Biblical Forensics©


End Times Events

Part 3


The upcoming Rapture, literally the “catching away” (See Parts 4 and 5 of Deliverance before Judgment for a full explanation of this term), is one of the most intriguing of all the Biblical doctrines and teachings. Nothing could be more exciting than thinking of not dying physically, but rather changing from Earth to Heaven in the blink of an eye. It has been mathematically calculated to the fraction of a second, 1 in 10 to the minus 43rd power. This is so instantaneously that it is simply unfathomable to comprehend. I think about this happening during physical sleep, and what a surprise that might be.

Think of it this way, everything seems totally normal one moment and then suddenly immediately everything changes forever! It will be that abrupt and that sudden.

The Greek word for this term is called “caught up” or “harpazo”, which means to be “seized, caught up, snatched away by force”. This is the same Greek word used to describe how the Spirit “snatched” Philip away from the Ethiopian eunuch, “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus,” -(Acts 8:39-40).

Philip was miraculously transported by God, in the blink of an eye, from one place to another. Imagine how he might have detailed this story to his family!

The English word “Rapture” comes from the Latin word “rapio”, which means to snatch or seize in relation to being carried away in spirit or body from one place to another. Therefore, the Rapture of the Bride (Church) is the forceful removal, or carrying away, of believers from Earth to Heaven.

Most believers living today sense the day of the Rapture is getting close. Personally, I believe it is so close that essentially everyone alive today will experience the Rapture either as a believer who experiences the Rapture or as an unbeliever who will remain behind on Earth. Today, as of this writing in September 2016, we see and observe nearly all of the elements that were prophesied to take place and we see them on an almost daily basis as foretold. The End of the Church Age is literally upon us now. How close we are to this Biblical “Exodus” event is subject to debate; however, I am a firm believer that it is far closer than most realize.

Just living in this time period is difficult. We recoil when we see perversion flaunted as if it is not perversion at all. We cringe when we see sin exalted in the land as if it is not sin at all. We know the Lord ranks lying right up there on the scale of good and evil in the same manner as He does murder. After all, it was a lie in the first place that led to the entire unstoppable downward trajectory of mankind’s out of control spiral towards death and destruction. Why wouldn’t God consider lying the equivalent of murder in every respect? Yet it has become so routine, a commonplace occurrence that basically goes unchallenged in our everyday walk of life today. “Woe to those who enact evil statutes and to those who constantly record unjust decisions” -(Isaiah 10:1).

God gave us this prophecy for comfort. We know the Bible warns of God’s coming judgment upon sin, but, at the same time, we are comforted by what we know to be true about Bible prophecy. After discussing the Rapture with believers, Paul ends with this sentence: “Therefore comfort one another with these words” -(1st Thessalonians 4:18). This encouragement only makes sense in the Pre-Tribulational view. Can you imagine if the Post-Tribulation view were true? The Post-Tribulational view means that the rapture happens after the Great Tribulation.

Accordingly, the purpose of the Rapture is to bring to a close the dispensation of the Church Age and remove believers before God’s Wrath comes on the Earth. “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” -(1st Thessalonians 5:9).

There is also a practical side to necessitating the Rapture. Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit could not come to Earth to indwell believers until He [Jesus] first departed Earth. “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” -(John 16:7). Jesus departed Earth enabling the Holy Spirit to come to Earth, permanently indwelling all believers –(Acts 2). Therefore, the reverse process is necessary! God’s Spirit must be removed in order for Jesus to return. When God removes His Spirit, all who have His Spirit in them will be swept away with His Spirit – “caught up” or Raptured home!

The Bible clearly reveals that others have been “caught up” to Heaven in the past. This was to show us by means of historic examples which have been recorded and preserved for future generations throughout the ages to examine and study, and to give us a glimpse of what will transpire at that precise moment when the Rapture does occur. The first to be taken before death was Enoch, who lived prior to Abraham. “And Enoch walked with God, and then he was not, for God took him.” -(Genesis 5:24). This was reaffirmed in the New Testament, found in Hebrews 11:5, “By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.”

Paul was also Raptured, or “caught up” to heaven, when he was living on the Earth. “I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows – such a man was caught up to the third heaven.” -(2nd Corinthians 12:2). This “catching away” to heaven left such a lasting impression on Paul, and, in fact, was so profound that the Lord had to give him a “thorn in the flesh” to keep him humble back on Earth. “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelation, (seeing heaven) for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me – to keep me from exalting myself!” –(2nd Corinthians 12:7).

From Life Application New Testament Commentary we read:

Although Paul didn’t give many details about this ecstatic experience, he did write that he was caught up into the third heaven. In Paul’s day, the notion of multiple heavens—from three to seven heavens—was common. Scholars who have systematically analyzed the use of the words “heaven” and “heavens” in the Old and New Testament believe that the Scriptures use the word “heaven” to refer to three separate places. The first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere -(see Act 1:9-10); the second heaven is the entire universe, which contains all the stars -(see Genesis 1:14). The third heaven, beyond these two heavens, is where God himself lives -(1Peter 3:22). This is the “heaven of heavens” -(Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 68:33). Whether or not Paul had this three-fold division of the heavens in mind, it is clear that he considered the third heaven as the highest heaven. Paul saw his revelation as an extraordinary and unique revelation -(2 Corinthians 12:7).

It was fourteen years ago that Paul experienced this revelation. Although Luke records a number of visions and trances Paul received -(Acts 9:3-7; Acts 16:9; Acts 22:17-21), including the one Paul experienced while visiting Corinth -(Acts 18:9-10), none of those visions fit the description here. Paul described this revelation as such a rapturous experience that he heard words he could not repeat -(2nd Corinthians 12:4).

Fourteen years before the writing of 2nd Corinthians would be around A.D. 40, close to the beginning of Paul’s ministry. Paul may have experienced this revelation when he was in Arabia -(see Galatians 1:17; Galatians 2:2), or when he was in Antioch -(Acts 13:1-3), or when he was stoned outside of Lystra and assumed dead -(Acts 14:19-20).

Interestingly, God forbid Paul from speaking about what he saw in heaven, “was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.” -(2nd Corinthians 12:4).

These passages are often read in context; however, that context can sometimes be devoid of any association with the Rapture. Nevertheless, they provide a historic record of evidence for all to read and examine because Paul personally had this experience and that experience is described using the Greek word “harpazo” which was translated into English as “caught up by force”.

For many years, I have believed that Paul was the first to deliver the message of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3. But where the word “apostasy” appears in the Greek text, the expression “the departure” is found instead. In English it may be translated as “falling away”; however, it has a dual meaning:

  1. A falling away of the church or abandonment of the church, and

  2. A specific event, “the departure” or Rapture of the Bride/Church. This is one of that Proverbs 25:2 “moments”! Get ready to be Raptured!

The fact that the concept or idea of the Rapture is nothing new in the Bible has been previously noted. While the greater Christian world ridicules the idea of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, they do so in spite of the evidence provided in Scripture and elsewhere that God will deliver His Bride (Church) just prior to or in the approximate vicinity very close to the last or 70th Week of Daniel’s prophecy found at Daniel 9:24-27. We who believe the Bible to be God’s Truthful Word can rest comfortably on this promise. It will be spectacular regardless of how it is perceived or when it takes place while the rest of the world looks on in disbelief. Whether those who exist in high places, whether highly educated or are average everyday people, those who scoff or ridicule will be hard pressed to explain the absence of millions of born-again believers. To recap a few points before proceeding with how the Rapture will be a problem for government and political leaders and those left behind:

Because Paul as noted above in 2nd Corinthians 12:4 that he was not permitted to speak about this, it seems highly unlikely that a six-year old boy would be God’s new prophetic spokesman for heaven when Paul himself was told not to talk about it. I am referring to a rash of books and movies and even so-called Rapture experiences, by children and adults which have occurred since the 1980’s.

Undoubtedly, there will have to be some sort of “reasonable” explanation as to what happened to all the missing people who disappear suddenly. The Bible calls it the “Lie”, “For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence (Greek “an activity of error”) so that they will believe what is false,” (In other words THE LIE) -(2nd Thessalonians 2:11). It’s quite possible that The Great Lie will be the explanation of what happened to all the Believers who suddenly disappeared. Millions will vanish without warning and without a trace of where they went.

Tim LaHaye surmises that all the clothes the Raptured people are wearing at the time of this event will be left in a pile from where they were sitting, standing, or lying. This idea seems reasonable and logical since those Raptured will not need clothes in heaven. Dr. Ed Hindson (‘The King is Coming’ television program) says if this is what happens at the Rapture, then what about people who wear glasses? It is safe to assume, then, glasses would be left behind. If so, then what about such items as braces, false teeth, and other prosthesis aides? Surely they would be left behind too.

Taking this train of thought further, what about transplanted organs that are not part of the original owner … would they be left behind? The speculative list is endless. In fact, some might have more left behind than those who left the earth at the Rapture!

Regardless, the sudden disappearance of so many will cause massive disruptions. Cars wrecking and planes falling out of the sky created by drivers and pilots who have vanished are only the tip of the iceberg. Key business leaders, prison guards, and born-again pastors will all be gone. There could even be possibly a politician or two who might go missing.

The lie that is told could be that people from another planet or universe have removed those who were ruining the planet. Or maybe they were taken to another planet for reprogramming. This would explain the 50-year push to make UFO’s plausible. In fact, Peter Lemenisuer, author of the 1981 book, ‘The Armageddon Script’, suggests that is exactly what the elite plan will suggest. Whatever it is, the elite must be aware that the Rapture is coming and they are preparing for it. Perhaps they may even produce evidence to prove “the lie!” The fact that Jesuits and Freemasons are part of the Satanic realm does suggest they are aware of the Biblical teaching of the Rapture. The 19th degree of the Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry states that the god of Masons is none other than Lucifer himself.

Or “the lie” could be referring to the middle of the Tribulation when Satan is cast down to Earth. It will be at this time the devil indwells the body of the world leader who was dead for three days, bringing him back to life and claiming to be the resurrected Messiah, thus becoming the False Messiah spoken of as the Abomination of Desolation.

The fact that you are interested in reading this Bible Forensic© puts you in a special category of people. They are those looking and watching for this incredible day to arrive. “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” -(2nd Timothy 4:8). We should not forget the words of the book of Revelation, which contains a prophecy overview. Revelation is the only book in the Bible promising a blessing for simply reading it! “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy…” -(Revelation 1:3).

So, you are blessed for looking forward to the Rapture. You are blessed to be excluded from receiving God’s wrath in the “Seven” year Tribulation. Furthermore, you are comforted, too, by the fact that God is still in control! Throughout it all, whether we die or are Raptured, we win! You simply have to love that promised!

Since I follow dozens of Internet alternative news sites, I am well aware of all the negative news that report on the terrible things that mainstream media deliberately keeps from the public’s eyes. That is why it is good to pray always for the Lord to give us opportunities to share more fully on every occasion to explain the hope about what we know. Paul said, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity” –(Colossians 4:5). “…he who turns a sinner from the error of his way [allows the Lord to use them] will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” -(James 5:20).

Think about it, we have been studying the Bible all our lives in order to be prepared to respond by offering hope to those who might listen concerning all the events we see unfolding before us every day. NOW is the time to put to practical use what we have learned! The bottom line is that we are most likely living in the last of the last days, a special generation of Believers who can be like Noah, testifying about Biblical truth right up to the very end!

I began Bible Forensics© as a worship bulletin insert to reach those who were Christians in Name Only (CINOs), attending church out of habit and most likely with no real sense of urgency. Presently, I mail copies out to pastors, individuals, and just about any group where I find interest. I have left them on car windshields, used them as tract handouts when I have been asked to speak or fill in on a Sunday for a pastor. A few years ago, I was one of a number of speakers for a women’s spiritual retreat for a church I was pastor of when I was in seminary. I gave each attendee an envelope with some 25 of my best Forensics, hoping they would share them with their families and friends. I even prepared a 55-part series on “God’s Preserved Word”. Since its completion, I have given dozens of copies to countless pastors, hoping they would recognize the urgency of the hour. Now, I urge you, my reader to share what you have learned through this series with family and friends.


Jesus is near, and the angels are about to blow the trumpet!



Baruch HaShem (Blessed is the name of God)


Pastor Bob



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