I have said many times in my posts that we need to be prepared for the rapture to take place at any time. I have also said many times that God loves anniversaries; He is the God of “A time for everything, and a season for every purpose under heaven” Eccles 3:1. I have also mentioned that the next Jewish “High Holy Feast” day on the Jewish calendar as yet not fulfilled by Jesus, is the “Feast of Trumpets” Yom Teruah which is the Jewish secular New Year’s Day 1st of Tishri, as opposed to their Religious New Year’s Day on 1st of Nissan. Jesus has fulfilled the first four of the High Holy Day feasts already at His first coming. It is expected that He will fulfill the last three at the Rapture and / or at His second coming.
I want to share some thoughts I presented at church last Sunday, which highlight the importance of being ready at any time for the rapture to occur. I was reading a book by Dr. Chuck Missler, an ex NATO scientist and a Bible scholar for whom I have immense respect, as his teachings are very sound and scripturally based. He made the case for the fact that although most prophecy scholars today have more or less decided that the rapture will occur during the “Feast of Trumpets” that he believes there is just as great a case for the rapture to occur at the feast of Pentecost.
His reasoning is sound and bears much consideration. I also heard the same reasoning used by Dr. J R Church (Now with the Lord) a few years ago, and I thought at the time it was not something to be ruled out. Dr. Missler pointed out that Enoch, the son of Jared, father of Methuselah, Great grandfather of Noah was born on the very day which later became the “Day of Pentecost”. Not only was Enoch born on the day of Pentecost, but he was the FIRST person ever to be raptured, and we know that he was raptured on …… his birthday, “The Day of Pentecost”
We also know that the “Age of Law” or the “Dispensation of Law” as it is often called, was suspended on the “Day of Pentecost” and the Church was birthed on the very same day; the “Day of Pentecost”
As earlier mentioned God loves anniversaries, and Pentecost is one of the anniversaries that God has chosen as a “Feast Day” to be remembered every year on the exact same day, the 6th of Sivan on the Jewish calendar. So the “Day of Pentecost” is actually a quadruple celebration. 1. The first ever rapture of a living saint took place. 2. It celebrates the Birth of the Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ. 3. It celebrates the suspension of the dispensation of Law, and 4. It celebrates the commencement of the “Age of Grace” or dispensation of grace in which we now live.
It is the time given for the gentile nations to be able to come to Jesus Christ for salvation and cleansing through believing on Jesus Christ, and repenting of their sins. What an anniversary that would be if the rapture were to take place on the same day as the first ever rapture took place; The day the Church was born; The day Age of Grace was instituted; The day the Holy Spirit was given to the Church; The day the very first disciples were “Born Again” of the Holy Spirit.
This year the 6th of Sivan falls on the 12th of June, next Sunday. If it were to happen on Sunday, are you ready to meet your King? The following quote comes from Dr Chuck Missler, (2014-08-03). The Rapture: Christianity’s Most Preposterous Belief (Kindle Locations 1015-1019). Koinonia House. Kindle Edition.
“The real question is, do we know Him? Do we really know Him as our personal Saviour and Lord? Our King…? He was a prophet before Moses, a priest after Melchizedek, a champion like Joshua, an offering in place of Isaac, a king from the line of David, a Wise Counselor above Solomon. He’s beloved, rejected and exalted, certainly like Joseph, yet far greater still. The heavens declare His glory. The firmament shows His handiwork. He, who is now and will always be, the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega. He’s the Aleph and Tau of Hebrew and the A and Z of English. He was the First fruit of them that slept. He is the I AM that I AM. Jesus was the Voice in the burning bush. He was the captain of the Lord’s Host, the conqueror of Jericho. He’s enduringly strong, entirely sincere, eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful, imperially powerful, impartially merciful. In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily, the very God of very God. He’s our Kinsman Redeemer and our avenger of blood. He’s our city of refuge. He’s a performing priest, our personal prophet, our reigning King. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of theology and He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism. He’s the miracle of all ages, the superlative of everything good. You and I are the beneficiaries of a love letter. It was written in blood on a wooden cross erected in Judea 2000 years ago.
He was crucified on a cross of wood, yet He made the hill on which it stood. By Him are all things made that were made. And by Him are all things held together. What held Him to that cross? It wasn’t the nails. At any time, He could have said, “Enough already, I’m out of here.” But He didn’t. It was His love for you and me, His Amazing Love that held Him there. He was born of a woman so that we could be born of God. He humbled Himself so that we could be lifted up. He became a servant so that we could be made joint heirs with Him.
He suffered rejection so that we could freely receive all things and He gave Himself so that He could bless us in every way. He’s available to those tempted and tried. He blesses the young. He cleanses the lepers. He defends the feeble. He delivers the captives. He discharges the debtors. He forgives the sinners. He franchises the meek. He guards the besieged. He heals the sick and provides strength to the weak. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. He serves the unfortunate. He sympathises and He saves. His offices are manifold. His reign is righteous; His promises, sure. His grace is sufficient. His love never changes. His mercy is everlasting. His Word is enough. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you. He’s indescribable, incomprehensible, irresistible, and invincible.
The Heavens cannot contain Him. Man cannot explain Him. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but soon learned they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate could find no fault in Him. The personal representative of the world found no fault in Him. The witnesses could not agree against Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him; death couldn’t handle Him; the grave couldn’t hold Him. He has always been and always will be.
He had no predecessor. He will have no successor. You can’t impeach Him and He ain’t gonna resign! His Name is above every name. At the Name of Yeshua, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. It’s His Kingdom, His Power, and His Glory forever and ever. Amen. Wow! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” End Quote.
I have often thought that the Feasts of Israel were given to the Israelites, not to the Church, and I have commented on this in past posts. If the next feast to be fulfilled by Jesus is for the Jews, rather than the Church, I’m sure that He has that all sorted out if we, the Church, are no longer here on the earth.
The Holy Spirit was given to the “Church” on the “Day of Pentecost”, and is therefore a day to be celebrated by The Church, as the Holy Spirit came on that day, not only to “indwell” God’s children, but also to “empower” us to live for Him. I believe that this is a Church anniversary if ever there was one.
Do you think God may have anniversaries for the Church that He would celebrate in this amazing way? Well I believe it is very possible, and I truly hope it is a “Birthday Present” to the bride of Jesus from His Father, and our God. Mat 24:36 “But of that day and hour no man knows , no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” — “Go, get your bride”, Whoooosh and we are gone. Although I do make sure I am ready every day, I sure do intend to be ready next Sunday! What a birthday present, what an amazing anniversary, what a celebration that would be!!!
However, if that is not God’s plan, make sure that you know your King; make sure that you know your Spiritual Bridegroom to be. He will not be marrying anyone He does not know, or anyone who does not know Him. Make sure that you are ready every day of every week of every month, every year. Remember Jesus said “Occupy till I come” whether that is tomorrow, next week, next month or next year, it doesn’t matter. “Always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come“. Mat 24:44
God Bless.