PART I
The doctrine of the Rapture is for the comfort of the saints. Therefore it is called “the Blessed Hope”, which is connected with the glorious appearing of Christ for His saints: Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Tit 2:13). We should note that here Christ is called "that great God" since this is a supernatural event.
The word “rapture” is derived from the Latin “rapiemur” (in the Vulgate), which is the equivalent of “caught up together”. So to claim that the word “rapture” is not in the Bible is simply naive and foolish. Those who believe the Word of God have no problem accepting one word for this event, rather than insisting on three or four words. For Enoch, the word used in Scripture is "translated" (μετετέθη, metetethē) (Heb 11:5). Enoch prefigured the Rapture of the Church.
Since there is a lot of tiresome nonsense being published about (a) there no Rapture, (b) there is a Post-Tribulation Rapture (when that would be impossible), (c) a Rapture where Christians do not go to Heaven, (d) a Rapture which coincides absurdly with the Second Coming of Christ, etc., every Christian should be aware that a plain study of the Bible is sufficient to establish the Pre-Tribulation Resurrection/Rapture as an important and critical Christian doctrine. You may ask why it is critical, and the answer from Scripture is that it is critical because it completes the salvation of the saints, which is glorification.
1. THE REASON FOR THE RESURRECTION/RAPTURE
Before we even study the relevant passages, we need to ask ourselves “What exactly is the reason for the Resurrection/Rapture of the saints?” And unless we clearly understand God’s plan of salvation in Christ, we will not understand why the Resurrection/Rapture is critical.
We read in Romans 8:29,30: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
While sanctification is not mentioned here, we know from the New Testament that God’s plan of salvation includes (1) justification, (2) sanctification, and (3) glorification (and perfection). The opponents of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture conveniently forget that the saints must be glorified, and receive incorruptible, immortal, and glorified bodies, before they enter Heaven for the Marriage of the Lamb. Therefore the Resurrection/Rapture is a single event before the Second Coming of Christ. This fact is sufficient to refute the foolish notion of a Post-Tribulation Rapture.
2. CHRIST PRESENTED THE RAPTURE BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION
Enemies of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture also conveniently forget that it was not John Nelson Darby in the 19th century but the Lord Jesus Christ is 30 AD, who first presented the doctrine of the Rapture to his apostles before His crucifixion. Which means that all the attacks on Darby, Scofield, etc. are bogus. And when misguided people call this a “theory” they are making Christ out to be a liar.
JOHN 14:1-3: THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS TO HEAVEN
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
The key phrase here is “I will come again and receive you unto myself”. While this was first addressed to the apostles, it has general application to all the saints, since the apostles died as martyrs, and Christ did not come back from Heaven in the first century to take them up to Heaven. It should be noted that when Jesus said “Let not your hearts be troubled”, He automatically disconnected the Rapture from any Tribulation period. He spoke these words to comfort His apostles, and by extension, to comfort all believers.
the tribulation is something saints have to go through It is the time period after christs ascension to the throne .
“And
it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:
and
power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
If any man have an ear, let him hear.”
Revelation 13:7-9 KJV
see where he has been given power over all nations and power to overcome the saints ? This occurred after Christ was seated and Satan was cast out of heaven he turned his fury on the church
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 12:17 KJV
that’s not a future event it was already true
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12 KJV
“Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
1 Peter 5:8
so you have this world which Satan has his kingdom a temporary dominion
“
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For
all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
1 John 2:15-16
Satans goal is to do this
“In whom
the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV
because he understands the truth
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but
he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16
There is only one day when Christ returns from heaven and that day is when he will father his elect who are still on earth not beforehand but at the end
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall
all the tribes of the earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and
they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Matthew 24:30-31 KJV
that’s just one sudden day like it was in Noah’s day everything seemed normal and then came the sudden flood that’s what the end will be like . Truthfully already the world is in total chaos if you look at what God designed and made the earth to be , and consider where it now is
We aren’t supposed to have terrible diseases , we aren’t supposed to have funerals , we aren’t supposed to hope to love for a hundred years , we aren’t supposed to murder, rape, abuse , commit every evil even inventing new evils but if you look at the world as a whole it happens every moment everything God said is death is daily occurrence in the world
It’s just a one time event
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was
once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him shall he appear
the second time without sin unto salvation.”
Hebrews 9:27-28
There will still be living Christians on earth when Jesus returns
“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:
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.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
That’s the last day when he comes the same day we’ll all be gathered even those still living on earth
the tribulation is now and we have the gospel to believe and be saved