By the Skin of Our Teeth

A Sister in Christ sent me the link to a recent article by Anne Graham Lotz—Is God's Judgment Coming on America?

The Time of Retribution

It reminded me of a rhema word that was dropped into my spirit on September 11, 2013:

The retribution of God upon the world is not retribution against His people!

ret·ri·bu·tion

ˌretrəˈbyo͞oSH(ə)n/

noun

1.            punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.

I knew I had heard from my Lord and God for it paralleled His logos (His written Word). The time of RETRIBUTION is the time of PUNISHMENT, INFLICTION, VENGEANCE. For the true God YHWH it is the time of His wrath and He has promised that the overcoming Church will be saved from wrath.

In The Solar Eclipse Omen article I listed two points related to the Great American Solar Eclipse. That it will occur:

º  33 days prior to the Revelation 12 Great Sign on September 23 this year and

º  on August 21, 2017, which corresponds to Elul 1 on the Hebrew calendar

   

And that Mark Biltz explains the significance of these two facts and more in his video, Pastor Mark...the coming eclipse.

Ann Graham Lotz is one of the few mainstream ministers that is acknowledging that the August 21 eclipse is an omen of coming judgment:

The sun will be turned to darkness…before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Joel 2:31

A few years ago I was teaching through the book of Joel when the ancient words of his prophecy came up off the page. I knew with hair-raising certainty that God’s severe judgment was coming on America! I have taught Joel several times since.  Each time has served to confirm with deep conviction that God is warning America of impending disaster and destruction. [From Is God's Judgment Coming on America?]

It is my humble opinion that this impending destruction will begin on or soon after Saturday, September 23, 2017—the day of the Revelation 12 sign of the woman. (For more information on this check out The Revelation 12 Sign Compendium.)

Rev 12 and the Rapture

Scripture shows that the rapture does occur prior to the Tribulation. To better understand how the Church Bride will be caught up before the travail of the woman in Revelation 12, you will want to watch Alan Horvath’s two videos: The Most Comprehensive Rapture Update and Kar Giver's Bonus Rapture Update 2017. He and Kar Giver explain how Scripture prophesies of TWO CORPORATE BIRTHS:

1)      First birth will be prior to the travail of the woman—“The Great Sign of Revelation 12 does not represent the rapture. The birth of the zakar (singular) mentioned in Isaiah 66:7 does refer to the rapture by referring to the birth out of Israel that occurs before labor begins—before the Tribulation in other words…We are not looking at one birth…but two corporate births that occur at different times with respect to the Tribulation.” (Quote from Kar Giver's Bonus Rapture Update 2017)

2)     Second birth will occur after the Tribulation begins.

Based on my research of the Bible, current events, and studying other researchers’ information, I believe we on Earth will see a convergence of events soon after September 23, 2017, including:

Ø  Nuclear war beginning

Ø  Catastrophes related to the nearness of the Nibiru system including worldwide earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and meteor showers [for more info on this go to The Ark of Escape article]

Ø  The collapse of the United States of America

Ø  The catching away or rapture of the Bride of Christ

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV 

The exact order of these occurrences I am not sure of because I believe they will be almost simultaneous.

In a moment [atomos], in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. - 1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV

“By the Skin of Our Teeth”

Not only do I believe the converging events will be nearly simultaneous, I also speculate that the timing of the Rapture of the Church will occur at the last possible atomos of time when we are transformed and caught up in the air just as cataclysmic events begin thereby missing them “by the skin of our teeth”.

I came to this conclusion when I noticed the context of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. - 1 Thessalonians 5:3 KJV

Verse 3 compares “sudden destruction” to labor pains—“as travail upon a woman with child”. This, of course, is referring to Israel’s time of travail the Scriptures call Jacob’s Trouble and is referred to as Daniel’s 70^th Week or the Tribulation. Verse 3 also mentions that “they shall not escape”. Who does not escape? Those who “shall say, Peace and safety”.

The International Day of Peace is held on September 21 and the theme for 2017 is: “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.” When “they” are saying “Peace and safety”, “sudden destruction” will be following. “They” shall not escape but we who are looking for the Lord will escape (Luke 21:28-36).

… and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time … Hebrews 9:28 KJV

Continuing in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5—

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. - 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 KJV

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, - 1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV

Do you see it? Paul connects “sudden destruction” with “wrath”. “They shall not escape” but we are able to escape because “God hath not appointed us to wrath”! HALLELU-YAH! [For more information on this go here.]

Comfort With These Words

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 KJV

Notice Paul says that these are words of comfort. For emphasis he says it again:

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV

Updated 9/4/22