Marriage Supper of the Lamb on Earth, or in Heaven? -- Is there no pre-tribulation rapture?

It is basic Christian doctrine that the "marriage supper of the Lamb", referred to in Rev. 19: 9, takes place in heaven during Daniel's 70th week (commonly referred to as the 7-year tribulation) and that there is a pre-tribulation rapture of the church of Christ which precedes the marriage supper.   However, a close read of Luke 22: 14-18 raises several questions with this dogmatic notion.

In those passages in Luke, Jesus is reclining at table with the apostles at the last supper just prior to his being betrayed by Judas.  While at the supper, Jesus makes an interesting statement described in verse 18, where, after taking a cup and giving thanks, He says, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves.  For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  (Emphasis added)  What does He mean?  Until the kingdom comes where?  A literal reading of verse 18 seems to indicate that Jesus is saying that He will not again drink the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes to earth.  Where else would God's kingdom be coming? 

Continuing in Luke 22: 29-30, Jesus tells his disciples that he bestows upon them a kingdom and that they will "eat and drink" with Jesus at His table in His kingdom.  He does not say that they will be in the Father's kingdom, but in His (i.e., Jesus') kingdom.  This must mean on earth, since that is where Jesus will inherit his physical kingdom, when He strips the earth of all the kingdoms of men.  This is evidenced in Rev 11: 15, where the seventh angels sounds his trumpet and heavenly voices proclaim that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ."

Therefore, is the marriage supper of the Lamb, where Jesus most likely will drink the fruit of the vine with those at the supper, actually in heaven or on earth?  If it were in heaven, as many have stated from their read of the Book of  Revelation, then why does Jesus explicitly state in Luke that He will not drink the fruit of the vine again until Jesus' Kingdom comes and that the disciples will eat and drink with Him in His kingdom?  After all, the kingdom of God is already in Heaven, but it is not yet on earth and will not come to earth until Jesus returns at the Second Coming (i.e., at Armageddon).  In 1 Cor 15:24, Paul says that the kingdom of God will not be delivered (i.e., not come) until "the end," which is after all saints have been raptured at the end of the age.  The coming of Jesus' kingdom to earth is also God's answer to a part of the Lord's prayer taught as a model prayer by Jesus, which specifically requests of God, among other things, that "thy kingdom come." (cf, Mat 6 :10)

If this analysis of Luke in conjunction with the Book of Revelation is correct, then it seems that there will be no pre-tribulation rapture of the church prior to the Second Coming of Jesus when God's kingdom is brought to earth by Jesus's appearance on earth on the last day at the battle of Armageddon.

Of course, this analysis raises other questions, such as:  if the marriage supper of the Lamb is on earth, where on earth could it take place to be able to accommodate the billions of glorified Christians who would attend?  I don't know.  But, as stated in Mat 19: 26, with God all things are possible.  Is this the feast which is described by the prophet Isaiah as recorded at Is 25: 6?  Until I read this portion of the Book of Isaiah, after God gave me this revelation in the book of Luke, I was unaware of this prophetic feast described by Isaiah over 700 years before Jesus was born.  Perhaps the Holy Spirit has given me a confirmation of that feast.

Revelation 19: 14 describes that the "armies of heaven" follow Jesus to earth at Armageddon while they ride on white horses being clothed in fine linen, white and pure.  However, I cannot see any passage in the Book of Revelation which states that the marriage supper of the Lamb is actually held in heaven.  For instance, in Rev. 19: 9 an angel says that those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb are blessed.  And just prior to that passage, Rev. 19: 7 describes that a "great multitude" cried out that the time for the marriage supper of the Lamb had come.  But, the event is not actually described as taking place in heaven -- it was merely announced in heaven.

Also, immediately subsequent to the announcement that the time for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come Rev 19: 11 describes heaven being opened and the Lord Jesus on a white horse riding down to earth to "judge and make war."  So, it may be that some time shortly after His arrival on earth, with the armies of heaven with Him (glorified Christians from all ages), that the marriage supper of the Lamb will commence on earth.  Perhaps this will occur on earth 1,335 days after the Abomination of Desolation enters the temple in Jerusalem. (See, 2 Thes 2: 4; Dan 9: 27: Dan 12: 12)  By my calculation, that would be about 45 days or so after Jesus returns.  Only God knows.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner from us.  It is now time to repent of your sins and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape the things which are to come upon the earth soon, and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (See, Ps 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3: 10)

2009 - True Believer

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Eternal Life - Personal Relationsip With God, or Merely Living Forever?

The words "eternal life" and "living forever" are synonyms, are they not? The answer to that question depends on your source. According to the Bible, they are not synonyms -- that is, "eternal life" and "living forever" do not have the same meaning.

Many are familiar with what is written in John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.") However, in chapter 17 of the same book of John, Jesus defines what is meant by those words "eternal life." John 17:3 records Jesus' words, "and this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Thus, the words "eternal life" do not mean simply living forever, but carry the additional meaning of requiring a relationship with God and Jesus. It is this special relationship which allows one to avoid hell, to live in heaven forever, and to live a life on earth (prior to death) full of the power and authority Jesus gives to anyone who through faith in Him recognizes Jesus as their only Savior from their sins.

Therefore, having faith in one's heart in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who, although in the form of God, came to earth as a human being and died for everyone by taking the sins of all upon Himself on the cross allows one a relationship with God through Jesus. It is this special relationship which is the "eternal life" spoken of by Jesus.

Faith in Jesus is the only means for salvation for one's sins and requires a special relationship with God through Jesus. Mere acknowledgment of Jesus does not give rise to a personal relationship with Him.  Therefore, such a person does not posses the eternal life which allows an eternity of existence in the presence of God.

These are not my words. Discover them for yourself in the Bible.


2009 - True Believer


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Financial Crisis - One World Government

One cannot turn on the TV these days without encountering a news item related to the present world financial crisis. Indeed, the main worry for most Americans is their own financial security in a world seething with financial insecurity.

Will my 401(k) recover? Will I have enough in savings to retire? Will I lose my job? Will I find a job? Can I make my next mortgage payment? How will I cover all my credit card debt? These questions currently resonate throughout America and the first world nations. So -- what to do? Where do we go from here? When will we recover and reach a level economic playing field?

I believe that behind the scenes (and in plain view) there is being set up a one-world government, beginning with a centralized financial system. We can already see evidence of this. China and other nations have recently stated a need for a one-world currency to overcome the declining value of the dollar. Since the price of oil is set in U.S. dollars, nations want to decouple the dollar from oil to allow the price of oil to moderate even as the value of the dollar declines. Also, since China and other nations hold hundreds of billions of dollars of U.S. treasury notes, their incentive to divest away from the declining dollar investments (U.S. treasury notes) increases.

Recently at the G-20 meetings, there was a call for standardization of accounting and financial rules on a centralized world-wide basis. The proponents of the call for this centralization plan argued that such a plan would eliminate, or at least diminish, future financial problems such as those on the forefront (i.e., the housing crises, the failure of many large banks, and recent bankruptcies of such large global corporations as GM and Chrysler).

This concept of global centralization of financial standards is simply a first step to a one-world economic system having centralized control. Next would come a one-world currency. A one-world centralized government is also on the horizon. This is truly what the proponents of a "new world order" have in mind.

Amazingly, all of this is laid out in the Bible (See, Revelation, Daniel, etc.) as a future reality. That future reality is becoming our present reality one step at a time. I believe that this global financial crisis, which began in the U.S. over the past several years and stems from lax financial laws concerning housing and derivative investments passed by Congress during the Bush administration, is the beginning of the end of U.S. financial autonomy and the beginning of the establishment of a one-world government and centralized financial institution.

As events unfold, we are marching headlong into the end times (See, End Times blog below). It's time to wake up, smell the coffee, stop our useless and incessant texting, and devote our lives to the Lord. This world as we know it is beginning to change and will soon end.  Unfortunately, this change will be for the worse and will culminate at Armegeddon.  Stay tuned.  Don't say you were not forewarned.


2009 - True Believer

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End Times - Last Days

The terms "end times" or "last days" are commonly used to refer to a time in world history ocurring just prior to the beginning of the Daniel's 70th week. (See, Dan 9: 25-27)  Many believe that, for various reasons supported by scripture, we are actually living in these end times at present.  During these end times, it is imperative that individuals choose to be "saved", i.e. to accept Jesus as one's Lord and Savior and to be inserted into the Kingdom of Heaven for eternity.

Those who have been saved will be with the Lord forever and may endure hardship during the 70th week.  However, those unsaved will remain on the earth and go through the 70th week only to be cast into the lake of fire after having endured various great wars (no doubt they will be nuclear), plagues, droughts, famines, earthquakes, meteor/comet strikes of the earth, etc. Scared???

If you are not presently saved, you should be scared. But, the good news is that a true, heartfelt desire to know Jesus will change your eternal destination -- Heaven or hell. After all, being "saved" is simply the establishment of a personal relationship with Jesus.  Mere mental acknowledgment that Jesus exists is insufficient .  Jesus defined "eternal life" as a relationship with God the Father and with Him, Jesus Christ, which will last forever and will save your soul from destruction. (See, John 17: 3)

So, whether we are currently in the end times or not, it is imperative that one accept Jesus and establish a personal relationship with Him.  After all, we will all die one day and that day is not predictable. You may go to sleep tonight and never wake up again on this earth.  This statement is not being made for any purpose other than to make you aware of the reality.

The reality is that you are a spiritual being, having a soul, and living on earth in a mortal body.  Once you are created by God and exist in your mother's womb, you will never subsequently cease to exist.  But, YOU CHOOSE where you will spend eternity (i.e. the infinite amount of time subsequent to the death of your mortal body).  You will spend eternity either with God or in eternal hell fire -- eternal life or eternal death.

Everyone has been created with free will, which will NEVER be violated by God.  Thus, YOU make ALL decisions in your life, including where you will spend eternity.  Once you pass to the other side, you cannot change any decision you made on earth.  God has set before you life and death, blessings and cursings.  He desires that none should perish and wants you to choose life -- that is, life with Him for eternity.  It's up to you -- it's your choice.


2009 - True Believer


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Salvation - Know God

From ancient times God has revealed Himself to man, yet man has not perceived God's true nature.  Until Jesus Christ was born into the world, man's only knowledge of God came from the Old Testament prophets and God's creations viewable in nature.

Today, a born-again believer receives revelation about God and His true nature through God's Word (i.e., the Bible) as revealed by the Holy Spirit.  This is where many see contradiction between messages of warning, judgment and wrath as promulgated by the Old Testament prophets and writers, and messages of love, patience and kindness as promulgated by Jesus.

How do we make sense of this?   First, we must understand that we are currently under a New Covenant which was initiated by Jesus Christ by His death on the cross.   The prior Old Covenant was based on the Mosaic law (i.e. the law and commandments given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai) and was ineffective for attaining salvation.  The only purpose of the Old Covenant law was to reveal sin and to show that one needs a savior.  Thus, the New Covenant allows one to be saved by having faith in Jesus, who died to take away the sins of all men for all time.  Our own "good works" cannot save us.  Only faith in the one true Savior and God, Jesus Christ, brings salvation to us.  As it is written, "the righteous shall live by faith"!

Regarding God's true nature, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The punishment and judgments He initiated against individual sinners during Old Testament times is not the way God operates with us today.  We are currently in the Age of Grace under the New Testament, initiated by Jesus' death on the cross.

To be just, and God is just, God loves the sinner but He hates sin and must punish it.  But, unlike Old Testament times He is not judging individuals for their sin, now.  But, those who reject Jesus while living here on earth will be judged and punished upon their death. Until death, one lives under grace from God and sins are not imputed.  But, upon death one who has not accepted Jesus as savior will face eternal punishment (lake of fire).  It is written that it is appointed for man to die once, then the judgment.

The only way to avoid judgment for one's sins upon death (for without exception, we have all sinned) is to accept God's wonderful free eternal gift, i.e. accept the truth that Jesus suffered and died for YOU and has taken YOUR punishment for YOUR sins that would otherwise be held to your account, payable by you at your death.

How is this salvation possible?  Ask God.  It's His plan for us.  How do we accept Jesus and God's free gift of salvation?  Simply call out to Jesus with a true, penitent and believing heart for Him to save you from your sins.  He will eagerly welcome you into his Heavenly Kingdom and save you eternally, without exception.  Jesus is the ONLY way to be eternally saved.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me."

Trust in Jesus. He loves you and wants you to live with him forever.

2009 - True Believer

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