The Timing of the Rapture – Timing is everything. We hear that phrase laced in conversations, as well as in the books we read, stage productions, sports events and movies galore. The opposite—just as true; bad timing is awful.
Bad timing can bring down the whole opera in a matter of seconds. A missed catch can send a player across home plate and change the scoreboard. A pass interception can give the trailing team the break it was hoping for— granting a game changer.
God is in charge of all time as He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. Nothing is accidental or coincidence, as we suppose as humans in our fallen ways of thinking where God is concerned.
I notice God’s hand displayed, especially in creation and the lives He created to live and inhabit the earth.
I see His hand in timing as He is the God of all time, orchestrating it all according to His purpose and plan. Everything God made in heaven and earth is on a timer: the rotations and orbital period of planets, the moon and its effect on our tides, the sunrise and sunset depending on where you are forecasted to the very minute. The sun orbits around the Milky Way. All of this is such a vast concept and shows the bigger picture of our awesome God.
The average female human gestation period is 40 weeks, and each animal has its own gestation period. God is very timely in all He has made and in everything He does.
He is painting a picture that will be beautiful in the eyes of anyone who is willing to take a moment to look and behold. The painting will only be beautiful in the eye of the beholder. It will make no sense to those who walk in darkness and choose not to behold his wondrous salvation. It will be like museum-goers who gaze intently at the artwork. They have to turn their heads every which way and look from multiple angles trying to see the picture the artist has masterfully created and displayed. They don’t get it—no matter how long they stare at the painting—even if they were to stand on their heads.
The beautiful picture God has painted all throughout the scriptures for us is Jesus Christ: His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, the Rapture, Second Advent, His victory at Armageddon and His Millennial rule upon the earth. All of these events fulfilled or not yet fulfilled—are exact and timely, ordained and set in place. They either have been completely fulfilled, or are future to us.
These events are to happen at the very place, on the exact day, week, month and year that God has planned—set and ready to go.
The rapture of the Church is no exception in the future line-up of events. The day has already been set. Actually, it is a well-kept secret that has mystified Bible scholars, theologians, Pastors, Eschatologists and Bible code experts on the planet. God has kept this secret day and hour under wraps for a long, long time. Let’s take a look:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
“Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24: 36-44).
What I share today might be a new concept, but I have some scriptures to back me in my hypothesis. I hope you don’t have to stand on your head to see it.
Here are some observations of things we perceive from scripture that signal the timing of the Rapture:
- It’s predicated on the third Jewish temple being rebuilt – not necessarily, as this has been in the works for some time. The Temple could be rebuilt soon or at the beginning of the tribulation. Forty ritual objects are showcased in Plexiglas cases at the Temple Institute’s headquarters in the Old City, as well as a two-hundred pound Menorah, at present.
I saw a 3D tour on YouTube of the temple layout. It was quite fascinating. Israel is go-for-launch on the temple. They just need two things in order to get it done: peace and a spotless red heifer to cleanse the temple for the ritual sacrifices. However, the temple does not have to be built in order for the Rapture to take place.
- It’s predicated on a peace treaty being in place between Israel and her enemies and somebody hollers “peace and safety.” Definitely a sign of the “Day of the Lord” beginning. We see this coming in short order as my fingers are typing this. I see this tied into the temple being rebuilt, as peace will need to be secured in order to build.
The Antichrist wants to sit in the Holy Place and declare himself to be God really bad, so he will make sure Israel has a peace treaty confirmed in order to get it done, wrapped up, signed, with a tidy red bow. It appears it could happen any day as Israel’s enemies are sending fiery kites over the border and the relentless attacks have been escalating. We know we are close to the Rapture; it’s all we know here.
- It’s predicated on the world being really dark, bad and full of sinful perversions of every kind, wicked people becoming worse and worse. This almost goes without saying, but it’s getting darker by the minute….and we are ready to go on this one. Jesus gave us a “heads up” on the end-times landscape that we are witnessing even now. We know, again, we are very close to Rapture time.
- Apostasy and falling away of the Christian faith. This too can be checked off the list as apostasy is rampant all over Christendom, and the wolves are mixed in with the sheep, big time. This has increased in recent years, so we know we are close to the Rapture.
- It’s predicated on the gospel being preached to every nation. In my observation, the gospel has already been preached to every nation. However, I am not sure how one can truly assess this as you would have to be God to scope this out. The verdict remains undecided here for me, but I want to add a few observations.
I spoke with a pastor recently who believes that Jesus will not return until the gospel is preached to every nation. When will this ever be the case, as some nations that once embraced the gospel are now just the opposite? I see the gospel being spread to every nation as already taken place, but to every single person, no. There are always going to be people who need to hear the good news.
I have a scripture for you with an example:
The seven churches of Asia Minor were the recipients of the seven letters in the book of Revelation. The gospel was obviously preached to this area, and all seven churches were the lampstands of their day. Now known as Turkey, this nation is predominately Muslim. Christianity is less than 2 percent of the population. This didn’t happen overnight—but it happened. This predominantly Christian area of the first century church fell under the influence of Islam over time.
In my observations, the gospel has been preached to all nations; but some nations have not adhered to it, straying away to false gods and doctrines. It is still going on today—even in the United States. In recent surveys, I see where, among white evangelicals, Christianity is still the main religion here in the United States, according to Pew Research Center. If that were true, wouldn’t it look like it?
We have strayed away over time from our Judeo-Christian heritage as a nation. These are just my observations, but the gospel has to be preached unto the nations. However, there is no disclaimer that the nations or even every person will respond. “Whosoever will may come” applies here. My husband and I are ones that heard the good news as teenagers and responded.
The gospel of Christ marches on. Internet access is not worldwide yet, but is moving very quickly to that end, predicted by 2020. Right now you can download the Bible, hear sermons streaming live on YouTube or on TV. Most churches today stream Sunday services live every week on their church website. The gospel is accessible if you want to hear it, a picture of Jesus Christ for those who want to see Him! The gospel is taken into the world daily.
Look at the heavens; they declare every event related to Jesus—
His birth—“His Star” that led the wise men to Him. Angels gave a concert singing “glory to God in the highest” as He is worshipped as a gift from God—His Son unto the world.
His crucifixion—a total solar blackout of epic proportions for three hours.
His ascension—He was taken up into Heaven in the sight of all His disciples (see Luke 24:50-53).
His Second Coming—the grandest pre-show ever. We have had a blood moon tetrad. We have had lunar and solar eclipses and a Supermoon that also eclipsed this year on January 31. We had the “Revelation 12 Sign” last fall, as it followed the “Great American Eclipse” on August 21, 2017, that crossed the contiguous United States. We have an upcoming blood moon July 27-28th, and it will be the longest lunar eclipse in the 21st century, lasting 103 minutes. These are signs, as God is signaling to us of the nearness of Christ’s return.
We are waiting basically for one thing and one thing only: for the Rapture to happen. And I think it is this: the very day, hour, minute and second—will tick into place on God’s eternal clock, and God will say to Jesus, “It’s time; go get your bride!”
The God of time has had the day of the rapture picked out from long ago. All the events will line up, including the Rapture…just like the stars do.
Jesus reminds us over and over to be prepared and to live anticipating and watchful of His return.
My plan is to be nothing more than pleasantly surprised. His timing is pure perfection, as everything will line up perfectly. We will have front row seats to see it all unfold—a beautiful, complete picture of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We even get to play a major role in the long-awaited event.
The Rapture will happen, as God never lies. Christ will call up His bride—just at the right time.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
Sally Law