. If they are the raptured Church then the harpazo would have already happened before the opening of the first seal.

      Catch my drift?

      If the 24 elders are not the Church then you can continue with the line of thought of opening seals and a pending harpazo. (YMMV) I for one believe the 24 elders represent (us) the Church and thus we have yet to see the opening of the first seal.

      Another way to look at it is, "Who is the rider on the white horse?" (Revelation 6:2) If this is the AC then we are given to ask, "Has it yet been revealed?"

      Nope. Some of us are still playing pin the tail on the donkey.

      I think it safe to say we are not yet to the opening of the seals BUT we are seeing a preview of what is to come. The inhabitants of the Earth have been warned. The worldly mind has been put on notice.

      Shavuot (Pentecost) has a picture of marriage associated with it and many an argument can be made for a Pentecost rapture. Yom Teruah, this year, is (IMHO) an excellent fit to the literal interpretation of (Psalm 90:10), Daniel, Matthew and Revelation for the triumphant return of our Lord Christ Jesus at Yom Kippur seven years later. My latest timeline model has some very interesting dates that put my hair on end.

      So, yes, I think it could go the way you outlined although the instant removal of all of the Body at once will not be an event that will be shook-off by the world. Our departure will be catastrophic and what the world has known as normalcy will forever be a distant memory.

      Much prayer is needed for those who will endure that time...

      Interestingly, such a model provides seven (7) trumpets by the calendar. Seven Days of Shouting, seven Feast of Trumpets -- the last of which falls immediately before Yom Kippur when the longest trumpet blast will sound for the last time calling for the Lord's return.

      If that were the case -- oh the things to happen in the last 10-days before Atonement.

      Good questions! So get out your Bible and get on your knees; open your heart and open the Book that works BEST when opened! Pray for the giving of wisdom of God by His Holy Spirit and see where He takes you!

      Study well,


      PR

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    3. "I think it safe to say we are not yet to the opening of the seals.."
      Only if you agree to the teaching that the 24 elders represent the church. I believe the 24 elders represent twelve OT elders and the 12 disciples. Wrong teaching chokes the Word and makes it unfruitful. It has stopped a whole host of Protestants from even believing that there is a seven year Tribulation.

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  30. So from what I’m understanding and gather from the recent posts including this one you are encouraging date setting? I know with this pandemic things definitely seem crazy but I found your site because of an article. I don’t think this is it as you all state at least in my opinion I gather this is a pretrib site so I know I won’t garner any favor among you as I am a post trib believer. I just dislike all the doom and gloom pushed on sites like these.

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    1. Why do you describe it as “doom and gloom”? We’re pointing toward the ultimate hope for mankind. In fact, there is no other longterm hope. It should be obvious to any thinking or feeling person that we’re profoundly lacking the ability to “fix ourselves”. This site merely tracks and reports on what’s happening in the world relating to End Time prophecy, and as watchers, certain times and seasons resonate more than others. But that’s not the same as “date setting”. They’re known as “high-watch times”, not guaranteed dates.

      On the other hand, as a post-trib believer, surely you understand that every measurable aspect of life and the world is on an unstoppable course toward worsening. That’s precisely what the Great Tribulation is, and if you expect to be here throughout, well... you haven’t seen anything yet. And THAT is truly doom and gloom.

      DW

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    2. Look I know what’s coming and this pandemic is nothing but a dress rehearsal for what’s coming. We must endure til the end and that’s going to be tough. However I don’t subscribe to the preterist escapism doctrine. We will be here this time next year far worse off than this year but again that’s my belief and you are most certainly entitled to yours. God bless

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    3. I understand that’s your belief, but it’s still beyond ironic that you describe this and similar websites, and our beliefs, as being “doom and gloom”. Then you turn around and call it “escapism”. So which is it? Or perhaps it’s “escapist doom and gloom”? With all due respect, it sounds unfocused, and dare I say, less than Scriptural. It’s not my desire to start an argument, but some things you’ve said here, and in at least one other post, are a little bit hard to walk away from. And it seems that you’re to some extent the same way, or you wouldn’t have commented to begin with.

      But you are right in at least one respect. We could easily still be here a year from now, and things are likely to be worse. I hope you’re building a worthy bunker, but the good news is, you won’t need it.

      All the best.

      DW

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    4. UNSEALED.ORG is an open community of Christian fellowship. Emphasis: Christian Fellowship.

      We gather in this place to share thoughts and fears, concerns and observations on current events, Scriptural studies and "what-ifs". As an idea exchange we have the opportunity to sharpen one-another and are blessed with many Spirit inspired writers and contributors.

      We are a fellowship of the saints.

      There are some basic rules to participating in this place. We are not perfect and don't claim to be. The written word can easily be taken in the wrong way so I try to measure my words in light of how they can be taken. We are given one law to follow as believers in Christ. LOVE. Keep Christ's Command and we're good.

      That you believe differently concerning non-essentials but agree on those of Salvation? That's fine and I believe is good! A mediating force is good. That we can love one another and demonstrate the LOVE of Christ to a world that is perishing?

      Even better!

      So, welcome to UNSEALED.ORG. Yes, we're mostly a body of pre-tribbers. What of it. At least we all know that no matter when the LORD calls us Home, we're going Home together!

      Forever in glory, amen.

      Blessings to you, "Unknown" yet KNOWN to God

      Delete
  31. To me, a Pentecost connection to the Rapture would be what Peter quoted on Pentecost. He quoted Joel 2:28-32, which includes:
    And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
    The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (Acts 2:19, 20)

    That didn't happen on Pentecost so...was he prophesying that the fulfillment would be on a future Pentecost? Sound very possible to me? This one?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sound an Alarm - that's exactly what I think will happen.
    https://redmoonrapture.wordpress.com/2018/04/24/pentecost-part-8-pentecost-joel-2-and-the-coming-of-the-day-of-the-lord/

    ReplyDelete
  33. Can I point out something else that points to a Pentecost Rapture? The book of Ruth. Ruth and Boaz meet at the beginning of Barley Harvest. We know that Barley harvest ends with Winnowing of the barley as evidenced by Ruth going to the threshing floor. So, in the epic story of Ruth with her kinsman redeemer Boaz (who has Christ like attributes/qualities) and they clearly represent the marriage of the Lamb and his bride. This would had to have occurred on or around Pentecost as well. Just sayin'...

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  34. We know from scripture that the completed Messiah was the offering on Pentecost, and we know that His completion consisted of His crucifixion, His resurrection and His Ascension.  All of that occurred prior to Pentecost - It had to in order to be used as an offering on Pentecost.
    And we know that the next new offering will be made on Pentecost when God anoints the last two witnesses and returns the Feasts back to the Jews for the fulfillment of the final offering of the Gospel of the Kingdom. After the covenant with the Church closes.
    That raises the question: what happened between Firstfruits, and 50 days later on Pentecost that allowed for the Apostles to preach Jesus as the Messiah?
    The final act of completion is what happened - The Ascension of Christ’s Body.  Isn’t that what occurs at the Rapture? Christ’s body, the Church, going up?
    Because the Church was a mystery, revealed only to Paul 16 years later, there was no Feast of the Ascension for the Jews!  After all, the Church is the grafted on branch to the tree of the root of Abraham. Nevertheless the set time for the body of Christ to Ascend was scheduled by God before the foundation of the world, as surly as the set time for the Crucifixion was The Passover - as surely as the time set for the Resurrection was Firstfruits, and as surely as the time set for Jesus  to be the new offering as the completed Messiah was Pentecost!
    Jesus initiated the Feast, or the set time, for the Church.  He, Himself casts the shadow into the future, setting the time of the Rapture. And, among all the Christians, the Catholics are the only denomination who observe the Ascension of Jesus as a Church Feast!
    Lets examine the truths that Scripture reveals concerning the warning sign of the Rapture. Firstfruits, the promise of the full harvest yet to come, is the day Christ rose.  Casting a shadow of a set time for resurrections into the future, setting the stage for the return of Jesus, the Christ in the future.  But, Matthew, in his gospel wrote, at chapter 27, verses 52 and 53, that on that day of resurrection, after Jesus rose, the graves were opened and, my bible says, “and many bodies of saints that slept arose, and, came out of the graves after the resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many”.
    Because what this is saying, is that these risen saints are the shadow cast of the promise of the full harvest of the saints yet to come.
    And, on that day appointed for the Ascension,  Ephesians, chapter 4, at verse 8, that’s scripture by the way,  tells us that when He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, fulfilling that earlier prophecy made in Psalm 68 at verse 18!
    That means that when Jesus ascended, 40 days after He rose, he took with him those saints who rose with him 40 days earlier, those that were seen by many in the holy city.  They were the token, of the full harvest yet to come, just as the omer of barley (the flour) , made from the sheaves of barley picked on Firstfruits, and waved before the Lord, was the token of a full harvest yet to come.
    That’s what Paul means when he tells the Thessalonians, in chapter 4 at verse 16 & 17,  that the dead in Christ rise first, then we which are alive and remain are caught up together with them in the twinkling of an eye, to be with the Lord forever.
    And in fulfillment of the shadow cast by that event on resurrection day, many of the newly resurrected dead in Christ, will be seen by many, just as they once were seen in the holy city.
    That is the warning sign God gave us to know that our redemption is only 40 days away!
    And makes one wonder how it remained hidden from us, while still in full view. Those verses of scripture have always been there - why do they have  this meaning to us now?
    Because Now is the set time in God’s plan for the Church to be alerted to watch, because their redemption draweth nigh! He is making His final call - just as He told the Laodiceans that He’s coming a knocking on the door for the last time, and alas, only 50% answer the door.

    ReplyDelete


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