16They said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master; perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him. 18They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?” (2 Kings 2:16–18) The very first thing with which Elisha has to deal is the settling of the question of the rapture! This is particularly interesting since it was known, at least among these small groups, that this rapture was imminent; so much so, in fact, that they kept warning about it themselves. 3Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be still.” (2 Kings 2:3) 5The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be still.” (2 Kings 2:5) This behavior foreshadows exactly what said in the Olivet Discourse, that when the time of these events grows near, we will consciously anticipate it and should be looking for its fulfillment.
This phenomenon may help to explain why Daniel refers to two specifications which are absolutely not equal to 3-1/2 standard lunar years, “1,290 days” (Dan. 12:11) and “1,335 days” (Dan. 12:12), and a term which is not equivalent to either 3-1/2 or 7 years, “2,300 evenings and mornings”, (Dan. 8:13-14) which by biblical standards equals just under 6.4 lunar years. One of the possibilities we should seriously consider in tandem with any other biblical examples which we can find of these things is that they fit together in an overlapping fashion rather as a strictly synchronized string of end-to-end windows, even if the overlaps are small. Or perhaps since Daniel’s “1,290 days” and “1,335 days” refer to the second half of that week of years from the midpoint of the Abomination of Desolation to the end, we are being told that the first half is not precisely equal to the second. The Expectation of Elijah 5“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5–6) King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” 15But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” (Mark 6:14–15)
John the Baptist the specific stipulation, “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’”. Then and now there are those who think a genetic heritage is enough, which John clearly dismisses. Paul will later categorically state, “…it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham”. (Gal. 3:7) They need to not just repent, but prove they have done so sincerely by following up with changed lives. This is the important aspect of baptism, that it is not a means to “get clean”, but a public testimony identifying that one has been cleansed and will make every effort to never return back to their previous way of life. 10And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:10–14) What do all these examples have in common? Interestingly enough, they all have to do with treatment of others—an application of loving our neighbor as our self. Anyone can say they love God, but this is actually proven in the course of our love (or not) of others. John’s definition of a repentance which produces
This author highly recommends that the reader obtain a copy of Jacob Prasch’s book, —The Intra-Seal Rapture of the Church, so as to receive a very detailed and thorough explanation of exactly what the Rapture is doctrinally, and how it will actually transpire literally. Contrary to much of what is taught in so-called books self-identifying as “Christian Fiction” and the myriad of Hollywood productions on the subject, this book explains in depth from Scripture alone why this author does not, among other things associated with that topic, subscribe to the notion of a “secret” Rapture. This is a very important aspect, I believe, supporting the greater reason why Elijah is coming again as a lone harbinger in the manner of John the Baptist to prepare Israel for the Return of Jesus. The Rapture will take place between the 6th and 7th Seals (Rev. 7:9-17) at a time of ever-growing spiritual darkness in conjunction with a change in the role of the Holy Spirit no longer restraining evil nor empowering a unified Church as currently enjoyed. But in the Olivet Discourse, Jesus made very clear that what is plainly associated with the 6th Seal will be “the sign of the Son of Man” which will “appear in the sky”. The Rapture is an event which visually denotes the onset of “the day of the Lord”, a time devoted to God’s wrath on the Antichrist and his kingdom. 26“So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in
John’s Disciples Question Jesus 9:14-17 2:18-22 5:31-38 The Delegation Sent to Jesus by John 11:2-6 7:18-23 Discourse on John 11:7-19 7:24-35 John’s Final Fate 14:3-12 6:14-29 9:7-9 Reference to John’s Discipleship 11:1 Reference to John’s Ministry 16:16-17 Jesus’ Return to the Jordan Jesus’ Question Concerning John 21:23-27 11:27-33 20:1-8 The Parable of the Two Sons 21:28-32 The Baptism of John Acts 1:4-5 John as a Qualification for Apostleship Acts 1:21-22 Peter’s Testimony Concerning John’s Ministry Acts 10:36-37 Peter’s Reference at Cornelius’ House Acts 11:15-17 Stephen’s Testimony Concerning John Acts 13:22-25 Apollos’ Relationship to John Acts 18:24-28 Disciples of John in Ephesus Acts 19:1-7