THE PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MIDDLE EAST CRISES IN THE END OF TIME - PART 1

Where were you on Sept. 11, 2001? If you’re like most people, the horrifying images and emotions of that day are per- manently etched into your mind. Who can forget the sight of a giant airliner slamming into the World Trade Center, USA, the trapped men and women plunging to their deaths, the collapse of the towers and the cloud of pulverized concrete and debris that covered Manhattan?

At the beginning of a new century, it heralded a new age of mass terrorism directed at civilians

. America’s sense of securitythat it could never happen on its shores was forever shattered. Other nations quickly realized that similar catastrophes could strike their cities (and indeed, deadly attacks soon followed in Turkey, Spain, Russia, Germany, Belgium, France, England, Jordan and other countries).

The shocking suicide attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, showed that events in the Middle East impact the entire world.

Terrorism has become a very real threat for millions around the globe. That day’s horror also catapulted the Middle East to the forefront on news programs around the world. Suddenly, what was happening thousands of miles away could affect people regardless of where they lived. A region that, to many, had seemed irrelevant now became the focus of attention as nations everywhere awakened to the reality of how the Middle East impacts us all.

The reality quickly came home that problems thousands of miles away can have a greater impact on us than decisions made by our own local or national governments. The fall of the Twin Towers had an immediate effect on the American economy far greater than any decision made on nearby Wall Street, with an estimated $100 billion loss in direct damages and $2 trillion in short-term stock market losses.

The Middle East affects us all but Sept. 11 was not the start of terrorism, Islamic fundamentalism or confict in the Middle East. As part of a historic continuum, it was simply the date on which the accumulated problems of thousands of years finally reached America’s shores.

Considering how much the Middle East now dominates the news, it’s hard to believe that at the beginning of the last century the Middle East “was of only marginal concern” to the Western world. “The region had become a political backwater,” according to historian David Fromkin, author of A Peace to End All Peace (1989, p. 24), a book about the birth of the modern Middle East.

A century later, however, nations around the world are all affected by what happens in this volatile region. The global economy runs on oil, most of which lies under the sand of Middle Eastern deserts. Oil is the lifeblood of Western economies and affuence, and a plentiful and cheap supply is essential to continued Western prosperity. This dependence on oil has fundamentally altered the Western nations’ relationship with the region, transforming it into a strategically vital part of the world.

A second fundamental change has taken place in the Middle East in the last 100 years—the creation of many new nations, which has vastly complicated the politics of the area. The establishment of one country in particular has led to a cycle of violence and upheaval that is seemingly without end. Yet, surprisingly, the Bible prophesied the establishment of this nation thousands of years ago and predicted the growing confict that would follow its rebirth.

World War I was often called “the war to end all wars.” At the close of the peace conference following the worst confict in history, Archibald Wavell, an offcer who served with the British Army in Palestine and was later promoted to feld marshal, prophetically declared, “After ‘the war to end war’ they seem to have been pretty successful in Paris at making a ‘Peace to end Peace’” (Fromkin, p. 5).

Before World War I the Middle East was dominated by the Ottoman Empire, the empire of the Turks who ruled over all the lands whose names are now so familiar to us. The countries that are now Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel and others were all ruled by a declining empire that had once also presided over vast lands in both North Africa and southeastern Europe. Within this empire different peoples lived in relative harmony. About 40 percent of the people were Turks and 40 percent Arabs, with the remainder a mixture of different ethnic groups—Armenians and Jews being the most numerous of these.

It might have continued this way were it not for World War I. At the onset of war, it was not clear which side the Ottoman Empire would support. Both the British and the Germans courted the Turks. Finally the sultan opted to support the German kaiser, a fatal decision that ulti- mately led to the birth of many new nations—and wars seemingly with- out end. One of the nations that eventually came into being was the Jewish state of Israel, complicating the geopolitical situation in the region and destined to affect all nations on earth.

What few realize is this one crucial fact: After 1,900 years, the restoration of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East was necessary to fulfll ancient prophecies you can find in the Bible. This region, once a “political backwater” of little or no interest to the Western powers, is destined to become the center of the final global crisis that will usher in cataclysmic events leading humanity to the brink of extinction and ultimately change our world forever.

You need to understand what is prophesied to yet happen in the Middle East. Whether you realize it or not, or understand it or not, events there are destined to have a significant influence in the second coming of Jesus Christ and the Rising of the Antichrist.

Why does the Middle East Dominate The Headlines so often?

One obvious answer is oil, the lifeblood of modern economies. Without oil to run factories, heat homes, fuel transportation and provide energy and raw materials for thousands of uses, the economies of many nations would grind to a halt. The crucial importance of oil alone ensures that the Middle East will remain in the headlines for few more years till the Antichtist take over the oil.

But there’s more that keeps the Middle East in the news. It is the birthplace of the world’s three great religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Too often it has not been just their birthplace, but their battlefeld, with adherents warring against each other for control of territory they consider holy.

Nowhere are these conficts more obvious than in Israel, and specifcally in Jerusalem. If you’ve never been to Jerusalem, it’s hard to imagine how so much history, religion and culture can collide and stand in literal heaps. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Temple Mount, flash point for many a confict over the centuries.

The site first came to the attention of Israel’s King David, who bought a threshing floor and built an altar on it, intending it for the site of the temple (1 Chronicles 21-22). The Temple Mount is so named because it is the location of the temple built by David’s son Solomon (destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.) and its replacement built by Zerubbabel and later enlarged by Herod the Great (ultimately razed by the Roman general Titus in A.D. 70).

Here Jesus Christ, The Lord worshipped, taught and confronted the money changers, scribes, Pharisees and other religious authorities. After His death and resurrection, Christianity was born in the temple’s shadow. His followers continued to worship and teach there for several more decades until the legions of Rome crushed a Jewish rebellion and carted away most of the Jewish population they hadn’t killed. A later Jewish rebellion, in 132-135, led to a Roman decree that no Jew was to set foot in Jerusalem on pain of death.

Centuries later, in 638, Muslim Arabs took the city. In 691 Muslims built the Dome of the Rock on that same Temple Mount, enclosing the spot from which, Muslims believe, Muhammad ascended to heaven (A lie from the pit of hell). Today Muslims consider it the third-holiest site in Islam, after Mecca, where Muhammad was born, and Medina, where he found refuge and died (He died not ascended)

Several more centuries passed before the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, slaughtered Muslim and Jew alike and converted the Dome of the Rock into a church. Their hold on the city lasted less than a century before Muslims recaptured it. Jerusalem changed hands three more times before Muslims took control of the city and held it from 1244 until 1917, when the Ottoman Empire lost its hold in World War I and the city came under British administration.

In 1948 the modern state of Israel was born, and in the 1967 war the Israelis gained control of all of Jerusalem, though leaving the Temple Mount under Islamic authority.

Today one can watch Muslims praying at the Dome of the Rock atop the Temple Mount, Jews praying at the Western Wall barely a stone’s throw below and Christians praying along the Via Dolorosa and at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher a few hundred yards to the north and west. And all around one sees the rubble of the centuries of confict over this holy place.

Who will write the next chapter in the history of this troubled city? Believe it or not, the final chapters are already written— prophesied centuries ago in the pages of the Bible. Ominously, they mesh remarkably well with today’s headlines.

In the next few articles under this series, we will see where all these events happening in the middle east will lead to and their significance in the Translation of the Bride at Jesus Coming.

I believe you now have the detailed understanding of the history of the temple mount and the different buildings inside it.

Stay Connected....

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On Behalf of End Time Hub!!!

LATEST END TIME NEWS ANALYSIS - WORLD WIDE NUCLEAR WEAPON THREATS

Good day to you readers and followers of End Time Hub's write-up and teachings. I apologize for a long break in posting. Today, i want to write on the nuclear perial worldwide, nuclear weapon threat especially from North Korea in recent days. But before that, in order to avoid a long article, below is a video of end time latest news (early July). You can download or watch online.

 Later i will post a detailed end time news in the last two weeks including screen shots...

So, lets go to the bussiness of today....

New Nuclear Peril - Russia, North Korea and Iran

The United States and its global allies face dangerous adversaries armed with nuclear weapons or who will likely possess them soon. How signifcant are these threats, and how do they play into Bible prophecies about what will occur at the “time of the end”? And what should you do to prepare?

On Aug. 29, 1949, the Soviet Union successfully detonated its first atomic bomb at a remote experimental site in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (today’s Kazakhstan). Tis came as a shock to many U.S. officials, who didn’t think the Soviets could develop atomic weapons capability so soon afer World War II.

Following that episode and throughout much of the 1950s and 60s, the fear of a Soviet nuclear attack against America and its allies was profound. During that time many experts believed that the immediate danger from a nuclear blast would come as a result of its intense heat and from debris and glass fying through the air. Consequently, civil defense “duck and cover” safety drills were conducted by schools and communities across the United States.

Although such civil defense drills are a thing of the past, the threat posed by nuclear weapons remains very real. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, thou- sands of nuclear weapons remained in Russia’s possession. Today, besides the United States and Russia, seven other countries possess nuclear arsenals—China, France, India, Israel, the United Kingdom, Pakistan and North Korea.

For decades the greatest danger to America and its allies was Russia, but now North Korea seems to have taken that position due to its unpredictability and open threats to use nukes against the United States. Plus, Iran will almost certainly pose a nuclear peril to the world within several years. To understand this overall problem, let’s examine the sobering security situations these nations present.

Nuclear weapons threat: Russia

Today most Americans think very little about nuclear weapons. However, this powerful, deadly technology matters a

great deal to the Russian people and their leaders. Russia relies on its nuclear arsenal as a source of national pride, being one of the last vestiges of its former superpower status. According to the Federation of American Scientists, which calculates nuclear weapon stockpiles, the Russian Federation currently possesses more than 4,300 operational warheads.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not averse to using his country’s nuclear capability to pressure and threaten his adver- saries. For example, to express dissatisfaction with perceived NATO incursions into a portion of Russia’s “neighborhood” (former Soviet bloc countries along its western border in the Baltic Sea region), Putin used his nation’s mobile nuclear missile launchers to project power.

This occurred in October 2016 when he ordered nuclear- capable Iskander ballistic missiles to be placed in Kaliningrad, a Russian province between the NATO states of Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. Putin’s action prompted an anxious response from those nations and others in the region.

Putin said at the time, “We must take counter-measures, that is, strike with our missile systems the targets that in our opinion begin to threaten us” (quoted by Nicole Stinson, “Vladimir Putin Moves Nuke-Capable Missiles Closer to Europe in Latest Move Against NATO,” Daily Star, Nov. 22, 2016).

Besides its moves in the Baltic region, Russia has fexed its muscles in other ways, such as its annexation of Crimea in 2014, its overt support of Russian-separatist forces in eastern Ukraine beginning that same year, and its military ground and air operational support (beginning in September 2015) of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war.

Russia’s confrontational approach to the United States and its allies has taken an even more troublesome turn with its eforts to develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile system. Putin’s action was in response to perceived threats related to NATO’s missile defense system, which became operational in Europe in July 2016.

Newsweek recently reported: “Russia has for months been testing a giant nuclear weapons delivery system that can carry 10 heavyweight warheads. Russia began testing the Sarmat last year and had been expected to enter it into service in 2018. Te Russian weapon was designed to push through U.S. missile

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis declared North Korea’s push to acquire nuclear-armed missiles a “clear and present danger” and an “urgent military threat.”

defenses. It is expected to replace the RS-36M, which was known as ‘Satan’ by NATO in the 1970s” (Cristina Silva, “Russia’s New ‘Satan’ Nuclear Weapons System Could Wipe Out Texas or France,” March 23, 2017).

In addition, as TIME magazine pointed out, “Moscow has also returned to a habit of nuclear threats, while in its military exercises, it has begun to practice for a nuclear strike, according to the NATO military alliance” (Simon Shuster, “Why Russia Is Rebuilding Its Nuclear Arsenal,” April 4, 2016).

Nuclear weapons threat: North Korea

Another peril facing the United States and its allies comes from North Korea, with its accelerating missile development program and nuclear attack capability. Although it’s the world’s 51st most populous country, North Korea according to some sources felds the earth’s largest army with 1.3 million men under arms, led by “supreme leader” Kim Jong un.

Its armed forces face South Korea’s 625,000 frontline military personnel and 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. North Korea is “equipped with 20,000 artillery pieces, 1,000 short- and medium-range missiles, 70 submarines, more than 400 patrol/missile boats and 563 combat aircraf. A strike against

[South Korea’s capital] Seoul would be devastating” (Christopher Wallace, “North Korea’s Army: 1.2M Men, Obsolete Equipment and Nukes,” Fox News, April 28, 2017).

Seoul is a city of 10 million people— the most densely populated in the world. And it’s located only 30 miles from the demilitarized zone, the disputed boundary between the two nations.

While a military confict in that region employing only conventional weapons would be dreadful in terms of loss of life, injury and property damage, the carnage and destruction resulting from a nuclear strike or exchange would be

unthinkable. Despite that, considering based nuclear weapons possessed by North Korea is estimated at 10 to 30. “Unless something changes, North Korea’s arsenal may well hit 50 weapons by the end of [President Donald] Trump’s term. American officials say the North already knows how to shrink those weapons so they can ft atop one of its short- to medium-range missiles— putting South Korea and Japan, and the thousands of American troops deployed in those two nations, within range” (David Sanger and William Broad, “As North Korea Speeds Its Nuclear Program, U.S. Fears Time Will Run Out,” Te New York Times, April 24, 2017, emphasis added throughout).

Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of U.S. Pacifc Command, told the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in late April: “North Korea vigorously pursued a strategic strike capability in 2016. Kim’s strategic capabilities are not yet an existential threat to the U.S., but if lef unchecked, he will gain the capability to match his rhetoric” (“Hawaii Treatened by North Korea Now, U.S. Commander Tells Congress,” McClatchy DC Bureau, April 26, 2017).

On June 3, at an international security conference in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis declared North Korea’s push to acquire nuclear-armed missiles a “clear and present danger,” an “urgent military threat” and “a threat to all” (quoted by Robert Burns, “Mattis: North Korea a ‘Clear and Present Danger’ to World, ABC News website, June 3, 2017).

President Donald Trump and Chinese its belligerent rhetoric and actions, North President Xi Jinping have agreed to work with the international community to try to achieve a peaceful solution to the North Korea nuclear threat. China has since suspended some imports of North Korean coal, consistent with UN.

Korea appears to be preparing for such an eventuality—afer having conducted five successful nuclear tests between 2006 and September 2016. The country’s central news agency Rodong Sinmun declared on May 2, 2017, sanctions, and began urging Kim Jong un that the state will launch a devastating strike to “reduce the whole of the U.S. mainland to ruins.” An American expert, highly knowledgeable about the menace posed by electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons, suggests this threat should not be taken lightly (see “Terrorism and EMP Weapons: Iran and North Korea” on page 15).

President Trump’s approach is to pressure North Korea into dismantling its nuclear, ballistic missile and proli- feration programs by instituting robust economic sanctions and taking stronger diplomatic actions.

After an April 26, 2017, White House briefng to U.S. senators regarding North Korea’s progress in nuclear weapons and missile capabilities, Defense Secretary Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Director of Intelligence Dan Coats said in a joint statement: “The United States seeks stability and the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We remain open to negotiations towards that goal. However, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies.”

In an interview following that briefng, U.S. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware commented on the nuclear threat posed by North Korea by stating, “This is a very dangerous circumstance.”

Nuclear weapons threat: Iran

A third potential nuclear weapons danger to the United States and its allies arises from Iran. For more than six decades Iran had been engaged in eforts to develop nuclear energy technology. However it has always declared that all its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.

Various authorities have disagreed with that claim and some have reported on evidence of Iran’s eforts to acquire the capacity and expertise to build nuclear weapons. In a report from Nov. 25, 2015, the United Nations atomic agency assessed “that a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device were conducted in Iran prior to the end of 2003 as a coordinated efort, and some activities took place up to 2009” (George Jahn, “UN Atomic Agency Believes Iran Conducted Experiments Meant to Develop Nuclear Weapons,” US News & World Report, Dec. 2, 2015.

On July 14, 2015, Iran and six world powers—China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States—reached an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Tese negotiations lef ambiguity as to whether Iran would build nuclear weapons. But as noted above, Iran had previously developed the technologies needed to accomplish this in a relatively short period.

Added to its previous work on nuclear weapons science, Iran is formulating advanced missile delivery capability. “Tehran is developing increasingly sophisticated missiles and improving the range and accuracy of its other missile systems” (Anthony Cordesman, “Iran, Missiles, and Nuclear Weapons,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dec. 9, 2015).

An Iran with nuclear weapons would pose a severe threat to the security of the United States and its allies, along with the

world at large. Consider the danger in these circumstances:

• A nuclear-armed Iran, coupled with the ability to miniaturize nuclear warheads so as to be mounted on intercontinental

ballistic missiles, would create an existential threat.

• America’s Arab allies, such as the United Arab Emirates

and Saudi Arabia—which are anxious about Iran’s provocative regional actions—would feel signifcantly more vulnerable and

threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran.

• If Iran develops nuclear weapons, it would likely trigger

nuclear proliferation to other countries in the Middle East— such as Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia—which would lead to even greater regional instability.

• Iran could share its nuclear weapons technology and proficiency with extremist groups such as Hezbollah, which is virulently hostile to Israel and the United States.

These are some of the reasons why the development of nuclear weapons capability by Iran is unacceptable to the United States and its allies (especially Israel).

Prophetic and Scriptural Significance

Prophecy will continue to light up the parts of the elect if and on if we just study it again and again, the days of fulfilment is here. Nuclear weapon threat, the prophet, Neal Frisby predicted these events and it's outcome - 

1. Scroll 44:6 "it will make the US to rather work with the enemies (Russia etc) than taking the chance of been destroyed.

2. Nuclear weapon threat will unite the world  in search for solution (given room for the emergence of the  antichrist).

3. And one of the sign pointing to Jesus soon return is the alians of  US with Russia  

scroll 44:5

This is just one out of the many events that will unit the world under the antichrist rule.

What does the future hold?

But beyond the present dangers and threats posed by Russia, North Korea and Iran, what lies ahead for the United States and its allies? Will they end up locked in armed confict? The immediate answer for the short term is that no one really knows. Nevertheless, the Bible is very clear regarding trends and events that will take place in what it describes as “the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4, 9). That future period will be incredibly dangerous and disastrous. As Jesus Christ Himself foretold: “For then there 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 24:21-22).

This time of “great tribulation”—described also as “a time of trouble” and “Jacob’s trouble” (Daniel 12:1; Jeremiah 30:5-7)— will be so fearsome that if Jesus Christ doesn’t return to earth to end it, the entire human race will face extinction. When warfare, which includes the use of nuclear weapons, is combined with immensely destructive natural and supernatural forces, the future period of savagery and upheaval will make all previous periods of war seem tame by comparison.

The coming great tribulation will strike principally, but not be limited to, the modern-day descendants of ancient Israel. This includes the United States, Britain, other British- descended peoples and the present-day Jewish state of Israel. As Bible prophecy indicates, these nations will be attacked and plundered by malicious enemies at that time.

The downfall of the United States, Britain and other modern descendants of ancient Israel might occur because their citizens will have largely turned away from God in reckless disobedience and lost His divine protection. Prior to that coming destruction, the former and latter rain prophets came from the United States, they will have been the recipients of abundant blessings and great prominence in the world.

It’s important to note that Bible prophecy ofen has dual application and fulfllment—in both ancient times and the end time. The prophet Isaiah described both the people of ancient Israel and their contemporary descendants: “This is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to

us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us’” (Isaiah 30:9-11).

Not only have many people in these nations abandoned God, they have also disregarded or spitefully despised His laws. This includes disgracing the sacred marriage relationship through rampant divorce and pervasive sexual immorality as well as the horrifc murder of multiple millions of children through abortion.

During ancient Israel’s time, God admonished His chosen people repeatedly to forsake their lawlessness (Ezekiel 14:6; Jeremiah 8:6). But because they refused, God told them they would be punished (Amos 3:2; Leviticus 26:19). Trough His prophet Ezekiel, God said: “Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury, and spend My anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations . . . Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes . . . The vision concerns the whole multitude, and it shall not turn back; no one will strengthen himself who lives in iniquity” (Ezekiel 7:8-9, 13).

Be ready all the time

To accomplish this we need to study the Bible diligently, apply its instructions faithfully and build a strong, close and enduring relationship with God. We also need to carry out unwaveringly our duty to preach and publish the gospel, even if people ignore or oppose it.

Those who refuse to follow God’s instructions to be obedient, watchful and prayerful will find themselves spiritually unprepared and then suffer the consequences of their neglect (Matthew 25:1-13). “Constantly be on your guard so that your hearts will not be loaded down with self- indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, or that day will take you by surprise like a trap, because it will come on everyone who lives on the face of the earth” (Luke 21:34-35, International Standard Version).

What else are we advised to do? 

We should be mindful of the current nuclear peril posed by Russia, North Korea and Iran, but let’s realize also that times will only grow increasingly worse prior to Jesus’ return to earth.
But sadly, as the end of this age draws near, the Bible explains that men, women and even children will become increasingly selfish, corrupt and intractable. The apostle Paul describes vividly their attitude and temperament:
“And know this: in the last days, times will be hard. You see, the world will be flled with narcissistic, money-grubbing, pretentious, arrogant, and abusive people. Tey will rebel against their parents and will be ungrateful, unholy, uncaring, coldhearted, accusing, without restraint, savage, and haters of anything good. Expect them to be treacherous, reckless, swollen with self-importance, and given to loving pleasure more than they love God. Even though they may look or act like godly people, they’re not. They deny His power. I tell you: stay away from the likes of these” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, The Voice).

Because the vast majority of people today don’t know God or His Word, the Bible, they will be blind to danger signs increasing throughout society. As a result they will be shocked and frightened by numerous terrible conditions and events that will transpire (Matthew 24:37-39).
But what about you and me? Are we disregarding God, or are we willing to change our ways and sincerely obey His Word? And are we preparing for what the Scriptures tell us will occur in the coming days?

Those who know and understand the truth are admonished to recognize clearly “the signs of the times” and to especially be spiritually awake and alert (Matthew 24:3; Luke 12:40; 1 Tes- salonians 5:4).
1 Thessalonians 5:7-8
[7]For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
[8]But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Be spiritually prepared and ever vigilant. “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected” (Matthew 24:44, New Living Translation). “Be ready” includes maintaining zeal for God and His Work on earth while pre- paring energetically for Christ’s second coming (Matthew 25:1-13; Luke 21:36; Revelation 3:3).
We need to make every efort, with God’s help, to abound with love, joy and faith through His divine Spirit, while jettisoning all spiritual weariness and lethargy (Philippians 1:11; Acts 13:52; Galatians 6:9; Revelation 3:14-17). As we’ve seen, the Bible gives us ample instruction as to what we need to do in preparation for His return at the rapture.

Finally, although we should certainly be mindful about the current nuclear peril posed by Russia, North Korea and Iran, let’s realize that times will grow increasingly worse prior to Jesus’ return to earth. To survive and even thrive through that future catastrophic period, let’s make sure our full attention and concentration is on developing our spiritual condition and relationship with God, studying and understanding Every Word of God and full of His anointing and Translative faith.  This is what is most important and what He would have us do right now. Is it what you are doing?

Remeber, you can never get teachings like this Babylon, its high time you come out of Babylon.

For more knowledge, insight and understanding about the end time.

Fellowahip with us at.....
Capstone Prophetic Ministry
Iyanapaja,
Lagos.
You can call 08106667869 or 07038902557

Or

The Brethren Fellowship
Capstone Prophetic Ministry
Aba,
Abia State.
You can call 08038095131 or 08176229093


Dominalti for CHRIST
On Behalf of End Time Hub!!!

UNDERSTANDING THE RAPTURE - PART 1

I welcome everyone in the name of our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. I believe all the followers and readers of our last series, the seventy weeks of Daniel and the seventieth (70th) week are blessed and enlightened. 

As I said previously, we are moving on to our next series which is the rapture series. Make sure you take time to read and study with your bible all the articles on this series, because this most important event which is about to happen must not be what a true child of God must miss, because immediately after the Rapture, it will be so terrible and horrible, and that's why it's crucial you understand everything that pertains to it. 

With a child-like faith there are those who would deny the Teaching of "the Rapture", saying, "There's no such word in the Bible". But those of a more mature Faith are well aware that the Bible teaches that at the time of the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the living Saints will be "Caught Up" to meet their Lord. 

I honestly do not understand why this is such a majorly controversial subject but I can only think that Satan does not want anyone to know the truth. There are generally speaking two categories of belief types on this subject. These two groups can be divided as those that believe in a rapture event and those that do not believe in a rapture event. Why anyone would not want to believe in rapture, I do not know. I think it would be like someone not believing in salvation. But, we have a very significant number of people in the world who call themselves Christians that do not believe in a rapture event. We have other people that believe in a rapture event but do not understand it at all or how it will take place (this is why they will miss it).  Then we have some believe in a rapture event with contradictory predicted timings for the event. Therefore the believers of the rapture can be further divided into three sub-category group types. 

That leaves us with Christian rapture beliefs generally falling into 4 differing realms of categories. First, there are many Christians that believe in a pre-tribulation rapture event. Second, there are definitely some that believe in a mid-tribulation rapture event. Third, there are some that believe in a post-tribulation rapture event. Finally, the fourth group is those that simply state that there is no rapture event ever revealed in the Bible. Based upon these wide ranges of opposing beliefs we can easily conclude that many Christians are obviously deceived in the church today. I mean using only basic logic and probability outcome reasoning we can easily understand that the existence of 4 such diverse positions cannot all be the truth. We must always be open to the reality that God’s truth needs to be discovered or we will potentially miss it while we stagnate in our current belief,bbecause Revelation of God's Word is progressive. Hopefully you can understand that the greatest enemy to knowing the truth is the belief that you have already discovered it. 

Here again are the four major belief categories concerning current known rapture beliefs:

1. Pre-Tribulation Rapture – The belief that the church will be taken up prior to the initiation of the 7 year period of time called the great tribulation.

2. Mid-Tribulation Rapture – The belief that the church will be taken up in the middle of the 7 year period of time called the great tribulation. The Tribulation period will last for 84 total months and somewhere around 42 months the 100% Word-Bride will be taken up from the earth.

3. Post-Tribulation Rapture – The belief that the church will be taken up immediately following the end of the 7 year period of time called the great tribulation.

4. No Rapture – The belief that the church will remain on the earth during the tribulation. Imagine what a great delusion and deception. 

Since all the four cannot be true, only one will be the Truth, and rightly dividing and interpreting the Word of God, we know that Rapture will take place in Midst of the Tribulation period (number 2), we will still have time to explain this using the scriptures. But before that let me lay some foundation. Let's see the meaning of the Rapture and related the scriptures reveals concerning it. 

WHAT IS RAPTURE?

The Word Rapture means "to be caught up".

Some refer to it as being "caught away"; to others it is being "caught up"; the majority of believers call it "The Rapture". The Greek word is 'harpazo': meaning: to eagerly claim for oneself; to eagerly snatch out or away.

2 Kings 2:1,11

[1]And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

[11]And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

The word ‘Rapture’ does not appear in the Bible. What we found in the scriptures is ‘Translation’ which means same thing. And through out this series, I will be using both words interchangeably. 

Hebrews 11:5

[5]By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

The word rapture comes from the Latin word rapture which means "seize", "snatch" or "take away." The term rapture is used to refer to the faithful believers being taken up to meet Christ in the air.

The Rapture of the church refers to that time when a trumpet shall sound (not a trumpet you will hear with your physical hear as many Christian think), and our Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel, and we believers who are alive at such time will rise to meet our Lord in the air, while the mortal bodies are being changed from corruptible into glorified immortal bodies.

This is an event prophesied almost 2000 years ago in I Thess. 4:16-18 and I Cor. 15:51-54.

So, the Rapture is a term which refers to the “being caught up” discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the “dead in Christ” and “we who are alive and remain” will be “caught up in the clouds” to meet “the Lord”.

Only the midnight criers and the wise virgins (Matt 25) who are ready will go up in the rapture, for it will be a “secret” catching away of the Bride of Jesus Christ. This event will take place just before the coming of the Great Tribulation and right before the Anti-Christ system takes control over all the whole world’s religious and political systems as recorded in I Thess. 5:1-11.

RAPTURE DEFINED FROM THE DICTIONARY

Let’s begin by just searching for a basic definition of the word rapture and use that information to enlighten us for the remainder of this lesson.  Since the word rapture can be found in the modern dictionary the concepts behind the word must have originated from someone somewhere.   We need to understand what the word means in order to know what the possible synonyms might be that we need to search for in our Bible.  I went to the internet and found these definitions of the word rapture:

Rapture: The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven.

Rapture: The English derivative of the Greek word RAPTURO, which means “to be removed quickly.”

Rapture: The act of carrying, or fact of being carried, onwards; force of movement

Here we have found a reference to at least one scripture verse and we have another synonymous term to consider and place in our vocabulary.  Let me give you a list of possible synonymous terms that could apply to this basic foundational concept found in the word rapture.

Transport Up/Out/Away

Caught Up/Out/Away

Taken Up/Out/Away

Catch Away

Gathered Up/Out/Away

Seize Up/Out/Away

Pluck Up/Out/Away

Pull Up/Out/Away

Extract Up/Out

Convey Away

Remove Up/Out

Snatch Up/Out/Away

Depart Up/Out/Away

Ascend Up/Away

I believe these are all valid phrasings for synonymous terms of the word “rapture”.  

See, everything will be finished for the Gentile church when the Bride is taken from the earth. The Spirit of God leaves the earth and is secluded only to one location on the earth. Mae yourself ready.

DID THE BIBLE REVEAL ANYTHING PERTANING TO THE RAPTURE? 

Ok, let's see some scriptures revealing to us some important things to know concerning the event called The Rapture. 

1 Thessalonians

4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which

are asleep.

4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the

dead in Christ shall rise first:

4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

I CORINTHIANS 15:51-54

 “Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall 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 shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Daniel 12:1-2

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a

time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Matthew 24:29-31

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

I THESSALONIANS 5:1-11

 “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Luke 17:34-37

I tell you, in that night there shall be two [men] in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Revelation 3:10

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.

PSALMS 27:3-5

3 Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident.

4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Mark 13:32

But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Matthew 24:42

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Luke 12:40

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Matthew 24:27

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Mark 13:32-37

But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

1 Thessalonians 1:10

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-7

Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

Luke 17:34

I tell you, in that night there shall be two [men] in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Mark 14:62

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Hebrews 11:5

[5]By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

2 Peter 3:3 – 5

3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

3:6 whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

This might not be all the scriptures that talk about the rapture... Kindly post other scriptures you know that talk about the rapture...

Now that we know there is to be a "Catching Away" or "Rapture" of the 100% Word-Bride of Christ. BUT the question is: HOW, WHEN and in WHAT manner will it occur? And has Rapture happened before in the history of man kind? 

We shall continue our series in our next article… 

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