Attacks on the Rapture: a popular pastime among some Christians
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We all have enjoyed the famous confrontation between Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel's three friends in the fiery furnace in Daniel 3. Many prophecy buffs view Nebuchadnezzar and the forced worship of his image as a "type" of the Antichrist, and the three Jewish young men as a foreshadowing of the 144,000 miraculously preserved through the "furnace" of the tribulation. That leaves a provocative question: Where was Daniel himself? Who might he represent as a type?
It is interesting to notice the patterns that seem to be suggested in the Biblical text. One of the greatest judgments on the Planet Earth was, of course, the flood during the days of Noah. It is obvious that there were three groups of people facing that judgment:
1) Those that perished in the Flood;
2) Those who were preserved through the Flood, by means of the ark; and
3) Those who were removed prior to the Flood, namely, Enoch.11 (It can be argued that he was only one person, but so is the Church!12 It was G. H. Pember who first suggested that Revelation 12:5 might be a reference to the Church.)
Enoch is, for many reasons, one of the most intriguing characters in the Old Testament. There are also several provocative Jewish traditions regarding Enoch. He is regarded as having been born on the day the Jews observe Hag Shavout, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. What is also interesting is that, by tradition, he is also believed to have been "translated" (or "raptured") on his birthday. Since the Church was "born" on this day, one wonders if we, too, will be "raptured" on its birthday!
(As some pre-tribbers love to point out, Enoch wasn't "mid-flood" or "post-flood," he was "pre-flood.")
1) Those that perished in the Flood;
2) Those who were preserved through the Flood, by means of the ark; and
3) Those who were removed prior to the Flood, namely, Enoch.11 (It can be argued that he was only one person, but so is the Church!12 It was G. H. Pember who first suggested that Revelation 12:5 might be a reference to the Church.)
Enoch is, for many reasons, one of the most intriguing characters in the Old Testament. There are also several provocative Jewish traditions regarding Enoch. He is regarded as having been born on the day the Jews observe Hag Shavout, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. What is also interesting is that, by tradition, he is also believed to have been "translated" (or "raptured") on his birthday. Since the Church was "born" on this day, one wonders if we, too, will be "raptured" on its birthday!
(As some pre-tribbers love to point out, Enoch wasn't "mid-flood" or "post-flood," he was "pre-flood.")
People talk about a mid/post trib Resurrection/Rapture only because they have not fully understood what the Tribulation is all about and when it occurs. There cannot be a mid- or post- tribulation Rapture for many reasons:
1. The Rapture has been presented by Christ as being IMMINENT, not tied to any other prophetic event.
2. The Tribulation -- the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week -- corresponds to the reign of the Antichrist on earth. And in order for Satan and the Antichrist to take TOTAL CONTROL of the inhabitants of the earth (all nations), the restraint on Satan by the Holy Spirit (the Restrainer) must be "taken out of the way". Since the Church (the Body of Christ) is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the Church must also be taken out of the way.
3. The Rapture cannot possibly be post-tribulation for the simple reason that the Tribulation saints are all killed (beheaded) by the Antichrist (Rev 20) for refusing to take the Mark of the Beast. So there would be no one for a Rapture.
Since the Rapture must occur before the 7 years of the Tribulation/Great Tribulation, it would follow that the Marriage of the Lamb will be some time during that period. But according to Revelation 19, it would appear to be just before the Second Coming of Christ (the end of the Great Tribulation).
1. The Rapture has been presented by Christ as being IMMINENT, not tied to any other prophetic event.
2. The Tribulation -- the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week -- corresponds to the reign of the Antichrist on earth. And in order for Satan and the Antichrist to take TOTAL CONTROL of the inhabitants of the earth (all nations), the restraint on Satan by the Holy Spirit (the Restrainer) must be "taken out of the way". Since the Church (the Body of Christ) is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the Church must also be taken out of the way.
3. The Rapture cannot possibly be post-tribulation for the simple reason that the Tribulation saints are all killed (beheaded) by the Antichrist (Rev 20) for refusing to take the Mark of the Beast. So there would be no one for a Rapture.
Since the Rapture must occur before the 7 years of the Tribulation/Great Tribulation, it would follow that the Marriage of the Lamb will be some time during that period. But according to Revelation 19, it would appear to be just before the Second Coming of Christ (the end of the Great Tribulation).
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No man knows the day or the hour. The reason being because the 70th week actually begins
in heaven at the receiving of the seven sealed scroll by the Lamb, beyond mans perception. The Rapture of course precedes this, (and in fact by necessity, similar to Lot's situation) nevertheless, both are inextricably linked.
We do know the times and the seasons though........and no doubt this is the season!
in heaven at the receiving of the seven sealed scroll by the Lamb, beyond mans perception. The Rapture of course precedes this, (and in fact by necessity, similar to Lot's situation) nevertheless, both are inextricably linked.
We do know the times and the seasons though........and no doubt this is the season!
This passage tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ will come personally for all His saints who are alive at the Rapture, but He will at the same time bring all the souls and spirits of those who died in Christ with Him for their resurrection bodies. The word “rapture” is derived from the Latin “rapiemur”, which is the equivalent of “caught up together” as seen above. So to claim that the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible is simply naive and foolish.
I have heard from a couple of teachers I trust (Chuck Missler and Andy Woods) that the latin word is "rapturo".
I have heard from a couple of teachers I trust (Chuck Missler and Andy Woods) that the latin word is "rapturo".
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No, the Second Coming occurs exactly 7 years after the man of sin is revealed and after innumerable and unmistakable signs and judgments that precede it. The signs are duly recorded in Scripture and are unmistakable and are worldwide. In my opinion this is why there are innumerable tribulation saints. There is no doubt that they know that this is the time of wrath recorded in the Bible, and willingly give their life for Jesus sake. So mid-trib or post trib cannot be the case because it breaches the concept of imminency, among several other reasons.
It would be helpful for you to understand the Jewish wedding ceremony ritual. While the bride is waiting, the groom's building an addition on the father's house. The groom can only receive his bride after the father approval, when the father endorses the completion of the building project.
Only then can the groom and the wedding party go to the abode of the bride and receive her. The bride does not know the exact day or hour and she must be prepared at all times to receive her groom.
This of course fits John 14 perfectly, as well as all of the teachings of Paul regarding imminency.
It would be helpful for you to understand the Jewish wedding ceremony ritual. While the bride is waiting, the groom's building an addition on the father's house. The groom can only receive his bride after the father approval, when the father endorses the completion of the building project.
Only then can the groom and the wedding party go to the abode of the bride and receive her. The bride does not know the exact day or hour and she must be prepared at all times to receive her groom.
This of course fits John 14 perfectly, as well as all of the teachings of Paul regarding imminency.
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2 Thess 2:3: 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;
Given the context, the term "a falling away" should actually be "the departure".
The following link lays the argument in a very comprehensive manner....
https://www.pre-trib.org/articles/all-articles/message/the-departure-in-2-thessalonians-2-3/read
Given the context, the term "a falling away" should actually be "the departure".
The following link lays the argument in a very comprehensive manner....
https://www.pre-trib.org/articles/all-articles/message/the-departure-in-2-thessalonians-2-3/read
The Truth!
"All" instances of Dispensationalism's (Pre-Trib) raptyre is nothing more than the "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ and the Resurrection of the believer.
Dispensationalism and those who follow the false teachings use Scripture that depicts the "Second Coming" and last day resurrection, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 below is a prime example.
They falsely claim this represents a (Pre-Trib) rapture of the Church to heaven?
As "Clearly Taught" in Scripture below, the resurrection of the believer seen in 1 Thess 4:14-17 below takes place on "last day" John 6:40, at the "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ.
"Second Coming, No Pre-Trib Rapture"
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17KJV
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
John 6:40KJV
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
"All" instances of Dispensationalism's (Pre-Trib) raptyre is nothing more than the "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ and the Resurrection of the believer.
Dispensationalism and those who follow the false teachings use Scripture that depicts the "Second Coming" and last day resurrection, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 below is a prime example.
They falsely claim this represents a (Pre-Trib) rapture of the Church to heaven?
As "Clearly Taught" in Scripture below, the resurrection of the believer seen in 1 Thess 4:14-17 below takes place on "last day" John 6:40, at the "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ.
"Second Coming, No Pre-Trib Rapture"
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17KJV
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
John 6:40KJV
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The root word in the (Greek) is (Apostasia/Apostasy)
The problem is your following the (Phony) Dallas Theological (Thomas Ice)
The claim of (Departure) is from the faith of Jesus Christ, in (Apostasy)
Not the very (Phony) Thomas Ice's false claim, of the Church leaving planet earth, in a (Pre-Trib) rapture.
The problem is your following the (Phony) Dallas Theological (Thomas Ice)
The claim of (Departure) is from the faith of Jesus Christ, in (Apostasy)
Not the very (Phony) Thomas Ice's false claim, of the Church leaving planet earth, in a (Pre-Trib) rapture.
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Thank you.
Very wordy but this all presents no problem for a mid or post trib rapture.
Saints are in heaven is the point. There is no need to assign "saints in heaven" to a post-rapture view.
None of the Revelation verses which speak of believers in heaven can be used as proof texts that the Church has been raptured.
A reminder, the wedding attire of the bride is described for us. No speculation should be needed.
Rev 19:8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
She has to do something.
Very wordy but this all presents no problem for a mid or post trib rapture.
Saints are in heaven is the point. There is no need to assign "saints in heaven" to a post-rapture view.
None of the Revelation verses which speak of believers in heaven can be used as proof texts that the Church has been raptured.
A reminder, the wedding attire of the bride is described for us. No speculation should be needed.
Rev 19:8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
She has to do something.
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