“9-09-2014 A.D.”

“REALLY? – THE RESURRECTION DISPROVES THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE? WHAT NON-SENSE!!!!!!!!!!!”

THE LACK OF STUDY AND THE HOLDING TO FALSE TEACHINGS IS ASTOUNDING, BUT NONE THE LESS, IT IS WHAT JESUS SAID WOULD OCCUR IN THE “LAST DAYS”.

A NEW MAN, WHO I KNOW NOT FROM ADAM, HAS RESPONDED TO MY LATEST ARTICLE ALONG WITH SOME REGULAR NAY-SAYERS. HOW HE GOT THE ARTICLE IS BEYOND ME, SINCE IT ONLY GOES TO A RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE AND HE IS DEFINITELY NOT ON MY LIST. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IF MOST PEOPLE EVEN READ THROUGH THE ARTICLE, BECAUSE THEY RESPONDED SO QUICKLY. I BELIEVE THEY MISSED THE AMAZING CORRELATIONS, BUT WHAT’S NEW. HERE IS HIS RESPONSE, WHICH IS EASILY REFUTE BY “THE WORD OF GOD”:

From: Zach Anderson <zmanderson@gmail.com>

Date: September 7, 2014 12:38:45 PM EDT

To: B Warner <captbruce393@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: Joseph's 7 Good & 7 Bad years - the Sun, Moon & Stars & 2017 A.D. to 2024 A.D.

Here's a modification to my Rapture-Resurrection article (http://ultrafree.org/articles/The_Post-Tribulation_Resurrection-Rapture.pdf) that I am considering. Comments?

TOWARD A MORE ROBUST TWO-PHASE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST

1. "The [definite determiner] resurrection [singular] of the dead" (Mat 22:31, Acts 17:32, 24:21, 1Co 15:21,42, Php 3:11) is one-and-only, but we learn only in Rev 20:4-6 that it occurs in two phases (the first of the just, the second of the unjust), separated by 1000 years.

2. Likewise, in Luke 14:14, Jesus teaches there is only one resurrection of the just. He calls it "the [definite determiner] resurrection [singular] of the just". Jesus also said it occurs "at the [definite determiner] last day [singular]" (John 6:39,40,44,54), which is similarly one-and-only.

3. Regardless of when one places "the last day", Rev 20:4-6 describes this one-and-only resurrection of the just as including saints who persevere over the beast, his image, and his mark. Therefore, it is a post-trib event.

4. At this post-trib one-and-only resurrection of the just, "the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together [raptured] with them in the clouds" (1Th 4:16-17).

5. Thus, a two-phase resurrection of the just is similarly seen. The first phase is of the dead in Christ and the second phase is of the living raptured. Both

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phases are completed within the one-and-only "last day". Any interval exceeding a 24-hour day is excluded. Phase reversal is also excluded.

THE “DEFINITE DETERMINER” (THE) AND THE SINGULAR FOR THE RESURRECTION, BOTH OF THE JUST AND THE UNJUSTIS EASILY EXPLAINED. IT ISN’T REFERRING TO A RESURRECTION THAT OCCURRED OR OCCURS IN ONE MOMENT OF TIME, BUT RATHER IT IS THE RESURRECTION, RAPTURE OF ONE MAN, WHO IS THE JUST, JESUS CHRIST; AND THIS INCLUDES ALL IN HIM, AND THE RESURRECTION OF ONE MAN THE UNJUST, ADAM; AND THIS INCLUDES ALL IN HIM.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:13-23

JESUS AND HIS PEOPE ARE IN ONE RESURRECTION, REGARDLESS OF WHAT RANK OR ORDER THEY ARE IN THAT RESURRECTION. OUR RESURRECTION IS SO ONE WITH CHRIST, THAT IF WE DON’T RISE, THEN HE DIDN’T RISE (1 CORINTHIANS 15:13, 15-16). DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS??????

THE POINT OF THE “DEFINITE DETERMINER” IN THIS RESURRECTION, AS THIS MAN CALLS IT, IS THAT IT IS ONLY ONE MAN, BUT THIS ONE MAN INCLUDES HIS BRIDE, WHO IS ONE WITH HIM, AND/OR HIS CHILDREN, WHO ARE ALL ONE WITH HIM.

WE, AS TRUE BELIEVERS, ARE ALL “IN CHRIST”, MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, FLESH OF HIS FLESH, BONE OF HIS BONES, SPIRIT OF HIS SPIRIT (EPHESIANS 5:25-32, 1 CORINTHIANS 6:17, JOHN 3:6).

THE LOST ARE LIKEWISE “ALL IN ADAM”, AS ONE WITH HIM IN HIS CONDEMNATION.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:22 = “FOR AS IN ADAM ALL DIE, EVEN SO IN CHRIST SHALL ALL BE MADE ALIVE.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:45 = “AND SO IT IS WRITTEN, THE FIRST MAN ADAM WAS MADE A LIVING SOUL; THE LAST ADAM WAS MADE A QUICKENING SPIRIT.”

1 CORINTHIANS 15:47 = “THE FIRST MAN IS OF THE EARTH, EARTHY; THE SECOND MAN IS THE LORD FROM HEAVEN.”

FRIENDS, THE “SECOND MAN” IS THE “LAST ADAM” or “LAST MAN” – DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

THE 2ND MAN = THE “LAST MAN”; THERE ARE ONLY “TWO MEN IN THE BIBLE”

ALL THE REST OF MANKIND IS EITHER STILL IN THE “1ST MAN” BY NATURAL BIRTH (OF THE FLESH) AND DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS – OR –HAS BEEN BORN AGAIN OF THE “2ND MAN” BY SPIRITUAL BIRTH (OF THE SPIRIT or OF PROMISE), CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS (EPHESIANS 2:10) AND IS ALIVE IN THE RIGHTEOUSENESS OF JESUS CHRIST.

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THE DEFINITE ARTICLE “THE” IS REFERRING TO THIS FACT, AND NOT TO SOME IDEA THAT ALL IN CHRIST ARE GOING TO BE RESURRECTED AT ONE EVENT IN ONE MOMENT OF TIME. THIS CAN BE EASILY PROVEN.

JOHN 11:24 = “MARTHA SAITH UNTO HIM, I KNOW THAT HE SHALL RISE AGAIN IN THE RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY”

JOHN 11:25 = “JESUS SAID UNTO HER, I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE: HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE:”

JOHN 11:26 = “AND WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. BELIEVEST THOU THIS?

THE RESURRECTION IS A MAN; THE MAN CHRIST JESUS, NOT JUST AN EVENT. JESUS CONFIRMS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE JUST SHOWN IN “1 CORINTHIANS 15”. THE SINGULARITY OF THE “DEFINITE ARTICLE” IN BOTH RESURRECTIONS IS REFERRING TO “A MAN”, NOT THAT THE “FIRST RESURRECTION HAS TO BE COMPLETED WITH A “24 HOUR” PERIOD.

SO, LET’S GET INTO “THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL” SO WE ARE NOT BEGUILED AS EVE WAS, BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY PROFESSORS, WHOM THE SPIRIT IS NOT LEADING INTO ALL TRUTH, BUT INSISTING ON OUR OPINIONS AS OUR OWN GODS, FOR NO PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION (2 CORINTHIANS 11:1-4, 13-15, 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5, 2 PETER 1:19-21).

FIRST, HERE ARE THE BIBLICAL TEXTS THAT DEAL WITH THE “TWO RESURRECTIONS”; WHY “TWO”? BECAUSE THERE ARE “TWO MEN” AS WE HAVE LEARNED.

DANIEL 12:1-3LUKE 14:14JOHN 5:28-29ACTS 24:15REVELATION 20:1-15

THEY ARE THERE FOR YOUR READING, BUT LET’S LOOK AT THE FIRST ONE – DANIEL 12:1-3:

MICHAEL STANDS UP AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE TRIBULATION AS “REVELATION 12:6-17” CLEARLY SHOWS, AND THE TEXTS IN DANIEL SAYS “AT THAT TIME THY PEOPLE SHALL BE DELIVERED, EVERY ONE THAT SHALL BE FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK.”

DOES THAT MEAN THE ALL THE ELECT ARE GOING TO GET DELIVERED IN THE MIDST OF THE WEEK BY BEING RESURRECTED AND RAPTURED? OR IS THIS TEXT SPEAKING OF A PHYSICAL DELIVERANCE FOR THE “ELECT REMNANT OF ISRAEL” WHO WILL BE SUPERNATURALLY PROTECTED BY GOD IN THE WILDERNESS UNTIL GOD BRINGS THEM TO SALVATION AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION, AFTER THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES BE COME IN?

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DANIEL 12:2 = THIS SEEMS TO SAY THAT THAT BOTH RESURRECTIONS WILL OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME; BOTH FOR THE JUST AND FOR THE UNJUST; BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ERROR IN INTERPRETING THE TEXT, BECAUSE IT IS REFUTED BY “REVELATION 20”, WHERE WE SEE THAT FOR THE MAIN BODY OF THE UNJUST, THEY WILL NOT BE RESURRECTED UNTIL A THOUSAND YEARS LATER.

DANIEL 12:1-13 = THIS TEXT IS CONCERNING THE PEOPLE OF DANIEL, THE JEWS, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RESURRECTION AND RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH. THIS TEXT CONCERNS THE JEWS WHO ARE KILLED DURING THE 2ND HALF OF THE TRIBULATION, WHO HAVE NOT GONE INTO THE WILDERNESS, BUT HAVE BECOME BELIEVERS. THIS RESURRECTION WILL INCLUDE GENTILES ALSO AS “REVELATION 7 & 14” MAKE CLEAR, BUT OUR TEXT HERE IS MAINLY FOCUSED ON THE JEWS.

WHEN IS THE RAPTURE OF THIS PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER MARTYRED, OR THOSE PROTECTED AS THE “FIRSTFRUITS OF ISRAEL”?

MATTHEW 24:15-31 = VERSE “15” IS THE EXACT MIDST OF THE “70TH WEEK” (THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION) AND VERSES “29-31” SHOW US THAT THIS RAPTURE IS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS; IMMEDIATEDLY AFTER THE “1260” DAYS OF THE 2ND HALF OF THE “70TH WEEK”.

REVELATION 11:1-14 = THIS TEXT SHOWS THE SAME RESURRECTION WHICH IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS THE 2ND HALF OF THE “70TH WEEK” or THE FINAL “1260” DAYS, WHEN THE “6TH

TRUMPET” IS BLOWN “3 ½” DAYS FOLLOWING THE “1260” DAYS OF THE FINAL HALF OF THE TRIBULATION, WHEN THE “2 WITNESSES” GET RESURRECTED AND RAPTURED.

REVELATION 9:12-21 = THE SAME “6TH TRUMPET” THAT IS BLOWN ON AN EXACT “HOUR, DAY, MONTH & YEAR”. THIS IS THE DAY OF THE SLAYING OF “1/3RD” OF MANKIND WHO REMAINS.

IS THIS RESURRECTION AND RAPTURE PART OF THE FIRST RESURRECTION OF THE JUST? DEFINITELY

IS IT THE ONLY RESURRECTION TIME OF THE JUST? DEFINITELY NOT

WHY DO WE HAVE “2 TYPICAL” RAPTURES IN THE SCRIPTURE BEFORE CHRIST EVEN CAME THE FIRST TIME AS HISTORICAL ALLEGORIES OF THE TWO RESURRECTIONS/RAPTURES OF THE JUST WHICH WILL OCCUR JUST BEFORE JESUS COMES THE SECOND TIME, WHICH ARE PART OF THE SAME MAN?

GENESIS 5:23-24 = THE RAPTURE OF ENOCH, THE 7TH FROM ADAM

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2 KINGS 2:1-12 = THE RAPTURE OF ELIJAH, THE PROPHET OF GOD

WE SEE THESE “TWO RAPTURES” RIGHT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION; ONE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE “70TH WEEK” & ONE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE “70TH WEEK”. THESE TWO RAPTURES ARE DECLARED BY THE PHRASE “COME UP HITHER”, WHICH WAS AS THE VOICE OF A TRUMPET SPEAKING.

REVELATION 4:1-2 = THE LAST TRUMP OF THE CHURCH AGE, FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE GATHERING WHICH BEGAN AT THE FIRST TRUMP, AS THE SOUND OF A MIGHTY RUSHING WIND ON PENTECOST (ACTS 2:1-4, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-57). THE TWO TRUMPS OF THE CALLING OUT OF THE “EKKLESIA”, OR THE CHURCH, THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD ARE CLEARLY PREFIGURED IN TYPE IN “NUMBERS 10:1-2” (READ THIS).

REVELATION 11:2-3, 7-8, 11-14 = THE 6TH TRUMPET AND RAPTURE, “3 ½” DAYS or IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS (MATTHEW 24:29-31).

PLEASE NOTE “THE FIRST RAPTURE” WAS A MYSTERY AS ENOCH’S AND “HE WAS NOT FOR GOD TOOK HIM” AND HE “WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TRANSLATED HIM” (GENESIS 5:24, HEBREWS 11:5); BUT “THE SECOND RAPTURE” WILL BE WITNESSED AND SEEN BY OTHERS AS THEY BEHOLD THEM, AS ELIJAH WAS BEHELD AND SEEN AS HE WENT UP (2 KINGS 2:11-12, REVELATION 11:12-13).

THERE ARE NO RAPTURES “DURING THE 70TH WEEK”, THE FINAL WEEK OF CURSE BEFORE THE BLESSINGS OF “DANIEL 9:24” ARE POURED OUT UPON ISRAEL, AS GOD’S REMNANT, GUARANTEED BY THE FIRSTFRUITS, WHICH WERE JUST RAPTURED, AS THEY BEHELD AND THEN WERE GIVEN THE SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION TO REPENT AND THUS GIVE GLORY TO GOD ALONE (REVELATION 11:12, ZECHARIAH 12:9-14).

SO, DOES “THE FIRST RESURRECTION” MEAN THAT WE MUST ALL BE RESURRECTED AND RAPTURED AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE SAME “24 HR.” PERIOD?

OR, IS THE UNDERSTANDING OF “THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST” (MATTHEW 19:30, MATTHEW 20:16), THE EXPLANATION THAT THE FIRST ADAM IS THE LAST RESURRECTION, KNOWN AS THE SECOND DEATH, AND THE “LAST ADAM” IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION, ETERNAL LIFE?

THE FIRST RESURRECTION MEANS WE ARE RESURRECTED IN THE SAME MAN, THE LAST ADAM, THE LORD FROM HEAVEN, JESUS CHRIST, AS HAVING A PART IN HIM, AS A RANK OR ORDER IN HIS RESURRECTION, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME; INSTEAD OF BEING IN THE “SECOND DEATH”, THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION OF ALL IN THE FIRST ADAM TO BE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.

NOW, LETS PROVE THAT ALL IN THE “FIRST RESURRECTION” ARE IN ONE RESURRECTION, BEING IN THE SAME MAN, WHO IS THAT RESURRECTION”, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THEY ARE ALL RESURRECTED AND RAPTURED AT THE SAME TIME.

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JESUS, IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THAT WE ARE ALL A PART OF (EPHESIANS 4:15-16, EPHESIANS 1:22-23, COLOSSIANS 1:18, COLOSSIANS 2:10). THERE IS ONLY “ONE BODY” (EPHESIANS 4:4).

DID ANY OF YOU “2000 YEARS” AGO PHYSICALLY RESURRECT OR ASCEND WITH JESUS? NO!!!!!!!

IS JESUS IN THE SAME RESURRECTION AS US; IS HE THE FIRSTFRUITS OF OUR “ONE RESURRECTION”?YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23)

THEREFORE, THE FIRST RESURRECTION or THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST DOES NOT HAVE TO OCCUR IN “ONE MOMENT OF TIME” BECAUSE IT DIDN’T OCCUR IN “ONE MOMENT OF TIME”, BUT RATHER IT OCCURS IN “ONE MAN”REGARDLESS OF THE TIME.

DID ENOCH PHYSICALLY GET RAPTURED TO HEAVEN FOR THE VERY PURPOSE THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH? YES (HEBREWS 11:5-6)

WAS ENOCH IN “THE FIRST RESURRECTION/RAPTURE” AS A JUST MAN? YES

WAS HE RAPTURED AT A DIFFERENT TIME THEN “JESUS”, AND ALL OTHERS IN THAT SAME RESURRECTION? YES

WAS HE RAPTURED IN “THE ONE MAN, JESUS CHRIST” AND THUS PART OF THE “FIRST RESURRECTION/RAPTURE” OF THE JUST? YES

NOW, LETS GO TO WHAT OCCURS “AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE TRIBULATION” FOLLOWING “THE RESURRECTION/RAPTURE” OF THE JUST, INCLUDING THE MARTYRED TRIBULATION SAINTS, THE FIRSTFRUITS OF ISRAEL AND THE TWO WITNESSES. THIS RAPTURE OCCURS AT THE “6TH TRUMPET = 2ND WOE” AS ALREADY SHOWN.

SHORTLY FOLLOWING THIS “6TH TRUMPET” THE “7TH TRUMPET”, THAT INCLUDES ALL “7 VIALS” (THE 7 THUNDERS OF FINAL JUDGEMENT) WILL BE BLOWN TO BRING AN END TO THE MYSTERY OF GOD IN THE COMPLETE REVELATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WITH THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD, AS WE RETURN WITH CHRIST IN THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOM (REVELATION 10:1-7, REVELATION 11:15-19, REVELATION 19, ROMANS 8:17-23). WE WILL RETURN TO THE EARTH, AS THE NEW JERUSALEM, WITH CHRIST (REVELATION 19:11-19) TO JUDGE THE WORLD AND DASH TO PIECES THOSE WHO HAVE JOINED THEMSELVES TO THE BEAST IN ORDER TO FIGHT AGAINST THE LAMB AND HIS ARMY OF THE CALLED, CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL (REVELATION 17:14, REVELATION 2:26-29, PSALM 149, 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1-4). WE, WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT TO CHRIST AT THE COMPLETION OF THE WOMAN, THE CHURCH, AS FLESH OF HIS FLESH AND BONE OF HIS BONES, AFTER THE BOOK OF THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS IS COMPLETED OPENED BY OUR HEAD, WHO IS WORTHY, WE WILL RETURN WITH HIM TO RULE AND REIGN WITH HIM, HAVING DOMINION AS ONE (GENESIS 1:27-28, GENESIS 2:20-25, MATTHEW 19:27-30, REVELATION 3:21).

NOT EVERYONE IN A “NATURAL BODY” WILL BE DESTROYED WHEN JESUS RETURNS WITH HIS BRIDE, BUT THOSE WHO

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REMAIN AND ARE NOT DESTROYED, WILL BE THOSE WHO HAVE REPENTED, WHO DIDN’T DIE OF ALL THE NATIONS. THESE PEOPLE WILL ENTER “THE KINGDOM OF GOD”, THE “MILLENIAL REIGN OF CHRIST” IN NATURAL BODIES; OF THESE NATURAL MEN, WILL BE BORN THOSE WHO WILL NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN DURING THE MILLENIUM.

ZECHARIAH 14:1-17MATTHEW 25:31-46

ZECHARIAH 14:16 = “AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT EVERY ONE THAT IS LEFT OF ALL THE NATIONS WHICH CAME UP AGAINST JERUSALEM SHALL EVEN GO UP FROM YEAR TO YEAR TO WORSHIP THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.”

ZECHARIAH 14:17 = “AND IT SHALL BE, THAT WHOSO WILL NOT COME UP OF ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH UNTO JERUSALEM TO WORHSIP THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS, EVEN UPON THEM SHALL BE NO RAIN.”

NOW, OBSERVE THE SAME PERIOD IN THE BOOK OF “ISAIAH”:

ISAIAH 65:16-25

ISAIAH 65:20 = “THERE SHALL BE NO MORE THENCE AN INFANT OF DAYS, NOR AN OLD MAN THAT HATH NOT FILLED HIS DAYS: FOR THE CHILD SHALL DIE AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD; BUT THE SINNER BEING AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD SHALL BE ACCURSED.”

ISAIAH 65:22a = “….: FOR AS THE DAYS OF A TREE ARE THE DAYS OF MY PEOPLE, AND MINE ELECT SHALL LONG ENJOY THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS.”

DURING THE MILLENIUM PEOPLE WILL LIVE, AS BEFORE THE FLOOD TO BE “HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD”; SOME WILL LIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE MILLENIUM. THERE WILL BE AN ELECT REMNANT ON THE EARTH DURING THIS TIME. THERE WILL BE MULTITUDES BORN DURING THIS MILLENIAL REIGN OF CHRIST, WHO ARE NOT GOD’S ELECT, WHO WILL OUTWARDLY OBEY, AS IN THE DAYS OF KING JOSIAH, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE SAVED, AND AFTER THE “1000 YEARS” ARE OVER THEY WILL FOLLOW SATAN AGAINST THE “HOLY CITY” WHICH NOW RESIDES IN JERUSALEM, AFTER IT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN (REVELATION 20:7-9) .

ARE THESE SAVED SAINTS, WHO ENTER THE MILLENIUM IN “NATURAL BODIES” AND THOSE WHO ARE BORN OF THEM AND ARE “SAVED BY THE GOSPEL” AND WHO EITHER DIE OR MAKE IT THROUGH THE ENTIRE MILLENIUM; ARE THEY PART OF “THE FIRST RESURRECTION”, THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE, THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST?

WELL FRIENDS, AS YOU CAN SEE, I REALLY THINK THOSE WHO HAVE PRESENTED THIS IDEA, THAT THE “RESURRECTION OF LIFE” IS ONE MOMENT OF TIME, RATHER THAN “ONE MAN”, INCLUDING ALL IN HIM, HAVE NOT THOUGHT THIS

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THROUGH!!!!!

I ASK AGAIN: IT MUST BE ANSWERED, OR THE POSITION PRESENTED ABOVE BLOWS AWAY LIKE THE CHAFF OF THE WIND BEFORE THE LIVING WORD OF GOD, WHICH ABIDES AND ENDURES FOREVER (JEREMIAH 23:28-30). ARE THE SAINTS WHO LIVE AND/OR DIE IN THE MILLENIUM PART OF THE “FIRST RESURRECTION”?

THERE YOU HAVE IT: THERE IS NO DOUBT, THEY ARE PART OF THE “FIRST RESURRECTION”, JUST AS ENOCH IS, JUST AS THE CHURCH SAINTS ARE, JUST AS THE TRIBULATION SAINTS, THE FIRSTFRUITS OF ISRAEL AND THE TWO WITNESSES ARE, JUST AS ALL IN THE “ONE MAN, JESUS CHRIST” ARE.

THESE PEOPLE, MAY HOLD THEIR OPINION, BUT THEY CANNOT HOLD IT BASED ON THE REASONING PRESENTED ABOVE, FOR IT HAS NO BASIS IN TRUTH!!!!!

CONCLUSION OF THIS PART: IT IS CLEAR THAT “THE FIRST RESURRECTION” IS “THE RESURRECTION OF THE LAST ADAM, THE 2ND MAN, CHRIST JESUS” & “ALL IN HIM”; REGARDLESS OF THE MOMENT IN TIME OF THEIR PHYSICAL RESURRECTION; THE “RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION” or “THE 2ND DEATH” IS “THE RESURRECTION OF THE FIRST MAN, ADAM” & “ALL IN HIM” TO BE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE; REGARDLESS OF WHEN THEY GO THERE.

THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET, WHO ARE PART OF “THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION” AND “THE 2ND DEATH”GO TO THE LAKE OF FIRE “1000 YEARS” BEFORE THE OTHERS.

REVELATION 19:20REVELATION 21:7-8REVELATION 20:7-15

SO, AS WITH THE SAVED, WE ALSO SEE WITH THE LOST, THAT EVEN THOUGH THEIR GOING TO THE LAKE FIRE DOES NOT OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE STILL PART OF THE “2ND DEATH” or “THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION”.

SO THE DEFINITE ARTICLE “THE RESURRECTION” IS REFERRING TO “THE MAN”, NOT “THE MOMENT IN TIME”. YES EACH GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE A DEFINITE MOMENT IN TIME, BUT ALL IN CHRIST WILL NOT BE OF THE SAME RANK OR ORDER AND WILL NOT BE RAPTURED AT THE SAME TIME. IF YOU ARE HONEST, THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN BEYOND ANY DOUBT!!!!!!! IF YOU ARE NOT, I LEAVE YOU TO YOURSELF.

JESUS MADE IT SIMPLE; HE IS “THE RESURRECTION”.

JOHN 11:25 = “JESUS SAID UNTO HER, I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE: HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE:”

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PART TWO: THE DOCTRINE OF THE “PRE-TRIBULATION” RAPTURE DID NOT ORIGINATE WITH THE APOSTATE “ZIONIST”, C.I. SCOFIELD. IT DID NOT ORIGINATE WITH THE SUPPOSED VISIONS OF MS. McDONALD”. IT DID NOT ORIGINATE WITH “J.N.DARBY”

STATEMENT:

THE DOCTRINE OF “THE PRE-TRIBULATION” or “PRE-70TH WEEK” RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH IS BASED ONLY ON “THE WORD OF GOD” AND THUS SAITH THE LORD.

THE CHURCH WILL NEVER EXIST ON EARTH DURING ANY PART OF DANIEL’S 70 WEEK PROPHECY OF JUDGEMENT ON ISRAEL. THE TRUE CHURCH IS THE HOLY NATION STARTED, “56” DAYS AFTER THE “69TH WEEK” ENDED, ON THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRSTFRUITS HARVEST, PENTECOST, AS A RESULT OF THE FIRSTFRUITS (RESHITH – HEAD ONLY), JESUS CHRIST (1 CORINTHIANS 15:20, 23); AND SHE WILL COMPLETE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE HARVEST, AT THE END OF THE INGATHERING, OR FEAST OF TABERNACLES, BEFORE THE ANTICHRIST, IS REVEALED AS THE FALSE-MESSIAH, BY HIS COVENANT WITH MANY, WHICH WILL BE THE DELUSION OR FALLING AWAY OF MANY. THE FIRST IS ALREADY A COMPLETED FACT, THE SECOND IS A REVEALED FACT, TO BE FULFILLED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND BOTH ARE DECLARED CLEARLY IN SCRIPTURE.

I HAVE TAUGHT ON “2 THESSALONIANS 2” MANY TIMES, BUT ONLY GOD CAN MAKE YOU A BELIEVER:

2 THESSALONIANS 2:1 = “NOW WE BESEECH YOU BRETHREN, BY THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND BY OUR GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM.”

2 THESSALONIANS 2:2 = “THAT YE BE NOT SOON SHAKEN IN MIND, OR BE TROUBLED, NEITHER BY SPIRIT, NOR BY WORD, NOR BY LETTER AS FROM US, AS THAT THE DAY OF CHRIST IS AT HAND.” (AT HAND = 1764 = TO STAND IN, TO BE IN IT)

IF ANYONE TEACHES THAT THE CHURCH IS IN “THE DAY OF THE LORD”, DO NOT HEED THEM, THEY ARE FALSE TEACHERS TRYING TO TROUBLE THE SAINTS WITH FALSE DOCTRINE.

THE FIRST EVENTS OF “THE DAY OF THE LORD”, AFTER OUR INGATHERING OR GATHERING IN TO CHRIST WILL BE JUST AS IS STATED IN THE NEXT VERSE AND AS WILL BE EXPLAINED AGAIN WITHIN THIS SAME CHAPTER.

2 THESSALONIANS 2:3 = “LET NO DECEIVE YOU BY ANY MEANS: FOR THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME, EXCEPT THERE COMING A FALLING AWAY FIRST, AND THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, THE SON OF PERDITION.”

FRIENDS, THE FIRST EVENT OF “THE DAY OF THE LORD” IS THE FALLING AWAY AT THE REVEALING OF THE MAN OF SIN. THIS IS THE FALLING AWAY TO THE MAN OF SIN, THE ANTICHRIST. THIS IS THE COVENANT WITH MANY AND THIS MAN OF “DANIEL 9:27”.

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THIS SAME REVEALING OF THE MAN OF SIN AND THE FALLING AWAY IS REPEATED IN:

2 THESSALONIANS 2:8-12 = HERE WE THE EXACT REVEALING OF THE WICKED SPOKEN OF IN VERSE 3, AND THE DELUSION OF THOSE WHO FALL AWAY TO HIM, ALSO IN VERSE 3.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU CAN’T SEE THAT GOD IS EXPLAINING EXACTLY WHAT THE FALLING AWAY TO THE WICKED ONE IS, AT HIS REVEALING?

2 THESSALONIANS 2:1 = 2 THESSALONIANS 2:6-7 = OUR GATHERING TO CHRIST OF THE DEAD IN CHRIST, AND THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN IS OUR BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY THAT THE ANTICHRIST, THE WICKED MAY BE REVEALED. (1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18, 1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11).

FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T SEE THIS, IT IS BECAUSE YOU REFUSE TO SEE THE PLAIN, SIMPLE, EXPLANATION OF THE TEXT, GIVEN BY GOD, RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

THIS SAME TEXT IS EXPLAINED IN “ISAIAH”:

ISAIAH 56:1-8 = HERE WE SEE THE SAINTS OF GOD BEING GATHERED IN; BEING DELIVERED FROM THE FALSE TEACHERS, WHO INFILTRATED AND CREPT INTO THE CHURCH, AS WAS WARNED BY PAUL, PETER AND JUDE IN THEIR EPISTLES.

ISAIAH 56:9-12 = HERE WE SEE THE FALSE TEACHERS, WHO GOD IS SENDING THE DELUSION UPON THOSE WHO ARE NOT HIS CHILDREN.

ISAIAH 57:1-2 = HERE WE SEE THE GATHERING IN, WHICH, AS IN “2 THESSALONIANS 2:6-7” IS NOW CALLED BEING “TAKEN AWAY”. THIS GATHERING INCLUDES THOSE WHO HAVE PERISHED AND THOSE STILL LIVING.

ISAIAH 57:1-13 = HERE WE SEE THE DELUDED WHORE, WHO HAS FORSAKEN HER MESSIAH; THIS IS INCLUDES ISRAEL AND THE FALSE CHURCH.

ISAIAH 57:14-15 = HERE AGAIN WE SEE THE BODY OF CHRIST IS REMOVED, SO THAT THE STONE ON WHICH THEY HAVE STUMBLED, AND THAT MADE THEM JEALOUS, IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY (ISAIAH 8:13-22, ROMANS 9:30-33, ROMANS 10:19-22, ROMANS 11:9-11, 1 PETER 2:4-10, MATTHEW 21:42-44, ACTS 4:10-12).

ISAIAH 57:16-21 = THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED, BUT THE WICKED SHALL BE DESTROYED.

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THERE YOU HAVE IT, BUT WILL YOU BELIEVE IT? NOT UNLESS GOD DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE AND GIVES YOU EYES TO SEE BY FAITH AND TO UNDERSTAND IN SPIRIT, WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE OR UNDERSTAND BY FLESH.

GOD DECLARES HIMSELF “GOD” AND THAT THERE IN NONE LIKE HIM, DUE TO A VERY UNIQUE CAPABILITY THAT ENCOMPASSES THE THREE MAJOR ATTRIBUTES OF “OMNISCIENCE, OMNIPRESENCE AND OMNIPOTENCE” AND THIS IS SEEN BY HIS “DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING”:

ISAIAH 46:10 = “DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, AND FROM ANCIENT TIMES THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT YET DONE, SAYING, MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, AND I WILL DO ALL MY PLEASURE:”

THERE IS ONLY ONE DOCTRINE OF “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH” THAT MATCHES THE BEGINNING OF THE BIBLE AND THAT IS THE “PRE-70TH WEEK” or “PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE”.

BEFORE THERE IS SIN, ADAM IS PUT TO SLEEP, AND OUT OF HIS SIDE COMES THE MATERIAL, FROM WHICH GOD WILL BUILD HIS BRIDE, HIS WOMAN, WHO IS FLESH OF HIS FLESH AND BONE OF HIS BONE.

“GENESIS 2:21-25”

THIS IS AN HISTORIC FACT, BUT IT IS ALSO AN HISTORIC ALLEGORY OF THE LAST ADAM, WHO IS SINLESS, BEING PUT TO DEATH, BEING OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, SO THAT FROM HIS SIDE, WILL COME FORTH THE VERY LIFE OF HIS SPIRIT (REPRESENTED BY THE WATER AND THE BLOOD) BY WHICH HIS WOMAN WILL BE BUILT AS FLESH OF HIS FLESH AND BONE OF HIS BONE (EPHESIANS 5:25-32) AND SPIRIT OF HIS SPIRIT (1 CORINTHIANS 6:17, JOHN 3:6, JOHN 6:63).

JUST AS “EVE” WAS BUILT OUT OF THE SINLESS LIFE OF ADAM, SO THE CHURCH IS BUILT OUT OF THE SINLESS LIFE OF CHRIST.

NEXT ADAM’S SIDE WAS CLOSED UP; THIS IS TYPICAL OF THE HEALING OF JESUS’ WOUND BY HIS RAISING FROM THE DEAD.

NEXT, FROM WHAT WAS TAKEN FROM ADAM, GOD BUILDS OR MAKES A WOMAN; THIS IS TYPICAL OF THE SPIRIT BEING POURED OUT, STARTING AT PENTECOST, AND LASTING UNTIL THE WOMAN IS COMPLETE, OR UNTIL JESUS IS FINISHED BUILDING HIS CHURCH (MATTHEW 16:18). THE ENTIRE CHURCH AGE IS THE BUILDING, THE EDIFYING OF THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST:

EPHESIANS 4:8-16EPHESIANS 2:19-221 PETER 2:4-10

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THE CHURCH IS BEING BUILT BY THE WORD OF GOD, MOLDING AND MAKING HER INTO HIS IMAGE. THE WORDS JESUS SPEAKS ARE “HIS SPIRIT AND HIS LIFE”. THE CHURCH IS BEING BUILT BY THE SINLESS, INCORRUPTIBLE, WORD OF GOD.

NEXT, THE WOMAN IS COMPLETED, AND BROUGHT TO HER ADAM; THE IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL OCCUR WITH THE “TRUE CHURCH” OF JESUS CHRIST; SHE WILL BE COMPLETED AND BROUGHT TO HER ADAM.

THE NEXT EVENT AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE BUILDING OF THE WOMAN IN “GENESIS 2:22” IS THE COMPLETION OF THE WOMAN AND HER BEING BROUGHT TO HER ADAM; THE NEXT EVENT AFTER PENTECOST, THE BEGINNING OF THE BUILDING OF THE WOMAN, IS THE COMPLETION AND HER BEING BROUGHT TO THE LAST ADAM, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WHEN SHE IS FINISHED BEING PREPARED BY THE WORD, SHE WILL BE PRESENTED TO JESUS:

EPHESIANS 5:25-26

FRIENDS, NONE OF YOU CAN CHANGE “THE BEGINNING”, AND THEREFORE THE END IS ALREADY SETTLED; THE NEXT EVENT IS ALREADY SETTLED. ALL THESE DEBATES AND OPINIONS ARE USELESS; THE WORD HAS SPOKEN, AND IT IS FINAL. SUBMIT TO THE FACT, THAT THE NEXT EVENT IS THE COMPLETION OF THE CHURCH AND HER BEING BROUGHT TO JESUS CHRIST. YOU ARE HELPLESS TO CHANGE “GENESIS 1-3”.

IT ISN’T UNTIL AFTER THE WOMAN IS COMPLETE AND BROUGHT TO HER ADAM, AND THEY ARE ALONE (GENESIS 2:23-25), THAT THEY ARE GIVEN THE DOMINION TOGETHER (GENESIS 1:27-28, PSALM 8, HEBREWS 2:5-15) TO BEGIN THE “7TH DAY REST”; IT IS ONLY AFTER THIS IN (GENESIS 3:1-24) THAT WE SEE THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN, WORKING WITH THE WOMAN AND THE MAN TO BRING THEM INTO A COVENANT WITH DEATH AND WITH HELL.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE FALSE CHURCH AND ISRAEL AFTER THE “TRUE CHURCH” IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY AND GATHERED IN TO HER ADAM, THEN WE WILL SEE THE COVENANT WITH MANY:

DANIEL 9:27ISAIAH 28:15-23

“2 THESSALONIANS 2” MATCHES “GENESIS 1-3” EXACTLY; EXACTLY; HOW CAN YOU DENY IT??????

THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DENIED IS BY MAKING YOURSELF A LIAR, AND THEN YOU KNOW WHO YOUR FATHER IS UNLESS GOD GIVES YOU REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF “THE TRUTH” SO THAT YOU CAN STOP OPPOSING YOURSELF, AS THE ANTICHRIST DOES (2 THESSALONAINS 2:4), BY MAKING YOURSELF GOD, BY CHANGING HIS WORD. “IT IS NOT A LIGHT THING” (REVELATION 22:18-19).2 TIMOTHY 2:24-26

I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY MAN, ANYWHERE WHO IS ABLE TO REFUTE “THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL” AS IT IS PRESENTED IN “GENESIS 1-2”. ALL ARE LEFT SPEECHLESS; THERE IS NO ESCAPE. WIGGLE ALL YOU WANT; THERE IS NO

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WAY OUT OF THIS SIMPLE EXPLANATION.

CONCLUSION: THE RESURRECTION IN NO WAY TEACHES A “POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE”, AND NEITHER DOES THE WORD OF GOD. THE DOCTRINE OF THE PRE-TRIBULATION or PRE 70TH WEEK RAPTURE IS NOT FROM MAN’S TEACHINGS; IT IS FROM THE WORD OF GOD.

THE STORY OF JOSEPH, SHOWS THE EXACT SAME THING, AS I HAVE ALSO PRESENTED IN MY PREVIOUS ARTICLES AND WILL QUICKLY SUMMARIZE HERE.

JOSEPH LIFTED FROM THE PIT TO PHAROAH’S RIGHT HAND = TYPE OF RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST.

HE IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO BRING IN A HARVEST AND IS GIVEN A “GENTILE BRIDE”, WHO HAS “JEWISH-GENTILE” CHILDREN THAT ARE NEITHER “JEW” NOR GENTILE = TYPE OF JESUS BEGINNING THE HARVEST OF THE CHURCH AGE AS HE IS GIVEN A “GENTILE BRIDE” TO MAKE ISRAEL JEALOUS.

IN THE SABBATIC OR “7TH YEAR” THE HARVEST IS COMPLETE WITH JOSEPH’S WIFE AND ALL HIS CHILDREN AT HIS SIDE, AT HIS THRONE = TYPE OF THE GATHERING IN OF ALL THE SAINTS COMPLETED AT TABERNACLES AS THE GOOD YEARS OR AGE OF GRACE COMES TO COMPLETION AND THE CHURCH HARVEST IS COMPLETED.

THE NEXT “7” FAMINE YEARS ARE THE FAMINE, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO BRING JOSEPH’S BRETHREN AFTER THE FLESH, TO THEIR KNEES, TO BOW DOWN TO HIM = THE 70TH WEEK or 7 YEARS OF “DANIEL 9:27”, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BRING ISRAEL TO THE END OF HER CURSE AND TO BOW THE KNEE, AS FORETOLD, TO JESUS CHRIST, ONE OF HER OWN.

HOW CAN YOU PASTORS, AND THOSE STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD, NOT SEE THIS????????????????????

ONCE AGAIN, THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH DIDN’T COME FROM MEN; IT IS CLEARLY TAUGHT IN THE WORD OF GOD TO ALL WHO HAVE EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR.

FINALLY:

JESUS, WAS CUT-OFF AFTER THE “7 WEEKS” AND THEN THE “62 WEEKS” ENDED (DANIEL 9:25-27), “4 DAYS” AFTER HE RODE INTO JERUSALEM, ON THE PASSOVER. HE RESURRECTED AND ASCENDED TO HEAVEN BEFORE THE “70TH WEEK” BEGAN, AND SO WILL HIS BODY, THE CHURCH.

I HAVE TOLD YOU THE TRUTH AND I REST IN THAT.

GOD BLESS, YOURS IN CHRIST, JOSEPH M. BLACKMON

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“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lordin the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

What Did Ancient Church Fathers Believe About TheRapture?

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Beginning and End

What did thefirst centurychurch fathersbelieve aboutthe Rapture?Were they pre-tribulation orpost-tribulation?What did thedisciples of theApostles ofJesus Christteach about theRapture?

This article willpresent thewritings of theearly churchfathers – from those who learned under the disciples of Jesus Christ, to the church leaders of the secondand third centuries, on the Rapture – the supernatural removal of all Bible-believing Christians from Earthto enter Heaven. While the writings of the first, second and third century Christian church fathers are notScripture and not on par with the Bible in any way, it is informative to see how the early church leadersinterpreted Scripture in addition to what the learned directly from those closest to The Lord Jesus Christ.And definitively, the few writings still in existence on the end times, put the timing of the Rapture beforethe Great Tribulation. This article will also serve to dispel some of the common misconceptions aboutRapture theology as being something invented in the 19th century by a man named John Darby.

“John Darby Invented The Pre-Tribulation Rapture”

All over the internet there are many articles and videos that claim that the Rapture doctrine was “invented”in 1830 by a man named John Darby. The following is an excerpt that summarizes this theory:

“The Rapture doctrine, which was the invention of the Plymouth Brethren led by JohnNelson Darby (1800-1882), has today been adopted by most Baptist, Pentecostals,Assemblies of God, and a variety of other fundamentalist sects. The idea that Jesus Christwill return for His true Church just before the beginning of the Great Tribulation in a secretgathering or “catching away” was an important part of Darby’s teaching. The movement inwhich this teaching began originated in small groups in England and Ireland about 1828

John Darby has been incorrectly credited with“inventing” the Rapture.

and by 1831 was part of the official teaching of the Plymouth Brethren. By 1860 the“rapture” had made its way to the United States.

Today, prophecy pundits and “end-time” revivalistspreach the Rapture as if it were established dogmafrom the time of Christ until the present. The truth isthat the first historical reference to the Rapture doctrinecomes from the Plymouth Brethren. Not only is theRapture not found in the teachings of the Church, buteven “end-time” heretics throughout the centuriesnever dreamed of proposing such a novel idea. Forexample, the 4th century Montanists, who preachedboth pre-millennialism and that they knew when Christwould return, never ventured so far as to createanother 2nd coming of the Lord in a secret rapture.

In all the writings of the Scriptures, the EarlyFathers, and the Ecumenical Councils, there is nomention of two 2nd comings of Christ.” (source)[Emphasis added].

In short, the objection is that rather than being a real part ofthe Bible, the entire idea of a pre-Great Tribulational Rapture was just an invention by Darby and “not evenheretics” ever used it. This is very strong language, but is it true? Were there no ancient Christian writingsabout the church being Raptured before Great Tribulation? An examination of early church writings showsthat this charge is false and there were some church fathers who indeed wrote about the Rapture.

Irenaeus

Irenaeus (130 A.D. – 202 AD) was a bishop of the church in Lyons, France. He was an eyewitness to theApostle John (who wrote the Book of Revelation) and a disciple of Polycarp, the first of the Apostle John’sdisciples. Irenaeus is most-known for his five-volume treatise, Against Heresies in which he exposed thefalse religions and cults of his day along with advice for how to share the Gospel with those were a part ofthem.

In his writings on Bible prophecy, he acknowledged the phrase “a time, times and dividing of times” inDaniel 7 to signify the 3 ½ year reign of the Antichrist as ruler of the world before the Second Coming ofChrist. He also believed in a literal Millennial reign of Christ on earth following the Second Coming and theresurrection of the just.

On the subject of the Rapture, in Against Heresies 5.29, he wrote:

“Those nations however, who did not of themselves raise up their eyes unto heaven, norreturned thanks to their Maker, nor wished to behold the light of truth, but who were likeblind mice concealed in the depths of ignorance, the word justly reckons “as waste waterfrom a sink, and as the turning-weight of a balance — in fact, as nothing;”(1) so far usefuland serviceable to the just, as stubble conduces towards the growth of the wheat, and its

straw, by means of combustion, serves for working gold. And therefore, when in the endthe Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, “There shall be tribulationsuch as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.”(2) For this is the last contest ofthe righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption.”

Irenaeus in this passage describes the church leaving the sinful world just before unprecedenteddisasters. Note his use of the term “caught up” which is Rapture terminology as that is the meaning ofharpazo, the term for “caught up” in the King James Bible describing the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4.He then quotes Matthew 24:21 where The Lord Jesus Christ says: “For then shall be great tribulation,such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” And it is duringthis time that those who convert to Christianity during the final years will receive the incorruptible crownmentioned by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:25. In Irenaeus’ belief, the Rapture took place prior to theend times Great Tribulation.

CyprianCyprian (200 AD – 258 AD) – Cyprian was Bishop of the church in Carthage. During his short stint asleader of the church, he guided the flock through intense persecution at the hands of the Roman Empire. In258 AD after spending seven months of confinement to his home by order of Roman authorities, he wasbeheaded for his faith. Several of his works still exist today.

In Treatises of Cyprian he wrote in describing the end times Great Tribulation:

“We who see that terrible things have begun, and know that still more terrible things areimminent, may regard it as the greatest advantage to depart from it as quickly as possible.Do you not give God thanks, do you not congratulate yourself, that by an early departureyou are taken away, and delivered from the shipwrecks and disasters that areimminent? Let us greet the day which assigns each of us to his own home, whichsnatches us hence, and sets us free from the snares of the world and restores us toparadise and the kingdom.”

Again we see use of language commonly found in reference to the Rapture as Cyprian describes thejudgments of the end times as “imminent.” And he makes his belief on the timing of the Rapture when hewrote that Christians will have an “early departure” and be “delivered” from the devastating globaljudgments that come during the Day of The Lord.In line with the Apostle Paul who wrote that “God has not appointed us to wrath, but salvation..”Cyprian expressed joy and encourages the believing reader to rejoice that the Church will be “taken away”before the disastrous Great Tribulation. Just as The Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 used the samelanguage of one “taken away” and the other “left.” Additionally Cyprian references the mansions whichThe Lord Jesus Christ promises to come back and take His believers to in John 14.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s houseare many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; thatwhere I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:1-3.

As Beginning and End detailed in our article “The Red Moon Rapture – The Biblical Timing of TheRapture”, in both the Matthew 24 passages (“one taken, the other left”) and in John 14 (“..receive you untomyself..”) the Greek work paralambanō is used for taken and receive. The meaning of that word is “join toone’s self” indicating that Jesus is coming to fully unify with His church – which takes place at the Rapture. Clearly Cyprian believed and taught that the Rapture takes place before the Great Tribulation.

Ephraim The Syrian

Ephraim (306 AD – 373 AD) was made a deacon in the church in Syria in 338 and later became thebishop of Nisibis. Although he was made a “saint” in the Roman Catholic Church, he was not involved inCatholicism and did not even live in the Roman Empire until the final years of his life. The book PseudoEphraim was one of his still existing works. It was called “Pseudo” because of later dispute overauthorship. However the book’s one reference to the rapture is very compelling:

In his work, On The Last Times 2, he wrote:

“We ought to understand thoroughly therefore, my brothers, what is imminent oroverhanging. Already there have been hunger and plagues, violent movements ofnations and signs, which have been predicted by the Lord, they have already beenfulfilled (consummated), and there is not other which remains, except the advent of thewicked one in the completion of the Roman kingdom. Why therefore are we occupied withworldly business, and why is our mind held fixed on the lusts of the world or on the anxietiesof the ages? Why therefore do we not reject every care of worldly business, and why is ourmind held fixed on the lusts of the world or on the anxieties of the ages? Why therefore dowe not reject every care of earthly actions and prepare ourselves for the meeting of theLord Christ, so that he may draw us from the confusion, which overwhelms all the world?Believe you me, dearest brother, because the coming (advent) of the Lord is nigh, believeyou me, because the end of the world is at hand, believe me, because it is the very lasttime.

Or do you not believe unless you see with your eyes? See to it that this sentence be notfulfilled among you of the prophet who declares: “Woe to those who desire to see the day ofthe Lord!” For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation thatis to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelmthe world because of our sins. And so, brothers most dear to me, it is the eleventh hour,and the end of the world comes to the harvest, and angels, armed and prepared, holdsickles in their hands, awaiting the empire of the Lord. And we think that the earth existswith blind infidelity, arriving at its downfall early. Commotions are brought forth, wars ofdiverse peoples and battles and incursions of the barbarians threaten, and our regions shallbe desolated, and we neither become very much afraid of the report nor of the appearance,in order that we may at least do penance; because they hurl fear at us, and we do not wishto be changed, although we at least stand in need of penance for our actions!”

With a sense of urgency and strong warning, Ephraim writes that the end times are upon this world andcould start at any moment. This text very clearly states the saints and elect of God, all born again believersin The Lord Jesus Christ, will be “taken to the Lord” before the Great Tribulation. Ephraim also identifies theOld Testament “Day of The Lord” and the end times Great tribulation as the same event (in line with theteachings of the Beginning and End Rapture Series). Ephraim quotes Amos 5:18 which says: “Woe untoyou that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness,

and not light.”

The point he makes is that a Christian should know the Day of The Lord is coming. In the first part of thepassage Ephraim notes that:“We ought to understand thoroughly therefore, my brothers, what is imminent or overhanging. Alreadythere have been hunger and plagues, violent movements of nations and signs, which have been predictedby the Lord, they have already been fulfilled (consummated)” And not only that but that true Christians willbe taken away before it starts.Here he is describing the first 3 of the first 4 seals of Revelation 6 – wars, famines and plagues. These arethe same end times signs Jesus Christ describes in Matthew 24:

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tellus, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end ofthe world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shallhear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things mustcome to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdomagainst kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diversplaces. All these are the beginning of sorrows. – Matthew 24:3-8.

Jesus describes these events as “the beginning of sorrows.” He also says that when these things cometo pass “the end is not yet.” Ephraim’s writing agrees with this interpretation as he says those sameevents have been “fulfilled (consummated)” in his day, but it was still not the actual Great Tribulation. Thisalso falls in line with Beginning and End’s Rapture series as explained in our article Who Are The FourHorsemen Of The Apocalypse? (The first four seals of Revelation 6 were opened at the time Jesus Christascended to Heaven. And the rapture itself does not occur until the opening of the 6th Seal.)

Ephraim in very strong language warns the reader not to be consumed with the cares of the world becausethe world in its current form, is coming to an end. As the Second Advent or Coming of The Lord JesusChrist grows near, believers are to look to Heaven and set their hearts on pleasing God. It is clear thatEphraim distinguishes the Second Coming of Christ from the rapture, placing the Rapture before the GreatTribulation to come.

The Early Church Believed In The Rapture

Although there are not a great number of writings on the end times from the early centuries of the church,there is no question that there was a belief in the Rapture among the church fathers and they taught it withstrong language and scriptural support. In terms of the timing of the Rapture, the early church fathersplaced it before the end times Day of The Lord/Great Tribulation. The writings of early saints in the churchare not Scripture and should not be treated on the same level of the Bible. These writings also do not“prove” that the pre-Great Tribulation Rapture or the Beginning and End Rapture series are correct. Onlyrightly divided Scripture from the Bible can determine if a specific belief is accurate or in error. But thewritings of church fathers can serve as useful commentaries (just as we use Bible commentaries today inour studies) and certainly prove that the Rapture doctrine existed well before John Darby and has been apart of Christian belief since the earliest days of the Apostles.