The Significance of Bible Prophecy
The Future According to Almighty God
The "Catching Away" of the Saints
"For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first"
(1st Thessalonians 4:16 NASB)
"Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord"
(1st Thessalonians 4:17 NASB)
- Beam Me Up! -
Everybody familiar with the "Star Trek" series is certainly familiar with the preceding sentence. Whenever Captain Kirk was in trouble, or needed to get somewhere in a hurry, the Star Trek crew would rev up the Enterprise's Transporter Device. Instantly the Captain and crew (including an "insignificant" extra crew member who usually met with an untimely death!) would dematerialize and suddenly materialize elsewhere. Anybody who has ever been caught in a rush-hour traffic jam would immediately give a month's pay for such a device!
What may not be common knowledge is that the Bible speaks of this exact event. This event is known as the Rapture. The Rapture is described in several passages in the Bible and a major Rapture event is on the horizon. And in one instance, a famous Biblical character is transported from the desert to a major city instantaneously!
Surprise! The word "Rapture" isn't found in the Bible! But the event known as "The Rapture" is clearly there. You might also be surprised to learn that "Holy Trinity" isn't found in the Scriptures either; but no one doubts Their existence (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Let's examine the Scriptural basis for the Rapture.
Kept Out of That Hour - Revelation 3:10 (NKJV)
Have you ever seen a sign that reads "Keep Out!" posted? Sometimes it's there to protect you from danger. In this passage from Revelation Jesus is speaking to the Faithful Church at Philadelphia in Asia Minor. To be "kept from the hour of trial" means literally to be "out of that hour of testing" which shall come upon the whole Earth. Since this was a) written 1900+ years ago and b) all the members of the Church at Philadelphia are dead and c) the whole world has not experienced testing from God in one brief episode of time since then, we can conclude that this is a future event foretold. Existing churches at that time were used as models by God to represent the stages of the Christian Church down through history:
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the Hour of Trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the Earth.
The First Rapture - He Was Not - Genesis 5:21-24 (NASB)
We've got a missing man! According to the Book of Genesis, Enoch was 65 years old when he became the father of Methuselah, the longest-living man in the Bible. During the next 300 years Enoch had other sons and daughters (300 years of child rearing!). And so, Enoch lived a year's worth of years: 365 years (though Biblical years are often 360-day years). History's first demonstrated Rapture event occurs as God takes Enoch directly to Heaven. One moment he's dwelling on Earth and in the blink of an eye he's translated to Heaven:
21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah.
22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.
23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
The First Rapture - He Did Not Die - Hebrews 11:5 (NASB)
Not convinced that Genesis 5:24 demonstrates the Rapture of a living human being? Well, perhaps we'd better offer more proof, eh? And what better place for more Rapture proof than the New Testament?:
5
By Faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
The Second Rapture - Chariots of Fire - 2nd Kings 2:1-12 (NASB)
Rapture number 2 is found in the Book of 2nd Kings as the premier prophet of God has finished his Earthly ministry and is turning over his office to his protégé Elisha. Elijah, in his wisdom, knows Elisha's Faith will be tremendously strengthened by witnessing the taking of Elijah from Earth to Heaven right before his eyes:
1 AND it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to Heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel". But Elisha said,
3 Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; be still".
4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho". But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you". So they came to Jericho.
5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be still".
6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan". And he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you". So the two of them went on.
7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you". And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me".
10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."
11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to Heaven.
12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more ...
Snatched Away - Acts of the Apostles 8:26-40 (KJV)
There are several startling aspects to this passage of Scripture. First, an Angel of the Lord speaks directly to one of the early Apostles. The Angel tells Philip to head for the desert, apparently by conventional methods, most likely by walking. The Angel of the Lord knows that an Ethiopian is ready to receive the Gospel and needs someone (a believer) to share with him. When Philip sees the chariot and hears the man reading from Isaiah 53:7-8 (reading aloud was a common practice in those days to benefit the widely uneducated) the Angel of the Lord tells him to catch up with the chariot. When he does, Philip inquires of the Ethiopian if he comprehends the prophecy. After inviting Philip to enter the chariot and explain the prophecy concerning the vicarious Sacrifice of Christ, the Ethiopian then asks Philip to baptize him into the Body of Christ at a nearby body of water. Notice that although the Ethiopian believed in God, to receive the Gospel he had to believe with all his heart that Jesus Christ was the unique, Incarnate Son of the Living God (the Salvation "line of demarcation" according to 1st John 4:1-3).
So where is the Rapture event? In an often-overlooked passage, verses 39-40, Philip is supernaturally removed from the desert and materializes at the city of Azotus where he continues preaching the Gospel in several cities. In verse 39, we find the Greek word "harpazo" translated in the King James Version as "caught away". "Harpazo" means "to seize upon suddenly, with force" and is translated as "caught up" in 1st Thessalonians 4:17 where the Rapture joins believers, both dead and alive with the Lord in the blink of an eye. Thus, the first Rapture of the New Testament (after Christ that is! - Mark 16:19 KJV) is a SURPRISE, even to an Apostle!
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert."
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet.
29 Then the (Holy) Spirit said unto Philip, "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot".
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias (Isaiah), and said, "Understandest thou what thou readest?"
31 And he said, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a Sheep to the slaughter; and like a Lamb dumb before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth:
33 In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the Earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, "I pray thee, of Whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other Man?"
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?"
37 And Philip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
The Rapture - We Will Not All Die - 1st Corinthians 15:50-54 (NASB)
In this passage, the Apostle Paul describes the transformation of the believer into the Heavenly Kingdom of God. A perishable, mortal human body cannot enter the Kingdom, therefore believers will be given new bodies that are imperishable and immortal. Paul reveals a mystery: every believer will not die but some will be translated into the Kingdom of God in the blink of an eye. During the Rapture, living Christians will enter the Kingdom directly without experiencing death! Paul uses the term "sleep" which is Greek idiom or a metaphor for physical death. But when a believer, either dead or alive is changed, they are immortal for eternity:
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality ...
The Rapture - Christians Taken Alive - 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB)
The Apostle Paul again uses the idiom for physical death, this time clearly explaining that those Christians who have experienced physical death will be resurrected by Christ. Here again we see the Rapture in the 17th verse, which is the Greek word "harpazo" translated into English as "caught up":
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
He Ascended to Heaven - Revelation 12:5 (NASB)
The Greek word "harpazo" is again translated into English as "caught up" in Revelation 12:5. Here it is used to describe the Ascension of Christ into Heaven; a demonstrated Rapture event:
5 And she gave birth to a Son, a Male Child, Who is to rule all the nations with a Rod of Iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.
There He Goes - Luke 24:49-53 (NASB)
In the Gospel According to Luke, Jesus tells the Disciples to await the Holy Spirit of God, Whom Jesus would send unto them after He ascended to God the Father's right hand. The Disciples are ordered to stay in the city of Jerusalem until the Spirit comes upon them. In the city of Bethany, Jesus blesses His Disciples and Ascends into the Kingdom of God on high. His Rapture is found in verse 51:
49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.
52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually in the temple praising God.
He'll Be Back - Acts of the Apostles 1:6-11 (NASB)
The Ascension of Christ into Heaven is described in the first chapter of Acts; a book written by the same author of the Gospel According to Luke. The Apostle Luke is classically known as a medical doctor having particular attention to detail. As expected, this short passage contains a great deal of information.
First the Disciples asked Jesus if Israel would soon be restored as His Kingdom. Jesus had other plans which included the birth of the Gentile Church and evangelizing the world. Therefore, Jesus told them that the appointed times ("times") and how much time would pass ("epochs") were a mystery of God the Father and known only to Him. Though signs are visible, the exact day and hour is not known.
The demonstrated Rapture event in this passage occurs in verse 9 immediately after Jesus reaffirms the Great Commission. Suddenly two angels, which always appear as men in the Bible, inform the Disciples that the visible, Second Coming of Christ will occur in a like manner, albeit reversed:
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the Earth."
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, Who has been taken up from you into Heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven."
Two Witnesses Raptured - Up With a Shout - Revelation 11:11-12 (KJV)
In Revelation Chapter 11 we discover another demonstrated Rapture event as God resurrects the Two Witnesses and then takes them directly into Heaven in plain view of the world:
11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.
12 And they heard a loud voice from Heaven saying to them, "Come up here", Then they went up into Heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Come Up Here - Revelation 4:1 (NASB)
In Revelation Chapter 4 we see yet another demonstrated Rapture event as the Apostle John is called up into Heaven to view the events of the future. This event was much like the Apostle Paul's 2nd Corinthians journey:
1 AFTER these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in Heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
Sneak Preview - 2nd Corinthians 12:2-4 (NASB)
In 2nd Corinthians, "harpazo" is once again translated into English as "caught up" describing the bodily or spiritual Rapture of the Apostle Paul into Heaven. The First Heaven is the sky above the Earth. The Second Heaven includes that which is known as outer space. The Third Heaven is the dwelling place of Almighty God:
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- such a man was caught up to the Third Heaven.
3 And I know how such a man -- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows --
4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
The Rapture - Surprise! - Luke 17:26-36 (NASB)
Jesus speaks about the Rapture in the Gospel according to Luke. Though He speaks of two destructive events, the important focus is that believers are removed by God before the REALLY tough times happen on Earth; i.e. prior to God's wrath being poured out. Regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, the destruction happens after Lot departs from Sodom. The Rapture is seen in verses 34-36 which also demonstrates that the event will happen simultaneously in each of the three major time zones on the Earth. Working in the field is done in the Morning (36), grinding is done in the Afternoon (35) and sleeping, of course, occurs at Night (34):
26 And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;
29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all.
30 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
31 On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left.
36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.
The Rapture - They Were Preoccupied - Matthew 24:37-44 (NASB)
Jesus speaks again about the Rapture in the Gospel according to Matthew. Here, He speaks again of the destructive worldwide flood. However, the important focus in this passage is that most of the world is busy with their "normal" daily lives. Therefore they did not comprehend what was coming and it took them completely by surprise, despite Noah's preaching. The Rapture is seen in verses 40-41 but only two time zones are referenced here. The Greek word "parousia" is translated here as "coming". However, the last part of this passage absolutely states that the Rapture will be a SURPRISE and occurs on an average, boring day, when even Christians think not:
37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
42 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the Thief was
coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
Escape All These Things - Luke 21:34-36 (KJV)
For nearly 2,000 years, Christians have been eagerly awaiting the Return of Jesus Christ to Earth. This anticipation has inspired fervent evangelism and steadfastness in trials and tribulations. Jesus admonished Christians to not become so preoccupied with the cares of this life that they become unfruitful. Jesus promised that the Faithful will be accounted worthy to ESCAPE the terrible things that will come upon the Earth in the Last Days. Some ridicule "escapism", yet Jesus taught it Himself:
34 And TAKE HEED to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and CARES OF THIS LIFE, and so THAT DAY COME UPON YOU UNAWARES.
35 For as a SNARE SHALL IT COME on ALL THEM that dwell on the face of the WHOLE EARTH.
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.
What Happens to Those Who are Left Behind?
Though many will be converted to the Gospel during the Tribulation Period (Revelation 20:4) it will be the most difficult time ever seen on the Earth. The fifth and final earthly kingdom of Daniel's prophecy will arise and be led by the man known as the Antichrist (false messiah), and he will be assisted by the False Prophet (false witness) and they will cause people to worship a False Deity (false god) which is a statue called the "image of the beast". It will also be the time of conversion of Nation of Israel to the Gospel of Christ (Romans 11:25-29).
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour wherein the Son of Man Cometh"
(Matthew 25:1-13 KJV)
The Bible
The 70 'Sevens' of Daniel Chapter 9
"And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the Beast,
so that the image of the Beast would even speak
and cause as many as do not worship the image of the Beast to be killed."
(Revelation 13:15 NASB)
Armageddon, 666, the Day of the Lord, the Tribulation Period; these terms have long been the topic of lively discussion and heated debate. But what does the Scripture really say about these things? Careful examination is called for as these issues have been much maligned down through the ages.
The most important and yet most difficult concept surrounding Bible prophecy is that Almighty God dwells outside the boundaries of time. Therefore, He looks at world events, determines how they play out, then relays this information to His prophets hundreds and thousands of years 'before' the events take place. Certainly His plans are fulfilled and He intervenes as necessary to accomplish His purpose. But the fact that He has given an accurate rendering of the future yet to be experienced assures that His prophecies will be fulfilled to 100% accuracy. This perfect level of accuracy testifies that God is in fact Who He says He is.
Thus, the Christian and the Jew can have complete confidence in the prophecies of God. However, it is most important to understand the prophecies in their correct context. God has purposely scrambled and divided the prophetic message to thwart mankind's manipulative tendencies. He brings the information out, little by little, until the general picture is painted. When the prophecies are to be fulfilled, the meaning becomes quite clear to the wise, i.e. those who would know the Truth and are prepared to receive it.
Jeremiah's 'Great Day' 30:7 (KJV)
Here God speaks through His prophet Jeremiah, telling of the 'Great Day', concerning the brief but intense period of testing which shall come upon the Nation of Israel:
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.
The 70 'Sevens' of Daniel 9:20-27 (KJV)
During the Babylonian captivity of Israel, starting from about 606 B.C. to 536 B.C., a pious Jew named Daniel is approached by an Angel of God with startling information: God is revealing His prophetic clock to Daniel so that Israel can know their future. Daniel is in prayer when the Angel Gabriel arrives:
20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,
21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering.
God has specifically sent Gabriel to Daniel who in known for his faithfulness. Class is in session:
22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding."
23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision."
Though rendered in the KJV as 'weeks' the word here is 'heptad' meaning 'seven.' It is 70 'sevens' that have been determined for Daniel's people (the Jews) and Daniel's Holy City (Jerusalem). Israel had relentlessly farmed their land for 70 years, not allowing the land to rest every 7th year as decreed by God. Therefore, God is punishing Israel 7 years for every one of the 70 years they didn't allow the land to rest:
24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your Holy City, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most Holy Place."
First a 483-year period must pass according the Gabriel. From the issuance of King Artaxerxes to rebuild the city and Temple of Jerusalem, until Jesus rides into Jerusalem proclaiming Himself as Messiah and King of Israel will be 483 years. Though periods of trouble will still plague Israel, God's Second Temple will be built:
25 "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress."
Though Daniel is receiving tremendous insight, he is not told of the Church Age. The Church Age is a perpetual mystery to Israel and will remain so until the middle of the 70th week. Gabriel states that after the 62nd week, which all occurred after the first 7 weeks (verse 25), the Messiah Jesus will be sacrificed not receiving His kingdom here on Earth (yet!). This is because National Israel is going away for a period of time.
Verse 26 is more easily understood if a couple of commas are inserted (ancient Hebrew didn't have punctuation as we know it) to make the meaning clearer. The better reading is "the people, of the prince who is to come, will destroy the city and the sanctuary." The people that destroyed the city and the sanctuary (God's Second Temple) were the Romans under Titus Vespasian in 70 A.D. The end of the city came with a flood, metaphorically, as the Romans killed 500,000 Jews. The " ... prince who is to come ... " is none other than the Antichrist, who arises during the 70th week. And until the End of the Age, there will be much war and desolation upon the Earth.
26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined."
Verse 27 brings detailed information on the Antichrist, the prince who is to come, who obviously is of Roman origin (Nebuchadnezzar's Dream confirms this truth). His covenant is with Israel, reborn as a nation near the End of the Age, for 7 years. The Antichrist first appears to be Israel's "messiah", allowing the construction of God's Third Temple and the reinstatement of animal and grain sacrifices as outlined in Leviticus. But in the middle of the 7 years, after 1,260 days, the Antichrist double-crosses Israel, puts an end to the sacrifices to God, and puts up an idol to himself, demanding God-like worship. This "abomination" causes National Israel to rebel and a foretold complete destruction of the Antichrist is forthcoming.
27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
"
Alas! for that Day is Great, so that none is like it: it is even the Time of Jacob's Trouble ... "(Jeremiah 30:7 KJV)
THE KING JAMES BIBLE
May 31, 2004
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THE KING JAMES BIBLE
The King James Version is the most popular translation of the
Bible in existence. We shall discuss the history of this book and
examine its construction and sequencing.
When Queen Elizabeth of England died in 1603, King James VI of
Scotland took the throne as King James I. There were at least
three popular versions of the Bible at that time: The Geneva
Bible, the Great Bible and the Bishop's Bible. In January, 1604
the Puritans asked King James I for a new translation. Work on
the new Bible began in 1607 with 47 translators who met twice each
day. The translators worked in 6 groups at 3 major universities.
2 groups worked at Oxford, 2 groups worked at Cambridge and the
last 2 groups did their work at Westminster. In 1611, the first
version was ready for publication. As with any other publication,
revisions were made. The Apocrypha, writings apparently of
Christian nature, were at first included in the King James
Version. Because of their dubious authenticity, they were
eventually eliminated in subsequent revisions. Today's version is
quite close to a revision published in 1769. However, there is
now available a Revised King James Version which is even more
contemporary.
The King James writers recognized the translation problems
they would encounter. In the King James Bible, the italicized
words are actually "extra" words inserted to make the meaning
clearer; these words are not actually found in the Hebrew or Greek
language. Let's look at the appendix in a King James Bible:
Readers of the King James Version now and again
come upon words printed in italics; that is to say,
with slanting letters. Some have supposed, mistakenly,
that these words were printed in this fashion for
emphasis. This is not the case. The words in italics
are words which do not have any equivalents in the
Hebrew or Greek text. They are words which have been
supplied by the translators in order to make the
meaning of the sentence clearer, or in order to make
the passage read more smoothly in English. Numerous
italicized words are found in the fifth chapter of
Matthew, and they occur with almost equal frequency in
other parts of the Scriptures.
The Geneva Bible, which was a pioneer version in
many different ways, was the first to use italics in
this fashion (4, italicized words mine).
The Bible is actually a collection of 66 books written by at
least 40 human authors. Christianity, which is based on the
Bible, is the only religion that claims a resurrected Savior,
Christ. The Bible is a work of long compilation since the
writings of its books span at least 1500 years. It is an ancient
writing in that the last author of any of the books, the Apostle
John, died approximately 1900 years ago. The two major divisions
are the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament is comprised of 39 books, Genesis to Malachi
The books of the Old Testament were written over a period of
about 1000 years. The Old Testament can be divided into 4 major
subdivisions:
(A) History: Genesis thru Esther (17 books)
(B) Poetry/Wisdom Literature: Job thru Song of Solomon (5 books)
(C) Major Prophets: Isaiah thru Daniel (5 books)
(D) Minor Prophets: Hosea thru Malachi (12 books)
Genesis to Esther are 17 books which deal with History.
The first 5 books are known as the Pentateuch and are Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These books are also
known as the Mosaic Law because it is generally accepted that
Moses was the author of all 5 books or at least the majority of
each. The books also cover the pre-Canaan or Promised Land
existence of the Israelites.
The next 12 books are Joshua to Esther and can be divided into
to 2 subcategories. The first 9 of these 12 books are Joshua,
Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles
and II Chronicles. These books record the experiences in Canaan.
The last 3 of these 12 books are Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.
These books are the post-exile from Canaan history.
The 5 books in the center of the Old Testament are Poetry and
Wisdom Literature.
These books are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song
of Solomon. These books contain, respectively, writings of the 5
following subjects: (1) human tragedy and suffering; (2) poetry of
praise, prophesy, problems and peace; (3) wisdom for life; (4) the
meaninglessness of life apart from God and the futility of
autonomous human wisdom; (5) God's gift of the relation of love
between men and women, which is actually a foreshadowing of the
relationship between Christ and the Church.
The last 17 books of the Old Testament are the Prophets.
These are divided into 2 main categories: the Major Prophets
and the Minor Prophets.
The Major Prophets are made up of 5 books and are Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel.
The Minor Prophets are made up of the last 12 books of the Old
Testament and are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
The New Testament is comprised of 27 books, Matthew to Revelation.
The books of the New Testament were written over a period of
approximately 100 years. The approximate 1500 year span of the
writings of the Bible is completed in the roughly 400 years
between the last writing of the Old Testament and the first
writing of the New Testament. There are four major subdivisions
of the New Testament:
(A) History: 4 Gospels and the Book of Acts (5 books)
(B) Paul's Epistles: Romans thru Philemon (13 books)
(C) General Epistles: Hebrews thru Jude (8 books)
(D) Apocalypse: Revelation (1 book)
The first 5 books are Historical books which include the
Gospels of Jesus Christ and the Book of Acts.
The Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Of these,
Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the synoptic Gospels, which
means they contain much mutual agreement on the life of Christ.
Matthew was a Jewish tax collector and his Gospel is written from
a Jewish perspective. Mark had served as a missionary with the
Apostle Paul and his Gospel was written from a Roman perspective.
Church tradition attributes Mark's Gospel to his recording of the
Apostle Peter's preaching and teaching. Luke was a physician and
his Gospel was written from a Greek perspective. John, who had a
fishing business, made it clear that Jesus was God in human form
and is recommended reading for new Christians.
The next book is the Book of Acts and it was written by Luke.
Acts deals with the formation and spread of the church, but most
importantly, the coming of the Holy Spirit on an individual basis
to the believers, which occurred first on the Day of Pentecost.
Also, the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles is an important
theme in this book. Acts also deals with the conversion of the
Apostle Paul, who was known as Saul of Tarsus. Paul would later
go on to write the next 13 of the 27 books canonized in the New
Testament.
The next 13 books are known as the Epistles of Paul.
These first 9 of these 13 books are Romans, I Corinthians, II
Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I
Thessalonians and II Thessalonians. These books were written to
the various churches that Paul had established for their
edification. These books teach the doctrine necessary to
establish and maintain a Christian church. Paul wrote the last 4
of these 13 books with the theme of a pastor giving instruction to
Christian leaders. These 4 books are I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus
and Philemon.
The next 8 books are known as the General Epistles.
These books are Hebrews, James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II
John, III John and Jude. These books are not directly written to
Christian churches as such, but are more directed at Christians
who were scattered abroad.
The last book of the Bible is the Book of Revelation.
Revelation was written by the Apostle John who also wrote the
Gospel according to John, I, II, and III John. Revelation was
written for edification and comfort of Christians who were
enduring terrible persecution. This book has an apocalyptic theme
throughout, depicting past, present and future events.
Works Cited
Bible (King James Version). London: Thomas Nelson
Publishers.
Douglas, J. D. The New Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Wm. B Eerdman's Publishing Co., 1973.
The NIV Study Bible (New International Version). Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1985.
How to Become a Christian in Jesus Christ All Rights Reserved Understanding Bible Doctrine How to be Saved by the Son of God September 22, 2006 Click Here for a Printable Version of this Page Webmaster: NOTE TO READERS This page is a copy created from the Google cache of TribForceHQ.Com And I (Jesus), if I (Jesus) be lifted up from the Earth, will draw all men unto Me. How To Become A Christian in Jesus Christ The central theme of the Bible is God's love for you and for all people. This love was revealed when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He conquered death you can have eternal life. You can know for sure what will become of you after you die. You have probably heard the story of God’s love referred to as the "Gospel." The word Gospel simply means "Good News." The Gospel is the Good News that, because of what Christ has done, we can be forgiven and can live forever. But this gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God's part and yours in this process: God's love is revealed in the Bible God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. And He wants to give you a life which will last forever, even after you experience physical death. We are sinful You may have heard someone say, "I'm only human--nobody's perfect." This Bible verse says the same thing: We are all sinners. We all do things that we know are wrong. And that's why we feel estranged from God -- because God is holy and good, and we are not. Sin has a penalty Just as criminals must pay the penalty for their crimes, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. If you continue to sin, you will pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you will also be separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell. Christ has paid our penalty! The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him. Salvation is a Free Gift The word grace means "undeserved favor." It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life, God's gift to you is free. You do not have to work for a gift. All you have to do is joyfully receive it, Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you! Christ is at your heart's door Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship with you. Picture, if you will, Jesus Christ standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life. You must receive Him When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God, and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity. If you want to ask God to save you, pray the following prayer. Dear God, I admit that I'm a sinner. I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me and save me. I ask this in the name of Jesus, who died for me. I trust in him right now. I believe that the sinless blood of Jesus is sufficient to pay the price for my salvation. Thank you for hearing me and receiving me. Thank you for saving my soul. In Jesus name, Amen. If you were genuine, you are Saved, Born Again, a child of God. Art image © 1999 Duncan Long - Used by Permission Click Here for a Printable Version of this Page MIDI Music: "Put Your Hand in the Hand" |
The Harvest of the Redeemed
Understanding Bible Doctrine
Laboring in the Fields of the Lord
June 25, 2006
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"The harvest truly is plenteous ..." (Matthew 9:37 KJV)
The Laborers are Few - Matthew 9:37-38 (KJV)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs His Disciples that although many will be Saved, there will be very few who work to spread the Gospel. Jesus instructs them to pray to God that He will inspire more people to sow the Word:
37 Then saith He unto His disciples, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;"
38 "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest."
Gathering Fruit for Life Eternal - John 4:35-38 (NASB)
Though it was nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus encouraged His Disciples to immediately begin sowing the Word. Though Salvation is not and cannot be accomplished by works, there are immediate and eternal rewards for winning people to Christ. The "fruit for life eternal" is the one investment in life that cannot be taken away by rising interest rates, stock market corrections or even death. Christians can make an eternal investment in the Kingdom of God. There is much work to be done and the time is now:
35 "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest?' Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest."
36 "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together."
37 "For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.'"
38 "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor."
The Parable Proclaimed Publicly - Mark 4:3-9 (NASB)
In the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus presents the teaching of seed sown into four different kinds of soil. Teaching from a boat to a crowd on the shore, Jesus presents a challenge to His listeners:
3 Listen to this! Behold, the Sower went out to sow;
4 as He was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.
6 And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
8 Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.
9 And He was saying, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'
The Parable Presented Privately - Mark 4:10-20 (NASB)
Many followers of Jesus, including the Twelve Disciples, asked Him to explain the mystery presented in the parables. Here the meaning is made quite clear. God is the first sower of the Word: The Reconciliation of Mankind to Himself in Christ - The Gospel. The "Word" is the Gospel of Christ.
The first soil (verse 15) is the unbeliever who never comprehends the Gospel at all because Satan has blinded his or her spiritual understanding (2nd Corinthians 4:3-4). The second soil (verses 16-17) is the fair-weather believer, who cannot retain the Gospel when it's unpopular. The third soil (verses 18-19) are those who hear the Word and begin to act on it, but become so entangled with their private lives that they are unable to bear fruit. The fourth soil (verse 20) are those who hear the Word, understand the Word and spread the Word, winning others to the Kingdom of God. The numbers are presented figuratively to represent an excellent yield (30), a superior yield (60) and an exceptional yield (100):
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the Twelve, began asking Him about the parables.
11 And He was saying to them, 'To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,'
12 'so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.'
13 And He said to them, 'Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?'
14 'The Sower sows the Word.'
15 'These are the ones who are beside the road where the Word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the Word which has been sown in them.'
16 'In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with joy;'
17 'and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the Word, immediately they fall away.'
18 'And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the Word,'
19 'but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.'
20 'And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the Word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.'
The Wise in the Word - Proverbs 11:30 (NASB)
Many references to the Gospel are found in the Old Testament as well. Though the Mystery of Salvation in Christ had not yet been revealed, reconciliation to God was evident. The Book of Proverbs elucidates:
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.
Guaranteed by God Himself - Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
When God spoke through His prophet Isaiah, He guaranteed that sowers of the Word will not labor in vain:
11 So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Miraculous Supernatural Results - Mark 4:26-29 (NASB)
Though modern science more thoroughly understands the processes of seed germination and plant growth, Jesus used a simple illustration to explain a complex Truth; as applicable today as 2,000 years ago. This passage tells us that (1) God will utilize the sown Word, (2) God will provide the increase to the sown and watered (Faith strengthened) Word and (3) God will Harvest a Kingdom of Believers because of the sown Word:
26 And He was saying, 'The Kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;'
27 'and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows -- how, he himself does not know.'
28 'The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.'
29 'But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the Harvest has come ...'
All Glory Goes to God - 1st Corinthians 3:6-9 (NASB)
Writing to the Christian Church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that his labors and the labors of another Apostle were by the Grace of God. Apart from the supernatural power of God in Christ, the Christian can accomplish nothing. Those who labor do not labor in vain:
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
God Provides the Growth - 2nd Corinthians 9:10 (NASB)
In his second letter to the Christian Church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul again reassured the Corinthians that God will continue to bless their evangelistic efforts and credit their eternal accounts:
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the Harvest of your righteousness;
Work the Works - John 9:4 (KJV)
Jesus stressed the urgency of His ministry. Knowing the persecution that would arise because of the Gospel, He made every effort to teach as many as He could. Today is the Day of Salvation:
4 I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is Day: the Night cometh, when no man can work.
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