Revelation 7:9 Is the Raptured Church of Jesus Christ
Perhaps it's better to seek the face of God; than to be taught what others believe. We know from the words of Paul and common sense that Christians are not appointed to God's coming wrath. The wrath of God is not the 7 seals being broken by Jesus in Revelation 6; his wrath begins very clearly in Revelation 8, and not before; and all of us Christians who truly love him and keep his ways will be in Heaven. Note Revelation 6:9 "For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?' What does Jesus do before his wrath is released in Chapter 8? He marks the 144,000 which are the first fruits of his coming 1000 year Kingdom on earth and he comes and takes all of us Christians who are living at that time, back to Heaven with him, before God the Father's wrath begins. Please read Ezekiel 9 verses 1-5 that is this same kind of protective marking of God's Elect by his angels. It is simply a protective mark to keep them from the wrath of God which is to come. The word "Rapture" does not appear in the Bible, and is a term used for what Jesus called the gathering of Christians to himself. "The gathering" is a better term than "Rapture." and events which are to come are announced in Heaven; and then they happen on earth. Please note the words of the Elder to John describing our modern day raptured Church of Jesus Christ in Revelation 7:9. They are holding palm leaves just as the people did when Jesus entered Jerusalem on the colt, symbolizing victory and peace. Note also the words that they have come out of "great tribulation." We know from Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13: 5-7 that the Anti-Christ will be given world power to persecute Christians for 42 months and will want all to submit to him. Please note also the statement of Jesus in Revelation 3:10 to the early Church. The 42 months is that hour of trial that will come upon all who dwell on the earth. All the pieces and words of all the prophets and Jesus have to fit together. It clearly happens during Revelation 6. Note verses 9-11. Listen to revelation 6:11 "And white robes were given to every one of them and it was said unto them, that they should rest for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." Will someone please write me and tell me how any Christian with any common sense could not take these words to mean that Jesus wants all to have a chance to fulfill their destiny in him, and surely we know form his word that martyrs of Jesus Christ will be given special rewards for their faithfulness. I do not believe there will be worldwide slaughter of Christians during the anti-Christ reign, because Revelation 13 tells us that those who will not submit will simply not be able to buy and sell. It does not imply a submit or die scenario. How could the words of 6:11 imply that us modern day Christians are somehow exempt from persecution. It is just simply ridiculous. The verses in 6:11 are a clear picture that Christians are being persecuted on earth and some giving their lives for the cause of Christ. Listen to the words of Jesus in John 15:20 and let's see if Jesus said we are exempt from persecution. "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you: if they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also." Pretty clear. But Craig; They say Christians are not supposed to be persecuted by the coming Anti-Christ. They certainly will; and Jesus Christ and his Father will be greatly pleased watching it. They will greatly enjoy watching who will survive the coming test, and defend their ways. If you believe otherwise, you need to go back and read the book of Job in the the Old Testament. God delighted himself in the faithfulness of Job, and told Satan Job was pure as gold, and invited satan to test him. Persecution is not God's Wrath; and Christians have been persecuted from day one. Please read topics 1 and 2 in the Hogwash Corral above that are related to this topic. The end times is more about his plan for the Jewish people than it is about us Christians, who will be caught in the headlights, so to speak. God only wants to watch his team; us Christians; perform well; and make no mistake; we win the game.
Let's Stop Right Here! We know the words of Jesus and all the prophets, Revelation and the New Testament all should support the truth if this is truly the raptured Christian Church of Jesus Christ in Revelation 7:9. I want you to imagine the picture of Jesus returning in the clouds of Heaven and then stopping everything; and telling his Angels to gather all the Christians from the ends of the earth that were true believers in him, and were keeping his ways and watching for his return. He clearly told us that if we weren't, we are going to be left to endure what the unsaved will have to endure for their rejection of him. What did Jesus say. Matthew 24:30 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with the sound of a trumpet, and shall gather his elect from the four winds, (Note Revelation 7:9) from one end of heaven to the other." Clearly the same words are used and logically agree. Please note that all the tribes of the earth mourn because they realize that Jesus Christ who they crucified, is their real Messiah. Mark 13:47 is the exact same account of the return of Jesus and note Mark 13:26 "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." Let's go to 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. Two women shall be grinding together: the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field: the one shall be taken, and the other one left." Do not believe all your Bible footnotes, as many are simply the opinions of men. My Bible footnote says the verses above refer to people being taken to Armageddon; which makes absolutely no common sense. The Battle of Armageddon happens 42+ months later and is the Day of the Lord referred to many times in the Old Testament when God will recall the Jewish people that he has scattered and returns them to their homeland; to rule and reign forever. Does "one taken and the other left" fit with Revelation 7:9 and the setting. Surely it does; and the non-Christians are going to be left on earth to go through the Great Tribulation of God's wrath, a time of unequaled trouble in the world. Let's go to 1st Thessalonians 4:15-17 and see if we find agreement from Paul's words in the New Testament. "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. 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. 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." Let's go to 1st Corinthians 15:51 to see if the words of Paul agree again with the setting. "Behold I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall 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." Christians done; finished, over; just read the rest of Revelation 7. We shall be changed to be like the Angels of God. Paul's words agree perfectly with what is going on in Revelation 7. And now to Revelation 1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds:and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." There is nothing secret about the return of Jesus. Even the dead who are unsaved shall see him. The words of Jesus in John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also. Revelation 7:9 is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus to all of us Christians. Why are things not revealed to us plainer in the Book of Revelation; because just as Jesus spoke in parables during his time, only Christians which are seeking the truth will all their heart will understand and see the light of what is to come. Jesus does not want the unbelievers to know what is coming, just as God didn't in the days of Noah and Lot. Ephesians 1:10 " That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him." Please note the words in Revelation 14:14-16 "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle: and the earth was reaped." Again, the so-called rapture of the Church is announced in Heaven; then it happens on the earth. Note that the symbolic representation of unbelievers which is the vine; are destroyed in Revelation 14:19 - 20. We Christians are the good harvest of the earth, and these verses agree perfectly with Revelation 7. Do not confuse the rapture or gathering of Christians with the parable of the tares in Matthew 13:30 and 40. The end of the world is not the rapture. The end of the world is when Jesus returns 42 months +- later to destroy all evil and re-new the earth; and to set up his 1000 year Kingdom of Heaven on earth. But does all this make common sense?? It absolutely does; and the verses above agree perfectly with the setting in Revelation 7. Wait Craig ! The prophecy preachers who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture theory are preaching that the great multitude of Revelation 7:9, which no man can number, are those Christians who accept Jesus after the rapture of the Christian Church, and who have been martyred. That premise is simply ridiculous. Does the theory pass the common sense test?? It does not. After the Christian Church is gone, there is not going to be a time of incredible salvation as some may think. We wish it were so. All the Holy saints will be gone and the unholy world will remain. Please note the end of Revelation 6 as to the state of the world at the rapture. Every mountain and island has been moved out of its place. Quite obviously, the world as we know it, has been destroyed by war, earthquakes, and the events that occur during Revelation 6. Listen to the words of Revelation 7:14 "These are they which have come out of Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." We know Jesus is the Lamb, and the words clearly show us that this multitude are all those who have been faithful to Jesus. There will be those saved who call on Jesus, but not a number, I assure you, that no man can count. Let's go to Revelation 9 verses 20 and 21; a clear indication that people were still not repenting of their sins; during the period of God's wrath on earth. Go also to Revelation 11:10. The people on earth rejoice when the two prophets who were preaching in the streets of Jerusalem die. Does it indicate that people all over the earth were repenting of their sins. I think not. Please study all the verses above. If you as a Christian believe you are going to leave this earth before Revelation 7:9 and escape the coming persecution of Christians by the Anti-Christ; I would strongly suggest that you buy yourself a Jet - Pack or book a trip to outer space. God tested Adam and Eve, Abraham, Job; and let prophets and early Christians and even his own son die; by the thousands; and yet we have Pastors and Christians preaching that us end times Christians are exempt from the kind of persecution that even Jesus our Savior endured, and told us we will have to endure in following him. Listen to the words of Jesus in Mathew 13:20 and 21. "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it: Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by his is offended." Clearly Jesus was saying that there will be those who turn away from him because of trials and persecutions that they are not willing to endure. I don't mean to be insulting, but the belief that us modern day Christians are somehow special and exempt from persecutions must be greatly insulting to Jesus and his Father; and the Angels of heaven are probably rolling in the streets laughing at such a ridiculous idea. Faithfulness to the end and patient endurance through trials and persecutions is the very foundation of our Christian faith, and if you believe otherwise; you need to study the New testament a little more. It truly amazes me that one could believe the teaching of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, if one has read and studied the Bible and God's word. It's not going to happen, and we as Christians need to be prepared for what is coming. God the Father ends the Old Testament to the Jewish people in Malachi 4 verses 5 and 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 their children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." I believe Elijah is indeed pictured in Revelation 11:3 and will preach to the Jewish people on the streets of Jerusalem. By the words in Malachi we can certainly discern that God is not happy with the family unit in the end times. Get ready Christians; it's going to be a wild ride! More to Come!
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