Rapture: the Past, Present and What to Expect in the Future

By Joseph Onyebuchi Azubuike

It is now clear, the controversy on Rapture is over as God sent Joseph Onyebuchi Azubuike declares that Jesus teaching on his second coming is the ultimate. He is coming Post trib immediately after not before the tribulation of those days Matt 24:29-31. All other views including the most popular Pretrib are assumption based. There is no single scripture that suggests Rapture before the tribulation of those days. But assumption which is not the word of God can work it out for you. Therefore, whose report will you believe? We have swallowed enough heresies in the past but it has come to an end today, because the Structures refute the heresies. Do not hesitate to pick the book and you will be glad you did.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781490813332

Joseph Onyebuchi Azubuike

1. Joseph Onyebuchi Azubike the first son of Late Mr. Michael Azubuike and late Mrs. Keziah Azubuike all in Ndi Uhu, Amuzi, Ikenanzizi- Obowo L.G.A. in Imo State Nigeria. I was born on 4/7/57 at Umuohia, and was very intelligent. But did not complete my high education due to the early demise of my father, I had to drop. I took to learn Auto Mobile Engineering, a carrier which brought me to lime light, and the best in town in this respect. In the year 1985 the hand of God came upon my life and I became born again and was baptized the same year Recounting this now increases my joy because at that time I began to hear the voice of the spirit of God talking to me. I was born again under the denomination called “The Saviours Evangelical Church”, a teaching ministry. In 1986, because of the way I studied the Bible, I was appointed secretary to my local church which was then in a primary school at Owerri in Imo State. Towards the and of this year, there was an internal problem which rocked the Headquarters of this church, and it affected other local branches, and in the Process my local branch folded in 1988. Then I began to search for another denomination to join and I remembered the church of my friend which is known and called “Christian Pentecostal Mission” (C.P.M). In 1989 January I joined this church officially as a member. After locating their family fellowship center near my house, I joined them. Then during the first time I participated with them, I gave a contribution to the topic on discussion and this contribution opened their eyes on me. On another day when I gave another contribution on the topic of discussion, the teacher asked the class if anyone was in doubt about choosing me to assist him in the class, and all the people approved my appointment as on assistant teacher in the family fellowship. I was then brought before the pastor in the workers meeting to be prayed for as assistant teacher family fellowship in my local branch of the Church. After one month of assisting this teacher, I never knew he was looking for a competent hand to hand over and leave the church to another one. The teacher ten left and I became the official family fellowship teacher within two months of entering this church. I was doing well until the fourth month in the same year when the Pastor began to teach about end time events. As I was listening, he was teaching the topic of pretributlation belief, which says, “the church shall be taken in the Rapture before the appearance of the Antichrist or Beast, and that the church shall not enter the great tribulation”. During this teaching, questions were asked, but the Pastor instead of answering the questions intimidated those who asked the questions with excommunication from the church. And I having a good understanding of this topic from my former church, declined from the teaching department and joined the choristers. Then I decided to remain silent and never to oppose any topic even if it was wrong. But within myself I rejected this belief because it is wrong even as majority of Christians believe it to be true. This belief can not answer my questions because of its setting. For instance, Pretribulation teachers say, “after the Rapture, those who shall be left behind shall redeem themselves with their own blood if they could withstand the Antichrist”. This is number one heresy. Now ask them to show the scripture that indicate this idea, it does not exist, it is assumption which is not the word of God. This is one of the reasons for which I hate it. They use assumption to arouse the morale and emotion of people to believe thus heresy. If you want to hold them tight, ask them to indicate this scripture, then the truth must come out. The scriptures says, “for without shedding of blood is not remission”, not just any blood, but the blood of Jesus. Therefore if the blood of Jesus could not save you, forget it, it is over. Therefore I remained silent in this church.

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RAPTURE:

the Past, Present and

What to Expect in the Future

JOSEPH ONYEBUCHI AZUBUIKE

(On Christian Eschatology)

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Copyright © 2013 Joseph Onyebuchi Azubuike.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-1333-2 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/31/2013

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1:   The Structures of God’s endtime programme Part 1

Specimen of the seals

The Cause

The war goes on

The Ark of Noah is highly eschatological

Chapter 2:   God’s Search for His Own

Famine in the land

God entered into covenant with Abram

Famine in the days of Isaac

Isaac’s Altar—Genesis 26:25

Jacob in the house of Laban—Genesis 29

Jacob Supplanted

Chapter 3:   Jacob’s Departure

Jacob’s Altar—Gen 33:20

Joseph’s Dreams Genesis 37:2-10

Joseph’s Betrayal Genesis 37:12

Joseph in Portipher’s house Gen 37:36

Joseph in Prison

Chapter 4:   God’s Purpose Enthroned

Famine in the days of Jacob or Israel

Before his death Gen. 49:1-2

Israel Living in Peace in Egypt

The king that knew not Joseph Ex 1:8

Chapter 5:   The First World Power—Egypt

Israel in their first captivity

The Birth of Moses

Promise and Process of Deliverance

Wilderness Experience

Dan lost their tribe worshipping idols Jgs 17&18

Chapter 6:   David God’s Choice of a King

Solomon’s sins divided Israel

Rehoboam Made King

Jeroboam made Israel to sin

Other kings who followed the example of Jeroboam

The Coming Danger

Chapter 7:   The Second World Power Assyria

Second captivity of Israel 2 Kgs. 15:29

Judah on the verge of collapse

Hezekiah made king B.c. 726-697 = 29 Years

God’s message to Hezekiah

Chapter 8:   Hezekiah Sick Unto Death

Manaseh on the Throne

Amon on the throne of Judah

Josiah as king in Judah

Jehohaz as king

Jehoiakim installed king of the seal opening

Chapter 9:   Jeremiah with the Prophecy

Introduction of the seal program

Chapter 10:   Master Tape or Cassette

Seal (1) officially opened

Chapter 11:   Third World Power Babylon

Judah and Israel in Babylon

Babylonia kingdom re-organized

Master plan of the Beast kingdom revealed. The Dream Daniel 2 Human Image

Interpretation of the statue/image.

Chapter 12:   Foundation Laid with Gold

The second dream an offshoot to the bush (Dan 4)

He narated his second dream

Daniel interpreted the second dream

Twelve months later Vs 30

Chapter 13:   Evil Merodach

Evil Merodach from Smith’s Bible Dictionary

Neriglissar or Nergalsharezar

Nabonidas

Belshazzar on the throne

Interpretation

Chapter 14:   Fourth World Power Persia

God’s charge to Cyrus

The decree of Cyrus

King Ahasarus of Persia

Arterxers as king in Persia

Darius II on the throne

Daniel came to himself

Commentary on Persia

Chapter 15:   Fifth World Power Greece

Now Daniel’s account of Alexander the great Dan 8:3-8

Antiochus Epiphanis IV

Commentary on Antiochus

The Maccabees

Chapter 16:   Sixth World Power Rome

The Summary

Daniel’s prophecy on Rome

Chapter 17:   Stone! The Last World Conqueror in the First Seal

The Church is the Kingdom of God on Earth, not Millenial Reign.

Football and World Cup as a Metaphor

Chapter 18:   Unity and Formation of the Beast

First Beast in the Formation

The Second Beast in the Formation

The Third Beast in the Formation

The Fourth Beast in the Formation

Chapter 19:   The Seventh and Last World Power America

First the known

The unknown

America in Prophecy

Seven Kings, Five Fallen, One is, The Other to Come

Chapter 20:   Mystery of the Seals Conqueror’s Seal (1)

Seal two opened, Holy Spirit given

Seal three opened nation born—1948

Chapter 21:   The Fourth Seal

What happens when the Holy Spirit gives chance?

A Seven year agreement Contracted

The fifth seal Video

Chapter 22:   The Sixth Seal—Rapture Seal

The drama shall begin

Face to Face at Jerusalem

Symbolism

The Beasts of the Earth/The Beast of Heaven

Commentary on Pretribulation Teaching

Biblical Formula for the second coming of Christ

Chapter 23:   Structure Part 2 Historic Premillenialism

Paul’s Teaching on Eschatology

F.B. Meyer’s Commentary 2Thess 2:1-12

Pauls’ Second Letter to this church

What holds the Antichrist or Beast!

The Purpose of Tribulation

Chapter 24:   Mystery of Iniquity

Controversial Point

And then shall that wicked be revealed

The Last two verses 2Thess 2:9-10

I come like a thief in the night

Chapter 25:   Rapture

Altar Significance

Watch Out

Chapter 26:   Angelic Participations

Three Angels preach as they warn the world

The number of his name

The main Beast or Antichrist

Schools of prophecy interpretations

Chapter 27:   The Years of Prophecy and their Agreement in Fulfillment

Moses instructs Israel

Leave the stump in the Earth

The last days

Chapter 28:   Window Old and New

Ecumenism, the likely religion

Modern electronics and end time prophecy

Chapter 29:   Suggested Operational Policy System

Advantages and disadvantages

Dispensations

Chapter 30:   Exposition of the Ark

The partition called Second in the Ark

The partition of window or Third Storey

Israel’s Number

Chapter 31:   101 Questions: A Poser for Pre-Tribulation teachers & believers

Conclusion

General Commentary

References

The Author

About the Book

DEDICATION

This piece of work is dedicated to the Christian community, which hunger and thirst for the truth on the topic of rapture. The Lord has at last given us the way out because of His great Love towards His Church.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I want to acknowledge my caller and mentor, helper and builder of my faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, who through His Spirit, the Holy Spirit assigned this great task to me.

His expository and revelational knowledge is wonderful. It has helped me in understanding even the mysteries of the word, and without which, it would have been impossible for me.

I want to appreciate the following people also for their support in publishing this great book. Rev. John Ezechukwumere for editing, proof-reading the manuscript English wise, and also writing the foreword. My own dear wife, Mrs. Felicia Azubuike for her immense contribution to my Ministry in general and this book in particular. Mention must be made of Blessing Mbaoma for drawing the Ark, and its programmes, the world clock with its programmes, the staircase computer wise, you are great. Sister MaryJane for typesetting the first part of the script, Rose for typesetting the second part and finally Sister Blessing Ukadike for formatting the book, typesetting and arranging the final part, placing all the pictures in their correct positions in the script.

All who encouraged me in one way or the other, may the faithful rewarder reward you all in Jesus name—Amen.

Joseph Onyebuchi Azubuike

FOREWORD

It is amazing the number of divergent views Christians have about Biblical doctrines. One of such areas of this diversity is the Parousia otherwise called rapture. The diversity has long given birth to three schools—Amillennialists, Historical Premilliannialists and Dispensational Premillennialists. It is true that non of the biblical doctrines is presented systematically by the Bible. The reasons may include (1) The doctrines were not written by a single human author. (2) The author of the Bible—the Holy Spirit, had no plan to write a systematic document on Biblical doctrines.

Yet these doctrines can be systematically presented through a careful and unbiased study. Unfortunately it is this careful and unbiased study of the Bible doctrines that has led to differences in opinions.

These differences in opinions have in turn given room to all kinds of behaviour and conduct among Christians of different faith.

For instance, how will a Christian who believes that once saved is saved forever fear sin? How will one who believes the possibility of falling away from grace, trust that what God gave him is eternal life and not temporary life? How will one who does not believe that the church would face the great tribulation stand when tribulation comes eventually? How will one who does not believe in the reality of sin, the finality of death and reality of hell fire after judgement take salvation message more seriously than other things?

Today, a vast majority of the Pentecostals are pursuing prosperity through signs and wonders at the expense of salvation message. What we see today among the evangelicals and the Pentecostals is a clear shift from the vision and burden that gave birth to these movements. Is the church no longer awaiting rapture? What are the evidences that rapture is being awaited today? It borders me why the much interest the church has in the supernatural—signs and wonders, that has given room to occultic manipulations, has not made her to explore the events of the last days. Why is there silence in this area of Christian faith and message? There are more materials on Marriage, Prosperity, and Prophecy. Few care about their souls.

Thank God for persons like Joseph Azubuike who explore this area of Christian faith and message. He has realised that he was born for the purpose of bringing revelations in this area. Whichever side of the divide you fall, give this book your conscientious and unbiased interaction. Your present and future lives are connected to the information in this book. The information are worth pondering, digesting and assimilating. This book has blessed my life. It has given me a new focus and burden. It has put a higher Christ consciousness in me.

Even if you do not believe all that the author says, this book will surely be a blessing to you.

Do you believe in rapture? Are you confused about the arrangement of the events before the end? Do you think you already know the arrangement of the events? Are you born again? Could it be that you don’t even believe in rapture? Please I recommend this book to you. It will link you up to your salvation.

John Ezechukwumere

INTRODUCTION

Eschatology

Definition

Eschatology is a derivation of two Greek words (1) eschatos Last things or Last events. (2) Logos Study, Discourse or Doctrine. Eschatology is therefore a branch of Theology concerned with the study of the last things or last events which shall lead us to the second coming of Christ for the rapture of the Church (His Bride).

In Christian eschatology there are about four perspectives.

(1) Preterism Christian eschatology (2) Historicism Christian eschatology (3) Idealism Christian eschatology and (4) Futurism Christian eschatology. We shall study about the (first three) from the schools in this book, but we shall continue with futurism since we believe that rapture is a future event. Futurism is divided into three (1) Premillenialism, (2) Post millenialism and (3) Amillenialism.

a.   Premillenialism is a belief of Rapture Before the millenial reign hence the word Pre.

b.   Post millenialism is a belief of Rapture After the millenial reign hence the word Post.

c.   Amillenialism is a belief that Rapture has already occurred secretly, that Christ is reigning now in His kingdom which is the Church. Amillenialism was the problem of the Thessolonian Church. They were taught that Rapture had already occurred secretly which made them to seek for Apostle Paul, and he advised them to ignore it and watch when the Beast would enter into the Temple to claim that he is God—2 Thess 2: 1-4.

From here we shall continue with Premillenialism which falls into two categories also, (a) Historic Premillenialism (b) Dispensational Premillenialism. Now Historic premillienialism teaches the topic of Post tribulation belief, while Dispensational premillenialism teaches the topic of pretribulation belief.

Another view which is competing with these is mid tribulation belief. All put together, we now have three major beliefs that control the Christian world on eschatology, namely (1) Post tribulation belief, (2) Pretribulation belief and (3) Mid tribulation belief. Further definition comes in structure part 2

Among these beliefs, we shall start the teaching with Pre-tribulation belief. It believes that:-

(1)   The Church shall not see the Antichrist, or experience the great tribulation.

(2)   That after rapture, those who shall be left behind shall pay with their own blood and wait for the second coming of Christ.

(3)   That the second coming of Christ is divided into two stages separated with a 7 years tribulation

(4)   That the Jews shall not partake in the rapture, but shall suffer the 7 years tribulation till the second coming of Christ, in which Jesus shall deliver them.

(5)   The foundation of this teaching is in Daniel 9: 24-27, and supported with 1 Thess. 5:9, which affirms that, God hath not appointed us to wrath.

No:2 is Mid-tribulation: Which believes and teaches that the Church shall both see the Anti Christ and suffer the great tribulation, but shall in the midst of it, i.e. in the midst of the great tribulation be ruptured by the second coming of Christ, using Daniel 9:27 as a reference point for its foundation. No:3 is Post-tribulation: Which emphatically teaches that the Church is not going anywhere until after the great tribulation period. Post-tribulation is the only belief or view that teach eschatology with the seal program. Post tribulation is also the teaching of:-

1.   Jesus Immediately after the tribulation of those days. Matt. 24: 29-31.

2.   Daniel I beheld the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed. Dan. 7: 21

3.   Paul That day shall not come except 2 Thess. 2: 1-4

These people made use of the seal as God’s approved eschatological teaching pattern. Daniel after writing, was asked to seal it up for the last days Daniel 12:4. Apostle Paul identified God’s own foundational program standing Firm, unshakable, but bearing or having seal (2 Timothy 2:19). Watch the full program outline from the seals, and see agreement from Genesis to Revelation. Notice these seal programs being represented with the Ark of Noah see Exposition of the Ark, and the full program outline in the World Clock. The Ark being the First Bible reveals the three distinctive programmes of God that ends the world:-

1.   The time of the father in the Ark as LOWER or FOUNDATION

2.   The SECOND, DOOR or MESSIAH as the time of the SON,

3.   The THIRD, WINDOW or SPIRIT, where we are today in the 21st century.

As a matter of truth, this book has opened up the emptiness of Pre-tribulation teaching, revealed its heretic nature and therefore destroys it. Declaring Pretribulation teaching as HERESY, not scriptural. We discovered in our own personal statistics that Pre-tribulation teaching controls 82% of the Christian population world wide, Post tribulation 10%, Mid-tribulation 3%. The remaining 5% is shared between (1) Preterism 1% (2) Historicism 1% (3) Idealism 1% (4) Post-millenialism 1% (5) Amillinialism and Pre-Wrath ½% each. Pre-tribulation teachers and believers always say, This is what we believe on. But it is not the matter, but that which is true and which can be proved scripturally through God’s seal programmes.

Based upon this therefore, we proffer what we call the 10 point question agenda to completely burry pre-tribulation teaching, to stop it from deceiving the Church of Christ. Don’t argue with them, just ask them to draw their program and label it with the scriptures. No assumption is needed, or ask them to answer the 10 point question agenda, you will hear them saying, ok., let’s forget it.

THE 10 POINT QUESTION AGENDA

Draw and Label your program and indicate the following.

1.   Where is the Prophecy which introduced Pre-tribulation teaching?

2.   Where is the Scriptural foundation for Pre-tribulation teaching?

3.   Who laid the foundation of Pre-tribulation teaching?

4.   What Material was used in that foundation?

5.   Who were the participators or members of that foundation?

6.   Explain the Formation of the Beast with 7 heads and ten horns.

7.   Indicate in your programme Where Jesus Came.

8.   Also indicate where the Holy spirit appeared in it.

9.   If the church should go before Anti Christ Whom will he be against?

10.   Shall God and Satan apply one wrath at the same time.?

There are 101 questions against the teaching of Pre-tribulation, but out of these, 10 are selected to kill the teaching. Yet many more are remaining to be asked, but more than that has been treated in this book. Jesus was teaching about the importance of foundation and He said, Whoever therefore hears this sayings and do them, shall be likened to a wise man that builds his house on a rock. The wind, storm and the rain beat upon it, it stands firm because it was built on a rock, but whoever hears and does them not is also likened to a foolish man which builds his house on the sand, the rain, the storm and the wind beats upon that house, and it falls, and great is the fall of it, because it was built on the sand Matt 7:24-27.

Pre-tribulation teaching is a gigantic teaching, very sentimental, but without a solid foundation, no master plan, no program outline, no prophecy to back up, instead assumption is used to arouse the morale and emotion of people. But doctors say, "For a dangerous or serious ailment to be treated, a proper diagnoses should be conducted, i.e. proper historical or cultural background of such sickness should be established first. Also engineers believe in laying a solid foundation for a gigantic structure. Saying that foundation determines these three things:-

1.   The height of the building

2.   The weight and

3.   The Duration of such a building.

Since the book of Genesis show us the beginning of the creation of the world, where can we find the record or account of the closing events? Could we ever think or believe that the creator has no programme for the closing events? Is it possible? No! These events are found in the seal programme of Rev. 6-8.

CHAPTER ONE

The Structures of God’s endtime programme Part 1

These programmes were first written, drawn and displayed with seals through the specimen of the seals.

SPECIMEN OF THE SEALS (1) THE ARK, (2) WORLD CLOCK, (3) STAIRCASE, (4) TRUMPET, (5) THE SEALED BOOK

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ARK 1

ONE ARK, REPRESENTING ONE GOD

THREE PARTITIONS ALSO REPRESENTING THREE PERSONALITIES OR GODHEAD NAMELY: (1) THE FATHER (2) THE SON (3) THE HOLY SPIRIT

EACH PERSONALITY WORKED AND STOPPED WITHIN HIS PARTITION.

The Three Distinctive partitions which represent the three distinctive personalities or God.

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ARK 2

THE FATHER OR FOUNDATION

1.   THE FATHER AS LOWER Gen. 6: 16, was the Foundation of God’s doctrines, and foundation is usually laid on the ground, not in the air. It does not start from up to down no, but from down to up. The Father started from the beginning of creation and stopped at the end of his partition at Babylon, in the book of Malachi, see also Dan. 5. He made a handover to the Son Jn. 5: 20-23. Q. Why did the Father stop talking immediately after Babylon? See Exposition of the Ark Father’s Partition.

PARTITION (2)—THE SON

2.   THE SON AS SECOND Gen. 6: 16 started from the Persian Empire 2 Chron. 36: 22-23; Dan.6 and stopped at the Roman kingdom in the book of Jn. 21. This is the partition that had the Door into the Ark and Jesus claimed to be that Door Jn. 10: 9, any controversy? Note: This is one God and no member is superior or inferior to others, no.

PARTITION (3)—THE HOLY SPIRIT

3.   THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THIRD STOREY Gen. 6: 16 took over from Jesus in the Roman kingdom, exactly 50 days after Jesus Resurrection Lev. 25: 9-10; Acts 2 to end the world as window where we are in the window age, see window of the Ark. All members of the Godhead are involved in God’s seal program, see 2 Tim. 2: 19. Without the seal men teach their own ideology. God is not a Democrat but a Theocrat. We should not help Him with ideas but to take His own programmes.

This is God’s program for Rapture and it has been hidden, but now it pleases God to open it up. This is the reason Jesus taught on Post not Pre tribulation or any other. Immediately after the tribulation of those days Matt. 24: 29 is Post. There is no scripture indicating Rapture before tribulation unless assumption only. The inability to see this program of the Ark is the major reason of the creation of Various erroneous views which many teach.

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The world clock as a seal started together with the Ark and shall also end with it. Though the Ark has been replaced with the Sealed Book or Bible, the programs continue in the scriptures. This clock does not show ordinary time of the day, but is monitoring the programs of God to the end. In monitoring these programs, whenever the arrow of the clock points exactly at the dot behind each number, it shall be opened, e.g. at one O’clock, the first seal was opened etc. It was precisioned to work both Anti and