LESSON SIX

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“To whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the MYSTERY that is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

Before we move into the end story of mankind, I wanted to show you the true “mystery of God” as it played out from the beginning. The mystery of God is the truth that Jesus Christ is the key to understanding God’s plan for salvation. The glory of this mystery "is Christ in you". Christ came to earth and now lives in those who believe. With Christ in you, as a saved believer, you have the "hope of glory." In other words, a believer can be confident of eternity with Christ in heaven when he or she knows Christ is already in them now.

Obviously, we are all aware of how and by whom the earth was created, but I bet it’s been a while since you read Genesis 1. The reason that I am adding this as a part of our end time study is because God informs us of when this mystery is finished in Revelation. If it is finished in the end then it must have had a beginning, right? So, humor me by just enjoying these next five lessons before we get started on the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Scripture to read: Genesis 1

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

The concept of God's Creation is foundational to the Christian faith, encapsulating the belief that God is the sovereign Creator of the universe and everything within it. This doctrine is primarily derived from the opening chapters of Genesis and is affirmed throughout the entirety of Scripture. God's creative work is seen as an expression of His power, wisdom, and goodness.

The creation account is structured over six days, with God speaking the universe into existence. 

Each day marks a specific act of creation:

1. Day One: Light is created, separating day from night.

“Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'day,' and the darkness He called 'night.' And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” Genesis 1:3-5

2. Day Two: The expanse (sky) is formed to divide the waters.

“Then God said, 'Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.' God made the expanse and separated the waters that were below the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse 'heaven.' And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.” Genesis 1:6-8

3. Day Three: Dry land and vegetation appear.

“Then God said, 'Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear'; and it was so. And God called the dry land 'earth,' and the gathering of the waters He called 'seas'; and God saw that it was good. Then God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit according to their kind with seed in them'; and it was so. The earth produced vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, according to their kind; and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.” Genesis 1:9-13  

4. Day Four: The sun, moon, and stars are created to govern time and seasons.

“Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and they shall serve as signs and for seasons, and for days and years; and they shall serve as lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth'; and it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.” Genesis 1:14-19

5. Day Five: Marine life and birds are brought forth.

“Then God said, 'Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.' And God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind; and God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.' And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.” Genesis 1:20-23

6. Day Six: Land animals and humanity are created, with humans made in the image of God.

“Then God said, 'Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kind: livestock and crawling things and animals of the earth according to their kind'; and it was so. God made the animals of the earth according to their kind, and the livestock according to their kind, and everything that crawls on the ground according to its kind; and God saw that it was good. Then God said, 'Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.' So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' Then God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every animal of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food'; and it was so. And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” Genesis 1:24-31

On the seventh day, God rests, sanctifying it as a day of rest.

“And so, the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their heavenly lights. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:1-3

The structured account of creation reflects God's intentionality and order. The universe is not a product of random chance but of divine design and purpose. The New Testament reaffirms the doctrine of creation, linking it to the work of Christ. 

John 1:3 states, "Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made." 

Colossians 1:16 further emphasizes, "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him." 

The doctrine of God's Creation is a profound testament to His majesty and love, inviting believers to worship the Creator and to live responsibly within His creation.

The first chapter of Genesis describes the most extraordinary event in the history of the universe: its creation. Given what this moment represents, and what we know of science and nature, this is often referred to as the greatest of all possible miracles. The opening verses of the book of Genesis are nothing less than an account of how God, with full purpose and intention, made everything that exists. 

Genesis chapter 1 insists that God created. In other words, no person who claims to believe the Bible is truth can also reject a belief in God as the Creator. If the Scriptures are God's Word—and they are—then God intends to be known as the Creator of all things. 

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. 

We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. God intends first to be known to all peoples as the Creator of all things—from sun, moon, and stars to human life itself. And as the Creator, He is owed worship by all He has made, including and especially human beings.

Scripture to read: Genesis 2&3

Before man was created, there were no cultivated crops, and the land was watered by streams or mists rising from the ground. God creates man, forming him out of the dust of the ground and breathing the "breath of life" into him. Man becomes a living being. God places man into His newly planted garden in the region of Eden, a garden with abundant fruit-bearing trees. Two trees in the middle of the garden stand out. They have names: The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

God places the man in the garden with specific work to do, such as maintaining the garden and naming the animals. God also issues a single, specific negative command: never eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or you will die. God recognizes that some aspect of His creation is not good. It's not good for the man to be alone. There are no living things which complement Adam as animals of the same kind correspond to each other. So, God takes a rib from Adam and makes a helper and companion for him. Eve becomes Adam's wife. This is a fascinating action by God, one that is rich in symbolism. God obviously could have created Eve from dust, as He did Adam, but chose instead to form her out of Adam's own body.

Adam and Eve's relationship was unique in all of history. When they met, no sin yet existed in the world or between them. They remained unashamed of anything, including their own nakedness. In their innocence, they had nothing to hide from God or from each other. In that way, they truly existed in paradise, one beyond just the plants and animals of a garden. 

Satan is described as the craftiest of all wild animals. He takes possession of a serpent's body or assumes the form of a snake. The serpent approaches Eve with the single purpose of convincing her to disobey God by eating the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. His masterful temptation is so effective that she seems to make her fatal choice in the space of one short conversation. First, he casts doubt on what God did or did not command. Then, he draws the woman into thinking about the fairness of God's command. Then he flatly calls God a liar, questioning God's character and motives. 

Eve buys it all. The forbidden tree is beautiful, the food looks good to eat, and she believes the serpent’s lie that it will make her wise. Adam quickly joins her, and the pair are immediately crushed by their shame. This includes a sudden self-consciousness about their nudity. The "knowledge of good and evil" is achieved by the rejection of good and the embracing of evil. Adam and Eve attempt to hide from God, but he finds them anyway. They confess their sin, but even then, attempt to shift the blame. God confronts the serpent and Satan, delivering to him the first of the curses resulting from the fall. 

“Then the Lord God said to the serpent, 'Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all the livestock, And more than any animal of the field; On your belly you shall go, And dust you shall eat All the days of your life; And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel.'” Genesis 3:14-15

The sentences pronounced for Eve, and then Adam, are heartbreaking in the way they continue to reflect our everyday human experiences.

“To the woman He said, 'I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall deliver children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.'  Genesis 3:16

Then to Adam He said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; With hard labor you shall eat from it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; Yet you shall eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.'” Genesis 3:17-19

Despite their disobedience and sin, God still provides for mankind. This begins with clothes made from the skin of an animal, the first sacrifice of life for a covering. But Adam and Eve cannot stay in the Garden of Eden. It is no longer for them. God banishes mankind from the garden and assigns an angel to guard the way to the Tree of Life. With that, the painful story of fallen human history begins. Where instead of God’s plan of eternal life we now must return to dust.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Scripture to read: Luke 1-3, Matthew 1-3, Matthew 26-28

Christianity is one of the world’s largest religions, and at its heart is Jesus Christ. Jesus is not an important figure in Christian teachings; He is the foundation of the faith. Christians believe that He is the Son of God, sent to teach, heal, and ultimately save humanity. His life, death, and resurrection are the core of Christian beliefs, shaping how millions of people live their lives today.

Jesus was born in 3 B.C. in a region called Judea, which is now part of modern-day Israel. During that time, Judea was under the control of the powerful Roman Empire. The Romans ruled with strict laws and heavy taxes, which made life difficult for many people. The Jewish people who lived in Judea, longed for freedom from the Roman rule and hoped for a leader who would save them.

For centuries the Jewish people had been waiting for a special leader, called the Messiah. According to their religious beliefs, the Messiah would be sent from God to rescue them.  Many expected this Messiah to be a strong king or warrior who would defeat the Romans and restore their independence. However, Jesus came with a different mission, one that focused on spiritual salvation rather than political power. Long before Jesus was born, the Jewish scriptures (Old Testament) contained prophecies about a coming Savior. These prophecies described someone who would be born in Bethlehem, perform miracles, suffer and die for others.

The story of Jesus begins with a miraculous event, His birth. Unlike any other birth in history, Jesus’ arrival was foretold by an angel. Before Jesus was born, a young woman named Mary lived in the town of Nazareth. One day, an angel named Gabriel appeared to her with an incredible message. He told her she had been chosen by God to give birth to a special child, the Son of God. Mary was surprised and asked how this could happen since she was a virgin and wasn’t yet married. Gabriel explained that the child would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, meaning Jesus would have no earthly father. This event is known as the “Annunciation”. Despite her fears, Mary accepted God’s plan and trusted in His will. At that time, Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph. After she explained to Joseph what had happened, he received confirmation from an angel that she had spiritually conceived. 

Before Jesus was born, the Roman emperor ordered a census, requiring people to return to their hometowns to be counted. Since Joseph’s family came from Bethlehem, even though Mary was about to give birth, they went together to be counted. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the town was crowded, and there was no room in the Inn. So, Mary and Joseph had to stay in a stable where animals were kept. 

That night, on September 11, 3BC, Jesus was born wrapped in a swaddling cloth and placed in an animal feeding trough, called a manger. The first people to hear about Jesus' birth were shepherds in the field watching over their flocks outside Bethlehem. They noticed a bright star in the sky and an angel appeared informing them of the good news and where they could find the child. At the same time, far in the west, Magi viewed the same star in the sky and began their journey eastward being guided by its brightness. Joseph and Mary stayed in Bethlehem for thirty-three days before taking Jesus to Jerusalem for his presentation at the temple. After the presentation in Jerusalem, they returned to Bethlehem to be near family.

On December 25, 2BC, after the Magi’s long journey, they arrived in Jerusalem to inquire about the birth of the Jewish king. They met with the ruler of Judea, King Herod, who was not aware of his birth. He asked the Magi to let him know where they found the child so he too could visit him. It was at that time that the bright star stood still over the city of Bethlehem leading them to the home of Mary and Joseph. The Magi were so overwhelmed that they fell on their knees and worshipped the little boy who was now around 15 months old. They honored him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh acknowledging his place as king. As they were ready to return to Jerusalem and inform King Herod about the whereabouts of the child, an angel appeared and instructed them not to.

Fearing that this child might someday take his throne, King Herod ordered the death of all baby boys in Bethlehem under the age of two. In the spring of 1BC, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Just months later, on December 29, 1BC King Herod died and Joseph received another message from an angel that it was safe to return to the land of Israel. However, Joseph was afraid to return because he had heard that Archelaus was now reigning over Judea in place of his father. Being concerned about his family, he decided to change plans and take them to Nazareth.

Jesus grew up in Nazareth but wasn’t an ordinary child. Even at a young age, Jesus had a deep understanding of God and his teachings. Every year families would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover festival. When Jesus was 12 years old, his parents found him after three days in the temple debating with the religious teachers. When his mother asked him why he stayed behind, Jesus replied, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

After this event, he lived a quiet, humble life working with his father Joseph and studying his faith until he would reach the age that Jewish law allowed a man to minister. In the summer of 29 A.D. when Jesus was almost 31 years old, he began to prepare himself for God’s mission. First, he was baptized by his cousin John the Baptist in the Jordan River and then endured forty days of testing in the wilderness with Satan. These events marked the beginning of his public ministry. He was now ready to spread his message of love, faith and salvation. Before he started this journey, he chose twelve men to be his followers, to learn from him and spread his word.

Jesus went on to preach, perform miracles, heal the sick and raise the dead for 3.5 years. Although many people followed him, there were others that felt threatened by his message, especially religious leaders. This led to opposition, accusations and conflicts that eventually lead to demands for his death, accusing him of blasphemy. They were also concerned that if he gained too many followers that the Roman government might see him as a threat and punish the entire Jewish nation.  As a result, they plotted against him, searching for a way to have him arrested. One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot, was determined to go to war against the Romans. Jesus informed him his mission on earth was not to rebel but to die. Judas thought that if Jesus felt threatened, he would stand up and fight. Judas made an unfortunate deal with the Sanhedrin to turn Jesus in for 30 pieces of silver and with guilt later hung himself.

The final week of Jesus’ life, often called the “Passion”, was full of powerful moments that changed history. His final week began with a joyful celebration. On Palm Sunday, March 29, 33 A.D., he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling a prophecy that the Messiah would come in peace. As he entered, crowds of people waved palm branches, laid their cloaks on the road and shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Like Judas, most misunderstood his mission. They thought he had come as a King to defeat the Romans and become a ruler on earth.

A few days later, on the evening of Thursday, April 2, 33 A.D., Jesus gathered his disciples for a special meal now known as the Last Supper. This was supposed to be the Jewish Passover meal, but this year it would be for a different reason. Jesus broke bread and gave it to them as a reminder of his body which was given for them. Then he gave them wine as a reminder of his blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. It was at this supper that Jesus shocked his disciples by informing them that one would betray him, and another would deny him three times.

After this meal, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed three times. He was greatly troubled about what was about to happen. Later that night Judas arrived with soldiers to arrest Jesus. He signaled to the soldiers by betraying Jesus with a kiss on the cheek. They arrested Jesus, and his disciples scared and confused, ran away. That same night his disciple Peter denied knowing him three times.

Jesus was then brought before several leaders for unjust trials. First, he stood in front of Caiaphas, the High Priest accusing him of blasphemy. They wanted him executed but had to get permission from the Roman government. Next, he stood in front of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor and he found no fault with Jesus but felt massive pressure from the Jewish leaders. Pilate then sent Jesus to King Herod, the ruler of Galilee who only mocked him. Finally, he again stood in front of Pilate whose wife, Claudia had warned him of her dream about Jesus. Not wanting to make the decision to crucify an innocent man, he made an offer to the people. Choose between Jesus or a criminal named Barabbas. Due to the influence of the Jewish religious leaders the crowd picked Jesus. Pilate accepts their choice and sentences Jesus to death by crucifixion.

The crucifixion of Jesus is one of the most important events in Christianity. It was the moment when Jesus gave his own life to save humanity from sin. Even though he was innocent and sinless, he suffered pain, humility and death to fulfill God’s plan. Crucifixion is one of the most painful and shameful ways to die. A person sentenced to crucifixion was nailed or tied to a wooden cross and left to suffocate slowly. Before Jesus was nailed to the cross, Roman soldiers stripped off his clothes, tied him to a post and flogged him so severely that he was unrecognizable and close to death. They then spit on him and by forcing a crown of thorns on his head they mocked him. He was then forced to carry his own cross through the streets of Jerusalem to the hill of execution called Golgotha. 

At 9 am on the day of Passover preparation, Friday, April 3, 33 A.D, the soldiers nailed His hands and feet to the wooden cross. The cross was then lifted into the air and dropped into a hole causing his shoulders to dislocate. Unable to hold himself up, he slowly suffocated. As a crowd gathered to watch, the soldiers left him to suffer to his death. Even while in pain Jesus prayed to his Father, “Forgive them for they know not what they do”.  

Exactly three hours later, at 12 pm the sky darkened from a lunar eclipse which lasted three hours. The heavens became silent as God turned his back on his son while he took on the sin of the world. The pain of his Father’s rejection was more than any physical pain and he cried out “MY God, MY God, why have you forsaken me?”  As he took his last breath at 3 pm Jesus cried out “It is finished, Father into your hands I commit my spirit!” With these last words he gave up his life and the earth shook violently with a great earthquake. Because it was just a few hours before Passover, Joseph Arimathea requested his body be taken down so they could have time to prepare it for burial. To confirm he was dead a soldier pierced his side with his sword. They took his body down and carried it to the tomb which was carved into a large rock, and a large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to seal it. Roman soldiers guarded the entrance allowing no-one to take his body.

At the same time in the Jewish temple, the thick curtain that separated the Holy Place from the people tore in two from top to bottom. This symbolized that Jesus’ death removed the barrier between God and humanity, allowing people to come to God directly and ending Levitical sacrifices. Although this was a tragic event, it will be considered to Christians the greatest act of love in history. He suffered and died, so that mankind could be forgiven and have eternal life.

Early Sunday, April 5, 33 A.D., women followers of Jesus went to the tomb. They wanted to anoint his body with spices which was the Jewish custom. When they arrived, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, and the tomb was empty. An angel appeared and said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he is risen!” The women were overjoyed and ran to tell the disciples, who at first didn’t believe them. Soon after, Jesus started appearing to his followers, proving that he was alive.

After his resurrection, Jesus stayed on earth for forty days, appearing to his disciples and followers in his glorified body. He spent this time preparing them with his final teachings and instructions. In these final teachings was the Great Commission where he told them to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”. It was clear, Jesus wanted them to know his message was for everyone, not just the people of Israel. After giving his disciples their final instructions, he led them to a hill outside of Jerusalem. Before he ascended, he told them all to stay in Jerusalem and wait for a special gift, the Holy Spirit!  He then blessed them, and as they watched, he rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud. Suddenly, two angels appeared and said, “Why do you stand looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go”. 

Ten days later, during the Jewish festival of Pentecost, a mighty wind filled the room the disciples were gathered in. Tongues of fire appeared above their heads, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were given power, wisdom and the ability to speak in many languages. This miracle allowed them to spread the Gospel to all nations and on that day, it started with over 3000 new followers! This event was known as the birth of the Christian church.

The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) presents the end of the age of the Mosaic law also referred to as the “Dispensation of Law” and the beginning of the “Dispensation of Grace”. Before this new “age of grace”, God dealt with His creation primarily through the law he gave Moses after the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt. As the Israelites abided by the law, God blessed them. When they broke the law, God judged them. Hundreds of years of history proved the Israelites were incapable of fully keeping the law. No one can be good enough to earn God's favor. God must bridge the gap caused by sin to bestow His forgiveness.

After Jesus death, the prophetic clock was stopped only to restart at the beginning of Tribulation. This period is also referred to as the “church age”. A handful of prophetic passages in both the Old and New Testament foreshadow this period lasting approximately two thousand years in duration. God is using this period to build his church thru the spreading of his Gospel around the world by believers. 

Throughout history, God’s interactions have changed based on His divine plan and humanity’s spiritual condition. In the realm of theology, “dispensation” is derived from the concept to “dispense” or distribute. It signifies a distinct and ordered way of God dealing with humanity. These periods aren’t merely about time but are defined by a commandment or set of guidelines God sets for human conduct. The age of grace, as it’s often termed, stands out as a testament to God’s benevolence. Unlike previous eras where salvation was predominantly through adherence to the law, this dispensation heralds the acceptance of grace as the means of salvation through faith.

“Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:29

Key scriptures in Ephesians and Romans elucidate this transformation, underscoring the importance of faith in Jesus Christ. Sin has always been a barrier between man and God. However, during the dispensation of grace, Jesus Christ bridged this gap. Believers now have direct access to the Father, not because of their deeds, but due to the sacrifice of Jesus. The book of Romans particularly sheds light on how sinners are justified by faith, emphasizing God’s grace rather than human works.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24

Living under this dispensation is not about complacency but active faith. We are reminded by Galatians that we’ve been set free, not to indulge in sin, but to serve one another in love.

“Nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified”. Galatians 2:16

This era beckons believers to a life of fellowship, service, and spiritual growth, underpinned by the teachings of the apostles and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The dispensation of grace was not a clandestine move by the Creator. Scriptures, especially in Ephesians and Romans, make it evident that God intended this period as a profound revelation of His love. This era is distinct, not because of its departure from the law but due to its embodiment of God’s grace and kindness. 

The call is clear: believers are not merely to comprehend this grace but to embody it. It’s not about passive acceptance but active application. These applications include forgiveness by recognizing our flaws and seeking mercy, longsuffering by emulating God’s patience in our interactions and benevolence by demonstrating God’s love in our actions and attitudes.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:16-24

“Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Bear one another’s burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another. For each one will bear his own load.” Galatians 6:1-5

The church age began at Jesus' crucifixion, which occurred in 33 A.D., and should likewise climax with the second coming as early as 2033 A.D., according to this pattern.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So, encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 

Rapture or the Latin word “rapturo” defined as being “caught up” or “snatched away” is perhaps the most important piece of prophecy for us to understand. According to Scripture, all who have put their trust in Christ, living and deceased, will suddenly be caught up from the earth, be joined with Christ in the air, and taken to heaven. These believers are those who come out of the church age and will become his bride. 

“Behold, I am telling 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 trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

All born-again believers will experience change when they step into eternity. The living will be transformed, along with those who are resurrected from the dead. All believers will be physically remade into their glorified bodies at the rapture. The same “glorified” body that Christ had for 40 days after his resurrection. The change will be instant: "in the twinkling of an eye," something so rapid, so instantaneous, that it defies measurement. 

It is speculated to happen at the “last” trumpet. The Greek word “eschatos” can mean either “last in point of time” or “last in point of sequence.” With that in mind, the seventh trumpet fits the “last trumpet” before the rapture. It is interesting to note that Jesus was born on the Feast of Trumpets. Could this have anything to do with the timing of the rapture, right after the trumpet judgments?

Jesus informs the disciples before his crucifixion that the elect’s time will be shortened.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the ELECT’S sake those days SHALL be SHORTENED.” Matthew 24:22

This promise is also confirmed by a message delivered to Daniel by Gabriel.

“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 RESCUED, EVERYONE 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

This event will not be for everyone, but all will hear and see it. Everyone will be going about their business with no clue of when His arrival will happen or what it will mean for them. The difference will be based entirely on who belongs to Christ and who has rejected Him as Savior and Lord.