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Many Christians believe that the Scriptures teach that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to take His Church out of the world
prior to the beginning of the great tribulation (the pre-tribulation rapture). However, there are many passages in God's Word
that seem to indicate that this will not be the case. There is one set of conditions that cannot be met by the pre-tribulational
rapture teaching. This is clearly seen when we compare verses in I Thessalonians chapter 4 and I Corinthians to passages found
in the book of Revelation.
First, in I Thessalonians chapter 4 we learn that our Lord's return will be heralded with the trump of God;
I Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 16 through 18;
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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with
these words.
Secondly, I Corinthians chapter 15 tells us that the trumpet that will be sounded at our Lord's return will be a particular
trumpet, the last trump.
I Corinthians chapter 15 verses 51 and 52:
51 Behold I show you a mystery; we shall
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump : for the trumpet shall
sound and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible and we shall be changed.
One key point of pre-tribulational rapture teaching says that since the Church is not mentioned after verse 14 of Revelation
chapter 3, the Church must be taken out of this world, or "raptured", when John is commanded to, "Come up hither..."
in verse 1 of Revelation chapter 4.
However, in verse 2 of Revelation chapter 8 we are told;
2 And I saw the seven angels that stood
before God; and to them were given seven
trumpets.
The first four of these seven angels sound their trumpets in Revelation chapter 8, verses 7, 8, 10, and 12. The fifth
and sixth angels sound their trumpets in Revelation chapter 9, verses 1 and 13. The seventh, and final angel to sound his
trumpet does so in verse 15 of Revelation chapter 11.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and
there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
It is obvious that while the word "Church" is not mentioned after verse 14 of Revelation chapter 3, the words
trumpet and trump do appear frequently.
While we may not yet know all the details of what will take place when Jesus returns for His Church, we do know that
the Word of God will be fulfilled exactly as written. Jesus will not return until the "last trump" is sounded and
the Church will not be taken out of this world before Revelation chapter 11 verse 15.
Is the trumpet sounded in Revelation chapter 11 verse 15 the "last trump"? I do not know, but it could be.
The First Resurrection:
Revelation Chapter 20
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded
for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had
received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Notice that the first resurrection takes place after these saints have been beheaded by the anti-Christ.
Contrary to what is taught by some, the first resurrection is not divided into two or three resurrections.
What About "We are not Appointed to Wrath"?
I Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 9 and 10 tell us ;
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus
Christ,
10 Who died for us, that whether we wake
or sleep, we should live together with him.
It is certain that those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will never face the wrath of God. This is because Jesus
took the wrath of God for us upon the cross. The punishment and all penalties for our sin have been paid for by Him, and now
we are in Him. The wrath of God will not come upon us, because in order for that to happen, the wrath of God must come upon
Jesus again.
God Protects His Children
When God's judgments came against Egypt they came upon the Egyptians and not upon the children of Israel. One example
of this is seen in Exodus chapter 10 verses 21 through 23;
21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch
out thine hand toward heaven, that there
may be darkness over the land of Egypt,
even darkness which may be felt.
22 And Moses stretched forth his hand
toward heaven; and there was a thick
darkness in all the land of Egypt three
days:
23They saw not one another, neither rose
any from his place for three days: but all
the children of Israel had light in their
dwellings.
Is Teaching that there is a Pre-Tribulational "Rapture" Harmful?
The pre- tribulational "rapture" dogma says the believer will be taken to Heaven before the great tribulation
begins. The problem with this belief is that when the tribulation begins and the believer is still in this world, they might
believe that Jesus isn't coming back after all. The faith of many could be shaken to the very foundation.
Of course, if a person has truly believed in Jesus Christ, though their faith may be shaken, they will still be saved
because the foundation (Jesus) will remain.
Another, greater, danger of teaching the pre-tribulational "rapture" of the Church concerns the effect it could
have on the unbelievers.
Consider an unsaved person who hears that the Church is to be "raptured" before the revealing of the anti-Christ
and the implementation of the mark of the beast. They might conclude that the implantable chip, or whatever form the mark
might take, cannot be the mark of the beast, because the church has not been "raptured". They then would be willing
to take the mark.
-Pastor Guest
The Rapture Theory: It's Surprising Origin
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