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The Rapture |
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Current Events and Links
Many Americans Expect Jesus' Return by 2050
Jun. 23, 2010 - A new poll of Americans by the Pew Research Center, showed that
Forty-one percent expect Jesus' second coming in the next 40 years. Forty-six percent said it probably or definitely will not happen.
- Fifty-eight percent of white evangelicals believe Jesus will return by 2050 compared to only 32 percent of Catholics.
Respondents with no college education were three times as likely as those with college degrees to expect Christ's second coming in the next 40 years.
- Source: CBN
- Future Poll: World War III, Cancer Cure Are on the Way - AOL
- Life in 2050: Amazing Science, Familiar Threats: PUBLIC SEES A FUTURE FULL OF PROMISE AND PERIL - Pew Research Center
My stars! Is 2nd Coming of Jesus etched in night sky?
Apr. 18, 2010 - In videotaped lectures, Mark Biltz, pastor of El Shaddai Ministries in Bonney Lake, Washington, brings fresh light to the teaching of E.W. Bullinger about the Gospel message in the Zodiac. He focuses on a star called Arcturus, which is mentioned in the Old Testament Book of Job, "Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south." (Job 9:9)
Arcturusis the bright star in the "left knee" of a constellation called Bootes, meaning "the Coming One!" The same root word found in the Book of Joel discussing the return of Jesus, but is rendered in Joel 3:11 as "assemble."
- Interestingly, on March 19, 2008, a powerful gamma ray burst detected by NASA's Swift satellite in the Bo-otes constellation shattered the record for the most distant object that could be seen with the naked eye.
The afterglow was 2.5 million times more luminous than the most luminous supernova ever recorded. This event led some Christian analysts to suggest it was an indicator that Jesus would come back soon.
- Source: WorldNetDaily
- See online book: The Witness of the Stars - E.W. Bullinger
- Bootes - He Is Coming! - Joseph Herrin (03-27-08)
- See our Gospel In The Stars - From the Prophecy Puzzle
Israel has friends in Christian places
Mar. 4, 2010 - The Jewish author of this article says that Christians who are expecting Christ's return are Israel's best friends. Representatives of this viewpoint have raised hundreds of millions of dollars in support of Israel. He quotes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
- ''Israel has no better friends in the world than Christian Zionists. This is a friendship of the heart, a friendship of common roots, and a friendship of common civilisation.''
This loyalty is related to the concept of the Rapture of the Church, popularized by Hal Lindsey's, The Late Great Planet and Tim LaHaye's Left Behind series that has sold 70 million copies. In short, the author says that standing with Israel guarantees evangelicals that they will be on God’s side in the last days.
- Source: Dvir Abramovich - Sydney Morning Herald
The Blessed Hope
Mar. 4, 2010 - For the past several weeks at Solid Ground Church we have been considering a series of messages from Jesus, taken from the Gospel of Luke, on the theme: “Hope in Uncertain Times.” Jesus’ teaching was filled with hope for all people, whatever trials they might face.
Because of His love for us, He provided forgiveness of sins by dying in our place. He promised direction, protection, provision, and much more to those who would follow Him. In normal usage of the word, a “hope” is something one wants to have happen, which may or may not come to pass. In the Bible, a hope is based on the promises of God. It is therefore something that is sure to happen, but its fulfillment is still future. The Bible is full of promises, and each one gives reason for a believer to expect some positive outcome.
One of the greatest promises in the Bible is the return of the Lord Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth. It is known in Evangelical circles as “The Rapture of the Church.” In Titus 2:13, the Apostle Paul called this “The blessed hope.”
We don’t believe in setting dates, but that great event is certainly getting closer all the time!
- Source: Ron's Blog
See Articles before Jan. 1, 2010
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More News Stories
Rapture Links
Rapture Alert
- This site combines outstanding graphics with excellent articles.
The Rapture Forums
- An Interactive Community Awaiting the Return of The Lord Jesus Christ - Extensive and attractive
Rapture Ready
- This is Todd Strandberg's popular site which keeps track of current events as they relate to the Rapture. It includes "Nearing Midnight" and "Rapture Index." These pages are always up to date.
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture
- Todd Strandberg of Rapture Ready
Defending The Pre-Trib Rapture (Again)
- Jack Kelly (On Rapture Forums)
Article: Pretrib or Prewrath?
- by Ron Graff
The Rapture of the Church - Jack Kinsella
The Thomas Ice Collection
- This list of scholarly pre-trib articles is just one of many valuable sections in The Rapture Index hosted by Todd Strandberg.
The Rapture: Fact or Fiction
- by David Williams
- From Lambert Dolphin's online library.
The Nature Of The Mystery and The Rapture
- by Bob Hill & Tim McMahon - Theology Online
- Excellent treatment of the distinction between Israel and the Church, and why this requires that the Rapture take place before the tribulation.
Margaret MacDonald Who?
- Article by Todd Strandberg of Rapture Ready questioning that she had any effect on Pre-Tribulation teaching.
Has Bible Prophecy Already Been Fulfilled?
An answer to Preterism by Thomas Ice
Left Behind Book, Video, Movie...
Differences Between The Rapture
and The Glorious Return of Christ
(Links to New King James Version - Blue Letter Bible)
Excerpts from The Prophecy Puzzle
Absence of the Church
Revelation, Chapters 4 through 22
There are constant references to the church and the seven churches in chapters 1 through 3. The word "church" is found every few verses: angels of the churches, messages to the seven churches, etc. But in chapter 4, verse 1 John is told to "come up here." He is "caught up" (like the Rapture). Also compare Revelation 11:12 where the identical words are used to resurrect and translate the Two Witnesses into Heaven.
Where is the church in the whole story of Israel's last week of history, The Tribulation? It is missing! "Church" is not mentioned during the entire Tribulation period, Chapters 4 to 19. There is no message to the church. What you do have is Two Witnesses from Israel's past, you have the 144000 who are sealed from the twelve tribes of Israel. It is the last seven years of Israel's history before the end of this age. Israel was the vehicle of God's blessing to the whole earth. They were not the "Chosen People" because God was playing favorites. They were chosen that through them, God could get the message out to others. When they did not do well with that, He set them aside and put the Church in. (Romans 11; 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:1-11; 5:32) The Church has been here for 2000 years now. When the Church is taken away, there are still seven years of Israel's history left to play out. This is known as Daniel's 70th Week. We believers of today are the spiritual seed of Abraham, but we are not Israel. We have been temporarily grafted in by God, but the time will come when Israel is grafted back into the tree of God's purposes. (Romans 11:17-24) It all fits together perfectly.
The absent church also accounts for the rise in lawlessness during The Tribulation period. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8).
Deliverance from Wrath
Luke 21:36
"But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Peter 2
6 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter;
7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men
8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day with their lawless deeds),
9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
Message to the Church of Philadelphia
(Represents the Period of Missions)
Revelation 3:10
'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.
Some people have the mistaken idea that we will be delivered from the time of wrath just because God won't allow Christians to suffer. This is not what the Bible teaches at all. As Christians, we may expect trials and tribulations, suffering and persecution (1 Peter 4:12-13 ;2 Timothy 3:12). God allows our difficulties to improve us, develop our faith, and prove to others that Christianity is true (1 Peter 1:6-8; James 1:12). He promises not to allow us to be tried beyond our ability to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13), and He will see to it that what the Devil means for evil actually turns out for our good (Job 1:9-12; 42:10-17; Genesis 50:20).
On the other hand, we are plainly told that we who trust in Christ are not under condemnation (Romans 8:1). Whenever God judges the unrighteous, He delivers those who trust in Him. This is seen in the Biblical stories of the Flood in the days of Noah, the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (Lot and his family saved), and the plagues on Egypt, including the death of the firstborn (Israelites delivered).
The events of the Tribulation are judgments from God, and as such, it would be consistent for Him to deliver the Church before it begins.
Last Updated: 4/25/2011
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