There are a number of pages on the Internet regarding speculation that the “Rapture” may happen in 2008. Is this for real? What is behind this notion? Can it be supported by Scripture?
[Post published on May 14, 2007]
If you have been reading the posts in this blog you should have picked up on the fact that both Christianity and Judaism are heavily influenced by teachings and practices that came from Babylon.
From the time shortly after the flood Babylon was founded as a great spiritual and political empire. Although when we look at Iraq today, we do not get that impression. Nor should we. The physical greatness that was once Babylon has been destroyed. In fact, the city of Babylon is a ruin.
The spiritual influence of the once great Babylon and Babylonian Empire lives on today in nearly every religion on earth!
What does that mean for us?
As I explained in earlier posts, the people of Judah were taken captive and transported to Babylon where they lived for seventy years before they were allowed to return. That is a couple of generations.
Very few of the original captives lived long enough to be among those who returned.
However, what happened to the people of Judah while they were there has to this day affected both those who call themselves Christians and those who adhere to the traditions of Judaism.
During that time a group of lay men formed the sect of the Pharisees. This was an intellectual group who actually were influential enough to coerce the people to follow them, their view of the law, and to relegate the Levites and Priests to a token position having little or no teaching influence on the people.
The Pharisees developed a program of teaching new converts to Phariseeism and wrote a five and one half million word document called the Babylonian Talmud upon which they based their religion.
They also adopted the Babylonian calender as their own imposing the feasts and set apart days upon it instead of the solar calendar. They even kept the Babylonian names of the months.
What does all this have to do with a supposed “[pre-tribulation] Rapture?”
The assumption that the Christian religion was a departure from the sect of the Pharisees is only partly true. The Christian religion did reject the Talmuds, but a more deadly plot was hatched against the followers of Jesus: infiltration by a Pharisee whose primary task was to destroy the followers of Jesus by torture and death.
But on his way to carry out his mission he had a new idea. His plot included injecting his own interpretations (a Pharisee trick) and replacing the teachings of Jesus and the apostles with rituals, practices, and traditions that were “less burdensome.” This, of course, is Saul Paulus, one of the most highly trained Pharisees of his day. A brilliant man who brought in deadly heresies that resulted in the creation of new religion that drew followers to him and away from Jesus and the apostles.
From overly zealous revival preachers in the 1800s, comes the idea of the “Rapture.” This idea was never a part of Christianity prior to that time.
The Hebrew Scriptures, the Book of Enoch, the book of Revelation, and Jesus’ prophecies and teachings only tell about the resurrection. These all refer to the people coming back to life in new mortal bodies or in immortal bodies.
Ezekiel prophesied about the resurrection of the “Whole House of Israel.” This includes the descendants of all of the sons of Jacob, who were not Jews, but Israelites. But those from Jacob’s son Judah, later called Jews, will be raised with their cousins from Reuben, Joseph, Dan, and all the other tribes associated with them.
These will be raised from the dead because of the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to the Nations of Israel through Eyahuwah, Moses, and the Prophets, and in regard to the promises given to the whole world because of the part the Israelites will play in the next ages.
But Christians want to believe in the rapture so badly that they are willing to risk anything to hold on to this doctrine.
Paul formed a supercult. Embedded in his teaching is an “us-versus-them” mentality that is easily picked up from his letters. Included in those are icons. He made the Greek name “Jesus Christ” an icon. He also made his letters an icon, and there is evidence that Paul played a large role in wresting the Aramaic and Hebrew documents away from the apostles and replaced them with his own Greek versions creating the icon of the Greek New Testament.
The book of Acts is not the “Acts of the Apostles.” It is the “Acts of Paul” wherein he even made himself an icon. His followers to this day view everything through Paul’s special dark glasses. Nearly all worship services or Bible studies include references to Paul, and this is tragic!
Those who concentrate on Paul’s letters and stories usually have no idea what the Prophets can teach us. They also lack the great truths contained in the Law.
They build churches based on rules (Phariseeism) and condemn others who do not think as they do. Rather than opening their hearts to understanding and wisdom, they hang on to fables and conceive falsehoods.
They claim that if they had lived during the time of Jesus, they would not have condemned him as the Pharisees did, and by saying this they testify against themselves that they are the offspring of those who killed the prophets.
The idea that a “rapture” would come in 2007 was based on speculation that something must happen after 40 years elapsed since the Jews took control of Jerusalem and the Temple mount in 1967. The conclusion that many made is that the event must be the supposed “rapture.” Now after that time passed, the next theory was that a “rapture” will happen on the Jewish Feast of Trumpets on the Jewish Calendar in September of 2007. That time also passed with no “catching away” causing an epidemic of automobile and plane crashes as drivers and pilots suddenly get swept off to heaven.
There is a tragic misreading of Jesus’ statements that two working in a field and one is taken and the other left. And two would be working at a mill and one is taken and the other left. Which one in these two incidents lives and which dies? This is from Matthew 24:40-41. They speculate that the one that is “taken” is “raptured” away. And they conveniently ignore the statements just prior to these verses that set up these comments:
And as the days of Noah, so also shall the coming of the Son of Man be. [This they assume to be the time of their supposed rapture].
For as they were in the days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not know until the flood came and took them all away. So also shall the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:37-39!
So who died?
The ones who were taken away.
Who lived?
Those that were left!
Noah knew what was happening. He understood the prophecies and he testified to that by building a large barge on dry land to hold his family and a select group of creatures. Noah and his family were the only ones left alive. The flood took all the others away.
Will a “rapture” come in 2008, or 2009, or any year prior to the first day of the Eighth Age?
Nope.
The “rapture” is defined as “A Theological term not used in the Bible.”
But “Resurrection,” “raise up out of their graves,” “stand on their feet,” “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth wake up” are found in the Scriptures. So rather than doting upon a non-scriptural Theological notion, learn what this means:
Blessed is he [or she] who is waiting earnestly, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty five days.
This is reference to the time at the end of this age and into the beginning of the next age. It covers the three and one-half years of the great tribulation, and ends in the Eighth age on a very special Feast and High Day!
Those who cling to the notion of a “pre-tribulation rapture” will not know until the end comes and takes them all away.
Other than the resurrection of the two witnesses, there is only one end of the age resurrection prophesied in the Scriptures.
Protection is promised for those whose “names are written in the book” and those who receive the seal from Elahim, and those who are victorious during the time of tribulation. Belonging to a religion, sect, cult, or whatever offers only tribulation until one knows and acts on the truth that will set him or her free.
For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we made known to you the power and coming of our Master Eyahushuah, the Messiah, but were eyewitnesses of his superbness. For when he received respect and esteem from Elah, the Father, such a voice came to him the Excellent Esteem, “This is My Son, the Beloved in whom I delight.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the set-apart mountain.
And we have the prophetic word made more certain, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture came to be of one’s own interpretation, for prophecy never came by the desire of man, but men of Elahim spoke being moved by the set-apart Spirit. 2 Peter 1:16-21 The Scriptures
I listen to a lot of Christian radio, which includes many messages by pastors. Also, attend church regularly. I have never heard about anyone predicting the Rapture in 2007. Is this only an internet/blog buzz? If so, what are your thoughts on why I haven’t heard about this “prediction” or “speculation” until reading your blog?
I noticed this first from a number of searches that wound up pointing people to this blog, which surprises me because I never wrote anything about this before.
So I performed the same searches and found pages that others had published on their own web sites. One very large page went on and on about this idea trying to justify it from every angle that writer could imagine.
As far as Christian radio and churches go, not too long ago a famous SoCal pastor made a similar prediction for another year in which he predicted a rapture would happen. This pastor has many offshoot churches in his group and has been on the radio and TV for years. When his predictions failed to materialize, he had a lot of egg on his face, and his credibility was questioned. He probably will never make that kind of “prophecy” again.
Those making the 2007 (40 years since 1967) prediction are starting to bail out by saying that it may happen in 2008.
The doctrine of the “near pass rapture” is not supported by the Prophets or the Apostles, although churches, probably yours, continue to teach it, though without the predictions.
We are living in the end of the seventh age. Therefore, it would do us all good to truly understand the many real prophecies associated with this time and with the next age. But as long as the teachers continue to teach the doctrine of the immortal soul, of going to heaven or hell, and then coming back to pick up the old body (“resurrection of the body”), and being “raptured” away to avoid the great tribulation, the people will never come to the truth about what Jesus, the Apostles, the Prophets, and Moses really taught.
Will they learn? Probably not. We may yet see congregations follow their “shepherds” out to some mountain or desert place, wearing white robes and craning their necks to the skies.
There was a time table of events given to Daniel thta even he did not understand and were unknown even to the Apostles. These were kept hidden until our age. Do the Christian radio stations, pastors, and churches teach these things? Have you heard about the end-time prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the post-exilic prophets? Have they taught about the ages that were given in a vision to one of our fathers? Have religious leaders taught about the important spiritual meaning of not “eating what is unclean” or worshiping on “unclean and polluted days?” What is that all about?
As i can find one of the main things that also point to the end of times is the failing of democracy. After Democracy falls what Government type is left? There has been so many types, and as far as i can tell there is only ONE type left. Ruled by God. When all this is over no one will be able to say ” but what if man had tried this” there is going to be nothing else for man to try. God has allowed man to try everything he can to rule himself. man has failed, God has proven to man and lucifer that God was, Is and always will be right.
If you want to see the progression of the end times, look at a jewish wedding cerimony,From setting up a contract, outlining what is expected of the Bride, to the groom leaving and not being able to say would he would return for his bride” only the Father of the groom knows when his son will return to collect his bride.
Actually there are probably other types of government, although historians and social scientists have most of them classified as falling into one group or another. But that is not the point, is it?
There is one thing that most governments hate including democracy: the individual gift of self-government. President Reagan addressed the same in his inaugural address. Within democracy is an underlying fear coming from all political parties that individuals can and should self-govern. One party wants to make sure that the government intrudes in all life from birth to death. Another party wants to control the people by a nearly dictatorial rule of law, and that includes providing a military specifically dedicated to keeping the citizens under control. Then there is tyrannical religious government that only receives power when the people subject themselves to its supposed governance.
But no government, political or religious, wants citizens that are truly free and capable of conducting their lives in such a way that will guarantee peace, prosperity, and long life free from government intervention.
The Law or Torah found in the Scriptures can be divided into three groups: the law for individuals, for priests, and for righteous rulers. We have separated ourselves from understanding how that can work in this or any culture. It is never about either government or religion. It is about righteousness.
If the people really know the truth, then the truth will set them free. That applies to the subject at hand. As long as the sects can convince people that they will be raptured away before the time of trouble, then those people are held under the control of those teachers.
There is protection promised to those are truly free, but what is ignored is the possibility of protection by death:
Understanding the faithfulness of Eyahuwah and his promises to raise people from the dead gives freedom. “You must be born from above!” Knowing and understanding the truth about the resurrection is liberating.
Re the “pretrib rapture” that you mentioned, I found out that Artisan Publishers is soon issuing a new printing of MacPherson’s The Rapture Plot which is a virtual encyclopedia of the glorious but groundless pretribulation rapture view which no church before 1830 ever taught. Lou
Did Nostradamus predict the rapture in September 2007?
Century 10, Quatrain 74:
The year 7 of the great number accomplished,
It will appear at the time of the games of hecatombe (slaughter),
Not far from the age of the great millennium,
When the dead will come out of their graves.
The great number accomplished…2000…the year 7 of that number(near the great millennium)…2007. Nostradamus mentions the games of hecatombe(Jeux d’Hecatombe). Most interpretations have this quoted as the “games of slaughter” but let’s look at this verse more closely. Hecatombe was an event which occurred on the 4th day of the Olympic games of ancient Greece in Athens every 4 years. On that day 100 cattle were slaughtered and sacrificed to the gods and everyone feasted for free…a big time BBQ. Sporting events held on that day included running, but more importantly, wrestling, boxing and the most violent one, pankration, which was a combination of wrestling, boxing, kicking…a no holds barred competition which, I believe, was the most popular event of the entire Olympic games. Indeed, the day of Hecatombe was probably the favorite day of the Olympics and one Nostradamus could substantially attach to one of his visions or prophecies in relating what he saw. This year from September 18-23 the 2007 World Olympic Wrestling Championships will be held in Baku,(which interestingly means either “God” or “mount of God”) Azerbaijan. Notably as well, Rosh HaShannah(the 10-day Jewish holiday of the “Feast of Trumpets”) begins on September 12 and culminates on Yom Kippur,(“Day of Atonement”)the most holy of all Jewish holidays, September 22. Many believe that the Messiah(Moshiach) will return during this time of the Feast of Trumpets and the dead will be resurrected when the last(7th) shofar blows. Could Nostradamus have seen the dead coming out of their graves as mentioned in the Bible? And could all this happen during the Feast of Trumpets, perhaps on Yom Kippur, September 22, 2007?
Did Nostradamus predict the rapture in September 2007?
Absolutely not.
The question assumes that “the rapture” is a fact. It is not a fact, but only a Christian religion theory assumed by evangelicals and fundamentalists.
Even in the quatrain Nostradamus says:
In other words, he associates the great millennium as the time when the dead will come out of their graves! So he doesn’t support the rapture at all!
If you understand this quatrain, you will see that it correlates to the series of posts I recently wrote concerning the sequence of the events and conditions that will happen at the end of our age and the beginning of the next.
Here is another translation from John Hogue’s Nostradamus, The Complete Prophecies:
From what I see, “The year the great seventh number is accomplished” is the last year of the Seventh Age revealed to Enoch about which I wrote in many posts.
This year is also a time of “great slaughter”, so great that Jesus said in the Olivet prophecies that “If those days were not cut short, no flesh would be saved alive.” Nostradamus referred to Olympic games as a metaphor. The key is not in the literal “hecatomb” of the past, but a time of great slaughter with many victims, yet in the future, very shortly before the millennium or the Eighth Age.
Furthermore, there is another major problem in the above comment: The author apparently has never read the Law of Moses concerning the Feasts and High Days, about which I also wrote. There is no “10 day” feast in the Law. The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths are both only seven days. All other Feasts and High days, including the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, are only single day events! Read Leviticus 23.
That many think Jesus will return on the Feast of Trumpets is also only an assumption. It matters little how many people believe something. That does not make it true. No Scripture was ever conceived by taking a poll or vote of what the populations thinks!
Jesus said, “Multitudes will come ‘in my name’ claiming that I am the Messiah, and will deceive the masses!”
The most likely day when Eyahuwah (the One who became the One we call ‘Jesus’) will come to the earth would be the first day of the year on Enoch’s calendar, which is also the spring equinox. But He might come a little sooner than that to cut the time short. The prophecies (Zechariah 14) show that the Day of Eyahuwah will be a day unlike any other day in the history of humanity.
When will that happen? I cannot say, and neither can anyone else. But we can know the end time, if we have wisdom and understanding.
Nostradamus considered the Scriptures to be a vital asset to prophecies, but he compromised his position by assuming that astrology was equally as important; and he says that he tried his best to reconcile the two only to admit that he might have made mistakes.
Before studying any of Nostradamus’ quatrains, one should read his Preface and Epistle until he or she fully understands these important documents, which are keys to understanding what Nostradamus wrote.
Judging from the great number of errors in the above comment, I am forced to consider that the author has not read the Torah or Law of Moses, the Preface and Epistle of Nostradamus, or the Prophets.
There will be no resurrection or so-called “rapture” in September of 2007 or at any time in 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010 and so on. The appointed times of the end of the seventh age have not yet come! When these times start, only then can we know when we can lift up our heads in anticipation of our deliverance from “the times of the games of slaughter.”
Timothy Sakach, Ph. D.
DOLCINO? DUH!
Eschatological enforcer Thomas Ice claims that someone named Dolcino taught a pretribulation rapture in 1304 A.D. What Ice doesn’t like to reveal is that Dolcino’s “proof” DOESN’T EVEN EXIST! So what does Ice’s claim rest on? Well, LONG AFTER Dolcino’s death an ANONYMOUS person wrote a SECONDHAND history of what Dolcino reportedly penned – a history that was CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES between the 1300s and the 1900s! If you’re wondering about Thomas Ice’s qualifications as a scholar, Google “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers)” and “Thomas Ice (Hired Gun).” Many are unaware that after the Communists took over Russia and China, there were Christians in those countries who became violent with pastors who had constantly assured them that they would be raptured before anything resembling end-time horrors. Can Ice and other pretrib rapture merchandisers rest assured that if such scenarios occur in America and some other “rapturized” countries, Christians won’t be just as violent towards them?
Interesting. Thank you.
I find it strange that Christians seem more prone to believe anything except the Scriptures. I included in the MESSAGES! one of David Solomon’s talks on Israel National Radio about why Jews cannot accept any of the Christian teachings. He made a statement that goes along with something I wrote. He pointed out that the Christians have it backward. He said that you cannot start with the New Testament and work backwards into the Scriptures, but rather one must start with the Scriptures and build a foundation before even reading anything from the New Testament.
I agree with this to the level of 95%. I am convinced that we need to go back even earlier than Moses. This is why I published, “Enoch: The Book Behind the Bible” (now available on Amazon). Enoch was shown that the resurrection (not a “rapture”) was going to happen. And it was this revelation that become foundational to the writings of not only Moses but also the prophets. Only later did the apostles get involved.
But, most likely as a spiritual test, Paul, the Pharisee, was allowed to come along and create a “church” that was the antithesis of the Scriptures and the writings of the Jewish apostles. This functioned as a filter to make a separation between those who are wise and have understanding and those who are easily deceived.
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