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The Rapture of
the Church
The Noisy, Not-So-Secret Rapture of the Church
Stephanie Dawn
The Earthquake Resurrection Pattern
A very interesting pattern in
scripture emerges when studying resurrections from the dead.
There are a number of recorded resurrections in Scripture,
but the majority of these are back to mortal life.
It is when one studies resurrections from the dead into
immortality, that one notices a connecting thread – local
earthquakes.
For a very thorough, detailed analysis I highly recommend
the book “Earthquake Resurrection” by David W. Lowe. However, I will try to do
justice to the main points here.
In
Matthew 27:51-54 we are presented with a curious detail surrounding Jesus’
death that is surprisingly not recorded in the other gospels:
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was
torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the
rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And
many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into
the holy city and appeared to many.
“When
the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the
earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and
said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” (ESV)
Matthew includes the observation that
the earth shook and rocks were split. This earthquake seems to possibly be
further described in Matthew 28:1-2:
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the
week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and
rolled back the stone and sat on it.” (ESV)
At the time of Jesus’ resurrection
from the dead, there was a large earthquake which opened the tombs of many
saints along with Jesus’ own tomb.
Several points are made here:
·
Resurrection bodies don’t actually need the stones to be
rolled away – we see later that the resurrected Jesus can walk through closed
doors and such. But the event of being resurrected (transformed into eternal
bodies) seems to shake the earth and open the tombs.
·
There is no record of “many
saints” dying right around the time of Jesus’ death, so these must have
been decayed past the point of a resurrection back to physical bodies. There
are multiple instances of resurrection of the dead back to physical life recorded
in scripture, but these are all within 1-3 days when their physical bodies
would have still been (mainly) intact. The “many
saints” must have been raised to new life – their resurrection bodies.
·
John was the only disciple at the foot of the cross when
Jesus died, and he records details surrounding Jesus’ death and burial. No
earthquake is mentioned. Thus, the earthquake, and the veil being torn in two,
was more likely at the moment of Jesus’ resurrection and transformation. This
is the moment when Jesus conquered death.
·
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 tells us
that Jesus is the “firstfruits” of those who have been resurrected into
immortal bodies. “But in fact Christ has been
raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by
a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also
in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his
coming those who belong to Christ.” This is our great hope, that we
will have eternal life through Jesus.
·
The “many
saints” that were resurrected at, or immediately after Jesus are part of the
“firstfruits” – occurring literally on the day of the Feast of Firstfruits.
Examining another resurrection from
the dead foretold in scripture we find:
“But
after the three and a half days a breath of life from God
entered them,
and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies
watched them. And at that hour there
was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people
were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” Revelation 11:11-13 ESV
When the two witnesses are
resurrected in the future, a great earthquake will occur.
A Nuclear
Transformation?
We are told in Ephesians 1:19-20 that
great power is released when individuals are resurrected to immortality – “and what
is the immeasurable
greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in
Christ when he raised him
from the dead and seated him at his right
hand in the heavenly places.” (ESV)
In his book, David Lowe briefly
discusses Quantum Physics and how there is a balance in matter between the
visible and the invisible. The Bible explains it that the visible has origins
in the invisible:
“By faith we understand that the
universe was created by the word of God, so that what
is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Hebrews 11:3 ESV
“…as we look not to the things that
are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that
are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV
When billions of people are changed
from death unto life, and from mortal to immortal, this will seemingly result
in a massive disruption to the balance of nuclear energy on the earth.
We Will
Be Changed
The nuclear transformation from
mortal to eternal explains the release of massive amounts of energy at the time
of resurrections.
It explains the pattern of earthquakes being triggered
upon resurrection to immortality events.
The resurrection/rapture of the dead and alive in Christ
at the upcoming “rapture” event will be the largest nuclear event ever to
unfold upon the earth.
“Behold!
I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised
imperishable,
and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal
body must put on immortality.” 1
Corinthians 15:51-53 ESV
“For if we have been united with
him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Romans 6:5 ESV
“But
our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will transform
our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to
himself.” Philippians
3:20-21 ESV
Searching
For Nuclear Events in Scripture
Is there any indication in scripture
of a massive nuclear event that could be connected with the
resurrection/transformation of perhaps billions of people all at once into
eternal bodies, from all nations, tribes, languages, and peoples – both dead
and alive?
Well, yes, in fact, there is.
In Revelation 6, when Seal 6 is opened, a cataclysmic
event transpires on earth. There is no cause listed for this – no horse and
rider, no trumpet blown, no bowl poured out.
The results of this incredible event
are far from silent and secret:
“When
he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the
full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the
earth as
the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every
mountain and island was removed from its place.
“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals
and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid
themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling
to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us
and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the
wrath of the Lamb, for
the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17 ESV
The details of the 6th seal are
examined in depth HERE, but in summary:
·
A massive earthquake occurs on a global scale
·
The sun becomes black
·
The whole moon becomes as blood
·
The stars of the sky fell to the earth
·
The sky appears to split apart like a scroll
·
Every mountain and island were
moved out of their places
Something causes the most terrifying
event that has ever occurred in Earth’s history.
John clarifies that every
single person on earth will react in fear. They try to
hide from what they correctly recognize as God’s wrath, as they cry “who is able to stand?”
The answer is no one, at least, not
on earth – “It is a terrifying thing to
fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews
10:31 ESV)
This whole event occurs suddenly and unexpectedly:
“While people are saying, ‘There is
peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as
labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape…’ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain
salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ, who
died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3, 9-10 ESV
“But watch yourselves lest your
hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life,
and that day come upon you suddenly
like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the
whole earth. But stay
awake at all times, praying that you may have strength
to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 ESV
It is entirely possible that the
unmentioned cause of the events of Seal 6 is the transformation of the church –
the body of believers first deceased and then alive – into immortality.
Transformed
THEN Seized
Another interesting point that David
Lowe discusses is that the transformation event and snatching events are
discussed separately:
“Behold! I tell you a
mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we
shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the
imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 ESV)
“For this we declare to
you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left
until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen
asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with
a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound
of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then
we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ESV)
The changing from perishable to
imperishable occurs in an instant, in the “twinkling of an eye”.
The dead precede the living. The catching up event uses
the word “harpazo,” which means to seize, or to snatch
violently, with great force.
So both our transformation event and the snatching event
are sudden and quick.
However, could there be a pause between the changing and
the snatching? Or a pause between the dead rising and the living being
transformed? We are not told.
If there is, I personally don’t
believe it will be longer than minutes to hours.
I actually think the two events will seem simultaneous,
based on the disaster that will be unfolding on the earth around us.
However, the “many
saints” that were resurrected at the same time as Jesus appeared in
Jerusalem at least over a few hours and possibly days.
So there is definite precedence to the resurrected and
immortal dead walking around as witnesses.
Note that these would not appear as zombies or other
“walking dead” pictured in horror shows, but would appear in glory, brilliance,
and perfection. Maybe God will give us one final moment to witness to our loved
ones?
Earthquake
Resurrection/Rapture Conclusion
It seems that the great earthquake
discussed in Seal 6 (Revelation 6) is either caused by the resurrection/transformation of
believers or immediately follows their
resurrection/transformation.
I personally believe the global earth shaking may start as
the dead in Christ are first raised, and continue as the living are
transformed, carrying on while we are all caught up together.
The world will then deal with the devastation of the
aftershocks, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions while we are safely tucked away
in heaven.
The timeline in Seal 5-6 thus seems
to be:
·
Dead in Christ given their robes (resurrected) – Seal 5
·
Earthquake, global (caused by Dead in Christ rising?) –
Seal 6
·
Blackened sun, Blood moon (ash/smoke in atmosphere?) –
Seal 6
·
Stars fall (I believe this is satan and his fallen angels
being cast down, Revelation 12:3-4 and possibly 7-9) – Seal 6
·
Sky parts as a scroll. This is where the harpazo (rapture)
occurs, in my opinion. The sky rolls back, opens up the Third Heaven, to admit
the dead and the living in Christ into heaven. – Seal 6
·
After the sky has parted (and received us), the remnant on
earth cowers in fear and hides from the Lamb and the One on the Throne, as “their wrath has come.” – Seal 6
If Seal 6 is written in order, then
the earthquake will indeed precede the rapture.
However, it may not precede the transformation event,
which would make sense as if we were transformed into eternal bodies, we
couldn’t be harmed by the earthquake.
By how long, we are not told. Moments? Minutes?
Hours?
One thing we can know is that God is good, all the time.
If we are His child, He holds us in the palm of His hand. Rest
in true peace and safety, knowing that your Father in heaven will care for you
no matter how or when these things come about.
The Bible is infallible. I am not. I am merely
challenging traditional models and testing them against Scripture. I
believe that traditional pretribulation teachings provide a solid backbone upon
which to lay the musculature of details. I encourage you to consider my
thoughts as you also examine the scriptures to see if these things are so!
Many of you know
me as Stephanie Dawn on Facebook as I am very active in leading a few groups.
I’m a
homeschooling mama to 2 children. I also work part-time in
healthcare. I’ve been married for… quite a while now! We are
learning to apply God’s grace in family life together. I don’t have all
the answers, but I’m committed to continually growing in my faith in Jesus and
in my understanding of His Word. This website, Red Moon Rapture, is about
my Bible prophecy study journey. I chat about life with Jesus on my other
blog – The
Convicted Mama.
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