This letter is for all who desire to know when the Lord Jesus Christ will return “for” His own in the event known as the “Rapture” and His “2nd Advent” to earth (Mt. 24:3; Lk. 12:35-38). It is also given to refute the belief and teaching that no one can know when either one of those two days will take place! Some parts of this letter are from “Illogical Christians in the Last Days” and “A Biblical View of the Future.” They can both be found and read on www.endtimewarnings.net.
Prologue
Bill received a telephone call from Joe, who is his best friend. Joe said he was on a long trip but would be flying back into Chicago and wanted Bill to pick him up when he arrived. Joe also said that Bill would not be able to contact him during his travels, but that he was looking forward to seeing Bill, that he had to go and then hung up.
Bill was confused. Joe expected Bill to meet him and to pick him up, but how could he? Joe had neglected to tell him which of the two airports in Chicago he would be arriving. Would it be O'Hare or Midway? Bill wondered how Joe could expect to be met and picked up by him, or by anyone else for that matter, without first giving the name of the airport, the airline he would be using, along with the date and time of his arrival. Joe should have known that without this information, it would be unreasonable of him to expect Bill to meet and greet him when he landed.
Bill called every airline that had flights going to O'hare or Midway to learn if they had reservations in Joe’s name. Unfortunately, none were able to give him that information. Bill then called mutual acquaintances of Joe to check if they might have information that would enable him to meet his friend. All said that they did not know any more than he did. Bill then decided to do the only thing that was logical and that was to do nothing. It was not his fault that Joe had failed to tell him what he needed to know to pick him up. Thus, Joe could not hold him accountable for not being there when he arrived! Bill would just wait until Joe called him after his arrival!
Things to Consider
The Lord Jesus Christ said, “. . . for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and hidden, that shall not be known” (Mt. 10:26). “For there is nothing hidden, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come [to light]” (Mk. 4:22). “But take heed; behold, I have foretold you all things” (Mk. 13:23). “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hidden, that shall not be known and come [to light]” (Lk. 8:17). “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hidden, that shall not be known” (Lk. 12:2). “Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing” (Jn. 18:20).
It would seem, based upon these statements by the Lord Jesus Christ, that all of the information required to know when He will return for His “Church” and when His “2nd Advent” to earth will be, has been given. This should not surprise anyone since God has always told mankind what He was going to do, why He was going to do it and when He would act! This truth is confirmed in the Old Testament with people like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Moses, Joseph, Daniel and others. The same is true in the New Testament with those like Zacharias, Mary, Simeon, John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. Thus, God is a date-setter, who cannot and will not change His ways (Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:17-20; Jas. 1:17). It is simply a matter of believing the “Word of God” - the Holy Bible (Rev. 1:1-3, 11, 19; 4:1; 21:5).
An example of how the LORD [“self-existant one”] told what He would do and how He revealed future events can be found in the “Seven Holy Feasts of the LORD” (Lev. 23). These festivals were and remain “prophetically significant!” All Christians should know that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the “Feast of the Passover" with His death. Some Christians might know He also fulfilled the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" with His burial, the "Feast of First Fruits" with His bodily resurrection, and the “Feast of Weeks” [Pentecost] with the birth of His Church. Unfortunately, Few Christians know that the Lord Jesus Christ will fulfill the “Feast of Trumpets" with the “Rapture,” the “Feast of a Day of Atonement" with His “2nd Advent,” and the “Feast of Tabernacles” [booths] with His one thousand [1000] year reign on earth.
It should be noted, by all, that “signs” are for “believers” and “nonbelievers” alike. “Signs” are sometimes given to show a covenant between God and man (Gen. 9:8-17; 17:11), or to reveal the will of God as in the case of Aaron’s rod (Num. 17:5-10), or to prove that the God of Israel is the one true God as with Elijah (1 Ki. 18:21-24, 37-39). “Signs” are also given by God to bring men to a saving belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, as their “personal” Savior (Mk. 16:20; Jn. 20:30-31). “Signs” from God, regardless of the reason, will always authenticate His Word - the Holy Bible!
The Lord Jesus Christ was asked, prior to His ascension into Heaven, if He was going to restore the “kingdom” to Israel at that time. He answered, “. . . It is not for YOU to know the times or the seasons. . .” (Acts 1:6-7). [Caps added for emphasis.] The “you” was in reference to those whom He was speaking to at that moment in 30 A.D. The “you” did not include those people who would be alive on earth at the time of His “2nd Advent” when the “kingdom” would then be restored to the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, many have mistakenly “assumed” that it does. Those who are guilty of this error have not considered the audience and the time frame in which the question was asked and answered! Thus, their “misapplication” of the answer given.
The “kingdom” will be restored to Israel 2520 days [seven years], after the signing of a “defense treaty” between Israel and the Antichrist. All who witness the signing of this treaty, can know the day of the “2nd Advent” of the Savior, by simply counting forward 2520 days. When this “defense treaty” is broken, by the Antichrist, the countdown to the “2nd Advent” of the Lord Jesus Christ will have been reduced by half to 3 1/2 years (Dan. 7:23-24; 9:27; Mt. 24:15; 2 Th. 2:3-4; Rev. 11:3; 12:5-6). Thus, all who witness the breaking of this treaty will need to do, for them to know the day of the “2nd Advent,” is to count forward 1260 days. It will be that simple for those living during that time period, to know the day when the “2nd Advent” will take place!
The questions that next need to be asked and answered are those in regards to the return known as the “Rapture.” This is when He will come “for” His own [Christians] to take them to Heaven (Jn. 4:34-35; 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Th. 4:13-18). Thus, two questions arise, “Is it possible to know when the “Rapture” will take place?” And, “Are Christians expected, by God, to know when the “Rapture” is to happen?” The popular teachings would lead all to believe the answers to these questions would be an emphatic “no.” This is based upon the answer the Lord Jesus Christ gave to this question asked of Him. “And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled” (Mk. 13:4b). This was in reference to the things that would happen “before” His “2nd Advent” and include His return to earth (Mt. 24:4b-35; Mk. 13:5b-31; Lk. 21:8b-33).
The “sign” He was asked to know would be the “Rapture” and the Lord Jesus Christ said that no one but “God the Father” knew when it would be (Mt. 24:36; Mk. 13:32). This was true, at the time it was said by Him! He also told of what people would be doing when the “Rapture” took place (Mt. 24:37-42), and how some people would be at the time of His return for them (Mt. 24:43-51). Christians are expected to be doing the “will” of God at the time of the “Rapture” (Mt. 5:13-16; 10:24-27; 24:46; Mk. 4:21-25; Lk. 7:36-50; 8:16-18; 11:33-36: 12:35-40, 42-44; 16:1-13; 19:11-27). This is required of all who desire to be a faithful steward of God (1 Cor. 4:2).
The problem for those who teach that no one can know when the “Rapture” will take place, is what the apostle Paul had to say about the subject. Paul said the “Rapture” should not overtake Christians as a “thief in the night” (1 Th. 4:13-5:4). Thus, it would seem that Paul is refuting what the Lord Jesus had said about no one knew when it would happen. Unless, it was true at the time the Lord Jesus said it, but it was not to be true when the “Rapture” was about to take place. Also, what the Lord Jesus Christ knew, was dependent upon the will of “God the Father” (Mk. 5:25-34; Lk. 8:43-48; Jn. 5:19-20, 23, 30, 36-37). Few are aware that while in the “espousement” stage of a Jewish marriage, the bridegroom did not know when he would return for his bride since it is his father who would tell him when he was to go for her (Jn. 3:29; 14:1-3).
If no one can know the day or the hour when the Lord Jesus Christ will return for His bride, the “Church,” in the “Rapture,” then how is the “Church” any different from Bill waiting for Joe to arrive in Chicago? How could the “Church” be expected, by the Lord Jesus Christ, to meet Him at an “appointed” time? Also, how could Paul say that Christians should know the day of the “Rapture?” Thus, I am convinced that God expects “true” Christians to know when the return of the Lord Jesus Christ “for” His own [“the Rapture”] will take place!
God has never played “gotcha” with mankind! The Lord Jesus Christ warned “unbelievers” to take heed or the “Rapture” would happen while they were unaware (Lk. 21:34). He also said, of those “left behind,” “For like a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Lk. 21:35). The “Rapture,” however, should not take Christians by surprise because they are in the “light and not the dark” (1 Th. 5:1,4). This is illustrated in "The Parable of the Ten Virgins" with “true” Christians who know the “Rapture” is about to happen (Mt. 25:1-13). The “wise” virgins [“true” Christians] “wake” from their sleep [unaware], “get up,” and “go” to meet Him. It is “professing” Christians who are “left behind” (Mt. 7:21-23; 25:10-12; Lk. 13:24-27).
Epilogue
The majority of people at the time of the “1st Advent” of the Lord Jesus Christ ignored the many “signs” to indicate His coming was near (Mt. 16:1-3; Lk. 12:54-56; 19:41-44). The same is true in our day and age. This is why the apostle Peter wrote that prior to the “Rapture” this would be the prevalent attitude, “. . . that there shall come in the last days scoffers. . .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. For this they willingly are ignorant . . .” (2 Pet. 3:3-5). This can only be said of those days prior to the “Rapture” and not to the days that precede the “2nd Advent” of the Lord Jesus Christ at the “Battle of Armageddon” (Rev. 9:13-18; 16:12-16; 19:11-21). The “2nd Advent” will be at the end of the worst period of time in the history of mankind (Mt. 24:21-22). Thus, the “Church” was always to look forward to the “Rapture” and never to the “2nd Advent.” The “Rapture” is the blessed hope of the “Church” (Ti. 2:13). Amen!
God gave three “signs” to enable mankind to know when the two distinctive “revealings” of the Lord Jesus Christ would be. The first “sign” was the rebirth of Israel, which took place on May 14, 1948, and fulfilled the “Parable of the Fig Tree” (Jer. 24:1-2, 4-10; Mt. 24:32; Mk. 13:28). The second “sign” was the return of the men of Israel which fulfilled the “Parable of All the Trees” (Jud. 8:22; 9:7-15; Lk. 21:29b-30). The third “sign” was the liberation of Jerusalem by Israel, in June, 1967. I believe this began the fifty year “Jubilee” generation which will be fulfilled with the “Second Coming” to earth (Lev. 25:8-55; 27:16-24; Mt. 24:34; Mk. 13:30; Lk. 21:32).
Thus, the “Rapture” will be on the “Feast of Trumpets” in September, 2011. America will be destroyed by a first strike nuclear attack when Russia and her allies invade Israel in October, 2011 (Ezek. 38-39; 1 Th. 5:3). The European Union will then fill the power vacuum caused by the destruction of America and Russia during World War III, and become the dominant political and economic power in the world. The 2520 days of “tribulation” that precede the “2nd Advent” of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth will begin in May, 2012, with the signing of a 2520 day [seven year] “defense treaty” between Israel and Romano Prodi, the leader of the European Union [EU], who will break it after 1260 days [3 1/2 years] (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15). The “2nd Advent” will take place in the 50th year of the “Jubilee generation” on the “Feast of a Day of Atonement,” in October, 2017 (Mt. 24:4b-35; Mk. 13:5b-31; Lk. 21:8b-33). God, is a date-setter. Maranatha!