Sent 1/4/00

The timing of the rapture is one subject about which I do not have strong convictions. I vacillate according to the time of year. I can't help it. Go ahead: Call me unstable. I have read that Jews debate whether the Messiah will come at Pentecost or at Rosh ha Shanah. Not being sure myself, if He has not come on Rosh haShanah, I start looking toward Pentecost, except I also stop and hopefully look at Tabernacles and Hanukkah along the way. All have interesting biblical arguments (oh, I wish I could be as dogmatic and confident as are some!). I am not even persuaded that it must fall on one of the Jewish feast days, which were mainly for Israel, although the church was born on Pentecost. That is because I believe it will be "as in the days of Noah," before the feasts were given through Moses hundreds of years later.

Having said that, and with the fall and winter feasts behind us and the spring feasts ahead, I recall an interesting short piece taken from the Chuck Missler Web site last year concerning Enoch, Pentecost and the rapture. I believe you will find it thought-provoking.

EXCERPT:

Enoch is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. The first prophecy uttered by a prophet was a prophecy of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and it was proclaimed before the Flood of Noah! (Bramlett note: See Jude 14-15.)

Enoch is also distinctive in that he did not suffer death; he was "raptured."

There were three groups of people facing the flood: those that perished in the flood; those that were preserved through the flood; and those removed before the flood: namely, Enoch. There are some who view Enoch as a foreshadowing of the church being removed prior to the global ordeal known as the Great Tribulation.

It is interesting that there is a Jewish tradition that Enoch was born on the day that was later ordained as the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). What makes this even more interesting is the associated tradition that he was "raptured" on his birthday.

Is it possible that this is a foreshadowing of the harpazo of the church?

There would seem to be a logical consistency if the same feast that "stopped" the Jewish clock will be the same event that "restarts" it. We will just watch and see. Let's remember that He instructed us to "occupy until He comes." Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!