RAPTURE

One of the most compelling prophetic events in the Bible is called the 'rapture' of the church. It is taught clearly in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, where the apostle Paul provides us with most of the available details:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Whenever there is a 'fall asleep' in the New Testament, it always refers to dying. As those who believe in the New Covenant will be risen again, their death is merely a temporal sleep until the trumpet of the Lord is sounded and they will 'awake' from their sleep.

Amen! We will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and be with him forever and ever. But how do you really explain the term 'caught up'? Is it a slow- going process of transformation of our bodies or is it a lightning- quick disappearance? We shall find out in the story of Enoch in the Old Testament(OT).

Enoch in the OT provides an illustration of this transforming experience. The Bible says "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away"(Genesis 5:24) A day is coming, soon, when all believers will be transformed like the godly Enoch, whose earthly body was suddenly made fit to be in heaven with God.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

Wonder why God changes your body before meeting him in the air? Because, obviously, some of us are scared of heights -.-

Anyway, wanna know what follows after the Rapture, stay tuned to my new post on the 7-year tribulation.

Russia, a keyplayer in Bible Prophecy

Russian history date back some 2000 years or more before Christ. They received scant mention in history until Peter the Great in the 18th Century tried unsuccessfully to pull the people together and make them a cohesive power. After a series of political upheaval in Russia, which included the changing of names to Soviet Union and then back to Russia, she came to be what we know her as Russia today, allied with Muslim nations as prophesied by Ezekiel.



Ezekiel 38:5-6



Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.



As explained in one of my previous posts, Persia, Cush and Put were ancient regions that now occupy the Muslim countries. The far north, with other substantial evidence mentioned in that post, represents Russia. This verse seems to reveal a very convincing and shuddering truth. Russia is allied with Muslim nations, as recent news suggests. Especially with Iran, the country which called Israel names and demanded the eradication of Israel's existence on the face of the Earth.



Russia backs Iran nuclear rights -16 Oct 2007, BBC NEWS

The historic meeting focused on Iran's nuclear programmeRussia's President Vladimir Putin has offered qualified support for Iran's nuclear programme on a visit to Tehran.
Mr Putin told journalists that "peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed" and cautioned against using force to resolve the dispute over Iran.
But he was evasive when asked whether the Bushehr nuclear plant Russia is building would be finished on time or if Moscow would supply nuclear fuel.
Iran wants Russian help in its dispute with the West over its nuclear aims.
Up to now Moscow has blocked any new UN sanctions, saying it wants to enable the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to work with Iran on clearing up outstanding issues.
But Moscow is seeking Iranian compromise over the issue, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran.
Iran 'peaceful'
Mr Putin met Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for talks after the two men joined the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan for a summit of the leaders of nations surrounding the Caspian Sea.

Russia is helping to complete Bushehr's nuclear reactor
Heavy security measures were in place amid reports of an alleged plot to kill Mr Putin - reports Mr Putin has shrugged off.
At a news conference, Mr Putin pointed out that the Caspian Sea leaders had signed a declaration which "expressed the idea that peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed".
In the declaration, the leaders also pledged not to allow their territory "for waging aggression or other military action against any of the parties".
Azerbaijan - a US ally - has repeatedly said it would not allow American troops to use its territory to attack neighbouring countries.
Washington has refused to rule out using force against Iran, which it accuses of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons - a charge which Tehran vehemently denies.
Later on Tuesday Mr Putin also held talks with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Russian president said Moscow had an interest in a "strong Iran" and that he wanted deeper ties with the country, state television reported.
Bushehr difficulties
But Mr Putin was evasive about some aspects of Russia's support for Iran.
He refused to confirm whether Moscow would supply the Iranian nuclear plant at Bushehr with nuclear fuel once it is complete, or say whether the plant's construction would be finished speedily.
If I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home
Vladimir Putin
Iran and Russia uneasy allies
Press intrigued by visit
'Plot' overshadows Berlin trip
Mr Putin blamed legal and financial difficulties for the delays that have long dogged the completion of the $1bn building programme undertaken by Russia.
But he said Moscow would not renege on its commitments to complete the plant.
His careful stance suggested Russia is attempting to retain firm ties with Iran without angering the United States, commentators suggest.
It is not clear quite how much support Mr Putin is prepared to give Iran in its showdown with the West.

In 1943 Stalin joined Roosevelt and Churchill for a summit in Tehran
Mr Putin will certainly be calling for more flexibility from the Iranian government over the nuclear issue and no-one should forget the deep legacy of suspicion that exists between Russia and Iran, our correspondent says.
Moscow has urged the international community to show patience in its dealings with Iran.
"It is futile to frighten Iran and its people - they are not scared," Mr Putin said before the visit.
It is the first visit to Tehran by a Kremlin leader since World War II.





DO YOU THINK FOR ONE MOMENT IRAN WOULD BE PEACCCEEFUL WITH THEIR NUCLEAR ACTIVTIES AFTER ITS LEADER MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD ASKED FOR ISRAEL'S DESTRUCTION?



Think people, think. Anyway, to have Russia help Iran is already a very big clue to what role Russia would play in the invasion of Israel, as prophesied by Ezekiel. Even some of the nuclear scientists working in the Iran's nuclear facilities are Russians.



Of course, there're other evidences which suggest Russia's allying with the Muslim nations such as the marked increase of arms sale to Muslim nations etc. All these seem to point to the direction of a war against Israel joined by Russia and the Muslim nations. More posts coming up. Keep in touch.