The Rapture
Page One
Many believe in the “rapture”. Many believe there will be no Christians left on the earth during the great tribulation and the Day of the Lord.
But....what does the Bible say on this subject???
Actually, the word “rapture” appears no where in the Bible.
Shouldn’t the doctrines people believe in appear in at least, one scripture in the Bible?
Rapturist use the Greek language for the basis of their belief.
(1)parousia= the secret rapture of Christ coming near the earth to gather His saints.
Strong’s Concordance # 3952 in Greek: “a being near; advent; often, return – spec. Of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked: aspect, coming, presence.”
(2) epiphaneia = the advent (arrival) of Christ. Meaning, “a manifestation, appearing, brightness.”
(3) apokalupsis = “disclosure, appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.”
The rapturists call this the “secret rapture,” but, the events before Christ’s return seem to be far from secret.
[Mark 13; Luke 21; and Matt 24:3-13]
Wars, famines, disease epidemics and massive earthquakes are hardly “secret” events.
The chronological sequence of [Matt 24] fits perfectly with the first six seals of [Rev 6&7]
Evidently the saints are still on the earth at the time of war, famine, disease epidemics, and earthquakes.
“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.” Mat 24:9
Christ was speaking to His disciples about things that would happen at the end. Just before Christ’s second coming!
Instead of a rapture, some will even be martyred, for His name’s sake.
(Most who believe in the “rapture” point to [I Thes 4:17 & I Cor 15:52] to prove their theory.)
I Thes 4:15-17 “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 to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
(In this verse rapture occurs after the Lord’s descent from heaven and the sounding of the trumpet of God.)
ICor 15:51-52 “Behold, I show 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.”
(This says nothing about going to heaven. Says in the clouds. Tells of the return of Christ to this earth. When the saints will be caught up in the air to meet Him at His coming.
This is to take place at the last trump. So we need to see just what is happening at the sounding of this last trumpet. This seems to be the final (7th) sounding in [Rev}
(Puts time setting at the end of the great tribulation and Day of the Lord.)
Matt 24:29-31 “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.”
(Shows the end of the tribulation and describes the Day of the Lord. Then Christ’s coming with the sound of the trumpet and gathering of the saints).
See also [Mark 13:24-27]
Rev 11:15
”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 forever and ever.”
(Seems to say that by the time of this last trumpet blast everything is done and Christ has become ruler of all.)
Rev 20:4-6 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given 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.”
(This shows the ones who were martyred for not receiving the mark of the beast. These are those; who are resurrected, and reign, a thousand years with Christ, on the earth. This can only happen of the resurrection occurs after the tribulation.)
(Many say “Yes but, Christ is said to return as a thief in the night.”)
I Thes 5: 1-11 “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 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 the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast plate of faith and love; and far 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 of sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do”
(Seems to say the believers will know and be aware of what is happening, and not be taken by surprise at the Lord’s coming.)
