In my last post, I explained how the church was a mystery in Old testament but there were just fore shadows. Actually, I wanted to write about rapture in the same article and gave title as "Church, a mystery and rapture too". But, as the content was large, I just kept it for Church alone. Let's see about rapture of the church (bride of Christ) in this article.
Recently, I have attended a Revelation exposition session organized by our church. The pastor who took it said there is no concept of rapture to the astonishment of many. The reason he quoted was if some of the members of church are removed, others would feel bad being left out as they have to go through the tribulation alone and Jesus would never do such thing. As I heard that, some church members asked then why Jesus said one person would be accepted and other would left behind. After hearing that question, the pastor explained something like post tribulation rapture. I have asked him back a question then why it is written that Jesus would come as a thief. For that he said, after tribulation, he will come like thief which doesn't make sense.
Now, if you could observe the above questions, one thing is clear. There is indeed a rapture event based on the Bible and it is going to be either pre tribulation or mid tribulation. I just wanted to explain that based on my understanding and some common sense. The rapture is a mystery because it will never catch the eye of a casual reader. This is purposefully hidden by God as how He kept the Church itself as a secret during old testament timeline. Let's look into the details. It would be good if you open Matthew 24 so that we can look through the different portions.
Jesus explained the end time events in Matthew 24 and if you observe there were two different types of events explained. There is a contradiction between two. First one, there will be overall tribulation first till verse 14, then from verse 15, He explained about the abomination of desolation (marks AntiChrist rule) and during that there will be great tribulation that is mentioned in verse 21 and final second coming of Jesus at verse 30 that marks it complete. This specific event is accurately marked by relative events in Daniel 12:11 that it will take 1290 (3.5 years + 30 days) days from setting up of abomination of desolation and it is not a mystery at all. Jesus still continued and quoted the Fig tree prophecy that marks the blossoming of state of Israel. But, there is a sudden change in verse 36, that says "the day and hour" no man knoweth. Hence, I believe verse 35 marks the completion of first set of events (Both general tribulation that we are going through now earthquakes, pestilences, famines, floods and wars + great tribulation which is yet to come during AntiChrist's duration) with the assertion that "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away".
Jesus continued further saying in verse 38, "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark". Now, a question to the astute reader is, is it possible to be not aware of events happening around during great tribulation? Can they lead a normal life of eat, drink and usual business during great tribulation? Definitely NO. So, this marks a different event. Then, if you go through further 40 and 41, the verses denote accepting one person and leaving behind another one. If Jesus comes out as visible to everyone as explained in verse 21, then why He has to accept someone and leave other one? He should call out everyone and assemble them for judgement instead. What are the benefits of getting accepted and what are the dangers of being left behind?
So, this event of coming of son of man as per "No man knowing the day or the hour" is something different and not a public event as mentioned in verse 21. Paul says in I Thess 5:2 that "the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" and Jesus Himself says that in Rev 16:15. So, this event is called rapture or His secret coming. As per Heb 9:28, He will just appear to all His holy saints and sincere truthful believers (True Church which is the bride of Christ) and transfigure them and took them out in air. Just before that all the dead in Christ will rise first. This is explained in two places, one in I Thess 4:17-21 and I Cor 15:51-53. Paul call this as a mystery as not many will know this. This event is supposed to happen in near future and this marks the end of troubles for the true believers and judgement times for others in the world.
Paul further calls this a blessed hope in Titus 2:13 and it doesn't make sense if it is a post tribulation rapture after all the worst troubles mankind could ever go through. As the public second coming of Jesus is scheduled after the great tribulation as per versus 29 and 30 of Matt 24, no need for a post tribulational rapture as well as no point in Jesus coming like thief post tribulation. It doesn't serve any purpose. So, to answer the pastor's reasoning, caught up away with Jesus in rapture is the best thing that could ever happen. It is the reward for being faithful and sincere, also for being watchful and praying and keeping oneself holy and pure virgin bride for the groom. God said in Malachi 3:17 and 18 that He will gather His people and then other will see the difference between His ones and others. What is the chaff to the wheat? Jeremiah 23:28. So, not all christians will be part of rapture, only those who reached measure of the stature of fullness of Christ Eph 4:11 and and those who were selected by Lord Himself would be part of the bride.
Let's see some of the old testament shadows,
1. Isaac met Rebekka in fields where Rebekka was coming from a long distance and Isaac just had to enter the fields. Same manner, Jesus would just appear back and all dead would raise first and others who were alive would be transfigured and join Him in clouds. (I Thess 4 and I Cor 15).
2. Ruth came a long way from Moab to marry Boaz and met him in fields. But, Boaz disagreed for immediate relationship and once everything is legally completed in Ruth 4, he has taken her as a wife. Just symbolize how Jesus would wait for everything to be completed before taking the bride.
3. Abigail come and meet David and became her wife along with other maids. Psalms 45 gives this picture of rapture from verses 9 to 15.
4. In Song of Songs, the shepherd lover call out the Shulamite bride "My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Songs 2:10
5. Noah and his family households were sealed in ark before the great floods. The bride would be sealed by Holy Spirit and captured away by Jesus before the great tribulation.
6. Lot was driven out just before fire and brimstones were brought on Sodom and Gomorrah, again a picture that righteous would be saved.
Before a nation declares war against another nation it takes out its ambassador and its nationals from that nation. Same way, before God's judgement happens in earth, His ambassadors will evacuate. As a sincere follower, I am willing to get martyred for Jesus Christ but no point in suffering God's wrath that would be poured out on earth during seven vials of judgement.
Just would like to summarize with the following points why rapture before great tribulation is genuine.
1. Jesus said in Luke 21:36 to watch and pray that we may be accounted worthy to escape. So, indeed there is an escape route from great tribulation and that should be through rapture.
2. It was prophecied that the Lord's feet will be standing on Mount Olives in Zeccharia 14:4. This must refer to the public second coming and totally different from the Lord's appearing explained in I Thess 4:17-21 where all the saints dead will rise and the living believers will get transfigured and meet the Lord in air. No need to meet Him in air if He stands in Mount Olives.
3. In the public second coming, Jesus will come back with His holy saints and believers as foretold by Enoch in Jude verse 14. The prophecy of Zeccharia also confirms this as "and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." Zeccharia 14:5. But, if you observe in the event explained in I Thess 4:17-21, it is so obvious that the Lord Himself will come down with the shout of arch angel and with the voice of God's trumphet. So, there are two different events. The second one is His secret coming where He will take both the dead and living in Christ first and then those who were taken up will come back with Him in His second coming. Makes clear sense.
4. No need for the Lord to come as a thief if it is post tribulational as already explained.
5. I believe the important chapter Revelation 12 gives a picture of rapture events though I am not very clear about man-child, the sun clothed woman, war in heaven and the devil falling to earth and once those events are completed in chapter 12, the visions start to unfold the kingdom of beast (antichrist) in Rev 13. So, the final government of the world will be established post rapture or just imminent of rapture.
6. The important explanation given by Paul in II Thess 2 explains when the anti christ will be revealed and there is a term called "falling away" must occur first. The original word for "falling away" in greek was apostasia which means departing from. Bible scholars and preachers say this indeed represents the rapture event and many ancient English Bible translations have the word "departure" instead of "falling away". (a quick observation - Word "Rapture" is scrambled inside word "Departure"). There is another good explanation which states the event that occur first should be quantified (measurable to say that it has happened) where as falling away is very general and happens all the times so that we can't exactly say it has happened so it has to be rapture. I too believe this to some extent though the Holy Spirit didn't convince my heart 100% yet on this point.
7. It is written that "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." in I Thess 5:9. So, even though we have to go through tribulations of this world up to the extent of being martyred for our faith in Jesus Christ, definitely God is truthful to care for His Children so that they will not undergo His wrath and judgement as another verse in II Pet 2:9 - "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:".
I could think further through the scriptures and keep writing on other points as well. But, this article was already big enough to convey the point that rapture is a mystery event that many still won't find it or accept it and no one could know the day or the hour.
All praise, honor and glory to God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Maranatha!!! Amen.
Recently, I have attended a Revelation exposition session organized by our church. The pastor who took it said there is no concept of rapture to the astonishment of many. The reason he quoted was if some of the members of church are removed, others would feel bad being left out as they have to go through the tribulation alone and Jesus would never do such thing. As I heard that, some church members asked then why Jesus said one person would be accepted and other would left behind. After hearing that question, the pastor explained something like post tribulation rapture. I have asked him back a question then why it is written that Jesus would come as a thief. For that he said, after tribulation, he will come like thief which doesn't make sense.
Now, if you could observe the above questions, one thing is clear. There is indeed a rapture event based on the Bible and it is going to be either pre tribulation or mid tribulation. I just wanted to explain that based on my understanding and some common sense. The rapture is a mystery because it will never catch the eye of a casual reader. This is purposefully hidden by God as how He kept the Church itself as a secret during old testament timeline. Let's look into the details. It would be good if you open Matthew 24 so that we can look through the different portions.
Jesus explained the end time events in Matthew 24 and if you observe there were two different types of events explained. There is a contradiction between two. First one, there will be overall tribulation first till verse 14, then from verse 15, He explained about the abomination of desolation (marks AntiChrist rule) and during that there will be great tribulation that is mentioned in verse 21 and final second coming of Jesus at verse 30 that marks it complete. This specific event is accurately marked by relative events in Daniel 12:11 that it will take 1290 (3.5 years + 30 days) days from setting up of abomination of desolation and it is not a mystery at all. Jesus still continued and quoted the Fig tree prophecy that marks the blossoming of state of Israel. But, there is a sudden change in verse 36, that says "the day and hour" no man knoweth. Hence, I believe verse 35 marks the completion of first set of events (Both general tribulation that we are going through now earthquakes, pestilences, famines, floods and wars + great tribulation which is yet to come during AntiChrist's duration) with the assertion that "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away".
Jesus continued further saying in verse 38, "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark". Now, a question to the astute reader is, is it possible to be not aware of events happening around during great tribulation? Can they lead a normal life of eat, drink and usual business during great tribulation? Definitely NO. So, this marks a different event. Then, if you go through further 40 and 41, the verses denote accepting one person and leaving behind another one. If Jesus comes out as visible to everyone as explained in verse 21, then why He has to accept someone and leave other one? He should call out everyone and assemble them for judgement instead. What are the benefits of getting accepted and what are the dangers of being left behind?
So, this event of coming of son of man as per "No man knowing the day or the hour" is something different and not a public event as mentioned in verse 21. Paul says in I Thess 5:2 that "the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" and Jesus Himself says that in Rev 16:15. So, this event is called rapture or His secret coming. As per Heb 9:28, He will just appear to all His holy saints and sincere truthful believers (True Church which is the bride of Christ) and transfigure them and took them out in air. Just before that all the dead in Christ will rise first. This is explained in two places, one in I Thess 4:17-21 and I Cor 15:51-53. Paul call this as a mystery as not many will know this. This event is supposed to happen in near future and this marks the end of troubles for the true believers and judgement times for others in the world.
Paul further calls this a blessed hope in Titus 2:13 and it doesn't make sense if it is a post tribulation rapture after all the worst troubles mankind could ever go through. As the public second coming of Jesus is scheduled after the great tribulation as per versus 29 and 30 of Matt 24, no need for a post tribulational rapture as well as no point in Jesus coming like thief post tribulation. It doesn't serve any purpose. So, to answer the pastor's reasoning, caught up away with Jesus in rapture is the best thing that could ever happen. It is the reward for being faithful and sincere, also for being watchful and praying and keeping oneself holy and pure virgin bride for the groom. God said in Malachi 3:17 and 18 that He will gather His people and then other will see the difference between His ones and others. What is the chaff to the wheat? Jeremiah 23:28. So, not all christians will be part of rapture, only those who reached measure of the stature of fullness of Christ Eph 4:11 and and those who were selected by Lord Himself would be part of the bride.
Let's see some of the old testament shadows,
1. Isaac met Rebekka in fields where Rebekka was coming from a long distance and Isaac just had to enter the fields. Same manner, Jesus would just appear back and all dead would raise first and others who were alive would be transfigured and join Him in clouds. (I Thess 4 and I Cor 15).
2. Ruth came a long way from Moab to marry Boaz and met him in fields. But, Boaz disagreed for immediate relationship and once everything is legally completed in Ruth 4, he has taken her as a wife. Just symbolize how Jesus would wait for everything to be completed before taking the bride.
3. Abigail come and meet David and became her wife along with other maids. Psalms 45 gives this picture of rapture from verses 9 to 15.
4. In Song of Songs, the shepherd lover call out the Shulamite bride "My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Songs 2:10
5. Noah and his family households were sealed in ark before the great floods. The bride would be sealed by Holy Spirit and captured away by Jesus before the great tribulation.
6. Lot was driven out just before fire and brimstones were brought on Sodom and Gomorrah, again a picture that righteous would be saved.
Before a nation declares war against another nation it takes out its ambassador and its nationals from that nation. Same way, before God's judgement happens in earth, His ambassadors will evacuate. As a sincere follower, I am willing to get martyred for Jesus Christ but no point in suffering God's wrath that would be poured out on earth during seven vials of judgement.
Just would like to summarize with the following points why rapture before great tribulation is genuine.
1. Jesus said in Luke 21:36 to watch and pray that we may be accounted worthy to escape. So, indeed there is an escape route from great tribulation and that should be through rapture.
2. It was prophecied that the Lord's feet will be standing on Mount Olives in Zeccharia 14:4. This must refer to the public second coming and totally different from the Lord's appearing explained in I Thess 4:17-21 where all the saints dead will rise and the living believers will get transfigured and meet the Lord in air. No need to meet Him in air if He stands in Mount Olives.
3. In the public second coming, Jesus will come back with His holy saints and believers as foretold by Enoch in Jude verse 14. The prophecy of Zeccharia also confirms this as "and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." Zeccharia 14:5. But, if you observe in the event explained in I Thess 4:17-21, it is so obvious that the Lord Himself will come down with the shout of arch angel and with the voice of God's trumphet. So, there are two different events. The second one is His secret coming where He will take both the dead and living in Christ first and then those who were taken up will come back with Him in His second coming. Makes clear sense.
4. No need for the Lord to come as a thief if it is post tribulational as already explained.
5. I believe the important chapter Revelation 12 gives a picture of rapture events though I am not very clear about man-child, the sun clothed woman, war in heaven and the devil falling to earth and once those events are completed in chapter 12, the visions start to unfold the kingdom of beast (antichrist) in Rev 13. So, the final government of the world will be established post rapture or just imminent of rapture.
6. The important explanation given by Paul in II Thess 2 explains when the anti christ will be revealed and there is a term called "falling away" must occur first. The original word for "falling away" in greek was apostasia which means departing from. Bible scholars and preachers say this indeed represents the rapture event and many ancient English Bible translations have the word "departure" instead of "falling away". (a quick observation - Word "Rapture" is scrambled inside word "Departure"). There is another good explanation which states the event that occur first should be quantified (measurable to say that it has happened) where as falling away is very general and happens all the times so that we can't exactly say it has happened so it has to be rapture. I too believe this to some extent though the Holy Spirit didn't convince my heart 100% yet on this point.
7. It is written that "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." in I Thess 5:9. So, even though we have to go through tribulations of this world up to the extent of being martyred for our faith in Jesus Christ, definitely God is truthful to care for His Children so that they will not undergo His wrath and judgement as another verse in II Pet 2:9 - "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:".
I could think further through the scriptures and keep writing on other points as well. But, this article was already big enough to convey the point that rapture is a mystery event that many still won't find it or accept it and no one could know the day or the hour.
All praise, honor and glory to God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Maranatha!!! Amen.
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