Tag: Revelation 19:11-16

Light in the Last Days – Day 34

On By KateIn Devotionals, Light in the Last DaysLeave a comment

What if the day of the Rapture begins with a beautiful sunrise, with the clouds glowing in deep pink and red as we are changed in the twinkling of an eye? That will be a day of unmatched glory! As you think on this, I pray that you are counted among the faithful who will participate in the Rapture, entering into the joy of the Lord at the sounding of the trumpet!!!

We’ve looked at who is involved in the Rapture, but now it’s time to examine the “guest list” for the Second Coming. This event is fundamentally different from the Rapture in its scope and its participants. Is it for the Church, the nations, or Israel? Let’s look directly at what Scripture reveals about the armies, the survivors, and the King of Kings as He makes His physical return to the earth.

1 Thessalonians 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Notice the shift in preposition: it changes from “for” to “with.” In our last study, we saw the Rapture is a rescue mission where Jesus comes for the Church. However, descriptions of the Second Coming show a massive heavenly procession where the Church is already by His side. As Paul notes, He returns with His holy ones. This implies a period of time has passed where the Church was already in Heaven, being prepared to ride out with the King of kings to witness His victory on earth.

1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

We know that angels have no need for “cleansing” from sin because they never fell. In 1 Peter 1:12, we are told that the wonders of salvation are things “angels desire to look into.” They are fascinated by the grace shown to humanity because they have never experienced it themselves. Therefore, the “white and clean” army isn’t just a celestial guard; it is the Church returning with her Groom.

1 Peter 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  (12)  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

By returning with Christ, the Church acts as a living testimony to His victory over sin and death. We aren’t just spectators; we are the trophies of His grace. As we follow Him on white horses, we manifest the fulfillment of His promise that “where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). This confirms that the Rapture must have already occurred, allowing the Church to be clothed, judged, and prepared in Heaven to ride out with King Jesus. 

Revelation 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The Church shares in Christ’s victory. The most remarkable part of this passage is that the “armies of heaven” (the Church) follow Him on their own white horses. This indicates several things for the Bride:

  • Reign with Christ: We aren’t just spectators! We are participating with Him in His triumphal return.
  • From Bride to Position of Authority: Just as the Church is given “fine linen” to wear, we are now given white horses and will share in the victory with Christ.
  • Proof of the Rapture: For the Church to be riding with Christ, we must have already been “caught up” to be where He is.

Revelation 19:8 is the “smoking gun” for the identity of the army. It says of the Bride:

“And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

When the heavens open in Revelation 19:11-14, the army following Jesus is dressed in this exact same fabric: “fine linen, white and clean.” Scripture is interpreting itself here. By using the same specific description, God is showing us that the “Bride” from Revelation 19:8 is the “Army” in Revelation 19:14. You cannot have the “righteous acts of the saints” without the saints themselves being there to wear them!

Revelation 19:7-8  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  ( 8 )  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

When we descend to the Battle of Armageddon, it isn’t a conventional war where we struggle for victory; it is a demonstration of Christ’s absolute power. While the Antichrist and the kings of the earth gather their armies to fight, they are defeated by the mere “sword of His mouth,” the Word of God. As His Bride, we witness the total collapse of the enemy’s kingdom and the binding of the “counterfeit trinity” as we prepare to step into the Millennial Kingdom by His side. Praise the Lord, because this isn’t just about a battle; it’s about a new administration. The Bible promises that if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). The Second Coming is the moment the Church transitions from being “ambassadors” in a foreign land to “rulers” alongside the King of Kings over the whole earth.

If the concepts of the Rapture and the Second Coming were new to you, I truly hope these devotionals have opened your eyes to God’s incredible plan. It is no accident that you are reading this right now. God has brought you to this moment “for such a time as this” to offer you the gift of salvation. If you haven’t yet put your trust in Him, today is the perfect day to begin that journey. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

The Captain

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Joshua 5:13-15  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  (14)  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  (15)  And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

In today’s Scripture, we see a beautiful depiction of Christ taking on human form in order to communicate to His servant, revealing His desire to connect with humanity. This extraordinary event highlights His personification of divine grace and understanding in a form that we can recognize and relate to. He goes by the name “captain of the host of the LORD,” which signifies His authority and leadership in the spiritual realm, guiding and protecting His people with unwavering strength. So what in the world is a Christophany?

A Christophany is a visible or otherwise perceptible manifestation of Jesus Christ, typically in a non-physical form, before his incarnation as described in the Gospels. It often refers to appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament, particularly those attributed to the “Angel of the Lord”

These moments are pivotal, as they reveal the depth of His commitment to humanity and that continuous thread of His presence throughout biblical history. Some say that this was not a Christophany but an angel of the Lord. This cannot be an angel because Joshua knelt and worshiped this peson. When men knelt down to worship an angel in the Scriptures, the angel was quick to correct, as we see below:

Revelation 22:8-9  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.  (9)  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Jesus Christ is God’s spoken and visible word to man. We serve a God that loves His creation and wishes to comfort, teach and guide!

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 John 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Revelation 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

God loves His creation so much!! He knew that man needed to “see” God in a tangible way to encourage an understanding and connection with Him. The Bible says that no man can see God and live. (see Exodus 33:20-23) Yet, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, God made a way through His Son, Jesus Christ, who embodies the image of the invisible God. Christ came in bodily form at different times in the Scriptures, displaying God’s love and grace so that His will would be accomplished on Earth. Through Jesus, we see the heart of the Father revealed — His compassion, His mercy, and His desire for a relationship. We not only see the Lord’s character and promises through the Scriptures, but also through the transforming work of His Holy Spirit in our lives, guiding us, comforting us, and enabling us to reveal His goodness in our daily interactions with others. When we embrace these truths, we deepen our faith and understanding of God’s everlasting love for us.

Christ will come again in the same likeness that Joshua saw. He will come as Captain and Conqueror of the enemy.

Revelation 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Every knee will bow to this King! Has your heart bowed to Jesus Christ? Many know OF Jesus; many use His name in every day conversations; but they do not know Jesus Christ. They don’t even realize they need a Saviour from their sins. It is this that differentiates between the two. The knowledge of Christ must travel from the brain to the heart. Eighteen inches is the distance between you going to Heaven or going to Hell. You will have to bow to Jesus some day, Reader. Wouldn’t you rather bow to Him as your Saviour rather than your Judge?

Isaiah 45:23  I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Romans 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Philippians 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

If you have not met the Lord Jesus Christ and bowed your heart’s “knee” to Him in this lifetime, you will have to spend eternity without Him in the Lake of Fire! It is better to bow the knee to Him now and let Him be the Captain of your life. If you want to know how to be saved, follow this link and it will guide you through the Scriptures.

Any Day Now – Day 34

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What if the Rapture were to happen first thing in the morning? Can you imagine the sun’s rays coming up with a beautiful pink and red hew across the sky? Oh what a glorious day that will be! I pray that as you are reading this, that you will be one of the blessed participants of the Rapture!!!

As we continue on the topic of who will be participating in these events, today’s post is about the event of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Just who will participate in this event? Let’s look at Scripture.

1Th 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Paul tells us that Jesus Christ will be coming with all His saints. Remember the last post, we saw that at the Rapture, Jesus is coming for the saints.

1 Thess 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

As we read about the Second Coming in Revelation, we see that the army that accompanies Jesus is dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Some say these are angels but angels do not need to be cleaned from sin. In fact, the “angels desire to look into” in the following verses:

1Pe 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  (12)  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

So as you can see, the army is not comprised of angels but of the Church, whose garments have been made clean by the blood of the Lamb!

Rev 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

If you are not convinced that this is the Church, a few verses gives us the answer:

Rev 19:7-8  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (8)  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Therefore, we see that the Church is called Christ’s wife and we come back with Christ to earth to fight the enemy at the Battle of Armageddon. Praise the Lord!

If you never learned about the Rapture and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that these devotionals have been a blessing to you. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Hymns 2.0 – Fairest Lord Jesus

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Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)

Fairest Lord Jesus! Ruler of all nature!
O thou of God and man the Son! Thee will I cherish,
Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown!

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring; Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer, who makes the woeful heart to sing!

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight.
And all the twinkling starry host; Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer, than all the angels heav’n can boast!

Beautiful savior!  Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and son of Man! Glory and honor.
Praise, adoration, now and forevermore be Thine!

authorship Unknown

The History Behind the Hymn

I have to say, I’m a little surprised at how old this hymn is. For some reason, I thought it was rather new, perhaps late 19th century or even early 20th century, but some traditions say it’s as old as the 12th century, sung when Crusaders made their way to the Holy Land.

Others attribute the hymn to around 1620, when the followers of the reformer John Hus were driven from Bohemia in a bloody purge. They settled in Silesia, now part of Poland. This is said to have been a Bohemian folk song.

The first known appearance of the hymn was in the Munster Gesangbuch of 1677. Hoffman Fallersleben heard a group of Silesians singing this hymn, wrote down what they sang, and published it in his Schlesische Volkslieder in 1842. This is the version of the hymn we know.

The hymn appeared in English in Richard Storrs Willis’ Church Chorals and Choir Studies in 1850.

A notation about this hymn in that collection stated that it was, “sung by the German knights on the way to Jerusalem.” That may well be where the Crusader legend began. Willis was also the composer of It Came upon a Midnight Clear.

https://hymnswelove.blogspot.com/2012/02/story-behind-fairest-lord-jesus.html

A Lesson for Me

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Today’s hymn is like a love letter and song to our glorious Lord and Saviour, our King! Are there even enough words that totally describe Jesus? I dare say, no! When I meditate on when the Church is raptured and we face our Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13), I cannot even imagine what I will do! Will I run into His arms and thank Him? Will I fall to the ground in adoration? What do you think you will do when you see Him?

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight.
And all the twinkling starry host; Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer, than all the angels heav’n can boast!

Message for today

Who am I that the Creator of the universe (John 1:1-3) would think of me? Why would He have time for me!? Why would He even think of me? The Lord’s love for His creation is so great that He gave His life and shed His own blood so we could spend eternity with Him. This is beyond my comprehension. If I try to use my intellect and logic, I dare say the enemy has a field day and tries to convince me that it’s a bunch of hogwash. But it is by faith that I believe. So what is faith?

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Everyone in their heart of hearts knows there is more than just life here on earth. There has to be something greater! When you think of every living thing and what each is comprised of, it is virtually impossible to believe in evolution. Look at the intricacies of a flower, a bird or the inner ear of man. A woodpecker’s tongue is not like any other bird – it wraps around the bird’s brain! Each part of creation has a specific purpose. It takes more faith to believe in evolution than it does that a wonderful Creator is responsible for it all!

We will surely find out one day. When the King of Kings and LORD of Lords appears! I would rather live my life worshiping this amazing Creator than to find out when I die that I was totally wrong! In fact, what have I lost if I lived a godly life? I’ve lost nothing, except eternity in Hell. What a glorious day it will be when I enter into eternity seeing my Fairest Lord Jesus!

Beautiful savior!  Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and son of Man! Glory and honor.
Praise, adoration, now and forevermore be Thine!

Rev 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Comfort During the End Times – Day 23

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Psa 138:1-2  A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.  (2)  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Good morning! The past few days have been absolutely beautiful near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia! God’s handiwork is evident everywhere I look. Just imagine, the Creator of all things must absolutely love color! Just look around you! We are so blessed – and it reminds me of what life will be like when the Lord creates a new heaven and a new earth! (Isaiah 64:4, 1 Cor. 2:9)

You may think that this is way far into the future but, friend, it is not. We are seeing the birth pains of the end times. The Bible calls this the beginning of sorrows. (Matt. 24:8) Let’s see what Jesus said:

Mat 24:4-8  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  (5)  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  (6)  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  (7)  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  (8)  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  

We have seen many men proclaim to be Jesus Christ – one only needs to Google it and you’ll see the 20th Century had a bunch! Just like labor pains, there will be more to come. Wars and rumours of wars are all around us today. The Middle East is in such unrest at this moment! Israel is at war at the moment and we can see the building up of a great war to come! Jesus said that all these things must come to pass before the end comes. The Rapture of the church (made up of born-again believers) will happen before that 7-year Tribulation. It’s every Christian’s blessed hope as he/she awaits the return of the Lord, Jesus Christ, in the air! After the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will come as a conquering King and He will destroy the armies of the antichrist! (Revelation 19:11-16)

If you’re a scoffer, you’re part of that end times prophecy! (2 Peter 3:3-7) God’s Word WILL stand and all of the prophecies for the end times in the Bible will come to past because God magnifies His Word above His own Name!!! (Psalm 138:2) Every single prophecy in the Bible up until today has been fulfilled. Every single prophecy about the future will happen. God is not a liar. If you don’t believe now, you may not believe later because God will send a strong delusion and you will believe lies. (2 Thess. 2:11-12)

Does this disturb you? I hope it does if you aren’t saved. But to the born-again believer, it should be exciting because you know you won’t be here to experience the Tribulation. God loves the church, the bride of Jesus Christ. He will not cause her to experience the Tribulation – Christ will come for her and receive her to Himself. (John 14:3)

Despite the horrible things going on in this world at this moment, believers can rest because the best is yet to come for us!

This should bring you great comfort, even though you’re going through trials at this time. There’s always something for the Christian to be excited about when one thinks about the future! We have no need to fear!

Our job is to be a light to this lost and dying world. We need to give them hope as we have hope! Friend, don’t be willfully ignorant of the end times. (2 Peter 3:5) If you are not born-again, confess your sins and repent of them. The time is coming when it will be too late for you to repent. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved; you will remember each time you laughed it off and ignored it. Please Reader, repent and accept Christ into your life. (Act 16:31, Rom 10:9) I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus – Day 28

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Prophecy of Messiah:

Psalm 2:6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Good morning, reader! Of all the titles for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, my absolute favorite is King! There are still a few kings who reign over a country today. King Charles III is the most recent in the news. However, today’s kings are not going to rule forever. Our kings are human beings and will eventually die. But the King we will be discussing today is the ultimate King. He is the King of kings!

This same King of Heaven left His throne to become a man who would live a sinless life because mankind could not even come close. This same King then became the perfect sacrifice for all sins! This same King rose from the dead with a glorified body and became the first to do so (Mark 16:6). We will also receive a glorified body at the Rapture if we believe on Him as Saviour! This same King gave His life for His people so that they could live and reign with Him. (2Timothy 2:11)

Prophecy of Messiah Fulfilled:

Matthew 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Revelation 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Our King is coming back for us! We will be raptured to Him in the clouds AND we will also come back with King Jesus after the Tribulation to reign with Him! (Revelation 19:11-16) Who would have thought that we would personally know a King? Not only just a king but THE KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16)! People like to think of Him as the baby Jesus – but I love to think of Him as King Jesus, MY King! The only King!

Do you know the King personally or do you only know of Him? I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

The Rapture vs. The Second Coming – Day 38

On By KateIn Devotionals, End Times, Rapture, Second Coming of Jesus Christ1 Comment
Photography by Bob Sabo

Good morning! It’s time to shake off the sleepiness and drink that morning cup of coffee or tea. I must admit that I wouldn’t mind waking up to the view above, wouldn’t you? 😃 On my last post, we covered God’s timing for the Tribulation period and why we believe the Rapture will occur before that great judgment. To sum that up, no man knows the day or the hour of the Rapture, but we can know the signs of the coming of the Tribulation. Christ’s return for the church is imminent: that means it can happen any time. Today, we will look at the Second Coming of Christ and when the Scriptures say that will happen according to the prophecies from the Old Testament.

The prophet Daniel, of the Old Testament, prophesied about this very thing.

Dan 9:24-27  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.  (25)  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.  (26)  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  (27)  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel prophesied that the antichrist would sign a peace treaty with Israel for one week, which is equal to seven years (he breaks that treaty half way through). It stands to reason that there has to be a reason for the need for a peace treaty; there must be wars and conflicts so bad that Israel longs for peace and will give anything to achieve that peace. Remember, Daniel’s 70th week revolves around Israel. From that point on, the Tribulation begins and God’s prophetic clock starts to tick for the seven years. This tells us that the Second Coming of Jesus won’t happen until those seven years are finished. Therefore, the date of the Second Coming will be known to believers during those seven years! God is very specific and when He says seven biblical years, He means it. A biblical year is 360 days, not 365 as we know it in the West. So all one has to do is to multiply 360 x 7 and you get 2,520 days. Half way through is 1,260.

The Bible continues to tell us that more signs will appear before Christ comes to end the Battle of Armageddon. Read on:

Dan 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Dan 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Dan 12:11  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Half way through the Tribulation, the antichrist will break that treaty with Israel and he will remove Israel’s ability to do sacrificing in their temple. Therefore, we know the Tribulation has not started yet for two reasons: (1) there hasn’t been a need for a peace treaty yet, and (2) Israel does not have a temple in Jerusalem. Once Israel realizes that the antichrist is not their Messiah, they will flee to the wilderness:

Rev 12:6  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

It is not until these seven years of judgment upon Israel (see Daniel 9:24 above) are over that their true Messiah, King Jesus, will come. Those who fled to the wilderness will be cared for by God and they will recognize their true Messiah when He returns!

Rev 19:7-8  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (8)  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Rev 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jesus and the Church will return at the end of the Tribulation after God has released His wrath upon the disobedient world. We know for a fact that the Church has been in Heaven because of the following verses in Matthew. Jesus said:

Mat 24:29-31  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:  (30)  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  (31)  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

This is not the gathering of saints on earth as some post Tribulation believers say. This is the gathering of the saints already in Heaven! Verse 31 doesn’t say from under heaven; no it is from one end of heaven to the other. Let God’s Word reveal to you the truth, reader.

Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

The Rapture vs. The Second Coming – Day 35

On By KateIn Devotionals, Rapture, Second Coming of Jesus ChristLeave a comment
Photography by Chris Michaud

Good morning, Reader!! It’s rise and shine time 😀 Let’s start the day with a wonderful thought! What if the Rapture were to happen first thing in the morning? Can you imagine the sun’s rays coming up with a beautiful pink and red hew across the sky? Oh what a glorious day that will be! I pray that as you are reading this, that you will be one of the blessed participants of the Rapture!!!

As we continue on the topic of who will be participating in these events, today’s post is about the event of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Just who will participate in this event? Let’s look at Scripture.

1Th 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Paul tells us that Jesus Christ will be coming with all His saints. Remember the last post, we saw that at the Rapture, Jesus is coming for the saints.

1 Thess 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

As we read about the Second Coming in Revelation, we see that the army that accompanies Jesus is dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Some say these are angels but angels do not need to be cleaned from sin. In fact, the “angels desire to look into” in the following verses:

1Pe 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  (12)  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

So as you can see, the army is not comprised of angels but of the Church, whose garments have been made clean by the blood of the Lamb!

Rev 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

If you are not convinced that this is the Church, a few verses gives us the answer:

Rev 19:7-8  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (8)  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Therefore, we see that the Church is called Christ’s wife and we come back with Christ to earth to fight the enemy at the Battle of Armageddon. Praise the Lord!

If you never learned about the Rapture and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that these devotionals have been a blessing to you. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!