Christianity Oasis Forum

[saint701]

Hi All,


Blessings!

Well, here we go again! Was listening yesterday afternoon to my favorite television minister teach on the signs of deception in our day. Great topic I thought. But about 20 minutes into the presentation he stated that he firmly believed the rapture of the church would occur at The Book of Revelation chapter 4. His argument for such centered around the 24 elders of God being present, and that being the case represented the completeness of all things, therefore John being called upward, all at that point were raptured.

That gave me something to ponder last night. You know I have read several posts on here very enlightening on things of the Old Testament foreshadowing the New. For example, yesterday I read Angeltears post where Enoch was depicted as representative of the rapture. All such posts are super cool in my opinion.

Anyway, last night I asked the question of the Lord about Revelation 4. I said Lord, your word does not say the rapture will occur in Revelation 4, it says the rapture will occur at the last trump. Now the Lord didn't speak to me audibly or anything like that, but I began to see the various scriptures that might be taken into account when coming to some kind of conclusion about when the rapture might occur.

One thing I saw which sort of surprised me was how The Book of Exodus and the judgment of Pharaoh just might help our understanding of the tribulation period. We just pray the Lord give us all the light on the subject He is willing to give us. One thing for sure is we have two topics for discussion, one on how we can deceive ourselves, and the other how we view the rapture.

First of all, self deception. When we just take for granted that Dr. So and So, the chief scholar of some denomination was right when he said such and such about a scripture, we have opened the door to self deception. Scripture isn't privately interpreted! If the light of understanding about a thing isn't received directly from the Spirit of God, if you got it right, you guessed it, and you don't know anything! Most likely you didn't guess it!

Years ago I read a book by a Dr. So and So that taught that the rapture would be at Revelation 4. I didn't believe it then, and I don't believe it now. And the reason is, that at that moment the last trump would also have to sound. Will that happen? All things are possible with God, but if I think such will be the case, then other things seen by the Apostle John that most likely will happen to believers will not come to pass.

Don't get me wrong. I am not against the rapture occurring at the point of Revelation 4. I am not against the rapture occurring at the point of Revelation 6 or 8 either. In fact, as far as I'm concerned such can happen right this minute as I am ready! But it isn't. It will come when the Father has decided the last trump shall be blown.

So let's just see how much the Lord will open up to us here. I'll share what I see. You all share what you see. Let's revisit the subject again. First on the short list of possibilities are the scriptures of our Lord and those of the Apostle Peter. Three sets come to mind. In the initial set our Lord teaches us that the Tribulation Period will be shortened for the elect's sake. In the second set our Lord teaches us that the judgment of God will come at a time when men are not looking for such. And in the third set The Holy Spirit teaches us that the judgment of God just might be a very quick event like the flood was in the day of Noah. We go up and the Earth is torched, that kind of thing.

To be continued....

Matt.24

1. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Matt: 24

[38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
[41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

2Pet.3

1. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2. [12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

I Thessalonians chapter 4

[15] 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.
[16] 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:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Corinthians 15

[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality

Matt: 24

[29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
[30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
[31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Rev. 11

[12] And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Rev. 11

[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev. 6

[9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
[10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
[11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Exodus 4

[22] And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
[23] And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.


Blessings!
Love, In Christ Jesus, Saint701.