Chapter 13
A Question of Timing
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ
and Stewards of themysteries of God.”
1 Corinthians 4:1
We, as human beings, always consider world events in regard to our perception of time, and naturally we therefore apply this perception to prophetic events in the Bible. Thus, we tend to correlate the fulfillment of prophecy to our earthly timetable, which in every case fails to occur as predicted. The problem with this approach is that the prophetic events we concern ourselves with are in accordance with the plan of God, and as such have nothing to do with our perception of the table of those event schedules. Although fulfillment of prophecy does fall within the earth's timeframe, it nonetheless is based on God’s plan and does not coincide with anything we may be inspired to date-set. Since God is outside of our time and space prophetic events are relational to His plan for mankind, and in no way directly coincide with evolving situations here on earth. Although Biblical prophecy does provide some indication of planned and near events, it by no means is a profound indicator of things to come in concert with man’s relationship to his time and space.
Throughout Scripture we find numerous prophecies being fulfilled hundreds and even thousands of years into the future. And, many prophecies made thousands of years ago are yet to be fulfilled. Although we cannot time nor date-set the fulfillment of these prophecies we can quite possibly place a prophetic fulfillment within the confines of a larger prophetic event, and yet not know the timing of the larger event. A case in point: Daniel speaks of a time when the Antichrist will defile the sanctuary. “And forces will be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.” (Daniel 11:31). This action by the Antichrist takes place during the seventieth week of the seventy weeks of years prophesied in the Book of Daniel, chapter nine. Therefore, we know from Daniel that this abomination of desolation takes place within the timeframe of the great Tribulation. We know where it will occur within the Tribulation, but in respect to the larger picture we do not know when the Tribulation will occur. One thing we know for sure is that the seven years of tribulation will occur after the Church is removed from earth.
The Rapture
The point I wish to make with this discussion is that we can pinpoint within God’s plan where the rapture will occur without having actual knowledge of the timing of the event. The definition of the timing of the rapture is that it is an event that could occur at any time. From a prophetic standpoint there is nothing we know of in the Bible that must happen before the rapture of the Church. This fact is common knowledge among Biblical scholars, and all those of the pre-Tribulation rapture persuasion agree to this premise. In analysis of Scripture we find text instructing us to always be ready, as we do not know when the Bridegroom will come for His bride. Only the Father in heaven knows the timing of this event in accordance with His plan. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36). I’m sure there is something in the plan of God that must proceed the rapture, but He felt it was best for us to not have this knowledge and therefore we should always be ready.
Does Scripture provide any precedent related to the rapture event? Yes, in fact there are two in the Old Testament. One is when God took Enoch and the other is when He took Elijah.“So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”(Genesis 5:24). Enoch was taken to heaven alive; he did not taste death. We do not know if he was changed from his corruptible body into an incorruptible body as Scripture does not give us that detail. But, we do know that his walk with God resulted in an event like the rapture of the Church. Then Elijah was taken in like manner. “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up in a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11). Here again we do not know the details of this rapture event, only that God took him to heaven.
There is a common denominator associated with both of these events. Enoch was taken before the great Flood, and Elijah was taken before the captivity of Israel and Judah. God took Enoch six hundred and sixty-seven years before the Flood, and took Elijah in the year eight hundred ninety-six BC. Israel was taken into captivity in seven hundred twenty-one BC, with Judah captured in five hundred thirty-six BC. Thus, Elijah was removed from the trials of both of these scenarios one hundred seventy-five years and three hundred sixty years respectively before they came about. Enoch and Elijah are both considered a type of the Church as it relates to Christ and the rapture.
It appears that both Enoch and Elijah were prepared for whatever God had in store for them. And likewise, Jesus tells us in the parable of the Ten Virgins that we should always be prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom. “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But He answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:10-13). Christ informs the Church that it will be spared the time of Jacob’s trouble. “Because you have kept My commandment to persevere, I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10).
As His perfect plan unfolds, only the Father in heaven knows when the rapture will happen. And based on the fact that His plan is perfect there must be by definition a specific point in that plan where the rapture will occur. Note that I use the term “specific point” in that plan as opposed to a specific time in that plan. Why? Because God is outside of time and space therefore time does not apply to Him or His actions. This fact is delineated in second Peter, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”(2 Peter 3:8).
Now, if this big event were to occur at just anytime, being totally unrelated to any other prophetic event, would not the fulfillment of the prophecy of the rapture create an unprecedented impact on the world? Would not the sudden disappearance of literally hundreds of millions of people worldwide create mass confusion and disruption of world operations and society in general? Many books have been written on this very subject, which although classified as fiction, they nonetheless do have some viable reality in them in regard to how the world population would possibly react if untold millions were to suddenly vanish from earth without a trace. But, just what the rapture event would actually create is anyone’s guess. Some state that it would most likely be the trigger for the beginning of the great Tribulation.
With this said, I wish to state that I believe such a prophetic event of this size and magnitude would have an unprecedented impact on the world, and as such it could not be totally unrelated to any other event in God’s plan. Granted, there is nothing that needs to happen before the rapture could occur except the maturity of the Church. When this happens to the Church the Spirit of God is removed from earth and man has free rein to do as he and the evil one pleases. “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
Therefore, if what I’ve unfolded herein could be the rapture scenario then there must be a specific point in God’s sequence of events where the Church is removed. But where is that point in God’s plan? We know that the Church Age or the age of grace must come to an end for Scripture tells that much. We also know from analysis of the text that the removal of the Church is the rapture. So, the question is does God tell us where in His sequence of planned events that the rapture will occur? Not directly, but He does provide a clue, but only if we consider the rapture in relation to precepts found in both the Old and the New Testaments.
Precepts
There are two precepts related to the subject of a specific point in the plan of God where the rapture will occur. One is that things on earth are copies of things in heaven, and the other is God’s government has always existed. Therefore, it is necessary that a detailed explanation of these two precepts be presented in order that the argument of the specific point of the rapture be understood.
Precept One: Throughout the Bible we read where God tells man what to build and to what specifications. He also tells us that many things are copies of things in heaven. So, naturally we must assume that the true patterns are in heaven; they have always existed. Man is made after the image of God. “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27). God instructed the Israelites in the manner of constructing His sanctuary. “According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” (Exodus 25:9). The earthly tabernacle was based on the pattern of the one in heaven.“Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”(Hebrews 9:23-24).
Precept Two: God’s government has always existed, and the government handed down to His people was patterned after the one in heaven. This is visible in the Torah as God provides instructions to Moses in the form of laws. “When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” (Exodus 18:16). God also set up judges within each of the tribes of Israel to judge the people at various levels of issues. “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge.” (Exodus 18:21-22). This is the pattern of our present judicial system, although it has been corrupted somewhat.
God also appointed elders over each of the twelve tribes of Israel who along with Moses were the leaders of the people; they were in essence the government. “Now He said to Moses, ‘Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.”(Exodus 24:1). Then again in verse 9, “Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.”Smith’s Bible Dictionary defines these seventy elders as the heads of the twenty-four classes into which the priests were divided. This was known as the Sanhedrin or council chamber, which was the supreme council of the people, and associated with Moses in the government of the Israelites. Smith also states that the Sanhedrin was a judicial body consisting of a supreme court, and while in session sat in a half-circle. They normally met in a building removed from the temple itself, but in the case of emergencies they met in the residence of the high priest.
The Ancient of Days
The word judgement appears in Scripture in relation to punishment throughout life as well as at the end of the ages. God gave to Moses the structure of the Israel leadership in the form of the Sanhedrin. This court then judged the people of Israel in their daily life here on earth.
But, we find in the Book of Daniel a different judgement relating to thrones, a court and the Ancient of Days. And again in the Book of Revelation there are thrones and judgement is committed to those who sat on them. And finally there is the great white throne judgement in Revelation chapter twenty. In reading the text on these judgements it becomes somewhat confusing as to who is sitting on the thrones, who is judging, who is being judged, and for what are they being judged. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze each of these passages to differentiate the context of the judgement, to determine who is judging, and when is the judging taking place. It is with this approach that we will be able to discern the differences between the various judges and the twenty-four elders who are central to the argument of the point in God’s plan where the rapture will occur.
The prophet Daniel prophesied during the days of Jewish captivity of the coming time when a court would be seated to judge the beast. “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated…” “The court was seated, and the books were opened. I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.” (Daniel 7:9-11). Based on the title Ancient of Days, one may think this refers to God the Father, but it is actually referring to Christ. Grant Jeffrey, General Editor of the KJV Prophecy Study Bible, makes an interesting comment in a footnote concerning this title. “This title ‘Ancient of Days’ refers to Jesus Christ who is God eternal and the righteous judge of the world.”
The above verses appear to be prophesying about the final judgement, but when reading the next verse, eleven, it becomes very clear that Daniel is speaking of a point in the sequence of events before the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. “As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.” (Daniel 7:12). This prophecy will be fulfilled at the end of the Tribulation. “And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” (Revelation 20:3-5).
In regards to these verses in Daniel and Revelation, the questions are when is this judging taking place, who are the one being judged, and finally who is doing the judging? First, both Scriptures refer to a time at the end of the seven year Tribulation, but before the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. This is not the final judgement of man simply due to the timing of the event, and the one who is seated is Christ, who is the Ancient of Days. Second, the ones who are being judged are Satan and the fallen angels, who are presented in Scripture as the beasts and the horns. But the big question is who are those seated on the thrones spoken of in Daniel?
The apostle Paul states that the saints will judge the world. But, more specifically they will judge the angels. "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge the angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”(1 Corinthians 6:2-3). Therefore, the thrones set up for the judgement cited in Daniel and Revelation represent the saints who will be judging the evil crowd at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ. However, do not confuse this judgement with that in Matthew where Jesus tells the twelve apostles they will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. “So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the generation, when the Son of Man sit on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”(Matthew 19:28). This group will sit with Christ during the thousand-year reign and judge Israel. This brings us to the next phase of the discussion regarding the twenty-four thrones.