EJP to Brother Marco on the Doctrine of “the Appearing” of Christ

Dear Brother Marco,

I never use the term “rapture” as it is Jesuit/Latin terminology. I use the bibilcal term “the appearing” as found in several passages of which you are aware (Titus 2:13-14; I John 3:1-3, etc.).

The “appearing” of the Lord Jesus Christ for the bodies of his saints, these elect of God composing the Body of Christ, will end this present dispensation of the grace of God. That “appearing” is “the blessed hope” of every saved believer in Christ since the first century Day of Pentecost in 32 AD. That “appearing” has always been imminent/momentary and has nothing to do with the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ—when every eye shall see him (Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1:7)—at the close of the Great Tribulation, the “time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jer. 30:7-8). Thus, the “present evil age” (Gal. 1:4) in which the “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:1-2) sees the gospel of I Corinthians 15:1-6 preached in all the world, began on the day of Pentecost—50 days after Christ’s resurrection and 10 days after his ascension and seating at the right hand of his Father (Psalm 110:1)—with the person of the Holy Spirit entering the bodies of believers beginning the Body of Christ (I Cor 12:13, 27). That dispensation will end when the person of the Holy Spirit leaves this world with all the physical bodies of the saints in “the Body of Christ,” first the dead bodies and then our living bodies (I Thess. 4:13-18; Romans 8:11). This is called “the falling away” in II Thess. 2:3, which underlying Greek word—with the definite article—is clarified by the translation “the departure.” That departure will be the departure of the bodies of the believers composing the Body of Christ, first the dead and then the living.

When the person of the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth, there will be no more restraint of the devil’s “mystery of iniquity,” thus enabling “the Wicked One”—the Antichrist/Man of Sin—to be manifested. (II Thess. 2:1-12).

Thus, the person of the Holy Spirit was sent by the ascended Lord Jesus Christ and arrived into the world on the Day of Pentecost, 32 AD, to inhabit the bodies of believers throughout this “present evil age.” The Holy Spirit “sealed” all believers in Christ “until the day of redemption” of our bodies (Eph. 4:30), that “day of redemption” being “the appearing” of Christ for those bodies of his saints. This happened after the temporary suspension of the dispensation of the Mosaic Law, as national Israel has been temporarily “set aside” until the fullness of the elect Gentiles in the Body of Christ is completed (Rom. 11:25; II Cor 3:14-15). For we New Covenant believers of every race, language and nation are not under the Law of Moses, but under grace (Romans 6:14). When the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth at the “appearing” of Christ “in the air” for the bodies of his saints, it will not happen—as it cannot happen—during or after the 70th week of years as foretold by the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 9:27). For the Mosaic Law has been restored during that seven-year period evidenced by the fact that the two Hebrew prophets, Moses and Elijah, will be on the streets of Jerusalem for the first half of the week—1260 days (Rev. 11:3), after which the Man-Beast and his Gentile nations will tread down and oppress Jerusalem for 42 months, another three and one-half years (Rev. 11:2). And the Mosaic Law with its Aaronic priesthood and sacrifices will extend into the Millennial Kingdom in conjunction with the “New Covenant” to be established between God and restored, national Israel (Jer. 31:31).

Further, the gospel of the grace of God in Christ (I Cor. 15:1-6) cannot be preached at the same time the everlasting gospel of the Kingdom of Messiah (Rev. 14:6) is being preached, first by the two witnesses/two prophets (Rev. 11:3-12) and then by the the subsequent 144,000 racial Hebrew/Jewish/Israelites (Rev.7:2-8; 12:17) who will, before the end of the Great Tribulation, be killed by the forces of the Man-Beast; for they are seen in the heavenly Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1-5). Two separate gospels cannot be preached during a specific age—therefore the Body of Christ, preaching the gospel of the grace of God in Christ, cannot be on earth during the 70th week of Daniel which is a continuation of the Mosaic Law that was in force during the first 69 weeks of years (483 years) of the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-26.

Therefore, the “appearing” of Christ for the bodies of his Church saints must be before the final Roman/Papal-Caesar/King confirms an existing international peace treaty to begin the countdown of the 70th week of Daniel (Dan. 9:26-27). Therefore, the “appearing” is BEFORE the beginning of the the 70th week of years as well as before the beginning of the second half of the week called “the Great Tribulation” (Matt. 24:15-22).

Therefore, “the glorious appearing” of “our great God and Savior,” the Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13-14), for the bodies of believers composing his Church can only be Pre-70th week of Daniel, not Pre-tribulational as the Great Tribulation begins only at mid-week. The common errors—as espoused on that history channel special—is that the entirety of the seven-year period is termed “the Great Tribulation” and that the “rapture” of the Church is at the end of “the Great Tribulation.” There will be a “gathering of the elect” at the end of the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:31), but it is not “the appearing” of Christ under discussion.

Therefore, “the Blessed Hope” of the born-again, Reformation Bible-believing, New Testament Christian is the PRE-70th WEEK of YEARS “appearing” of the Lord Jesus Christ for the bodies of every one of his saints, first the dead and then the living. At this time we will receive “the redemption” of our bodies for which we presently groan (Romans 8:23).

Lord Bless,

Brother Eric

Greetings Brother Eric,

I would love to know what your stance is on the Rapture.

The reason I ask is that I’m not well versed on that portion of the Bible and would like to know your stance on the Rapture whether it be post or pre-tribulation and etc as that the recent “history” channel episode of the nostrodamus effect focuses on more of a post tribulation rapture.

Ps – that would also make a great topic of discussion for one of your upcoming shows on liberty live.

Lord Bless

Brother Marco