1 Thess. 4:13-18
The clearest prophecy about the coming of the LORD for His own is this reference. The living believers will be "Caught up." in v17. From the Latin, for caught up comes the term" rapture" /harpazo ("seize") refers to a catching away." (Abbott-Smith) The word "rapture" is taken from the Latin for the two words "caught up. The one raptured is "lifted up" in love. Those who have died in The LORD will rise first, v16.
V 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. There will be one generation that will not see death. And it is very likely we are this generation. This coming will be in the air and later [approx. seven (7) years He will come back to the earth. This coming involves the saved since the Cross. The word Church in the N.T. refers to all who have been born from above, born of God [John 1:13]. The Church is also called the Body of Christ. "Comfort one another" we are to encourage and comfort one another in the Faith of Christ. This is difficult to do. Reason? Most people do not even want to talk about this event. Nevertheless, this is a coming event. It is facing mankind.
People say, I have heard all this before, and things continue just like always. Yes, and so many are at "ease", asleep to the time and warning and the danger: Rom_13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.Eph_5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. All three verses speak to the saved.
Things are different now. We all can say we have never seen a time like this.
1] I believe the last days and the end time are different. Without Israel, there is no end time. Paul talked about the last days while he was alive. It is found in his letter to Timothy, The end time I believe started May 14, 1948, when Israel was recognized as a Nation. We are in the end time since 1948.
2] This Generation shall not pass away before all these things take place. Matthew 24:32-35 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
" When Jesus says "this generation," the Greek word for a generation here is genea. Genea refers to a particular age or time. Combined with the statement "all these things take place," which would include all the events of the seven-year Tribulation - everything that Jesus had been talking about...the birth pains (vs. 4-14)...the abomination of desolation (vs. 15)...the need to flee because of the impending dangers (vs. 16-28)...and the catastrophic chaos of the universe (vs. 29), brings us to the conclusion that the generation in existence when Israel was formed will not pass away (die) before the Second Coming."[1] This would be a one-generation event. From 1948 to the end of the tribulation – but back up seven years to the beginning of the Tribulation and you have the Coming of Christ for His Body, the rapture the next event on the Divine Calendar
3 ] How long is a generation? Psa_90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. I believe this close to the Biblical time for a generation. It could be less or more. My point is it is close even at the door. It is in the Father's hands and not in the events that are taking place even though they are signs of the times
"It's interesting that, even though Moses wrote Psalm 90 over 3,000 years ago, and he lived to be 120 years old, today, 70 years is almost exactly the average life expectancy of human beings worldwide. The average life span of those living today in Israel is between 70 and 80 years! It is reasonable to conclude that the generation Christ was talking about in the parable of the fig tree will also be 70 to 80 years in length." But the coming is in the Father's Hands I do not know His calculation, For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? We know there has never been a time like this.
4] There is the alignment of Nations that has never been before. The LORD raises up and He puts down. For example: On April 12, 1945, just 82 days into his fourth term, Roosevelt died. Truman had been nominated as FDR's running mate for his fourth term, FDR was against making Israel a Nation but Truman favored such.
In the Abrahamic accord that Trump initiated those nations will be an ally with Israel in the end time war along with the U.S. I believe. Ezekiel 38:13 Sheba, [Yemen]and Dedan [Saudi Arabia]{and many of the Araba Gulf States] , and the merchants of Tarshish [G.B., with all the young lions [U.S.]thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
The President of Turkey is urging Putin, the President of Russia to teach Israel a lesson for defending themself against Hamas. Anti-Semitic rhetoric is ramped up everywhere even in modern-day churches.
And Turkey and Russia and Iran are lined up against Israel in the coming war. [see Chart below] -Ez. 38:8-16&18-23.[38:2-6]
Russia is the country to the far North of Israel. 38:15
Why is there such interest in Israel? They are a very wealthy country in every way. The Dead Sea has billions of tons of chemicals. They are rich in Natural gas and oil. They are an exporter of Natural gas. I think the media tries to hide their wealth. They are a Super Power But it is the LORD that draws the nations down and Who defeats this league of Nations that comes against Israel.
Isaiah 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
"I had read before that Tarshish is actually a reference to the British isles so I thought I would do a little research into this. I found this taken from 'the Oxford bible church website' The young lions of Tarshish are a reference to the colonies that emerged from Britain and Europe – including the USA. Out of the Merchants of Tarshish came the colonial Empires. The most successful of these was Great Britain. The symbol of Great Britain is a lion. That symbol exists to this day and no other empire had more young lions than Great Britain. I also found many references to Tarshish being a maritime nation so this is a particular hint that it could be the British Isles." Copied fromhttps://ecomalen.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/modern-day-tarshish/
Dr. Mark Hitchcock points out a possible connection between Tarshish and Britain in his book entitled, "The Late Great United States." Hitchcock states;
"Some archeologists believe that Tarshish was the ancient name of Britain. Tarshish and her villages or young lions — in other words Britain which then settled Canada and the United States and Australia."[ii]
The modern-day equivalents of these protestors today are commonly understood and taught to be;
- Sheba: Yemen.
- Dedan: Saudi Arabia and perhaps parts of the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) Arab Gulf States.
- Tarshish: Either the UK -I believe Great Britian.
- Young Lions: Either the colonies that came from the UK, namely United States.
I do not think that we have a full understanding of the eternal order. I believe the LORD is more gracious than we can even think, when the Bible says, "The unsearchable riches of Christ", When the Bible says, His ways are past finding out. Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
The age of accountability for entrance into the promised land for Israel was 20 years old, Num 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
What is it today? I think that is determined by the LORD. He is Omniscient.
In the Thousand years reign of Christ on earth, The children born in the kingdom age will have a 100 years to be saved! How are people born again in the Thousand-year reign? By Grace through Faith.
Since the Coming of Christ and mankind is saved by Faith in Christ.
I want to come back to these words, Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
What does that say to us in light of that passage of scripture?
1] It says you must know Christ! He is coming back for those who belong to Him and He is bringing those who have died in Him, v 14-17.
Why is it necessary to be saved? Because we need forgiveness. The path back to God is forgiveness. Mark 2:1-12. And we all stand in need of forgiveness because of sin.
[3]When He saw their faith! Not when He saw their works, their compassion, obedience but when He saw their faith. Jesus can see if you have faith.. He is able to see your attitude toward Him. He can read your minds and knows your thoughts about Him.
Faith is something that is inward. Faith is an invisible quality or attitude. He said to the sick, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Nowhere is it taught that you can believe for someone else. [We cannot exclude the faith of the paralytic himself, who had doubtless persuaded the four to do this for him. Bullinger]. This paralytic was unable to do anything, he was paralysis but he had faith. Faith and believe are the same. Jesus does not need to see action to know if you have faith. Jesus knows your thought about Him. [ to the thief on the cross, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.]
This is proven in Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? He knew their hearts [the scribes] and their attitude toward Him. He can read our thoughts and He does not need to see action to know if you believe. If that is not true then how could you be justified by faith? What did He say about Abraham, Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Why are you forgiven by faith? Because believe is something that everyone can do. The requirement is the same for everyone, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: This paralytic was left out on the things he could do, but he could have faith. If it is by behavior some people would have an advantage but not with faith. This man had his sins forgiven because he had faith in Jesus. Jesus sees your faith and He knows your attitude toward Him.
Jesus said, If I wash thee not you have no part with me, Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Revelation 1:5,"°° Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," That is a past tense love that goes back to the Cross and it has a present-tense power for anyone who will believe on Him today. He saved you more than two thousand years ago on the Cross and that is His Grace, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. and He is not asking you to do anything but believe on Him for His promise of eternal life.
You are born again at the moment you believed, to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. You are born from above at the point of believing on Jesus Christ who did the work of salvation on the Cross by Himself,[ Hebrews 1:3]
2] It brings you back to your daily life, 1Jn_2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Out of fellowship with the LORD, what will you do about your sin?
1] Confess your sin! That means you must acknowledge it. 1 John 1:9. Psalm 51: David's confession was with feeling.
2] You have an Advocate with the Father. On the Righthand of the Father. He is there since His Resurrection and Return to the Father. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; [Purged means a complete washing]
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