Christians call it the rapture, Jesus called it the Doors, Three doors given by God, for mankind three Watches. The door keepers watch Mark13/34 For

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1 Christians call it the rapture, Jesus called it the Doors, Three doors given by God, for mankind three Watches. The door keepers watch Mark13/34 For this study of the word either the New King James or the King James versions of the Bible should be used. Though both are faithful translations, I used the New king James in this paper. When our Lord Jesus talked about His second coming He spoke of the event using two different words. One of the words Jesus used to alert you to His second coming is Watch and the other word is doors or door. Those who are born again have long called our Lords second coming the rapture. Jesus never used the word rapture though He did use the two words Watch and doors to tell us of the three different events that take place during the first six years of the tribulation period. Many people have differing ideas as to when the rapture will take place. Some feel it will be pre-tribulation some feel it will be mid-tribulation and still others feel it will be end-tribulation. The reason people have differing ideas on when the rapture will take place is because the Bible indicates it will happen at three different times. In these last days the LORD has chosen to bless us and explain what for thousands of years has remained unseen. The reason why so many people have so many different ideas on when the rapture will take place is this. It s not a one-time event. During the first six years of the tribulation period God transports three large groups of people to two different locations three different times. Jesus called these events the doors. God has given mankind three doors of escape from the tribulation period. These three doors happen at three different times during the tribulation period and each door is for a specific group of people. Jesus tells us of these doors and tells us that we are to Watch and be ready for each of the three doors. The first Watch or door is for born again believers who love our Lord Jesus Christ, be they born again Jewish believers or born again gentile believers. The first watch or door happens three to twelve hours after the start of the tribulation period give or take a few hours. The second watch or the second door takes place at the middle of the tribulation period. The second watch is for a small part of the Jewish nation, God called this group of Jews the remnant. God will transport a small portion of the Jewish nation to a safe place on the earth where He will protect them from the anti Christ for the last three and a half years of the tribulation period. The third watch or door will take place at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period when the last trumpet is about to sound. This watch is for the hundred and forty four thousand, Gods elect. They are the Jewish male virgins twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel that go out to the whole world to witness for Jesus during the tribulation period. They will be removed from the earth and go to be with the Lord in the Father s house when the last trumpet is about to sound at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period. The seventh trumpet or the last trumpet is sounded at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period signaling the beginning of the seventh and last year of the tribulation period. What you are about to read is the unveiling of the hidden mystery in the Bible spoken of by John in the book of Revelation. 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.

2 This hidden mystery was given in the form of precept upon precept, line upon line here a little there a little to many of the prophets throughout the Bible. Precepts as they are found in the Bible are unchangeable facts given in the scriptures by God. All precepts in the Bible fit perfectly together like a perfect puzzle. The appointed time for the unveiling of the hidden mystery given to the prophets is now, for it tells the people of this time the signs that happen hours in advance of their being taken by God into heaven or in the case of the second door transported to a safe place on the earth. Understanding this hidden mystery also gives hope to those who will be going through the tribulation period. The three doors given by God are for the three groups of people those that escape the tribulation period. The first door is for those who are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. The second door is for a group of unbelieving Jews. The third door is when the 144,000 born again Jewish believers are taken into heaven as the last trumpet is about to sound. The end of the sixth year of the tribulation period is when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet. As the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet two things happen. The third door opens for the 144,000 and they are taken into heaven. The second event that takes place at this time- the souls under the altar those that will be martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ during the tribulation period will be allowed to enter into the Lords wedding celebration. Thus they will partake in the last year of the Lords and their wedding celebration. This is the last door of three given by God and completes the mystery of God given to the prophets foretold in Revelation 10/7. It is also the end of the age and the title of the earth is once again in the hands of God. Now let s look at the scriptures and see how Jesus uses the words watch and doors to talk about what most people call the rapture. In Mark 13:33-37 Jesus say s 33 Take heed, Watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the door-keeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming-in the evening, at mid-night, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning- 36 lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! Jesus over and over again uses the word Watch to alert you to the moment of His return. In Matthew 24: Jesus has been speaking of the three Watches and then say s 24/40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Again Jesus uses the word Watch to alert you to the moment when He comes and removes people from the earth to be with Himself. In Luke s gospel 21:36 Jesus say s Luke 21/36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. Here Jesus speaks of being worthy to escape the horrors of the tribulation period and to be in His presence, and again He uses the word Watch as a key word to alert you to His return and the times He removes people from the earth or transports people from place to place. In Luke s gospel 12:36-38 Jesus is speaking to the Jewish people about their two watches. As He talks to the Jews about their second and third watches He tells us of all three watches. Luke 12:36-38 Jesus speaking 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he

3 comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. When Jesus says and if he should come in the second watch or come in the third watch we can assume that there will be a first watch and in fact Jesus has already spoken of the first watch in this passage. When He said you men be as though you re waiting for your master to return from the wedding. The wedding that Jesus speaks of is the ongoing wedding of the bride of Christ, those who were taken to be with the Lord in the first watch or the first door. When Jesus uses the word men in this passage of scripture in Luke 12:36 He is speaking to the hundred and forty four thousand male virgins who have the mark of God on their foreheads, those who are taken in the third watch or the third door that is why He makes a point of saying men in this passage. Now let s look at the other word Jesus used to tell us of the times He would be moving large groups of people from place to place, the other word is doors or door depending on the scripture. In Revelation chapters one through three Jesus speaks to the seven churches and tells most of them of their shortcomings, exhorting them to a deeper love and relationship with Himself. Then He tells the church of Philadelphia that He has placed an (open door) before them so they would escape the hour of trial that was to befall the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. This open door that Jesus speaks of to the church of Philadelphia is the first door of three. Let s read Rev. 3:8 and 3:10, I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Rev. 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth Here Jesus is speaking only to the gentile church. They are only given one door or one Watch. So when Jesus tells this group of people of their one and only Watch He says door singular for the gentile church is only given one shot at missing the tribulation period. The Jewish people will have the mid tribulation watch or the second door and the end tribulation watch that happens at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period the third door. In Matthew 24:4-32 Jesus has just finished telling the Jews of their two watches and we will get into a detailed look at that in just a moment. What we want to look at is where Jesus uses the word doors to alert you to the three watches, two of which He has just spoken of. Matthew 24:33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near- at the doors! The it that Jesus speaks of are the three watches, predetermined moments in time or our departure times, when God transports large groups of people from one place to another. Just as Jesus had said to the church of Philadelphia that He had placed an open door before them that they might escape the hour of trial that would come to test those who dwell upon the earth. Jesus tells the Jews that they also have two watches, two doors of opportunity to escape from the ongoing horror of the tribulation period. Remember that the second watch happens at the midpoint of the tribulation period and the third watch happens at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation. The Jews will unfortunately have to endure many years of the tribulation period before the Lord in the twinkling of an eye snatches them to safety. In Mark 13:5-37 Jesus again talks about the watches. Then in Mark 13:29 Jesus say s So you also, when you see these things

4 happening, know that it is near- at the doors! Again Jesus speaks of the Watches and the doors of opportunity to escape the horrors of the tribulation period. When the first watch takes place this is the only door or watch that is given to the gentiles. The second and third watches are for two select groups of Jewish people only. In Luke 13:24-25 Jesus speaks to the people exhorting them to strive to enter by the narrow gate, in this case to be worthy of being taken in the first watch or the first door. Luke 13:24. Strive to enter though the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open for us, and He will answer and say to you, I do not know you, where you are from. There is one other group of words that Jesus used to describe the people that are taken in the watches that you will need to know before you can readily understand what our Lord Jesus means when He speaks of the watches. When Jesus was telling the people of what it would be like when people are taken in the watches He used the word eagles to describe those people who were being taken in the watches. Jesus when speaking of where the people being taken in the watches would go used the words body and carcass. Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Jesus uses what is said in Isaiah 40:31. Those who wait on the LORD shall mount up with wings like eagles to describe those people who are being taken in the three watches. In Luke s gospel Jesus speaks of the watches and then say s 17:34-37 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left. 37 And they said to Him, Where Lord? So He said to them, Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. The people who were listening to Jesus wanted to know where the people who were being taken in the watches were going so they asked where Lord? Until this time His answer has been a mystery. Jesus said Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. The body that Jesus refers to is the body of Christ. All the people who have died in years past looking to Jesus as their Lord and Savior have gone to the Fathers house where Jesus has prepared a place for us. This gathering of the saints in spiritual form in the Fathers house is the body of Christ. We who remain, those who love our Lord Jesus and await His soon return are also part of the body of Christ. We are the eagles that Jesus speaks of. The ones who will rise up on eagles wings to join with all the other saints in the Fathers house, the ones who will enter into heaven when the first and third doors or watches take place. So when Jesus said Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. The body He speaks of is the body of Christ and the eagles are those who are being taken in the watches, in this case the first and third watches or the first and third doors that God has given mankind. Now in the gospel of Matthew 24:28 Jesus says something very different. In Matthew 24:28 Jesus say s For wherever the carcass is there the eagles will be gathered together. Jesus used the word carcass to describe the second watch or the second door only. The second watch happens at the midpoint of the tribulation period and is for a remnant of the Jewish nation. God takes this remnant of the Jewish nation and transports them like birds flying though the air to a safe place in the Valley of Achor where God

5 keeps them safe from the serpent for the last three and a half years of the tribulation period. We are given a picture of this in Rev. 12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times and half a time from the presence of the serpent. In Hosea 2/14 God tells us where the second door will end up, Hosea 2/14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her. 15 I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. 16 And it shall be in that day, Says the LORD, That you shall call Me My Husband, And no longer call Me My Master, People today believe Petra is the place where the remnant will be sequestered, this is another scripturally unfounded error. The reason Jesus calls this group or gathering of people a carcass when He speaks of the remnant is because they do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are not born again. From Gods point of view they are spiritually dead, yet they have the potential to receive Christ in the future and to fulfill the promise to the Jews that God would always leave the Jews a remnant He saves a remnant in the valley of Achor. Since they have yet to receive Christ that is why Jesus calls this group of people the carcass. So when Jesus spoke of the people who would be removed from the earth and taken into the Fathers house in the first and third watches He said, Wherever the body is there the eagles will be gathered together and when Jesus spoke of the second watch where the remnant of the Jewish nation would be transported to a safe place in the Valley of Achor at the midpoint of the tribulation period. He said, For wherever the carcass is there the eagles will be gathered together Before we move on the second door is unlike the first or third doors. In the first and third doors God transports people from the earth into the Fathers house, changing them into their new spiritual bodies in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. In the case of the second door these people will be lifted up into the air and flown through the air like birds to their place of refuge in the Valley of Achor. They are not entering into heaven at this time so God flies them through the air like birds. There are three different sounds associated with the people taken in the watches or the doors. In first Thessalonians 4:16 Paul, by the power of the Holy Spirit tells us in 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. When the first door happens the first trumpet will sound starting the tribulation period. The bride groom in this case Jesus Christ is delayed that day by the angel rising in the east. Then the Lord Jesus after an unknown number of hours will descend from heaven with a shout and call His bride or church up into the Fathers house. In just a moment the angel rising in the east will be explained When the second door takes place those people will hear the voice of an archangel commanding the remnant of the Jews to fly on eagles wings to their predetermined place in the wilderness in the Valley of Achor for the last three and a half years of the tribulation period. The third door will take place moments before the last trumpet is about to sound at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period. Then the 144,000 will rise on eagle s wings into the Fathers house. At that same time the souls under the altar or the dead in Christ, those martyred during the tribulation period will be allowed to enter into the Lords wedding celebration for the last year of His and their wedding. If you are born again and die before the tribulation period starts you would go to the Fathers house and join with all the other saints that make up the body of

6 Christ. In John 11/26 Jesus talked to Martha about Lazarus and said 11/26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? There is no soul sleep for those who are born again in Jesus Christ. So when Paul said the dead in Christ would rise first he spoke of those under the altar during the tribulation period. For those who are martyred for their faith in Lord Jesus during the tribulation period they will remain under the altar until the full number of those to be martyred during the first six years of the tribulation period is complete. Then as the last trumpet is about to sound at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period the martyred tribulation saints will rise first into the Fathers house and then the 144,000 will follow moments before the last trumpet is sounded. As we saw earlier this is the last door of the three doors given by God, and completes the mystery of God given to the prophets mentioned in Revelation 10/7. This is also the end of the age as Satins dominion over the earth comes to an end at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period. In Revelation 20/4-6 this is given to us Rev. 20/4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. John is not showing us a grand resurrection at the beginning or end of the tribulation period. For the first resurrection started when Jesus rose from the dead some two thousand years ago. Jesus is the first fruit of the first resurrection and everyone who has believed in Jesus since then has already taken part in the first resurrection receiving their new spiritual bodies and entering into the Father s house as each person s body died over the last two thousand years. Jesus raised each person up at the last day of their lives. What we see in Rev. 20/4-6 is the end of the first resurrection for those who are alive at this time and only the tribulation saints are spoken of or the souls under the altar that must wait until the full number of those who will be martyred during the first six years of the tribulation period is complete. Remember the parable in Luke14/15-24 of how a certain man in this case God the Father prepared a feast and sent out invitations to all to come to the feast but many made excuses saying I just bought a yoke of oxen or I just married a wife or I just bought a plot of land and I must go see it. God said that those who would not come to the feast were not worthy and they would not eat of the great supper. All who come to Christ during the tribulation period are under the altar of judgment because they were not ready when Lord Jesus came for His church so all who become born again Christians during the tribulation period must wait under the altar until the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period before they can come into the Fathers house. The tribulation Saints will partake in the first resurrection and the last year of the Lords wedding celebration but they will miss out on the first six years of the Lords wedding feast. However there is one group of people who even though they became tribulation Saints will partake of the Lords wedding feast the 144,000 have a promise from Jesus Himself in Luke 12/36-37 that Jesus will have them sit down and He will personally come and serve them. Luke 12/36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding,

7 that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. Revelation 6/9-11 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, Holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. For those believers martyred during the tribulation period they will have to wait until the first six years of the tribulation period are completed. Then just before the last angel sounds the seventh trumpet they will be taken into heaven to celebrate the last year of the Lords and their wedding. John said blessed are those who take part in the first resurrection for this is the last chance anyone has that s alive or a tribulation martyr during the tribulation period to take part in the first resurrection. The first resurrection comes to completion for the people of this time at the sounding of the last trumpet at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period. Now let s look at the scriptures that tell us of the three doors or the three watches. In the gospel of Matthew 24 Jesus talks about all three watches or doors. When Jesus tells us of the three watches in Matthew 24 He tells us of the watches in reverse order of their actual occurrence. He starts with the third watch then the second watch then briefly mentions the third watch and then lastly He speaks of the first watch. Jesus always said that the last would be first and the first would be last. So when He was telling the people of the three watches in Matthew 24 He listed them in reverse order of their actual occurrence. Let s first read Matthew 24, and then we will look at scriptures and their meaning. Matthew 24.1Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone will be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age? 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you 5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations for My name s sake.10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads,

8 let him understand), 16 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the house top not go down to take anything out of the house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (THE THIRD WATCH) 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect s sake those days will be shortened. 23 Then if anyone says to you, look, here is the Christ! or There! do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 Therefore if they say to you, Look, He is in the desert! do not go out; or Look, He is in the inner rooms! do not believe it. (THE SECOND WATCH) 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in Heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (THE THIRD WATCH) 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near- at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (THE FIRST WATCH) 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also shall the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom the master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

9 In the beginning of Matthew 24 the disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign as to when His return would be and He gave us signs one or more for each of the three doors or watches. The sign when the third door is to take place is the sounding of the last trumpet at the end of the sixth year of the tribulation period. The sign when the 2 nd door is about to open is Jesus returning in His Father s house, just as lighting in the east flashes to the west so also shall the return of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. When Jesus enters into a low earth orbit in His Father s house it will be in an east to west orbit. As the Father s house orbits the earth from east to west it will block the sun for a third of the day & the moon and the stars during the night for a third of the night. As for the timing of when He will open the second door for the remnant of the Jews we look to the book of Revelation 12:14 but the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and a half a time from the presences of the serpent. The sign for the 2 nd door will be the return of the Lord in the Father house and from Revelation 12:14 we know He moves the remnant of the Jews into the wilderness at the three & a half year point of the tribulation period. Up to this point Jesus has given signs and times that tell us to within days of when the second and third doors will be. Then right before He tells us of the first door He says no one can know the day or the hour of the first door or the second & third. We can t know the day ahead of time or the hour when the church will be removed on that day. If you are watching you will know the day when the day is upon you. Jesus does give us the signs that happen before the first door takes place on that day. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells us what it will be like when He returns and takes His church out of this world and into the Fathers house. First let s read Matthew 25/1-13, 1 Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five of them were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out; 9 But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying Lord, Lord, open to us! 12 But he answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Jesus tells us that when He comes to take His bride into heaven she would be as ten virgins, five wise, five not so wise. He goes on to say that the five wise virgins carried oil in their vessels or they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The five foolish virgins were not filled with the Holy Spirit they took no oil in their vessels. The lamp s that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 25/1-4 refers to the eyes of the ten virgins. Jesus told us in Matthew 6/22 that The lamp of the body is the eye The wise virgins who took oil in their vessels or those who were filled with the Holy Spirit. They will look up and see with their eyes an open door in the heavens above. All those who are going to enter into the Fathers house that fateful day will be able to see with their eyes the open door in the

10 heavens above. This is just what Jesus commanded in Revelation 3/8 to the church of Philadelphia See, I have set before you an open door. With the comma after See, the statement becomes a command to see the open door He speaks of. The five foolish virgins who took no oil in their vessels those who are not filled with the Holy Spirit they will look up and be unable to see the open door. Thus they realize immediately something is wrong and cry out in dismay to the five wise virgins to give them the Holy Spirit because their lamps are going out or they can t see the open door that the wise virgins can see. This is not the first sign of the Lords coming but one of four signs. Then in Matthew 25/5 Jesus says something very, very important, He says that He is delayed the day He comes for His church. The only delay that happens before Jesus takes His church out of this world starts moments after the tribulation period starts and lasts for three to twelve hours give or take a few hours. When the first trumpet of the tribulation period is sounded hail and fire mingled with blood are thrown to the earth and a third of the earth s trees are burned up and all the green grass is burned up. Let s read Revelation 8/7- The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. Ok now it s time to see about the delay our Lord spoke of. In Revelation 7/1-4, here God places this scripture so it looks like something that happens well into the sixth or seventh year of the tribulation period, not so for John ends his description of a time late in the tribulation period and starts into a new vision that describes a time moments after the start of the tribulation period. Starting in Rev.7/1-4, 1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the Living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed. This is the delay of the bridegroom The angel ascending in the east tells the four angels who are already holding the wind from blowing on the earth. Wait until we have finished sealing the 144,000 before sending the hail and fire mingled with blood on the earth. This is the delay of the bridegroom that our Lord Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25/5. As soon as the 144,000 are sealed the delay of the bridegroom is over then Jesus will take His church out of this world and into His Father s house. In Revelation 14/4 John tells us the 144,000 are first fruits to God and the Lamb. They can t be first fruits of the church age they can only be first fruits of the tribulation period. That means the church enters into the tribulation period for three to twelve hours give or take a few while the 144,000 are sealed in Israel. This might not mean much to you at first but at the start of each year of the tribulation period a massively loud trumpet is sounded all around the world by God as each successive year of the tribulation period is started an angel sounds his horn letting the world know another year of the tribulation period has begun. So one of the signs and the first of the signs that the Lord is about to remove His church from the earth is the sounding of the first trumpet signaling the beginning of the first year of the tribulation period. The second sign is the wind all around the world will stop blowing. Remember the four angels are already holding back the wind from blowing on the earth when the angel rising in the east delays them from harming the earth until all

11 of the 144,000 are sealed. The third sign will be the 144,000 starting their witness for Jesus in Israel they will cry out at midnight Israel time the bridegroom is coming go out to meet him! The last sign will be all the people who will be entering into the Lord s house at the beginning of the wedding of the Lord, or the first door they will see a door open in the heavens above. Those who will be left behind will look up and be unable to see the open door thus they realize they are in trouble and cry out to the wise virgins asking that they give them the Holy Spirit. Only God gives the Holy Spirit so while the foolish virgins go in search of the Holy Spirit the bridegroom comes and those who are ready enter into the wedding and then the first door shuts. Jesus in Luke 17/26-30 said 26 And as in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted; they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Jesus gives us two pictures of how things will be when He returns for His church. Jesus says when Noah entered the ark then the flood came, this is a picture of the church entering into the ark of the new covenant the Holy Jerusalem or the Fathers house. He then goes on to tell us of the story of Lot. As soon as Lot was almost forcibly removed by the angels from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven destroying those who lived there. This is just what will happen when the delay of the bridegroom ends. We can t know the day ahead of time or the exact hour of the first door when the delay of the bridegroom comes to an end. You cannot say a year from now the first door will open for the church. But when the first trumpet sounds, and the wind stops blowing all around the world then the 144,000 will cry out the bridegroom is coming go out to meet him! Those who will be leaving the earth will look up and see the open door in the heavens above, those who are watching will know our Lord Jesus is about to remove His church from the earth and start the devastation of the seven years of the tribulation period. Jesus said you can t know the day nor the hour when He comes for His church. When you think about the Lords statement when He says you can t know the day nor the hour. The fact that He said you can t know the hour presupposes you would recognize the day when that day is upon you. This is supported by the story of the ten virgins In Matthew 25/5-6, 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! The 144,000 will know it s the day the church is to be removed from the earth and cry out the bridegroom is coming go out to meet him! If you are watching, these are the signs, 1 st, hearing the first trumpet, 2 nd,seeing the complete cessation of wind on the earth, 3 rd, seeing the 144,000 start their witness in Israel and hearing the 144,000 cry out the bridegroom is coming go out to meet him! 4 th the last of the four signs will be those who will be able to see the open door in the heavens above they are the ones who will be leaving the earth in a matter of hours. All these are the signs that happen the day Lord Jesus comes for His church. Ah yes how do we know it s the 144,000 who cry out the bridegroom is coming go out to meet him! If you look closely at Matthew 25/5 &7 its quite clear the wise and foolish virgins both are slumbering and both are awakened by the cry the bridegroom is coming go out to meet him! The commotion caused by the hundred and forty four thousand starting their six

12 years of earthly ministry in Israel and later the whole world will have the eyes of the world all focused on them. The cry that goes out at midnight really does happen at midnight Israel time for all the 144,000 are sealed in Israel, when you see the first two signs the first trumpet and the complete cessation of the wind all around the world keep your eye on Israel as the 144,000 start their ministry. They will be the ones who cry out at midnight Israel time the bridegroom is coming go out to meet him! Jesus gave us one main clue that would indicate our soon departure, the parable of the fig tree. Jesus said now learn this parable from the fig tree. Matthew 24/32-34, 32 Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the doors! 34 Assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Jesus tells us to learn the parable of the fig tree this is the main sign Jesus gave to us that would indicate our impending departure from this earth. Here is the proper interpretation of the parable of the fig tree. The fig tree represents the people of Israel, not the national boundaries or the land or when the land became a nation just the people. The branch of the fig tree that becomes tender and puts forth leaves represents the 144,000 male virgins who are marked on their foreheads by the angel ascending in the east in Rev.7/2-4 and Elijah. {If you want to know the details of how Elijah comes first read the paper about who the two witnesses are during the tribulation period on this web site.} The angel who rises in the east in Rev.7/2-4 delays the devastation of the tribulation period until all the 144,000 are sealed for God. As soon as the 144,000 become born again believers in Jesus, from Gods point of view they become spiritually alive or the one branch of the fig tree that lives. Take note that the branch of the fig tree has only had time to put forth leaves and not enough time to bear fruit yet. Also note that Jesus says doors plural, as this paper will show there is more than one door. Also Jesus said this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. When Jesus said this He spoke of the 144,000 for they are immortal during the first six years of the tribulation period. They are also the only group of people who will not suffer death during the first six years of the tribulation period. In Matthew 25 Jesus gives us a picture of the mental awareness of the people about to be taken into the Fathers house. He says Matthew 25/5-6 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight a cry was heard; Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! The first sign the church will be given is the sounding of the first trumpet. This trumpet blast will be heard around the world yet the virgins will quickly continue on about their daily business thinking could that be the first trumpet? The next sign will be the complete cessation of the wind all around the world. It will take about three hours before people everywhere realize something very strange is afoot. About the same time a large portion of the 144,000 will be evangelizing in Israel and that will cause quite a commotion as thousands and thousands of young Jewish men instantly become born again Christians. As the 144,000 start their six years of evangelizing for Jesus the church is about to leave the earth. The144,000 will cry out to the departing church The bridegroom is coming go out to meet him! Then people everywhere will start to look up into the sky and those who are going to enter into the Fathers house, they will see the open door in the heavens above. There will be perhaps a few more hours after the cry goes out at midnight before the delay of the bridegroom comes to an end then the church will be taken up into the Fathers

13 house. When the church is removed from the earth it happens all around the world at the same time in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. We can t know the day ahead of time or when the day is upon us the exact hour when the delay of the bridegroom will come to an end, it could be four hours or it could be eight hours give or take a few. We can only guess at how many hours it will take the angel who rises in the east and Elijah to seal the 144,000 that fateful day. In Luke 12/49-50 Jesus says 49 I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! As our Lord Jesus is about to go to the cross for our sins He looks ahead two thousand years to the time when he will receive His bride into His Father s house starting the seven years of the Lords wedding celebration. Remember Jesus said while the bridegroom was delayed the ten virgins slumbered and slept. If Jesus did not have to wait for the 144,000 to be sealed by the angel rising in the east the first thing He would have done when the tribulation period started would be to instantly remove His church from the earth. Then just as quickly He would send fire on the earth as He said in Luke 12/49, but He is delayed that coming day by the angel rising in the east, as soon as the 144,000 are all sealed and He has His bride safe in His Father s house. He will send fire on the earth as He said in Luke 12/49 starting the devastation of the tribulation period. Remember the first trumpet judgment that starts the first year of the tribulation is hail and fire mingled with blood being cast down from heaven burning a third of the earth s trees and all the green grass of the earth. As Jesus said I came to send fire on the earth Oh yes in case you are on the earth and it starts to rain down hail and fire mixed with blood, you have missed the first door. Don t give up hope thoughdedicate your life to Christ receive Him as your Lord and Savior and help others do the same. You will have a rough time ahead for you will be martyred for your faith sometime during the first six years of the tribulation time but do not despair. For the Lord will help you through the rough times to come and for those who overcome it is given to become children of God. Just before the sounding of the last trumpet those souls under the altar those who died in Christ during the first six years of the tribulation time will enter into heaven for the last year of the Lords and their wedding celebration. Now let s continue with Matthew :2 Jesus starts telling His disciples of what is in store for the Jewish people. He predicts the destruction of the temple that takes place around 70 AD when the Romans plunder and burn the temple. Then Jesus starts to tell the people about the tribulation period, starting at 24:4-13 He tells them of the beginning of the tribulation. In Matthew 24:15 Jesus speaks of the abomination of desolation, this happens at the midpoint of the tribulation period. In verses 24:20-21 Jesus says And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. When Jesus says pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath it s plain that Jesus is speaking to the Jews for when the abomination that causes desolation is placed in the temple and it s time for the Jews to run for their lives, only the orthodox Jews would have a problem with running on the Sabbath day. Now in verse 24:22 Jesus starts to tell the people of the third watch, this is the first mention of any of the watches in Matthew 24. The third watch is for the hundred and forty four thousand only. These are Gods elect they are the ones who receive a mark on their foreheads from God. They are the