The timing of a prophetic passage is determined by the details described within that passage. We must understand the timing of different prophecies by looking at the details in the passages, comparing them to other related prophetic passages, and making sure nothing contradicts any other part of Scripture, as mentioned. 5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. While Satan has beaten up Pastors and congregations with gross errors being taught in this areado we throw the baby out with the bath water? Will apathy or pride prevent the desire to research the information/articles that are presented here? He is also speaking of the events leading up to the destruction of the Temple, for the disciples asked Him what the signs would be when the Temple was destroyed (Lk. First, the Gospel message of Salvation is the most important decision that a non-believer can make. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. BOTH parts are essential for there to be a Bible prophecy. 9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by (but the end will not come immediately). and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? Although this text is usually typically taken to teach the "rapture" of believers to heaven when Christ returns, I tried to show that it teaches no such thing. Amos 3:7 further argues against the idea of an any moment Rapture. If so, why? Ignoring Jesus teaching, causes us to believe a liewhich is I need to be ready at ALL times for the Rapture.. Look, when I believe Jesus was ignorant of the day and hour, it subjects me to the above five charges of wrongdoing. These things take place after. Jesus is the Speaker through all Old and New Testament prophecy. It's a hope to not give up, to keep following Jesus even when things get tough. 3 And He said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury (poverty) hath cast in all the living (everything) that she had. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Here are the key facts we have gathered up to this point: Luke 17:37 and Matthew 24:28 indicate that some will be sent to a place where birds will be flying over dead bodies. We as humans are limited by time. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. So since we cannot take some scripture and disannul other scripture, and the scriptures clearly teach that the first resurrection happens immediately after the tribulation, then we know there is not a pre tribulation rapture. The short time detail regarding Satan, is one of the GREATEST indicators that Revelation 12, and the birth of the man child, is speaking about the Rapture/Catching Up/Caught Upbefore the Great Tribulation. For instance, the creation in Genesis 1 is repeated without a clear timeline in Genesis 2. The pattern of Jesus description of the Tribulation in Revelation 6 is exactly the same as in His description of it in Luke 21! This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. AMEN!!! Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved Endtime Ministries | End Of The Age | Irvin Baxter -, The China War and the Third Temple Excerpt. *THE BACKGROUND OF THE TEXT IS THE TIME OF TRIBULATION. Noah and his family were Overcomers graciously removed, as the Ark rose above the trial/cleansing. Luke 21:36 is a passage many believers in the rapture will quote, which says, But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man. They believe that this passage is saying that we could escape all of the tribulations spoken of earlier on in Luke 21, which would mean that Luke 21:36 is a reference to a pre-trib rapture. Remember the following. Like this post? (John 14:6). The Temple was seen as a microcosm of the world (Ps. First off, Jesus is not only speaking here of the end of the world. . The shortest time is 2 minutes near the equator. So, when so many people say that Jesus does not know the day and hour, Biblically speaking, they are not only lessening Jesus' knowledgethey are also lessening Jesus' ability as Creator. We are following a long-established principle in Bible prophecy, of determining the time of fulfillment of Bible prophecies according to the details in those prophecies, and NOT simply on the basis of how we are used to reading narrative or historical material. The event Jesus is describing is the Rapture, here also associated with the opening of a door. It is a Tribulation-Return passage. I don't spend time trying to discern when or if Christ is going to return soon. Use the Contact Us button on our website: Or use Private Messenger through Facebook: Mark 13:32, "No One Except The Father Knows? In Christ dwells ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Most Churches definitions are an instant or a flash of time like the flash of a camera. After all, Jesus just gave information necessary to know when the end is near, and warned us that being caught up in indulgences, drunkenness and cares of this lifeindicates we have not been studying the signs Jesus told us about, and to watch for. Back to the example, when you hear us present the idea that Jesus knew the day and hour of his returnand that there is a perfectly acceptable and Biblical way to understand Mark 13:32, so that Jesus does not have to be ignorant of the day and hourhow does our viewpoint measure up to other relevant Scripture? There He simply said "day that the Son of Man." The term "Son of Man" is a reference to Himself. Knowing the angle of the sun related to your position on the earth, we can approximate the time in minutes using 2/cos (a), as long as you're not too near the poles. * And no human will be swept away up into the clouds to safety. Each of us has a Spiritual gift that is prominent in us, and given to us by the Holy Spirit as He wills. In this verse, Jesus was describing Noah 's flood and the destruction of Sodom (Luke 17:26-37). This is just a poor book and does not teach anythin More fascinating is that Revelation 6-7, in its description of the Great Tribulation, also reflects the spirit of Jesus use of the word before (in terms of importance) in Luke 21. If we tell Jesus He doesnt knowhow can He tell USwhat TO know? Copyright 2023. When you count the number of verses used to describe what happens to the saints during the Tribulation (including the 144,000 sealed Jews in Israel), it is the same number of verses (17) as are used to describe all the other events of the Tribulation. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. The view that Jesus was ignorant of the day and houror the view that Jesus deity was perfect, and that He DID know the day and hour? In Matthew 24:4-31, Jesus is clearly giving a prophecy; He is speaking of future events. . Then He goes back to the beginning of the Tribulation, and describes the persecution of Tribulation saints. Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God - Pre-Trib Rapture. As the last part of Ezekiel 37:14 says, "then shall he know that I the Lord hath spoken it and performed it, saith the Lord." Doesnt Luke 21:36 Tell Us We Are Not Going to Go Through the Tribulation? The term where we get the English "rapture" IS in the Bible. Paul said that we will be "caught up" (raptured) to meet Him IN THE AIR. (adverbially) suddenly sudden, unawares.. see GREEK a. see GREEK phaino. Jesus first describes great events and developments in the first eight verses (the first four seals). vss. So which viewpoint best satisfies the standard of Colossians 2:9? There are other prophecies in the Bible where this type of thing happens: There is at least 2,000 years between the time of fulfillment for Micah 5:2 and 5:3. Jesus tells us to Prayindicates that Jesus is talking to Born-Again Believers, not the unsaved. The extremely short version requires that we understand the History as to when the words were writtenThe thief in the night is part of the Jewish Culture and the Fall Festivals, and is directly related to how the High Priest would come like a thief to the other Priestsmeaningif the lower Priests were not ready for the arrival of the High Priest, because they were not watching at the right timethose Priests were cast out into the street with only their undergarments (meaning their clothes were taken from them like a thief). In verse 6 the Lord Jesus plainly states that the Temple then standing would be destroyed. GUIDING US INTO ALL TRUTH, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SHOW US THINGS TO COME. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. He is the author of all the teachings here, and all materials are available free of charge! Almost all newer or modern Bibles have the word them in place of us, in Revelation 5:9. Many ask, "is the rapture biblical?" The short answer is yes! The rapture, often referred to as God graciously removing Overcomers from the trials/cleansing/judgements on the earth, is also seen in the account of the flood. But now, after reading Luke 17:37, my rapture theory disappeared! Or the idea that Jesus deity was fully perfect? AND OF THE LAMB. It is true that when the rapture occurs there will be a separation of believers from unbelievers when we are snatched away from planet earth. 1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. So, God gives each Christian the ability to bless others with their specific giftlogically, God also gives some, the ability to understand His prophetic Word, blessing others. 12:11 tells us, ButtheSpirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.. 37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. Rather than adjust Gods words, we should instead, adjust how WE READ His prophetic words. Systematic Eschatology, search thief found on pages 3, 34, 51 & 74. While rhetoricalthe answer is NO! What separates Jesus from us, in terms of prophecy, is not just the fact that He KNOWS the future as God; it's also the fact that Jesus is able to FULFILL those prophecies and make them happen! They do not follow how humans write stories/books/messages. Friends and criticsWe are each accountable for our actions and statements. Jack Kelley published over 9,000 Bible Study resources here from 1999, until the Lord called him home in the fall of 2015. The first phrase in this passage speaks about these signs in the heavens, picking up from where we left off in verse 11. The implication of this belief is that Jesus was less than perfect in His deity when He was on the earth. You will not find the word "rapture" in the Bible. Where the Scriptures say twothe Jews said one. The important thing is not to know when or how the end will come, but to be spiritually prepared when it does ( Matthew 25:1-13 Matthew 24:42-44 , Luke 21:34-36 , 1 . The Time of Jacob's Trouble (The Great Tribulation) His wife Samantha maintains this site as well as their missionary outreaches. "The one shall be taken, and the other shall be left" (Luke 17:34). Remember, at the time this was written, the air represented the first heaven. The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age. Lastly, if we are to believe Jesus doesnt know the timing of the end but the Father only (especially after reading the quick articles mentioned above), then how is it possible for a limited knowledge Jesus, to teach the timing of the end in Chapter 21 of Luke? The second phrase in Isaiah 61:2b, the day of vengeance of our God; is not going to be fulfilled until the End. Perhaps this is part of what Revelation 19:10 means when it declares, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.. The only thing you might compare it to is The dead in Christ rise first the Saints and meet him in the sky to help fight the worlds armies this is not you and it is not me . The more that true Bible prophecy is promoted, the more Jesus Christ will be glorified. Also, God defines Bible prophecy not just as speaking about predicting the future; Bible prophecy is defined as God's ability to speak the future into existence. (This is also a powerful underscoring of the truth that all prophecy must be fulfilled). However, you will find the teaching. Revelation 20:1-5, Ezekiel 37:26-28, Ezekiel 11:20 and Zechariah 14:8-11. Both Luke 21 and Revelation 6-7 have the same miraculous fingerprints of authorship on themand those fingerprints belong to the One who was fully God-in-the-fleshJesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. Many saying, I am Christ; and the time is near (. Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, Faith, Gifts of healings, Miracles, Prophecy, Distinguishing between spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of tongues, Whoever speaks, Whoever renders service. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. A trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. By Irvin Baxter QUESTION: Mary from Texas had a question about Luke 21:36 where it says, "I watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man." Do some people think this is speaking of the rapture? 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. The need to be born again through the blood of Christ, asking for the forgiveness of personal sins, and then following Christ daily, reading the Bible, praying for His will in our lives, praying for our family/Pastor/Government and Israel etc., going to church, getting in a Bible study small group, volunteering, donating of our first fruits, are all part of being Christ-like, and a path to being closer to Jesus. Our danger is, lest the day of death and of judgment should come upon us when we are not prepared. In verse 26, Jesus resembled the days of Noah with His second coming: "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 29 and 30 Jesus uses an analogy that is clearly understood. Is the content in our website and in our articles and videos true? Based on the text, Teachers/Pastors should seek council from those with the gift of understanding Prophecy, to help prevent errors in their teachings to the Church, thus glorifying Christ to the fullest! Luke 17 provides further powerful proof of the order of gatherings, as if the harmony of several passages so far were not enough. And so do all other MSS. Yet, believers in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture believe there will be two Second Comings. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (indulgences), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Rapture is the reason for believers to stay alert! In this post I will address the other standard proof text for the rapture in popular eschatology, namely Matthew 24:37-41 (along with its parallel in Luke 17:35-37). One purpose of the rapture is to give relief from the suffering and persecution after 7 years not to escape the suffering and persecution before it happens. with all that in mind, let us turn to the lukan parallel to matt 24, and in particular luke 21.25-36 which is the lectionary reading for the first sunday in advent in year c. matthew and mark run quite closely in parallel, at least until matt 24.36, when matthew includes jesus' extended teaching about the parousia but mark's account finishes Yet when Jesus gathers the nations upon His arrival and . Here is the short article again regarding Jesus not knowing, and at the end, an even shorter article for more clarity. There was no promise that they would be removed from harms way before the Roman armies came as there is for us at the end of the age. Then one man will be taken away and the other man will remain. When Jesus says He is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8 & 11, 21:6 & 13)He has already created everything throughout timebecause HE IS NOT LIMITED! Is prophecy nothing more than knowing about the future? JOHN 16:13. For our 3 second friends and critics, vss 10-19 take place right after the rapture (vss 12-19, then vss 10-11 according to Jesus). Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. No! What do you gain? This command is given to all Christ's disciples, Take heed to yourselves, that ye be not overpowered by temptations, nor betrayed by your own corruptions. If all believers are caught up during the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation, then only unbelievers are left upon the earth. The timing is NOT to be assumed simply because one prophetic passage is next to other prophetic passages in the same chapter, or connected chapters. . The true church, the "born again" believers that make up the body of Christ, is spiritually awake and will have the strength (worthiness) to escape all these things that are going to take place. We know Jesus knows every detailLord Jesus, let this article through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15), help your church get past the false message, no one but God the Father knows. Amen! In Luke 21:31,32 the subject is the coming Kingdom of God. In the Jewish Culture, the Priests knew the importance of being ready and the consequences of NOT being ready. In Revelation 3:7, Jesus says that He can open the door because He carries the key of David. 38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him. The 50% that are not raptured have a very important role during the End Times and afterwards, as they will be instrumental in fulfilling Scriptural prophecy before and during the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. The twinkling of an eye on sun rise begins when the sun is first seen, and finishes when the bottom edge of the sun rises above the horizon. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When we discuss the End Times prophecies, we know that a Timeline map, if you will, is critical to understanding how everything fits without having to dismiss some verses or find some miracle explanation for them. Link to the free book on our website: The thief in the night also helps explain the partial rapture that Jesus teaches. This was supposed to happen in the generation of his disciples (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). Again, according to God's definition, if anyone wishes to perform Bible prophecy, they must be able to speak it (prediction) AND perform it (creation). Yes, God is gracious, and ultimately we as believers are no longer under condemnation, as Romans 8:1 says. The destruction of the Temple did occur in 70 A.D. That is an historical fact. and versions. Jesus is credited in John 1:1-3 as being the Creator of all things ("Without Him was not anything made that was made"). Though we recommend the book in its entirety. We must be prepared to go with him! "Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36). We clearly believe that we are being told in these three verses that God the Father, Son/Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, want us to know ALL of His future prophetic plans, AND the timing of them, so we can be better prepared with His truth to share His Salvation message. 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