I have to confess and apologize to GOD that I waivered in my belief about what is called the Rapture. Long ago God opened up the Word to me and began teaching me from it. When it came to scriptures about the Endtimes, God made it very clear to me that we are not appointed to Wrath. From that point, I have KNOWN that we would be kept from the WRATH of GOD. Protected, covered, hidden in Him. He filled me with a strong conviction that many of us would be going through tribulation. It was important for us to build up our FAITH by building our relationship with HIM.
As time went on and I found myself confronted with all the theories about what is known as “the Rapture”, I began to look at all the theories and teachings. I don’t know if I got caught up in deception or if I was just wishful thinking, but I started to waver between the different teachings. I could see there was some merit to each of the theories. I decided to keep myself open to any of the possibilities. As we come closer to the Day of the Lord, it become more and more important that we clarify our stand on this issue. I certainly do not want to lead anyone astray or cause anyone unnecessary anxiety or over confidence either.
So I decided to really examine this issue. Below is what I uncovered. This study certainly solidified my belief and I hope it will do the same for you. My philosophy in all things is: “I am going with GOD!” When God says something, I KNOW IT IS TRUE and TRUSWORTHY. I have never found that to be applicable to anyone or anything else. If I hear it directly from GOD, or I see it in the WORD (which is Christ) than that is the truth.
Therefore, logically the place I went for answers on “The Rapture” is the WORD of God itself. I have some other sources included in this post because I know that people need evidence and people like documentation.
To be clear and upfront with you, I AM CONVINCED that there is no PRETRIB or MIDTRIB Rapture. I could find no justification for either of those in my study. I do believe there is a rapture/catching up but that it is NOTHING like what we have been told. It does occur when CHRIST RETURNS to judge the Earth. His Second Coming. There is no secret coming for the Church. Actually the first catching up will be of the ungodly and the evil ones. They will be bound and thrown into the fire. The dead in Christ will rise before those who are alive in Chrsit and remain are caught up to be Jesus/Yeshuah to receive our glorified bodies. I do believe that we will not be going to heaven as we have been told. But, that there will be a new heaven, new earth and New Jerusalem and we will be residing here on Earth with Christ. We are not the “BRIDE OF CHRIST” we are among those who were invited to the Wedding. Hopefully, we are clothed in the covering provided by the Blood of the Lamb. The BRIDE of CHRIST is the NEW JERUSALEM prepared and coming down from Heaven. That is made VERY CLEAR in Scripture.
Once you have had an opportunity to see all of the related Scriptures in context, I think you will agree with me that they all use the same language and there is no way to divide them to justify a private visitation for the godly.
Yes, his return come upon the earth suddenly as a thief does. But, certainly not quietly, or under cover. All will see him. He is coming on the DAY OF THE LORD. When he does, I pray that he finds FAITH in the world, that he finds those who love him watching and waiting with their lamps trimmed and that we are all found worthy to escape the wrath that is poured out on the ungodly.
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The Pretribulation Rapture Has Been Taught Throughout Christian History
Jewish Resurrection of the Dead | My Jewish Learning
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Matthew 24:8
But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
Matthew 24:14
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:19
But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
Matthew 24:27
For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:29
“But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Matthew 24:33
so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
Matthew 24:36
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Matthew 24:37
For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
Matthew 24:38
For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
Matthew 24:40
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 24:44
For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
Matthew 24
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mark 13:10
The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
Mark 13:18
But pray that it may not happen in the winter.
Mark 13:25
and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
Mark 13:32
But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
MARK 13
Luke 17:34
I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
Luke 17
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Luke 21:11
and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Luke 21:23
Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people;
Luke 21
And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
(I believe this passage is talking about the NEW JERUSALEM, that is being prepared and will come down from heaven to earth as a bride prepared for the bridegroom.)
1 Corinthians 15:52
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:52
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 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: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
1 Thessalonians 4:15
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Verse Concepts
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1Thessalonians
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 5:2
For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:2
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.4 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 1:10
when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:10
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:8
in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Titus 2:13
looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
Titus 2:13
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The Day of the Lord 2 Peter 3 (Zephaniah 1:7-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness 2 Peter 3
Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet
Revelation 1:10
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 3:10
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 9:6
And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.
Revelation 9:10
They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.
Revelation 9
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
Revelation 11
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation 16:15
(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)
Revelation 16
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Revelation 19 Marriage Supper of the Lamb
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Revelation 20:13
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
Revelation 20:13
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
A New Heaven and a New Earth Revelation 21
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The New Jerusalem Revelation 21:9
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Bible Verses about Gnashing Of Teeth
The Narrow Gate Luke 13 (Matthew 7:13-14)
And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Most Relevant Verses
Luke 13:28
In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.
The Narrow Gate LUKE 13:28 (Matthew 7:13-14)
And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Verse Concepts
and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Parable of the Weeds Explained Matthew 13:42 (Zephaniah 1:1-6)
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Psalm 112:10
The wicked will see it and be vexed,
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked will perish.
Matthew 8:12
but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 8:12 (Luke 7:1-10; John 4:43-54)
I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:51
and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:30
Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Be Ready at Any Hour Matthew 25:30 (Genesis 6:1-7; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:35-48)
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
REVELATION 21
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Gnashing-Of-Teeth
CHURCH FATHERS on the RAPTURE
David K. Hebert, Master of Arts in Theological and Historical Studies
The Rapture of the Church: A Doctrine of the Early Church or a Recent Development of
the Dispensational Movement?
Larry Hart, Ph.D.
This thesis investigated whether the doctrine of the premillennial, pretribulation Rapture of the Church, as a separate event from Jesus’ second coming, originated in the early Church or with the Dispensational Movement around 1830. Although the term “rapture” does not itself appear in Scripture, it comes from the Latin words, rapere and rapiemur and from the Greek word harpazo (which does appear in the New Testament).
The New Testament text supports the concept of a Rapture of the Church, as well as being confirmed by the raptures of Enoch, Elijah and Jesus. There are related terms in the New Testament that have been addressed, the foremost being parousia. There are also related non-scriptural, theological terms that were defined, the foremost being eschatology, premillennialism, pretribulationalism and imminence. The writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers (not scripture but the opinion of men) were examined to see if they address any of these terms. Subsequent historical church writings (again, not scripture but the writings of men.) were also reviewed to uncover any mention of the Rapture. (If you have to dig to find any mention of it, that should give you pause)
Many modern day theologians posit that the beginning of the teaching of the
Rapture, as a belief within the traditional orthodox Church, did not occur until around the
year 1830 Even most of them admit that the Church Fathers were premillennialists (believing
in a literal interpretation of the Book of Revelation,6 with its view of a Tribulation, an Antichrist, and Jesus establishing an earthly kingdom for a thousand years, Millennium, from the Latin words milus, meaning thousand and annum, meaning years, after His Second Coming).
The Greek word episunagoge is mentioned as the eschatological gathering of the faithful to Christ by: Dionysius Alexandrinus (d. 264) in Eusebius’ historia ecclessiasticae.7.24.5, Eusebius (d. 399), himself, in his demonstratio evangelica.2.3, and Cyrillus Alexandrinus (d. 444) in his commentarius in John.3.4.20 Metatithemi (to translate persons) is used to address rapture by: Clement of Rome (1st cent.), to describe Enoch’s rapture in his First Epistle to the Corinthians.9.3; Irenaeus (d. 202), who says, “Enoch was translated, thus pointing out by anticipation the translation of the just and that those who were translated into Paradise, as a prelude to immortality will remain there until the completion of the age,” in his Against Heresies.5.5.1; Methodius (d. 311) in his de resurrectione mortuorum.3.5, and Hippolytus Thebanus (8th cent.) in his fragmenta.8c5 (both said that a Christian’s immortality was to begin when their body was
translated like Enoch’s); and finally, Eusebius spoke of God figuratively translating Christians at the end of the age in his preparatio evangelica.7.8
The word ekpheugo is used to mean escape, especially avoidance of eternal punishment, by Ignatius of Antioch (d. 110) in his Epistle of Trallianeos.2.1 and Justin Martyr in his Dialogue with Trypho.138.3 and First Apology.68.2. 24 Apostasia is used as meaning departure by the apocryphal apocalyptic book of Domitio Mariae. Apostasis is used to mean departure by Clement of Alexandria in his stromateis.4.22.25 The Greek words relating to rapture not used at all by the Fathers are: epairo, poreuomai, allasso, and sozo.
As can be seen from the above citations, the Fathers had an understanding of the concept of rapture, referred to the Old Testament raptures of Enoch and Elijah and the New Testament raptures of Paul, John, and Jesus, and even made eight specific references to the rapture of Christians
The first direct reference to the Rapture (as the Church escaping the Great Tribulation) is found
in the early second century apocalyptic writing of the Shepherd of Hermas. In the fourth vision, chapter 1, he says, [emphasis added] “I saw another vision, brethren-a representation of the tribulation that is to come.” Then in chapter 2, he says, “lo! a virgin meets me, adorned as if she were proceeding from the bridal chamber” and “I knew from my former visions that this was the Church,” and then, “You have escaped from great tribulation on account of your faith, and because you did not doubt in the presence of such a beast. Go, therefore, and tell the elect of the Lord His mighty deeds, and say to them that this beast is a type of the great tribulation that is coming. If then ye prepare yourselves, and repent with all your heart, and turn to the Lord, it will be possible
for you to escape it, if your heart be pure and spotless, and ye spend the rest of the days of your life in the serving the Lord blamelessly.”31 Notice also, the statement that to escape the tribulation the Church must keep a “pure and spotless” heart. This is the same language used in 2 Peter 3:14, speaking of the Rapture of the Church.
The next reference is found in The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (The Didache), written in the mid-second century, and with the help of the footnotes paints a clear picture of the chronology of events of the End Times (Rapture, Antichrist, Tribulation, Second Coming). In chapter 16, verses 3-8, it says [emphasis added], For in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate; for when
lawlessness increaseth, they shall hate and persecute and betray one another, and then shall appear the world-deceiver as Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands, and he shall do iniquitous things which have never yet come to pass since the beginning. Then shall the creation of men come into the fire of trial, and many shall be made to stumble and shall perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved from under the curse itself. And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of an outspreading of heaven; then the sign of the sound of the trumpet; and the third, the resurrection of the dead; yet not of all, but as it is said: The Lord shall come and all his saints with Him. Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven. 32
Notice, the context is the Last Days and the quote starts out with the signs of the times, coinciding with Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Next, the appearance of the antichrist and the Tribulation are addressed. Then, there comes the exclusionary “but,” they that endure in their faith shall be saved from under the curse itself. The footnote in the text after this statement says, “from under the curse itself; namely, that which has just been described.”33 This is a direct reference to the Church being saved from the Tribulation.
Clement of Rome (30-100) spoke about the Rapture in his First Epistle to the Corinthians. Following the logical flow of his teaching from chapter to chapter yields the result of a Pretribulation Rapture of the Church. As Irenaeus did, Clement first gives Enoch as an example and then mentions the Lord delivering Noah (chap. 9). He also mentions the Lord saving Lot (chap. 11) and Rahab (chap. 12). Then, he speaks specifically to the Church in chapter 23, [emphasis added] “Compare yourselves to a tree: take [for instance] the vine. First of all, it sheds its leaves, then it buds, next if puts forth leaves, and then it flowers; after that comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. . . . Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, ‘Speedily will He come, and will not tarry;’ and, ‘The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom ye look.”44 And following directly after this in chapter 24
Ephraem of Nisibis (306-373 a.d.), which clearly teaches that believers will be raptured and taken to Heaven before The Tribulation.2
Ephraem of Nisibis was the most important and prolific of the Syrian church fathers and a witness to early Christianity on the fringes of the Roman Empire in the late fourth century.
He was well-known for his poetry, exegetical and theological writings, and many of the hymns of the early Byzantine church. So popular were his works that in the fifth and sixth centuries he was adopted by several Christian communities as a spiritual leader and role model.
This sermon is deemed to be one of the most interesting apocalyptic texts of the early Middle Ages. The translation of the sermon includes the following segment:3
“For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins.”
What did the first century church fathers believe about the Rapture? Were they pre-tribulation or post-tribulation? What did the disciples of the Apostles of Jesus Christ teach about the Rapture?
Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/The-Rapture
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The following article is included here so that you can see that most of the teaching on the Rapture is not built on scripture but the theories, opinions and writings of men. They have to really stretch and dig to find any justification for their teaching.
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What does the Bible say about the rapture?
Many ask, “is the rapture biblical?” The short answer is yes! You will not find the word “rapture” in the Bible. However, you will find the teaching. The rapture describes the snatching away of the church (Christians).
There is no judgment, no punishment, and it will be a glorious day for all believers. At the rapture, the dead will rise with new bodies and new bodies will be given to living Christians as well.
In an instant, believers will be caught up into the clouds to meet with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Those who are raptured will be with the Lord forever.
When Christians think about the end of the world, many are drawn to terms like apocalyptic, tribulation and rapture. Books and Hollywood have their own depictions – some with biblical guidance, others just for the entertainment value. There is a lot of curiosity and also confusion surrounding these terms. As well, there are varying views on when the rapture will occur in the timeline of the events of Revelation and 2nd advent of Jesus.
I will use this article to look to the Bible to gain understanding on what it says about the Rapture and how the Rapture fits into the time when Jesus will fulfill the events of Revelation 21 and 22: the New Heaven and New Earth. This article assumes a premillennial interpretation of the Bible with regard to eschatology (the study of last things).
Christian quotes about the rapture
“The Lord does not come to the world at the time of the Rapture, but only reveals himself to the members of His Body. At the time of his resurrection He was only seen by those who believed on Him. Pilate and the High Priest, and those who crucified Him, did not know that He was risen. So it will be at the time of the Rapture. The world will not know that He has been here, and will have no knowledge of Him until He comes with the members of His Body, at the close of the Tribulation.” Billy Sunday
(This does not line up with scripture if you compare scripture with scripture you can easily see this is untrue)
“[C.H. Spurgeon] refused to spend an inordinate amount of time discussing, for example the relationship of the rapture to the tribulation period, or like points of eschatological nuance. An elaborate dispensational chart would have little or no appeal to Spurgeon. Any dispensational framework that has a tendency to divide the Scriptures into segments, some applicable to contemporary life and some not, did not get his attention at all. He probably would have rejected any such scheme. He kept to the basics of future things.” Lewis Drummond
What is the rapture of the church?
There are several passages in both New and Old testaments that speak to the second coming of Jesus to redeem His church and to judge the nations. Some of these passages speak to what many believe will be an event that will remove, or rapture the church, before judgment comes.
Three of those passages are 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Matthew 24:29-31, 36-42 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.
(all of those passages can be reviewed above and shown to prove there is no event where the people of God escape the tribulation. At the end of the tribulation, the evil ones are caught up and removed, those who belong to God are caught up, the dead first and those who are alive and remain.)
These passages describe a miraculous removal of God’s elect from the earth, whether living or dead, to be immediately transported into the presence of Jesus. We learn from these passages that the rapture will happen quickly, at a time that is known only to the Father, that it will be preceded by some kind of heavenly announcement resembling a trumpet blast, that the dead in Christ will be risen bodily along with those who are alive in Christ with both being transformed into the glorified state, and that believers will be taken while unbelievers will remain.
(Those scriptures teach quite the opposite. )
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. – (End times in the Bible)
2. 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
3. Matthew 24:29-31 (NASB) “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
4. Matthew 24:36-42 “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.”
Is the word rapture in the Bible?
When one reads through their English translation of the Bible, you will not find the word rapture and you might assume that since we do not find the word Rapture in the Bible, then it must be something that is made up and not really biblical.
The English word Rapture comes from the Latin translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which translates the Greek harpazo (to catch up or carry away) as rapiemur from the Latin rapio. You can find the Greek word Harpazo occuring fourteen times in the New Testament in passages that help us understand the rapture event.
So we must understand that Rapture is simply another English word that could be used to translate the greek word (Harpazo) that means: catch up, caught up or carry away. The reason English translators do not use the word “Rapture” is because it is not a suitable translation that is easily recognized in the language, however it still conveys the same idea, that there is an event that the Bible describes as believers being miraculously caught up into heaven, in a similar way that Elijah was caught up and brought to heaven without experiencing physical death (2 Kings 2). (that is true. We will be changed in an instant.)
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV) “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.”
Christ will come for His bride and take His saints to heaven
6. John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.“
7. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.“
What is the Tribulation?
The tribulation refers to a time of judgment upon the nations that precedes God’s final movement before the New Heavens and the New Earth. It is His last act of mercy with the unbelieving nations in hopes that some would repent and turn to Him. It will be a time of great suffering and perishing. Daniel 9:24 explains God’s purpose for the tribulation:
“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.” Daniel 9:24 ESV
The tribulation is described through three series of seven judgments found in Revelation chapters 6 through 16 that culminates in a final battle described in Revelation chapters 17 and 18.
8. Daniel 9:24 (NKJV) “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.”
9. Revelation 11:2-3 (NIV) “But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
10. Daniel 12:11-12 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.”
Only believers will see Christ and we shall be transformed. We shall be like Him.
11. 1 John 3:2 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.“
(Though it is quite likely that only those who KNOW HIM will see Him as He TRULY IS, but the word says that whole world will see him.)
12. Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
When will the rapture happen?
Does the rapture happen near the end of the tribulation or at the end of the tribulation? Those who ascribe to a premillennial interpretation of end times events understand the tribulation to be two periods of 3 ½ years marked by certain events, the rapture being one of these events, as well as the judgements, the desolation of abomination and the second coming of Christ. WIthin premillennialism there are four ways that students of Scripture have interpreted the timing of these events. We must approach all these with a measure of grace and charity by not being too dogmatic about either view, for Scripture does not expressly teach one view over another, nor does it give a clear cut timeline.
The four different timelines of the rapture
Pretribulation rapture
The pretribulation rapture teaches that the rapture of the church will take place right before the 7 years of tribulation begin. This will be the event that begins all the other end times events and understands that the return of Christ is split into two different events separated by 7 years.
Midtribulation rapture
Another interpretation of the timing of the rapture is the midtribulation view. Proponents of this view believe that the rapture will come in the middle of the 7 year tribulation period, most likely at the 3 ½ year mark. This belief teaches that the rapture occurs with the 7th trumpet judgment before the bowl judgments are released upon the earth, ushering in the greatest part of the tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon. Instead of a 7 year separation, the Rapture and the Coming of Christ to set up His kingdom are separated by 3 ½ years.
Prewrath rapture
A similar view to the midtribulation view is the prewrath view. This view holds that the church will experience most of the tribulation as in part of what the Antichrist ushers in with his persecution and trials against the church. In terms of redemption history, God will allow this to be a time of purifying and purging in the church, separating true believers from false believers. These true believers will endure, or be martyred, during the seal judgements which is considered the wrath of satan, rather than the wrath of God, which comes with the trumpet and bowl judgements.
So where this is different from the midtribulation view is that midtribulationists hold to the last trumpet judgment as being the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15. Prewrath subscribers believe that Revelation 6:17 marks a change in the judgments and indicates that God’s full wrath will come with the trumpet judgments: “or the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”.
Like pretribulationists and midtribulationists, prewrath subscribers hold to that the church will not experience the wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 5:9), however each interpretation differs on when God’s wrath will actually occur in the timeline of events.
Posttribulation rapture
A final view that some hold to is a posttribulation view, which as name describes, means that the church will endure the totality of the tribulation with the rapture occurring simultaneously with the second coming of Christ to set up His kingdom.
Support for this view comes with the understanding that throughout redemption history, the people of God have had various trials and tribulations, so it should not be surprising that God would call on the church to withstand this hour of final tribulation.
Furthermore, posttribulationists will appeal to Matthew 24 in that Jesus states that His second coming would come after the tribulation: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:29-30
Posttibulationists will also point to passages like Revelation 13:7 and Revelation 20:9 to show that there will be saints present during the tribulation, however it is noteworthy that the word for “church” never appears in Revelation 4 – 21.
Again, like the other views, the interpretation boils down to understanding and defining God’s wrath in scripture with regard to these events. Posttribulationists understanding of God’s wrath is that His wrath is present in His victory over satan and his dominion at the Battle of Armageddon, and of course finally at the Great White Throne Judgement at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus. Thus they can say that though the true church will suffer during the 7 years of tribulation and Satan’s wrath, they will not ultimately suffer God’s wrath of eternal death.
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What does the Bible say about the Rapture? Is the rapture in the Bible?
The majority of Christians believe in the rapture. For decades it’s been a staple teaching in the western Church. But I suspect most can’t actually support their belief, they don’t know where it’s found in the Bible. Many just believe the rapture because that’s what was taught to them (which was my story for years). So, few people actually question it or explore what the Bible actually teaches about it.
So, let’s explore the rapture. Let’s ask the question, is the rapture in the Bible? And we will look at what does the Bible say about the Rapture?
The rapture is tied close with the topic of the last days. I’ve already written about the last days and what the Bible says, you can read that here: Are We Living In The Last Days (what the Bible really says)
Some Clarification About The Rapture In The Bible
If you are unfamiliar with what the rapture in the Bible is let me give you a very brief definition.
The Rapture, as commonly viewed today, is the belief that Jesus will remove (rapture) the church before the great tribulation. This will be suddenly and without warning. One moment Christians will be going about their business and the next, gone. They will be taken to heaven while the rest of the world is plunged into a terrible tribulation. Following the great tribulation is the Second Coming of Jesus in which He will return to earth in a triumph entry defeating His enemies.
There are some that view the rapture differently than this description. But for the sake of clarity this is how I will use it through this article.
This is a touchy subject for some, because this belief is held tightly. I know that because whenever I mention something that has to do with ends times I get a slew of emails, comments, name calling, and plenty of accusations about my intentions. Few topics bring as much heat and opposition as this one. (and that’s okay with me, email me here: jeff@rethinknow.org)
So, before we go any further let me clarify a few things that typically come up.
First, I firmly believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. And I strive to uphold it and help people understand it.
Second, I believe in the Second Coming of Jesus. However, this article is not about that. It’s about questioning whether the pre-tribulational rapture is Biblical.
And finally, I want to show my cards early on. I do NOT believe in the rapture. Okay, deep breath…
Why don’t I believe in the rapture? Two reasons:
- Church history doesn’t support it
and more importantly: - It’s not found in the Bible
If you are still with me, let’s take a deeper look. First we will look at how rapture theology came to be and then we will look at the question, what does the Bible say about the rapture?
How Rapture Theology Was Popularized
Arguably, the time when the rapture really started getting it’s roots was in 1830. This concept was brought about by a woman named Margaret MacDonald in the United Kingdom.
Margaret MacDonald put herself into a self-induced trance so that she could have a prophetic utterance. During this trance she had a vision that the church would be pulled out of the world as things were getting bad. She later wrote this vision down in a letter and a man named John Darby caught wind of it.
John Darby took the vision that Margaret MacDonald had and put some theological study, some weight, behind it. What level he was influenced by MacDonald is debatable, but there seems to be at least some level of influence. Darby traveled from the U.K. to the U.S. and taught this new theology in many lectures. His work left such a legacy that eventually C. I. Scofield was influenced.
Maybe that name sounds familiar. Scofield published the first-ever reference Bible towards the end of the 1800s. It quickly became the best selling Bible. People loved it.
In the footnotes of this Bible Scofield explained what rapture theology was. And as the Bible sold and grew in popularity so did this belief of a rapture. What we should take note of is this theology grew because of what was in the footnotes of the Word of God, not the Word itself.
Study Bible’s are an incredible tool. However we shouldn’t confuse what’s God’s word and what’s a footnote.
From there famous evangelists bought into this theology and started spreading it further and further. Maybe the two most famous being D.L Moody and Billy Graham, although it is believed Graham later recanted his belief in the rapture in the Bible.
All this paved the way for the book The Late, Great Planet Earth in the 1970s. Which outsold the Bible for much of the decade. And then the infamous Left Behind Series that solidified rapture theology as mainstream in the western Church.
That of course is the abbreviated history, but I think it’s important we understand how this belief became so prevalent in today’s churches.
The Rapture In Church History
The point that I’m trying to make is about Church history. Rapture theology has only been popular for 180 years. It is largely a new theology, a new concept. While some will argue there are instances in the early church that support a pre-tribulational rapture in the Bible, but I have yet to see any clear proof. There’s certainly not enough proof to say it was a commonly held belief.
All this doesn’t make it false, but it should make us pause.
If belief in the pre-tribulational rapture has only been popular, commonplace, since 1830 that means it wasn’t talked extensively about by the very people who laid the theological foundation for the Church. Again, that doesn’t mean it’s not true. But it should raise a little concern that whenever a new theology is introduced and cause us to look a little closer.
So, what does the Bible say about the Rapture? Is the rapture in the Bible?
What Does The Bible Say About The Rapture
I want to look at three major texts that are often used to point to the rapture in the Bible. There are a few others, but these are the primary sources that are considered the clearest explains of the rapture in the Bible. Let’s look at these verses and see if the rapture is Biblical.
What does the Bible say about the rapture:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
I want to start with the verse I hear quoted the most in support of the rapture. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 used as proof.
Many read this verse and go straight to the rapture. This proves the rapture in the Bible, it’s right there! I mean it sure sounds like it doesn’t it?
But you have to read it in context. This passage was written to a real people, a real church. Paul says that these words should encourage them. So, however we interpret this verse it has to be seen through the lens of encouragement for that church.
Here’s the context. The church in Thessalonica has Christians that are dying. They are dying before Jesus returns. And the question they are asking about is those who have died. Will they miss out on the second coming of Christ?
What Paul is doing in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 is encouraging them and offering them hope. Paul says that we, the dead and the alive, will meet Jesus in the clouds when He returns.
It’s a word of encouragement for his people who are facing death and loss.
The greek word for meet (apantésis) is the same word used when you would go meet an emperor or official who was coming into your city. You don’t wait for an emperor, or someone special, to come to you. You go to them, you meet them at the city gates and walk them in. That’s the picture of this verse. That they are going to meet with Jesus as he descends on the cloud. But they aren’t going somewhere else. They are walking with him into the “city”, they are coming back to earth.
For the church in Thessalonica when they first read these words and saw this picture they weren’t thinking of a rapture. They were thinking of the sweet reunion with their loved ones. This passage meant for them the hope of reconnecting with those they lost. It was an encouragement to stand strong in the face of death because for all who follow Jesus there is still hope.
The point of Paul’s words here is not to argue for a rapture. Rather it’s meant to encourage.
For us today this is a beautiful picture of hope that one day all who follow Jesus will meet Him in the clouds. It’s a hope to not give up, to keep following Jesus even when things get tough. This passage isn’t talking about the rapture, it’s talking about Jesus second coming. It’s a challenge and an encouragement for all who follow Jesus.
What does the Bible say about the rapture? Not what we expect.
Matthew 24
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Matthew 24:40-41
Sure sounds like a scene out of Left Behind doesn’t it?
But again, what’s the context?
Back up and read Matthew 24:36-41. What’s Jesus talking about here? Many Christians assume He’s describing the rapture and unbelievers being left behind to enter the tribulation. But that’s reading into the text. The context tells us that Jesus is talking about His Second Coming, not the rapture.
This also brings light to an error in rapture theology. According to the common belief of the rapture in the Bible the good people are taken and the bad people are left. But Jesus paints a different picture in this passage. Matthew 24:37-39 compares Jesus Second Coming to the days of Noah.
And who was taken away in the story of Noah, the good people, or the bad people? The bad people right? Look at the verse. The good people were put in the ark, in safety, while the waters came and took away (raptured) the bad people.
In the days of Noah the good people were left on the earth and the bad people were taken away. In fact, you will find this picture painted time and time again in Jesus’ parables. The good is left and the bad is taken away. One of the main problems with the rapture is they have the wrong people leaving.
The point of this passage isn’t about the rapture. Rather the message is Jesus is coming back. When? No one knows. Therefore be prepared. Always be prepared so that you do not get caught off guard.
If you still aren’t convinced go read the 4 parables that follow this passage. They all say the same thing. You don’t know when Jesus is coming back. So be ready. That’s the point of Matthew 24. In context it does not support the rapture and actually pushing back against some of the core beliefs the rapture holds.
Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1
I want to end with Revelation 4:1 because we tend to associate this book with the rapture. And this is the clearest “example” of it in the whole book.
Those who use this verse in that why will say that Jesus is speaking to the church calling them up to heaven. The problem is that interpretation ignores the context of this verse.
Go back to the beginning of the verse… After this I looked. Who’s the “I” that’s being referred to in this verse. It’s John, the one who’s receiving this revelation. To then insist that the next sentence is about the church being raptured is totally ignoring the pronoun that started off this verse.
When you ignore the context in which the Bible is written you can quite literally make it say whatever you want. When we read the Bible we HAVE to pay attention to who is saying what.
In context this passage has nothing to do with the rapture, rather its a continuation of the vision that John is receiving. It’s not addressing the Church and it’s certainly not talking about the rapture.
The Point
What does the Bible say about the rapture? Not much. Is the rapture in the Bible? No. The Bible simply does not support a rapture theology.
It’s a dangerous practice to ignore the context of the Bible. And that’s exactly what rapture theology does. It has too. The Bible has to be twisted and context ignored for the rapture to be supported.
And damage has been done. The book (or letter) of Revelation has been butchered. People’s faith shattered. And many falsely believe they will escape the trials of this world.
But why would Jesus take the Church out of the world when the world needs the Church the most?
Jesus even prayed in John 17 that the Church, His followers, would not be taken out of the world, rather that they have the strength to endure. It was a prayer that Jesus himself would soon face. With the cross in front of Him, He asked His Father for an other way. And in response God said trust me.
That’s the message for us today. When the struggles and trails (the tribulations) of life come, we are asked to trust God. We aren’t promised an easy life. No, the Bible makes clear we will face many trails. And the history of the Church proves that. It’s full of martyrs of the faith. And even today millions of Christians are facing persecution that we in the western Church can’t imagine. We are in the great tribulation.
But despite that, we have hope. It’s not hope that we will be raptured before it gets really bad. I think that’s a slap in the face to those who are facing what Western Christians can’t even fathom.
No, it’s bad right now. Yet, we have hope that despite what we are facing God is still in control and His plan will work out for all who trust in Him. So, trust God and stay on mission.
God has given you a role and a purpose. You are to go into the world and tell those around you about what God has done for you. Will it be easy? No. There will be trials and tribulations. But we can take heart and preserver because we serve a God who has overcome the world.
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