Is the return of Christ Jesus imminent?
Not exactly, we’re raptured out of this earth to be with Jesus Christ at the last Trump just like the Bible says!
Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall 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.
1 Corinthians 15:51
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel (The angel with the last trumpet of the book of Revelation), when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to His servants the prophets.
Revelation 10:7
Let’s see what happens at the last trumpet of the book of Revelation.
This is exactly where the church will be raptured at!
And the seventh angel sounded (again the seventh angel with the last trumpet); and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.
Revelation 11:15
Now, still reading the events that will happen at the last trumpet…
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows he hath but a short time (3 1/2 years). And when the dragon (Satan) saw that he was cast unto the Earth, he persecuted the woman (The nation of Israel, especially the West Bank, Judah) which brought forth the manchild (Jesus). And to the woman, were given two wings of a great eagle, (The United States), that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place (land of Israel), where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time from the face of the serpent (Satan).
Revelation 12:12-14
That is a 3 1/2 year period, called, The Great Tribulation.
Let’s back up and look at what else happens during the seventh trumpet era…
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:7-9
Notice that this doesn’t happen until the last trumpet has sounded. Satan still has access into heaven, and he is the accuser of the brethren!
Let’s look and see if there’s anything in the Old Testament where Michael and Satan fight and see what happens.
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, (Great Tribulation, 3 1/2 years), such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:1-2
If you notice Michael is standing up right before, or at the time of the great tribulation.
We are taken out of this world the day the antichrist stands in the Jewish rebuilt temple, claiming to be the Messiah. It’s at that point Satan will be revealed, when he enters into the antichrist’s body and possesses it for the last 3 1/2 years.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering (rapture) together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as the day of Christ is at hand
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
(He just told them it had not happened yet).
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed (Satan, not the antichrist), the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
This is the third, Jewish, rebuilt temple that they are getting ready to build. Everything prior to this point has to take place before the rapture so there are still events and prophecies that will come to pass before the rapture. Let’s see what happens during the sixth trumpet era…
And the sixth angel (with the sixth trumpet) sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
Revelation 9:13-15
This looks like it will be a prolonged war that is started from nations that the Euphrates river runs right through… The old Persian Empire, which is still the same region, but they have changed the name to Iran and other Muslim nations. Nearly all prophecies have to deal with the Middle East nations of Israel/Jews and the Muslim nations. Also, in the sixth trumpet era…
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; It is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. (This is part of a two state solution that the governments of the world is pushing for now! Jerusalem and the temple mount will be divided)
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:1-3
(These two prophets will prophesy the first 3 1/2 years)
Following a war that’s going to kill a third part of mankind, the nation of Israel and the Jewish people will rebuild the third temple. A world leader, which ultimately will be the antichrist will sign a seven year covenant with the many (Arab/Muslim nations and the Jews/Israelis). The first 3 1/2 years will be a time of peace in which the Jews will be able to rebuild this third temple. At the 3 1/2 yr mark, Satan will then possess the body of the antichrist and claim to be the Messiah. The last 3 1/2 years (of the seven year covenant) will be The Great Tribulation.
Here are just a few things that the church will see before the rapture:
- We will see this war that kills a third part of mankind…
- We will see the two prophets (my guess would be Elijah and Enoch or Moses) prophesy for the first 3 1/2 years…
- We will see the Jewish third temple built…
- We will see the Jewish priests resume animal sacrifices again (because they don’t believe that Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice)…
- We will see a system set up where every person will have to receive a mark in their hand or in their forehead or they will not be able to participate in this end time economy (This system already exists).
God help us see, help us to understand and help us with our unbelief…