So here I am in my office on a Saturday night. It’s September 16th and I am all ready for church tomorrow. I am also ready for flight; Rapture flight! I am asking myself, what did John the Revelator mean when he said, “ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.’ (Revelation 1:10a) I can only assume that it was on a Sunday, the first day of the week, that day the Apostle John saw Jesus in His glorified state on the Island of Patmos. He was then translated through time to the moment of the Rapture, and then caught up with the rest of the NT Church. As I ponder this passage, I am wondering to myself if Jesus will return for us on some early Sunday morning in the Israeli time zone, because the last time we had such a radical resurrection, it was on an early Sunday morning in the Israeli time zone. I am reminded of three of the four gospels that proclaim this truth.
Matthew said it this way, “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.” – Matthew 28:1-3
- What we have here is the resurrection of Jesus occurring ‘after the Sabbath’ (Saturday), ‘as the first day of the week’ (Sunday) ‘began to dawn’ (at sunrise). Sunrise tomorrow in Israel occurs at 6:26am.
I live in the CST zone which is 8 hours behind Israeli time. This means that at 9:26pm tonight, it will be 6:26am in Israel. My friend Tom Cote (Watchman River), Dr. Barry Awe, and Bob Barber (Endtime Dream/Revelation) all live in the EST zone, they are 7 hours behind. My friends on the west coast are in the PST zone, they are 10 hours behind. Do the math and stay ready! Tonight could be the night! Hoorah!
Mark said it this way, “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.” – Mark 16:1,2
- We have the ladies showing up to Jesus’ tomb ‘very early in the morning.’ They got up extra early on Sunday morning to visit the tomb of Jesus. This is where our Easter Sunrise Service comes from.
John, the same guy who wrote Revelation, said it this way, “Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” – John 20:1
- Here we see Mary being highlighted as going to the tomb on ‘the first day of the week.’ That’s Sunday.
“But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” – John 20:11-17
- Here in this passage we see more evidence of an early Sunday morning resurrection. The exchange here takes place between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus reveals Himself to her, she attempts to embrace Him, but He forbids her because He has not yet ascended to the Father.
Some people think that He was talking about His formal ascension off the Mount of Olives 40 days later. In reality, Jesus needed to ascend to the Father right after His resurrection to present His sacrifice for our sin to the Father, formally. The working premise we have here is that Jesus just arose from the grave and had not yet ascended to the Father when He encountered Mary in the garden. We know this because later Jesus allowed His disciples to touch His resurrected body with their hands. (John 20:25-27)
This information, coupled with the statement that John made about being ‘in the Spirit on the Lord’s day’ has brought me to believe that Jesus will return for us on a future Sunday morning, as ‘the day begins to dawn.’
This being the case, and with all of the hoopla of the current ‘Revelation 12 sign,’ and the dozens of asteroids that are flying into Virgo right now with their biblical names and rapture references coupled with more new sun spots whose numbers align with Strong’s numbers that reveal more rapture references; me thinks were close!
I am sure you have heard about the SDG Summit that will be occurring this Monday and Tuesday 9/18&19/23 at the UN (see previous blogs). Last Thursday, the UN announced they are adding an 18th goal, it’s a seven-year peace treaty with Israel and the ‘many’ Arab nations surrounding her! This is over the FFFFF top!
Suffice it to say folks, this could be it; my last blog and our last night in this world; or, we may have to wait a little bit longer; but one thing is for sure, Jesus is coming soon! This being the case, and to protect myself from more disappointment, I have begun to work on my Succah. I am building a nice deck in which to stage my bed, night stand, and propane heater for those eight days early this Fall. This is how I roll, planning long and looking short. This being the case, I am playing soft jazzy Christmas music in my office and on my bus to celebrate the season, because we most likely won’t be here for it.
As a result, I decided to write a poem commemorating a traditional Christmas limerick with an imminent Rapture motif morphed within. I titled it, T’was the Night Before Rapture – I hope you like it.
T’was the night before Rapture, when all through this day, as a Christian, I’m watching, for Jesus the way.
The watchers were poised in their succahs of sort, in hopes that Jesus’ arrival would be so soon and so short.
The Christians were restless, outside of their beds, with visions, a wedding, with dancing, in their heads.
Our pastors, their sermons, all preached with such care, and me with my eyes, looking up with a stare.
When all of a sudden their arose such a clatter, I sprang from my seat (by the window) and saw all the matter.
Away through the window I flew like a flash, I tore through the clouds and flew up in a dash.
The moon just now showing with its sliver and glow, gave luster to all who had been left down below.
When Who to my longing eyes should appear, the Lord Jesus, the Christ, and all who hold Him dear.
With grace and with fervor so lovely and sweet, I knew, in an instant, it was Jesus I was about to meet.
More rapid than eagles, His angels they came, He shouted with rejoicing and called me by name.
“Well done, well done, you were faithful and true, you did well over that which I entrusted to you.”
To the top of the sky, to the top of the clouds, now fly away, fly away, fly away crowds!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, they mount to the sky.
So up into heaven, with angels I flew, with a heart filled with joy and with hope, my Jesus was there too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard a great noise, the singing and laughter and praises with joys.
As I turned my head and looked all around, there I saw my Lord Jesus who passed with a bound.
He was dressed in His glory, from His head to his feet, and His clothes were all shiny, with sparkles and treats.
A heart filled with love He had shown just for me, and to all who have loved Him, to all who would see.
His eyes – how they twinkled, His dimples how merry. His cheeks were like roses, His nose like a cherry.
His face with His smile, was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of His chin was so perfect and how.
The Word of the Lord He held tight in His teeth, and His glory encircled His head like a wreath.
He had a face set like flint, and a handsome physic, that was lit like a light with all glory and mystic.
He was fit and was firm, a right symbol of grace, and I cried when I saw Him in spite of my face.
A wink of His eye and a twist of His head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke with a Word that was firm as His hand, He blessed me and welcomed me into His land.
And laying His finger aside of His nose, and giving a nod, up onto His throne again He arose.
He sat on His seat, on His throne, in His sight, to His angels, He spoke and they flew with glorious might.
But I heard Him exclaim, and all heaven abounded, let’s eat, it’s time, and we worshipped and resounded.
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord! We all said with delight, we are home, finally home, our faith’s become sight!
Well, that’s about all I have for you in this blog. Oh yeah, one more thing. As many of you know, I am on the Interim Pastoral Team with the SOMO Network. I have been assigned to a little country church about an hour from our home. It’s a town that time forgot. You could film a 50’s movie here and not have to change anything. Anyway, I have been there for a little over a year now, preaching relevant eschatological themed messages and ministering to the people there as I attempt to procure them a permanent pastor. They have taken quite a liking to me and I them for sure; they are very precious folks. The messages have invigorated their spirits to seek the Lord like never before; and all that it entails. All glory to our Father in heaven, praise you Jesus!
Just after Pentecost Sunday at the end of May this year, the Lord prompted me to begin a systematic study on the book of Revelation. It has gone very well and the people have been blessed and inspired by God’s Word. Tomorrow, should the Lord tarry, I will be preaching on Revelation 12. It just landed that way in the que, can you believe it! Praise the Lord!
I printed up a bunch of Pastor Patrick Wright’s (Hourly Watch) ‘Rapture Ready’ posters of all the asteroids and their names flying into Virgo; I will be handing them out tomorrow. Even if the Lord delays His return, I just wanted to be doing everything that I could when He arrived; you know, ‘Blessed is that man whom the Master finds working in His vineyard when He returns.’ (Matthew 24:46; Luke 12:43)
I want to encourage you to do the same my brother (sister). Be about the Master’s business as we begin a new week in a few hours. Keep your heart pure, your mind bright, and your spirit ready; the Lord is at the very door!
Maranatha!
For more sermons from Pastor Rob Lee, just Google ‘Pastor Rob Lee sermons’ and many will come up. I have posted well over 500 Bible studies and sermons on YouTube under Restoration Church, Gardena and GVAG. I also have several teaching videos on Eschatology posted on our church website CrownPointeChurch.com; just scroll down to ‘End Times’ videos. I can be reached via this blog site or at my personal email at robpopslee@gmail.com. Time is short, really short, like hours, if not minutes away. Please be and stay ready. All glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Encourage Men 