The Rapture Will Happen During the Period of Judgment on America

In previous posts I described the Rapture and Scriptures supporting it. Another post reveals the identity of Mystery Babylon in Revelation 17-18 - mostly by referencing other people's excellent analysis of the Scriptures and prophetic insight. (Hint: It's America.)

Building on this foundation, I believe the Lord recently opened my eyes to another piece of the end-times puzzle. In Revelation 18 there are three veiled references to the Rapture, and in Revelation 19 there is a reference the marriage supper of the Lamb which happens after the Rapture.

In 18:4 it says, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues." This has multiple meanings, as prophetic Scriptures often do. The primary meaning is repentance and spiritual separation. "Come out of the Babylon world system and enter the kingdom of heaven. Repent of its ways and walk in God's righteousness." Another meaning is literally to move out of Babylon, as some have done by moving abroad, or stop being dependent on its systems that are going to fail - financial, medical, educational, etc. That depends on how God leads you personally. I can tell you my station is right here in America, but God has led my family toward self-employment, home schooling and making other preparations. Finally, I believe this verse is a picture of Jesus beckoning his children to join him on the clouds of heaven and escape the fullness of judgment to be poured out on Babylon. Come out of her, my people!

In 18:23, it says, "And the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer." Multiple meanings again. After destruction by fire, the infrastructure of Babylon will be destroyed and the lights won't turn on. However, there is also a spiritual meaning too. Referring to God's people, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house." If God's people, the saints, are removed, there will no longer be any light in Babylon.

Verse 18:23 also says, "And the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer..." The plain meaning is that normal human civilization, like weddings, will cease in Babylon after its fall. But here again the meaning is double. Who is the bride, the bride whose voice speaks on behalf of the bridegroom? Jesus is the bridegroom and the saints are the bride! (See the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25.) The bride will no longer be heard in Babylon because she is gone. Raptured!

Next, the scene in Revelation 19 shifts to heaven. A multitude is praising God. Verses 7 and 9 say, "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready... Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." It is the marriage supper of Jesus, the Lamb of God, which follows the Rapture according to the parable of the virgins. The saints are now in heaven with Jesus.

If there was only one reference to the Rapture in Revelation 18, it would be easy to dismiss this as wishful thinking. But all three together followed by the wedding supper in Revelation 19 form a clear picture: The saints are spirited away to heaven sometime during the period of Babylon's judgment - and then join Jesus at the wedding feast.

Be prepared: The saints will endure some of Babylon's plagues. Even the Israelites in the time of Moses experienced the first three plagues of Egypt. In a time of national judgment, chastening comes first to the house of the Lord. Jesus wants a clean bride, and to harvest as many souls as possible before the door is closed and the Great Tribulation ensues.

A previous post, It Will Come in One Day, describes the first plagues and their sudden onset from Revelation 18. 

When exactly will the saints be rescued? Who knows for sure. End times harbinger and "bell ringer for Jesus Christ" Jonathan Kleck said God told him to name his ministry "This Is It, Be4 The Fire." All I can say is I believe Jesus is coming BEFORE THE FIRE, before Babylon's ultimate destruction by fire. 

If you belong to Jesus, now is time to draw near to God and dwell in the shelter of the Most High according to Psalm 91. If you don't know Jesus, now is the time to become a child of God. 

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Acts 2:21