Tag: Revelation 22:16

Light in the Last Days – Day 52

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

Human nature loves a deadline. If you knew your family was arriving from across the country next Tuesday, you’d likely wait until Monday night to clean the house. But the Rapture isn’t a deadline to be met; it’s a presence to be prepared for. By keeping the timing a secret, God protects us from the danger of spiritual procrastination. Just as you would want your home ready at any moment for a beloved guest, the unknown timing of the Rapture calls us to live in a state of perpetual readiness, ensuring our spiritual ‘guest rooms’ are always in order.

Different views:

  1. Pre-Tribulation (imminent – no prophecy needs to be fulfilled – it can happen at any time)
  2. Mid-Tribulation (half-way through the Tribulation at the 1,260 day mark)
  3. Pre-Wrath (at the sixth seal judgment)
  4. Post-Tribulation (after the Tribulation at the 2,520 day mark)

Our final study focuses on the Post-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint. This perspective argues that the Rapture occurs at the very end of the Great Tribulation, aligning with the end of the 2,520-day prophetic period. Under this belief, the Rapture and the Second Coming are not two separate occurrences; instead, the Church is caught up to meet Christ in the air and immediately returns with Him to Earth. Ultimately, this view maintains that Jesus returns only once, marking His final Second Coming.

This viewpoint centers on the idea that since God’s people have faced persecution throughout history, the Church must also endure the Tribulation. However, this creates a significant conflict with Romans 8:1, which promises that those in Christ are not under condemnation and are exempt from God’s wrath. Since the Tribulation judgments affect everyone on Earth, this would place the Church under the very wrath they were promised to avoid. Additionally, this view struggles to account for Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3 to prepare a place for us in Heaven. If believers simply meet Him in the air and immediately return to Earth for the Millennium, they would never actually inhabit the heavenly mansions He went to prepare.

To summarize, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the only viewpoint that addresses the fact that the Church disappears from the text from Revelation 4:1 through Revelation 21. While other views interpret the “saints” in these chapters as the Church, this overlooks a vital difference. Those saints are a separate group of believers enduring the Tribulation, distinct from the Church, the Bride of Christ, who has already been gathered.

The Rapture is an imminent event with no specific timeline, yet two other viewpoints rely on a predictable calendar. This calendar starts with the peace treaty mentioned in Daniel 9:27. If we followed the Mid-Tribulation theory, anyone could calculate the exact day by counting 1,260 days from that event. If the Post-Tribulation view were true, the date would be known after 2,520 days. These theories contradict the idea that Christ could return at any moment. Similarly, the Pre-Wrath view assumes the Church must endure the first five Seal judgments, but it cannot answer for the Church’s total absence from the biblical text starting in Revelation 4:1.

Only the Pre-Tribulation position provides a consistent answer for the Church’s disappearance from Revelation 4:1 through 22:15. Consider the data: the term “church” is used 7 times and “churches” 12 times within Revelation chapters 1 through 3. Yet, throughout the subsequent chapters of judgment, these words vanish entirely until Revelation 22:16. This clear pattern strongly suggests that the Church has already been removed before the Tribulation begins, leaving the judgments to fall on those remaining.

You must be born again in order to participate, no matter what viewpoint you hold. Friend, if you are not born again, 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. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Light in the Last Days – Day 52

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

Have you ever thought about why we don’t know the exact date of the Rapture? It’s a lot like waiting for family to visit from across the country. You don’t just sit around; you get the house ready, plan the menus, and look forward to their arrival with excitement. If you knew they were coming on a specific Tuesday, you’d probably wait until Monday night to clean. By keeping the timing a mystery, God encourages us to live every day as if it’s the day He returns.

Different views:

  1. Pre-Tribulation (imminent – no prophecy needs to be fulfilled – it can happen at any time)
  2. Mid-Tribulation (half-way through the Tribulation at the 1,260 day mark)
  3. Pre-Wrath (at the sixth seal judgment)
  4. Post-Tribulation (after the Tribulation at the 2,520 day mark)

The Post-Tribulation viewpoint marks the final perspective in our series, and it’s unique because it places the Rapture right at the very end of the Great Tribulation. The core of this teaching is that the Church remains on earth through the entire seven-year period, eventually meeting Christ in the air as He returns to establish His kingdom. However, this creates a major shift in how we view the event: since the Bible defines the Tribulation as lasting exactly 2,520 days (seven prophetic years), this view effectively turns the Rapture into a scheduled event rather than a surprise. Instead of looking for Christ at any moment, this belief system naturally leads to a countdown, setting a specific “expected date” for the Rapture to occur based on when the Tribulation begins.

This view basically says the Rapture and the Second Coming happen back-to-back. Believers are caught up to the clouds and then immediately ride back down with Christ to Earth. To put it simply, they believe there is only one “coming” of Jesus, and it happens entirely at the end of the Tribulation. This is a great chart differentiating between the two:

Proponents of this view point to historical persecution as a reason for the Church to remain through the Tribulation, but this overlooks the distinction between human persecution and divine wrath. Romans 8:1 explicitly states the Church is not subject to condemnation, yet the global judgments of the Tribulation would affect everyone present. Furthermore, this model leaves no time for the fulfillment of Acts 1:9–11 and John 14, where Jesus prepares a heavenly home for His followers. In a Post-Tribulation scenario, the Church meets Jesus in the air and immediately descends to fight Satan’s armies and enter the Millennium, essentially bypassing the “mansions” He went to prepare.

Except for the Pre-Tribulation view, most perspectives fail to account for the Church’s total disappearance from the text between Revelation 4:1 and chapter 21. While many assume the “saints” in these chapters refer to the Church, a closer look suggests these are actually individuals saved during the Tribulation, distinct from the Church, the Bride of Christ.

If the Rapture were Mid- or Post-Tribulation, it wouldn’t be imminent anymore—it would be a math problem. Since the Tribulation starts with a specific peace treaty (Daniel 9:27), you would just count 1,260 or 2,520 days to find the exact date. That completely gets rid of the “any moment” expectation we see in the Pre-Trib view. Even the Pre-Wrath position, which avoids the countdown, still puts the Church in the middle of the first five seals despite the fact that the word “Church” totally disappears from the book of Revelation after chapter 4.

The Pre-Tribulation viewpoint provides a consistent answer for both the timing of the Rapture and the Church’s total absence from Revelation 4:1 through 22:15. While the words “church” or “churches” appear 19 times in the first three chapters, they vanish entirely during the period of global judgment, only reappearing at the very end in Revelation 22:16. This linguistic shift strongly suggests that the Church is not present on Earth while God’s wrath is being poured out.

You must be born again in order to participate, no matter what viewpoint you hold. Friend, if you are not born again, 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. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Light in the Last Days – Day 16

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

Revelation 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Today’s study is a deep dive, and I truly hope you’ll stay with me to the very end—it is so worth it! I’ll admit, the Book of Revelation used to feel overwhelming to me. However, through careful study, I’ve found the key to understanding its message. Remember, the Lord promises a unique blessing to those who read, hear, and live out the words of this prophecy. It’s the only book in the Bible with such a specific promise attached! So, let’s jump in and receive that blessing together.

Revelation 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

I learned early on in my research that whenever the Apostle John records an image that feels ‘out of this world’ or like a Star Trek special effect, it is likely intended to be symbolic rather than literal. Take a look at this example:

Revelation 9:7  And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

While that serves as a clear example of symbolism, I found that when the descriptions in Revelation felt grounded and realistic, they should be interpreted literally. A compelling example of this literal approach is:

Revelation 8:10-11  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;  (11)  And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

In literal terms, this star could be a comet or an asteroid. It’s likely that a body like Wormwood will be discovered by NASA in the coming years, potentially leading to the catastrophic water pollution described in the text. Consider how Noah Webster defines the word ‘wormwood’ itself:

WORMWOOD, n. [G.] A plant, the artemisia. It has a bitter nauseous taste;

So we can interpret the verses above literally. A comet will fall to earth and destroy a third part of the rivers and fountains of waters (fresh water) and make the waters bitter and undrinkable. So now we know what to take literally and what to take symbolically.

“It’s time to look at a key piece of the puzzle: the ‘disappearing’ Church in Revelation. If we were meant to be here for the Tribulation, John would have addressed us specifically. But notice the data: the Church is mentioned 18 times in the first three chapters and then—nothing. The word doesn’t appear again until the final chapter of the Bible in verse 22:16. This silence during the Tribulation chapters speaks volumes about our position in Heaven during that time.

Revelation 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Did you know that Revelation 3:22 and Revelation 4:1 were originally consecutive verses? Before chapters and verses were assigned in 1551, the final word to the churches led directly into the vision of an open door in Heaven and the call to ‘Come up hither.’ It’s a thrilling connection! The moment the focus shifts from the churches on earth to the door in heaven, the Church vanishes from the narrative until the very end of the book. Looking at it this way adds a whole new layer of meaning to the Rapture’s timing, wouldn’t you agree

Revelation 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

In Revelation 4:1, we don’t see Christ descending to earth; rather, we see John ascending to the Lord’s presence. Jesus explains that He is about to show John future events—those which ‘must be hereafter’—indicating that the period of judgment has not yet begun. This sets the stage for the rest of Chapters 4 and 5, which provide a glimpse into the events unfolding in Heaven, such as the gathering mentioned in Revelation 4:4.

Revelation 4:4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

After salvation, the way we live for Christ leads to the receiving of crowns in Heaven. These rewards serve a higher purpose: we will cast them at the feet of our Savior as we worship Him throughout eternity.

Revelation 4:10-11  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The timing fits perfectly: the Church is called upward to Christ (parallel to John’s journey in Revelation 4) before the first seal of judgment is even broken. We find our safety in Jesus, who acts as our Ark of salvation. While the world faces the coming storms of judgment, we will be safely stationed with Him in the Father’s house.

Hebrews 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Noah’s faithfulness led to his safety during the judgment of the entire earth. Just as he transitioned from the ark to a new life on Mount Ararat, we are destined to return with Christ to a transformed earth, joining Him as He reigns in glory from Jerusalem.

The beauty of the Pre-Tribulation viewpoint lies in its imminency. If the Rapture occurred at the midpoint or the end of the Tribulation, we could simply count down the days (such as the 1,260 days mentioned in prophecy) and know exactly when to expect Him. But Scripture tells us that ‘of that day and hour knoweth no man.’ Just as Noah was unaware of the specific start of the flood, we remain in a state of constant readiness. Once the Lord closes the door to safety, the time for preparation is over.

Luke 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Matthew 24:36-42  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  (37)  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (42)  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

The total silence regarding the Church after Revelation 4:1 is one of the strongest evidences for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. With the Church already in Heaven, God turns His attention back to Israel to complete the final ‘week’ of Daniel’s prophecy. We are currently in a parenthetical ‘pause’ in Israel’s history known as the Church Age, which ends the moment we hear that heavenly call to ‘come up hither’. From that point forward, the narrative focuses on the 70th week of Daniel—the seven-year Tribulation—which begins when the Antichrist makes himself known through a peace treaty with Israel.

Jeremiah 30:3-7  For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.  (4)  And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.  (5)  For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  (6)  Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?  (7)  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

While God loves the whole world, He has a special, distinct love for Israel and the Church. Because Israel did not fully embrace their mission to lead others to Him, God extended the offer of salvation to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. This inaugurated a ‘break’ in Israel’s prophetic timeline, allowing the Church Age to flourish. However, this wasn’t a new idea; even in the Old Testament, Gentiles like Rahab and Ruth found faith and a place in the Messiah’s genealogy, proving that God’s door has always been open to those who seek Him.

With the arrival of Christ, the Age of Law was paused, marking the end of the first 69 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy and the beginning of the Church Age. This divine ‘pause’ concludes with the Rapture, as God turns His attention back to Israel for the final seven years. The start of this Tribulation period is triggered by the Antichrist signing a peace treaty with Israel, though he will ultimately betray them halfway through those seven years.

Daniel 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.

I know today’s post is a lot to absorb but it sure packs a wallop! Does this excite you, reader? It surely does me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. 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!

The Door is Opened!

On By KateIn Any Day Now, DevotionalsLeave a comment

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

The Book of Revelation used to be a difficult book for me. But as I read, studied and researched it, it was no longer difficult. The Lord promised a blessing to those who read, hear and keep the words written in it. It is the only book of the Bible that promises a blessing if you read it! Therefore, let’s dive in this morning and get blessed! 

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

In my research many years ago, I learned that whatever image the Apostle John saw, if it seemed like it was something out of Star Trek and not believable, it should be interpreted symbolically. A good example of this is:

Rev 9:7  And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

This is definitely a good example, isn’t it? But when other verses seemed to be realistic, I should interpret it as literal. A good example of this is:

Rev 8:10-11  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;  (11)  And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

The star could mean a comet or an asteroid. It is likely that Wormwood will be discovered by NASA at some point in the near future. Or it could be the result of a comet or asteroid’s impact of polluting water at its impact. Either way, the name “Wormwood” was assigned to it. I find it interesting that there is a purpose for every word in Scripture. The word wormwood is defined by Noah Webster as:

WORMWOOD, n. [G.] A plant, the artemisia. It has a bitter nauseous taste;

So we can interpret the verses above literally. An object will fall to earth from the heavens and destroy a third part of the rivers and fountains of waters (fresh water) and make the waters bitter and undrinkable. So now we know what to take literally and what to take symbolically.

Let’s get back on track now and discuss the Pre-Tribulation Rapture as it relates to Revelation. If we are to believe the mid or post tribulation viewpoint, then the Church would have a lot of warning. There would be instructions to the Church outlining what to preach/teach during the seven-year Tribulation period. The Apostle John would have instructions for the Church specifically. How then does one explain that the church is never mentioned between chapter three and 22??? This is key here! The word “church” is mentioned seven times in chapter two and the word “churches” is mentioned 11 times in chapters one through three. That’s a total of 18 times that “church(es)” appears in just three chapters! The word “church or churches” is not mentioned again until the last chapter, Chapter 22, in verse 16!

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

It is also interesting to note that in Revelation 3:22 (the last verse in this chapter) is the last use of the word churches. Immediately after in Revelation 4:1, “a door is opened in heaven” and Jesus says “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” When the Bible was first written, there were no chapters and verses. The assigning of chapters and verses was finished in the year 1551. How exciting is that? Revelation 3:22 and Revelation 4:1 were originally one verse apart. One is referring to the churches and the very next verse speaks of a door opening. Following Rev. 4:1, there is no other mention of the church. It means a lot more when you look at it like that, doesn’t it?

Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Jesus is not coming to earth in Rev. 4:1. However, John is taken up to where Jesus is located. Secondly, Jesus says He will show John what must be hereafter. None of the judgments have begun yet. The rest of chapter 4 and chapter 5 discuss Heaven and events going on there. One of these events is chapter 4:4.

Rev 4:4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

Believers earn crowns for their works for the Lord after their salvation and the way they conduct themselves on earth. They receive these crowns in Heaven and cast them at Christ’s feet.

Rev 4:10-11  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The phrase “four and twenty” appears seven times in the Book of Revelation. (Revelation 4:4 twice, Revelation 4:10, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:14, Revelation 11:16, and Revelation 19:4) The 24 elders are clothed in white raiment wearing crowns of gold in Revelation 4:4 and they cast their crowns at Jesus’ feet in Revelation 4:10.

So the Pre-Tribulation viewpoint fits in perfectly: the Church goes up to where Jesus is (as the Apostle John goes to Jesus) and the judgments begin after the Church goes up.

Just as Noah was protected in the ark, the Lord Jesus is our Ark and He protects His Bride, the Church, by taking her to Heaven to be with Him in His Father’s house. (John 14:1-3) We are safe with Him in Heaven; safe from judgment that is to come upon the whole earth. (Revelation 3:10)

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Just as Noah lived by faith and remained faithful while building the ark, he was protected from the judgment of the flood which would come to the entire earth. Noah and his family were lifted high above the earth in the ark and were safe inside it. Just as Noah returned from the waters onto the mountains of Ararat and a new earth was his home, so will we return with Christ to live on a revitalized earth and Christ will reign in Jerusalem.

No man knows the hour that Jesus will take us up in the Rapture; but we can know the season of His return to rapture His Bride. Just as Noah didn’t know when the rains would come, neither will we know when Jesus will take us away. This is the ONLY version of the Rapture that makes sense. The mid-tribulation viewpoint has its exact days (1260) and the post-tribulation as well (2520). But Pre-Tribulation is imminent and can happen at any time. Once God shuts the door (of our Ark), that’s it! He shuts that same door and no one else can enter. (Matthew 25:10, Revelation 3:8)

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Mat 24:36-42  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  (37)  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (42)  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

It is worth repeating: after Revelation 4:1, the church is no longer mentioned (until Rev. 22:16). That is because we have been raptured and are already with Christ. At the beginning of the Tribulation (which occurs when the Antichrist comes to power), God’s focus goes back to Israel’s judgment. After Revelation 4:1, the Old Testament’s prophecies about the time of Jacob’s Troubles come into play. “Come up hither,” is a beautiful depiction of the rapture of the Church. It is prefaced by the wonderful teaching of the Church age in chapters two and three. After the shout to “come up hither,” the Church is not mentioned during the judgments. After so many uses of the word, if the Church were to go through the Tribulation, it would be mentioned. But the focus from that point on is now on Israel. As Daniel prophesied in chapter 9 about the 70 weeks, we see that sixty-nine weeks passed before Christ’s ascension. After that point, the church age began, and there was a pause on the focus around Israel. The focus was then placed on the church. This focus ends with the Rapture of the church. Once the antichrist makes himself known (Daniel 9:27) by signing a peace treaty with Israel, Daniel’s 70th week begins (seven years) the Tribulation. Jeremiah calls it “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”

Jer 30:3-7  For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.  (4)  And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.  (5)  For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  (6)  Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?  (7)  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Believers need to realize that there are two groups of people that God especially loves! He loves the whole world but the faithful are close to His heart; He loves Israel and God loves born-again Christians, the Church. God dealt with Israel throughout the Old Testament. Because they would not obey nor would they lead others to Him, God opened the door to all mankind to accept salvation. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us all from our sins; this includes non-Jews, the Gentiles. It’s as though God in His mercy took a “break” from dealing with Israel, to open the door to the Gentile, and put Israel’s judgment on hold. This is not to say that Gentiles didn’t come to faith in the Old Testament. They most certainly did! Examples are Rahab and Ruth. Both were in Christ’s lineage!! However, it was the Jews’ responsibility to share their faith but they kept God to themselves.

The Church Age began with Christ and the Age of Law was put on pause (this ended Daniel’s 69th week). The Rapture of the church takes us out of the picture and God returns His focus to Israel. The Tribulation will begin when the Antichrist makes a pact with Israel. Half-way through the seven years, he will break that pact.

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.

I know today’s post is a lot to absorb but it sure packs a wallop! Does this excite you, reader? It surely does me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. 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!

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Any Day Now – Day 52

On By KateIn Any Day Now, DevotionalsLeave a comment

Why is timing so important when it comes to the Rapture? If you were expecting your parents to come visit from 3,000 miles, you would be looking forward to it. You would be preparing the guest room, making plans to take them places, as well as planning meals. It is no different when it comes to the Rapture. If you knew the date, you would most likely wait until a few days before their arrival before starting your plans.

Different views:

  1. Pre-Tribulation (imminent – no prophecy needs to be fulfilled – it can happen at any time)
  2. Mid-Tribulation (half-way through the Tribulation at the 1,260 day mark)
  3. Pre-Wrath (at the sixth seal judgment)
  4. Post-Tribulation (after the Tribulation at the 2,520 day mark)

Today we will cover the Post-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint. This one is the last of the viewpoints we will cover. It teaches the Rapture occurs near the end or at the end of the great Tribulation. We know that the Tribulation lasts 2,520 days. This belief, therefore, sets a date for the Rapture to occur.

Furthermore, this belief means that the church will be raptured to the clouds and then immediately return with Christ at the Second Coming. The two events run simultaneously. To summarize, they believe that there is only one coming of the Lord Jesus and that is at His Second Coming.

Their core belief is that God’s people suffered persecution through the centuries, and therefore, the church will go through the Tribulation. There is one major problem with this: Romans 8:1 reveals to us that the Church is not under condemnation and will never go through God’s wrath. The judgments during the Tribulation affect everyone, including believers. This contradicts Romans 8:1. Furthermore, they cannot explain the fact that Jesus went to Heaven in Acts 1:9-11 to prepare a place for us and to receive us unto Himself. (Matthew 14:1-3) Post-Tribulation Rapture believers won’t be going to Heaven because they believe that they meet Jesus in the air and then come back to earth at that point to defeat Satan’s armies. They will then enter the Millennial Kingdom. What happened to going to be with Jesus and experiencing the mansions that He prepared for them in Heaven?

Summary: All the views, except for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint, cannot explain why the Church cannot be found after Rev. 4:1 all the way through chapter 21. They assume that the word “saints” in Revelation represents the Church. These are Tribulation saints and not the Church, the Bride of Christ.

As well, there is no timeline for the Rapture. It is imminent, as we learned in our prior studies. Two other viewpoints rely on a timeline. That timeline begins the seven-year Tribulation when the Antichrist signs the peace treaty with Israel. (Daniel 9:27) Therefore, if the Mid-Tribulation Rapture were to be true, they would simply have to count three and a half years, which is 1260 days (Jewish years contain 360 days, not 365) and they would know the exact day. And if the Post-Tribulation Rapture were true, they would have 2,520. There is no imminence in these viewpoints. The Pre-Wrath Rapture viewpoint doesn’t rest its belief on a timeline. However, it does believe that the Church will experience the first five judgment Seals. They cannot find answers to the fact that the word “church” does not appear after Revelation 4:1.

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint can answer all the questions relating to timing, as well as the lack of presence of the Church from Revelation chapters 4:1 through 22:15. The word “church” can be found 7 times in Revelation chapters 1 through 3. The word “churches” can be found 12 times in Revelation chapters 1 through 3 and one time in Revelation 22:16. This alone shows that the Church is not present during any of the judgments.

You must be born again in order to participate, no matter what viewpoint you hold. Friend, if you are not born again, 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. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Any Day Now – Day 16

On By KateIn Any Day Now, DevotionalsLeave a comment

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Good morning! Today’s post is a bit long and I pray that you will bear with me and read/study it in its entirety. The Book of Revelation used to be a difficult book for me. But as I read and studied it, I learned to interpret it correctly. The Lord promised a blessing to those who read, hear and keep the words written in it. It is the only book of the Bible that promises a blessing if you read it! Therefore, let’s dive in this morning and get blessed! 

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Many years ago in my research, I learned that whatever image the Apostle John saw, if it seemed like it was something out of Star Trek and not believable, it should be interpreted symbolically. A good example of this is:

Rev 9:7  And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

This is definitely a good example, isn’t it? But when other verses seemed to be realistic to me, I should interpret it as literal. A good example of this is:

Rev 8:10-11  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;  (11)  And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

The star could mean a comet or an asteroid. It is likely that Wormwood will be discovered by NASA at some point in the near future. Or it could be the result of a comet or asteroid’s impact of polluting water at its impact. The word wormwood is defined by Noah Webster as:

WORMWOOD, n. [G.] A plant, the artemisia. It has a bitter nauseous taste;

So we can interpret the verses above literally. A comet will fall to earth and destroy a third part of the rivers and fountains of waters (fresh water) and make the waters bitter and undrinkable. So now we know what to take literally and what to take symbolically.

Let’s get back on track now and discuss the Pre-Tribulation Rapture as it relates to Revelation. If we are to believe the mid or post tribulation viewpoint, then the Church would have a lot of warning and instruction. The Apostle John would have instructions for the Church specifically. How then does one explain that the church is never mentioned after chapter three??? This is key here! The word “church” is mentioned seven times in chapter two and the word “churches” is mentioned 11 times in chapters one through three. That’s a total of 18 times that “church(es)” appears in just three chapters! The word “church or churches” is not mentioned again until the last chapter, Chapter 22, in verse 16!

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

It is also interesting to note that in Revelation 3:22 (the last verse in this chapter) is the last use of the word churches. Immediately after in Revelation 4:1, “a door is opened in heaven” and Jesus says “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” When the Bible was first written, there were no chapters and verses. The assigning of chapters and verses was finished in the year 1551. How exciting is that? Revelation 3:22 and Revelation 4:1 were originally one verse apart. One is referring to the churches and the very next verse speaks of a door opening. Following Rev. 4:1, there is no other mention of the church. It means a lot more when you look at it like that, doesn’t it?

Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Jesus is not coming to earth in Rev. 4:1. However, John is brought up to where Jesus is located. Secondly, Jesus says He will show John what must be hereafter. None of the judgments have begun yet at this point. The rest of chapter 4 and chapter 5 discuss Heaven and events going on there. One of these events is chapter 4:4.

Rev 4:4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

Believers earn crowns for their works for the Lord after their salvation and the way they conduct themselves on earth. They receive these crowns in Heaven and cast them at Christ’s feet.

Rev 4:10-11  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

So the Pre-Tribulation viewpoint fits in perfectly: the Church goes up to where Jesus is (as the Apostle John goes to Jesus) and the judgments begin after the Church goes up.

Just as Noah was kept by the ark, the Lord Jesus is our Ark. We are safe with Him in Heaven; safe from judgment that is to come upon the whole earth.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Just as Noah lived by faith and remained faithful while building the ark, he was protected from the judgment of the flood which would come to the entire earth. Just as Noah returned from the waters onto the mountains of Ararat and a new earth was his home, so will we return with Christ to live on a revitalized earth and Christ will reign in Jerusalem.

No man knows the hour that Jesus will take us up in the Rapture; but we can know the season of His return for us. Just as Noah didn’t know when the rains would come, neither will we know when Jesus will take us away. This is the ONLY version of the Rapture that makes sense. The mid-tribulation viewpoint has its exact days (1260) and the post-tribulation as well. But Pre-Tribulation is imminent and can happen at any time. Once God shuts the door (of our Ark), that’s it!

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Mat 24:36-42  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  (37)  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (42)  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

It is worth repeating: after Revelation 4:1, the church is no longer mentioned (until Rev. 22:16). That is because we have been raptured and are already with Christ. At the beginning of the Tribulation (which occurs when the Antichrist comes to power), God’s focus goes back to Israel’s judgment. After Revelation 4:1, the Old Testament’s prophecies about the time of Jacob’s Troubles come into play. “Come up hither,” is a beautiful depiction of the rapture of the Church. It is prefaced by the wonderful teaching of the Church age in chapters one through three. After the shout to “come up hither,” the Church is not mentioned during the judgments. If the Church were to go through the Tribulation, it would be mentioned. But the focus from that point on is now on Israel. As Daniel prophesied in chapter 9 about the 70 weeks, we see that sixty-nine weeks passed before Christ’s ascension. After that point, the church age began, and there was a pause placed on the focus around Israel. The focus was then placed on the church. This focus ends with the Rapture of the church. Once the antichrist makes himself known (Daniel 9:27) by signing a peace treaty with Israel, Daniel’s 70th week begins (seven years) the Tribulation. Jeremiah calls it “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”

Jer 30:3-7  For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.  (4)  And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.  (5)  For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  (6)  Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?  (7)  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Believers need to realize that there are two groups of people that God especially loves! He loves the whole world but the faithful are close to His heart; He loves Israel and God loves Christians. God dealt with Israel throughout the Old Testament. Because they would not obey nor would they lead others to Him, God opened the door to all mankind to accept salvation. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us all from our sins; this includes non-Jews, the Gentiles. It’s as though God in His mercy took a “break” from dealing with Israel, to open the door to the Gentile, and put Israel’s judgment on hold. This is not to say that Gentiles didn’t come to faith in the Old Testament. They most certainly did! Examples are Rahab and Ruth. Both were in Christ’s lineage!! However, it was their responsibility to share their faith but they kept God to themselves.

The Church Age began with Christ and the Age of Law was put on pause (this ended Daniel’s 69th week). The Rapture of the church takes us out of the picture and God returns His focus to Israel. The Tribulation will begin when the Antichrist makes a pact with Israel. Half-way through the seven years, he will break that pact.

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.

I know today’s post is a lot to absorb but it sure packs a wallop! Does this excite you, reader? It surely does me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. 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!

Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus – Day 24

On By KateIn Devotionals, Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled By JesusLeave a comment

Prophecy of Messiah:

2 Samuel 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

Good morning, reader! Despite ugly weather outside, the Son should always be shining inside. 😀 Jesus Christ is the light of the world and His light shines every time I open His Word. It illuminates and pierces through the darkness of my understanding. It pricks my heart to see my sin. It’s so awesome to me to be able to read a passage for the umpteenth time and have my eyes are opened to its meaning!! Today is no different.

We see in today’s reading that God promised that David’s kingdom and his throne would be established forever. God’s Word never lies (1Samuel 15:29) and all the prophecies about Messiah Jesus will come true. Amen? Luke 3:31 tells us that the Messiah came from the house of David and Revelation 22:16 confirms it. Every verse in the Bible has a “sister” verse which answers any question our minds can produce.

Prophecy of Messiah Fulfilled:

Luke 3:31  Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,

Revelation 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Notice the accuracy in Bible prophecy? There is no mistaking the fact that Messiah would come from the house of David and that Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy. You may say that there were thousands of people who descended from the house of David; but while this may be an insignificant fact, when it is combined with the rest of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, it adds to the vast amounts of proof. It bears repeating a quote from “Evidence That Demands a Verdict”:

“We find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 17th power (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000).” Jesus fulfilled MUCH more than 8 (Over 300)!

Just think about it! There are over 300 prophecies about the Messiah that Jesus Christ fulfilled. The number above reflects only eight of those prophecies. That ending number would be so large that the human mind cannot comprehend it. Friend, there is no one that has ever lived, or will ever live, who can fulfill even eight of these prophecies, but Jesus Christ fulfilled over 300! You must come to a realization that there is no other who could! Only God Himself can do this. The infinite God fulfilled and continues to fulfill 100% of all prophecies. The Bible teaches that if a prophet was wrong in just one prophecy, that prophet is a fraud! (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

There are no other books that need to be added along with Scripture that will lead to salvation. No rock in Mecca, no golden plates, no soul traveling or reincarnation can lead you to be “good enough” to gain salvation. Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Messiah of all mankind can save:

Acts 4:10-12  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  (11)  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  (12)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Am I being dogmatic about this issue? You bet I am! There are not many roads to Heaven, Reader. We are not left to our own imaginations: God did not leave us without direction or instruction. The Bible is very clear about what we must do to be saved.

John 3:16-19  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  (19)  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Do you know Him 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!