great articlehears part of itNow lets take a look at the Hebrew word for parallel. It is "moshel." Strangely, moshel is related to empire and dominion according to Strong's Concordance. On a personal note, I first became fascinated by bible parallels and antiparallels by examining the statue in Daniel. You know the one. Head of gold, arms and chest of silver, belly of brass, legs of iron, feet of clay mixed with iron. Each successive component represents a different empire. The antiparallel to the evil empires represented by the statue in Daniel would have to have its reverse image in the New Testament by my way of thinking. I find it in the body of Christ with Christ as the head which is followed in succession by the other parts in the same order as a baby is born into the world. The last part to be born is the feet. I thus concluded that the end-time church was the feet of the body of Christ. If my understanding of God's pattern of using parallels is correct, we the end-time church are the feet of the body of Christ just as the feet of the statue in Daniel are the end-time empire. It is an antiparallel!
I remember something that happened to me when I was a young boy. I was fishing with some older boys at a pond. Sunning itself beside the water's edge was a poisonous copperhead snake. I didn't see it. I stepped right on top of it. The moment it moved under my foot, I saw it and jumped. That snake was mad! It came after me. Thankfully, my friends were there to chase it away with their fishing poles. But, had that snake caught me, it would surely have bitten me on the back of my heel. I was running from it. My heel was the only place it could have struck me. When Satan chases and persecutes the end-time, left behind church, which is represented symbolically by the second foot, he will surely bruise and afflict the heel of that foot which is fleeing from him. One foot of the church will be beyond his grasp. It will have departed.
Having arrived at the personal conclusion that the end-time church was also the feet of the body of Christ, I looked at the first time a foot appeared in the bible. I wrote my observation in a paper titled "The Two Feet of the Body of Christ". I wrote it over twenty years ago.
Here's the first time a foot is alluded to in the bible. To recap... Genesis 3:15 says that Satan will bruise the heel of the woman's seed. Bible commentators have always said this refers to the crucifixion. I agree. But I also assert that the bible doesn't make mistakes and the term used in Genesis is singular not plural. Whereas Jesus's feet were pierced, my perception was that Satan would only bruise one heel. One heel. I pondered that. Might this be a veiled reference to Satan persecuting one of the two feet ...which is a representation of the end-time church? One foot having been taken away in the rapture, leaving another foot or part of the church to be persecuted? Well, that's certainly the conclusion I arrived at.
However, doesn't the bible also say in 1 Thessalonians that we are not appointed to (God's) wrath? I can see where part of the church would have to endure Satan's persecution, but not God's wrath when He pours out the bowls of His wrath beginning somewhere around the middle of the tribulation. Would that mean that there is a second rapture? Only if there are two pictures or parallels depicting two raptures in the bible. And there are! We have the Old Testament rapture of Enoch who was taken on an ordinary day. We also have Elijah who was taken after about three years of persecution.
Enoch walked with God on an ordinary day and was taken to heaven. We don't know much else about that, but it is commonly accepted that it was a picture of the rapture. But now look at Elijah. He was persecuted and forced to go into hiding. Luke 4 says, "25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon." Second Kings says Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
The two parallels to these past events of the the two raptures (Enoch and Elijah) seem to fit with the raptures of the church that was ready at the first rapture preceding the seven years of tribulation on an ordinary day ...and a second rapture half way through the seven year tribulation (after three and a half years).
It's time to look at Jesus's parable of the 10 virgins. Here is the parable that Jesus taught...
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there not be enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying Lord, Lord , open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matt 25).
Now compare that parable to this passage in Luke.
35 "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
The passage in Luke refers to the Master returning FROM a wedding feast!
Did you notice that in the parable of the “virgins/brides” that the bridegroom comes at midnight? Now look at a different scripture. Luke 12:38 says... “And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.”
Does this mean that the first foot caught up in the rapture joins the others in Heaven to be the bride of Christ and join Him in the marriage supper? Does this mean that the second foot which is caught up later is not the bride, but is still considered His servants? Perhaps.
The book of Joel has a passage about the Holy Spirit being given to waiting servants…
Joel: 17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.'
It's as if these servants receive a double portion of the Holy Spirit after the rapture like Elisha did when Elijah was taken up. 2 Kings 2:9
Perhaps you believe no one will get saved during the tribulation after the rapture. However, Revelation says there will be persecution and beheadings during the tribulation doesn't it?
My focus on parallels is merely a curious study if I can't back it up with more examples. We have two examples of raptures happening to two different people in two completely different circumstances. Enoch and Elijah. Enoch. We find him raptured way back in Genesis. He is the first one to have ever been taken away. But, he isn't the last one! There is further foreshadowing of a second Rapture. Elijah. He foreshadows the Rapture of the second foot of the persecuted end-time church. Elijah's life perfectly represents the church of the persecution during the Tribulation. At various times he had to go into hiding. He was persecuted by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel who participated in the vilest forms of idolatry. Of special interest is the fact that during a period of about three years, there was a severe drought and famine. He had to leave his country and live with a widow who miraculously supplied him with food. On another occasion, Elijah was supplied with food by ravens. Later, he was helped by an angel who provided food and water. At various times, Elijah would say he was the only believer left.
Taken together, all these instances make a dramatic parallel to the events which transpire for the Christians who have to go through the persecution. Not being able to buy or sell, they will be forced from their homes and depend on miraculous provision from God. They too may feel like they are the only true believers who are left. However, they are not alone. God will not abandon them just as he did not abandon Elijah. Moreover, the persecuted Christians will have the same source of strength that Elijah had. They will receive the Holy Spirit. Remember what the Amplified Bible calls the Holy Spirit? He is called the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby.
Do I Have any Other Proof?
Up to this point, if you only believe there is one rapture and that it occurs before the tribulation, then how do you reconcile your belief with Genesis 18:22-33? Read this passage directly from the New International Version.
Genesis 18:23-33. "Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26 The Lord said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it." 29 Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I w ill not do it." 30 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." 33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
If God won't even destroy a city such as wicked Sodom, how can you accept an unchangeable God destroying the world unless you accept that no one will get saved after the rapture of the Bride? I contend that people will get saved. They will endure persecution and death. They will be caught up to Heaven in a second rapture.
The story of Abraham leaving the area of Sodom would parallel the first rapture. Read the story about Lot. He is warned to leave Sodom too. But not until moments before God’s wrath is poured out on the city! This would be the parallel to a prewrath rapture which presumably occurs at the midpoint of the tribulation.
I have compared the end-time church with the two feet of the body of Christ.On two separate occasions, Jesus' feet were anointed with a costly perfume. Luke 7:38 and John 12:3 describe two separate, but similar events. In each case, Jesus' feet were anointed with costly perfume. Read the passages and compare them for yourself. They are two separate events! One occurs in the house of a Pharisee and other event occurs in the home of Mary and Martha. Here is what John Wesley said in his commentary on Luke 7:37. "A woman - Not the same with Mary of Bethany, who anointed him six days before his last Passover. "
The perfume is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. What a perfectly harmonious analogy! The church which goes in the first Rapture has the Holy Spirit. Later, the remaining church is given the Holy Spirit! This brings me to an important point. The very reason that part of the church is left behind at the first Rapture is because they are living without the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives right now! They will be left out of the first event and have to live through a terrible persecution because they are not living for Jesus in the present. What a terrible tragedy!
I believe that for a period of time, the church of the persecution (symbolized by the second foot of Christ) will have to endure without the Holy Spirit. They will be like Jeremiah, who in Lamentations 1:16, said, "For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears, because a comforter, one who could refresh and restore my soul, is far from me..." (Amplified Bible). But, please remember that God will not abandon this church. They will be sent the Holy Spirit. After all, it was ten days after Jesus departed this world before the Holy Spirit was sent.
Two Trumpet Calls
When the Jews were wandering in the wilderness, before entering the Promised Land, there were two trumpet calls in the morning to prepare the people to move out. The first one called the leaders of the tribes. The second one called the remainder of the people. Just as with the ancient Jews, there will be two trumpet calls for the church. Both trumpet calls are to the two coming rapture events.
The Bible is composed of parallels. It is revealed in Jewish poetry. It is revealed in prophecy. It is revealed in God's nature and the very name of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. I believe the end-time church is represented by the two feet of the body of Christ and that there is a pre-tribulation rapture for those who are ready and watching for it and filled with the Holy Spirit. I believe there will be also a second rapture during the tribulation for those who are left behind. Meaning they will undergo persecution for their belief, but be taken out before the wrath of God is poured out.
At the risk of repeating myself, God over and over again uses parallels to reveal Himself, His character and His plans. We see the patterns... His patterns... in the parallel lines drawn in dozens, perhaps hundreds of places. I would agree that a surface reading and comprehension of the Bible is sufficient. Afterall, one only has to grasp John 3:16. However, there is tremendous benefit in understanding the original language and the implications of the hidden parallels. I conclude by again repeating Ecclesiastes 1:9 which reveals the pattern... "That which has been is what will be... that which is done is what will be done."YBIC
Bruce Baber