Bible students have tried to determine when the Lord will return. Unfortunately, many have stumbled over the doctrine of imminence-the idea that Jesus Christ could return at any moment. In their search for When?, they have spent much time in futility as Ponce de Leon did in his search for the fountain of youth which he ultimately discovered did not exist. They, like him, have been led astray by a doctrine that is not taught anywhere in sacred Scripture.

As long as they keep looking for that elusive fountain of youth, imminence, they will never be able to recognize the when because they do not know the answer to what.

Until the answer to "what" is discovered, we will never know when the Rapture may happen. When? examines both the when and the what-helping you to know the warning signs of the approaching Tribulation.

WHEN?

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Contents

FOREWORD..............................................................7PREFACE...............................................................8INTRODUCTION..........................................................111. THE VALLEY.........................................................172. THE RAPTURE........................................................253. WARNING SIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN FULFILLED.............................314. WARNING SIGNS THAT ARE BEING FULFILLED.............................355. WARNING SIGNS THAT WILL BE FULFILLED...............................436. EARLY CHURCH FATHERS...............................................637. REFORMERS..........................................................838. MODERN ERA.........................................................879. COMMANDS TO BE ALERT...............................................11710. THE GAP...........................................................12711. SEVEN CHURCH PERIODS..............................................14112. THE DOCTRINE OF IMMINENCE.........................................14513. IS THE RAPTURE IMMINENT?..........................................15714. THE OLIVET DISCOURSE..............................................17915. WORLD CHURCH......................................................20516. WORLD ECONOMY.....................................................21117. WORLD GOVERNMENT..................................................21718. BIG BROTHER.......................................................225CONCLUSION............................................................234AFTERWORD.............................................................253GLOSSARY..............................................................255APPENDIX A Tribulation warning signs.................................261What you must do to be saved..........................................263Discipleship..........................................................264APPENDIX C Brief arguments concerning Imminence......................265APPENDIX D Rejection of other Rapture positions......................267APPENDIX E Peter's bones.............................................273APPENDIX F Incorrect predictions by Christians.......................275APPENDIX G New World Order Gang......................................299NOTES.................................................................309ABOUT THE AUTHORS.....................................................313BIBLIOGRAPHY..........................................................315

Chapter One

The Old Testament prophets saw two distinct comings of the Messiah. They saw the first coming in which the Messiah would die for mankind. They also saw the second coming in which the Messiah would establish His physical kingdom on Earth. Between the two comings (mountain peaks) is a valley (the duration between the two comings). They did not know how large that valley is, but they gave some definite hints of its size.

Isaiah 61

The key to Pre-Millennial and Pre-Tribulation eschatology is found in the 61st chapter of the book of Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers. But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them. For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. (Isaiah 61.1-11)

This prophecy shows the Messiah will usher in three different periods of time:

1. A long time likened to a year (at His First Coming). 2. A short period of time likened to a day (at the Rapture). 3. A time of comfort to all that mourn in Zion (at His Glorious Appearing).

These three periods of time are: 1. The Christian dispensation. 2. The seven-year Tribulation. 3. The Millennial Kingdom.

Jesus began his ministry by bringing in the first period of time — the Christian dispensation (Luke 4.18-19). On the day that He raptures the Church. He will usher in the second period — the Tribulation. Then at the end of the Tribulation with His glorious appearing, He will bring in the third period of time — the Millennial Kingdom.

The length of the Tribulation in relation to the Christian dispensation is like one day is to a year. The Tribulation will be seven years in length, so the Christian dispensation would be about 360 times as long, or approximately 2520 years. Remember, it is not an exact relationship, but an approximate one. That means if we took it absolutely literally it would be, but we believe He is showing an approximate period of time.

It has been a tradition for more than 2000 years for Jews in every congregation to read the same passage on the Sabbath. On the Sabbath that Jesus went to the synagogue and read the passage in Isaiah 61, that same passage was read in every synagogue in the world. Jesus stopped reading after the phrase, "to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor." He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and then said, "Today hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4.21). He did not read on and say, "and the day of vengeance of our God" (the Tribulation) and "to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion" (Millennial Kingdom), because those prophecies would not be fulfilled for nearly 2000 years. This is the foundational passage for the doctrine of Pre-Millennialism, which teaches that the Second Coming of Jesus will take place before the Millennial Kingdom.

Isaiah 61 teaches three periods of time — a long one like a year (Christian dispensation), followed by a short period of time like a day (Tribulation) and then the Millennial Kingdom.

The Olivet Discourse follows the same pattern. The First Coming of Christ and the Church Age are described in Matthew 24.4-8, and the Tribulation and Second Coming are covered in verses 9-31. The beginning of the Millennial Kingdom is then described in Matthew 25.31-34.

Chapters 1-3 of Revelation describe the First Coming of Christ and the Church dispensation. Chapters 4-5 give the scene in Heaven after the Rapture ("Come up hither," 4.1), and chapters 6-19 describe the Tribulation and the Second Coming. Chapters 20-22 describe the Millennial and Eternal Kingdoms.

The early dispensationalists did not believe the prophets saw the Church Age. They would draw a chart like the one above picturing the prophets seeing the mountain of his First Coming and the mountain peak of his Second Coming, but not the valley of the church age in between. However the following passages show that their position is incorrect, and that prophets clearly saw the valley of the church age and its length.

Peter affirmed the long gap of time between the two comings of the Messiah

Peter explained that Jesus had to return to Heaven until the "times of restoration of all things" and he said this was foretold by the prophets:

Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets that have beenfrom of old. (Acts 3.19-21, emphasis mine) There are four types of Messianic prophecies and the fourth shows there is a gap between the first and second comings of the Messiah:

First — The prophecies that only refer to Christ's first coming (Deuteronomy 18.18; Psalm 16.8-11; 34.20; 40.6-10; 41.9; 69.13-28; Isaiah 7.14; 52.13-53.12; Zechanah 13.7) Second — The prophecies that only refer to Christ's second coming (Psalm 2.48; 72.1-19; Isaiah 2-4; 24; 32; 33; 35; 60; Jeremiah 3.11-18; 23.1-8; Ezekiel 34; Amos 9.11-15; Habakkuk 3; Zephamah 3.8-20; Zechanah 14) Third — the prophecies that blend the two comings together (Genesis 49.10; Psalm 22; Isaiah 9.5-7; 11.1-12; 6; Zechanah 6.9-15; 9.9-10) Fourth — The prophecies giving Christ's first coming, His second coming, and the interval of time between (Psalm 110; Hosea 5.14-6.3; Isaiah 42.14; 61.1-4).

The prophets prophesied two different comings of the Messiah. The first in which the Messiah would die for mankind (Isaiah 52.13-53.12), and the second in which He would defeat the forces of wickedness and establish His Millennial Kingdom (Isaiah 11.1-16; 65.17-25). It is obvious that there would be a period of time separating the two comings. There were several hints given by the Old Testament prophets that the valley would be very large as noted previously. Yet the Lord Himself made it perfectly clear that this valley would be very large. His parables of the nobleman (Luke 19.12) and talents (Matthew 25.19) as noted above emphasized this truth. The phrases, "went to a distant country" and "after a long time," show there would be a long period of time between the two comings of the Messiah, and that the valley would be very large.

The prophets said the Messiah would come to Earth, go back to Heaven and then return a long time later? David, Isaiah and Hosea:

Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until (the entire Church Age) I make thine enemies thy footstool. Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. (Psalm 110.1-2) Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till (the entire Christian dispensation) he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall waitfor his law. (Isaiah 42.1-4) To proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor (Church Age), and the day of vengeance of our God (Tribulation); to comfort all that mourn ... (Isaiah 61.2) For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and there shall be none to deliver. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly. Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. (Hosea 5.14-6.3, emphasis mine)

Peter noted this in his sermon under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The phrase "even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive until times of restoration of all things" is the key. The times of restoration would not be a few decades, but will be nearly 2000 years.

According to Hosea 6.2, "After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him" we understand there is two days between the resurrection of Jesus and His return. Remember a "day" in some instances can be 1000 years (2 Peter 3.8). It should also be noted that some theologians argue the Lord offered the kingdom to the Jews at His first coming. This hypothesis is not valid because, as shown, Scripture specified there would be a gap between the two comings. Jesus also said this gap would be a very long period of time. If Jesus intended to offer the "kingdom" to the Jews that offer would have been recorded in the Bible. Instead, He made an offer to Jews and Gentiles alike to believe in Him. When Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharisee, came to Jesus secretly early in His ministry, He made the offer of salvation to him and to everyone (John 3.1-16). This meeting took place at the beginning of His ministry. He prophesied that He would die for the world:

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life." (John 3.14-15)

We know from other statements by Jesus that He came to die for all the people of the world (Matthew 20.28; 26.28). We also know from the Old Testament that the Messiah would die for the world (Isaiah 52.13-53.12). It is pure speculation to declare that Jesus intended to make the offer of the "kingdom" to Israel, and if accepted then offer Himself as the Passover lamb, followed by His resurrection from the dead and the establishment of His "kingdom."

The idea that the Lord offered the "Kingdom of Heaven" to the nation of Israel is not biblical. Those who spend time arguing that there is a difference between the terms, the "Kingdom of Heaven" and the "Kingdom of God" are wasting their time. The Lord Himself said:

And Jesus said unto his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19.23-24)

Since the Lord used the two interchangeably, it is a serious mistake to claim they are different. There is no difference between the "Kingdom of God" and the "Kingdom of Heaven." There is only one gospel as Paul boldly declared, and any other gospel is a false gospel (Galatians 1.6, 9). At the end of his ministry Paul was preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Acts 28.30).

Conclusion

The apostles and early Church fathers may not have guessed how long the Church Age would be, but we know that it will be almost 2000 years. Thusly, the understanding that the valley between the two mountain peaks of the first and second comings of Christ is a long period of time of approximately 2000 years is the only acceptable understanding.

STUDY QUESTIONS

Chapter 1

1. Which period did Jesus usher in?

2. Which period will He bring in next?

3. What is the third period that He will inaugurate, and when will He do it?

Chapter Two

The "Rapture" is a word that refers to the catching away of all believers from Earth to meet Jesus Christ in the air when He returns. The Greek word. harpazo, that is translated "caught up" (1 Thessalonians 4.17), means to "snatch or catch away" with "forceful seizure" (Vine's Expository Dictionary, p. 174). The Rapture of believers from Earth is not a point of disagreement among Christians; it is the timing of the Rapture that is not agreed upon.

The Blessed Event

Paul described this event in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica, Greece:

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4.15-17)

The announcement of the catching up from Earth of all believers, dead and alive, takes place in a matter of several moments. The archangel shouts the command, "Come up here!" (Revelation 4.1), and then the trumpet of God is blown. We do not know how long the trumpet blast is, but it could be from several seconds to a minute or more because more than one trumpet is blown. Paul said believers will be changed "at the last trumpet" (1 Corinthians 15.52).

The dead in Christ are raised first, and then the bodies of all living believers are transformed from mortal bodies to immortal ones. Once they are transformed they are "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air.

Paul gave more information in his first letter to the church in Corinth:

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15.51-52)

(Continues...)

Excerpted from WHEN?by F. Kenton Beshore R. William Keller Copyright © 2011 by Dr. F. Kenton Beshore with R. William Keller. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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