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Be Raptured by Jesus Christ, with his Church, OR be Massacred by Muslim Jihadist Refugees
– That’s my READ of the way things could turn out for us. Rapture of the Church (all
genuine believers in Jesus Christ) is Critical -- Revelation Chapter 5 – Big Differences - King James Bible
vs modern Bibles. The "Traditional" New Testament Greek text inderlies the King James
Bible and other old bibles, like the Geneva Bible the American Pilgrims used. The "Critical" Greek
text underlies virtually all modern Bibles. This makes for about 1100 word of difference in the
two English texts. Notice, in Revelation 5, verses 9 and 10 below, the words, "us,"
"we," and "we," in the King James Bible, versus "people," "them," and "they,"
in the English Standard Version (ESV), one of the latest modern versions. Revelation
5 (King James Bible): (I will include the whole chapter later) 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts,
and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four
beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours,
which are the prayers of saints. 9 And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us
unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. This is a
critical point as to whether these people have been Raptured and are therefore, there, present, and saying
these things, -- OR NOT. English Standard Version (one of the latest modern versions). 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every
tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and
you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” |
 Revelation chapter 1 says: 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ,
which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by
his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of
the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things
which are written therein: for the time is at hand. I argue that the Rapture IS a major New
Testament truth regarding the Church (all true believers in Jesus Christ). I list two such passages in the
next section. The only question is when it will occur. SO --
it MUST be seen IN the Book of Revelation since this is the major end-time, comprehensive,
revelation of God to the Church. And, the only place that the Rapture can be is in chapter 4 verse 1: 4:1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet
talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in
heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And
he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like
unto an emerald. 4 And
round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white
raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. In chapter 2 and 3 of Revelation, this
great prophesy reviews, in detail, the Church age. Then, the Church Age being thus
complete, John, in 4:1 above, is virtually Raptured (with the Church) into heaven, where he reports on subsequent
happenings. JOHN IS REPORTING ON CHURCH ACTIVITIES, SO HE MUST BE WHERE THE CHURCH
IS! It may seem to some that I am "reaching" on this view point. See my page, DOES THE BOOK OF REVELATION SHOW THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH? -- YES IT DOES IN REVELATION CHAPTER 4:1. |
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Two New Testament Rapture passages:
1 Corinthians 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, 52 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and
this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed
up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The
sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But
thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians
4: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him. 15 For this
we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep. 16 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: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Regarding
Bible interpretation -- One MUST study how Jesus did it. Jesus showed us by his example how to
interpret the Bible. In a nut-shell - it means what it says. See my page, God How Do I Interpret the Bible? for more detail. This straight, historical-gammatical method leads to the Pre-tribulation
Rapture doctrinal position. For another very strong pre-trib Rapture argument see my page, The Bridegroom and the Rapture Question for another very strong evidence the Rapture will climax the
Church Age. |
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In Revelation chapter 4 we have John's call to come up to heaven, PLUS we have critical information
about the 24 elders. Revelation 4: 1 After this I
looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with
me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne,
in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty
seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns
of gold. I hold that it is clear these are redeemed people.
The crowns are victor's crowns, not sovereign's crowns, I understand the seats are in fact thrones, and they have white raiments
and gold crowns. Seems overwelming, to me, these are raptured persons. Thus, I hold that the, "us," "us," and "we," based on the Traditional Greek text, in
5:9,10 ARE correct: 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou
art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to
God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast
made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. The Critical Greek text based renderings of, "people," them," and "they," in virtually all
bible versions are wrong. The Bible comes down to us through history by God's providence,
NOT by archaeological luck. The Traditional, or Received Text is just that -
it has come down through history and we have received it. In the list at the left I list many
articles where I proclaim the superiority of the King James Bible. It is NOT just nostalgia,
or old fuddy-duddy-ism, or stuck-in-the-rut-ism. Here are few others pages, (of the very many),
much more comprehensive than mine: King James Bible Page, King James Bible: God Only Wrote One Book. |
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BUT, if we stand back and look at Revelation chapters 5 and 6, we must
surely be struck by the paramount greatness of this event where the Lamb of God, The Lord Jesus Christ, of course, alone worthy,
takes this book or scroll from the Father's right hand, and begins to open, one by one, the seals, releasing God's just, and
terrible judgements.Could anyone possibly imagine that God would NOT MAKE SURE that
the Church of redeemed believers WOULD be present? 5: And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with
seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud
voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither
to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because
no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root
of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of
the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent
forth into all the earth. 7 And he came
and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the
Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the
book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred,
and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And
hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and
the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the
earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power,
be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that
liveth for ever and ever.
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