The Rapture (Or Not)

Last Days Series

The beginning of troubles

The four horsemen of the apocalypse

The Rapture (or Not) (today)

The Mark of the beast

Russia, China and US

The tribulation: What is it? When is it?

When is the 2nd coming?

The marking of the 144,000

The two witnesses

The Last Day

The millennial kingdom

We have been talking about “The Last Days”

The time from the resurrection to the 2nd coming

more specifically, the time immediately before the 2nd coming.

Today is the third part of our series

We spoke about the beginning of troubles - events immediate before and leading into the tribulation

Jesus said there would be wars, and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, natural disasters, and persecution

Christians will not be in the majority - at least not “true Christians

False prophets and false Christs will lead away many

We spoke about the four horsemen of the apacolypse, and what they represent

times of tribulation, war, pestilence, and economic collapse.

People crying at to the rocks to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb

The tribulation will be a time of great trouble on the earth such as has never been before

Today, we will talk about the Rapture.

This is a very popular Christian doctrine, at least here in America

How many of you know what I am talking about when I say “Rapture”

Most Christians here in the United Sates, and most Television preachers, believe that Jesus Christ will return immediately before the tribulation to “rapture” or catch away the church (Christians) from the earth, sparing them from the tribulation

They believe that this is an even that could happen at any given moment, and will happen suddenly and without warning

that all the Christians on the earth will at that time will suddenly vanish - leaving driver-less cars, pilot-less planes, empty piles of clothing etc.

They believe that Jesus will leave the earth without Christians during that time, and that then the anti-Christ will also be revealed and basically have dominion over the earth (most beleive the anti-Chist and the beast are the same)

One of the most compelling scriptures for this doctrine is here in 1 Thes. 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 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 will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 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 we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

and also

Matthew 24:40–42 NKJV

40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

Pre-Tribulation Premillennialism

The official “theological” name of this doctrine is pre-tribulation Premillennialism

Millennialism refers tot he millennial kingdom the Jesus will establish when He returns to earth

The doctrine of pre-millennialism is based on the literal belief in the scriptures

those who believe this, believe that Jesus will literally return to the earth after the tribulation and begin a reign of 1,000 years on the earth

They believe that Jesus will physically be on the earth with the risen believers during this 1,000 year period

other views believe that the thousand year reign is more symbolic and spiritualized and that Jesus does not return until after it (postmillennialism)

Or amillennialism, which believes that the 1,000 year (symbolic time) reign began when Jesus ascended to heaven and continues until he returns after he tribulation

We are premillennial in our beliefs. We believe in the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth at the end of the tribulation, at which time He will establish a 1,000 year kingdom on the earth.

Now that we understand “Premillennialism” lets look at “Pre-tribulation Premillennialism”

This is the doctrine that most Christians in America believe today

In addition to believing the literal return of Jesus, at the end of the tribulation, they also believe that Jesus will return in the air 7 years earlier (but not touch down) and “catch away” or rapture all the believers away with Him

After this, the earth will be left with all those people who did not previously believe in Jesus, and will be under the authority of the anti-christ

People can still be saved during this time, but they will have to endure the tribulation - the mark of the beast, etc.

everyone who trusts Jesus before the rapture will escape the tribulation and these things, and will be with Jesus when he returns.

This is the view that is popularized in almost every movie I have seen on the subject.

this is the view that I was taught when I first began going to church.

It is so common, that it was just taken for granted that everyone believes this

If someone said they didn’t believe that there was going to be a rapture, they would be likened to someone who does not believe the bible

At first I accepted the teaching since it was coming from Christians far more seasoned than myself

But, I was always a little troubled, becasue I had read through the entire bible before going to church, and did not think I had found solid support for this belief.

When I read through the bible, I did not come to a place where I intuitively thought “Oh, this is the rapture, where we don’t have to worry about the tribulation anymore”

On the contrary, I kept stopping at places where Jesus repeatedly told His Disciples to “be ready”

In Mat. 24 He warned them of coming tribulation and persecution, and said when “YOU” see the abomination of desolation...

He said that He who is faithful to the end will be saved

Danial spoke of those who do know their God being strong

Revelation speaks of those who will not accept the mark being beheaded and martyred for Christ

Jesus warned us that we would be persecuted, that the world would hate us

Also, I read the stories of so many who were persecuted and killed for their faith ---

from Stephen, to James, to Justin Martyr, Polycarp, to Tyndale, and so many others

It seems hard to reconcile this with a view that The Church would be raptured becasue Jesus would not allow His church to suffer tribulation

Where Stephen and James and Polycarp somehow not holy enough, or loved enough to avoid martyrdom?

Over time, at first I began to seriously doubt this pre-tribulation view of a rapture.

then eventually, as I continued to study, I had to reject the teaching outright. It simply isn’t true.

As I continued to study, I was surprised to find that I am not alone in my rejection of this view.

There is another premillennial doctrine that already exists, which does line up with the bible.

This was amazing to me, since I thought I had discovered something new, when in fact, it was something old.

This other view is called “Historic Premillennialism” (sometimes it is also called post-tribulation premillennialism)

This is called historic premillennialism becasue it is the view which was historically taught, by the church fathers

this was what was believed by Justin Martyr, and Polycarp, and Irenaeus and so many others

It is also still believed by many modern preachers like John Piper and others

This is generally the official view of many mainline denominations such as: Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, United Methodists, United Church of Christ, and most Reformed Christians.

The historic view of premillennialism believes that Jesus Christ will return after the tribulation

He will bring with Him those who have died in faith before

He will “catch up” the remaining Christians who remain at that time, and we will all join together for His coronation

there will not be a rapture in the sense that it is presently being taught, but instead, this is the rapture - the rapture and the 2nd coming are the same event.

Before we get into some of the reasons we believe this, let’s take a look at where this other view came from

John Nelson Darby (18 November 1800 – 29 April 1882) was an Anglo-Irish Bible teacher, one of the influential figures among the original Plymouth Brethren ... He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism and Futurism. Pre-tribulation rapture theology was popularized extensively in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren,[1] and further popularized in the United States in the early 20th century by the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible.[2]

Prior to 1830 there is virtually no reference to the rapture teaching that John Darby invented.

Prior to 1830, no church taught it in their creed, catechism or statement of faith.

Darby notes that the doctrine "popped into his head" in 1830 AD. Before this, no one had ever heard of a secret rapture doctrine.

He claimed that the doctrine virtually jumped out of the pages of Scripture ..."

John Nelson Darby commenting on 2 Thess. 2:1-2 in 1850: "It is this passage which, twenty years ago, [1830 AD] made me [Darby] understand the rapture of the saints before- perhaps a considerable time before- the day of the Lord, ...."

So, Until this time, no one had been teaching, preaching or hearing of this “rapture”

Darby claimed this was something new he came to understand

Be careful of anyone trying to teach you a “new” doctrine.

Paul said if He, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel, let him be accursed.

There have been many people with “new understandings”, like Taz Russell, Joseph Smith, Jim Jones, etc.

Many of the Christians of Darby’s day considered him a heretic, and his following a cult

In fact. he caused a split of his denomination: Darby's return to England brought a split to the Plymouth Brethren. Riled at a member's differences on issues of prophecy and church order, Darby excommunicated him even after the man admitted and repudiated his error. Darby demanded that public refutation of those beliefs be the basis of admitting people to the Lord's Table. When the Bethesda church refused to comply with the demand, Darby refused to receive any of its members.

Eventually, Darby's followers created a tight group of churches known as Exclusive Brethren (also called Darbyites),

Historic Premillennialism

This is what we beleive

You should know why you believe what you believe

In the time that is left, I will take you through a few of the scriptures which support and clarify the return of Jesus

Most significant teachings on this event are in Matthew chapter 24, 1 Thes. 4:13-18, Revelation 19:11-20:6, 2 Thes, 2:1-12, 1 Cor. 15:51-56

Also the parable of the Tares and the Wheat and the parable of the net.

We have already looked at the passage from 1 Thessalonians,

the dead in Christ shall rise

those alive will be caught up with them

So, we will ever be with the Lord.

This is a beautiful passage, and completely true (as is all the bible)

We can comfort one another with these words.

there is nothing here which indicates that this event has to happen before the tribulation.

in fact, I will show you that it cannot happen 1st

In Matt. 24:3-18 Jesus speaks of the tribulation and the 2nd coming

As we read through this, please pay special attention to the terms “you”, and the phrase “and then”

He was speaking distinctly to His disciples here, and to Christians - overwhelmingly clear

The term “and then” establishes chronology. It does not say “and also”.

Matthew 24:3–31 NKJV

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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 His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

SO, the things that are notable here:

“You”, vs. ...

And then....

Verse 29, immediately after the tribulation of those days....

Verse 31 He will send His angels with the great sound of the trumpet to gather His elect from one end of heaven to another.

this is definitely the same event described in 1 Thes. 4:13-18 - the trumpet, the angels, the gathering appear in heaven etc.

But it also clearly occurs “after the tribulation of those days”

Also, in 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes again to expound upon 1 Thess.

2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 NKJV

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Here, Paul tells us that “That day will not come unless the falling away comes first”, and “the man of sin is revealed”

He mentioned the letter that he had written before - definitely speaking of the same event

He mentioned he had told of these things before

The man of sin - the anti christ must therefore be revealed before the event spoken of in 1 Thes. 4:13-18

The revealing is the same event as the abomination of desolation mentioned in Daniel, and Mat. chapter 24.

I hope you are beginning to see here, that these separate passages are speaking of one and the same event.

Finally, consider Revelation 19:11

Revelation 19:11–20:6 NKJV

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Heaven opened - white horse -

Rev. 20:5-6 “This is the first resurrection - blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection

The “first” resurrection is the resurrection of the saved

The second death - or second resurrection is at the end of the thousand years -that is the second resurrection

The event in 1 Thes. 4:13-18 is obviously a resurrection

it cannot be the first resurrection, unless it is the same event as this one, else this would be the second, and irreconcilable contradiction.

It cannot be the second, since that is also described here. And those being raised are obviously the ones who are raised to be with Jesus - the righteousness

the only way to harmonize these passages is if they are one and the same event.

Heaven opened, the armies of heaven, the trumpet (rev. 14)

Consider some of the similarities between these passages:

After the tribulation (M,R)

The Lord appears in heaven (M,T,R)

Angels are present (M,T,R)

The sound of the trumpet (M,T)

The elect are gathered, dead rise, joined (M,T,R)

Appears in the sky (M,T,R).

Meet in the air (T) ( implied in others)

These passages are all speaking of one and the same event.

The only way to reconciles what would otherwise be contradictions, is to view these together.

Paul, John and Jesus were speaking of the same historical even (in advance).

When viewed together, not only is the conflict resolved, the passages make sense and harmonize.

The Wheat and the Tares

We should also consider Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares

Here Jesus was also teaching of the end of the world

He Himself gives us a clear interpretation of this parable:

Matthew 13:37–43 NKJV

37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

The harvest is the end of the world

The reapers are the angels

the angels are sent to gather out of His kingdom all things that offend and those that practice lawlessness and cast them into the furnace of fire

So, it is the wicked that are “taken”, not the righteousness

His kingdom will be established here on earth for a thousand years

The wicked are the ones who are removed from the kingdom

Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father

We will be remaining here with Jesus

We will rule and reign with HIm

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Why Does This Matter?

We must be ready

Jesus told us to be ready -

many Christians will not be prepared for these things becasue they did not understand the Word

When these things come, people’s faith will fail

The false idea that sinners will have a second chance to repent after the rapture may cause many Christians to be lax in sharing the gospel

Those who do know their God, must be strong and do great exploits.