Rapture Bible Prophecy Forum

(Rapture is a Vatican/Jesuit Lie )
The "Resurrection" has been erroneously labeled The "Rapture". 
THERE IS NO RAPTURE

WHY THE TITLE RAPTURE BIBLE PROPHECY FORUM?
WE STARTED OUT BELIEVING IN A 7 YR PRE TRIBULATION RAPTURE
BUT FOUND OVER TIME AROUND 2006 THAT THE BIBLE DOES NOT SHARE A 
BIBLE VERSE WHATSOEVER INDICATING A 7 YR PRE TRIBULATION RAPTURE

BIBLE VERSES EVIDENCE:

While Yahusha/JESUS was alive, He prayed to His Father: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  John 17:15 (KJV)

Yahusha/JESUS gave signs of what must happen before His Return:  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"  Matt. 24:29 (KJV)


WE DAILY STUDY TO SHEW OURSELVES APPROVED 
WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO SAY WE ARE LEARNING DAILY AND 
ARE ABLE TO ADMIT WE MAKE MISTAKES BUT STUDY TO 
LEARN EVERY DAY.

LET YHVH/YAHUSHA BE TRUE 
AND EVERY MAN A LIAR.

To Join and post on this site e-mail for a password
​​​​​​​stevensandiego@ymail.com

WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.RAPTUREBIBLEPROPHECYFORUM.COM

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rapture-Bible-Prophecy-Forum/362856490414697

Hebrew 5783-5788   Gregorian 2023-2028

THIS SITE IS ABOUT Yahusha/JESUS
 We are followers of Yahusha/JESUS Only​​​​​​​
Yahusha/JESUS IS GOD/YHVH
Yahusha/JESUS is YHVH/GOD/YHWH-Yahusha/Son:
​​​​​​​Yahusha/JESUS is The WORD

Yahusha is I Am That I Am  (Exodus 3:14)

Yahusha is YHWH  come in the flesh, He put aside His Diety to become a human, born of  a Virgin.

Yahusha is the Word, As The Most High, He spoke all things seen and unseen into existence

When YHWH created Light, He was revealed to the angels. 

John 14:26
"the breath of life"

But the Comforter, which is "the breath of life", whom the Father will send shall teach you all things.

God is not His  Name but a term.  The Holy Spirit is not a person but the very Breath of the Father.

There is no Trinity.  The Father, YHVH  and Yahusha are One  (John 10:30)

THE BOOK OF ENOCH

NOW IS THE TIME!

 FOR A REMOTE GENERATION THE LAST GENERATION FOR THE ELECT!

REFERENCES IN THE BOOK OF ENOCH TO THE BIBLE

https://bookofenochreferences.wordpress.com/category/the-book-of-enoch-with-biblical-references-chapters-1-to-9/chapter-1/

Book of Enoch: http://tinyurl.com/BkOfEnoch

The book of Second Peter and Jude Authenticate the book of Enoch and Vice Versa

Yahusha/JESUS QUOTED FROM THE SEPTUAGINT:

THE APOSTLES QUOTED FROM THE SEPTUAGINT

JEWS WERE CONVERTING TO CHRISTIANITY

FREE DOWNLOADS

All Of The Apocryphal Books Of

The King James 1611 Version

http://www.scriptural-truth.com/apocrypha_books.html 

Pray for one another, as we watch for the Lord's  return!


Bible Prophecy Forum Postings
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: The End Times Passover

Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
49
Understand, then, that those who believe are children of
Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the
Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to
Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those
who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man
of faith, (Galatians 3:7-9, NIV). [See also Genesis 12:3] [Bold and
underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
In verse 14, of Galatians 3, it specifically states, “He redeemed us in order that the
blessings given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so
that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” It is therefore a
necessity to conclude that God’s church of today is not just comprised of a group
of people who call themselves Christian, who have since the Day of Pentecost
accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, who have experienced the outpouring
of power gifts from the Holy Spirit. But, rather God’s ecclesia includes that “great
cloud of witnesses (Hebrews, Chapters 11 and 12),” and many others who (in Old
Testament times) had faith in and died believing in the Messiah (before He
arrived in the person of Jesus Christ), and millions more that will eventually
espouse the will (which is by faith) of the Father. Those individuals will inherit
the prophetic promises made to Israel in the Old Testament. Verses 26-29
confirm this:
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor
free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ
Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed,
and heirs according to the promise, (Galatians 3:26-29, KJV).
[Bold and underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
And so there be no confusion as to who is Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to
the promise, Romans 9:8 clearly tells us: That is, They which are the children of
the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are
counted for the seed, (Romans 9:8, KJV). Therefore, there is no need to ponder
and pound the pulpits about the role that Jews (Israelites from the tribe of
Judah) will play in God’s end time’s program, claiming as theorists do, that the
wrath of God is designed solely for unrepentant Jews. To shed further light on
this aspect, let us examine a little bit of the folly that many dispensationalists
apply to the word of God, as they try to force their three-entity end time’s
program on the uninformed.
Who Repopulates The Earth After The Second Advent?
Theorists rhetorically ask: “Who will populate the earth, if not the converted
through tribulation and wrath Jews and Gentiles, those so-called tribulation
saints who finally accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during the socalled
Great Tribulation?” Hal Lindsey, in his book, The Rapture, (Bantam



Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
50
Books, pages 144 and 145), uses Ezekiel 20:33-44 and Zephaniah 1:14-18; 3:8-17
as scripture verses he believes describes the so-called Great Tribulation period
and the special wrath of judgments on the nation of Israel, (or Jews, as he calls
them.) After God pours out His wrath, Lindsey believes there will be survivors on
earth, both just and unjust, alike, and these survivors will then be judged and
separated, the just to the Kingdom of God, and the unjust sent to Hell. Mr.
Lindsey quotes Matthew 25:31, with his parenthetical interpretations, thusly:
“But when the son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels
with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all nations
(Gentiles) will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them
from one another, as the shepherd separates sheep (believers) from
the goats (unbelievers); and He will put the sheep on His right and
the goats on the left.” (Hal Lindsey, The Rapture, Bantam Books,
pages 144 and 145) [Parentheses is by Lindsey]
Lindsey’s contention is that after the so-called Great Tribulation (which the
Christian Church will supposedly not experience because it will have been caught
up to heaven before the seven year period of great tribulation begins), those who
remain after this period of wrath outpouring will include the so-called tribulation
saints who will be converted by the so-called 144,000 virgin Jewish evangelists
during that holocaust. Lindsey goes on to say those 144,000 are themselves
somehow supernaturally converted but are still in non-resurrected bodies, but yet
they can't die therefore they will continue to experience hunger and thirst, and
will have to depend upon their new converts to sustain and help them during the
so-called Great Tribulation period.
Lindsey believes that immediately after the so-called Great Tribulation, the
survivors will experience two judgments, which will include Jesus sitting on His
throne somewhere in the earthly city of Jerusalem, in the Middle East, separating
the sheep from the goats. Before this separating of the sheep and goats, Lindsey
believes there will be an earlier and special tribunal primarily for the Jews who
also made it through the ordeal, which will now have to meet Jesus face to face.
Obviously (according to Lindsey) those Jews, who did not accept Jesus Christ, as
Lord and savior (before the Rapture or) during this alleged period of tribulation
and wrath, now have to face the judge in person. Those Jews (according to
Lindsey) who did not repent will be judged and sent to Hell. However, Lindsey
says that some of those Jews do repent and, therefore, they will be able to enter
the Kingdom in the Land of Israel, to be ruled by Jesus Christ and the Christian
Church from out of the Lord’s headquarters based somewhere in Jerusalem, in
the Middle East country today known as the Jewish State of Israel.
Lindsey continues his theory by clearly making an astonishing statement in his
book about the sheep, which he believes are converted Gentile believers who will
remain on earth as righteous mortals: The sheep he calls “the righteous.” They
have eternal life and enter the Kingdom as mortals, (page 148.) He states the
goats are the unbelievers God sends to Hell. In essence, Lindsey is claiming that


Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
51
the righteous survivors (tribulation saints) are the sheep, which are to repopulate
the earth during the Lord’s so-called 1000-year millennial reign. Lindsey
proceeds to make a rather strange and confusing claim, implying that these
tribulation survivors could very well be the 144,000 evangelistic group of virgin
Jews. Speaking about how the Lord determines whether these tribulation
survivors are true believers, Lindsey makes another astonishing statement:
This is evaluated on the basis of how they treated a very special
group that the Lord Jesus calls “these brothers of mine” (Matthew
25:40, 45). Judging by the unusual survival of this group in spite of
hunger, thirst, estrangement, lack of adequate clothing, sickness
and imprisonment, it seems certain that they are the 144,000
Jewish witnesses. (Hal Lindsey, The Rapture, page 146) [Bold
and underline is by the author, not Lindsey, solely for emphasis]
Lindsey goes on to say that these 144,000 Jewish preachers, “are apparently
supernaturally converted” at the beginning of the so-called Great Tribulation.
He goes on to say, “because of the salvation report of untold numbers of people
from every nation being placed right after the call of the 144,000, it is obvious
the Holy Spirit is indicating the results of their witness.” Therefore, based on
Lindsey’s theory, the 144,000 are to be included in that group of sheep that the
Lord separates, that original group of sheep he claims will be the righteous in
mortal bodies. Yet, a few paragraphs later, Lindsey states the 144,000 can’t die:
“At the end of the Tribulation, the same 144,000 are pictured standing with
Jesus on Mount Zion in Jerusalem (Revelation 14: 1-5). The indication is that
they all survived the Tribulation and are in unresurrected bodies, (Hal Lindsey,
The Rapture, Page 146) However, Lindsey goes on to state in the next page (147)
of his book, “But since the 144,000 can’t die, they will continue to experience the
hunger, thirst and exposure revealed in Revelation 7:16 and Matthew 25:35-
40.”
One question to Mr. Lindsey: “How can the 144,000, whom he claims are
tribulation survivors, be on one hand members of the surviving flock of sheep
(which he earlier stated are in unresurrected bodies), then on the next page he
tells us that the 144,000 can’t die?” Lindsey goes on to say that that since these
144,000 virgin Jewish evangelists cant die, they will still experience hunger and
thirst, and the tribulation saints (supposedly those the 144,000 are responsible
for converting) will be seen as helping these Jewish evangelists escape the
clutches of the Antichrist.
If we are to believe Lindsey’s theory (as to who repopulates the earth after the socalled
Great Tribulation) we now have among this group of tribulation survivors
(1) a group of converted Gentiles who remain in righteous mortal bodies, (2) and
among this group of sheep are also included 144,000 virgin Jewish evangelists in
unresurrected bodies, who although in righteous mortal bodies can’t die, (3) and
we will also have repentant Jews among these tribulation survivors who will


Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
52
repopulate the land of Israel, as well as being able to enter the so-called 1000
year (Millennium) Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Using Lindsey’s theory as a guide, we can only guess these Jews will be separate
and apart from the so-called tribulation survivors, yet both entities will remain
to repopulate the earth. We can only guess (if we follow Lindsey’s theory) that not
only do we have the righteous mortal sheep (tribulation saints?) available to
repopulate the earth, we now also have the surviving Jews and surviving Gentiles
who are judged as being righteous by the Lord Jesus Christ. But, yet, if Lindsey is
correct, none of these three entities inherit any of the blessings (immortal bodies,
rewards, crowns, etc.) that the Christian Church qualified for by accepting Jesus
Christ before the so-called Rapture. These three remaining entities are mere
righteous mortals!
Goodness, those poor Gentile tribulations saints, those poor 144,000 virgin
Jewish evangelists, and those poor converted to righteousness Jews. After going
through all of the horrors of the so-called Great Tribulation, which (according to
Lindsey the Christian Church gets to escape them through the Rapture), these
three entities don’t get to clothe themselves with the garments washed white in
the blood of Jesus, they don’t qualify to receive incorruptible bodies like their
fellow Christian Church members, no crowns, no positional status in the
Kingdom of God, and they don’t receive any of the benefits the Christian Church
members obtained by believing in Christ before the Rapture. Even if Lindsey
were correct (that three righteous mortal entities remain after the so-called Great
Tribulation), is he telling us that although these who were converted to Christ
during the so-called Great Tribulation do not deserve ecclesia status? Is Lindsey
telling us that these tribulation saints, those who were supposedly converted by
144,000 virgin Jewish evangelists, those who were persecuted by the Beast for
preaching the gospel during the so-called Great Tribulation, merely qualify for
righteous mortal status, but are excluded from the benefits due all of God’s called
out ones?
We can only guess Mr. Lindsey is implying that these three entities (144,000
virgin Jewish evangelists, the converted to righteousness Jews, and Gentile
tribulation saints), won’t even be allowed to enter the place where Jesus Christ
and the Christian Church will supposedly be governing from. And why should
they? Those pitiful souls didn’t accept Christ before the Rapture; therefore they
shouldn’t qualify to get all the benefits of those who did. I guess we can only
assume Mr. Lindsey believes these converted to righteousness survivors don’t
even qualify to have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, either. I
guess Mr. Lindsey would have us believe that these tribulation saints did not
qualify to receive the total benefits the Christian Church received when it was
supposedly raptured to heaven, because as he states, “Those surviving believers
must be mortals with unresurrected bodies.” (Hal Lindsey, The Rapture, Bantam
Books, pages 144-147 ).


Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
53
As every bible student knows, the Kingdom of God cannot be inhabited by mortal
flesh: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption, (1 Corinthians 15:50,
KJV).” If these surviving believers accepted Christ during the so-called Great
Tribulation (by virtue of the ministry of the 144,000 Jewish virgin evangelists),
but yet don’t receive the same immortal benefits the Christian Church received at
the Rapture, we wonder why Mr. Lindsey and other theorists as well even bother
to call these survivors tribulation saints!
Mr. Lindsey’s theories are indeed novel, to say the least. The author can only
assume that Lindsey and a myriad of other theorists would rather conjure up
similar theories rather than to admit scripture clearly show the ecclesia of God
will remain on earth during horrendous times of persecution, as holy witnesses of
God, preaching the gospel to the very end, up to and immediately before The
Second Advent.
The author finds it very difficult to accept any theories that preclude God’s
unchanging nature. There are two types of people as far as He is concerned:
those called out ones who by faith believe in the true Messiah, and those that
don’t! Plain and simple! To believe that God has three different judgment
programs in store for humanity, one for the just, one for the unjust and one for
national Israel (or the Jews, as theorists identify them) goes contrary to
everything we have been rightly taught from God’s word.
Regarding the differences between Jews and Israel, while God made many
promises to Abraham, one being that all nations shall be blessed through
Abraham, God also made other individual promises and prophecies to the
individual twelve tribes of Israel. One of those prophecies included that the tribe
of Judah would continue to be the administrators of the Mosaic laws until the
Messiah returns: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from
between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the
people be, (Genesis 49:10). This specific prophecy included the continual
teaching and administration of the laws He gave to Moses, which are now viewed
by present day Jews as the only way of salvation. However, as the minister of the
circumcision (servant of the Jews) for the truth of God, Jesus came to confirm all
the promises made unto the fathers, the patriarchs of Israel, the nation of
promise, which included the fulfillment of the Law, (Matthew 5:17)!
In Romans 15:8, Paul is telling the Romans that Christ has become a servant of
the Jews (those who rely on circumcision for salvation) on behalf of God’s truth,
to confirm the promises made to Israel’s patriarchs, so that the Gentiles, all of
those who are not of Israel, may glorify God for His mercy. It is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to
your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to
Him, all you peoples.” And again, Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse

Re: The End Times Passover

Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
54
will spring up, one who will arise to rule the nations; the Gentiles
will hope in Him, (Romans 15:9-12, NIV).” [Underline by the
author, solely for emphasis]
In this group of scripture, we see the word Gentile and nation used
interchangeably to describe those who are not of the circumcision (Jews who rely
on this for salvation). The Bible clearly identifies between faithful Israel and
Jews. The Jews are those from the tribe of Judah, the tribe that was chosen to
keep and administer the Law. There are 12 tribes in the House of Israel, and only
two of them (as well as the Levites) are Jewish! Therefore, those not of the Jewish
faith of circumcision are all Gentiles, which obviously includes all of those
descendants from the other ten (scattered) tribes of Israel, as well. The other ten
tribes lost their law-giving and law-abiding identity; therefore the remaining
tribes (Judah, Benjamin and the Levite priests) are the only ones who still abide
by the Levitical laws given to Moses. However, theorists still insist on keeping
alive a genetic nation they call all Israel in their exegetical mythologies, failing to
realize that all Israel is the faith-believing body of Christ, His ecclesia! The
ecclesia He initiated through faith-believing Abraham!
The major point we are trying to make in this first chapter of this book is that the
fanciful manner of interpreting scripture by theorists, solely to formulate a threeentity
tribulation/wrath program during the end times, becomes futile. What
makes for clear scripture understanding is that God originally chose Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob (Israel) as His chosen people through whom His name would be
revealed, and a blessing for all of humanity’s sake. Yes! God made specific
prophesies to Jacob (Israel) on his deathbed, in regards to the twelve tribes and
their respective futures (See Genesis, Chapter 49 for complete details); however,
those specific prophecies were earthly and geopolitical and had nothing to do
with the overall destiny of His People, His Holy ecclesia, His called out ones!
That blessing is eternal salvation!
The main promise to Abraham is found in verse 3, where God said, “All peoples
on earth will be blessed through you.” This is speaking about eternal
salvation! This is THE GOSPEL that God preached to Abraham in Genesis 12:3
and Genesis 22:18. And Paul, reiterates this fact in Galatians 3:8: And the
scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen (Gentiles) through
faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations
be blessed, (Galatians 3:8, KJV)! [Parenthesis and bold by the author]
Herein, then, is the major connection as to what it is that God’s called out ones
are going to inherit, and what the Bible clearly says they will in fact be joint heirs
of. In Galatians 3:29, it states, “If you belong to Christ, THEN YOU ARE
ABRAHAM’S SEED (faithful offspring) and HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE
PROMISE.” The promises in these verses are not speaking about a geopolitical
kingdom or an eternal earth-based land grant for Jews. If this be the case, then
Galatians 3:29 would also be unveiling new information to all Christians to mean
that they also have the right to that land the Jews claimed in the Middle East in


Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
55
1948. No! The promise that the ‘seed’ inherits is much, much greater than land
territory! [Caps by he author, solely for emphasis]
If Christians belong to Christ, then they are Abraham’s seed and therefore they
are to be joint heirs in all the promises made to Abraham. It becomes very clear
then that the Gentiles also have the opportunity to share in that great promise,
which is eternal salvation! “...all peoples on earth will be blessed through you,
(Genesis 12:3, NIV).”
There was a condition to the promises that God made to Abraham; it was based
on his faith and obedience. Abraham left his native land, friends and relatives,
forsaking his old way of life and followed God. Abraham was then put through a
test to end all tests: to sacrifice his only son! Abraham didn’t question God’s
motive; he commenced to obey God but was stopped by the Lord at the very last
second. God found Abraham to be faithful. Consequently, God blessed Abraham
(Genesis 22:15-18) saying that He would multiply Abraham’s seed “as the stars of
heaven, and as the sand, which is upon the seashore.” Immediately following
this blessing, God also prophesied to Abraham that “thy seed,” meaning Jesus
Christ, “shall possess the gate of His enemies; and in thy seed (still speaking
about the Christ), shall all nations of the earth be blessed; because thou has
obeyed my voice.”
At this point in time, the promises made to Abraham in this verse have no more
conditions. Abraham kept his part of the covenant and therefore God blessed
Abraham for his faith and obedience. That last unconditional blessing has been
fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ! This is an unconditional promise that is
absolute. Whomever God calls from every nation (Jews included) may partake of
salvation, because God kept His promise and the promised Seed, Jesus Christ,
came and fulfilled the Law. Not just the Mosaic Law, but also God’s law. When
God reckoned to Abraham his faith as righteousness, it was not due to the Mosaic
Law, which had yet been established. In Genesis 26:1-6, we see where God
confirmed to Isaac the oath He swore to Abraham, “because Abraham obeyed me
and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws,” vs. 5.”
Regardless of the Mosaic Law yet seen, God’s laws were in effect. Sin is the
transgression of God’s Law; the same fundamental, eternal, spiritual law that
Adam broke; the same laws that Abraham obeyed long before the
commandments and laws were established and administered by Moses.
Abraham’s faithfulness and obedience to God’s laws made it possible for all the
blessings we have today, both spiritual and material. Henceforth, all the
promises that were made to Abraham and all of his faith-believing offspring
(Isaac, Jacob, which became Israel), down through the centuries, apply to those
who call themselves Christian, as well. Too often Christians refer to themselves as
Gentile Christians, when in reality, the moment they accepted Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior, the Gentile became spiritually adopted into the original church
(ecclesia, called out ones) of God, His people of promise!


Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
56
If we (Christians) then belong to Christ, “then you (Christians) are Abraham’s
seed and heirs according to the promise, (Galatians 3:29).” Prior to Christ’s
atoning work on Calvary, all those nations who were not citizens (foreigners to
the covenant of promise) of faith-believing Israel were Gentiles. [Parenthesis is
by the author, solely for emphasis]
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth
and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the
circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) - 12
remember that at that time you were separate from
Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners
to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without
God in the world. 14 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were
far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ,
(Ephesians 2:11-13, NIV).
Therefore, theorists have to eliminate from their mindset that there are varying
end times scenarios for those who call themselves the Christian Church, which
(by and large) expects a special secret Pre-Tribulation escape to heaven program.
Theorists have to a remove from their mindset the thinking that only those who
have been blessed and baptized with power from on high by the Holy Spirit since
the Day of Pentecost are the only ones who comprise the true church (ecclesia) of
God. Nor should theorists interpret scripture to convey any special end-times
salvation scenario for the Jews (ethnic Israel) followed by any 1000 year
geopolitical kingdom restoration for them.
The called out ones of God (which today calls itself the Christian Church) began
with those of faith such as Abel and Enoch and Noah. Later on God made a
special promise to the Hebrew Abram, that by virtue of his faith, the promise
would be extended to his descendants, those who by faith would believe in the
Messiah. The works on Calvary by Christ made it possible to include other
nations (Gentiles) who were not children of promise. God preached The Gospel to
Abraham when He told him, and in you all the families of the earth will be
blessed, (Genesis 12:3, NASB). And God (through Christ Jesus) fulfilled that
promise (Ephesians 3:6; Galatians 3:29). The Jews, who were present when Jesus
Christ walked on earth, missed this point. Even though the apostles tried so
diligently to show them who this Christ in their midst was, they failed to
understand or believe, primarily due to their egotistical pride and hardened
hearts. They believed it was the law and their genetic lineage that made them the
true children of Abraham. They failed to understand that it was God’s promise to
Abraham, due to his righteousness and faith, that salvation and His pledge of
their eternal resting place, the true Promised Land, were given. Even today, most
Jews hang their religious beliefs on the Laws of Moses, failing to see that
salvation is only possible due to God’s promises to Abraham, the recipient of
promise: For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God
gave it to Abraham by promise, (Galatians 3 18, KJV).


Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
57
Therefore, Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel must be distinguished
between its national origin and its spiritual status as members of God’s called out
ones, regardless of the incessant debate amongst theorists as to whether
Christians are the true church and they should be called Israel, or whether Israel
is the true church and it should be called Christian. God chose a peculiar people
for Himself, and He gave the descendants of faith-believing Abraham various
promises of blessing that would impact the entire world. Abraham and his faithbelieving
descendents are God’s called out ones! God also provided a way for
Gentiles (non-chosen peoples) to be grafted into this spiritual nation by virtue of
their acceptance of the atoning work of Christ. Gentiles who believe by faith that
God (in the person of Jesus Christ) paid a price (redemption) for non-elect
peoples, who if they also believe can now enjoy and be joint heirs of the promises
God made to Abraham. Therefore, the so-called Christian Church (especially its
fundamentalist evangelical leaders) of today needs to understand that there exists
millions more people in history that comprise the true Church of God.
To conclude this chapter, we state again that God chose Abraham through whom
He would bless all nations. That calling out of a people (ecclesia) and His
promises were carried forth to Isaac and Jacob (Israel), to reveal Himself to
mankind. He reconfirmed that covenant with David (Acts 2:25-36). He made
specific promises to each, which are irrevocable. He gave His written Laws to
national Israel, which later rebelled, and that rebellion was recorded for our
benefit, (1 Corinthians 10:11). Genetic Israel has since been scattered among all
nations, with hardened hearts. God, as was His original plan, had mercy on those
who were not His chosen elect (ecclesia), and provided a way so that all nonpeople
of promise (the Gentiles,) if they believe, could be grafted into His original
ecclesia, (Romans 11:13-24). All of those Gentiles who have responded to His gift
of mercy and calling continue to be a part of His original (and growing) ecclesia.
Therefore, this is the true “mystery of God,” that through Christ, the Gentiles (all
nations of people) have been afforded the opportunity to be joint heirs with His
chosen people (Ephesians 3:6; Colossians l: 26; 2:2). The Christian Church of
today was not a mystery before the Day of Pentecost, but rather, God’ children of
promise (those who believe by faith) have historically been an assembled group of
believers that God identifies to humanity as those He has called (Gr. kaleo,
invited) from out of (Gr. ek) the world, His ecclesia! He revealed this fact to
Moses (and all mankind) as far back as Genesis 3:15, and has been revealing all
aspects of His redemption plan through His prophets of the Old Testament and
the apostles of the New Testament. In His word, through metaphor, parables,
symbolism, types, tradition, ritual and proven recorded facts, God has forever
been revealing His plan of salvation for His People, He has revealed His ecclesia
to an unbelieving world, an ecclesia whose mission is to preach the gospel of His
demonstrated love for all of His creation, by virtue of the sacrifice God Himself
performed for the sins of all mankind, through the person of Jesus Christ.
Members of the ecclesia include today’s saints, disciples, brethren, beloved, elect,
fellow prisoners in Christ, and any present day individuals who believe in their

Re: The End Times Passover

Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
58
hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confess Him with their mouth
(Romans 10:9, 10); anyone who calls on the name of the Lord (vs. 11); as well as
all Old Testament patriarchs (Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
David, et al) and all the prophets who believed and trust(ed) by faith that Christ,
their Messiah, would fulfill all of the promises Jehovah God made to them.
The Bible states throughout (as Daniel specifically states in Chapter 12:1,2) that
his (Daniel’s) people (not just Jews, but God’s chosen people, everyone whose
name is found written in the book) will be delivered (resurrected to everlasting
life) while others will awake (also resurrected) to shame and everlasting
contempt. It (Daniel 12:1, 2) says nothing about being delivered through a secret
pre-tribulation escape to heaven for seven years; it says nothing about a twopronged
program of wrath, one including punishment-until-you-repent for
national Israel (Jews), in hopes of solely bringing it to its spiritual knees through
wrath-induced horrors. The Bible doesn’t say that there will be various end times
rescue-to-heaven programs for His ecclesia, as much as theorists would like to
believe. But, the Bible does say that those who reject Jesus Christ, our Lord and
our God, will experience His wrath, and there will be salvation only for those who
by faith believed and accepted him as their Messiah. This will include the faithful
and righteous called out ones that believed prior to Jesus’ first advent.
Who are the members of the true ecclesia of God, the true body of Christ? They
are the righteous ones like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, David,
and all of their Old Testament descendants and prophets who, by faith, believed
in the coming Messiah, and those who have since been redeemed through the
atoning work of Jesus Christ, saved by grace, not works, and those who have been
called for His purpose to be His witnesses throughout the world. The great
ecclesia (those who from the beginning were called out of the world for His
purpose); those who by faith placed their complete, unwavering trust in the
Messiah, are the true church of God! Those who don’t (and didn’t) shrink back
during the times of great tribulation are the true church of God! These who pick
up their cross and follow Him, even unto death, as have so many martyrs
throughout history; these are members of God ecclesia!
Any one person who fears the impending tribulations that are now falling on
them (with increasing intensity), and whose hope lay in a secret pre-tribulation
escape to heaven, need to reexamine their doctrinal positions and pray for greater
understanding and knowledge of what He truly has in store for them. It is when
we seek the true revelation that God has given us through His word and His
Christ that we will then know the true joy and peace He provides.
Therefore, as we proceed into the following chapters, please discard any notions
that God has a three-entity end times program, one for national Israel (or Jews),
one for the unjust Gentiles, and another for the so-called Christian Church.
Instead, try to view the numerous scripture to be presented henceforth through
the perspective that God is addressing those of faith, and those not of faith. The
author is certain that the reader will then be able to see that much of the


Chapter 1
Who Are God’s People of Promise?
59
dispensational and secret escape to heaven mythology will begin to crumble
before their eyes.
God’s ecclesia, the called out ones, those of us who call ourselves Christians, now
have access to God, through faith, and we have been called for a specific purpose.
This calling will result in great persecution for many in the immediate future.
This persecution is intended for a specific purpose. The more we know about
what to expect, the better prepared we will be to bring hope to others, to
hopefully partake and equally share in the promises God made to His original
ecclesia, and partake in the glory of the soon-to-come Kingdom of God:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we
have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but
we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance,
character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not
disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us, (Romans 5:1-5, NIV).



The End Times Passover



[Etymological Challenges to Millenarian Doctrines]



© 2000

By

JOE ORTIZ

FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES


Link to PDF online: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By9dVV_URABMZWEyNjg0MjktNjE0Zi00M2RjLWFmMjUtYTg2ZmIzYzMzZTUy/edit?hl=en&authkey=CNLW2IIE


For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

Note: Before commenting on any posts please make sure you either watch or read each post in it’s entirety. Before, making a comment, if you don’t have the time to watch or read fully please restrain from commenting. When you do this it will help to reduce confusion.

Thank you for visiting Rapture Bible Prophecy Forum!

Please add us to your favorites!
http://www.rapturebibleprophecyforum.com
Our Facebook page is :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rapture-Bible-Prophecy-Forum/362856490414697
Please LIKE our Facebook page! Facebook is growing daily!









++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Zechariah 12:3,9:
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Disclaimer: Rapture Bible Prophecy Forum, ( http://www.rapturebibleprophecyforum.com ) does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site. We do however, encourage a healthy and friendly debate on the issues of our day. Whether you agree or disagree, we encourage you to post your feedback by using the reply button.

If you are new to this site and would like to post articles, opinions, youtube videos that are appropriate for this site just e mail me at

stevensandiego@ymail.com
I will send you a PASSWORD

Ybic
Steven





Re: The End Times Passover



The End Times Passover


[Etymological Challenges to Millenarian Doctrines]

© 2000

By

JOE ORTIZ

FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES


Link to PDF online: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By9dVV_URABMZWEyNjg0MjktNjE0Zi00M2RjLWFmMjUtYTg2ZmIzYzMzZTUy/edit?hl=en&authkey=CNLW2IIE



60
Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
Before we present biblical evidence as to how God is going to protect His called
out ones during the increased times of tribulation that precede the return of
Christ, through what we call the End Times Passover, the author finds it
necessary to make some critical observations about the language that has been
used for many years concerning God’s End Times rescue program, especially the
part theorists call The Rapture! The author also wants to clear up, once and for
all, the issue of who’s taken and who’s left.
Let’s first examine closely the phrase that most theorists use in connection with
what they believe is the ecclesia’s “blessed hope,” which they refer to as The
Rapture. What do proponents of a Pre-Tribulation escape from earth to heaven
mean when they call the Rapture of His church the “blessed hope?” Do they
mean that the “blessed hope” spoken about in Titus 2:13 is The Rapture, that the
catching up to heaven assumption is the single most important part of God’s
overall redemption program?
Let’s examine the scriptural passage most often referred to by theorists, which
they claim is the primary scripture source of this unauthorized coined phrase:
The Rapture!
For the Lord himself come down from heaven, with a loud
command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call
or God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who
are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words, (1
Thessalonians 4:16-18, NIV). [Underline and bold is by the author,
solely for emphasis]
John F. Walvoord, in his book The Rapture Question (page 12), states that “The
word rapture is from rapere, found in the expression “caught up” in the Latin
translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.” George Eldon Ladd, in his book The
Blessed Hope (page 78 ), states “The word “Rapture” is derived from the Latin
word rapio which is found in the Latin Bible in verse 17 and translated “caught.”
Hal Lindsey, in his book The Rapture (page 24), states that “The word rapture
comes from a Latin translation of the Greek word harpazo in 1 Thessalonians
4:17 which is translated in English as “caught up.” It literally means “to seize”
or “to snatch.” If I had my way, I would call the rapture “the great snatch.”
Regardless of which rendering you prefer, all three of these gentlemen believe
that the so-called “The Rapture” phrase originates from the Greek verb harpazo.
The author checked in W. E. Vine’s book, An Expository Dictionary of Biblical


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
61
Words, for the meaning of the word “rapture,” and the word “rapture” does not
appear in his dictionary, whatsoever. Neither does Vine have any category in his
Greek Dictionary for the word caught nor caught up, only for the words snatch,
pluck, pull and take. This is what Vine states is the definition for the word catch:
Catch: HARPAZO, a verb, to snatch or catch away, is said of the act
of the Spirit of the Lord in regard to Philip in Acts 8:39; of Paul in
being caught up to Paradise, 2 Cor. 12:2, 4; of the rapture of the
saints at the returning of the Lord, l Thess. 4:17; of the rapture of
the man child in the vision of Rev. 12:5. This verb conveys the
idea of force suddenly exercised, as in Matt. 11:12, “take (it) by
force;” 12:29, “spoil” (some mss. have diarpazo here); in 13:19 RV.,
“snatcheth;” for forceful seizure, see also John 6:15, 10:12, 28,
29; Acts 23:10; in Jude 23, RV. “snatching.” See Pluck, Pull,
Snatch, and Take (by force). (W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary
of Biblical Words, Thomas Nelson Publishers, page 166) [Bold and
underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
Let’s briefly examine the Greek word harpazo and the scriptures where this word
is used. Once again, the word harpazo is the Greek verb for pluck, catch, snatch
and take, and it is never used as a noun, pronoun or proper noun. The author
might add that the word up is not included after the word caught in 1
Thessalonians 4:17. We first find the word harpazo in Matthew 11:12, where it is
used about the Kingdom of God, where violent men take by force; in Matthew
12:29, where Jesus, while talking to the Pharisees, states, how can anyone enter
a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the
strong man? We see harpazo again in Matthew 13:19, in Jesus’ parable of the
sower, where He states, When anyone hears the message about the Kingdom
and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was
sown in the heart. The word harpazo is again used in John 6:28, where we see
that Jesus knew that the people were going to try to take Him by force and make
Him King. Harpazo is again used in John 10:12, where Jesus, referring to
Himself as the good shepherd, talks about the wolf who attacks the flock and
scatters it, the wolf being an example of the devil and the flock being the example
of His sheep (called out ones). Further in John 10:28, 29, we see Jesus
proclaiming that His sheep listen to His voice, they follow Him, He gives them
eternal life, they will never perish and no one can snatch them out of His hand.
Jesus goes on to say, My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;
no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
In Acts 8:39, the verb harpazo is found in the original manuscript where we see
the apostle Philip being snatched by the Spirit to Azotus; and, in Acts 23:10, it is
used again to describe when the apostle Paul is taken by force to the Roman
barracks. In 2 Corinthians 12:4, the Greek verb harpazo again is used to describe
Paul being caught into paradise (he didn’t know if in spirit or body), but not up to
paradise. The word up does not follow the word caught in this verse, but, rather,
the preposition into (Gr. eis). The most well known scripture where the Greek


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
62
verb harpazo is used is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, where we see Paul
exhorting the believers that they will be caught to meet the Lord in the air. You
will notice very carefully though, that this verse doesn’t say they will be caught up
to heaven, but rather, caught together to meet the Lord in the air. [There is more
to follow on this verse in another chapter]
We see the word harpazo used also in Jude 23, where the author exhorts the
saints to be merciful and snatch others from fire; and, in Revelation 12:5, the verb
harpazo is used to describe the male child (Jesus) who was snatched to God and
His throne. In this verse also we do not see the word up used after caught or
snatched.
The question we would pose to theorists, dispensationalists and our readers, too,
is this: Would it be proper to say in Matthew 11:12 that the Kingdom of God is
raptured by violent men? Would it be proper to say in Matthew 12:29 that
someone enters a strong man’s house and raptures what was sown in the heart?
Would it be proper to say in John 6:15 that the people were trying to rapture
Jesus and make Him King? Would it be proper to say in John 10:12 that the wolf
raptures the flock and scatters it? Does it make any sense at all to say in John
10:28 and 29 that no one can rapture the sheep from Jesus’ or the Father’s hand?
If we were to accept the theorists’ contention that the word harpazo is to be
interpreted as rapture, then we would also have to apply the word rapture to all
of the above-mentioned verses that contain the word harpazo.
In Acts 8:39, it describes where the apostle Philip is snatched by the Spirit to
Azotus, but does it state that Philip was snatched up to Azotus? Not at all! If we
can truly discern the exact rendering of the word harpazo, we can see that it does
not convey where a person is snatched to, but rather, the Greek verb harpazo
means the manner in which the person was snatched. This verse merely describes
the forceful manner in which Philip was transported from his location on the
desert road, where he had finished ministering to the Ethiopian eunuch, and then
appeared at Azotus. Would it be proper to say that Philip was raptured to
Azotus? Of course not! This verse merely tells us that Philip was quickly and
forcefully transported by the Spirit from where he was to Azotus! In Jude 23, the
word harpazo is used to describe how the Christian should snatch a person from
a life of sin and escape the fire of wrath to come. Would it be proper to say we are
to rapture them from sin or from fire?
With the exception of Revelation 12:5, where it talks about the male child (Jesus)
who was snatched to God and His throne, and possibly in the account where Paul
speaks about him being caught into the third heaven (he didn’t know if it was in
body or spirit), it appears that when the word harpazo is used, it does not refer to
anyone being taken up but merely the forceful manner in which they are
transported. Some theorists have argued that Paul definitely entered into heaven,
even though Paul himself was not certain whether he was plucked in the body or
spirit. However, we can rightly state that Paul did not bodily enter into heaven
because 1 Corinthians 15:50 tells us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
63
kingdom of God. We must conclude then that Paul has not seen heaven and is the
only person in history who has been allowed to hear (not see) unspeakable
words, which is not lawful for man to utter, (2 Corinthians 12:4, KJV).
More importantly, while many theorists believe that the Christian Church will
experience a secret catching up to heaven, an event theorists claim will be unseen
by those who will supposedly be left behind, nowhere in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 nor
any other place in the Bible does it make that specific claim! However it does
specifically state that God’s ecclesia will be caught to meet the Lord in the air, but
the verse (in the original manuscript) does not say that the Christian Church is
caught up to heaven. It merely states that the called out ones will be caught (Gr.
harpazo, snatched) together with those who sleep in Christ to have a meeting
(Gr. noun apentesis, a meeting, officially greet arriving royalty) with Jesus in the
air, and henceforth will be with Him forever. The author might add that this verse
does not say at what specific location the ecclesia will be at with Him after it is
caught; however, this location will become clearly and abundantly identified later
in this book!
In Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, the English word rapture is defined as a
noun from the Latin raptus, which means “a state or experience of being carried
away by overwhelming emotion; a mystical experience in which the spirit is
exalted to acknowledge things; an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or
passion.” Theorists contend that their doctrinal phrase “The Rapture” (which has
become predominately accepted, if not wholly adopted, by the dispensational
community) is a pronoun that describes the most anticipated special event by
many in the Christian community. They believe they have correctly coined this
anticipated event, The Rapture (now a proper noun), based solely on their
interpretation of the Greek verb harpazo. They now interpret the verb (harpazo)
as a noun (rapture), feeling it is derived from the Latinization of the verb to
“seize.” The Latin for “seize” is definitely rapere, from whence comes the Latin
noun raptus, the past participle of rapere, from the Middle English. However,
the Latin noun raptus has more to do with the completed act in where a person
has been seized and carried away. It does not imply the manner (as does the verb
harpazo) in which a person is carried away. Therefore, the Greek verb harpazo is
not to be deciphered as an event that has transpired, but rather, it denotes the
manner in which a person is being seized.
In essence, theorists have been using the Greek verb harpazo not only as a noun,
but they also have coined a proper noun (The Rapture) for this action, which is
truly altering the word of God! The word caught in 1Thessalonians 4:17 is not a
noun, but rather, the word caught (Greek verb harpazo) here is describing the
rapidity and forceful manner in which a person is lifted or carried off. Theorists
continue, as they have for over two hundred years - when the word Rapture was
coined to describe the action they believe is being described in 1 Thessalonians
4:17, to rest their doctrinal beliefs on this interpretation as being biblical truth.
That the verb harpazo is so carelessly used to describe an event rather than the
manner in which God’s ecclesia will be caught to have a meeting (Gr. apentesis,


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
64
official greeting of royalty) with the arriving Christ (the royalty of all royalties)
truly boggles the mind!
Without appearing picayune in this matter, myths are too often formed in such a
presumptuous and careless manner. This phrase “The Rapture” has gained such
worldwide acceptance these last two hundred years, especially by modern-day
theorists and evangelists who incessantly infer that “the blessed hope” is the
being caught part of God’s overall redemption program. The blessed hope is more
than the being caught to meet the Lord in the air portion of God’s overall
redemption program; it entails so much more. Matthew Henry, in his
commentary on the book of Titus, Chapter 2, elaborates the totality of the blessed
hope of God’s called out ones:
There is a common and blessed hope for all true Christians in the
other world. If in this life only they had hope in Christ, they were of
all men the most miserable, 1 Co. 15:19. By hope is meant the
thing hoped for, namely, Christ himself, who is called our
hope (1 Tim. 1:1), and blessedness in and through him, even riches
of glory (Eph. 1:18), hence fitly termed here that blessed hope. [2.]
The design of the gospel is to stir up all to a good life by
this blessed hope. Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and
hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ, 1 Pt. 1:13. To the same purport here,
Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, live soberly, righteously,
and godly, in this present world, looking for the blessed hope; not as
mercenaries, but as dutiful and thankful Christian. What manner of
persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God! 2 Pt.
3:11, 12. Looking and hastening, that is, expecting and diligently
preparing for it. [3.] At, and in, the glorious appearing of
Christ will the blessed hope of Christians be attained; for
their felicity will be this, to be where he is, and to behold
his glory, Jn. 17:24. The glory of the great God and our Saviour
will then break out as the sun. Though in the exercise of his
judiciary power he will appear as the Son of man, yet will he be
mightily declared to be the Son of God too. The divinity, which on
earth was much veiled, will shine out then as the sun in its strength.
Hence the work and design of the gospel are to raise the
heart to wait for this second appearing of Christ. We are
begotten again to a lively hope of it (1 Pt. 1:3), turned to serve the
living God, and wait for his Son from heaven, 1 Th. 1:9, 10.
Christians are marked by this, expecting their Master’s
coming (Lu. 12:36), loving his appearance, 2 Tim. 4:8. Let us the
look to this hope; let our loins be girt, and our lights burning, and
ourselves like those who wait for their Lord; the day or hour we
know not, but he that shall come will come, and will not tarry, Heb.
10:37. [4.] The comfort and joy of Christians are that their


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
65
Saviour is the great God, and will gloriously manifest
himself at his second coming. Power and love, majesty
and mercy, will then appear together in the highest lustre,
to the terror and confusion of the wicked, but to the
everlasting triumph and rejoicing of the godly. Were he not
thus the great God, and not a mere creature, he could not be their
Saviour, nor their hope. (Matthew Henry, Commentary on Titus 2)
[Bold and underlines is by the author, solely for emphasis]
No, the blessed hope is not merely the being caught up (or Raptured, as theorists
call that act), it is the totality of God’s redemption program, as Matthew Henry so
eloquently presents in his commentary. Unfortunately, a myriad of
dispensationalists and Rapture theorists continue to present their soothing
mythology to hundreds of thousands of Christians, thereby lulling many into a
false sense of hope, one that mitigates the impending persecutions Christians will
experience before The Second Advent of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, these
theorists have conveniently and cleverly twisted the words of God to infer a
pseudo hope for the Christian, by giving new meaning to one single verb in the
Bible. Unfortunately, the Rapture has become the mantra for theorists who
believe that the (caught) act is the blessed hope spoken of in Titus, Chapter 2.
The Greek verb harpazo, which merely describes the rapid and forceful manner
that called out ones will be gathered together to have a meeting in the air with
Christ, has now become the blessed hope for most Christians; simply by
interpreting a verb (harpazo) into a proper noun they call The Rapture!
One graphic example the author often uses to explain the inference we are
dealing with here is one where a great rescue of a valiant soldier in a war zone has
been planned. Let’s say, for example, the battle-weary soldier is finally going to
be reunited with his commander after having served for many years in battle,
where for three and a half years he has been involved in hand-to-hand combat.
He’s war-torn and weary, a victim of many bayonet and bullets wounds, almost to
the point of death. He is now a prisoner of his enemies, a victim of much torture
and persecution. But he waits and waits, never losing faith, always praying that
soon he will be rescued from this ordeal. Then, lo and behold, he looks up and
there he sees a helicopter coming in his direction, armed and loaded with
ammunition, and his commander is at the controls. Suddenly, he sees this giant,
knotted rope coming down, he reaches up and grabs a hold of it and, within a
twinkling of an eye, he is “snatched” and delivered from the horrors he has been
experiencing. Allow the author to ask this question. “What is the most important
thing the soldier was hoping for? The being snatched up part or the fact that
finally he would be going to meet with his commander and never have to
experience combat again?” Yes, the “snatching” process was very important
because he knew then, at that exact moment he would no longer have to do battle
again. However, during his combat period, he was not concerned so much about
the specifics of his rescue, but rather, how much longer it would take before his
commander came to destroy his enemies and reunite him with his fellow soldiers,
family and friends. Unfortunately, too many Christians are more caught up with


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
66
the process of the rescue than they are in the true blessed hope, which is the
glorious appearing, return and being reunited with Jesus Christ!
The point the author is trying to make here is that there are millions of Christians
who believe deeply in the so-called Rapture theory and have become so convinced
that now that they are “Born Again” Christians, they can continue the remainder
of their earthly journey without fear of having to experience great tribulation.
However, too many Christians are resting their hopes on an unproven theory that
claims they will be secretly “caught up” to heaven at any moment, which the
author is convinced that scripture reveals will not be the case. As we will see in
later chapters, the phrase The Rapture has lulled many Christians into a wishful
thinking state that could very well catch them off guard and, more importantly,
impede the growth and maturing process that will be necessary to spiritually deal
with the reality of the coming tribulation.
The author believes that scripture clearly spell out the three-step phase of God’s
Rescue Program as it relates to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where the so-called The
Rapture theory originates. No scripture in the Bible specifies that the “blessed
hope” is fulfilled by being “caught up” to heaven; but, rather, the being “caught”
to have a meeting in the air with Jesus is the second part of the overall threestage
rescue process that culminates in our being reunited with Jesus Christ, our
Lord and our God, who will return to reign on earth, forever!
Let’s look at what the Bible says is the first stage:
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be
changed – 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 for the perishable
must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with
immorality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the
imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that
is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory,
(1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NIV). [Bold and underline is by the author,
solely for emphasis]
In these passages, we see a graphic description of The Resurrection, where the
main emphasis is solely on the being “changed” phase of God’s rescue process.
No mention is made in these verses about being “caught up” to heaven because
Paul here is providing discernment pertaining solely to the mystery of the
instantaneous transition (in the ‘twinkling of an eye’ ) phase that precedes the
being “caught” described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Paul states that the perishable
must put on the imperishable, and the mortal must put on immortality. He states

Re: The End Times Passover

that this will happen at the last trumpet which harmonizes not only with 1
Thessalonians 4:16, but also with Matthew 24:31 and Revelation 11:15-18, which
describes the fulfillment of The Resurrection and the subsequent rewarding of


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
67
the saints (vs. 18). This passage will be discussed later in greater detail, as will
other passages pertaining to this subject from the Book of Revelation.
Phase Two of God’s Rescue Program is the part where called out ones will be
“caught” together with those that sleep in Christ to have a “meeting” with the
Lord in the air! According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, the word “meet”
in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is not the Greek verb apantao, to go to meet, to meet, but
it’s the Greek noun apantesis, which is best defined as a meeting where one
welcomes another. This is what W. E. Vine says about this Greek noun:
“APANTESIS, a meeting (akin to Apantao, apo, from antao, to meet
with, come face to face with), occurs in Mat. 25:6 (in some Mss in
verse 2, and in 27:32, in some Mss); Acts 28:1; 1 Thess. 4:17. It is
used in the papyri of a newly arriving magistrate. It seems that
the special idea of the word was the official welcome of a
newly arrived dignitary (Moulton, Greek Test. Gram. Vol. 1, p.
14).” (W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words,
Thomas Nelson Publishing, pages 729,730) [Bold and underline is
by the author, solely for emphasis]
According to Vine, the Greek noun apantesis does entail “to meet with, come face
to face with;” however, he says that the meaning relates more so with the
welcoming of an arriving dignitary. This word apantesis is used only four times in
the Bible, and it means the same thing each time: to not only have a face-to-face
meeting, but to greet, welcome and then to escort back the persons you had the
meeting with! In Acts 28:15, we see the word apantesis used as Paul was talking
about fellow Christian brothers who had heard that Paul and 276 of his
companions were coming to Rome, and they went outside of the city, as far as the
Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to have a meeting (apantesis) with
them. They met them and then they escorted them back to the city! The same
word is used in the parable of the five faithful virgins that went to meet
(apantesis) the arriving bridegroom then escorted him back to the wedding
banquet, mentioned in Matthew 25: 1 and 6. Many theorists use the parable of
the five virgins as proof that they went to meet the bridegroom and then
supposedly went up to heaven with Him. However, further in the parable, we see
the other five virgins who did not have oil in their lamps knocking on the door
where the wedding banquet was being held, pleading for the Lord to open the
door. Mere logic dictates that these unprepared virgins could not have been at
heaven’s gate. [More on this aspect in another chapter] Nevertheless, in each of
the four cases where the word apantesis is used, it always describes a face-to-face
meeting, but the greater definition is one that specifically describes a welcome
meeting to escort the arriving party back to where the greeters came from!
The best example the author can use of what the word apantesis truly means in 1
Thessalonians 4:17, and the other scripture just cited, is comparable to when a
group of people gather together at an airport to greet a visiting dignitary.
Whenever the President of the United States or the Queen of England visits each


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
68
other’s country, you will always find a welcoming committee comprised of very
special people. You might find some people standing behind the fence trying to
get a glimpse of the dignitaries, but only the “chosen ones” are allowed “to meet”
with the VIPs, and thereby, share in the glory of the arriving royalty. Therein lays
the reason why there cannot be a secret ‘snatching up’ of any believers solely to
return to heaven, anywhere from three and a half to seven years. This is so
because the returning Christ wants the whole world to see that those who believe
in Him will be rewarded for their faith, patience and trust, and consequently
share in His Glory! A beautiful example of this truth is found in Colossians 3:4
which states, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear
with Him in glory.” In Philippians 3:20, it explicitly tells us that although our
citizenship is in heaven, the verse goes on to state that, we eagerly await a
Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables Him to
bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they
will be like His glorious body, (Philippians 3:20, 21, NIV). [Underline is by the
author, solely for emphasis] Also, in 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Paul is telling the
saints in Thessalonica what the “blessed hope” really is, and when it is fulfilled:
For what is our hope, our joy or the crown in which we will
glory in the presence of our Lord when He comes? Is it not
you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy, (1 Thessalonians 2:19 [Bold
and underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
Therefore, is the so-called “The Rapture,” the being caught (Gr. verb harpazo)
part of the Lord’s return a special event, unto itself?” No! It is one aspect of
God’s rescue plan; however, it is not a specially named event that the Bible
identifies, as it enunciates proper pronouns such as the Sabbath Day or the
Passover. Theorists foolishly contend and grammatically err that the verb
harpazo should now be equated as the Latin noun raptus, and therefore the verb
caught should now be viewed as a pronoun: The Rapture!
There are four special aspects to God’s end time rescue plan, and it appears that
they are instantaneous to a certain degree; however, there is a procession aspect
to the main event which scripture plainly states in harmony with the passages
cited. Number one is the change (Gr. allasso, to make other than it is) spoken of
in 1 Corinthians 15:52, which does not entail nor describes any removal or
translation to heaven. This is where the perishable puts on the imperishable and
the mortal puts on the immortal in the twinkling of an eye. The second stage is
when the called out ones are caught (Gr. harpazo, snatched), not necessarily in
the twinkling of an eye, but forcefully; both those who have already died and are
currently asleep in Christ, and those who will be alive and awaiting His return.
The next stage is when we will meet (Gr. apantesis, a meeting), the noun for a
welcoming face-to-face meeting with the Lord in the air, and then escort Him
back to earth as we share in His visible glory, and then to begin the kingdom
reign on earth with Him forever! Then there is the fourth phase, where we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
69
bad, (2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV). [Detailed discussions on the Judgment Seat of
Christ follow in other chapters of this book]
The author understands how convenient it has been these many years for
numerous scholars to refer to God’s total rescue plan in the pronoun tense by
calling it The Rapture. However, upon close scrutiny of what the scriptures truly
say, and how they harmonize with the passages we have cited, it appears to the
author that calling this snatching part of God’s rescue program The Blessed Hope
certainly detracts from the intent of what God’s Word plainly states. There is no
mystery in what He is conveying to us. God, in the person of Jesus Christ, will
return to earth to rule and reign in visible glory. There is absolutely no need for
the Lord to secretly step down from His heavenly throne to snatch a group of
people out of this world and return back to heaven for a period of time
unbeknownst to any besides those who wish this were the case. [The author will
be dealing with this topic in greater detail in a later chapter.]
The main point we want to make is that to refer to one aspect (the catch part) of
God’s rescue program, as being significantly more important than His overall
“blessed hope” redemption plan, is harmful to the growth and maturation needed
by believers, who must be spiritually ready for the great and increasing times of
persecutions that Christians will be experiencing in future times, and the horrific
events that must precede His arrival.
Who’s Taken and who’s Left?
Another example of how theorists erroneously use scripture to pad their secret
Pre, Mid or Post Tribulation Rapture to heaven theories is found in their
interpretation of Luke 17:34, 35. Let’s read these two verses very carefully, but
first beginning with the four preceding verses in this chapter. In attempts to
validate their left behind schemes, implying called out ones will be taken to
heaven while the unjust will remain on earth to suffer God’s wrath, theorists
primarily quote Luke 17, verses 30 through 35:
It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is
revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the roof of his house,
with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no
one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s
wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses
his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be
in one bed, one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two
women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and
the other left, (Luke 17:30-35, NIV). [Bold and underline is by the
author, solely for emphasis]
Some Bibles have included another verse here, 36, which reads: “Two men shall
be in the field; one shall be taken, and the other left.” Nevertheless, the message
is clear that regardless of marital status or working relationships of these


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
70
individuals, when the Son of Man is revealed, these verses clearly state that one
person will be punished and the other spared from God’s wrath. If theorists insist
on using these verses to describe who is left and who is taken at the so-called
Rapture, isn’t it interesting to note verse 30 (above) states this happens on the
day the Son of Man is revealed. So much for the “secret” aspect of the Rapture!
The true sadness, however, is the manner in which many in the evangelical and
dispensationalist community erroneously interpret these verses to support their
secret escape to heaven theories. Too often have preachers and teachers of the
Gospel interpreted this verse to read that those taken are the ones that will
supposedly be caught up to heaven and the ones left are supposedly those who
will be punished and sent to hell! Let’s examine very carefully the exact meaning
of these two words: taken and left!
According to W. E. Vine, the word taken (or receive) is the Greek verb
paralambano, which means to “receive, to take to (or with) oneself.” (W. E. Vine,
An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Pages
926 and 1117). Vine states that paralambano is used in Matthew 27:27, as we see
Jesus being taken into the Praetorium where He was beaten immediately prior to
His crucifixion. It is interesting to see that the Greek word paralambano is not
used for the word taken in Acts 1:2, where it speaks about Jesus will be taken up
to heaven. The word there is analambano (Gr. ana, up, lambano, take). Nor is
paralambano used in Acts 1:9 to describe Him being taken up to heaven in Acts
1:9. The Greek word used to describe Jesus being taken up to heaven in Acts 1:9
is epairo (to lift, raise). The word paralambano describes more so a forceful
action of taking and receiving unto oneself without asking. Also, paralambano
obviously does not convey the rapid manner the Greek word harpazo (catch or
snatch) used in the famous verse (1 Thessalonians 4:17) from where theorists’
base most of their secret Pre-Tribulation escape theory.
We also see the word paralambano used in John 19:16 where it speaks about
Jesus Christ, when Pilate delivered him over to the Jews: And they took Jesus
and led Him away, (John 19:16, KJV). We see paralambano again in Acts 15:39,
when Barnabas, after having a sharp disagreement with Paul, took Mark and
sailed for Cyprus. We see paralambano again in Acts 16:33, where Silas and
Paul’s jailer took them and washed their wounds after the earthquake incident.
In Acts 21:24, we again see paralambano used for the word take in the scene
where Paul exhorts James and the elders to take the four men among them and
join in their purification rites so as not to start rumors that Paul is encouraging
Jews to turn away from the Law. In verse 32, the word is again used to describe
the Roman commander who took some officers and soldiers to rescue Paul from
the aroused crowd in Jerusalem. In Acts 23:18, we also see paralambano used to
describe the incident where Paul commanded one of the centurions to take the
young man to his commander to relay the message that the Jews were
contemplating a plot to kill Paul.


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
71
These have been but a few examples where paralambano means to take, took or
taken. This Greek word is also used to describe the word receive, or to receive
from another. We see the usage in Mark 7:4, where the Pharisees received (from
tradition) certain edicts pertaining to the cleansing of cups, pots, pitchers and
themselves prior to eating. We see this word in John 1:11, where it speaks about
Jesus coming to His own (the Jews) who did not receive Him. In John 14:3, the
word is used to describe how Jesus will receive those who are His when He
returns at The Second Advent. Some would say this describes the process used at
the so-called Rapture; however, the receiving here is not the being caught
(harpazo) to have a meeting with the Lord in the air that we see in 1
Thessalonians 4:17, but rather, what we see is the receiving unto Himself (or to
His side) when He sets up His earthly kingdom. The word in this verse (John
14:3) is not analambano (to take up), but paralambano (to take or grasp to
Himself). This verse, as we will see later on, is not describing the so-called
Rapture-to-heaven scenario. We see the word again in 1 Corinthians 11:23, where
Paul, speaking about the manner in which the Lord’s Supper is to be partaken,
states that he received instruction from the Lord not to partake the Lord’s Supper
unworthily. Moreover, what Paul received was the realization that Jesus died for
our sins (1 Corinthians. 15:1, 3) and that the Lord’s Supper was to be an honored
memorial of this fact, not to be desecrated by orgiastic ribaldry, as had become
the communion ritual in the Corinthian church. In Galatians 1:9, we see
paralambano again as Paul exhorts that specific church to accurse the man who
preaches a gospel contrary to the one they had received. This was the true gospel
Paul spoke about, because he neither was taught nor received it from man, but
through a revelation of Jesus Christ (vs. 12). In Philippians 4:19, Paul once again
reiterates the need for Christians to practice the things we have learned, heard,
seen and received from Him, another example where paralambano is used.
There are many other instances too numerous to mention where the word
paralambano is used and, in each case, like the ones we have examined, none are
ever used to describe or picture the catching up of any individual or group to
heaven. In other words, paralambano describes a taking unto oneself or
receiving unto oneself, as one would forcefully seize hold of something for further
action.
Let’s now examine the word left used in Luke 17:34, 35. The Greek word for left is
aphiemi and, much to many peoples’ surprise, the word means, to forgive! W. E.
Vine states that aphiemi has three chief meanings, but it primarily means to send
forth, send away (apo, from, hiemi, to send), besides its other meanings, to remit
or forgive (a) debts, Matt. 6:12, 18:27, 32, these being completely canceled; (b)
sins, e.g., Matt. 9:2, 5, 6; 12:31, 32; Acts 8:22 (“the thought of thine heart”)
Romans 4:7; James 5:15; 1 John 1:9, 1:12. Vine goes on to state that aphiemi, like
its corresponding noun (aphesis, a dismissal, release), it “firstly signifies the
remission of the punishment due to sinful conduct, the deliverance of the sinner
from the penalty divinely, and therefore righteously, imposed; secondly, it
involves the complete removal of the cause of offense; such remission is based
upon the vicarious and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ.” Obviously, those who


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
72
are left are the forgiven ones, and those taken are the ones who are bound for
punishment. Obviously, those saints are the same ones spoken of in 1
Thessalonians 4:15 and 17 who will be alive and awaiting the return of Christ.
Vine, speaking about those called out ones who remain (alive) on earth before
the Lord returns, also defines the word remain with another Greek word,
perileipo He states perileipo means “to leave over,” is used in the Passive Voice
in 1Thessalonians 4:15 an 17. He says the RV translates perileipo as they “that are
left,” and the King James Version translate perileipo as they “that remain,”
literally, “left over,” i.e., “the living believers at the Lord’s return.” (W. E. Vine,
An Expository Dictionary Of Biblical Words, Thomas Nelson Publishers, pages
452, 655, 656, 661, 1103).
It is interesting to note, and extremely important to mention, that the word
aphiemi, in Luke 17:34, 35, is the same word used in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew
6:12; Luke 11:4) where it states: “And forgive (aphiemi) us our debts, as we also
have forgiven (aphiemi) our debtors.” [Parenthesis by the author, solely for
emphasis]
If Luke wanted the disciples to understand that verses 34 and 35 (where the word
left (aphiemi) supposedly means to be left behind, stranded, or abandoned, he
would have used the more precise Greek word kataleipo. If the reader will
examine many other verses where the word kataleipo is used to clearly state
someone will be left behind, he or she will realize that kataleipo more precisely
means to leave a person stranded, abandoned or left behind (during the Rapture)
as opposed to left (aphiemi) alone, which means to forgive, or leave them alone,
do not touch them, bypass them. Here are a few verses where the Greek word
kataleipo clearly means to leave behind, abandon or forsake:
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there
shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And
he left (kataleipo) them, and departed. (Matthew 16:4) And said,
for this cause shall a man leave (kataleipo) father and mother, and
shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (Matthew
19:5) And he left (kataleipo) them, and went out of the city into
Bethany; and he lodged there. (Matthew 21:17); For this cause shall
a man leave (kataleipo) his father and mother, and cleave to his
wife; (Mark 10:7); Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother
die, and leave (kataleipo) [his] wife [behind him], and leave no
children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed
unto his brother (Mark 12:19): And he left (kataleipo) the linen
cloth, and fled from them naked (Mark 14:52); And after these
things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the
receipt of custom: and he said unto him, follow me. And he left
(kataleipo) all, rose up, and followed him. (Luke 5:27-28); And they
which heard [it], being convicted by [their own] conscience, went
out one by one, beginning at the eldest, [even] unto the last: and
Jesus was left (kataleipo) alone, and the woman standing in the


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
73
midst (John 8:9). What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he
loses one of them, doth not leave (kataleipo) the ninety and nine in
the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?
(Luke 15:4). [Bold and parenthesis (kataleipo) by the author, solely
for emphasis]
There are many other verses that use the word kataleipo to expressly mean to
leave something or someone behind, including Acts 2:31; 18:19; 24:27; 25:14; 1
Thessalonians 3:1 and 2 Peter 2:15. This last verse (2 Peter 2:15) uses the word
“forsaken” to define kataleipo, which clearly demonstrates the profound meaning
that theorists would infer in the verse (Luke 17:34-35) they quote so often in their
Left Behind scheme. But kataleipo is not used to define the phrase left in Luke
17:34-35; the Greek word aphiemi is used, and it means to forgive, to pass over,
to leave alone, and it’s never used to convey forsaken, stranded, abandoned or
Left behind!
Having now seen the precise definition of these two Greek words, can there be
any doubt in the reader’s mind as to who is taken (paralambano, taken aside)
and who is left (aphiemi, forgiven)? But yet, thousands of preachers and Bible
teachers, dispensationalists and Rapture theorists daily use these verses (Luke 17,
34, 35) as depicting those taken as the ones who are secretly caught up to heaven,
and those left as the ones who are left behind to suffer the wrath of God for a
seven-year period of time. The even sadder commentary on theorists who
ignorantly interpret these verses in such a haphazard manner is the fact that the
following verse, in Luke 17:37, specifically (and ever so clearly) informs us as to
the destination of those who are taken. Verse 37 reads: “Where, Lord?” They
asked. He replied: “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
In light of the proper interpretation of the word left (aphiemi, to forgive), it’s
obvious that the disciples are asking where will those taken be sent. They
couldn’t be asking where those left would be taken. They would already be there!
No! My friends! Christians aren’t taken anywhere! They are left alone, passed
over, forgiven. Unbelievers are the ones taken, as they are seized and bound, as
the tares apart from God’s wheat spoken of in Matthew 13:30, NIV: Let both
grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the
reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn
them: but gather the wheat into my barn! In Matthew 13:40, we see when they
(tares) will be burned up: As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it
will be at the end of the age, (Matthew 13:40, NIV). Here we see a perfect picture
of Jesus instructing His angels to bind unbelievers in preparation to be burned,
while at the same time providing his called out ones protection inside His End
Times Passover barn (See Isaiah 26:20) while He pours out His wrath on the
unbelievers. And He performs this at the end of the age, (Matthew 13:40, NIV).
[Underline by the author, solely for emphasis]
Once again, as has been the case too often, many theorists’ exegesis begins to
crumble under extensive examination, due to their lack of knowledge of the


Chapter 2
Who’s Taken, Who’s Left, At What Rapture?
74
precise and true meaning of key words and scriptural verses they use to pad their
secret pre-tribulation escape theories.
Even more disconcerting is the pervasive and incessant promulgation of these left
behind mythologies that permeate the Christian publishing and video markets of
today, which are deluding millions of Christians into a false sense of security,
motivated more so by profit and temporal fame. The author makes no apologies
to these writers and preachers in regards to this matter. While there exists much
love by the author for all those who claim to speak God’s gospel truth about who
is taken and who is left, claiming that those taken are Christians and those left
behind are the heathen, it is inexcusable to persist in this folly when the word of
God clearly states His children of promise are left (Gr. aphiemi, forgiven) alone,
passed over, when He returns with great wrath!

FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES


Link to PDF online: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By9dVV_URABMZWEyNjg0MjktNjE0Zi00M2RjLWFmMjUtYTg2ZmIzYzMzZTUy/edit?hl=en&authkey=CNLW2IIE


Re: The End Times Passover

Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
Many who espouse the secret Pre-Tribulation escape to heaven theory interpret
the message from Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 to mean that the Holy Spirit will
be removed (vs. 7) from the earth, which consequently, would require that the
Christian Church be taken away to heaven with Him. Their conclusion is that the
Christian Church could not possibly remain on earth without the presence and
power of the Holy Spirit; therefore, if the church is raptured to heaven, the Holy
Spirit needs to be removed from earth as well. It is their contention that the Holy
Spirit is the restrainer who is presently holding back the onslaught of diabolical
power from totally controlling the affairs of mankind.
If these scriptural passages are to be interpreted thusly, then a secret pretribulation
escape to heaven appears likely. However, the way a person interprets
this particular group of scriptures does not necessarily mean it is correct. This
group of scriptures is possibly one of the most controversial ever discussed. Not
because it is that difficult to discern; but, rather, because it is one of the major
groups of scriptures used by theorists to support a secret Pre-Tribulation escape
to heaven, as opposed to accepting the message as it was intended.
What specifically does the word of God say, regarding this matter? This message
was not a difficult one to understand, as Paul states in verse 5: “Don’t you
remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?” Yet Pre-
Tribulation advocates go to great lengths in applying these scriptures to fit their
pet theories, instead of discerning what the word of God is really trying to say.
Let’s examine 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10:
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our
being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become
easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter
supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has
already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that
day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man
of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4
He opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God or
is worshipped, and even sets himself up in God’s temple,
proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that
when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And
now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be
revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of
lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now holds it
back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
76
will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy
by the splendor of His coming. 9 The coming of the
lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan
displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,
10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.
They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they
will believe the lie, (2 Thessalonians 2:1-10, NIV). [Bold and
underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
Before discussing who or what the restrainer is, let’s deal with the gather issue in
verse 1. The main message given to the Thessalonians (and the ecclesia,
collectively), especially in verse one, is that “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our being gathered to Him” cannot come “until the rebellion occurs and the
man of lawlessness is revealed.” It is very important that all of us carefully read
the above statement over again: “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ and our being gathered to Him.” This verse specifically states that Paul is
talking about “the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ” and “our being gathered to
Him,” and does not separate the two; but, rather, the sentence clearly implies
that Paul is speaking about one event. You will notice that verse did not say “the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to gather us unto Him,” as if it was speaking
solely of the so-called Rapture. It states (clearly and plainly) ‘THE COMING OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST and OUR BEING GATHERED TO HIM!” Pre-
Tribulationists would have us believe that this verse is speaking about two events
separated by seven years. One claim is that this verse is speaking about The
Second Advent (the final return) of the Lord after the so-called Great
Tribulation, and the other claim is that this verse is also speaking of another
event, the so-called Rapture (the being caught up to be in heaven with Him)
some three and a half to seven years prior to His final return. It is interesting to
see that “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” is mentioned before “our being
gathered to Him;” but, to Pre-Tribulationists, this is not important or germane to
their pet theories. They still believe that there will be two different times that
Jesus Christ will return to earth. First, He supposedly (and secretly) snatches the
Christian Church and takes it up to heaven, and then, secondly, Jesus comes back
to earth with the Christian Church seven years after the so-called Great
Tribulation.
What Paul is actually doing (in this verse) is reassuring the believers at
Thessalonica not to become unsettled or alarmed by a spirit, report or letter,
supposedly from him or his fellow apostles, purporting that this great event (or
events as Pre-Tribulationists would want us to believe) has already come! Hal
Lindsey writes in his book (The Rapture, pages 123-125) about “The Terrifying
Forgery,” implying that Paul was telling the disciples that such a forgery already
existed. Mr. Lindsey goes on to say that there actually was a forged letter:
“Someone had brought a message to them, representing it as from Paul, which
said that the Day of the Lord had already begun.” This is the exact quote made
by Mr. Lindsey. I thoroughly searched the Bible and nowhere could I find any


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
77
mention of this so-called “forged letter!” On page 124, Mr. Lindsey continues to
postulate his theory by making some incredible statements:
“Paul begins to correct this grave error by appealing to “the coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ.” He specifies carefully which aspects of
His coming by the qualifying clause “and our gathering together to
Him…” this could only refer to the Rapture when all Christians will
be caught up to be with Christ.
Because Paul begins this important section of the letter by holding
up the promise of the Rapture first, it is obvious that it has an
important bearing on whether the Day of the Lord has indeed
already come.
The fact that Paul holds up the Rapture as yet to occur seems to
remind the Thessalonians of its chronological relationship to the
Day of the Lord. Since the Rapture hasn’t occurred, the Day of the
Lord could not already be present.” (Hal Lindsey, The Rapture,
Bantam Books, pages 123-125)
The amazing part of Mr. Lindsey’s statement is where he says that Paul “begins
this important section of the letter holding up the promise of the Rapture first, it
is obvious that it has an important bearing on whether the Day of the Lord has
indeed already come.” Where does Paul say that the gathering comes first? Does
he not speak about the gathering right after he speaks about the coming of the
Lord? Paul also does not state that the gathering (the so-called Rapture) is a
single event unto itself. Paul clearly stated “The coming of the Lord and our
being gathered to Him!” The catching (Gr. harpazo, pluck, pull, snatch, take) of
the called out ones to meet and greet the arriving Christ is part of the overall
redemption plan of God, but nothing in this verse indicates that there are two
special events, seven years apart! And the disciples knew that! In this verse (1),
Paul is once again seen exhorting the disciples and warning them not to be
troubled by negative spirits, or any writings or messages supposedly from him
and other apostles that the Lord has already come. There were then (and are
today) many false prophets and individuals making false claims about when the
Messiah will return, and many more false teachers and self-appointed prophets
will appear and distort the word of God more so in the days to come. Paul’s letter
to the Thessalonians is not in response to the whining disciples that they had
already received a so-called “forged letter”. Paul is merely exhorting and
preparing the disciples to beware of the many false prophets (antichrists in 1
John 1:18) that are to come as the Day of the Lord draws even closer. Paul is not
talking about a forged letter, but about the possibility that through a “written
report” or “false prophecies,” supposedly from the apostles, they might be
deluded into believing that the Lord has already come!
Mr. Lindsey continues to compound his fallacy by citing three modes (letter,
spirit or verbal report) that can be used to deceive the disciples, which by Mr.


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
78
Lindsey’s very statement ends up negating his forged letter theory. Then he
implies that somehow Paul has the ability to send messages by spiritual carrier,
as if the apostle Paul has now acquired the power to send spirits back and forth.
Mr. Lindsey continues his absurdities by stating:
Paul sets up a threefold denial of any message from himself, which
said that the Day of the Lord had come. He lists three different
ways that a false message could have been communicated, and
denies them all. He sent neither a spirit, nor a verbal message, nor
a written letter with such a teaching. (Hal Lindsey, THE RAPTURE,
Bantam Books, pages 123-125) [Underline is by this author, not
Lindsey, solely for emphasis]
In this statement, Mr. Lindsey would have us infer that Paul had the ability to
send “spirits” back and forth, but was not guilty of doing so on this particular
occasion. Mr. Lindsey would counter by saying that he didn’t mean to imply that
Paul sent “spirits” back and forth, but by stating that Paul denied sending any of
the three (a spirit or a verbal report or a written message), is to imply that Paul
had the ability to do so! Mr. Lindsey’s imagination is tremendously harmful not
only to himself, but to those who read (without questioning) the words he writes,
in attempts to fit his interpretation of scripture to build a theory that can’t and
has not been proven conclusively, nor that could pass canonical muster.
In Matthew 24:23, it states that one of the signs of the soon return of the Lord is
that many false prophets will arise in attempts to fool the ecclesia regarding the
Lord’s arrival. Jim Jones, the self-proclaimed messianic leader of the People’s
Temple, who led several hundred people to commit suicide in the Guyana tragedy
on November 18, 1978, is but one small example of the dangers posed by false
prophets. Regardless of his guilt or innocence of alleged kidnappings, David
Koresh and his Branch Davidian doctrines also resulted in the death of many
innocent people in the Waco, Texas massacre on April 19, 1993. Many more
incidents such as these will increase as the Day of the Lord draws closer.
However, in the last days, right before the Lord returns, there will be so many
more false teachers in view as to make Jim Jones and David Koresh look like
mere Boy Scouts. However, the greatest challenge to the church will not be the
self-proclaimed religious cult leaders like Jones and Koresh. Most Christians will
be able to see through their lunacy. The main challenge will come from not being
able to discern between true prophets and the myriad of charismatic teachers and
evangelists from within the so-called Christian Church who will be seducing
Christians through their soothing and titillating doctrines, (2 Timothy 4:3,4).
True prophets didn’t always bring news of glad tidings; rather, they preached
repentance and judgment, beginning first with the house of God!
No my friends, there was no “forged letter” that Paul was responding to. His was
an exhortation to the called out ones that great deceptions will occur (and are
occurring today) in attempts to dissuade and separate called out ones from Christ
during intensified times of tribulation and immediately preceding the impending

Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
79
Second Advent. When Paul was exhorting the disciples, he was solely
forewarning them that when these antichristian spirits, letters or reports are
manifest, they are being reminded “not to become easily unsettled or alarmed”
and don’t “let anyone deceive you (believers) in any way, for the day of the Lord
will not come until the rebellion (the apostasy, the falling away from the faith of
Christ) occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.” Paul goes on to reassure
the disciples that the man of lawlessness will be destroyed (vs. 3). In verse four,
Paul describes perfectly why this individual will be destroyed, and it is because,
“He opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God or is
worshipped, and even sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be
God.” [Underline and parenthesis is by the author, solely for emphasis]
Having clarified this particular matter, we can now examine the issue of the
restrainer with greater clarity. In verse 5, Paul gives the disciples the clue as to
whom or rather what, is holding him (the man of lawlessness) from being
revealed. Paul says, “Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to
tell you these things?” What were those things that Paul used to tell them? In
Acts 17:26, as Paul is addressing a throng of people, he states this very profound
message: “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit
the whole earth, and He determined the times set for them.” The word times (Gr.
kairos) in this verse is the same word used in 2 Thessalonians 2:6. Also, in
Ephesians 1:10, Paul says that God made known to us the mystery of his will
according to His good pleasure, which He proposed in Christ, “to be put into
effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment to bring all things in
heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” These verses make
one thing very clear: The timing of God! If we understand clearly this “time
frame” aspect that God has established, then verse 6 in 2 Thessalonians, Chapter
2, becomes very clear. Read it again: “And you know what is holding him back,
so that he may be revealed at the proper time!” The second half of this rhetorical
sentence actually answers the question that Paul poses to the disciples. The very
thing that is holding the man of lawlessness from being revealed is God’s time
frame. Pre-Tribulationists say that it is He (the Holy Spirit) that is being
restrained until He (the Holy Spirit) is taken out of the way. In reality, verse 6 is
not speaking about who is being restrained but about what it is that’s keeping the
man of lawlessness from being revealed. And that what is God’s timing! Verse 7
is clearly speaking about another issue entirely. After verse 6 explains that time is
what that is holding the man of lawlessness from being revealed, verse 7 is now
speaking about the secret power of lawlessness, which can only be attributed to
Satan: For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who
now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way!
The one who now restraineth is Satan, not by choice, but rather by what Christ
accomplished at Calvary. By virtue of Christ’s atoning work on Calvary, Satan has
been bound for an indeterminate amount of time known as *a thousand years, as
stated in Revelation 20:1-2. The Holy Spirit has not bound the man of
lawlessness; Satan has been held captive since Jesus conquered the devil by
virtue of what was accomplished at the cross. Verse 7 is not depicting the Holy


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
80
Spirit in a restraining battle with the man of lawlessness; that isn’t the way the
Holy Spirit works. He is the one that gives power to the called out ones to
overcome Satan’s deceitful ploys. He (the Holy Spirit) was given to believers to (1)
teach and bring the remembrance (John 14:26); (2) to bear witness (John 15:26);
(3) convince us of sin (John 16:8); (4) guides, speaks, declares (John 16:13, 15);
(5) inspires the Scriptures and speaks through them (Acts 1:16; 2 Peter 1:21); (6)
calls ministers (Acts 13:2); (7) sends out workers (Acts 13:4); (8) intercedes
(Romans 8:26); etc. Being that the Holy Spirit is equal with (and is) God the
Father, it would appear odd to picture the Holy Spirit as struggling to hold back
the overpowering onslaught of the man of lawlessness, which Pre-Tribulationists
believe is the case here.
That what which withholdeth or restrains (Gr. katecho, that which hinders) the
man of lawlessness from being revealed is his appointed time, a thousand years
(of an indeterminate amount) of time that has no definite or known chronology
“until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in, (Romans 11:25, KJV).” *[Detailed
explanation of what the binding of Satan for a thousand years means in
Revelation 20:1-6, is discussed in depth in Chapter 13, entitled, A Thousand
Years]
Almighty God has always had His faith-believing congregation (Gr. ecclesia,
called out ones) since He made covenantal promises to Abraham. After Jesus was
crucified, resurrected and ascended to His rightful throne, God poured out His
(Holy Spirit) power to build (Gr. oikodomeo, strengthen) His existing faithbelieving
ecclesia, (See Matthew 16:18). On the Day of Pentecost, God poured out
His power onto His apostles to preach the Gospel, and has ever since been
bringing Gentiles (Gr. ethnos, all nations) into His Kingdom. By virtue of the
atoning act of Christ on Calvary, the Gentiles also have been grafted into the true
faith-believing Israel of God, the one body of Christ. The atoning works of Christ
on Calvary bound Satan. By this act, He conquered and restrained Satan from
deceiving any longer all nations, especially His called out ones. Since that binding
(for an indeterminate amount of a thousand years), Satan has been bound from
exercising his full powers to prevent God’s called out ones from maintaining a
relationship with Christ. Since the outpouring of Holy Spirit gifts on the Day of
Pentecost, God’s ecclesia has been preaching the gospel with the power it never
had before. Once almighty God chooses the exact time (which nobody knows but
the Father), He will close this chapter of His redemption plan. When the fullness
of the Gentiles is complete, He will then for a short season loose Satan from this
binding and then Satan and all his demonic forces will launch all the might of his
diabolical power against God’s ecclesia as never witnessed by mankind before.
Satan, knowing his time is short, will then give his powers to the man of
lawlessness, who will then be revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:6) and commences his
persecutory war against mankind, with God’s ecclesia being the primary object of
his destructive powers. This binding of Satan for an indeterminate amount of
time, and his subsequent release after a thousand years of Gospel propagation by
a Holy Spirit imbued ecclesia, will depend on God’s time frame, not on theorists’speculations.

Re: The End Times Passover

Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
81
What we see in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 is no longer speaking about the man of
lawlessness, it now turns to Satan, the he who now letteth (Gr. katecho, to hold
fast or down, restrain) his secret power of lawlessness. Regardless of his being
bound (Gr. deo, to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit) from deceiving the
nations, Satan’ secret power of lawlessness is still in force, seeking whom he may
devour. Satan may have lost his accusatory positional status in the heavens, but
obviously his power to wreak havoc on humanity is still in force. Chapter 12 of
Revelation speaks clearly of this fact, which also entails the binding of Satan and
his being cast down to earth as the result of Christ’s atoning work on Calvary:
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought
against the Dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
8 But he was not strong enough and they lost their place in
heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient
serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world
astray. He was hurled to the earth and his angels with him. 10
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the
salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and
the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled
down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to
shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who
dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the
devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because
he knows that his time is short, (Revelation 12:7-12, NIV).
[Bold, underline and italicized word time is by the author, solely for
emphasis]
In Revelation 13:1-8, we see where the devil has given authority to the Beast (the
man of lawlessness) to blaspheme, and the authority for 42 months (of time) to
make war against the saints, and to conquer them! Many theorists believe these
42 months’ represent 1260 days that precede The Second Advent of Christ.
Others allegorize these numbers to represent various spiritual symbols, types and
dispensational precepts that supposedly validate their respective theories. Yet,
also, many unproven theories exist in regards to these two specific numbers,
including they represent days, years or symbols of various indeterminate
amounts of time (as amillennialists deduce) that require various interpretations
that throw date-setting totally off kilter. Premillennialists view the numbers as
being literal and those immediately preceding The Second Advent.
Postmillennialists attach no specific time frame to those numbers, concluding
that any millennial references deal solely with a vague period of time that began
after the cross that will allow the Christian Church authority to usher in a
prolonged time of peace preceding The Second Advent. Amillennialists view them
as symbolic of an indeterminate amount of time of wilderness journey for the
ecclesia, somewhere in between the crucifixion of Christ and The Second Advent.


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
82
Some theorists view the Beast as the man of lawlessness that will appear
anywhere from three and a half to seven years before The Second Advent, and
many other theorists believe the Beast will rise from some European confederacy
or Middle East nation, three and a half to seven years before The Second Advent;
and many others believe the Beast is the Roman Catholic Church from its very
inception. Many theorists also interpret the restrainer as the Roman church or a
governing political body. Although many see these two entities as being evil in
and of themselves (which is truth to a certain extent), they are primarily the
(sometimes willing) victims of the secret power of lawlessness. However, they
are not the restrainer nor the source of the secret power of lawlessness, Satan is!
Also, whomever the Beast may be, or whatever these numbered times (42 months
or 1260 days, months, years) truly represent, they are not for us to be concerned
with, (Acts 1:7). One thing is certain, whether these names and numbers are
symbols and or types that can be applied to past, present or future events and
entities, the called out ones of God historically have and will continue to suffer
great persecution under diabolical powers until The Second Advent!
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and
seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a
blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had
feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The
dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great
authority. 3 One of the heads had a fatal wound, but the fatal
wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and
followed the beast. 4 Men worshipped the dragon because he
had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the
beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against
him? 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and
blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two
months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander
his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He
was given power to make war against the saints and to
conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe,
people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will
worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the
book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation
of the word, (Revelation 13:1-8, NIV) [Underline and bold is by the
author, solely for emphasis]
Regardless of the persecutory time factors preceding The Second Advent, the
main issue we are concerned with in this chapter is who or what is restraining the
revealing of this man of lawlessness. In verse 7 of 2 Thessalonians 2, we see Paul
telling the disciples that the “secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but
the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the
way.” The secret power of lawlessness is not the Beast, antichrist or the man of
lawlessness and it surely is not the Holy Spirit; but, rather, it is Satan, the Prince
of this world. While Satan is currently bound from using his demonic powers as



Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
83
he did before the works performed by Christ at Calvary, and no longer has a
positional status in heaven to accuse the called out ones of God, he is still the
secret power of lawlessness for an indeterminate period of a thousand years,
which culminates immediately before The Second Advent. The loosing of Satan
for a short season is a time of diabolic force unleashed on humanity as never
before, which will include Satan going out to deceive the nations which are in the
four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle:
the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth
of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city:
and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them, (Revelation
20:8-9, KJV).
No distinction has to be made between the time that Satan is bound by Christ
from deceiving the nations (Revelation 20:2) for those alleged 1000 literal years
(which theorists promote as beginning after The Second Advent), and the war in
heaven between Michael, the archangel (Revelation 12:7), who cast down the
dragon. They are the same event! Jesus, who had yet paid the price for sin
through His atoning work on Calvary, spoke of this binding (in Luke 10:18) when
He stated that He saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven. In this prophetic
glimpse (in Luke 10:18) Christ reveals to His disciples clearly the binding of Satan
that would take place when He paid the price for sin on Calvary. This was in
response to the disciples having experienced a preview of the power they would
posses in His name. He was telling His disciples (who were excited about their
newfound power to cast out demons) that the devil’s power has been hindered
and the decline of the evil serpent’s kingdom has begun. However, the secret
power of lawlessness will still prevail until Christ returns. Matthew Henry, in his
commentary of Luke 10:18, provides added insight to this aspect:
Even the devils, those potent enemies, are subject to us. Note, the
saints have no greater joy or satisfaction in any of their triumphs
than in those over Satan. If devils are subject to us, what can stand
before us?
He confirmed what they said, as agreeing with his own observation
(v. 18): "My heart and eye went along with you; I took notice of the
success you had, and I saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven.’’
Note, Satan and his kingdom fell before the preaching of the gospel.
"I see how it is,’’ saith Christ, "as you get ground the devil loseth
ground.’’ He falls as lightning falls from heaven, so suddenly, so
irrecoverably, so visibly, that all may perceive it, and say, "See how
Satan’s kingdom totters, see how it tumbles.’’ They triumphed in
casting devils out of the bodies of people; but Christ sees and
rejoices in the fall of the devil from the interest he has in
the souls of men, which is called his power in high places,
Eph. 6:12. He foresees this to be but an earnest of what should now
be shortly done and was already begun—the destroying of
Satan’s kingdom in the world by the extirpating of idolatry


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
84
and the turning of the nations to the faith of Christ. Satan
falls from heaven when he falls from the throne in men’s
hearts, Acts 26:18. And Christ foresaw that the preaching of the
gospel, which would fly like lightning through the world, would
wherever it went pull down Satan’s kingdom. Now is the
prince of this world cast out. Some have given another sense of this,
as looking back to the fall of the angels, and designed for a caution
to these disciples, lest their success should puff them up with pride.
(Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Luke 10:18) [Underline and bold
is by the author, solely for emphasis]
However, while the Holy Spirit provides the called out ones with power to resist
the devil for an indeterminate period some call a thousand years, a time is
coming when Satan will be loosed from this restraining status for a short season,
and subsequently gives the man of lawlessness his power and authority. The
man of lawlessness cannot be revealed until the time Satan gives him his
authority. In Revelation 13:2, the last half of that verse specifically states “The
dragon gave the beast his power, and his throne and great authority.” The man
of lawlessness does not have anything going for him until Satan gives power to
him at this precise time, and it is then that the man of lawlessness is revealed.
Verse 2 is confirmed in 2 Thessalonians 2:9, “The coming of the lawless one will
be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeits,
miracles, signs and wonders, and every sort of evil that deceives those who are
perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and be saved.”
[Underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
2 Thessalonians 2, verse 7, speaks solely about Satan, the one who now holds,
lets, letteth (Gr. katecho, keeps, possesses) onto his diabolical secret power of
lawlessness, and will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. This one is
speaking about Satan, the one who has the secret power of lawlessness, and it is
not speaking about the Holy Spirit. The one who is eventually taken out of the
way is Satan, not the Holy Spirit. Pre-Tribulation Rapture theorists interpret this
verse to mean that it is the Holy Spirit who is both holding back the secret power
of lawlessness and is also the one who is taken out of the way. However, this
verse (7) is speaking about only one entity. The one who holds onto it (the secret
power of lawlessness) is Satan, who was bound by Christ from deceiving the
nations, as he did before Calvary. The one who is taken out of the way is not the
Holy Spirit, but it is Satan who holds back (by God’s time frame) his full arsenal
attack on God’s called out ones, not the Holy Spirit! To claim that the he (who is
taken out of the way) is speaking about the Holy Spirit does not make any sense
at all, because the Holy Spirit, who is equal with (and is) God, cannot be “taken”
out of the way. The Holy Spirit is God in Spirit form and no one has any
authority to “take” God away but God Himself. The scripture does not say, “He
removed” himself out of the way. It specifically states that “he is taken out of the
way,” and this he is Satan and that event is clearly described in Revelation 12:7-
12.



Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
85
Even though Satan’s ability to deceive the nations was bound by the works of
Christ, he has not been able to control mankind to the degree he did before
Christ’s atoning work at Calvary. However, Satan, who is the mystery of
lawlessness, has been utilizing his limited diabolical powers to steal back the
called out ones from Christ. However, after he is loosed for a short season, prior
to The Second Advent, the devil will unleash his demonic forces on mankind as
never witnessed before.
The message is very clear. If you apply scripture to verify scripture rather than
applying scripture to a theory in hopes it will confirm the theory, then truth rings
loud and clear. There is no scripture that indicates, implies or that can even lead
one to infer that the Holy Spirit is the “restrainer.” The author can also
appreciate the many scholars who espouse that the Roman church or human
government could also be the restrainer. However, scripture itself states that
Satan is under a time-restrained program, one where he doesn’t have the
authority to work his diabolical magic to the fullest extent on earth until he is
loosed for a short season in one last effort to confuse, seduce and destroy
believers, “because he knows that his time is short, (Revelation 12:12, NIV).”
[Underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
This view the author has presented is not his own interpretation of 2
Thessalonians 2:6-9, but it’s in concert with God’s word and His overall
redemption plan. Although these verses do not specifically mention Satan’s
name as the he “who now holds it back” or the he who “is taken out of the way,”
neither is the Holy Spirit specifically mentioned as the he.
If anything, it is Pre-Tribulationists and Pre-Millennialists who erroneously paint
a picture of the Holy Spirit in this context (solely to pad their secret Pre-
Tribulation escape to heaven theory), one that is contradictory to His nature. For
one, the Holy Spirit is never seen as an agent of warfare against the “man of
lawlessness.” Number two, although the dwelling presence of His power on the
ecclesia is a force that can overcome a natural world and bring about an earthly
peace, as Postmillennialists claim, God’s ecclesia fails (for lack of faith) in
exercising that potential force. Not that the Holy Spirit is not willing nor has held
back His powers from the church to accomplish this task; however, the majority
of the church, unfortunately, lacks the faith to implement Holy Spirit power to its
full potential. If that were not the case, then surely the Christian Church would
have exercised that power by now. Also, the Holy Spirit is not an entity that can
be forcibly removed (taken out of the way). He is one with (and is) God. Also, in
verse 6, it doesn’t say, “you know who is holding him back,” it says, “You know
what is holding him back.” That what is time! So he (the man of lawlessness)
may be revealed at his proper time, only through the diabolical powers he
receives from Satan. Also, the Holy Spirit is not a what! The Holy Spirit is a he;
the Holy Spirit is God! It is agreed that in the overall scenario, God is in complete
control of time; but God is not the one who reveals the man of lawlessness. God
doesn’t give him his power, nor does the Holy Spirit; it is Satan who reveals the
man of lawlessness, by his power and authority, “in accordance with the (devil’s)


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
86
work.” If accomplished grammarians were to use normal English language
standards and mere logic here, it should not be that difficult to ascertain this is
exactly what is meant in this passage of scripture.
New Holy Spirit Verses Old Holy Spirit?
In attempts to confirm that the Holy Spirit is the restrainer, theorists also
contend that the Holy Spirit takes on a new and different ministerial dimension
after He supposedly has been removed from earth. Theorists contend the Holy
Spirit has been forcefully removed and sent packing to heaven along with the
Christian Church. But, yet, they still envision the Holy Spirit returning back to
earth to do a new work during the so-called Great Tribulation. Either the Holy
Spirit is removed to heaven or He is not. Theorists can’t conveniently have it
both ways. This particular theory does tremendous violence to both an
intellectual and spiritual understanding of God’s Word. It makes no sense
whatsoever to see the Holy Spirit removed, solely to justify a secret pretribulation
escape to heaven, and then see the Holy Spirit back on earth again,
this time working under a new modus operandi. More importantly, this inference
comes short of denying (if not blasphemes) the glory and power of the Holy
Spirit, who is God!
Hal Lindsey asserts that the Holy Spirit reverts back to do the “work as He did in
the Old Testament.” He goes on to say that the Holy Spirit “will not be gone from
the world, but His unique ministries in, through and for the believer will be
removed with the church. (Hal Lindsey, The Rapture, Bantam Books, Page 138.)”
Yet, Mr. Lindsey provides not one single verse to substantiate that claim. He
further insults the spiritual intelligence of his readers by asserting (in the same
page, 138) that: “The Holy Spirit will endow the 144,000 chosen Israelites with
the same type of Holy Spirit power he manifested with the prophets in the Old
Testament.” Mr. Lindsey also states, “In fact, two of the mightiest prophets from
the economy of law will return to shake up the world. The Holy Spirit will
convince men of their need of salvation, bring them to faith and regenerate
them as He did from the beginning of man’s sin.” Obviously, Mr. Lindsey doesn’t
feel the Holy Spirit was powerful enough to convince mankind to accept salvation
when He was in the world the first time around. Now, Mr. Lindsey, in essence, is
saying that the Holy Spirit first has to be removed in order to get the Christian
Church to heaven, and then immediately returns back to earth to give it another
try during the so-called Great Tribulation. This time around, Mr. Lindsey would
have us believe the Holy Spirit is now seen receiving help from the Two
Witnesses, after they “shake up the world” a little bit, to sort of soften up
potential converts, so the Holy Spirit might be able to complete the job.
Mr. Lindsey goes on to further say how the Holy Spirit is now going to finish His
salvation work when he states that “the unique Church economy ministries of
indwelling, baptizing, sealing, gifting and filling of every believer will be
removed with the Church. This is consistent with all that is revealed of the



Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
87
average Tribulation believer’s level of spiritual insight, knowledge and
maturity, (also on page 138).”
Mr. Lindsey and other theorists not only postulate that the Two Witnesses preach
the gospel and help lead the way for the Holy Spirit to do His job, they also assert
that 144,000 “Jews” also get into the preaching act and help convert those who
remain on earth after the Christian Church has been snatched up and taken to
heaven. And these theorists claim the 144,000 are all virgin Jewish preachers,
too! Let’s examine the two groups of scripture pertaining to the 144,000 and the
group that pertains to the Two Witnesses:
“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on
the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the
number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of
Israel. 5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe
of Rueben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6 from the tribe of
Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of
Manasseh 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe
of Levi 12,000, from the tribe if Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of
Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of
Benjamin 12,000, (Revelation 7:3-8, NIV).
The word for sealed (vs. 4) in the Greek (according to Vine) is sphragizo, which is
the verb for the noun sphragis, which is interpreted “a seal or signet,” Revelation
7:2, “the seal of the living God,” an emblem of ownership and security, here
combined with the destination (as Ezekiel 9:4), the persons to be sealed being
secured from destruction and marked for reward.” Let’s briefly examine Ezekiel
9:3-6 to see the similarity of this protective seal spoken about in Revelation:
Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the
cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the
temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had
the writing kit at his side 4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city
of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who
grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are
done in it.” 5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him
through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion, 6
Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children,
but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my
sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the
temple, (Ezekiel 9:3-6, NIV). [Bold and underline is by the author,
solely for emphasis]
Here we see a perfect example of God’s purpose for “sealing” a select group of
people, as He did during the Passover and throughout many similar events in the
Old Testament. The word “sealed” in Revelation, Chapter 7 does not connote any
embellishing or indwelling of the Holy Spirit for any evangelistic purposes; but,


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
88
rather, it’s an act of mercy on God’s part that signifies His ownership and
provision of security with a destination in mind. No mention whatsoever is made
or implied in Revelation 7 that a “baptism of the Holy Spirit” for the purposes of
preaching the gospel has ensued. Yet, theorist upon theorist interprets that to be
the case. Let’s examine the other group of scriptures that mention the 144,000 in
Chapter 14:
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on
Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his
Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound
from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of
thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their
harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the
four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song
except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth 4 These
are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept
themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They
were purchased from among men and offered as
firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their
mouths; they are blameless, (Revelation 14:1-5). [Underline and
bold is by the author, solely for emphasis]
As the scripture here reveal, the 144,000 are now seen standing with the Lamb on
Mount Zion (with the name of God and the Lamb sealed on their forehead),

Re: The End Times Passover

singing a new song that no one could learn except for the 144,000. They are
pictured here as a select group of people (from the twelve tribes of Israel,
including Judah, the only Jewish clan from the 12 tribes) who were purchased
from among men and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb and no lie was
found in their mouth, nor were they defiled with women and they are blameless
(virgins)! But, yet, there is no mention made in that portion of scripture that they
performed any type of ministerial service, nor that God had used them as endtimes
evangelists.
What specific purpose God has for choosing these 144,000 from the twelve tribes
of Israel is not truly known, other than that they are virgins, not defiling
themselves with woman. Maybe God provides a clue as to why He has chosen
this group of 144,000 where it states that they sang a new song that no one could
understand but the 144,000. Who truly knows? Certain religious groups claim
the 144,000 represent the entire ecclesia of God. However, even though all
mankind has sinned and come short of the glory of God, the author is certain
there will be more than 144,000 who will comprise the ecclesia of God at the
Second Advent. Some theorists present the case that these 144,000 could very
well be the remnant spoken of in Jeremiah 23:3, Micah 4:7, Zephaniah 3:13,
Zechariah 8:12, Romans 9:27; 11:5 (and other scriptures,) who will repopulate the
earth with undefiled descendents of Israel, in hopes national Israel can start life
anew, and get it right this time. However, as is clearly stated in Ezekiel, Chapters
36 and 37, God is going to resurrect and gather all of Israel from throughout the


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
89
entire earth and restore it to the land of Israel, the land He gave to His servant
Jacob. Is this land God’s speaks of here the land we all know as the country of
Israel that was established in the Middle East in 1948? If so, it appears that small
parcel of land will be awfully crowded. As will be shown in another chapter of this
book, the author believes scripture in both of these chapters are speaking about
the resurrection and final abiding inside New Jerusalem, the Holy City of God,
the true Promised Land. More importantly, nowhere in these verses is it stated or
can be inferred that these 144,000 were chosen to perform any evangelistic
mission in the traditional sense. Yet theorists contend that is the case.
Let’s continue examining the group of scriptures that deals with the so-called
evangelizing that theorists maintain is supposed to be performed by the Two
Witnesses:
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and
measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshippers
there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it
has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city
for 42 months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and
they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are
the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the
Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from
their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who
wants to harm them must die. 6 These men have power to shut
up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are
prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood
and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they
want. 7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the
beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower
and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city,
which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord
was crucified. 9 For three and a half days men from every people,
tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them
burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will
celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets
had tormented those who live on the earth. 11 But after the
three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and
they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them “Come up
here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies
looked on, (Revelation 11:1-12, NIV). [Bold and underline by the
author, solely for emphasis]
If you will notice very carefully, nowhere in this group of scriptures do we see
these two individuals or entities preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ for the
purpose of converting the unbeliever; but, rather, they are seen tormenting (vs.
10) those who live on earth. We do see these two individuals demonstrating some



Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
90
very unique powers (shutting up the sky so it won’t rain, turning the water into
blood and striking the earth with plagues, and even devouring their enemies),
including the fulfillment of their main mission, which is to prophesy (verse 2).
The word used here (verse 6) for prophecy is the Greek verb propheteuo, which
(according to W. E. Vine) means, “to be a prophet, to prophecy, is used with the
primary meaning of telling forth the Divine counsels of God.” We see no
evidence of any preaching of the gospel in the traditional Christian ministry sense
here; but, rather, the two witnesses are seen extolling the doom that is to come on
the nations (Gr. ethnos, multitudes) that believe not. These two witnesses are
then seen as being attacked, overpowered and killed, their bodies lying in state
for three and a half days while the inhabitants of the earth gloat and celebrate.
Are these inhabitants of the earth demonstrating repentant hearts? Do these
murderers appear like they have just accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?
Obviously not!
After three and a half days, a breath of life from God enters them and they stand
on their feet, respond to God’s call to “Come up here” and they ascend up on a
cloud while their enemies look on. But yet, no mention is made of anyone
repenting of his or her disbelief, or turning to the Lord Almighty to be saved due
to any evangelizing by these two individuals. No mention is ever made of either
the 144,000 or the two witnesses as being a part of any evangelistic crusade
(solely to Israelis or Jews) during this period of time; yet, theorists, in vain
attempts, continue to interpret the aforementioned verses as accomplishing such
a mission.
Other groups of scripture that confirm the Holy Spirit will not be removed at any
time and will remain unto The Second Advent are found in the Book of Acts 1:6
and Acts 2:1-21. It is in Acts 1:6 where the disciples asked the Lord if He was
going to restore the Kingdom of Israel at that time, and He responded that “It is
not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be
my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.” After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, at which time
an angelic being told them that this same Jesus, who has been taken from you
into heaven, would come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
It was necessary for Jesus to leave in order for the Holy Spirit to come and fulfill
His mission. In Acts 2:1-13, we see the great Day of Pentecost and, in verse 14, we
see Peter addressing the Jews (and all who were in Jerusalem at that time) that
the experience they had just witnessed was not a drunken scene, but the
fulfillment of a prophecy made by Joel:
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see
visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants,
both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven
above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
91
billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and
glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved, (Acts 2:17-21, NIV). [Bold and
underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
One of the keys concerning the duration of the Holy Spirits’ ministry in this
prophecy is found in verses 19 and 20, which specifically state the times that the
Holy Spirit will still be in effect. They deserve to be repeated:
I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth
below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be
turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of
the great and glorious day of the Lord, (Acts 2:19-20, NIV).
[Bold and underlines is by the author, solely for emphasis]
In Isaiah 24:23; 13:10; 34:4; Matthew 24:29 and Revelation 6:12-15; 8:12, we see
the mentioning of the sun being darkened and the moon being turned blood red
before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. These groups of
scripture are conclusive proof that the Holy Spirit is actively working up to (and
including) the day that the Lord Jesus returns to reign forever as King of kings
and Lord of lords. These verses conclusively confirm that the ecclesia, the body
of Christ, called out ones, saints, the elect, those who hold to the testimony of
their God, those who are patient and endure these trials, those who continue to
obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus (Revelation 14:12),
including those who die in the Lord during that intensified period of persecutions
(Revelation 14:13), all the called out ones pictured in times of the greatest
tribulation, ever, WILL BE COMFORTED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT. Not solely through the Old Testament application of God’s Spirit, but
rather, in His full power. Those called out ones, who will be preaching,
witnessing and praying for others to come to Christ during that intensified period
of tribulation, will also have access to all of the power the Holy Spirit contains;
therefore, the Holy Spirit will not be limited to the so-called Old Testament
application, as theorists so foolishly contend. [Caps by the author, solely for
emphasis]
In the Book of Luke, the Christian is reminded once again that you will be
betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of
you to death. All men will hate you because of me. BUT NOT A HAIR ON YOUR
HEAD WILL PERISH, (Luke 21:16-28, NIV). Jesus died on the cross, was
resurrected after three days, ascended into heaven in order for the Holy Spirit to
come and minister with great power, especially in the last days. God poured out
His (Holy) Spirit gifts on His existing ecclesia on the Day of Pentecost for power
to preach the gospel, and these Holy Spirit gifts of power will remain throughout
the increased times of great tribulation, until the end, up to and until Jesus Christ
returns to rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, forever! [Caps by the
author, solely for emphasis]




Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
92
No! The Holy Spirit is not removed seven years before the so-called Great
Tribulation. The Holy Spirit is not removed, whatsoever! The Holy Spirit is not
restraining anything or anyone, nor is He eventually taken out of the way, as if
that were even possible to do. The devil (Satan) is the secret power of lawlessness
and gives the Beast power and authority to persecute the called out ones, the
ecclesia of God, still on earth, until Jesus returns to rule and reign on earth
forever!
Please read these verses again in the context that they have been presented and
then re-read the theories that others have written, proposing that the Holy Spirit
has to be taken out of the way, solely in an attempt to justify or validate an
unproven theory that the Christian Church couldn’t be expected to be on earth
during times of great tribulation.
The human and fleshly part of the author would like to see Christ return and
provide an escape from the impending horrors and persecution that will ensue
immediately before The Second Advent of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God.
Yet, the spiritual part of the author wants and needs to fulfill God’s will, however
painful it may be. As Paul states in Philippians 3:10, I want to know Christ and
the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings,
becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow attain to the resurrection
from the dead. Is this some special masochistic or death wish on the author’s
part? Not at all! He just wants to follow Jesus Christ, regardless of the cost, so he
can look Him straight in the face when He returns and have Him say, “Well done,
faithful servant.”
Unfortunately, true discipleship commitment is not what it used to be. Not the
way it was in the days of martyrs like Peter, Paul and Stephen, as was experienced
by the great clouds of witnesses in Hebrews 11, or like the committed-unto-deathones
described in Fox’s Book of Martyrs, those who willingly suffered great
torture, to the point of laying down their lives for Christ and His precious gospel,
rather than serve other gods.
Throughout the Bible, Jesus talked about the price one would have to pay to
follow Him; unfortunately, too many Christians have been lulled into a pseudo
spiritual comfort by the secret Pre-Tribulation Rapture myth. Too many are
clinging to this fragile safety net, or choose not to think about the possibility they
will soon have to make a choice: Life or death for Christ! How many are
physically and or spiritually prepared to make that commitment? Unfortunately,
many of us do not even want to think about the possibility that we may very well
have to endure much pain and torture as we stand up for Christ. Many are too
fearful of death to even think of a time when they may very well have to pick up
their own instruments of death in the name of Jesus Christ. Too many in the
Christian community are caught up and obsessed with the temporal and creature
comforts of this world. They are preoccupied with money, status, secular
achievements and success, nurturing flesh and ego desires and temptations, even


Chapter 3
Is The Holy Spirit Removed?
93
seeking societal and emotional self-esteem, as if these things will even matter as
the imminent sounds of the hoof beats of terror, horror and great persecution
grow louder each day. Can we say we are prepared to cast off everything, even
life, as we approach the impending times of great tribulation before The Second
Advent? Luke 9:23-26 sums it up best:
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up
his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good
is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his
very self. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of
Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in His glory and in the
glory of the Father and of the holy angels, (Luke 9:23-26, NIV).
In his book, The Rapture, Hal Lindsey makes a reference to those who oppose the
Pre-Tribulation scenario, especially those who support Post-Tribulation or AMillennial
views, as being “super macho” Christians. Let the author respond to
that by saying that the thought of being tortured and beheaded because the
author is a Christian doesn’t set well with his human flesh and psyche, and he’s
sure it doesn’t set well with the reader, either. However, if the Christian Church is
not “caught up” to heaven before it experiences great tribulation at the hands of
the Beast and his minions, then everything that the Bible says about such great
persecution (as has never been experienced before) will befall those called out
ones who will be on earth immediately before The Second Advent. It will come to
pass. Then what choice do we really have? What can we do to escape it? It
appears to this author that the preparations we make today (by that he means to
what degree we abide in Christ) will determine how we will cope with that
impending reality.
The author will be discussing this aspect in greater detail; but, for now, don’t
become grieved or heart stricken by what you are reading. Instead, let the Word
of God and His promise of eternal life remove all fear. That’s what His death and
resurrection were all about, the freeing of condemnation and fear of death:
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their
humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the
power of death – that is, the devil – 15 and free those who all
their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death,
(Hebrews 2:14,15, NIV). [All scripture and other words in caps, bold
or underlined, are by the author, solely for emphasis]


FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES


Link to PDF online: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By9dVV_URABMZWEyNjg0MjktNjE0Zi00M2RjLWFmMjUtYTg2ZmIzYzMzZTUy/edit?hl=en&authkey=CNLW2IIE



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Zechariah 12:3,9:
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Disclaimer: Rapture Bible Prophecy Forum, ( http://www.rapturebibleprophecyforum.com ) does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site. We do however, encourage a healthy and friendly debate on the issues of our day. Whether you agree or disagree, we encourage you to post your feedback by using the reply button.

If you are new to this site and would like to post articles, opinions, youtube videos that are appropriate for this site just e mail me at

stevensandiego@ymail.com
I will send you a PASSWORD

Ybic
Steven




Re: The End Times Passover

94
Chapter 4
Rewards!
One of the major building blocks Pre-Tribulation theorists and dispensationalists
use to promote their secret escape to heaven theory includes how they interpret
the “blessed hope” in Titus 2:13, which speaks about the waiting for the glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Theorists interpret the
“blessed hope” to mean that it represents only the Rapture, where Jesus will
supposedly step down from His heavenly throne (unnoticed by the non-believer)
and secretly snatch up the Christian Church from earth to heaven immediately
before the so-called seven year long Great Tribulation.
Their theory is that only Born Again (after the Day of Pentecost) Christians will
be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), and then be taken
to heaven for seven years. Supposedly during which time they will receive
rewards in heaven, which includes participation as a bride in a great wedding
ceremony, followed by a banquet to end all banquets. In this wedding, theorists
contend that only members of the Born Again community (which calls itself The
Christian Church) will finally be joined together in matrimony with Christ, He
the Bridegroom and the Christian Church being the Bride of the Lamb.
Theorists contend that before the seven year period of Great Tribulation (the socalled
Daniel’s Seventieth Week), the Christian Church will be caught up to
heaven to first stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. During this time they
will receive their rewards and then will be presented as the Bride of the Lamb,
consummates this marriage to Christ, celebrates this great wedding with a
banquet in heaven. Then, after a seven year honeymoon of safety will, the church
will return back with its new husband, Jesus Christ, to begin the Kingdom reign
on earth for a thousand year earthly reign in the City of Jerusalem, in the State of
modern day Israel.
The questions one must ask those who support this theory is this: “What does the
verse in Revelation 22:12 mean when it states, ‘Behold, I am coming soon! My
reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”
[Underline by the author, solely for emphasis]
If, as theorists proclaim, the Christian Church is to be caught up to receive its
reward in heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ, why is Jesus proclaiming (in
this verse) that He is coming soon and that His reward is with Him? In all of the
theories presented by Pre-Tribulation theorists concerning the ecclesia, nowhere
is it stated or implied in the Bible that called out ones will be secretly snatched up
to heaven to receive any type of recompense. Although the word reward is
mentioned several times as being stored in heaven, no mention is ever made of
the Christian Church being caught up to heaven to receive this reward in heaven.
We do see Jesus Christ stating in Matthew 5:12 that there is a reward in heaven



Chapter 4
Rewards!
95
(Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven); however,
theorists have failed to present scripture where called out ones actually receive
any form of reward in heaven. This verse (Matthew 5:12) is found in the famed
“Beatitudes,” which begin in verse 3, where we see Jesus stating that, Blessed are
the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. You will note that this
verse does not say the Kingdom in heaven, but rather, the Kingdom of heaven.
This obviously means that the Kingdom is a heavenly and spiritual one, unlike
earthly kingdoms; however, it will eventually be manifested to humanity in its
totality when Jesus Christ returns to rule and reign on earth forever, as
Revelation 21:1-3 clearly states. Many claim the Kingdom of heaven is already
here on earth. In the spiritual realm this is so true. However, in its fullness and
completeness, as is prophesied in Revelation 21:2, Hebrews 13:14, Psalms 102:22,
Daniel 2:44 and Zephaniah 3:8, the Kingdom of God will be the only Kingdom on
earth. That day has not arrived, yet. If this were so, then why are we told (in the
Lord’s Prayer) to pray for thy kingdom come and for Thy will be done, as in
heaven, so in earth?
And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done, as in heaven, so in earth, (Luke 11:2, KJV.) [Bold and
underlines is by the author, solely for emphasis]
The most important prayer for the ecclesia is the one specifically given to us by
Jesus, and it asks the called out ones to pray for the Lord’s Kingdom to come!
Some would say that the Kingdom (in its fullest realization) is already here;
however, at this point in time (as it clearly states in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5), called
out ones now have the new spiritual nature imbued within them from the Holy
Spirit as a deposit (Gr. noun arrhabon, deposit or earnest) guaranteeing their
eternal inheritance in the Kingdom of God. However, if called out ones are to be
caught up to receive their rewards in heaven (as theorists postulate), why are the
called out ones instructed by the Lord to continually say the most important
prayer He has ever given them? Let’s examine other scripture that discuss the
reward aspect.
The next mention of reward is made by Jesus (Matthew 5:46) in reference to His
exhortation to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us that we may
be sons of the Father who is in heaven. The next mention of reward is found in
Matthew 6:1 where Jesus once again exhorts the called out ones not to do their
acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them, or else they will lose their
reward from the Father who is in heaven. The obvious inference is that their
reward is currently in heaven, but yet we find no scripture that states they will be
going to heaven to receive it; but, rather, the scriptures say the Lord is coming to
earth soon and He is bringing with Him His reward for them, (Revelation 22:12,
NIV).
In Matthew 6:16, Jesus makes the reference to rewards concerning those
hypocrites that somberly fast before men to be seen by them in such manner



Chapter 4
Rewards!
96
already have their rewards. There have been (and are still today) many who
publicly fast for one reason or another to bring attention to sometimes a worthy
cause. Yet, Jesus says that these individuals already have their rewards; but that
is not how members of the ecclesia are to fast. The called out one is to fast
unbeknownst to the world so the Father, who will reward them, will receive the
fast in secret.
The next reference to rewards is seen in Matthew 10:41-42. This verse is
reminding the ecclesia that whoever receives prophets and righteous men will
receive a prophet’s and righteous man’s reward, respectively. Also, whoever gives
even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because they are Disciples of
Christ will certainly not lose their reward. Those called out ones who do the work
of God (charity toward those He has chosen for His purpose) are the ones who
will receive a reward. That same reference to rewards is also found in Mark 9:41.
Again we see rewards mentioned in Luke 6:23-24; however, this time it is
mentioned in respect to receiving a reward for enduring persecution.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in
Heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24 but
woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your
comfort, (Luke 6:23-24, NIV).
Once again, we see that the reward is mentioned as being in heaven, but no
mention is made of being caught up to receive that reward in heaven; but, rather,
in Revelation 22:12, we see where the Lord is coming soon and His reward for His
ecclesia is with Him! Also, in Luke, verses 32-35, we see the Lord exhorting the
ecclesia to love not only our friends, relatives and loved ones, but also to love our
enemies. Jesus says that even sinners love those who love them so what great
credit is gained from that. Rather, called out ones are exhorted to lend without
expecting payment, to love their enemies without expecting anything in return.
And to do so, their reward will be great because God is a merciful God (He is even
kind to the ungrateful and wicked) and He wants called out ones to be likewise.
The next major reference to reward is found in 1 Corinthians 3:8 where Paul is
exhorting the ecclesia to fulfill the tasks that God has individually assigned to
each called out one. As Jesus said to His disciples (in Acts 1:8), the ecclesia’s
main responsibility is to be His witnesses throughout the whole world, preaching
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we examine carefully our total being, it is not that
difficult to realize that whatever talent or talents we have, whether they are
teaching, preaching, singing, giving, laborer of many different works, our
ultimate goal is to use it for the glory of God. The main theme of 1 Corinthians
3:8 is that whatever assigned tasks we have, we will be rewarded and our
positional status in the Kingdom of God will be determined according to the
accomplishments thereof.


Chapter 4
Rewards!
97
The next reference to reward is found in 1 Corinthians 9:17, where we see Paul
making a bold statement that many Christians find very difficult to put into
practice. Let’s begin at verse 1 to understand and feel the total impact of his
statement:
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our
Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even
though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For
you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense
to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to
food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife
along with us, as do the other Apostles and the Lord’s brothers and
Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a
vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does
not drink of the milk? 8 Do I say this merely from a human point of
view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the
Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is trading out the
grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says
this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when
the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so
in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual
seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from
you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we
have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary,
we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13
Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food
from the temple, and those who serve at the altar? 14 In the same
way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel
should receive their living from the gospel. 15 But I have not used
any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you
will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone
deprive me of this boast. 16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot
boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach
the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not
voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed
to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in
preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not
make use of my rights in preaching it, (1 Corinthians 9:1-18, NIV).
[Bold and underlines is by the author, solely for emphasis]
The author purposely included the majority of this chapter to help bring light to
the reader about the many types of ministries we see today. As Paul states in
verses 1 through 12, he is telling the Corinthians that apostles (those called of God
for His purpose) have a right to reap a material harvest for their ministerial
labors. However, Paul emphatically states (in verse 6) that he and Barnabas did
not use that right; but, rather, they endured all things so as not to hinder the


Chapter 4
Rewards!
98
gospel of Christ. Paul here is obviously demonstrating his faith in God knowing
full well that He will provide him for his labor. Paul says that the Lord has
commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the
gospel. However, Paul did not want the gospel to be hindered by having to dwell
on a monetary recompense for his labor. Instead, Paul would rather boast of
preaching the gospel without financial reward. Yet, when he preached, he
couldn’t boast because he was compelled to preach the gospel. This compelling
urge is a spiritually induced urge, although a voluntary one that comes from total
submission to Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit. So much so that Paul
understood that if he didn’t preach voluntarily, he not only would lose his reward,
but also would be found guilty of not discharging the trust that had been
committed to him by the Lord.
Unfortunately, today we see way too much emphasis on soliciting money for
ministerial activities rather than letting the power of the Holy Spirit quicken the
donor to give as the Spirit leads. Too much emphasis is placed on selling books,
video and audiotapes, religious trinkets, and various other Christian
paraphernalia in return for donations, rather than trusting God to provide for
their respective ministries. All of us in the ministry have been guilty of this at one
time or another and, unfortunately, have caused many to close the door on the
Gospel. If not completely turned off to close their hearts to the message, they
have at least been given an excuse to criticize the messengers of the Gospel to the
detriment of evangelism as a whole. Unfortunately, much of today’s evangelical
community is seen by the world as money hungry charlatans, rather than valiant
soldiers of the cross who need to be not only ministering to the world’s spiritual
needs, but to the needs of the poor, down-trodden and the orphans and widows
in our respective communities.
In Hebrews 10:35, the subject of reward is again mentioned in connection to
being confident in service to the Lord during hardship and times of persecution:
Remember those earlier days after you had received the
light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the
face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to
insult and persecution at other times you stood side by side with
those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in
prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property,
because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting
possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be
richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you
have done the will of God, you will receive what he has
promised. 37 For in just a very little while, “He who is coming
will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live
by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of
those who believe and are saved, (Hebrews 10:32-39, NIV). [Bold
and underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]


Chapter 4
Rewards!
99
Once again, we do not see in this section of scripture any mention of the
Christian Church being caught up to heaven to receive this reward, but rather,
we see the author of Hebrews quoting the identical remarks about the coming of
the Lord found in Revelation 22:20. The reward is in heaven, where Jesus Christ
is seated at the right hand of God; and, when He returns, His reward for the
faithful will be brought with Him to give to all those that believed (by faith) the
promises made.
In Hebrews 11:23-28 we see the word reward mentioned in context to the reward
that Old Testament saints also were looking forward to receiving at the same
time:
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,
because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid
of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up,
refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He
chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He
regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the
treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his
reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he
persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept
The Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of
the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel, (Hebrews
11:23-28, NIV). [Bold and underline is by the author, solely for
emphasis]
You will notice, especially in verse 28, where the author of Hebrews is speaking
about Moses’ faith, that the “firstborn” he is specifically talking about is none
other than Jesus Christ. Moses knew that the “firstborn” is the prophesied
Messiah to come and He (Messiah) is at the center of his faith. The word for
“firstborn” in the Greek is prototokos, which means firstborn (from protos, first
and tikto, to beget). It is used of the Christ born of the Virgin Mary in Luke 2:7;
further to His relationship to the Father, expressing His priority to, and
preeminence over creation, not in the sense of being the first to be born. This
particular passage leads the author to believe once again that Israel, especially
the patriarchs and prophets, knew that the Messiah was to come. Unfortunately,
those in Judea at the time of His first advent did not believe that Jesus was the
Messiah foretold. However, Moses and the Old Testament fathers knew and
believed (by faith) that He (Messiah) would eventually come to resurrect them
from the dead (not to be “caught up” to heaven seven years before the Day of the
Lord); rather, Messiah would come down to earth to reign as King of Kings and
Lord of Lords inside the descended New Jerusalem, the Holy City of God!
Nowhere in the Old Testament do we see any reference being made to the
children of promise that there will be a “catching up” or rising to heaven after the
resurrection; but, rather, it does emphatically state that they will inherit a


Chapter 4
Rewards!
100
heavenly Kingdom where God will eventually dwell amongst His people here on
earth, (Ezekiel 37:27). Also, no references whatsoever are made in the Old
Testament that national Israel’s (geopolitical) Kingdom will be restored on earth
(as it was before) nor was it to be realized up in heaven. But, rather, Old
Testament saints, by faith, were looking for that heavenly city (New Jerusalem,
The Holy City of God) that is to come, a time when the firstborn of Israel (the
Messiah) will come to dwell and rule His heavenly (not a Jewish geopolitical)
Kingdom (from within that city) on earth, (Hebrews 11:16; 13:14). [The author
provides in depth discussion on this aspect in Chapters 11 and 12 of this book]
Unfortunately, many Christians are looking for a time when they will be
“snatched up” to heaven to be with Christ for a seven-year period of time; but
nowhere in the Bible is this promise made. Many theorists have tried to set forth
this myth as Gospel truth, not by quoting specific verses that plainly state so; but,
rather, by reading into a verse an interpretation that stretches scripture beyond
its initial intent. Not only beyond its initial intent, but also in many cases, they
stretch a verse beyond mere logic, solely to justify a theory that goes contrary to
the laws of exegetical reasoning. For example, Hal Lindsey, in his book The
Rapture (page 107) asserts that the Christian Church is seen in heaven,
symbolized by the “seven lamps of fire.” He states:
“When the apostle John is caught up to Heaven in Revelation
Chapter 4, he sees seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of
God (verse 5). Those seven lamps first appeared on earth in
Chapter 1, verses 12 through 20. In verse 20 they are identified as
the seven symbolic churches. I believe that these seven lamps
are the Church, which has just been raptured into Heaven.
Here they are called the seven spirits of God because John is
emphasizing that the Spirit indwells the churches,” (Hal Lindsey,
THE RAPTURE, Bantam Books, page 1070) [Bold and underline is
by the author, solely for emphasis]
We can understand Mr. Lindsey’s zeal in wanting to provide possible
explanations to the Bible’s message to the church; however, this particular
assertion really stretches the credulity of even novice Bible students. Let’s
examine verse five to see exactly what it states:
From the throne came flashes of lightening, rumbling and peals of
thunder. Before the thrones, seven lamps were blazing. These are
the seven spirits of God, (Revelation 4:5, NIV)! [Bold and
underlines is by the author, solely for emphasis]
We appreciate all the years of study Mr. Lindsey has undertaken, as do we
acknowledge the fact his books have sold over 35 million copies (in many
different languages, too); but seriously, Mr. Lindsey, can you really expect even
the novice Bible student to believe that the “seven lamps of fire” in verse five

Re: The End Times Passover

Chapter 4
Rewards!
101
speaks about the church, when the Bible specifically states that these seven lamps
of fire are “the seven spirits of God”?
It is precisely these types of irresponsible statements (made throughout Mr.
Lindsey’s books in support of a secret pre-tribulation escape to heaven) that
affronts the intellect of not only the Bible purists, but hampers the spiritual unity
that the called out ones need in these latter days. Not only does Mr. Lindsey
expect his readers to accept his premise without challenging what might appear
to be a small point, but for him to insult the readers’ intelligence by expecting
them to believe that the “seven lamps of fire” could be even remotely compared to
the “seven lampstands (vs. 12)” makes Mr. Lindsey come very close to being
found guilty of what is spoken about in 2 Peter 2:1. The author doesn’t believe
that Hal Lindsey would try to purposely bring confusion to the evangelical ranks;
however, his failure to closely examine the subject of lamps and lampstands for
their true meaning can, in fact, plant great seeds of confusion to those who trust
his exegetical approach to prophecy. Let’s examine these two words (lamp and
lampstand) to see exactly what they truly mean.
The Greek word for lamp is lampas, which literally means, “torch.” Lampas is
the same word used in Matthew 25:4 in the parable of the ten virgins. Their
“lamps” were the “torches” or “lanterns” and their fuel (the oil) is an obvious
reference to the Holy Spirit that qualifies the five faithful virgins to enter the
wedding banquet with the bridegroom. Mr. Lindsey (and other theorists) already
believes that the five faithful virgins represent the church; would they also
conclude that the lamps the faithful virgins are holding represent the church,
also?
In Revelation 1:18, 19 and 20, the word describing the churches that is used by
Jesus in John’s vision is “lampstand,” which is the Greek word luchnia, which
literally means a “stand that holds a lamp, or a lampstand.” Luchnia is the same
word found in Matthew 5:15, where we see Jesus describing the individual
believers who comprise the true ecclesia. These are known as the “sons of light,
(Luke 16:8).”
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how
can it be made salty again. It is no longer good for anything, except
to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 You are the light of
the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people
light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand
(luchnia) and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same
way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in Heaven, (Matthew 5:13-16, NIV.)”
[Parenthesis (luchnia), bold and underline, is by the author, solely
for emphasis]
The key to this group of scriptures is the meaning of light (vs. 14) which is phos,
the Greek word that means “to give light” or “light bearer,” where called out ones


Chapter 4
Rewards!
102
are the sons of light (Luke 16:8), not merely because they have received a
revelation from God, but, as Holy Spirit power-imbued called out ones, they have
the spiritual capacity to do so. In verse 15, Jesus uses the analogy of how sons of
light should use their status as light bearers, by not hiding it under a bowl but to
put it on its “stand” so it gives light to everyone in the house. So also, let that
light be seen by all men. This analogy is a perfect example of the ecclesia in unity
fulfilling its true role, that of being a “lampstand (the ecclesia), comprised of light
bearing believers.” The only conclusion that can be made, then, is that the
lampstand (luchnia) is the ecclesia and the lamps (lampas) are the Spirits of God.
Having identified the true meaning of these two words (lamp and lampstand), it
becomes clear that the main message in the word “lampstand” in Revelation 1:12
and 20 is twofold. Number one, Jesus is telling John that He (the Lord) has
seven angels (the seven stars) that presently minister to the seven churches.
These seven angels appear to be the same seven angels that the Lord uses to fulfill
the purging process that is to take place when God’s wrath is poured out. That
the seven stars are God’s seven ministering angels is evident by the fact that the
letters to the seven churches are not addressed to the churches themselves, but to
the angels that have responsibility for the seven churches respectively. Secondly,
in the letter to the angel responsible for the Church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:5), we
clearly see a warning for the church’s need to repent and return to its first love:
that joy and fervor they had when they initially came to Christ. The Lord says
that if they don’t repent, He will come and remove that lampstand (church) at
Ephesus from its place (Gr. topos, positional status). The word “remove”
(according to Vine) is the Greek verb kineo, which literally means to set in
motion, move (hence, e.g., English: kinetmatics, kinetics, cinema). Kineo is used
in this verse of the virtual removal of the unfaithful church from God’s positional
status or, figuratively, of causing a local church to be discontinued.
We hope this brief examination between lamp and lampstand has shed new light
to the exegesis required and, also, to shed new light to Mr. Lindsey’s assertion
that the Christian Church should be viewed as being in heaven, solely because he
sees the “seven lamps of fire” before the throne of God. One can very well
understand (and even accept a sincere effort) where the assumption was made to
interpret the seven spirits of fire as also being a raptured church. What becomes
difficult to forgive, however, is Mr. Lindsey’s failure to quote the entire verse.
Let’s read it again:
From the throne came flashes of lightening, rumblings and peals of
thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are
the seven spirits of God, (Revelation 4:5; NIV). [Bold and
underline is by the author, solely for emphasis]
It is one thing to interpret a scripture verse into a theory; however, to assert that
a verse might mean one thing when it clearly and specifically states exactly what
it means is totally irresponsible. To use Revelation 4:5 as proof that the Christian
Church is seen in heaven, when it specifically states that the seven lamps are


Chapter 4
Rewards!
103
God’s spirits and not the church, is typical of the many unsubstantiated
interpretations Mr. Lindsey and other theorists use to build a case for Pre-
Tribulationalism.
Once again, as has been pointed out before, to build a doctrine by conjecture and
by twisting new and unsubstantiated meanings to the word of God, solely to fit an
individually conceived theory, is extremely dangerous. This is dangerous not only
for theorists, but also (and especially) for the new babes in Christ that might be
seduced by its titillating effect.
The author sincerely feels in his heart and spirit that Mr. Lindsey is not
intentionally trying to dissuade the Christian from the truth. However, the
theories he has presented in his books pertaining to a secret pre-tribulation
escape of the Christian Church to heaven, we find to be not only scripturally
inconsistent with the literal and obvious cogency of God’s word, but deserve to be
challenged for their lack of substance. If we appear to be too harsh in our
criticism of Hal Lindsey’s book (The Rapture) and his overall Pre-Tribulation
stance, then we ask for his forgiveness. However, as we ask for his forgiveness,
we also would ask him to re-examine his position and hold true to the declaration
he made on page 24 of his book, which reads:
“I determined that if I should find that I had been wrong on this
issue, that I would write a book acknowledging it. I think it is
important to bring out that as far as my own personal faith is
concerned, if the scriptures teach that the church is to go through
all or part of the tribulation, I can certainly trust God for His care
and protection and press on. I want the truth, and don’t want to
spread false hope; to be found a liar before God. That thought is
more frightening to me than the tribulation.” (Hal Lindsey, The
Rapture, Bantam Books, page 24)
We are praying that our brother-in-the-Lord will stand by that statement, not to
gain glory for ourselves in smug haughtiness, or to be seen as smarter or more
spiritual than Hal Lindsey and other theorists; but, rather, that through our
mutual sharing of our respective studies and research, the Lord will continue to
use Mr. Lindsey and other expositors in even greater works for the glory of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
While we have momentarily digressed from our subject of rewards, we felt it was
timely to mention that theories about the so-called Christian Church going to
heaven to receive rewards are weak, to say the least. However, scriptural verses
abound that point to the fact that Jesus will be returning to earth, in the flesh, not
secretly as theorists contend, to finally reward the believers for their faithfulness.
Unfortunately, too many people have been influenced by the “secret escape to
heaven” Rapture myth, a theory that is not based on scripture. As a matter of fact,
there are many references made in the Bible about seeing (in the flesh) the visible
Christ as He descends to earth to begin His eternal reign. Many did not




Chapter 4
Rewards!
104
acknowledge Him in visible flesh during His first advent and many (at His
Second Advent) still will not acknowledge this fact. In 2 John verses 7 and 8, for
example, we see the called out ones being exhorted about deceivers who do not
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is coming in the flesh, to be seen visibly by
everybody!
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as
coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such
person is the deceiver and the anti-Christ. 8 Watch out that
you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be
rewarded fully, (2 John 7-8, NIV). [Bold and underlines is by the
author, solely for emphasis]
This particular verse (7) states that many (anti-Christian) deceivers did not
acknowledge that Jesus Christ did (and will again) come in the flesh. Many would
say that this verse speaks solely about Jesus’ first advent; however, A. R. Fausset
(of JFB) provides a strong argument that verse 7 implies Christ is seen visibly in
the flesh at both the First and Second Advent:
“He who denies Christ's coming in the flesh, denies the possibility
of the incarnation; he who denies that he has come, denies its
actuality. They denied the possibility of a Messiah's appearing, or
coming, in the flesh [NEANDER]. I think the Greek present
participle implies both the first and the second advent of Christ. He
is often elsewhere called the Coming One (Greek), Mat 11:3 Hbr
10:37. The denial of the reality of His manifestation in the
flesh, at His first coming, and of His personal advent
again, constitutes Antichrist.” (Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset
and David Brown Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the
Whole Bible (1871) THE SECOND AND THIRD EPISTLES
GENERAL OF JOHN, Commentary by A. R. Fausset) [Italics by
JFB, bold and underlines is by the author, solely for emphasis]
If Jesus is supposed to secretly step down from His place (currently at the right
hand of God) in heaven, as theorists incessantly contend, to “snatch up” the
Christian Church unseen by any others than the ecclesia, and take it back to
heaven, then their theory makes 2 John 7 a lie! If Jesus is to come for the ecclesia
before a seven-year period theorists call The Great Tribulation, and only the
Christian can see Him, then we are looking in vain for an invisible Christ, not a
Christ in the flesh as 2 John 7 states. More importantly (for those who continue
to promote this mythology), verse 7 also states that anyone who does not
acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh is a deceiver and the anti-Christ.
This verse alone makes it clear that anyone who supports a secret Rapture theory
or that supports a coming of Jesus Christ not in the flesh, in all His visible glory,
is a deceiver and the antichrist, or at least has been ignorantly deceived.



Chapter 4
Rewards!
105
Another scripture that also emphatically states that Jesus Christ does not come to
earth in secret is found in Acts 3:21-23, which specifically states that Jesus does
not return to earth until God restores everything. The author will be expanding
on this particular aspect in greater detail, in the next chapter:
He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to
restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy
prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for
you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen
everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him
will be completely cut off from among his people, (Acts
3:21-23, NIV) [Bold and underline is by the author, solely for
emphasis- See Chapter Six of this book for an expanded explanation
of Acts 3:21]
The remarks in verse 23 should be enough to frighten even the chanciest of
theorists about advocating any doctrine other than what the word of God very
clearly and specifically states about the return of Christ.
Once again, in verse 8 of 2 John, we are exhorted to beware of deceivers who do
not acknowledge that Christ will return in the flesh, or they will not be rewarded
fully. The warnings of losing their positional status in the Kingdom of God ring
ever so loudly. These two verses alone should be clear warning signs to those who
carelessly bandy about the word of God so loosely, in vain attempts to prove a
secret pre-tribulation escape to heaven theory, based primarily on conjecture,
however enticing that proposition may appear.
Finally, it is not until we get to Revelation 11:18 that we see that the time has
come for Jesus to reward all of His servants (the Old Testament patriarchs, as
well), the called out ones and those who believe in Messiah. All of this happens at
the sounding of the “seventh trumpet” which blends harmoniously with the
period where called out ones put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:52); the period
when the ecclesia is “caught” to meet and great the returning Lord (1
Thessalonians 4:16, 17) as He returns to gather His elect from the four winds,
from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven, (Mark
13:27).
As the author will attempt to show later on, Revelation is not written in any time
framed chronology. Although the visions it contains are written down in a
systematic fashion, and the chapters are in chronological order, no one scholar
has ever been able to deduce a specific chronological time frame of impending
events. However, if we are to believe that it is laid out in a specific sequential time
frame, beginning the timeline in chapters 1 through 22, then the sounding of the
Last Trump (“the seventh trumpet”) is seen immediately after the passing of the
“second woe” and preceding the “third woe.” It is also seen after the horrific
trumpet plagues found in Chapters 9, 10 and 11, which include the 42-month
period that the “Two Witnesses” prophesy great woe. This obviously would place



Chapter 4
Rewards!
106
the so-called snatching of the ecclesia, to meet the returning Jesus, at a time
much later than the pre-tribulation scenario, and even more so during the wrathoutpouring
period described throughout the Bible.
As the author concludes this brief examination of the subject of rewards, we are
reminded that our works, those done in and of our faith in Christ, will all come
under scrutiny, tested for their genuine inspiration of and through the Holy
Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 3:13, it states:
His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it
to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the
quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built
survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he
will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping
through the flames, (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, NIV). [Underline and
bold is by the author, solely for emphasis]
This set of scriptures is seen as the time when we will be judged at the Judgment
Seat of Christ (which theorists picture in heaven, prior to the great wedding
banquet) to receive our rewards on what we have built. If the works burn, we will
suffer loss. If they survive, we will receive our reward, our praise from God! The
author finds it very difficult to see this burning process going on in heaven. It
will happen here on earth as we endure the times of trial awaiting God’s ecclesia.
This fact is stated so succinctly in 1 Corinthians 4:5, where we see Paul telling the
ecclesia that, Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the
Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose
the motives of men's hearts. At that time, each will receive his praise from God,
(1 Corinthians 4:5, NIV). [Underline by the author, solely for emphasis]
When will this ‘praise from God’ happen? When the Lord comes! It doesn’t say it
will happen in heaven after the Lord supposedly has secretly snatched the
Christian Church up to heaven; it says, “Wait till the Lord comes!”
No, my friends, the Bible nowhere states that the Christian Church is to receive
rewards in heaven. It states that the rewards for each member of His ecclesia are
presently stored in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), but the soon coming Christ will
bring it with Him when the appointed time (known only by the Father) has come.
The author believes that when all these scriptures mentioned in this book are
connected together, and read in their proper context, we can conclude that God’s
overall redemptive plan does not include a secret pre-tribulation escape to
heaven scenario.
Where are the rewards for the Christian? They are in heaven. Jesus went to
heaven to prepare His new administration, of which (one of those rewards) will
include a positional status for the called out ones as His assistants in the
Kingdom of God! No! He is not preparing rooms for us in heaven, He is currently
recording our deeds of faith and He is preparing our individual place (Gr. topos,


Chapter 4
Rewards!
107
occasion, condition, opportunity, position), our positional status in His soon-tocome-
earth-bound-Kingdom [See extensive details on this place aspect in
Chapter 10]. After we have been changed (1 Corinthians 15:51), we will be caught
(1 Thessalonians 4:17) to meet (Gr. apentesis, a meeting to officially greet arriving
royalty) Jesus in the air. Then, we will all return with Him and re-enter the earth
with Jesus in our new glorified bodies, so that the entire world may see us
sharing in His glory (2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 John 3:2; Romans 8:18; Colossians
3:4; 1 Peter 5:4) as He arrives, to reign on earth forever!
“BEHOLD, I AM COMING SOON! MY REWARD IS WITH ME, AND I WILL
GIVE TO EVERYONE ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE, (Revelation
22:12, NIV)!” [Capitalized by the author, solely for emphasis]

Re: The End Times Passover

Having only just gotten into this book by Joe Ortiz, as it covers the Rapture Theories, I am left with the big question of what "Pastor" Bob would do with this should he read it. Course he won't because it would shoot down all his own theories. Nor, do I believe will most others that are comfortable with the pre-tribulation Rapture.

Oh, my, what a day it will be when these mis-led ones find out that they've spent most of their lives believing "Ring Around the Rosey Rapture Riddles".

Sure hope that some out of that bunch will care enough to do their own research. Here is a great place to start after having read their Bibles, first, of course. Mr. Ortiz refers to the Bible, pointing out that many words used by the pre-Tribbers to back their opinions mean exactly the opposite. Now, that would change everything, wouldn't it?

A very, very exciting book.

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

Provers 16:22

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

Re: The End Times Passover

bump

Re: The End Times Passover

bump

Re: The End Times Passover

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

Those that believe in Dispensations need to understand that the church DID NOT begin on the Day of Pentecost.

Joe Ortiz, in his book "The End Times Passover" gives the evidence that says:

if only they would take the time to examine God's words more closely. When Jesus told Peter that upon this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18), Christ was telling Peter that on the Day of Pentecost His already existing ecclesia would receive the edifying, strengthening or emboldening power from the Holy Spirit, in order for His already existing ecclesia to have the strength it never had before. (see Luke 24:49), Joel 2:28, Ephesians 1:13.

In Matthew 16:18, the word build used by Jesus in this verse is the Greek verb oikodmess, which means to strengthen, edify, embolden. If Jesus wanted to tell Peter He was going to create something new on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus would have used the more appropriate word for creating something new, which is the Greek verb kitzo, to create!

Jesus was not saying He would be creating a new religion (the so-called Christian Church) but, rather, He was telling Peter that through Himself (The Rock) He would strengthen His already existing assembly (ecclesia), this small remnant group (Luke 12:32) of faith believing Israel. How does someone strengthen something that supposedly doesn't exist? If God's eccelsia didn't already exist before the outpouring of Holy Spirit induced power, what was the Holy Spirit giving strength to?

Pages 12-13 of The End Time Passover by Joe Ortiz



You see, fellow believers, there was a Called Out eccelsia when God called out Abraham from the Land of Ur. Abraham did as God told him based on "FAITH".

So, it is a grave mistake to consider ourselves as the beginning of God's Calling out.

But, you will probably say, "We are saved by Grace and there was no Grace at the time of Abraham." Really now?

Who was it that spoke to Abraham and led the Children of Israel those 40 years in the Wilderness before God finally allowed them to enter The Promised Land?

Are you saying that Abraham, the prophets of old and those that followed in Faith are not saved? Heaven forbid that such a verdict be put upon them.

Do you think there has been a blinding in part upon the New Testament Church to make them think they are above the original Children of Faith Called Out by God?

"Many are called but Few are Chosen". [Matthew 22:14] Makes a whole lot more sense now, doesn't it?

If there is no Dispensation or separation from the original Israel, then why would God rapture the eccelsia out seven years before Jesus Christ returns????

Joe Ortiz does a wonderful job of letting God's Word speak for itself. Perhaps, it would be wise for the rest of us to do the same.

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover



Now, that the evidence has been given that "Called Out" (eccelsia) began right at the beginning of Abraham being called out of the Land of Ur, there is something else that needs to be understood. The body did not start at Pentecost.

It is correct for Bible teachers to support the unification of Gentiles and Jews into one body BUT here is the error: Who was grafted into whom? Was the Gentile believer grafted into the "Called Out Ones who were the Faith Believing Hebrew" or were the Called Out Ones grafted into the Gentile institution now called "The Christian Church"? It is like asking, "Which came first..the chicken or the egg?"

We already know that Abraham, a Hebrew, was the one man that was called out to be separated from the Gentiles around him. Out of Abraham, we have the Faith Believing Israel. Abraham and all of his Faith Believing generations had a Covenant with Almighty God based upon that faith.

The picture of Abraham being obedient by taking his son of Promise, Isaac and offering him to God shows the unwavering faith that Abraham had in his God. He walked the walk. It was at that time, when God stopped Abraham from taking the life of his son to be a sacrifice, that God told Abraham, "I will provide Myself". Abraham understood what that meant and so did the generations after him. They expected God to come in the flesh as the Messiah that would bring Salvation to the world.

Does this modern Christian Church really believe that the generations of Faith Believing Israeli weren't saved? Apparently so. They teach that the Jews/Israelites must become Christians in order to receive that Salvation. They teach that the Jew must be grafted into their Christian Religion. Most do not even understand the difference between an Israeli and a Jew.

Look what the Word of God teaches. It is quite different, to say the least.

Ephesians 2:11-20New International Version (NIV)

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (underlining done for emphasis by me)


Notice the words "excluded"?

Who was once excluded?

Notice the words, "destroyed the barrier"? Who destroyed the barrier...the Church or Jesus Christ?

Who made the two One?

And then, read again these words,"you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.' (underlining done for emphasis by me)

What was the foundation? That's right; it was the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.

The body, the ecceisa was called up long ago, at the first when God called A BODY out of the Gentiles and made a "Peculiar People" through whom the Savior of the World come and through whom the Gospel would be spread into all the world to anyone that would gladly ask for this free gift called Salvation. It was Grace granted unto the Gentile.

It is as Joe Ortiz says in his book,
"Therefore, newly engrafted Gentiles are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens with God's people. If this body wants to call itself the Christian Church (as it obviously has since Pentecost) so be it! But this new indentification (Christian) which was adopted by this one new body about a year after the Day of Pentecost, does not negate the fact that God's people, His children of promise, are and have been His called Out ones (Greek ecclesia, assembly, congregation) as far back as Abraham, and possibly as far back as Abel, the slain brother of Cain, Adam's son.)


When the Christian Church can get their head wrapped around this fact, they will also stop their put-downs of the fact that the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manassea are the very nations through whom the gospel has gone forth through-out the world as has been scripturally proven by David J. Smith in his videos.

By now, Christians ought to understand the difference between the Jew and the Israelites. They are not one and the same but two separate kingdoms, two separate sticks that will one day be united. The Jew, by and large, are segregated, who still await the Messiah. They live under the Law of Moses. The Israelites, on the other hand is made up of both Hebrews and Gentiles who preach that the Messiah has come and paid the Redemption price.

Pentecost was not the beginning of the Body of Believers. It was the outpouring of the Power of the Holy Spirit upon the Body to be a Helper and Comforter so that the Good News of Jesus Christ could go out into all the world.

The End Time Passover by Joe Ortiz is a priceless help in understanding these truths. You can find that book on-line at this website. Rapturebibleprophecyforum

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover



Praise the Lord!

Nothing like biblical TRUTH to set one free! I absolutely second witness these biblical truths!

OPEN YOUR BIBLES PEOPLE! And read it for yourselves. It is the TRUTH! Don't believe it, then pray and read it and ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you to all understanding. IF, I say IF, you are a true believer that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and you have repented of your sins, all things are possible through our savior, including understanding of scripture....


Galatians 1:11.......But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel that was preached of me is not after man.
12. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

DON'T PUT THIS OFF! Look it up for yourselves in the Holy Scriptures, I pray for you now, do ye also for yourself!

With LOVE,

YBIC
Michael

Re: The End Times Passover



Posted:

CORRECTION

"When Jesus told Peter that upon this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18), Christ was telling Peter on the Day of Pentecost, His already existing ecclesia would receive the edifying, strengthening or emboldening power from the Holy Spirit, in order for His already existing ecclesia to have the strength it never had before, (See Luke 24:49; Joel 2:28; Ephesians 1:13) In Matthew 16:18, the word build used by Jesus in this verse is the Greek verb oikodomeo which means to strengthen , edify, embolden.

I had misspelled the Greek verb oikodemeo with oikodmess.

PLEASE NOTE THE CORRECTION AS IT WOULD CHANGE THE MEANING OF THE GREEK WORD FOR "BUILD". THIS WORLD DENOTES A STRENGTHENING OF AN ALREADY EXISTING ECCLESIA RATHER THAN THE BUILDING OF A NEW ECCLESIA.

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

Regarding the differences between Jews and Israel, while God made many promises to Abraham, one being that all nations shall be blessed through Abraham, God also made other individual promises and prophecies to the individual twelve tribes of Israel.

One of these promises include that the tribe of Judah would continue to be the administrators of the Mosaic laws until the Messiah returns. "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of people be." (Genesis 49:10) This specific prophecy included the continual teaching and administration of the laws He gave to Moses, which are now viewed by present day Jews as the only way of salvation.

However, as the minister of circumcision (servant of the Jews) for the truth of God, Jesus came to confirm all the promises made unto the fathers, the patriarchs of Israel, the nation of promise, which included the fulfillment of the Law. (Matthew 5:17)

In Romans 15:8, Paul is telling the Romans that Christ has become a servant of the Jews (those who rely on circumcision for salvation) on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promise made to Israel's patriarchs, so that the Gentiles, all of those who are not of Israel, may glorify God for His mercy. It is written:

Romans 15:9-12 (NIV)
9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” 10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[b 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; Let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, One who will arise to rule over the nations; In him the Gentiles will hope.”[d



In this group of scripture, we see the word Gentile and nations used interchangeably to describe those who are not of the circumcision (Jews who rely on this for salvation). The Bible clearly identifies between faithful Israel and Jews. The Jews are these from the tribe of Judah, the tribe that was chosen to keep and administer the Law.

There are 12 tribes in the House of Israel, and only two of them (as well as the Levites) are Jewish! Therefore, those not of the Jewish faith of circumcision are all Gentiles, which obviously include all of these descendants from the other ten (scattered) tribes of Israel, as well.

The other ten tribes lost their law giving and law abiding identity; therefore, the remaining tribes (Judah, Benjamin and the Levite priests) are the only ones who still abide by the Levitical laws given to Moses. However, theorists still insist on keeping alive a genetic nation they call Israel in their exegetical mythologies, failing to realize that all Israel is the faith-believing body of Christ. His ecclesia.

The End Times Passover...pages 82-86 by Joe Ortiz

the above is a brilliant Biblical explanation of this endless argument who is a Jew and who is not. Those that cannot accept that Israel is the ecclesia made up of the natural olive branch and the wild grafted-in branch have a lot of deep down study ahead of them.....if they want to know the truth. This study proves that there is no Dispensation period just for Gentiles since it is all designed by God.

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover




For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

Fellow Believers,

If there is no Dispensation Period for just Gentiles, since it is very clear now that Israel and Gentiles are now one and the same, grafted into one ecclesia, , then you must come to the next issue and you should know by now, what it is.

I Thess. 16-18 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."


That is the Resurrection of those who held to their faith in the Lord God Almighty, which include Israel of both Old and New Testament. Remember this... they and the Gentiles who joined with them...are the ecclesia. The so called Gentile Church needs to get it's ducks lined up or you know what will happen? They will continue to be hood-winked and terribly disappointed.

The ecclesia has One Root and Two Branches

When does the above take place? It is simple enough to answer. It takes place at the Seventh Trumpet. Then and only then, will the ecclesia made up of both Gentiles and Israel, who have both been grafted into the Root, which is Christ Jesus Himself, be joined to Him in their Resurrected Bodies.

And notice the words, "Therefore comfort one another..."

That is what we should be doing, lifting each other up. This cannot be done when bad-mouthing, name calling and accusations are made that have no bearing on the Truth of the Word of God. Do all you can do to support those that bring such truth to you.

(No separate Dispensation=No pre-7 year tribulation Rapture)

It is quite simple, isn't it?

See "This is so good and needs to be shared" for more in-depth details to this topic.

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

Friends in Jesus Christ our Lord,

The bottom line is to pray for forgiveness and ask the Lord to come into your heart. Seek his face while there is still time. The bible will open up to all who ask for the holy spirit to guide them and comfort them.

The fact is, if you died in your sleep tonight, are you sure of your destination? Why not be sure?


ROMANS 10:13........For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


May God touch your heart,
YBIC
Michael

Re: The End Times Passover


For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

What did Jesus Christ tell His disciples? "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:24 KJB. Did you notice that Jesus didn't say He came unto the House of Judah but unto the "LOST SHEEP" of the House of Israel? Where did Israel go? They scattered mainly to the north & west. From there they traveled further west and south.

As I reread this former post of June 29, 2014 called The Covenant With Many, Who Are the Many, I can see now a much deeper understanding of this group of people called Israel because of all of the Biblical evidence given by Joe Ortiz.. What an eye-opener it has been.

Since having begun to read Joe Ortiz book, End Times Passover, which he covers this topic so well, you wonder why you never understood all this before. He gives scripture after scripture of who the ecclisa include. It is both the Old Testament Called Out ones whom God chose including the Gentiles who joined them. The ecclisa has always been there since God first called Abraham out of the Land of Ur.. It was not created on Pentecost. What took place on Pentecost is that this Body ecclisa was endowed with Power and Comfort in the commission to go out and preach the Gosple. This means, those that call themselves the church and hold themselves separate from Israel are short-changing themselves. Is it so hard to understand?

Joe Ortiz gives the scriptures that show Southern Kingdom of Judah, whom includes the tribes Judah, Benjamin and the Levite, were to be separate from the others and keep the Laws. The tribe of Judah would continue to be the administrators of the Mosaic laws until the Messiah returns. "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of people be." (Genesis 49:10) This specific prophecy included the continual teaching and administration of the laws He gave to Moses, which are now viewed by present day Jews as the only way of salvation. (This teaching by Joe Ortiz is covered in "This is so good and needs to be shared" http://www.rapturebibleprophecyforum.com/

This brings to mind that the Tribe of Dan, out of whom will come Anti-Christ, have been making and administrating their own brand of Law down through the ages. That law comes right out of the Roman Empire. They are a jealous lot who have the intentions of stealing that sceptre given to Judah. They are a jealous lot who mean to have another temple in Jerusalem upon which their god will place his image. And why are we, the ecclisa helping them with our support? Because we, the Assembly, Congregation, ecclisa have been so duped by those that brought the gospel according to Rome.

The on-going debate of who is the true ecclisa can stop once and for all we can get our heads wrapped around God's complete plan. He will bring all to completeness when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. I want to add here that when Jesus, said on the cross, "It is Finished", He is speaking about the Blood Offering that was needed to reconcile His People, all of them, the ecclisa unto the Father. He was the First Fruit of that Harvest and the rest of the Harvest will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The Dead arise first. This is the Blessed Promise given to His Chosen. No group of ecclisa has ever been called out...they have all gone through tribulation. Only two individuals have been caught out of this world without seeing death, Enoch and Isaiah. Moses was buried by God.

If you read your Bible, you will see that the two sons of Joseph received the greatest blessings of possessing much land and wealth. In fact, after WWII, the two sons, did possess 95% of the Land Mass and wealth, including the Door-ways (ports) to these land masses. So, that prophecy was fulfilled. Who are Manasseh and Ephraim? As crazy as it may sound to you, the Bible's prophecy and history shows that the blessing was given to Great Britain (Ephraim) and the younger brother, Manasseh the United States, whom was born out of the Great Britain. The US is the greatest of the nations that make up the CommonWeath Nations. Does it surprise you to know that the USA is not an independent nation? They are the CommonWeath Nations? What Covenant? They are of the Covenant that God made to Abraham. There are no other nations that fulfill this promise given to Joseph's two sons.

What about Judah? Judah wasn't given that blessing. Judah, to this day, remains entrenched in the small area of the Southern Kingdom where sits Jerusalem, in the territory of Benjamin. Judah refused her Messiah and will stay apart until they can come to grips with the fact that Jesus Christ is their Messiah as well as the Messiah of those of the Northern Tribe who spread into the world, where they intermarried with Gentiles. It is said that they would one day say, "Blessed Is He That Comes In The Name of the Lord." It will take a lot of tribulation to cause them to look up and stop relying on their own understanding. So, truthfully, both Israel and Judah are in for further revelations. The House of Israel has been the single greatest fulfillment of spreading the Good News of God's Word. Now, they are beginning to realize just who they are. It is not the Jews that did this but the Northern Tribe of Israel. The Jews have hung to their scriptures but were blind to seeing their Messiah of which they told.

If you want to know the real truth of who you, the ecclisa are, then read the on-line book, The End Times Passover, furnished by this site...RaptureBiblePropechyForum...for free. This is a gift that Steven was able to get from Joe Ortiz for free. Take advantage of it.

PS Those that say, I do not understand the Spiritual significance of this, I ask you if you understand the earthy events correctly that must take place to usher in the Return of Jesus Christ. Have you understood of whom the ecclisa include? There is always something new that we can learn if we chose to learn, which will help all of our presently held theology to hone in on God's Truth One more thing, earthly Jerusalem is not the New Jerusalem Coming down; I understand that. Gerlinda

_____________________________________________________________________________

Complete article of June 29, 2014:

The Covenant With Many....who are the many?
A covenant is an agreement between two parties. There are two types of covenants: conditional and unconditional. A conditional or bilateral covenant is an agreement that is binding on both parties for its fulfillment. Both parties agree to fulfill certain conditions. If either party fails to meet their responsibilities, the covenant is broken and neither party has to fulfill the expectations of the covenant. An unconditional or unilateral covenant is an agreement between two parties, but only one of the two parties has to do something. Nothing is required of the other party.

The Abrahamic Covenant is an unconditional covenant. God made promises to Abraham that required nothing of Abraham. Genesis 15:18-21 describes a part of the Abrahamic Covenant, specifically dealing with the dimensions of the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants.


God determined to call out a special people for Himself through whom He would bring blessing to all the nations. The Abrahamic Covenant is paramount to a proper understanding of the kingdom concept and is foundational to Old Testament theology. (1) The Abrahamic Covenant is described in Genesis 12:1–3 and is an unconditional covenant. There are no conditions attached to it (no “if” clauses, suggesting its fulfillment is dependent on man). (2) It is also a literal covenant in which the promises should be understood literally. The land that is promised should be understood in its literal or normal interpretation—it is not a figure of heaven. (3) It is also an everlasting covenant. The promises that God made to Israel are eternal.

Now, here is where the problem lies in understanding who these special people are. Remember, this Covenant was unconditional so it does not depend upon what the Israelites did and did not do. God keeps His Word.

It seems that the promise of many children given to Abraham who were children of the Promise was going unfulfilled so Sarah took matters into her own hands and gave her Egyptian hand-maiden to Abraham. But, we know the story that later Sarah, in her old age, finally gave birth to Isaac who, legally, held the promise to the Land. And the First-born son and his mother Hagar were forced to leave (but not without their own blessing) Then the next generation through which this Covenant would pass came through Isaac who had twin sons. Again, we see a twist in the rule of The First Born. Isaac's first born Essau did not relish his right as the Keeper of the Stick that represented the legal owner of the Land. We know the story of how Jacob, with the help of his mother, managed to finagle this Stick that signified who the Rightful heir to the Land belonged, away from Essau. Please remember that these were twin boys, same mother and same father. It was really God's plan to have Jacob possess the Land but God kept his promise of blessing the other son with much land; in fact, much more land than Jacob inherited.

But, that is not the issue here. We know that Jacob's name was changed to Israel. Jacob had 12 sons. Let's quickly jump to Joseph who landed up in Egypt as a slave and ultimately the second in power to the Throne of Egypt. He married an Egyptian woman who had twin sons. The oldest was Ephraim and the youngest Manasseht. After Joseph once again met up with his father Jacob and his brothers,. Jacob, adopted Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to share in Jacob's inheritance equally with Jacob's own sons. Again, the Land blessing was given to the younger son, Manasseh rather than Ephraim.

So, what does this all mean? It means after the Land of Israel (the name given to Jacob) became divided into two Kingdoms due to Solomon's great sins against the God of his fathers. The Northern Kingdom included the 10 tribes and the Southern Kingdom included Judah and Benjamin. Levi, the priestly tribe was part of all the tribes.

If you are still with me, please remember that the Northern Kingdom, called Israel, was conquered by the Assyrians and by and large scattered. Where did they scatter? Mainly to the north and west, thus into the Land of Russia and Europe, with it's many people. They were already out of the Land of Israel at the time of the coming of Jesus Christ.

The Southern Kingdom called Judah remained until after the time of Christ's Coming and fulfillment of the AD 70 destruction of their Temple. Jesus Christ visited Jerusalem, was constantly being challenged by the Sanhedrin, the religious body that held power in the Land. By, the way, that Court did not exist after AD 70 but came back to power in 2004. Isn't that telling about the days we now live?

When, in Daniel 27, it speaks about the Covenant being confirmed, Daniel is told that He (Christ) would come and confirm the Covenant made with many. Who are the many? And, right on time, Christ came, was anointed as The Prince of that Covenant at His Baptism in the Jordan. He began His 3 1/2 year early ministry that ended at His returning to His Father as he stood upon the Mt. Of Olives.


But what did Jesus Christ tell His disciples? "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:24 KJB Did you notice that Jesus didn't say He came unto the House of Judah but unto the "LOST SHEEP" of the House of Israel? Where did Israel go? That's right...north and west. These are your "many". If you read your Bible, you will see that the two sons of Joseph received the greatest blessings of possessing much land and wealth. In fact, after WWII, the two sons, did possess 95% of the Land Mass and wealth, including the Door-ways (ports) to these land masses. So, that prophecy was fulfilled. Who are Manasseh and Ephraim? As crazy as it may sound to you, the Bible's prophecy and history shows that the blessing was given to Great Britain (Ephraim" and the younger brother, (Manasseh) is the United States, born out of the Great Britain. Does it surprise you to know that the USA is not an independent nation? They are both of the CommonWeath Nations, the Nations of the Covenant. What Covenant? Go back to the top and read it again. There is no other nations that fulfill this promise given to Joseph's two sons.

What about Judah? Judah wasn't given that blessing. Judah, to this day, remains entrenched in the small area of the Southern Kingdom where sits Jerusalem, in the territory of Benjamin. Judah refused her Messiah and will stay apart until they can come to grips with the fact that Jesus Christ is their Messiah as well as the Messiah of those of the Northern Tribe who spread into the world, where they intermarried with Gentiles. So, truthfully, Israel doesn't know who she is but it will be revealed to them someday. The House of Israel has been the single greatest fulfillment of spreading the Good News of God's Word. It is not the Jews that did this but the Northern Tribe of Israel.

So, what is the problem? The Stick of Land Possession does belong to Israel (Lost Tribes). And while the leadership of Israel, the land, is not legal, many of the settlers are doing what they are suppose to do, go back and possess the land. But The Stick of Kingship belongs to Judah. So, those two sticks are not yet joined.

We have those who call themselves Jews, who are of the Synagogue of Satan, who are not genetically of the House of Israel at all but only in the fact that they became converts to the Religion of Babylonian Judaism, have they muddled the term of Jews so thickly that few can distinguish who is what and if the term is even correct. These are the Edomites, whose jealous determination to get what he thinks is his, which he believes was stolen by Israel, have intermarried with the Northern Tribes of Europe. This mixture of the Assyrian also includes the Roman, Greek, Tribe of Dan, who is left out of the inheritance because of apostasy. These are the present rulers of the world's nations which they created and divided up after WWII. These nations are bringing about their New World Order and their One World Religion that serves Satan. These make up the United Nations. Do you see it?

They are determined to rebuild the temple, put their demonic leader on the throne, claim the land for himself and rule the world as Satan had said he would do. And who is it that is helping this Zionist Movement?

So, think about the Covenant. Who was the only qualified person who could confirm that Covenant with His own coming? Is it A/C or is it Jesus Christ? Who is it, that by His death on the cross, paid the Redemptive Price? Was it A/C or was it Jesus Christ? Who is it that will come again to destroy these evil doers? Is it A/C or is it Jesus Christ?

Scripture and common sense tells you that this World System has done a masterful job of convincing the Christians that the one that will confirm the Covenant is A/C. And in order to convince the House of Israel (The Lost Sheep) that this is still in the future, the lie about a pre-tribulation is taught so that their eyes are on escaping the A/C instead of hanging onto the promise that Jesus Christ will not appoint His Sheep, whom He was sent to Redeem/Save, from the Wrath of God.

I hope you will look at the video enclosed here by David Smith. View it with a whole different mind-set; one that clearly is telling you that the two greatest nations ever to rule the world are the Two Covenant Nations who have been infiltrated by the United Nations/Edomites to steal the two sticks of Land Ownership and Kingship.

Only after the Return of Jesus Christ will these two sticks be united into One. It is scripturally wrong to say that they are united already.

Gerlinda



Re: The End Times Passover



People are not able to refute the scriptures that clearly expose the 7 year pre tribulation rapture as a LIE. So, they do what anyone who does not have scripture to refute the information in this book.


They:
1. Personally attack the author:

2. Call him anti semitic

3. They take a line or two out of the book and twist it out of context and make lies to try and discredit the author.


=======================

This is done so many times when will people wake up to this tactic of so called believer of Jesus Christ.....

Ex 20:16

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
KJV


Let me remind everyone of this scripture do you fear God?

If so then do you think maybe you should not attack falsely other believers?


If you are guilty of this do you think it might be worth posting an apology?

Do you think if you falsely accuse someone that it might be in YOUR best interest to publically apologize and repent?

Let your conscience be your guide.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this ministry of RaptureBibleProphecyForum and has NOT falsely accused or attacked the moderator or the contributors of this site.

God Bless

Steven

Re: The End Times Passover

The Church (ecclesia, Called Out Ones) have been around since God called out Abraham.

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

It has been said that Israel and the Church are two separate entities. While at one time, we may all have believed that, we cannot and will not continue to believe that false teaching. It has been drummed into our heads in order to make us believe there are two Dispensations; one for the Church and one for Israel.

What is wrong with the above teaching is that, it seems those that teach this, DO NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE JEWS.

The Church (ecclcesia, Called Out Ones) have been around since God called out Abraham.

At the Coming of Jesus Christ, as prophesied by Daniel, among others, The Redemptive price was paid. Jesus, Himself, declared it so, "It is Finished". The ecclesia, which is translated "assembly" denotes the whole body of the redeemed. All those whom the Father has given to Christ - the invisible universal church (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27, 29, Heb. 12:23) Before Christ became the Lamb of God, the ecclesia lived by faith. After the Lamb of God shed His Blood, the ecclesia live by grace purchased for us and faith that His Work will bring His return, which is preceded by the Dead being called out first and then those that remain will meet Him in the air.

I Thess. 4:16-17. " For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel. And with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; And so shall we ever be with the Lord."


To imply that the whole body of the redeemed, whom the Father has given to Christ, are made up of only the New Testament Body, (whom, by the way, was not born that day but received the power of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost) is limiting God's redemption plan to just those of the New Testament Era. It really needs to be understood that the ecclesia was not born on the Day of Pentecost but was born the day that God called out Abraham and by obedience Abraham confirmed the Covenant made between he and God.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHURCH. The English word is derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e,, "the Lord's house") which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship. In the New Testament, it is the translation of the Greek word Ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament. Both words meaning simply "an assembly", the character of which can be known only from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in Post-apostolic times, it early received this meaning. Nor is the word ever used to denote the inhabitants of a country united in the same profession, as when we say the 'Church of England," the "Church of Scotland," etc. We find the word ecclesia used in the following senses in the New Testament:

1. It is translated "assembly" in the ordinary classical sense (Acts 19:32, 39, 41)
2. It denotes the whole body of the redeemed - all those whom the Father has given to Christ - the invisible universal church (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27, 29; Hebr. 12:23)
3. A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia (Rom. 26:5, Co. 4:15).
4. All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for religious worship was an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Anticoch, forming several congregations, were one Church (Acts 13:11)

{More on this subject can be read The End Times Passover by Joe Ortiz - pages 7,8)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A reading of the Old Testament is proof of who the Called Out Ones are. Abraham was a Hebrew, not an Israelite. This Called Out body made up of the Gentiles that joined Abraham and his family that continued their walk of faith, did not become known as Israelites until Jacob's name was changed to Israel by God Himself.

Then, to get an absolute clear picture of what makes up Israel, one needs to understand that the 12 sons of promise given to Jacob make up the 12 tribes that lived in a United Kingdom called Israel during the reign of Solomon. Most of us are quite clear of how the 10 tribes split from the two tribes of Judah & Benjamin (also the Levites) after Solomon. Now Israel was divided...The Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. History tells us that most of the Northern Kingdom were scattered to the 4 winds when the Assyerians invaded. Yes, for the sake of argument, there was an remnant that made up the Northern Kingdom remained in the land and rejoined the Southern Kingdom's rule.

The Jews rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Jesus came unto the House of Israel to bring Salvation. These were the other Sheep of His Fold who were now scattered at the time of His Coming. Among the House of Israel are the Gentiles that joined them. There have always been Gentiles such as Ruth, Esther, Rahab that became a part of the Children of Isreal. That same Israel is the entity that makes up the present believers.

The exception would be those of the Tribe of Dan, from whom would spring the A/C as prophesied by both Moses and Jacob about Dan. That cannot be disputed no matter how one wants to waltz around the issue. They turned their back on the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, took up pagan practices and mixed their seed with the seed of Satan. The Bible makes references to the Sons of Satan. That is not a mere term but is taking the reader back to what occurred in the Garden, when the Seed of the Serpent was planted and for which God condemned him to a life-time of crawling upon his belly in the dirt.

There are those that belittle this fact regarding the 10 tribes of Northern Israel by implying that, because the Royal Houses of Europe are of the Dannite, Satanic lineage, that the common people are also. The Royal Blood-line or Illuminated Ones scream in horror if you should put them into the same category as the Common folks. The Illuminati claim lineage to the Fallen angels.

No one, on this site, has ever said that these Fallen angels were human. That would be another example of stretching the facts. Any Bible Scholar knows that the angels are able to assume the body of a human, which is seen in the stories of Abraham entertaining two men who turned out to be messengers (angels) from God telling him that his wife Sarah would have a child in her old age. Angels were seen going into Sodom and Gemorrah and desired by the men of the city. So, it is no secret or false claim to say that angels (whether good or bad) could appear as humans.

But back to this subject of the Church and Israel being two separate entities. THEY ARE NOT as proven by the examples given in this text. Who are separate entities to this day is Israel and the Jews. Sorry, those of you who believe they are one and the same...they are not. They remain two separate sticks until God joins the two together. I know there are those that they are united already because there is a nation called Israel. However, that claim is speaking without understanding that the Jews make up the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin (including Levite priests who are not tribes)

The Jews (The Southern Kingdom)

Regarding the differences between Jews and Israel, while God made many promises to Abraham, one being that all nations shall be blessed through Abraham, God also made other individual promises and prophecies to the individual twelve tribes of Israel.

One of these promises include that the tribe of Judah would continue to be the administrators of the Mosaic laws until the Messiah returns. "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of people be." (Genesis 49:10) This specific prophecy included the continual teaching and administration of the laws He gave to Moses, which are now viewed by present day Jews as the only way of salvation

However, as the minister of circumcision (servant of the Jews) for the truth of God, Jesus came to confirm all the promises made unto the fathers, the patriarchs of Israel, the nation of promise, which included the fulfillment of the Law. (Matthew 5:17)

I know that once a person can understand that the Jews and Israel are not the same entity( but that Israel and the Gentile Believers are the ones that make up the ecclesia), then this issue of a separate dispensation for the ecclesia has to be thrown out. It holds no validity. There is a day of reckoning coming for the Jewish Religious Hierarchy. That same Hierarchy ruled in the days of Jesus Christ. It, once again, became an official body within the nation of Israel when the Sanhedrin once became a power that ruled over the land.

{In October 2004 (Tishrei 5765), a group of rabbis representing varied Orthodox communities in Israel undertook a ceremony in Tiberias,[16] where the original Sanhedrin was disbanded, in which it claimed to re-establish the body according to the proposal of Maimonides and the Jewish legal rulings of Rabbi Yosef Karo. The controversial attempt has been subject to debate within different Jewish communities.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanhedrin

This is whom will call out to Him and say, "Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord."

Gerlinda

See:
This Is So Good and Needs to Be Shared

Regarding the differences between Jews and Israel, while God made many promises to Abraham, one being that all nations shall be blessed through Abraham, God also made other individual promises and prophecies to the individual twelve tribes of Israel.

One of these promises include that the tribe of Judah would continue to be the administrators of the Mosaic laws until the Messiah returns. "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of people be." (Genesis 49:10) This specific prophecy included the continual teaching and administration of the laws He gave to Moses, which are now viewed by present day Jews as the only way of salvation.

However, as the minister of circumcision (servant of the Jews) for the truth of God, Jesus came to confirm all the promises made unto the fathers, the patriarchs of Israel, the nation of promise, which included the fulfillment of the Law. (Matthew 5:17)

In Romans 15:8, Paul is telling the Romans that Christ has become a servant of the Jews (those who rely on circumcision for salvation) on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promise made to Israel's patriarchs, so that the Gentiles, all of those who are not of Israel, may glorify God for His mercy. It is written:


Romans 15:9-12 (NIV)
9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” 10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[b 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; Let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, One who will arise to rule over the nations; In him the Gentiles will hope.”


In this group of scripture, we see the word Gentile and nations used interchangeably to describe those who are not of the circumcision (Jews who rely on this for salvation). The Bible clearly identifies between faithful Israel and Jews. The Jews are these from the tribe of Judah, the tribe that was chosen to keep and administer the Law.

There are 12 tribes in the House of Israel, and only two of them (as well as the Levites) are Jewish! Therefore, those not of the Jewish faith of circumcision are all Gentiles, which obviously include all of these descendants from the other ten (scattered) tribes of Israel, as well.

The other ten tribes lost their law giving and law abiding identity; therefore, the remaining tribes (Judah, Benjamin and the Levite priests) are the only ones who still abide by the Levitical laws given to Moses. However, theorists still insist on keeping alive a genetic nation they call Israel in their exegetical mythologies, failing to realize that all Israel is the faith-believing body of Christ. His ecclesia.

The End Times Passover...pages 82-86 by Joe Ortiz

The above is a brilliant Biblical explanation of this endless argument who is a Jew and who is not. Those that cannot accept that Israel is the ecclesia made up of the natural olive branch and the wild grafted-in branch have a lot of deep down study ahead of them.....if they want to know the truth. This study proves that there is no Dispensation period just for Gentiles since it is all designed by God .


Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

For Fair Use, Discussion and Educational Purposes

Jude 1: 14, Even as Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied them: See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of Holy Ones to execute Judgement upon all..." . This is not speaking about the ecclesia (Assembly, Congregation of Believers) but is speaking of His Angels. This is the Day of Judgement and Wrath.

Just before the Lord's physical return with His Holy Ones to administer His Wrath, The Dead in Christ have risen first and then those that remain to MEET Him in the Air. This does not happen 7 years prior or even 3 1/2 years prior but just prior to the Wrath of God. Notice, they meet him in the air.. while those coming with the Lord come down with Him. Also, notice that the Lord Cometh with Ten Thousand of His Angels. These are His Warriors that will fight other Spiritual Warriors of the enemy. The resurrected ecclesia are not warriors nor are they the ones v.15 " to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all of the defiant words, ungodly sinners have spoken against him." NIV

We must remember that the judgement of the ungodly belongs to the Lord, not the ecclesia.

Now, if the ecclesia (Assembly, Congregation) can understand that the ecclesia is made up of both Gentile and Israel, then they can stop claiming there needs to be a separate Dispensation for the Gentile and the Israeli. After all, they are ONE GROUP.

It is the Jew of Judah/Benjamin (Levite priests) that need to come to the saving grace of their Messiah, not the Gentile & Israeli congregation of believers who are all of the ecclesia which includes the Old Testament saints that lived by faith.

There is just no reasoning behind the belief that a Rapture must happen so that the ecclesia dispensation can be finished and God can concentrate on the Jews. The ecclesia is here on earth up to the time of the Wrath of God. The Time of the Gentiles is not speaking about the ecclesia. It is speaking about the unbelieving nations that no longer have control over the city of Jerusalem.

Therefore, there is no need to cite these Holy Ones/Angels as being the church saints that return with Jesus Christ as a reason for a pre-tribulation Rapture.

All scripture that cite references to "holy ones' as accompanying the Lord at The Second Advent more accurately identify God's holy angels, not the Christian Church. This deduction makes more sense and harmonizes more so with other scripture, thereby eliminating the need of having to justify varying Tribulation theories that have no sound scriptural base whatsoever. Holy ones spoken of in I Thess. 3:13, Jude 14 and Zechariah 14:4 is not identifying the Christian Church but God's angels.

Jude quotes from a prophecy of Enoch; Jude 1:14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints.” KJV. Jude’s reference the Book of Enoch is not exact, which does seem to be contrary to the conclusion he quoted from the book of Enoch..

The concept of ten thousand saints is not unique. In Deut. 33:2 And he said: "The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints; from His right hand came a fiery law for them.”

The word for saints here is actually qodesh in Hebrew- meaning holy ones; hagiais muriasin, literally, "in or among holy myriads." The saints (holy ones) can mean angels or faithful human beings, or both.Jude 14 The word for ten thousand, is representation of a tremendous number- myriads, it has the meaning of the highest number at that time that one could calculate.

Creatures located in Heaven are described in Dan 7:10 as “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”

Rev 5:11 “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. ” The bible teaches that heaven has a vast population of both angels and people- saints. These are those (either one or both groups) who will come with him when he comes to earth to judge and set up his kingdom.

Jude was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21), we know that what he quoted from Enoch was true. This is confirmed by the fact that the same idea about the Lord returning with His holy ones to render judgment found elsewhere in the Bible, Zechariah 14:5, Isaiah 66:15, and Psalm 96:13, Deut. 33:2.

The bottom line is that using the word "Saints" here is not proof of those "Holy Ones" being a pre-tribulation group known as the Ecclesia (Assembly, Congregation/Church)

To emphasis this truth, let me once again remind the reader that adequate proof has been given by Joe Ortiz in his book, "The End Time Passover" that the believers of both OT and NT included Israel with the Gentiles grafted into Root, Jesus Christ.

The End Time Passover can be read on line on this site.

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover


It was hard for me to put aside the teachings that I had heard all of my Christian walk.. that being... Israel, the nation was the fulfillment of God's promise of a "Place for my people, Israel and I will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed." II Sam. 7:10

While it is true, Israel, the nation had to once again be back as a nation in order to fulfill all the other prophecies that speak of an A/C and False Prophet who will rebuild Solomon's Temple for their own, deceive the Jews & unsaved Gentiles into accepting it as the true fulfillment of God's plan: the complete plan of God encompassed much more than a mere earthly land brought back through the efforts of man.

I, like so many others, believed that I would be taken in some pre-Trib. Rapture UP to Heaven where I would dine at the Lord's table for 7 long years. My focus used to be UP instead of what the Word of God clearly tells us. It tells us that the Bride of Christ would come down. And we, the ecclesia were not the bride.

It was also hard for me to even concentrate on the subject of The New Jerusalem coming down. None of it ever made sense to me but now I know why.

We had been taught that the Church is the Bride of Christ. Others taught that the Church is the Body of Christ. Again others taught that it was both. Like I said, none of it made real sense at all. You just nod your head and try to figure it out on your own.

Now, that I know, without a shadow of a doubt that the Ecclesia, Assembly, Congregation includes all people of faith, from the time when Abraham was called out by God right on through to the present day Called Out Ones that include both Israel and Gentile that believe upon the Father and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Now, I am able to put the correct terms on who is whom.

While Theorist have taught that the church is the Bride of Christ; it is just not so. The ecclesia are the "living stones, who are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus.

I Chronicles 17:9-14 tells us "The Lord will build a house for you, when they die, the Lord will raise up offspring to suceed you, one of your own sons (Jesus Christ).....". He is building His ecclesia. The He is not King David nor Solomon as many theorist teach. Look at II Sam 7:14 KJV "I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:"

They use this scripture to say it cannot be Jesus Christ because it speaks of committing iniquity. However, as Joe Ortiz points out in his book, the End Time Passover, the word for "committing iniquity or when he does wrong, I will punish Him. NIV, the Hebrew word for this is avoh . The NASB concordance states that avah is a denominative verb from the masculine noun "Avon", which means "bearing the punishment for iniquities of others".

The point is that the promise of salvation given to Abraham that one who would come through his seed; eventually down to David's Seed would build and rule God's House.

Who or what is God's House? It is the Called Out Ones? The ecclesia made up of Abraham, all of his seed and the Gentile that grafted themselves into them. Of course, we know that the House of Judah has kept itself apart from that because they refused to accept that seed as their Messiah. So, for the time being, it is the House of Israel/Gentiles, whom spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

These are the "Living Stones". This brings to mind why it is that God was so insistent on when an earthly altar and temple were built, they were not to be cut or hewn out by man. But, they had to be of the natural stone found on earth. Do you see what He was getting at?

We have man now re-creating God's own creation, mutating the natural DNA instead of leaving it in it's natural state. This is Satan's attempt it not only mimic God but to destroy God's plan. I believe this is a connection to the Temple of God, the living stones, the body of Christ.

Solomon built the earthly Temple of Worship. Christ Jesus is building His Temple, His living Body on earth made up of all those that have already passed on in faith, who are waiting for that Resurrection Day, when they, along with the living, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the Air.

So, now that we know the ecclesia are not the Bride of Christ, who is the Bride? When Jesus told His disciples that they could not go where He was going; He was going to prepare a place for them, He was speaking about the Abode, the New Jerusalem which shall come down. It is the future home of all of Christ's Body.

This glorious edifice will house a community of God's Called Out Ones, which is now being built by His Son Jesus Christ. This priesthood community will be housed in the true Promised Land, New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb, which is The Holy City of God.

Now, doesn't that explain all the more clear why we meet the Lord in the Air? We don't go all the way up to Heaven, stay there for a period of time and then come down. NO, NO! If we are dead/asleep, we will rise first and then be joined by the living who will be changed into incorruptible and thus we will join the Lord in the air.

The Lord will make a new heaven and a new earth and thus we will be with the Lord forever and ever.

Please read Joe Ortize's Book, "The End Time Passover". This chapter 12 is the lesson on The New Jerusalem.

PS Notice how that chapter is #12 and the foundations of this New Jerusalem is 12 with 12 gates?

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

bump

Re: The End Times Passover

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

Here is a quote from "Why Christians Will Suffer "Great Tribulation" by Joe Ortiz.

The main responsibility for Christians (new ones especially) is not to stand on the mountaintop and indiscriminately begin quoting scripture; but rather, to share a testimony of what God has individually performed in their lives.


That makes so much sense.

When Jesus gave His disciples the "Great Commission" in Acts 1:1-8, He didn't use the word preach, which is the word derived from the Greek word euangelizo, from where we get the word "evangelize". He said, You will be my witnesses" .

There are those that believe that the ecclesia will be Caught Out before Great Tribulation begins. They will tell you that those that will be left behind, known as the Tribulation Saints, will come to the saving knowledge (somehow) that they apparently missed prior to that "Catching Out of the Beleivers". Really now? How is it that they come to that saving knowledge? It is the same way that you and I came to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and surrendered our lives to Him.

Someone "witnessed' to us through their own testimony and told us that the only way to Salvation is through Jesus Christ. It is the task of sharing what God has performed in our lives as a testimony to His glorious works, power and saving grace.

Do you really believe that the Church will be taken away from their own great commission given to them while there are those left behind that still need Jesus Christ? Why would God take out the very Witnesses that are needed during the days of Great Tribulation? He gave them a commission that needs to be finished to the End of the Earth. This is not merely witnessing to the Ends of the Earth. It is the completed course, the race, to the Time of the End.

Yes, I know what is said...there will be the 144,000 Jewish Witnesses. There is something greatly wrong with that statement.

First of all, if a Jew is witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ, he is one of the ecclesia. Secondly, remember the lesson of who is the ecclesia? It is Spiritual Israel, made up of those of the Northern Kingdom and Gentiles that joined them in witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ (Yes, there will be others of the Southern Tribes included here).

The Apostle Paul was chief among those that took this gospel to those of the Lost Sheep and the Gentiles. From him and others to the Lost House of Israel/Gentiles, the Gospel has spread.

America is a Covenant Nation just as the United Kingdom. Within those Covenant Nations are the enemies of our souls....the servants of Satan...those of the Synagogue of Satan, that we hear more and more of in these days...the Illuminati...named after that "Illuminated One, the Fallen Angel. .

Therefore, those named as the 144,000 of the 12 tribes will include those that joined with Israel in the service of the Lord God.

There are those that claim these are the Church, which is correct only if this church/ecclesia includes those of the natural branch Israel. However, these people usually omit any semblance of an Israeli person. They have "hogged" the whole honor unto themselves. That is just as much of a mistake as it is to place the ecclesia/assembly/congregation/church into a separate dispensation that will, by some honor bestowed upon them, take them out before the Lord reveals Himself to those Jews (Judah/Benjamin/Levite)

Now, here is something that Joe Ortiz shared in his book, page 128
The word witness in the Greek is martus or martur, where W.E. Vine states, "whence, Eng.,martyr, one who bears witness by his death, denotes one who can or does aver what has been seen or heard or knows; it is used (a) of God, Rom. 1:9, 2Corin. 1:23; Phil. 1:8, I Thess. 2:5, 10 (2nd part) (b) of Christ, Ev. 1:5, 3:14; (c) of those who witness for Christ by their death.....


I Thess. 4:16,17 states many Called Out Ones will still be alive when Jesus returns. The dead in Christ will be raised first and those who are alive and waiting for the Lord's return will be "caught" together with them to greet and have a meeting with the lord in the air as, He makes His descent to planet earth. Until that time, the Lord exhorts us to reach out to the entire world and lead the lost to His Kingdom.

This book by Joe Ortiz, "Why Christians Will Suffer 'Great Tribulation'" and "The End Times Passover" have given me more understanding of what is really the truth of the scriptures than all the years I've heard the pre-trib., mid-trib. Rapture Theories. Although they were comforting, they were not accurate.

Why not let the Word of God speak it's own truth instead of trying to make it fit some Rapture teaching that is not even consistent with the grand theme of God's Mercy upon both Israel and Gentiles who have sought Him and are saved unto Eternal Life. That does not mean you are saved from Martyrdom.

This is a sure thing; if you managed to live through some of Great Tribulation coming upon Planet Earth, you may either die of one of the many catastrophes coming, pestilences or martyrdom. Very, very few, out of the huge population of earth, will witness the Trumpet blast calling them up to meet the Dead in Christ and the Lord in the air. Many are called but few are Chosen.

Multitudes didn't shirk from their commission to profess Jesus Christ and gave their very lives. Shouldn't we, who have been called to be witnesses for the Lord, face whatever it is that we have been called to do, in the same manner instead of looking for some "Escape" that isn't even consistent with God's Word.

Yes, it will be the most horrendous time upon this earth ever but He will give us His Grace to bear our own cross just as Christ Jesus bore His.

Thank you Steven for recommending these two books to me. I am so thankful to have had my understanding made much more clear. No, it is not a pleasant thought but it is a truthful understanding.....According to His Will.

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

We are a people who love myths, traditions, Easter eggs and Santa Claus. This is not great preparation for understanding and preparing for of great "Tribulation" or an "End-times Passover." People need to read Joe Ortiz' books- NOW!

Matthew 24:19-25

Jesus is telling His disciples that one of the biggest horrors of that period will be great signs and miracles by false prophets and many False Christ who will attempt to deceive the chosen ones of God. Many of these signs and miracles will be especially designed to fool even Christians into believing that Jesus has returned; however, the spirit-filled believers will be able to see through the ruse, barely!

Notice the word "Barely"? There is a very good reason for that word to be used. The technology to fool people is so advanced that only someone who is ground in the TRUTHS of God's Word in a solid Biblical manner will be able to sort through the Smoke and Mirrors. For instance, take a look at this Illuminati Playing Card that is describing the what will transpire when "their Christ' shows up.

This role-playing game called the "Illuminati -- New World Order", or "INWO" is proof that the Illuminati plan to produce Antichrist and it was well known long before 1995, when the game was distributed. Too many details are presented by these cards too close to the actual event to be accidental. The game depicts the events of 9/11 quite accurately and it depicts the planned events of bio-terror that are filling our daily news.

While people like us who are aware of the events being orchestrated are called Conspiracy Nuts, it is the Illuminati themselves who have been conspiring to produce their New World Order. Would you believe they even have a card that depicts the Rapture?



Here is a quote from the Cutting Edge:

"Rapture" --
* Occultists are also looking forward to the Rapture, having been alerted by their Guiding Spirits that such an event would occur! Beginning in 1987, 'Guiding Spirits' of key New World Order leaders began to inform these human leaders to start preparing their adherents for a spectacular global event, that would occur just after The New Age Christ [Antichrist] will make his appearance. What was this spectacular event to be? As these 'Guiding Spirits' explained, when The Christ appears, there will be many people throughout the world that could never accept his views or his teachings. These people would prove to be a great obstacle in the way the New Age Christ wanted to move the peoples of the world.

Therefore, the 'Masters of the Logos' had decided, these 'Guiding Spirits' said, to suddenly snap these people into another dimension, soon after The Christ arose. These recalcitrant people would be retrained in spirit, so that, when they reenter the 'Reincarnation Cycle', they will be fully persuaded as to the merits of the New World Order. Of course, when these people get back to earth in reincarnated bodies, the New World Order will have been in full swing for several hundred years, and everyone will know then how wonderful the system of The Christ is!


http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1052.html

What does Jesus say:

Matthew 24:26 "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not."


Why would there be that kind of a warning given....unless there will be some deception being put upon the masses that will beckon them out into the deserts, which we know is the very area where the first UFO crash took place in 1948. It is also the location of one of the most secret places known... Area 21...that has many, many levels down under the ground where technology from the hand of Satan himself takes place.. Underground cities spread through-out this country as well as others. (secret chambers?)

Because the Christians have been indoctrinated with a pre-7- year tribulation doctrine, they fail to heed the teachings that clearly give the road signs of what must happen before being called up to meet the Lord.

First there must a great Falling Away and The Man of Sin revealed. Remember, These 'Guiding Spirits' said, to suddenly snap these people into another dimension, soon after their Christ arose.

II Thess. 2:3 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"


Plus, there must also be the darkening of the Sun and the moon turning blood red before that Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. Joel 2:31

These are the things that Jesus said would be experienced by His disciples then, and, Matthew 24, specifically talks about the things His disciples will experience in the future.

Then, the horror of all horrors, universal chaos, including the sun being darkened, the moon‘s. Who were His disciples? They were His ecclesia , who went out into all the world giving testimony and being a witness of Christ. These are the very ones that Jesus Christ confirmed the Covenant made to the Fathers at the beginning.

Why in God's Wonderful Name, would anyone be looking for a Covenant made with many by a False Messiah? Because they have not grasped the fact that the He in Daniel 9:27 is none other than Jesus Christ.

For anyone to say this is speaking to just the Jews, it would be wise for that person to back up and settle in his/her mind who Israel truly is (both Jew & Gentile Believers) because it is these that make up the complete ecclesia/church, the Elect.

Isn't the Church Christ's Elect? Isn't Israel who came to saving faith in Him through the witness of the Disciples, the Elect?

The Orthodox Jews are not part of this group at this time: their time comes when they call upon the name of the Lord just prior to His Return.

Yet despite all of Jesus Warnings, you just know, that if possible, the very Elect will be deceived. I know that most believers are certain that they would not fall for any traps laid for them. REALLY?

They've already fallen into the pagan observing days having been convinced they are, some-how, honoring the very Lord that gave His Life for us. Give serious thought to these pagan holidays and who it is that they honored. Have Nothing to do with them....Nothing.

Do you really believe the Apostles would compromise and accept these. No Way. They gave their very lives to continue to teach what they had been taught and that was to be a witness to all the world, giving testimony of what they had seen and what they had learned from the very Word of God.

There wasn't a Christmas, Easter or Halloween Tradition among them.

Acts. 20:29-30 "For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them


2 Timothy 4:2-5: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry,"


The cross is not to be viewed solely as a symbol of weight, as if carrying a heavy domestic or financial burden; but it is meant to symbolize exactly what it is, an instrument of death, the same meaning it had for Jesus.

These are the things that Jesus said would be experienced by His disciples then, and, Matthew 24, specifically talks about the things His disciples will experience in the future. Then, the horror of all horrors, universal chaos, including the sun being darkened, the moon turning blood red.

"Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation" by Joe Ortiz featured on this Forum for over 2 years....worthy of reading, I guarantee you will never see things the same again.

LINKS for the Two Books:

The End Times Passover

Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation


gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

THE VERY SECRET LOCATION OUT IN NEVADA IS CALLED AREA 51

PLEASE EXCUSE THE TYPO

gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

The Lord asked Peter, "Who do you say I am?" Luke 9:20. After Peter made the confession of who Christ is and that he loved Him, The Lord goes on to point out that "He" would build His ecclesia upon the Rock (Himself), not Peter nor upon any one location, which in this case, happened to be up at the very location, at the base of Mt. Hermon...Bainis Falls.

That is where the Fallen Angels had descended. It is there, where the huge cave entrance to the large Mount/Rock is located. It, has a "gateway" inside down into the pit of Hell. It was a Pagan/Roman place of worship to the god Pan..

How fitting that Jesus would take Peter to that very location where the Fallen Angels first appeared and which is where they had their conversations with Enoch, the Scribe. Enoch took their petition, begging for forgiveness to the Almighty Father, but were refused. The 200 leaders of these Fallen Angels are chained up to the coming Judgement Day.

So, this whole occasion was a testimony of who Jesus Christ is, The Great I Am, Himself, who had called out His ecclesia right from the get go when He called out Abraham from among the pagans in the Land of Ur. He has been there all the time, through each trial and era that the Calling Out have gone through. And now that God had become man and was soon to offer Himself as the Perfect Sacrifice to redeem them from the pollution at the hands of Satan and the Fallen Angels, He, rightly, took his disciples to the very spot that these Fallen Angels had descended upon... as a witness, not only to the apostles... but to the under-world that it didn't matter how they have set themselves up, He, the Son of God, had come to set men free......for" Many are called but few are Chosen".

The Word "Christian" was first used in Antioch where the pagans used the term for those that followed Christ. It was, in reality, a degradatory term which has stuck.

To imply that the Israel had to become Christian is such a play on word games in order to pull the wool over the eyes of those that call themselves Christian but do not read the scripture readings for themselves and put it together. . ( Aramic Bible in Plain English - Matthew 15:24) "But he answered and said to them, “I am not sent except to the sheep that have strayed from the house of Israel.” The other versions say the same thing.

It is pretty plain that Israel, the Northern Kingdom, which had dispersed into all the world is the Lost Sheep, to whom Christ sent the believing disciples gathered from the Land of Israel; "Go, preach to them and gather them into the fold." is a clear message. The story of the Good Shepherd is a prime example of Him going out to reach the one that is lost and carry him back into the Shepherd's fold. Any Gentile that got attached to Israel became a part of that fold, "Congregation" (ecclesia).

The Gentile Church does not save Israel.....it is through the Lost Sheep of Israel that the Gentile was allowed to become a part of God's Called Out Ones, the ecclesia and became saved. Why is that so hard to believe?

I'll tell you why...the present day church has been brain-washed into believing that "they" are the primary Chosen One when it is the other way around . The Modern Church does not want to believe this truth; they have been convinced and continue to be convinced that salvation only comes through the Gentile Church. To put it into it's proper context would take away their self-imposed importance.

It also destroys the reason for a pre-tribulation rapture for a Gentile Church so God can get on with the business of dealing with the Jews. Now really, God needs a Gentile Church, which isn't even the complete ecclesia, to do this?

Again, I ask the question. Was the Body of Christ the Called Out Ones that He called "The Lost Sheep of Israel" or did He say, "Go out and save the Gentiles? Did I miss something? Is there scripture that implies that the Body of Christ was the Gentiles???


I believe there are many scriptures in Romans and Hebrews that speaks of the Natural Branch and the Grafted In Branch. The Gentiles thought they were the true Branch and the natural Israel thought that the Gentiles were suppose to keep their ways of doing things. Paul instructed them that they were one in the Root, Jesus Christ. The trouble the Church has today is not being able to distinguish who is whom. They are one, the Body of Christ....not the Bride of Christ.

If it needs to come down to a spouse, then it is speaking of the unfaithful wife with whom God had made a marriage contract, whom the 12 Tribes of Israel, as a whole, were unfaithful to their husband and went whoring after other gods. But that is another subject, separate yet connected. Ten of those 12 Tribes are being found and brought into the Sheepfold....along with the Gentiles that attached themselves to the Tribes.

Replacement Theology is the term that is used for any group that tried to take the place of Israel. And the thing that is nuts about this is that most teachers/preachers that use that term don't even understand whom the Bible says is Israel.

The Gentile Church (whoever that is suppose to be) should not be teaching that they need to be removed before Jesus Christ will deal with the "JEWS" because it is not true.

Their problem is that they do not know the difference between Israel (those of the Northern Kingdom, who in large part, accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior) and the Jews, which to this day, still are the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin and the Levites who did not accept Him as their Savior.

They remain divided on the issue of the Messiah. But God, in His Wisdom knew all of this and even let us know this fact when the scriptures tell us that Jesus said He would not return until they called out to Him.

Gentile Church....you do know that Judah (the Jews) are the separate stubborn part of God's Calling, that have still not had their blinders removed and practice their OT religion, don't you? If you do not, then read Romans, Hebrews and go back to Acts and get the complete story. You will find out there was a reason, why they were kept in the dark, you could say. They had their role to play out for the End Time Prophecies to be fulfilled.

The Tribe of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, hold the Royal Scepter, which is jealously wanted by the The Tribe of Dan

Is Judah(Jews) the proper name to call all of Israel? A hundred times NO.

I can attest to how hard this fact is to comprehend because I've been there, done it, believed it so hard as to put up my stubborn wall of defense "that all of Israel is Jewish". Wow! How wrong I was. Thankfully, God gave me enough of a mind-set not to cling to an old teaching just because it's been around for a few hundred years. I didn't learn this over-night...several people were involved in opening my eyes to this revelation. Praise God, for that understanding because now, the other pieces to this End Times Mystery makes perfect sense...it fits.

Only Judah is the tribe that can have that title of Jews applied to it. Abraham was a Hebrew. Isaac was a Hebrew and so was Jacob until his name was changed to Israel .

But only the oldest son Judah is rightfully known as a Jew . Because the world has muddled these terms together, we have a church that does not even know the difference and in it's ignorance accuses others who do know the difference of two issues.

1. They call those that do not agree with them, that all those living in the land, who are not Arabs, must be the Jews.
2. Because you dare to correct them or use the correct terminology, you get branded as being Anti-Semitic.

The day will come when God will reveal to the ecclesia who are of the Tribes of Israel and who are the Gentiles that were grafted in. It will be a surprise to most, I believe.

Because Judah and Benjamin were united in the Southern Kingdom, in the land allotted to them, that is where they remain today, in unbelief of their Messiah The Temple Mount is located in the Benjamin allotment of land.

The Tribe of Benjamin are also known as the fierce left-handed fighters. They held special distinction in the days of old and I am sure they will, repeat their history again in the near future. The name given to them by their father Jacob is "A Ravenous Wolf". " Benjamin shall ravin like a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night, he shall divide the spoil." Gen. 49:27.

You see, it is the Tribe of Dan that will produce the A/C and try to convince those that are looking for another temple, that he is their Messiah. But he must have the blood-line of the Tribe of Judah. When he presents himself within a human body, having the blood of the Tribe of Judah, they will be convinced for a little while but then, the blinders will be lifted and that light-bulb moment will happen for them.

The blood of every person coming to Israel to live is tested; that is for a reason. Apparently, there is much to be said about the blood-line that proves who is qualified and who is not. The Shroud of Turin has been used in this DNA manipulation that will pull the wool over the eyes of the Tribe of Judah, Benjamin & the Levite priesthood who are preparing for future Temple Worship once the temple is built.

The moral of this whole story is: Do not pit=guess God and His plan upon the understanding of a Gentile Church that is willingly to skip town, you could say, because they've been deceived into believing IT is something special. Or, that God would not put this Gentile Church through Great Tribulation.

The Church/ecclesia is not Gentile and is not more special than the Israelites, who were the first Gospel Messengers.

I know, yes, I know, they have been told that the Jews would not accept the message so now they are separate. That is true if they are talking about the True Jews .

But, they are wrong if they are talking about the Israelites . The ecclesia is made up of both Israel and Gentile and will be here through Great Tribulation.

If you don't believe me, turn to Revelation 12:13-17 NKJ

"Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Who is the woman that gave birth to the Male Child : It is not the same one that are called, "The rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

The Tribe of Judah gave birth to the DNA lineage of which came Noah, Boaz, King David, Nathan & the Mother of Jesus. This lineage did not include Solomon.

There seems to be two groups of people here, doesn't there? Yet, this seems to be over-looked as referring to just the Jews when it is talking about the ecclesia (both Israel and Gentile) that keep the commandemnts of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

There-fore, common sense thrown in with all the scriptures in Hebrews, Romans and Acts, should convince anyone, really wanting to know the truth, that the Ecclesia is here doing what it is suppose to do until their time to share their testimony of Jesus Christ is over.

Then they will be called up to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the Air. Some will be Martyred. Some will die in other ways. Some will be protected for whatever purpose God has for them. But, for sure, they won't be Raptured until the Dead in Christ rise first and then the living will be changed and join the Lord in the Air.

Nothing else even makes sense and God is not a God of Confusion.

Gerlinda

PS To further understand who the twelve tribes of Israel are and to fully understand Replacement Theology that continues to be misunderstood by the
Clergy and the Laity in these Last Days, please read the book by Joe Ortiz called "End Times Passover".

link: End Times Passover

http://pub39.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3330765498&frmid=8549&msgid=924414&cmd=show

Re: The End Times Passover

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

How long is an Hour? I'm not speaking of the hour on the clock, which is 60 minutes.

I'm thinking of this portion in Joe Ortiz book, "Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation"

To the angel in the church of Philadelphia, the Lord acknowledges this congregation as being faithful to the name of Jesus, even though their outward strength has dwindled from the persecutions. These are the called out ones who have endured patiently throughout their existence, keeping the command of the Lord. He tells them that they will not be victimized by the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world for testing. He exhorts them to continue to hold on to what they have (faith in the Lord Jesus Christ) so no one will take their due reward, the crown of life. To those that overcome, the Lord will write on

__________

In that above paragraph, it is clear that these living Saints will not be victimized during that hour of testing coming upon the whole world.

Then in this next scripture, below, we read of the ones that seem to be the ones that will be doing the victimizing/persecution of the Living Saints for the hour that they are given to rein as kings with the Beast.


Revelation 17:12 (KJV) " And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. "

And then there is this reference of how in one hour great wealth has been brought to ruin . Apparently, it is these ten kings under the Beast who have, through their terror upon earth's inhabitants, is now reaping the results of their evil reign.

Revelation 17:18 "In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' "Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off."

How ever long that hour is that is coming upon the earth, it is clear that the Beast and his ten kings are involved. But even more apparent is that the Church of Philadelphia, whom the Lord had set an "Open Door" which no one is able to shut, is still on earth.

Now, what do those that believe the true Saints (their Gentile Church) will be taken out before there even is a 7 years of Tribulation, have to say about that? I don't think there can be any argument that these Saints mentioned are the most qualified, is there?

1. They are given the highest praise of the 7 churches.

2. No one, even the powers of Hell, will be able to close the door of their Salvation, so there is nothing to keep them from being raptured before the hour of Temptation comes upon the world. Yet, there is no rapture or taking out mentioned.

3. They are even promised that these of the Synagogue of Satan, which we now, openly refer to as, the Illuminati, will come to bow before before their feet.

Revelation 1: 7-9 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: "I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but are lying--I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you."

Joe tells in his book:

Therefore, the called out ones need be ready and willing to lay aside everything (material possessions, jobs, friends, and even family) and pick up their crosses and follow Him. Paul tells us what it‘s going to be like in those days, which will include a spiritual malaise which (to a great degree) already exists at this precise moment: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. Notice the last bit of advice??? Have nothing to do with them. But here is what we are to do:

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry, (2 Timothy 4:2-5, NIV)

Are you at peace with yourself, knowing that you have done all that you can do to bring others to the Saving Grace of Christ?

Are you carrying the Cross that has been given to you by the Lord? This is not the cross of making your own life better. In fact, it is a cross that, usually does the opposite.

As Joe points out:

As he begins to close his second letter to Timothy, Paul knows that his death is soon at hand; although weary, tired, exhausted, in much pain from years of beatings, floggings, and many other sorrows. Knowing and expecting to be executed soon by his persecutors, he is at peace, knowing the mission Christ gave him of evangelizing the gospel has been completed. He knows his reward will be given to him on that glorious day (not any sooner than) when Christ appears; but, yet he continues to exhort his fellow servants in the Lord about the rewards they will also receive, on that great day, as He promised:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing, (2 Timothy 4:6-8, NIV).

The Greek word for poured is spendo, which literally means and is used of one whose blood is poured out in a violent death for the cause of God.


This may be a shock to many but to a few, who have been paying attention to what is the drive behind these End Day events, it is no surprise at all. More surprising is the fact that most Americans just do not give a rip about the Satanic Drive behind those that are swearing to come to your borders to behead you.

Today, there was an article posted on this forum that should be very disturbing to anyone that is the least bit aware, that Rome has, not only invented this group of terrorist, but is determined to use them against Christians and Jews.

Concrete Evidence ! Vatican Wrote Koran !

http://pub39.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3330765498&frmid=8549&msgid=944018&cmd=show

There will be martyrs among the living Saints who await the Coming of the Lord. There will be those who are set aside, with special protection and power, to do the will of God in His Divine Purpose. There will be others who will probably die from the pestilence coming upon earth and through the catastrophes already greatly increasing upon earth. Only God knows our destiny; He knows what you will do with this information.

Whatever it is that God has for you; the sooner you know that you will not be caught out in a pre-tribulation Rapture, the sooner you will settle that matter it in your heart and mind therefore better able to set yourself about the business of building the Armour of God to withstand the wiles of the Devil. Your only food may well be the Word of God hidden within you.

Sincerely,
Gerlinda

Joe Ortiz book
Link: End Times Passover

http://pub39.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3330765498&frmid=8549&msgid=924414&cmd=show

Re: The End Times Passover

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

There will be few that make it to the end; those that believe they will be Raptured out before the A/C is revealed are being deceived by Lying Spirits, which is something they would never admit are what is behind their unyielding spirit to follow the lie out of Hell.

Looking at this again, ought to show, that the Illuminati are very aware of a Rapture when the Dead in Christ Rise First and then those living shall meet the Lord in the Air, so what did they do?

You can be sure that the Powers That Be will use their technology to fool people into thinking they are hearing the command to go out into the desert and there, they will be caught up.

This caught up may well be the demonic technology that lifts multitudes into another sphere and it isn't into the New Jerusalem either.

They fooled millions of people into thinking they saw two plans flying into the Twin Towers, didn't they? In fact, multitudes of Christians still believe the official lie and that is because they are uninformed about the workings of the enemy, therefore judge all things through their own limited understanding.

The Word of God tells us about not going out to the desert if we are told He is there. It also tells us exactly how He will return and every eye shall see Him no matter where they may be.

Gerlinda

Re: The End Times Passover

You May Just Be Part of the Problem

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

I ask you to read this out of Jeremiah and then I will ask you a question.

Jeremiah 31

31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
35 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

Do you see that God has said He would make a New Covenant with The House of Israel and The House of Judah ?

Do you see what you don't see? Where is The House of the Gentiles ?

Could it be that Joe Ortiz is absolutely correct when he did the study in the Word of God that shows that the ecclesia is Spiritual Israel? And that it includes all those Gentiles that joined her....whom were grafted into the Natural Branch, whose Root is the Lord Jesus Christ , whom always was and will be?

You know what that means, those of you that believe the Church (ecclesia) began on the Day of Pentecost, don't you? You are wrong!

The fault is not yours for believing this since that is the way your church leaders taught you; the fault is yours if you continue to believe this ERROR because you refuse to search for the truth.

The ecclesia is not a Gentile Church but goes all the way back to the days when God had given His Chosen People the first Covenant that pointed to Jesus Christ , whom paid the Ransom Price that defeated Satan's hold upon the people of the earth. His blood was spilled for ALL those that are of the ecclesia, be they Israel or the Gentiles that were allowed to be grafted into the fold.

So, could it be that the" Time of the Gentiles" being over is speaking of the End of Gentile Powers dominating Jersualem? Absolutely, that is what it is speaking about. And when did that take place?

The whole of Jerusalem was taken back from the Gentiles (Jordan) in the Six Day War in 1967. The last 40 years will be over when Israel begins her Jubilee Year 2016/17.

Now, going back to the above scripture; doesn't it speak about the fact Jersualem will never be taken again but belong to Israel; it is the City of their God?

40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

I expect that the Anti-Christ and the Power behind him will continue to make all the attempts to totally dominate the whole city and declare Jerusalem to be the capital of Palestinians but according to God's Word, it will not succeed. Our Heavenly Father, through the Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ has set the borders there-of.

And if He, The Word , said that the Time of the Gentiles is over, it is over.

Although Rome is taking over the city piece by piece and even now, through it's allies, their Moslem brethren, whom have even gone up to the Upper Room where the Passover Supper was held, to worship, kneeling upon their prayer rugs and facing East to pray to Allah (whom we know is Lucifer), they will never control the city of Jerusalem again.

Even though they built their Masonic Temple upon the Temple Mount, it will not survive the Wrath of God upon them who dare to divide the City.

Judah will not see their Messiah as having already come until such time as things are so severe that they cry out for Him, " For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Matthew 23:39.

The House of Israel and the House of Judah remain divided until the Lord brings the two back together.

Do you see, Oh Ye, Gentile Church, if you are a part of Spiritual Israel, you are here for the long haul because Israel is sealed here until the time that they will be gathered from the four corners of the earth prior to the Wrath of God coming upon those that dare to divide His Land.

I leave you with a thought.

When you divide yourselves into a Gentile Church, aren't you dividing God's Word that says Israel is His? And blessed are those Gentiles who have been allowed to be grafted into the Natural Branch of the Olive Tree , whose Root is Messiah Jesus Christ.

If you are not a part of Spiritual Israel and adhere to a pre-7 year Tribulation Theory, you are part of the problem.

Gerlinda

Please read Joe Ortiz Book, "The End Times Passover" which is provided freely on this site for your edification. It is a wonderful eye-opener.

Re: The End Times Passover

If there is no Dispensation or separation from the original Israel, then why would God rapture the eccelsia out seven years before Jesus Christ returns????

Re: The End Times Passover


Do you notice when this Rapture Card is presented?

It is when the tape runs out.

The joke is on those that believe the lie.

Even as they lied to you, they printed up Cards that showed the truth.

It comes at the End, when the Elect are gathered out of the Four Corners of the Earth.

It comes when the Dead in Christ Rise First and then the Living shall be changed to meet the Lord in the air.

Re: The End Times Passover

The Holy Ones are His angels.

The ecclesia (Assembly, congregation, Church} are those that meet Him and His Holy Ones Coming down to Pour out His Wrath upon an unbelieving world.

Re: The End Times Passover

It more sense every day and how nice it would be to know that another Christian out there has grasped this truth.

Re: The End Times Passover

The Church did not begin at Pentecost