
9 minute read
Like a Thief in the Rapture?
from December 2020
Gò0dNews for Everyone
Like a Thief in the Rapture?
Advertisement
by Eddie Turner
More than once in the Bible, Jesus spoke of “the day” and the days of the tribulation period. And we can see how accurate “the hour” of his return. The reason he didn’t provide a our count is when we’ve reached the middle and several other specific day and hour is that he didn’t know exactly when points along the way. So, shouldn't the rapture also be mapped out God would be sending him back to earth. And he assured us that with a number? I believe it should. I also believe it is. his reappearance will catch human beings on the earth completely In this next verse from Daniel, the angel who showed him off guard the way a thief whose intent to rob someone during the all those weird visions helps Daniel to understand the tribulation night might do.“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of framework by giving him the number of days from the events that the Lord will come like a thief in the night” 1 Thessalonians 5:2. serve as the midpoint to the end. In case your math is rusty, 1,290
There is, however, another verse that strongly suggests not ev- days is 3.5 years which is half of the 7 years the Bible defines as the eryone will experience his return in this manner. In fact, he warned tribulation period. You may also recall from your studies that it is people to avoid that day at all costs. “Remember, then, what you the antichrist who is the abomination described here. He puts an received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I end to the sacrifice in the newly rebuilt Jewish temple and kicks all will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will of the Jewish people out, causing it to become desolate. But what come against you” Revelation 3:3. about this other number? “From the time that the regular sacrifice
I don’t know about you, but I believe it’s quite clear that is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will Jesus doesn’t want his followers anywhere near the earth when he be 1,290 days. returns. If this causes some confusion, you may have associated the How blessed rapture with not knowing the day and the hour. If you have, don’t is he who sweat it. This notion is really quite common. Why? It’s because of a keeps waiting similar event that will take place on the day Jesus returns. “That is and attains how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in to the 1,335 the field; one will be taken and the other left” Matthew 24:39-40. days!” Daniel
In order to fully grasp this text, and the rest of the Bible for 12:11-12. that matter, we must understand that the rapture and Christ’s When return are two separate events—one we are to prepare for, and one I first saw we are to avoid. If you’ve studied Revelation, you’re probably fa- this number, miliar with the number 144,000. This is the number of Jewish men I realized I and women who will serve as ministers to those left behind during must have the tribulation that is to come. Jesus’ followers who are alive at the read those verses 20 times and not noticed it. And when I tried to time of the rapture will be spared God’s wrath during this period. fit this block of time into the 7 years, nowhere I inserted it made These are called raptured saints, whereas those who make a deci- sense. That’s when the word “blessed” jumped out at me. I had sion to trust in Jesus after the rapture are called tribulation saints. seen this verse before. “But the one who endures to the end, he will And it’s the latter group whose members (some of them anyway) be saved” Matthew 24:13. will have survived to witness Christ’s return. These are the ones Patience and endurance are two attributes that Jesus often who are taken according to the verse from Matthew we just read. paired together. According to him, having both is vital to those They’re the very last ones. Those remaining who refused to repent awaiting their blessing on the day of redemption. This day, of or “wake up” will not be taken. Instead, they will feel as though course, refers to the rapture. It's when we, who have placed our they had just been robbed of their pride when the Son of Man trust in Jesus, are redeemed by the blood he spilled on our behalf. appears unexpectedly. Blessed are those who stand firm to the day we are rescued from
So, now that we know that Christ’s return is the event that God’s wrath which is reserved for everyone whose names are not cannot be anticipated, we can turn our attention to an event that written in the book of life. This message is loud and clear. So, how we can. Yes, I’m talking about the rapture. You don’t have a to be do these 1,335 days fit into the tribulation period? I believe this a total Bible nerd like me to know that God is big on numbers. Be- number is counted from day one of the seven years just like the cause of numbers, we know how much time God spent creating the other numbers in the Bible. This places the rapture 45 days after earth, how long the rains poured during the flood, and how long the midpoint when the people of Israel evacuate their temple and Noah and his family had to remain inside the ark until the ground flee from the antichrist into the mountains. Why the mountains? was solid enough to walk on. Because Jesus said so. “Therefore when you see the abomination of
The entire framework of the tribulation period is also built on desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standnumbers. And like the examples I just gave, these numbers repre- ing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who sent 24-hour days. Because the Bible ties specific events to these are in Judea must flee to the mountains” Matthew 24:15-16. numbers, we know without question when we can begin counting 36 // December 2020
You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda. 2020 H onda M onkey


CALL US FOR THE NICE PEOPLE BEST PRICE

929 N Glenwood Ave. | Dalton, GA 30721 706.226.4090 | kirkscycle.com

WWW.KIRKCYCLE.COM

Gò0dNews on Freedom
My Daughter, You’re Free
by Virginia Piper
The second verse of the song “Follow Me” by Casting Jewish people did not mingle with the Samaritans and certainly Crowns impacted me in ways I could never have didn’t speak to them. But Jesus did speak to her. In fact, Jesus imagined. It reads: purposely paused in eternity to let her know she was valued “At the end of myself and she had an alternative to her chosen way of life. She could Judgment calls out my name have what He came to give—living water to quench her thirst I’ve been looking for love for validation and a sense of worth. But I’m swallowed by shame Another story in Matthew 28 and John 20 reiterates not Throw away all your stones only my value but every woman’s around the world. After Jesus Find forgiveness in Me arose, He spoke first to a woman and instructed her to “go and Let Me be your new passion My daughter, you’re free.”
These heady words melodiously drifted ever so lightly, like a vapor, through the chambers of my soul. I was scarcely able to dare believe they could actually be true. I craved for them to be true. I would find myself holding my breath, fearing that if I breathed too heavily, the fragility of my revelation would pop like a bubble and soon blend into the background of my life. I focused on the last phrase of that verse for days, afraid if I didn’t, the reality of it would fade and then disappear and I would return to the person I had been before. I likened my life to that of someone trudging uphill but never reaching the peak or salmon swimming upstream to some destiny that is never reached.
For as long as I could remember, I had lived under the heavy pall of my mother’s insecurities and judgment. Over the tell.” At that time, Jewish law forbade women to “bear witness.” years, I put on her insecurities and poor self-image like a well- In other words, they were not trusted to be witnesses and worn sweater. It seemed to be a natural fit or the easiest to put certainly were not commissioned to carry out what they had just on since anything else seemed unreachable or unattainable or seen or experienced. This small act speaks volumes about how completely unknown. I wore that sweater to family gatherings Jesus views us as women. He turned the culture and tradition and get-togethers with friends. I wore it when I went looking of that day upside down, reaching to us across the centuries. It for love in all the wrong places because I couldn’t see myself is confirmation that in His Kingdom, women are fully loved, without it. When I looked in the mirror, all I could see was the accepted, and yes, most decidedly valued. sweater—nothing else—nothing good, nothing positive. I was Moreover, we also know that Jesus specifically chose to imprisoned. The thought of freedom from insecurities seemed take time to speak to not only women struggling to see their surreal—something that dreams are made of. Freedom was like worth but the disenfranchised, sick, lame, blind, and possessed: trying to catch and hold water. How parched I felt, but I was people that society shunned, ostracized, and discarded. Drawn unable to drink and quench my thirst. by His compassion for them and His purpose to save them,
It reminded me of the story of the Samaritan woman in Jesus extended Himself. Still doing this today, Jesus takes time John 4. The woman was so surprised to see Jesus at the well and to speak to each of us, right now, exactly where we are. Our even more surprised when He spoke to her and knew all about value, my value, is found in Him. her sordid life. In her day and culture, it was known that the The verse of the song quoted above remains one of my favorites, reminding me of my freedom and value in Christ. 38 // December 2020
