LESSON TWENTY-THREE

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“Because you have KEPT the word of My perseverance, I also will KEEP you from the HOUR of TESTING, that hour, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10

Scripture to read: Revelation 10 

Calendar: Rapture Event (turquoise)

Lord’s Feasts: The Day of the Resurrection of the Righteous Dead and Day of the Betrothal of Messiah - Kiddushin (turquoise)

“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the ELECT those days will be SHORTENED.” Matthew 24:22

We are promised—not only by the servants of God but by Jesus Himself—that those who believe and keep the commandments will be "saved" from the hour of testing and that our time will be "shortened." In the last lesson, we learned that the trumpets signify a period when the books will be opened and reviewed; believers should view this period as their own time of testing. 

During this time, anti-Christian persecution will reach an all-time high. This, combined with the aftermath of a catastrophic event, will force us to endure a great struggle and a test of our faith. However, it is possible that the natural disaster will not occur until the Rapture, symbolizing to the world that Satan has been cast down to earth. This would explain the sudden removal "in the twinkling of an eye" described in 1 Corinthians 15. 

“And AT THAT TIME shall MICHAEL STAND 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 .” Daniel 12:1

Daniel even informs us that the timing of our "rescue" will occur during the war in heaven, which we have now learned ends during the sixth trumpet. 

“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and SATAN, who deceives the whole world; he was THROWN DOWN to the EARTH, and HIS ANGELS were THROWN DOWN with him.” Revelation 12:9

The calendar shows that we are now 30 months into the tribulation period. God informs His Son that Michael has completed the task of removing Satan and his kingdom from heaven; therefore, it is time to rescue His bride. This marks the first stage of the wedding process, known as Kiddushin, where the bride and groom are considered betrothed but cannot live together until the second stage, Nesu'in, is completed—typically within a year. 

“I saw another STRONG ANGEL coming down from heaven, CLOTHED with a CLOUD; and the RAINBOW was on his HEAD, and his FACE was like the SUN, and his FEET like PILLERS of FIRE; and he had in his hand a LITTLE BOOK, which was open.” Revelation 10:1-2

John sees what he describes as a "strong" angel and in this description, he includes every detail of the angel's appearance. We can only imagine that this announcement from his Father is met with excitement and Jesus immediately grabs the book of life and summons his chariot for the return to earth.

“He placed his RIGHT FOOT on the SEA and his LEFT on the LAND…Revelation 10:3

His stance on both land and sea shows that he has superior authority over the whole earth and is no ordinary angel. 

“That which he places his feet upon he demonstrates his authority over” Deuteronomy 11:24

The angel's voice, as powerful as a lion's roar, summons the voices of the seven peals of thunder. John instinctively begins to write what he has seen, yet he is halted by a heavenly command. The messages of the seven thunders are to remain sealed. 

“…and he CRIED out with a LOUD voice, as when a LION ROARS; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 'Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken, and do not write them.' “Revelation 10:3-4

This angel, described as being "strong" and standing on both the land and the sea—"clothed with a cloud," with a "rainbow on his head," a "face like the sun," and "feet like pillars of fire"—describes only one person: the slaughtered Lamb, Jesus Christ, who is introduced at the beginning of Revelation. 

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS; and in the middle of the lampstands, I saw one like a SON of MAN, clothed in a ROBE reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a GOLDEN SASH. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His EYES were like a FLAME of FIRE. His FEET were like BURNISHED BRONZE when it has been heated to a GLOW in a furnace, and His VOICE was like the sound of many WATERS. In His right hand He held SEVEN STARS, and out of His MOUTH came a SHARP two-edged SWORD; and His FACE was like the SUN shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was DEAD, and behold, I am ALIVE forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Revelation 1:12-18

The same man that Daniel describes in a vision he sees while in Babylon in 536 B.C.

“On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a MAN dressed in LINEN, whose waist had a BELT of pure GOLD of Uphaz. His body also was like topaz, his FACE had the appearance of LIGHTNING, his EYES were like FLAMING torches, his arms and FEET like the gleam of polished BRONZE, and the sound of his WORDS like the sound of a MULTITUDE.” Daniel 10:4-6

John’s symbolic vision of a strong angel is similar to Ezekiel's biblical description of the Cherubim. This entity consists of four cherubs, each possessing four wings, four faces, and four hands beneath their wings. They travel via wheels attached to their sides. In this expanse between the four cherubs, Jesus hovers over the earth, surrounded by a cloud—likely because His illumination is too powerful to view directly. John may have described this vision as a single strong angel because he primarily saw the mass of wings and the glowing face of Christ. 

“Then the glory of the LORD DEPARTED from the threshold of the temple and stood OVER the CHERUBIM. When the cherubim “departed”, they lifted their wings and rose up from the ground in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. This is the living creature that I saw UNDER the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubim” Ezekiel 10:18-20

“Then did the CHERUBIMS lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the GLORY of the GOD of Israel was OVER them above. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.”  Ezekiel 11:22-23

Jeremiah 25 refers to the voice of the Lord roaring, giving us another clue to this strong angel.

“Therefore, prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The Lord shall ROAR from on high, and utter his VOICE from his holy habitation; he shall “mightily roar” upon his habitation; he shall give a SHOUT, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. “Jeremiah 25:30

The last and most compelling confirmation of this strong angel being Jesus Christ is the rainbow on his head. The same rainbow that surrounds the heavenly throne which supports him in his chariot.  

“And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a RAINBOW AROUND THE THRONE, like an emerald in appearance.” Revelation 4:3

This rainbow surrounds God’s throne as a reminder to him of his promise to Noah that he will never again destroy mankind with a flood.

“I have set My RAINBOW in the cloud, and it shall serve as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13

So, if this rainbow symbolizes a promise kept, could it also symbolize Jesus’ promise to believers that he would return for them? This rainbow is only mentioned twice in Revelation to describe the heavenly throne and this strong angel.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I GO to PREPARE a PLACE for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will COME AGAIN and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3

Now that we have confirmed the identity of the strong angel as Jesus Christ, why has he come down to earth? What reason would Jesus have to be on earth before his final return other than to come for his bride, as promised? We are told that Jesus sets off seven voices or messages like "peals of thunder", which are assumed to be the voice of God. It must be at this time that the dead in Christ are raised and those who are still alive are changed into their glorified bodies. 

“For the Lord HIMSELF will DESCEND from heaven with a SHOUT, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the DEAD in Christ shall rise first: Then we which ARE ALIVE and REMAIN shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

“Behold, I tell you a MYSTERY; we will not all sleep, but we will ALL be CHANGED, in a MOMENT, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST TRUMP: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52

After Jesus has gathered his bride—an event known to believers as the long-awaited Rapture—he informs his Father in heaven that there will no longer be a delay; and in the days of the seventh trumpet, the "mystery of God" will be finished. The point of this statement is that God's merciful work of restraining evil, holding back catastrophe, and delaying judgment for sin has come to an end. 

“Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will NO LONGER be a DELAY, but in the DAYS of the voice of the SEVENTH ANGEL, when he is about to sound, then the MYSTERY of GOD is FINISHED, as He announced to His servants the prophets.” Revelation 10:4-7

This verse should have caught the attention of all who studied Revelation, even if the secret didn't. It is obvious that something on Earth is going to change after this event. As a reminder, the mystery of God is the truth that Jesus Christ is the key to understanding His plan for salvation; the glory of this mystery "is Christ in you".

“Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, 'Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.' And I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, 'Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth, it will be sweet as honey.'” Revelation 10:8-9

God's voice then commands John to go, take the open book from the strong angel, and eat it. This could symbolize a new book of life intended for those left behind; it also ensures that God’s secret remains protected. While the book tastes "sweet" at first, the aftermath brings pain and heartache. This implies sweetness for those redeemed from the earth, but bitterness for those who are rejected. 

Now that we have determined it is Jesus coming for His bride, let’s explore why God wanted this kept secret. The story of Jesus is often compared to an ancient Galilean wedding, which is why the Church is referred to as His "Bride." In this parallel, the Bride is chosen, a dowry is paid (the forgiveness of our sins), a place is prepared at the Father’s home (Heaven), and the Groom returns for His Bride (the Rapture). He then takes her back to His Father’s home for the wedding, concluding with the wedding feast in the place He prepared (Christ’s Kingdom). 

“But about that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the FATHER ALONE.” Matthew 24:36

You may not realize that the groom’s father chose the date for a Galilean wedding. This required the bridal party to wait expectantly for about a year, always staying prepared. Understanding this tradition offers a glimpse into God’s secret; it seems the seven peals of thunder remained silent to avoid giving that secret away. 

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Ephesians 5:31-32

Reflecting back on our study of the Feasts of Firstfruits and Trumpets in Lesson Five, we can finally confirm why these two Jewish feasts were so mysteriously unnamed. It seems that everything that has to do with Christ and His bride was to be a kept a mystery.

“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament:” Revelation 11:19

Scripture to read: Revelation 11

Calendar: Feast of Trumpets (turquoise)

Lord’s Feasts: Day of Crowning of Messiah (turquoise)

As we arrive in heaven God is waiting to welcome us to our new home. 

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND STOOD BEFORE HIM: the JUDGMENT was set, and the BOOKS were OPENED.” Daniel 7:9-10

When the Church enters heaven and is received by God, it will be time for the second judgment on His list to be enacted by His Son. Before receiving our new robes of righteousness from Jesus, we must stand on the symbolic fiery sea of glass before God’s throne to accept our verdict and receive a final baptismal cleansing. 

“For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that EACH one may receive compensation for his DEEDS done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether GOOD or BAD.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

The deeds of believers are brought before the judgment seat to evaluate their worth. Derived from the Greek word for "tribunal," the term Bema refers to Christ’s throne. There, He will judge the Church and dispense rewards. 

“EACH one’s WORK will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be REVEALED with FIRE, and the fire itself will TEST the QUALITY of each one’s work. If anyone’s work which he has built on REMAINS, he will RECEIVE a REWARD. If anyone’s work is BURNED up, he will suffer LOSS; but he himself will be SAVED, yet only so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

The rewards will be determined by how the works survive the fire. There may be no rewards, or many, but be reassured: this judgment will not cost you your salvation. It might determine what position of reign each will have in His kingdom. Now that we have received our new robes of righteousness, it will be time to plan the wedding. 

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

As we begin planning the wedding, Jesus is summoned by his Father from the heavenly sanctuary where he spends his days working. His Father then informs him, in front of millions of heavenly beings—including his bride—that it is time for him to receive his kingdom. 

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

Then the seventh trumpet sounds. Heaven celebrates with Jesus as he is given his kingdom. The kingdom of stone that will never be replaced and will destroy all other kingdoms that came before it.

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Daniel 2:44

The timeline in Daniel 12 suggests that the Rapture will occur on the Feast of Trumpets, exactly thirteen months prior to Christ’s final return, and will last sixty prophetic days. Another reason we cannot know the "day or hour" is that the feast is observed over a two-day period. It is possible that the Church enters heaven the day before Christ receives His kingdom. 

Because the date is determined by the new moon signifying the beginning of a new year, this Rosh Hashanah celebration represents a new beginning for Christ and His bride. In conclusion, there is little doubt that Revelation 10 and 11 describe the long-anticipated Rapture—a long-debated prophecy with no definitive answers until now. Jesus is not coming twice, but three times.