The apostasy of thirteen and the welcome return of Jesus Christ  Part Two
 
To me it is interesting that the number 13 is only mentioned 15 times in the Bible. Fifteen is the number of rest in Scripture. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. One of the main themes in the Bible is the righteous will have rest and the unregenerate will never find true peace.
 
On the one hand Jesus mentions "13" bad characterizes that come out of the human heart." For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed (1) evil thoughts,(2) adulteries,(3) fornications, (4) murders,(5) thefts,(6) covetousness,(7) wickedness,(8) deceit, (9) lasciviousness,(10) an evil eye,(11) blasphemy,(12) pride,(13) foolishness." Mark 7:21-22. Jeremiah said that the human heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things. Jesus Christ stamped this principle and reality in "thirteen." This is the very number of evil or rebellion.This is also why the heart and soul of the soon to be 7 year tribulation can be understood by reading Revelation chapter "13." According to the Bible nothing good can come out of the heart.
 
On the other hand Jesus Christ offers salvation to anyone that desires to come to know Him. If a person says yes to this invitation, Jesus Christ replaces the old evil heart (13) with Himself (8)."Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2nd Cor. 5:21.
 
The 7 year tribulation will climax into evil (13).This is why the devil in the form of a dragon is mentioned 13 times in the book of Revelation. This is why Nimrod (a type of the antichrist) is in the 13th line of Ham who was cursed by Noah.
 
People that know Jesus Christ will be part of the rapture (8).The people that are left behind will live in a horror of the old heart (13) that will be amplified to a point where the human race will be able to feel the evil in this world (13).This is why wise Christians will win souls.
 
I am trying to explain this future scenario in the most simple terms that I know through basic biblical mathematics because my fear is people seem to make this complicated. So many people say "no" to Jesus Christ (13). Say "yes" to Jesus Christ (8) and allow Him to redeem your heart through your faith by His grace.
 
Although the number 13 is not mentioned many times in the Bible, it seems to be compared to two numbers for contrast reasons. Sometimes it is compared in a direct way but more often this number (13) is compared in an indirect way to the numbers 8 and 12.
 
I wrote about 13 (evil) being compared to 8 ( a new beginning in Jesus Christ ) in Part One because God goes to great lengths to show and explain the difference between good (Jesus Christ;8) and evil (Satan;13).
 
Twelve (the governmental perfection of God) is compared to thirteen (rebellion and evil). I will give you a very simple example. "Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirtieth year they rebelled." Genesis 14:4. The basic principle that the Holy Spirit lays out in Scripture right from the very beginning is that an orderly government from God is instituted for a constructive purpose.
 
If people choose to rebel they are in and under thirteen (evil). It is the exact same principle when people walk through life.They have a choice to accept Jesus Christ into their heart (divine government; 12) or reject Him (13) and face the consequences of a Christless eternity in hell separated from His love.The sadness of this truth is overwhelming to me.
 
The same principle would apply to the rapture of the Church and the 7 year tribulation period. The Christians that are part of the rapture accepted the governmental perfection of Jesus Christ in all of His love (12). The people left behind rejected Him (13). It is really very simple when we think about this divine structure as we compare these two numbers ( 12 and 13 ) and their meanings. It is not complicated.
 
There are several examples of this in the Bible. Haman signed a law on the 13th day to put the Jewish people to death on another 13th day. Hatred,rebellion and evil are all tied in with each other as we look at the biblical meaning of this number (13).
 
"Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels"...which was the 13th rod to represent the Levites. This verse is Numbers 17:10. There were 12 tribes from Reuben to Neptali with 12 princes representing or symbolizing the governmental perfection of God (12). The thirteenth rod was indicative of rebellion against God.
 
There is a list of sins in Romans chapter one and the thirteenth is "haters of God." There were 13 rebellions in the wilderness and when Moses died there were 13 land divisions. Is it even possible that the Holy Spirit could be more exact and precise?
 
In keeping with the theme of the book of Revelation, the judgments from chapters 6 to 19 are all happening because of rebellion (13).There are people that are going to come to know Jesus Christ according to the book of Revelation in the 7 year tribulation but the majority of people will not be interested."And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not..." Revelation 9:20. "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thiefs." Revelation 9:21. Even in the midst of the judgments from God they will choose rebellion (13).It just goes to show us how hard the heart of man can concrete in the spirit of individuals.
 
Even 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 characterizes the 7 year tribulation period as a time of apostasy (13). If anybody reads Revelation chapters 6 to19 before the rapture and concludes that he or she does not desire to come to know Jesus Christ as personal Savior then something would have to be wrong somewhere if you know what I mean (13).
 
Even the numbered chapters in the book of Revelation follow the principle of 12 being compared to 13. Revelation chapter 12 talks about Satan being in the presence of the governmental perfection of God (12) and being cast out of heaven at this future point. Revelation chapter 13 talks about the antichrist, false prophet, demonic miracles, the world being disillusioned in their rebellion and the enslavement of humanity.Notice how chapter 12 corresponds with the governmental perfection of God and chapter 13 goes right into rebellion.
 
The Bible follows the same pattern from the book of Genesis all the way through the book of Revelation. Israel engaged in 21 sins which is the number of exceeding sin. It was the 13th sin when Israel refused to take the promised land (13) in Numbers chapter 14.The same truth will happen in Revelation chapter 13.If you read this account, notice humanity is refusing the love of Jesus Christ.They will worship the antichrist (13).Instead of accepting the true Kingdom of God, they are worshipping a human in a disillusioned state.
 
It is my hope and prayer that people reading these articles (Part One and Part Two) will accept Jesus Christ into their hearts (8) so they can be part of the divine governmental perfection of God (12) in His perfect grace (5). It is pretty obvious that the people left behind will have to face an apostasy (13 ) that will be overwhelming.
 
I don't know when the rapture is going to take place except to say that we must be very close.Well I might have one more thing to say about our blessed hope and timing. Just give me a minute on that particular issue.
 
Not only are current events shaping up for the tribulation period but the two programs that Doctor J.R. Church recently presented were simply amazing. If I heard them correctly four partial and total solar eclipses will take place in 2014/2015. Four lunar eclipses or Blood Moons will take place in the Spring and Fall of 2014/2015.
 
I asked if you would be so kind to give me a minute to talk about the rapture. It should be noted that Prophecy in the News (J.R. Church and Gary Stearman) wrote about every dispensation in the past changing on Pentecost. Wow! I can not remember the year or month of the magazine but it has been in print for people to read. Is it possible that this age of grace could change right around Pentecost at the rapture?
 
It should be noted that Pastor F.M. Riley found more evidence that the rapture will not only happen on Pentecost but in the year 2008. The article is called "So Simple."
 
This article was so good that John posted it up on his website several times. This content that he presented is very important!
 
I am not as dogmatic as this dear Pastor seems to be but I have never thought about the rapture in such a solemn way with such resurrection joy! I like the fact that in the beginning of his article he said, "Folks, I haven't been looking for an actual "day" for the Lord's return for over ten years."
 
I am not a calendar expert but the true Pentecost seems to be right "around" the June 8th area. He has such deep insight on this subject.Remember Pentecost is referred to as "The feast of harvest." What have Christians been doing for the past 2000 years? Winning souls for Jesus Christ and bringing in the "harvest." When the "harvest" is complete Jesus Christ will call us home in the rapture and a brand new dispensation will start on planet earth. Our blessed hope could happen around the Pentecost time frame.We are truly right on the brink of being with the Lord for all eternity.
 
I would like to go back to the subject of the eclipses to give you even more evidence that we are close to our blessed hope.The expert on Prophecy in the News said the last time the eclipses happened in this way was right around 1948 ( the rebirth of Israel ) and 1968 ( the possession of Jerusalem ) and will never happen again after 2014/2015 for the whole 21st century. The guest Pastor Mark Biltz went back in history and said the last time this happened was in 1493/1494 when the Jews were kicked out of Spain. What the telecast was trying to portray was the four lunar eclipses taking place on Passover (Spring) and Sukkot ( the Fall or Tabernacles ) in one grouping is extremely rare and always happens in connection with something very significant for the Jewish people.
 
Is it possible that 2015 could be the ending of the 7 year tribulation period? If this is the case the rapture of the Church is very near. Current events and signs in the heavens are giving us evidence of the soon return of Jesus Christ. I am excited and filled with joy.
 
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. I see people all of the time so reserved in making this decision.They seem to be subconsciously pushing back the judgment of God.
 
Very few people make the initiative in getting right with the Lord so they can be part of the rapture and go to heaven. It is actually pretty hard to watch this response when I observe the average person. Nothing can be more important than our eternity no matter what we are facing or going through because our circumstances will pass. Eternity will last forever.
 
                                                                 Bob D.