Patristic etc. revising of the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt, Part 1

Introduction: From Christ ... back to Homer

There appears to be a certainty among the ancients that Christ was crucified in the second year of the 192nd Olympiad. By examining the Greek histories dealing with the Olympics, and historical markers along the way, we can more deeply appreciate the freshness and vitality of the history of the New Testament, and of Christ. Further, we find, that from the Greeks themselves, they have family ties to Egypt through the Hyksos; the Syrians who oppressed the Jews as Egyptians (cf. Isaiah 52:4); and that the Romans are themselves, de facto Greek cousins, and co-descendants of these same Hyksos.

The reckoning of ancient histories outside the Bible is often a task of trying to complete a puzzle that is not clear to many ancient historians themselves. It is easier to attack the Bible, rather than to hold the same thoughtful consideration in reconstructing facts through the historical dative methods, et al.

To this day, there is hostility to biblical history spoken by those closest to the events.

The Church Fathers utilized the Greeks’ own histories against them. I have found that they could often do so successfully -- as long as they refrained to the reckoning within the first two millennia B.C. To the untrained eye, at the first, the numbers reckoning the years appear quite wild; but to the trained eye, knowing the use of Greek means of reckoning in the period in which the debate takes place, it is within the confinement of “reasonability” in a pre-calculator society.

The inability to understand ancient Greek history with certainty prior to Alexander the Great, may be summed up in this way: ‘The greatest difficulty lies with the Greek historians themselves, who were often wildly at variance with one another in their reckonings.’ And it is true, that when you have variances and debates of up to 420 or even 500 years difference among the Greek historians themselves, you have to really find whom the more reliable and non-speculative source data might be.

This search is exacerbated by modern academic hypocrisy when it comes to acceptance of ancient testimonies in regard to non-biblical history versus biblical history. Non-biblically related Greek and Roman histories are often accepted almost without question as if Gospel, and Gospel is scorned as fable or myth-making. Virtue is pooh-poohed upon 1100 and 1200 year severances between oldest manuscripts extant and its Greek and Roman original authors, with no chain of custody accountability in between. In contrast, the New Testament has over 24,000 more manuscripts extant, with portions to within a generation (30 - 40 years) of one of its authors, John the Apostle; and within two or three generations from others. Yet, the New Testament is attacked relentlessly.

In the case of the study of the chronologies of the ancient Greeks, the best handle of some of the wild variances their ancient historians gave for who did what, and when, -- in reference to the ages prior to the Olympiads, -- appears to have been grasped by early Church Fathers: Theophilus, Julius Africanus, Clement of Alexandria.

Julius Africanus tells us,
“Up to the time of the Olympiads there is no certain history among the Greeks, all things before that date being confused, and in no way consistent with each other.
But these Olympiads were thoroughly investigated (hekribonto) by many, as the Greeks made up the records of their history
-- not according to long spaces, but
-- in periods of 4 years.”
(Julius Africanus, fragment extant 13.1)

Even with the noteworthy Galilean Israelite, Josephus, there is a chronic margin of error, and inconsistency, that plagues his formulation and calculations as well.

Therefore, if we can place our calculations within a generation of the actual events, using Greek reckoning of how they arrived at such calculations, we are to consider ourselves within their own margin of error.

The following formula is probably as close as we can get in trying to establish what calculations the ancient Patristic writers and Josephus used.



The Formula

1) The Greeks who existed before Cyrus I conquering Babylon in circa 539 B.C., reckoned their years upon a 10-month or ca. 305-day calendar (Theophilus to Autolycus, 3.27). This was probably due to glacier recession on the European continent altering consistent seasonal reckonings.

Using the example of how the Hebraic 480 years of I Kings 6:1 is tabulated:
-- Pre-539 B.C., against a 10-month calendar of about 305 days. Hence, equal to Josephus' tabulation of 592 years in Antiquities, 8.3.1., according to what he calls as a "Macedonian" Greek calendar.

This is a fraction of about .8106 - .8108 of a now observed calendar year of 365.25 days. In other words, for every 81 years we have, they would have reckoned 100 years in their calculations in the pre-539 B.C. period.

2) It was with Cyrus I in Babylon, that the Greeks reckoned a 48-month cycle for each Olympiad in place of the 40-month cycle (Julias Africanus, Fragment 13 -.3). --Post-539 B.C., we are to calculate against a 12-month calendar.


3) According to Herodotus, by his era, the Greek calendar became reckoned as 12 months of 30 days, with every other year being given an extra inter-calculated month of 30 days -- Year 1 being 360 days, and Year 2 being 390 days, and then repeating itself thereafter (Herodotus, Histories, 1.33).

-- From 539 B.C. to 46 B.C., the average Macedonian / Greek year appears to have become tabulated on average of 375 days long: being 360 days 1 year, then 390 the next. So this era of 46-539 B.C. is the point of the greatest trouble in calculating actual years in Greek reckonings.

4) In 46 B.C., the Greeks adopted the standard Roman or Julian calendar of 365 days. In that particular year, adjustments were made, and 46 B.C appears to have been 445 days long.

5) The Olympiads were suspended during the Peloponnesian Wars, thus there lies a possibility of adding a 13-year addendum to any reckoning exclusively by Olympiads. My personal calculations, taking all data into advisement, point to a loss of 2 Olympiads, or another 8 years of common reckoning, during this period.


Inter-calulatory era:
As covered above, we are gaining time in our inter-calculatory period before the standard Roman calendar, and the auto-implementation of a 360-day Persian calendar. This adds one full year of inter-calculation between 46 B.C. and 539 B.C., for every 61 years that we must reckon within the confines of these years only. In short, a total of 8 years become now as variable. There appears to be a lack of consistent solar and lunar adjustments to the annual cycles, so that one Olympic might occur in summer, another in springtime, and yet another in winter; and still be true to their calendars.

It is questionable as to whether this variable is to be “factored-in” by the Patristic fathers - who must inter-calculate the Greek historical example they cite. If, however, we take the hypothetical example that the Greek reverts to the Macedonian calendar in 336 B.C.; after Herodotus’ histories -- we then find the reversion to the 10-month year of about 305 days. This will be the Macedonian influence of Philip and Alexander upon Greece, and the process (as respecting Greek calendar reckoning), thus reverts to the pre-Cyrian inter-calculation of times for only 336 B.C. to 46 B.C. This too, without the aid of the modern convenience of a calculator, led to some discrepancies in citing the same calculation in different years in different letters or apologetics.

The art of comparative dative analysis is much like the sifting of modern intelligence data. While in the process of determining exegetical accuracy, you can commit isogetical errors quite easily. The solution is to find a factual historical bane by which you can pinpoint and say, “Here. This year and event we know. Now, do the historians mention that point in time we know, and what is his calculations from that point in time?”

Julius Africanus tells us,

“…Cyrus became king of the Persians at the time of the 55th Olympiad,
as may be ascertained from the Bibliothecoe of Diodorus, and the
histories of Thallus and Castor, and from Polybius and Phlegon,
and others beside these, who have made the Olympiads a subject of
study. For the date is a matter of agreement among them all.
And Cyrus then, in the first year of his reign, which was the first year of the 55th Olympiad….” [ca.562 B.C.] (Julius Africanus, Extant 13.2)



The Olympiad reckoning
Traditionally, the first Olympiad is thought to have occurred around 776 B.C. In reality, the early Olympiads, which contained 4 years of 10 months each, first started when Ahaz reigned in his first year in Jerusalem, in 741 B.C. (Julius Africanus, Fragment 15).

Therefore, any year before 741 B.C. is pre-Olympic history to the Greeks. By being able to balance proper Biblical Chronology early on, we can more properly reckon the older dates of both Greek and Hebrew Histories as presented in Patristics.

It is entirely important that we know that 741 B.C., like the Diaspora of 586 B.C., be a fixed year and immutable. Once such a year is fixed firmly, such as the Bible does do for us, we can then springboard with greater accuracy as to what the testimony of the past really is.

When discussing their histories in the Olympic periods of 741 B.C., onwards: the Greeks took care to designate an event as happening in the number of the Olympiad, and the year. Each Olympiad being a cycle of four years, they would thus say: “In the first year of the 12th Olympiad”, so-and-so did thus-and-thus. Therefore, we can calculate that 11 cycles of 4 years at the correct annual fraction to have occurred. This is 44 times that fraction from 741 B.C., or to circa 705 to 704 B.C. (for example), for such-and-such a one, doing thus-and-thus.

Preferably, in regards to the Greeks, the calculations should be limited to within the times of the first settlements of Attica, which appear to have begun as little as 40 years before the Israelite Exodus from Egypt.

By both a biblical Redating and some comparative Greek reckoning, that date of the Israelite Exodus occurred on or about First fruits, the 17th of Nisan, in the spring of 1551 B.C.



Properly dating Homer

One example of using the Patristic reckoning of Greek history is found in the dating of Homer, the author of many Greek myths and false deities. But in order to date Homer, we also need to date the fall of Troy.

During the times of the 62nd Olympiad, Heraclitus wrote that the Trojan War and the First Olympiad were separated by 407 [10-month] years (Clement, Miscellanies, 1.21).

By that reckoning, the Trojan War ends in 1071 B.C. But Clement also cites the Greek historian Eratosthenes, who appears to “phrase” an oversight to historians.

a) From the capture of Troy to the descent (or expedition) of the Heraclidae: are 80 [10-month] years

b) From the Heraclidae to the founding of Ionia: are 60 [10-month] years

c) From the Heraclidae to the protectorate of Lycurgus: are 159 [10-month] years

d) From the protectorate of Lycurgus to the First Olympiad: are 108 [10-month] years

First Assumption ------------------------------- Actual Testimony

1070 B.C. --- The fall of Troy ------------------ 1032 B.C.
1005 B.C.--- The descent of Heraclidae ------------957 B.C.
957 B.C.---- Ionia is founded --- -----------------909 B.C.
828 B.C.--- The “Protectorate of Lycurgus” ------- 828 B.C.
741 B.C. ---- The First Olympiad ----------------- 741 B.C.

In the above, we find that the testimony hinges on a double reckoning from the descent of Heraclidae. Once this ‘double reckoning’ is established as being the ‘actual intent’ of the Greek historian: it is then corrected, and the Greek reckoning falls in line with the biblical testimony.

It also casts a light of importance on the ‘double reckoning’ as well, because to Eratosthenes, the descent of the Heraclidae is a major calculable event in Greek history. Therefore, prior to the Olympics, the Greeks must have used this as an event year from which to reckon from for about 216 years actual, or about 256 years on their calendars.

In analyzing this period, we find that the late Second Century A.D. scholar of Alexandria, Egypt, -- Clement of Alexandria -- cites Homer as having been an Egyptian, and not a Greek.

Like Herodotus, Clement lists all sorts of dates that various ancient Greeks have speculated through the centuries on the man called Homer. The most reliable of these historians, tells us that Homer died 90 years before the first Olympiad (Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 1.15, 1.21).

Taken after the percentage of what a 10-month year is to a 12-month year, we then calculate 90 years times that fraction to achieve a death of Homer in 814 B.C. (the calculation being now about 73 years prior to the First Olympiad).

His birth, according to Philochorus, was 180 years after the Trojan War (Clement, Miscellanies, 1.21). After the calculation of 180 years times the inter-calculatory fraction, the Greek percentage of a 10-month versus the later 12-month calendar, we find that Homer was born in 886 B.C. Therefore, by reckoning Greek history from fixed dates, we find that Homer died in his 71st or 72nd year of life. No more, and no less.

I Peter 2:19-25 Using full amplification from the Greek word pictures: Translation mine.

"For yes, even this is grace:
that if, and affirmatively if,
through one's own conscience and witness of GOD
anyone will so bear up under that sorrow which causes one to mourn and grieve,
even though they are being brought into and through the experience unjustly and undeservedly.

For what glory is there,
if you indeed patiently endure being struck and mistreated
because of your own wrong-doing, in swerving and straying from the Truth?

[Avoid being deceitful at any level or in any form]

And on the contrary, if indeed,
because of doing good and kindness to others -- you endure the experience of suffering--,
this one recieves a regeneration with joy, and acceptance from GOD.

For even you were summoned and called forth,
because Christ suffered,
undergoing this experience on the behalf of us,
leaving behind an example to us,
to the end that it might be that you should follow upon the very impressions of the footsteps of Him who did NOT sin,
nor was even the bait of fraud or deceit found in His mouth;
who, though being cursed -- and mocked -- and derided,
did not also revile in return:
even through His experiencing suffering,
He refrained from making threats; but instead,
delivered up His power over to the One vindicating honestly and justly;
that for the sins of us, He would carry upon Himself -- in His own body -- onto the Tree, in order that we might die to the guilt of ours sins, and by conforming to His will, we might have living life:
of whom, by the wound of Him,
you were saved from the consequences of straying from the Truth,
because in what manner you were as sheep wandering,
but now rather, you have turned yourselves around back,
to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."


The wondrous cross

The Resurrection of Jesus - a 4 Gospel Abridged Account using Greek word pictures

The Resurrection

(A Four Gospel Abridged Account, faithfully translated from the Greek with word pictures: by Brianroy)

Golgotha
“And coming toward and into a tract of land, upon which is called Golgotha in the Hebrew, the which is saying -- in interpretation -- ‘the skull cap area’. {1}

[The insinuation is a yarmulke. The tomb of David, which was prominent in this land-tract, was like the skullcap upon the head of Jerusalem. In this area, only those kings of Israel that were considered worthy, had their bones interred. Nehemiah 3:16 (and other passages), tell us that there were multiple burial sites for the Kings of the Davidic line here: thus, the name “Golgotha” or “skull-cap”, being an idiom for an area dedicated to the “kings or the skull-caps of the nation of Israel”. Kings were therefore a type of yarmulke in their symbolism.
The tomb of David was a white sepulcher that eerily resembled a skull at certain times of the day. This was hated by the first priests. In effect, David was looked down upon by the first priests of the city as just an ancestral reference whose name, like the Almighty, could be invoked to frighten the common folk into compliance.]

And having crucified Him, sitting down, (the soldiers) guarded Him there. {2}
And the people stood wherever they were at, viewing attentatively. {3}

[Testifies to the crowded conditions mentioned by Josephus and others, 3,000,00 plus were crammed into an area less than a few square miles. By comparison, Alexandria Egypt was a crowded city with less than a mile in width and four miles in length, being congested daily with just 500,000. The condition in Jerusalem was 6 - 7 times worse in a comparable area of about half that length for three times a year: twice being in excess of 7 days at a time. This feast of Unleavened Bread - the Passover - First Fruits was one of those occasions. Just the fact that the Romans were able to push their crucifixion through the streets of Jerusalem was practically a feat in itself.]

And it was then the third hour [being 9 a.m.] when they crucified Him. {4}
Then from sixth hour [being 12 p.m. -- noon] the light of day was removed
entirely, for the darkness came into being (as night) upon and over all the
the Land [of Israel, even upon the whole Earth] until the ninth hour
[until 3 p.m.], for the sun was as black as the darkness. {5}

Then, in the ninth hour, Jesus emphatically cried out with a loud and
commanding voice {6} …and the veil of the Temple was rent violently in two,
from top to bottom. {7} Then Jesus again emphatically cried out with a great
and commanding voice, releasing the wind, {8} bowing His head and having
stopped breathing. {9}

[The night and morning previous, there was rainfall. The clouds had dissipated by the third hour, and there was no wind for six hours. Upon the death of Jesus, not only did His “Spirit” or pneuma depart from His body, but doubly applicable, the “wind” or pneuma was released, as though with a vengeance or authority, as well.]

And the earth trembled with an agitated shaking. {10}

[“ O YHVeH, put on them reverent fear and dread (like clothing) [upon a man],
(and like scrub) [upon a field]. Let the nations know intuitively that they
(are only) mortals. Selah.” (Psalm 9:20)]

And the centurion standing near, but across, out and off at the opposite of
Him, {11} guarding Him, {12} saying,
‘Surely this righteous man was the son of GOD.’ {13}

Then the soldiers came, and …coming upon Jesus, when they saw and perceived that He was presently at this time dead, they did not break his legs -- as with an axe, in two. {14} But still another one of the soldiers with a lance, drove in deep, pierced the side of Him: and all at once (there) came out (of the wound) blood and water. {15}


[Pilate asks Joseph to bury Jesus]
Then after these things, {16} Joseph of Arimathea went in, up to, and alongside
Pilate. {17} And taking courage asked (what was to become) of the body of
Jesus. {18}
Then…having called near the centurion, he (Pilate) interrogated him19….And fully knowing from the centurion, {20} Pilate asked Joseph of Arimathea, -- then being a concealed disciple of Jesus, through the terror and fright of the Jews -- in order that he might take up and carry away the body of Jesus. {21}


[The testimony of John in the Greek specifically and literally says that Pilate asked Joseph. The testimony of Peter through Mark infers a fearsome inquisitiveness to the effect of: ‘Now that this one has died, you’re not really going to leave the body up there are you? It’s already between the evenings, the preparation time of our observance of Holy Day.’ Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Pilate to turn to Joseph and ask the favor, and may be that he personally issued some money quietly for the linen for Jesus’ burial. Although Pilate’s wife may have wished Jesus ill, I sincerely believe that Pilate did not. However, to say Pilate gave Joseph money to make the linen purchase is simply a 50/50 speculation on my part, based on the reading of the Gospel text.]


And purchasing a linen fabric, and coming, {22} he took the body of Jesus. {23}

Then also came Nicodemus, bearing up and carrying a mixed blend of myrrh and aloes, about 100 (times) 12 ounces. {24} They together, they bore up the body of Jesus, and wrapped Him up in the linen sheeting, and bound it around and fastened it together with the spices, as is customary with Jewish burial. {25}
And in that same tract of land where He was crucified, there was a garden; and in the garden there was a new tomb out of rock, in which no one had ever been placed.
They then put Jesus there through the (time) of the Preparation of the Jews

[until the first three stars were about to appear in the sun setting sky],

because the tomb was near. {26}
And having rolled a very great stone to the door of the memorial cave, he left. Then, was there Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary sitting down before the presence of the grave.
Then upon the next day, the which is in the midst {27} of the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together up alongside and next to Pilate, saying ‘Lord, we do mindfully so recollect that one, the deceiver, said upon (His) life, ‘’After three days, I will be raised up (a new creation).’’ Set in motion and urge then (for) the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest at any time the disciples of Him come near by night, and by stealth steal Him, that they might say to the people, ‘’He is arisen from the dead’’; and the last deceit will thereby be worse than the first.

Then Pilate shone forth his words to them,

[having heretofore been suspicious of them, and having kept silent],

‘You now have and hold possession of a custodian guard. Go away and depart in secret, and secure it against (your) enemies and verify all with your sight and observance that it is so. They then, rushed and ran through with violence and made the grave secure against (their) enemies, setting the stone (with) the seal of authenticity (upon) the grave in the midst of the custodian guard. {28}

[Upon arrival, the Pharisees and First priests have the stone removed, and verify the identity of Jesus, while in the midst (or presence) of the custodial guard. The centurion verifies definitively that indeed their testimony is true. That is, probably the entire council witnesses Jesus’ chest and head with their own eyes. The tomb is closed back up with the great rock, and then sealed with the signet of Pilate. The two Mary’s are chased off from the area; the site is secured to the
council’ satisfaction. The guard will consist of about 20 sentries and one
centurion. They will be checked up on at regular intervals ranging from
4 - 8 hours by those who bring meals, and by the Chiliarch (their commander), or other centurions.]

Then, the evening watch of the Sabbaths, upon the first rays of light dawning
into the one of the Sabbaths [First-fruits], Mary the Magdalene and the other
Mary came towards, to gaze and closely look upon the grave. And behold!
A shaking came into being, very great! For (the) Angel of the LORD descending down out of Heaven, and coming up to and alongside (the location) rolled up back and (sending uphill and) away the stone, and sitting down up on top of it.


[The context of the rolling back of the stone appears to be that it was done so forcefully, that the great rock was out of its groove, and tossed a short way up and behind the tomb entrance, yet still over the cave’s perspective. This indicates that the rock was circular, and not squared, like a cork. As the Psalmist said, “But GOD will redeem My soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive Me. Selah.” (Psalm 49:15 - KJV)]

And then the face of His was the beholding of lightning, and the weight of his
glory as white as snow. Then from the intense and quaking fear of him, those guarding were shaken to their very core, and came into being as if they were dead.
From judging discreetly, the Angel then said to the women,

‘Don’t you be frightened out of your wits (also). For I see and know that you
seek Jesus, He having been crucified. He isn’t here, because He was raised up, just as He said. Come here. Look and see the place where the LORD lay
down. {29}

Then weeping outside up alongside the tomb, Mary stood; and as she wept, she bent over beside and into the tomb, and beheld two angels sitting down: one up alongside the head, and one up alongside the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And say these to her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’

She responds and says, ‘Because they took up and carried away my LORD,
and I don’t see or know where they placed Him.’
And saying these things, she turns about to where she was looking back, and looks at and gazes at Jesus [up close, and personal], standing (there), and still does not see and yet know that it is Jesus.

Jesus says to her,
‘Woman, why are you crying? Just who is it that you seek after
and strive to find?” {30}

This question is on the lips of Jesus to you. Just who is it that you seek after and strive to find?



1 Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33, John 19:17

2 Matthew 27:35, 36; Mark 15:24

3 Luke 23:35

4 Mark 15:24. Also, the symbolism of a conqueror who captures his enemy, and drags him through the streets, as in a noose, is prophesied as a result of the crucifixion in the Hebrew of Psalm 9:16.
“YHVeH is made known in the Judgment He has made and brought about:
in the work of the bend of His Hands [.i.e., in His wrists]
are the wicked ensnared
(as in a noose). A Meditation. Selah!” (Psalm 9:16, my translation)

“And (one) shall say unto Him, ‘What are these wounds in thine hands?
Then He shall answer,
(Those) with which I was wounded (in) the house of my friends.” (Zechariah 14:6, KJV)


5 Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44-45

6 Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34, Luke 23:7 The Greek emphasis given by Luke and Mark’s gospel is that the cry was great, and loud, and commanding; not just a query. It goes to experiencing the separation of which the unbeliever has in hell, and why Christ -- without sin -- experienced the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth aspect of sin upon the Cross. By confining Himself to Scripture, YHVeH the Son not only experienced man’s separation from GOD the Father, but was able to offer up the appropriate response to which we believers are called to respond with. We may call GOD into question for activities of withdrawal and ask why. We may not lawfully accuse Him or slander. Jesus simply noted the activity and then demandingly questioned, why? As seen in the Psalms, and as the Son of David, this response is perfectly acceptable with GOD.

7 Luke 23:45, Mark 15:38. Matthew 27:51 places the order of the temple veil, the earthquake, and resurrection in a collective utterance (i.e., vv. 51-53 are to be read as parenthetical).

8 Matthew 27:50

9 John 19:30, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46

10 Matthew 27:51,54. The biblical writers had a habit of leaving natural events and weather out of their writings. Matthew, in the heart of the capitol, among thousands of hostile witnesses, in 55 A.D., freely speaks of the simultaneous earthquake, the solar anomaly, and the sudden wind that blew fiercely at the time of the crucifixion. When these events happened, it made the senses of the millions watching even more acute, so that when the centurion cried out, ‘Surely this was the son of GOD!’, and the more heard him and paid his words attention. There is no Talmudic teaching to argue or dispute the Gospels or their events from having occurred. If there was any objection, despite the persecutions of the Roman Catholic Church in their sphere of influence, those disputations of Christian history would have survived among the rabbinate. That rabbinical silence is, de facto, an affirmation of the Christian witness.

11 Mark 15:39 - ο παρεστηκως εξ εναντιας αυτου This tells us the positioning of the centurion and the soldiers in relation to the Cross. The soldiers had placed Jesus on one side of the stone fissure which leads up to David’s tomb, while they stood upon the other side. The fissure’s width had to be narrow and easily traversed by a running soldier (e.g. Mark 15:36). The area of crucifixion also had to be leveled out, yet steep round about it: easily defensible.
Only one centurion was needed to prevent access while his troop sat and rested. Why? Perhaps the site was a steep mound, like a high place, easily controllable, accessible by one narrow path no more than 4-5 feet wide. Though upon the Eastern Mount, the western slope of Olives, the Romans held a south-north positioning from Jesus near the Kidron - Hinom Valley Juncture. This will not entirely make sense until the fissure to Azal is excavated, and David’s tomb is found along that fissure. Once that site of David’s former tomb in Jerusalem is found, then the Gospel accounts will make perfect sense.
Having never seen what the Apostles saw, as it relates to Jerusalem’s topography in 30 A.D., accurate visualization is very difficult. Paul through Luke in Hebrews indicates the Romans were to the north, and Christ crucified closer to the south or Hinom gate, through which the blood of animals were to be burned without the camp.

12 Matthew 27:54

13 Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47, Matthew 27:54

14 John 19:32-33

15 John 19:34 The blood and water aspect shows that Jesus heart burst after dying of asphyxiation, and congestive heart failure. What little blood was left in His body was quickly separating. The Gospel of John is telling us that there was probably about a 20 minute interval between Jesus’ death and the piercing. This probably occurred when the soldiers receive the writ from Joseph of Arimathea, bearing Pilate’s order to give the body of Jesus to him, and get rid of the other two by usual means (cf. John 19:38). The spear would have punched through Jesus’ left side, and rode up under the ribcage, straight into the heart. The notion of a right side to left side spear punch is idiocy from those unlearned in small weapons combat. The testimony is to the effect that Jesus went limp leaning to His right. Had He been closer to the ground, a thrust from a six to eight inch blade -- with a quick counter clockwise twist before removal -- would have hade the same effect as the lance.
However, the Psalms specifically list the “spears” of the bulls of Bashan “western or Roman” soldiers, as piercing Messiah. The left side must flow forth the Living Waters if Messiah is to sit at the Right Hand of the Father in order for the river of Life to proceed from BOTH the throne of the Father and the Lamb (e.g. Revelation 22:1).

16 John 19:38

17 Mark 15:43; Matthew 27:57-58; Luke 23:50,52

18 Mark 15:43

19 Mark 15:44

20 Mark 15:45

21 John 19:38

22 Mark 15:46

23 John 19:38

24 John 19:39

25 Mark 15:46, Matthew 27:59, Luke 23:53, John 19:40

26 John 19:41-42

27 Meta… here means “in the midst” of the Preparation, evening-morning. Based on the context: “the next morning” following the Passover sacrifice, even though it is still a holy day. The Passover has already been partaken of, so defilement with Pilate is not an issue. Whether they penalize themselves 7 days or not, the primary concern is to secure the body of Jesus before the disciples gain courage to do so.
Now that the Passover had been taken, the number of people had dwindled dramatically from the very hour of the 3pm sacrifice (Luke 23:48), so that by the next day, and well before the time of First fruits, less than a few thousand beside the Temple guard and Roman patrols would still be remaining in the hills about Jerusalem. Many hundreds of thousands would be leaving in a very short span of time, so that it might not be hard to tamper with the tomb upon the following evening. Therefore, it was imperative to open the tomb, verify the identity of the body, seal it, and guard it. By doing this very act, these first priests verified and sealed the authenticity of the coming Resurrection of Jesus as definitive fact, though unknowingly at the time.

28 Matthew 27:60-66

29 Matthew 28:1-6

30 John 20:11-15 The woman stooped down and was able to look inside the cave-tomb. The entrance was probably at least 3 feet high, with a groove of at least 1 ½ - 2 feet in depth, of sufficient width to allow a man to safely turn about in it without falling down. The platform and floor of the cave had to drop another 3-5 feet below the elevation where the woman was standing, and be back into the cave some 8-10 feet. In all likelihood, there were finger mausoleums -- which were also cut into the back of the cave, curving out of sight, even from the light of the angelic radiance. Because of its proximity to the tomb of King David, and its being on the Mount of Olives, this newly hewn out rock-cave tomb was a very expensive purchase and stone cutting project, and speaks of immense wealth. Whoever owned this cave was not only rich, he was almost like a government treasury unto himself. Perhaps more so than the rich young man of Matthew 20:16-22.

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

Deliverance Through the Raptures, Part 2

Wedding Terminology is used:

In the "Rapture Scriptures", we saw a clear association of being "called up" with the snatching away of the saints of GOD. In the Jewish wedding celebration, there is a term called in Yiddish: "aufruf", which translated means, "to be called up." When a distinguished guest sits at a low or back table, and the groom wishes to honor that one by having him share his wedding table, the guest is "called up" to take his place of honor by the groom. We note that the true Jewish Messiah, whom we of the nations call Jesus, also taught concerning this wedding tradition, saying,
" When you are invited by one to Feasts , [such as a wedding]
do not recline at the Chief Seat,
lest (someone) more honorable be invited by him,
and he doing the inviting coming to you will say to you,
'Give this one place.'
And then you will begin to take the last place with shame.

But when you are invited, go and recline in the last place,
that when he who is inviting you comes, he (may) say to you,
'Friend, go up higher.'
Then will be to you glory before those reclining with you.
For everyone exalting himself will be abased,
and he humbling himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:8-11)

In the Tanakh (the Old Testament), the saints are called 'the gathered ones", from the term Synagogue (which means "gathering" or "assembly").

With the coming of John the Baptist and Messiah YHVeH, the saints are called the ecclesia: "the called out ones". In the End Times, we will also now be known as "the called up ones." When the LORD comes to "Call Up" the saints in the Enochian (pre-tribulation) or the Elijahn (mid-tribulation) Raptures, we can turn to the Writings of Truth (the Bible's Old and New Testaments) and examine its use of wedding terminology to help illustrate these coming events of 'Aufruf'', of being "called up."

1) "And He as a Bridegroom coming forth from His Canopy;
He rejoices like a hero, to run a race.
From the end of the heavens, His going forth;
and His orbit, to their ends:
and nothing being hidden from His heat." (Psalm 18:5-6)

"As a Bridegroom rejoices over the Bride,
(so) shall your GOD rejoice over you." (Isaiah 62:5)

"YHVeH thy GOD in the midst of thee (is) mighty; He will save,
He will rejoice over thee with joy;
He will quiet you in His love,
He will joy over thee with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

The LORD "comes forth" from though from a hidden dimension, through the fabric of this enclosed universe which we look at as though it were infinite. He descends upon the earth as a bridegroom coming for his bride, to take her (His saints) up, snatching her away, and then rejoicing over the saints as though a groom on his wedding night joyful over His beloved bride.

In the Jewish marriage ceremony, when a man and woman are married at the first, they are betrothed or engaged, but without sexual relations. This state is called Kidushiyn (ןישודק), which shares the same root as "Kedushah": holiness. Many rabbis call this period, the "Period of Sanctification", or words to this effect. A man and a woman are first joined as soul mates, and in physical union last.
In the wedding ceremony, the Bride wears white, the symbol of purity. The word for white in Hebrew is Lavan (לבן), spelled (reading from right to left) as Lamed-Beth-Nun. Divided we can read "L'BeN": which means "for the Son" We can also read LeB N(un), as it were: LeB means "heart", and Nun is the letter of "Faithfulness' and of the "heir to the Throne". Thus, to wear white is intended as a statement of Faithfulness and Fidelity to the One whom the Bride is marrying. In the case of the Church, Faithfulness and Fidelity to Messiah YHVeH, whom we of the nations have first come to know as Jesus Christ.

It is in Heaven that the saints are garbed in "white", and are collectively the Bride of Messiah YHVeH.
And Messiah YHVeH said,
"He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white garments;
and I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life,
but I will confess his name before My Father,
and before His angels." (Revelation 3:5)

And John wrote,
"And I heard as it were, the voice of a great multitude,
and as the voice of many waters,
and as the voice of many thunderings, saying,
'Hallelujah! For the LORD GOD Omnipotent reigns!'
'Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him:
for the Marriage of the Lamb is come,
and His wife has made herself ready.'
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,
clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
And he says to me, 'Write,'
'Blessed are they which are called
unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.' "
(Revelation 19:6-9)

The Tanakh (our Old Testament) also declares insight to this Wedding Ceremony in our New Testament. In our next quote, we see first when it is that Messiah YHVeH comes for His Church, and the difference between those He rebukes from those who obey His Voice. Then, we are given insight to the reward of those who obey His Voice: deliverance from Great Tribulation, and bliss. For example,


2) "Behold, the NAME of YHVeH comes from afar;
His anger burns, and His burden rises.
His breath is become an over-flowing torrential river,
rising to the neck,
to divide and to sift the nations [wheat from chaff, sheep from goats]
in a sieve of vanity,
and to place a misleading bridle [cf . 2 Thes. 2:11-12 ]
on the jaws of the people.
This Song shall be to you, [as the song from a Bridegroom]
as when the night Feast is sanctified; ['behold! The Bridegroom cometh!]

and gladness of heart, ['go ye out to meet him.' Mt. 25:6]
as one going with the musical pipe -- [cf. Is. 5:26; Zech. 10:8]

to come into the Mount of YHVeH, -- [cf. Rev.14:1,3]
to the Rock of Israel. -- [cf. Deut. 32:3-4,15]

And YHVeH shall make heard the majesty of His Voice, --[I Th. 4:16]
as He shows the descent of His Arm, -- [cf. Ex. 15:3,6; Deut. 5:15]
with raging anger, and the flame of consuming fire,
with cloudburst, with fierce storm,
and with stones of hail with great recompense."
(Isaiah 30:27-30)



The Delivered Ones:
The ones who are delivered, are defined as those who 'bear up and remain under, and enduring as with PATIENCE / 'hupomonos' (ύπομονης), are those who "keep" the words of GOD as true followers of the LORD.
Those who are called to "Follow" the LORD, in the Greek, would find the usage of akoloutheo (άχολουθέω) to mean: 'to move together in the Way, doing so both quickly and straightly.' This is the inference given each time Jesus says, "Follow me"; and this point is driven home in the Greek with Revelation 3:10-11a, in which we read in our English as:

3) "Because you kept the word of My PATIENCE,
I also will keep you out of the Time of Trial
being about to come upon all the habitable world,
to try those dwelling upon the Earth.
Behold, I am coming quickly." (Revelation 3:10-11a)

We are called to follow the straight and narrow Way, whether as an individual with the greater universal Church of believers throughout all history and all times; or together as a unit as One, quickly obedient to the LORD and true to His teachings and His Word.


The Temptation Prophecies: What the Temptation of Christ teaches of the Raptures in the Last Days

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and then went into the wilderness to go without food and water for 40 days and 40 nights, fulfilling the fast of Moses outside the Mount and outside the Law, what happened in relation to the debate with the former 5th Living Creature, whom we know as Satan or 'Adversary'?

Luke 4:1-4 - The Temptation prophecy concerning the First Rapture


In Matthew 4:1-4, and Luke 4:1-4; we find that the Church must first go through the trials of being fleshly minded, the Lusts of the Flesh. [re: I John 2:16]
Having passed this period, Matthew /Luke 4:5, then Jesus in "Body" is taken up.

In Matthew and Luke, there is an accurate accounting of the teachings and history of Messiah YHVeH, however, the order which Luke writes in 49-51 A.D., while in Corinth of Achaia in the presence of several of the original disciples, including John of Zebedee, is confirmed by John of Zebedee in I John 2:16. Matthew wrote his gospel in Jerusalem in Aramaic in A.D. 55 or 56, prior to his martyrdom on November 16, 56 A.D. in a land far away from Israel. From Aramaic, the gospel of Matthew was almost universally translated into Greek and probably Latin as well. Thus, a later copyist may have slightly altered the order Matthew's original may also had in agreement with Peter and John and Andrew and others who visited Corinth in 49-51, even as other apostles were also at Antioch of Syria to help establish the Church there.
The Apostle Paul relates to us that the "Church" is what? "The Church is the body of Christ." (Romans 12:4-5; I Corinthians 10:16-17, 12:27), and the head of the Church is Christ (I Corinthians 11:3). Even as the body of Christ is taken up / snatched away at the Temptation, so too will the Church be taken up / snatched away in relation to the Temptations coming upon the Earth in the Latter Days in conjunction with the Tribulation and Great Tribulation Period.
So, following Luke's chronology and confirmed by John (of the Temptation events), the Temptation of the Flesh leads to the Enochian Rapture in the Last Days.
The Psalms tell us that GOD rides upon the cherub, even so as YHVeH Messiah did with Satan in the Temptation, and that riding the cherub precedes the Rapture of the Church and is directly associated with it in prophecy.

"In my distress I called upon YHVeH… [substitute 'Tribulation' for "distress"].
He bowed the heavens also, and came down… [the descent of YHVeH]
He rode upon the cherub and did fly:
yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind.

[Messiah rode upon the cherub Satan, at the Temptation; later at the descents / Raptures, He will ride perhaps upon another cherub. However, at the Second Coming, He will opt instead to ride down upon a Heavenly white horse. Thus, there will be some animals in Heaven also.]

…YHVeH also thundered in the heavens,
the Highest gave His Voice…He sent from above, He took me,
He drew me out of many waters [i.e., peoples].

He brought me forth also into a Large Place…." [cf. Isaiah 26:20]
(Psalm 18:6,9,10,13,16,19)


The Second Rapture: Following the lust of the eyes (Luke 4:5, I John 2:16)

Christ is taken up to a high mountain, representing Babylon, and is tempted by the lust of the eyes with the religion of and the best that "Mamon" / 'wealth' has to offer.
In the period of the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation, even as the 2 Great Witnesses work signs and wonders, and so do the 144,000 witnesses work signs and wonders; so too, will there be a counter campaign by the Enemy. It will be so that great wonders in our days which we have only read as happening during Christ's ministry and the earliest New Testament Church, will be perhaps so common, that their reading would be as ho-hum small stuff compared to what's happening now (rather than scoffed at) in the Tribulation Period. There will perhaps be escalations to the quality of goods and material comfort and gain that we cannot yet fathom in the Pre-Tribulation Era in which this is being written. These gains are to off-set the great trials and sufferings that mankind will endure prior to the Great Annihilation of Day 1290-1291 of perahaps 1-2 billion lives in a single hour.

But, in the first 3 ½ year Trib period, I send the warning, 'Beware of false prophets! Don't trust your eyes, trust in GOD's Word, the Holy Bible (preferably KJV/RSV, NASV, or LITV for the English); and trust what YHVeH Messiah / Jesus Christ has said beforehand.'

The second Rapture occurs only after the new Church sprung up as open eyed babes in the word, aided by the 144,000 witnesses of the sons of Israel, is extensively tested by the "Lust of the Eyes". Messiah YHVeH warns of the false prophets in these days who will use 'great signs and wonders' to try and deceive even His "elect", and will do so if that were possible (Matthew 24:24). Indeed, in Revelation 13, we see that "the" great false prophet does so wonderfully, that the whole world appears to sway under his great signs and wonders in favor of worshipping the "beast" and "his image" (Revelation 13:11ff.).


The Final Descent / The Return of Christ: Following the Pride of Life (Luke 4:9 ff.)

"And he [the errant cherub] brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a
pinnacle of the Temple." (Luke 4:9)

The Third Temptation occurs at the Temple in Jerusalem. In this period, most of those who come to accept Messiah YHVeH must die for it. Yet, they die with the assurance that their killers will die in manners like as the saints are afflicted (Revelation 13:10). However, the saints are assured that their good witness, even in martyrdom, will bear fruit and their good works will follow after because of their faith (Revelation 14:12-13). After this last Temptation of Messiah by the Enemy, there is a period of Rest: this represents the 1000 year Day or Sabbath in which Messiah YHVeH reigns on earth from Jerusalem.
Therefore, the Temptations also teach us of the Raptures in the Last Days as well. It is so interesting that Satan misquotes the purpose of Psalm 91, because it encompasses so much about this neglected Doctrine of Messiah.

When we read Psalm 91, what read confirmation of all the Rapture Scriptures we have , in both papers, thus far covered. Let's look at this.


4)
"He who dwells in the Secret Place of the MOST HIGH
shall live in the Almighty's shade. [cf. Ps. 18:19; Is. 26:20; Jer. 17:12]
I will say to YHVeH:
'My Refuge, my Fortress, and my GOD;' [cf. Joel 3:16; Ps. 50:1-6]
I will trust in Him.

…With His feathers He shall cover you, [cf. Deut. 32:11]
and under His wings you shall seek Refuge: [cf. Ps. 57:1]
a Shield and a Buckler is His Truth. [cf.. Jo. 14:6; Gen 15:1; Psalm 57:3]

…For His angels He will order for you [cf. Ps. 68:33-34; 50::4-5]

to keep you in all your ways.
On their palms they shall bear you up,
lest you dash your foot on a stone.
…'Because on Me has he set his love, [cf. Rev. 3:10]
I will deliver him, I will set him on High, [Ps.27:5; 9:7-10]
for he has known My NAME. [I Chronicles 16:35]
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
and I will be with him in his distress,
and I will rescue and honor him. [cf. Zephaniah 3:17]
With length of Days will I satisfy him, [cf. Ps. 118:17,; 49:6-9, 15]
and will make him see My Salvation ." [literally, 'My Yeshua /Jesus,
(who is to come);cf. 1 Sam. 2:10 Heb.]
--Psalm 91:1-2,4,11-12,14-16