Study Lesson 12
Biblical Rapture Timing Evidence
Or
End Time Understanding By Some
Something To Consider:
In the next three study lessons of which are still pertaining to a biblical rapture perspective and an enduring to the end gospel, we will lay the ground work for a possible future in depth investigation of Scripture to be completed by each of us on our own in private. We will be merely touching the surface of Old and New Testament Scripture references that reveal biblical rapture timing evidence and end time understanding by some.
These end time events that we will be discussing in these next three lessons scripturally appear to take place before the gathering of the saints as proclaimed by Jesus in Matthew 24.31. And yet, we do not want to appear emphatic or as all-knowing concerning these and other events. We do not claim to know the hour or the day of Jesus Christ’s return and His gathering of His enduring to the end saints to Himself.
We have been given enough information in advance by Jesus and other biblical writers to ascertain the lateness of the hour in which we live. Therefore, we will make mention of twelve (12) end time events, four [4] per each of the next three study lessons, although there does appear to be more than twelve [12].
End Time Event #1:
In one of Daniel’s visions in Daniel chapter 8, he predicted, “And in the latter time [end times] of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means. And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.”
There is coming a cunning, deceptive, and violent world leader that will arise onto the scene of the world’s final round of leaders. His power will not be his own. He appears to be an end time representative of an evil behind the scenes demonic force that will be used by Satan as a puppet in the orchestration of final earthly events. He is not only deceptive but he causes deceit to prosper under his rule and authority, and he will exalt himself in his heart. Therefore Jesus admonished enduring to the end saints, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Are we following the admonition of Jesus? Are we being deceived? Have we been deceived?
End Time Event #2:
A covenant or treaty is to be confirmed concerning the area of the Middle East and Israel at least. This covenant will mark the beginning of a final seven (7) year period of man’s political, military, and religious rule upon planet earth. Daniel in his book of prophecy in chapter 9 wrote of a seventy (70) week period of time to represent 490 biblical years. We will not go into detail here concerning the 70 weeks, other than to say, many bible scholars believe there is one (1) week or seven year period of Daniel’s prophecy remaining.
Therefore, in verse 27 of Daniel chapter 9 we are given the following future end time information; “Then he [the end time representative of Satan] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week [7 biblical years]; but in the middle of the week [3-1/2 years or approx. 1,260 days according to the Babylonian calendar of that day] he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation [end], which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”
If God is able to predict this evil interruption to the above mentioned peace accord, God is also able to protect and to provide for His own who are endeavoring to endure to the end. As the writer of Psalm 1 declared, “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” God will be faithful to accomplish His Word. Will we be faithful to attend to Jesus’ command to endure to the end?
End Time Event #3:
Some of these twelve (12) end time events overlap such as the above event and the permission being given or negotiated for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem that is yet to be built. In the above event Daniel mentioned this representative of Satan or Antichrist who will bring an end to sacrifice and offering in that yet to built Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
Jewish sacrifices and offerings have not taken place since the second temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by an invading Roman army under the leadership of Titus a Roman general. Historians report that Titus gave strict orders to not desecrate the Jewish temple, but it was destroyed by fire and every massive stone was thrown down as prophesied by Jesus approx. forty [40] years earlier in verse 2 of Matthew chapter 24.
The Jewish temple must be built according to Jesus in Matthew 24.15, “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, [declared by the angel Gabriel as an end time event] standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.”
Jesus then warned in verse 21 of Matthew 24, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
The term “elect” is mentioned approx. sixteen [16] times in the bible. They are as follows: ten times the word elect refers to believers in general, two times elect refers to believers who are Gentiles, once the word elect defines believers who were Jewish, twice elect refers to Jesus Christ, and once more the word elect is used of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, who became a believer in God. Therefore the word elect refers to believers and not the nation of Israel as taught by many.
Paul writing in Romans 11.7, speaking of the election of grace, announced, “What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the election [believing Gentiles] have obtained it [election by faith through grace], and the rest [Israel] were blind.” Therefore in the midst of Jesus warning believers of great tribulation that they are going to be confronted with, He promised the shortening of those days for His faithful elect enduring to the end saints.
End Time Event #4
As mentioned earlier but important enough to be included in the list of end time events and evidences of the biblical timing of the rapture; is the future removal of the daily sacrifices and offerings unto God in the yet to be built new Jewish temple in Jerusalem. The evidence of this can be found in the already alluded to Scripture of Daniel 9.27 and also Daniel 11.31. “And forces shall be mustered by him [Satan’s evil end time earthly representative], and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.”
We have more evidence of the removal of the daily sacrifices in the yet to be built Jewish temple in Jerusalem according to Daniel 12.11. “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days [30 days more than 3-1/2 years].”
The angel Gabriel said to Daniel in the closing words of Daniel chapter 12, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words [the words of Daniel’s prophecy] are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”
In Closing:
Are we to be found by Jesus among the wise who understand and therefore heed the warnings of the Word of God? Or are we among the wicked who do not understand and therefore continue to mislead and to deceive themselves and others concerning the truth pertaining to end time events such as the timing of the blessed hope or more recently described as the rapture?
According to Jesus 