A Speculation about Events from the Last Supper to Jesus’s ascension - A Prophecy for our day?

 A Speculation about Events from the Last Supper to Jesus’s Ascension

Finding Patterns in the Scriptures

D.P. Weary, October 2022

What if the events from the last supper to the ascension were foreshadowing of events of the end of days? In our day Jesus’ physical body on the earth is the true church; born again, Spirit-filled believers in Jesus. Yet in all of those still lives the “old man”, this “body of death” as Paul calls it in Romans 7. So in a sense, both “Jesus” and his disciples (the part of all of us that is not born again) are alive and well in our world today. There are also modern-day “priests, “Romans or non-believing gentiles, and people just wanting a “savior” to rescue them from trouble and oppressive, cruel governments. What would be revealed if we looked at the events of the days of Jesus’ death and resurrection as a pattern for the days preceding His second coming?

This study was motivated by some things the Lord spoke to a group of men at a Connections 4 Life Center men’s prayer meeting. October 5^th, 2022. What the men discerned the Lord speaking to them was that a night of entering the garden was coming and He was asking us to come pray with Him. Like His disciples in the garden just before His passion, we discerned that we do not and will not understand many of the events that occurring and are about to occur in our world and that we do not know how to pray correctly. We felt that the Lord was asking us to let Him pray through us with groanings and utterances too deep for normal words; to pray in the Spirit. This caused us to ask ourselves, what would walking in the shoes of the disciples in those days of the Lord’s first coming look like if we are now walking in the days of His second coming?

The presupposition made in this analysis is that because the Lord fulfilled the spring festivals literally, precisely, completely, and sequentially, He will fulfill the last days' events in the same manner. Thus, a day means a day in the pattern we seek.  Also, the fall feasts of the Lord are feasts primarily dealing with Israel and the Jews.

Legend: 

1. Events from the Bible of the passion week; Jesus’ first coming.
1. These events are seen as current events and the disciples are seen as the part of believers subject to the weaknesses of the flesh; the “old man” as Paul would say.
2. The events are seen as current events and seen, understood, and reacted to as we could see them as the Lord’s body, His physical presence on the earth at this time. The “new man” part of born-again and Spirit-filled believers plays the role of Jesus.

The Passover is preceded by Purim. Purim is the time remembering when Satan tried to destroy the Jews through Haman, a foreshadowing of the Antichrist. Purim during the year of these last days events may be the time when Satan tries once again to destroy the Jews through the Antichrist. This then would be the time of the breaking of the first seal of Revelation chapter 6, the releasing of the Antichrist to begin his last days' work. Then comes Passover.

 

The last supper, the Passover Supper

We begin in the upper room as we prepare to journey to the garden.

1. The event: Judas’s betrayal on the first day of Unleavened Bread, after sacrificing the Passover lamb, at the last supper, a Passover meal.
1. As we gather to celebrate communion together, we face days of evil, corrupt governments, terrible immorality, violence, and wars. These are uncertain and even frightening times as seen through natural, human eyes. What lies ahead for us in the days to come?
2. As the Lord’s body on earth right now, we see the joyous day approaching when the bride and Jesus will be made one in the bond of a most holy wedding. And we see with joy the day of God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven and God’s Kingdom being established on the earth.
2. Jesus washes the disciples' feet.
1. This is an act of His love for and commitment to us, we sense His humility and His presence, and His love in a very real, tangible way.
2. We feel and express our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ and desire to serve them in humility and with all our hearts.
3. Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was exposed.
1. We find that there are traitors among us. Some claim to be disciples, but have wrong motives and are really only seeking worldly things from the Lord.
2. We are discerning and wise, not naive knowing that some among us are “traitors” and will rebel against us. We also know that they will be exposed.

 

4. Judas leaves.
1. We watch as these disciples “leave” to take matters into their own hands to get what they desire.
2. We understand that these “traitors” are seeking their will to be done, not the Father’s will. We know that they will end up turning away and deserting the Lord and the true church.
5. Communion
1. Sometimes this ritual of “eating” His body and “drinking” His blood is a mystery. It is something we do just to remember that the Lord sacrificed His life for us.
2. We know that the bread of communion represents His body given for us. It is the bride price He paid for us. The wine represents His blood shed for us and a seal of a covenant, a covenant that is in effect a marriage contract. Then He tells us that He is going away for a while to prepare a place for us in His Father’s Kingdom. Then He asks us to remember Him; to be faithful to Him until He returns for us to take us to His Father’s Kingdom for the marriage ceremony. He promises to come for us, both living and the dead, and take us to heaven to be with Him forever. This night the Lord is calling us into a journey that will end with His coming to catch us up in the air to be with Him forever.
6. Jesus tells His disciples that He will not eat the Passover meal with them again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God nor will He drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.
1. Our Lord is preparing us for a great banquet, a wedding banquet in heaven where we will eat and drink with Him in the Father’s Kingdom.
2. For us as Jesus' physical presence on the earth right now, our great desire and longing are to be together as husband and wife in holy unity and to share eternal life with Him.
7. Jesus also tells his disciples that those who have stayed with Him in His trials, He assigns to them a kingdom just as His Father assigned to Him a kingdom; that they will eat and drink at His table in His Kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
1. The Lord is telling us that if we stay with Him in the trials of life, we will be given important assignments in the Kingdom as a part of His government.
2. We anticipate that day when after the trials, we will be living together and working together in God’s Kingdom government on earth.
8. Jesus tells Peter he will deny Him.
1. When we are confronted by some of the events coming upon us, there will be those times when we doubt, when we wonder if God is really in control. Sometimes even get angry with Him when things don’t go as we want them to.
2. We know that some of the disciples will have doubts and disappointments; even get angry with the Lord. But we know grace and mercy will cover it all and in the end, all things will work for the good of those that love Christ. The Lord knows and judges the heart of mankind.
9. Jesus teaches the disciples. “I am the way, truth, and the life.” Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. “I am the true vine.” Teaches about the hatred of the world, the work of the Holy Spirit, sorrow turning into joy, and overcoming the world.
1. These days, it is critical that we know the Bible, know His commandments, and know His truths. It is especially critical that we know the Holy Spirit and how to walk in the Spirit.
2. These are days when we need to be teaching and sharing the truths of the Bible. The truths concerning the person of the Holy Spirit will be especially important.
10. Jesus prays the high priestly prayer for them.
1. We must know that Jesus is praying for us. The truth of the unity of the Spirit is essential to knowing who we really are. Without being born again by the Spirit no one is a true disciple and without being empowered by the Spirit we will be ineffective in our work for the Lord and vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks.
2. There should be a longing in us like it is in the Lord for unity with each other and with the God Head. Like Jesus, we should be praying for this all the time.
11. They were worshiping as they went to the garden.
1. As we enter into these last days, we need to be worshipping! The disciples were singing hymns as they left for the garden.
2. Like Jesus, we, representing Jesus on the earth need to be worshiping God (Jehovah) in His fullness, with awesome reverence, respect, and love for the God Head.

In the garden

12. They went to the garden/Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives.
1. So here we are entering the days preceding the Lord’s second coming with fear and trembling just as the early disciples entered the garden preceding the awesome days of the Lord’s great redemptive act for all of us and giving us a new life in Him.
2. We enter these days knowing that trials are coming but we are steadfast and enduring for the joy set before us.
13. Jesus tells the disciples they will be offended and stumble and fall away but that He will be raised up, and meet them in Galilee.
1. Here is a great warning for all of us. There is a great danger of being offended, stumbling, and falling away because of what is coming our way. But, we need to remember and believe that He will soon meet us in person, not in Galilee, but heaven.
2. We, like the Lord, seek to not only warn people of the dangers and trials coming but to comfort, encourage, and motivate them to not be offended, stumble, and fall away. We know that there is a special time of encounter with Jesus coming.
14. Jesus asks Peter, James, and John to keep watch with Him.
1. Here is the Lord’s request. Watch and pray with Him! We wonder, watch for what?
2. We can, and will, pray alone, but our desire is for others to pray in unity with us.
15. Jesus tells them to remain here and watch. He goes on a little farther, about a stone’s throw, and prays for the cup to pass from Him, but not His will but the Father’s will be done.
1. Notice that the Lord does seem to “go away from them” a short distance. We might expect to feel that the Lord has moved away from us as we face the future. But, notice, it is a short distance. Only a stone’s throw away. Our problem at this point is that we do not really know how to pray about the things going on around us or about the coming future events.
2.  What really is going on is that in prayer, the Lord is doing some awesome business with the Father concerning His coming Kingdom and He wants us to participate in it with Him. Since in the natural we do not know how or what to pray we need to let the Spirit pray through us. This seems to be a call for us to pray about and through the things going on and things to come in tongues.
16. An angel appears from heaven to strengthen Him.
1. As we pray, we need to know that the Lord has dispatched angels to help and support us.
2. From the perspective of Jesus’ bodily presence on the earth right now, we know that His angels are actively at work supporting us and working to do their part in establishing His Kingdom on the earth.
17. Jesus sweats blood in His agony and He prays more earnestly.
1. In His humanity, Jesus sweat blood over the events that were about to occur. The fearsome events that seem to be on our horizon can cause these emotions and reactions for us also.
2. But, like with Jesus, we know the joy that is set before us and we can endure the coming events. We chose to do the Father’s will, and not our own knowing the great end of His Story!
18. Jesus found the disciples sleeping. Jesus says, “Peter are you asleep? Could you not keep watch with Me for one hour?
1. It will be easy and natural for the cares, worries, and fears of the coming days for us to get very weary and just want to “fall asleep”; to become weary, passive and inactive, and even hopeless in the days ahead.
2. But the born again, Holy Spirit inside part of us will know the importance of watching and praying and interceding and seek others to join us in the watching and praying. Again, much of our praying needs to be that led by revelations from the Spirit and letting the Spirit pray through us in tongues.
19. Jesus says to them, keep awake, and watch and pray that you not come into temptation. Spirit willing, but the flesh is weak.
1. We are being warned about temptations because the flesh part of us is weak, even though the spirit is willing. The question for us individually is, what are these temptations for me?
2. We, representing Jesus need to be watching and warning others as we see these temptations coming. There is a special calling concerning being “watchmen” in the coming days. Being watchmen requires knowing what to watch for. Knowing the prophets and the prophecies of the Bible will be essential. And being able to “hear” what the Spirit is saying to the churches in this hour.
20. Jesus goes the second time and prayed, Your will be done.
21. Again, the disciples are sleeping.
22. Jesus prays alone and prays a third time, using the same words.
1. The fight against the weaknesses of the flesh is great. Persistence and resolve will be required.
2. We do not give up on others. We keep praying, not only for others, but for ourselves, always seeking the strength, courage, and resolve to flow with the Father’s will and not our own.
23. Jesus says, “the hour is at hand, the Son of Man is betrayed.
24. Judas with the chief priests and elders of the people come to take Jesus away.
1. There will come that special moment during our time in the garden when “the hour is at hand”. Events will occur that will look very bad and frightful. It will seem as though the enemy is getting the upper hand. In our day this might look like a worldwide economic collapse, a major war, or levels of persecution that we have not known before.
2. Yet, like Jesus, we know the end of the story and that these events must occur so that the plan be executed and “all righteousness” be fulfilled. We will know when some dramatic and special events take place that the very last days of the end of the age have begun. 
25. Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss.
1. We will be surprised and even shocked as some that we had called “friends”, turn and cooperate with the enemy in deceitful and shocking ways.
2. From Jesus’ perspective, we will not be surprised. We know that these things must be that the scriptures be fulfilled. We also know that in the end, it was a part of the great plan all along.
26. Peter cuts off the ear of a servant of the high priest.
27. Jesus heals the man’s ear.
28. Jesus tells Peter to put away the sword.
29. Jesus says that this must take place so that the scriptures be fulfilled.
1. There will be those moments when we will want to “go to war” and take up arms over what we see as injustices and evil.
2. But the “Jesus” in us will know that violence is not the answer. Even irrationally in the natural, we are to pray for our enemies and heal them when they are wounded by either deeds, words, or swords.
30. Then the disciples deserted Him and fled.
1. This is scary. There will be a point where those “in the flesh” will fall away. In the natural, all will seem lost. There are coming days of great unrest, anxiety, distress, fear, false doctrines, terrible moral conditions, lawlessness, wars, and scoffers. It will be a time of rebellion and falling away from God. This could be the beginning of the wars of Revelation 6 and Ezekiel 38.
2. For those “walking in the Spirit”, they will know that these days must come but that they are the prelude to the events of Daniel 9 when the false messiah will appear on the scene and the last seven years of trial and tribulation on the earth will begin.
31. Peter followed at a distance.
32. One young man followed imHim, but a linen cloth, but they seized him and he ran away naked.
1. The most tried and true disciples will follow but at a distance. Being “politically incorrect” these days will be scary and dangerous. Many will take the course of just being quiet and keeping “out of sight”.
2. Those that take a strong stand against the evils will understand, but they will not keep quiet. There will always be a voice for the Lord to confront the evils in the land, regardless of the consequences.

 

The trials begin

33. Jesus was taken to the father-in-law of the high priest.
1. The first “trial” of true believers will be before the “religious” of the day. The hint is that this religious sector of society will not be directly a part of the senior leadership. Conservative, evangelical Christianity will be under attack from the woke Christianity and the religious sector of society.
2. At this point, Jesus was passive and did not defend Himself openly. This may be a time of patient endurance for true believers.
34. Peter was taken into the courtyard of the high priest by a servant girl and stood with the guards around a fire where they stood warming themselves.
1. During these times of trial by the religious of the day, fear will give rise to the temptation of just standing by and watching it all happen. Even if it means associating with those that associate with and serve the religious sector of society.
2. Jesus did not condemn Peter for this because He knew Peter’s heart and that he would repent and return to be a key player in the early church. This should be how we react to those that just stand by and watch. We pray for them as Jesus prayed for Peter.
35. Then Jesus was sent bound to Caiaphas the high priest where the whole council was gathered.
36. The chief priests and the whole council sought to get false witnesses against Jesus so that they might put Him to death.
37. Two witnesses came forward and testified against Jesus.
38. Jesus kept silent. Then He said “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming on the clouds of the sky.
1. At this point in the saga, true believers will be attacked by the highest figures of leadership in the “religious” world. There will be a flood of false witnesses, lies, and accusations. Truth will be trampled underfoot.
2. But Jesus kept silent. Then He declared and proclaimed the profound truth about Himself and His second coming. This will be the hour when the true church will openly proclaim the truths concerning the soon coming of Jesus to destroy sin and sinners and establish His Kingdom on Earth.
39. Jesus was condemned to death.
1. Events will occur that will seem as if all is lost and true Christianity will be condemned to death.
2. These will be days that try men’s souls. But the Spirit within true believers knows that these days will very soon come to an end. All is not what it seems to be. These will be the days of Revelation chapter 6. The first seal of Revelation chapter 6 will probably already have been broken and the Antichrist released to do his evil deeds.
40. Peter denies Jesus. Then weeps.
1. There will come a time when the passiveness and lack of faith of true believers are exposed and recognized. This is when in humility and sorrow we repent with tears. Satan will be very busy these days trying to draw believers away from the Lord. Spiritual warfare upon the true church will be ferocious.
2. But the Spirit within us knows that Jesus has and is praying for us. And that as we repent and turn again to Him, He will not only forgive us but strengthen us so that we can strengthen others.

 

The next morning – The trial, the cross

41. Jesus is taken to Pilate.
1. The attack on true believers is now taken to another level. Godless, evil government elements now enter the saga. True Christianity and believers will be persecuted and attacked by the secular world and governments.
2. True believers know this must take place. They know from the scriptures and from the witness of the Spirit that Satan is now beginning to make his final moves to establish his kingdom on Earth.
42. Judas brought back the pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.
43. Judas hangs himself.
44. The chief priests buy the potter’s field in which to bury strangers. Call the field of blood.
1. At this point in the story, the original “traitors” see what they have done and attempt to absolve themselves from guilt by trying to amend in the natural for their actions. Turning to fallen religious people and systems will be fatal.
2. Believers know that without true repentance and humility and falling on their knees before a merciful God, there is no forgiveness. The result of their actions will be death.
45. Jesus was confronted by Pilate.
46. Jesus made no reply to the accusations.
47. Pilot sends Jesus to Herod.
48. Herod and his soldiers treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, and sent Him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate become friends.
1. The trial of true Christianity now will be in the political arena. It will involve both Jew and Gentile governments.
2. True believers know that during these days, there will be a uniting of Jewish and Gentile governmental leadership that will end up being Satan’s last days' empire. We could expect the Antichrist to be involved at this time.
49. Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people.
50. The people chose to set Barabbas free instead of Jesus.
51. Pilot washes his hands of the death of Jesus.
52. The people cry crucify Him. Let His blood be on us and on our children.
53. Jesus was whipped and sent to be crucified.
54. Jesus stripped off His clothes, put the scarlet robe on Him in mockery, put a crown of thorns on His head, spat on Him, and struck Him. Then sent Him away to be crucified.
55. Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus’ cross.
1. The disciples just watched as Jesus was condemned. Even some of those who just days earlier had welcomed Jesus into the city, now turned on Him, demanding that He be crucified and releasing a known criminal instead of Him. In our day in the flesh, we will see the true church persecuted like never before. Even some who were previous supporters of the church will turn against her. The name of Jesus will be trampled upon, spat upon, mocked, and humiliated. There will be a great falling away during these days. These could very well be days of the Ezekiel 38 war in the Middle East and the events of the second through fifth seals of Revelation chapter 6.
2. These are the days when Jesus told His true disciples, “Pick up your cross and follow me.” These are days when true disciples will desperately need the power of the Holy Spirit to be the gospel carriers that they are supposed to be.
56. Jesus said to the people following, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children, for the days are coming when they will say, Blessed are the barren, and they will cry to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.
1. These words are the words from Revelation chapter 6 after a great earthquake. The people will be saying to the mountains and hills, fall on us because they know that the days of the wrath of the Lamb have come. There will be prophetic warnings going out that the wrath of God is coming to the Earth.
2. What true believers know is that God’s children are not subject to the wrath of God and will be kept from it. They will be the “watchman” crying out to the world, “Accept Jesus now as your Lord and savior before it is too late. The wrath of God is about to fall on the earth.”
57. Jesus offered wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.
58. Jesus was crucified and mocked.
59. Two criminals were also crucified, one on His right and one on His left.
60. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
61. And they cast lots to divide His garments.
62. The soldiers mocked Him and offered Him sour wine.
63. One of the criminals railed at Him, but the other rebuked him saying, “Do you not fear God.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
64. Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
65. Darkness over the land from noon until three o’clock, the ninth hour.
66. Jesus dies at the ninth hour.
67. The curtain of the sanctuary was torn as the sun’s light failed.
68. Tombs were opened and many dead saints were raised to life.
69. Jesus was buried at evening time the day of Preparation, the day before the Sabbath.
70. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected and righteous man who was looking for the kingdom of God, a member of the council, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped Him in a linen shroud, laid Him in a tomb, and rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
1. The events of the crucifixion foreshadow days on the earth when all hell seems to be breaking forth and there is death and chaos everywhere. Even at this late hour, there will be many saved, even, like the thief of the cross, some of the despots of the earth. The LORD’s mercy and grace are greater than we can even know.
2. These will be dark days. The question is, what will the “crucifixion” of the true Church look like? You can bet that it will not be pretty! The despot leaders of the Gentile and Jewish worlds will move to try and completely stamp out true Christianity. Events will occur that make it seem that they are successful. The events of the arrest to the crucifixion occurred during one day. These modern days of this “dark night of the sour” will probably also be very short.

 

The resurrection – Then came the morning!

71. At dawn on the first day of the week, there was a great earthquake.
1. On the day of first fruits of this Passover week, we can expect some exceptional event, like an earthquake, to occur.
72. Angels tell Mary and the other Mary that Jesus has risen.
73. As they go to tell the disciples, Jesus meets them. He tells them to tell the disciple to meet Him in Galilee.
74. Peter also goes to the tomb and saw the linen cloths by themselves, the tomb empty.
75. That very day Jesus appears in another form to two other disciples as they were walking to Emmaus.
76. Jesus come to them but they did not recognize Him.
77. Then Jesus, beginning with Moses and the Prophets, interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
78. They then returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together. They told them what happened on the road, and that Jesus revealed Himself to them in the breaking of the bread.
79. Eleven disciples go to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus directed and met the disciples there.
1. At this point in the story, for the disciples a new day is dawning. After a great earthquake, many miraculous events will begin to occur and the Lord will actually appear to many. Suddenly, God will move and restoration and rebuilding will begin. It will be a time of joy and celebration.
2. True believers know that the last of the events before the rapture is beginning. Something new and wonderful will happen. As Jesus was resurrected with a new body, a new “body of Jesus” on the earth is being birthed. The “new” church will begin to move in exceptional power and authority with signs and wonders in abundance.

The Church in which there is no Jew or Gentile is incomplete because Jews as a nation are not part of it. Now the Lord is beginning to gather 144 thousand Jews from each tribe of Israel to be His representatives on the earth during the tribulation years. These tribulation years will be the years of testing and purification for all of Israel to complete God’s covenant promises to them.

80. He appeared to the eleven as they were reclining at table, and rebuked them for their unbelief and for not believing those that had seen Him after He had risen.
81. They were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
82. But Jesus tells them that it is Himself and to touch Him and see that He has flesh and bones and He showed them His hands and feet. Then He ate with them.
1. To the natural man, the appearance of Jesus to some people will be seen as “ghosts” or aliens from another world. The power, signs, and wonders occurring through true believers will be seen as “magic”, empowerment by aliens, or just plain witchcraft.
2. True believers will know the scriptures and know that Jesus is moving in and through His Church in new and powerful ways. There will be new excitement as they see the Holy Spirit moving in new and wonderful ways in the Jewish communities.
83. Jesus also opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and about His death and resurrection, and that they are to go and proclaim the gospel to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
1. These will be days of great revelation and teaching by the Holy Spirit moving through the true Church.
84. Jesus breathed on them,  and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
1. As the Holy Spirit moves, many will be born again and given spiritual authority to use the name of Jesus.
85. Jesus then tells them that He is sending the promise of His Father to them and that they are to stay in the city until they are given power from on high to carry out their assignment.
1. For the newly born-again believers, Jesus tells them that along with their new authority in His name, a new power to be His witnesses will be given to them.
86. Jesus tells them all authority has been given to Him. Jesus tells them to go and make disciples, and that He will be with them to the end of the age.
87. Jesus told them that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
88. Jesus also told them that signs will accompany those who believe: in His name they will cast out demons; and speak in new tongues; not be harmed by serpents, poison will not hurt them; and that they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.
89. After this Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. This was the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.
90. Jesus presented Himself alive for forty days, speaking about the kingdom of God. While with them He told them to not depart Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. The promise of power to be His witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth
1. Jesus breathed on eleven Jewish men that day after His resurrection. He breathed on them and said, “receive the Holy Spirit.”  That day they were born again and given the authority to use His name for great signs and wonders. During the next 40 days, many will be born again and given spiritual authority and power in Jesus’ name. These days will be the gathering, equipping, and preparing of 144 thousand Jews to represent the Lord during the first 3 ½ years of the great tribulation.
2. The agents of this move of God will sometimes be through personal encounters with Jesus. But the true saints of God will know that it is the time of a great revival, equipping, and gathering of the remnant of people to be saved before the true Church is removed from the Earth and taken to be with Jesus forever. And for a period of time, these will go out and lead many to a saving knowledge of God and of the gospel of Jesus. These will be days of a great ingathering, a gleaning of the wheat fields.

For the Jewish disciples, something special will be happening. 144 thousand Jews will be beginning to be gathered as born-again believers to be the Lord’s representatives on the earth during the first 3 ½ years of the great tribulation.

 

 

 

The ascension 

91. After He had spoken to them, He led them out as far as Bethany where He blessed them. While He blessed them, He was taken up into heaven where a cloud took Him out of their sight and He sat down at the right hand of God.
92. While they looked on, two angels appeared and told them that one day He will return and come in the same way as they saw Him go into heaven.
93. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
1. The days of the wrath of God have come. On earth, a new world leader has arisen and there is war in the Middle East.
2. But the Father’s sons and daughters will not be subjected to His wrath and will be caught up in the air to be with the Lord forever. Just as the Lord was taken up to heaven in a cloud, the Church will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds. The 144 thousand Jewish evangelists will be supernaturally protected during these days.

[1Th 5:9 ESV] For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

[1Th 4:15 NKJV] For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

[1Th 4:16 NKJV] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

[1Th 4:17 NKJV] Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

[1Th 4:18 NKJV] Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The final fulfillment of the feasts of the Lord for the Church will be ascending in the clouds at the rapture 10 days before the feast of Pentecost just as Jesus ascended into the clouds at His ascension. Israel and the Jews however are entering into the days of the fall feasts of the Lord, the feasts of Israel.

94. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were in an upper room in Jerusalem when suddenly there came a sound like a mighty wind from heaven, and something like a flame of fire appeared and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
1. Ten days after the rapture, on the day of Pentecost, the 144 thousand Jewish disciples will be equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit to be the Lord’s witness on the earth to replace the Church. The marking of the 144 thousand Jews in Revelation chapter 6 could be this event. The days following this event could quite possibly only be about 3 months. These would be the days of the second through the fifth seals of Revelation chapter 6.
2. On the Feast of Trumpets of this year, there will be a great earthquake at the breaking of the 6^th seal. An alternate time for the rapture of the Church may be this Feast of Trumpets. This would leave the Church on the earth along with the 144 thousand Jews for the final harvest between Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets during this year. This feast is sometimes called the Feast of the Last Trumpet and it is a feast calling believers into God’s presence (the Temple in ancient days). It is often associated with the rapture of the Church. This would mean that the days of the wrath of God, the wrath of the Lamb, would begin at the breaking of the sixth seal and the great earthquake rather than at the breaking of the second seal and the war of Ezekiel 38.

For Israel and the Jews, this Feast of Trumpets initiates the days of the prophet Daniel’s last seven years of trials and tribulation.

95. The Lord warns Israel that the 10 days between Trumpets and Atonement will be days of testing and trouble. They are even called “the days of awe”. For 10 days Satan in the person of the Antichrist will throw some of them into prison and persecute them in many other ways. But the Lord tells them to be faithful, even unto death, and He will give them the crown of life.
1. During the ten days between Trumpets and Atonement, the Lord will destroy the armies attacking Israel and there will be 10 intense days of persecution, chaos, confusion, and trouble. Then on the Day of Atonement, the Antichrist will arrange a seven-year cease-fire or peace treaty and the seven years of the great tribulation will begin.

God now turns His full attention back to Israel and His covenant promises to them. There will be a seven-year time of trial, testing, and refining. Only about a third of the Jews will survive these days.

[Rom 11:25 ESV] Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

[Rom 11:26 ESV] And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";

[Rom 11:27 ESV] "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

[Zec 13:8 ESV] In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.

[Zec 13:9 ESV] And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"

The Feast of Trumpets beginning the 8^th year after the 7 years of tribulation will be a special time for the Jews that accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior during the past 7 years. This most probably will be the Lord’s reaping of Revelation chapter 14. At the blast of the last trumpet of the Feast of Trumpets, the Lord catches these believers up to be with Him in Heaven, thus saving them from the last 10 days of the wrath of God; the 10 days between Trumpets and Atonement of that year. For the surviving Jewish remnant, the Day of Atonement of the eighth year will be a joyous day of regathering from the four corners of the world at the blast of the great shofar as the Lord Jesus returns to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords! In the Abrahamic covenant, God promised Israel a King and Kingdom forever, a land forever, and blessings forever. So it shall be!