The chart at the top of this article was made by my “praisey” friend Daniel Matson who has been charting the time of Jesus’ return since the Revelation 12 sign (click here to view a larger image of this chart).  You can read more about the meaning of this chart and it’s correlation to the Rapture of the Church from Daniel’s Facebook post (click here).  Also, Daniel has a lot of other charts and good information about the Lord’s return at his web site:  http://www.watchfortheday.org/

Note, in this article I am presenting several reasons why Pentecost is the most probably time for the Rapture of the Church (the Wheat harvest) but only God knows the hour, day and year of the Lord’s return.  Furthermore, different Jewish calendars indicate Pentecost is celebrated in May, most indicate it’s in June and a few indicate it’s in July.  Also, Pentecost is the celebration of the “first fruits” offering of the Wheat harvest … the Wheat harvest continues into Summer, so the Rapture of the Church could occur at this time!

 

*** Skip to the end of this article to see some interesting information I discovered about the Rapture window/door that is open during the season of Pentecost! ***

On Pentecost Sunday the Church celebrates the arrival and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer.   The Holy Spirit is foremost a “person” … He is part of the triune nature/person of God (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit).  The Holy Spirit is person who convicts a person of their sin and the Holy Spirit gives “Spiritual life” to the person who believes that Jesus can save them from their sin so they can have eternal life … you must be born again (John 3:3).  The Holy Spirit is the comforter that Jesus promised to send to those who believe in Him (John 14:16).  The Holy Spirit is the power that enables a believer to witness the gospel Jesus Christ to others and to do the good works that glorify God (Acts 1:8).  The Holy Spirit is the interpreter of God’s word so the believer can understand the truth of God and expose the deception of man (John 16:13).  The Holy Spirit gives gifts to believers for the service and building up of the Church body (1 Corinthians 14:12). 

The Holy Spirit “seals” the believer so he has the assurance that God will complete the good work of that began with Salvation, continues through Sanctification and ends in Glorification with a resurrected body! (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30, Philippians 1:6).  The believer is never alone and is not to be anxious in this world because God as the Holy Spirit dwells withing the believer and will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:6-7).  The Holy Spirit teaches the believer how to live the life of Christ and do God’s will on earth as it is in Heaven (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Pentecost occurs 50 days or “a week of weeks + 1 day” after Passover and the name is derived from the Greek pentēkostē meaning “fiftieth” (Strongs 4005).  The Jews celebrate the feast of Shavuot at this time, which is the Hebrew word meaning “weeks.  The feast of Shavuot is the “forth” feast of seven that God gave to Moses for the Jews to observe.  The first three feast are in the spring … Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits.  Passover commemorates putting the blood of the lamb on the door posts so the Angel of death would “Passover” over their house (Salvation).  The Feast of Unleavened Bread represents living a life free of sin for 7 days, God’s divine number of perfection, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Sanctification).  Then on the third day after the Passover, the Jews crossed through the Red Sea, an example of the First Fruits of the Resurrection (Glorification).

These three Spring feasts are fulfilled in the New Testament by the Crucifixion, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus is the “Passover lamb” that takes away the sin of the world.  By believing that Jesus is your Savior from sin, you “pass over” from death unto eternal life (John 5:24).  Jesus was crucified on the day and very hour the Passover lamb was sacrificed at the Temple.  And He rose three days later on the Feast of First Fruits, since Jesus is the First Fruits of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20).  The morning that Jesus rose from the dead, the priest were in the process of waving the Barley sheaf, the first fruits offering at the Temple (Leviticus 23:11).  In other words, the priests were waving to the risen Savior since Jesus Christ is the “first fruits” to be raised from the dead.  Also offered at first fruits was a one year old lamb and fine flour, oil and wine. 

In comparison, on the feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost), the priest waved two loafs of bread made with leaven (Leviticus 23:17).  The “leaven” represents sin and the Church at the end of the age will for the most part be in an apostate state of sin, ineffective at preaching the gospel of Grace in Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:33).  The “two” loaves may represent the Church Age which consists of both Jew and Gentile (Romans 9:24) or the two loaves may represent that both the “dead in Christ” and those “alive in Christ” that are caught up at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).   The “two” loaves may represent the two types of physical man, “male” and “female” (Genesis 5:2) and they may represent the two types of births of man, the “natural born” man of sin and the “Spiritual born again” man in Christ!

Pastor James Smith has an excellent video where he discusses other events that occurred in the Old Testament surrounding the Feast of Week, Shavuot, that paint a picture of a Rapture/Tribulation.  One point he brings out is that the two witnesses are a representation of the two loaves that are waved at Shavuot/Pentecost … Moses represents the “dead in Christ” and Elijah represents “those alive in Christ.  Moses died at 120 years old and didn’t enter the promise land, in this way Moses represents a limit for God’s Spirit to strive with mortal man (Genesis 6:3) because 120 x 50 (a Jubilee and a Shavuot count) = 6,000 years.  In the 6,000th year Jesus will return with His raptued Bride and Tribulation Saints to reign and rule during the Millennium for 1,000 years!   Before Elijah was raptured he first went to Gilgal, Bethel and to Jericho which is a picture of the Rapture/Tribulation (I discuss the Jericho and the Shavuot connection below in this article). 

Note, the two loaves may also be a hidden reference to the 2,000 years of the Church Age. 

And here’s yet another possibility concerning the meaning of the two loaves of bread, even as Judas was unrepentant and unsaved as a member of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, so there are unrepentant and unsaved people (tares) who are members of a Church assembly.  Jesus said let the unbelievers (tares) grow up with the saved people (wheat) in the Church and He would separate them at the harvest!  (Matthew 13:36-43).  In a field of wheat as the crop first grows it is difficult to distinguish the wheat from the tares but as the wheat matures it bows it’s sheaf toward the ground as if in worship, while the tares stands up proudly as though in defiance.  Also these two types of people, “saved and unsaved”, are an example of all the people in the world.  This example is found at the cross of Christ where one thief was saved and he went to be with Jesus after his death in Paradise while the other thief died in his sin and remained separated from God. 

Also at the feast of Weeks the priest sacrificed seven one year old male lambs without defect, “one bull and two rams” (Leviticus 23:18).  You shall also offer one male goat for a sin offering and two male lambs one year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings (Leviticus 23:18).  However according to Numbers 28:26-31, the feast of Weeks offering is “two bulls and one ram” and seven lambs and one male goat (to make atonement for the priest).  To explain the difference it is suggested that this sacrifice was an option left to the discretion of the priest but some commentators suggest one sacrifice was done in the morning and one in the evening, so altogether on Shavuot there were three bulls, three rams, two goats and 14 lambs offered.  In addition there was a daily sacrifice of two lambs, one in the morning and one in the evening (Exodus 29:38-39).  This would have been a total of 24 animals (although some commentator say there were 26 animals sacrificed at Shavuot) … is this a picture of the 24 elders (the Church) around the throne of God that John sees after being “caught up” to Heaven (Revelation 4:4).

Chuch Missler use to say that there are blessings to be found in the details of scripture, especially when there “seems” to be a contradiction in the scriptures.  I don’t know what the blessings is to this discrepancies but I was wondering if the “7” lambs could be a reference to the 7 years of Tribulation?  Also the 7 lambs could be reference to the 7 days and 7 times the Jews marched around Jericho (I discuss this more later in this article).  Does the one ram and two bulls sacrifice represent the main characters of the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation and the two rams and one bull are a picture of the last 3 1/2 years?  Another possibility for the two sacrifices is that God is trying to tell us that Pentecost will have a “double” fulfillment in New Testament times, one is for the “betrothal” of the Bride (the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church) and the other is for the “marriage” of the Bride (the Rapture of the Church)!  

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;

      2  To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD

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            And the day of vengeance of our God;
            To comfort all who mourn,

When Jesus started His ministry he entered the synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah but he stopped reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2 (of course there were no chapter and verse numbers at that time) and He said “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).  Jesus fulfilled the first three Spring feasts at His first coming (the favorable year of the Lord) and Jesus will fulfill the last three Fall feasts when He comes at the end of the Tribulation (the day of vengeance of our God) but when will Jesus fulfill the Summer feast of Pentecost?  In other words, Pentecost has been fulfilled by the Holy Spirit but it has not yet been “personally” fulfilled by Jesus.  Watch this provocative video by brother Chooch suggesting that Jesus will fulfill the feast of ‘Shavuot/Pentecost by a Rapture/Wedding!

When you study the amazing order and precision of how God fulfills His promise feasts days, it opens your eyes to the Awesome God who wants to reveal Himself through these feasts and it inspires you to study His word to further understand what He has done, what He is doing and what He is going to do.  Look at the Menorah candle… in the patter of it’s construction you can see the three Spring feasts, the middle feast and the three Fall feasts.  Seven in all, which is God’s divine number and signature of His created order (7 days and 7,000 years) but the feasts are also “three” in grouping, like God’s triune being of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  

I use to think that the Feast of Trumpets, which begins the fall feast was the time of the rapture of the Church but now I think the three fall Feasts will be fulfilled in a quick sequence of days, when Jesus returns at the close of the Tribulation period, in a similar way to how the first three Spring feasts were fulfilled by Him.  I think the Feast of Trumpets may be the gathering of the Saints and riding to Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-15), the Yom Kippur Feats is then the  Sheep and Goat judgement and the Tabernacles is the beginning of the Millennium. 

Each of three “grouped feasts times” –  Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) – required that all able-bodied Jewish males to travel to Jerusalem to attend these feast and offer sacrifices.  This is why Jews from other regions and languages were in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell upon the 120 believers like fire and they spoke in other languages testifying that Jesus is Lord and Savior (Acts 2:1-36)!  All three of these feasts required that “first fruit” offerings be made at the temple as a way of expressing thanksgiving for God’s provision.  The Feast of First Fruits celebrated at the time of the Passover included the first fruits of the “barley” harvest (Jesus).  The Feast of Weeks was in celebration of the first fruits of the “wheat” harvest (Church Age – believers), and the Feast of Tabernacles involved offerings of the first fruits of the “olive, fig and grape” harvest (Jewish Age – believers). 

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” – John 15:1-2

Note, grapes that are sour are seen as “sin” in the Bible … they look good to consume but leave a bad taste in the mouth if consumed (Ezekiel 18:2).  These grapes from the wild vine are “unbelievers” that will be thrown into the wine press of God’s wrath (Revelation 14:19).  Jesus is the vine of sweet grapes and by belief in Jesus we are grafted into true vine (Romans 11:17).  Jesus is able to transform our bitter life of sin into a good tasting life of joy … like good wine (John 2:1-11).

Exodus 19:18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up

As we have discussed Pentecost and Shavuot occur at the same time … Pentecost is when Christians celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit (Grace) and Shavuot is the feast when Jews celebrate the giving of the 10 commandments (Law).  Shavuot, is the forth of seven feasts (the middle candle of the Menorah) that God commanded to be observed.  After the Jews miraculously crossed through the Red Sea (a picture of  the resurrection) they traveled for 50 days to Mt Sinai where God came down on the mountain in smoke and “fire” and spoke the 10 commandments to the Jews (Exodus 20:1-26).  In a similar way, on Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came down on Mt Zion as tongues of “fire” in Jerusalem on the 120 believers who were gathered at Jerusalem (Acts 1:15, Acts 2:1-4). 

Yes, God came down in fire at both Shavuot and Pentecost but at Mt Sinai, God came down and the people were in “fear and trembling” before God because no one can keep the Law.  But on Mt Zion, God came down to dwell within the believer, giving the person “assurance and power” to live a life pleasing to the Lord by Grace.  Grace is the new covenant that Jesus brought us by the shedding of His blood making the old covenant of the Law obsolete (Hebrews 8:6-13).  Note, the city of Jerusalem resides on Mt Zion is the Spiritual cornerstone of our faith in Jesus (1 Peter 2:6).  And when the Holy Spirit came down as tongues of fire on the 120 Jewish believers, it enabled them to speak in other languages so that those listening heard the “call of God to Jesus Christ” in their own language.  In this way, God “reversed the curse” of the tower of Babel and this is God’s desire that people of all nations and tongues will hear the gospel and be saved and united in Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19)!

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. – Luke 3:16

When you take a closer look at Mt Sinai you see that God came down upon the mountain on the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) and the people agreed to follow God.  Then Moses went up Mt Sinai for 40 days and received the ten commandments on two stone tables but when Moses came down the mountain he saw the disobedience of the people and he dropped the broke the tablets and at that time 3,000 people were slain by the priests.  Then Moses went up 40 more days to receive God’s writing of the ten commandments on new tablets of stone, so this is 80 days after the Feast of Weeks.

In comparison when the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, on that same day 3,000 people were saved and received eternal life by the preaching of Peter.  The Church was “conceived” at Pentecost and it’s a good possibility the Church will be “born/raptured” on Pentecost.  By tradition it is believed that Enoch was born on the day later to be known as Pentecost.  Enoch was a Gentile and many see him as a “type” of the church.  Genesis 5:21-23 indicates that Enoch was very close to God and was actually taken alive (raptured) into Heaven before the Great Flood on his birthday at 365 years of age.  Following this pattern, the Church could be raptured on it’s Birthday “Pentecost” prior to the Tribulation period.   

We discussed the possibility that the feast of Pentecost will have a double fulfillment in the New Testament by the “betrothal” of the Bride of Christ (the giving of the Holy Spirit) and the “marriage” of the Bride of Christ (the Rapture).  But did the feast of Shavuot have a double fulfillment in the Old Testament?  As we discussed early, God came down on Mt Sinai and gave the law to the Jews fifty days after Passover but was there another fulfillment of an event on Shavuot by the Jews?  It is a good possibility that the walls of Jericho fell at the time of Shavuot because this event took place sometime after Passover … after the Jewish men healed from being circumcised (Joshua 5:8-10).  The wall fell down on the seventh day, after circling seven times that last day, at the sound of the long trumpet blast and the shout of the people.  Do you see the pattern in this marching (7×7) is a week of weeks.  Isn’t it provocative that at the Rapture of the Church there is a trumpet blast of God and the shout of the Lord and the voice of the archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16).  Also there is a pattern similar to the destruction of the flood, when Noah and his family were in the ark for 7 days.

Also notice this second fulfillment of Shavuot in the Old Testament is by Joshua, who’s name means “YAHWEH is salvation”.  The name “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua which means “deliverer”.  In Old English the Hebrew name Yehoshua means Joshua.  So you see we have the pattern that Shavuot was fulfilled the first time by God at Mt Sinai and the second time by a type of Jesus (Joshua) as he began to conquer the promise land.  This gives us reason to think Pentecost will be fulfilled twice, the first time by the Holy Spirit and the second time by a type of Jesus … the Antichrist as he tries to conquer the world and begins the Tribulation period.  The word “anti” doesn’t mean he is not like Jesus but it means “in place of” … the Antichrist is a fake Jesus, just like all the fake news we are bombarded with today.

Of course Jesus is there too … He is there to rapture His Bride, the “born again” Church to Heaven to escape the Tribulation but who or what represents the Church in this story?  As the walls of Jericho fell, Rehab and her family escape the destruction and become identified with the Jews.   Isn’t it interesting that Rehab’s occupation is a harlot … is Rehab a picture of the leavened church of apostasy at the time of the Rapture?  I am going to suggest that Rehab represents the unbelievers in the Church who get “left behind” to face the Tribulation with the Jews and that the “gold, sliver, bronze and iron” which was “holy and devoted” to the Lord (Joshua 6:19) represents the born again Church that is Raptured to Heaven.  Isn’t interesting that our good works in Christ are seen as precious metals that are built upon the foundation of Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:12),  Each believers works get judged by Jesus at the Bema Seat in Heaven after the Rapture (2 Corinthians 5:10).  I realize this is a unique interpretation so be a Berean do your own research to prove if this is true or not.

The 40 year wilderness experience for the Jews was a “Sanctification” process, to prepare them to trust and obey the Lord so they could conquer the promise land of Canaan and “rule and reign” over it.  And in a sense the nearly 2,000 year experience for the Church is a Sanctification process to prepare the Church to “reign and rule” with Christ during the Millennium.  However, the Church is not to “conquer” the world like the Jews did with the sword of man but we conquer by the sword of the Lord, by the spreading of the gospel message and tearing down Spiritual strongholds through prayer.  Paul tells us how believers are put to death like sheep for the slaughter “But in all these things, we more than conquer through the One having loved us.” – Romans 8:37 

Here’s are some amazing connections with 40 and the Rapture! 

 

– the Jews wondered in the wilderness for 40 years in the wilderness, then went into the promise and conquered Jericho at the sound of “Trumpets” and shouting!

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– the Church has wondered in the world for almost 40 years x 50 = 2,000 years and is ready to go to the promise land of Heaven to be with Jesus at the voice of the archangel and the trumpet sound of God!  (1 Thessalonians 4:16).  Note, a Jubilee is a period of 50 years and a Shavuot/Pentecost is period of 50 days.

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– A pregnancy is 40 weeks (40 x 7) … The Church is the male child that was conceived at Pentecost and will be born and caught up to Heaven before the Tribulation comes upon the earth (Revelation 12:5).

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– Jesus ascended to Heaven after walking upon the earth for 40 days … Jesus is the first fruits of the Resurrection.  He is our Groom who is preparing a place, the New Jerusalem, for His Bride, the Church.  Maranatha – Come Lord Jesus!

Another provocative thing is that when the Jews left the wilderness Moses passed the leadership to Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim (Joseph’s son) to conquer the promise land.  Remember Joseph was the one who was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers but later he rose to power to rule over the world for 7 years of plenty and the 7 years of Tribulation.  There are many commentaries that proclaim that Great Britain is Manasseh and that the USA is “Ephraim” (click here).  Could it be that in these last days that the USA represents the 10 northern Jewish tribes and Israel represents the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin, standing together against the world … or are they preparing to rule over the New World Order from Zion?  Note, the USA and Israel have the larges number of Jews, about 6 million each.

 

And when the Church Age ends, the Jews think that Messiah Ben Joseph will appear to fight and establish a Jewish rule over the earth but he will be killed in the battle of Armageddon (pierced by a sword) and Messiah Ben David will rule for the Kingdom Age.  Of course we understand that Messiah Ben Joseph is the Antichrist and Messiah Ben David is Jesus Christ!  https://jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/issues-v05-n08/first-things-first/

Another fascinating study that is related to the feast of weeks (Shavuot) is found in the book of Ruth and by tradition the book of Ruth is read by the Jews during the feast of weeks.  The book of Ruth is a story of a Jewish Kinsman Redeemer (Boaz) who marries a Gentile bride (Ruth) during the Barley harvest (Ruth 3:2).  Note, Barley and Wheat where planted at the same time in Israel after the “former rain” in late October.  The Barley was ready to harvest first, around Passover and harvesting of Barlye would continue until the time for the Wheat harvest to being … around the time of Shavuot.  The Barley is a cheaper grain to purchase and process … although it is more healthy for you than wheat, it was less desirable to eat and was seen as the poor people’s food.  The process for harvesting Barley and Wheat is similar and run together so this probably why the story of Ruth is told around the Wheat harvest, even though occurred during the Barley harvest?  Chart below is from this site (click here).

Ruth is a Gentile, from the tribe of Moab, descended from Lot, Abraham’s nephew.  After Ruth’s Jewish husband died Ruth show great faith in the God of her mother in law, Naomi, when she said “your people shall be my people and your God, my God”  (Ruth 1:16).  Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem at the time of the Barley harvest and Ruth by providence went into the field of Boaz to gather a “gleaning” of sheaves that was left behind by the harvesters.  Boaz was a kinsman redeemer of Ruth’s husband from the tribe of Judah and Boaz redeems her through a yibbum, or levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).

This story has great significance for the Church because the Church is the “Gentile” bride redeemed by Jesus, the Groom from the tribe of Judah!  Jesus is our “kinsman redeemer” from the tribe of Adam, since Jesus was born into the body of Adam through Mary but He was also fully God, since He was born from the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).  The Church has been “betrothed” to Jesus and given the promise ring of the Holy Spirit.  The Church is now waiting for Jesus to “rapture” her to Heaven for the consummation of the “marriage” of the Lamb.  

Revelation 12:1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Another way to understand our position in Christ is that the Church was also “conceived” at Pentecost by the sealing of the Holy Spirit and we are now waiting to be “born” like a child with a resurrected body (Revelation 12:5)!  This is what the Revelation 12 sign declared when it appeared in the Heavens on September 23, 2017 … WAKE UP WORLD … because the Rapture of the Church will occur soon!

Matthew 24: 36“ But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38“For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40“ Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

And isn’t it provocative that in Matthew 24, Jesus spoke about a Rapture type event that occurs during the wheat harvest when men will be in the field harvesting and woman will be at the mill grinding … then suddenly … “one is taken” … in the Rapture … “one is left behind” … to the face the Tribulation.   Lots of people like to quote this verse from Matthew 24:36, “that no one knows the day or hour” of the Rapture to rebuke those who are faithfully watching but few look at the context of this reference and ponder the possibility that Jesus could be giving us a clue that the “season” of His return will occur around Shavuot/Pentecost, the time of the wheat harvest!

When Jesus said “one is take and one is left” this reminds me of the parable of the 10 virgins where half  of the virgins are taken and half are left (Matthew 25:1-13).  The Bride Groom came suddenly at night and the 5 wise virgins went into the marriage and the 5 foolish were “left behind”.  The 5 wise virgins had oil in their lamp because they were “born again” by the Holy Spirit … they are like the “wheat” of the field and the Holy Spirit is like the oil that allows the believer to shine the light of Jesus into the world.  The 5 foolish virgins are like the “tares” in the Church, they are are not saved, they are Christians In Name Only (CINOs) and they will be lift behind to face the Tribulation.

Have you noticed there are a lot of “Legalistic” Christians who are like Pharisees, thinking their good works are keeping them saved.  They think the doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved is heresy.  They don’t believe that the Grace of God that saved them can keep them saved and present them complete in Christ. even though this is proclaimed in many times in scripture (Philippians 1:6).  The point I am making is that they think their good works are justifying them before God and they mock those in the camp of Grace who are trusting the good work of Jesus.  Could it be that the wise virgins who are abiding in Grace tell the foolish virgins to go get the oil of “works” when Jesus arrives?  And this the gospel of works will probably be necessary during the Tribulation, in that you will have to exhibit your love for Jesus with works of martyrdom or works of helping others in Jesus name to survive the Tribulation period. I don’t want anyone to be left behind but I don’t understand why some “Christians” cannot rest in the good work that Jesus has promised to do in them, from Salvation to Sanctification to Glorification.

Isn’t it interesting that Boaz gives Ruth “six” measures of Barley as a promise that he will redeem her (Ruth 3:15).  Is this a hidden reference to the 6,000 years of man when Jesus will return to earth with His Gentile Bride and redeem His forsaken wife Israel?  The book of Ruth ends with the birth of a “man child”, Obed (Ruth 4:13) and through Obed came Jesse … and then David … and many generations later …. Jesus, the child of promise (Genesis 3:15)!

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  Acts 2:17

Stephanie from Unsealed has published an article about a possible Pentecost Rapture and his main point is that when Peter spoke about the Holy Spirit coming down, he quoted from Joel 2 but Peter “stops” from reading the entire passage of Joel … in a similar way that Jesus stopped when He read from Isaiah 61:1-2.  The point that Jesus was making is that He first came to proclaim the “favorable year of the Lord” and He will come again to proclaim the “the day of vengeance of our God” … when He comes to begin the “Day of the Lord”.  Could it be that Peter is making a similar point?  (click here to read the article from Unsealed)

The Promise of the Spirit  from Joel 2

27“Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the LORD your God,
And there is no other;
And My people will never be put to shame.

28“It will come about after this
            That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
            And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
            Your old men will dream dreams,
            Your young men will see visions.

      29“Even on the male and female servants
            I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

 

The Day of the LORD 

30“I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
            Blood, fire and columns of smoke.

      31“The sun will be turned into darkness
            And the moon into blood
            Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

      32“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD
            Will be delivered;
            For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
            There will be those who escape,
            As the LORD has said,
            Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.

Yes, this passage in Joel has another fulfillment but I think it is at the “end” of the seven year Tribulation when the Jews will no longer have to hide and be put to shame by the nations.  This pouring out of the Spirit spoken about in Joel 2:28 is upon “all mankind” not just Church believers or Jews.  This Strong’s Hebrew word “1320 – basar“, meaning “flesh” which could include animal flesh, for we know during the Millennium that the nature of animals will be changed to be as it was before the fall of Adam in the garden of Eden.   Notice, how Joel is talking about those who escape from Mt Zion (Joel 2:32).  I think this is a reference to the Jews who will escape to Petra at the mid-way point of the Tribulation when the Antichrist commits the Abomination of Desolation.   

I think the reference to the “the sun will be turned into darkness and the moon to blood – before – the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord comes” (Joel 2:31) is a reference to the 6th seal of Revelation but I think this event occurs in conjunction with the catching up of the two witnesses to Heaven at the mid-way point of the Tribulation, not at the Rapture of the Church.  Jesus is saying this cosmic event of the 6th seal will occur “after the Tribulation of those Days” (Matthew 24:29).  I think Jesus is saying that after the first half of the Tribulation (3 1/2 years) the Angles will gather and seal 144,000 Jews before the 7 Trumpet judgments are sounded.  I think the 7 Bowl judgement are poured out near the end of the Tribulation.  In other words, my understanding is that the Day of the Lord “begins” at the Rapture and the “Great and Awesome Day” is the final day of the Tribulation, seven years later at the battle of Armageddon.  Of course I could be wrong, I am not a prophet and I don’t write for profit.  This is my analysis of scripture to the best of my understanding.  

In the passage above the author of Hebrews is talking about a future “escape” from God’s wrath and a future “shaking” of both the earth and the heaven!  Yet, those in Christ will receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken.  Is this reference of a future escape pointing to the rapture of the Church on Pentecost as born again believers are caught up from this earth to our eternal home, the New Jerusalem in order to escape the Tribulation?  Come Lord Jesus.  Maranatha!

“But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” – Luke 21:36

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, – 1 Thessalonians 5:9

The giving of the Law on Mt Sinai on Shavuot was a fearful event in which you would not escape the wrath of God if you “touched” the mountain.  But we who are born again have been promised that we are not appointed for God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9).  We are assembled at Mt Zion, the city of God, our Spiritual home (1 Peter 2:6) watching for our Blessed Hope, Jesus to come rapture His Bride … praying and abiding in Him for the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

1 Corinthians 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 

From the above passage we know that the Church will be resurrected with “Christ at His coming” but when is His coming? 

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:40

Here’s another clue, we will get our resurrected bodies on the “last day” … but when is the last day?  I think the “last day” is the “Day of the Lord” when the Lord begins to reign.  And the Day of the Lord begins at the Tribulation which begins the last seven years of discipline for the Jews (Jacob’s Trouble)  and the Day of the Lord continues through the Millennium period.  Then after 1,000 year the existing Heaven and earth are burned up and a new resurrected Heaven and earth are created!  

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. – 2 Peter 3:10

1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon “them” suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and “they will not escape“. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober – 1 Thessalonians 5:4

It’s Jesus who comes like a thief in the night to take the most precious thing on earth to Heaven … His Bride, the Church.  The Day of the Lord is darkness and destruction that will come upon “them” and “they will not escape”.  But Paul tells the Church that we are sons of light and we are to be watching and ready for Jesus to appear because “we will escape” in the Rapture that occurs before the Day of the Lord begins. 

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. – Revelation 22:17

– Blessings to the Bride and Glory to the Lamb –  Rogersings 

The Pentecost Rapture Window or should I say Door!

Here is a “unpublished” response I made to a video from “Midnight Hour Oil” (click here).

Dear sister at Midnight Hour Oil,

        There is no question that during the time of Jesus, the feast of Pentecost occurred 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus which occurred at the First Fruits offering of the Barley, 3 days after Passover.  For Jesus walked on the earth after His resurrection for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and then told His disciples in a that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a “few days” (Acts 1:5).  These few days are the 10 days that the disciples waited in Jerusalem until the feast of Shavuot … not 10 + another 50 days for a total of 60 days later.

        The first fruits of the Wheat harvest that was offered at Shavuot/Pentecost was planted in the winter along with the Barley, The Barley matured first and was offered in early Spring at Passover and the Wheat matured about 50 days later and was offered in the late Spring at Shavuot/Pentecost.  It also makes sense that the Wheat harvest continued after the feast of weeks (Pentecost), into late Summer until all of it was harvested.  This is good news for the harvest “Rapture” of the Church which could occur after Pentecost.

Mathew 24: 2“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Read “25 Ways Pentecost Foreshadows the Rapture” by T W Tram.   (click here)

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