A visitation from Jesus Christ on Firstfruits
 
I would like to talk about a visitation that Jesus Christ gave to a former co-worker of mine.He experienced this presence of our Savior in 1977. He is a forgetful person in his own way but obviously this stayed with him in vivid detail. I will protect the identity of this particular individual because it is not my place to give a name, phone number or anything of that nature. In fact I will call the man Joe. He is a private person and very ill.
 
He is a strong born again Christian and has assured me that he has only told a few people. He made it very clear that only a couple of individuals would believe him. He also said that he understands why the average person would just laugh at him.
 
He is not part of the five doves ministry. He has never even turned a computer on to view. In fact I would even question if he knows what a computer looks like. He was born and raised very simple in a country like setting. He has recently moved back to the same place that he grew up in and feels most comfortable around this type of atmosphere.
 
Joe was a nominal born again Christian in 1977.This young believer in Jesus Christ would tell people that this is the generation that will see the return of Jesus Christ. The only problem with his delivery was he hardly knew why he was saying this convincing truth to other people. He just sensed this hope. He would say Prophets like Daniel and Ezekiel spoke of this and for the most part people would just look at him and agree that he was probably right.
 
He was with a few people in the woods over a campfire.He just needed the companionship of his friends.That was a common practice in this town because they spent a lot of time around trees and sticks talking and just looking at the stars.He stepped away to be alone on April 10th at about 10:30 p.m. This was the very exact day of Firstfruits.
 
He was looking up in the sky. I can not remember whether he said his direction was facing the East or the Southeast. Quietly he thought, "I wonder what the return of Jesus Christ would look like?" At this point he said the sky opened up in the form of a circle. He could see clouds and a hole in the sky. Light came to the entrance of the circle and some sort of brightness was all around him.
 
It was a very attractive brightness but it was not blinding. He could tell that Jesus Christ was surrounded by this light.If that light did not surround Jesus Christ Joe would be extinguished because our Savior is the light of the world.
 
The communication was not audible. It was mind to mind. Jesus said, "You have been telling people that my return is soon. Who told you this?" Joe responded, "You did." He could see Jesus Christ move in the surrounding light. Jesus responded with a smile and told Joe that He was very proud of him. He said it was good that he spoke of the Prophets Ezekiel and Daniel. Joe had the order wrong or backwards. He instantly knew that he was being corrected by Jesus Christ. He would always tell people that Daniel and Ezekiel spoke of the second coming for this generation.
 
Joe asked, "What about the wrong that I did?" Jesus raised His arms up and showed Joe His scar tissue. A gentle voice responded, "It does not count." Jesus Christ reminded him that his sins were forgiven.
 
Joe then asked, "When is the rapture?" Although Jesus Christ did not answer him, Joe assured me that He (Jesus Christ) felt bad that He could not answer the question. Does this whole story sound strange? Keep reading because it gets even more interesting.
 
Then Jesus showed him iron jagged teeth which started to grow out of dry hilly ground. Joe "immediately" knew this was impossible to pass. The iron grew strong. He never got a chance to count the iron jagged teeth but they were different sizes. Some were small,medium and large.Jesus responded with grief and said,"This is unavoidable." He then said, "This is your life" and showed Joe a line/half circle starting before the iron and ending a little after the iron.This line/half circle represented him escaping these iron jagged teeth.Could this represent the antichrist's kingdom? Growth usually takes place from wet moist flat ground. Whatever this was, it was not the norm.
 
What I was impressed with was Joe "immediately" knew that this was impossible to go through.Sounds like the 7 year tribulation period.
 
Joe then said, "You could rapture me right now if you wanted to." Jesus Christ seemed very willing to do it in His Spirit. Joe then said,"But I have a lot of work to do down here." Jesus responded, "There is much work to be done." My co-worker said that the truth, honestly and openness of Jesus Christ was so transparent. He was so drawn to His Savior. Jesus Christ spoke on the level of Joe. He did not try and speak over his head. This was a normal conversation.
 
The very last thing Jesus Christ told him was, "You should be filled with joy." Joe said the feelings were strong and on a whole different level of joy when he was in the presence of this divine love.
 
Jesus Christ just disappeared gently yet quietly. Joe was 31 years old when this happened. This coming Firstfruits in 2008 will be 31 years later.
 
Joe has not worked for many years. Joe suffered at least 3 major strokes and a heart attack. Doctors keep telling him that they can not medically explain why he is still alive. He should be dead.You can pray for his strength if you want.
 
I have had some visions and there are two things that almost always happen if this occurs. When least expected  and we usually don't know anything about the subject I get the impression that this is how it happened with my former co-worker.This particular man has some bad qualities but he is not a liar. I'm not sure he even knows how to distort the truth. Every once in a while I will meet somebody that has this quality.
 
I believe the rapture is very close. If this blessed event (the rapture) does take place on a feast day then both Firthfruits and Pentecost are worded where there could be a double fulfillment.
 
Jesus Christ rose on Firstfruits but the culmination of God's redemptive plan does not take place until the rapture of the Church. As far as Pentecost is concerned the Church started on this Feast day and it could very well end at this point for several reasons. It is interesting that the exact day (Pentecost) is in dispute with some experts.
 
I do not like to set dates but I think a couple of things are interesting regarding a possible rapture around Firstfruits. The Kings of Israel took their thrones in the Spring (Nisan).The Kings of Judah took their thrones in the Fall (Tishrei).Jesus Christ will fulfill both the role of the King of Israel (Spring) and the King of Judah; Melchizedek (Fall).The Kings of Babylon (a type of the antichrist) took their thrones in the Fall.This gives me a clue as to when the middle of the 7 year tribulation is going to take place (Sometime in the Fall). The beginning of the Millennium (Sometime in the Spring).All of these kings are prototypes of the future 7 year tribulation period.
 
History also attests to the fact that Enoch was raptured 2 times. Both times were in Nisan.He had to come back to tell his Scribe what to write. Enoch represents the Church because he was a gentile that lived 365 years which is a gentile number.These facts are in favor of a Firstfruits rapture or the month of Nisan.
 
On the other hand some very good prophecy scholars have put on a pretty good case that every dispensation has changed on Pentecost.Some people will say,"A rapture can not happen as late as Pentecost because Matthew 24:20 says, "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day." The argument is if the rapture happens on Pentecost this would bring the exact middle of the tribulation period past the Winter. As a result the Jewish people fleeing for their life in the middle of the tribulation would never be able to pray this prayer because there would be no need. It would be to late.I am almost sure Chuck Smith gave his reasoning as to why the rapture could take place on this feast day (Pentecost). So did others that are very good.
 
If you read the text very close in Matthew 24:20 with an understanding of end time Bible prophecy, the verse is "very near" to the middle of the 7 year tribulation.Verse 21 is the exact middle of the 7 year tribulation. "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no,nor ever shall be." The Holy Spirit leaves that future time gap a mystery between verses 20 and 21.If I could put this small point to the side I really honestly believe that a person would have to prophetically allegorize Matthew 24:20 ( the Jewish people praying for their flight not to be in the winter ) rather than understand it literally as Jesus originally intended it to be interpreted. If the beginning of the 7 year tribulation period started in the Fall then the middle point (3 and 1/2 years later ) would be the Spring. If this were the case why would the Jewish people fleeing for their life pray that their flight not be in the Winter? It's the Springtime!
 
I don't know when the rapture is going to take place but I do believe that 2008 seems to be the most probable year without being dogmatic.I have written previous articles on my reasoning for this but I could be wrong.
 
I don't believe the rapture will take place in the Fall. Those 3 remaining feast days in the Fall that have not been fulfilled will be reserved for the millennium and be recognized every year for 1000 years. Once again my reasoning for this was written in previous articles.I like to write with conviction regarding the facts and evidence before me but I never desire to be so closed minded that I am not open in my spirit that I could be wrong. I may not be seeing something so I always have to leave room for this possibility.
 
I want to especially thank all the people that wrote their prophetic analysis on the Spring and the Fall. I don't desire to mention any names because I feel uncomfortable in excluding anybody. I can sense the academic passion for this Spring/Fall subject and debate.
 
If the tribulation were to start in the Fall I believe the prophetic seasons would be fulfilled backwards and I can not imagine God doing this in that order because He went to great lengths to set up prototypes in the Bible and history. I know of very few people that would be able to logically debate the verses in Matthew 24:20-21 as far as timing is concerned and come to their conclusion that the 7 year tribulation will begin in the Fall season.That would be a very difficult task but I am not saying it can not be accomplished. I am saying that I would not be able to argue the point.
 
This man had a visitation from Jesus Christ when he was 31 years old on Firstfruits in 1977. Now it is 31 years later.Could the rapture be fulfilled around April 27 on Firstfruits? Are we so close that the rapture could happen at any moment? Will Jesus Christ wait until Pentecost to take His children home in the rapture around June 6th or 7th? Will our Savior postpone His blessed hope at a later date?
 
We will soon find out.Any way I look at this prophetic scenario we seem to be very close to resurrection and judgment. If you are an unbeliever, Jesus Christ loves you very much and desires to rapture you in to heaven to be with Him for all eternity and escape the 7 year tribulation period on planet earth. It will grieve the heart of Jesus Christ when He leaves the majority of humanity behind to face this time period.
 
(13) "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it." Matthew 7:13-14. Be one of the FEW that accepts the love of God through His Son in your heart. Who knows maybe Jesus Christ is coming for His true Believers in Him right around Firstfruits. If not I do not believe the Church will have long to wait from that point onward.It would be a good idea to BE PREPARED. Accepting Jesus Christ today for the remission of your sins will insure your future tomorrow. How close is tomorrow? The rapture is pretty near. I personally believe it could happen at any moment. BE PREPARED!
 
Land for peace to the point where Israel has almost nothing left.Israel at this point is almost totally surrounded by enemies. They get closer and closer as each day moves forward. An imminent war in the middle east that could erupt at any moment and a global financial crash soon to take place around the world.This does not look good.This sounds ominous but it is exactly what the Bible says will happen right around the time of the rapture.
 
I would like to ask one more question. Is my former co-worker destined to have a reunion in heaven this year? He was 31 years old when this visitation from Jesus Christ took place on Firstfruits.This year (2008) is 31 years later!
 
                          Bob D.