CATACOMBS FELLOWSHIP   BROTHERHOOD   COLLECTION OF ANOINTED TEACHINGS   A SPECIAL INVITATION   THE WESTERN WALL IN JERUSALEM   COVENANT PARTNER   PASTOR'S BLOG   PRESS RELEASE   GUEST BOOK    PRIVACY POLICY   THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS

The meaning of our existence is to live the LIFE of GOD. The meaning our existence is to allow God to live His LIFE through us. When we see HIM, we stand amazed that with no necessity within Him, no pressure from without Him, He would create a FREE being, His perfect Creation, man. That HE would create a man free to choose to love Him and obey Him. Free to walk away, disobey and hate Him. We have a God given FREE will to love Him.

EDMUND DESOTO 

They Are:

• How Close to This Earth will He come? (Part Two)
• The Assured Hope (Part Three)
• To Carry Us Off By Force (Part Four)
• To Rescue Us From The Danger Of Destruction (Part Five)
• The Tribulation and Great Tribulation (Part Six)
• Four Days In Scriptures (Part Seven)
• Divine Power That Is Transferring People SWIFTLY From One Place To Another. (Part Eight)

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem

Psalm 122:6 KJV

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."

1 Thessalonians 4:15 KJV

The authority that validates Paul's affirmation in verse 15 above of the first letter to the Thessalonians is nothing less than "the Lord's Own Words."

Exactly as to how this WORD came to Paul, we, the Church are not exactly told; however, every evidence points to the Lord personally revealing this to Paul.

Galatians 1: 11-12 KJV **

The next Great Event on the prophetic calendar in the Bible is the Coming of Yeshua, Jesus of Nazareth for His Church. The event is imminent. In fact, there are no prophecies unfulfilled which would withhold His Coming.

To share briefly the purpose of His Return, I will start by saying that this event will commence with the raising of the righteous dead ones from the time of Adam to the time of His Coming. 

Secondly, the purpose of His Return is to translate living Believers who are on Earth at the time of His Return to Heaven.

OK, here we go.

Number one, this will involve the bringing of the former believers with Him from Heaven. 

Why? You may ask? This will take place in order that they may receive their full inheritance and reposes their bodies that were buried in the ground. The LORD then will glorify them just as His body is glorified.

Number two, the transforming of their dead bodies which have moldered into dust, into perfect glorified bodies.

Number three, also the transformation of the living bodies of Believers then on earth into the perfect, glorified bodies.

Number Four, and the transformation of both classes of Believers to Heaven. (I will go into specific detail later where HEAVEN is located)

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 KJV

The Thessalonians were wondering why many of their fellow believers had died and what would happen to them when Christ returned. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to understand that death is not the end of the story. 

When Christ returns, all believers, dead and alive will be reunited, never to suffer or die again. The authority that validates Paul's affirmation in verse 15 of the first letter to the Thessalonians is nothing less than "the Lord's Own Words." 

So when he begins to teach the Thessalonians about the return of the Lord and His resurrection, he was not teaching from his own knowledge, but was teaching that which he was taught by the LORD Himself.

Exactly as to how this WORD came to Paul, we, the Church are not exactly told; But we do know that the LORD Himself appeared to Paul, Saul of Tarsus then, on the road to Damascus. Every evidence points to the Lord personally revealing this wonderful Gospel to Paul. * *

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 

and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 

and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 9: 1-5 KJV

 "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Galatians 1: 11-12 KJV

So in other words, Paul did not learn nor was he taught this Gospel through the teachings of any man, but learned it through the Revelation of our LORD and SAVIOUR Jesus Christ Himself. Again, Paul was revealed the "Mystery of the Ages" on the road to Damascus by the Lord Himself.

In theological circles this event is called, "The Rapture Of The Church." This simply means that the Church of our Lord (meaning YAHAWEH) and Saviour YESHUA (meaning SALVATION) will be forever joined to her GREAT bridegroom, Jesus of Nazareth.

Our Lord speaks of His coming or return for His own in the Gospel of John 14: 1-3, where He tells His Disciples that He is going to His Father's House to prepare a place for them, and that He will come again and receive them to Himself.

In other words, He is coming from Heaven into the atmosphere of this Earth to take the Church with Him back to Heaven. Please let the reader beware that this event may take place at any moment. Even while you are reading this article.

Believers and followers of the LORD YESHUA, Jesus Christ, will be taken to Heaven, and unbelievers will be left on Earth to undergo the terrible times of The Tribulation and The Great Tribulation.

Now I will address two questions that have been in my spirit ever since I became a Believer. I know that for most Believers is not even an issue, it is taken for granted, however for me, even the smallest, and most simplest details regarding the Kingdom of Heaven intrigues me.

The big questions are......
WHERE IS HEAVEN, AND HOW FAR IS IT FROM EARTH?

Again, I will address the question of the Lord's Return for His Church and what is involved in this Great Event. But first of all, I want to address myself to several questions pertaining to His return that I find fascinating?

# 1) Where is Heaven?
# 2) How far is Heaven from earth?
# 3) How long will it take the Lord Jesus to travel that distance?
# 4) Just how close to the earth will He come when He returns for His Church?
And Most Importantly Of All....
# 5) Are You HEAVEN BOUND?

As to the locality of Heaven, the Prophet Isaiah gives us some hints. He reports the words of Lucifer, the mightiest Angel ever created by God or Elohim who was His regent on the perfect Earth of Genesis 1:1 before his fall.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

Isaiah 14: 12-14 KJV

Lucifer said, "I will ascend into Heaven." 
This means that he was not in Heaven when he rebelled against GOD. 

He also said, "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God," which tells us that Lucifer had a throne below the stars of GOD, on this Earth, and having a throne, he reigned over the pre-Adamic race of beings, directing their worship to the God of Heaven.

This last utterance also teaches that God's Throne is beyond the stars of the universe. God's throne, the place of His centralized authority, is in Heaven. Heaven is outside of the universe that we live in.

Again, Lucifer speaks: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

This statement localizes Heaven as above the Earth in a line with the axis of the Earth, above the North pole, and in a place beyond the farthest star.

Heaven is NOT above the Earth in all directions. The inhabitants of the equator look up and see only blue sky. But Heaven is NOT above them as they look directly up from where they stand.

The explorers of Antarctica looked up and saw blue sky as well. But Heaven was not above them either. Heaven has a fixed location above the north Pole, in a line with the axis of the Earth.

THE DISTANCE TO HEAVEN?

The next question would be, what is the distance to Heaven? or How far is heaven from the Earth? 

We know that by new and more powerful telescopes, Astronomers have recently discovered stars that are 500,000,000 light years from planet earth.

That means that it has taken light from these stars, traveling at the speed of 186,000 miles per second, 500,000,000 years to reach the Earth. But how far are these stars from the Earth? Here is a quick sample.

If we multiply 500,000,000 by 60 (seconds), then that number by 60 (minutes), then that number by by 24 (hours), then that number by 365 days), and then that number by 186,000, you will have the number of miles which these stars are from the Earth. 

The number is 2,932,848,000,000,000,000,000. Heaven is at least that many miles from the Earth.

These Astronomers say that beyond these stars, there is a thinning out of stars, indicating either that the material universe ends here, or that there may be a relatively empty space, after which stars may again appear. in fact such figures stagger one's imagination.

Think of the Great God Who could speak such a universe into existence by Divine Fiat. God spoke the WORD and the universe sprang into existence. Job says that the sons of God (here Job is referring to Angels when he uses the word sons, and Elohim is God) shouted for joy when they saw the universe come into existence.

JOB CHAPTER 38
The Lord Challenges Job

1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? 

3 Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. 

5 Do you know how its dimensions were determined and who did the surveying? 

6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone 

7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who defined the boundaries of the sea as it burst from the womb, 

9 and as I clothed it with clouds and thick darkness? 

10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. 

11 I said, ‘Thus far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’

12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? 

13 Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night's wickedness? 

14 For the features of the earth take shape as the light approaches, and the dawn is robed in red. 

15 The light disturbs the haunts of the wicked, and it stops the arm that is raised in violence.

16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you walked about and explored their depths? 

17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? 

18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!

19 “Where does the light come from, and where does the darkness go? 

20 Can you take it to its home? Do you know how to get there? 

21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!

22 “Have you visited the treasuries of the snow? Have you seen where the hail is made and stored? 

23 I have reserved it for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war. 

24 Where is the path to the origin of light? Where is the home of the east wind?

25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning? 

26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives? 

27 Who sends the rain that satisfies the parched ground and makes the tender grass spring up?

28 “Does the rain have a father? Where does dew come from? 

29 Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens? 

30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.

31 “Can you hold back the movements of the stars? Are you able to restrain the Pleiades or Orion? 

32 Can you ensure the proper sequence of the seasons or guide the constellation of the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? 

33 Do you know the laws of the universe and how God rules the earth?

34 “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? 

35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct it? 

36 Who gives intuition and instinct? 

37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven, 

38 turning the dry dust to clumps of mud?

39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites 

40 as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket? 

41 Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God as they wander about in hunger?

We as believers should be careful to note that they (the sons of God) did not exclaimed with joy over a chaos, but rather a cosmos, a perfect order creation.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Genesis 1:1 KJV

The chaos of Genesis 1:2 came about as the result of Lucifer's Fall.

The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.

Genesis 1:2 KJV

THE SPEED OF THOUGHT

So this is my conclusion. Our Lord then, when coming to take out His Church from the Earth, will have to travel a distance of 2,932,848,000,000,000,000,000 miles or more. 

I believe that this is the same distance that He traveled when He resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits (Sunday), told the women to go tell the others. Let's read the account.

"She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary.
She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her."

John 20: 15-18 KJV

As the women went to share with the disciples that they had seen The Lord Yeshua or Jesus, the Lord ascended to Heaven unto His Father and His God, entered the same but entered with The Blood of His Sacrifice. 

Let me be specific and very clear here. 

He left Jerusalem on Sunday morning on the Feast of First Fruits and entered Heaven that same Sunday morning on the Feast of First Fruits in order to fulfill, bring, present and place His sacrifice, His BLOOD from the death on the Cross on top of the Ark Of The Covenant which is in Heaven. 

Let's read.

Christ Is The Perfect Offering For Sin

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 

neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 9: 11-12 KJV

He entered this "Holy Place" that same Sunday morning when He resurrected from the grave and allowed Himself to be seen by the women. What happens next or after he placed the sacrificial blood for humanity on top of the Ark Of the Covenant is most interesting.

Jesus Appears To The Disciples Behind Locked Doors

"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 

And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 

whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

John 20: 19-23 KJV

Again, if He traveled through space at the speed of light which is 186,000 miles per second, it would take Him 5000,000,000 years to reach heaven or Earth. However examining Bible History and prophecy with a bird's eye view, it shows us that the Divine program for the Human Race on Earth is only about 7,000 years, 6,000 of which have rolled around ALREADY.

So, this Jesus of Nazareth Who is Very God of Very God, will come with the "speed of thought" from His Heaven . Yes He will be one moment in Heaven, the next, in the atmosphere of this Earth. His Earth.
 

In My Own Words,
EDMUND DESOTO

A NOTE TO THE READER;
Please be advised that this is a work in progress. 
The following articles are to follow and are in sequence of "Jesus Of Nazareth And His Return For His Church."

They Are:

• How Close to This Earth will He come? (Part Two)
• The Assured Hope (Part Three)
• To Carry Us Off By Force (Part Four)
• To Rescue Us From The Danger Of Destruction (Part Five)
• The Tribulation and Great Tribulation (Part Six)
• Four Days In Scriptures (Part Seven)
• Divine Power That Is Transferring People SWIFTLY From One Place To Another. (Part Eight)

Along with visiting Shout Of Victory Ministries and partnering with us in PRAYER, we would appreciate if you would please E-mail TBN-Trinity Broadcasting Network at comments@tbn.org today.

Please express your appreciation for them having and allowing Edmund DeSoto to become part of their great worldwide family of intercessors and to spread the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ internationally.

Purchase The Providence Of Prayer by Edmund DeSoto as a Mp3 download and allow the anointed revelations on prayer found in the book take you into the presence of the Living God.

The Providence Of Prayer contains high definition graphics and is written in PDF format.