You see the bumper stickers on vehicles which read,
“Warning! In case of Rapture, this vehicle will be unoccupied! One of the
favorite teachings of many of the Christian churches, especially Pentecostals,
is the pre-tribulation rapture. Is this true? What is the rapture? What do the
Scriptures really say about it?
By Jerry Healan
In the first place we
need to ask, What is the rapture and why can’t we find that word in the
Scriptures? After all, if we are believing in something that is supposed to be
right out of the pages of the Scriptures, then don’t you think we should be
able to find it in its pages? It’s rather like December the 25. People go crazy over its observance as the birth of the
Savior, but the proof of the pudding is that He was never born on that date. The
Scriptures declare His birth, but do not reveal the date. It is admitted that
Yahshua was never born on December 25.
He had to have been born from early spring, to late fall, but never in the dead
of winter. (Ask for our free tract entitled “Just Whose
Birthday is December 25?”, and, or our booklet, “The Untold Story of the Savior’s Birth.”)
Let me allow one of the
ministers who teaches this concept of the pre-tribulation rapture explain where
the word “rapture” is derived, “The word "rapture" comes from
Paul's "caught up" remark in verse 17 (of 1
Thessalonians: Note - mine). The words "caught
up" are translated from the Greek word harpazo,
which means "to carry off," "snatch up," or "grasp
hastily." The translation from harpazo
to "rapture" involved two steps: first, harpazo
became the Latin word raptus;
second, raptus became the English word
"rapture." (The Pretribulation Rapture
by Todd Strandberg)
What Paul is writing about, of
course, is the resurrection at the end of this world (or age). So why do they
have to change the clear writings of Paul concerning the resurrection to
something that is rather unclear as the rapture? Why can’t they just say
resurrection? I think that it is because they believe that they will be raptured
first before the tribulation, and the Jews (Israel), and or others will be
resurrected afterward.
But this man also confesses,
“The timing of the rapture is not known. From the Word of God and from sound
reasoning--something Jesus used quite frequently--I hope to prove the reality of
the pretribulation rapture.”
He doesn’t know what the
timing is concerning this rapture, but he is sure that it is going to occur
before the tribulation. The question is, If someone can make up a word that
isn’t even found in the Scriptures, doesn’t this already send up red flags?
If his reasoning in coming up with a word like “rapture” is somewhat flawed,
then is it possible that his search of Yahweh’s word and so-called sound
reasoning could also be flawed?
I hope to help you to understand when this rapture, …..uhhh….resurrection
will take place.
Yahweh warned Israel, “Take
heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of Yahweh your Elohim, which
he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing,
which Yahweh your Elohim hath forbidden thee. For Yahweh your Elohim is a
consuming fire, even a jealous El. When thou shalt beget children, and
children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or
the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of Yahweh your Elohim,
to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness
against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land
whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon
it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And Yahweh shall scatter you among the
nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither Yahweh
shall lead you. And there ye shall serve elohim, the work of men's hands, wood
and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence
thou shalt seek Yahweh your Elohim, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with
all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou
art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee,
even in the latter days, if thou turn to Yahweh your Elohim, and shalt be
obedient unto his voice; (For Yahweh your Elohim is a merciful El;) he will not
forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which
he sware unto them,” Dt. 4:23-31.
Yahweh told Israel that if they
refused to obey Him, they would be cast out of the land and scattered among the
heathen or nations. He warned that the tribulation would come in the latter
days.
Israel suffered tribulation
even while they were in the land. The account is found in the book of Judges
chapter 10, “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of Yahweh,
and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the elohim of Syria, and the elohims of
Zidon, and the elohim of Moab, and the elohim of the children of Ammon, and the
elohim of the Philistines, and forsook Yahweh, and served not him. And the anger
of Yahweh was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the
Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. And that year they
vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of
Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is
in Gilead. Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also
against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that
Israel was sore distressed. And the children of Israel cried unto Yahweh,
saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our Elohim,
and also served Baalim. And Yahweh said unto the children of Israel, Did not I
deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of
Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the
Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their
hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other elohim: wherefore I will deliver
you no more. Go and cry unto the elohim
which ye have chosen; let them
deliver you in the time of your tribulation,”
vv. 6-14.
Therefore, we must understand that when Yahweh’s people forsake Him and
serve other elohim, this brings on tribulation.
It is very important that we
understand this word, and its implications.
Psalms 74 says, “O Elohim,
why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep
of thy pasture? Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the
rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein
thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that
the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. Thine enemies roar in the midst
of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. A man was famous
according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down
the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into
thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name
to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they
have burned up all the synagogues of Elohim in the land. We see not our signs:
there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how
long. O Elohim, how long shall the
adversary (tsar)
reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?” vv. 1-10.
What is this Psalm speaking of
here? Both Israel and Judah have been cast off, cast out of the land because of
their infidelity to Yahweh. Enemies (Heb. = tsarar)
have entered into the congregation. He says that they have established their
signs for signs. What are the signs?
The Hebrew word for signs is owth (twa). The seventh day Sabbath and the annual holy
days were signs to Israel, “And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou
also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for
it is a sign (owth)
between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am
Yahweh that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is
holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for
whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his
people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest,
holy to Yahweh: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be
put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to
observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It
is a sign (owth)
between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Yahweh made
heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed,” Ex.
31:12-17. (See also Lev. 23).
What has been substituted for
these signs that Yahweh gave His people? Isn’t it Sunday, the day of the sun
god who was known as solis invicti,
Mithras, Apollo, Horus, etc.? These were also placed in a Trinitarian
relationship with Vulcan, the Roman fire god. Thus, fire was cast into
Yahweh’s sanctuary. Easter (Ishtar),
and December 25,
the birth of the pagan sun god replaced the annual holy days.
Who did this? Constantine,
emperor of Rome! Constantine held several offices. He was Caesar, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, and TSAR! The title of
Caesar associated him with the deified Julius Caesar. The title of Augustus gave
him the office and power of Augustus, the adopted son of the deified Julius
Caesar making him the “son of god.” The title of Pontifex Maximus gave him the office of high
priest over all paganism. The title “Tsar” was another rendition of the word
Caesar. But it identified him as the adversary, the enemy who brings TRIBULATION!
There was only one faith that
Constantine had no control, nor power over that that was the faith of the New
Testament remnant, which was raised up by Yahshua and His disciples/apostles.
Constantine feigned repentance, entered into the remnant of the New Testament
Assembly, took over as its Pontifex Maximus,
and began to dictate how the disciples were to worship, on what days, etc.
The enemy, the adversary, the
Tsar had entered into the body of the Messiah and began to twist and pervert the
faith! He even blasphemed the names of the Father and Son, and the Hebrew common
noun Elohim by changing them to Kurios, Yesus, and Theos.
Albert Pike, a
thirty-third degree Freemason wrote, “The teachers, even
of Christianity, are, in general, most ignorant of the true meaning of that
which they teach.” (Morals And Dogma, p. 104)
He also wrote, “The word Kharium or Khurum
is a compound one. Gesenius renders Khurum
by the word noble or free-born: Khur
meaning white, noble. It also means the
opening of a window, the socket of the eye. Khri
also means white, or an opening; and Khris,
the orb of the sun, in Job vii. 13 and x. 7. Krishna
is the Hindu sun-god. Khur,
the Parsi word, is the literal name of the sun. From Kur or Khur,
the sun, comes Khora,
a name of Lower Egypt. The sun, Bryant says in his Mythology, was called Khur; and Plutarch says that the Persians
called the sun Kuros.
Kurios, Lord, in Greek, like Adonai, Lord,
in Phoenician and Hebrew, was applied to the sun. Many places were sacred to the
sun, and called Kura, Kuria, Kuropolis,
Kurnee, Kureschata, Kuresta, and Corusia
in Scythia.” (IBID, p. 78)
Constantine is the one who
originally had the New Testament translated into the Greek wholesale. Many
ancient Greek Scriptural documents have been found in the caves of the
middle-east and those older documents had the Hebrew name of the Creator in its
proper place even though the Scriptures were translated in Greek, but His name
was taken out of those Scriptures and replaced with Kurios in the spirit of transforming His very
own word into a vehicle of sun worship. This is the spirit of the Tsar, the one
who brings tribulation.
Constantine worshipped Mithras,
the Persian sun-god. Mithras’ day of worship was the first day of the week.
His birthday was December 25.
All of those who are following
his commands and edicts rather than the commands of Yahweh are destined to
suffer the Great Tribulation.
ROME
Constantine was emperor of
Rome. Rome is the fourth kingdom of iron, iron and clay, and iron and mirey clay
in the book of Daniel chapter 2. It is also the fourth beast of Daniel chapter
seven.
This fourth beast was
prophesied to change times and laws, “And he shall speak great words against
the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to
change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and
times and the dividing of time,” Dan. 7:25.
This is exactly what the Roman
beast with its little horn has done. The true law is the law of Yahweh, but the
Caesars and the Roman Senate became law-makers. Together, they decreed and made
laws for the whole empire.
In order to have a society of
order and control, there must be laws that govern the people. The little horn of
the beast has caused its churches and religious institutions to decree that
Yahweh’s law is done away. This then gives credence for man to begin to make
his own laws.
The great over-all
preponderance of the people has been deceived to cast Yahweh’s laws behind.
Times (the Sabbath and annual holy days) have been changed. Laws have been
changed. The beast is speaking great words (blasphemies) against the Most High.
He has worn out the saints (Yahweh’s holy people). They have blasphemed
Yahweh’s name and the name of His Son, Yahshua. They have deceived the whole
world in the spirit of the great dragon called the devil and Satan, “And the
great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the
whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast
out with him,” Rev. 12:9.
The Roman TSAR, the adversary,
the enemy, has brought about conditions that will cause GREAT TRIBULATION to
come upon all those who follow him, his laws, and his great deceptive religious
system.
KING JAMES
What about King James? Psalms 2
is quite revealing concerning the kings and rulers of the earth, “Why do the
heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take
counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his anointed,
saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from
us,” vv. 1-3.
So here we have the kings of
the earth and the rulers taking counsel together against Yahweh and His Anointed
(Messiah [Yahshua]). Could this include King James, who supposedly had the most
accurate Bible produced for all time?
What else is said about the
kings of the earth? “1
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked
with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have
committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the
earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3 So he carried me away in
the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured
beast, full of names of blasphemy,
having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and
scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a
golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a
name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH,” Rev. 17:1-5.
Now we have the great whore,
the great harlot in league with the kings of the earth to cause everyone to be
drunk with the wine of fornication, or actually sex sins, as it were. You see,
Israel was called to be Yahweh’s special bride and people. But they worshipped
other elohim than Yahweh, so they became spiritual fornicators, or harlots and
committed adultery against their great Elohim Yahweh.
The same thing has happened
during these New Testament times. The kings and rulers of the earth have joined
with the harlot in committing spiritual fornication, harlotry against Yahweh and
His Messiah. So now we have the kings, rulers and harlot involved together, but
there are others who need to be exposed.
“1 And after these things I saw another
angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened
with his glory. 2
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen,
is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul
spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk
of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have
committed fornication with her, and the
merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies,”
Rev. 18:1-3.
Yes, that’s right, now we
have the merchants of the earth in league with the kings, rulers and harlot.
They seem to wax abundantly rich through the promotion of the special times of
the beast and harlot, for example Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween,
Christmas, etc.
But that isn’t all. There are
a couple of other groups that get into the mix. “1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy
and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith Yahweh. 2 Therefore thus saith Adonai
Yahweh of Israel against the pastors that feed my
people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and
have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings,
saith Yahweh. 3
And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have
driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be
fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed
them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be
lacking, saith Yahweh…. 9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets;
all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath
overcome, because of Yahweh, and because of the words of his holiness. 10 For the land is
full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant
places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force
is not right. 11
For both prophet and priest are profane;
yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith Yahweh. 12 Wherefore their way
shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on,
and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them,
even the year of their visitation, saith Yahweh. 13 And I have seen
folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people
Israel to err. 14
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit
adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that
none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and
the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. 15 Therefore thus saith Yahweh of hosts
concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them
drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone
forth into all the land…..16
Thus saith Yahweh of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that
prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart,
and not out of the mouth of Yahweh. 17 They say still unto them that despise me,
Yahweh hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh
after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 18 For who
hath stood in the counsel of Yahweh, and hath perceived and heard his word? who
hath marked his word, and heard it? 19 Behold, a whirlwind of Yahweh is gone forth
in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of
the wicked. 20
The anger of Yahweh shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have
performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it
perfectly. 21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to
them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had
caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their
evil way, and from the evil of their doings …..25 I have heard what the
prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have
dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy
lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to
forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as
their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal,” Jer. 23:1-4; 9-22; 25-27.
Wow! What a group of people. We have kings, rulers, the harlot,
merchants, pastors, priests, and prophets. They have conspired together to
introduce names of blasphemy, names and titles of false deities, false gods,
even into Yahweh’s own word. They have taken away the knowledge of the name
Yahweh, the name Yahshua, and introduced false names and titles into His own
inspired word. This has deceived the whole world (Rev. 12:9).
Yahshua spoke of the GREAT TRIBULATION, but did He say anything about a
pre-tribulation rapture? No! Not at all!!!!! He revealed that the gathering of
His people will take place after the sign of His coming appears in heaven.
Nimrod founded Babylon.
Ishmael’s descendant founded Islam. Esau’s descendants were the Caesars of
Rome. Constantine was Caesar, Augustus, Emperor, TSAR. He is the one who is
riding the white horse going forth conquering and to conquer. The Greek for
“conquering” is nikon,
and “conquer” is nikese.
Both come from nike.
Constantine ordered Sunday to be observed as the day of worship in 321. Later he
called the Council of Nicaea
in 325 in order to unify the faith. It was at this time that the observance of
pagan Easter was established. Nicaea
also comes from the word nike.
Through deceit and feigned repentance, Constantine entered into the New
Testament Assembly and began to conquer and wear out the saints of the Most
High.
The second, seal has to do with
wars and rumors of war, the third, and fourth seals have to do with famines,
pestilences, and the culmination of the wars.
The fifth seal has to do with
the afflictions and suffering brought upon those who witness the Word of Yahweh.
They have been persecuted and slain because of it, but they are given white
robes and told to rest until others would be slain as they were. The fifth seal
is revealing the Great Tribulation. People are going to have to give their lives
for Yahweh’s word of truth.
The sixth seal matches what He
said in Matthew chapter 24 about the sun, moon and stars as well as the sign of
His coming appearing in heaven. Yahshua had said that immediately after the
tribulation of those days the sun and moon would become dark and not give their
light. All are afraid and are mourning and seeking to hide themselves because
they know that He is returning in wrath against those who have cast His covenant
aside.
Revelation Chapter seven is an
inset chapter to reveal the sealing of the one hundred and forty four thousand
and the great multitude that came out of the great tribulation having their
robes washed in Yahshua’s blood. It is just showing the results of the fifth
seal, but they haven’t been resurrected yet.
Revelation chapter eight reveals the stripping away of the seventh seal,
which contains seven angels with seven trumpets. These are trumpet plagues that
are going to be poured out on the people of the beast and harlot.
This should remind us of the
ten virgins of Matthew chapter twenty five. Five were wise and were prepared for
Yahshua’s return by taking oil not only in, but with their lamps. The foolish
knew that Yahshua was going to return some day, but they didn’t prepare
themselves. The five wise who prepared themselves were invited to enter into the
marriage relationship with Yahshua, but the foolish were not.
Those who didn’t prepare
themselves in the face of Katrina suffered the loss of lives, or were cast into
a situation of terrible suffering and deprivation. When relief began to arrive,
they were limited as to what they could do because so many of the people who
remained were exhibiting hostility and the devastation was so great that the
relief effort was hindered. This is also what is occurring in Haiti after the
earthquake.
Instead of a spirit of humility
and of seeking their Elohim, the people were angry, demanding, cursing, etc. In
many cases, the relief efforts were hindered because of danger from the very
people they were attempting to rescue and help. We saw much of this same spirit
and attitude in the aftermath of Haiti.
We should all take warning from
this. So many people have turned away from Yahweh and His word, casting it
behind, embracing outright and open lives of sinful living. After all, New
Orleans was called Sin City. Sin hardens the spirit. Haiti is another place
where sin was rampant.
It would be much better for us
to come to realize our dangerous spiritual condition and repent before the real
plagues come upon us.
In Revelation chapter two,
Yahshua is giving His message to the seven assemblies. The assembly of Thyatira
has a woman named Jezebel in her midst who has taught His servants to eat things
sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication (2:18-23). He gives her space to
repent, but she refuses to repent. Therefore, He says that he is going to cast
her and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation unless they
repent of their deeds. He also says that He will kill her children with death.
In today’s world, we have space, a time to repent of our sins and
iniquities (lawlessness). We have an opportunity to change our lives and
attitudes before the final events that are recorded in Matthew twenty four, and
the book of Revelation. Otherwise, we will end up being just like those in New
Orleans, Haiti, and the ensuing chapters of Revelation when the trumpet plagues
are poured out upon them.
Here are the trumpet plagues.
Didn’t Yahshua say that He would gather His elect after the great tribulation,
and after the time that the sun is darkened and the moon will not give her
light? Also after the time when they will see the sign of Him coming with power
and great glory? (Mt. 24:29-31)
“And the seven angels which
had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded,
and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the
earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt
up. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with
fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the
third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the
third part of the ships were destroyed. And the third angel sounded, and there
fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the
third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the
star is called Wormwood: and the third part
of the waters became wormwood;
and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. And the fourth
angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of
the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was
darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
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!” Rev.
8:1-2; 7-13.
What about this WORMWOOD? Moses
warned Israel that if any man, woman, family, or tribe turned away from Him to
serve other elohim of the nations, it would become a root that bears gall and
wormwood (Dt. 29:18).
In Proverbs chapter 5 Yahweh
warns that a strange woman’s (adulterous woman’s) end is bitter as wormwood
and sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go to death, her steps taking on hell,
or the grave (vv. 3-6).
Yahweh inspires Jeremiah to
write, concerning Judah and Jerusalem, “Because they have forsaken my law
which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;
But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim,
which their fathers taught them: Therefore thus saith Yahweh of hosts, the
Elohim of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and
give them water of gall to drink. I will scatter them also among the heathen,
whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after
them, till I have consumed them,” Jer. 9:13-16.
Jeremiah also writes concerning
the prophets of Jerusalem, “I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an
horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the
hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of
them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Therefore thus
saith Yahweh of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with
wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of
Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land,” 23:14-15.
There is a warning for our
court system in Amos 5:7 because they are turning justice into wormwood.
These things are coming on the
earth because of the forsaking of Yahweh and His word and covenant by His people
not only in Old Testament, but New Testament times also to embrace other elohim
and their ways. If you have turned away from the word of truth, then you are
going to suffer the bitterness of gall and wormwood except you repent and turn
to Him with all your heart.
The fifth angel sounds and the
abyss is opened bringing forth a terrible locust plague, which will last for
five months. They are commanded to only hurt the men who do not have the seal of
Yahweh in their foreheads. (Rev. 9:1-11, esp. v. 4) Yahweh separates between His
people and those who are not. His people are still alive, on the earth, and
witnessing these plagues being poured out on the disobedient.
In Revelation 9:13 the sixth
angel sounds and a great army headed by four angels is loosed from the river
Euphrates. One third of mankind are slain by this army, but the Scriptures say
that the rest which were not killed repented not of the works of their hands,
that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and
wood, nor of their murders, sorceries, fornications, nor thefts. (vv. 20-21)
Look at the spirit of these people and their inability to repent! Their
spirit has become so hardened and contemptible that they will not, can not
repent! Their opportunity to repent is past, just as the harlot Jezebel and her
children in the Thyatiran Assembly. Just as the spirit of Pharaoh of Egypt in
the days of Moses.
This trumpet plague also
consists of seven vials that will be poured out on the beast and his subjects.
But this is also the time of the resurrection, or if you want to call it
“rapture” (the catching away), fine.
One Pre-tribulation minister
wrote in his article, “The timing of this event is not known.” We have to
disagree, to a point. He had just quoted the Scriptures that we are now going
to. They are found in the writings of Paul, “But I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even
as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Yahshua died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Yahshua will Yahweh bring with him. For
this we say unto you by the word of the Sovereign, that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Sovereign shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Sovereign himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump
of Yahweh: and the dead in the Messiah shall rise first: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Sovereign in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Sovereign,” 1 Thes.
4:13-17.
The Greek word for “trump”
is salpigx. This should have been translated as
“trumpet,” as this is the Greek word utilized in Mat. 24 when Yahshua says
that He will send his angels with a great trumpet sound to gather His elect (v.
31). It is the same word utilized for trumpet in Revelation chapter 8 when the
seven angels are given seven trumpets.
Furthermore, Paul reveals,
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of
Elohim; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a
mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality,” 1 Cor. 15:50-53.
When does He say that the resurrection (rapture) will occur? Isn’t it
at the sound of the last trumpet, the seventh trumpet? Is this shown in the
Scriptures to be before or after the great tribulation? Yes! After the great
tribulation. Yahweh’s people who haven’t been slain in the great
tribulation, will continue to live in order to see and witness the end result of
the plagues that will be poured out on the beast and his kingdom, and those who
refuse to repent and glorify Yahweh. Both the dead in the Messiah and the living
will be resurrected (if dead), or changed (if living) at the seventh and last
trumpet sound.
Repent
and turn to Yahweh. Turn to Him and His word of truth. Turn to the observance of
His seventh day Sabbath, and annual holy days. Turn to His commandments. Turn to
His Messiah, His Anointed, Yahshua. You may still have to go through the
tribulation, but salvation is assured.
Brethren, we are very excited about the Feast of Tabernacles this year!
We have located a very beautiful campsite very close to most of us in Texas,
Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The name of the camp is Camp Shiloh. It is
located on Lake Bob Sandlin here in East Texas, between Pittsburgh, Texas and
Winnsboro, Texas (East and West), and Mt. Pleasant, and Gilmer, Texas (North and
South).
It is a very beautiful, well organized and maintained camp. There are
three deluxe cabins, five smaller cabins, two motel type rooms, plenty of motor
home, and trailer spaces, tent area, etc. There is a volleyball court,
basketball court, baseball field, and a playground for children (swings and
slide).
There is a designated swimming area, with a swimming deck, waterslide,
etc., and plenty of fishing. They have a few canoes, kayaks and one paddle boat
for rental. (You can bring your own also)
They also have a Conference Center with Male and Female dorms, which we
have elected not to utilize, but would be excellent for a good sized group of
young people (teenagers, etc.).
Because our usage will take place well after Labor Day, we will be given
a 25% discount on the cabins and motel rooms.
PRICING: (with discounts)
Deluxe
Cabins………………$86.26
(sleeps six)
Regular
Cabins……………..$67.50
(sleeps 4)
Motel-style
Rooms………….$37.50
(sleep 4)
Linens & towels are provided for the cabins and motel rooms.
RV
sites……………………….$25.00
(full hook-ups
RV
sites……………………….$15.00
(water and electric)
RV
sites………………………..$10.00
(water only)
Tents…………………………...$12.00
These are all per day prices.
We have been asked to pay a deposit, which will be about 50% of the
estimated cost. We ask that you would please confirm with us and also send at
least a $50.00 deposit to hold whatever facilities you would desire to have.
There are only three deluxe cabins, so you need to get your deposit on them in
early. Of course, the regular cabins and motel rooms may go quickly also.
We need people to help, musicians, speakers, etc. We are placing a
Registration Form on the last page of this newsletter. Please fill it out and
send it in with your deposit. Thank you so much and we praise Yahweh for being
so gracious to us!
