An Introduction to God's Absolute Sovereign--King Jesus

The Surrender of All Things

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Who are we to even lift our voices in prayer before the throne of the Almighty? What presumption do we carry when we think our finite minds can comprehend the infinite wisdom of our Creator? Yet here lies the beautiful paradox of faith—that the same God who spoke galaxies into existence invites us, His creation, into relationship with Him. But make no mistake: this is not a partnership of equals. This is the absolute, uncompromising sovereignty of the God who declares the end from the beginning.

"Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.'" Isaiah 46:9-10

What if every prayer we utter runs counter to His perfect will? What if our deepest longings and most fervent intercessions are but the musings of creatures who "see in a mirror dimly"? The sobering truth is this: God's plan will unfold exactly as He has decreed, whether we understand it, agree with it, or pray for it. His sovereignty is not subject to our approval or comprehension.

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9

The Day of the End Approaches

We stand at the threshold of the last days—the Day of the End, the Day of the Lord. The pages of Jude's epistle speak to our generation with prophetic clarity, warning of those who would creep in unnoticed, who would turn the grace of God into licentiousness. We are witnesses to the very apostasy he foretold, living in the days when men would be "grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage."

"But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, 'In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.' These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit." Jude 1:17-19

The curtain is about to rise on Revelation chapter four—the Harpazo, the catching away of the Church. Just as ambassadors are recalled home before war begins, so too will Christ's Bride be taken up before the Great Tribulation unfolds upon the earth. What has been proclaimed from Heaven through the Word of God will surely come to pass, for God's Word does not return void.

"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

One Body, Many Members

The Church—Christ's Body—is beautifully diverse yet perfectly unified under His Head. You may be a lung cell, I may be a pancreas cell, and our brother may function as a brain cell, ligament cell, or even serve in the humblest capacity as an intestinal cell. Each member is fearfully and wonderfully designed by God for a specific purpose, vastly different from one another in function, yet all essential to the health and operation of the whole Body.

"For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

How foolish it is for the lung cells to argue with the pancreas cells about who truly represents the Body of Christ! How tragic when denominations fight against each other, each claiming exclusive authenticity! We have been given the Bible—the complete, sufficient Word of God—to settle such disputes. There is no excuse for the confusion and division that plagues the modern church.

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13

The Living Sacrifice

Our foundation rests upon the transformational truth of Romans 12:1-2. Here we find our marching orders, our call to surrender, our pathway to true spiritual worship. We are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices—not dead sacrifices that are consumed once, but living ones that die daily to self and live unto God.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2

As we lay down our lives, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus into His death, we become seeds planted in the soil of surrender. But death is not the end—it is the doorway to resurrection life! Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too walk in newness of life, recipients of the free gift of Grace that purchased our redemption.

"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection." Romans 6:4-5

Beyond Time Into Eternity

Here lies the key that unlocks time and everything in it: God is the Father and Creator of time itself. Jesus, in perfect unity with the Father and the Spirit, invented time. They created time and everything about time, and they were able to do this because they are eternal beings who exist outside of time. Time is merely a tool in their hands, a dimension they created for their purposes.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." John 1:1-3

God our Father has given us His eternal life—life without the constraints of time. No longer should we read and study our Bible from our own finite minds and temporal thoughts. Instead, in the mind of Christ, allow Him to lift you beyond time, beyond this fallen world, and by His Grace give you eternal life IN CHRIST, living in and from the Father forever.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

This is the greatest love story ever told—not a romance between equals, but the incomprehensible love of the Creator for His creation. It is the story of absolute sovereignty choosing to redeem rebellious creatures, of eternal God stepping into time to rescue those bound by time, of perfect holiness embracing imperfect sinners through the blood of His Son.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

As we embark on this study of Multiple Harpazo Events, let us do so with the humility of creatures before their Creator, with the joy of children of the Most High, and with the courage that comes from knowing our God reigns absolutely over all things—including the timing and manner of our gathering together unto Him.

"Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come." 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

Let the Body of Christ unite in this truth: His sovereignty is absolute, His love is perfect, His timing is flawless, and His Word will accomplish all that He desires. We are but vessels of clay, chosen to carry the treasure of the Gospel, living in anticipation of that glorious day when faith becomes sight and the Bride is caught up to meet her Bridegroom in the air.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4:7

Multiple Harpazo Events: Biblical Unity Through Diversity

A comprehensive scriptural analysis reveals that dispensationalist and Reformed views of the rapture may both capture different aspects of God's complete eschatological plan, with biblical evidence supporting multiple gathering events that fulfill various prophetic patterns while maintaining the fundamental unity of Christ's body.

"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." 1 Peter 5:10

The principle "according to your faith be it unto you" suggests God's character accommodates different levels of prophetic expectation, allowing both theological perspectives to experience what they believe Scripture promises.

Scripture presents a consistent pattern of sequential gatherings rather than a single simultaneous event, evidenced through harpazo word studies, harvest typology, and resurrection "orders."

The Adam-Eve to Christ-Bride typology establishes a framework for understanding distinct but complementary roles within God's unified plan. Biblical diversity operates within unity—different groups, different timing, yet one body serving one Lord.

Biblical Evidence for Multiple Harpazo Events

The Greek word harpazo appears 13 times in Scripture with varied contexts, destinations, and purposes. Rather than describing identical events, these passages reveal different types of catching away: Philip transported between earthly locations (Acts 8:39), Paul caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-4), Christ ascending to God's throne (Revelation 12:5), and the Church gathered in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The word itself supports multiple gathering events with different circumstances and destinations.

1 Corinthians 15:23 establishes the resurrection sequence: "But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." The Greek word "order" (tagma) means military rank or arranged battalion—suggesting sequential deployment rather than simultaneous resurrection. This military terminology indicates distinct groupings with different timing, not a single corporate event.

Harvest imagery reveals three distinct seasons mirroring Israel's agricultural pattern: barley harvest (early spring, around Passover), wheat harvest (late spring, at Pentecost), and grape harvest (fall, at Tabernacles). Each requires different processing methods—barley winnowed by wind (easiest), wheat threshed by tribulation (more intensive), grapes crushed in a winepress (most severe). These harvest types prophetically correspond to different groups of believers with varying levels of spiritual maturity and readiness.

The concept of "firstfruits" appears multiple times in different contexts: Christ as firstfruits of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20), early converts as firstfruits of regions (Romans 16:5), Israel as firstfruits of nations (Jeremiah 2:3), and the 144,000 as firstfruits during tribulation (Revelation 14:4). Multiple firstfruits indicate multiple harvests, each representing a larger group to follow.

The Adam-Eve to Christ-Bride Typology

Genesis 2:18 establishes God's pattern: "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." This divine principle—incompleteness requiring union through the Father's provision—creates the prophetic template for both Adam receiving Eve and Christ receiving His Bride.

The parallel runs deeper: Eve existed "in Adam" before her individual creation (Genesis 5:2 calls them both "Adam"), just as the Bride of Christ existed "IN CHRIST" before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Both Eve and the Bride emerge from their husband's opened side during supernatural sleep—Adam's "deep sleep" (Hebrew tardemah) and Christ's death. The Father personally presents both brides to their respective husbands after preparation.

Scripture distinguishes the Bride from general wedding guests. Revelation 19:9 states: "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb"—clearly differentiating between the Bride (verse 7) and invited guests. John 3:29 describes "the friend of the bridegroom" who rejoices but is not the bride. This typology suggests a distinct Bride class with unique timing and privileges within the larger family of God.

Ancient Hebrew wedding customs illuminate the prophetic timeline: betrothal (current Church age), groom preparing a place in His Father's house (John 14:2-3), bride making herself ready (Revelation 19:7), father deciding timing (Matthew 24:36), groom returning for bride, and wedding feast. The typology supports pre-tribulation timing for the Bride's gathering, followed by the wedding feast, including other groups.

Biblical Principle of Receiving According to Faith

"According to your faith be it unto you" appears throughout Christ's ministry as a fundamental divine operating principle. Matthew 9:29, Matthew 8:13, Mark 10:52, and Matthew 15:28 all demonstrate God giving people exactly what they believe for. This principle extends beyond healing to encompass all divine intervention and blessing.

The woman with the issue of blood received precisely what she expected through touching Christ's garment (Matthew 9:22). Abraham received the promise through being "fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was also able to perform" (Romans 4:21). Faith functions as the "trigger" for divine blessing, though God's power accomplishes the miracle.

Mark 6:5-6 reveals faith's limiting effect: Jesus "could there do no mighty work...because of their unbelief." James 1:6-7 warns that doubting believers should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Unbelief constrains divine intervention, while faith releases it.

Biblical examples show God accommodating different faith levels: giving milk to spiritual infants (1 Corinthians 3:2), dealing "to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3), and receiving believers "weak in the faith" (Romans 14:1). God's character consistently honors the faith-response of His children while working within their spiritual capacity.

Love of Truth and Receiving Rewards

2 Thessalonians 2:10-13 establishes the principle: those who "received not the love of the truth" receive "strong delusion," while those chosen for salvation believe the truth. Since Jesus declared "I am...the truth" (John 14:6), "love of the truth" means love of Christ Himself—believing in His goodness and faithfulness.

The passage connects eschatological outcomes to truth reception. Those who love truth are "chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (verse 13), while those who reject it are given over to deception. What people believe about God's character affects what they receive in prophetic fulfillment.

This principle operates throughout Scripture: God gives according to what people believe about His promises. Abraham received the promise through faith in God's faithfulness. Israel missed their Messiah through unbelief in prophecy. The Bereans were "more noble" because they searched Scripture with expectant faith (Acts 17:11). What about Moses? Joshua and Caleb, and the ten spies? Lot and his family?

Romans 8:32 reveals the Father's generous heart: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" God's character supports multiple expressions of eschatological blessing for those who believe His promises.

Different Biblical Groups and Their Destinies

Scripture clearly delineates distinct groups with different callings, timing, and destinies while maintaining overall unity in Christ. The Church/Bride receives unique promises: betrothal relationship (2 Corinthians 11:2), sanctification process (Ephesians 5:26-27), marriage ceremony (Revelation 19:7), and eternal union with Christ in the New Jerusalem.

Israel's prophetic destiny operates on different timing: currently experiencing "partial hardening...until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (Romans 11:25), with future spiritual restoration (Ezekiel 36:25-27) and recognition of the Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). Israel's restoration follows the Church's completion, not simultaneously with it.

Tribulation saints represent another distinct group: converts during the seven-year tribulation who "come out of the great tribulation" (Revelation 7:14), many martyred for refusing the beast's mark (Revelation 20:4). Their resurrection occurs at a different time than the Bride—at mid-tribulation and perhaps Christ's second coming rather than the Harpazo.

Different covenant relationships yield different timing. Those "in Adam" die physically; those "in Christ" experience resurrection transformation. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 specifies "the dead in Christ shall rise first"—not all dead people, but specifically those in covenantal relationship with Christ through the Church age.

Biblical Unity Versus Biblical Diversity

Ephesians 4:4-6 establishes foundational unity: "There is one body and one Spirit...one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." Yet the same passage (verses 7, 11-12) immediately describes diversity within unity: grace given "according to the measure of Christ's gift" with different roles—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.

1 Corinthians 12 provides the definitive teaching: "The body is one and has many members" (verse 12), yet "God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose" (verse 18). Unity does not require uniformity—different parts serve different functions at different times. Pancreas and Lung cells serve the same body, but are completely different from one another. Both are absolutely essential for life.

The principle applies eschatologically: 1 Corinthians 15:23 describes resurrection in "order" (tagma—military ranks), with each group serving its proper function at its appointed time. Christ as firstfruits, then those who are Christ's at His coming, demonstrate sequential rather than simultaneous unity.

Biblical unity centers on essential doctrine and purpose while allowing diversity in gifts, roles, timing, and calling. Love serves as the binding element (1 Corinthians 13), not identical timing or experience. Different parts of the body have prominence at different seasons while serving the same Head.

Parable and Typology Analysis

Wedding parables reveal graduated readiness levels. The ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) divide into wise and foolish based on spiritual preparation that cannot be shared—oil representing an intimate relationship with Christ. Five enter the feast; five are shut out. The parable warns "you know neither the day nor the hour" (verse 13), echoing Jewish wedding customs where only the father determines the groom's return, but you better be ready because it is coming soon.

Harvest parables support multiple gathering phases. The wheat and tares parable (Matthew 13:24-30) commands "let both grow together until the harvest," then the wheat is gathered into the barn while tares are burned. The growing seed parable (Mark 4:26-29) describes progressive maturation—"first the blade, then the ear, after that the full grain"—before harvest readiness.

Jewish Marriage typology throughout Scripture follows consistent patterns: God choosing the bride, bride price paid, betrothal period, groom preparing place, bride making herself ready, father sending groom at appointed time, wedding ceremony, and marriage feast. Each phase has distinct timing and participants, not simultaneous events.

Old Testament types support multiple gathering patterns: Noah's family entering the ark before judgment, Lot removed from Sodom before destruction, Enoch translated before the flood, and Ruth following Naomi while Orpah returns to Moab. These types suggest that different responses to divine calling yield different timing in prophetic events.

The Mystery Passages and Hidden Truths

Paul's mysteries specifically concerned the Church's unique identity and timing. Ephesians 3:3-6 reveals the mystery "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men"—that Gentiles would be "fellowheirs, and of the same body" through the gospel. The Church's existence was completely hidden from Old Testament prophets.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 introduces "the rapture mystery": "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump." This specific transformation was previously unrevealed—living believers translated without death.

The mystery includes timing elements: Christ dwelling in believers (Colossians 1:27), the Church as Christ's body (Ephesians 1:22-23), and the marriage relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:32). These mysteries were "kept secret since the world began" but now revealed (Romans 16:25).

Multiple gathering events could be part of revealed mysteries since the Church's very existence was hidden. The distinction between the Bride and general believers reflects the mystery of Christ's intimate union with His Church, separate from His broader relationship with all saints throughout history.

Prophetic Timing and Biblical Sequences

Daniel's 70-weeks prophecy establishes the gap principle. After the 69th week, "Messiah shall be cut off" and Jerusalem destroyed (fulfilled in 33 and 70 AD), yet the 70th week describes a future covenant with "many" and the abomination of desolation. Jesus confirmed the gap by referencing future abomination (Matthew 24:15). This precedent supports timing gaps in prophetic fulfillment.

Biblical prophecy often has multiple fulfillment layers: Isaiah 7:14 (near and far fulfillment), Joel 2:28-32 (Pentecost and end-times), and Hosea 11:1 (Israel's exodus and Christ's return from Egypt). Progressive revelation allows for multiple aspects of the same prophecy to be fulfilled at different times.

Revelation's chronological sequences show both linear progression and recapitulative passages. The phrase "after this" (Revelation 7:1, 9) indicates sequence, while specific time periods (42 months, 1,260 days) suggest precise timing. Different perspectives on the same events from heavenly and earthly viewpoints create apparent overlaps.

Trumpet passages serve different purposes: the rapture trumpet gathers the Church to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), the second coming trumpet gathers the elect on earth (Matthew 24:31), and Revelation's seven trumpets announce judgments during tribulation. Different trumpets for different purposes at different times support multiple gathering events rather than a single simultaneous rapture.

The Love Story Framework

God's character consistently gives according to faith and expectation.

Luke 11:13 promises: "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:11 assures: "How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" The Father's heart delights in blessing His children according to their faith capacity.

The love story spans multiple groups and timing while maintaining unity of purpose. Abraham, Moses, David, and other Old Testament saints related to God differently than New Testament believers, yet all receive salvation through Christ. Different covenant relationships produce different prophetic timing while serving the same redemptive plan.

Romans 14:1-2 demonstrates God's accommodation: "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye...For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs." God works with believers at their current faith level rather than demanding uniform understanding or experience.

The Father's provision for both Jesus (His Bride) and different groups of believers reflects His abundant love. Just as He gave Adam exactly what he needed (Eve from his side), God provides for each group according to their specific calling and timing. The Bride receives unique intimacy; other saints receive appropriate blessings for their roles.

Both Ciews Seeing Different Aspects of Truth

This simple biblical analysis reveals that both dispensationalist and Reformed views may be perceiving different facets of God's complete eschatological plan. Scripture supports multiple harpazo events, different timing for different groups, and God's character in giving according to faith—while maintaining absolute unity in Christ and His redemptive purpose.

The Biblical evidence suggests three primary gathering phases: First, a "firstfruits" company (likely the Bride class) is removed before tribulation, corresponding to the barley harvest and ancient wedding customs. Second, the main body of believers gathered during tribulation events, corresponding to the wheat harvest requiring threshing. Third, final “crushed” remnants gathered at the second coming, completing God's harvest program.

Rather than contradictory positions, these theological perspectives may represent different aspects of biblical truth—dispensationalists emphasizing the Bride's unique timing and preparation, while Reformed theology focuses on the unity and sovereignty encompassing all believers. God's character supports both expressions because He gives according to what His children believe His promises contain.

The principle "according to your faith be it unto you" suggests that those who love the truth and believe in Christ's imminent return position themselves to receive that blessing, while those focused on endurance through tribulation prepare themselves for that calling. Both groups serve essential roles in God's plan, receiving what they believe Scripture promises while contributing to the larger purpose of establishing Christ's kingdom.

Biblical unity operates through diversity, not uniformity—one body with many members functioning at different times according to divine appointment. The harvest imagery, resurrection "orders," and wedding typology all point toward sequential rather than simultaneous fulfillment of prophetic promises. Both theological traditions may be correct in their emphasis, seeing different movements within God's unified but diverse eschatological symphony.

For those LEFT BEHIND.