After the Rapture
After the Rapture
Purpose of this Document:
While the western view of Prophecy is prediction and fulfillment, there is an additional view of prophecy you might call ‘typological’ prophecy. The idea here is that in History, God maintains an orderly way of dealing with mankind, what is in view here is the typological ‘Period of Testing’ endured by the Nation of Israel at the time of the Exodus, again following the Crucifixion of Christ, and may again endure following the rapture of the Church.
Also in this document we’ll look at what the Tribulation Church will look like, how it will become strong and fearless in the face of a hostile world.
There are concepts contained in this document that require a prior knowledge of Biblical concepts – for example Tribulation, Rapture, Jubilees, prophetic images of Daniel and Revelation etc.
We will also look at when the window for the Rapture opens, and potentially, when it closes.
Period of ‘Testing’ – Building a strong Church (38 Years)
1. Under Moses:
During the Exodus out of Egypt, from the time that the Jews left Kadesh Barnea until they crossed the Zered Valley was a period of 38 years (Deuteronomy 2:14). The journey should have taken less than two weeks, but they were rebellious (even grumbling is rebellion), and it was not to be – they were to endure a period of testing:
Numbers 14:28-35 Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness.
The Hebrews did enter the promised land, they were strong and victorious, relying on the Lord to deliver the land into their hands. They did try to do some things in their own strength, but were severely disciplined for doing so, and in those cases lost the battle, and some of their people. They were led by Joshua – who’s name is the same name (in Hebrew) as Jesus.
2. After Christ’s Crucifixion:
Christ was Crucified by the Romans in about 32AD, there are a few different views on this date, but 32AD fits all the criteria. A period of relative peace followed, during which the Church grew and spread. Thirty Eight years later the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans (70AD), and all hope for “Jesus is the Christ” deniers disappeared – for many reasons the Messiah had to be executed in 32AD (See Daniel 9:24-27; Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 42:1, 48:16; Psalm 22:16-18; Ezekiel 21:25-27, etc). The Church grew from a few frightened Apostles at the time of the Crucifixion to the Largest Worldwide Religion, the Apostles were all martyred (except the Apostle John), unafraid and never denying their testimony that Jesus is the Messiah, who was executed and after being in the grave for three days rose to life!
3. After the Rapture and Before the Tribulation
The Rapture hasn’t yet occurred (obviously), but it will in the Lord’s timing. So what is that timing, and what will follow it? The information about the rapture can be found in the New Testament, as well as some hints in the Old Testament (Isaiah 26:19-21; Zephaniah 2:2-3, others).
1 Thessalonians 4 – 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
I’ll make the assumption that you’ve done your due diligence, and understand that even though the timing of the rapture ‘comes like a thief in the night’ (1st Thessalonians 5:1-11 [quoted below]; Revelation 16:5, Matthew 24:2, 25:13) we will know the season (Revelation 3:1-3 [quoted below]).
1st Thessalonians 5 1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Revelation 3 – 1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” (3b – the implication is, that those who are committed and diligent will know when Christ will return).
In a number of places the scriptures make it clear that there will be a vibrant, strong Church of Tribulation Saints (Revelation 6:9-11, 8:3, 12:11-17, 14:18, 20:4; John 16:2; 2nd Timothy 1:8, 4:6; Phillipians 1:23, 2:17; 2nd Corinthians 5:8), something that is hard to imagine would occur in a few short days or even years. It also indicates that about one third of all Jews will be believers in Jesus as Messiah (Zechariah 13:9; Jeremiah 29:12-14; Hosea 5:15; Deuteronomy 4:29-31, others). These ‘Tribulation Saint’ believers will have no doubt as to what awaits them, the scriptures make it plain that many will lose their lives for Christ (Revelation 2:13, 6:9-11, 8:3, 12:11-17, 14:18, 20:4; John 16:2; 2nd Timothy 1:8, 4:6; Phillipians 1:23, 2:17; 2nd Corinthians 5:8), which is not something you are likely to see among the many luke warm believers being bred by the modern churches (Revelation 3:14-17).
Consider the following scenario. The rapture occurs and a lot of those left behind are confused, having considered themselves ‘Christians’, they recognise that others they considered Christians were the ones who were taken, but they’re left behind! It will be a time where the Lord will be very busy convicting these people that they were never really serious, they were more devoted to many things but never fully committed to Him. These people will be searching for our old Bibles, our old videos, our Testimonies (make sure you write one before you leave!), they will be our loved ones, people that we witnessed to, as well as many new believers. Some will be from apostate Churches who have an academic level of understanding of the Scriptures, but who never really committed.
One last proof that the 38 years of testing is specifically for the Jews is John Chapter 5:1-15, the man that had an infirmity for 38 years. Christ asked him “Do you want to be made well?”.
At this point I’d like to point out that guesswork and conjecture about what will happen or when, must be accompanied by a personal rider – that being that my opinion can be wrong, but I can attest that the scriptures have never been wrong. If something I tell you is wrong, then it’s my fault, don’t blame God, but if what I’m saying is true, then there’s no credit in it for me, the Lord is the revealer of all Truth! It would be nice if we could all be careful to do this and not take credit for ourselves – humility is a key characteristic of a Christian!
Timing
Rosh Hashana this year (2025) marks the beginning of the 120th Jubilee (September 22-24, 2025). According to Ken Johnson (biblefacts.org) "The Essene calendar as taught by Elijah puts Creation at 3925 BC. If this is correct, Christ’s first Advent was at the beginning of the 80th Jubilee (80x50=4000).
There is a school of thought expounded in the ancient Epistle of Barnabas (15:4), that from Creation to Christ’s return will be a period of 6000 years (following the ‘type’ of the Creation week) afterward succeeded by the Millenial Reign. Psalm 90:4 and 2nd Peter 3:8 are very much along the same lines:
Barnabas 15:4 – Give heed, children, what this meaneth; He ended in six days. He meaneth this, that in six thousand years the Lord shall bring all things to an end; for the day with Him signifyeth a thousand years; and this He himself beareth me witness, saying; Behold, the day of the Lord shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is in six thousand years, everything shall come to an end.
Psalm 90:4 – A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
2nd Peter 3:8-9 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Prophetic Six Day Types from the scriptures:
Creation (Genesis 1, Exodus 20, etc); Jericho (Joshua 6:3, walls fell down); Manna (only available 6 days); Mount Sinai covered in Cloud (Exodus 24:16, Moses called up on the seventh); Passover (Leviticus 23 – Deuteronomy 16:8, 6 days of unleavened bread then a Holy Convocation); The Transfiguration was on the sixth day (Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:2).
Creation
The Creation week is the ultimate witness to the Authority and Wisdom of God, as well as a handy guide to the unfolding of time. As Exodus 20, and other scriptures put it – six days you shall work, and rest on the seventh (paraphrased); so it is with all history – but times a thousand (years)!!!
Jericho
Jericho (meaning “City of the Moon”) was a walled city a few miles north and west of the Dead Sea, well fortified, standing in resistance to the Israelites as they entered the Holy Land straight after the exodus. At the command of the Lord for six days the Jews marched around the city, once each day, but on the seventh day they marched seven times, the Priests blew their trumpets (shofar) and the army shouted and the walls fell down – the army then routed the army of Jericho.
Manna
Each day the Lord provides – twice as much on a Friday, of course. Thus the Israelites were permitted to gather enough for two days, but only in order to preserve the Sabath rest. If they tried to gather enough for two days on any other day the Mana spoilt.
Mount Sinai
“The Glory of the Lord” settled on Mount Sinai for six days before the Lord called Moses to the Mountain – not five days or eight – six days Moses waited.
Passover
Passover is typological of Christ in so many ways, but one that escapes many is that there is a whole family tradition of searching for the ‘leaven’ (yeast – which represents sin). They are to eat unleavened bread for six days, which indicates haste, because they couldn’t wait to allow the bread to rise before they departed Egypt. The Passover week begins and concludes with a sacred assembly – initially pointing back to the first Passover, but now pointing to the Passover of 32AD.
Transfiguration
There is no clear indicator of why the Transfiguration occurred ‘after six days’, however I never miss an opportunity to talk about it. I love the Transfiguration and all it indicates – very early in the first century, in the Holy Land of Israel an extraordinary epoch occurred. At the top of a high mountain Christ and Moses and Elijah held a staff meeting, apparently each in their own time (IMHO), and a short distance from them, probably only a few yards / meters were Peter, John and his brother James witnessing the whole thing. They apparently were so afraid that they lost the view of what was happening as they fell face down. It’s interesting to consider all the things that may have happened during this staff meeting – could Christ have used that ‘portal’ to attend to all the Christophanies of the Old Testament? I don’t know, but it’s worth considering.
This brings us to the timing of the Rapture, at the time of writing it’s early May of 2025, we’re in the very final months of the 119th Jubilee which comes to an end in late September, some four months hence.
The 120th Jubilee
A Jubilee is so much more than just a period of fifty years, however for the purpose of timing that is all we will look at. Jubilees are measured from Creation, the first Advent of Christ occuring in the 80th Jubilee 2000 years ago. As I’ve indicated above (middle of page three), the ancient Epistle of Barnabas uses the Creation week as a pattern for temporal history – bringing earth as we know it to a close, and allowing for the beginning of the Millenium thereafter.
Looking at 2025 onward, and allowing for a period of testing in order to build the Church of the Tribulation (38 years).
<2030 Period of Testing begins> |
<2068 7 Years of Tribulation> |
<2075 End of Jubilee 120> |
Here (or perhaps 2037) is the latest that the current epoch, where the Period of the Gentile Church can reach its “fulness” (Romans 11:25) |
Following the 38 years of ‘testing’ and building of a strong Tribulation Church, Israel is 120 years from it’s reforming in 1948. It is also possible that the Tribulation could occur before or after this date. |
And perhaps the beginning of the Millenial Reign of Christ. |
Lifting the Blindness
Paul makes the case that “blindness in part” has beset the Jews of the current era, however something occurs that lifts that blindness refering to the event as the “fulness of the Gentiles”. Chuck Missler, as Biblical Schollar of the 20th Century used to comically refer to this event as waiting for the last Christian of the era to commit to Christ – then the Church would be free to leave in the Rapture. Millions of committed Christians all departing supernaturally in the “twinkling of an eye” (1st Corinthians 15:52) from the planet will surely be something that will not go unnoticed.
Paul tells us in Romans 11 that until that time the Jewish Nation will be blind “in part” until this event, then (like Paul [Acts 9:18]) proverbial scales will fall from their eyes, and they will be able to see that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, many of them turning to Christ (about a third [Zechariah 13:9]).
Romans 11 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins. (Isaiah 59:20-21)
(NB – vv 26 “all” “saved” doesn’t necessarily mean in the spiritual sense, but as Isaiah indicates [Isaiah 59:20-21] that Jesus has taken away their sins, whether they commit to that is very much a personal choice.)
Among the ‘Nations’ also:
Similarly, there will be millions that are missing family members, colleagues and friends that have disappeared among the non-Jewish world who want answers. Among the established Churches some will have been left wondering why they weren’t among those raptured, many with the knowledge of the scriptures but not a personal commitment.
The Tribulation Church
While the Church of the current age wallows in uncertainty and suffers at the hands of the so-called “higher critics”, the Church of the Tribulation is strong, committed, and fearless. It is true that the Church matures and thrives in persecution, and that is the environment the Tribulation Church negotiates – reaching the lost, spreading the Word, committed to Christ in ways that are absent in the much of the present world.
Christ sets a high bar in Matthew 7:
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
The Tribulation Church certainly bears good fruit, some Biblical commentators think that the Tribulation Church will be more populous than those saints who have gone before it, and, like the Early Church Fathers they will also do a good job of rejecting and exposing ‘false prophets’ and false teachers.
For the Jews, many will return to the Lord (Deuteronomy 4:30; Joel 2:12-13; Hoseah 3:5, 5:15; many others), believers instructed in the Word by the power of God’s Holy Spirit they will discover the wisdom, knowledge and power that comes when you’re fully committed to Yeshua as Moschiach. At the same time there will be decisions to be made – before the Tribulation comes the signs found in the scriptures of the Times of the End will begin to line up (many already have). After the removal of the Christian Church at the Rapture there will appear a figure that will ultimately become the “man of sin”, frequently called the anti-christ (may not happen for many years, perhaps even until the time of the Tribulation). Bear in mind however that what is written in the scriptures must come to pass – it cannot be changed.
Precision of Scripture:
Precision is key when searching the scriptures, for example in Daniel Chapters 2 and 7, and Revelation 12, 13 and 17 have much in common:
The seven kingdoms are thought to be Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece (under Alexander), Rome (perhaps in two parts Pagan/Papal?), and the final kingdom may be just one, or a federation of some, or all of the aforementioned. It is my view that this scripture refers to the supernatural power behind the above nations (See Daniel 10:13-21), and not the actual rulers, and the final kingdom will have 10 rulers (Daniel 7:24 makes it clear that the 10 Kings are from the fourth [last] nation – Rome in it’s second iteration – they are NOT America, or England or China – they are of that fourth nation). The 11th is the Son of Perdition (see Daniel 7:8), who is killed, then resuscitated, then possessed by satan, and becomes the 11th (horn) and most powerful ruler and ‘his’ dominion will be the eighth kingdom (Rev 13:3, 17:11). Further, Revelation 12:3 has a dragon (satan) with 7 heads and 10 horns and 7 Crowns (See Daniel 7:8 for explanation of why three are missing), which would indicate that satan is behind the 7 kingdoms (Egypt through to the last kingdom, most likely referring to the fallen angels that are ‘princes’ over those kingdoms, spiritually speaking), and that the 10 horns are rulers that must shortly appear during the tribulation (Revelation 13:1-2; 17:3,7,12-18; Daniel 2:31-35, 40-45 7:7-8, 19-25, 8:9-14). Hippolytus, of the family of Disciples handed down through the Apostle John, indicates that the three kindoms who are ‘plucked up’ are Libya, Egypt and Ethiopia (or part of Sudan).
Summary:
There is much more that could be said, but to sumarise:
If I am right, and the 120th Jubilee begins in September of 2025, and a period of testing is to establish the Tribulation Church as a strong, fearless movement, then the very latest the rapture can occur is 2037, but more likely to be during or before 2030.
A ‘period of testing’ will follow the Rapture of the Church, on the previous two occasions such a period occurred they were 38 years in length.
2068 (7 years before the end of the 120th Jubilee) would not only mark the end of the period of testing, but coincide with 120 years from the re-formation of Israel in 1948.
The Rapture of the Church can occur at any time, however those diligently committed to the Lord will know the season. I personally favor a Rosh Hashana date for the Rapture, but acknowledge that there are valid reasons for favouring other days. I do think the Rapture will occur on a Feast Day.
As these events I’m looking at are future, I acknowledge that it is my speculation, based on my understanding of the scriptures presented. If I am in error, then it is my own doing and I apologise. Please feel free to disagree (respectfully), in doing so, please elucidate with scripture references and healthy exegesis.
Comments