So all
the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with
God; and he was not, for God took him.
Genesis 5:23-24 NKJV
Now
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold,
the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, “to execute judgment
on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds
which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which
ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Jude 1:14-15 NKJV
By
faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found,
because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that
he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 NKJV
Many
believers are aware that Enoch was the first person to experience what is
described as a “rapture” event because he never died, but rather was taken by
God into His presence before he could “see death”.
Yet I believe many are unaware of exactly why God chose to do
that for him, or what it was that made Enoch deserving of such a reward. If you look closely at what is written about
Enoch in the passage from Jude, I believe it becomes quite clear why God viewed
Enoch as deserving of being raptured and how it was that Enoch “pleased
God”. Simply put, Enoch pleased
God and was rewarded by being raptured because he prophesied about the Second
Coming!
The
subject of typology is something we have spoken of before, and something I
personally am convinced is a wonderful tool in studying scripture. Many scholars see the rapture of Enoch, which
occurred just before the flood of Noah, as a type or pattern of the rapture of
the Church, which will also happen just before the start of the final period of
God’s judgment of an unbelieving world.
If this is the case, I would also like to suggest there might be more to
the story of Enoch that we might find interesting, especially as it might
relate to the rapture of the Church.
The
passage from Jude tells us that Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam, a
fact that we could discern from the genealogy given in the book of
Genesis. Yet Jude makes a point to
mention it when he talks about Enoch and that makes me wonder why? We know that the number seven in scripture
means perfection in regards to completeness, so is it significant the Enoch was
the seventh from Adam? If we view Enoch
as a type or pattern in relation to the Church, is it also significant that the
book of Revelation lists seven church types, and many now believe we are living
in the last or seventh type?
Of
course, if that were not enough, there is also something else we can consider
about Enoch and his rapture. There is a
Jewish rabbinical tradition that Enoch was not only born on the sixth of Sivan,
but was taken on his birthday as well.
Why might that be significant, especially in light of the Church? Simply because the sixth of Sivan is also the
date of the Feast of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit was given to the
Church, and also the day many consider to be the birthday of the Church. Looking at Enoch as a type of the rapture, is
it possible the Church could be raptured, and the Holy Spirit (restrainer)
removed, on its birthday just as Enoch was?
Pentecost
is the fourth of Israel’s seven feast days, and generally occurs in our month
of May or June. This year it will start
at sunset on May 23, and many are wondering if this just might be a good time
to be watching, especially considering all that we see going on in the world
today. By now I am sure you know I am
not in the habit of selecting dates, or making predictions about when the
rapture will occur, yet I certainly believe we are about as close as we can get
to that blessed event without actually hearing the trumpet sound. As we watch, I thought I would leave you with
a study I posted last year which generated a lot of interest.
A Summer Rapture?
Woe is
me! For I am like those who gather
summer fruits, Like those who glean vintage grapes; There is no cluster to eat
Of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires. The faithful man has perished
from the earth, And there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for
blood; Every man hunts his brother with a net. Micah 7:1-2 NKJV
I
believe the Bible makes it clear that the rapture of the Church could happen at
any time. That does not mean, however,
that there might not be a clue in the Word as to the season in which it might
occur. We asked the question a few weeks
ago about just what this world would look like when the restrainer, the Holy
Spirit, is removed from the earth at the rapture. Most of us are familiar with the observation
of the philosopher Edmund Burke when he said “all that is necessary for the
triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”.
Well, what happens when, according to this passage, there are no
faithful men? Every man is against his
own brother, and evil is rampant on the earth.
Talk about all that is necessary to create the “perfect storm” of evil,
God simply removes His Church along with the Holy Spirit and there is nothing
left to fight against Satan and his forces.
Since
history has shown that Satan’s priority is the destruction of Israel, what do
you think he tries to do first? Does
this passage from Micah refer to the rapture of the Church? I think it entirely possible considering the
description it gives as to what the world looks like with the absence of the
faithful. I also believe it is
reasonable to consider the possibility of a summer rapture when the most likely
day for an attack of this nature is on Israel’s national day of mourning.
A Day of Mourning;
the Destruction of Damascus.
“Say to
all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in
the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast
for Me—for Me? Zechariah 7:5 NKJV
This
scripture refers to the fast of the fifth month, which is observed on the ninth
of Av on the Jewish calendar and it usually coincides with either late July or
August on our western calendar. Many
believers are familiar with this day as it is the one day in the year where so
many tragedies have occurred to the Jewish people throughout their history
beginning with the report of the twelve spies in the book of Numbers and many,
many others continuing to this day. If
you were to consider the question of when the nation of Israel would come under
attack by weapons of mass destruction, it would be hard to ignore the
possibility of something of that magnitude occurring on the very day in
Israel’s history when so many other national tragedies have taken place.
Isaiah 17 also makes it clear that although
justified in their response, the rest of the world takes a dim view of what
Israel does. This of course leads them
to think about, and plan a response which many if not most believe is the
attempted invasion of Gog. I believe it
only takes the relatively short time of three to four months to come up with
their “evil plan.”
A Hannukah Gift; God
Defeats Gog
‘Consider
now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from
the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider it: Haggai 2:18 NKJV
And
again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the
month, saying, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: ‘I will shake
heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the
strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And those who
ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, Every one by the
sword of his brother.
Haggai 2:20-22 NKJV
In
his book Armageddon, Appointment With Destiny, author Grant Jeffrey does a
masterful job of examining and explaining all of the feasts and fasts of the nation
of Israel. In his book he devotes an
entire chapter called “Russia’s Day of Destruction in Israel” to the Gog Magog
conflict where he not only answers virtually every question someone might have
about the identity of the invading force, he also speculates as to the timing
of the conflict. By comparing the
language describing what occurs, and especially God’s response to the invading
force, he comes to the conclusion that this passage from the prophet Haggai most
likely is referring to the Ezekiel 38,39 prophecy.
It
is also his conclusion that by referring specifically to the twenty fourth day
of the ninth month, God is telling us exactly when these events will
occur. This day, the twenty fourth of
Chisleu on the Jewish calendar, is the day before Hanukkah, which normally
occurs in late November or December on our calendar. I think it is entirely possible that the
space of time between the Ninth of Av and the day before Hanukkah is more than
sufficient for the planning and assembling of the forces of Magog by Gog. How special would this Hanukkah be for all of
Israel to awaken to find the entire invading force has been slain, not by their
own might, but by the power of God the Father?
Peace on Rosh
HaShanah?
Then he
shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; Daniel 9:27a
How
long has the world waited for peace between Israel and its enemies? At times many would believe that peace is an
impossibility given the lack of success in coming to any type of an agreement. It is with this in mind that it doesn’t
bother me a bit to think that it takes nine months before the antichrist
confirms a covenant. I also believe it
is telling to notice the word God chooses to use in this prophecy. The word translated confirm, in the Hebrew is
gabar; which means “to enforce or prevail”.
Now I ask you; does that sound like a mutually agreed peace? It would seem to me that Israel’s enemies are
somehow forced to abide by this agreement by the antichrist without really
wanting to. I chose Rosh HaShanah as the
day this peace begins for two reasons.
The
first reason is that many if not most scholars believe the last three feasts of
Israel in the fall are prophetic as to the second coming of Christ. Since the seventieth week of Daniel is
exactly seven years in length, it logically begins and ends about the same
time. I also am intrigued by the use of
the trumpet on Rosh HaShanah. The last
sounding of the trumpet on this feast day is called the Tekia shofar. Throughout Israel’s history, it has been
described as a long blast signaling victory or good news. What better news would Israel want to
celebrate than knowing peace with their enemies has finally been
accomplished?
Abomination in the
Spring?
But in
the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on
the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the
consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” Daniel 9:2
Obviously
it follows that if we place the beginning of Daniel’s seventieth week in the
fall, the middle of the week which is three and one half years later will occur
in the spring. In fact, not only will it
occur in the spring, it will arrive during the spring feasts of Israel. If you recall, it was during this time that
Jesus entered Jerusalem and told the religious leaders of the day that He was
the Son of God. When it comes to
prophecy in the Bible, I make it a point to never believe in coincidence. It seems to make perfect sense that the
antichrist will choose the exact same time to stand in the temple and proclaim
himself to be God.
History
will repeat itself as his claim will be rejected by many resulting in the
antichrist reacting in anger towards those who reject him. It is now that the
final three and one half years of Daniel’s seventieth week begin, and by
declaring war on the nation of Israel the antichrist plunges the world into the
period of time which Jesus called the Great Tribulation, and God called the
Time of Jacob’s Trouble. The
antichrist’s attempt to destroy the nation of Israel will only lead him to
destruction, but in the process involve the entire world in a war that is not
only unwinnable, but leads directly to where God has arranged the final outcome
to occur.
Armageddon and the
Second Coming in the Fall?
Declare
in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the trumpet in the land;
Cry, ‘Gather together,’ And say, ‘Assemble yourselves, And let us go into the
fortified cities.’ Set up the standard toward Zion. Take refuge! Do not delay!
For I will bring disaster from the north, And great destruction.” Jeremiah
4:5-6 NKJV
Here
we are, seven years after the covenant of peace between Israel and its enemies,
right back where we started and notice again the reference to blowing a
trumpet. Is Jeremiah telling us that
Armageddon and Jesus return to Jerusalem occurs on Rosh HaShanah? I believe that he is, but only time will tell
if this is the correct interpretation.
Yet considering the fact that God has told us specifically that the
seventieth week of Daniel would be two thousand five hundred and twenty days in
length, broken up into two halves with each being twelve hundred and sixty
days, and that there are just coincidently twelve hundred and sixty days
between Passover and Rosh HaShanah, I think it’s a safe assumption God wanted
us to know this was when these things would occur. Of course, as I said, I could be wrong,
however we should also consider that there are two more appointed feasts that
closely follow during this month, and the prophetic implications they provide
give support to our conjectured timeline.
Ten
days after RoshHaShanah comes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This day is considered to be the holiest day
on the Jewish calendar for it is on this day that they were commanded to mourn
for their sins. It was also on this day,
the only day of the year, when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies
to sprinkle the blood of sacrifice before the Mercy Seat of God. It certainly seems appropriate that now that
the Great Tribulation is over Israel will stand before their God and mourn for
their sin.
Millenial Reign
Begins on Tabernacles
And the
LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be— “The LORD is
one,” And His name one. Zechariah
14:9 NKJV
And it
shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came
against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD
of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Zechariah 14:16 NKJV
The
next, and last Feast day on the Jewish calendar arrives just five days later
when Israel celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles. This was the day in Israel’s history when
Solomon’s Temple was dedicated and the Ark of the Covenant finally had a
permanent resting place. Many also believe
that this day was in fact the day of Jesus’ birth, and there are several good
reasons to believe that. One is that in
the book of John we are told that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us”. Just coincidently, the Greek word
for “dwelt” is “tabernacle”. It
certainly seems fitting that Jesus assumes His throne in the New Jerusalem on
the same day He first arrived.
My
purpose in sharing all of these things with you is to hopefully stimulate you
to watch with the intensity I believe God wants from all of us when He
commanded us to watch for all of these things.
It has always troubled me that if you were to ask one hundred believers
if they felt it was important to follow all of God’s commandments one hundred
would say yes of course. Yet ask those
same one hundred if they are watching for Christ’s return and I suggest the
number who would reply yes would appall you.
As I said before, I am not trying to predict the future here, but all
that we have talked about in the past few weeks has already been told to us by
the Father through His prophets in His Holy Word. It is, and has always been, up to us to
diligently search the scriptures to “find out whether these things were so”.
If
you have never taken the step of asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins and
to come into your heart and save you from eternity without Him, I encourage you
to do that right now. Simply tell Him
you are sorry for your sin, ask Him to forgive you, and accept the sacrifice He
made to die for your sin, and He has promised not only to forgive you but to
make you one of His own and come into your life and provide all the help you
need to begin to live for Him. I am
convinced His return is much closer than we may think.
As
always, there is more to the story of Pentecost for us to discover, so next
week we will look at Pentecost as a day of harvest and a good day for a
wedding.
Keep
watching.
