The end of the Age. Pt 2
THE RAPTURE
The first great event of the end of the age.
1 Thess 4; 16 The LORD HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
No general resurrection taught in Bible. No single judgement of all. Luke 20;35 Rev 20;6 Phil 3;11 By comparing Scripture we see the truth of 2 resurrections. See 1 Cor 15;22-24. End = last in a succession or series.
The O.T viewed both resurrections as one; eg Dan 12;2
In Christ’s early teaching the two are together e.g. in John 5;28-9. This could be in view of the fact that they could not as yet accept two resurrections. The Bible is a record of God’s gradual unfolding of His full revelation. Finally, Rev. 20;4-5 Reveals two resurrections
“It belongs to the glorifying of the Christ as the Head that his members should share in a SPECIAL resurrection. One like His own – a “resurrection Out of the dead”.
So the Rapture is first of all the resurrection of all Christians. The unsaved will await the final resurrection to judgement. (see v 5 above)
In the film “Thief in the night” Patsy wakes up to find her husband has disappeared. In fact this is not really scriptural as the verse above talks of a ‘shout’, ‘voice of the archangel’ and ‘trump of God’, so could be quite a noisy event. Cp John 12;28 Imagine a great clap of thunder and a deafening trumpet blast!
It will take place in the ‘last days’, so What is/are God’s Day(s)
We live in the last days. Acts 2;17. Peter says that Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled in the day of Pentecost. So that brings us into the last days. (The last days has to be taken in the context of 2 Pet 3;8.) So the last days could be 2000 years or more.
Now cp Heb 1;2 (We will look at Antichrist in a later study).
Heb 9;26-28 His first appearing was the beginning of the end and His 2nd appearing begins the end of the end.
Paul 1 Cor 10;11
Since Christ’s time we have witnessed the end times developing progressively. As we look at some of the signs Jesus gave, it is obvious that the ‘Rapture’ could not take place before now, because some of them had not yet been fulfilled. However, we now live in a time when they have been or are being fulfilled.
Nb Although Pat Robertson said this week that the earthquake in Haiti is a judgement on that land, it is more likely part of the fulfilment of Christ’s prophecy of ‘earthquakes in divers places’.
As we look at the signs etc., the O.T. was like coming up one side of the hill to Christ. Now in N.T. we are going down the other side. Things which were not evident to O.T. people are becoming obvious to us.
As we saw above, God’s reference to a day can mean 1000 years; In fact the ‘last day’ in God’s calendar is approx 1000 years. Begins with the resurrection of the righteous (Jn 6;39,40,44,54) and ends with the judgement of the lost; Jn 12;48.
To attempt to date the Rapture is fruitless. Luther said 1556. John Cocceius 1667. Amos Comenius 1672, Isaac Newton 1715, JA Bengel, 1836, not to mention 7day Adventists, Jehovah’s witnesses etc. the latter who have made several guesses and predicted the end of the world for 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, and 1989. When none happened, decided that the ‘last’ one was a ‘spiritual’ coming and that Christ is now ruling in the heavenlies!
We are warned not to date it. Acts 1;7, Matt 24;36.
There is a near and distant aspect. Jesus said, “I come soon” (Rev 22;20) but told parables to show that there was a ‘distant’ aspect to His prophecy. (see Parable of talents; Luke 19;) So we must WATCH (Matt 25;13 and Luke 12;37)
We shall all be changed; 1 Thess 4;16-17. I Cor 15;51.
We shall be caught away. Word used is Harpazo which means to seize hastily, snatch, grab, rob with violence, draw to oneself quickly. Luke uses it in Acts 23;10 of Paul’s being torn from the mob by soldiers.
In 1 Thess 1;10 similar Gk word = rescue with power.
1 Thes 4;16 – Shout = ‘war cry’. A triumphant conquering and deliverance. For the first time, the church of all times and lands will be together, and the completed church will exist for the first time. Not on earth but in the air. 1 Thess 4;17 Millions of saints drawn up by the power of God. Cp Phil 3;21
Even more triumphant – Satan is “Prince of the Power of the air”.(Eph 2;2) We are caught up to the air, in the headquarters of the conquered foe. The persecuted are crowned at the headquarters of their defeated enemy.
Now let’s look at some of the events leading up to the Rapture.
THE JEWS ARE A SIGN OF CHRIST’S 2ND COMING.
Earlier, we saw the various signs, earthquakes, unrest etc. But is there a convincing proof that we are in the last days?
How about this?
“It is a gloomy moment in the history of our country. Not in the lifetime of most men have there been so much grave and deep apprehension; Never has the future seemed so incalculable as at this time. The domestic economy situation is in chaos. Our currency is weak throughout the world. Prices are so high as to be utterly impossible. The political cauldron seethes and bubbles with uncertainty. Russia stands as usual like a cloud, dark and silent, upon the horizon. It is a solemn moment. Of our troubles no man can see the end.” (Harper’s Weekly, Oct 1857.)
Frederick the great asked ‘Is there a tangible proof of the existence of God?” The answer not only proves God, but also Christ’s 2nd coming: The answer is the Jews.
4000 yrs a separate nation. Never intermarried (except for few exceptions, which were dealt with (e.g. in EZRA’s day, those who had married Gentiles were forced to send them away.)
God led them, dealt with them and because of their disobedience scattered them. They were warned: Ezek. 36 ;18-19; They were scattered over the earth, the land left desolate. But a returning: Ez.36;24. Now here’s the strange thing: for 2000 yrs the Jews retained their identity…. Others dispersed and .. disappeared. Not the Jews. Incredible. Zeph 3;20; God said he would bring them back.
cp Gen. 13;14-15 and 17;8. God told Abraham He would give them their land for ever. The Jews are claiming this now and telling the Palestinians it is their land. This is what a lot of the trouble is about in Israel right now.
Because of their rejection of Christ, and God, they were dispersed all over the world. Isa. 11 ;9-12 There is a lot more in this chapter. This is most emphatic. Note it is a return for the second time. 1st under Ezra and Nehemiah. But this was only from Babylon. Then they were scattered again, and never came back for 2000 yrs. The second time they came from all over the world as in Isa 11.
There is a further element; In v 13 God says they will be a united nation. In Isaiah’s time they were two nations; Israel & Judah. God said when he restored them the 2nd time they would be one nation. They are.
In 1895 Dr Theodor Herzl the founder of modern Zionism moved a return to Israel of the Jews. He died in 1904 but wrote in his will, “It is my desire to be buried in a metal casket beside my father and lie there (in Vienna) until the Jewish people will bring my body to the land of Israel”.
During WW I, Dr Chaim Weizmann, a Jewish scientist who was a British subject, invented TNT which solved the problem of the shortage of acetone for the manufacture of ammunition. In recognition he was offered a royal honour, but refused. “I want nothing for myself, I would like you to do something for my people.” He explained that he wanted to see Palestine become a Jewish land again. As a result, in 1917, the British Foreign Secretary, Arthur J Balfour made the following declaration; “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object.”
On 11th December 1917 General Allenby led his troops into Jerusalem and Great Britain liberated Palestine from the rule of the Turks. An amazing prophecy in Isa 31;5 was fulfilled then. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; The Turks were determined to fight to the last man. Allenby knelt in his tent and prayed that God would make the battle unnecessary. Next day he sent scouting planes over the area. The Turks had never seen planes before and fled.
The Bible is full of dates and times. In Ezek 4;6 there is a Divine principle set out; I have appointed thee each day for a year.
Daniel had a vision of the last days. We will be looking at it in some detail later. However, remember Jesus talked about the abomination of desolation being set up in Jerusalem. In Daniel 12;11-12 we read; 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. 12Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. The Turks used the Muslim calendar. 1917 in the Muslim calendar was the year 1335. Coincidence?
Although the way was now open for Jews to return to Palestine, only a few did so. Then Hitler came along with his aim to wipe out the Jews. 6 million perished in the gas chambers etc.
Following the war, the United Nations voted to establish the land of Palestine as A Jewish State. In 1948 the Jewish state of Israel was proclaimed. The Arabs vowed to push them back into the sea. However, ½ million Jews vs.40m Arabs? No contest. God was on their side and in 1949 an armistice was signed.
J Whitfield Foster, Missionary to the Jews tells how he stood in the courtyard of the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem in 1949 and saw the coffin of Dr Theodor Herzl standing there on a pedestal with the words from Ez 37;12 written on it.
1956 Egypt, Jordan and Syria formed an alliance to exterminate the Jew. Israel won in the 2 day war.
But even through it all, they never had Jerusalem although God had promised: Gen 15 ;18—21 Nile to Euphrates .. see map! No conditions!
God confirmed this promise to Jacob, Gen 28;13-15, Moses, Ex 3;8, ( this was basically the same as said to Abraham) and Joshua, 21;43.
In 2 Kings 5;2 It is known as “The land of Israel” God speaks of Israel as HIS land in Lev 25;23 and His eyes are always upon it. Deut. 11;12
Gen 17;7-8 God’s unconditional, irreversible covenant with Abraham; now cp Gal.3;17 Law of Moses did not disannul it. Nothing can. Despite their sin and rebellion, to this day, God hasn’t rejected the Jews.
Now see Rom.11; God has had His hand on Jews all the time. In Luke 21;24. Jesus said, Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (completed).
For the past 2000 years, Jerusalem has been under the control of Gentiles (Arabs).
In 1967 Arabs tried again, in the 6 day war, to drive Jews out of Palestine. By all laws Jews should have been wiped out. Arabs 2½ times the might, but their planes never even took off. Jews won hands down, and more importantly they now had all of Jerusalem…. see Luke 21;24.. Arabs have tried 3 times to take it back and failed. They are consolidating their position and gradually forcing the Palestinians out. (See Panorama 19/1/10)
So; The times of the Gentiles was fulfilled in the 1st week of June 1967.
How can we be so sure? See Dan 8; 13-14.
We need to understand that earlier in this chapter Daniel describes a vision of a he-goat which comes and overcomes and rules the land of Israel and does away with the daily sacrifice. This is generally accepted as Alexander who invaded in 334 BC. If you add 2300 years (days) you come to 1967 ! Two great Bible Scholars, Alan Clark in 1825 and Bishop Newton in 1754 both calculated that the times of the Gentiles would be fulfilled in 1967. (Actually Clark miscalculated by a year and said 1966, forgetting that when you change from BC to AD you lose a year.)
Is it not a miracle that the Arab states with over 200 million people could not conquer little Israel? There are many stories about miraculous intervention. Eg Two Israeli tanks topped a sand dune in Sinai to find themselves facing an Egyptian tank unit. The Egyptians stopped, jumped out and ran. Captured Egyptians said, “There were hundreds of Israeli tanks!”
Now read on in Luke 21; 32 All these things shall be fulfilled in THIS generation. WE are seeing these things happen!
Ezek. 37;25-28 Their return permanent. Amos 9;14,-15 Jer. 31;38-40.No more’
But notice the deeper significance behind Jer.31;31 ff esp 33.
Jer.23;3-4. a promise of fruitfulness and increase. That is happening today.
But a time coming when the nations will rise against Israel. Zech.14;1-3. This we can see. In the United Nations, there have been attempts to outlaw Israel. Even Britain and USA have almost been forced to cut off Israel.
Russia is arming the Arabs and encouraging them. Ezek39;1-4 Gog the prince of Tubal and Mesech…. Turkey. (see map) But significantly more, for other nations are involved, so more likely an alliance between all the Arab nations, supported by Russia. THIS IS LIKELY AT ANY TIME!
Now notice Hos.3;5 There will be a great spiritual revival when Israel will turn back to God. Note they, are not a godly nation at present. Few synagogues. Zionism a nationalistic movement. Many Jews openly Godless.
Cp Ezek. 36; 24-28. also 39; 25-29
God said many times that Jews would suffer great persecution. They have: Wars etc… Its not over yet. Ezek 22;15 ff. Jerusalem will become the centre of the world. On the map, It is. See Zech.8;20 – 23. 14.;16-21.
Ezek 37;11-12. Valley of dry bones; Typical of Israel coming together as a nation.
Very swift events occur in Rev 1;7, cp Zech 14;4, Matt 26;64, Christ’s return; All the tribes of the land mourn because of Him. Rev 1;7, with Zech 12;10-11.
They mourn for the Messiah, realising what they did; Zech 12;10. Repent, realising their own sinfulness. Ez 36;31.
Isa 53;36 Lit; “We counted Him as nothing, we held him to be the one who was tormented and smitten and tortured of God. But the Lord cast all our sins upon Him. On account of our transgressions He was wounded and on account of our transgressions was smitten. That we might have peace the punishment lay upon Him and through His wounds we are healed.” The repenting confession that Israel will make when Christ comes. (Erich Sauer).
One thing. is certain. “When these things begin to come to pass”
This Generation shall not pass till all be fulfilled.
Exciting days. Prophecy being fulfilled daily. Perhaps before we finish this study, we shall see Jesus face to face.
