Deliverance through the Raptures, Part 3

Distinguishing between the Two Raptures:

The Timing of the Rapture is uncertain and certain.

When Jesus said, "Of that Day and Hour knows no man; No, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Mark 13:32), He speaks of the sudden Enochian Rapture. Any Scripture that speaks of a Rapture / Snatching Away that is sudden and without warning - that Scripture relates to this First or "Pre-Tribulation" Rapture.

However, those Scriptures speaking of the Rapture immediately preceding the coming of the Great and Terrible DAY of GOD's WRATH, relate to a Rapture/Snatching Away that can be calculated and seen: the Elijahn Rapture. And it is because it is calculable, that this Second Rapture precedes THE “war in Heaven", simply because the "Invasion Day" is calculable. But even though it is calculable, the unbelieving will do their best and succeed in puting it out of their minds, so that they are oblivious.

The fallen ones of the spirit realms will not be oblivious to the timing though. For the last 2,000 years they have dreaded its arrival. Like the Amalekites, the forces of darkness are vicious back-stabbers who prey on the weak from behind; they hide in the shadows, and like to work invisibly until great in numbers. Yet, even with these tactics, there will be those in Heaven expecting this battle, and knowing such things, LORD willing, we who are saints will at such a time (and who have been since literally transformed and translated) will lead a counter-counter assault and soundly defeat these evil ones, casting them with great authority and overwhelming victory to the Earth. If Satan has a rear end, my heavenly sandal would sure be honored (at such a time as that) to fiercely kick it. And I hope he still feels it with discomfort for at least the next 3 1/2 years.

Once the 7 year Peace Treaty is signed which ensures the rebuilding of the Third Temple, unobstructed on the Temple Mount -- as we see from Daniel 9:27 and other passages --; then, the time table has already been given us, so that there is doubt only by unbelievers as to the timing of the Elijahn Rapture. We have the dating of 1290 days (Daniel 12:11; which is a dual folding prophecy), which shows a relationship of the Great Tribulation and the Elijahn Rapture with the Temple Mount Treaty. And if this answer is sealed from the eyes and reasoning, being under debate; then we need only wait until the deaths of the Great Two Witnesses, who all the nations shall loathe so intensely, that they celebrate and send gifts at the sight of their deaths (Rev. 11:8-10). For it says,

"And after 3 ½ days,
the Spirit of Life from GOD entered into them,
and they stood upon their feet:
and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
And they heard a great Voice from Heaven,
saying unto them,
'Come up here!'
And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud,
and their enemies beheld them."
(Revelation 11:11-12)

It is because of this knowledge and advance warning from the Scriptures, that there will be a war in Heaven as stated in Revelation 12:7 ff.

For even as Jesus said, "If the housemaster knew in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, that he might not allow his house to be broken into." (Matthew 24:43)


Now the peculiar thing about this verse, is that it is preceded and followed by verses of Messiah YHVeH saying that the Church would be asleep to His return; but the alertness of the enemy is not addressed. Let's look at it:

"Watch, therefore: for you know not what hour your LORD does come."
(Matthew 24:42)

"Therefore, you also be ready,
because that hour you think not, the Son of man
comes." (Matthew 24:44)

In the tradition of the Jews during the ministry of Christ, it was also taught:
“Be not like the servants who will wait on and serve their master
only on the condition that they are rewarded (for their service).”(Ethics of the Fathers 1:3)

And this, in effect, extends even further back into antiquity, such as the passage in I Kings 10:8 dating back to King Solomon’s reign, where it was said,
"Blessed are thy men, blessed are thy servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom."

Jesus spoke to His Disciples of the little children who came and trusted into Him, saying,
"Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in Heaven, their angels do always behold the Face of My Father which is in Heaven." (Matthew 18:10)

Note that here; the word “angel” is pluralized. Each believer, in the snatching away, will have angels -- even the little ones. And to where will we go? Even if we were limited to just the Old Testament, through passages such as the gathering of the Sons of G-D in Job 1:6, and 2 Chronicles 18:18, we see the Throne of GOD is the destination for the faithful and believing.

Jesus was also known to have said to Peter, James, and John these words as well:
"Stay awake and alert, and will yourself forward, in order that
you do not enter into the testing of adversity; for indeed, the spirit
(is) eager and willing, but the flesh (is) strengthless." (a combining of -- Mark 14:38, Matt:26:41; Translation mine)

Compared to the Spirit, the flesh is without strength. It is the spirit being within each one of us that give the flesh the drive to move and do. The flesh is as if a vehicle in which our spirit being drives, manipulates, and operates within. Man is still trying to figure out the mechanics of his humanity after a science of the objective, when we need to understand the mechanics of the spirit being we each are after the subjective. We often bear fruit in our outward doing to manifest the inward being contained and hidden. We need to be asking ourselves why we are so contained and made this way, and look to our Creator, and seek His counsel. In the above passage, those who are willing to search Him out, can learn many of the answers they seek. And our Creator put on a body and took the name of Jesus / Yeshua, and was crucified, died, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven. Mankind needs to ask and seek out the through the question of: WHY?

Note that the emphasis in Mathew 24:42,44 is on the Church as not having a proper appreciation or awareness of the Time of Messiah's descents. This has nothing to do with the awareness of the Enemy and those fallen spirits who follow him, preparing and in dread anticipating that Time. We see the awareness of the Church in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. As witnessed in Mark 14:32 ff.

It is in these verses that the "sons of thunder" (cf. Mark 3:16-17) represent the Church and its awareness in the Last Days, for it is in thunder that GOD often speaks in Scripture. Yet again, in Mark 14, we see the prophetical forewarnings of the Three Watches of the Church, even as Luke 12:37-38 and other Scriptures do testify.

Mark 14:32-38 In the First Watch, Messiah comes to find His Church asleep and unaware, suddenly jolted awake by His Voice.

Mark 14:39-40 In the Second Watch, again Messiah returns to find His sons of thunder (a Rapture Church), asleep as before.

In both of these watches, Jesus descends only as low as the breathable atmosphere of less than 10,000 feet (cf. I Thessalonians 4:17 αηρ “aer”). He never sets foot back on earth until the end of the 7 years Tribulation / Great Tribulation period.


Mark 14:41-42 In the Third Watch, even then, when the final hour has come, even this Church will be asleep and oblivious as to the timing of Messiah's return, and the end of the matter in relation to these watches.

As you read Mark 14:32-42, notice the emphasis of awareness is upon the Church, not upon the enemy. When Messiah YHVeH comes in the Pre-Trib Rapture, His Church will be -- as a body -- asleep and not alert.

In the mid-Trib Rapture, in spite of a clear warning of the timing of His return 3 ½ days after the deaths of His Two Great Witnesses, again -- as a body -- His Church (of new saints since the prior evacuation) will be asleep, and oblivious. And at the final descent, at the end of the 7 years, even though one can count 1335 days from the start of the Great Tribulation with world upheaval affecting every square inch of ground on the planet, above and below the surface (e.g. Isaiah 24:18-20; 2:19-21); yet, even this Church of saints who come to know the LORD, will be (in effect) unaware and oblivious as to the timing of His Return.

The historian Josephus reported that prior to the capture of Jerusalem, the angelic hosts were seen by credible witnesses who stated that they were clad in armor, and in troops ran and charioted about in the clouds, as if waging a heavenly war for the capture of Jerusalem and other cities of Israel ( Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 6.5.3.). I suggest, therefore, that the interpretation of the Last Trump be as according to the Jewish type on Earth, but as an example to explain and understand the Heavenly. For it is as Jesus said,
"If I have told you Earthly things, and you believe not; how shall you believe, if I tell you of Heavenly things?" (John 3:12)


The Last Trumpet, a review
From the Jewish perspective, the Last Trumpet is the Second of Two Silver Trumpets as seen in the Torah. To the non-Jew, this might be confusing, as he will try to rationalize around semantics upon numbers of horns, trumpets, or blasts thereof throughout the Scriptures. To the Jew, especially to those of the periods of history when GOD's Tabernacle or Temple stood in their midst, there was no confusion at all. These two special Trumpets of silver are found in the Torah in Numbers 10:1-10. There was a silver First Trump that was to be blown to gather the elders of Israel, and there was a silver Last Trump that was to be blown to gather the people of Israel. From the examination of just the Scripture, and the lack of traditional insight, this understanding can be easily missed.
The famous Israeli archaeologist and scholar, Yigael Yadin, once did a study on the Dead Sea Scroll that is called 'The War Scroll'. In that ancient Hebrew document is the explanation of the blowing of the Trumpets. [Yadin, Yigael "The Message of the Scrolls", N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, 1957, pp. 133-134.] When the armies of Israel go out to war, and are 'called up' to return, the Trumpet blast is blown as 'low, level, legato', Yadin explained. Therefore, if a Heavenly Trumpet blast occurs, the one who trusts in Him who sits on the Heavenly Throne, must also acknowledge that the blast of the Heavenly Trumpet is for the benefit of Heavenly beings, not the ones of the Earth. It is therefore also for the benefit of the angels that the Last Trump sounds, not just for the earthly saints for who they are called to 'gather up'.
When the armies of Israel are 'called up' to return, that is the rapturo in Latin, and aufruf in Yiddish, the Trumpet blast is blown as 'low, level, legato'. Aufruf is used of a Jewish wedding guest among the Ashkenazi Jews, of one who is at a lower floor and seat who is invited and called up to sit at a high seat, or place at an upper floor. It is as if moving from the first floor with casual associates, past the floor of good friends and extended family, to the top floor of closest friends and choice relatives. It is a calling up, and a type of snatching away from the presence of "strangers" down below, as it were.



The Trap of only one Resurrection of the Dead

In the same way the Jews missed the Two Comings of Messiah, most theologians of Christian "doctrine" also are missing the point of the Rapture and Resurrection in the pre-Tribulation hour, the Rapture and Resurrection and Judgment upon the world in the mid-Tribulation hours of Days 1290-91, and of the teleportation and Resurrection and Judgment of the world at the post-Tribulation return of Messiah on or about Day 2625.

The types given to us of Enoch as the sudden pre-tribulation snatching, and of Elijah as the visibly seen whirlwind with fire in the mid-tribulation, is all lost on even believing "Christians" who have cluttered their minds with doctrines of men, more so than with what GOD's Word actually says. For example, let's say there is a resurrection of believers, in a moment and twinkling of an eye, at the sound of a "certain" Trump. Does that hinder those who come to know the LORD from that time until the Great Resurrection at the Bema Seat of GOD's White Throne as described in Revelation 20:11? That Great and Final Judgment, says Revelation, occurs after the 1,000 years of Messiah's reign are finished (Revelation 20:4-5). To say this, is a contradiction with Revelation 14:13, which shows that those who indeed die as Christians in the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation do indeed receive the Resurrection from the dead. But the Rapture(s) that happened prior to this had already had a resurrection of the dead (I Corinthians 15:51-55, I Thessalonians 4:16-17). So then, how many resurrections are there?

Revelation 20 says that the Resurrection of Christ (ca. 30 A.D.), and the resurrection of His saints, are all part of the First Resurrection. That is, collectively, they are all part of the same. Paul tells us that this is seen in grasping the Earthy from its Heavenly application.
"The First man, Adam, was made a living soul.
The Last Adam, a Living Spirit."
(I Corinthians 15:45)

In the Hebrew, the very Name of YHVeH subsumes all three tenses of the verb "to be": hayah (was), hoveh (is), and yiheyeh (will be).

YHVeH is said to be above and beyond time, because He is its Creator, therefore any laws or bounds he sets as Creator and Designer, He is above and not bound to, being greater and far more than that which He designs and creates for His good pleasure. We see in the Writings and the Prophets of the Tanakh, how that Messiah is also to be YHVeH. From the prayer of Hannah to the Lamentation of Jeremiah, who (for example) utters:
"YHVeH Messiah, the breath of our nostrils…
in whose Shadow, we said, we will live among
the Gentiles." (Lamentations 4:20)

Here we see YHVeH Messiah listed as the YHVeH Elohim who breathed into the nostrils of Adam, and by the Living Spirit, man became a Living Soul, and a child of GOD. The Shadow represents the Incarnation Appearance of YHVeH among men, and the coming history in which the Jews of the Diaspora that was to come (as prophesied in Deuteronomy 28), were to live prosperously or preferably in those nations exalting the Incarnate Messiah whom the nations call Jesus. But look to the Tanakh, and repeatedly you will see His Name "Yeshua" in places translated as "Salvation", which should alternately be translated as "Jesus" in at least a dozen occurrences.

So we see that the First Resurrection is a Living Resurrection with GOD, with YHVeH Messiah, who is above and beyond Time. Therefore, the First Resurrection is an action that occurs in spite of Time. It is only conditional upon one thing: the death or translation of this physical body into the form of another that GOD shall chose like unto it, but perfect in every way. So for us to say that there is ONE LAST AND FINAL TRUMP (as if by a last note) is in error, for the Resurrection is not bound by it, nor is the Second Coming of Christ, to which Christ will return to Earth and touch Olivet, almost certainly to the sound of a Trumpet Blast as well. For one trump -- above “time” -- can manifest itself as being:
1) at the Resurrection of Christ,
2) at the Enochian Rapture,
3) at the Elijahn Rapture,
4) at the Return of Christ to Olivet,
5) and at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Messiah and the final battle:
and still be one singular “last trumpet blast” if GOD chose to go about it in that manner. Nor are GOD's descents in any way restricted by “time”. Rather, the Last Trump simply designates the second silver trump of the earthly example of the heavenly one. But notice again, that the Resurrection of the Dead is through the First-fruits of the Cross, it is preceded by YHVeH Messiah Himself.

The Last Trump is therefore a designation of which Heavenly Silver Trump is blown, not a last note that is to be blown on a Trump as was mistakenly believed and taught.

Therefore, the First Resurrection is apparently to be an action that occurs in spite of Time. It is only conditional upon one thing: the death or translation of this physical body into the form of another that GOD shall chose like unto it, but perfect in every way. And that likeness shall be to look like Jesus, to eventually be the manifest spiritual reflection of the likeness of GOD, as it is written,

"Beloved, now are we the sons of GOD, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (I John 3:2)

GOD's goal is for those who will willingly do and be so, to enter into eternal life willingly in a relationship with Him, being the people who will reflect GOD and His attributes in a positive and loving way...to be as the angels of Heaven, as it were. This is all done through the Cross...which is the centerpiece of man's reason for existence or Creation. To ignore the Cross, is to have our existence be discarded and lost. To receive Christ Jesus as our LORD and Saviour, is to enter into the exclusive family and fellowship of GOD, without money, without price. The only cost to eternal life, is a free and trusting faith into Jesus Christ the LORD, the Son of the Father, the WORD of GOD the Father made manifest, in what he did for us at the Cross, that he died, was buried, rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and is coming back again. Amen.


Conclusion

The Cross is central to Christianity. It is the centerpiece of all time and all existence. It is the centerpiece of why we were created, and the centerpiece of why we shall have a portion of us that is redeemed and made eternal. Thus, the Jesus' atonement for us at the Cross occurred for good reason. Its location is discernable, and occurred where it did for good reason. Part of our mission in life is for this one purpose, also: to discover what we can about the Cross, and through it, be restored to a right and eternal relationship (through Christ Jesus) with GOD the Father. For even as the Talmud alludes, when GOD glorifies the Seed of Isaac (singular, meaning “Messiah”) with a banquet for the righteous, David will be asked to say “Grace”, to which King David responds, “I will say Grace, and it is fitting for me to say Grace.” He will then recite, “As it is said, I will lift up the cup of Yeshua [“Jesus”], and call upon the Name of the LORD.” (Babylonian Talmud, Pessahim 119b quoting Psalm 116:13). Even so, Amen. Amen.


Rapture Scriptures, A Summary
(For the Laity: probably best read in the KJV)
1) Psalm 47:5
2) Acts 1:9-11
3) Psalm 50:1-6
4) 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
5) Psalm 18:13,16,19
6) Isaiah 26:20-21
7) Zechariah 9:14,16
8) Revelation 14:14-19
9) Genesis 5:23-24
10) Luke 12:24-38
11) 2 Kings 2:7-18, 11
12) 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
13) Psalm 144:5-7
14) Psalm 9:7-10
15) Psalm 19:1,5-6
16) Psalm 27:5
17) Psalm 32:6-7
18) Revelation 7:9,14; with Revelation 19:1-2; Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 62:5
19) Psalm 57:1,3
20) Psalm 68:33-34
21) Psalm 76:8,9
22) Joel 2:15-16
23) Amos 9:9
24) Zephaniah 2:3
25) Matthew 25:1-13
26) Luke 17:20-22,24,26-30; 18:8
27) Luke 21:34-36
28) Jeremiah 51:15-16
29) Psalm 102:16-22
30) Revelation 11:3,7, 8,9, 11-12
31) Revelation 4:1,2
32) 1 Chronicles 16:33,35
33) Psalm 106:47; with 1 Chronicles 11:7, 2 Samuel 5:7, Psalm 100:4, Isaiah 60:18-19
34) Isaiah 62:11-12
35) Psalm 98:6 – 99:1
36) Luke 21:34-36
37) Isaiah 34:16; 33:22; 35:3-4,10
38) Psalm 97:2-6,8-10
39) Haggai 2:5-9
40) Habakkuk 3:2-6
41) Isaiah 24:13-16,18-23
42) Isaiah 30:27-30
43) Psalm 20:1-2,5-6,9
44) Psalm 91:1-2,4,11-12,14-16
45) Micah 1:2-4
46) Psalm 144:5-7
47) Isaiah 5:26-27
48) Zechariah 10:8,10
49) Jeremiah 25: 30-32
50) Mark 14:32-42