Part 4: The Rapture

Do you remember the two key words I recommended that you look for in the 24th chapter of the book of Matthew? That’s correct, the words “Then” and “After.” Then means then, or next, and after means after, or following. Up to this point chronologically, the Jews built the Temple, and the Antichrist initiates a peace treaty, and a great following away takes place. Three and a half years into the treaty, the Man of Sin (the Antichrist) stands on the Temple Mount and breaks his own treaty. Key words, coming up.

v29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
v30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
v31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. [Matthew 24:29-31 KJV]

Verse 29 describes a monumental and unmistakable event. Even the blind will know that something is amiss. There is an interesting phrase in verse 31 that says, “…they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” This brothers and sisters is the Rapture, and according to Jesus, happens after the Tribulation, noted in verse 29.

Also keep in mind that in Jewish marriage customs the groom would go back home and prepare a place for the bride [1] while sending the Holy Spirit to comfort them [2]. We are the mansions that John talks about [3]. Before the wedding there was a time of preparation, where the Bride to be, would make herself ready for her soon coming husband [4]. When the Father told His Son to go get His Bride, He would return the same way He went up, in the clouds [5]. The span of time between our acceptance of Salvation and Christ’s return is a period of engagement. When we take Communion, we drink of that first cup of proposal with Him [6]. One last thing, when the Groom got close to the Bride, they [7] would blow the Shofar [8].

I highly encourage you to study the Jewish Marriage Customs of Biblical days. I guarantee you; it will make the Bible’s words jump off the page. It has been a great blessing for me and has helped me understand the Bible more than any other study guide. There are many other Scriptures, especially in the Old Testament pertaining to marriage customs, but I wanted to leave something for you to do 😊. You WILL be blessed.

Lord, “thank you” for being you and for loving me unconditionally, especially since I do not deserve it. Through your Word, I have learned that I am worthy of love because you dwell in me Lord via your Holy Spirit, even though I don’t deserve it. With everything you do for me including your sacrificial death on the Cross, your love, your mercy, and your grace, a simple “Thank you” hardly seems enough. I can only return your love and give you praise, honor, and glory, in your name, AMEN.

We await the Shofar.
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[1] John 14:3
[2] John 14:26
[3] John 14:2, 3
[4] Revelation 19:7
[5] Acts 1:9 (Acts 1:6-11); Matthew 24:30
[6] Matthew 26:29
[7] The marriage party
[8] Matthew 24:31 (The trumpet spoken of in verse 31)