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10-20-13

WHEN THE GREAT TRIBULATION OCCURS, THE RAPTURE IS IMMINENT

10-20-13

(1 Cor 10:13)  There hath no temptation [Gk: provocation, adversity /// test] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [Gk: permit] you to be tempted [Gk: tested] above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 (John 6:14,15) Then those men, when they had seen the miracle [in the wilderness on the east side of the Sea of Galilee] that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force [harpazo; to take for oneself] [ref: 1 Thes 4:17], to make him a king, he departed [Gk: withdraw self] again into a mountain himself alone [i.e., He was the forerunner and only one to be a type and shadow of our “rapture” (Dict: ecstatic joy or delight) at that time].

1.       (Mat 11:12)  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence [Gk: biazo, biazo; to force, i.e. to crowd oneself (into)], and the violent [Gk: a forcer, i.e. (fig.) energetic] take it by force [to take for oneself].

a.       Commentary: The kingdom of heaven is “a gift,” not to be taken by oneself but to be given by God. These are those “violent” who attempt to enter into the kingdom without being “chosen.”

2.       (Mat 22:14)  For many [but not all] are called, but few are chosen.

a.       Commentary: God’s “call” exemplified through Gideon (Judg 6:34,35) was directed to four tribes of Israel out of the twelve tribes. And out of the 32,000 soldiers who responded to the “call” (many didn’t), 10,000 soldiers were “chosen.”

3.       (Acts 1:8,9)  But ye shall receive power [Gk: dunamis; miraculous power], after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight [as if He were taken up into the “cloud” of a high mountain; a type and shadow of a “rapture”]. 

(John 6:16,17)  And when even [evening; initial contextual connotations of “the evil day” Eph 6:13] was now come [i.e., the beginning of a new Jewish day], his disciples went down unto the sea [a biblical symbol of humanity], And entered into a [“a” (an indefinite article indicating the possible existence of “many” ships) rather than “the” (a definite article indicating “one” ship)] ship [a gospel ship assembled of wooden boards, i.e., paralleling the forty-eight priest-boards supporting the tabernacle (Num 35:7; Josh 21:41), typifying the church], and went over the sea toward Capernaum [manifesting “power” upon the sea, traveling westward toward The Promised Land, a type and shadow of Heaven]. And it was now dark [indicating the passage of time from “even;” and a strong contextual connotation of “the evil day” Eph 6:13], and Jesus was not come to them.

1.       (Mat 14:22,23)  And straightway [Gk: immediately] Jesus constrained [Gk: to necessitate; compelled /// must needs, of necessity, needful] his [believing] disciples [Gk: pupils, students] to get into a ship [a gospel ship typifying the church], and to go before him [for the King is not yet come to reign] unto the other side [unto the Promised Land], while he sent the [unbelieving] multitudes away. And when he had sent the [unbelieving] multitudes away [this phrase repeated for emphasis], he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

2.       (Mark 6:45,46)  And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship [of the church], and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida [located to the west], while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away [the sense of the phrase repeated again; strong emphasis], he departed into a mountain to pray.

THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION

(Mark 6:47)  And when even was come [i.e., full], the ship [the church] was in the midst [Gk: middle] of the [seven miles wide (7)] sea, and he alone on the land.

1.       (John 6:18)  And the sea [biblical symbol of humanity] arose [Gk: raised, stirred up] by reason of a great wind that blew [Gk: breathed hard].

2.       Commentrary: “a great wind” = Wind is usually a symbol of the Holy Spirit but herein it is a symbol of Satan x “great,” as in great tribulation. Other symbols in the Bible also have both good and bad values that may be accurately discerned contextually. Please note the position of the ship, (3 ½ miles across with 3 ½ miles to go) when the “great wind” blew, i.e., Satan “blew.”

3.       (Mat 14:24)  But the ship was now in the midst [Gk: middle] of the sea, tossed [Gk: basanizo; tortured: pained, toil, tormented, tossed, vexed] with waves [Gk: swelling; billowing (as bursting or toppling)] [of the sea (biblical symbol of humanity)]: for the wind [personified by Satan; directed by Satan who is “the god of this world” (aion rather than kosmos) 2 Cor 4:4] was contrary [Gk: opposite; fig. antagonistic: against].

THE GREAT TRIBULATION, AND THE LORD’S SECOND COMING

(Mat 14:25)  And in the fourth watch of the night [between 3 and 6am, but probably much much closer to dawning sunrise at 6am] Jesus went unto them [coming (dawning) from the east], walking on the sea [clearly manifesting His Lordship and Kingship over all humanity].

1.       (Mark 6:48)  And he saw them toiling [Gk: basanizo; tortured: pained, toil, tormented, tossed, vexed] in rowing; for the wind was contrary [Gk: opposite; fig. antagonistic: against] unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night [i.e., dawn] he cometh unto them [as the sun (light) from the east bringing enlightenment], walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

2.       Commentary: “and would have passed by them” = Why? Why would Jesus, seeing His beloved disciples in pain and anguish, have “passed by them” and done such a terrible thing as to seemingly abandon His disciples? Because whatever Jesus commands us to do, God also empowers us to accomplish, and Jesus/God had commanded His disciples (only) to get into the ship of the church and go the other side (the opposing side) into the Promised Land (Heaven). He therefore knew that they would arrive safely regardless of the perils, hardships, and tribulations (acts of purification and cleansing) that they were suffering along the way.

3.       (John 6:19)  So when they had rowed about five and twenty [1/8x25 = 3.125 miles] or thirty furlongs [1/8x30 = 3.75 miles] [approximately 3 ½ miles in “the midst” or middle of the 7 mile wide Sea of Galilee], they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

FEAR IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH, AND THE LORD’S SECOND COMING

(Mat 14:26)  And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled [Gk: to stir or agitate (roil water)], saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

1.       (Luke 18:8)  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

2.       (Mark 6:49)  But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they [did not recognize Him and] supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

(Mat 14:27)  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

1.       (Mark 6:50)  For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

2.       (John 6:20)  But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

(Mat 14:28-32)  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if [a bit of doubt here] it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus [focusing upon Jesus]. But [as Peter was walking on the water (a type and shadow of his future King-Priesthood ruling and reigning over humanity during the Millennium)] when he [looked about and took his eyes off Jesus, and] saw the wind [the opposing forces of Satan] boisterous [Gk: forcible: mighty, powerful, strong], he was afraid [fear is the opposite of faith]; and beginning to sink [because he was being overcome by fear rather than overcoming his fear], he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand [the Hand Ministry], and caught him [i.e., saved him; and perhaps the ultimate allusion to being “caught up” 1 Thes 4:17 into Heaven], and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

1.       (Mark 6:51)  And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

THIS WILL HAPPEN UPON THE ADVENT OF OUR LORD’S SECOND COMING

(Mat 14:33)  Then they that were in the ship [the gospel ship, the church] came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God [the final, complete, and full realization of Jesus, which will be full of faith].

1.       (John 6:21)  Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went [How is this possible? It is a miracle and/or a definite rapture].