Is the Rapture Deception?

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You have the most to lose by not believing in the Pre-Trib Rapture. We are told to escape ALL these things in Luke 21:36. All these things would the end times mess that Jesus warned us about.

What is another bread crumb or clue that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is true? Well, when we want to verify a truth within God's Word, we know that the Bible testifies of itself by the fact that it repeats the same message or idea over and over thru out the whole of Scripture.

So one came make the parallel that...

1. The Church is sent out to spread the Gospel (Revelation 1)
2. Some in the Church are warned of His Return & Judgment (Revelation 2-3)
3. Rapture of Faithful Church (Revelation 4)
4. Judgment of Daniel's 70th Week Begins that will bring the End (Revelation 6)

In fact, the same parallel can be made with Noah and the Flood, too.

For there were 3 groups of people facing the Judgment of the Flood:

1. Those that perished in the Global Flood.
2. Those that were preserved thru the time of the Global Flood.
3. Those that were removed prior to the Global Flood.

For Enoch was translated before the Flood, right?
And Noah and his family went thru the Judgment of the Flood but were protected by God, right? Sort of like the 144,000 Jewish Christians who will be protected or sealed by God thru the tribulation.

So a Pre-Trib Rapture proves to be Biblical and true not only in straight forward teaching but by paralleling the beginning and ending stories within the Bible, too.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Now, the problem with not holding to a Pre-Trib Rapture or not holding to a Rapture of any kind (With a reliance upon just a Second Coming or some other idea) is that Jesus relates a person to someone who thinks the Lord is coming later (rather than at any moment) with that of an evil servant.

"If that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;" ~(Matthew 24:48-49)

So if you are against the Pre-Trib Rapture, then the Lord is not coming now or at any moment but He is delaying His coming to a time you think it says or worse yet, He is not coming at all.

For Matthew continues to say,

"The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder" ~ (Matthew 24:50-51a)

In other words, this passage is saying that the Lord will come in a day or hour when you will not looking for Him. For the moment you ignore His return that could happen at any moment or if you pinpoint a certain period of time of His return and look for Him in that time frame is a direct violation of this verse and others that warn us to be ready at any moment.

In fact, Jesus Christ warned us that if a church does not repent of it's wickedness, it will go thru the great tribulation...

"And unto... the church in Thyatira... And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds." ~ (Revelation 2:18, 21-22)

How else would an entire church miss out on the great tribulation if they are not Raptured? Will God kill them instead?

Also, Paul used the words "Last Trump" in Corinthians as a reference to the Jewish "Last Trumpet" of the Feast of Trumpets. The Corinthians at that time would have had no knowledge of John's written Revelation about the Last Trumpet Judgment because it was not written yet. So Paul mentioned a name to something that the Corinthians would have already been familiar with.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I also find it hard to believe that we would be caught up in the air together to meet the Lord who comes down just so we can all go back down again. That doesn't make any sense. The Post Trib Rapture doesn't make any sense.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

~ PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS ~​

Revelation 6:17 KJV begins the Wrath and Revelation 15:1 KJV tells us that the vials or bowl judgments (Which are after the Trumpet Judgments) are the seven last plagues & the return of Christ which concludes the wrath of God.

And 1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV says we are not appointed unto wrath.​

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Again, I want to stress this point. Not believing in the Pre-Trib Rapture means that you will go through the Tribulation if you are still alive when it takes place. If I believe in the other views, there really is not much to lose. I will already be in the Tribulation regardless. But if you believe in Jesus and follow Him and believe that He will return to take up His bride at any moment, then you will look forward to His imminent return. Just as the virgins awaited the call to marriage at a time that they did not know.

In other words, a person owes it to themselves to look at all of the Scriptural evidence that supports the Pre-Trib Rapture before they quickly dismiss it out of hand. For it is the only position where you have the most to lose by not believing in it.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Paul had written to Titus and said this to him in his letter...

• Titus 2:13

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"​

To put it to you another way, Paul believed in looking for the imminent return of His Savior Jesus Christ. If Paul believed he would have had to go thru the tribulation, he would not have said this.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

* Pre-Trib Rapture takes place (Which is a new mystery revealed by Paul (1 Corinthians 15:51), and it is the call to marriage to Christ (Matthew 25:10)).

* 1st seal.
* 2nd seal.
* 3rd seal.

* Midpoint of Tribulation
(The antichrist and his forces seizes control of the Jewish temple and he desecrates it, i.e. the Abomination of Desolations).
To see highlighted verses on why this is the Midpoint of the Tribulation click on the following spoiler button:

Spoiler

The Anti-Christ Sets Up the Abomination of Desolation in the Jewish Temple:

We see that the abomination of desolation take place in the midst (middle) of the week (i.e. the 70th week or year year Tribulation) followed by great tribulation:
(Also, the time of the Tribulation, the days shall be shortened, too - Which is the 1st 3 ½ years of the Tribulation).

• Matthew 24:15-22

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand): Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.​

• Mark 13:14-20

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.​

• Daniel 9:24-27

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.​

• Daniel 11:31a NIV

His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.​

• Daniel 12:11a NLT and Daniel 12:11b NLT

From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped... there will be 1,290 days.​

• Revelation 11:2 NLT

The nations ... will trample the holy city for 42 months.​

Important Note:

If you took the 7 year tribulation (Daniel's 70th week) and you cut this 7 years in half, you get either: 3 ½ years, or 42 months, and or 1,290 days. See how the Bible all lines up perfectly?
...

* 4th seal - Death: Saints are martyred by antichrist.

* 5th seal - The saints who were just recently killed or martyred for their faith cry out unto God for vengeance by what the antichrist has done unto them.

Note: The remaining resistance of believers who were not captured and executed by the antichrist (and or those saints who are imprisoned by the antichrist who have yet to still be slaughtered) are told to look up at this point (looking to the signs in Heaven - the blood moon, no stars, a black sky) because their redemption draws near (See Luke 21:28 cf. Luke 21:25).​

* Pre-Wrath Rapture takes place (Which is part of the focus in the Olivet discourse). (Christians are still not appointed unto Wrath, so they will be taken up before God brings forth His Wrath upon the world) (This Rapture is the call to invite more in after the Wedding (See Luke 12:36 in the KJV here (See "Important Note 3" below).

* 6th seal - Day of Wrath (God's response or answer to the saints' call to being martyred by the antichrist in the breaking of the 5th seal).

* 7th seal.


---------------------------------
Important Note 1:
Some points to consider about the sixth seal:

1. The Day of the Lord is called the Day of Wrath (See Zephaniah 1:14-15).
2. The 6th seal is said to be a Day of Wrath (See Reading all of Revelation 6:12-17: Compare Revelation 6:12 with Revelation 6:17).
3. The 6th seal has the sun turning dark, and a blood moon (Revelation 6:12-13).
4. The Day of the Lord has the sun turning dark, and a blood moon (Acts of the Apostles 2:20) (Joel 2:31).​

Important Note 2:

We are told to watch and pray so that we may be accounted worthy so as to escape all these end times things that are mentioned in the Olivet discourse.

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (See Luke 21:36).​

What would all these things include that Jesus just talked about?

Luke 21:
10 "Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."​

2nd seal: Wars (Peace taken from the Earth) (See Revelation 6:3-4). This lines up with nation rising against nation in Luke 21:10.

3rd seal: Famine (Revelation 6:5-6) This lines up with the famine mentioned in Luke 21:11.

Jesus said we can watch and pray so that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things (Luke 21:36).


Important Note 3:

In regards to Luke 12:36: The KJV rendering just says "wedding" and not a "wedding feast." The KJV has the correct rendering. Some Modern Translations mention "wedding feast" which is incorrect; Luke 12:36 is just in reference to the wedding itself. For the Marriage supper of the Lamb is the 2nd Coming of Christ destroying the nations of the world. To explain this would take another post with Scripture.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

In the Pre-Trib rapture, the LORD calls His church up to a wedding/marriage:

• Matthew 25:10

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.​

But at the Midpoint of the Tribulation (Before Wrath is poured out), He is returning from a wedding:

• Luke 12:36

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.​

May God's blessed hope come.
Come Lord Jesus, come.

 

[friend of]

Well, I response to OPs conclusion, Jesus said that he was making all things new. This means that he is going to destroy the old world and create a new one. If he was just going to remove the tapes, why would he need to remake the earth?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Well, I response to OPs conclusion, Jesus said that he was making all things new. This means that he is going to destroy the old world and create a new one. If he was just going to remove the tapes, why would he need to remake the earth?

God is removing His bride so that they do not go through the Wrath that is meant for the world after the breaking of the 6th seal. It is symbolic in a way of hell. But it will be like a hell on Earth. It will be the judgment of this world and not a judgment of unbelievers.

God's intent also of the Judgment upon the world is to wake up His people Israel that Jesus is the Messiah, too. It is to drive them to the wall to repent.

Remember, that even God's people during the Exodus were protected from the plagues. Paul did not need to go to prison, if he were to have listened to the Spirit. God protects us if we heed His warnings. You have to have faith that God can come at any moment as His Word says and that He will come and take us up into the air. This is what the plain meaning of Scripture is saying. He will come in an hour that you will not know. The time of the Tribulation is a time that you can know because you can see the signs happening all around you. Also, most believers will not survive the Antichrist's onslaught to even make it into the Wrath Judgment that is for meant for the world.

Those who were faithful to make it in the first Rapture, will be resurrected bodily one day to be on the final New Earth after the Millennium. Those believers who were martyred for their faith in the Tribulation will go through the Millennium (whereby they will also be resurrected physically). But they will be tested again at the end of the Millennium.

 

[friend of]

Okay so then is the parable of the 10 virgins talking about the first rapture and do you think the remaining 5 virgins are those left behind to have their faith tested during the tribulation and great tribulation periods? @Jason0047

 

[ewq1938]

Okay so then is the parable of the 10 virgins talking about the first rapture and do you think the remaining 5 virgins are those left behind to have their faith tested during the tribulation and great tribulation periods?

No, they are rejected by Christ and cannot be a part of the marriage and he says he doesn't even know them.

Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

 

[BobRyan]

1Th 4:16.17 the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Matt 24:29-31
"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. 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. 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."

At the Second Coming -
1Th 4:16.17 the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Which is AFTER the Tribulation
Matt 24:29-31
"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. 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. 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.

None of that says that anyone is going to escape any sort of tribulation.

True. In Matthew 24 it is the coming of Christ that happens "after the tribulation"

 

[BobRyan]

Okay so then is the parable of the 10 virgins talking about the first rapture and do you think the remaining 5 virgins are those left behind to have their faith tested during the tribulation and great tribulation periods? @Jason0047

There is no such thing as "first and second rapture" -- there is only one rapture - and it happens post-trib at the Rev 19 second coming. Where we have the "first resurrection"

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Okay so then is the parable of the 10 virgins talking about the first rapture and do you think the remaining 5 virgins are those left behind to have their faith tested during the tribulation and great tribulation periods? @Jason0047

I honestly don't know. What I do know is that there is a call to marriage and there is a call after the wedding. For...

In the Pre-Trib rapture, the LORD calls His church up to a wedding/marriage:

Matthew 25:10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.​

But at the Midpoint of the Tribulation (Before Wrath is poured out), He is returning from a wedding:

Luke 12:36
And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

​

 

[friend of]

There is no such thing as "first and second rapture" -- there is only one rapture - and it happens post-trib at the Rev 19 second coming. Where we have the "first resurrection"

I agree there is only 1 rapture. But when Christ comes to the earth after the Great Tribulation period, that is not to be considered a rapture.

 

[ewq1938]

I agree there is only 1 rapture. But when Christ comes to the earth after the Great Tribulation period, that is not to be considered a rapture.

That's the only time the rapture takes place and it's also the only time Christ comes to the Earth.

 

[ItIsFinished!]

I agree there is only 1 rapture. But when Christ comes to the earth after the Great Tribulation period, that is not to be considered a rapture.

EXACTLY !
That is why this is one of the most controversial topics in the Scriptures.
People confuse the rapture with The Second Coming of Christ.
The rapture (removal of the Church/ Bride of Christ) and The Second Coming of Christ are two DISTINCT and SEPARATE events .
Also what adds to the confusion is the misunderstanding of the resurrection for the just.
The resurrection for the just happens at stages not at one time unlike the resurrection of the unjust which happens all at once.

When it is all said and done , all glory be to God now and forever!
Amen!
⚘

 

[Tayla]

I feel that the idea of the rapture, is a deception given to us by the enemy, because when the world is destroyed due to our transgressions and unholiness, those believing in and waiting on the rapture will not know what's going on. They would've been expecting to be taken out before these things happen, and then their faith will fail them, because they weren't prepared to have to go through this time of trouble.

Yes, I agree that the rapture is an untrue doctrine. That is why I am amillennial.

 

[ItIsFinished!]

Yes, I agree that the rapture is an untrue doctrine. That is why I am amillennial.

Actually it is 100% Scriptural.
Therefore quite true.