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Rapture timeline

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The scripture verses in the book of Revelation present a linear chronological timeline for when the rapture takes place during the tribulation. There are sign posts/events along the way within the chapters of the book of Revelation that mark when the rapture takes place. There are also certain scriptures that show that the chapters are in a linear chronological progression. Many organizations who propose a pre-tribulation rapture theory make the use of what they call parenthetical chapters in the book of Revelation. This allows them to move entire chapters in order to support a pre-tribulation rapture. I have always maintained that the chapters in the book of Revelation are linear, and should be approached as such. It is important to keep in mind that the original manuscripts did not have chapters or chapter headings. At some point in history these were added by the translators. So how could you possibly have parentheticals chapters? The term parenthetical is based on a literary term called parenthesis. The following definition comes from this webpage.

https://literarydeviceslist.com/parenthesis/

Definition of Parenthesis
Parenthesis is a stylistic device that comes from the Greek word meaning “to place,” or “alongside.” Parenthesis is a qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause, or phrase that writers insert right into a paragraph or passage. However, if they leave it out, even then it does no longer grammatically have an effect on the text, which is correct without it.

As you see a parenthetical chapter would greatly exceed the above definition of parenthesis. Calling it parenthetical, with a capital P does not make it correct to use it to move entire chapters. As the title of the article suggest, this article is predominantly concerned with the rapture timeline within the book of Revelation. I will give you a little overview of the book and how one should view it. Our Lord told John to write the book in this order.

Revelation 1:19 KJVS
[19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

I will largely concern myself with what was to happen in the hereafter within this article.

Revelation 4:1 KJVS
[1] After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

The hereafter takes place in time after the things “which thou hast seen, and that are”, which John previously wrote about in the first 3 chapters of the book. The 4th chapter is the start of his vision that is concerned with future events. The opening scene and entire chapter take place in heaven. The 5th chapter establishes that Jesus, the lion of the tribe of Judah, has the right to open the seven seals of the book which he takes out of the right hand of him that sits upon the throne, Re 5:7. As a sidenote, I ran across a curious set of verses, especially Re 5:13, in the fifth chapter of the book of Revelation the other day.

Revelation 5:6-7,13 KJVS
[6] And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. [7] And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. [13] And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Is the last verse literal? If so, then all who live on the earth will herald that the seals are about to be opened by proclaiming the last part of verse 13. Is it just a coincidence that part of the same nearly identical language is spoken by the men in verse 16 in the 6th chapter..

Revelation 6:15-17 KJVS
[15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; [16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: [17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

I find it quite interesting that these men use this phrase “sitting on the throne”, which mirrors what is said in Re 5:13. Moving on to the 6th chapter. The 6th chapter is concerned with our Lord opening the first six seals. For quite some time I have been trying to place the seven seals within the timeframe of the seven trumpets. Many doctrines of man have placed some of the seven seals well in the past. Linking them with historical events in the past. So I have been reading the 6th chapter of Revelation looking for clues that would help place the seals, some or all, in the same timeframe as the seven trumpets. The following verses show that the fifth seal is a little or a short amount of time before the saints of Rev 20:4 are martyred for not taking the mark of the beast.

Revelation 6:9-11 KJVS
[9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

The Strong’s Concordance definition of the Greek word translated into the English word “little” in verse 11.
Strong’s Number
G3398
Original Word
μικρός μικρότερος
Transliterated Word
mikros mikroteros
Phonetic Spelling
mik-ros’ mik-rot’-er-os
Parts of Speech
Adjective

Strong’s Definition
Apparently a primary word including the comparative (second form);
small (in size quantity number or (figuratively) dignity): – least less little small.

I have always felt that the events that take place from the 4th chapter in the book of Revelation were linear in regards to time and the events occur just before or within the seven year tribulation. The fifth, sixth and seventh seals take place shortly before the seven trumpets. Actually the seventh seal ushers in the seven trumpets.

Revelation 8:1-2 KJVS
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. [2] And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

There is no reason in my mind to think that all of the previous seals do not take place well in the past, but close in time to the fifth seal. The other day, I noticed that in the 6th chapter every verse in that chapter starts with the word, ‘and’, except the first and the last verse. Following is the Strong’s definition for the Greek word translated into English word and in that chapter.

Strong’s Number
G2532
Original Word
καί
Transliterated Word
kai
Phonetic Spelling
kahee
Parts of Speech
Conjunction
Strong’s Definition
Apparently a primary particle having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force;
and also 6
even so 6
then too etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: – and also both but even for if indeed likewise moreover or so that then therefore when yea yet

A online definition for the word copulative-connecting coordinate words, phrases, or clauses. The definition to me suggest that all the seals would happen in succession in regards to time. And may even overlap and transpire together. Moving on to the seventh chapter.

Revelation 7:1-4 KJVS
[1] And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. [2] And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, [3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. [4] And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

I found verse 2 and 3 particularly interesting in that the four angels were instructed not to hurt the earth the sea or the trees till the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads. Who are these four angels and do we see them later on in the book of Revelation? The rest of the chapter then proceeds to describe the 12 tribes of Israel being sealed in their foreheads with the seal of God. Then the 8th chapter starts.

Revelation 8:1-2 KJVS
[1] And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. [2] And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

The rest of the chapter describes four angels sounding their trumpets and four different catastrophes that take place on the earth, hurting the earth. Of which four were told not to do until the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads back in chapter 7, Re 7:2-3. Which to me points to a chronological progression between the 7th and the 8th chapter.

The 8th chapter ends with this verse.

Revelation 8:13 KJVS
[13] And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Re 8:13 establishes a linear chronology throughout the 8th-12th chapters of Revelation based on when these three woes transpire within the narrative.

I’m going to paste a handful of verses from the 9th chapter.

Revelation 9:1-4 KJVS
[1] And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. [2] And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. [3] And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. [4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

A important observation, the scorpions were instructed not to hurt those men which have the seal of God in their foreheads. These the same men who had their foreheads sealed in the 7th chapter. Are these men different than the multitude of believers who have received the Holy Spirit down through history? Or do they represent all believers alive at that time who received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost?

Ephesians 1:13 KJVS
[13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

I don’t think anybody can really answer that question. The only possible difference is the ones in chapter 7 received the seal of God in their foreheads. We are also informed in the ninth chapter that the first woe is passed. Which is associated with the 5th trumpet, Re 8:13.

Revelation 9:12 KJVS
[12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

We know for a fact that the two witnesses give their testimony during the first 3 1/2 years of what is commonly called the tribulation, because of what is written in the following verses.

Revelation 11:3,7-13 KJVS
[3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. [7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. [8] And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. [9] And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. [10] And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. [11] And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. [12] And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. [13] And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

These verses give us some very important details. The ministry of the two witnesses takes place before the first and second woe. The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit, first woe (5th trumpet), kills the two witnesses. The second woe, 6th trumpet, takes place when the great earthquake occurs in Jerusalem following the death and resurrection of the two witnesses. The seventh trumpet and third woe takes place shortly after the second woe.

Revelation 11:14 KJVS
The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

The rapture is at the seventh trumpet.

Revelation 11:15-17 ESV
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” [16] And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, [17] saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

“You have taken your great power and begun to reign.”

There are those who claim the 10th chapter is parenthetical, Which again greatly exceeds the literary term Parentheses which only involves a word or phrase. I view the 10th chapter kind of like a cut scene in a movie. Apostle John is in the midst of his vision when he personally becomes involved with it as it unfolds. He is instructed to eat the small book that contains what the voices of the seven thunders had said.

Revelation 10:9-11 KJVS
[9] And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. [10] And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. [11] And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

I don’t think is it is a coincidence that John was given that little book, containing what the seven thunders spoke, to eat in the 10th chapter and was told he must prophesy again, and that the next chapter covers the two witnesses who give their testimony in Jerusalem. I think it is more than likely that John is one of the two witnesses. Coupled with the fact that he was also known as one of the sons of thunder.

Mark 3:17 KJVS
[17] And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
The

Who else but one of the sons of thunder or both to disclose to the earth what the seven thunders spoke. Apostle John also writes a verse in the tenth chapter of the book of Revelation that is in harmony with Rev 11:15, and with a revelation given to Apostle Paul.

Revelation 10:7 ESV
[7] but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

The mystery of God is Christ in you the hope of glory, Col 1:27. Apostle Paul was given a dispensation by God to preach the revelation of the mystery of God, which fulfilled the word of God, Col 1:25. A short word study on the word mystery as it appears in the King James version of the New Testament is helpful if one is unfamiliar with this mystery. Paul writes of this mystery in the often quoted verses in the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 KJVS
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

At the seventh trumpet the members of the body of Christ will receive their glorified bodies and rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years, Rev 20:6. Which will be God’s glory in the kingdom to come, 1 Th 2:12. A interesting aspect of the mystery of God, mystery of Christ, is that God has to make known to a individual, what is the riches of the glory surrounding this mystery. So many bible experts do not understand this mystery because it is not given for them to know or it.

Colossians 1:27 KJVS
[27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The last trump/trumpet that sounds in the book of Revelation is the seventh trumpet and that is when the mystery of God is finished.

Revelation 11:15-17 ESV
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” [16] And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, [17] saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

“You have taken your great power and begun to reign.”

In my opinion, the 12th chapter of the book of Revelation takes place nearly simultaneously with the 11th chapter that precedes it. It is just that the first part of the 12th chapter takes place from the perspective of heaven, and what is taking place there. That is until Satan is cast down to earth, then the perspective changes back to what’s taking place on earth. The two witnesses in the 11th chapter, are a part of the manchild being caught up to the throne of God, Re 11:12, Re 12:5. Many try to take the 12th chapter of Revelation and place it at the beginning of the tribulation, Rev 4:1, or at the sixth seal in support of a pre tribulation rapture theory. But again, the three woes that are linked to the last three trumpets, makes that impossible. If in fact one views the manchild as the body of Christ, and the manchild caught up to the throne of God, Rev 12:5, as the rapture. Which I believe it is. The third woe is when Satan is cast down to earth, Rev 12:12, following the manchild being caught up to the throne of God, Rev 12:5. It is very easy to lose sight of the fact that the three woes are associated with the last three Trumpets, Rev 8:13, while reading through the scripture verses contained in the 8th-12th chapters. Many try to claim the word “woe” in Re 12:12 is not the third woe. It is a simple matter to use the Strong’s Concordance and see when the Greek word translated into the English word woe appears in the book of Revelation in the KJV. That Greek word appears later in the 18th chapter in several verses as the English word “alas”, Re 18:10. The proponents of the Pre-tribulation doctrine will use the following verse to support that doctrine.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJVS
[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Again, it is a simple matter using the Strongs Concordance to look at the Greek word translated into the English word wrath as it appears in the book of Revelation. It first appears in two verses, Re 6:16&17. It next appears in Re 11:18.

Revelation 11:14-15,18 KJVS
[14] The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. [15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

I have included these extra verses because it shows that the wrath of God is to follow the second woe and follows the third woe written of in the 12th chapter of Revelation.

Revelation 12:12 KJVS
[12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

The next time the word wrath appears is in the 14th chapter.

Revelation 14:9-10 KJVS
[9] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Later on in the book, the 7 vials of wrath are poured out on mankind.

Revelation 16:1 KJVS
[1] And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Many also view the woman in Revelation 12 as Mary the mother of Jesus., and the birth of the manchild as a birth of our Lord Jesus. But again, the three woes makes that impossible since the three woes are linked to the last three trumpets. Which places Revelation 12th chapter in the future, the hereafter, Re 1:19, Re 4:1. Apostle Paul and Isaiah tells us who the woman is in verses Re 12:1&5.

Galatians 4:26 KJVS
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Isaiah 66:7-8 KJVS
Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. [8] Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

The woman is Zion/Sion or heavenly Jerusalem, Jerusalem above, not Mary. And the man child is the rapture of the body of Christ

A important point regarding Rev 10:7. The mystery of God is finished or fulfilled in the days when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet. It is not specifically right when the seventh trumpet is sounded since the verse clearly mentions days. So both groups, the man child, Re 12:5, and the remnant of the woman’s seed mentioned in Rev 12:17, will rule with Christ for a thousand years, Rev 20:4&6. Let’s look a little closer at Re 12:17.

Revelation 12:17 KJVS
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

These are Christians who refused to worship the beast and who refused to take the mark of the beast and are slain, martyred for refusing to do so..

Revelation 20:4 KJVS
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

These Saints are also written about in the 14th chapter of the book of Revelation.

Revelation 14:8-12 KJVS
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. [9] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: [11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. [12] Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Now granted, there’s a lot going on in the book of Revelation. And the pre-tribulation doctrine has to move chapters around to make that doctrine plausible. But if you have carefully read some of the points that I just brought up, you will see that there is a awful lot of loose threads regarding that doctrine in regards to when it claims the rapture takes place in the Revelation timeline. When will the rapture take place in our lifetimes? We have a fairly clear idea of when, based on verses in the gospel of Luke.

Luke 3:1-3 KJVS
[1] Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, [2] Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. [3] And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

Tiberius Caesar’s reign started in 14 AD, 15 years before the ministry of John the Baptist. Our Lord’s ministry started shortly after, which lasted for around 1 year or 3 1/2 years based solely on the gospel of John. Both interpretations would place Pentecost in the 30-33 AD range. Let us look to scripture for a possible answer to this.

Luke 4:16-17,19-21 KJVS
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. [17] And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, [19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. [20] And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. [21] And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

“To preach the acceptable year of the Lord”. I have read this passage many times, and never noticed the exact wording of that phrase. Reinforced when our Lord follows his reading of this Isaiah prophecy with this, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Now either Isaiah and our Lord were wrong in this, or the greater part of Christian teachers are wrong. If you look at the first three gospels, you’ll see, there’s only one Passover feast being observed in Jerusalem right before the Lord’s crucifixion. The gospel of John is not so clear, scripture verses with the word Passover in them, appear to be not in chronological order. I have no explanation for this. But I am inclined to think that the ministry of Jesus was around a year long. There are two thousand year long prophetic days, 2 Pe 3:8, Acts 2:17-21, before our Lord’s return at the start of the seventh day, which would place the start of the thousand year kingdom of God around AD 2030-33 depending on how long our Lords ministry was. But at this point in time, it’s starting to look like 2033. But a believer will know for sure when the tribulation starts when the two witnesses start giving their testimony in Jerusalem. I think a prophecy our Lord gave applies in regards to this matter pertaining to 2 Pe 3:8.

Luke 11:29-32 KJVS
[29] And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. [30] For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. [31] The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. [32] The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Another account of this prophecy appears in Matthew that give a few additional facts.

Matthew 12:38-42 KJVS
[38] Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. [39] But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: [40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. [42] The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Much effort and conjecture has been spent over the years trying to place our Lord in the tomb for three full days and nights, based on these scriptures. I view this prophecy strictly in the context of our Lord giving a sign to that wicked generation. They asked for a sign and were given one. Our Lord is telling that wicked generation that they will be appearing in the latter part of the white throne judgment. That they will not have a role in the millennial kingdom of God, which lasts a 1000 years. In essence they will be resurrected in three thousand years following his death. The “heart of the earth” points to Jesus Christ purifying the hearts of men 2,000 years before and during the millennial kingdom. “Heart of the earth” brings these verses to mind along with the fact that man was formed from the dust of the earth, Ge 2:7.

1 Corinthians 15:47 KJVS
[47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

The Strong’s Concordance definition of the word earthy in the above verse means dusty.

John 12:24 KJVS
[24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Revelation 14:15 KJVS
[15] And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Ephesians 3:17 KJVS
[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

The words “ground” and “earth” are often used metaphorically in the New Testament symbolizing the heart and hearts of man and mankind. The Lord used these terms in several parables. So that only those who were given ears to hear would understand, Lk 8:10. So as to not disclose God‘s purpose in Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 KJVS
[7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Enough on that. Since the rapture, gathering of the Saints unto the Lord, is in and around 3 1/2 years before 2033, Rev 10:7, that gives a rough target date of 2029 for the rapture. Possibly the feast of Trumpets of that year. As a side note, there are distinctly different doctrines concerning when the rapture takes place. Different doctrines of man, designed to divide the believes in different denominations so as to often times fleece the sheep and make merchandise the body of Christ, as Apostle Peter described it.

2 Peter 2:1-3 KJVS
[1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Apostle Paul calls these doctrines the wind of doctrine.

Ephesians 4:14-15 KJVS
[14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning I craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened

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Ephesians 1:17-18 KJVS
[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

This verse like many others in the New Testament electrified me in the past and beckoned me to further investigate the meaning thereof. The obvious approach is to investigate the word inheritance and heir. When you do, you find that the body of Christ is Abraham’s seed, and heir to the promise God made to Abraham, that he would inherit the earth, Ga 3:29 , Ro 4:13. In Eph 1:18, Paul prays that God the Father of glory Himself, gives you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. In short, the knowledge of Jesus Christ goes hand and hand with the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:25-27 KJVS
[25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

This verse is a companion verse to Eph 1:18, and many times when the word glory as used in the New Testament scriptures it is referring to God’s glory on the earth, the thousand year Kingdom of God. It is curious for me to hear other Christians mentioning dying and then going to heaven, as if that is the end point of it all. There are few scripture verses in the New Testament that shed light on this belief. It is written in Re 6:9-11, that the souls of those who were slain for the word of God are kept under the altar in heaven. If you read the verses in context, it could suggest the souls were animated for a short period of time, white robes given them, and then told to rest a little while longer.

Revelation 6:9-11 KJVS
[9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were , should be fulfilled.

Souls under the altar in heaven sounds like the altar is a repository of sorts for deceased souls of those who were slain for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Which is suggestive that there is no conscience awareness while a soul is in heaven awaiting the first resurrection. But it is hard to separate what is figurative and what is literal in the book of Revelation and the same holds true for the parable of the rich and poor man that appears in Lk 16:19-31. Most times when I cite Revelation 20:6, that clearly states that the body of Christ is going to rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years, it seems like it has no impact on the Christian I am conversing with. That is because God the Father himself has to enlighten a persons eyes to see His calling. As a side note it also appears that the man child is resurrected first and woman that gave birth to him is given wings and flies off into the wilderness for 3 1/2 years, Re 12:14. Is the man child the body of Christ? Many believe so. Jerusalem is the mother of us all, Gal 4:26, and yet it states in Re 12:17 that the dragon made war with the rest of her seed. There are some interesting distinctions raised in the word of God that a wise man not seek to formulate into doctrine and would be smart to take a wait and see approach. Is this distinction regarding the seed of the woman because many are called but few are chosen, Mt 22:14? Over the years I have known many Christians who were very aggressive in their attempts to bring people to Christ. It is as if they feel, by their own powers of persuasion and willpower, a person can be drawn by them into the kingdom of God. But as you see that is not the case, John 6:44. God does the drawing. The revelation of Christ in you the hope of glory and all the implications thereof, does not happen all at once. We know only in part, at first, seeing these matters as through a darkened glass, 1Co 13:12. But as time goes on we grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and then see more clearly and embrace the hope of the calling, Php 3:14, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Which is to rule and reign over the nations of the world, in righteousness, with Jesus Christ for a thousand years from the nation Israel, Re 20:6. A person does not come by this knowledge easily so one must heed the advice Paul gave to Timothy and study to make himself approved, 2Ti 2:15. Approved for what? The high calling of God in Christ, the first resurrection. In your study of the Word you would do well to stay clear of wind of doctrine of men and learn from the scriptures.

Ephesians 4:14 KJVS
[14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

The Strong’s definition for the Greek word translated sleight in the above verse has interesting connotations.

Definition
dice playing
metaph. the deception of men, because dice players sometimes cheated and defrauded their fellow players

To cheat by deception in a dice game is motivated by the desire for monetary gain. I would imagine the motive behind the deceptive wind of doctrines of man are for the same reason. Coupled with the desire to rule in this age, 1Co 4:8. The concept of the casting of dice brings to mind another verse and word associated with the casting of dice that has direct bearing on the topic of this post.

Ephesians 1:11 KJVS
[11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

The Strong’s Concordance definition of the Greek word translated as ”
Inheritance” in the above verse.

Strong’s Number
G2820
Original Word
κληρόω
Transliterated Word
klēroō

Definition
to cast lots, determine by lot
to choose by lot
to allot, assign by lot
on to another as a possession
in NT: to make a lot, i.e. a heritage, private possession

This Greek word is only used once in the New Testament and has a large impact on the doctrine of predestination. Those who are to rule and reign with Jesus Christ were chosen by God with the casting of lots or by random chance before the foundation of the world, Ro 9:16, Eph 1:4. It is radom chance because God is not a respecter of persons, Acts 10:34. I have given this much thought over the years and the only conclusion I come away with is that history as we know it, and the role the vessels of mercy play in history, are all predetermined by God to fulfill His purpose in this earth. The realization of the thousand year Kingdom of God is part of the purpose that God intends with the body of Christ. A common thread running through most of my articles is that we are being made mature or are being made perfect by God for this inheritance Col 1:12. But the overall end goal is to present all men perfect in Christ, Col 1:28, so that God can be all in all, 1Co 15:28. Of which the body of Christ plays a important role as priest and kings with Jesus Christ in the age to come.

Revelation of the mystery

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Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The Apostle Paul’s epistles and the other epistles and gospels of the New Testament, have to be viewed in light of the mystery of God and when it was revealed, and the impact this has on how the church perceives salvation. Paul at a certain point in his ministry, wrote of a revelation he received from God.

Eph 3:3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Paul was given the dispensation to fulfill, fill up, the word of God by disclosing the mystery of Christ, to the church, Col 1:25. At what point in time this revelation was given to Paul, is not really made clear in the epistles. Using the search function in a bible editor, one can examine the scriptures used in connection with the word mystery, related to the mystery of God, and get a rough idea when Paul received this revelation. The mystery is most clearly defined in Paul’s later epistles of Ephesians and Colossians.  We find that this mystery was hid in God since the beginning of the world, Eph 3:9, and was only made manifest to the saints at a specific point in time, Col 1:26. The mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, is finished at the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

Revelation 10:7 KJVS
[7] But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

That is when the head of the body is joined to the body of Christ. When every member of the body of Christ receives their glorified body. The hope of glory, that the members of the body of Christ are in expectation of, is to rule and reign with Jesus Christ during the thousand year kingdom of God. God’s glory on this earth. Since being sanctified and becoming perfect or mature are words associated with the mystery of God, when and where these words appear in scripture can tell us much. The word sanctify, and its derivatives, as they appear in the New Testament, gives us some idea when the mystery of God first became known to the church. Books written before the disclosure of the mystery of God lack any information concerning sanctification, which is accomplished by Christ in you, Jn 17:17, 19&23. The authors who wrote epistles or gospels before Paul received this revelation were either not aware of the mystery or were not inspired to mention the mystery at the time when they wrote the epistle or gospel. The epistle written by James reflects this lack of knowledge regarding the mystery of God and the role Christ in you, plays in being sanctified. Sanctify and other derivatives of that word, in connection to the body of Christ, appears in the gospel of John, in later chapters of Acts and then in Ro 15:16, in the order the gospels and other New Testament books as they appear in the bible. The gospel of John is thought to be written in the 80’s or early 90’s. John 17:17&19&23, reflect the knowledge of the mystery of God in Christ. The first time the mystery of God was briefly mentioned by Paul was in Ro 16:25. I feel, contrary to what some believe, that Romans was written before the first Corinthian epistle. I will give my reason why, in just a bit. The concept of sanctification is contingent upon Christ in you the hope of glory. Sanctification and the mystery are briefly touched upon by Paul in the 15th and 16th chapters of Romans, and commented upon twice in the 1st Corinthian epistle, once in the beginning verses, 1Co 1:2, and in 1 Co 6:11

1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Sanctification takes place due to the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, Heb 10:10. So when Paul remarks in Ro 15:16 that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, this knowledge is contingent upon the revelation of the mystery of Christ in you the hope of glory. Since there is only one offering for sin connected with sanctification, He 10:14, then the offering up of the Gentiles mentioned in Ro 15:16 has to be understood as taking place”in Christ”. Because there can be no sanctification without being in the corporate body of Christ, and having God and Christ dwelling in you.

John 17:23 KJVS
[23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Hebrews 2:11 KJVS
[11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

In Ephesians 3:3, Paul refers to the mystery and that he had mentioned it before in a few words. A reference bible links this verse to Ro 16:25. That clearly puts a rough time stamp on when the mystery was disclosed to Paul. A important point supporting the premise that the epistle to the Romans was written before the Corinthian epistles, is when Paul makes two similar utterances by the Spirit, in Romans and then 1 Corinthians. In both verses Paul asks the question, “who has known the mind of the Lord?”,  Ro 11:34, 1Co 2:16. But in the 1 Corinthians verse, a observation is made following that question, in which Paul states that we have the mind of Christ! Having the mind of Christ is only possible by having the Christ in you, the hope of glory.  So why did Paul not make that observation in Ro 11:34? Obviously because the Spirit did not inspire Paul to include that comment in Romans or perhaps he had not received the revelation of the mystery of Christ in you the hope of glory, until he was nearly finished with the writing of the book of Romans. And then only briefly touch upon it in Ro 16:25. All this is speculative but the books of 1&2 Corinthians have more content regarding being sanctified and being in the body of Christ than the book of Romans does. My guess is, this may be due to progressive revelation by the Holy Spirit. Christ in you the hope of glory, and the sanctification of the Gentile members of the body of Christ, along with the Hebrew contingent, was not touched upon in the gospels and epistles written earlier in time before Paul received the revelation of the mystery. Probably for a few important reasons. The early church was facing the hurtle of establishing in the Jewish believer’s minds, that one could not be justified by one’s own works under the law but by grace. Which came about due to the redemptive work of salvation by Jesus Christ. God instructs man on a individual and societal basis and uses the church in these functions. The Jewish culture had been waylaid by their religious leaders and mislead in believing they could be justified by the law. The law was added in the wilderness, due to transgression, Ga 3:19, and made no one perfect, He 7:19.  Perfect or mature is another word that describes the process of being sanctified, due to Christ in you. The Pharisees and other religious leaders in Israel stumbled at the stumbling stone, which God laid, the rock of offense, Ro 9:31-33, who was Jesus Christ. They were intent on establishing their own righteousness by observing the law of Moses and their own doctrines of man. This type of self will worship is insidious and was something God had ordained for them to follow, 1Pe 2:8 , Ro 9:22. The emerging Jewish Christian church was having a hard time making the transition from the law of Moses to living a life of faith and being justified by grace, via the Holy Spirit. This was so much of a culture shock, that even Apostle Peter fell back into old patterns of behavior in regards to the law and separation of Jews and Gentiles, Ga 2:12-14. Another consideration is that the early Jewish Christian church was persecuted by the leadership of Israel and the Levitical priesthood had considerable knowledge concerning prophecy and the Old Testament scriptures. If they had found out very early on about the mystery of Christ in you the hope of glory, ultimately leading to sanctification of the Jewish and Gentile Christians, they very well may have not crucified the Lord.

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 KJVS
[7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom , which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it , they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Verse 7 added additional information that this mystery and hidden wisdom of God was ordained by God unto our, the body of Christ, glory.

Apostle Paul by prophecy points to when this takes place.

1 Corinthians 15:43,51-52 KJVS
[43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Timing played a big part in when the release of the revelation of the mystery of God was released. The fledgling Christian church faced much opposition from the Jewish leadership early on and perhaps that has bearing on when the mystery of God was disclosed to the church. It was a profound example of the power of God over the will of man, to convert Saul to the faith of Jesus Christ, who just seconds before was extremely zealous in stamping out the Jewish Christian church. And chose him to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. There were Old Testament prophecies of salvation being taken away from Jews and given to the Gentiles, Deut 32:21, Isa 65:1. If you read the parable of the husbanmen, Mt 21:33-45, it was clear to the chief priests that Jesus was indicating that the kingdom of God would be taken away from them and given to the nations or Gentiles. The Apostle Paul proclaimed this very fact in Ac 28:25-28, again quoting a Old Testament prophet. The chief priest were afraid of losing their place of power over Israel and that was largely why they crucified Jesus.

Joh 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

When the time arrived that salvation went to the Gentiles the Jewish leadership did not want the gospel preached to the Gentiles

1Th 2:15  Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16  Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

So when the Apostle Paul in 1 Co 2:6-8 states what appears to be obvious, albeit after the fact, that if the princes of this world had known about the mystery of God, they would not have crucified the Lord. This is a very important fact in regards to progressive revelation. Unless a seed fall in the ground and die it cannot bring forth any fruit, Jn 12:24, which is a perfect parable used by our Lord describing his sacrifice and offering and his role as the seed, the Christ in you the hope of glory. But Jesus spoke in parables to disguise the real intent behind God sending him to earth as a sacrifice and offering for sin, Mk 4:11. God on the macro scale was and is changing society and on the individual, micro scale, changing individual men within the different societies. The transition from law to grace, the transition from Jew to Gentile in regards to salvation was a very difficult cultural transition for the early church to pass through. God is a excellent card player and holds His cards very close to His chest and plays the cards of history and the salvation of mankind through Jesus Christ, Jn 12:32, in the order that pleases Him, Isa 46:8-10. Not only within society but also within our individual lives. It is interesting to look at the three different accounts Paul gives in the book of Acts in relationship to time, regarding his experience on the road to Damascus.  In the different accounts Paul discloses what Jesus said to him at that time, and how these various accounts differ as recorded in the book of Acts, is interesting. The verses being examined are Acts 9:4-6, Acts 22:7-10 and Acts 26:14-18. It is only in Acts 26:18 that the word sanctified is mentioned and that is in regards to inheritance. That word sanctified is used only one other time in Acts, in verse 20:32. Again in regards to inheritance. As I wrote earlier, in the four gospels the word sanctified, in regards to the body of Christ, is only mentioned in the gospel of John. The following verses have always had a profound effect on me.

John 17:19-23  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 ¶  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, is a apt description of sanctification, He 10:14. The gospel of John was thought to be written in 90 A.D., and for that reason is the most theological mature gospel. Which is a prime example of progressive revelation in itself. The point being made, is that sanctification, Christ in you the hope of glory, was a concept disclosed by God to the world and to the church, in the time frame He saw fitting. First, the transition from the law to grace in regards to who justifies who, man justifying himself or God justifying man, had to be firmly established. Then the first order in the salvation process of mankind is address, the body of Christ being justified and then sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all, He 10:10, He 13:12. It takes time in order to change society and the individuals who are indoctrinated by the doctrines of men, who live in those societies. Living a life under the law, mistakenly trying to justify your self before God by your own efforts. Living lives as pagans sacrificing to idols and demons. The transformation taking place in society and in the individuals at that time, and even today, by those called of God, was and is enormous. One also has to keep in mind that these changes in society and in the individual are linked hand in hand with the educational process of being taught by God, Jn 6:45. The knowledge of good and evil, which makes us like God, Ge 3:22, and discernment thereof, can only be learned by experience, He 5:14. This all gives a person just a glimmer of understanding of the work God is doing in this earth, Acts 13:41. Keep in mind that in the salvation process of mankind, 1Ti 4:10,  God will eventually justify all men by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  In regards to sanctification, God is sanctifying Himself a people, He 13:12, and the body of Christ, for a inheritance to rule and reign with Jesus Christ in the age to come, Eph 1:11, Col 1:12. That sanctification can only happens by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Which is the mystery of God in Christ, the Christ in you the hope of glory.