The Rapture
"Then, after three and a half days, the Living Spirit of God will enter them—they're on their feet!—and all those gloating spectators will be scared to death. I heard a strong voice out of Heaven calling, 'Come up here!' and up they went to Heaven, wrapped in a cloud, their enemies watching it all. At that moment there was a gigantic earthquake—a tenth of the city fell to ruin, seven thousand perished in the earthquake, the rest frightened to the core of their being, frightened into giving honor to the God-of-Heaven." (Revelation 11:11-13 - The Message)
After lying in the street for three days, God resurrects these two men. They stand up. Television again broadcasts this picture to the entire world and people shake in fear. The great victory of the Anti-Christ has turned into bitter defeat.
Then a voice out of heaven calls to the Two Witnesses, and the world watches as they are raptured into heaven. This is about the time, when I believe, the rapture will occur. As we will observe later in this chapter, this rapture of the Two Witnesses occurs at the sounding of the seventh or last trumpet.
“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.” (I Thessalonians 4:16,17 - King James Version)
“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.” (I Corinthians 15:52 - King James Version)
At the same time as the rapture of the Two Witnesses occurs, there is a great earthquake centered in Israel. The tenth part of the city fallling refers to the physical layout of Jerusalem. This is the beginning of geological changes in the city of Jerusalem which will be completed with the great earthquake of the seventh vial. Seven thousand men will die in this earthquake.
The result of the resurrection and rapture of the Two Witnesses followed by this earthquake will be recognition of the God of heaven. Those who have not taken the mark of the beast will turn to God. Many will be saved. These will be the ones who enter into the Millennial reign in physical bodies.
This passage teaches us that even when Satan appears to have won a great victory, it is only an illusion. God is in final control. He will destroy the work of evil. Good will triumph.
After lying in the street for three days, God resurrects these two men. They stand up. Television again broadcasts this picture to the entire world and people shake in fear. The great victory of the Anti-Christ has turned into bitter defeat.
Then a voice out of heaven calls to the Two Witnesses, and the world watches as they are raptured into heaven. This is about the time, when I believe, the rapture will occur. As we will observe later in this chapter, this rapture of the Two Witnesses occurs at the sounding of the seventh or last trumpet.
“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.” (I Thessalonians 4:16,17 - King James Version)
“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.” (I Corinthians 15:52 - King James Version)
At the same time as the rapture of the Two Witnesses occurs, there is a great earthquake centered in Israel. The tenth part of the city fallling refers to the physical layout of Jerusalem. This is the beginning of geological changes in the city of Jerusalem which will be completed with the great earthquake of the seventh vial. Seven thousand men will die in this earthquake.
The result of the resurrection and rapture of the Two Witnesses followed by this earthquake will be recognition of the God of heaven. Those who have not taken the mark of the beast will turn to God. Many will be saved. These will be the ones who enter into the Millennial reign in physical bodies.
This passage teaches us that even when Satan appears to have won a great victory, it is only an illusion. God is in final control. He will destroy the work of evil. Good will triumph.
posted by David Frank Wilson | 3:55 PM
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