THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH ALONEWhere we depend solely on the word of God
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Updated 2-10-2010
The Rapture
Is it Pre, Mid or Post Tribulation?
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Read The Word Of God Yourself & Do Your Own Research & Then You Decide. What Ever way you believe, you must be ready and Know Jesus as the Lord of your life and be walking the narrow path. |
From The History Channel Feb 2010 |
| The Rapture View: Post Tribulation The first significant event is God’s timetable of the end times is the Rapture of Christians. Sometimes this is referred to as the Rapture of the Church. The Rapture is the future event when Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to resurrect the bodies of dead believers (Christians) and transform the bodies of living believers. This occurs in the blink of an eye and then Jesus escorts all believers into heaven to live with them forever. The word Rapture never occurs in the Bible. The words “caught up” in I Thessalonians 4:17 translate in the Greek to mean “to snatch, to seize suddenly, or to transport from one place to another. The word Rapture is alluded to several times in three main passages of the Bible. John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me (Jesus). In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” I Corinthians 15:51-55 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, 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 shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” I Thessalonians 4:13-18 But we do not what you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 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, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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 shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. There are five main beliefs on the timing of the Rapture: The Pre-Tribulation Rapture – The Rapture will occur before the Tribulation period begins. The Mid-Tribulation Rapture – The Rapture will occur at the midpoint of the Tribulation The Post-Tribulation Rapture – The Rapture will occur at the end of the Tribulation, right before the second coming of Christ to earth. The Partial Rapture – faithful, devoted Christians will be raptured before the Tribulation, but the rest of the Christians will be left to go through the purging of the Tribulation. The Pre-Wrath Rapture – The Rapture will occur about three-fourths (5 ¼ years) of the way through the Tribulation, when he wrath of God begins to be poured out on the earth at the seventh seal (Rev. 6:17) Revelation 3:10 is God’s promise of deliverance of Christians from the Tribulation period. "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 upon the earth.” This verse provides a very strong argument for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. |
The Rapture Truth Friday, June 8, 2007 Endtimes Conference Proves Post-Trib Rapture . The Bible verses used to prove the "Pre-Trib" Rapture, instead_prove the_ "Post-Trib" Rapture, _at this mens conference at Little Country Church in Redding, Ca. Attended by about 800 men__ Common sense should tell us that there can't be two Second Comings. Hebrews 9:28 (paraphrased) "...He comes once as a suffering Messiah, then a second time....unto salvation." No_third_time mentioned in God's word, nor is there any mention of dividing the second coming into two events. So, let's reason together, He has already been here_once, which would leave one more event: The_ second_ coming of Christ, that the Bible clearly states occurs after the great tribulation. Furthermore, there isn't a single scripture in the entire Bible that states Christians are removed before the Tribulation. If anyone can find one, would you please Email me? Then, I promise you, I would remove this web page from every search engine. Please, no assumptions, analogies or verses taken out of context. The three senior pastors that spoke at this "Endtime Conference" used nine scriptures to prove the "pre-trib" Rapture. However, out of the nine they used, seven were taken out of context, and the other two were based on assumptions._ Below are the nine scriptures they used to "try" to prove this: ............ All verses quoted are KJV, for an instant reference in the ............ English Standard Version, place cursor on chapter/verse. #1. I Corinthians 15:51-52 51"Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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." Read the last two lines in the above verse slowly, think about the "order" (sequence) God inspired Paul to list these three events: #1 The Last Trump,#2 The Resurrection,#3 The Rapture, (we shall be changed). Paul would have listed the Rapture first, instead of third, if this was to be a pre-tribulation Rapture. Also Jesus says four times in John 6:39, 40, 44, 54, the resurrection is on the Last day (see also John 11:24). So, if the Resurrection is on the Last Day, as stated by Jesus, and in I Cor 15:52, Paul lists the Rapture...after the Resurrection. Paul has told us the "sequence" of these (3) events and Jesus told us "when", (on the Last Day). Is this such a difficult concept to comprehend?? Clearly, these two verses teach a.....Post-Tribulation Rapture, at the Second Coming of Christ. How can the Last Trumpet sound, the Resurrection, and then the rapture happen.... seven years.... before ....the Last Day ? ? #2. I Thes.4:16 "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." Again the word "trump" is used, but the Thessalonian's were unclear as to "when" this would happen. Paul apparently heard that they were troubled about this, so he then wrote a _second letter _to clear this up, and this reads as follows: II Thes 2:1,2,3,4 (v-1) "Now we beseech you, brothern, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together (Rapture) unto him,___ (v-2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind,_or be troubled,_neither by spirit,_or by word, nor by letter from us, _as that the _day of Christ_ is at hand. (v-3) Let no man_deceive you_by any means: for_that day shall not come_except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition"(false Christ). In this, second letter, Paul, this time_ makes it _very clear that the false Christ_ comes first,__and (v-3) not to let anyone deceive you. Then, referring back to the first letter he wrote, then (after false Christ) the Lord descends, with a shout, with the voice of the arch angel, with the"trump" of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. This is the second coming of Christ, after the tribulation_ So, with this_second letter_ Paul is making it clear that this "trump"_ is not before the tribulation _it's after!! It's a post-tribulation rapture, on the Last Day!! #3. Revelation 3:10 "Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, that shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth." Notice that Jesus says, "....I will keep thee from....." He does not say, "...take thee out of..." So, for a better understanding of Rev. 3:10, Lets prove the Bible, with the Bible, and not assume anything._ Lets let Jesus clarify this verse, which He does in John 17:15, "I pray not that thou take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil." Jesus clearly says__"not" to take them out__in John 17:15. So, how can the_I will Keep thee from_of Rev. 3:10_ mean_I will take thee out of_? As pre-trib teachers would have you believe. Jesus does "not" contradict Himself !!__For the Greek meaning of "Keep thee from"................ see note #2---> Gods wrath does not fall on us,"only those who had the mark of the beast" (Rev 16:2). And those who "do not have the seal of God" (Rev 9:4). Like the "144 thousand" of Rev. 7:3, we have the seal of God._ See Eph.1:13 "....after you believed, you were sealed......" And Eph.4:30 "......you are sealed unto the day of redemption." There are several verses that clearly state, after we accept Christ, we are sealed, (protected from Gods wrath). #4. Matthew 24:27 "For as the lighting cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the son of man be." Go down two verses, Matt.24:29 tells you "when" this will be: "Immediately__ after the tribulation__ of those days...." Now Matt.24:30 "....then shall appear the sign of the son of man (Jesus)..." Now Matt.24:31, "..with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together (rapture) his elect...." Again the same trumpet as in other verses, now back to Matt.24:26, Jesus tells them not to believe people that tell you that He (Jesus) is in a secret place (like a secret pre-trib rapture). Matt.24:27 is another verse that was clearly taken out of context, It's a post tribulation rapture, at the second coming of Christ. #5. Matthew 25:1-13 The parable of the "ten virgins"___ Here Jesus does not talk about the "time" of His return, because He had just told them a few minutes before about the time, (see the paragraph before this one_Matt.24:29_definitely after the tribulation). The Wedding Feast can only take place after the tribulation, because the Resurrection doesn't happen until the Last day Jesus said four times that the Resurrection is on the Last Day (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54). _ Then the bridegroom (church) goes into the wedding feast after the second coming of Christ, and guess who else is at this Wedding Feast?____1 The Old Testament saints___2 The tribulation saints___3 The prophets and, 4 The 144,000 new Christian Jews. There would have to be two wedding feasts__two resurrections__two second comings, and two Last Days__ for the "pre-tribulation" rapture to work. And one verse_would also be nice!! #6. Mark 13:6-37 In this entire chapter Jesus is talking about the events that happen during the tribulation, and that they were _not_ to look for Him until_after_ certain events happen first, then in Mark 13:24, 25, 26, 27, (paraphrased) "...after the tribulation of those days, then they shall see Him..." So Jesus again told them He's coming back after the tribulation, making this a post- tribulation rapture at the Second Coming of Christ. #7. Luke 21:6-38 Basically this chapter is the same as the above chapter, where Jesus returns__after__the tribulation, at the second coming of Christ, except in v-36, He says, "....pray that you be accounted worthy to escape all these things.."And we will, because we have the seal of God, (Eph.1:13, Eph.4:30, II Cor.1:22, John 6:27). We are protected (sealed) from Gods wrath, like the 144 thousand of Revelation 7:4. #8. II Peter 3:10 "...The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." Now lets let the Bible prove the Bible and go to I Thes. 5:2, where the exact same words are used, "...the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." Then in I Thes.5:4, (paraphrased) "But [we] are not in darkness that this day should overtake [us] as a thief." Why? Because I Thes.5:5 "... [we] are children of the light." So, we will know! (I inserted "we" for "you" because Peter and Paul's letters were to the Gentiles (non Jews_"us"). #9. Revelation 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me." So, when does He give out rewards? See Rev. 11:15, 18, "And the 7th angel sounded...[its time]...that thou give rewards...unto the saints..."_Its after the 7th trump!!__At the end!! Rewards are given out after the post-trib resurrection/ rapture, after the Second Coming of Christ. [A] Now, all of the (9) verse references listed above, was all that was presented to prove the "Pre-Trib" rapture by the three pastors at this conference. You can see that they were all taken out of context, or based on assumptions. God was very angry with the ten spies, who made Israel fear the Giants that were in the land that God promised them (Num.13:1-2), and_they were afraid to go in (Num.13:31,32,33). We are doing the same thing today, by fearing the "Giant" (anti-Christ) _we add "pre-trib" to Gods word, without a single verse to prove it, this is very dangerous, (see Rev. 22:18). It is not my intent to belittle these three pastors, I am sure they are sincere Christians, but if they can't come up with one single verse that specifically places this event before the tribulation, who can? See note 4--> [B] It's really very simple, if it's not in Gods word, it's not going to happen. Again, I want to repeat that these nine scriptures were all that was used to prove the "pre-trib" rapture that day, I was there! The senior pastor of this church has read this article, (the nine verses) and made a comment to me via Email, and he did not question that these verses were all that was used to support this. [C] Note: The "pre-trib" view is a new doctrine, you will not find pre-trib writings or documents in any church history until about the year 1830. Edward Irving, (Catholic Apostolic Church) and soon after, John Darby, (Plymouth Brethren) both of England, were teaching the pre-tribulation rapture. _However, the most important reason for the acceptance of this "pre-trib" rapture view in the United States was the Scofield Reference Bible. In the footnotes he split the second coming of Christ into two events: (1) Coming for the saints, then (2) seven years later, coming with the saints (at which time we enter into God's millennium kingdom on earth). My question is "where do we go for the seven years?" The Bible clearly states (KJV) "The righteous (saints) shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth." (Prov.10:30, see also Ps.37:29 and Prov.2:21-22). [D] Some may ask:_"what difference does it make if Christ returns before the tribulation, or after?"_ There are sincere Christians on both sides. However, the Bible says in I Thes.5:21, to "prove all things."_And in II Tim.4:4,"And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables." (fiction) Like the "Left Behind" book and movie, cars & planes crashing, etc. Millions killed before the tribulation even starts, when all these people still have/had a chance to be saved during this time. The truth was Left Behind, in the making of this movie, yet it sells well in the religious marketplaces. The Pre Tribulation Rapture doctrine has become amusement for the masses, a multi billion dollar business. ................................................See note #5----> [E] If such a major event as the "pre-trib" Rapture is true, why isn't it found in Old Testament prophecy?__or in Jesus's own teachings?__ or His disciples?__or any of the New Testament writers?__Jesus said in Mark 13:23,__ "I have foretold you all things."__He would have told us!! [F] Others may say: "That the tribulation is only for the 144,000, whom they incorrectly call "Jews." A Jew has to be from the tribe of Judah (one of 12 sons of Jacob/Israel). Therefore, only 12,000 of the 144,000 are Jews (just a side note, but facts are facts). And then they go on to say that these are the people that God uses in this time to bring people to Christ. This may be true, in part, but look at Rev. 7:1,2,3,4 where God puts a seal on this small group. And because of this seal, they are protected!! The woman (Israel/144,000) is protected in the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation (Rev. 12:13-14). This, in turn, makes the serpent (Satan) angry, so he goes after us in Rev.12:17, those who have "the testimony of Jesus Christ." _Again, go back to Rev. 7:9, "After this (the sealing of the 144000) I beheld, and look, a great multitude... of all nations...". Now skip to Rev.7:13, who are these people, and where did they come from?__ Rev.7:14, "these are they that came out of great tribulation......" And God just stated in Rev 12:13-14, that the woman (Israel/144000) are protected. So, who do you think this great multitude is, that has the testimony of Jesus Christ, if it's not us?? So, there are untold millions, along with the 144,000 Israelites (12,000 Jews and 132,000 from the other tribes) that are in this period of time. To say this time is only for them to deal with is a "cop out" and just another assumption and not valid. They base this on Isaiah 45:4 where Israel is called Gods "elect" (KJV), so then in Matt. 24:31, when Jesus sends his angels to gather His "elect" after the tribulation, that this event (the 2nd Coming of Christ) is only for the 144,000 who have to go through the tribulation._After we (non Jews/Israelites) accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become Gods elect. I'll back up this statement with Paul's letters to non Israelites: the Galatians and the Colossians: 1. Gal.3:28-29 (paraphrased)"There is neither Jew or Greek, you are all one in Christ...you also are Abramham's seed..." 2. Col 3:11-12, "....there is neither Greek or Jew....but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the __Elect of God...." 3. I Peter 1:1-2, Peter writes a letter to different nationalities and calls them the _"elect of God"_ because they have been "washed in the blood of the Lamb"__ like we have been. So, Israel_"and"_the church_"are"_Gods elect!! Jesus has one bride! He created the miracle of uniting Jew and Gentile alike into one bride. Let's just "reason together", does it make any sense that Jesus would rapture out a partial bride? What parts would He take first? And then...what? Pick up the other parts later - with whatever the results the 144,000 areable to accomplish during the last 3 1/2 years? Why would Jesus remove only some? And... if He was going to do this, don't you think He would have told us? At least one verse stating that He was going to take some out first? Jesus said in Mark 13:23, "I have foretold you all things." He would have told us!! And do you suppose Jesus would have the wedding feast with His "raptured" church (bride), without the tribulation saints, the Old Testament saints, the prophets or the 144,000?? Let's think about this, are we really this special?_ Compared to these four groups ??? Furthermore, Dan.11:33 says "And they that understand among the people shall instruct many...." How are these new converts going to "instruct many" if they don't understand themselves? This takes years of study, and how many Jew's or Isralites in the worldtoday are studying end time prophecy? I am going to add a few scriptures, (that were not mentioned at this conference) that are also used to support the pre-tribulation rapture, so that you will have a complete list of all the verses, assumptions and analogies this "new" doctrine was based on: [G] 1. Matt. 24:40, is another one,_"...One shall be taken, and the other left."_Jesus made this statement just minutes after He had just told them "Immediately after the tribulation of those days..." (Matt.24:29). Thats when "one will be taken and and the other left." Not seven years before! [H] 2. The 'Noah' analogy__Many analogies are used by the Pre-Trib Rapture teachers, for lack of scripture proof (like, not one). However, Noah is their main one, so I will deal only with this one. Everyone is aware of the fact that Noah warned the people that a flood is coming and to repent, but _they refused to listen. The Pre-Trib Rapture teachers say "that's like the Rapture", so as Noah was saved out of the flood, we are going to be "Raptured" out of the Tribulation. It's an analogy!!_An assumption!! [I] Did the flood come upon Noah, as well as the rest of the world unawares? Let's read Gen.7:1 and Gen.7:4 and see. "And the Lord said unto Noah...For in seven days, I will cause it to rain upon the earth..." OK, so it does appear that Noah knew ahead of time when the flood was going to come......It was the world that knew not. Very important to notice that Noah knew seven days before the exact day the flood would start. And we will know seven years after the signing of the covenant of Daniel 9:27, the Lord Jesus Christ will return. Just for fun: The "Post"-Trib 'Noah' analogy_We, the Post-TribulationRapture teachers, are warning you that a flood is coming (the Tribulation) , but you refuse to listen, just like in the days of Noah.But Instead of a flood of water, it's a flood of Satanicdeception that started with a small wave in 1830 with the new pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. Now this wave of deception has covered the entire western world and has blinded us to the huge wave that may soon be upon us. Because millions refuse to hear the truth, many will fall in this dark time, and be deceived into taking the "Mark of the Beast" and be forever lost. However, post-trib rapture teachers don't have to use analogies to prove their view. But even with two dozen solid scriptures, the people still _refuse to listen!! [J] 3. Mark 13:32, is also used_ "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man..." _Jesus told them this a few minutes after telling them in Mark 13:24 "...in those days after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light..." And goes on to say in Mark 13:28-29 that we will know this day is close because next He says in Mark 13:30, that the generation that sees these things (the tribulation events He just spoke of), would, (back to Mark 13:26-27) "...see the Son of man coming in the clouds...to gather His elect from the...uttermost parts of the earth..." Jesus states in 1st Thes.5:4 "we are not in darkness that this day will come upon us as a thief. "Why? Because, in the next verse (1st Thes.5:5), "we are children of the light..." However,right now no one knows, but when the covenant of Daniel 9:27 is signed, we will know!!__More on the above see note #9-----> [K] Some people ask me, "why is it that the vast majority of Christians believe in the "pre-trib"?_When Jesus came to the earth the first time, the vast majority of the religious people (the church) of that time, rejected him, even after many Old Testament prophet's foretold of this event. But they did not want a suffering Messiah, they wanted a conquering king. In this case the vast majority was wrong!! Now, today, we want the Messiah to take us out before a certain event, not after!! But, guess what, we don't get to choose. He only comes to the earth two times (Heb 9:28). Once as a suffering Messiah, and then as a conquering KING at the Second Coming of Christ. [L] We soon may be entering the last seven years of this age, the 70th week of Daniel. We will not be 'up in the bleachers' (as our end time preachers would have us believe) but we need not fear, God is with us. Jesus said "...I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt 16:18) [M] No mater what view we hold, we still need to accept each other as Christians. Those of us that hold to the post-tribulation rapture view, should not be thought of as troublemakers, we are only concerned that millions may fall during this time, a time when we (the church) can be used by God. "..The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many..." (Daniel 11:32-33) And, then we can be overcomers as in Rev. 7:9,13,14 "...a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations.." v-13 ( paraphrased) "...who are these people and where did they come from?"__ Then v-14, "....these are they which came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb." Jesus is coming, there is no denying that. When He is coming has been up for debate ever since He left. I've tried my best to present to you the Truth. Whether you accept it or not is totally up to you. Post Script......Important to read brief quotes from the early church fathers on what they believed and taught on the Second Coming of Christ, and the Antichrist. Most of these apostles and teachers lifespan overlapped each other from 30AD to 1900: "Early Church Fathers" http://earlychurchbelief.blogspot.com/ Very brief answers on the Eternal Security Doctrine (OSAS): "Eternal Security ?" http://osas-question.blogspot.com/ The Antichrist empire that will center in the middle east is the: "Endtime Beast Empire" http://endtimebeast.blogspot.com/ http://day-or-hour.blogspot.com/ "No Man Knoweth The Day Or The Hour"...This was true in Jesus day, and is still true for today. However, nowhere does it say that no one would ...ever know!... When the covenant of Daniel 9:27, is signed, we will know!... The first four of God's 7-angels that execute the Seal, Trump, and Vial plagues are the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" http://4horsemen4.blogspot.com/ |
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Will the shepherds who are unfaithful give
to the flock the sense of those prophecies
relating to "the time of the end"
(Dan. 12:14)?
What is to be the future of those who "add
unto" or "take away
from"
the words of prophecy?