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| Beam Me Up Scotty! (4) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame (Revelation 16:15 KJ Ver.) A Jew would recognize the reference to the 'thief in the night' and the loss of one's garments while caught asleep. Each night in the temple, one priest was left to tend to the altar fire to make sure it did not go out during the night. Each morning the High Priest would return just before dawn. It was said that he would enter the temple as a 'thief in the night'. His first duty was to check the altar fire to see if it had gone out. If it had, the High Priest would re-light the altar (only he could) and would take some coals in a fire pan and go looking for the sleeping priest. When the High Priest found him, he was to awaken him by lighting his clothing with the coals. The priest would awaken with his clothes on fire! He would therfore be forced to walk home naked, so that everyone could see his shame. Likewise, God will not be pleased with those christians he catches 'sleeping' on his return. And at that time Michael stood up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:1-2 KJ Ver.) After the tribulation, a resurrection/rapture will take place followed by judgement. 'The dust of the earth' term shows that they have not died recently. People who had been killed recently, during the first half of the tribulation, would not be described in this manner. Many shall be purified and made white, and tried: but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed [is] he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end [be]: for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of days. (Daniel 12:10-13 KJ Ver.) The many who are purified and made white are the martyrs of the tribulation. The antichrist is revealed three and one half years into the tribulation and the rapture/resurrection occurs a month and a half later. This is the first resurrection as it includes daniel. 'Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the..' - these are the Christian survivors. Jump to Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Previous___________________Main Directory___________________Next |