Rapture: Martha, Mary & Lazarus

I am watching closely the following dates:

January 22nd, which is Tu B’ Shevat, Rosh Hashanah for Trees, and marks the 1st day of Spring in Israel

And February 2nd/3rd which is Candlemas (40 days from Christmas) and the day of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin. It is also Groundhog day which is a mark for the timing of Spring.

I have really found the article regarding the archetype for the Rapture regarding Lazarus, Martha, Mary and Jesus extremely important. It clearly shows Martha as the “type” for the first fruits rapture, Mary as the main harvest rapture and Lazarus as the type for Israel. Read it for yourself with his explanation. It is really very, very good.

http://www.ffruits.org/firstfruits/lazarusarticle.aspx

Now regarding some of my thoughts on timing (not a prediction, but thoughts)

Lazarus’ raising from the dead is recorded in one book in the Bible – John. It is significant. Jesus shows before His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His death on the cross for us that He indeed can defeat death. This so upset the Religious leaders at the time that they not only decided to kill Jesus, but also Lazarus.

Everyday I spend time in prayer, meditation, study and trying to listen and discern God’s voice in regards to His will and certainly hoping for the Rapture. I know you do this as well. As I was thinking about what could be some of the most significant models in the Bible that would give us a clue. Before relooking at the article listed above that I had read some time ago, I knew that Jesus defeating death before the cross would be significant. Here is a supposition in regards to some of my thinking about the timeline:

In pondering, Acts clearly is a foreshadowing of the Church during the time of the tribulation. The Holy Spirit is poured out, tribulation occurs and it is after the ascension of Jesus and the raising of the dead.

We know the raising of Lazarus occurs before Palm Sunday and Passover. Even though Jesus raises Lazarus to show that He can indeed defeat death, Lazarus representing Israel, it is critical to show “all” that He can defeat death. In the Rapture death is defeated in a different manner than when the dead are raised, but it is a necessary requirement being that it was the penalty for sin which we have all inherited. Notice in the account that neither Martha or Mary die, but Lazarus dies. More important Jesus says this to Martha:

John 11:25-26 (KJV) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Earlier in the account we read Martha comes out first – this along with other clues tell us about the first fruit & main harvest:

John 11:20 (KJV) Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

I encourage you to read the article in full from the link above. I have the website listed at my blog section and you can read more about the coming dates there.

If this is a “model” and it is the only account in the book of John, then potentially we can draw something from this in regards to timing. Remember in Revelation John is called up to Heaven and then sees the Lamb that is slain. We know this Lamb to be Jesus who has died for our sins. I believe that even though the Rapture is miraculous that this account in Revelation is accurate and like John says he does, we may weep greatly at our own sins and the sins of the world realizing how greatly we NEED Salvation and Jesus. If we were Raptured and did have a chance to see the Heavenly view of our redemption, when would this potentially take place? Passover. If so, then the Rapture may be before Passover. I also believe that it may be before, Palm Sunday. Since we are a model of Jesus and he rode into Jerusalem this day, we may also have a chance to ride into Heavenly Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday this year is in March. Now if we will get a chance to see and experience Jesus defeating death, and if this model of Martha & Jesus is a clue for us then there may be a possibility for the Rapture before Palm Sunday. This would have to be after Hanukkah and before Palm Sunday, likely putting it into January or February.

Lots of interesting speculation and only God knows for sure. Thank goodness we can rest in His Sovereignty and Love.

Blessings,

Tony