The Rapture of the Righteous:
Hope or Hoax?
by Joseph Warren Grammer
Hope or Hoax?
by Joseph Warren Grammer
Most people get defensive when their religious convictions seem to be challenged. And it’s a normal response in defending our views and to preserve our cherished belief system. But we must open our minds and hearts and realize that old Belzebub has fooled most all of the people that have ever populated this earth. And that includes many pastors and preachers, even today.
Generally, people go about willy-nilly just believing what their authority figures say without studying things out for themselves. They simply do and believe what they are told. Someone once said something to the effect that, “No matter how absurd something is, if repeated often enough people will tend to believe it.” And another said, “Give a falsehood enough time and it will become an accepted fact.” This doctrine of the “rapture” is a good example of such sayings.
The rapture theory is, of course, tied in to the imminent return of Jesus Christ at the end times before the thousand-year period known as the millennium, and there are six major views concerning the rapture:
1. Historic Pre-millennialism: Christ is going to return before the millennium, and there is NO belief in the rapture.
2. Pre-tribulation Rapture: Belief that all true believers will be raptured-up to be with Christ just before the tribulation period.
3. Mid-tribulation Rapture: Belief that the rapture will take place during the tribulation period.
4. Post-tribulation Rapture: Belief that the rapture will be after the tribulation.
5. Dispensational pre-millennial Rapture: A confusing doctrine because it can consist of either a pre-tribulation rapture theory, mid-tribulation rapture theory, or a post-tribulation rapture theory.
6. No millennium: Belief that the millennium is when we have Christ in our heart.
The concept of the rapture, itself, is a relatively new belief within Christianity, and its acceptance tends to be exclusively confined to some of the conservative, born-again, Protestant sects. They are certain that they, alone, will be taken up in mass, in the near future before the return of Christ. They believe that those born-again Christians who have died will have their bodies resurrected and will ascend through the air, and meet Jesus Christ in the sky. This will be followed by a second mass migration of the born-again who are currently alive. Of course, the associated event with the rapture is the future return Christ known as the “second coming,” or “parousia.” Parousia is a Greek word which means, “come,” “arrival,” or “presence.”
The word “Rapture” comes from the Latin word “Rapare” which means to take away or to snatch out. This would be a remarkable event. As it is described, airplane pilots would disappear from planes, truck drivers from their trucks, people from automobiles, etc. Some born-again Christians believe that a family will be eating dinner, and some family members might float upwards from their seats, pass through the roof, and keep rising through the air towards Jesus.
Young Margaret claimed to have received a revelation in 1830. She wrote down her account and sent hand-written copies of it to a number of Christian leaders, which they rewrote and circulated. The first published vision was in 1840, some ten years later, in Robert Norton’s Memoirs of James & George Macdonald, of Port Glasgow.
But should Margaret McDonald receive the credit for the creation of the rapture doctrine, be it true or false? No, she shouldn’t. She was not the first to come up with the idea, for there are earlier records of the rapture doctrine than that of Miss McDonald’s. For example, in 1703, Daniel Whitby taught a version of Post-Millennialism, with the Church coming into a golden age of victory and power before the Lord’s Return.
Another contributor to the rapturist’s school of thought came through Emmanuel Lacunza (1731-1801), a Jesuit Priest from Chile. Lacunza defied the Roman traditional beliefs in order to write (secretly and under threat of discovery) about prophecy from a futurist viewpoint. His book The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty (completed in 1790) was written under the pen-name of Ben-Ezra to avoid exposure to the Catholic fathers. His work was placed on the Index of “Forbidden Books” by Rome in 1824.
A Reverend Edward Irving, a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, translated Lacunza’s book to English, and published it in 1826. And, four-years later, in 1830, the fifteen-year old girl, Margaret McDonald, of Scotland, had her revelation on the subject of the rapture.
During the counter reformation move of Papal Rome in the 16th century, after Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, we find that Pope Leo X authorized three Jesuit Priests to reinterpret Daniel’s 70-weeks of prophecy, the Book of Revelation, and Ezekiel. The goal of these Jesuits was to take the heat of the reformation away from the Papacy. The three Jesuits were: Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), a futuristic raptureist; Luis de Alcazar (1554-1621); and Roberto Bellarmine (1542-1621), who followed Ribera’s school of thought on the rapture. The apparent original rapture doctrine was submitted by Francisco Ribera in 1585.
Ribera’s futurist interpretation rocked not only the emerging protestant world, but the Catholic church as well. The Pope ordered it buried in the archives out of sight. Unfortunately, over 200 years later a librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury, by the name of S. R. Maitland (1792-1866), was appointed to be the Keeper of the Manuscripts at Lambeth Palace, in London, England.
Dr. Maitland came across Francisco Ribera’s futurists-rapture teaching and had it republished for the sake of interest in early 1826 with followups in 1829 and 1830. John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), a leader of the Plymouth Brethren, became a follower of Maitland’s endeavors.
Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921) was born in Michigan but later moved to Tennessee where he received the Confederate Cross of Honor during the Civil War. He studied law in Kansas and became a Kansas State legislator and U.S. District Attorney for the State of Kansas. Moving to Dallas, he became a pastor to the First Congregational Church. While traveling in the British Isles, John Darby’s Ribera teachings were radically embraced by Scofield, which spread through many parts of the United States by the charismatic preacher. Scofield adopted Darby’s Ribera school of thought into the Scofield Reference Bible of 1909, which was, at the time, proclaimed as the “book of books.”
14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:14-17.)
This passage was an early writing by the Apostle Paul when he was living in Corinth. It was addressed to the Christians at Thessalonica, capital of Macedonia. The verses contain the main description of what some consider to be the rapture. But, the problem is trying to create a doctrine based around only one single scripture without taking other scripture into consideration.
There is NO pre-tribulation rapture, but there WILL BE a taking up. However, first, “the dead in Christ” shall rise from their graves (v. 16), then the righteous will be “caught up” to meed Jesus and those that rose first (v. 17). Studying the end-time scenario in the entire Bible, this catching up will be AFTER the tribulation, and not before or during. How anyone can get a “pre-trib” rapture out of this is beyond me.
Now let’s consider some other scriptures pertaining to the rapture, and where there are any EMPHASIS, they will be of my doing.
Matthew 24:37-41
37. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38. For as in the days that were before the flood THEY (the wicked) were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39. And (THEY the wicked) knew not until the flood came, and took THEM (the wicked) all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40. Then shall two be in the field; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other left.
41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other left.
We learn that, clearly, “THEY” and “THEM” are the WICKED who are taken, not the righteous followers of Christ.
Luke 17:26, 27 and 34-36
26. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27. THEY (the wicked) did eat, THEY (the wicked) drank, THEY (the wicked) married wives, THEY (the wicked) were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and DESTROYED THEM (the wicked) all.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other left.
Rapture believers think THEY will be the one TAKEN. I wouldn’t believe that, if I were you! It should be clear that when the wicked are TAKEN, the Lord means “DESTROYED.” If you think YOU will be TAKEN, lets see what Jesus says will happen to you.
Matthew 13:24-30
24. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed (WICKED) tares among the (RIGHTEOUS) wheat, and went his way.
26. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the (WICKED) tares also.
27. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it (WICKED) tares?
28. He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them (the WICKED) up?
29. But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the (WICKED) tares, ye root up also the (RIGHTEOUS) wheat with them.
30. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the (WICKED) tares, and BIND them in bundles to BURN them: but gather the (RIGHTEOUS) wheat into my barn.
In this parable of the wheat and the tares, the TARES are gathered first. What happens to them, then? They will be BOUND into bundles to be BURNED.
Luke 17:29-30
29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them (the WICKED) all.
30. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (The WICKED will be destroyed — BURNED — once again.
Matthew 13:47-50
47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind (the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED):
48. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but CAST THE BAD AWAY.
49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and SEVER the WICKED from among the just,
50. And shall cast them (the WICKED) into the furnace of fire (to be BURNED): there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
So we see, once again, that the RIGHTEOUS remain and the WICKED are gathered and BURNED, while the just remain upon the earth.
Matthew 24:21-22 (see Mark 13:19-20)
21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the ELECT’S sake those days shall be shortened.
The ELECT is also mentioned in other places in the Bible, such as, Luke 18:7, Romans 8:33, Colossians 3:12, and Titus 1:1.
Question: How can there be the ELECT during this time if they were taken in the RAPTURE???
Proverbs 2:21-22 “For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall REMAIN in it. But the WICKED shall be CUT OFF (taken) from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted OUT of it.”
Proverbs 10:30 “the righteous shall NEVER BE REMOVED; but the WICKED shall not inhabit the earth.”
Psalm 101:8 “I will early destroy all the WICKED OFF the land; that I may CUT OFF all WICKED DOERS from the city of the Lord.”
Psalm 37:9-10 “For EVILDOERS shall be CUT OFF: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall INHERIT the EARTH. For yet a little while, and the WICKED shall NOT BE:...”
Psalm 37:29 “The righteous shall inherit the land (EARTH) and dwell therein FOREVER.
Job 38:13 “That thou might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the WICKED might be shaken OUT of it.”
Isaiah 13:9 “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall DESTROY the SINNERS thereof OUT of it (the EARTH).”
Malachi 4:1 “For behold the day cometh...and all that do WICKEDLY, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall BURN THEM up...”
The foregoing have been just a few of the many scriptures that should make it clear that the righteous STAY, and the WICKED will GO and “BURN.”
When things get tough, one might hear another say something like, “O, come quickly, dear Jesus.” These people are looking for an escape from the things of this world. When things really get bad, and there is no rapture, many just might turn their back on Christ because they were not rescued. That’s exactly what the old devil wants: teach a false doctrine and have people lose faith when things don’t come about as expected.
Of the six major views presented at the beginning of this study, the sixth, the “No millennium” belief is particularly dangerous in that it leads the believer to feel that there is no need to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, which will surely come to pass.
It’s important to realize that what we believe concerning the return of Christ, at the end-time, affects our view of things which impacts our way of life. And believing in the rapture, or not believing in it, affects our attitudes in our preparation, or lack of preparation, for His eminent return.
A belief in a “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” is dangerous because it leads those believers to feel they need NOT prepare for the “second coming” of the Lord; that they will be taken up BEFORE the tribulation. This mind-set is most hazardous. So, in concluding our subject of the rapture, let’s consider these thoughts:
Was Joseph in Egypt raptured out of the pits and prisons? NO!
Was Israel in Egypt raptured away from all ten plagues of God’s wrath? NO!
Did Israel take all their provisions with them when they left for self preservation? YES!
Was Daniel raptured out of the lion’s den? NO!
Was Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego raptured out of the firery furnace? NO!
Was Job raptured out of his time of tribulation? NO!
Was King David raptured out of all his tribulation? NO!
Was Baby Jesus raptured away from Herods wrath when being carried away to Egypt? NO!
Was Jesus raptured off the cross? NO!
Was all of His Apostles raptured out of their persecution and martyrdoms? NO!
Generally, people go about willy-nilly just believing what their authority figures say without studying things out for themselves. They simply do and believe what they are told. Someone once said something to the effect that, “No matter how absurd something is, if repeated often enough people will tend to believe it.” And another said, “Give a falsehood enough time and it will become an accepted fact.” This doctrine of the “rapture” is a good example of such sayings.
The rapture theory is, of course, tied in to the imminent return of Jesus Christ at the end times before the thousand-year period known as the millennium, and there are six major views concerning the rapture:
1. Historic Pre-millennialism: Christ is going to return before the millennium, and there is NO belief in the rapture.
2. Pre-tribulation Rapture: Belief that all true believers will be raptured-up to be with Christ just before the tribulation period.
3. Mid-tribulation Rapture: Belief that the rapture will take place during the tribulation period.
4. Post-tribulation Rapture: Belief that the rapture will be after the tribulation.
5. Dispensational pre-millennial Rapture: A confusing doctrine because it can consist of either a pre-tribulation rapture theory, mid-tribulation rapture theory, or a post-tribulation rapture theory.
6. No millennium: Belief that the millennium is when we have Christ in our heart.
The concept of the rapture, itself, is a relatively new belief within Christianity, and its acceptance tends to be exclusively confined to some of the conservative, born-again, Protestant sects. They are certain that they, alone, will be taken up in mass, in the near future before the return of Christ. They believe that those born-again Christians who have died will have their bodies resurrected and will ascend through the air, and meet Jesus Christ in the sky. This will be followed by a second mass migration of the born-again who are currently alive. Of course, the associated event with the rapture is the future return Christ known as the “second coming,” or “parousia.” Parousia is a Greek word which means, “come,” “arrival,” or “presence.”
The word “Rapture” comes from the Latin word “Rapare” which means to take away or to snatch out. This would be a remarkable event. As it is described, airplane pilots would disappear from planes, truck drivers from their trucks, people from automobiles, etc. Some born-again Christians believe that a family will be eating dinner, and some family members might float upwards from their seats, pass through the roof, and keep rising through the air towards Jesus.
Origin of the Rapture Doctrine
The rapture doctrine is thought to have been created in the mid 19th century by a young Christian girl living in Port Glasgow, Scotland, by the name of Margaret McDonald. She has either been credited with being a visionary, or blamed for inventing the rapture doctrine of Christ’s church.Young Margaret claimed to have received a revelation in 1830. She wrote down her account and sent hand-written copies of it to a number of Christian leaders, which they rewrote and circulated. The first published vision was in 1840, some ten years later, in Robert Norton’s Memoirs of James & George Macdonald, of Port Glasgow.
But should Margaret McDonald receive the credit for the creation of the rapture doctrine, be it true or false? No, she shouldn’t. She was not the first to come up with the idea, for there are earlier records of the rapture doctrine than that of Miss McDonald’s. For example, in 1703, Daniel Whitby taught a version of Post-Millennialism, with the Church coming into a golden age of victory and power before the Lord’s Return.
Another contributor to the rapturist’s school of thought came through Emmanuel Lacunza (1731-1801), a Jesuit Priest from Chile. Lacunza defied the Roman traditional beliefs in order to write (secretly and under threat of discovery) about prophecy from a futurist viewpoint. His book The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty (completed in 1790) was written under the pen-name of Ben-Ezra to avoid exposure to the Catholic fathers. His work was placed on the Index of “Forbidden Books” by Rome in 1824.
A Reverend Edward Irving, a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, translated Lacunza’s book to English, and published it in 1826. And, four-years later, in 1830, the fifteen-year old girl, Margaret McDonald, of Scotland, had her revelation on the subject of the rapture.
During the counter reformation move of Papal Rome in the 16th century, after Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, we find that Pope Leo X authorized three Jesuit Priests to reinterpret Daniel’s 70-weeks of prophecy, the Book of Revelation, and Ezekiel. The goal of these Jesuits was to take the heat of the reformation away from the Papacy. The three Jesuits were: Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), a futuristic raptureist; Luis de Alcazar (1554-1621); and Roberto Bellarmine (1542-1621), who followed Ribera’s school of thought on the rapture. The apparent original rapture doctrine was submitted by Francisco Ribera in 1585.
Ribera’s futurist interpretation rocked not only the emerging protestant world, but the Catholic church as well. The Pope ordered it buried in the archives out of sight. Unfortunately, over 200 years later a librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury, by the name of S. R. Maitland (1792-1866), was appointed to be the Keeper of the Manuscripts at Lambeth Palace, in London, England.
Dr. Maitland came across Francisco Ribera’s futurists-rapture teaching and had it republished for the sake of interest in early 1826 with followups in 1829 and 1830. John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), a leader of the Plymouth Brethren, became a follower of Maitland’s endeavors.
Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921) was born in Michigan but later moved to Tennessee where he received the Confederate Cross of Honor during the Civil War. He studied law in Kansas and became a Kansas State legislator and U.S. District Attorney for the State of Kansas. Moving to Dallas, he became a pastor to the First Congregational Church. While traveling in the British Isles, John Darby’s Ribera teachings were radically embraced by Scofield, which spread through many parts of the United States by the charismatic preacher. Scofield adopted Darby’s Ribera school of thought into the Scofield Reference Bible of 1909, which was, at the time, proclaimed as the “book of books.”
Rapture Not in Holy Writ
The rapture concept is essentially ignored by most other Christian faiths, being dismissed by essentially all liberal Christian theologians. Many mainline and liberal Bible handbooks, commentaries, dictionaries and encyclopedias do not even list “rapture” in their indices. And the term “rapture” is NOT found in the Holy Bible. It is only an assumed term related to 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Taking all the relevant verses of this scripture together, we read:14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:14-17.)
This passage was an early writing by the Apostle Paul when he was living in Corinth. It was addressed to the Christians at Thessalonica, capital of Macedonia. The verses contain the main description of what some consider to be the rapture. But, the problem is trying to create a doctrine based around only one single scripture without taking other scripture into consideration.
There is NO pre-tribulation rapture, but there WILL BE a taking up. However, first, “the dead in Christ” shall rise from their graves (v. 16), then the righteous will be “caught up” to meed Jesus and those that rose first (v. 17). Studying the end-time scenario in the entire Bible, this catching up will be AFTER the tribulation, and not before or during. How anyone can get a “pre-trib” rapture out of this is beyond me.
Biblical Consideration
Let’s put it this way: Jesus is coming again, but He is just NOT going to take us out of this world while singing, “I’ll fly away.” So to start our scriptural consideration of the rapture, turn to John 17 verse 15. There we find Jesus during His great intercessory prayer, praying for you and for me. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from evil.” Dropping down to verse 20 we read: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” So in this prayer, Jesus was praying for you and for me.And,
If Jesus asked Father NOT to take us out,
We’re NOT going!
If Jesus asked Father NOT to take us out,
We’re NOT going!
Now let’s consider some other scriptures pertaining to the rapture, and where there are any EMPHASIS, they will be of my doing.
Matthew 24:37-41
37. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38. For as in the days that were before the flood THEY (the wicked) were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39. And (THEY the wicked) knew not until the flood came, and took THEM (the wicked) all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40. Then shall two be in the field; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other left.
41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other left.
We learn that, clearly, “THEY” and “THEM” are the WICKED who are taken, not the righteous followers of Christ.
Luke 17:26, 27 and 34-36
26. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27. THEY (the wicked) did eat, THEY (the wicked) drank, THEY (the wicked) married wives, THEY (the wicked) were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and DESTROYED THEM (the wicked) all.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the (WICKED) one shall be taken, and the other left.
Rapture believers think THEY will be the one TAKEN. I wouldn’t believe that, if I were you! It should be clear that when the wicked are TAKEN, the Lord means “DESTROYED.” If you think YOU will be TAKEN, lets see what Jesus says will happen to you.
Matthew 13:24-30
24. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed (WICKED) tares among the (RIGHTEOUS) wheat, and went his way.
26. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the (WICKED) tares also.
27. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it (WICKED) tares?
28. He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them (the WICKED) up?
29. But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the (WICKED) tares, ye root up also the (RIGHTEOUS) wheat with them.
30. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the (WICKED) tares, and BIND them in bundles to BURN them: but gather the (RIGHTEOUS) wheat into my barn.
In this parable of the wheat and the tares, the TARES are gathered first. What happens to them, then? They will be BOUND into bundles to be BURNED.
Luke 17:29-30
29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them (the WICKED) all.
30. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (The WICKED will be destroyed — BURNED — once again.
Matthew 13:47-50
47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind (the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED):
48. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but CAST THE BAD AWAY.
49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and SEVER the WICKED from among the just,
50. And shall cast them (the WICKED) into the furnace of fire (to be BURNED): there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
So we see, once again, that the RIGHTEOUS remain and the WICKED are gathered and BURNED, while the just remain upon the earth.
Matthew 24:21-22 (see Mark 13:19-20)
21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the ELECT’S sake those days shall be shortened.
The ELECT is also mentioned in other places in the Bible, such as, Luke 18:7, Romans 8:33, Colossians 3:12, and Titus 1:1.
Question: How can there be the ELECT during this time if they were taken in the RAPTURE???
Proverbs 2:21-22 “For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall REMAIN in it. But the WICKED shall be CUT OFF (taken) from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted OUT of it.”
Proverbs 10:30 “the righteous shall NEVER BE REMOVED; but the WICKED shall not inhabit the earth.”
Psalm 101:8 “I will early destroy all the WICKED OFF the land; that I may CUT OFF all WICKED DOERS from the city of the Lord.”
Psalm 37:9-10 “For EVILDOERS shall be CUT OFF: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall INHERIT the EARTH. For yet a little while, and the WICKED shall NOT BE:...”
Psalm 37:29 “The righteous shall inherit the land (EARTH) and dwell therein FOREVER.
Job 38:13 “That thou might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the WICKED might be shaken OUT of it.”
Isaiah 13:9 “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall DESTROY the SINNERS thereof OUT of it (the EARTH).”
Malachi 4:1 “For behold the day cometh...and all that do WICKEDLY, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall BURN THEM up...”
The foregoing have been just a few of the many scriptures that should make it clear that the righteous STAY, and the WICKED will GO and “BURN.”
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE RAPTURED AND
“TAKEN OUT”???
“TAKEN OUT”???
When things get tough, one might hear another say something like, “O, come quickly, dear Jesus.” These people are looking for an escape from the things of this world. When things really get bad, and there is no rapture, many just might turn their back on Christ because they were not rescued. That’s exactly what the old devil wants: teach a false doctrine and have people lose faith when things don’t come about as expected.
Of the six major views presented at the beginning of this study, the sixth, the “No millennium” belief is particularly dangerous in that it leads the believer to feel that there is no need to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, which will surely come to pass.
It’s important to realize that what we believe concerning the return of Christ, at the end-time, affects our view of things which impacts our way of life. And believing in the rapture, or not believing in it, affects our attitudes in our preparation, or lack of preparation, for His eminent return.
A belief in a “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” is dangerous because it leads those believers to feel they need NOT prepare for the “second coming” of the Lord; that they will be taken up BEFORE the tribulation. This mind-set is most hazardous. So, in concluding our subject of the rapture, let’s consider these thoughts:
Was Joseph in Egypt raptured out of the pits and prisons? NO!
Was Israel in Egypt raptured away from all ten plagues of God’s wrath? NO!
Did Israel take all their provisions with them when they left for self preservation? YES!
Was Daniel raptured out of the lion’s den? NO!
Was Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego raptured out of the firery furnace? NO!
Was Job raptured out of his time of tribulation? NO!
Was King David raptured out of all his tribulation? NO!
Was Baby Jesus raptured away from Herods wrath when being carried away to Egypt? NO!
Was Jesus raptured off the cross? NO!
Was all of His Apostles raptured out of their persecution and martyrdoms? NO!
GET THE POINT???
