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We've been talking about the “Rapture” of the Church, the Bride of Christ. Now we're going to look at something about the Rapture that perhaps you've never considered; something that you may or may not agree with; that's okay.

As I studied and began to explore the Word about the Rapture and what all is taught on this catching away, I started seeing something that I had never considered before.

I sought the Holy Spirit and His revelation knowledge on what I was beginning to see in Scripture. I am quite certain that it is not something new; I don't believe that I am the first to see what I'm about to share with you; I am confident that I am not the first to teach on it either; but I can say that I have never actually heard anyone teach what I am about to share with you on the Rapture.

We begin with some foundational teaching; an understanding of some things mentioned in God's Word. We will begin by discussing some of the “Books of Heaven”. Yes I said “Books”. I know you all have heard of or should have heard of the “Book of Life”; sometimes referred to as the “Lamb's Book of Life”. But there are other books mentioned in God's Word; other books where God keeps record of important things.

Now we mention these different books because there is one book that we want to specifically talk about; and we need to verify that the book is not just a random account in God's Word; but in fact is part of a pattern that God has established in Heaven.

The Bible tells us of at least five books; five different books, each containing information that is accessible to the hosts of Heaven.

Evidence recorded for all eternity, verification of the facts, without dispute. That's why God's Word can say:

“And ifanyone’s name was not found written inthe book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

I'm not going to get into great detail about these books; I just want to make you aware that there are different books and that this is corroborated by Scriptures.

We mentioned the “Book of Life” ~ or “Lamb's Book of Life” the most well known book. The only way you will get into Heaven for eternity is to have your name written in the Book of Life. This book was first referred to in Exodus 32:32-33 and is referred to or mentioned throughout the Bible in reference to one's citizenship in the Kingdom of God or concerning one's name being blotted out of the book, thus prohibiting them from entering the Kingdom of God ~ canceling their citizenship; all the way thru to Revelation where anyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life is cast into the lake of fire: Rev. 20:15

Look at Psalms 69:28 in the King James:

“Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.”

Other translations do say “book of life”; however the Hebrew indication for this word refers to the flesh, or to an actual living being.

The Amplified Bible perhaps explains this passage best; indicating both removing the sinner from the land of the living and not allowing them to be counted with the righteous in Glory. The separation in the King James between “the book of the living”and “not be written with the righteous” does seem to support the Amplified Bible translation of this passage:

“Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and the book of life and not be enrolled among the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those upright and in right standing with God).”

The purpose of this book appears to be a record of your life; your personal information, who you are, number of days, basically everything about in this life.

Psalms 139:16 ~ NASB

“Youreyes have seen my unformed substance;

And inYour book were all written

Thedays that were ordained for me,

When as yet there was not one of them.”

Paul, being a Jew, a Pharisee {that is a teacher of the Law of God},

understood about this book called the Book of the Living and was referring to it when he said in Galatians 1:15 ~NASB ~

“But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb andcalled me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I mightpreach Him among the Gentiles,”

Now, I want to be clear here; I don't believe in predestination, I don't believe that your future is predetermined. God gave us free will and free choice to either choose to obey Him or choose not to obey Him; to choose to worship Him or choose not to worship Him; to choose life or to choose death; to choose blessings or to choose curses.

Here's how I understand it; when you are conceived in your mother's womb, God writes you down in the Book of the Living and with that all your information and the ultimate ending for your life as God would have you to complete your life.

See God doesn't want anyone to perish and go to hell [2 Peter 3:9]; He wants us all to join Him in Heaven and spend eternity with Him ; that's the way He designed us and what He predestined us to do. Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:11.

This is a changing book, with a changing ending because of our free will. Our destiny changes, our ending changes and is recorded with each decision that we make that affects our eternal status. God writes it perfect; we alter it because of our sin and our sinful choices; God then chooses not to look at it, but continually strives to draw us to the final conclusion that He originally prepared for us.

Okay, on to the next book....... not much written about this book but it is mentioned in God's Word and of course is contained in Jewish tradition and teachings.

“The Book of Tears” ~ Psalms 56:8 ~ NASB ~ “Youhave taken account of my wanderings; Put mytears in Your bottle.; Are they not inYour book?

Apparently all of our trials and tribulations, everything we suffer though because of our serving God and obedience to God is recorded for God to take special note of and is recorded as a matter of calling attention to for God's action in response to our call for help in these times.

Now the fourth book; and it is probably several volumes; is the “Books of Works”:

Revelation 20:12 ~ “And I saw the dead, thegreat and the small, standing before the throne, andbooks were opened; and anotherbook was opened, which isthe book of life; and the deadwere judged from the things which were written in thebooks,according to their deeds.”

This is the Great White Throne Judgment where sinners are judged and condemned according to their works and that they are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Believers are judged on the Cross of Calvary and by this time have all received their reward.

This brings us to our 5^th book; and the book we want to focus on; “The Book of Remembrance”. We find reference to this book in Malachi 3:16-17 ~ NASB:

“Then those whofeared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORDgave attention and heard it, and abook of remembrance was written before Him for those whofear the LORD and who esteem His name. “They will beMine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that Iprepare Myown possession, and I willspare them as a manspares his own son who serves him.”

The Amplified Bible says it this way: “Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name.

And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

Here in this passage referring to the Book of Remembrance; those written in this book are called God's Jewels ~ the Hebrew word segulah is the same word used in Exodus 19:5 where God describes His people Israel ~ who obey His voice and keep His covenant ~ when He brought them out of Egypt. Notice the Amplified Bible version in Malachi where it says “My Jewels, My Special Possession, My Peculiar Treasure”; referring to those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His Name and esteemed or placed His Name above all others.

Here's what we see about this book; it is present tense dealing with and concerning the living, particularly those who are faithfully obedient to His Word. Peter put it this way in 1 Peter 2:9 NASB ~ “But you areA CHOSEN RACE, A royalPRIESTHOOD, AHOLY NATION,A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called youout of darkness into His marvelous light;”

And, according to Malachi, God will reference this book to publicly recognize and declare those who are His Jewels to be His and claim them on that day, and He will spare them.

What day??? Spare them from what???

Normally in prophetic scriptures “that day” or “the day” usually refer to the “Day of the Lord”; the “Last Day”; the Day in which God starts handing out judgments; from which His Jewels will be spared. The Tribulation Period! In other words, this passage and reference to the Book of Remembrance has a direct link to the Rapture of the Church ~ the Bride of Christ.

The Hebrew word here is “zikrown” which indicates a memorial; a memorable thing, a day, or a writing. Basically the word expresses “something is written to remind someone to do something on a certain day”.

The root word of “zikrown” is “zakar” ~ to remember ~ means to mark so as to be recognized, make to be remembered, bring to remembrance.

When the Word tells us that God remembers someone, something miraculous happens! He remembered Noah ~ Genesis 8:1 ~ Abraham ~ Genesis 19:29 ~ Rachel ~ Genesis 30:22 ~ His covenant with the Children of Israel ~ Exodus 2:24 and many other places in the Old Testament ~ Samson ~ Judges 16:28-30 ~ Hannah ~ Samuel 1:19~ Hezekiah ~ 2 Kings 20:3-6; and there are many more.

The first time His Word tells us that God remembers someone is when God “remembered Noah” ~ Genesis 8:1 ~ it didn't mean that God had forgotten Noah and his family was out there on the huge ball of water ~ floating around in that little ark on the surface of the earth for a hundred and fifty days. God wasn't sitting there one day going “Hmmmmmm, seems like there's something I needed to do; something I planned on doing about earth; now what was that?????” and then suddenly, “Eureka! I just remembered, I've got that guy Noah and his family and all those animals floating around on the water with nowhere to go: I guess I better do something about that.”

And look at this; when Noah removed the cover of the ark and was able to leave the ark on dry land ~ Genesis 8:13 ~ it was “in the first month, the first day of the month”; {just a note ~ Tishrei or Tishre or Tishri ~ in September or October is the first month of the Civil New Year.}

According to the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible, there was a civil Hebrew calendar from Genesis 1:1 (Creation) until Exodus 12:1. In Exodus 12:2, God said to Moses that because of the Passover event, the month that Passover occurred shall be the "head month", or first month of the Hebrew calendar, so since Passover occurred in the Springtime, the month name that was later assigned by Ezra and identified with the Passover event was the month of Nissan.

This day would later be known as Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets; which is also known as Yom Ha Zikkaron or the “Day of Remembrance.” It is believed that on this day, the Book of Remembrance is opened so that God can deliver those who “fear His Name”. This Feast of Trumpets is also the time period that some Prophecy Teachers believe will be the time of the Rapture of the Church.

Let's go back to Malachi; because it is important for us to be listed in this book, especially in this time when we are facing what is probably the final generation before the Rapture of the Church!

Malachi 3:16-17 ~ NASB:

Malachi 4:1 ~ NASB: “For behold, the day is coming,burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will bechaff; and the day that is coming willset them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”

Here's what the Spirit showed me as I began to study this relationship between the Book of Remembrance and the Rapture of the Church/the Bride of Christ:

When one is saved/born again through the Blood of Jesus; their name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. If they die, they will be in Heaven with Jesus. Of that there is no question ~ that's the Word of God.

While we are here on earth, as believers, we do suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel, we do suffer trial and tribulation because we live in this sin corrupted world; but we are promised escape from the coming wrath and judgment of God ~ the Tribulation Period. 1 Thess. 5:9

I believe that those whose names are written in the Book of Remembrance are the ones who will be taken up in the Rapture. Remember the qualifiers for being in the book:

~ Those who obey His voice and keep His covenant ~ Those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His Name and esteemed or placed His Name above all others.

Here's where I might lose you; but stay with me; just remember,

you don't have to believe this; but what I am about to share with you,

I will show you in God's Word why I believe this.

Even if you are saved with your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life,

you may not be taken up in the Rapture, if you are still living at the time;

unless your name is also written in the Book of Remembrance.

Ephesians 5:27 NASB ~ “that He mightpresent to Himself the churchin all her glory,

having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would beholy and blameless.”

The Church, the Bride of Christ is supposed to be holy and sanctified, without spot or blemish, dressed in white robes of righteousness. In other words, we must be ready and prepared to be accepted as the Bride of Christ; if not, we will not make the Marriage Supper of The Lamb.

How do I know this? Look at God's Word.............

In Matthew chapter 22 Jesus tells about a wedding ~ The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

Those who were invited to the wedding refused to come and even killed his messengers. In verse 9, the king opened up his invitation to anyone who wanted to come, both good and bad. All who accepted the invitation were welcomed to come.

Now look at verse 11 of Matthew 22 ~ But when the king came in to view the guests, he looked intently at a man there who had on no wedding garment. And he said, Friend, how did you come in here without putting on the [appropriate] wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen.

Jesus said this is what the Kingdom of Heaven is like!!! Look at this man who did not have on the appropriate wedding clothes. Your first reaction might be: “How can the king be so ruthless?” “Who is this man who does not have on the wedding garments?” What you have to understand is that everyone who was listening to Jesus knew exactly what Jesus was talking about and why this man should have had on the wedding garments.

See, in this time period, if a wealthy man invited you to a wedding, certain standards were expected to be met in your dress code. Knowing that not everyone who was invited, especially to the wedding of a king's son, would have the proper clothes to wear ~ and remember, in this parable, everyone there was invited off the street ~ the wealthy man would have a closet filled with proper garments, robes or mantles to cover your regular clothes if they were not good enough for the occasion. The wealthy man provided these garments free of charge and everyone knew that they would be provided. There was no excuse not to have on the proper garments.

That's why he was speechless; and that's why the king had him bound and thrown out into the darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And Jesus concluded with many are called, invited, summoned; but few are chosen.

So how is this related to the Rapture? Just this; Jesus is returning for His Church that is clothed in garments of white ~ robes of righteousness: Revelation 19:7-9 Amplified ~ Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white—for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people). Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

So, in order to attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we must be clothed in white linen ~ robes of righteousness in order to be let in. We may be called {saved, born again}, but unless we are clothed in the proper garments, we are not chosen to go to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb; instead, we will be cast out into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth {the Tribulation Period}.

And what about Matthew 7:21-23 Ampl. ~ Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].

And Matthew 10:38 ~ Ampl. ~ And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [ cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.

And Matthew Chapter 25 ~ the parable of the ten virgins: Jesus said that “At that time the kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins......”. Jesus was telling about End Times events, that's the time He was talking about. All ten virgins were invited and in fact were part of the wedding party; but only five of them were prepared to enter into the wedding banquet and thus allowed in; the others were shut out of the wedding banquet and were not even recognized to be allowed into the banquet. Jesus then admonishes us to keep watch, because we do not know the day or the hour of His return.

In the same chapter, immediately following the parable of the ten virgins; Jesus tells another parable and again likens it to the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the parable of the talents. A man, before going on a journey, leaves three of his servants with some money, entrusting his property to them. Two of the servants invested the money and earned income for the man and one servant just hid the money in the ground. The two who had invested the money were rewarded and the one who did not was thrown outside in to the darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. {the same result of the man at the wedding banquet}

Now, they were all servants, they were all trusted enough by the man to leave in charge of his property and money. So what was different? The third man should have done something with what he had been given; no matter how small it was, he should have used the blessing he was given to increase the man's wealth.

The Spiritual application of this parable is that even though

we are freely given salvation; Grace is free; no cost to us

whatsoever;we are expected then to do something with that

salvation and the free gift and blessing that God gave us through

the Blood of Jesus;build upon our salvation through sanctification

by keeping ourcovenant with God, obeying His commandments ~ how many times

did Jesus talk about loving Him and keeping His commandments??? ~ clothe ourselves in white garments of righteousness ~ become holy because He is holy ~ so that when He returns, He will find that we have been faithful and steadfast in His righteousness and holiness; blameless and spotless because we have kept His commandments, we have served the cause of the Gospel, we have at the very least provided interest on the investment that God gave us through salvation. God doesn't expect us to be perfect; He does expect us to repent when we sin, strive to do His will, and commit our whole being to Him. That is the least of our responsibility as a believer.

If we fulfill the very least of our responsibility, then we are part of the Raptured Church; if not, then we are thrown outside in the darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth {which is the Tribulation Period}. We could miss the Rapture and have to go through the Tribulation Period.

Again in Luke 13:24-28, Jesus tells about entering in through the narrow door; many will try but cannot enter; they will call for the owner of the house to open the door because they ate with him and he taught in their streets; but he says he does not know them or where they come from. So even though they ate with him; a very intimate act in the middle east; even though they were taught by him; they did not make it into the house and are left where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Are you beginning to see the pattern?? Are you beginning to see the relationship between being prepared and ready, watching and obeying, serving and bearing fruit.

These are just some of the Scriptures. A lot of these are Scriptures that I have heard for years; but until I began to really study the Rapture, I never fully understood these parables and what Jesus was talking about. Now, to me, they are clear as crystal. Now as I read and study these Scriptures, I can see the relationship to the Rapture, I can see the purpose that Jesus had when He told these parables.

They are designed to teach us to commit fully to God, submit totally to God, obey God absolutely. We are given the means and opportunity to do so, we simply have to choose to do so. The choice is ours to make, God will not make you serve and obey Him ~ you must freely choose to do so. Too many choose to only do so partially and expect the reward of those who do so fully. We're not perfect, but repentant and humble before our Lord and Savior; seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; being Holy because He is Holy; obeying first and foremost; drawing near to God so He can draw near to us; ready, waiting, watching, and prepared for the soon coming King.

Another thing to understand, all the books of the New Testament from Acts to Revelation were written to believers and for believers as a guideline of living and growing as believers. We could spend hours and hours going through the Letters of Paul, John, Peter, Jude, and James; and we would ultimately find the same thing ~ God expects us as His Children; as the Bride of Christ; as the Church of the FirstBorn; as born-again believers; as followers of Christ; to grow and mature in our faith; to Love God with all our being; to love our neighbors as ourselves; to obey God; serve God; repent of our sins daily; crucify the lusts of the flesh daily; to turn from the world and it's wicked ways; to bear fruit in our Christian walk; and to always seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

In other words; the whole purpose of the Word of God is to prepare us to be Raptured and not left behind to go through the Tribulation in the event that we are alive when Jesus returns for His Bride.

That brings us to Jesus' final words to the Church. The letters in the Book of Revelation. There is much here, but I want to focus on just one thing that Jesus told the Churches.

To the Last Church, the Church of Laodicea: Revelation 3:15-16 ~ NASB ~ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot;I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I willspit you out of My mouth.

Jesus goes on to talk about being dressed in robes of righteousness and not being ashamed because you are naked. Remember, Jesus is talking to the Church! He is talking to Born Again Believers ~ the Bride of Christ in Preparation for His return!

Look at this and see if Jesus isn't admonishing the Church to be ready for His return to take His Bride home.......

‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you tobuy from Megold refined by fire so that you may become rich, andwhite garments so that you may clothe yourself, and thatthe shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘ Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous andrepent. ‘Behold, I standat the door andknock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door,I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ‘ He who overcomes, I will grant to himto sit down with Me on My throne, asI also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ‘ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

I don't know about you, but it sounds to me like Jesus is telling the Church to get our

act together; He would rather we be hot or cold ~ if we're hot, we're doing His will;

if we're cold, there's a chance for us to get saved; if we're lukewarm, that means we

were once hot and now have allowed ourselves to cool down to the point where we

are no longer serving God the way we should; we're no longer seeking first the

Kingdom of God and His Righteousness; we're no longer putting obedience to Him

as a priority over all else in our lives but we don't have enough Spiritual Power in us

to understand we need to repent and we go merrily along our way thinking that we're

good to go ~ and Jesus says that He will spit us out; See, we think that we have it all;

we don't need anything ~ but in reality, we have nothing; we think we are understanding

the Word of God, but we don't; we think that we are victorious, but we're not; we think

we are clothed in Righteousness, but we are naked.

Jesus loves the Church so He is reproving the Church and disciplining the Church by His Word. When Jesus comes knocking; you better be ready to open the door ~ there won't be time for any last minute clean ups; won't be time to repent; won't be time to fix anything ~ if you're ready, then He will dine with you in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and you will be with Him in His Father's House!

If not, then you will have to suffer the discipline of being left behind for the Tribulation Period and miss being part of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and being part of the Bride of Christ!

I know that this may be a hard teaching to accept; but God's Word makes it clear, with no room for confusion. Jesus is returning for a Bride that is sanctified and Holy, without spot or blemish ~ individually first and collectively as a Body second.

The body of the Church cannot be as a whole sanctified and Holy, without spot or blemish; unless each individual of that body is without spot or blemish, sanctified and Holy. So; the end result is that unless you personally are where you should be in Right Standing with God according to His commandments; seeking first His Kingdom and His Righteousness; living in obedience to His Will and Purpose; repentant and sanctified as a True Believer ~ not perfect, just putting God first in your life before all else, letting your light shine as a witness and testimony, washed in the Blood of Jesus ~ an overcomer according to the Word of God ~ unless you are ready, watching, and waiting to open the door when Jesus comes knocking; You won't be a part of the Church of the First Born and you might just miss the greatest event of your life: The Rapture of the Church

If your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life; when you die, you will go to Heaven to be with Jesus!

If you are alive when the Rapture of the Church occurs; you're going to also want your name written in the Book of Remembrance! To be remembered by God to speak and act on your behalf to take you out of this world and the coming Tribulation.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right. Either way, wouldn't you want to be Hot for Jesus; rather than lukewarm and take the chance of missing the greatest banquet of all time!!!!