Servias Ministries Blog

There are seven references to the rapture in Scripture!

Elijah was and is a prophet who prophesied and was taken up, or raptured.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in 2^nd Kings chapter 2:

1  And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into Heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.

3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.

5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.

8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven.

Two different groups of prophets prophesied of Elijah’s departure: one group from Gilgal (the place of the Covenant associated with The Promised Land) and the other at Bethel (The House of GOD).  The number fifty represents Jubilee, the release of all debt.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Joshua chapter 5:

9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.”

10  Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.

11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.

12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.

The children of Israel left the land of “unbelief” and entered the land of “faith”.  Let us do the same as we ponder the reality of Elijah’s departure.  All sixty-six books were given to us as an interconnected work for our benefit toward full restoration.

There are seven references to the rapture in Scripture!

Enoch was and is a prophet who prophesied of the flood to come.

Moses recorded by THE SPIRIT in Genesis chapter 5:

21  Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.

22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.

23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.

24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Paul referred to this rapture as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 11:

5  By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Enoch’s name means “commencement” or “teaching”.  He is credited with the oldest prophecy in The Bible.

Jude wrote by The Holy Spirit in his Epistle:

12  These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds (of worldly doctrines); late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;

13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

14  Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,

15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

Mankind has no excuse whatsoever!  Before the flood of Noah, there were prophecies warning of judgment to come on the ungodly.  How many paid attention to those prophecies?  Only eight out of millions!  Is it any different today?

We can glean the following from Enoch’s prophecy:

We know that THE LORD’S coming is certain.

We know who will accompany THE LORD.

We know the purpose of His coming.

We know the result of His coming.

It is important that you pay attention to the various “sevens” in Scripture.  Enoch was the seventh from Adam.  Enoch’s son Methuselah was a prophecy of the flood for his name means “his death shall bring”.  Methuselah lived 969 years and within days, the flood came and wiped out the population of the earth except eight souls.  This prophecy was part of a larger prophecy within the genealogy of Genesis 5:

Adam                     Man (is)

Seth                       appointed

Enosh                    mortal

Kenan                    sorrow, (but)

Mahalalel               The Blessed GOD

Jared                      shall come down

Enoch                    teaching

Methuselah            His death shall bring

Lamech                  the despairing

Noah                      comfort and rest.

It is vital that we understand how both the Old Testament and the New Testament are interwoven and given to us supernaturally.  You cannot leave out any of the Scriptures and still get a full understanding of FATHER’S Divine Intent.

Embedded within the references to Enoch, the first of seven raptures, is the prophecy of redemption and the harpazo.  He was the seventh from Adam and the first of the seven references of the prophecy of being caught up, i.e., the rapture.

Jude tells us to be fruitful before His Coming and don’t be taken in by a cloud without rain.

The catching away or “rapture” has come into clear focus after studying the Word for over 50 years… to me, it is a reality awaiting manifestation!

The first issue to deal with is the term “rapture”.  I have heard and read many claims by those with PhD behind their names as though those three letters make them the ultimate authority, never to be questioned.  I will share with you a conversation I had with FATHER concerning advanced degrees.  First of all, let me say that I am not against advanced degrees in most areas of study.  However, those degrees are not intended to exalt one above the Truth and Knowledge of GOD.

When I was in banking in the 1970’s, my boss had his MBA degree, so I decided that I needed to get an MBA from Stanford University in California.  I thought it would make me more credible.  FATHER spoke to me and said “You don’t need an MBA, you simply need to rely on ME.”  The desire for an MBA immediately went away.  Over the years, HIS anointing provided all the credibility I needed to walk in the path HE selected for me.  The point is, don’t let a person’s credentials blind you to what The Word or Holy Spirit is saying to you.

The English word “rapture” is not found in the King James Version, but the Latin word rapiemur is used in the Latin Vulgate to translate the Greek word harpazo, which means “to be seized.” In the King James, this word is translated “caught up”.

Jesus, Paul, John, Matthew, and Luke all wrote by THE SPIRIT concerning the “catching away”.  When the term force is used, it denotes that the person did not use his own ability in the event.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Corinthians chapter 12:

2  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a one was caught up (harpazo G726) to the third Heaven.

3 And I know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-

4 how he was caught up (harpazo G726) into Paradise and heard inexpressible Words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Paul also wrote by the same SPIRIT in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 4:

17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo G726) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these Words (of Truth).

The Beloved Disciple recorded what he saw and heard while in THE SPIRIT in Revelation chapter 12:

5  She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up (harpazo G726) to God and His throne.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 11:

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (harpazo G726).

John recorded by The Holy Spirit in John chapter 6:

15  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force (harpazo G726) to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 23:

10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force (harpazo G726) from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

My goal is to provide Scriptural evidence rather than just another opinion of such an important, supernatural event.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

The difference between “inheritors” and those who don’t qualify?

When our spirit is saved, we receive forgiveness of past sins and deliverance from the penalty of sin through Christ’s blood. When our soul is transformed (saved), we receive deliverance from the power of sin that operates through the world, the flesh, and the devil. And when Christ returns, our body will be saved from the presence of sin.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 6:

11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

All Christians live by the Spirit, but not all Christians walk by the Spirit (being “partakers of His Life” and producing fruit). To walk by the Spirit means to put to death the things of the “flesh,” to overcome the temptations of the world and the devil, to be led along the path of sanctification, and to produce fruit.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 25:

19  After a long time the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’

21  His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’

22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’

23 His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have (fruitfulness), even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Remember the ones who were not able to inherit:

–   Some of the children of the kingdom (Matthew 8:11–12)

–   The disobedient servant (Matthew 24:50)

–   The five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:12)

–   The unfaithful servant (Matthew 25:30)

–   The man without the wedding garment (Matthew 22:12)

These passages are all talking about believers! And yet none of these believers “inherited” the Kingdom. They were all in the kingdom, but in some other region, some other place––the darkness outside––and thus, separated from the light of the Lord’s presence.

“Complete” salvation then entails not only a new life brought on by a new Spirit, but also the renewal of every part of our souls as well.  This sanctification process is absolutely necessary in order to participate in and inherit the Millennial Kingdom

You and I are accountable for our own actions and fruitfulness.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 10:

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up Love and good works,

Hopefully these latest writings have stirred you up to a greater Love and good works.

Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 4:

21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.“

Parable	Speaking to:	Speaking About:	The Problem	Their Loss	Event Predicted	Our Lesson
Matt 8:12 Sons of The Kingdom	Roman Centurion	Jewish sons of the Kingdom	Lack of faith	Cast into outer darkness-weeping and gnashing of teeth	Preparation for the Kingdom	We need to have faith
Matt 24:45-51 Faithful and wise servant	Disciples	Any believer waiting for His return	Did not expect His return, mistreated servants	cut him in two and appointed his portion with the hypocrites.  weeping and gnashing of teeth.	The Rapture	Need to always be looking for His soon return
Matt 25:14-30 Faithful & Wise Servants	Disciples What are the signs of Your coming?	His own servants	Wicked servant did nothing with his talent	Take talent away and cast into outer darkness-weeping and gnashing of teeth	The Bema Seat	Need to be faithful with the abilities Father gives us
Matt 25:1-13 10 Virgins	Disciples What are the signs of Your coming?	The Church	They had no intimacy with The Lord, He did not know them	Locked out of the wedding; the door was shut & they were left out	The Wedding Ceremony	Need to know the Lord intimately
Matt 22:1-13 Wedding Garment	Pharisees	Gentile believers	No Wedding garment (no fruit)	Bind him- cast into outer darkness-weeping and gnashing of teeth	The Marriage Supper	Need to wear the appropriate Wedding garment

We should have a Kingdom perspective in every word we speak, every decision we make, and every action we take!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 3:

12  I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me His own.

13 I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.

14 I run straight for the Divine invitation of reaching the Heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.

15 So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them.

16 And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.

Paul was not referring to salvation, for he was already saved.  He was concerned about sanctification and being perfected without spot or wrinkle.  He referred to a “victory-prize”.  What is that?  It is to rule and reign with Jesus Christ.

The “hope of our salvation” in Christ is, again, the ability to co-reign with Him in the Millennium and forever. It’s the mark of the High Calling! It’s our goal. And it’s the prize. This possibility is available to all of us, but is contingent upon our becoming faithful overcomers.

What we end up choosing and deciding here will ultimately determine our place and position in Heaven.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 1:

15  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your Love for all the saints,

16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly places,

21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Paul was praying that the Light of God will illuminate the eyes of our imagination, flooding us with light, until we experience the full revelation of the hope of His calling—that is, the wealth of FATHER’S glorious inheritances that He finds in us, His Holy ones!

Let us not lose the opportunities set before us for lost opportunities are what brings forth tears to our eyes when we are at the Bema Seat of Christ and He shows us our life here on earth.

Our spirits are saved when we are born again. Our souls are in the process of being saved through the sanctification process. And our bodies will be saved when Christ comes for us at the Rapture. These are the three different aspects of salvation. As you can see, the salvation of our spirits is very different from the salvation of our souls, which, in turn, is also different from the salvation of our bodies.

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Peter chapter 1:

4  We are reborn (salvation) into a perfect inheritance that can never perish, never be defiled, and never diminish. It is promised and preserved forever in the Heavenly realm for you!

5 Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time (glorification).

6 May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials.

7 But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith (process of sanctification), which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.

Receiving a brand-new spirit at our new birth is just the beginning of our faith. It’s called justification and it is a free “gift” from God, whereas our souls are saved on the basis of following a lifelong journey of sanctification–which allows us to be partakers of Christ’s imparted Life and thus, overcomers. This process is done in cooperation with the Divine resurrection power of God. It doesn’t happen automatically.

It’s our own responsibility to make the appropriate faith choices that allows God’s Spirit to work in and through us.

We should focus our current priorities that relate to the upcoming Wedding requirements, specifically acceptable Wedding attire!

The Wedding Party is going to be made up of believers who have labored to genuinely partake of Christ’s Life, become overcomers, and thus, produce the “fruit of righteousness.”  These believers are not perfect, but they will be “qualified” (axios G514) to enter that second gate.

Jesus spoke the parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew chapter 22:

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

“ For everyone is invited to enter in, but few respond in excellence.”

The issue is not salvation, it is disqualification or lack of sanctification, required for the Wedding ceremony.

Paul wrote about disqualification when he wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Corinthians chapter 9:

24   Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Paul was not speaking of the free gift of justification, he was focused on sanctification where we must strive in our efforts and endure obstacles.

And in 2^nd Corinthians chapter 13:

5  Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified.

6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

7  Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.

And in Titus chapter 1:

15  To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

We are to beware of teachers who teach false doctrines for their doctrines can cause us to stumble thus be disqualified.  It is our mistake to assume supposed experts of the Scripture are accurate. A PhD does not guarantee accuracy of Divine Intent.  We must rely on The Holy Spirit to guide us in all Spiritual matters.  To someone who is pure in heart, he or she can be led astray by those who are impressive due to their education and/or oratories.  The love of money is often the root of the issue.

We must rely on The Word to help us discern any teaching, including this one.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 17:

10  Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they (The Bereans) received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

You and I need to be as Bereans and confirm what is being taught.  I have made the mistake of not confirming certain doctrines in the past and paid dearly for such a mistake.

If our “works” abide the testing of fire at the Bema Seat, we’ll have on the “garment of fine linen”. If our works are burned, we’ll be found to be “naked”.

Jesus spoke to John to write an Epistle to Sardis (the dead church) in Revelation chapter 3:

3  Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘

And to the lukewarm church in Revelation 3:

14  “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–

18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Get the picture?