The salvation/resurrection of fourteen and our soon departure to heaven
 
It has been a real blessing to review the first 13 numbers in the Bible. I deviated a little to do some feature subjects and stories but was led back to continue and write about this amazing divine order. It has also been a real blessing to see all of the posts about our soon to be rapture and resurrection.
 
I am perhaps average with the subject of math. Some people are on the genius level. Sometimes I will look at some really good math supporting a 2008 rapture and sometimes I will likewise do the same for the year 2009. I might be able to add some input on this subject. In math there are factors. Every one has to be considered and applied. If even one factor is missing the math problem can not be solved or proved.
 
In end time biblical prophecy there are at least 100 factors. We probably don't even know every factor that is to be known for our departure in heaven. Jesus said,"Verily I say unto you. This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."Luke 21:24. This is why Jesus may have said,"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Matthew:24:36.
 
We may not want to be too hard on ourselves or others if a time period comes and goes. We may think we know when our rapture and resurrection is going to take place but all it takes is one missing factor that we are not aware of in this end time biblical scenario to be wrong. It's up to you on how you want to approach this subject. I will share with you how I look at this and then you can decide for yourself on this issue as to when the rapture will occur.
 
I am looking at the world right now and this planet is shaping more and more like Revelation chapter 6. This is the chapter that opens up the judgments of God in the seven year tribulation period. The world is not looking more and more like the book of Revelation because many things have got to transpire after Revelation chapter 6 but let me just mention a few seal judgments in this chapter.
 
In verse 2 a false peace is confirmed by the antichrist between Israel and the Arab world. Land for peace has been split all over Israel. Did you notice Israel is crying out for peace right now? War is imminent in that whole area. It could break loose at any moment. War in the Middle East and around the world is the second seal.
 
The third seal is a financial collapse and food shortage. This is happening all over the world. The Bible says it is going to get worse.
 
The forth seal is disease. Once war takes place that can happen within days.
 
The fifth seal talks about the Martyrs who were slain for the word of God and their testimony. I have never seen so much power given to the world government and national powers. If there is this kind of disorder in the world, I could see this happening. This is what the Bible teaches.
 
I did not even mention that there has been a 400 percent increase in natural disasters all over the world. I hear people make mention of this all the time. China had a 7.9 earthquake in a condensed area of 8 million people.
 
I believe the fifth seal gets God so angry that in the sixth seal every mountain and island will be moved out of their places. That is found in Revelation 6:14. "And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places."
 
The world is looking a lot like Revelation chapter 6. I believe the rapture could take place at any moment. There is not much time left for this age of grace.
 
We have only a little time to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with other people. Once the last person gets saved in this age of grace then the fullness of the Gentiles will be completed by God. At that point the rapture of the Church takes place.The Apostle Paul talks about this in Romans 11:25. I really believe that once the last person gets saved, the Church or Christians would be in the way. According to Matthew 24:14 the gospel of the Kingdom will be preached all over the world as a witness to every nation after the rapture of the Church because the age of grace will be over and the dispensation of the kingdom will begin after our departure.
 
The biblical meaning of number 14 describes both salvation and resurrection. The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is going around the world right now. The number 14 is mentioned 26 times in the Bible. Twenty Six is the number that stands for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
The first 13 numbers seem to represent a panorama of human history. It is not until one gets to the number 14 that Jesus Christ is personally introduced as the Savior of the world (14) in connection with the number 3 which always stands for resurrection.
 
What good is our salvation if our bodies are not resurrected in heaven? God in His infinite wisdom knew this and understood exactly how to correlate 14 (salvation) with 3 (resurrection).
 
To speak in simple terms our salvation is of no use without our resurrection. To speak in reverse terms,we can not be resurrected without our salvation in Jesus Christ. The two go hand in hand. You will soon see that the Bible uses these two numbers (14 and 3) together to describe our salvation and resurrection.
 
If you are giving the salvation message to someone, that point should be explained because he or she may not understand this reality.The Romans Road explains both salvation and resurrection. That might be an idea if you ever want to give the gospel to an individual or group to explain what salvation and resurrection means through Jesus Christ.
 
God explains this number very early in Scripture. In Exodus chapter 12 the children of Israel were saved or delivered from the Egyptians. When the Bible talks about the subject of salvation or deliverance,one side is judged and the other side is delivered. God saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and once again the children of Israel were saved. All the firstborn died in Egypt. Not only did that happen but the people of Israel captured in Egypt were promised to be delivered from the future judgment of the Egyptians.
 
The most important thing to remember is on the FIRST month of the FOURTEENTH day the children of Israel put the lamb's blood on the two side posts and the upper door post on PASSOVER. Jesus Christ died for the world on the FIRST month of the FOURTEENTH day on PASSOVER. He became our Passover Lamb.
 
I made a statement that when God delivers, judgment is always on the other side. It is very easy to understand. Jesus Christ was JUDGED for our sins when He died on the cross. When we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts as our personal Savior we were delivered from judgment.You should accept Jesus Christ into your heart if you have not already done so because the promise of salvation is available to you and resurrection is on the other side of glory. It is still a little bit of a mystery as to why people would say no to this saving message of hope.
 
This I do know. Even in the midst of the judgments in the book of Revelation, the Lamb is mentioned more times in comparison to any other Title given to Jesus Christ. This tells me that the desire of God is that all people come to salvation through His Son. It seems to me that the Holy Spirit is placing emphasis on the fact that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world and that people should invite The Savior into their hearts so they can be delivered from their sins.
 
The New Testament follows the exact same pattern. Matthew is the FIRST book of 27. In the FIRST chapter of Matthew Jesus Christ is introduced with 3 (Resurrection) fourteens (Deliverance)."So all the generations from Abraham to David are (1) fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are (2) fourteen generations, and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are (3) fourteen generations." Matthew 1:17. Why would the New Testament go to such lengths in putting 3 fourteens together? This symbolizes in the form of biblical numerics our salvation and resurrection through Jesus Christ.
 
My heart is filled with joy because the Holy Spirit combined salvation and resurrection together. I know many Christians are so excited about the prospect of the rapture of the Church taking place very soon. We should be because after our departure into heaven we will get our new bodies (Resurrection).
 
The Old Testament shows the same model with Heman.According to 1st Chronicles 25 he had 14 sons and 3 daughters. They were singers in the house of God. They rejoiced in their salvation (14) but had hope that one day their mortal bodies would be resurrected in glory (3).
 
The person that probably focused in on the salvation message more than any other was the Apostle Paul. In a couple of places God stamped this reality on His servant with the number 14.
 
In Acts 27 the ship was saved from a violent storm on the fourteenth day. Another example would be, that after Paul spent some time in Arabia he went about his business in the kingdom of God."Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem"... (Galations 2:1) which at the very least gives me evidence that God is trying to make a point regarding the meaning of this particular number in the Bible.
 
Fourteen stands for deliverance which is always through the blood of Jesus Christ. " In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Hebrews 1:7. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:14. We came under the blood of Jesus Christ when our salvation took place.
 
Jesus Christ fulfilled Passover when He died for the sins of the whole world. As you probably can see we are coming pretty close to the rapture. It is the people that invited Jesus Christ into their hearts as their personal Savior for the remission of their sins that will be part of the rapture and resurrection.
 
I know I went over Revelation chapter 6 but if you were to read chapters 7 through 19 you will see that planet earth is going to face many more horrible judgments. Out of the 28 judgments mentioned in the book of Revelation the Holy Spirit refused to disclosed the 7 thunders. "And when the 7 thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up these things which the 7 thunders uttered, and write them not." Revelation 10:4. Perhaps the thunders are not judgments but this verse is in the context of the wrath of God. As I read through the other 21 judgments I came to the conclusion that they are horrible. The seven thunders are not even mentioned. My hope is that many people will consider making this wise choice in accepting Jesus Christ into their hearts today so more persons can be resurrected whenever tomorrow takes place.
 
Hope to see you on the other side,
Bob D.