Rapture (Rapiemur; Latin Vulgate)
The word “rapture” is not in the Original Greek text but taken from the Latin translation of I Thessalonians 4:17.
This is not a foundational doctrine or an issue that exposes heretics but it has been an excuse for schisms in the church that divides us and leads us to exalt ourselves in pride and over-emphasize the differences. We do not need for this to create contentions amongst us. We need love and a lot of it. So why am I poking my nose into this “touchy” issue? Experience concerning this doctrine has proven over and over how it has a tendency to break apart the family of God.
I want to make it clear that I am merely voicing my own opinion but in the same addressing a wish that I have for the Bride of Christ. My wish is that the Bride will once and for all grow out of this doctrine of “flying away” to some glorious place. And here are my reasons why:
In overview let us consider the character of God to ascertain some understanding as to how, through history, He operates.
God creates humans in Genesis, human beings just lower than Himself (Psalms 8) but obviously higher than Satan (Eph 12:20-21; 2:6) and gave them all of Himself (Eph 1:3). The choice between the fruit on the trees are theirs, but the fruit of the forbidden tree is outside of play. Man’s volition is a characteristic of God (In Our image). So man chose “wills” to sin and because of it, death came. The verdict is: it shall all be restored as a final blow to the heel is crushed by a final blow to the head.
What shall be restored? God living with man in union. Where did they live? On earth. That is why a new earth is needed and we see the fulfillment of that in Revelation 21 to 22. The problem now is that this new earth is where we are, and not in some other place. God’s habitation is now with man (Eph. 2:22; Rev 3:12; Rev 5:10; Rev 21:2-3, 10, Rev22:3, 5 ;) hence one of His names “Emmanuel” roughly translated God with us (Not us with God). The fallen nature of sin needs to be corrected. You see all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God (Rom 3:23) and where sin reigns, death will reign. So the moment one is born death starts its attack. We are born just to start dying, as sick as it may sound. For the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). Now sin is always the Greek word with a distinct meaning “Missing the mark” and is not to be confused with the fruits of sin. (The physical stuff we do wrong because we miss the mark)
You will do well to take Genesis 1 and 2 and continue to read Revelation 21-22. That is the plan and the fulfillment in a nutshell. Everything in between is the “how to“.
Allow me a take on another facet of the nature of God. When and wherever a problem exists He will send His man or woman to fix it. It has never changed. See God wants the whole earth to be saved. (None to be lost) A careful study of “none” will prove insightful. He loved the world. Gave Himself to all the earth. He paid for all the sheep and shall not be satisfied with only 99% of what He paid for.
So He will see a “Nineveh problem” and send an agent. He sees a stiff-necked nation and sends agents. He sees obstinate kings and sends bearers of good news. God has a habit of coming to His people or at least sending a man or woman or a group or a nation to the Aid of another. He even calls Himself Emmanuel. So as earth becomes increasingly bad He has a final plan in motion. It is called “Sons”. They will once again go but this time in the power and might of the Christ to set creation free (If the “Rapturers” don't kill them all before this is accomplished as Jerusalem killed all her prophets)
What I want to emphasize is that it really should not matter how or what will happen, but a false sense of security leads to wrong actions and incorrect witness in the world. It puts The Bride in a passive position of thinking that they will not be a part of the end-time harvest and separation because they will already be taken away.
A mighty outpouring of the Spirit (Joel2:2/Acts 1:8) is on the horizon but some wants to be taken away.
All of creation is about to be set free (Rom 8) but some want to be "raptured".
The trees along the river flowing from the middle of Jerusalem is about to bring healing to the nations (Rev 22:2), but we want to be "raptured".
God is about to move His throne into the open amongst the children of God (God has made His habitation) but some want…
It is like the days of Noah (Jesus says the coming is like it) as all the sons enter the finished work of the ark, our ark, our rock, our Saviour and the floods cover the earth (like His Glory covers the earth) Numbers 14:21... but some rather wants to be raptured.
The church will once again crucify the Lord in her ignorance of Him visiting her, in her hour of need. And you know what? They will honestly rejoice 'cause they have done God a favour in their eyes (John 16:2).
So reluctantly I will go unto a topic that was already proven wrong by Spirit filled Scholars way back in 1954. Not to mention that this first became a theory only through the workings of a certain young lady in the 1800’s. A girl that never ever attended any sort of Bible training and that was already proven wrong by her peers to the likes of Smith Wigglesworth and other much anointed preachers much more my superiors.
Let me also add that none of the current renewed churches and groups upon the earth supports this theory and many great men of God has spoken out against it in public as to be a theory of religion that will cripple the bride across the earth. Allow me to name but a few.
Dr. Andre Pelser – International Speaker and author
Dr. Noel Woodroffe – International Speaker and author
Anderson Williams – International Speaker and author
Renaldo Texidor – International Speaker and author
Dr. Kelly Varner – International Speaker and author
Ruth Hefflin – International Speaker and author
Dr. Robert Munian – International Speaker and author
Dr. Thamo Naidoo – International Speaker and author
Gene Edwards – International Speaker and author
Dr Jack Deere – International Speaker and author
Madmar Sundar Singh – Indian International Speaker and author
Kobus Van Rensburg – International Speaker and author
TB Joshua – International Speaker and author
John Kelly – International Speaker and author
Andre Rabe, Andre Du Preez etc, etc.
Let me stop there and allow me to state that, most renewal churches that hold to the teaching of the manifestation of the sons of God and the Kingdom of God, will tell you that the rapture theory is just that; a Theory ( And a pretty dangerous one at that.)
Why is this theory dangerous?
1. It keeps the church busy with teachings that they have no command from God about.
2. It pacifies people because they sit back and wait for the “sweet buy and buy” instead
of helping save those that are lost.
3. There is no agreement amongst followers of this teaching on some issues like the
millennium so it brings further dissension even amongst them.
4. It calcifies the hearts of the church as they pray for rapture whilst most of their
family and friends are not saved yet. They subconsciously agree to some people
going “to hell” by praying for the time to be expedited?
5. It feeds on fear of various things like being left behind to the cruelty of anti-Christ
and other horror-like concepts.
6. It removes God to a place where He is waiting instead of promoting a people with
God in them.
7. It dangerously promotes a fleshly desire to be taken up and away and to often walk
on streets of gold (Worth nothing in the Spirit)
8. It centers attention on the flesh more than on the indwelling Christ
9. It portrays God to be somewhat merciless to abandon three quarters of the earth and
whisk a chosen few to safety.
In short it preaches a non Biblical concept of God somewhere else and promotes an escapist mentality.
Let us look at some scriptures:
If by now you are at least a bit curious please just read on even if only to see what “others” believe. Let us allow the Word to teach and enlighten our understandings.
Helpful Dictionary
You will need this self-compiled dictionary to assist you in this journey. Some concepts will be “old” to you some may be new. It is taken from reputable Bible Dictionaries, namely The Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament words and The Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. I am also quoting from the King James, New King James and Amplified Bibles. Where bold or emphasis or underlining words in Bible quotations are used, it is mine for clarification purposes.
House of God: Where Is God and where does he live?
Old Testament times: [A shadow of things to come, see Function of OT]
Gen 28:17 Where Jacob met with God in a dream
Judges 18:31 Meeting place where the Ark of covenant were put for extended periods
1 Chronicles Wherever the tent of meeting was pitched
2 Chronicles Where Solomon build a temple
Ezra 2 Place where the temple was revamped several times up to time of Jesus
New Testament times: [Fulfillment of Old Testament]
1 Tim. 3:15 The chosen (sought out ones) - Us
Pillar of His truth (Sought out ones) – Us
1 Cor. 3:16 We are the temple so His house/meeting place is in us
2 Cor. 6:16/6:19 Where God dwells in us and walks among us
1 Tim. 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
Rev. 21:3 - And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
Mystery of God [Also mystery of God or mystery of ages]
Rom. 11:25 - Salvation to all not just Jews
1 Cor. 15:51 - We shall not all see death
Eph. 1:9 - All things captured in Christ
Eph. 3:6 - Salvation to all and partakers of body of Christ
Eph. 5:32 - Christ and church to become one
Col. 1:27 (Amp) - Christ within and among you, the hope of realizing the glory.
1 Tim. 3:16 - God was manifested in the flesh
Rev. 10:7 - This comes to completeness during the seventh angel blowing trumpet
Glory
3519 kabowd (kaw-bode'); Strongs
kabod (kaw-bode'); from 3513; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendour or copiousness: -glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able).
1391 doxa (dox'-ah); Strongs
from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):
KJV - dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.
My Summary: weight, splendour, honour, dignity, glory, honour, praise, worship.
Function of Old Testament Shadow or symbol
Col. 2:17 Shadow of things to come (Festivals and traditions)
The substance is of Christ.
Heb. 8:5 Copy and shadow of heavenly things (Tabernacle)
Heb. 10:1 Shadow of good things to come (Law)
Heb. 9:9 Symbolic of present time (Duties in tabernacle)
Fallen asleep in Him/Dead in Christ
Note the use of the word “IN”
Isa. 26:19 - Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Dew Psalms 133:3 - Anointing/Glory/Supply
Zion (The transfigured Sons of God)
Jerusalem (Bride (Body of Christ) comprising of many sons of which Jesus was the firstborn)
Deut. 4:48 Hermon is Zion (Mountain upon which Jesus was Transfigured)
Isaiah 52:7-10 8 When the LORD returns to Zion, (Transfigured with the glory of Christ) they will see it with their own eyes. See “Mystery”
Psalm 87:1-7 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain
The strength of the purposes of God in the earth is advanced and given momentum by THE BRIDE elevated in commitment, purpose, accuracy and determination to remain consistent in the things of God.
Isaiah 49:8-12 Zion a (Child) son of God
Isaiah 2:2-4 The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Ps 102:13-22 The LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. (Transfigured)
See“Mystery”
Isaiah 52:1-2 Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your
garments of splendour, O Jerusalem, the holy city. See “Mystery”
Jeremiah 50:4-5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it.
Isaiah 51:11 The ransomed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake
them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Rev 21:9-11 The bride, the wife of the Lamb.
Carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high – Please study prophetic use of Lords mountain.
Showed Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. Coming down is in present continuous form indicating continuously given down from God.
It shone with the glory of God. See “Mystery”
Rev. 21: 22 No temple - because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its
temple. See “Mystery”
Rev. 21:23 No sun or the moon to shine
Glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Pleas study Prophetic meaning of sun and moon
See my Dictionary for “glory of God”
Rev. 22:1-5, 17 The river of the water of life.
Please study river of water of life
On each side of the river stood the tree of life
Please study Tree of life
Leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. – Nations in need of healing are on earth and not in Heaven
Last trumpet call
Rev 10:7 …but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about
to sound, the mystery (See Mystery elsewhere) of God would be
finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. (NKJ)
Matt 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they
will gather together His elect (Church/Sons) from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other. – Note they are in heaven
Seated with Him in heavenly places
Revelation 11:15
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
Eternal life
Everlasting (aidos) ever and always
Eternal (aionos) endless in nature, divine nature, and supernatural attributes. Never dying.
Eternal life is the life of Jesus. 1 John 1:2 “ the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness and declare to you that eternal life which was with the father and was manifested to us”
You will receive everlasting life when you repent and confess Jesus as your Saviour. John 6:47 “most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life.
This means that you will live forever and always with Jesus in the age to come. (Even though your body may die)
Judges 7:16 Note Prophetic Meaning
300: Figure of completion
Dimensions of Ark (Signifying Lords presence)
Benjamin (Last Son) portion
Number of people God used to destroy Midian (Mistery)
The Cost of the Oil with which Christ was anointed
Anointing of Body:
Vessels: 2 Cor 4:7/ 2Tim 2:21
Torches: Fire/anointing/Messengers (Ps. 104:4)
Trumpets: Announcing activity (Amos 3:6)
Rev 10:7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
Please Study “Seven” and “mystery”
Heaven
Here we need to distinguish between the Heavens mentioned in scripture.
Heaven – The big blue above (we will not go into that) Gen 1:8
Heaven – Where Jesus now resides
The Third Heaven – Where the mind of God is known and mysteries are revealed
(Spiritual).
God dwells in Us
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
2 Cor 5:1-5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. (Gen 3:10, 11)
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
Rev. 21:3
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (NKJ)
Rev 21:10
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending (according to the Greek tense it implies a continuous action) out of heaven from God, (NKJ)
Christ Appears / Jesus comes
2 Cor 5:1 Will be clothed not going to be clothed
Phil 3:11, 20 Paul writing whilst in body.
John 17:15 Jesus praying for us not to be taken away
Zephania 1:2 Days of Noah
Prov 2:2-20 & Ps 37 - The Godless are “raptured”
What is the coming of Christ like?
Mat 24:37-39 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark, And they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away--so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [Gen. 6:5-8; 7:6-24.]
Who will be TAKEN away, Raptured?
Prov. 10:30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.
Prov. 2:21 For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
Ps 37:1-2 Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Ps 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Ps 37:10-11 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Ps 37:18-20 The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
Ps 37:22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
Ps 37:28 For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
Ps 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.
Ps 37:38-39 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the time of trouble.
John 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one".
“Famous” rapture versus
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Amplified
1Th 4:17 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
CEV
Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.
Youngs
..then we who are living, who are remaining over, together with them shall be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in air, and so always with the Lord we shall be;
Cloud here is cloudiness (nephele) and not cloud (nephos)
God brings with Jesus those who are asleep (already died) IN HIM.
Where are we currently? In HIM and in Heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6).
Will we that are alive only then be with God or are we already with God?
(Ephesians 2:6) (Hosea 6:2) (1 Thess. 5:10)
He comes from heaven. Where are we?
Air is (aer) Unconscious breathing and not (ouranos) which means the elevated abode where birds fly.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
What trumpet call? See last trumpet call elsewhere
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
“Awake or asleep, we may live together with Him“.
A current reality If they are asleep, awaiting resurrection, how can God bring them with Him when Jesus comes to raise them up? They must somehow already be raised up and be wherever God is.
John 14:1-11
The preparation is done and in the resurrection it is manifested
Col 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Where is my life now?
Col. 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col. 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (See last trumpet) For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (A victory attained at the cross of Jesus)
Luke 21:28-35
30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
Revelation 3:11-13
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Malachi 3:1-4
1 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; (We are the temple) the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? Ps. 24:3-4 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…)
For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.
3 He will sit as a
4 refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,
Again I need to emphasize that if even this little study leads to dissension, rather leave it at that and go make disciples of all nations. You are the Bride and you are God’s master plan for this planet.
The Bride
I will show you the bride, Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
Revelation 21:21-27
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it.
25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
26 The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:1-5
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Nations in need of healing are still around)
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Ezekiel 47:12
12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
Soli Deo Glori
(to God all the glory)
Stay Blessed.
Pst. Werner & Gina Horné.
The word “rapture” is not in the Original Greek text but taken from the Latin translation of I Thessalonians 4:17.
This is not a foundational doctrine or an issue that exposes heretics but it has been an excuse for schisms in the church that divides us and leads us to exalt ourselves in pride and over-emphasize the differences. We do not need for this to create contentions amongst us. We need love and a lot of it. So why am I poking my nose into this “touchy” issue? Experience concerning this doctrine has proven over and over how it has a tendency to break apart the family of God.
I want to make it clear that I am merely voicing my own opinion but in the same addressing a wish that I have for the Bride of Christ. My wish is that the Bride will once and for all grow out of this doctrine of “flying away” to some glorious place. And here are my reasons why:
In overview let us consider the character of God to ascertain some understanding as to how, through history, He operates.
God creates humans in Genesis, human beings just lower than Himself (Psalms 8) but obviously higher than Satan (Eph 12:20-21; 2:6) and gave them all of Himself (Eph 1:3). The choice between the fruit on the trees are theirs, but the fruit of the forbidden tree is outside of play. Man’s volition is a characteristic of God (In Our image). So man chose “wills” to sin and because of it, death came. The verdict is: it shall all be restored as a final blow to the heel is crushed by a final blow to the head.
What shall be restored? God living with man in union. Where did they live? On earth. That is why a new earth is needed and we see the fulfillment of that in Revelation 21 to 22. The problem now is that this new earth is where we are, and not in some other place. God’s habitation is now with man (Eph. 2:22; Rev 3:12; Rev 5:10; Rev 21:2-3, 10, Rev22:3, 5 ;) hence one of His names “Emmanuel” roughly translated God with us (Not us with God). The fallen nature of sin needs to be corrected. You see all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God (Rom 3:23) and where sin reigns, death will reign. So the moment one is born death starts its attack. We are born just to start dying, as sick as it may sound. For the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). Now sin is always the Greek word with a distinct meaning “Missing the mark” and is not to be confused with the fruits of sin. (The physical stuff we do wrong because we miss the mark)
You will do well to take Genesis 1 and 2 and continue to read Revelation 21-22. That is the plan and the fulfillment in a nutshell. Everything in between is the “how to“.
Allow me a take on another facet of the nature of God. When and wherever a problem exists He will send His man or woman to fix it. It has never changed. See God wants the whole earth to be saved. (None to be lost) A careful study of “none” will prove insightful. He loved the world. Gave Himself to all the earth. He paid for all the sheep and shall not be satisfied with only 99% of what He paid for.
So He will see a “Nineveh problem” and send an agent. He sees a stiff-necked nation and sends agents. He sees obstinate kings and sends bearers of good news. God has a habit of coming to His people or at least sending a man or woman or a group or a nation to the Aid of another. He even calls Himself Emmanuel. So as earth becomes increasingly bad He has a final plan in motion. It is called “Sons”. They will once again go but this time in the power and might of the Christ to set creation free (If the “Rapturers” don't kill them all before this is accomplished as Jerusalem killed all her prophets)
What I want to emphasize is that it really should not matter how or what will happen, but a false sense of security leads to wrong actions and incorrect witness in the world. It puts The Bride in a passive position of thinking that they will not be a part of the end-time harvest and separation because they will already be taken away.
A mighty outpouring of the Spirit (Joel2:2/Acts 1:8) is on the horizon but some wants to be taken away.
All of creation is about to be set free (Rom 8) but some want to be "raptured".
The trees along the river flowing from the middle of Jerusalem is about to bring healing to the nations (Rev 22:2), but we want to be "raptured".
God is about to move His throne into the open amongst the children of God (God has made His habitation) but some want…
It is like the days of Noah (Jesus says the coming is like it) as all the sons enter the finished work of the ark, our ark, our rock, our Saviour and the floods cover the earth (like His Glory covers the earth) Numbers 14:21... but some rather wants to be raptured.
The church will once again crucify the Lord in her ignorance of Him visiting her, in her hour of need. And you know what? They will honestly rejoice 'cause they have done God a favour in their eyes (John 16:2).
So reluctantly I will go unto a topic that was already proven wrong by Spirit filled Scholars way back in 1954. Not to mention that this first became a theory only through the workings of a certain young lady in the 1800’s. A girl that never ever attended any sort of Bible training and that was already proven wrong by her peers to the likes of Smith Wigglesworth and other much anointed preachers much more my superiors.
Let me also add that none of the current renewed churches and groups upon the earth supports this theory and many great men of God has spoken out against it in public as to be a theory of religion that will cripple the bride across the earth. Allow me to name but a few.
Dr. Andre Pelser – International Speaker and author
Dr. Noel Woodroffe – International Speaker and author
Anderson Williams – International Speaker and author
Renaldo Texidor – International Speaker and author
Dr. Kelly Varner – International Speaker and author
Ruth Hefflin – International Speaker and author
Dr. Robert Munian – International Speaker and author
Dr. Thamo Naidoo – International Speaker and author
Gene Edwards – International Speaker and author
Dr Jack Deere – International Speaker and author
Madmar Sundar Singh – Indian International Speaker and author
Kobus Van Rensburg – International Speaker and author
TB Joshua – International Speaker and author
John Kelly – International Speaker and author
Andre Rabe, Andre Du Preez etc, etc.
Let me stop there and allow me to state that, most renewal churches that hold to the teaching of the manifestation of the sons of God and the Kingdom of God, will tell you that the rapture theory is just that; a Theory ( And a pretty dangerous one at that.)
Why is this theory dangerous?
1. It keeps the church busy with teachings that they have no command from God about.
2. It pacifies people because they sit back and wait for the “sweet buy and buy” instead
of helping save those that are lost.
3. There is no agreement amongst followers of this teaching on some issues like the
millennium so it brings further dissension even amongst them.
4. It calcifies the hearts of the church as they pray for rapture whilst most of their
family and friends are not saved yet. They subconsciously agree to some people
going “to hell” by praying for the time to be expedited?
5. It feeds on fear of various things like being left behind to the cruelty of anti-Christ
and other horror-like concepts.
6. It removes God to a place where He is waiting instead of promoting a people with
God in them.
7. It dangerously promotes a fleshly desire to be taken up and away and to often walk
on streets of gold (Worth nothing in the Spirit)
8. It centers attention on the flesh more than on the indwelling Christ
9. It portrays God to be somewhat merciless to abandon three quarters of the earth and
whisk a chosen few to safety.
In short it preaches a non Biblical concept of God somewhere else and promotes an escapist mentality.
Let us look at some scriptures:
If by now you are at least a bit curious please just read on even if only to see what “others” believe. Let us allow the Word to teach and enlighten our understandings.
Helpful Dictionary
You will need this self-compiled dictionary to assist you in this journey. Some concepts will be “old” to you some may be new. It is taken from reputable Bible Dictionaries, namely The Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament words and The Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. I am also quoting from the King James, New King James and Amplified Bibles. Where bold or emphasis or underlining words in Bible quotations are used, it is mine for clarification purposes.
House of God: Where Is God and where does he live?
Old Testament times: [A shadow of things to come, see Function of OT]
Gen 28:17 Where Jacob met with God in a dream
Judges 18:31 Meeting place where the Ark of covenant were put for extended periods
1 Chronicles Wherever the tent of meeting was pitched
2 Chronicles Where Solomon build a temple
Ezra 2 Place where the temple was revamped several times up to time of Jesus
New Testament times: [Fulfillment of Old Testament]
1 Tim. 3:15 The chosen (sought out ones) - Us
Pillar of His truth (Sought out ones) – Us
1 Cor. 3:16 We are the temple so His house/meeting place is in us
2 Cor. 6:16/6:19 Where God dwells in us and walks among us
1 Tim. 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
Rev. 21:3 - And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
Mystery of God [Also mystery of God or mystery of ages]
Rom. 11:25 - Salvation to all not just Jews
1 Cor. 15:51 - We shall not all see death
Eph. 1:9 - All things captured in Christ
Eph. 3:6 - Salvation to all and partakers of body of Christ
Eph. 5:32 - Christ and church to become one
Col. 1:27 (Amp) - Christ within and among you, the hope of realizing the glory.
1 Tim. 3:16 - God was manifested in the flesh
Rev. 10:7 - This comes to completeness during the seventh angel blowing trumpet
Glory
3519 kabowd (kaw-bode'); Strongs
kabod (kaw-bode'); from 3513; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendour or copiousness: -glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able).
1391 doxa (dox'-ah); Strongs
from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):
KJV - dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.
My Summary: weight, splendour, honour, dignity, glory, honour, praise, worship.
Function of Old Testament Shadow or symbol
Col. 2:17 Shadow of things to come (Festivals and traditions)
The substance is of Christ.
Heb. 8:5 Copy and shadow of heavenly things (Tabernacle)
Heb. 10:1 Shadow of good things to come (Law)
Heb. 9:9 Symbolic of present time (Duties in tabernacle)
Fallen asleep in Him/Dead in Christ
Note the use of the word “IN”
- Mark 8:24
- Rom 6:4/6/8
- Rom 8:36/2
- Cor 4:11/6:9
- Gal 2:20/6:14
- Phil 3:10
- Col 2:20/3:3/2
- Tim 2:11
Isa. 26:19 - Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Dew Psalms 133:3 - Anointing/Glory/Supply
Zion (The transfigured Sons of God)
Jerusalem (Bride (Body of Christ) comprising of many sons of which Jesus was the firstborn)
Deut. 4:48 Hermon is Zion (Mountain upon which Jesus was Transfigured)
Isaiah 52:7-10 8 When the LORD returns to Zion, (Transfigured with the glory of Christ) they will see it with their own eyes. See “Mystery”
Psalm 87:1-7 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain
The strength of the purposes of God in the earth is advanced and given momentum by THE BRIDE elevated in commitment, purpose, accuracy and determination to remain consistent in the things of God.
Isaiah 49:8-12 Zion a (Child) son of God
Isaiah 2:2-4 The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Ps 102:13-22 The LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. (Transfigured)
See“Mystery”
Isaiah 52:1-2 Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your
garments of splendour, O Jerusalem, the holy city. See “Mystery”
Jeremiah 50:4-5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it.
Isaiah 51:11 The ransomed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake
them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Rev 21:9-11 The bride, the wife of the Lamb.
Carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high – Please study prophetic use of Lords mountain.
Showed Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. Coming down is in present continuous form indicating continuously given down from God.
It shone with the glory of God. See “Mystery”
Rev. 21: 22 No temple - because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its
temple. See “Mystery”
Rev. 21:23 No sun or the moon to shine
Glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Pleas study Prophetic meaning of sun and moon
See my Dictionary for “glory of God”
Rev. 22:1-5, 17 The river of the water of life.
Please study river of water of life
On each side of the river stood the tree of life
Please study Tree of life
Leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. – Nations in need of healing are on earth and not in Heaven
Last trumpet call
Rev 10:7 …but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about
to sound, the mystery (See Mystery elsewhere) of God would be
finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. (NKJ)
Matt 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they
will gather together His elect (Church/Sons) from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other. – Note they are in heaven
Seated with Him in heavenly places
Revelation 11:15
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
Eternal life
Everlasting (aidos) ever and always
Eternal (aionos) endless in nature, divine nature, and supernatural attributes. Never dying.
Eternal life is the life of Jesus. 1 John 1:2 “ the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness and declare to you that eternal life which was with the father and was manifested to us”
You will receive everlasting life when you repent and confess Jesus as your Saviour. John 6:47 “most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life.
This means that you will live forever and always with Jesus in the age to come. (Even though your body may die)
Judges 7:16 Note Prophetic Meaning
300: Figure of completion
Dimensions of Ark (Signifying Lords presence)
Benjamin (Last Son) portion
Number of people God used to destroy Midian (Mistery)
The Cost of the Oil with which Christ was anointed
Anointing of Body:
Vessels: 2 Cor 4:7/ 2Tim 2:21
Torches: Fire/anointing/Messengers (Ps. 104:4)
Trumpets: Announcing activity (Amos 3:6)
Rev 10:7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
Please Study “Seven” and “mystery”
Heaven
Here we need to distinguish between the Heavens mentioned in scripture.
Heaven – The big blue above (we will not go into that) Gen 1:8
Heaven – Where Jesus now resides
The Third Heaven – Where the mind of God is known and mysteries are revealed
(Spiritual).
God dwells in Us
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
2 Cor 5:1-5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. (Gen 3:10, 11)
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
Rev. 21:3
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (NKJ)
Rev 21:10
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending (according to the Greek tense it implies a continuous action) out of heaven from God, (NKJ)
Christ Appears / Jesus comes
2 Cor 5:1 Will be clothed not going to be clothed
Phil 3:11, 20 Paul writing whilst in body.
John 17:15 Jesus praying for us not to be taken away
Zephania 1:2 Days of Noah
Prov 2:2-20 & Ps 37 - The Godless are “raptured”
What is the coming of Christ like?
Mat 24:37-39 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark, And they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away--so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [Gen. 6:5-8; 7:6-24.]
- Was Noah swept away or the mockers?
- The saints or the sinners?
Who will be TAKEN away, Raptured?
Prov. 10:30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.
Prov. 2:21 For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
Ps 37:1-2 Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Ps 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Ps 37:10-11 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Ps 37:18-20 The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
Ps 37:22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
Ps 37:28 For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
Ps 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.
Ps 37:38-39 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the time of trouble.
John 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one".
“Famous” rapture versus
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Amplified
1Th 4:17 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
CEV
Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.
Youngs
..then we who are living, who are remaining over, together with them shall be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in air, and so always with the Lord we shall be;
Cloud here is cloudiness (nephele) and not cloud (nephos)
God brings with Jesus those who are asleep (already died) IN HIM.
Where are we currently? In HIM and in Heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6).
Will we that are alive only then be with God or are we already with God?
(Ephesians 2:6) (Hosea 6:2) (1 Thess. 5:10)
He comes from heaven. Where are we?
Air is (aer) Unconscious breathing and not (ouranos) which means the elevated abode where birds fly.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
What trumpet call? See last trumpet call elsewhere
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
“Awake or asleep, we may live together with Him“.
A current reality If they are asleep, awaiting resurrection, how can God bring them with Him when Jesus comes to raise them up? They must somehow already be raised up and be wherever God is.
John 14:1-11
- “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
- In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
The preparation is done and in the resurrection it is manifested
Col 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Where is my life now?
Col. 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col. 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (See last trumpet) For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (A victory attained at the cross of Jesus)
Luke 21:28-35
30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
Revelation 3:11-13
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Malachi 3:1-4
1 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; (We are the temple) the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? Ps. 24:3-4 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…)
For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.
3 He will sit as a
4 refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,
Again I need to emphasize that if even this little study leads to dissension, rather leave it at that and go make disciples of all nations. You are the Bride and you are God’s master plan for this planet.
The Bride
I will show you the bride, Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
Revelation 21:21-27
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it.
25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
26 The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:1-5
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Nations in need of healing are still around)
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Ezekiel 47:12
12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
Soli Deo Glori
(to God all the glory)
Stay Blessed.
Pst. Werner & Gina Horné.