Who goes, and who stays?

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“Rapture” and “tribulation”: Who goes, and who stays, depends on how much “oil” you have.

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Problem:

We are trying to treat all Christians alike.   There seems to be scripture evidence for believers around during the 7 years, tribulation, time of trouble, etc.  But who are they?

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Parable of the 10 virgins- do you have the “oil” of the Holy Spirit?:

We forget the parable of the 10 virgins. They were all pure and good, and invited, but only half were ready, and got into the marriage.

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish.

Mat 25:3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut

Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

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Parable of the unprofitable servant – are you working for the kingdom, or doing nothing?

Mat 25:14 For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Mat 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Mat 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents.

Mat 25:17 And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two.

Mat 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Mat 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Mat 25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.

Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Conclusion about the Bride from the 2 parables:

1. the Bride will have the oil of the Holy Spirit. It is to be active and ready.

2. the Bride be using the talents God gave to serve Him. If one is neglectful, doing nothing, or lazy, one is in trouble.

I think the Bride will be raptured.

The church itself, which is unprepared, will be left behind to go through the time of trouble, in order to remove the spots and wrinkles, and to test the faith. They will be with the converting Jews during Jacob’s trouble for the 3 1/2 years. They will either survive, or be martyred.

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Concept of the 7 years

We get the concept of the 7 years from Daniel, where there is a final week (7 days = 7 years) that completes a 70 week prophecy.

The time of Jacob’s trouble is 3 ½ years.

The Book of Revelation does not indicate a 7 year time period. We have to realize that the time period being described here may be longer than 7 years. There are first seals, which include wars, famine, death, etc. We are not told how long this lasts. We are then introduced to the 7 trumpets and bowls, in which God’s wrath begins.

The book of Revelation is a repeating set of images, and not everything seems to be in chronological order. For example the beast does not show up until Chapter 13, after god’s wrath begins. To make it more complex, the woman in Chapter 12, which could represent either the Church, Israel , or both is mentioned for 2 periods of 3 ½ years. Do we add them together, to make 7 years, or overlap the time as the same 3 ½?

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Simplifying Revelation

Many include every event in the book of Revelation as part of the “7 years of Tribulation.” In other words, they say the whole book IS the tribulation, and all events occur within 7 years.

What this means is that the Jews, and any remaining untested Christians, have to go through the same torment that the wicked do.

But God has said the righteous are not appointed unto wrath. I believe that much of what we call the tribulation is actually the time of wrath, which is ONLY for the wicked.

So, I divide the book of Revelation into 2 parts:

Trouble

Wrath

*** I am intentionally avoiding the term “tribulation” since that will confuse my meaning.

I believe Jesus returns at the end of Jacob’s trouble, to rescue the believing Jews and tested Christians.

This is the second coming.

Once this is done, the wrath begins, and only the wicked are left on earth to suffer.

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Back to the Rapture:   Conclusion

1. It is my view that the rapture of the Bride (“the virgins with the oil”), NOT the whole church, will occur before the time of Jacob’s trouble.

2. The other Christians, the “virgins without any oil,” who are not ready, will go through the time of trouble with the Jews. These are the gentiles that will be helping the Jews in their escape to the wilderness during the flood of hate coming from the dragon in Chapter 12.

This is why we see “the church” or “believers” mentioned during the troubled period. They finally wake up, and have to deal with the situation.

There will be a certain degree of protection for all believers during this time – including the believing Jews. Chapter 12 describes a safe place in the wilderness. However, some may be martyred.

3. Jesus, Yeshua, will return at the end of Jacob’s trouble to rescue all who cry out to him. This is the second coming.

4. Once all believers are secure, the time of wrath begins. Only the wicked are tormented and punished, at this time.

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Any ideas, or contributions?

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