Searching for clarity on the rapture

I’m not sure at what point in the history of the human race that we became fascinated with the end of time, but it is not a new fascination. It’s not even a Judeo-Christian fascination. The study of the end is called eschatology. Everyone say that word with me, “Eschatology.” Historically there are multiple civilizations over multiple time periods who wrote about an eventual ruler who would come and usher in a time of peace and prosperity. A lot of ancient writings tried to give hope to their readers that their current set of circumstances was temporary. Things are going to get better one day.

In fact, this is the view of most of history. Things will get better with time. All of that seems to change around the turn of the 20th Century. America endures the bloodiest conflict on its soil in its history at the end of the 19th Century and then enters into what most would condemn as the worst war in the history of the human race, World War I. Just before the Civil War breaks out John Nelson Darby proposes that the Second Coming will happen in two parts: the rapture and then Christ’s Return. Three groups arose out of this second coming compartmentalization: Premillennialist, Amillennialist, and Postmillennialist. You can determine which one you are by your interpretation of .

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Premils believe that the 1000 year reign of Christ will happen in conjunction with The Great Tribulation (). Amils believe that we are in the midst of the 1000 year reign of Christ and that the 1000 is symbolic of the Church and not a literal 1000 years. The Postmils believe that Christ’s return will be after a 1000 years of Christian influence on morals and ethics. Postmils also tend to think things are going to get better before Jesus’ return.

What can confuse things even more is that Premillennialism also has three subgroups that differ in their opinion on the timing of the rapture. The timing centers on the event known as The Great Tribulation. So, we have the self-explanatory pretrib, midtrib, and posttrib. In every case a Premillennialist believes that both living and dead Christians will be removed from the earth before Jesus establishes a new heavens and a new earth. The popular Left Behind book series is written from a Premil Pretrib perspective, and most bumper sticker slogans related to the rapture are likely Premil Pretrib perspectives.

So, I know all of you are dying to ask me where do I stand on this whole issue. I tend to be an Amillennialist in my thinking about these things, but in practice I’m an “I don’t careialist.” In other words, I don’t care about when or how any of this happens. Our eschatology is not a salvation issue, and it shouldn’t be a fellowship issue.

What I do care about is that there will be a Day of Judgement and that I plan to represented by Jesus Christ.

Matthew records quite a bit of what Jesus has to say about the end. Just before Jesus is arrested records Jesus’ eschatological view. So,I want to spend the next few moments, now that you are informed about all of the Eschatological Positions, paying strict attention to the words of Jesus in chapter 24.

In 24:1-2 Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple. 

In 24:3 The disciples ask him about the timing of the temple destruction and the timing of “your coming and the end of the age.”

Jesus answers the question with the rest of 24 and all of 25.

24:4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 

This is where we get the understanding that the timing of Jesus’ return is bound to our evangelization of the world.

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 

So, there will be a great tribulation. For the sake of the elect it is not allowed to destroy all of humanity which makes it sound like the elect are present during the great tribulation. And, oh by the way, beware of false christs and false prophets. Jesus’ return will be OBVIOUS.

29 “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. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

24:32-35 Trust me I ain’t cappin.

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation (probably means human race) will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 

24:36-51 Regardless of the timing you have to be ready!!!

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

This world does a great job of convincing us that we have plenty of time to get our affairs in order. Jesus goes on in chapter 25 to say, “Nope. Some of you have only a few more moments.”

He tells a parable in about a king who threw a wedding feast for his son. Everyone he invited had scheduling conflicts. Some of them even killed his servants. So, what’s a man to do? He hired the DJ, the caterer, it’s an open bar, he’s all dressed up. So, he sends his army to kill the original invites and he sends his servants to invite anyone and everyone they could find to come to the party. And people begin to show up ready to go, except for this one dude. He comes to the party like he’s dressed for bed.

Listen to how it ends.

11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. (no excuse) 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

It sends shivers down my spine every time I read that part. SOBERING. The first people were the original invites, aka the Jews. The second group is everyone else. Which is you and me. Jesus is saying, “Look I’m eventually going to be throwing this huge party and you are getting an invite. So, you better be prepared. Because unprepared people will get thrown out and it won’t end well for them.”

Be prepared. Be prepared. Be prepared. 

The Bible is unclear on the timing of events that lead to the end, but it is exceptionally clear on this one thing:

There will be a Day of Judgment. There will be a time when people who have placed their faith in Jesus will be judged righteous and rewarded with an eternal life in a new heaven and earth. And the ones who failed to trust Jesus are devoured for eternity.

What is your level of confidence in your preparedness? Do you know if...you are or not?

Jesus is where you find the supplies you need. Maybe it’s time you gave him a call.

Pray.