Joe Ortiz has the distinction of being the first Mexican American in US history to conduct a talk show on an English-language, commercial radio station. He began his broadcasting career in 1971 at KABC TALK RADIO 790 AM in the highly competitive Los Angeles media market. He went on to become an award-winning broadcaster, news reporter and newspaper columnist in Los Angeles for over 20 years. Joe writes regularly on his two blogs The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation.

The Rapture to Heaven doctrine has probably been the most debated issue in the bible lo these past 20 to 30 years.  Not a single second goes by where the debate does not continue to rage in homes, churches and more so now on the Internet. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has their specific take on the Rapture ranging anywhere from a Pre, Mid to Post Tribulation position, as well as the ever increasing Pre-Wrath point of view.

Pre-Tribulation Rapture to Heaven proponents have been promoting a doctrinal precept that the Church of God is to be seen as the Bride of the Lamb, a phrase that is mentioned in several verses in the book of Revelation. One of the main reasons they promote this non-scripture-based idea is to place the Church of God up in heaven (supposedly because it was caught up there seven years before the beginning of the so-called "Great Tribulation") and can now be seen returning with the Lord at His 2nd Advent.

As you, the reader, begin to examine my attached presentation concerning the entire “Restrainer” issue, one of the main statements I have made repeatedly concerning the information I submit to “Hearken” is, “if our respective contributions don’t bring glory to God, then our polemics should not be put forth as gospel truth.

One of the tactics used by “Rapture” theorists (whether they be Pre, Mid or Post) is to provide scripture they believe proves many Christians are already in Heaven, having ascended immediately up there after they died (or will be there by virtue of the Rapture) and can be seen coming back with Jesus Christ (as they interpret Revelation 19:7-14, which reads, And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

The Rapture debate will continue regardless of what we may believe, as it has for decades. We can only hope that our contribution to the dialogue will help to inform those whose interest lay in the topic and/or hopefully can allay the fears of those who suffer much anxiety in regards to the times we are experiencing. Many believe the return of Jesus Christ is imminent, based primarily on the ever increasing apocalyptical notions that permeate our highly advanced technological messenger-modus operandi.

As promised in my last posting, I am attaching Chapter 2 of our first book, The End Times Passover, that will detail the entire issue that is probably recognized by most Christians as the Left Behind doctrine, which in essence claims that believers in Jesus Christ are supposed to be taken to Heaven seven years before He returns to rule and reign on earth for 1000 years.

The entire issue as to whether we are caught up to Heaven to escape ‘great tribulation’ or not has caused the most perplexity among many Christians, more than any other issue in the Bible. Not only perplexity; but the Rapture debate has caused a great amount of anxiety and fear among our fellow disciples, especially as we witness the increasing amount of horrendous events such as the Japan earthquake, wars in the Middle East, worldwide financial uncertainty, the specter of corrupt governments, and primarily as man’s hearts turn colder against each other.