The 144,000, the Rapture, and the Feast of Tabernacles

Well, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement has passed on both the civil calendar and the modified barley calendar.  That makes Mark Biltz's compelling assessment for the rapture timing during the Feast of Trumpets invalid - at least this year.

But, Dewey Bruton's study is based on the rapture happening during the Feast of Tabernacles - of which we are nearing the end for 2016.  There are some interesting possibilities that may bolster Bruton's findings for the Feast of Tabernacles.

But, first we need to understand where in the book of Revelation the rapture occurs and who the 144,000 thousand are.

The 144,000

There has been so much confusion and speculation as to who the 144,000 are by scholars, theologians, Hollywood and probably your pastor, that the clear, Biblically provided answer is overlooked.  They are described and identified in Revelation 7 and 14:

3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;

6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;

7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;

8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.  Revelation 7:3-8

1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.  Revelation 14:1-5

The popular identification of the 144,000 is some virtuous, secreted isolation of pure Israelites that God has set aside somewhere in this world.  Clearly, God could do that.  But, that means He would have had to set aside the fallen nature of man for this group.  He can't do that without violating His Word and the dominion He gave to man in the garden.  It subverts Jesus.  He won't do that.

The scriptures tell us exactly who the 144,000 are:

They are children

They are from all the tribes

They are redeemed from the earth

They are redeemed from men

They had no deceit in their mouth

They are not defiled with women (They are male)

They are virgins

They are without fault

They are firstfruits to God and the Lamb

There is only one group of Israelites that have these characteristics. They are the male children prophesied by Jeremiah two years old and younger that Herod put to death after Jesus was born.

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:  

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children,

Refusing to be comforted,

Because they are no more.”  Matthew 2:16-18 (see also Jeremiah 31)

They are the firstfruit sacrifice to God and the Lamb - the first dead in Christ!

This also provides illumination as to not only why the rapture is necessary, but why 'the dead in Christ will rise first'. 

Obviously, they died before the indwelling Holy Spirit was given and are the only Christians that have not received the seal - the Holy Spirit.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13

They are redeemed from the earth,from among men at the rapture.  They are sealed with the Holy Spirit in Revelation 7:3.

These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

An interesting Note:   The slaughter of the Innocents would have occurred around the year "ZERO" on the Gregorian calendar since Jesus was born near the end of 3 BC.

The Rapture in Revelation

The events described in following scriptures clearly describe the same series of events:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  1 Corinthians 15:52

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  Matthew 24:30-31

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.  Mark 13:24-27

So, where in the book of Revelation are the same events described?  The opening of the sixth seal:

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”  Revelation 6:12-17

The rapture begins in Revelation 6:17. 'Who is able to stand?'.  Luke tells us "who" that is:

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36

The angels gather His elect from the four winds (the winds are held - Revelation 7:1).  The angel from the east with the 'seal of the living God' is Jesus (Matthew 24:27).  Revelation 7:2 continues  "he cried with a loud voice" - "...a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am.."  Revelation 1:10-11.

The 'dead in Christ are raised first' and the first of the dead raised are the 144,000.  (This explains why the 'great earthquake' is necessary to loosen the ground.)

The 144,000 are sealed, then 'those who are alive and remain' - THAT'S YOU - are caught up to the Lord in Revelation 7:9.

The rapture ends at the opening of the seventh seal in Revelation 8:1.  There is silence or peace in heaven for ' about half an hour'.  Then wrath ensues beginning with trumpet warnings to Israel.

The Rapture and the Feast of Tabernacles

So, how does the Feast of Tabernacles fit with the timing of the rapture?  The phrase "great day" used in Revelation 6: 17 only occurs 3 places outside of the book of Revelation:  Zephaniah 1:14, John 7:37, and Jude 1:6.

John 7:2 tells us the timing of this chapter:  "Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand."  Verse 37 continues:

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. John 7:37

The Feast of Tabernacles is a seven day event and the eighth day is considered the "great day".  Could this great day  be the same great day described in the sixth seal:

"For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6:17

Zephaniah 1 sheds additional clarity the "great day":

14 The great day of the Lord is near;

It is near and hastens quickly.

The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter;

There the mighty men shall cry out.

15 That day is a day of wrath,

A day of trouble and distress,

A day of devastation and desolation,

A day of darkness and gloominess,

A day of clouds and thick darkness,

16 A day of trumpet and alarm

The last day, the great day of the Feast of Tabernacles begins tonight at sundown .

Are you ready?

...confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus

and believe in your heart

that God has raised Him from the dead,

you will be saved.  Romans 10:9