Singapore Moses Supporter Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist

The last recorded message of Christ in the Bible is the conclusive answer to all the questions regarding the "time" of His Return. "Surely I am coming QUICKLY" (Rev 22:20). The word "surely" is to encourage us, and the word "quickly" must challenge us. The Lord frequently used the word "quickly" in His messages to the Churches (Rev 2:5,16; 3:11; 22:7,12). This was literally believed by the Christians of the first century. That was one reason why they had been greeting one another with the word "Maranatha," an Aramaic term meaning, "The Lord is coming!" (1 Cor 16:22).

If the first century Christians had lived with the every-moment-expectation of the return of Christ, how much anxious our expectation today should be! However, the Bible consistently discourages us from any date-setting. In His parting words Christ told His disciples, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority" (Acts 1:7). He had earlier told them repeatedly, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Mt 24:42; 25:13). But man is always curious to know what he need not know! When Christ says that He Himself does not know when He would return, why should we be curious about it? (Mk 13:32).

Following the pattern of epochal events in the Biblical calendar, it is most likely that Christ would return in this generation. If we had known the exact date, we would not be ever ready but be postponing the preparation to the eleventh hour. It is in His sheer mercy and sovereign wisdom that the Father has kept this as a secret with Himself.

We must know that we are living in the Church Age under the dispensation of grace. It is the period of time from Pentecost (Acts 2) to the Rapture(foretold in1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). It is called the Church Age because it covers the period in which the Church is on earth. It corresponds with the dispensation of Grace 

The messages to the churches are given immediately after the vision of Christ of Rev. 1. 

Rev. 2 & Rev. 3 make the second division of Revelation, containing only "the things which are," that is, the things concerning the church on earth until its rapture (1Cor. 15:23, 51- 58 1Th. 4:13- 17 2Th. 2:7) 

Let me restate again, The things concerning the churches 'until the rapture in Rev 4:1' are captured between Rev. 2:1 and Rev. 3:22 

-> The epistle to Ephesus 
-> The epistle to Smyrna 
-> The epistle to Pergamos 
-> The epistle to Thyatira 
-> The epistle to Sardis 
-> The epistle to Philadelphia 
-> The epistle to Laodicea 

The seven letters to the seven churches located in Asia Minor to whom the whole book is addressed. I am doing a research on where this Asia Minor located in the current geographical map. I will share with you once I get the answer from The Lord. You may tell me if you got it it right. We are called to test every Spirit not to blindly believe everything as the false doctrines are so cheaply available these days. 

Each church is rebuked except the Smyrna and the Philadelphia. Warnings of judgment are given to all the churches except the Smyrna and the Philadelphia. 

The Ephesus was commended for ten things; the Laodicea condemned for ten things. 

Promises to overcomers are in each one. 
Each has the same admonition to hear. 

Four things promised for overcoming: 
1. Power over the nations 
2. Ruling nations with a rod of iron 
3. Crushing all resistance of nations 
4. The morning star 

All saints will be kings or priests under Christ and will rule the earth forever (Rev. 2:26- 27 1:6; 5:10; 20:4- 6 22:4- 5). As we are all fighting a good fight, I wish you all to be part of the over-comers. 

The second coming cannot take place until all of Rev. 1:1 THROUGH 19:21 is fulfilled while the rapture can take place any moment without anything being fulfilled.

September 22 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Michael Tinsley Supporter Retired Army veteran. Love my Bible (Jesus) and fishing.

The answer is in 1 Thessalonians 5:2,'.....the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night'.
We don't know the day or time, only the Lord God knows. 
 In fact, the disciples asked Jesus when the end times were coming (Matthew 24:3) and He told them the answer in Matthew 24:4-37.
Jesus says in those verses that not even He knows, only God the Father.
Verses well worth reading and they leave no doubt what the answer is.
 I read the NIV, but any version gives the same answer.

November 21 2013 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Anthony Clinton Supporter Teacher in China

We don't know when that day is but in the Bible the rapture is called the "last day". 1 Corinthians 15..Gives a clear time that proves it happens at what the Bible calls "the end of the world".

1 Co 15:23.But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruit, and afterward they who are Christ's at His coming; 
1 Co 15:24.then is the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power. 
1 Co 15:25 or it is right for Him to reign until He has put all the enemies under His feet. 
1 Co 15:26.The last enemy made to cease is death. 

Without a doubt the Rapture happens at the end of the world and these verses confirm it. Note that it says "Christ the first-fruits, and afterward they who are Christ's at His coming" This proves that their is no pre-tribulation Rapture as if there was another resurrection of the righteous at some partial coming of Christ. The key indicator is the one and only Resurrection of the Righteous dead that happens at the end of the world.

This is confirmed in 2 Peter 3 Where the promise of His Coming and His return as a Thief coincides with the end of the world and universe. That is why it is a literal last day.

The Parable of the wheat and tares Matthew 13:38-50 shows that this One Coming of Christ at the end of the world will be judgment day for the wicked as well. 
These verses in John also prove that this Rapture all happens together at the last Day.

Joh 11:24..Martha said to Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 

Joh 12:48..He who rejects Me and does not receive My Words has one who judges him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 

This blots out every effort to prove a pre-tribulation Rapture. There is no such thing in the Word of God.

Thessalonians describes that final day like this, 
2 Th 1:8.in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
2 Th 1:9.who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 
2 Th 1:10.when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that Day. 

No one knows the exact time of the Rapture but we sure do know it's the end of the world and called "The Last Day"!

November 22 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

The truth of the rapture is explained in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which describes a resurrection involving a catching up or rapture of all who belong to Christ whether dead (asleep) or alive. But the time is not indicated. 
However, two passages show the rapture happens before the Tribulation:

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 
Paul begins the discussion by saying he would not be writing about the exact timing, 1 Thessalonians 5:1. The phrase “the times and the seasons,” is found in Daniel 2:21, and in Acts 1:7, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” This echoes Jesus' words, Matthew 24:36 “...of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels but My Father only.” At this verse, Jesus changed the subject of His coming to speak of the rapture. All that one needed to know was that it would come suddenly, like a thief in the night, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Matthew 24:42–44. 

Paul then explains about the Day of the Lord, which is a term for the coming judgment, specifically the Tribulation. It will be a devasting time that will hit like a woman in childbirth, as the “beginning of sorrows,” literally “labor pains,” in Matthew 24:8.

Paul is clear that believers are not “in darkness” or “of the night nor of the darkness,” which describes unbelievers. Believers are of the light and day. That coming Day will not overtake, catch, or seize them. Paul encourages them to act like children of the day and to be watchful and sober, 1 Thessalonians 5:4–8. 

Then, he states that believers are not appointed to wrath, 1 Thessalonians 5:9–10. The wrath is the Tribulation and salvation is the deliverance before the wrath, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Revelation 3:10, Romans 5:9.

2 Thessalonians 2:1–12
In verse one, Paul clearly mentions the rapture, “...the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…” He asks them to not be shaken or troubled by reports that the Day of the Lord had come. 
He warns them that the Day of the Lord will not come until an event takes place. It is not “apostasy,” but “departure” (Greek “apostasia” or “from-standing”). The Rapture comes before that Day. The order is first the “departure” and then the “revealing of the man of sin,” 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:5–12, Paul reminds them of his earlier teaching on this very topic of the man of sin. The mystery of lawlessness hinders the truth. Then the restrainer, which is not the Holy Spirit but the “man of sin,” will be revealed as mentioned in verse 3, according to the working of Satan. He, the personification of lawlessness, is antagonistic against the truth and does not want anyone to believe the truth. He opposes God and sets himself up as God.

The context and correct terms show these passages unmistakably describe the rapture coming before the Tribulation.

May 25 2024 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

The rapture or 'catching away' of the church into the clouds with Christ, will occur when the last believer believes and finally fills the body of Christ. It will be the end of the current "dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph 3:2), and the beginning of Israel's final prophetic seven year period of "enduring" tribulation here on earth (Matt 24:3-31, Daniel 9:24-27), seven years prior to Christ's physical arrival on earth to establish Israel's promised earthly kingdom of heaven (Acts 1:6-11).

Paul, concerning Israel's coming tribulation compared to us, the church, the body of Christ:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 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.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
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.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."

Romans 11:25
"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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
"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.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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.
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:
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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

May 26 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

1 Thessalonians 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.

“For that day and the hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only as our Lord Jesus has revealed unto us.” (Math 24:36) In the book of Genesis the Lord has revealed unto us that, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh. Yet his 'days' shall be a hundred and twenty years.” (Gen 6:3) After the flood Noah lived for 950 years, Abraham lived for 175 years, Ishmael lived for 137 years, Isaac lived for 140 years. (Gen 25:7,17/35:28) As the Spirit of the Lord didn't want to strive with mankind it was for the “days” for the coming “end times” for the judgment day to come of the Lord. 

The Sabbatical years are described in the book of Leviticus 25:8-11, with the year of rest occurring every 50th year. In the book of Genesis, it is written that mankind shall live for 120 years, which gives us a total of 6000 years. The timeline from Adam's creation to the birth of our Lord Jesus is around 4000 BC. The crucifixion of our Lord Jesus took place when He was 33 years old, and now we are in the year 2024 AD. (4000 BC + 2024 years AD = 6024 + 9 years) As a result, the final judgment day will come to pass in the year 6033, marking the end of the seven-year tribulation period. 

"The rapture of the church as described in Mathew 24:30-31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 will occur when the dead rise first, followed by the living being caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. As mentioned in Matthew 13:30, the wheat, symbolizing the believers, will be gathered into the barn, representing the rapture, while the tares, symbolizing the wicked, will be bound in bundles for burning during the seven-year tribulation period. The war mentioned in the book of Ezekiel and Daniel has already begun, and the nations that will rise against Israel are expected to come from the north unto the mountains of Israel. We anticipate these events to transpire over the next year to a year and a half before the commencement of the seven-year tribulation period, estimated to begin around 2026."

Matthew 13:30: Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."

June 10 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report