The late Dr Michael Heiser stated that he “…believe[s] biblical eschatology is deliberately cryptic.” Let that sink in for a minute this topic is a difficult subject because there are many scriptures scattered in the New Testament and sometimes no real clear concise explanation of all the pieces and parts. The question is do we harmonize them or are they in fact separate events?
When we read about Paul taking about the resurrection, a word found in scripture, is that the same as what some call the rapture, a term not actually found in scripture? Is there a different last call that is not the rapture or the resurrection?
What is clear is that Jesus will return and believers will one day be in His presence. But, what is the sequence of events that make that a reality?
Chuck Smith, in Issue 15 of Calvary Chapel Magazine explains it this way: “The Rapture refers to that time when Jesus is going to come, without warning, and take away His Church from this earth. After the Rapture, the Lord will pour out His wrath upon this sinful world. Many pastors claim an ignorance of the Rapture or say that they are not certain whether it will precede the Tribulation. They say they don’t really know where they stand on this issue. I believe there is no excuse for ambiguity on this. We have our Bibles, and we are capable of studying this subject thoroughly. I believe that your view of the Rapture will have a significant impact on the success of your ministry.”
So we see that we have two distinct views on the knowability of end times events and happenings. Both Michael and Chuck were both well respected men, but had different points of view.
What I can say for certain is that holding either view or a belief in the rapture before the tribulation or mid-tribulation, will have nothing to do with my eternal salvation. If my salvation is secure then either I will be caught up or I’ll have to somehow be subject to the tribulation. One way is a little cleaner and safer and the other fraught with difficulties and possible persecution. If it was up to me I’d take the easy route!
Let’s look at actual scriptures to see what it actually says.
Scattered Sacred Words
Jesus himself is giving insight to the expected day of his return in both Matthew 24 and Mark 13:14. He also ties in the prophesy of Daniel 9:27 and makes clear that what was prophesied has yet to come to pass.
Matthew 24:3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these things are the beginning of birth pains.
We are warned and should expect many false Christs to make claims before Jesus’ real return.
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand),
This is the key event in Jesus’ return timeline— this must happen before his return. In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul makes the same point about this event as well, so this timeline is mirrored here and by Paul later.
16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, 18 and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The timeline so far: 1. We see the abomination of desolation standing in the temple, 2. He unleashes terrible suffering, and then 3. Jesus appears and 4. Gathers his elect.
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 “Therefore stay alert because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Jesus tells us that the day of his return will not occur until the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel, “stands in the holy place”. If you assume the rapture already took place then this is a second coming.
Jesus gives some insight about the elect and this un-holy figure when he says “But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” This implies that suffering will take place on the earth and include some of the “elect”. By his grace “the suffering will be cut short” since it will be “unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world”!
An alternative view would assume that some elect remain on earth after the assumed rapture. Is it is possible that these are just new believers converted after the rapture? Is Jesus talking about a separate event after the rapture? These assumptions are hard to support based on what Matthew wrote.
Later when we read 2 Thessalonians 2 we’ll see that Paul supports what Jesus is saying in a bit more detail, he points out that that Jesus will return for us under the same conditions mentioned in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
We see that verse 30 is very close to what Paul will say later in 1 Thessalonians.
Verse 40 is often used to explain the suddenness of the rapture in it’s premillennial context, but the details speak of a timeframe after the abomination of desolation is in the temple and Jesus has already gathered his elect. This verse brings to mind Larry Norman’s popular song - I Wish We'd All Been Ready from 1969.
John 14: 1 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
While this verse does say anything specific it lets us know that Jesus leaves earth and will return for us one day and then we will be with him. By the way the phrase “many rooms” was translated by Tyndall to read mansions, unlike what the Prosperity Gospel preachers say this is not about what we would call a fancy house, it meant simply a place to stay as in a hotel or motel!
Pauls Writings
Next we’ll review what Paul has written about the resurrection, like John in Revelations, he tells us what he knows is from Jesus himself! We’ll look at his writings in the order of date written and not necessarily in the order in the New Testament.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11
In the following verses Paul is assuring the congregations in Thessalonica about the state of those ancestors who have died before Jesus’ return or the resurrection. These are the foundation verses used to support the claim of the rapture that usually is understood by some to occur before the tribulation.
1 Thessalonians4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
There is no indication about what triggers this event or under what circumstances it may occur.
This event is described as “the coming of the Lord”.
This information is directly from the Lord given to Paul.
Jesus will descend with a command and a sound of a trumpet.
The dead in Christ rise first.
Then we who are alive follow.
We will go upwards into the air, there is no mention of paradise or heaven.
Once we meet (both those who were dead and those still alive) we will always be with the Lord.
What we call or understand as the rapture, (since rapture is not an actual word found in the Bible) is derived from he greek word ηαρπαζο - har-pad’-zo: 1) to seize, carry off by force 2) to seize on, claim for one's self eagerly 3) to snatch out or away.
5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, There is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Paul tells us that this event will happen— but when is an absolute unknown, since he says “you have no need to have anything written to you…” because this is something kept from us until it actually happens. If the rapture and the second coming are separate events then this has to be speaking about the rapture since it includes those who are dead in Christ. If you believe in two events then the dead in Christ would not still be on earth. This is not about people who may of died since the tribulation because that does not fit the context of the passage. This was written for a particular people at a particular time about a particular concern— what happens to those who die before Jesus’ return.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
2 Thessalonians 2: 1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Paul lets us know that what he has been teaching the mystery of the times of Jesus’ return more than once, so this should be nothing new for them to understand. “The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” and “our being gathered together with him” will not happen until “the man of lawlessness is revealed”. This mirrors what Daniel predicted in Daniel 9:27 and Jesus spoke about in Mark 13:14 and Matthew 24 concerning the “abomination of desolation”.
If the man of lawlessness is the same as the “abomination of desolation” then the return of Jesus will be sometime during the seven year tribulation after “he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God”, not before.
At this point you, if you believe in the rapture you have to assume that the rapture event is a separate event from Jesus’ return and you also must assume it had previously happened, since we know that specific events had to happen before Jesus’ return.
What also should be clear is that all the verses mentioned up to this point, except for 1 Thessalonians 4, has given very specific details about the second coming— Jesus gathers his elect after the appearance of the abomination of desolation. While 1 Thessalonians does not include those specific requirements, there can be no ambiguity since Paul is the writer of both Thessalonian epistles. For some reason he omits specific information in one place but not the other, but they still do not contradict each other.
1 Corinthians 15: 12-58
In Verses 12-22 Paul explains the concept of the resurrection of the dead. He explains how we have a hope of life beyond our first death.
1 Corinthians 15: 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another.
In verses 39-41 Paul explains to us how we get a new different “heavenly” body. Verses 42-49 continues to talk about how death came into being and a hope for a new spiritual life after our death. In the next verse we see why we have to have a new body.
50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the blinking 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. There is a contrast in our beings in the earthly and spiritual realms; natural vs spiritual, earthy vs heavenly, moral vs immortality, perishable vs imperishable and finally the image of Adam vs the image of Jesus. We get the impression that our mortal bodies just will not be adequate for an immortal new life.
2. At some point in time not everyone will die, but everyone will be changed. As we see in Thessalonians both the dead and the living in Christ will rise upwards.
3. A trumpet will mark the rising of the dead and living.
a. This trumpet is labeled the “last trumpet”, the obvious question is why is it the last trumpet, last trumpet after what events?
b. We see in Jesus’ Revelation that in the end of days there will be a series of trumpets. Revelations 8:2-6 tells us there are seven distinct angels with seven trumpets. Each trumpet will bring usher in a judgement or event of supernatural phenomena.
Revelations 10:7 …but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.
Revelations 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.
This is the last mention in scripture of a trumpet as a judgement or event. So is the last trumpet the beginning of Jesus reign?
Read the rest of chapters from 11 to 20 and see the Bowl judgements, the rise of the Beast, and the epic battle between Jesus and Satan and the False Prophet. We still have a ways to go before the final judgement and the opening of the Books of Life and Death. We read that there are some believers still on earth doing battle and we are even warned in Rev 13:7 “ Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them…” and in verse 10 ”Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”
So we see that the 144,000 and saints are still on the earth so the seventh trumpet is probably not the “last” trumpet.
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen,
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
In his closing Paul explains how death itself will be finally defeated and we see in
Revelations 20:14 “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”
I Corinthians and Revelations mirror each other closely, when talking about what happens at the end of days, death and even the use of trumpets. When Paul is talking about the resurrection there does not seem to be any indication of a rapture event.
Other Writings
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Titus 2:13 …waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,…
Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Different Views
Before we look at some of the different views concerning the rapture, let’s look at some definitions.
The study of the return of Jesus and end times is known in theological terms as Eschatology.
Pre-tribulational Premillennialism: the belief that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation begins.
Mid-tribulational Premillennialism: the belief that the Rapture will occur at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
Pre-wrath Premillennialism: the belief that the rapture will occur at some point during the tribulation period before the second coming.
Post-tribulational Premillennialism: the belief that the rapture would be identical to the second coming of Jesus.
Postmillennialism: the belief that the Rapture will occur at the end of the millennial reign of the righteous on Earth..
Amillennialism: the belief that Christ is now reigning currently with his saints through his church, therefore there will be no millennial reign of the righteous on Earth.
The following chart shows the most common views of tribulation events.
Covenantal/Reformed vs. Dispensational Theology
To be clear when we mention “theology”, in this case, it’s not really about doctrine but more about a particular way to interpret scripture. The reason it’s important to us is that they each hold different views when we talk about the rapture.
Dispensationalism is probably the most popular scriptural interpretative method in American evangelicalism, and has been so from the latter half of the 19th century. Covenant Theology, however, remains the majority method for Protestantism since the time of the Reformation, and it is the system favored by those of a more Reformed or Calvinistic persuasion.
Covenantal Theology can also be termed as Calvinist and is typical of the reformed theologians. This includes some of the reformed Baptists, the Reformed and Christian Reformed, the Presbyterian, the Anglican (or Episcopal), and to some extent, the Lutheran, and Catholics.
Covenant Theology views the covenants of Scripture as manifestations of either the Covenant of Works or the Covenant of Grace. The entire story of redemptive history can be seen as God unfolding the Covenant of Grace from its beginning stages (Genesis 3:15) through to its fruition in Christ. Covenant Theology is, therefore, a Christocentric way of looking at Scripture because it sees the OT as the promise of Christ and the NT as the fulfillment in Christ.
Some have accused covenant theologians of teaching what is called “Replacement Theology” (i.e., the Church replaces Israel). Covenant Theology teaches that the Church is Israel and Israel is the Church and its denial of any future plan for Israel.
Dispensationalism by definition is an analytical system for interpreting the Bible that focuses its attention on issues regarding the biblical covenants, Israel, the church, and the end of days. It gets its name from the dispensations of God to humanity, which are the teachings that God has given during the different ages of humanity. They are as follows:
Innocence
Conscience
Human government
Promise
Law
Grace
Kingdom
There are three essential beliefs of Dispensationalism. The first is that there is a distinction between the church and Israel. The second is that all scripture in the Old Testament should be interpreted literally. The third is that the purpose of God in history is for the sake of the glory of God. Dispensationalism is primarily a development from the post-Reformation period.
This is thanks to the works of J. N. Darby, a theologian and a Plymouth Brethren minister who lived during the 19th century. Other notable dispensations include LaHaye, Ryrie, MacArthur, Scofield, the Dallas Theological Seminary and was popularized by the “Left Behind” book and movie series.
GotQuestions web site: Dispensationalism, as a system, results in a premillennial interpretation of Christ’s second coming and usually a pretribulational interpretation of the rapture. To summarize, dispensationalism is a theological system that emphasizes the literal interpretation of Bible prophecy, recognizes a distinction between Israel and the Church, and organizes the Bible into different dispensations or administrations.
In our case a noteworthy aspect of dispensational theology that has little to no support in church history is the concept of the pretribulational rapture.
The following is a comparison of the two distinct “Theologies” note the importance on the way scripture is interpreted in each point of view.
Most people who are Christians today, are somewhat ignorant on what they believe and why they believe something, they just know what they have been taught. That’s not a jab, it’s just a fact, our goal today is to just read what scripture tells us and see what makes sense in the context of the data provided, no matter the outcome.
Before he died Dr Heiser made it clear that he considered eschatology his least important subject. Why? Because the data holds ambiguity and assumptions have to be made for each point of view to be valid.
As a group of believers why do we insist on always presenting our claim as being the correct one, when in reality there are sometimes multiple possible explanations? Why can’t we just say some believe this while others believe that, especially in the most gray of areas!
The Rapture and the Return of the Lord
Are these two separate events or the same event interpreted differently. Some popular differences between understanding the rapture and the second coming are also based on historical teachings of the Covenantal/Reformed or Dispensational Theology.
GotQuestions makes a distinction between the rapture and the second coming. I’m going to use their assertions as a base to compare their premise with what scripture actually infers.
Claim 1: At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).
In either the rapture or the second coming we will meet the Lord in the air. The second part of this claim assumes that the rapture already took place and is the vast army with Jesus. In fact it could also be true that the rapture did not take place at all, but the second coming did and that is when the resection took place and then we were transformed, took part in the Wedding Ceremony were then clothed in white linen and then were part of the heavenly army with Jesus.
Both Jesus and Paul explain that the second coming would not take place until sometime in the tribulation period based on the actions of the Man of lawlessness or the abomination of desolation mentioned in Daniel. Based on Jesus and Paul detailed data found in Matthew 24 and 2 Thessalonians 2 the rapture or second coming could not happen until certain events in Revelations took place.
[NOTE: this post is long enough so I didn’t add the scriptures mentioned and be unnecessarily redundant, but please go back and review the scriptures and the comments already presented.]
Claim 2. The second coming occurs after the great and terrible tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).
As mentioned above Paul and Jesus make it clear that this is true concerning the second coming, however the second part of the claim about the rapture are questionable.
While Thessalonians does say “For God did not destine us for wrath” that does not mean that God’s judgements are directed at the elect, it would be false to assume that during the tribulation that persecution by the beast, or false prophet is equated as God’s wrath. Christians were never promised a easy pain free life.
Revelations 3:10 is written to a physical church in history and the claim should be interpreted as pertaining to them and not some blanket statement about the entire church or the elect.
Claim 3. The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).
The idea that the elect will be removed as an act of deliverance is simply not supported in the scriptures cited. Verses 13-17 are clearly stating that those alive will not proceed those who have previously died. For verse 5:9 see comments above.
In Matthew Jesus makes no clear claim that verses 40 or 41 are about unbelievers or judgement. There are no verses in scripture that mention any sort of “rapture” for unbelievers. We know that people die and will go up or down based on their spiritual character and those alive after the second coming who sided with the beast will be destroyed in the final battle.
Claim 4. The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).
There are no words in verse 50 or 51 that mentions a secret event, what is secret is the time of the second coming according to Jesus himself. It is true that everyone will be aware of this event mentioned in Revelation and Matthew.
Claim 5. The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is imminent; it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
According to Jesus and Paul it is true that the second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place. Titus just says we are waiting, there is no mention of imminency. Thessalonians and Corinthians also make no mention of imminency. In fact Thessalonians makes it clear that the “rapture” mentioned in the claim is actually the second coming based on the criteria mentioned in the first part of the claim, since it is an assumption that the rapture is pre tribulation in timing.
I’m not sure that GotQuestions did a good job in their assertions and claims— in fact the next section in their original post asks rhetorical statements that contain the real truth if you remove the word “if”! It’s like a form of spiritual doublespeak.
GotQuestions asks: Why is it important to keep the rapture and the second coming distinct?
1) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, believers will have to go through the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).
2) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, the return of Christ is not imminent—there are many things which must occur before He can return (Matthew 24:4-30).
3) In describing the tribulation period, Revelation chapters 6–19 nowhere mentions the church. During the tribulation—also called “the time of trouble for Jacob” (Jeremiah 30:7)—God will again turn His primary attention to Israel (Romans 11:17-31).
My simple question is “Why is it important to keep the rapture and the second coming distinct?” We humans have no say in God’s grand scheme of events, so why are were making claims as if they will keep us from somehow going through the tribulation, or that the return of Christ is not imminent—there are many things which must occur before He can return.
In summary, the rapture is understood by some to mean— The return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth before the time of God’s wrath. The problem is that scripture does not clearly support that premise. However it is true that—The second coming is the return of Christ to the earth to bring the tribulation to an end and to defeat the Antichrist and his evil world empire.
Closing Thoughts
I guess the question is how did I come to the place to question the traditional view of the rapture? I can blame it on two intertwined instances; a friend claimed to be reformed and they did not believe in the rapture this also happened while sitting in a study of Revelations. I was filled with questions; what does reformed mean? Why don’t they believe in the rapture, that unbelief seemed silly to me.
So I had to research what reformed meant and who falls under that spiritual mindset. If I was not reformed then what did I believe and why? What turned out to be silly was me assuming I knew something, when in actuality I did not. You can’t blame me the rapture story has been popularized in song, books and even movies, not to mention a teaching continually taught in a lot of churches.
As mentioned earlier most Christians know what they have been told and are content to just listen and accept it as truth. I personally want the rapture to happen but at this point I find it hard to accept because of a lack of biblical data.
We talk as if it is a proven fact yet how many have decided to find out for themselves what scripture really says about anything. In my study I have made the following conclusions:
There are some things that we can know for sure.
There are some things that are simply unknowable according to scripture.
There are some things that are simply unknowable because of our lack of understanding because we are fallen humans.
Then there are some things that are unknowable based on the amount of data available or are written ambiguously, the meaning may simply not be clear enough to totally understand or make a positive claim.
John 14 Jesus said “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.
5 Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?
6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
My heart is not troubled I know he will come back for me one day, I don’t really know when or how but I know it will happen. I trust the words: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” I’m content that I know the way, the truth and the life.
I don’t always get things right but I have an assurance that has nothing to do with the belief or disbelief of the rapture. That’s a secondary event, and truthfully whether It happens or not that is beyond my personal control.
I try not to write things to disparage instead, my goal is to encourage, what do you believe, why do you believe that? I personally don’t care what I believe as long as it’s true. You need to be able to stand or change your beliefs based on what scripture says. Read things in context, seek out harmonious texts that further explain that topic, there are no secret meanings or hidden knowledge, if there are then you will get that revelation when you are transformed.
If you don’t believe the exact way someone else does be at peace, be willing to verify or seek out the truth maybe they are right or maybe you are, the goal is not to create division. Let iron sharpen iron and encourage your brother regardless of your differences, but be gentle and not quarrelsome, show self control and humility. This is especially true toward unbelievers.
2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Hey Stephen- another fantastic and thought provoking article, my dear brother. 😉. As you know if I saw you, od give you a hug and we'd discuss your latest wood projects. This is not a criticism, but rather a clarification- a few more seeds for thought. At least 90% of the confusion re end times comes down to 3 verses and the gross misinterpretation of these 3 verses and a complete lack of Hebrew culture and world view. To really make this make sense we have to use an example from Football. We're at a large International church in Amsterdam, Holland with 1000 people from Europe, Asia, Africa and 10 Americans. The pastor asks the congregation to name the top 10 Football players of all time. 950 people from around the globe from different cultures and back grounds all say the same thing. Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo. All ten Americans have ten completely different answers. They made assumptions totally ignoring the culture and context of the speaker, and audience. Insert face palm here. One of the most misinterpreted verse in the Bible is directly related to End times. Its 2 Thes 2:2-3 and its talking about the Day of the Lord and that the AC will be revealed first. The Day of the Lord is used more than 50 times by more than 7 writers, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Malachi, Paul, Luke and others and it always and Only is Terrible. Its described as bloody, anger, wrath, judgement, fire, fury, terrible, and the day women are raped, and connected with being chased by a bear, confronted by a lion and being bit by a snake. ** Its literally all the stuff of Hollywoods worst horror films. More than 400 yesrs before Christ this was already an unmistable well-established meaning- Like Turkey Day to Americans. Its the Day of Wrath and Gods judgement poured out.
This is in stark contrast to the rapture- which is explicitly named in multiple passages. People say its nor on the Bible, but neither is "Bible". They mean its not in their English KJV. The word is "Harpazo" and means to be caught up quickly by force. Its also used in Acts- Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, and the famous Rev 12 Passage.
Re whether the rapture & Resurrection are the same, Biblically and technically they are distinct and separate events - litetally seperated by a nanosecond. Paul makes clear that the dead in Christ rise first, and in a split second later- all of us living, in Christ will be "Harpazod"/ caught up instantly by force with them. Its the same as saying that when a gun is fired and the millisecond it hits the target 1000 yards away are separate. Unless we're using high tech scientific equipment, its one event. Then in the 2nd most clear and well-known rapture passage , Paul explicitly says that the resurrection happens at "The Last Trumpet" an ancient and well-documented Jewish idiom, which every hearer instantly understood . Its the 100th blast of the shofar when the sliver of the new moon is sighted on Rosh Hoshanah aka Feast of Trumpets, which is also clearly equated in scripture with an open door ( of the temple) and is confirmed by John in Revelation where he connects the rapture with the open door and the sound of the trumpet, and the saints are called up "come up here" and the church is not mentioned until the end of Revelation. Maranatha