Before the Rapture: The Four Stages We Must Live Through

By Eleanor Schultz

Author Eleanor Schultz removes the mystery of scenes described by Bible prophets. Logical and clear explanation, with a touch of humor, calms fears about the times that we are destined to experience before the Rapture. The rise of the Antichrist and his crusade to conquer the world is unsettling at best. The surfacing of the Ark and Israels encounter with God makes for exciting reading. The Middle East emerges as the seat of world political, religious, and economic power. Peace arrives, and prosperity follows. The deception and lure of resulting pleasures can be deadly if we fall for the deceptive tactics of evil in the end times.
Surveying all things, we realize we are not alone and evil is not in charge. Gods plan of redemption is the controlling factor for end-time events, and Satan does not have veto rights. God is still in control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449711290

Eleanor Schultz

Eleanor Schultz holds a three-year degree in theology and missions from Bethany College of Missions. She has taught at Faith Landmarks Bible Institute since 1989 and serves on the board of Send the Light International. Mrs. Schultz served alongside her late husband for many years with WEC International.

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Contents

SETTING THE STAGE

STAGE ONE: POSITIONING

STAGE TWO: PEACE

STAGE THREE:

PROPHECIES FULFILLED

STAGE FOUR: PROSPERITY

CONCLUSION

GLOSSARY

PREFACE

It was in 1958 when I first became aware that end-time prophecy is a major portion of the Bible. If God felt it was worthy to take up so much space, the end times must be important. So, I set my heart to find out what the fuss was all about. It was confusing at first because there seemed to be contradictions and I could not tell the difference between what is history or what is future.

This book was born through a combination of the Word of God and an understanding quickened by the Holy Spirit. The fundamentals were taught to me at Bethany College of Missions, the Bible institute from which I graduated. I would be amiss if I did not credit the many instructors and conference speakers for their faithfulness in adhering to what the Word says. The major principle they instilled within me is this: if the Bible does not make a specific statement on an issue, all else could be wrong. We cannot base doctrine on what the Bible does not say, what we think the Bible says, what we are told, what books we read, what we see going on in the world today, our opinions, visions, voices, or even what we believe. Anything other than the Bible could be wrong. That is not to say that it is wrong, only that it could be. If we cannot prove an issue without twisting, taking from or adding to the Word of God, then our conclusion is suspect. Satan knows how to bring a false revelation when we least expect it. He is a master deceiver, so it is most important to stay within the perimeters of what the Bible states. That is a very important principle that was deposited within me and it has held me steady over the years.

Pieces. That is how it started, with pieces. Understanding end-time prophecy is like a puzzle: one piece connects to another until the picture emerges. In the scope of the prophetic Word, one can start anywhere. It does not matter which piece we discover first, because it is the key that will open another door through which we may enter. One truth lights the way to another. One concept must build upon another concept; one truth leads to another truth. We glean a little bit here and a little bit there. Eventually we discover that we have many pieces, but they may not look like they fit together. So, we really do not know what we are looking at. It takes awhile to figure it all out. It is a puzzle that we are always working on, because there are always details that need clarification and such. We may have a misconception that needs adjusting, for instance.

It is a good thing that God knows all about the pieces. He knows how to guide us into the truths that we need to navigate these last days. He sent us His Holy Spirit to do just that. In order to understand the puzzle, we need to know what God is up to. What are His goals? What is it that He is after? We know we will find out eventually, but why wait? He has given us the pieces in His Word and the Holy Spirit leads us as we develop the picture. Good news! We are going to complete the puzzle.

It is amazing to me that we have so many traveling ministers who are preaching on end-time prophecy, but if you ask almost anyone what is going to happen before the Rapture, you are met with a blank stare. Or, you may be given an answer indicating that there is nothing left to happen, and that God will take care of everything. The insinuation is that we do not need to know. How can this be when so many are preaching on prophecy these days? Wouldn’t you think that we would be well-taught by now? Still, the average church attendee has no idea what to expect either in this life or in the afterlife.

For years I have taught the Bible, and since the late 1970’s have focused on the prophetic portions. Of the many hundreds of students I have taught, there is just a handful who dare to step out on their own and teach prophecy. I wondered why. I believe the Lord showed me that the pieces they received were accurate, but needed to be presented in a format that was easily remembered. I needed a structure to capture the chronology of pre-Rapture events.

I spent much time before the Lord and slowly four phases of the time before the Rapture began to take shape. I started by gathering the major events that cannot happen after the Rapture. Two pre-Rapture events emerged to form the basis of this structure: 1) a situation where nearly everyone will think the earth along with its inhabitants will be annihilated and 2) a major defeat for the nation of Israel.

As the Lord brought details of these two events to my remembrance, four distinct phases—I have opted to call them stages—began to emerge as an easy way to grasp end-time events. I was amazed at how much information relates to pre-Rapture things. When I put them together and tried to calculate how long it would take for all of them to develop into the conditions that exist at the time of the Rapture, I realized that the Rapture might be further into the future than we think.

In this book I have endeavored to address each stage separately. Within each, the major events that begin in that stage are addressed. Once an event has become history, its effect continues until the Rapture. For instance, the cities that have their beginnings in Stage Two will continue to grow until they are mature at the end of Stage Four.

The structure of this book will be as follows. First, we will set the stage by explaining God’s Plan of Redemption, followed by a brief explanation of the two events that anchor these four stages. The details of the four stages follow under their own sections. There may be things that are not included, but the major things are pointed out.

I do not claim to have a full revelation of every prophecy spoken by the Bible prophets. No one does. Perfect knowledge exists in God alone. Even the prophets of the Old Testament prophesied in part. It takes God to bring all elements together to form the whole. He has shown me enough that this book can serve as a guide to navigate the major elements of our times. By no means is every prophetic subject dealt with in this volume. I have endeavored to capture the major milestones that are destined to occur before the Rapture.

We are in for the most exciting times in the history of the universe, evidenced by the enormous amount of Scripture targeting our times. Unfortunately, the church is ignoring most of it, deeming it either fulfilled, irrelevant, or incomprehensible. It is time to turn that around. The church is not equipped to maneuver victoriously through the tsunami of events that are rushing toward us.

It is my prayer that the people of the Most High God would awaken from their slumber and realize what our God is doing in the world today. He has some powerful things planned, and we need advanced knowledge so we are prepared for what is surely coming on this earth before the Rapture.

Eleanor Schultz

SETTING THE STAGE

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Earth is positioning itself to facilitate the completion of God’s Plan of Redemption.

GOD IN CONTROL

It was a great sermon that was being delivered that morning. That is, right up to the statement that jolted me out of my ease. Did he say what I thought he said? Yes, he did because he repeated it: God is not in control—man is! I could feel my jaw drop and my eyes fix on him for an explanation. I did not hear his explanation, I must admit. I was shocked! Really, I was somewhat stunned. I think he might have said something about man having authority in the earth. Anyway, when I was able to regain my listening powers, the speaker was talking about what was going on around us in the world. All his comments were aimed at what he perceived to be driving end-time events. His comments led me to believe that he thought he had figured out what the conclusion of those things would be based on what he was looking at.

I did not say much after the service. Here was a young minister who thinks people control the world. This is a concept I was unwilling to accept. I guess that is why I was so stunned. I stood staring at the platform in disbelief. In some matters, I suppose, people are in control because we make decisions that influence the direction of world events. I would submit that what we are looking at is not what is really happening. What is happening behind the scene is much more important and much more exciting. Allow me to take you into God’s Word and address this issue of who is really in control.

The truth is, our God is on the move and He is in control! It may appear that He has lost interest in world events as they seem to be spiraling out of control. He has not made His presence known to the world openly for awhile, but that is about to change. His end-time plan has been put into motion and is in the process of being worked out.

God is not surprised by what He sees going on down here. The angels are not flying around in a panic trying to figure out how to counteract what Satan is doing. God does not have to make any adjustments to accommodate what is happening on the earth.

God already knows what Satan is doing and He knows the outcome, and so He waits. The timing must be right. The prophet Habakkuk told us as much when he said that end-time events will not tarry. That means all things will happen on a predetermined schedule.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.—Habakkuk 2:3

World events are not out of control. God’s plan is the controlling factor. We must allow Him the flexibility to position the world for His purposes. His promises to the church have not changed; He is still the same. Because God is on the move, we need to give Him His space to do what He needs to do. He is orchestrating everything.

God is not limited to using Christians to achieve His goals. He can use anyone or anything He chooses to use. The Gospel is given to Christians, and its proclamation throughout the world is our responsibility. However, the orchestration of His redemptive plan is up to Him. He can use anyone for whatever task He deems appropriate. He will even use the Antichrist.

The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.—Proverbs 16:4

Here is a reference to the Antichrist. He is called the wicked, and he will guide the world into a time that is called the day of evil. God has prepared the Antichrist to condition the world to accomplish God’s purposes. Stop and think about that a minute. God made the Antichrist for His Own purposes. Who is in control? God is!

That God made the wicked for the day of evil does not mean that He created a wicked person to fulfill His will. The word that is translated made is the Hebrew word pâ’al. It means to ordain or to work through. Satan ushered in sin. With both God’s Plan of Redemption (The Plan) and wickedness in progress, God has reached down and chosen one of the wicked for the completion of His own program. In His foreknowledge, He has set aside someone who, He knows, will submit himself to wickedness. So, take heart. Our God is still Holy.

Concerning the Assyrian (Isaiah’s name for the Antichrist), the prophet Isaiah said that he is a rod that God will use to punish the people of His wrath. However, the Assyrian does not think he is carrying out God’s plan because he wants to conquer and destroy many nations. He thinks he is in charge. Is he ever in for a surprise!

O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.—Isaiah 10:5–7

God will put His own instrument of punishment in the hands of the Antichrist and send him to correct His wayward nation. The Antichrist will facilitate God’s Plan of Redemption for Israel, but he thinks attacking Israel is his idea. He does not mean to do God’s will; he gets tricked into it. The Antichrist is a rod in God’s hand, and God is controlling the rod.

John, the author of the book of Revelation, said that God has put certain things into the hearts of people so that His will would be accomplished. Speaking of certain nations that will align themselves with the Antichrist, God said that He, Himself, has put it in their hearts to fulfill His will. I do not think those nations really want to work for God. I love it when God sneaks up on them from behind. So, who is in charge? God is. Does it look like He is in charge? No. Not if you are watching the events of politics and such on earth.

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

—Revelation 17:17

God said that He will raise up the Chaldeans to correct the nations. Here we have decisions made by man that will result in a nation coming to the forefront of the world for the purpose of taking over. God said He will send them.

For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.—Habakkuk 1:6

The prophet Habakkuk’s prayer in response to God reveals that he understood the purpose for this invasion: judgment and correction. Listen to his words.

Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.—Habakkuk 1:12

The point is: God is working out His Plan of Redemption. He is on the move as we speak. The events of the last days have been put into motion and things are developing as God has planned.

I do not recall whether I heard the concept stated this way or whether I read it somewhere, but I borrow it because it is so pointed, and I cannot think of a better way to state it. Heaven is not reacting to what is going on down here; Earth is reacting to what is going on in Heaven.

Apparently, this planet Earth is smarter than people are, because it is reacting to what God is doing. The earth is positioning itself to fulfill God’s purposes. Global climate change is a response by the earth to fulfill its role in God’s redemptive plan. If man is playing a part in the changing climate, mankind is functioning in God’s overall plan for the redemption of the earth. There is nothing we can do to this earth that God cannot use. If, indeed, the Polar Ice Caps are melting as a result of man’s actions or any other reason, it is because God told them to melt. It is a part of The Plan.

Everything is working as planned and is on schedule. Nothing is out of beat or out of step. Heaven and earth are working together to facilitate redemption. It is like clockwork. The cogs all fit precisely and move together as one. Oh, it may look like things are broken to us because we are viewing them up close, but if we look at the overall picture, everything makes sense. God’s plan is unfolding.

Satan is in over his head but his die is cast, and he is going to give this fight his best effort. He is going to take as many people down with him as he can. He has his agenda and he plans to carry it out. From earth’s viewpoint, it looks like he is making headway. He has this world looking like it is spinning out of control, but he is really playing right into God’s hands.

Even so, Satan acts as though he is in charge, and that God is reacting to his moves. He must think he has the upper hand because he will bring a man, the Antichrist, to fulfill his own goal. His goal is to be God and to be worshipped. Even Satan is playing right into God’s plan.

The whole universe is positioning itself to fulfill God’s Plan of Redemption. It is not positioning itself to fulfill Satan’s plan. God is in control.

OPINIONS

Fifty years of friendship—almost destroyed with a word. I had spent a few wonderful days with three friends. We were on our way to the airport for my flight home. In the course of our conversation, one of them said, Well, I just think God is going to take care of everything. Without missing a beat, I countered, But that is not what people need to hear!

The two-minute silence was deafening. I am thinking that is how quiet the half hour of silence in heaven will be. I do not remember apologizing. Friends of 50 years understand each other’s intentions. At least we do, and for that I am most grateful. We are still close friends.

It was I who broke the silence with small talk. Never did explain why I said that. What she said was not wrong, for God will take care of His own people. It is just that we need to add another element to it. Given the time in which we live, everyone needs to be armed with information about what we will live through. The opinion that God will take care of everything is a blinder that could prevent one from searching the Scriptures to find out what God has said about the times in which we live. Christians could be tempted to become complacent, thinking that there is nothing they can do to prepare themselves for their future experiences.

The single, most dangerous element that stands in our way of receiving truth is one’s opinion. Personal opinions are important and precious to each person. They define who we are. That is a good thing, and we need to respect other opinions. To not respect one’s opinion is to judge that person, and we are to judge no one. That is not to say that we cannot have a civilized discussion with someone to present a different view. That is not disrespect; that is a discussion. Attempting to force a person to believe one’s point of view is disrespect.

Our own opinions interpret what we hear, and everything that we hear is filtered through those opinions. So our perception of what is said may not be what is actually said. Opinions and assumptions can change what we hear into something that was not spoken. Things must get past our brains before they will get into our belief system.

Let me give you an example. A young lady shared with me that Jesus came to her in a dream and told her certain things about the end times. Then she surprised me by saying there was one detail that she did not believe because it was against what the church she attended taught. She was going to discard the entire dream. That is what she said. What I understood her to mean was that she would not believe it even if Jesus told her. That is what my spirit heard. The belief of the church at that time did not include the aspect that she omitted. Apparently, other people’s opinions were more important than what Jesus said. That is what I heard, but that is not what she said. Her opinion caused her to disobey. My opinion caused me to hear what she did not say.

When it comes to God and His Word, our opinions do not matter. God is always right and the written prophetic Word will happen the way God said it will happen. What we think is irrelevant. Imagine what would happen if God took a poll of what people thought before He decided what to do. We would have the typical committee result: set out to design a horse and end up with a camel. No offense to camels. They serve