Pentecost comes in the early summer (May-June). It’s the only Levitical Feast Day between the 3 Spring Feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits) and the 3 in the fall (Rosh Hashanna, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles). The Hebrew name for this Day is Shavuot, which means weeks, so in Israel it’s called the Feast of Weeks.

This is because it’s supposed to occur 7 weeks after the Feast of First Fruits (Lev. 23:15-16). Deut. 16:9 confirms this. “Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain.” The first cutting of the grain harvest took place on the Feast of First Fruits.

Since First Fruits is the first Sunday after Passover, Shavuot should always be on a Sunday, too. But somewhere along the way the Jews began counting from the first day of Unleavened Bread (the day after Passover) so now Shavuot can come any day of the week, depending on what day Unleavened Bread begins. This year (2010) it began at sundown May 18 on our calendar.

Christians call this day by its Greek name, Pentecost, from a Greek word that means “50 days”. There were 50 days from the Sabbath that followed Passover to the Feast of Weeks, and that’s where the Greek name comes from. But whether you count seven weeks (49 days) from First Fruits to the day the Jews call the Feast of Weeks or count 50 days from the first Sabbath after Passover to the day Christians call Pentecost, you will arrive at the same day and it will be a Sunday.

But like the Jews we’ve also changed things although we’ve retained the Sunday part. Christians now start counting on the day we call Easter Sunday, which is officially the first Sunday after the first full moon that follows the Spring Equinox. We include Easter Sunday as day one, so Pentecost is always seven weeks from Easter.

Because of differences between the Western Solar calendar and the Jewish Lunar one, Easter does not always come on the first Sunday after Passover, so we don’t always celebrate Pentecost on the correct date either. But this year Easter came on April 4, which was the first Sunday after Passover, the Feast of First Fruits. That means May 23, called Pentecost Sunday in 2010, is the correct date for the Feast of Weeks, according to Lev. 23:15-16 and Deut. 16:9. It’s the 7th Sunday after April 4.

What’s a Pentecost?

Jews celebrate Pentecost (I’ll just use its Greek name to avoid any more confusion than necessary) as the day Moses received the Law on Mt. Sinai and the nation Israel was born. (Exodus 19-20) Christians celebrate it as the day the Holy Spirit fell on the Disciples in Jerusalem and the Church was born (Acts 2). If you agree with my view that the parables of Matthew 13 describe the church on Earth and that the parable of the yeast predicts there will be sin in the church, you’ll be interested in the fact that unlike all the other Jewish Feasts that call for unleavened bread (no yeast), Pentecost requires bread baked with yeast (Lev. 23:17). In the Bible leaven, or yeast, is a model of sin because it causes the dough to begin spoiling.

The Jewish Pentecost ceremonies reveal a subtle link to the coming church. In synagogues, the Book of Ruth is read on Pentecost. The story of Ruth has been called “The Romance of Redemption”. It’s about Naomi, a Jewish woman from Bethlehem who lost her land and position and was forced into exile in a foreign country (Moab). Shortly thereafter her husband passed away leaving her penniless and alone.

She returns to Bethlehem accompanied by Ruth, a gentile woman who has sworn never to leave her. Ruth was a Moabite who had married one of Naomi’s sons (who also died) making her Naomi’s daughter-in-law and a destitute widow as well.

Once back in Bethlehem Naomi’s close relative, a prominent Jewish man named Boaz falls in love with Ruth and marries her while in the process of redeeming Naomi’s land. Both these events were accomplished according to the Law. For Naomi it was the law of redemption (Lev 25:25), and for Ruth it was the law of leverite marriage (Deut. 25:5-6).

The modeling here is dramatic, with Naomi in the role of Israel, destitute and alone; Ruth as the Church, the gentile bride; Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer (Messiah) and the story a prediction of the relationship between them. In the process of redeeming Israel, the Messiah takes a gentile bride. In doing so, He saves both from destitution and redeems Israel’s land. The identification of the Church with Pentecost began in the prophecies of Ruth. To learn more about these incredible prophecies, and enjoy one of the world’s classic love stories, read Ruth’s Story.

By the way, Boaz was the son of Rahab, the harlot from the Book of Joshua (read “The Gospel in Joshua … The Story of Rahab” ), and 3 generations later his great-grandson David became King of Israel. Rahab and Ruth both show up in the Genealogy of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 1:5), and King Solomon named one of the pillars at the entrance to the Temple after Boaz.

When’s Your Birthday?

By tradition Enoch, one of the patriarchs from Genesis 5, was born on the day later to be known as Pentecost. Enoch’s name means “teaching”, a primary function of the Church (Matt. 28:19-20) For this reason many scholars see him as a “type” of the church as well. Genesis 5:21-23 indicates that Enoch was very close to God and was actually taken live (raptured) into Heaven before the Great Flood. Pre-Trib scholars see this event as one of several Old Testament hints that the Church will disappear from Earth before the Great Tribulation.

These same traditions also hold that Enoch was taken on his birthday. So here’s a model in Genesis 5 of a man identified with the church being born and raptured on the day that would become Pentecost, the day the church was also born. Will the Church be raptured on our birthday too? Personally I don’t believe the Rapture of the Church will be the prophetic fulfillment of any of Israel’s Holy Days. But if I’m wrong and the Rapture does fulfill a Jewish Feast, Pentecost is by far the most obvious candidate.

As you probably know, I believe the reason no one on Earth can accurately predict the day of the Rapture is because it’s a number specific event, not a date specific one. In Romans 11:25 Paul implied the church has a “full number”, when its ranks will be considered complete. When that number is reached the Church will “come in” which means it will arrive at its scheduled destination, like when a ship “comes in.”

Jesus said the destination of the Church is His Father’s house (John 14:2). Put it together and I believe it means we’ll be raptured as soon as the pre-determined number of Christians has been born again, no matter what day of the week it is.

Soon And Very Soon

One day soon now, all who are in Christ, having heard and believed the Word of Truth, the Gospel of our salvation (thereby receiving the mark of the promised Holy Spirit) will suddenly disappear from the face of the Earth along with all children and those mentally incapable of making informed choices. In one instant we will have been going about our daily routines on Earth and in the next we’ll be standing in the presence of our Redeemer, our sins forgiven and forgotten, and all our imperfections gone. Among us will be all the faithful dead of the Church Age, reunited with perfected bodies and restored to eternal physical life. Together we will begin the most incredible journey of exploration and realization ever dreamed of.

Neither we, nor the unbelieving world, will have received any advance warning of the timing for this event; it will have come totally by surprise. Maybe it will happen on Pentecost, maybe not. But one thing is certain, when it does happen, none of us will care one whit whether we had predicted it’s timing accurately. We will only express in unimaginable joy our gratitude for being there. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephe. 2:8-9) As it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:9-10). You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah. 05-22-10

Why did Jesus ascend 10 days before The Church Age began?

Let’s first look at Ascension Thursday…

Acts 1:9-11
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The word “manner” is “tropos” which means “mode, style, character, means, or way.

So He’s coming back the SAME WAY… (and a cloud received Him out of their sight).

What does the bible say about how Jesus will return for the Rapture?

1 Thes 4:16-17

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The words “Clouds” in both verses (1 Thes 4:17 & Acts 1:9) is the same Greek word, so it seems that His departure and return WILL be the SAME.

The question is if Jesus returns the same WAY, will He return on the same DAY.

Here are more Bible verses to consider.
1Cor 15:21-23- For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS, (First Ascension Day) AFTERWARD THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S AT HIS COMING. (Second Ascension Day).

Could the order stated in verse 23 be the two Ascension Days as I showed?

PENTECOST

Why did Jesus ascend 10 days before the dispensation changed on Pentecost?

The Age of Law started on Pentecost when Moses received the Ten Commandments and the Age of Grace started on Pentecost with the arrival of the Holy Spirit and many believe, as do I, the Age of Law will start again on Pentecost.

What I don’t believe is that the Rapture will happen on Pentecost. There was a reason that Jesus left on Ascension Thursday 10 days before Pentecost. What happened in these 10 days as the apostles stayed in prayer in the upper room until the Holy Spirit came upon them? What did they do? Well, they picked the new Apostle, Matthias, who would testify of the Resurrection.

It was God who picked this 12th Apostle as we see in Acts 1:24 which says “And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knows the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen”. Did they need a week to do this? I wouldn’t think so. So why then did Jesus leave 10 days in advance of Pentecost? I believe it was because 10 days will be needed now, after Jesus ascends a second time on Ascension Thursday this May when He leaves with the Bride. Why will these 10 days be needed? The time will be needed for God to choose and seal the 144,000, who will be used after Pentecost testifying of the Resurrection the same way He chose the 12th Apostle after the first Ascension Day for the same purpose.

On Ascension Thursday, Jesus, who is the Jew’s Messiah, will take the Bride with Him and will leave the Jews behind. Ten days later, however, they will realize, by the appearance of the two witnesses and the sealed 144,000 that God has not left them and will be there for them during the 70th week.

Has anyone ever noticed that Romans 11:11 has never been fulfilled?

Romans 11:11
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Has our salvation ever ONCE provoked the Jews to jealousy? NO, Never! When we are RAPTURED, leaving with their Messiah, especially on His original Ascension Day, will they be jealous?…I think so..! Or if our disappearance is explained as alien abductions, when the 2 witnesses and the 144,000 preach of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, His Resurrection, and the Rapture, I’m sure that if jealousy wasn’t evident at our Rapture, it will be then. God’s word does not come back void and Gentile salvation MUST provoke the Jews to jealousy.

Let’s take a look at May 17th, Ascension Thursday.

The 17th, fits the 5, 6, 7 Jesus, of Charity. (15, 16, 17)

It fits a Gentile Holiday and not a Jewish one, which fits a word someone posted a year or two ago.

It’s a sliver moon like many people have seen in their rapture dreams and a few days later it’s the new moon.

Ascension Day is near the end of the barley harvest (Omer count) as the wheat harvest begins on Pentecost. Many people believe the Church is the barley which unlike wheat, which has to be crushed (tribulation) to separate it, it is just waved in the air on the days following first fruits.

It’s also in the spring.

How does this affect overall dates?

Yes, I do believe that the 70th week has not yet begun and that the full 7 years are left for the 70th week. I also believe that the 70th week will end on Rosh Hashanah – Sept 21, 2017 (the jubilee year) which is 50yrs after 1967 when Jerusalem was re-united with Israel and 100 yrs after 1917 when Israel left Ottoman rule. (Google – Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel’s prophecy)

How can this happen?….The shortening of the days by 1/3rd of course (Rev 8:12 & Mark 13:20). If the beginning of the 70th week is May 27th 2012 and it ends on Sept 21, 2017, it will only be 1943 days which means on July 25, 2014 a catastrophic event will happen (meteor strike, etc.) that will shorten our days to 18 hours and cause 2520 days to fit into 1943 days. Simply done by an excel program.

Well that’s the end of my study…..and of course, I’m not picking a date, just showing a possibility…!

Any way you look at it, He coming very, very soon!

YBIC
Rich E

Behold, I tell you a mystery!

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!”

1 Corinthians 15:51

Just over the horizon there is a mysterious event approaching that has spoken by our Lord and his prophets. The world will be complete astonished by this mysterious event! Jesus said, “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. (Matt 24:40-41) That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” (Luke 17:34-35)

This mysterious incident in ancient times has repeatedly been revealed in Holy Scripture. Prior to the Flood of Noah Enoch a righteous man before the Lord was the first to experience this enigma It is written that Enoch is “the seventh from Adam.” “Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 14). Enoch is also seventh in the sequence of names in the epistle of Jude. The number 7 means “completion.” Revelation 2 and 3 contain seven letters to the churches, which portray the Church Age. According to 2 Corinthians 10:11, the Church is the “end,” the “completion” of the world ages. And blindness has come upon Israel until the “full number” of the Gentiles has been reached Romans 11:25.

Enoch was born on the day of Pentecost sixth day of the month of Sivan, the ninth month of the civil year; the third month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar (in May and June). He was 65 when Methuselah was born and he did not die but was taken up into heaven in 987 at the age of 365 years. The epistle of Jude is the last letter before the Revelation, and it mentions Enoch as being a kind of completion. Could this completion be understood as a picture of the mysterious imminent removal of the Church and the following day of reckoning? The Church will be removed from this earth when it is complete and then the Lord will turn to Israel once again (Romans 11:25-26.) Perhaps this is why Michael the archangel, who fights in particular for the children of Israel (Daniel 12:1 and Revelation 12:7), is mentioned in Jude 9.

Enoch was the first man to be removed (harpazo) because he walked with God (Genesis 5:24) and this took place before the Flood. This word Harpazo in the Old Testament Septuagint, (Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures 300-200 BC) the actual Greek word literally can translate, “shall be seized.” “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:24) The name Enoch means “teaching” which is a primary function of the Church (Matt. 28:19-20) This Greek word “harpazo” is used seven times in the New Testament. (Matt. 13:19, John 10:12, Acts 8:39, II Cor. 12:2,4, I Thess. 4:17, and Rev. 12:5) In each case it means something was quickly grabbed, snared or seized. Beyond question this is a picture of the true Church, which follows the Lord and will be raptured (Harpazo). Noah, on the other hand, is a type of Israel, who is saved through the “flood” of the Great Tribulation.

Although we do not know the day or hour of Jesus’ return, we can clearly see the last chapter in human history before the Rapture has begun. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2) It might come to a shock to many that we have been living in the last days for over two thousand years.

Only those who are “in Christ” (the Ark) will be kept. “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied” (Jude 1- 2) There is no other place where you can be preserved from the future judgment of God than in Jesus Christ alone.

Another Old Testament symbolic type which points toward a removal (Harpazo) of God’s people prior to judgment is Lot and his family. They were delivered out of Sodom and Gomorrah before those cities were destroyed. The Apostle Peter alludes to both of these examples in his second epistle. He states that if God spared Noah and Lot, then He surely “knows how to rescue the godly from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the Day of Judgment” (2 Peter 4-9).

In Noah’s time, the sins of the people brought the judgment of the Flood upon them, but Enoch was saved beforehand. In the same way, the situation of the end-times is demanding God’s judgment. The Church of Jesus Christ will be preserved from God’s judgment through the Harpazo (Rapture). Of the time of Noah, Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37- 39).

Hollywood depicts quite vividly the depravity of our sin. In the early 1900’s we had a few monsters in the silver screen, from Frankenstein, Wolf man, Dracula, and a few misshapen creatures, But today’s lust of horror and gore films has gone beyond our imagination.

The people of Noah’s generation did not see the signs of the times; they did not listen to God speak through Noah, “by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Peter 3:19-20).

There was no sign of impending judgment when Noah was building the ark. People lived as nothing was going to happen then suddenly the soaking rain came upon the people unexpectedly. This is how it is today… People live each day mocking those who warn them of God’s impending judgment, then suddenly the God will remove (Harpazo) his bride from impending danger, the Rapture will take place and the time of Jacob’s (Israel) trouble will commence. “Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.” (Jer 30:7) The only time period that fits this description is the period of the Tribulation. This time is unparalleled in history.

The Bible tells us of others who have been taken up into heaven in very much the same way that we will be at the time of the rapture. Elijah was taken up into heaven like a whirlwind. II Kings 2:11-12 “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel! And Elisha saw him no more.”

The book of Daniel brings a further typology that reveals the mystery of the rapture. Remember the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image that landed his three friends in the fiery furnace for refusing to worship it? Where was Daniel in this story? He is mysteriously absent, and there is no way he knelt to that image. He was probably out of town on business. He therefore becomes a type of the church while his buddies become a type of Israel, being protected even while in the midst of a fiery furnace.

The Psalms of King David alludes to the Rapture. “Oh, how great [is] Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, [Which] You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.” (Psalm 31:19-20)

The Prophet Isaiah speaks of God’s hiding His people until his judgment has past. “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.” (Isa 26:20-21)

In the New Testament there is an interesting teleportation episode with Philip and the eunuch. “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took [Harpazo] Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” (Acts 8:39-40) Azotus is a coastal city about 19 miles north of Gaza which Philip was transported via The Holy Spirit’s Highway.

The rapture of the church is likened in the Bible to the calling of a virgin bride (the true church) to join the Bridegroom, Jesus. The false church is, on the other hand, like “the great harlot” depicted in Revelation 17. The imagery is one of consummated love between Jesus and His church. The church will then be safe from the terrible time of world wide judgments, lasting seven years. This promise is give to the Church by Jesus, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” ( Rev 3:10) These “end-time” judgments will commence immediately down here on earth after the Holy Spirits work through the Body of Christ (the Church) is removed. “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will do so] until He is taken out of the way.” (2 Thess. 2:7).

The rapture is all about being united with the God we have professed to love. Most of us by now are aware of the widespread hypocrisy in the church these days, the reality that Christ’s Bride-to-be has often gone whoring after other gods. This means that preparing ourselves for the rapture deserves our immediate attention if we are followers of the Lord Jesus, or if we have been delaying our decision to align ourselves with God’s people. Getting ready for the Rapture is all about repentance in fact. Our nation is falling apart around us and much the blame can is due to the failure of the church to be the holy people we are called to be.

The language of heaven is about going “home.” Our transformation will be immediatewhen Christ calls us (A twink is a reflected particle of light seen in the eye and thusly travels at the speed of light 983,571,056 feet per second) “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)

Nowhere are believers told to watch for the appearance of the Antichrist. On the contrary, we are told to watch for Jesus Christ. In Titus 2:13 Paul says we are to live “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Likewise, Peter urges us to “fix our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). John completes the apostolic chorus by similarly urging us to “fix our hope on Him at His appearing” (1 John 3:2-3).

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man.” (Matt 24:3) For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matt 24:37-42)

“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” (Romans 15:4)

Peace,

By Brother D

These large quakes are almost daily now. What does that mean? The Lord Almighty will come with THUNDER AND EARTHQUAKE. When? I don’t know. The signs around us indicate to me that although we do not know when the Lord is coming, He wants our attention right now..

I need to begin clarifying in these posts that when I say the Lord is coming I do not mean the second coming to rule and reign on earth, I am talking about the arrival of the Bridegroom which is at an unknown time. We know exactly when the second coming will be, we can count it down to the day thanks to the day counts the Lord has given us. There is an unknown day however that we do not know. Read the parable of the virgins in Matt 25, the virgins did not know when the Bridegroom would arrive so the wise virgins took oil with their lamps in preparation to wait.

There are many foolish virgins in the world today who have an unlimited bad full of excuses for why they are not watching for the Lord’s return today. Almost all of their excuses revolve around “He can’t come back today because of x,y or z…”

The Lord is preparing a group of people who are watching and ready today. These people have no excuses, they were told to watch and they are watching. They were told to be ready and they are ready. What will people say when the Lord asks them to account for why they were not watching and ready today? Will excuses and reasonings be enough to overcome willful disobedience? When the Lord tells us to do something He does not want to hear excuses, He wants us to do it, period. He is a military commander. He is the General of all Generals, the King of Kings, and Kings don’t like disobedience.

So they tell us Jesus cannot come back today or anytime soon, and He will certainly come back on a day like today or sometime soon, in any case before they expect Him and what will they do to answer for themselves?

These earthquakes are the center of my focus as a result of the Spirit of the Lord. Watch these earthquakes and other earth changes, they signal my approach. That is what this writer hears the Lord saying today. Weird weather, quakes and shakes and noises and hail and tornadoes and dead animals by the millions are everywhere but because man is so ‘wise’ today and ‘knows everything’ it can all be explained away in some form or fashion to tickle mens ears and put them back to sleep.

Watch and witness everything that happens will have an excuse or reason to wave it away. STOP CONFRONTING US WITH THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL they say….tell us pleasing things

Isaiah 119 These are rebellious people, deceitful children,

children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.

10 They say to the seers,

“See no more visions!”

and to the prophets,

“Give us no more visions of what is right!

Tell us pleasant things,

prophesy illusions.

11Leave this way,

get off this path,

and stop confronting us

with the Holy One of Israel!”

The Lord has never given this brother (me) a title so I remain brother D the nobody, but this nobody does hear “Give us no more visions of what is right! and Leave this way,get off this path,and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”

The Lord has set my face like flint to watch these particular signs of His coming. Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hail, etc. The Lord judges the earth with the earth. As in the days of Noah and Lot so it shall be again. A flood destroyed the earth in the days of Noah, fire in the days of Lot. How easy to explain away such things today. “It was HAARP” or “it was global warming!” or “it is global crustal displacement” or it is any of an infinite list of other things other than the judgment and wrath of God on a disobedient world.

Laugh if you want to. Scorn and mock and ridicule if you want to. The signs are there for all of us to see. As for this brother, he has no strength left to mock or scoff. His heart and spirit are weighed down with grief. I pray for myself and my family and for all of you that we may be counted worthy to escape all of whats about to happen (Luke 21.36). If there were no escape from all we would not have been told to pray for it. Those who tell us there is no escape from all accuse the Lord of writing non-sense to us. What does the Spirit tell your spirit? That is all you need to know.

I do not know times and dates, however I am watching with special care over this season of 80 days. What will happen? I do not know, but I do know that since this watch has started 27 days ago we have had two mega earthquakes and a bunch of other large ones. Let us be watching with special care over the balance of this month and next month and the beginning of June. That is where this 80 day watch takes us. I have no idea what will happen if anything. I do know that so far I have asked for a special sign and it was given, a mega-quake just like what hit Japan (9 versus an 8.9) with zero deaths whereas the Japan quake killed tens of thousands and is continuing to kill thousands through this very day through radiation.

The mega-quake with no deaths is a sign of coming wrath and current mercy. The Lord’s hand is outstretched in mercy and forgiveness today. Let us embrace Him today in repentance and humility. He is our shelter, our rock, our fortress and hiding place from the storm to come.

These are the things this brother hears the Lord saying today. grace and peace

Posted by Brother D

by Pastor F.M. Riley, 4/2/12

Introduction

As I write, expectation of the coming of the Lord to resurrect and rapture His New Covenant Church and people to glory is at a “fever high” among many Bible believers, unlike anything I have ever previously seen. Although many previous “dates” predicted in the past caused excitement among the followers of the “date setters,” yet I have never previously seen such a sense of expectation among so many true believers as I am seeing today. Is there a sound Scriptural reason for such expectancy? Maybe! And maybe not! But at least it is worth noticing and discussing.

Over the past two years believers who seriously study the prophetic Word have seen various “signs” which are explicitly predicted in the prophetic Word coming to pass. I am speaking of “signs” clearly prophesied to precede the “day of the Lord” [Tribulation]. Significantly, these predicted “signs” have increased in frequency over these past two years, occurring more and more frequently.

It is or should be obvious to any true believer that the terrible Tribulation period is right now glaringly imminent. Therefore, the coming of our Lord to resurrect and rapture His New Covenant believers to glory BEFORE the judgments of the Tribulation begin is also glaringly imminent. How imminent? Just read on…

The Jewish Passover

The Scriptures repeatedly and explicitly state that “the Passover” occurs on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Abib [Nisan], the first month of the Jewish year on the calendar which the Lord God Himself gave to Israel in Exodus 12. This year that date will fall on Friday, April 6th on our Gentile calendar. Go to your calendar and take a look for yourself.

From reports I am receiving from sources in Israel which I consider to be highly reliable, the Jewish Rabbis have been fervently proclaiming this message to the Jewish people since the beginning of this present year.

Our readers may or may not then be aware that the Orthodox Jewish Rabbis in Israel and other parts of the world have for the past several months (or longer) been telling the Jewish people who attend the synagogue services that this year, 2012, is the year that will begin “the redemption of Israel.”

A “POSSIBLE” SCENARIO…???

Therefore the expectation of the coming of the promised Messiah is running high among the religious Jews in Israel and also in other parts of the world. Glory! Glory to God! Praise the Lord!

I want to remind our readers that the explicit statement of God’s Word reads, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in,” Romans 11:25.

This Scripture does not say that Israel was totally blinded! Only that they were blinded “in part.” In fact, Israel has had some prominent Rabbis during the past 2,000 years who have recognized that Yeshua (Jesus) was indeed the promised Messiah of Israel, but for whatever their reasons they kept quiet about it, only revealing their knowledge of it on their deathbed or in letters they left behind.

I feel certain that the Lord God was “superintending” their knowledge of Him, as it was not the “appointed time” for the Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed to Israel nationally, Acts 17:26.

But this is by no means all that the Jewish Rabbis are teaching the Jewish people about this year. For several months now (or longer), just four days from now! The Rabbis are basing their teaching on their faith in the literal truth of Malachi 4:5-6, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” The Orthodox Jews believe that the Word of God is to be taken as literal truth! Glory to God! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

I can only wish more people in the ranks of Christianity today also had this much faith in the literal truth and accuracy of God’s Word. If so, there might not be so many churches and “professing Christians” in a state of apostasy today. Read Revelation 3:19.

The Jewish Holy Day of “first fruits”

Don’t fail to notice that this passage in Malachi explicitly states that “Elijah the prophet” is to be sent back to Israel BEFORE the “day of the Lord” [the Tribulation]. This is important! If the Orthodox Rabbis are correct, and Elijah appears in the city of Jerusalem on Passover this year, then it would make good Scriptural and logical sense that the Lord Jesus Christ would come to resurrect and rapture His New Covenant church and people to glory TWO DAYS LATER on the Jewish Holy Day of “first fruits.”

These Rabbis have been boldly declaring that “Elijah the prophet” will appear in the city of Jerusalem on Passover this year.

Again I emphasize for our readers that the “date” of Passover this year is April 6th
Praise the Lord! Glory to God! Hallelujah!

The Jewish Holy Day of “first fruits” this year falls on Sunday, April 8th on our Gentile calendar. Significantly, this year April 8th is Easter, the day the “religious world” has set
aside to observe the resurrection of Christ. It is also the exact day that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the grave on “first fruits” some 2,000 years ago. But this isn’t all!

At some point over the centuries the Jewish Rabbis arbitrarily decided to set the observance of “first fruits” on Abib [Nisan] 16 every year regardless of what day of the week it fell on, totally ignoring what their own Scriptures said about observing this day in Leviticus 23:9-14. Well guess what? This year Abib 16 falls on “the morrow after the Sabbath” following Passover, exactly according to the instructions given in Leviticus 23. Glory!

So what we actually have coming to pass this year is that “first fruits” is [1] falling on the very day the Jewish Rabbis arbitrarily set for it, [2] the very day that Christ arose from the grave some 2,000 years ago, [3] the very day that Leviticus 23 says that it is to be observed, [4] and on Easter, the very day the lost “religious world” has set aside for the observance of the Lord’s resurrection. Is all of this just “coincidence,” or is it possible that the Lord God of Heaven arranged things to bring it all together on this particular day?

Any reader who thinks all of this just “came together” by “coincidence” needs to contact me at once. I still haven’t found a buyer for that seacoast property in Kansas, and I’ll make someone a great deal on it. Sic!

The Transition in Revelation

I am well aware that just the suggestion that “Elijah the prophet,” one of God’s “two witnesses” [Revelation 11:3] during the Tribulation, might show up in Jerusalem two days before the resurrection and rapture occurs, will likely cause some “prophecy teachers” to go into “conniption fits.” But the difference in those that do and me, is that after 58 years of seriously studying Bible prophecy I am still learning.

I am not the least bit ashamed to admit that I don’t know it all yet! Some of these “prophecy teachers” today appear to think they already know all there is to know about Bible prophecy, therefore they can no longer learn anything! Such an attitude on the part of any believer is sad!

Now turn to Revelation 3:22 and carefully read this passage. Does this Scripture conclude the Lord’s “letters to the seven churches” or does it not? No, I’m not asking a silly question! I really want and expect an honest answer, or I wouldn’t have bothered to ask. Does this Scripture conclude the Lord’s letters to the churches, or doesn’t it? Of course it does! Then it should also be obvious that it also concludes the final Laodicean “church age” bringing to an end this present “dispensation of grace.” Hello!

Absolute proof of this truth is contained in the very next Scripture that John was inspired to write. Listen as John explicitly says,

“After these things I saw, and behold, a door having been opened in heaven: and the voice which I heard at the first as it were of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up hither, and I will show to thee what things must take place after these things,” Revelation 4:1. This is a literal word for word rendering of the Greek as set forth in the Textus Receptus Greek Text. See Hendrickson’s Hebrew Greek English Interlinear Bible, or Dr. Berry’s Interlinear Greek – English New Testament.

It was immediately “after” John saw the dispensation of grace come to an end in Revelation 3:22 that he was shown the door standing open in Heaven and heard the Lord God commanding him to “Come up hither.” The Lord Jesus Christ had already told His church in His letter to Philadelphia, “I have set before thee [in your future] an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name,” 3:8. What John was seeing in 4:1 is the exact fulfillment of this promise of the Lord to His churches and people in the Philadelphian church letter. Glory!

By comparing these two Scriptures it should be obvious to our readers that there was a brief transition period between the end of this present dispensation, and John’s “catching up” into Heaven. Since the “catching up” of John clearly typifies the future rapture [harpazo] of the Lord’s New Covenant believers, then this indicates the distinct “possibility” of there being a brief transition period between the end of this present dispensation and New Covenant believers being “caught up” [harpazo...raptured] to glory. Now isn’t this interesting?

This is especially interesting in view of the fact that the Orthodox Jewish Rabbis are expecting “Elijah the prophet” to show up in Jerusalem on Passover this year.

In His Likeness

The inspired Word explicitly states in Romans 6:4-5, “Therefore we [New Covenant believers] are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.”

The Greek word translated as “likeness” in this Scripture is the word, “homoioma.” The word literally means, “that which has been made after the likeness of something; a figure; image; likeness; representation; resemblance.” This Greek word is used in this sense in several passages in the New Testament. However, Thayer’s Lexicon also says that in Romans 6:5 this word “amounts well-nigh to equality or identity.” In other words, in the exact likeness! See Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, page 445, Strong’s No. 3667. Hello!

Is this definition absolutely accurate? I do not know! I trust the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit implicitly [John 16:12-15], but I do not always trust what men have to say about the Scriptures, not even the best of men. Like it or not, even true believers all still presently have a “sin nature” [Romans 7:18; 7:22-25] which sometimes causes us to err in discernment.

However, if this statement about Romans 6:5 is indeed true, then we New Covenant believers will be resurrected and raptured in exact “likeness” to the resurrection of Christ. This would mean that the resurrection and rapture of God’s people [true believers] will take place on the Jewish Holy Day of “first fruits,” which this year falls on Sunday, April 8th.

It might also mean that since the Lord Jesus Christ came forth from the grave exactly as the Jewish weekly Sabbath Day was ending and Sunday, “the first day of the week,” was beginning [Matthew 28:1-6], the resurrection and rapture of New Covenant believers might occur at the exact same time [Jewish time] the Lord Himself was raised some 2,000 years ago. Will this happen in this exact manner? I do not know! But connect the dots for yourself.

If “Elijah the prophet” does indeed show up in the city of Jerusalem this coming Friday, April 6th, on the Jewish Holy Day of Passover, as these Jewish Rabbis are right now proclaiming to the Jewish people, then I can’t think of any good reason why the rest of the scenario should not fall right into place. There should then be no question about being in the transition period. Whether this will actually occur or not remains to be seen, but we don’t have but a few days for this scenario to be proven or disproven. Think about it!

If “Elijah the propet” shows up in Jerusalem on Friday of this week, his appearance will be a “sign” to every New Covenant believer that the end of this dispensation has arrived. This will then clearly indicate to us who are New Covenant believers that we are in a transition period, and have only a few hours to wind up our affairs in this world before the resurrection and rapture occurs on Sunday, April 8th. Glory to God! Hallelujah!

The Jewish Holy Day of Pentecost

I am aware that some of God’s people are strongly convinced that the Lord will come to resurrect and rapture His New Covenant people to glory on the Jewish Holy Day of Pentecost. They believe this primarily because, as some say, “Pentecost was when the church was born!” Pardon me for choosing to disagree! I don’t believe for a minute that the Lord’s church was born on Pentecost.

What I see in the Gospels is that during the three years of the Lord’s personal ministry, He carefully chose and prepared those whom He would have to serve as the nucleus [foundation] upon which He would build His church. Read Ephesians 2:20-22, 4:11- 13, and 1 Corinthians 12:27-28. When He had finally completed the structural foundation for His church [the chosen three, the twelve apostles; the seventy; the one hundred twenty], the Lord then “legally” transferred the “power” [authority] to represent Him on the earth from Old Covenant Israel to His New Covenant Church. Notice Luke 24:45-49. This transfer of “legal authority” took place on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. Carefully study this truth out for yourself!

Since it is obvious that the Lord’s New Covenant Church is going to be removed from this earth at the time of the resurrection and rapture, then who is going to represent the Lord on the earth following the church’s removal? Any true believer who seriously studies the Scriptures should be able to answer this question. Keep in mind that the Lord repeatedly states and teaches in His inspired Word that He will not leave Himself without a “witness” in the earth. So who is to be His “witness” after His church is removed?

When the Lord removes His New Covenant Church and people from the earth by the resurrection and rapture, the inspired prophecies clearly point out that the “legal authority” to represent the Lord God on the earth will be transferred back to Israel. But when will this “legal transaction” occur?

When did it occur the first time? It occurred the first time on the Day of Pentecost when God placed His Law in the hands of Israel at Mt. Sinai. Read it for yourself in The Book of Exodus.

Then when was the second time this “legal authority” was transferred? It was transferred from Old Covenant Israel to the Lord’s New Covenant Church on the Day of Pentecost as plainly recorded in Acts 2. The evidence of this transferal of “legal authority” was the pouring out of the power of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Since this transfer of “legal authority” to the Lord’s church was made on the Day of Pentecost some 2,000 years ago, then what would be the logical time for this authority to be transferred back to Israel following the removal of the Lord’s church from the earth? Well…??

I think the answer should be glaringly obvious to any reader with spiritual discernment. The “legal authority” will be transferred for the third time, when on the Day of
Pentecost this year, the Lord God will once again pour out the power of His Holy Spirit on the nation and people of Israel. That date on our Gentile calendar is Sunday, May 27th.

The Prophecy of Joel

Is there any Scriptural proof that this will occur? I’m so glad you asked! Turn and read Joel 2:28-32 for yourself. Notice that in this prophecy the Lord is explicitly talking to Israel and the Jewish people. The time clearly stated in the prophecy is “afterward,” that is, AFTER the Gentiles have had dominion over Israel and the Jewish people during this present dispensation as clearly prophesied in Joel 2:17.

[Joel 2:18-27 is what is commonly referred to as a “parenthetical passage.” The passage refers to the future blessing of Israel and the Jewish people AFTER they have been “redeemed”]. In other words, Joel 2:28 takes up the end-time prophecy concerning Israel and the Jewish people exactly where Joel 2:17 left off. This isn’t hard for any serious Bible student to see and understand.

I know this truth will come as a shock to many in the ranks of Christianity today who are so “gung ho” to apply Joel’s prophecy to a great end-time revival, which according to them, is to occur before this present dispensation ends and the resurrection and rapture occurs.

I don’t mean to be offensive to my brothers and sisters in Christ, but 2 Timothy 2:15 is still in the Bible and some “professing Christians” today really need to learn how to “rightly divide the Word of truth.” I can assure every reader that there will be a great end-time revival, but such is not going to occur in this present dispensation. Read Revelation 3:14-22. Do our readers see any great end-time revival occurring in that church letter? Well…??

Now turn and read Revelation 7:1-17 [a Tribulation passage]. Is there a great end- time revival occurring in this chapter? You better believe there is! During the first half of the Tribulation, under the ministry of the 144,000 saved and sealed Jews, millions of people will turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Compare Matthew 24:14 and stop trying to steal this prophecy from the 144,000 Jews to whom it rightfully belongs.

It will then be on the Day of Pentecost this year (2012) that the power of the Holy Spirit will again be poured out upon the 144,000 saved and sealed Jews, transferring to them again the “legal authority” to represent the Messiah of Israel and the Lord God of Heaven upon the earth during the Tribulation period. Glory to God! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Thank you Lord Jesus! Thank you Heavenly Father! The glorious truth of Your Word will triumph!

Conclusion

Dear readers, the whole end-time scenario is swiftly falling right into place. Are you truly saved from sin and ready to meet the Lord? Think about it! A week from now I may not even be around to ask this question. The coming of the Lord to resurrect and rapture HIS OWN to glory is right at the door.

Won’t every unsaved reader take heed NOW and seek the Lord while the opportunity to do so is still available? I’d like to meet every reader in glory when our Lord comes. Please don’t disappoint me! “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?… Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,” Acts 17:31.

NOTICE: Permission is granted to any TRUE BELIEVER, or to any Bible believing Christian ministry, to forward this study to others, or to reproduce copies of it to share with others, or to quote from it IN CONTEXT AS WRITTEN.

This ministry is supported solely by the freewill offerings of those who feel led of the Lord to help us send forth God’s wonderful Word.

All comments, questions, and correspondence should be addressed to: Pastor F. M. Riley, 184 County Road 108, Harrisburg, Missouri 65256, or I can be contacted by sending me an email at: fmrglbd5 (at)yahoo.com
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” Revelation 22:20.