The Rapture Theory - Part 4 of 7
We must ask the question, why does God require such a glorious vessel of deliverance? Why does He go to such great lengths to complete this vessel, and to prepare it for manifestation to the earth? Friends, it is simply because the earth will be at her darkest hour. The vessel that the Lord Jesus will reveal and manifest to the earth will be one of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-20); a new species, such as the earth has never seen! And it will be so glorious because the need will be so great!
Around the time of Noah's commissioning, the Scriptures tells us, "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days..." (Gen 6:1-4).
Spiritual Giants...
Some scholars believe that the "sons of God" here in Genesis 6 reference fallen angels (Job 1:6; Jude 6; 2 Pet 2:4) that literally mated with the daughters of men, and as a result, a race of giants were born (Gen 6:4). These giants became "mighty men... men of renown" (Gen 6:4), and a "people great and tall" (Deut 9:2). They spread throughout the earth and became a constant threat to the people of God (Deut 2:11; Josh 12:4; 13:2; 1 Chron 20:4; etc). David had to deal with them (1 Sam 17:4, 45, 49-51), Moses and the children of Israel (Num 13:33; 14:38), Jonathan (1 Chron 20:6-8), etc.
As we have seen, the Bible says "as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matt 24:37). Many fail to recognize that this includes the existence of spiritual giants. These giants were birthed and existed "in the days of Noah", so why wouldn't they likewise exist, albeit on a spiritual plane, in the days of the coming of the Son of Man? Thus we see God's reason for preparing a vessel of deliverance, in hopes that the earth will finally turn to Him, as He is gloriously manifested to a dead and dying world. Just as evil will have reached it's zenith, so will this vessel of righteousness. Just as Satan will have a culmination (2 Thess 2:3; 1 Jn 2:18), so will the Lord Jesus, in His sons (Rom 8:18-20; Isa 60:1-3). Just as evil will have an army (2 Tim 3:1-17; 1 Tim 4:1), so will the sons of God (Joel 2; Mic 4:1-5).. And just as Satan will have his giants, so will the Lord of Hosts: "Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty [Hebrew: "giants"] upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed" (Ps 112:1-2)... The Psalmist asked the question, "Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?" (Ps 120:2-3)... and the Lord gave the answer: "Sharp arrows of the mighty [Hebrew: "giants"], with coals of juniper" (Ps 120:4)! Hallelujah, God will have an answer, even spiritual giants of His own - sons in His image to deliver creation from the bondage of corruption into glorious liberty (Rom 8:21; 2 Cor 3:18; Gal 4:19)! "For all people will walk every one in the name [character] of his god, and we will walk in the name [character] of the LORD our God for ever and ever" (Mic 4:5).
The Swelling of the Jordan..
Interestingly enough, the Bible actually gives us a glimpse into the intense warfare to be seen in the last days, the days of these giants: "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" (Jer 12:5). This is an interesting verse of Scripture, and full of prophetic truth!
The swelling of the Jordan only occurs during harvest time, during the Feast of Tabernacles. Naturally, when it swells, the beasts of the field rush inland to escape the coming floods. Similarly, spiritually speaking, the greatest onslaught of evil and persecution will too occur at harvest time. Demonic forces will be unleashed and rush in to attack the earth. However, thankfully God will have His vessel of deliverance! He will have His giants too! Tabernacles is the feast of fullness for the people of God. We've experienced Passover (justification by faith), "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor 5:7). We've experienced Pentecost, that is, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, etc (Acts 2:1-4). The only feast we have yet to walk in is the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast occurs at harvest time! And how appropriate the timing, during the swelling of the Jordan!
Thus we see just one reason why God is maturing and preparing such a glorious vessel of deliverance, an Ark of safety, a son in His image. For if the world was aching and groaning 2,000 years ago to be delivered (Rom 8:19, 22), I cannot imagine the birth pains that will come upon us once we begin to contend with the horses of harvest time! Let's never forget, "as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matt 24:37).
To Be Continued...
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