I posted this question and answer a few years ago but think it needs to be explored again. What do you think" The Biblical account shows clearly that God has a method of operation that he has used over and over again. He has ALWAYS given prior notice before any major event happens to those that He has chosen and are part of the covenant He made with them. People of faith starting with Noah (7 day notice) and includes the children of Israel before crossing into the Promise land (3 day notice), Elijah before being taken up into heaven in the fiery chariot,(several days notice) Israel before leaving Egypt (3 or 4 day notice), Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (a few hours), the disciples before the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost ( 10 day notice)are just some of the major events that God gave prior notice. We should also consider the Rapture to be a major event in the lives of those of Faith and since God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, we can be sure His M.O. will be the same. Never doubt in the dark what God has shown in the light. OK, since it would appear that we will receive some kind of notice before the rapture, just what method will He use? Think outside the box. Think supernatural maybe?? There is no right or wrong answer so jump right in with your thoughts. :feedback This isn't much out of the box but I have always thought that, possibly 3 or so days before the rapture, we will all experience an overwhelming display of the Holy Spirit. I think we will be healing and bringing many to Christ in those last few days. There's so many times that we see people who are close to death and after their death we see evidence that they knew it was their time. We will know too :yahoo: Not sure what you were wanting, but hopefully it is ok now. Kolleen :rose: Might he send His angels to tell us? That His children will drop all earthly things and spread His gospel to all who will listen. A last chance to get those souls for His kingdom. God shall definitely give us a warning and an event before the rapture. I have found the clue in Zechariah 11. Zechariah 11:1 Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 2 Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down. 3 There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled. 8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. Through the prophet Zechariah, God has foretold one day He shall cut off three shepherds in one month. They are Lebanon, Syria ( Bashan ), and Jordan . Through out history, we couldn't verify that this prophecy has been fulfilled. There is no biblical and historical evidence that the ancient Moab, Edom, Ammon (Jordan) together with Damascus ( Bashan ) and Tyre (Lebanon) were cut off together in one month. This prophecy shall be fulfilled per the fourth transgression in Amos 1-2, Isaiah 17/destruction of Damascus and Psalm 83. But my focus point is on verse 10. Zechariah 11:10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. 11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. Immediately after the three shepherds are cut off, God shall break the covenant with all the people. There have been few major covenants God has made with people. They are Noahic covenant, Abrahamic covenant, Mosaic covenant, Davidic covenant. None of the covenant can be broken because God promised not to destroy the whole earth again per Noahic covenant. God shall give the land to Abraham's rightful descendant who is Israel. This prophecy is still waiting for it's fulfillment. At the end of tribulation, after the return of Jesus, the Jews shall inherit the promised land. Mosaic covenant [ The Mosaic covenant, found in Exodus 19–24 and the book of Deuteronomy, contains the foundations of the written Torah and the Oral Torah. In this covenant, God promises to make the Israelites his treasured possession among all people[Exo 19:5] and "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation"[Exo 19:6], if they follow God's commandments. As part of the terms of this covenant, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. These will later be elaborated on in the rest of the Torah. ] Some bible scholars believe this is the covenant found in verse 10. Jesus has replaced this covenant. But we learn from God that the whole house of Israel shall be saved at the return of our Lord Jesus. (God only abandons them for a while, to makes His name known in the gentiles). God shall make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Since this event is still waiting for the fulfillment, it doesn't seem like this is the covenant which shall be broken in verse 10. Concerning Davidic covenant, a King and a Messiah shall come from David's lineage. The King and the Messiah is Jesus who shall rule over all the nations, This can't be the covenant God shall break. Since Zechariah is silent regarding which covenant shall be broken by God, back in 2009, I have interpreted this covenant to be the covenant God makes with the church. This covenant shall have a time expiry issue, that is, when God calls the church home, that will be the time God breaks the covenant with the church. And immediately after this covenant is broken, God foretells the appearance of the foolish shepherd from verse 15 to 17. Many of us agree that the foolish shepherd is Anti Christ. The sequence of the three prophetic events in Zechariah 11. 1/ Three shepherds being cut off in one month. 2/ God calls the church home by breaking the covenant with the church. 3/ Appearance of the foolish shepherd / AC. Having said this, the church shall witness a war breaks out between Israel and the three shepherds. This war can only last one month because God says so. This war shall be our final witnessing tool to the church and the world before rapture takes place. One more point I would like to add. Zechariah 11:10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. The Beauty is "the church". God calls the church "Beauty". "cut it asunder" is perfecting the church. God has a covenant with the church. When her time is up, God shall call her home by breaking the covenant with all the people. That leaves the other staff which God calls Bands. Zechariah 11:14 Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. After the "Beauty" the church is gone in rapture, God shall begin to "cut asunder His other staff "Bands". Bands is Israel. "breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel" speaks of separation of Judah from their homeland Israel during the second half of tribulation. This is known as "the times of Jacob's trouble". Concerning their ultimate fate, God has Zechariah continue prophesying the destiny of Judah in the following chapters 12, 13, up until Jesus' return to mount Olive in chapter 14. God has many quiet ways of letting us know His purposes. It might be a shared conviction among millions of believers that the time is at hand. Some would say we are already witnessing that. It might be a more direct communication as well, with angelic encounters, voices, undeniable dream experiences which leave us no room to question whether it is time to go. Yes Blake, God has given us angels to watch over us. For centuries they have been identified as "guardian angels". It would be supernatural for us to see and hear them if God chose to use them to notify each of us. This would be my # one guess and for sure we all would have no doubt if that happened. :rose: Based on this passage in Matt 27:51-53 ... I think it could be a possible repeat ... At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. Our heads up warning could be: Because check out this passage with the placement of the colons. Does that mean a short gap in time for each event? The first one is after “the trump of God” (the earthquake happens, graves are open and perhaps they appear before us before they ascend up?) Then they rise first in the clouds (notice another colon) and then we are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air ... then there is another colon perhaps showing it takes time to travel up to the 3rd heaven? I’m leaning towards the “Twinkling of the Eye” is for the changing of the body only but not the going up. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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. I Cor 15:52 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. What it is, and what it isn’t. When the word Rapture is mentioned, responses differ. Some people know it refers to Christ coming to take the church to heaven. Others incorrectly associate the rapture with Christ’s Second Coming. Still others have no idea what the Rapture is. Confusion prevails, primarily because many churches seldom teach the subject today or lack biblical clarity when they do teach it. In some circles, people even dislike or ridicule the doctrine. Often the Rapture passages are spiritualized, stripping the text of its true meaning. The Rapture of the church is a major doctrine in Scripture, and it is incumbent on us as Christians to understand the meaning of this important prophetic event. The Rapture Defined The word Rapture does not appear in the English Bible. It is a Latin word, raptura, that means to “seize, snatch, or be carried away.” The Greek word harpazō does appear in the Bible (1 Th. 4:17) and means the same thing as raptura. Thus the Rapture is clearly taught in Scripture. The Greek word harpazō does appear in the Bible (1 Th. 4:17) and means the same thing as raptura. Thus the Rapture is clearly taught in Scripture. Two central passages describe the Rapture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50–54. The Rapture refers to when Jesus Christ will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God to gather all true Christians to heaven. Those who already died and those living will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air (1 Th. 4:16–17). The event will happen suddenly, without prophetic signs or warning. When we are transported to heaven, we will be physically transformed in the twinkling of an eye to receive glorified bodies preparing us for life in eternity. The apostle Paul wrote, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:52–53). Our “corruptible” sin natures will be instantly eradicated, and we will experience perfection in body, soul, and spirit. Paul said Christ will “transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Phil. 3:21). Every believer’s body will be refashioned in a resurrected form (but still recognizable), as was Christ’s body. The apostle John assured us that we “shall be like Him” (1 Jn. 3:2). Every believer’s body will be refashioned in a resurrected form (but still recognizable), as was Christ’s body. What was Christ like in His resurrected body? He could appear and vanish (Lk. 24:31); and He could walk, talk, eat, and rise into heaven (Jn. 21:21–25; Acts 1:11). He was not bound by gravity, time, or space; and He could travel at will from one place to another instantly. When we are raptured, we will possess the same abilities in our glorified bodies, but we do not know yet to what extent. The Relationship Described Our relationship with Jesus Christ resembles that of a bridegroom and his bride. John the Baptist first used this analogy in John 3:28–30. He taught that Christ is the Bridegroom, and the church is His bride. Although the phrase bride of Christ is not in the New Testament, the idea appears throughout Scripture (cf. 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23–27; Rev. 19:7; 21:9), providing great insight concerning our unbreakable union with Christ. It pictures the intimacy we enjoy with Him, like that of a husband and wife (the most private, personal bond possible in life). The Rapture refers to when Jesus Christ will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God to gather all true Christians to heaven. This union is a “great mystery” (Eph. 5:32), something unknowable unless God reveals it. Paul said specifically he was speaking in Ephesians 5:23–29 about more than human marriage; he was speaking about “Christ and the church” (v. 32). The Rapture Distinctives Many Christians associate the Rapture with Christ’s Second Coming. This is a mistake because these events are distinct from each other; and it is important to understand the differences: At the Rapture, believers meet Christ in the air (1 Th. 4:17). At Christ’s Second Coming to Earth, no meeting takes place (Zech. 14:4). At the Rapture, only born-again believers will see Christ come (Jn. 14:3). At the Second Coming, the entire world will see Him (Mt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7). At the Rapture, believers are taken to heaven (Jn. 14:3). Unbelievers remain on Earth to endure the Tribulation. At the Second Coming, believers return to Earth with Christ to enter the Millennial Kingdom (Mt. 25:34). Unbelievers who survive the Great Tribulation will never enter the Kingdom; they will be purged and thrown into everlasting fire (v. 41). At the Rapture, Christ returns for His church (1 Th. 4:17). At the Second Coming, His church returns with Him to rule on Earth during the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 19:14). The Rapture is imminent. No signs or events must precede it. Many signs and events occur before Christ’s Second Coming (Mt.24:4–30). The Great Tribulation—when God unleashes His wrath on Earth—will not affect believers because they will already have been raptured (1 Th. 5:9). The Great Tribulation will torment unbelievers, all of whom will be left on Earth (Rev. 6—18). Although the church is mentioned 19 times in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation, it is not mentioned again until Revelation 22. In other words, Scripture does not mention the word church when dealing with God’s Tribulation wrath in Revelation 6—18, but it does talk about unbelievers and how they will suffer and die (6:8; 8:11). The Rapture Deliverance The Rapture’s major mission is to deliver the church from God’s wrathful judgment of sinful humanity, which will afflict the entire earth. Paul told the Thessalonian church, “Wait for His [God’s] Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Th. 1:10). The Rapture’s major mission is to deliver the church from God’s wrathful judgment of sinful humanity, which will afflict the entire earth. After speaking of the Rapture (4:16–17), Paul said, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:9). Notice, God did not “appoint” (destine) Christians, who possess salvation, to experience His eschatological wrath. That event is planned for sinners who reject Him. Many ask, “If God is going to pour out His judgment on sinful humanity, and Christians are still sinful even after we have received Christ, why would He deliver only Christians from His wrath in the Great Tribulation and not others?” Because Christ’s sacrifice of Himself was applied as payment for our sin when we accepted Him as Savior; we received Christ’s righteousness: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). So God sees us as having His righteousness, obtained through faith in Christ. However, if we reject Him, He does not see us that way, and “the wrath of God abides on [us]” (Jn. 3:36). If we receive Christ as our Savior, Christ’s sacrifice is laid on our account and pays for our sin. We are no longer under God’s condemnation or wrath (Rom. 8:1; 1 Th. 5:9). If we do not receive Christ, we must pay for our sin ourselves, and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). God showers His mercy and grace on repentant sinners and withholds the punishment we deserve. In addition, in His grace, He provides the unmerited favor we do not deserve. Today we live in the age of grace, or the Church Age. It is so named because Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Mt. 16:18). The Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and will end at the Rapture (1 Th. 4:13–18). But God’s program continues through the Great Tribulation and into the Millennial Kingdom and eternity. Church saints will return with Christ at the Second Coming, clothed in pure white linen that symbolizes their righteous acts, and they will rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years (Rev. 19:8, 14; 20:4; cf. 2:26–28; 3:21). What a glorious plan God has established for those who put their faith in Christ for salvation. Have you? The Friends of Israel Tom, this thread has comforted me a lot. Thank you so much.
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:
Jan/Feb 2018 IMG In Depth: David Levy Interview
