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Sunday 12-18-22 1st. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Kislev 23, 5783 86th. Fall Day
Can Yeshua Come At Any Moment?
There is one school of thought which believes Jesus may return at any moment – even this very night. Those who suggest this, believe Jesus is returning to rapture away His saints to heaven, first, and then will come a second time, after a few years, to punish the Antichrist and the rebellious earth and to install the Kingdom of God. They call it “two phases” of one coming.
Is there any truth at all to this view? If popularity is any criteria, then it must be true, because – most Christians sincerely believe it. Bumper stickers on automobiles announce: “IF I AM RAPTURED, TAKE THE WHEEL.” But popularity is no basis of knowing what is right or wrong; we must search the Scriptures to find out what is the real truth (John 17:17).
Jesus warned first of all to beware of false prophets and ministers disguised as ministers of Christ. Then He said: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8, NKJV).
We certainly live in an age where the fear of war, even World War III, is a breathtaking reality. The terrors of modern warfare are unimaginable, causing the mind to reel. They are becoming so horrible that multitudes will go into a catatonic state of shock (Luke 21:26). How many wars, rebellions, revolutions, invasions, threats and rumors of war, can you count on your fingers right now? How many since World War II? Since Korea? Since Vietnam? The Gulf War? The genocide currently continuing in the Sudan! The threat of war over Taiwan! North Korea rattling its missiles! Pakistan and India, both of which have nuclear weapons! We are always hearing of wars and revolts in Africa, eastern Europe, Asia, central America, and the Middle East!
Yeshua’s words have been fulfilled to the very letter.
And famine? Never was the threat of world hunger ever any worse than right now – and growing worse daily. World population is burgeoning, because few if any nations really practice birth control, and the food supply is beginning to show signs of strain, faltering, and failing. Many millions are soon destined to die from famine and starvation.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions – these too are increasing. Jesus said these signs would. be the “beginning” of sorrows or tribulation.
Next He prophesied increased persecution upon His true Church, His dedicated followers. Whereas the Church of God has enjoyed relative peace and harmony with the neighbors around us for several decades, times are beginning to change. Anti-Christian sentiment is spreading. The tax favored treatment of religious non-profit institutions is being severely threatened. The secular government and society is becoming increasingly hostile toward religion! A bizarre sect of Sabbath keepers were cremated at Waco, Texas, by Federal BATF agents, in a fiery holocaust which consumed men, women, and children indiscrimately.
Jesus told us it would happen. He said: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:9-11).
Jesus foretold: “And because INIQUITY [lawlessness, sin] shall abound, the love [natural affection for neighbor, for others, as well as love for God] of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12).
Next on the Agenda -- The Great Tribulation!
Then what did the Messiah say would happen? What comes next? What is the next sign or event which would happen before His return?
The very next sign or event to look for, He said, is war in the Middle East!
Notice it! Let’s pick up the story flow in Matthew 24: “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoso reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take any thing out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But WOE to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
“For then will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were SHORTENED, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22, NKJV).
The abomination of desolation will involve foreign Gentile armies surrounding Jerusalem – the standards of an invading army hoisted, raised, over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem! Luke’s account of this same prophecy makes the picture even clearer. Notice: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; for these are DAYS OF VENGEANCE, as a fulfillment of all that is written.
“Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be GREAT DISTRESS on the earth and WRATH against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:20-24, NRSV).
Notice! We have seen there will be awesome, devastating events which will presage the coming of Christ, including the Great Tribulation itself – and up to this point, Yeshua has said absolutely NOTHING about the “rapture of the saints”! How could He have left it out? If it is supposed to occur somewhere in the middle of those fateful signs and events, then why didn’t Christ even MENTION it?
The answer is simple – because it isn’t going to happen that way! Modern proponents of a rapture before the Great Tribulation have it all backwards!
In this prophecy, Yeshua told His elect, His true disciples, who are living at the End Time, “So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your FLIGHT may not be in winter or on a Sabbath” (Matt.24:15-20, NRSV).
He made no mention whatsoever of a secret plan to RAPTURE the church to heaven. But He DID warn His saints – His elect – to be ready to FLEE to the mountains, to pray that their FLIGHT would not have to occur in winter or on a Sabbath, when travel is curtailed. These things would not matter if they were to be whisked off to heaven!
Thus far, we have seen absolutely no evidence to support the rapture of the saints to heaven before the Tribulation, or midway through it. But if there is no “secret rapture” to protect the saints, how will they be protected? What is all this about “fleeing”?
Let’s notice other Scriptures which bear on this important subject.
Those Christians who are watchful, vigilant, and pray continuously to be worthy to escape those horrifying events to come, will be spared (Luke 21:34-36). They are the ones who will be protected on earth, through the Tribulation, not taken to heaven!
God says of the Philadelphia Church – the church which TRULY expresses His divine love and brotherly compassion – “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, KJV). The word translated “from” here is the Greek ek and the Englishman’s Greek New Testament interlinear has it, “I will keep thee out of the hour of trial.” Young’s Analytical Concordance says it means “out of.” The question is, HOW will He do this? There is no scriptural evidence that He will take them to heaven for the duration. Jesus Christ told His disciples that when they see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, that its desolation is nigh, and at that time those in Judea (modern “Israel”) should “FLEE to the mountains” (Matt.24:16; Luke 22:20-21) – in other words, “get out of Dodge” before the trouble erupts!
The “mountains” mentioned here means the mountains of Israel. In the first century, the early church fled to the Qumran region, to caves in the mountains near the Dead Sea, and later fled across the Jordan River to a small town called Pella. David also fled from king Saul to this same general region, to En Gedi, a mountainous area west of the Dead Sea where many caves existed.
To be continued
By William F. Dankenbring
Love, Walter and Debbie
Can Yeshua Come At Any Moment?
There is one school of thought which believes Jesus may return at any moment – even this very night. Those who suggest this, believe Jesus is returning to rapture away His saints to heaven, first, and then will come a second time, after a few years, to punish the Antichrist and the rebellious earth and to install the Kingdom of God. They call it “two phases” of one coming.
Is there any truth at all to this view? If popularity is any criteria, then it must be true, because – most Christians sincerely believe it. Bumper stickers on automobiles announce: “IF I AM RAPTURED, TAKE THE WHEEL.” But popularity is no basis of knowing what is right or wrong; we must search the Scriptures to find out what is the real truth (John 17:17).
Jesus warned first of all to beware of false prophets and ministers disguised as ministers of Christ. Then He said: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8, NKJV).
We certainly live in an age where the fear of war, even World War III, is a breathtaking reality. The terrors of modern warfare are unimaginable, causing the mind to reel. They are becoming so horrible that multitudes will go into a catatonic state of shock (Luke 21:26). How many wars, rebellions, revolutions, invasions, threats and rumors of war, can you count on your fingers right now? How many since World War II? Since Korea? Since Vietnam? The Gulf War? The genocide currently continuing in the Sudan! The threat of war over Taiwan! North Korea rattling its missiles! Pakistan and India, both of which have nuclear weapons! We are always hearing of wars and revolts in Africa, eastern Europe, Asia, central America, and the Middle East!
Yeshua’s words have been fulfilled to the very letter.
And famine? Never was the threat of world hunger ever any worse than right now – and growing worse daily. World population is burgeoning, because few if any nations really practice birth control, and the food supply is beginning to show signs of strain, faltering, and failing. Many millions are soon destined to die from famine and starvation.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions – these too are increasing. Jesus said these signs would. be the “beginning” of sorrows or tribulation.
Next He prophesied increased persecution upon His true Church, His dedicated followers. Whereas the Church of God has enjoyed relative peace and harmony with the neighbors around us for several decades, times are beginning to change. Anti-Christian sentiment is spreading. The tax favored treatment of religious non-profit institutions is being severely threatened. The secular government and society is becoming increasingly hostile toward religion! A bizarre sect of Sabbath keepers were cremated at Waco, Texas, by Federal BATF agents, in a fiery holocaust which consumed men, women, and children indiscrimately.
Jesus told us it would happen. He said: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:9-11).
Jesus foretold: “And because INIQUITY [lawlessness, sin] shall abound, the love [natural affection for neighbor, for others, as well as love for God] of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12).
Next on the Agenda -- The Great Tribulation!
Then what did the Messiah say would happen? What comes next? What is the next sign or event which would happen before His return?
The very next sign or event to look for, He said, is war in the Middle East!
Notice it! Let’s pick up the story flow in Matthew 24: “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoso reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take any thing out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But WOE to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
“For then will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were SHORTENED, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22, NKJV).
The abomination of desolation will involve foreign Gentile armies surrounding Jerusalem – the standards of an invading army hoisted, raised, over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem! Luke’s account of this same prophecy makes the picture even clearer. Notice: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; for these are DAYS OF VENGEANCE, as a fulfillment of all that is written.
“Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be GREAT DISTRESS on the earth and WRATH against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:20-24, NRSV).
Notice! We have seen there will be awesome, devastating events which will presage the coming of Christ, including the Great Tribulation itself – and up to this point, Yeshua has said absolutely NOTHING about the “rapture of the saints”! How could He have left it out? If it is supposed to occur somewhere in the middle of those fateful signs and events, then why didn’t Christ even MENTION it?
The answer is simple – because it isn’t going to happen that way! Modern proponents of a rapture before the Great Tribulation have it all backwards!
In this prophecy, Yeshua told His elect, His true disciples, who are living at the End Time, “So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your FLIGHT may not be in winter or on a Sabbath” (Matt.24:15-20, NRSV).
He made no mention whatsoever of a secret plan to RAPTURE the church to heaven. But He DID warn His saints – His elect – to be ready to FLEE to the mountains, to pray that their FLIGHT would not have to occur in winter or on a Sabbath, when travel is curtailed. These things would not matter if they were to be whisked off to heaven!
A Place of Safety
Thus far, we have seen absolutely no evidence to support the rapture of the saints to heaven before the Tribulation, or midway through it. But if there is no “secret rapture” to protect the saints, how will they be protected? What is all this about “fleeing”?
Let’s notice other Scriptures which bear on this important subject.
Those Christians who are watchful, vigilant, and pray continuously to be worthy to escape those horrifying events to come, will be spared (Luke 21:34-36). They are the ones who will be protected on earth, through the Tribulation, not taken to heaven!
God says of the Philadelphia Church – the church which TRULY expresses His divine love and brotherly compassion – “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, KJV). The word translated “from” here is the Greek ek and the Englishman’s Greek New Testament interlinear has it, “I will keep thee out of the hour of trial.” Young’s Analytical Concordance says it means “out of.” The question is, HOW will He do this? There is no scriptural evidence that He will take them to heaven for the duration. Jesus Christ told His disciples that when they see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, that its desolation is nigh, and at that time those in Judea (modern “Israel”) should “FLEE to the mountains” (Matt.24:16; Luke 22:20-21) – in other words, “get out of Dodge” before the trouble erupts!
The “mountains” mentioned here means the mountains of Israel. In the first century, the early church fled to the Qumran region, to caves in the mountains near the Dead Sea, and later fled across the Jordan River to a small town called Pella. David also fled from king Saul to this same general region, to En Gedi, a mountainous area west of the Dead Sea where many caves existed.
To be continued
By William F. Dankenbring
Love, Walter and Debbie
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