Monday, January 27, 2025

In the Clouds

 


This is a small excerpt from my manuscript, Waiting For The Day And Hour:

What did Paul mean by the phrase, ἐν νεφέλαις (en nefélais) “in the clouds?” Some believe it means that when the rapture happens the body of Christ, both living and dead, will meet the Lord Jesus literally in the atmosphere, the clouds. The reason could be because Paul added, εἰς ἀέρα (eis aéra) “in the air.” So, did he mean the church would meet Jesus in the noctilucent (night-shining) clouds,[1] the highest clouds in the air? Noctilucent clouds are in the mesosphere, the third layer in the Earth’s atmosphere. Their formation is about 47 – 53 miles above the earth’s surface. Or, did he mean the church would meet Jesus in the cumulus clouds,[2] or the stratus clouds,[3] which are the lowest in the sky? Their formation is about 0.2 – 1.24 miles above the earth’s surface. I disagree with this theory.

I believe that when Paul wrote the church, both the living and dead, will be caught up en nefélais (in the clouds) to meet the Lord eis aéra (in the air), that it is an allusion to the church suddenly appearing in the heavenly realms. One minute the living will be on the earth, and then in a ἄτομος (átomos) flash, or moment, an indivisible unit of time (a chronon),[4] they will be in the heavenly realms. One minute the dead in Christ will be in heaven in spirit and soul, then in a chronon their earthly bodies will be recreated into heavenly bodies as the living believers join them in their heavenly bodies to be with Jesus forever: “Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality.” (1 Cor. 15:51-53, CSB). I believe that what Paul had in mind when he wrote the church would be caught up in the clouds was, a picture of Israel being led by God בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן (beeamud anan) “In a pillar of cloud” (Ex. 13:21a). The cloud sometimes symbolizes the divine presence of the Lord, his glory. Example: When Jesus and his three disciples went up to Mount Hermon (supposedly), he was transformed before them (Matt. 17:1-2). Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared in their glorified bodies—heavenly bodies (Matt. 17:3; Lk. 9:30-31). Peter started to talk to Jesus and at once a bright νεφέλη (neféli) “cloud” overshadowed the group, and from the cloud God the Father spoke to the disciples (Matt. 17:4-5). This cloud (neféli) was allusive to the presence of God Almighty. Therefore, when Paul wrote that the church would be caught up in the clouds, I believe he was stating that the body of Christ, both the living and dead, would be caught up to the presence of God. Caught up to his glory. And “in the air” (eis aéra), is allusive to a transition from the earthly realm into the heavenly realms.   

Some say, that because Jesus was hidden by a cloud when he ascended into heaven after forty days and the disciples could not see him anymore, that it means the body of Christ will also be taken up in a cloud and then disappear from the eyesight of those watching this event happen (Acts 1:9). This is likely why we see pictures created showing Christians ascending into clouds at the moment of the rapture. But could it be that Jesus’ ascension was not meant to correspond with the rapture of the body of Christ? His ascension was meant to correspond with his 2nd coming instead of the rapture. The two angels that suddenly appeared said as much. They told the disciples that Jesus would come back to the earth in the same way he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:10-11; Matt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7). Jesus will come back to the Earth on the final day of Israel’s 70th week period, and not the hour when the rapture occurs.

 

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Monday, January 20, 2025

The Inauguration of The Forty-Seventh

 

Today, January 20, 2025, the 47th President of the United States of America (USA) has been inaugurated. Donald J. Trump was sworn to the office of the President at approximately 11:40 AM—Eastern Time (ET). J.D. Vance was sworn in as Vice President at approximately 11:25 AM. The event took place in the Rotunda of the Capital Building. This event made Trump the 45th and 47th President of the USA.

As many viewed the event on TV and the Internet, the President delivered a favorable inauguration speech. He spoke about improving the American economy, fixing the southern border, and deporting illegal immigrants starting with the criminal element. He promised to make America great again (MAGA). His goal is to rebuild the military as he strengthens America’s sovereignty. His agenda is to put America first. He desires to bring back prosperity, peace, and security. He declares that he will begin a new golden age in America. With the people that he has appointed to positions in his administration, he should make America prosperous again. They should make America a country of prosperity, peace, and safety again. When that happens, it should make the Western world a place of peace and safety. As goes America, so goes the World. When Trump was the 45th President he was able to make peace with the World’s dictators. This was something the Left never gave him credit for. So, now that he is the U.S. President again, he should be able to settle down a lot of the chaos that was initiated and grew during the Biden administration.

Trump’s agenda has many people excited with hope and optimism. This hope and optimism are generated with the thought of great things to come. Over the last few years, hearts have become fearful with all the chaos that has exploded everywhere. Crime has flourished as criminal gangs from other countries have overtaken the streets. Left-wing politicians have protected the criminals while harassing the innocent. Trump promises to change all that, giving law-abiding citizens security and justice.

With a new Sheriff in town, the streets may experience safety again. The pro-Hamas protestors could be shut down or even deported. If that happens in America it could happen in Canada and Australia too. Trump may even insist that the UK gets their act together. He may convince Putin to withdraw his troops out of Ukraine. Trump will cut off all money to the mullahs in Iran which will stifle Hamas and Hezbollah activity greatly. There is optimism for peace in the World as the USA grows stronger under the Trump administration.

With the possibility of prosperity, peace, and security ahead, I am reminded of what the apostle Paul recorded in his 1st epistle to the Thessalonian church. He had written them while in Corinth (Acts 18:1-18). He said they were loved by God the Father and that he had chosen them (1 Thess. 1:4). The Thessalonians had become imitators of God and the apostles, as they received the word of God in much tribulation (1 Thess. 1:6). They had turned to God and stopped worshiping idols as they waited for the rapture to happen (1 Thess. 1:9b-10a)—they were waiting for the appearing of Jesus even in their day. Paul had taught them how the rapture of the body of Christ would unfold (1 Thess. 4:13-17). He had written them again to clarify when the church would be gathered to Jesus (2 Thess. 2:1-8) because some false teachers were teaching that the rapture had already taken place and they had been left behind (2 Thess. 2:2).

In his 1st epistle to them, he reminded them that he had told them about the χρόνων καὶ τῶν καιρῶν (chrónon kaí tón kairón) “years and times” (1 Thess. 5:1, mGNT), that the rapture would occur. And when it happens it will come like a thief in the night, suddenly the trumpet will sound. Paul called it the ἡμέρα κυρίου (iméra kyríou) “Lord’s day”. Some believe this phrase refers to the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation. But this phrase is used in the Scriptures to indicate different times and seasons that have a miraculous or great impact on either God’s people or the world. In this context, I believe it refers to the rapture of the body of Christ (Matt. 24:36-44; 25:13; Mk. 13:32-37). I say this because, the Lord comes to the clouds to rapture his church, he does not come to the earth to begin the 7-year Tribulation.  Paul warns the church, that when the world is living in εἰρήνη καὶ ἀσφάλεια (eiríni kaí asfáleia) “peace and security” then destruction (ruin and death) will come upon the world suddenly—without warning (1 Thess. 5:3a). It will be like when a woman’s labor pains begin, it cannot be stopped, and the world will not escape what will happen (1 Thess. 5:3b). In other words, once the church is raptured then the 7-year Tribulation will follow. It cannot be stopped. Therefore, once the rapture occurs without warning the Tribulation Period will follow soon after. The rapture will happen when the world is prospering, and living in peace, and security. And then everything will change.  

The world has no clue what is coming because they are not being taught prophecy. False prophets are announcing to the world that they see visions of everything getting better under President Trump’s leadership. No one in the realm of government is warning the world that the rapture is about to happen or that the Tribulation is coming. The three clergymen who prayed at Trump’s inauguration address never mentioned the rapture or the Tribulation even once. Only that everything is going to get better, as they prayed. The Trump presidency will implement his agenda of prosperity, peace, and security, and his vision of a golden age will take form quickly. They will have to fight the deep state while they do it. But the church cannot get caught up in all that. The church is not of this world, so more than ever we should be looking and praying for the rapture to happen even during Trump’s golden age (1 Thess. 5:4-5). As the golden age of Trump begins to take shape the church cannot be asleep as the world is asleep. But it must stay awake and be sober (1 Thess. 5:6). The church cannot get drunk on the excitement and joy of the golden age of prosperity, peace, and security (1 Thess. 5:7). God has promised that the church will not suffer his wrath that is about to come – the Tribulation – but rather he will complete the body of Christ’s salvation (1 Thess. 5:9). The church is not to get caught up in the world’s golden age, we are to stay awake and be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and wear the hope of our salvation’s completion as a helmet (1 Thess. 5:8). It is God’s will that we live with him (1 Thess. 5:10). Therefore, be of comfort and be inspired (1 Thess. 5:11).


Picture: Former Presidents announced at Trump inauguration (CBS News)      

 

 

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Friday, January 3, 2025

2025



At the beginning of every New Year, comes the old saying: “Out with the old and in with the new.” This idiom suggests a fresh start is upon us. Cast away what is behind, and embrace what is ahead. But every new year the old things from the previous year never go away. The world repeats itself over and over. With every new year the old things come back and get even worse. In 2024 there were approximately 72 terrorist incidents.[1] On the first day of January 2025, there were already two terror incidents in the United States of America (USA).[2] A vehicle ramming in New Orleans, Louisiana, saw at least 15 people dead, including the terrorist, and about 35 injured. In Paradise, Nevada, there was a car bombing that killed one person (the alleged terrorist) and injured about seven. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating. People were hoping that 2025 would start differently. Hope and optimism are the usual expressions used for the expectation of something new and refreshing. Who does not want something new and refreshing? Even the church wants something new and refreshing. That is why some pastors used something similar to this expression in their pre-New Year message.

The message most churches are preaching should be of concern to the Bible-believing Christian. The Scriptures predict something different from the message that most churches are hearing. Many churches are hearing that God is going to cause a revival to happen. This message teaches that the church will defeat the darkness and Satan, and create a Christian-like theocracy around the world. Some pastors say their church will experience revival even if others do not.  But that is not what God’s word teaches. The Scriptures teach that the church has entered into its final days here on the earth. Soon it will be in heaven. Rather than the church growing in numbers it has suffered a decrease. The apostle Paul prophesied this. He taught that in the latter days of the church age, there would be an apostasy, a falling away from Jesus (2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 4:3-4). In my previous article, I mentioned this. It has been said, that the terrorist that murdered the people in New Orleans had left Christianity to become a Muslim. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, with the Baha’i Faith, Sikhism, Jainism, and Hinduism growing much faster than Christianity. Many in the USA, United Kingdom (UK), and Canada have turned to the occult for the answer to life’s problems and fascination's sake—witchcraft has become very popular. During this apostasy, the church will soon be raptured and dwell in the eternal realm.

The church entered this final phase in 1948 when Israel’s statehood was renewed for the first time since its 1st exile to Babylon in 605 BC (2 Chron. 36:5-7; 2 Kgs. 24:1-2)—there were 3 deportations from Jerusalem to Babylon (605 BC, 597 BC, 586 BC). On the final deportation – 586 BC – Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed (2 Kgs. 25:1-21; 2 Chron. 36:15-20; Jer. 52:4-30). Jeremiah had warned Judah’s king Zedekiah to submit to the Babylonian King because God had appointed Nebuchadnezzar to discipline Israel because of their disobedience (Jer. 21:1-10; 27:12-13). But instead, Zedekiah listened to the false prophets who prophesied that Israel would not serve Nebuchadnezzar, but rather have victory over Babylon. Jeremiah told Zedekiah that these prophets were prophesying lies and the Lord had not sent them—they were prophesying lies in the name of the Lord (Jer. 27:14-16; 28:1-17). This history is being repeated, except now the church is being lied to. It is being lied to using the name of the Lord.

The Scripture teaches that Israel’s 70th week is about to begin. It is revealed with the knowledge of its renewed statehood (Matt. 24:32-34; Mk. 13:28-30; Lk. 21:29-32). It will commence with the Antichrist forcing a covenant between Israel and its enemies (Dan. 9:26b-27a). To repeat: The previous gospel passages were a prophecy by Jesus predicting that some of the people who witnessed Israel’s renewed statehood would also be alive to witness the rapture of the body of Christ, the 70th week of Israel begin, and the 2nd appearance of Jesus to redeem the remnant Jews. Sadly, many in the church are blind to this revelation because: 1) They are not being taught this information, and 2) The blindness comes because of apathy, towards any teaching on the church being raptured and the doctrine of endtimes prophecy. One day, the pastors of many churches will have to explain to God why their church was blind to this revelation.

Contrary to another false teaching, which states that if there even is a rapture (because some churches are teaching that the doctrine of the rapture is false) it will happen either mid-Tribulation or post-Tribulation. Some churches teach that the church must go through the Tribulation Period or that we are even in it now. Of course, this is false. Scripture teaches that the body of Christ is in heaven during the 70th week of Israel which is the period God the Father and the Lamb of God release their wrath upon the world (Matt. 3:7; Lk. 3:7; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 6:16-17; 12:12; 14:10). The rapture of the body of Christ is pre-Tribulation (Lk. 1:34-36; Rom. 2:5-8; 5:9; Eph. 5:3-7; Col. 3:3-6; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10). The Old Testament teaches that the 70th week of Israel is also referred to as the wrath of Yahweh (Zep. 1:7-18; 2:2; 3:8; Joel 3:2; Jer. 30:4-24; Isa. 13:6-13; Dan. 12:1).  

As 2025 begins, the church is responsible for instructing the world what is about to occur. Not only will things grow from bad to worse, but this could be the year that Israel’s 70th week will begin. And if this is the year that Israel will enter into their 70th week period then that means the rapture of the church will also occur. It will happen first, then chaos on the earth will explode, and then the man of sin will be revealed. He is the one who will force Israel and its enemies to agree to a covenant he has prepared for them to abide by. Therefore, the church and the world must be warned not only online but in person from behind the pulpit of every Bible-believing church. Sadly, most churches will not allow this truth to be spoken in their buildings. This year could be the greatest year the church has ever seen, or it could be the beginning of Hell on Earth for everyone not raptured.  

 

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