Signs of the Rapture

What to Look For

Stirring a Hornets Nest of Apocalyptic Islam?

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apocalyptic islam mad as hornetsLike him or hate him, President Trump has courageously stood up against a host of hostile Islamic countries and defended Israel by:
 
1. Declaring that the US recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and moving the US Embassy there.
 
2. Pulling out of the Iran nuclear treaty and reactivating sanctions against the Islamic theocracy.
 
3. Declaring that the Golan Heights belong to Israel, not Syria.
 
4. Essentially eliminating all United States financial aid to the Palestinians in Gaza since US taxpayer money was being used by Hamas to finance the rockets they fire into Israel and the tunnels they dig under the border.
 
If there ever was a better reason for apocalyptic Islamic leaders to be so mad they could spit fire I don’t know what it is. Perhaps they are as mad as a nest of hornets that have been disturbed. It is not difficult to speculate that Iran might encourage Bashar al Assad of Syria to take some foolish military action against Israel regarding the Golan Heights to try and regain stature in the Islamic world or favor in the eyes of allah. Syria has already said that they are determined to recover the area ”through all available means”.
 
Prime Minister Netanyahu has likened Trump’s declaration on the Golan Heights to a “Purim Miracle”, referring to the book of Esther where God provided and gave victory to the Jews over their enemies who wanted to destroy them.
 
Unlike almost half of the voting population in the United States, in Israel, President Trump is looked upon as a champion of the Jews and likened to King Cyrus from the Book of Ezra in the Old Testament or Tanakh. King Cyrus was the Persian ruler who 2,500 years ago decreed that the Jews should return from exile to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple.
 
Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “I want to tell you that the Jewish people have a long memory, so we remember the proclamation of the great king, Cyrus the Great, the Persian king 2,500 years ago. He proclaimed that the Jewish exiles in Babylon could come back and rebuild our Temple in Jerusalem. We remember a hundred years ago, Lord Balfour, who issued the Balfour Proclamation that recognized the rights of the Jewish people in our ancestral homeland. We remember 70 years ago, President Harry S. Truman was the first leader to recognize the Jewish state. And we remember how a few weeks ago, President Donald J. Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Mr. President, this will be remembered by our people through the ages.”
 
All of these significant historical events add to the great anticipation of finally knowing what the undisclosed details are in the upcoming Peace Treaty which it is said will be revealed sometime after the Israeli elections on April 9th.
 
Our God is sovereign and only He decides when the time is right. God can always press the ‘pause button’ on the Biblical script which is being played out here. However, it doesn’t seem likely that any pause would last for long. All signs point to the soon return of Yeshua, Jesus, King of the Jews, Messiah, Savior. People look up, your Redemption draws near.

Tension Increases Between Russia, Syria, and Israel

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Syria shoots down Russian planeSyria Shoots Down Russian Plane

Russia has provided Syria with S-400 missiles in the wake of the Syrian Army mistakingly shooting down a Russian intelligence-gathering aircraft killing all 15 onboard in September 2018.  Even though everyone acknowledges that it was Syria, Israel is being blamed.  The S-400 missiles will extend Syria’s reach within Israel.  This may be unacceptable to Israel who has made it clear that they will not tolerate Iran establishing a military presence in Syria.

The Woman in Travail

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, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws nearThe Woman in Travail, which is a painful or laborious effort.

The astronomical events referred to as the Revelation 12 Sign of Sept. 23, 2017 were a depiction of a woman, a conception, a full-term pregnancy, and the birth of a male child.

Allow me to highlight these points:

  • WOMAN
  • CONCEPTION
  • PREGNANCY
  • BIRTH

There are two ways of interpreting both the scripture in Revelation 12 and the associated story ascribed to the astronomical events of Sept. 23, 2017 commonly being referred to as ‘The Revelation 12 Sign’.

The first is obvious;  the woman is the Virgin Mary who gave birth to the Messiah, Jesus/Yeshua.

However, an event which happened a little more than 2,000 years ago hardly qualifies as being prophetic, as prophecy deals with the future.  John the Revelator was given a vision of things to come, not things which already happened.

The second interpretation requires a little more insight.  The woman represents Israel and the male child is the Church.  The most common and immediate objection to this interpretation is that the Church is always referred to in the ‘female’ form as ‘the Bride of Christ’.  However, the Church is also referred to in the ‘male’ form in the following verse about the Rapture..

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

You are all sons of light and sons of the day.

– Thess. 5:3-5

Is the Church not the ‘body of Christ’ where He is the Head and the Church is the body?

Is Christ not the ‘first fruits’ of the dead who are raised to life?

Does the head not precede the body during natural birth?

Was Christ not ‘born again’ when He rose from the dead having put off the perishable for the imperishable? Trading His fleshly body for His eternal body?  He did not see decay…he was transformed.

A woman’s labor is like a short time of pain that will lead to joy that continues forevermore.  A 7-year period of time is quickly approaching when Israel will be persecuted like never before.

This period of time is known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, or the Tribulation and will be a time of great pain and sorrow.

However, before this period begins, those who know that Jesus/Yeshua is the Messiah, both the dead and the living, will rise to meet Messiah in the clouds to be with Him forever. This is the Blessed Hope.

By no means is the mention of dates a suggestion that the Rapture or ‘catching away’ of Jesus/Yeshua’s Church will happen on any of those days.

PASSOVER                                                         2018               Sunday, April 1st

ASCENSION                                                       2018               Thursday, May 10th

PENTECOST                                                      2018               Sunday, May 20th

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL                                     2018               Saturday, May 12th

ISRAEL’S 70th ANNIVERSARY                      2018               Monday, May 14th

US EMBASSY MOVING TO JERUSALEM  2018               Monday, May 14th

However, to those who are ‘awake’ and who are paying attention, it certainly does seem likely that something significant will happen soon that is tied to the events on these dates.  The convergence of Signs has only intensified these last six months as global events seem to be following Biblical prophecies of the End Times as if a script were being acted out.  For instance, the countries which are foretold to invade Israel in Ezekiel 38 never before have formed a coalition, yet this has happened and already been reaffirmed in the last couple of months. Russia, Turkey, and Iran are now formally united against Israel.  Never before has Damascus, Syria been on the verge of being totally destroyed, to the point of being uninhabitable.  Today, most of the city is destroyed, but not yet completely destroyed. The stockpiles of chemical weapons in and around the city could very easily be the cause of the city’s upcoming desolation.  It’s not hard to imagine how either the chemical weapons themselves, or nuclear retaliation for their use against innocent civilians in neighboring Israel could be the cause of the city’s pending destruction.

All the while, whether they are aware of how they are fulfilling prophecy or not, the leaders of the world are calling for ‘Peace and Safety’ or ‘Peace and Security’.

Whether one puts any stock into the validity of the astronomical event of Sept. 23, 2017 or not, global events which were prophesied about 2,000 or more years ago are accelerating right now like never before.

That being said, give thought to this… In Isaiah 66, the woman (Israel) is said to give birth to her ‘children’ BEFORE she was in labor, before her pain came.  This event is emphasized as being highly unusual by the asking of the question, “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?”  So the question must be asked, “What if it is true that the Church is the male child?” The male child who is born BEFORE the upcoming painful, sorrowful time for Israel.

What if the use of Greek word ‘harpazo’ in Revelation 12:5 is acutely intentional and does in fact mean ‘rapture of the church’ in this context?  This interpretation can’t be ruled out.  It is possible.  And if it is possible then our time may be very short.

Be faithful witnesses and look up, for our redemption, our Blessed Hope, draws near!

Personally, I am more inclined to believe that the Rapture would coincide with the Feast of Trumpets in the Fall.  This  ‘moed’ or ‘appointed time’ is historically known as ‘the hidden day’ or ‘the day which no man knows the hour’ as it was dependent on the sighting of the new Moon.  But God is Sovereign and will come when He will come, which could be at anytime…especially in light of world events.

Share the Gospel. Share the Good News that despite our sin and having broken God’s Law, God himself paid the price for us, having humbled Himself to leave His throne in heaven to be born as a sinless human, being God in the flesh with a mission to pay the penalty for sin which required death, but in death our place.  And having died on the cross, He rose from the dead three days later having conquered death…so that those who believe and who confess their sin and their need for Jesus/Yeshua’s gift might inherit His free gift of everlasting life in His presence.

Pray out loud or silently, “Jesus/Yeshua forgive me, for I have sinned against you by breaking your law.  Please come into my life, save me.  I believe you died for my sake because you love me. I believe you rose from the dead and that you’re coming back soon.

Amen.

The Crowd is not Always Wrong

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A multitude of prophecy teachers and prophecy students alike are abuzz regarding a recent development in the Middle East.

For the first time ever, the countries of Russia, Iran, and Turkey have formed an alliance regarding the fate of Syria.

Here’s one article on the alliance from Newsweek November 22, 2017.

The reason for all of the excitement?  These three countries represent the players in the prophecy of the Gog/Magog invasion of Israel from Ezekiel 38.  The stage continues to be set.

Israel has been warned to not interfere in Syria.

Israel’s response?  “Yeah, right.”

Peace and Safety 2017

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This video compilation was uploaded December 2009, if it were re-created today it would be 3x as long.

Peace and Safety, Peace and Security.

With trepidation, I look forward to the upcoming January 15th Peace Conference in Paris, which should adopt the slogan “Peace and Security” or “Peace and Safety”.

As of late, this scripture comes to mind often as being tied to to Revelation 12,

1 Thessalonians 5:3

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

 

Revelation 12:1-6

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Revelation 12:1-6

It’s notable that 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 speaks of the Rapture, using the Greek word ‘harpazo’, which is the same word used in Revelation 12 to describe the male child being rescued, or caught up to heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

So in summary, the similarities between these 3 scriptures is that they mention a woman in childbirth, and include the phrase ‘caught up’ from the Greek word ‘harpazo’ which is the Rapture. It seems to me that they might be connected on a timeline… Peace and Safety, the woman gives birth, the church is raptured and saved from the fiery red dragon but those left behind will not escape, and the 7 year Tribulation begins.