There
is a common teaching today as concerns the great tribulation period and
the "rapture" or the catching away of the church. Does the
Bible indeed teach that there is a promise for some to be air lifted off
of this earth before that great day of testing which shall come upon the
earth? If so, when is it to occur. Some teach pretribulation rapture,
others say midtribulation rapture, while some even teach a posttribulation
rapture. Then there are those who teach no rapture at all.
But what does the Bible say about this catching away or rapture of the
Church? Our study will take us to look at what the early church believed.
We will look at a great historical writing known as "The Shepherd Of Hermas",
a writing which was read throughout the early churches and believed by
many to be inspired scriptures. After this, we will examine every biblical
reference to the catching away of the church. We will look at what
the scriptures say of the catching away of Philip, Paul, Enoch, Elijah,
John, and of course Jesus himself. Are there two separate comings
of Christ foretold? Is there a rapture and a Second Advent?
What do the scriptures say concerning the time or times of his appearing?
We will also examine the throne room setting with a special emphasis
upon the four cherubim which stand before the throne. What does the
bible really mean by each of the four cherubim having different faces?
Many believe there is a symbolic truth here and we will explore that.
In fact, we will discover that there are actually four separate dispensations
of the church represented in these four different faces of the cherubim.
We shall examine the glory of God, the glory of Christ, the glory
of Israel, the glory of the Bride, the glory of the New Jerusalem,
and the glory of Lucifer before his fall. What do these all have
in common? What does the bible say about these things? Do the
twelve stars upon the head of the bride represent something similar
to the ten horns on the head of the dragon? Can we know or identify the
truth behind the dragon having seven heads? Are there seven Satans?
Or is Satan the leader of seven fallen angelic beings? We will then
turn our attention to the heavens for it was Jesus himself that declared
that we should expect to see signs in the heavens prior to his return.
Was every tribe of ancient Israel associated with a house of the zodiac?
Did ancient synagogues in Israel have the zodiac engraved upon the
floor? Do we see such images as Virgo, Cassiopeia, Coma, Corona,
Libra, Scorpio, Ophiuchus, Serpens, Draco, Sagittarius, Hydra, Corvus,
Leo, Gemini, Cetus, Pegasus, Aquarius, Argo, Taurus, Pleiades, Cephus,
and Aquilla throughout the Book of Revelation? Is Reuben symbolized
by Aquarius? Does Pisces represent Simeon and Levi? Does Zebulun
find his standard in the sign of Virgo? Is Cancer a symbol representing
Issachar? Many down through history have believed Dan to be associated
with antichrist because of his identification with Scorpio and the Serpent.
What of Gad and Aries or Asher and Sagittarius? Is Capricorn a
symbol for Naphtali and the horns of Taurus representative of Ephraim and
Manasseh? Are the twelve major signs of the zodiac the very stars worn
on the head of the Bride of Christ? If these things are not true,
then why are they connected so throughout the bible and Jewish history?
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The Catching Away
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The Second Advent Of
Christ
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The Throne Room
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Clothed In Glory
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Enoch's Heavenly Scroll
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