| The Rapture / Biblical Reality or Fanciful Fiction? |
I once was a firm believer in the rapture as taught by Hal Lindsey and other authors; I must have read every book out there on the subject. A couple of years ago I received
an e-mail that claimed that this teaching was false, at first I was flabbergasted but then I began to research for myself and now I am not so sure. I understand as taught in I
and II Thes. and I Cor.15 that there will be some believers who will be alive at the time of Christ's return. However it is impossible to conclude from these scriptures that
Jesus is coming secretly before his second coming to take these believers up to heaven for 7 years or 3 1/2 years during the tribulation.
I Thess. 4 and I Cor. 15 both address the issue of the resurrection of the dead not the tribulation. As seen in the book of Revelation the souls of dead believers are
already in heaven so what does it mean when we read that "THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST"? If they are already in heaven where are they rising from? So the
actual reference in these scriptures is to the transformation OF THE BODY of the believers to an incorruptible one. I Cor. 15 has nothing whatsoever to do with tribulation
but deals specifically with the subject of the transformation of the body. So what is being taught in I Thes. 4 in regards to the dead in Christ being raised first is that the
souls that are already in heaven will first be given their incorruptible bodies and then those who are alive at Christ's coming will have their bodies transformed and thus we
will be forever with the Lord. Does it teach anywhere in these scriptures that Christ is taking everyone up to heaven for 7 years? Secondly why would God keep all the dead
believers in their graves till 7 years prior to his second coming? Are there not plenty of scriptures that tell us that the souls of dead believers are already in heaven not in
the grave? So the reference to the resurrection of the dead can only mean the resurrection of their bodies not their souls. Whilst it is true that at the time of
his second coming Christ will gather together all believers IN THE AIR and transform their mortal corruptible bodies to an incorruptible one, it can no way be concluded that
they will all go back up to heaven, it is just as likely that Christ will continue his DESCENT to EARTH from heaven as mentioned in I Thes. 4:16 along with this great cloud of
witnesses and begin his millennial reign upon Earth. 4:16 specifically states that "The Lord Himself shall DESCEND from heaven with a shout..." and it is a possibility that no
can prove otherwise that he may continue descending down to earth while gathering all his believers together to set up His Kingdom on Earth.
We have also been taught that the rapture will be secret and can happen at any time and Thief in the night scriptures such as I Thes. 5:2 are always quoted to prove that
the rapture will be secret. But if we continue reading to I These. 5:4, it reads, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." So if
the Bible teaches that this day will not over take us a thief in the night, then it cannot be secret, we should know when it will happen.
II Thes. 2:3 reads, 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. So we understand that that day will not come until at least the revelation of the anti Christ, and possibly the mark of the beast etc. Since the anti-christ is revealed
3.5 years before the end of the tribulation does it not mean that we will be here for at least the first half of the tribulation?
Furthermore if Jesus planned on taking us out of here before the really bad days come, why would these scriptures be in the Bible?
In particular the last two scriptures quoted tell us that these faithful witnesses gave up their lives not their faith but do you read anywhere in Revelation of a group of people
that got there without dying first?
The above scripture is frequently quoted to prove the rapture but the word KEEP means to guard. Why would we need to be guarded if we are going to be in heaven?
Why would God not rapture the woman of Revelation 12 up to heaven but rather preserves her and protects her in the wilderness right here on Earth. Why did God not
rapture Noah before the flood and then bring him back? Would that not have been an ideal circumstance for the rapture?
It is also taught that Revelation is written for JEWS not Christians, that God is dealing with Israel in this book not the church. But in Revelation 1:4 reads, TO THE SEVEN
CHURCHES THAT ARE IN ASIA…Jesus (and John) specifically addressed this book to the SEVEN GENTILE CHURCHES in Asia not to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem!
If this whole book was meant for Israel not for the church as we are taught should it not have been addressed to the JEWS IN JERUSALEM???
In the whole Bible has God ever taught that sufferings can be avoided? Did Jesus not teach that in the world we SHALL have tribulation? John 16:33 These things I have
spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
He did not rapture Isaiah when he was being sawn in half or Stephen when he was being stoned, Zechariah when he was slain in the temple, or the believers who were fed
to the lions in the cruel coliseum of Rome, what makes us so special that we do not need to go through some serious tests and trials???
I don't have enough time to write in greater detail but having a more complete understanding of the subject now, I think the best course of action for me is to be ready to
face any tests and trials that my come my way rather than just hope that God will take me out of here before the perilous times predicted for the last days get here. Any
wise pastor should be preparing his church to withstand any and all assaults on their faith not showing them the easy way out in the form of the rapture which may or may
not be true.
an e-mail that claimed that this teaching was false, at first I was flabbergasted but then I began to research for myself and now I am not so sure. I understand as taught in I
and II Thes. and I Cor.15 that there will be some believers who will be alive at the time of Christ's return. However it is impossible to conclude from these scriptures that
Jesus is coming secretly before his second coming to take these believers up to heaven for 7 years or 3 1/2 years during the tribulation.
I Thess. 4 and I Cor. 15 both address the issue of the resurrection of the dead not the tribulation. As seen in the book of Revelation the souls of dead believers are
already in heaven so what does it mean when we read that "THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST"? If they are already in heaven where are they rising from? So the
actual reference in these scriptures is to the transformation OF THE BODY of the believers to an incorruptible one. I Cor. 15 has nothing whatsoever to do with tribulation
but deals specifically with the subject of the transformation of the body. So what is being taught in I Thes. 4 in regards to the dead in Christ being raised first is that the
souls that are already in heaven will first be given their incorruptible bodies and then those who are alive at Christ's coming will have their bodies transformed and thus we
will be forever with the Lord. Does it teach anywhere in these scriptures that Christ is taking everyone up to heaven for 7 years? Secondly why would God keep all the dead
believers in their graves till 7 years prior to his second coming? Are there not plenty of scriptures that tell us that the souls of dead believers are already in heaven not in
the grave? So the reference to the resurrection of the dead can only mean the resurrection of their bodies not their souls. Whilst it is true that at the time of
his second coming Christ will gather together all believers IN THE AIR and transform their mortal corruptible bodies to an incorruptible one, it can no way be concluded that
they will all go back up to heaven, it is just as likely that Christ will continue his DESCENT to EARTH from heaven as mentioned in I Thes. 4:16 along with this great cloud of
witnesses and begin his millennial reign upon Earth. 4:16 specifically states that "The Lord Himself shall DESCEND from heaven with a shout..." and it is a possibility that no
can prove otherwise that he may continue descending down to earth while gathering all his believers together to set up His Kingdom on Earth.
We have also been taught that the rapture will be secret and can happen at any time and Thief in the night scriptures such as I Thes. 5:2 are always quoted to prove that
the rapture will be secret. But if we continue reading to I These. 5:4, it reads, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." So if
the Bible teaches that this day will not over take us a thief in the night, then it cannot be secret, we should know when it will happen.
II Thes. 2:3 reads, 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. So we understand that that day will not come until at least the revelation of the anti Christ, and possibly the mark of the beast etc. Since the anti-christ is revealed
3.5 years before the end of the tribulation does it not mean that we will be here for at least the first half of the tribulation?
Furthermore if Jesus planned on taking us out of here before the really bad days come, why would these scriptures be in the Bible?
- Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
- Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. - Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
- Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they
held: - Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow
servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
In particular the last two scriptures quoted tell us that these faithful witnesses gave up their lives not their faith but do you read anywhere in Revelation of a group of people
that got there without dying first?
- Revelation 3:10 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.
The above scripture is frequently quoted to prove the rapture but the word KEEP means to guard. Why would we need to be guarded if we are going to be in heaven?
- Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and
threescore days.
Why would God not rapture the woman of Revelation 12 up to heaven but rather preserves her and protects her in the wilderness right here on Earth. Why did God not
rapture Noah before the flood and then bring him back? Would that not have been an ideal circumstance for the rapture?
It is also taught that Revelation is written for JEWS not Christians, that God is dealing with Israel in this book not the church. But in Revelation 1:4 reads, TO THE SEVEN
CHURCHES THAT ARE IN ASIA…Jesus (and John) specifically addressed this book to the SEVEN GENTILE CHURCHES in Asia not to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem!
If this whole book was meant for Israel not for the church as we are taught should it not have been addressed to the JEWS IN JERUSALEM???
In the whole Bible has God ever taught that sufferings can be avoided? Did Jesus not teach that in the world we SHALL have tribulation? John 16:33 These things I have
spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
He did not rapture Isaiah when he was being sawn in half or Stephen when he was being stoned, Zechariah when he was slain in the temple, or the believers who were fed
to the lions in the cruel coliseum of Rome, what makes us so special that we do not need to go through some serious tests and trials???
I don't have enough time to write in greater detail but having a more complete understanding of the subject now, I think the best course of action for me is to be ready to
face any tests and trials that my come my way rather than just hope that God will take me out of here before the perilous times predicted for the last days get here. Any
wise pastor should be preparing his church to withstand any and all assaults on their faith not showing them the easy way out in the form of the rapture which may or may
not be true.
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