What is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

                                           

The baptism in Holy Spirit is God's gift of spiritual power. The gift of salvation brings eternal life. The gift of the Holy Spirit grants us the ability to reach the lost with the Gospel message.

Few Christians understand the importance of the Holy Spirit's work in the Body of Christ. Jesus repeatedly stated that the Holy Spirit would have a major role in a believer's life. The Bible says that God's Spirit will lead us to a deeper understanding of truth, and He will empower us to witness. 
                                           

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).

                                           

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7).

"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence...But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:5 and 8).

                                            

Several passages in the Word of God tell us that the gift of the Holy Ghost is something we should earnestly seek.

                                           

"But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on my menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:16-18). 

                                           

"...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38-39). 

                                           

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him" (Acts 5:28-32).

                                           

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?...Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:9-13).  

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The Rapture - Answering the Critics

 

 

Jesus is Coming!  Don't Miss It For the World!

 

 Matthew18:20, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

 

 

Video: Jesus Came.  What's Next? Part 1 &2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOOSKyRRFxc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bvT2b3Iwzc

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

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 will 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.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 John 13:35 "By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another".

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The Rapture – Answering the Critics

By Terry James

 The Rapture – Answering the Critics

This generation is full of scoffers, mocking the prophesied return of Jesus Christ to Planet Earth. This is as the great Apostle Peter foretold it would be at the end of the age of grace (Church Age): “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet. 3:3-4).

God’s prophecies are 100 percent accurate, so it doesn’t surprise in the least that there is the scoffing and mocking today, exactly as one of God’s prophets said there will be as time nears the Lord’s return. Many signals are occurring simultaneously, and with phenomenal frequency and intensity, pointing to where we are on God’s prophetic timeline. Chief among these are all of the geopolitical dynamic intrigues surrounding the nation Israel –God’s prophetic timepiece. The sneering at the thought that there could possibly be a rapture just throws fuel on the fire of the end-of-days deluge –the end that is coming in with a flood of last-days indicators as foretold by Daniel the prophet: “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined” (Dan 9:26).

Daniel was foretelling what would happen from the time the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would die for the sins of mankind until the very end of human history at Armageddon. Great, convulsing, prophesied issues and events would, near the very end of the age, he forecast, gush through the generation alive at the time like a flood.

Daniel’s End-Time Flood

One of those predicted events of the end-time flood is the level of anger that will be against believers who proclaim that one of the most stupendous events of all human history will one day –perhaps very soon—take millions upon millions from the earth’s surface in a fraction of a second.

We receive in our e-mail each week any number of messages declaring that the truth we champion regarding Bible doctrine and prophecies –particularly the pre-trib rapture of the Church-- are everything from ludicrous to heretical. This criticism gets especially intense whenever the raptureready.com website is written or spoken about in a major media outlet. That is to be expected, because there can be no spiritual discernment among those of the lost world. Believers in Jesus Christ can understand, while those who do not belong to God’s family through belief in His only begotten Son cannot understand:

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:11-14).

Defense of Rapture to Lost and Saved

Trying to explain or defend the rapture to the world of the lost is, therefore, fruitless. There is just no way they can come to understand or believe this doctrine, unless and until they repent, ask for--and accept--God’s grace gift offer of salvation through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at Calvary nearly two millennia ago. We can go through the vast body of scriptural text, laying out the Bible facts as we are confident God’s Word presents truth about the rapture. But, unless and until one is capable of spiritual discernment from the Holy Spirit, a person, no matter how intellectually brilliant, can never come to believe those facts. They might even come to understand the facts in a purely cerebral sense, but never truly comprehend them to the point of knowing that the rapture is a cataclysmic event in the future of one particular generation of earth’s inhabitants.

So, our efforts to explain the rapture will meet with quite limited results, seeing as how there is a great spiritual discernment disconnect, when explaining to those who don’t know Christ for salvation. This we accept, thus can move ahead with limited frustration in putting the truth about prophecy and the rapture before these as best we can.

Dealing with the Body of Christ--all born-again believers--is quite another thing, when it comes to our frustration meter. It becomes a bit more disconcerting when our efforts to put out truth about prophecy, and the rapture in particular, is met with the same arguments, no matter how thoroughly and how cogently we organize and present what God’s Word has to tell His children about these matters.

Hard-Shell Rapture Detractors

There are, of course, the die-hard preterists (believing that most all prophecy has been completed or should be spiritualized) and the reform replacement theological enclaves (those who declare God’s promises have been taken from Israel and given to the church). These make their livings throwing mudballs –usually with stones at the centers—at those of us who proclaim the truth that Jesus will come for His Church –all born-again believers—BEFORE the tribulation era –the last seven years of human history that culminates at Armageddon. These, who refuse to see two programs of God’s dealing with mankind, Israel , and the Church --these two dovetailing into one magnificent prophetic culmination-- castigate us who believe that God deals with His creation called man dispensationally (the ages of Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, the Church, Tribulation, Millennium, etc.). Sometimes, it seems fruitless to try to break through the thick spiritual iron wills of these, in trying to present truth about the rapture. But, these are not the most troubling that seem to fit the 2 Peter 3: 3-4 description, so far as scoffing is concerned. The more concerning, to me, at least, are those who, despite being given, time after time, the same tremendously in-depth explanation from God’s Word about the rapture and the truth that it will be a pre-trib one, continue to come to us with the same arguments to the contrary. This, despite the fact that they visit the Rapture Ready website, and can read more than 15,000 articles on matters of God’s truth, many dealing specifically with eschatology.

These are Christians who just seem to have it in their determination that they must go through –endure—the tribulation, the time about which Jesus foretold the following: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21).

The Tribulation, if we can imagine, will be worse than the concentration camps, torture chambers, crematoriums of Hitler, or the most terrible days of the inquisitions with all of the devilish methods of torture. Yet, there seems to be a need –they deludedly think—for some Christians to go through that time, during which Antichrist will do his dead-level best to kill every person who refuses to worship him.

Anti-Rapture Example

I’ve chosen one letter from such a Christian. It is a simple and mild letter; no mud-ball throwing. But, it represents the most troubling of all of the critics of the rapture of the Church, in my view. It is most troubling that these types think as they do, because it shows an almost willfulness against accepting God’s promises, summed by this passage: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9).

Here is what she wrote, in part:

“I know that the Tribulation is going to be extremely bad and even worse than I can imagine but I sincerely believe I along with you and other Christians that are living at the time, will be going thru the bad. I am prepared mentally and will do whatever comes my way to either get thru or stand up and say no when needed. If I am one that is to [be] beheaded then so be it. I know GOD will be holding my hand and whatever comes my way, HE will see me thru. If I can be of any use to GOD to help save people then I am prepared to do as HE wants. I have many family members that are not believers now and pray daily that will change. I do believe that many souls will be saved. I know that I am a sinner and do not like verses of the Bible taken out of context. The whole book or at least the chapter needs to [be] read and understood not just a verse here and now to prove a theory that did not even come into being until a couple of hundred years ago. How is every eye going to see JESUS return if HE comes back in secret. Just don't believe any are going to be "raptured away". The Bible states that HEAVEN will be coming down here not us going up there.”

Tragic Misconceptions Unscriptural

The Christian sister makes a number of statements of misconception that are dealt with through hundreds of the thousands of articles on the RR website. This is my problem. Many criticisms of us who hold to the pre-trib rapture are issued forth by those who obviously have never mined the rich resources available to them, before making their criticisms/argumentations.

She writes that she is sure that she will be going through the tribulation, in order to stand for Christ and help God save people out of that horrendous time. She charges that she has disdain for those who twist Scripture out of context, with those (like us, I presume) using scattered and sporadic Scripture passages to make our points.

She, at the same time, provides no Scripture for any of her criticisms of the rapture “theory,” as she puts it. However, most who make this charge do so, using Scripture from Revelation that they declare shows saints in the middle of that time of Tribulation. Thus, they conclude, the Church is right there, taking the brunt of Antichrist’s rage and God’s wrath.

Dispensational Discernment Required

Indeed, believers will populate that era by the millions. It will, many who study that period believe, be a time of the greatest coming to Christ in the history of man. What the writer of this letter–and others—fail to recognize, or even consider, is that God deals with man, including His children, in dispensations. There are saints of the Church Age at present, and there will be saints during the tribulation. Neither will be together in the same dispensation.

Jesus told us that He would build His church upon the gospel message the apostle Peter had just given, telling Jesus that he believed Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God: “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:17-18).

Do you see that? The gates of hell –Satan—will not prevail against the Church. That’s all about the Church Age saints.

The Revelation tells quite another story for God’s saints. The following Scripture is speaking, of course, about Satan’s great tyrant, Antichrist, during the Tribulation era: “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Rev. 13:7). The Church will not be “overcome” by Satan, because it won’t be here. The tribulation saints (those who accept Christ after the rapture) will be overcome to a large extent –lose their physical lives for the cause of Christ.

Myth-Making Against Rapture

Our Christian critic-friend proves that she has at least done some study, but not from God’s Word. She has read the books and literature of those who incessantly and speciously claim that we who believe in the pre-trib rapture have learned our “false” doctrine from a 19th-century witch, who somehow influenced John Darby to later perpetrate the hated rapture theory.

The most ludicrous of the criticisms is that we base our view that there will be a rapture upon Margaret MacDonald’s vision in the 1800s. It makes me almost nauseous to have to even address this –for the thousandth time, when, if the critics would just read what is already written on the subject on the site, it should quell their proclivity to make such ridiculous claims. But, I will briefly answer again, those who are so intellectually and spiritually lazy.

The rapture, the "catching up" (harpazo) was revealed by Paul the apostle. It is a mystery he gave us through Holy Spirit inspiration, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18. The Rapture was not the concoction of John Darby, who picked up this teaching, and gave it improved order of presentation centuries after the doctrine was believed and taught by the early church fathers (first two centuries AD).

The rapture isn't built on one or two verses, but on the entire body of Scripture. When viewed in totality, and in context, the doctrine flows with prophetic signals we observe occurring in the world today--i.e., the world isn’t getting better and better as the "kingdom-now" people believe (that the Church will make the world better until Christ can return to set up His throne). The pre-trib rapture view puts forward that the world will grow worse and worse. The Church will be removed from earth, then God’s judgment will begin to fall on rebellious earth-dwellers.

Which do we see happening today? The world getting better and better –or- are things looking worse and worse for Planet Earth? Read the daily headlines, or watch the hourly news, and you will have your answer.

Two Phases of Second Coming

Again, Paul shows us the mystery --i.e., he reveals the mystery of the rapture in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55. The mystery he is expanding upon is the wonderful promise Jesus made as shown in John 14: 1-3. Jesus is coming for us --before God's wrath must fall.

A foreshadowing of that principle is seen in Genesis, chapter 19, when God said that He could do nothing in the way of sending judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot was first removed. Lot represented the only righteousness God recognized. It was Lot 's faith --as puny as it was-- that kept him and the other few believers of his family from the time of God's wrath--again, Revelation 3:10.

Our critic asks how all eyes can see Christ return, if He comes secretly in some rapture. She declares she just doesn’t believe anyone is going to be raptured away, and she states Christ will be coming down to earth, not Christians going up to Him. Again, she, and those who fill her head with anti-rapture rhetoric fail to, or willfully refuse to, see God’s dispensations in dealing with man. In the case of the return of Christ, Scripture makes it clear there are two separate returns. These are at least seven years apart, one from the other.

Jesus will return at some unknown time in the rapture. Jesus, himself, likens that coming to a thief-in-the-night experience for those on earth. They won’t know what has happened, and certainly won’t see Christ. Paul says it is a moment in time when all believers (the Church) will meet Jesus in the air: “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” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

Jesus will come the second time, following at least seven earth years, at the close of the tribulation era, known also as “Daniel’s seventieth week.” This time He will come all the way to the planet, and every eye will behold Him. There will be absolutely no doubt about this re-entry and landing: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Rev. 19:11-15).

Scriptural Proof Required

As stated before, each of these things intended to deny the validity and credence of pre-trib rapture are dealt with at great length, and in tremendous depth throughout the RR website. All opposing views are carefully dissected, and with Scripture given at every point along the way in addressing any and every question. But, it DOES take determined research to seek out truth found in the articles –truth that is God’s Word, not merely ours.

And, here is the main crux of this dear lady’s problem in not discerning truth about Christ’s coming for the Church –for her. She presents not one Scripture to back up any of her assertions, declarations, or suppositions/postulations. She simply parrots things critical of the rapture doctrine she has read or heard from those who mock, without anything of spiritual substance to back her/their criticisms.

My intention is not to pick on her. I want only to used her method of criticism –a method used in almost every instance by those who listen to the anti-rapture crowd-- as an example to show there is no foundation to her/their argument/denial that the rapture is a doctrine taught in God’s Word. This is our answer to such critics. Study the Word of God. Make your criticisms from His Word –as the dear woman says—not from just a Scripture here or there, but from the whole context of the matter, whatever the matter happens to be.

I have studied most all of the positions and variations thereof involved in these arguments for decades --which gives away my age, I guess. The pre-trib view of prophecy yet future is absolutely the only one that makes sense in the totality of scriptural context, and in terms of what we see unfolding today in things of geopolitics, global socio-economics, and religion.

Salvation – Rapture Inseparable

The Rapture is an issue incontrovertibly linked to salvation --something Jesus did on the cross, which puts us in God's family when we truly believe. That faith keeps us from the time of God's wrath --both in the coming tribulation, and in eternity. Wrath and judgment must fall upon rebellious mankind, because of sin. Jesus paid the price for that sin. He said on the cross "It is finished." Sin was forever paid for at that moment, for those who would accept his sacrifice --the only sacrifice that God will accept --the precious blood of His Blessed Son.

We are told we as Christians, while in the flesh, will have tribulations (troubles). Certainly Christians have had troubles down through the years. Persecutions --genocide, martyrdom, etc. These horrors are still happening in some places around the world. But, this was not, and is not, God's wrath and judgment, but was, and is, satanic rage against God's people. The tribulation will include satanic rage, but it will be within the horrific storm of God's wrath and judgment.

Christians (those who have been --as our critic says-- saved following the rapture-- will certainly suffer satanic rage, but not God's wrath. Many will be martyred, as in the times of the early persecutions --like Christians are being martyred in some nations today. But, we are told that we (Paul denotes the difference between Christians of the Church Age and those who aren't in God's family by the use of pronouns) we aren't appointed to wrath, but to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are told by Paul to "comfort one another with these words"--not look to fear, but to comfort (read 1 Thess. 4:18, and 5:9-11). We will be kept out of "the time of testing (the apocalypse or tribulation), John was told by Jesus (Rev. 3:10).

Rapture Ready or Not…

Now, you might not agree, and that's fine. If you know Christ you are going instantly to Him anyway, when Jesus says "Come up hither," as He did to John in Revelation 4:1-2. You will have no other choice, if you are in God's family. But, please don't ever think --or claim--that there is only scattered verses here and there, or that there is no tremendously deep body of scriptural evidence and proofs beneath the truth of the pre-trib rapture.

Again, you can disagree, but, please don't accuse us of not knowing about the other views, and, don't just blindly accept what opponents falsely say when they lie, proclaiming that we just believe in something a 19th-century Englishman said, or that we follow some woman who dabbled in the occult. That isn't true, and you should look more deeply into the evidence upon which we base these understandings, than just to take the word of those who make such shallow and deceptive accusations.

Put this Scripture in a place you can memorize it –and make it your model truth for avoiding the pitfalls of intellectual and scriptural laziness: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).


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I Wish We'd All Been Ready - Left Behind.

 

I wish we'd all been ready

 

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No One Knows the Day or Hour

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant

45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Re: Is the number 3 a clue to the time or day of the Rapture? Part 4

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It is instructive as well that God appeared to the children of Israel on Mount Sinai not only in the third month after their departure from Egypt (Exod 19:1) but on a third day after two days of spiritual preparation (Exod 19:10-11, 16-20). As could be expected, after the Lord’s self-revelation and instructions to the assembled multitude, more was to follow. Such came in God’s issuing of the Ten Commandments (Exod 20:1-17; cf. Deut 5:6-21).46 In all of the above texts the third day motif points to actions and matters that take on a spiritual dimension. Something distinctive, even unique, was to occur on the third day and that in turn pointed to important things to follow.

Purity Or Healing

“The third day has a ceremonial significance as well … The meat left from sacrifices was to be destroyed on the third day (Lev 7:17-18; 19:6-7).”47 Thus nothing spoiled or impure was to mar the spiritual nature of the sacrifice and the third day itself was to be kept holy and pure. In keeping with this were the later regulations concerning purifications by water on the third day as well as the seven days after contamination by touching a dead body (Num 19:11-12, 19; 31:19). Hezekiah asked for a sign that the Lord would heal him so that he could “go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day” (2 Kgs 20:8). The idea of healing thus is attached to the motif of the third day here. Once again not only is the purity of the day emphasized, but the day is one of healing and spiritual activity. It is not surprising, then, that when the prophet Hosea urges the sinning people of the Northern Kingdom to return to the Lord so as to experience His forgiveness, and their healing and restoration, that he employs the motif of the third day: Come, let us return to the LORD.

He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us;
He has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
After two days he will revive us;
On the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence (Hos 6:1-2).

In light of Old Testament precedents Hosea’s employment of the third day motif would likely fall upon ears that were familiar with its significance. The Lord’s healing and restoration was not only certain, but it would be a very special time of victory for God’s people.

The Day Of Resurrection

 Although it is difficult to think of Hosea’s prophecy concerning Israel’s future healing and restoration as a prediction of Christ’s resurrection, it is interesting that mankind’s spiritual healing is associated with the motif of the third day. Indeed, after Peter’s great confession of Christ, Jesus taught that He “must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matt 16:21; cf. Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22). Shortly after Jesus’ transfiguration He again taught His disciples, “The son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life” (Matt 17:22-23).

Jesus repeatedly stressed the message of His coming death and resurrection on the third day, calling it His “goal” (Luke 13:32). Such began as early as His first miracle at Cana of Galilee where He said to the Jews, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). John reports that Jesus’ saying referred to His body and that “after he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said” (v. 22).48 On His final journey to Jerusalem He repeated His earlier prophecy concerning His death and resurrection saying, “The son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise” (Mark 10:33-34). Jesus’ teaching was apparently well known, for Matthew reports that as He lay in the tomb the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate and said, “Sir, … we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again’” (Matt 27:63).

That Jesus died and rose again bodily on the third day is abundantly attested in the Scriptures, which contain several lines of evidence, including the empty tomb in which lay Christ’s undisturbed grave clothes (Mark 16:6; John 20:6-7), the displacement of the massive tombstone (Matt 28:2) that was guarded by trained Roman soldiers (Matt 27:62-66), the transformation of the disciples perspective from one of utter despair and disbelief to absolute certitude—a conviction for which they would and many did die (e.g., cf. Luke 24:11 with Acts 2:32), and ten post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, in five instances on the third day alone (e.g., Matt 28:1-10; Mark 16:6, 9-13; Luke 24:1-35; cf. 1 Cor 15:5; John 20:10-23).49

Of interest to the subject of this study is the fact that some of these texts also include a testimony to Christ’s teaching concerning the significance of the third day. Thus the angels instructed the women who came to Jesus’ tomb on the third day, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again’” (Luke 24:5-7). Moreover, the two who were traveling to Emmaus that day remarked to the risen Jesus (whom they were kept from recognizing) concerning their hope in Christ, “But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place” (Luke 24:21). Still later Jesus reminded his assembled disciples, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:45s46).50

Even after Jesus’ ascension the teaching concerning Christ’s resurrection on the third day was still fresh in the apostles’ minds as they bore witness to the truth. Thus Peter testified to this at Cornelius’ house, “God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:40-41). Paul boldly proclaimed to the Corinthian Christians:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the twelve (1 Cor 15:3-5).

The motif of the third day therefore reaches its climax in the fact of the resurrection on the third day. It is then that the emphasis of the third day as one of spiritual activity and completeness finds its culmination in Christ’s finished redemptive work. And yet, the motif suggests that there is still more to be seen.51

http://bible.org/seriespage/use-three-bible

Is the number 3 a clue to the time or day of the Rapture? Part 3

"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

THREE: In sacred Scripture the number 3 represents that which is solid, real, substantial, and something in its completeness. This number usually indicates something of importance or significance in God's plan of salvation by identifying an important event in Salvation History. This number operates as a "sign-post" in Scripture study for the reader to "pay attention" to the significance of the next event.

In the Old Testament:

It is the first of the 4 perfect numbers which are 3 (divine perfection); 7 (spiritual perfection); 10 (ordinal perfection); and 12 (governmental perfection).

 The earth was separated from the waters on the 3rd day [Genesis 1:9-13]

 There were three Patriarchs of the children of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel

 There are three verses in the Priestly Blessing in which the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, God's holy covenant name, appears 3 times [Numbers 6:24-26].

 Three times the angelic Seraphim cry "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8).
After the Great Flood mankind descended from the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. [Genesis 10:1-32]

 Three "men" announced to Abraham that his barren wife would bear a son [Genesis 18:14].

 Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son after a 3-day journey to Mt. Moriah [Genesis 22:1-4].
Baby Moses was hidden by his mother for 3 months [Exodus 2:1] and the adult Moses requests of Pharaoh that he let Moses take his people on a 3 day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifice to their God [Exodus 3:18].

 There were 3 divisions of the desert Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem: the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies [Exodus 27:9; 26:1-30, 35-37; 31-34; 38:9-20; 21-31; 40:1-33; 1 Kings 6: 1-37].

 God is mentioned three times in the Shema (the first profession of faith in Deuteronomy 6:4) and three times in the blessing in Numbers 23:24.

 There are 3 attributes of God mentioned in Exodus 33:18-19: hen, rachum, and hesed (gracious, compassionate /merciful, and loving kindness).

 Of the 7 Holy Feasts of the Sinai Covenant, 3 are Pilgrim feasts in which every man 13 years or older must present himself before God at the Temple in Jerusalem. This command is repeated three time in scripture.[Exodus 23:14-17; 34:18-23; Deuteronomy 16:16]

 Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of the great fish [Jonah 1:17]; Jonah took a 3 day journey across the city of Nineveh [Jonah 3:3]





In the New Testament:

Jesus' ministry lasted 3 years.

 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months [Luke 1:56]

 Jesus was missing for 3 days when He was 12 years old [Luke 2:46]

 Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the Mt. of Transfiguration [Matthew 17]

 Jesus arose from the dead on the third day.[Matthew 16:21, Acts 10:40]

 Saul was blinded for 3 days [Acts 9:9]

 The theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity [1 Corinthians 13:13]

 The heavenly Jerusalem has 3 gates on each of its four sides [Revelation 21:13]

 Christians saw three as symbolic of the Trinity, the triune nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 Three is also recognized as the number of the Holy Spirit.




http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/The%20Significance%20of%20Numbers%20in%20Scripture.htm





   

Here's something that came to mind!

Our Planet Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun!
Jesus came to our planet to save us and eventually our planet as well!


"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

"We have three phases in life, Birth/Life/Death!

The triangle is the most powerful shape since it is able to sustain pressure.

Governments are set up because of the Bible (God is an absolute ruler and the angels are his upper class, the people are his subjects) and ours consists of three different forms, Judicial, Legislative and Presidential."

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Significance_of_the_number_3_in_the_Bible#

Is the number 3 a clue to the time or day of the Rapture? Part 2

Spiritual Significance of the Number 3

The Number 3
    Another of the numbers where we can readily see God use it in a spiritual sense to signify something, is the number three. It is used of God to signify His Purpose or His Will! For example, when God sent the three messengers to Abraham to tell him that Sarah would conceive in her old age (Genesis 18), by the use of the number three we see in this an illustration that they came with God's "purpose and will" to Abraham. i.e., it was by the will of God and for His own purposes that Sarah should conceive so that God would make a great nation of Abraham through it.
The same illustration is seen as God brought a thick darkness upon the land of Egypt (exodus 10:22-23) for three days. In this, God's purpose and sovereign will of judgment is worked out. The number three illustrated that it was for God's purposes that they were in darkness while all the Children of Israel had light!

We can see this in the three times in a year God commanded that the men of Israel were to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Ex. 23:14,17 Deu. 16:16). This illustrated the will and purpose of God in the feasts Laws, which all pointed to Christ!

In 2nd Samuel 21:1 the Lord sends famine in the land for three years, and says it was because of Saul and his bloody house. In other words, it was God's will that this happen, and the purpose of God in doing this was to bring judgment because of Saul's bloody House.
Another example is in 1st kings 17:21 as Elijah stretches forth his body over a dead child three times, and the child lives again. This signified that it was God's will and for His own purpose that the child should yet live again, a type or spiritual "shadow" of things to come.

Again, as the Lord said His servant Isaiah walked naked and barefoot three years as a Sign (signification) and a wonder upon Egypt (Isaiah 20:3), once more indicating God's will and purpose for Egypt.

Even when we look at the three men who were cast into the furnace of fire, and a fourth who was there like the Son of God (Daniel 3:24-25), we see that it was God's will and purpose that these three men would not be harmed by the fire because of the presence of the Son of God. This was demonstrating that by the presence of Christ, the will and purpose of God that His people not be harmed in the fire, will be accomplished.

These are just a few of the examples, and we could go on and on about this. These places where the number three is found is numerical symbology which is putting forth spiritual truths, that we can learn from as we consider them. For in three, God works out His purpose and His will. As Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so it indicated it was for God's purpose, and that His will would be worked out in this (Again, a type of Christ).

If I could use an earthly analogy of a Biblical principle, It's somewhat like asking someone three times whether they really want to sell their house for a certain fee. After they say yes the third time, it's established that this is their will and purpose or intention. That, of course, is a bad analogy, but one which makes the point. That is the way the number three is often used in scripture. It signifies the establishment of God's will and His purpose. The three days and three nights Jonah spent in the fish established that God's purpose and will would be worked out in that. In Acts, the Lord smote the Apostle Paul with blindness for three days:

    Acts 9:9
"And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink."
Was the fact that he was blind "three" days just a number picked out of a hat, as if any number would do? No, the number was God breathed. He was Blinded three days not by coincidence, but "by divine fiat or decree". It was God's purpose for him to be blind and to neither eat nor drink for those "three" days because He was bringing Paul to the light! Why not four days? Why not two days? Because those are numbers God uses to signify other things, and He wanted to indicate by the number "three" that it was for His own good purpose and by His sovereign Will that Paul be blind. And that is what the number three signifies.

The exact same principle in Acts Chapter 10, when a voice from heaven told Peter to rise kill and eat the beasts of the earth that were on a sheet descending from heaven. And Peter says No, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. Then the voice says, "what God has cleansed, don't call it common". And we read,

Acts 10:16
"This was done thrice (3 times): and the vessel was received up again into heaven."
Why was this done "three" times, and then the sheet received up again into heaven? When we study scripture in context, we find that these passages were to indicate that the gospel was going out to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. And that is why it is meticulously pointed out by God that this was done three times and "then" received up again unto heaven. It is to signify this is the purpose and will of God that Salvation go to all the world. It's not just any number, it's the number that signifies God's purpose and will that Salvation go to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. The "three" times it's done, gives us this spiritual signification that it is established by God for His purpose.

Christ spoke a parable which was about a fig tree in a vineyard in Luke 13:6 (Symbolizing Israel) and the man of the vineyard came "three" years seeking fruit and found none, and so said cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground. Why didn't God in this parable say cut it down after one year, or after two years? It was because the "three" years he came seeking fruit is symbolizing the purpose of God. He gave it "three" chances before he said cut it down. (Remember the analogy I made of three times asked makes it established?) The establishment of God's purpose and will is seen in this number three.

One of the greatest places to see this numerical symbology is in that there is only one God, and yet there are three in the Godhead. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

1st John 5:7

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one".
The purpose or will of God the one God, is worked out in these three. Read the Bible with wisdom and understanding. Because these things were put there for just that purpose. The purpose and will of God is worked out in the three of the Godhead.
When Paul sought God to remove the thorn in the flesh, but it was for God's own purpose that Paul retain this thorn (it wasn't God's will to remove it) He illustrates this by the number three. Consider what we read in,

2nd Corinthians 12:8:

"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice (three times) that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My Grace is sufficient for thee.."

Here we see it again "three" times Paul besought the Lord! Why not once, or twice? Why didn't God tell him after the first time or the second? Why did God wait for the third time? It's because God deliberately wants to indicate in scripture by this number 3, that it is not His purpose, or His Will that this thorn be removed. He says to Paul after being asked the third time, "My Grace is sufficient for you." In other words, My Grace is enough for you. i.e., After the third time asking, it was established as God's will that this was not to be removed. Grace was enough for Paul. So again we see clearly that the number three here was an indication to us that it was not God's will that this be removed.
There are just so many indications of the number three being used to symbolize the will and Purpose of God. None more "God Glorifying" than the atonement that the Lord made at the cross. The Atonement has the number "three" all around it and we can readily understand why. That's because though Christ was Crucified, it was God's will and for His purpose that Christ went to the Cross. For example, Jesus sat with the elders in the Temple three days being about His father's work, there were three Crosses, there were three men crucified, there was writing in three different languages on the cross, Jesus prayed three times that if it was possible could this cup pass from me, three Apostles went into the garden to pray with Him, Peter denied Our lord three times, Pilate sought three times to let Jesus go, it was the "third" hour when they crucified Him, Jesus was in the heart of the earth "three" days and "three" nights, When Jesus was risen He asked Simon three times loveth thou Me, and on, and on. The number three is everywhere indicated in the atonement that Christ made for us because it was God's will and purpose. Are these all just coincidental references? The scoffers will tell you that, but the Spirit tells another story. Christ had to go to the cross in order for us to be Saved. It is a Gift of God. It was His will. The number three being used this way is a coincidence like the sheep being used as an indication of a believer is a coincidence. No Possible Way! They were both put there by God to give us a great Spiritual, or symbolical picture that we can learn from.

Unfortunately, there are many in our day who choose to remain spiritually ignorant in these things.
It's not curious then that the number three is sometimes used in conjunction with the number two (which signifies the agreement of truth) when making statements about God's purpose. Because His will and purpose go hand in hand with the truth. For example, in relationship to the Church. For the Church is the pillar of truth, and it is also doing God's Will, and working to accomplish His purposes. Jesus says in:

Matthew 18:19-20

"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered in My name, there Am I in the midst of them."
There we have the establishment of the truth (2), and the Purpose of God (3) in the definition of the Church. Where two or three are gathered in Christ's name, there is the truth and the will of God being done, and Christ in their midst. That's the two or three witnesses of God. That's the Church with Christ in the midst (remember the two witnesses of revelation chapter 11?) There is the "definition" of the Church! Two or three witnesses gathered together in the name of Christ! The two is illustrating established truth, and the three illustrating the purpose and will of God.

"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/bible/numbers.html

 The Importance of the Number 3 in Scripture


"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

The Triune Temple

The Trinity is imbedded in the temple. In the Holy of Holies there was a cube each. The temple had cube of twenty cubes. Each of these twenty “had three parts to it.” these parts are: The Court, the Holy Place and the Sanctuary. there were “three chambers” around the temple. The Brazen Sea had “three” thousand baths with a line of “thirty” cubits with “three” hundred knops. [1 Kings 7:24]. Its foundation were twelve oxen (3x4); “three” looking north, “three” looking west, “three” looking south, and “three” looking east.

Not only in the word of God stamp with the Trinity, but the whole of creation have the Mark of The Trinity. When I first enter the field electronic one of things I thought was amazing was the fact that only “three” dots striking the screen was responsible for the beautiful color picture on the screen. And on top of that it take only “three” basic colors [red, blue and green] to produced all the different hues. Yes we have a whole universe designed around the important number “three” the number of perfection, the number of God! The number of the resurrection! The number of the Godhead!

The number “three” rule the vegetation kingdom. There three types of vegetation: grass, herbs and trees [Gen 1:11].

There “three” kind of light of lights in the sky: the sun, the moon and the stars [Gen I:16].

There are "three" kind of animals: fish, foul and land animals.

There are "three" states of matter [solid, liquid and gas].

Our world is the "third" planet form the sun.

These is only some of thing in the universe and the bible, God use to direct the searching soul to the truth. If the Trinity was of pagan origin would God mark His whole creation with the mark of the beast? You know the answer. How could He be any more clearer? Those with a love of the truth can’t miss it. Those who continue to defend a tradition will miss it. The only way we can find the truth is to come to the word of God looking for the truth, and not “my” but “God’s” truth.

Everything is simple and straight forward and easy to understand. You don't need to know Greek or take a class in Hebrew to understand it. “Three” is “three” in every language. There are many more example I can bring out from the bible and the physical creation but if this is not enough I don’t know what it will take open blind eyes.

GOD MADE IT SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS “THREE” AND THE “THREE” IS ONE! MAN COMPLECATE WHAT GOD INTENED TO BE SIMPLE!

http://r-o-y.hubpages.com/hub/THE-IMPORTANCE-OF-THE-NUMBER-THREE-IN-SCRIPTURE　

Bible Prophecy 101 - Handy Prophecy Reference Guide

 

A member of our Fellowship emailed me last week and asked me to look over a study on prophecy he was putting together for a men's Bible study.  When I looked it over, not only could I think of nothing additional to offer, I asked Ron if he would allow me to share it with a wider audience.   I encourage you to download or print Ron Maurno's "Bible Prophecy 101" and keep it handy as a Bible prophecy quick reference resource. ~Jack Kinsella

BIBLICAL NUMBERS:

 

#1: Signifies completion, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God” (Deut. 6:4)

#2: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor, for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.” (Eccl. 4:9-10)

#3: The simplest compound unit of mathematical science. God is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is the number of the Godhead.

#4: The number of the created world. There are 4 seasons, and 4 points on the compass north, south, east and west. There are 4 power blocs of the world in the latter day wars: Kings of the North, South, East, and the Western alliance.

#5 and #10: Scriptural significance. Man has 5 fingers on each hand and 5 toes on each foot. Man has 5 senses. The decimal system is based on tenths.

#6: The number of man; it falls short of perfection (7). Man was created on the sixth day, the divinely appointed work week is 6 days, with the 7th set aside for God. Goliath had 6 fingers and 6 toes. His spear weighed 600 shekels of iron. His height is recorded as 6 cubits and a span. Jesus was crucified on the 6th hour of the 6th day of the week. The numbers 666 represent the antichrist, the spiritually incomplete man multiplied 100 times over.

#7: Sacred number of spiritual perfection, e.g., 4 is representative of the world and 3 of the Trinity, together equals 7. Seven days make up one of the four quarters of the moon. There are but 7 notes in music. On the seventh day, God rested. The Book of Revelation is addressed to the 7 churches of Asia Minor. There are 7 stars representing the 7 angels, who represent the 7 churches. In Rev. 3:1, Jesus is identified as having the 7 spirits of God (the whole/complete Spirit of God). In Rev. 5:6, the Lamb is pictured as having 7 eyes (representing omniscience), and 7 horns (representing power), symbolizing the Lamb as all-powerful omnipotence. There are 7 seals, 7 thunders, 7 vials and 7 trumpets. (Rev. 16:6-8).
(Excerpts from Omega Letter June 27, 2008)

DEFINITIONS:

 

Prophecy: History written in advance. Bible prophecy is God’s description of future events. (25% of the Bible is prophetic)

Prophet: A man, chosen by God, inspired to speak God’s message to reveal the future to man.

Eschatology: Derived from 2 Greek words meaning last and study. It is the study of end time events.

Amillennialism: Teaching that states that there is no millennium reign (1000 years) of Christ on earth.

Premillennialism: Teaching that Christ will literally and physically be on earth for a thousand year reign

Postmillennialism: Teaches Reconstructionism, a belief that God’s kingdom began at the first coming of Jesus, and will advance throughout history until it fills the whole earth through conversion to the Christian faith and world view.

 

DISPENSATIONALISM:  A system of theology that recognizes three basic tenets:
(1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10, 3:2; Col. 1:25)

1. There is a theological difference between Israel and the Church

2. Scripture is to be interpreted by the literal method unless the text itself mentions a figurative or symbolic interpretation.

3. The underlying purpose of God in this world is His glory.

There are 7 dispensations, representing God’s interaction with man at different periods of time: 

1. Innocence: Creation to the fall. (Gen. 1:27-28)

2. Conscience: Fall to the flood. (Gen. 3:1-6)

3. Human Government: Exit from the Ark to Abraham (Jews). (Gen. 9:6)     
.          
4. Promise: Abraham to the Law. (Gen. 12:1)

5. Law: Ten Commandments to Calvary (Ex. 5:6, 19:3; Acts 1)

6. Grace: Pentecost to the Rapture (Acts 2, Rev. 19:21)

7. Millennium Kingdom: Imprisonment of Satan to the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:1, 22:7).

COVENANT:

A divinely initiated contract which God makes with man in which God obligates Himself to the parties named in the contract.

There are two types of covenants, conditional and unconditional. The following are the four unconditional covenants that God made with Israel. The first three covenants are under attack today.
                   
1. ABRAHAMIC COVENANT: Unconditional or Patriarchal. This is the foundation of all future covenants. (Gen. 12:1-3, 13:14-18, 15:1-21, 17:1-22)

-To make Abraham a great nation, multiply his seed, and make him the father of many nations.

- To bless Abraham and make him great.

- To make Abraham a blessing to all the families of the earth.

- To bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.

- To give Abraham and his seed all the land he could see, with specified definite boundaries.

- To give a sign of covenant (circumcision)

NOTE: This covenant is under attack from anti-Semitism.

 

2. LAND (PALESTINIAN) COVENANT: Unconditional, promising the seed of Abraham eternal possession of the land (Deut. 30:1-10)

- Israel will be dispersed among the nations.

- Israel will repent and return to the land

- Israel will be re-gathered from the dispersion to the land that their fathers possessed.

-To prosper them above their fathers.

-To restore them spiritually to love the Lord

- To put all their curses upon their enemies

NOTE: This covenant is under attack today in the Middle East.

3. DAVIDIC COVENANT: Unconditional, God reaffirms the Abrahamic covenant with David and adding that the blessings (Messiah) would be attached to his lineage (2 Sam. 7:1-16, 23:1-5; Ps. 89:34-37)

- To make David’s name great

- To provide a permanent, undisturbed home for Israel

- To establish an eternal kingdom for David and his lineage.

NOTE: Luke 1: 30-34 gives the promise to Mary that “The Lord will give Him the throne of His father David forever.” In Psalm 132:11, God made a promise to David that, “Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne”. “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, ON EARTH as it is in Heaven” (Matt. 6: 9-13).This covenant will be fulfilled by the Millennial reign of Christ on earth. It is under attack by Amillennial and Postmillennial Christian teaching. (Emphasis mine).

4. NEW (EVERLASTING) COVENANT: Unconditional, it replaced the conditional MOSAIC Covenant which promised that God would make Israel His special possession and make them a holy people.  The people failed to obey God and the New Covenant provided spiritual restoration. In the New Covenant God promised:

-To put the law in their hearts and minds.

- To be their God and make them His people

-To establish an eternal Kingdom with God and His people

NOTE: This is the covenant from which the name, New Testament, is derived.

THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL

 

24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Dan. 9:24-27)

 

The 70 weeks are divided into 3 sections:

 

The 1st section (7 weeks or 49 years) is the time from the edict of Xerxes of  Persia (444 BC) to the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

The 2nd section (62 weeks or 434 years) is from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to  the death of Christ.

The 3rd section (1 week or 7 years) is suspended from the death (cut off) of the Messiah until the antichrist confirms a 7 year peace treaty in the Middle East. The treaty marks the start of the tribulation period.

  * (THE TABLE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS TEXT) *
 

Church Age/Age of Grace: The 2000 year period that begins at Pentecost and
ends at the Rapture of the church.

 

Rapture: Also called the Day of Christ. Rapture is an English word meaning snatched up or caught up. It is the catching away of the true believers of Jesus Christ. The Rapture is the literal, visible and bodily return of Jesus Christ in the heavenlies. (1Thess. 4:13-18, 5: 9)

Tribulation/ Day of the Lord/Daniel’s 70th week: A 7 year period of the current age, with Israel as the main focal point. It begins with an enforced peace treaty with Israel. It becomes the “Great Tribulation” at the mid-way point (42 months), when Satan enters a man’s body. Also called the “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”.

Antichrist: Before Christ comes to set up His Kingdom of peace, Satan will enter a man’s body and present his counterfeit, the antichrist, as the Messiah. Other names include: Little Horn (Dan. 7:8), King of fierce countenance (Dan. 8:23), The Prince that shall come (Dan. 9:26), the man of sin, the son of perdition and the wicked one (2 Thess. 2:8), the Beast of the sea (Rev. 13:1).  The antichrist enforces a seven year peace treaty that amazes the world.

Abomination of Desolation: Antichrist will take control of Jewish worship midway through the tribulation, declaring himself to be God (2Thess. 2:4). He demands worship from the Jews, in their own temple.

False Prophet: Religious leader who ascends to world popularity via his close alignment with the antichrist. He is the leader of the one world church in Rev. 13:11. He will work amazing miracles and lead people into idolatry by worshiping the image of the beast.

Second Coming/Millennium: Literal and bodily reign of Christ on earth.
(Excerpts from Jack Van Impe Prophecy Bible, KJV)

FOUR BIBLICAL POWER BLOCS IN THE LATTER DAYS

 

KING OF THE NORTH (GOG-MAGOG ALLIANCE): Russia, Iran and the Arab-Islamic alliance. (Ezek. 38-39)

KINGS OF THE SOUTH: Egypt, Africa and Islamic North Africa (Dan. 11:40)

KINGS OF THE EAST: China and Southeast Asia (Rev. 16:12)

REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE/ WESTERN ALLIANCE/ BEAST ARMY OF ANTICHRIST: (Dan. 7:7). If the European Union becomes combined with the Mediterranean union, the two together will have the same exact land boundaries as the ancient Holy Roman Empire. The Benelux Treaty, signed in 1948 (the same year as the re-birth of Israel) began the unification of Europe. The Bible says that the revived Roman Empire will be led by the antichrist. (Rev. 17:12)

TWO EVENTS LEADING TO THE TRIBULATION

 

PROPHECY, THE BURDEN OF DAMASCUS (Is. 17:1, 14)

1: “A message concerning Damascus. Observe! Damascus is about to be undone as a city.” 
14: “At evening tide, lo, terror! Before morning they are gone. Such is the fate of those who pillage us and the lot of those who plunder us.”

FACT: Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, population approximately 1.6 million. Syria is the state sponsor of the terror group Hezbollah.
PROPHECY, Psalm 83 (1000 BC)

“God, do not be silent, be not quiet, be not still. See how Your enemies are astir, how Your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against Your people; they plot against those You cherish. Come they say “LET US DESTROY THEM AS A NATION”, that the name of Israel be remembered no more. With one mind they plot together, they form an alliance against You, the tents of Edom (modern day Palestinians, descendants of Esau) and the Ishmaelite ( descendants of Ishmael, Yemen) of Moab (modern day Jordan), Ammon (nomadic tribesman, northwest Arabia, east of the Dead Sea) and Amalek (Son of Esau, area of Iran), Philistia (Gaza) with the inhabitants of Tyre (Lebanon). Even Assyria (Syria) has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot (northern Jordan).” (Emphasis mine)

THE WAR OF GOG AND MAGOG, THREE YEARS INTO THE TRIBULATION
PROPHECY Ezek 38:1-4 (575 BC) 

 “The word of the Lord came to me: Son of Man set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: Prophecy against him and say: This is what the sovereign Lord says, I am against you, oh Gog, chief prince of Mesech and Tubal. I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaw, and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horseman fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields and all of them brandishing their swords.”
                        
FACT: Gog is thought by most Christian scholars to be a title of a strong leader. Magog, is the son of Japheth who was a son of Noah.  Josephus, the first century Jewish historian, identified the offspring of Magog as the Scythians who were known as brutal horse-riding nomads that resided in the area of modern day southern Russia. Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. There is unanimity among dispensational scholars that these countries are also found in Russia and the former Soviet republics.

PROPHECY Ezek. 38:5-6 

“Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all his troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all his troops-the many nations with you.”

FACT: Persia is modern day Iran.

Cush is the area of Sudan, Ethiopia and possibly Eritrea.

Put is the area of Libya, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Gomer, the eldest son of Japheth (Noah), is modern day Turkey.

Beth Togarmah is Turkey, Armenia, and the Turkish-speaking people of Asia Minor and central Asia.

“Many nations with you’, possibly additional Islamic allies.

THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

 

“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over”. (Dan. 11:40)

This is the closing battle of the second three and one-half years of the tribulation. It begins with Russia/Iran’s invasion of Israel (Gog-Magog/ King of the North), after the peace contract with Israel is broken (Ezek. 38:15-16). As the war escalates, new participants include: antichrist (Western Alliance), Kings of the South and Kings of the East.

Antichrist will move all his military might with the other Kings to do battle with Christ at His return to the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4, Rev. 16:14)

Christ will come. The battle of Armageddon climaxes the campaign as the Lord and His armies appear from Heaven. The enemy armies will be destroyed (Joel 3: 2, 9-14, Ps. 2: 2-3). Christ returns, riding a white horse. His eyes are as a flame of fire and His robe dipped in blood. Written on the robe is ‘King of Kings’ and ‘Lord of Lords’. He will smite the nations, and the antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

It will be the bloodiest battle in history (Ps. 2:2, Zech. 14:3). The destruction resulting will be that the blood of the armies will reach to the horses’ bridles for two hundred miles and it will require mankind 7 months to bury the dead ( Rev. 14:20, Ezek. 39:12).

(Excerpts from J Dwight Pentecost: Campaign of Armageddon)

MAJOR EVENTS OF UNFULFILLED PROPHECY

 

- Damascus is destroyed in one night (Is. 17:1, 14)

- A coalition of nations marches on Israel (Ps. 83)

- Israel is attacked (Isaiah 17:4) the war ends and Israel becomes an exceedingly          great army (Ezek. 37:10, 35:14; Obad. 1:18)

- Israel dwells securely; the wall of separation comes down (Ezek. 38:11)

- Rapture of the church (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 5: 51-58), Marriage Supper
Of the Lamb and the Bema Seat Judgment of the raptured church. (Rev. 19:6-10; 1 Thess 2:19 -20)

- Revival of the Roman Empire, 10 nation confederacy formed. (Dan. 7:7, 24; Rev. 13:1, 17:3)

- Rise of Antichrist:  (Dan. 7:8; Rev. 13:1-8)

 -7 year peace treaty with Israel: consummated 7 years before the second coming of Christ (Dan. 9:27; Rev. 11-16) the third Jewish Temple is built (Dan. 9:27)

- Russia/Iran (King of the north) launches a surprise attack on Israel, four years before the second coming of Christ (Ezek. 38-39). This campaign will continue through the last three and one half years of the tribulation and concludes in the battle of Armageddon.

- Peace treaty with Israel is broken. Antichrist enters the Holy of Holies and declares himself to be God (Abomination of desolation (Dan 7: 23; 2 Thess. 2: 4)

- Antichrist sets up world government, world economic system and world church (Dan 7:23; Rev 13: 5-8, 15-17, 17:16-17)

- Many Christians and Jews are martyred who refuse the mark of the beast, (no one may buy or sell without the mark (Rev. 7: 9-17, 13-15,)

- Catastrophic divine judgments represented by 7 seals, 7 bowls and 7 judgments poured out on the earth (Rev. 6-18)

- Babylon is destroyed: Former headquarters of antichrist prior to moving his headquarters to Israel during the battle of Armageddon. (Rev. 18; Dan. 11:20-21)

- Battle of Armageddon begins: A continuation of Ezekiel 38-39 that began before the mid-way point of the Tribulation (3 ½ years) and concludes with Christ and His armies at the hill of Megiddo. (Dan. 11:40-45; Rev. 9:13-21, 16:12-16)

- Second coming of Jesus Christ (Matt. 24:27-31; Rev. 19:11-21)

- Satan bound for 1000 years (Rev. 20:1-3)

- Resurrection of Tribulation saints and Old Testament saints (Dan. 12: 2)

- Millennium Kingdom begins (Rev. 20:5-6)

- Final rebellion at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20: 5-6)

- Great White Throne judgment: judgment of sinners (Rev. 20: 11-15)

- Eternity begins, new heaven, new earth, New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-2)

Additional excerpts from: “Every Prophecy of the Bible”, John F. Walvrood. Covenants: interview Bill Salus Chuck Misler 2/10/10). Psalm 83: Bill Salus blogspot 2009. Dispensations: Grant Jeffrey’s TV program 3/2/10.
 

Jewish Calendar (360 days/ year)	Gregorian Calendar (365 days/ year)
(7 x 7)+(62 x 7) = 483 years	444 BC to 33 AD = 476 years
483 years	476 years
X    360 days =	X    365 days =
173,880 days	173,740 days
	+    116 days in leap years
	+      24 days = (March 5 – March 30)
	173,880 days

 

About the author: 

 

Ron Maurno was born in New York and grew up in Miami where he attended high school and college.

 

Having read Hal Lindsey’s “The Late Great Planet Earth” in the 1970’s, Ron had hoped to someday spend enough time to better understand how God’s prophecies fit into current world events.

 

In addition to studying Bible prophecy, Ron enjoys spending time with his wife, four sons and their children, his two Tennessee Walking horses, two dogs, and one barn cat.

 

http://www.rapturewatch.net/prophecywatch.htm

 

"Fair Use for Information & Educational Purposes"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is The number 3 a Clue to the Timing of The Rapture?

I decided to do research on the  significance of the number 3  by doing a study on the number, because of it's importance to God.    We serve a God of order, not chaos!  I have some of it completed, and thought I would post it, as I continue to work on it until it is finished.

I gleaned some explanations of bible study of numbers which I have bookmarked in my favorites, for fair use for information & educational purposes

http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/introduction.html

Three is such an important number in God’s written word, therefore, I was wondering whether there is a clue as to the time of day the Rapture takes place or a clue to perhaps to a 3 day warning before the day of the Rapture?

We all know the Godhead, The Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, three persons in
One God!  The Holy Trinity!

Three times the Seraphim cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy"--one for each of the three persons in the Trinity (Isaiah 6:3). The living creatures also in Revelation 4:8.

Three times is the blessing given in Numbers 6:23, 24:--
• "The LORD bless thee and keep thee (the Father);
• The LORD make His face shine upon thee; and be gracious unto thee (the Son);
• The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (the Holy Spirit).

God's attributes are three: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.
There are three great divisions completing time--past, present, and future.  The future is in 3rd place and Jesus is coming again in the future!

When we turn to the Scriptures, this completion becomes Divine, and marks Divine completeness or perfection.

Three is the first of four perfect numbers.
3 denotes divine perfection;
7 denotes spiritual perfection;
10 denotes ordinal perfection; and 12 denotes governmental perfection.


"Daytime," as used in the Bible, had twelve hours. In the Bible they numbered hours as per following examples...

Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" John 11.9a
• 1st hour - 6 AM
• 3rd hour - 9 AM
• 6th hour - Noon
• 9th hour - 3 PM
Now it was the third hour (9 AM), and they crucified Him. Mark 15.25
Now when the sixth hour (noon) had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour (3 PM). And at the ninth hour (3 PM) Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" ...And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Mark 15.33-34, 37

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. Acts 3.1 w
Jesus died at 3pm on the cross at the age of 33!

On the 3rd hour or 9 AM Jesus was crucified!

On the 9th hour or 3PM Jesus died!

Some state that Jesus died April 3rd, 33AD.

If this is true then, 4th month 3rd day 4+3=(7 means spiritual perfection)

33AD or 3+3=(6 which means man)   Jesus came as flesh or man, with spiritual perfection, making Him, Divine, God in the flesh amongst us !!!

(Jesus said:) ...I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again... John 10.17b-18a

Two possible reasons why Lord Jesus chose to die at the ninth hour (3pm)
Reason #1 – The ninth hour (3 PM) was the hour of prayer, when the Jews went into the temple at the daily evening sacrifice; and this was the usual time for slaying the Passover sacrifice.

Reason #2 – Of even greater significance – When God instituted the Passover, He commanded that the Paschal Lamb should be slain on the 14th day (Passover) “at evening” that is, during the time after the sun passed it’s zenith (3PM), and extending until sunset.
Jesus was raised on the 3rd day!!! Jesus will raise the dead on the 3rd day!

Acts 10 39-40
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40Him God raised up the 3rd day, and showed him openly;

Hosea 6
King James Version

1Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2After two days will he revive us: in the 3rd day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

The First Occurrence of the Number Three
In Genesis 1:13. "The third day" was the day on which the earth was caused to rise up out of the water, symbolical of that resurrection life which we have in Christ!

The number 3 is a number  for RESURRECTION, for it was on the third day that Jesus rose again from the dead It was the third day on which Jesus was "perfected" (Luke 13:32). It was at the third hour (9a.m) He was crucified; and it was for three hours (from the 6th to the 9th) that darkness shrouded the Divine Sufferer and Redeemer.

"The Spirit, the water, and the blood," are the divinely perfect witness to the grace of God on earth (1 John 5:7).

His three-fold "it is written" shows that the Word of God is the perfection of all ministry (Matthew 4).

The Divine testimony concerning Him was complete in the threefold voice from Heaven (Matthew 3:17, 17:5; John 12:28).

He raised three persons from the dead.
The inscriptions on the Cross in three languages show the completeness of His rejection by Man.
The perfection of His offices are shown in His being Prophet, Priest, and King, raised up from among His brethren (Deuteronomy 177:15, 18:3-5, and 18:15)
.
His three appearings in Hebrews 9 show that His work will not be divinely perfect and complete until He appears again.

1. He "hath appeared" in the end of the age to "put away sin," and to "bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9:26,28).

Now notice that the 9th hour is (3 PM) and the 3rd hour is (9 AM)!
Could 9th hours stand for our 9th month September & the 9 AM stand for a 3 PM Rapture?
The multiples of the number 3 are:

http://www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets/examples/multiples-skip-count-3.htm

Most of us have seen these numbers…or still seeing them to this very day!

Three times is the blessing given in Numbers 6:23, 24:--

• "The LORD bless thee and keep thee (the Father);
• The LORD make His face shine upon thee; and be gracious unto thee (the Son);
• The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (the Holy Spirit).

Each of these three blessings is two-fold, so that there are two members in each, while the name Jehovah occurs three times. This marks the blessing as Divine in its source. No merit drew it forth; grace was its origin and peace was its result.

In Genesis 18:2, the same three persons appear to Abraham. Abraham "looked, and, lo, THREE men stood by him." But verse 1 declares that it was "Jehovah appeared unto him."

It is remarkable that Abraham addresses them both as one and as three. We read first that "they said," then "he said," and finally, in verses 13 and 17, 20, etc., "And the LORD said." The whole narrative, which begins with the appearance of the LORD, ends (v 33), "And the LORD went His way."
As we have in the number one the sovereignty of the one God; and in two the second person, the Son, the great Deliverer; so in "three" we have the third person, the Holy Spirit, marking and completing "the fulness of the Godhead." This word "fulness" is remarkable, occurring only three times, and in connection with the Three Persons of the Trinity:

• Ephesians 3:19, "The fulness of God. "
• Ephesians 4:13, "The fulness of Christ."
• Colossians 2:9, "The fulness of the Godhead."

The "fulness" was manifested visibly in Christ, and is communicated by the Holy Spirit, for it is a fulness of which we receive by His mighty power (John 1:16).

This is why Abraham brought "three measures of meal" for his heavenly guest.
This is why "three measures of meal" formed the great meal offering; because it set forth the perfection of Christ's perfect and Divine nature. In Leviticus no particular quantity of meal was prescribed!

In Leviticus 23 we have a list of the Feasts:--
• 1st. The Passover (v 5), on the 14th day.

• 2nd. The wave-sheaf of firstfruits on the morrow after the Sabbath (v 11), which might be burnt on the altar as a sweet savour (Leviticus 2:14-16), because unleavened.

.        3rd. Then (50 days after) the oblation of the first-fruits at Pentecost (vv 15-17). This might not be burnt on the altar (Leviticus 2:12), because it was mixed with leaven!

The number three, therefore, must be taken as the number of Divine fulness. It signifies and represents the Holy Spirit as taking of the things of Christ and making them real and solid in our experience. It is only by the Spirit that we realise spiritual things.

In the third Book in the Bible is Leviticus, the book in which we learn what true worship is. Here we see Jehovah calling His people near unto Himself, prescribing every detail of their worship, leaving nothing to their imagination or their taste, crowning all with the "MUST" of the great rubric of John 4:24. In true worship we see the FATHER seeking these true worshippers (John 4:23); the SON, the one object of all worship; and the Spirit qualifying and enduing the worshippers with the only power in which they can worship.

The third day of the week is Tuesday, the day that Jewish weddings take place!  Sunday, Monday, Tuesday!!!

Perhaps this year our Divine Wedding to Jesus our Bridegroom, will take place on a Tuesday as well!
This year is most promising of all years since so many events prophecied in scripture are coming to pass!

Keep watching the redemption of our body will soon come to pass when Jesus comes for His Bride at the Rapture!

My thoughts on this post, put together with an excellent study done on Bible Studies done on numbers!!!

http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/introduction.htm!

Maranatha!!!

Valerie

Further Study and Research to be continued at later date……!
"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"