pre-tribbers need to rejoice in this...

[murjahel]

Anyone can read here, but only those who know that there is a pre-trib rapture can respond in this FELLOWSHIP THREAD, for this has been 'argued' too many times to count.

Those who agree can post other verses, than the ones I will show... and comment in agreement, but this is not a 'debate thread'...

Many ask, "Where is the promise of His coming ?" These scoffers doubt and mock the idea of the rapture of the church. Others say, "Why study it ? There are too many different opinions." Some will say it is too speculative. Some just want to recite all the different ideas, leave everyone confused, and draw no conclusions on the rapture.

Scoffers have done their work. They have brought into a great portion of the church--confusion, apathy, and ignorance--about the rapture. God did not intend for Christians to be confused, apathetic, or ignorant. He means for us to have knowledge, awareness, and an anxiousness for the rapture.

CAN WE KNOW THE DAY OR HOUR?

I Thessalonians 5:4-5
"BUT YE, BRETHREN, ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, THAT THAT DAY SHOULD OVERTAKE YOU AS A THIEF. YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT, AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DAY: WE ARE NOT OF THE NIGHT, NOR OF DARKNESS."

Some have often quoted the verse that says that we won't know the "day nor the hour." They have used it to keep others from talking about when the Lord may come. God never intended for us to not study and know about the time of His Son's return. Consider the verse:

Mark 13:32-33
BUT OF THAT DAY (Greek = hemera, a 24 hour day, or from dawn to eve) AND THAT HOUR (Greek = hora, a short part of a day) KNOWETH NO MAN, NO NOT THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN, NEITHER THE SON, BUT THE FATHER. TAKE YE HEED, WATCH AND PRAY..."

There is reason that we cannot know the day, nor the hour. The earth is round, and if the Lord had said He were coming "at noon," there are some places on this round earth that it is past noon and they would say--"You are late." And at the same moment, others could say when He came--"You are early." The same is true for the day, since somewhere on this earth it is already tomorrow. If the Lord had promised to come today, some would already be saying "He is late."

In the passage about the "day" and "hour", you will note in verses 33 to 37, that four times the command is given to "watch." If this passage were intended to make us give up trying to ascertain the time of the Lord's coming, then why are we commanded to "watch" four times in the same passage ? The answer is that the Lord does want us to be aware, and to know the nearness of His coming. We are given signs to watch for; we are told to "look up" when we see certain signs occur, knowing these signs indicate a soon return of our Lord. We are also told signs that will indicate the "generation" in which the Lord will return.

TWO STAGES OF HIS COMING

Jesus will soon return. His coming will be in two stages.

The first part is called the RAPTURE. It will occur before the tribulation judgments are sent by God upon the earth. In the rapture, the Lord Jesus will secretly catch away His saints.

The second stage of the Lord's coming is called the SECOND COMING. In this part, Jesus will return with the saints from heaven and begin to rule and reign on this earth for a thousand years.


In the RAPTURE He comes FOR His saints.

In the SECOND COMING, He comes WITH His saints.

Just as in the first coming of our Lord to earth, a time period of 33 years was spanned. In the next coming of our Lord, a time period of 7 years will be spanned.

 

[murjahel]

THE RAPTURE PREDICTED


Revelation 4:1
"AFTER THIS, I LOOKED AND BEHOLD, A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN AND THE FIRST VOICE WHICH I HEARD WAS AS IT WERE A TRUMPET TALKING WITH ME, WHICH SAID, 'COME UP HITHER !'"

I Thessalonians 4:15-17
"WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD SHALL NOT PRECEDE THEM THAT ARE ASLEEP dead)--FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND WITH A SHOUT (Rev. 4:1), WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND THE TRUMP OF GOD, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST, AND THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP (Greek = harpadzo, to catch away out of harm's way) TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR, AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD."


Luke 21:36
"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."

I Corinthians 15:51-52
"BEHOLD, I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY, WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP (die), BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED. IN A MOMENT, IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP--FOR THE TRUMP SHALL SOUND (Rev. 4:1, I Thess. 4:15-17) AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED..."

II Thessalonians 2:1
"NOW WE BESEECH YOU BRETHREN, BY THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BY OUR GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM..."

II Thessalonians 2:7-8
"...HE THAT LETTETH (hinders) WILL LET (hinder) UNTIL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY, AND THEN SHALL THAT WICKED ONE BE REVEALED..."

I Thessalonians 5:9
‘FOR GOD HATH NOT APPOINTED US TO WRATH..."

__________ __________ __________



The signs for the coming of the Lord that are given us in the Word of God--all point to the second stage of His coming. They point to the SECOND COMING, not to the RAPTURE. Thus, when we see these things "begin to come to pass," we are told to "look up" for the signs point to the part of His coming that is seven years after the event we want so much to see -- THE RAPTURE.


At one point in His earthly ministry, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, who knew the Holy Scriptures, yet did not recognize Him as the Messiah, and did not know it was time for His coming. (Matthew 16:1-4) Yet, there are seven times more Scriptures for the second coming of Jesus that there are for the first coming. So if the Lord were angered by their lack of understanding of the times--how much more is He disturbed by those who do not know when it is the time of His coming ?

 

[murjahel]

REASONS TO BELIEVE IN A PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE



1. TRANSLATION OF GREEK WORDS REFERRING TO THE RAPTURE


There are a number of Greek words that are translated to describe the rapture.

HARPADZO =to be caught away, out of harms way by force

EKPHUGEIN = To escape away from a dreaded person or thing

APOLUTROSIS = to take unto oneself a valued object



All three of these indicate that the rapture would be BEFORE the thing can be harmed. For this and a number of other reasons, I believe the rapture is before the tribulation.



2. PURPOSE OF THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF YEARS IS TO REDEEM ISRAEL


In the prophecy of Daniel, seventy sevens of years are given to Israel. Sixty nine of those have occurred, and the last seven of years is yet to occur. When the Lord has finished dealing with the Gentile church, He will again deal with the nation of Israel for seven years. This is the 70th week of Daniel, that we commonly call "the tribulation." Why should the church remain here for the Lord's final dealing with Israel ?


3. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE CHURCH IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD


There is no mention of the church in the tribulation. Israel and other nations are mentioned. The reason is that we, as Christians, may suffer the persecution of the world now; yet, in the tribulation, the judgments are the wrath of God--and we should not suffer His wrath.



4. THE CHURCH IS PROMISED TO ESCAPE THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION


The promise to the church of Philadelphia is:

Revelation 3:10
"I WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION, WHICH SHALL BE UPON ALL THE WORLD TO TRY THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH."


5. THE CHURCH IS "NOT APPOINTED UNTO WRATH"


The tribulation is a time of wrath on an ungodly world, on an apostate, backslidden church, and on a backslidden Israel.

We, the true church, are "NOT APPOINTED UNTO WRATH." (I Thessalonians 5:9)

We are to be "delivered from the wrath to come."

I Thessalonians 1:10
"TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN...WHICH DELIVERED US FROM THE WRATH TO COME."


6. TYPOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SHOWS A PRE-JUDGMENT RAPTURE


In the Scriptures, types are used to illustrate the picture of the rapture which was to be fully revealed later. In the rapture of Enoch, it came before the judgment of the flood. In the story of Lot and his family, they were delivered before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. These show that the nature of God is to deliver His own, before He pours out His wrath. The rapture of the church precedes the tribulation.


7. THE ANTICHRIST IS NOT TO BE REVEALED UNTIL THE CHURCH IS REMOVED


The Bible teaches us that the Antichrist will not be revealed until the church is removed from the earth.

II Thessalonians 2:6-8
"HE THAT LETTETH (hinders) WILL LET (hinder), UNTIL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY. AND THEN SHALL THAT WICKED (one) BE REVEALED..."

Some have argued that the "he" of the verse does not refer to the "church," because the church is the "bride of Christ." However, the church is not referred to by feminine pronouns, is not symbolized by a woman, and is not the "bride of Christ."(See Rev. 21:9-10)

The church is called a "man" in Ephesians 2:15, 4:13. Also the church is called the "body of Christ" in I Corinthians 12:12-13, 27, Ephesians 1:22-23, and Colossians 1:18, 24. So it is most appropriate to refer to the church as "he."

The church is the only "hinderer" of lawlessness that will be taken out of the world before the tribulation. The Holy Spirit will remain on the earth since there will be people being saved during most of the tribulation.( John 14:16, Acts 2:16-21, Rev. 12:17, with 19:10, Zechariah 12:10 to 13:1).



8. THE RAPTURE SCENE IN REVELATION IS SHOWN IN 4:1, AND IT IS SAID TO BE OCCURRING "AFTER THESE THINGS", (AFTER THE CHURCH AGES OF CHAPTERS 2 & 3)


In Revelation 4:1, the words "after these things" is the Greek "meta tauta" which means that the rest of the book deals with the things that will occur after the church ages described in chapters 2 and 3.


The words "church" and "churches" occur 19 times in chapters 1 to 3 of Revelation. Yet after the "open door" of Revelation 4:1, the words "church" and "churches" do not occur once in the book of Revelation.


The 24 elders of Revelation 4 and 5, have crowns on their heads. They represent the church and Old Testament saints. No one receives their crown until we all receive them on the day of the rapture. Paul testified to this in:

II Timothy 4:8
"HENCEFORTH THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, SHALL GIVE ME AT THAT DAY, AND NOT TO ME ONLY, BUT UNTO ALL THEM THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING."


9. THE TRIBULATION DESCRIBED IN CHAPTERS 6-19 OF REVELATION IS SHOWN TO OCCUR AFTER THE RAPTURE DAY FESTIVITIES IN HEAVEN SHOWN IN CHAPTERS 4-5


After chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation, there is a marked change in the attitude of the Lord toward the world. In chapters 1 to 3, it is MERCY. In chapters 6 to 19, God's attitude is one of JUDGMENT. The change occurs when His saints are called home, so He may begin pouring out His wrath on the world.

 

[murjahel]

WHO WILL GO IN THE RAPTURE?


Who will go in the rapture of the church ? The world has wondered, and much debate has evolved. Some have said all, and some have tried to say -only the righteous, and some have tried to limit it to those baptized in a certain way, or those who speak in tongues, or those who belong to a certain denomination. The Word of God is very specific to the who shall go in the rapture. We need to pay attention to the Word of God, and not to the dogmas of various bodies of believers. The Bible does give certain qualifications for those to be raptured.

1. BE "IN CHRIST"


I Thessalonians 4:14-16
"EVEN SO THEM ALSO WHICH SLEEP IN JESUS WILL GOD BRING WITH HIM...DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST...

II Corinthians 5:17
"IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE..."


Thus, if we are saved, and thereby are "in Christ" we are going to go in the rapture. If we do not backslide from our salvation, we will soon hear His call to "Come up hither."


2. BE PURE (by Christ's righteousness)

I John 3:2-3
"WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM FOR WE WILL SEE HIM AS HE IS AND EVERY MAN THAT HATH THIS HOPE IN HIM, PURIFIES HIMSELF..."

Ephesians 5:27
"THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH, NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE, OR ANY SUCH THING--BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH."

We are not made pure by acts of righteousness. We are not saved by our good works. There is no baptismal formula that if pronounced over us that saves. There is no church roll to be signed to make sure we go. No, it is the righteousness of Christ, that is given by grace at salvation, that will make us to be pure and thereby able to go in the rapture. His righteousness alone qualified us for salvation. His righteousness alone will pay our way on that great excursion ride to our heavenly mansions.

 

[murjahel]

THE THRONE ROOM SCENE,
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE RAPTURE

In Revelation chapters 4 and 5, John is shown a vision of the events in the throne room of God on the day of the rapture. This is a striking picture that can overwhelm one as they read and see and feel the joy of the saints as we worship our Lord on that first day in heaven.

THE THRONE

The throne is the center of John's attention. All he sees at first is the throne, and then slowly he begins to see what is near the throne and working his vision outward, he finally sees all the saints that are gathered there to honor the Lord and the Father. John was "in the spirit" viewing what would happen several thousand years later.

Revelation 4:2-3,5
"BEHOLD, A THRONE (mentioned 40 times in Scripture and always refers to a literal seat) WAS SET IN HEAVEN, AND ONE SAT (God, as a Person, can sit on a literal throne) ON THE THRONE, HE WAS TO LOOK UPON AS A JASPER (semi-transparent, greenish, called plasma today) AND A SARDINE STONE (ruby). THERE WAS A RAINBOW (multitude of colors) ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE, IN SIGHT LIKE UNTO AN EMERALD (green). ...OUT OF THE THRONE PROCEEDED LIGHTNINGS, AND THUNDERINGS, AND VOICES; AND THERE WERE SEVEN LAMPS OF FIRE (symbolic of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit will be literally on the earth convicting sinners and saving souls) BURNING BEFORE THE THRONE, WHICH ARE THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD. ("seven" denotes fullness and perfection)."


THE 24 ELDERS


Around the throne were seated 24 elders. (Rev. 4:4,10,5:8, 14) These were on thrones and had victor's crowns, priestly robes, and had harps, and golden bowls of incense. Who are these 24 elders ?

This can be best understood by looking in the Bible for the answer. In the book of I Chronicles chapter 24, we find there were 24 elders appointed by David to represent the Levitical priesthood.


Each of the 24 were to lead a division of the priesthood. Each division would serve at the tabernacle, and later, at the temple for a two week period. So the 24 elders in Revelation represent the whole priestly house.


In heaven, we will probably serve in the throne room periodically as the priesthood of the Old Testament period. The 24 are wearing crowns, so they are not angels. No saint wears a crown until the rapture (II Timothy 4:8), so this is a post rapture vision for John.

The word "elder" is presbyteros. It is never used to refer to angels, only mankind. The angels are always distinct from the elders (Rev. 5:11). The elders are wearing "white raiment", and only Christ and the saints are seen in white raiment in Rev. 3:5, 18, 6:11, 7:9,13, 15:6, 19:8-14. One of the elders identifies himself after escorting John through the revelation (Rev. 5:5-7, 7:13-15, 19:10, 22:8-9) He sang a song of the redeemed (5:8-9). He rejected worship and said:

Revelation 19:10
"I AM ...OF THY BRETHREN."

So these elders are the heads of the 24 divisions of the whole body of the saints in heaven. Who they are individually is unknown. Perhaps some of the positions are still open for application !

THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES (ZOA)


Around the throne are seen four living creatures.

Revelation 4:6-8
"...ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE WERE FOUR BEASTS ("zoa", not "therion" as used in describing the Antichrist and the False Prophet. These four zoa are living creatures.) FULL OF EYES, BEFORE AND BEHIND. AND THE FIRST BEAST (living creature) WAS LIKE A LION, (reminds the worshipper of the divine majesty of God) AND THE SECOND BEAST WAS LIKE A CALF, (reminds the worshipper of the strength in service of the Lord) AND THE THIRD BEAST HAD A FACE AS A MAN reminds men of the humanity of the Lord Jesus), AND THE FOURTH BEAST WAS LIKE A FLYING EAGLE (reminds worshippers of the swiftness of the Lord in detecting evil). AND THE FOUR BEASTS HAD EACH OF THEM SIX WINGS, AND WERE FULL OF EYES WITHIN, AND THEY REST NOT DAY AND NIGHT SAYING 'HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (one "holy for each of the three members of the trinity), LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME(this is a translation of the word "Jehovah")."

These angelic creatures fly about God's throne to constantly remind the worshippers about the throne that God is to be reverenced and worshipped. They call attention to His holiness, they worship, they sing and play harps, they offer to God the prayers of the saints, and they listen to the worship of others.

THE SAINTS

The saints will finally recognize their full purpose. There in heaven we will finally truly realize that we were created to give our God pleasure. Down here, too many "saints" think that God was created to give us pleasure.

Revelation 4:10-11
"THE 24 ELDERS FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM THAT SAT ON THE THRONE, AND WORSHIP HIM THAT LIVETH FOREVER AND EVER, AND CAST THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE SAYING: 'THOU ART WORTHY TO RECEIVE GLORY, AND HONOR, AND POWER, FOR THOU HAST CREATED ALL THINGS AND FOR THY PLEASURE THEY ARE AND WERE CREATED.'"

 

[murjahel]

THE FIVE RAPTURES OF THE FIRST RESURRECTION

It is the rapture that will soon transport us to the scene in Revelation 4, and 5. We long for this event to occur. There are many ideas about when it will occur.

Already, I have shown why I believe it to be a pre-trib rapture.

Some feel it will be a mid-trib rapture. I will shortly show how that idea came into being and show why it is not correct.

Some others favor post-trib rapture. That idea has so many reasons to be considered impossible, I will save for last the explanation of it... It has no Scripture that properly understood can support that idea.

One of the main reasons for the confusion is the fact that there are five raptures in the first resurrection. Some scriptures are confused with the rapture of the church that really refer to the rapture of another group. The five raptures of the first resurrection are these:


1. Christ and many saints were raptured after His resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (KJV)
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.


Matthew 27:52-53 (KJV)
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.


Ephesians 4:8-10 (KJV)
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

2. They that are Christ's at His coming (the church).

1 Corinthians 15:53-55 (KJV)
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

John 14:1-3 (KJV)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 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.
3 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.

Luke 21:35-36 (KJV)
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJV)
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.



3. 144,000 Jews that are saved soon after the tribulation begins and minister for 3 1/2 years and are then raptured.

Revelation 7:1-8 (KJV)
1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Revelation 12:5 (KJV)
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Revelation 14:1-5 (KJV)
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

4. The tribulation saints (those saved after the rapture who give their lives for the Lord are finally resurrected and brought to heaven so all the saints are present at the marriage supper of the Lamb)

Revelation 6:9-11 (KJV)
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Revelation 7:9-17 (KJV)
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 15:2-4 (KJV)
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.


5. The two witnesses of the tribulation


Revelation 11:7-13 (KJV)
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.



We may be assured, as was the early church, that the event we call the "rapture" will occur--and SOON.


I Corinthians 16:22
"MARANATHA (the Lord cometh)."

more to come... there are so many proofs of this we can rejoice from now till the rapture in showing more and more proofs...

 

[murjahel]

In the Blink of an Eye - MercyMe - YouTube

 

[murjahel]

If the Lord were going to come in the middle of the tribulation, or at the end, why would He use words that indicate He will catch us away out of harm's way...


If a truck were bearing down toward you, and I saw it coming... and said... "Don't worry, I will snatch you out of harm's way..." Do you want me to do it:

PRE-TRUCK?
MID-TRUCK?
or POST-TRUCK???​

Obviously, you would want it to be "pre-truck"... and if the Lord is going to take us "out of harm's way"... it would be "PRE-TRIB..."

 

[murjahel]

He's Coming Soon - YouTube

 

[murjahel]

Phil Driscol Playing the Shofar like a trumpet. - YouTube

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJV)
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.

 

[rdclmn72]

Isaiah 26 is where you see an OT version of the events to include one detail that can't be explained away.
Namely that of entering into habitations while God brings his wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth.

 

[murjahel]

THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH EVENT GIVES US COMFORT


I Thessalonians 4:13-18
13. But I would not have yo to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are alseep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
15. For this we say unto you, by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them who 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 who 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.
16. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The church at Thessalonica, knew much.

I Thessalonians 2:11
“As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged everyone of you, as a father doth his children, that you would walk worthy of God, Who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”

I Thessalonians 4:2
“For ye know what commandments, we gave you by the Lord Jesus.”

I Thessalonians 5:1-2
“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”


But here in I Thessalonians 4, we are told that Paul does not want them to be ‘ignorant’... And in some things, they were ‘ignorant.”

“Ignorant” is from the Greek, ‘agnoein’ meaning ‘to know not’, ‘to understand not’.

What they were ignorant of, was those who had died in Christ, and awaited resurrection.

Many at Thessalonica were dying from the persecution and tribulation of that day. They were suffering greatly for being Christian. It was deadly to be discovered to be a Christian. Some were afraid, that if they died at the hands of the persecutors, they would miss the rapture, They felt that the date of the resurrection, would be at a later date, than the rapture date. So they thought that the raptured saints would be in heaven sooner, than those who died before the rapture. Paul is handling this ignorance, in chapter 4 here.

Paul gives a good description of the rapture here, telling us in such description, that the ‘dead in Christ’ rise first. The alive Christians at the rapture time, are then caught up to heaven.

Death brings great grief. In the time of Paul, it was an ancient tradition, to give an ear piercing shriek, and then continue with prolonged wails, to express grief at someone’s death. Often sackcloth was worn, and garments torn to show grief. Even for saints, there is grief felt when a loved one dies. It takes time for us to adjust to the vacancy left, when a loved one dies, and goes to heaven before us. Grief that is not properly expressed outwardly, can cause serious inward problems.

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians not to waste time in empty forms of sorrowing as was common by their traditions. The truth of the resurrection and the second coming, should comfort us. The ones at Thessalonica had gotten the incorrect idea, that the raptured saints went straight to heaven but the ones who die before such rapture, have to ‘sleep’ in the ground, awaiting a later resurrection.

We know that when a child of God dies, the soul goes to heaven immediately. The body may be buried, cremated, or whatever, and awaits a resurrection, but the soul is already with the Lord.

Paul has to teach them the truth here. I Thessalonians 4:14 shows us that the souls ‘will God bring with Him.” And of the bodies of such souls... it says.. ‘dead in Christ shall rise’.



In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man, and Lazarus were buried, but already their souls were in either paradise or hell. There is no ‘soul sleep’.. And now in our time, ‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” So, therefore, the idea of the first death, is that the soul leaves the body.

The rapture, is when the voice of the Lord speaks... "Come up hither"... and every saint alive will spiritually hear those words.

In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye... the body of the saints alive will be taken up into the clouds... and there meet the Lord. The Lord will have descended to the clouds... and with Him will be the souls of all the saints who have died before.

Before the saints can be caught up to the clouds, the bodies of the saints, buried, cremated, dust or whatever... will have those atoms caught up to the Lord, and be reunited to the souls, and become a glorified body... The raptured saints, shall not die, to get their glorified, eternal body, but will be 'changed' from mortal to immortal in that short trip to the clouds.


On the way to the throne room, we stop off at the 'bema seat' of Christ. There we will receive rewards before the Lord, and be given our crowns. From that judgment seat, we will proceed into heaven, to the throne room of God. The scene is pictured prophetically in Revelation 4 and 5, where we can see ahead of time, a description of the worship we will give to the Trinity as we arrive in heaven.

Our crowns will be thrown before the feet of Jesus, as He stands beside God the Father.... This is what the church at Thessalonica had to look forward to... and this truth should comfort we who have it... There is no soul sleep, and if we would die before the rapture, we do not have to worry about 'soul sleep'... the only thing that even awaits resurrection is the body.

THE PROMISED COMING...

John 14:2-3
“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.”

Jesus promised to prepare a ‘place’ for us... Yes, a literal place... if He were not coming back, to take us to that place... He would not have so promised...

It is not just a place for those who die... But a place for those who are ‘received’ when Jesus comes back... So, we do not just go up in clouds, to return to fight Armageddon the same day... We go earlier, to dwell with the Lord in that place.... that He has prepared for us.

Acts 1:11
“Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”

Angels promised this to the disciples. And this Jesus has not yet returned, but He soon will... And from the clouds, like as He went up, will He return.

Hebrews 9:28
“unto them that look for Him, shall He appear the second time.”

Jesus is coming for them that look for Him. This is a blessed promise, and should encourage us to be looking, expecting, anticipating, and anxious for His return.

Revelation 1:7
“Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him.”

At the rapture, He comes secretly, and every eye does not see Him. but at the second coming, His coming in clouds with the saints following Him, coming to battle the Antichrist, his armies, at Armageddon, will be very visible... And every eye will then see Him.

The last words of the Bible, express what should be our heart’s desire. “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus”


Matthew 24:44
“Therefore, be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”

We may not know the day, nor the hour... but we do know that He is coming...

Matthew 25:13
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day, nor the hour, wherein the Son of Man cometh.”

JESUS ILLUSTRATED HIS RETURN to show that many will be surprised when He finally returns.

It will be like the days of Noah... And they ‘knew not until...” Matthew 24:37-41

It will be like the householder and the thief, wherein it says ‘if the good man of the house had known...” Matthew 24:42-43

It is like the evil servant, who will be surprised at ‘an hour when he is not aware.” Matthew 24:48:51

 

[murjahel]

PROMISES OF HIS COMING,
SHOULD COMFORT US...

I Thessalonians 4:18
“Wherefore comfort one another, with these words...”

Revelation 3:10
‘Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation
which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell on all the earth.”

The church spoken to in that verse, is the Philadelphia church, and speaks in type and symbol of the revival church of the last days. The revived church, will be raptured... The apostate church, as typified by the Laodicean church, has Jesus knocking on the door, unable to get the invitation to come into it.

The Old Testament types show that some will go through the tribulation. As Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael went into the fiery furnace. But they are symbolic of the 144,000 Jewish ones who will be saved immediately following the rapture of the church, and replace the church, as missionaries of the world for the first half of the tribulation. They are protected from the judgments, and are raptured and seen in heaven about midway through the tribulation.... (See Revelation 7:1-8, 12:5, 14:1-5)

The two witnesses, replace the work of the church for the last half the tribulation.

Since conversions have ceased amidst the gentiles, there is little need of the evangelical witness, and these two, Enoch and Elijah, do their proclaiming, and standing up against the antichrist and false prophet. They are protected till the end, when the evil spirit who inhabits the antichrist, (Belial), will kill them, and they lay dead in the street, for three and a half days. Then they are resurrected, and raptured.
(See Revelation 11:3-13, Zechariah 4:11-14, Malachi 4:5-6, Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5, and in books of the library of the early church, see Enoch 39:8, 89:52, 105:2, Nicodemus 20:2-4)

Tribulation saints, do not suffer the wrath of God. Those saved during the tribulation, are not desired to be here on the earth, by God to suffer the wrath of God. So God allows them to be slain, beheaded, whatever... by the power of the evil spirits of the unholy trinity (antichrist, false prophet, dragon) This brings their souls to heaven, to await all tribulations saints being killed, and then there is a resurrection for them. (See Revelation 7:9-17)

In the Old Testament, the ark of Noah typified some who would be protected during the tribulation. These could represent the ones of Petra, the Jewish people who would choose to serve the Lord, and be safe from the destruction. The Jews who repent to the true Messiah, Jesus, will be saved at Armageddon, and be some of the ones , ruled and reign over by the saints in the millennium. .

(See Revelation 12:6, Isaiah 16:1-5, 26,:20-21, 63:1-6, Ps. 60:6-12, Ezekiel 20:33-44, Daniel 11:40-45, Hosea 2:14-23, Matthew 24:15-22)

The Bible is not shy in telling us not to fear God’s wrath... We are told plainly too, that we will, throughout the ages suffer persecution of the world, be martyred, imprisoned, beaten, etc. for our stand for Jesus. We suffer that... but not the wrath of God. And we need to ‘comfort’ one another with the promises of the coming of Jesus, and for we who live just before the wrath of God is poured out, we need to comfort each other with the words of promise, of a ‘harpadzo’ of deliverance from that.

 

[murjahel]

WORDS DESCRIBING THE LORD’S COMING

Marantha

I Corinthians 16:22
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha.”

The word ‘anathema’ means ‘declared to be banned, or excommunicated” and the word “maranatha” means “The Lord cometh”
Maranatha was a common greeting among Christians of the early church. It was common to say “maranatha’ as a hello or good bye type greeting. “Maran” means “Our Lord’ and “atha” means “shall come”. This would be a welcome revival to have Christians so excited about Jesus’ coming, that they met and parted with this word again.. Some of Christianity fear ‘being so heavenly minded, that they are of no earthly good.” But in reality, I have never met any such person. But I have met thousands who ‘are so earthly minded, that they are of no heavenly good.”

Jesus told His disciples to ‘comfort’ each other with the words of His return. And this word, maranatha, is one way in which they did... No matter what the conversation was, to begin and end it with a reminder that ‘The Lord is coming” (maranatha) would bring a smile to the face of any true child of God.

Parousia

This word means, arrival, presence, coming. The idea is a ‘becoming present”. It is somewhat like the English word, ‘Visit’. The Greek idea was connected with the visit of an emperor or some distinguished person. It is used of other persons besides Christ Jesus, as of Stephanas in I Corinthians 16:17. Paul urges the Philippians to act obediently during his absence (apousia) as during his presence (parousia) (Phil. 2:12). It comes from two Greek words ‘para’ meaning ‘with’, and ‘ousia’ meaning ‘being’

It is used often of Christ.
I Corinthians 15:23
“But every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward, they that are Christ’s at His coming.”

I Thessalonians 2:19
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, at His coming.” (See also I Thess. 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, II Thess. 2:1, 2:8)


James 5:8
“For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

I John 2:28
“And now little children, abide in Him, that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

(See also II Peter 1:16)

This word ‘parousia’ is used in the Bible to refer to when Jesus comes at the rapture to His saints, and also at the second coming time, when He remains present in this world.

Apokalupsis

This word means ‘unveiling, revelation, appearing, coming”

I Peter 1:13
“Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

I Corinthians 1:7
“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 1:1
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show to His servants things that must shortly come to pass.”

(See also I Peter 1:7)



Optomai

This word means ‘appear, to be physicaly seen with the eye...”

Hebrews 9:28
“Unto them that look for Him, shall He appear the second time.”

In Hebrews 9 there is an interesting word study. In verse 24, it shows the Lord appearing (emphanizo) for an advocate. This word means that He appears to make known, to inform. In verse 26, He appears (phaneroo) wich means appearing to reveal His true nature, to overcome for sins. And then in verse 28, it speaks of a third kind of appearing, this one is optomai, and it is a physical, with the eye seen, type of appearing, wherein to the saints at the rapture, Jesus appears physically.



Erchomai

This word stresses an arrival.

John 14:3
If I go away, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”

Acts 1:11
“This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”

II Thessalonians 1:10
“When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe...”

Jude 14
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints.”

Revelation 1:7
“Behold He cometh with clouds.”




Epiphaino

This word means ‘appear,’ “an manifestation,” “a shining forth, as an enemy to the army in the field” and is used six times in the New Testament, always by Paul. We get the word ‘epiphany’ from this Greek word.

I Timothy 6:14
“That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

A shining appearance, shining forth, as headlights break the darkness, and indicate the arrival of a car.

It is used of Jesus’ first coming...
II Timothy 1:10
“but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death and hat brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”


It is used of the rapture of the church.
Titus 2:12-14
“Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

It is used of Jesus’ second coming.
II Thessalonians 2:8
“And then shall that wicked one be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming (parousia).”

The writer of Hebrews spoke of Jesus’ appearing to make atonement
and then appearing before God as an Advocate for us.

II Timothy 4:1
Who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing amd His kingdom.”

II Timothy 4:8
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them that love His appearing.”

The idea is that to some the appearing is frightful, and to some it is loved, and is a comfort. It is a shame how many so-called saints, are fearful of the coming and appearing of Jesus.



Harpadzo

This word means ‘to be caught away by force out of harm’s way.”
It is used to refer to the rapture only.
I Thessalonians 4:17
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”



Ekphugein

This word means ‘to escape clean away from a dreaded person, place, or thing.” It too is used to refer to the rapture only. It is used to refer to some who will not be raptured to escape.

I Thessalonians 5:3
“When they shall say peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh uponthem, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.”


Hebrews 2:3
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”

Luke 21:36
“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.”

*************
The Bible tells us to:
“comfort one another with these words...” (I Thess. 4:18)

We should comfort the bereaved with words of the coming of Jesus.
We should comfort the poor with words of Jesus’ coming.
We should comfort the sick and dying with words about the return of the Lord.
We should comfort the troubled and persecuted with the words of hope.

The return of Jesus should give hope to all saints. If you are not encouraged with these words of the hope of His coming, then there is something wrong spiritually with your beliefs, or your spiritual condition. Examine yourself, get things right with God... until words of the rapture and second coming give you comfort, as they should.

 

[murjahel]

II Thess. 2:3
"Let no man deceive you, by any means, for that day (the second coming day, parousia day) shall not come, except there come a falling away (apostasia) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."

Thus, two events will happen before the second coming... the coming of the 'man of sin' which we know as the antichrist... and an event herein described as the 'apostasia'...

Many read that 'falling away' and think of an event that is spoken of as the 'apolusa' referring to a great backsliding of many believers... But this is not 'apolusa' but 'apostasia' and this word means "a separation, a removal from, a separation".


As the Amplified Translation tells us this word can be rendered "'a departure' speaking of the church". So this is saying... that a 'rapture' as we would call it... is a prerequisite event, that will happen before the second coming of Jesus.

Many in Thessalonica, if you read the context... had been told, and were believing that the second coming was imminent, and no rapture had happened, and they were in the midst of the 'great tribulation' that had been predicted... and they were suddenly then, void of the joy that we who now are expecting the rapture, find.

Paul goes on to tell them more...
II Thessalonians 2:6-8
"And now ye know what withholdeth, (you know what is keeping the Antichrist from coming, so that he does not come earlier than he should) that he (the antichrist) might be revealed in his time.... For the mystery of iniquity doth already work (the evil of the plan of the devil to bring the man of sin, is already working that way...) only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way... and then shall that Wicked one be revealed..."

The word 'letteth' in our day means 'hinders' or 'restrains'...
This "he' is the church
(see Eph 2:15, 4:15, I Cor. 12:12-13, 27, Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18, 24).

The restraining one, the hinderer to the coming of the antichrist is that the church is still here, able to rebuke demons, identify the evil doctrines, and slow down what the devil will try to do with the work of the man of sin during the tribulation...

So Paul is saying that the second coming will not come till after the man of sin comes and does his work for seven years (as we learn elsewhere the length of his stay)... and the man of sin cannot come, till after the hindering force is gathered together to Jesus... “raptured”, as we call it.

So this pins down the timing of the events... and the ones who had false revelations of prophecy to say otherwise, and those who composed a fake letter from Paul to try to teach otherwise... are in error, delusion... and a stronger delusion is coming in the tribulation time to such people... That is what this passage teaches... I know that many have tried to explain it differently... poor translation may have made it a bit obscure... but with looking at the original language, it is easy to see that two events, the second coming, and the rapture are being distinguished, so that these saints then, and we today do not need to be in confusion about them.

There were many then, who wanted to believe otherwise so much... that they had the gall to speak false rhema... and to counterfeit a letter, as it were from Paul... to teach their error. There will be many today, who do not want to believe it this way Paul taught it... and will still bitterly oppose this truthful teaching.

 

[Messy]

Great teachings Murjahel! I found some on your own site and I always copy paste parts of it when people say there will be no rapture, lol, but I couldn't do that here, since you're posting here too. One guy at the eschatology part of the forums said: Where do you get all this information from? I hope you don't mind.

 

[murjahel]

Great teachings Murjahel! I found some on your own site and I always copy paste parts of it when people say there will be no rapture, lol, but I couldn't do that here, since you're posting here too. One guy at the eschatology part of the forums said: Where do you get all this information from? I hope you don't mind.

That is fine... glad it is helpful... Prophecy is a wonderful thing the Lord has given us, to let us know what is coming... As Jesus said 'comfort one another with these words'... and true prophecy is comforting, and a blessing to its hearers...

God bless

 

[murjahel]

Matthew 24:40
"Then shall two be in the field,
the one shall be taken,
and the other left..."​

This passage has been misinterpreted by many, but in fairness, it is not a big problem. When the rapture does take place, it is true that some will be taken, and some will be left, not all will go. Some of the division may be 'in a field' or 'grinding at the mill'.

However, most scholars do agree that the passage is speaking of the
second coming time, not of the rapture time.

The one "taken" is from the word 'paralambano' and this is not the common word for 'take'. The one 'left' is from 'aphiemi' and is also poorly translated.

Paralambano means 'to receive near', 'to assume a place or office', and aphiemi means 'to send forth, 'to put away', to yield up'.

So, when the second coming occurs, the wrath of God, the judgment at the end, Armageddon (if you will)... will bring a separation, a division of whoever is left on the earth at that time.

The judgments of the tribulation, when calculated as we can, show that at least three fourths of those who begin the tribulation alive, are dead before the ending of it. Population will decrease so rapidly, that finally, God has death cease to take many. The opening war of the tribulation by itself accounts for one fourth of the population of the world dying.
(Rev. 6:1-8)

Yet, at the ending, there will be a final 'separation', not rapture, of the ones surviving. Perhaps it is what is predicted in Matthew 25, that we call the
'judgment of nations'.

Which is the one "taken", and which is the one "left"? Some would like to reverse the traditional thinking herein, but when the original Greek words are checked, it is not so easy. The word for 'left' is aphiemi, meaning 'to put away' and would likely be the ones separated to the 'left' side (Matt. 25), the goats.

The word for 'taken', is paralambano' and means 'to receive near', or to assume an office of place' and would be more correctly used to refer to those who are the 'sheep' and are the humans allowed to enter the millennial reign alive to be ruled and reigned over by Jesus and the saints (who will have their glorified bodies, having been raptured about seven years prior).

The flood of Noah is referred to in the verses prior to these verses...
and refers to some that the 'flood' 'took'.... The word for 'took' there is 'airo' meaning 'to lift up, to remove'. That then could refer to the ones 'removed by the ark of Noah or to the ones 'lifted up by the flood waters. Even the ambiguity there makes clear exegesis difficult.


However, it is not really that important, for Matthew 25 goes into more detail to explain that event. We see there a more clear explanation of who the two groups are, why they are separated, and their eventual destinies.

The fact that this does not refer to the 'rapture' may ruin many a sermon already preached, but the fact that when the rapture does occur there will be a separation and division occur also, so it is not an error that will cause any souls to be lost. It is similar to the error that some sing in songs and preach in sermons, about the 'church' being the 'bride of Christ' when it is very clear that the bride of Christ is the New Jerusalem, and the church in that part, is likened to the adorning garment of the 'bride' but that is another story. (Rev. 21:2, 9-10)

The rapture is the harpadzo, a separation, a catching away out of harms way to escape the wrath of God coming upon the world. The second coming has a 'aphiemi' / paralambano separation to determine which humans enter into the millennial blessings alive.

Some who want to deny a rapture, esp. a pre-trib rapture, like to grab hold of this passage of Matt. 24:40 and make a big deal out of it, trying to make it look like the misconception many have about it makes the whole pre-trib doctrine to be errant, but it does not. It fits perfectly, when properly interpreted, in the whole plan of God as laid out in the pre-trib rapture teaching.

The pre-trib rapture has been validated by many, many passages. The other views lack verification, are based on errant exegesis. This one passage has been claimed by some wanting to attack the exegetical interpretation of pre-trib believers, but it is not one of the many proofs of pre-trib. This passage speaks of the post trib judgment, it does not promote post trib rapture.

 

[murjahel]

In Revelation, Jesus tells John that He is going to give the revelation, the unveiling, the revealing of the secret.

This is the Greek word, “apocalupsis”, meaning "apocalypse, unveiling, lifting of a curtain."

The word is used, always, in a figurative sense. That is, it is never used literally of a lifting of a literal curtain, but used to refer to:
the disclosure of some things that were hidden before
(Matthew 10:26, Luke 12:2, Romans 1:17),
the bringing to light some things before obscured
(Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:21, Eph. 3:5),
the revelation of supernatural secrets
(Philippians 3:15),
the interpretaion of prophetic visions
(Galatians 1:12, Rev. 1:1, Ephesians 3:3)

The Book of Revelation is a lifting of a curtain, to unveil the revelation that Jesus wants us to know about the last days.

The Trinity wants us to realize that They are true Authors of the Bible. It is not John, attempting to relate a personal vision, though it is a personal vision, but the Author of the Book of Revelation is Jesus, Who is giving the personal vision to John, as John writes it down for us to share likewise.

Jesus speaks in the first sentence of His revelation, that this is the ‘un-hiding’ revelation of what formerly had been hidden.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus speaks (Rev 1:1) “... to His servants...” This refers to the saints of the ages, it is given for us to read and know, we, as servants are privileged to understand this book.

This book is written as an ‘unveiling’ to ‘servants’, and to no one else. It will be misunderstood, misinterpreted, ignored, or twisted into unrecognizable forms by any who are not ‘servants’.

Jesus speaks to (Rev. 1:1) “unto His servant, John...” John was a ‘servant’. He loved Jesus, and served Him as Lord. It was this devotion and consecration of John, that made him to be the one chosen to receive this revelation first, and to be allowed to be the secretary of the Lord, in writing it down, to relate to others of that time, and of later times, who would also be servants.

There are some out there who will try to teach false doctrines, try to muddy the revelation, want to veil again what Jesus has wanted to unveil. There were even in the days of John’s writing down of this revelation of Jesus. Jesus said that some want (Rev. 2:20) “to teach and to seduce My servants...”

The people of Thyatira, were being attacked, unbeknownst to them, by one the Lord calls ‘Jezebel’. This was a ‘Jezebel spirit’, that seeks out those who are ‘servants’ of the Lord, and attempts to gain control of them, thereby taking them from being controlled by the Lord. This is the nature of this kind of evil spirit. Control is the issue. Servants of the Lord, are therefore the target of this evil spirit. In Thyratira, this jezebel spirit tried to seduce the ‘servants’ of God to think that fornication and partaking in feasts and celebrations to false gods, was acceptable. That same ‘jezebel spirit’ today is trying to seduce Jesus’ servants to evil and to false doctrine. The prophetic message of Revelation and of Daniel are hidden still from those ‘seduced’ in false ideas. We need the unveiling of Revelation, which is also the unsealing of Daniel.

God has revealed down through the ages, much prophetic revelation. God (Rev. 10:7) “...hath declared to His servants, the prophets” visions and revelations of sin, of future events, of judgments to come. To be a prophet of God, one must first be a ‘servant of the Lord.” To now have the revelations of the former prophets be unveiled, un-hidden from us, we need to be His servants.

We do not need to fear the rapture of the church, nor the seven year tribulation, nor other future events. We are going to heaven, be rewarded, while the world is being judged. The revelation of the details of these last day events is a blessing for us.

We should value the revelation of Jesus giving us details of what until this revelation was somewhat veiled. As we progress in these last days, we find the revelation gets clearer and clearer on what Jesus says in Revelation.

There is still to come the day when (Rev. 22:3) “...His servants shall serve Him...” in the New Jerusalem. That heavenly home, is eternal, and so is our servanthood. We do not throw it off, to rule in pomp and pride over others. We will still see ourselves as servants ourselves.

In the riches of heaven, in the perfection of our rewards, on the streets of gold, amidst the other saints who will never sin again. Still, the humililty of position will still possess our spirit. We will serve Him. Some have the idea that heaven is where God spends eternity serving us. Not so, and I fear for those who think this way. For the Lord will always be the Master, and we will always be there to serve Him.

This whole revelation of Jesus is (Rev. 22:6) given, “...sent (by) His angel to shew unto His servants...” This is again the reminder that we are to receive this revelation, if we are ‘servants’. No other claim can be made on its understanding. If we want to understand prophecy, we must be ‘servants’.

One confusing point to may is the length of time we have waited for the rapture, the tribulation, etc. They were prophesied to ‘shortly come to pass’.

The word "shortly" is the Greek word "tachos" meaning "swiftly, quickly, suddenly". When the events related in this book begin to occur, they will very rapidly occur.

When the rapture of the church does come, and the saints gather about the throne to worship, and Jesus begins to open the seals, have the angels blow the trumpet judgments, pour out the bowls of wrath, etc., then the events will be sudden, quick, and swiftly come, bringing all things to conclusion and climax.

 

[murjahel]

The rapture of the church still alive, and the believers of all ages, whose bodies are not yet resurrected, happens in the same second...

The rapture/resurrection is a doctrine that the devil has often and severely attacked.

The resurrection/rapture event puts power and reality to the rest of the gospel. The devil attacks the doctrine of resurrection/rapture with the intent of making the gospel message be little more than a good story, and having as little effect on society as a social club.

The resurrection/rapture is the power of the gospel, and there is no hope of heaven, no hope of deliverance from sins, and no promise of a rapture and resurrection for us, if Christ was not resurrected and had not promised a similar event to all Christians.

This is one of the most attacked tenets of the faith. The doctrines of creation, the virgin birth, the atonement of the blood of Jesus for our sins. the resurrection/rapture of the church, and the second coming of Christ Jesus are vital doctrines that must be defended.

Many deny the possibility of the resurrection/rapture. Others spiritualize it until it has been robbed of all significance. Many fanatical interpretations are cloaked, and yet, the reality of a bodily, physical resurrection/rapture is the part they want to deny. Some quibble about the manner of the resurrection, and say they believe in an immortal soul, but the idea of a resurrected body is abhorrent to them.

Paul answers them with:
I Corinthians 15:36
"Thou fool..."

The resurrection of Christ Jesus, and our own resurrection, are interrelated. If we are not dead yet, and our spirit in heaven, we must then be raptured, which is an almost immediate change from mortal body to immortal body.

The resurrection/rapture event cannot exist without the assurance of salvation. Both are dependent upon each other. If we do not have that certainty of the resurrection of Jesus, then we have no assurance that our sins are forgiven, and that we will someday be resurrected or raptured.

The whole prophecy of the future eternal rewards would fall and crumble... if there were no bodily resurrection of Jesus. We need to know that to be a reality for us to have any hope of a resurrection/rapture of our own.

I Corinthians 15:16-19
"For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is even in vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Paul re- established to the church at Corinth, that the doctrine of the resurrection/rapture was not a negotiable doctrine. This doctrine was the inspiration of all of Paul's apostolic teaching.

There are four main parts of the gospel message:

1. The death of Jesus Christ for our sins...

2. The burial of Jesus Christ...

3. The resurrection of Jesus Christ...

4. The manifestation of Jesus Christ after the resurrection.

I Corinthians 15:3-8
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve; after that , He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all, He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."

The Romans had gone to great effort to keep the body from being stolen. And no fake could have ever fooled the apostles as to effect the changes in their lives as the resurrection had.

Peter had gone from an impetuous, weak, vacillating disciple - to being the apostle who could preach sermons with thousands responding to the Lord Jesus in salvation at their conclusion. He could suddenly remain true to Jesus even if it meant prison, or was life threatening.

Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus, until he was confronted by the risen Lord, and the doubt was totally eliminated.

Paul changed from being the chief antagonist against Jesus' disciples, to being the apostle of the Gentiles who would suffer shipwreck, beatings, imprisonments, and ultimately martyrdom for the sake of this resurrected Jesus.


I Corinthians 15:14
"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also vain..."

If Christ Jesus was not resurrected then all of Christianity would be a hoax. Were the disciples false witnesses? Did they lie to the world, and start a religion based on a falsehood? This is an appalling thought. The whole of Christianity would fall, if the resurrection were not an actual, literal event.

If the resurrection of Christ Jesus were not true... we would have no guarantee of our own resurrection

I Corinthians 15:12-13, 20-23
"Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection from the dead? But if there be no resurrection from the dead, then is Christ not risen?... But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam, all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first fruits; afterward, they that are Christ's at His coming..."


As a pledge, and promise... of our future resurrection, Jesus was raised from the dead. He was the "firstfruits" of the resurrection/rapture.

I Corinthians 15:23
"...afterward, they that are Christ's at His coming."

There are two parts to the coming of Jesus Christ. The first is the rapture of the saints to take us to heaven, the second part is the return of Christ with we the saints... So, that two part coming is guaranteed to happen.

Soon, we shall be raptured, or if we die before the rapture, will be resurrected.

Our new body will be like unto the resurrection body of Jesus. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15, that there will be differences of glory in these bodies.

He tells us that they will be "incorruptible" (Greek = "Aphthorsia" = "immortal".

He also says that these new bodies will be "spiritual" (Greek = "pneumatikos" = "immortal substance").

Some have imagined that since they are spiritual bodies, they have no substance... Yet the spiritual body of Christ could be handled, touched, could eat, etc. The idea of our mortal bodies is that they are flesh and blood. The life is in the blood. Jesus said of His spiritual body, that it was "flesh and bone..." There was no mention of "blood", for the life of a spiritual body is the "Spirit." Thus, it will be immortal, and incorruptible because of the "Spirit" which gives it life. It will still be a physical body which can literally be touched, walk on streets of gold, occupy a heavenly mansion, etc.

Luke 24:39
"Behold, My hands and My feet, that it is Myself, handle me, and see; for a spirit (ghost) hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have..."

I Corinthians 15:39-44
"All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth for another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."

The Old Testament saints believed in a resurrection.

Job 19:25-27
"For I know my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me..."

How are the dead to be raised? The analogy of the corn of wheat is used to illustrate the answer. Out of the death, the burial of the corn of wheat, comes a harvest many fold. Life reappears in a higher form. The identity remains the same, it is still wheat, but infinitely greater.

Our new resurrected bodies will be fitted for eternity. They will have a new vitality, and a new strength. There will be no curse, no sickness, and no death to afflict these resurrected bodies. They will be like the resurrected body of Jesus.

I John 3:2
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is..."

There will still be recognition of others after the resurrection. The rich man recognized Lazarus after their deaths. We shall "know as we are known." Therefore, when I get to heaven, even Paul, Moses, Enoch and Elijah will instantly recognize and know me... and I will know them. Peter, James, and John - even while in their earthly bodies - recognized Elijah and Moses, whom they had never met... There is something about the spiritual bodies that make them instantly recognized.