The second coming,The Rapture and the Day of the Lord
by Daniel Goodwin
All scripture reference is King James Version (KJV) unless otherwise stated.
There are several popular views concerning the timing of the rapture(from the Latin word rapturo after the Greek harpadzo,"seize,catching away").The three major views are the pre-tribulation view,The mid-tribulation view and the post-tribulation view.The pre-tribulation view places the rapture just prior to the beginning of what is commonly called the seven year tribulation period.The mid-tribulation view places it in or near the middle of the tribulation.The post-tribulation view would place it after or at the end of the seven year period.Then there is also what I will call the biblical-view.This view is non-denominational and is based only on the word of God and not on the traditions of any church organization or man.
I am most concerned with the pre-tribulation view because I believe it puts many christians in great danger.What if the view that the church will be raptured out before any tribulation,before the anti-christ,before great persecution,is wrong?They would enter this period in shock,unprepared.They would have little faith to stand on because it was promised [by man] that they would not have to endure this terrible time.Could an army succesfully train for a battle that it was promised it would never have to fight? What if these christians looking for Jesus to come first were suddenly confronted by the anti-christ claiming to be Jesus or the messiah?Remember He will have all power to perform signs and wonders."For there shall arise false Christ, and false prophets,and shall shew great signs and wonders,insomuch that if it were possible,they shall deceive the very elect."Matt.24:24. "Even him,whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and lying wonders"2 Thessalonians 2:9. His false prophet would also have these powers in his sight"And he doeth great wonders,so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.And deceiveth them on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast"....Rev.13:13-14 Their world,their beliefs and their faith would be greatly shaken.
The purpose of this web page is to show that the word of God teaches that the church will go through a time of great tribulation,yet escape Gods wrath.
THE 70th WEEK OF DANIEL
Before We can understand the timing of the rapture We must get an understanding of The 70th week of Daniel.
Before We continue,let me make the point that We are not trying to find the "Day or the hour" of the rapture,but only it`s place within the "70th week".We read in the book of Daniel,the ninth chapter,that Daniel
"understood by books the number of years,whereof the word of the lord came to Jer-e-mi'-ah the prophet,that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem."(Daniel 9:2).Jerusalems seventy years of desolation were about to end.God brought desolation upon Jerusalem because Israel violated the sabbatical year commandment; (Lev.25:1-4). As he prayed for guidance and for the sins of his people,the angel Gabriel appeared and told him that another
"seventy weeks were determined upon his people to finish the transgression,and to make an end to the sin"....(Daniel 9:24) This "seventy weeks" from the Hebrew,
shavuim shivim is actually seventy sets of seven years or 490 years[Based on a 360 day year on the Babalonian calender].The "seventy weeks" would begin with the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem,(Daniel 9:25)(Nehemiah 1,2:1-8),and then after "seven weeks or 49 years plus another "sixty-two weeks"or 434 years for a total of 483 years
"shall Messiah be cut off [killed],but not for himself";(Daniel 9:26)This is the crucifiction and death of our Lord Jesus Christ which is for
our sins,if we will believe,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,but have everlasting life."(John 3:16).When Gods people Israel rejected him has the Messiah,the prophetical clock stopped.Sixty-nine of the seventy weeks had been completed.There now remains "one week" or sevens years to complete the "seventy weeks".This final seven years will begin when Israel enters into a covenant with the
"Prince that shall come" [anti-christ],
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week"[seven years]....(Daniel 9:27).The last seven years of this present age could begin in the very near future.
A CLOSER LOOK
We know that the 70th week of Daniel will begin when Israel and the "The prince that shall come" [the anti-christ] enter into a seven year covenant together.We also know that in the middle of that seven years the antichrist will break the covenant by causing the "abomination of desolation"(Daniel 9:27.This gives us two pieces of the puzzle we will use to determine the timing of the rapture.Once again,the signing of the "covenant" begins the seven year period and the "abomination of desolation" is the halfway point.Now,let us go to the book of Matthew,the twenty-fourth chapter.Jesus and his disciples are outside the holy temple when Jesus makes the statement,
"See ye all these things? There shall not be left here one stone upon another,that shall not be thrown down" (Matt.24:2)In verse 3 they ask Him"
Tell us,when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"[age].The first sign Jesus mentions is anti-christ in verse 5,
"For many shall come in My name,saying I am Christ:and shall decieve many."Next in verse 6,
"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars...."Verse 7
"For nation shall rise up against nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom...." Thirdly,also in verse 7,
"there shall be famines...." and then
"pestilences,and earthquakes,in divers[various] places."He then says that these things are
"the beginning of sorrows."In verses 9 through 14 He includes persecution and betrayal because of his name sake and the preaching of the gospel throughout all the world.In verse 15 we reach the halfway point of the 70th week with the abomination of desolation."When ye therfore shall see ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,spoken of by Daniel the prophet,stand in the holy place..."
THE SECOND HALF OF THE 70th WEEK
In chapter 24:16-20 Jesus warns the inhabitants of Ju-da`-ea to flee when they see the abomination of desolation.
TO BE CONTINUED
This page is still under construction.
Please come back soon.LAST UPDATED-OCT,14 2001
Your feedback is welcome!
