The Rapture - Part 2

Part 2: End-Time Events, Practical Advice, and Prophetic Fulfillments

The Second Resurrection and End of the Millennium

The second resurrection, “…the ones having practiced evil…” [Jon 5:29], will occur at the end of the Millennial Reign prior to the Great White Throne Judgment.

[Rev 20:11-15 LITV] And I saw a Great White Throne, and the One sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled; and a place was not found for them. [12] And I saw the dead, the small and the great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell [G86 – hades ] gave up the dead in them. And they were each judged according to their works. [14] And death and hell [G86 – hades] were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. [15] And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.

This is the second resurrection. These are those who do not belong to Yeshua. The rapture, the first resurrection, includes all of those who belong to Yeshua including the martyrs of Revelation 20:4.

It says “the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were ended”. Some speculate that they’re resurrected, now present on earth, and may be part of the army below [?]… this is the second resurrection of the dead.

[Rev 20:7-10 LITV] And whenever the thousand years are ended, Satan will be set loose out of his prison, [8] and he will go to mislead the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them in war, whose number is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up over the breadth of the land and encircled the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. And fire from God came down out of Heaven and burned them down. [10] And the Devil leading them astray was thrown into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet were. And they were tormented day and night to the ages of the ages.

Where does this army, “whose number is as the sand of the sea” come from? At the beginning of the 1,000 years Yeshua destroys massive amounts of people at the battle of Armageddon. We know that some on earth survive the Great Tribulation period. They’re mentioned in the separation of the sheep and goats, in Zec 14:16-21, Isa 2:2-4, etc. (see above).

[Rev 20:3] … and threw him into the abyss, and shut him up, and sealed over him, that he should not still lead astray the nations, until the thousand years are fulfilled.

We are told, that some will not accept Yeshua during the 1,000 year reign (see above). Repopulation is occurring during the 1,000 year reign and we're told above that the second resurrection occurs at the end of 1,000 year reign. The wicked, from all of history up this point, shall "live again" so this is a massive amount of people “whose number is as the sand of the sea”.

[Rev 20:9-10 LITV] And they went up over the breadth of the land and encircled the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. And fire from God came down out of Heaven and burned them down. [10] And the Devil leading them astray was thrown into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet were. And they were tormented day and night to the ages of the ages.

After this… the Great White Throne Judgment:

[Rev 20:11-15 LITV] And I saw a Great White Throne, and the One sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled; and a place was not found for them. [12] And I saw the dead, the small and the great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell gave up the dead in them. And they were each judged according to their works. [14] And death and hell were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. [15] And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.

There’s more to the story of “the consummation of all things” but I think I’ll save that for a different writing.

Additional information: The "Gog and Magog" battle at the millennium's end (Rev 20:8) echoes Ezekiel 38–39 but is distinct, representing a final rebellion. Premillennial views like the author's see a literal 1,000-year reign; amillennial interpretations (held by Augustine and many Reformers) view the millennium symbolically as the current church age, with Satan's binding limiting his deception.

Practical Implications: Preparing for Tribulation and Persecution

Before moving on to the Jewish Feasts let’s pause here.

We’ve just absorbed a lot of information concerning end-time events. What does this all mean for us?

The Great Tribulation is going to be a time of global chaos. We, as Christians, will be targeted. We will be persecuted, beaten, raped, tortured, beheaded, killed in other manners, imprisoned, etc. Friends and even family will turn on us.

The mark of the beast will be incorporated on a global level. Think of everything that you’ll need money for. You won’t be able to buy or sell without the mark. You won’t be able to pay your mortgage, buy gas for your vehicles, purchase food, pay your utilities (water, heat, electricity, etc.), you won’t even be allowed to have a job without the mark! Employers will be forced to comply with the mark and the global economy. Those who do not take the mark will suffer incredibly and we need to help those, and ourselves, in any way that we can.

You cannot, under any circumstances, accept this mark! Even if it means starving to death. Death for us is not the end! It is the beginning!

[Rev 13:15-18 LITV] And was given to it to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak, and might cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. [16] And the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, it causes that they give to them all a mark on their right hand, or on their foreheads, [17] even that not any could buy or sell, except the one having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name. [18] Here is wisdom: Let the one having reason count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man and its number is six hundred and sixty six.

[Rev 14:9-11 LITV] And a third angel followed them, saying in a great voice, If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or in his hand, [10] he also shall drink of the wine of the anger of God having been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented by fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. And those worshiping the beast and its image have no rest night and day, even if anyone receives the mark of its name.

[Rev 14:12 LITV] Here is the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping the commands of God, and the faith of Jesus.

If we are confronted we are to submit and carry our crosses just as Yeshua did… the Lamb to the slaughter! My sinful nature immediately conjures up images of loading up my guns to the hilt and killing every man that strolls up my driveway. We cannot do this… Yeshua specifically commanded us not to do that! He will use our capture, and possibly death, to be a testimony to Himself! He will give us the words to speak and the actions to take if we allow Him, and obey Him, to do so!

We learned this earlier from the mouth of our Savior Himself:

[Luk 21:12-15 LITV] But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you, and will persecute you, delivering you into the synagogues and prisons, being led away before kings and governors on account of My name. [13] But it will return to you for a testimony. [14] Then put into your hearts not to premeditate to make a defense. [15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all those opposing you will not be able to withstand or contradict.

We must remain strong until the end… even death at the hands of our enemies! You really need to set your hearts now and begin praying for courage and strength now! You need to focus on finishing the race according to the words, and the example of our King! We will be rewarded and He will take vengeance for us!

Additional information: Historical parallels include early Christian martyrs under Roman persecution (e.g., Polycarp in AD 155), who echoed this submission, viewing death as testimony. Modern interpretations of the "mark" vary, from literal implants to symbolic allegiance, but the author's emphasis on endurance aligns with Jesus' warnings in Matthew 24:13 ("he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved").

Rewards and Hope: Christ's Kingdom and New Creation

Our King is returning for us. He will literally walk the earth again, He will literally setup His Kingdom, and we will literally rule and reign, here on earth, with Him.

[Rev 11:15-18 LITV] And the seventh angel trumpeted. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of the world became our Lord's, even of His Christ; and He shall reign to the ages of the ages. [16] And the twenty four elders sitting before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, [17] saying, We thank You, Lord God Almighty, the One who is, and who was, and who is coming, because You took Your great power and reigned. [18] And the nations were full of wrath; and Your wrath came, and the time of the judging of the dead, and to give the reward to Your slaves, to the prophets, and to the saints, and to the ones fearing Your name, to the small and to the great, and to destroy those destroying the earth.

This world, as we know it now, is not our home! We are visitors, placed here to learn how to be Holy as He is Holy! That is the purpose of this brief life… to grow, and learn, as children of the Almighty Creator! We will inherit our permanent home very soon! First, we will rule and reign with Yeshua - here on this earth as He begins the restoration process. Eventually, the New Jerusalem, new heaven and new earth will be ushered in.

[2Pe 3:9-13 LITV] The Lord of the promise is not slow, as some deem slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not having purposed any to perish, but all to come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with rushing sound, and having burned the elements will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be burned up. [11] Then all these being about to be dissolved, of what sort ought you to be in holy behavior and godliness, [12] looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, through which the heavens having been set afire will be dissolved; and burning, the elements will melt? [13] But according to His promise, we look for "new heavens and a new earth," in which righteousness dwells. Isa. 65:17

[Luk 21:28 NAS95] "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Additional information: The "new heavens and new earth" (Isa 65:17; Rev 21:1, not quoted here) draws from Jewish apocalyptic traditions, symbolizing total renewal. Peter's "thief in the night" ties to the Feast of Trumpets' unpredictability, reinforcing watchfulness.

Jewish Feasts: Timeline and Fulfillments in the 70th Week

Jewish Feats – 70th Week Timeline

The following pages come from several different sources. I’ve been taking notes for literally decades. Besides Leviticus 23, a very good book for you to pick up and read, on these Jewish Feasts, would be:

The Last Shofar! By Joseph Lenard

Given all the clues from the Revelation, the Olivet Discourse, Apostles, and the Prophets you should be starting to see our future unfold. You should be able to see not only the events themselves, but also the timing of those events. Scripture gives us everything we need to sort this out.

The seven Feasts are divided into two groups—the Spring Feasts and the Fall Feasts. God refers to these Feasts as His appointed times, or His rehearsals for future events.

Yeshua perfectly fulfilled the first four feasts!

“Collectively, the Feasts foreshadow God’s completed redemptive purpose for Israel as well as His blessings to the Gentiles. These Feasts accurately depict the First Coming of Messiah as the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:10–11), as seen in the Spring Feasts. With the same precision, the Fall Feasts accurately depict the Second Coming of Messiah as Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 17:14). Within this context, we see the amazing consistency and detail of God’s plan of redemption from Genesis to Revelation.” Lenard, Joseph; Zoller, Donald. The Last Shofar! (p. 104). Xulon Press. Kindle Edition.

I love this visual (below) of the Jewish feasts. You can easily see the “gap” between the first four spring feasts, that Yeshua perfectly fulfilled, before the beginning of the fall feasts – that Yeshua will perfectly fulfill!

Looking back in Daniel, this chart is a visual of the “gap” between the 69th and 70th week… or, the Church age.

Before moving on, let’s take a brief look at the spring feasts and how Yeshua fulfilled them. Again, read The Last Shofar! for a detailed description, but Jesus perfectly fulfilled these feasts – down to the exact day as was prophesied!

The Spring Feasts

[1] The feast of Passover - Pesach

The Feast’s focus is the historic Passover Lamb, whose innocent blood every Hebrew family in Egypt was required to apply to their lintel and doorposts to assure their deliverance from the tenth plague—death of the first-born.

[Joh 1:29 LITV] On the morrow, John sees Jesus coming toward him and said, Behold! The Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world! [1Pe 1:18-19 LITV] knowing that not with corruptible things, silver or gold, were you redeemed from your worthless way of life handed down from your fathers, [19] but with precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot,

[2] The feast of Unleavened Bread- Hag HaMatzah

In this Feast, Israel remembers their immediate departure from Egypt when they ate their bread in haste without leaven—deliverance was now!

Leaven is symbolic of sin throughout Scripture. Israelites were required to remove all leaven from their house prior to this feast.

[Mat 21:12-13 LITV] And Jesus entered into the temple of God and threw out all those selling and buying in the temple. And He overthrew the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling the doves. [13] And He said to them, It has been written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer," but you

Additional information: The fall feasts—Trumpets (resurrection/return at the "last trump"), Atonement (judgment/day of the Lord), Tabernacles (millennial reign)—are seen by some scholars as unfulfilled prophecies. Trumpets involves shofar blasts, symbolizing alarm and gathering (Num 10:1-10), tying to 1 Thess 4:16's trumpet. Historical observance included temple rituals emphasizing repentance, aligning with end-time themes of tribulation and restoration.

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