|
Post by Keith on Jul 18, 2006 14:04:56 GMT -6
A brother in Christ studied this information and offered it on a message board, which I expound here. It appears to be a direct correlation between the Rapture of the Church and the destruction of Damascus, Syria.
All information is in relation to the harvesting of crops in Israel to which the resurrections are based. So as you read, consider the following harvests:
The first fruits: Christ;
The harvest: the Rapture of the Church;
The gleanings: the Tribulation Saints.
The following Scriptures have the relevant portions highlighted.
Firstfruits And Sequence [Order] Of Resurrection
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV)
“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:21 KJV)
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV)
“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; [firstfruits] afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. [rapture]” (1 Corinthians 15:23 KJV)
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, [gleanings] even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:24 KJV)
Another Gleaning Reference
“And when ye reap the harvest [rapture] of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning [tribulation saints] of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 23:22 KJV)
Damascus And The Rapture
“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” (Isaiah 17:1 KJV)
“The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” (Isaiah 17:2 KJV)
“The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 17:3 KJV)
“And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.” (Isaiah 17:4 KJV)
“And it shall be as when the harvest man gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.” (Isaiah 17:5 KJV)
“Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outermost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.” (Isaiah 17:6 KJV)
The sequence of events would appear to be:
1. The destruction of Damascus by Israel (Isaiah 17:1);
2. Israel hated by the world for its’ actions (Isaiah 17:4);
3. The Rapture of the Church (Isaiah 17:5);
4. The Tribulations Saints are left upon the earth who will come to Christ during Tribulation (Isaiah 17:6);
Upon obtaining this information I immediately presented it to my Pastor and Associate Pastor who are Independent Fundamental Baptist. They both agreed it appeared to be just as it read: There is a direct connection between the destruction of Damascus occurring first, and the Rapture of the Church occurring second at some later point.
We believe Damascus becoming a “ruinous heap” while the Church is still present on earth would result in the greatest witnessing tool since Israel became a nation in May 1948. God will use this fulfilled prophecy to gather the final members of His Church before calling them Home to glory.
If and when we see Damascus destroyed as a result of the current Middle East conflict, know that the appearing of our Lord in the Rapture is near, and we have but a short time to be a witness unto the nations. For those on other forums who are dismissing this idea, and they are, remember: The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.
May the Lord's Will be done, in Jesus' Name, amen!
|
|
Omega
Junior Member
Posts: 119
|
Post by Omega on Jul 18, 2006 16:05:05 GMT -6
WOW! This all comes as news to me, good news! It seems as if the Holy Spirit is Revealing more to the body of Christ in these last days.
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,088
|
Post by Murph on Jul 18, 2006 17:56:37 GMT -6
Very interesting and thank you for sharing it.
|
|
|
Post by Lawrence on Jul 19, 2006 7:43:03 GMT -6
Dear Brother Keith: Thank you for that very accurate exposition of Biblical Prophecy. Let me give you the strategic assessments of the situation from a political-military point of view--which incidentally is my profession. As a believer and earnestly expecting His Glorious Appearance, the following facts seem to converge with Biblical Prophecy: 1) Israeli ground forces moves into Southern Lebanon has begun with their inevitable mobilization of three batallion units to start with; 2) The Israeli special forces are already in substantial presence in Southern Lebanon and in undisclosed locations--aiming at the coord of the air strikes and coord with ground offensive; 3) The Israeli conditions to implement UNSC resolution 1599 by Lebanon is going to be a joint effort--that means the physical removal of the Hizbullah by IDF as far as the Lebanon-Syrian border' 4) If that should happen--then the increased likelihood of Syrian intervention into the Bekaa Valley is likely at the pressure and prompting of Iran; 5) That would be "escalatory" (in military terms) in the current conflict when the state sponsor of terror-Hizbullah enters into direct conflict with Israel; 6) Israel has the choice either to call a cease-fire or escalate- 7) The demands of escalation would be more because the Hezbullah would put up a last ditch fight--fire the missiles in salvos--Iran would jump into the conflict by indirect action; 8) Iran has already deployed a conventional submarine off Lebanese waters--that means Israel Navy would have to encounter that threat-- 9) The prospects of the Israeli interdiction of the Iranian navy sub would provide the escalatory fuel; 10) Israeli-Iranian confrontation in the Mediterranean would inevitably draw Syria against Israel even as Iran would invoke the recently concluded Iran-Syria bilateral strategic partnership; 11) There may be Syrian missile attacks by their Russian supplied SS-21 SRBM tipped with Chemical warheads <http://www.meforum.org/article/510>;http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/syria/cw.htm> 12) A Syrian SS-21 SRBM attack is just enough for Israel to cross the nuclear rubicon in the Middle East with Israeli Jericho I & II nuclear tipped MRBMs "to take care of Damsacus"
This is a escalatory spiral that would run its course unless and until certain unforeseen circumstances intervene and the patterns of conflict may turn. How the US would respond and the other powers would react would be an interesting guess.
However this is a human logical assessment--all probabilities and possibilities in strategy and war are in the Hands of our Lord God. As for Israel, this verse is quite appropriate Proverbs 21:31 "31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD..."
May the Will of the Lord be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Shalom, Lawrence
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,088
|
Post by Murph on Jul 19, 2006 15:47:47 GMT -6
Thank you Lawerence for the "human logical assessment." It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I am also thankful to have someone like you who can analyze and explain what is going on for us. So many players are on the stage at present it is sometimes very confusing for the simple minded like me. So much diplomatic rhetoric going back and forth...and reading between the lines...it is helpful to have someone like yourself around to help us understand.
was reading Isaiah 17 today I noticed in vs. 12-14
"Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us."
Doesn't that say in one night Damascus will be gone?
|
|
|
Post by Keith on Jul 19, 2006 20:12:19 GMT -6
Thank you Lawerence...I am also thankful to have someone like you who can analyze and explain what is going on for us. Amen! I very much appreciate brother Lawrence's expertise in this area and we're blessed to have him here... was reading Isaiah 17 today I noticed in vs. 12-14...Doesn't that say in one night Damascus will be gone? Yes. Just as Babylon will be destroyed in an hour, Damascus will cease to be overnight...
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,088
|
Post by Murph on Jul 19, 2006 21:01:01 GMT -6
Saw today in the headlines, Keith, that Israel is moving troops into southern Lebanon...maybe it won't be long now.
Saw where Hezbollah sent rockets into Nazareth...thought about all the nights I have sat and read in the Old Testament about the great battles the Israelites fought walking before the Lord...and their great victories in the Lord. Reading the headlines in the newspapers is now like reading the Old Testament...It is as if we have come full circle...It started with the Lord and will end with Him. Alpha and Omega...The Great Amen.
|
|
|
Post by Steve on Jul 20, 2006 17:14:03 GMT -6
For the past several years I've been keeping my eye on Damascus every time things get rowdy over there. For the past week or so I find myself drawn to checking the weather patterns in the area to see which way the fallout will blow.
|
|
|
Post by Lawrence on Jul 21, 2006 6:54:38 GMT -6
Dear Brother Keith & Brother Duck: Thank you for your messages. For the whole of yesterday, I was immersed in thought of possible scenarios in the light of Isa 17 and it stirred a lot of reflection of whats going on. There are two more issues in this conflict that has a foreshadow on the soon coming prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39.
a) The Arab powers, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and the Gulf Kingdoms are silent and in fact are "pleased" that Israel is doing the "dirty job" of eliminating the Shia-Iranian threat of the Hezbullah without they do mingle with that dirty and dangerous assignment. In fact these Arab powers would also be among the protesting nations along with the Western powers and US--when the Gog-Magog invasion is made wherein Persia(Iran) participates along with Put, Cush (Libya and Sudan) and all the Muslim nations and not Arab nations. Syria is not mentioned in the Eze 38, 39 chapters. Thats means the destruction of Damascus precedes the Gog-Magog invasion;
b) The US is not completely destroyed as several Eschatological scholars seem to predict. The United States would be a isolated single largest economy and much military power intact well into the period of the Anti-Christ--however shorn of its European and Asian linkages. The rapidity and surprise nature of the Gog-Magog invasion would stun the US. The Anti-Christ emerges to fill the power vacuum of the Russian-Muslim axis power collapse--however later during the time of the Anti-Christ reign in the 7-year period; the US is still in the picture because when Israel is being besieged by the European forces of the Anti-Christ--there is a mention in the prophecy of Daniel that the ships of Kittim (of western coastlands) would defy him. Please read Daniel 11:30 KJV ".... 30For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant....." Chittim is referred to the farthest west of the islands beyond Tarshish. Tarshish is being interpreted as Britain and beyond Tarshish would be the United States on the other side of the Atlantic. So the Lord God permits the US to stand by Israel even to end-times against the Anti-Christ. I found this analysis quite interesting to read entitled "The Ships of Kittim"
<http://goodnewschristianministry.org/babylonchapter10.htm>
Please read the same and I would like to have your comments please on the above issues.
|
|
|
Post by Keith on Jul 21, 2006 9:36:47 GMT -6
Good morning brother Lawrence,
You are correct. The Arab powers you mention are probably some of those spoken of in Ezekiel 38:13. Damascus and its' surrounding territory are so annihilated by Israel's attack, that those few left are no more than spectators to the Gog/Magog invasion. This explains their silence.
Another scenario: I believe the US infrastructure is so decimated by the Rapture and ensuing carnage, it has no recourse but return to its' roots of European origin. America will seek assistance from the sole super-power left (at the time)...the European Union. Using this as his seat of power, the Antichrist will absorb what's left of the US into his kingdom. This would explain America and the aforementioned Arab states voicing their displeasure at the Gog/Magog invasion, but taking no action militarily.
I believe we shall soon see...
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,088
|
Post by Murph on Jul 21, 2006 18:10:19 GMT -6
Though I agree with Brother Keith that the rapture will remove some key people in the US. I don't think it will be as many as my Brother and friend thinks. Our government in the US provides for imediate replacements and where there is a lack I am sure there will be ambitious people who will step into those positions from the top to the bottom from the leaders to common labourers. Remember the apostacy is going to take it's toll as well. I think there will be many who think they are saved but unfortunately are fooled. It is also possible that the US will ally with the other countries in this hemisphere and from a colition of some kind to offset the EU in commerce and trade. We have seen movement in that direction of late. Also we can take a lesson from history as to how the US reacts to world wars. Remember no major world war has ever touched the western hemisphere, no major or even minor battles have been fought in the hemisphere. Both WWI and WWII saw the US uninvolved except diplomatically until we were directly attacked by one of the axis powers. Looking at Hitler who is a precursor to the anti-christ...someone who wanted world dominance...History indicates to us that the people surrounding him especially toward the end knew they were going down to defeat, talked among themselves but were afraid of Hitler. There were several assination attempts one of them almost successful. Hitler ruled by fear, threat and intimidation so it was not all that difficult to maintain control. He also hated Jews and Christians with a passion. He set his empire at 1000 years. Sounds a little like how the future fuehrer might be. I have long thought the passage in Daniel 11, Kittim was a reference to the US and/or a colition of nations from the western hemisphere. If you think of the prophecies in those terms things fall into place somewhat better for me. I can see how it might all line up and "fall-out"...(sorry couldn't help that)...Course we are looking into the future and can't be absolutely sure how things will occur even with the framework given in the Bible. Even the Prophets had some difficulty understanding what they were seeing, hearing, and writing down. But it is interesting to think on it. Also, many speculated that Israel becomming a nation again was not meant to be literal but figurative...spiritual Israel...and some other things. What we now know, is that Jesus meant it literally. The events we have seen since and are seeing now would indicate that the prophecies are all literal. I enjoyed the site you suggested Lawerence and thanks. There are some that also have suggested that Isaiah 18 is about the US. No one has ever been able to exactly identify the country described in that Chapter. With all that waring going on and the 21 judgments all occuring at the same time, one after the other in increasingly rapid succession...it is going to be a very busy place on the earth. I am glad and very thankful that we will not be here. Thank you Brothers Lawerence and Keith for provoking thought in this old head. Sister Duck...
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,088
|
Post by Murph on Jul 22, 2006 6:06:49 GMT -6
Was reading the "Jerusalem News Wire" over at "Trumpet Sounds" this morning with my morning coffee and saw this. Just after bringing Germany up...she came up. *** Iran to Germany: Help us deal with Israel Ahmadinejad asks Merkel to put on Nazi boots? By Ryan Jones July 21, 2006 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad apparently believes that all Germany needs is a little nudge to revert to its Nazi ways and hatred of the Jews, and so has asked Berlin to help him deal with Jewish state. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler is a favorite in the Muslim world (his Mein Kampf is a perennial best-seller), and has been invoked by Ahmadinejad on several occasions as he called for the destruction of Israel. In a letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel this week, Ahmadinejad came worryingly close to asking the German leader to emulate the Fuhrer. A German official who has seen the letter spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity: "It's all related to Germany and how we have to find a solution to the Palestinian problems and Zionism and so on. It’s rather weird." "There are a lot of propaganda phrases about Israel and the Jews inside." Ahmadinejad has openly stated his desire to see Israel "wiped off the map," and has warned the West that if it does not eliminate the Israeli "cancer" by absorbing the nation's six million Jews, the Muslim world will deal with the problem in its own manner. www.jnewswire.com/article/993
|
|
|
Post by heavenbound on Jul 22, 2006 6:24:41 GMT -6
Good morning brother Lawrence, You are correct. The Arab powers you mention are probably some of those spoken of in Ezekiel 38:13. Damascus and its' surrounding territory are so annihilated by Israel's attack, that those few left are no more than spectators to the Gog/Magog invasion. This explains their silence. Another scenario: I believe the US infrastructure is so decimated by the Rapture and ensuing carnage, it has no recourse but return to its' roots of European origin. America will seek assistance from the sole super-power left (at the time)...the European Union. Using this as his seat of power, the Antichrist will absorb what's left of the US into his kingdom. This would explain America and the aforementioned Arab states voicing their displeasure at the Gog/Magog invasion, but taking no action militarily. I believe we shall soon see... Wow! Someone else with the same understanding of Scirpture. Love, YSIC, Diana
|
|
|
Post by Keith on Jul 22, 2006 12:05:45 GMT -6
Upon notification of a brother in Christ, and upon further study, it would appear that Verse 7 may be in regard to the Tribulation period. Therefore, the original post has been amended to deal only with the verses that pertain to the subject of the Rapture
Keith
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,088
|
Post by Murph on Jul 24, 2006 20:17:38 GMT -6
The other evening in a Bible Study we were discussing the harvests. The question was asked, "What is gleaning?" Tonight while looking for something else, I ran across this regarding gleaning.
"She went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers." Ruth 2:3
The Israelites were commanded by their law to be merciful to the poor. The conners of the fields were not to be reaped. Lev. 19:9; 23:22. If a sheaf should be accidentally left in the field it was to be allowed to remain there Deut. 24:19. This grain in the conners, and these odd sheaves in the field, were for the poor. The story of Ruth is a most beautiful illustration os this law. Reference is supposed to be made to this custom in Job 24:10, "They take away the sheaf from the hungry"
|
|
|
Post by Nita on Jul 24, 2006 23:23:38 GMT -6
The other evening in a Bible Study we were discussing the harvests. The question was asked, "What is gleaning?" Tonight while looking for something else, I ran across this regarding gleaning. "She went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers." Ruth 2:3 The Israelites were commanded by their law to be merciful to the poor. The conners of the fields were not to be reaped. I take it to mean the gleanings in Isaiah are the tribulation saints, they are left for the poor (those who still haven't heard the gospel). Love in Christ, Nita
|
|
|
Post by Keith on Jul 25, 2006 9:26:04 GMT -6
I take it to mean the gleanings in Isaiah are the tribulation saints, they are left for the poor (those who still haven't heard the gospel). Exactly, for the Bride, who is deemed 'rich' because of her faith and righteous works for the Lord, are taken in the main harvest, leaving the gleanings for the Tribulation. Here's the verses showing the Lord wants His own to be 'rich in faith and works' for Him: "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." (2 Corinthians 6:10 KJV)
"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (James 2:5 KJV)
"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." (Revelation 2:9 KJV)
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see." (Revelation 3:18 KJV)
|
|
|
Post by Keith on Jul 27, 2006 9:41:53 GMT -6
Hal Lindsey has amended his commentary "UNCOVERED: RUSSIAN-SYRIAN-IRANIAN AXIS" and concluded, upon further study, that Damascus becoming a "ruinous heap" occurs before the Tribulation! Hal's amendment reads: "Twenty Seven hundred years ago, Isaiah warned, “An oracle concerning Damascus: "See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins … In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away.” (Isaiah 17:1, 4 NIV) To establish the time of this event, look at these factors. First, Damascus is one of the oldest continuously populated cities on earth. It has never been totally destroyed – yet.
Second, it is in a context of events that lead up to the catastrophes that precede the Lord Jesus’ Second Coming. Third, it is far enough away from that event that Jacob (Israel) is enduring terrible circumstances. Fourth, Syria and the tribal name of its forefathers are not mentioned in the Russian led Muslim Confederacy that launches Armageddon in the middle of the Tribulation.
All of this leads me to believe that Damascus will be destroyed before the Tribulation begins. I believe that Damascus is about to so threaten Israel’s existence by either launching or furnishing bio-chemical weapons or radioactive dirty bombs, that Israel will nuke them. Israel has sworn that it will implement the Samson-Option against any nation that attacks them with any form of weapons of mass destruction. That means a thermonuclear strike. This may soon happen to Syria.
This in turn will so terrify the world, that it will be ripe to embrace the antichrist when he is unveiled. And that could be very, very soon."You can read Hal's entire commentary at the link in the original post of the topic UNCOVERED: RUSSIAN-SYRIAN-IRANIAN AXIS. Keith
|
|
Omega
Junior Member
Posts: 119
|
Post by Omega on Jul 27, 2006 9:54:52 GMT -6
Thanks for keeping us up to date Keith!
Hebrews 9:28 - So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
God Bless!
|
|
|
Post by Keith on Jul 27, 2006 9:56:57 GMT -6
Thanks for keeping us up to date Keith!
|
|