Teaching of rapture has been under savage attack the last 60 years, and the attacks are increasing in unison with Satan’s attacks on Christianity. Satan’s increased activity is another sign the Rapture is near. Satan does not want the world to know the Rapture is near or that it will happen.
The two greatest periods of evangelical Christianity were the “early Church of the apostles” lasting three centuries, and the “last two hundred centuries of this age”. These two ages have one common similarity.
Both (1) believed in an authoritative, Holy Spirit inspired, inerrant Bible, and (2) the anticipation that Christ would come at any time. When the Bible is interpreted literally, there is a renewed interest in Bible prophecy.
Historically, belief in the any-moment coming of Christ has three vital effects on Christian churches:
1. It produces Holy living in an unholy society. (1 John 3:3)
2. It produces evangelistic churches of soul-winning Christians. When we believe Christ could appear at any moment, we seek to share him with our friends lest they be left behind at his coming.
3. Belief in the imminent return of Christ nudges Christian churches to develop world wide missionary visions to reach the lost for Christ.
The latest event proving this action was the year 2000. Many thought Jesus might return on 01/01/2000, and churches were packed around the world until after the year 2000 passed. Satan is aware that men turn to God when imminent catastrophes are on the horizon, so he pooh-poohs the Rapture.
The Pre-millennial view is the most valid of Rapture theories. It teaches the Church will be raptured prior to the seven years of the “Tribulation”. There is good reason to believe the “Blessed Hope” (Rapture) is near. Many early Jews believed the Messiah would return at the beginning of the seventh millennium from creation.
The Biblical statement “one day is as a thousand years” combined with “six days of creation” and “seventh day of rest” has suggested that God would start the seventh millennium (peace and rest) when Jesus returns immediately after the Tribulation.
There have been 4000 years of Old Testament history (BC) and 2000 years since the birth of Christ (AD). The 1000 year millennium will complete the 7000 years of man’s time on earth. The 1000 year millennium of peace and rest on the earth is equivalent to the seventh day of rest after the creation and the analogy of “one day is as a 1000 years”.
We have completed the 6000 years and await the 1000 year millennium. According to the time line and the major sign of the fig tree (Israel) we are at the exact time for the Rapture. It could come at any moment. The Rapture appears first, then seven years of the Tribulation, then the glorious appearing of Christ on the earth, and finally the millennium. After the 1000 years, time will be no more and all time will be rolled over into eternity.
Jesus says he will come suddenly and without warning. He warns us repeatedly to beware of false teachers and prophets. All remains the same until the Rapture, except there will be a falling away from God as it nears. We are in this era now. Christians are aware of many false doctrines and efforts of false teachers telling the masses that Christianity is a myth.
As the Rapture nears and during the Tribulation, the Bible warns against those who say, “Jesus is at this church, or at this place, or performing great miracles”. Jesus said there would be no signs (miracles), only the sign of Jonah during pre-rapture.
Man is presently living in the dispensation of “faith and grace” and will continue to be saved by faith in the absence of signs and wonders. After the Rapture, a new dispensation will be in effect. There will be plenty of signs and wonders. During the Tribulation, God will produce many signs and wonders, and the antichrist will also provide bogus miracles to fool the masses.
The Rapture was taught as early as 376 A.D., and as early as 1784 in America, before John Darby was born. Actually, the Rapture is taught in the New Testament. John Darby was not the originator of the teaching of the Rapture.
The first phase of the end times takes place when the Church is raptured. The second phase of the end times begins immediately after the “Blessed Hope” (Rapture). The “Glorious Appearing (Second Coming)” will be immediately after the seven years of tribulation. The “Glorious Appearing” will end the Tribulation. Jesus will come in power and set up the millennial reign.
Enoch was raptured (translated) in Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Elijah was also carried into heaven without seeing death in 2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. Jesus was also raptured as he ascended into heaven as the apostles looked on.
Jesus announced in scripture that he was going to prepare a place for his Church (Bride). John 14:1-3 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In 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. 3And 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.
At the Rapture, Jesus will call us up into heaven and we will be with him as stated in the passage above. As Jesus ascended into heaven, angels announced he would return in like manner. They were left looking up into the clouds as Jesus disappeared. He will appear again in the clouds and call the Church up to be with him.
Acts 1:9-11 9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
After the Rapture, there will be a wedding feast in heaven. It is for Jesus and his Bride, the Church. The Bridegroom, Jesus, is at the altar awaiting the Bride. God, the Father, has given the Bride to Jesus. John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. [The "Blessed Hope" (Rapture) will take place in the twinkling of an eye. We will be raised up to meet Jesus in the air at the last day.]
Jesus will call for the Bride that the Father has given to him. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 16For 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: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be “caught up” (raptured) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The Rapture is shown in the Bible in verse 17 above. The word “rapture” means to be “caught up” or “snatched up”. Those who argue that the word “rapture” is not in the Bible must realize the original text had no English words in it. There is no doubt among the Biblical language experts that the phrase “caught up” is the exact same meaning as the word “rapture”.
In Acts 1:9 above, a cloud received Jesus out of their sight and the angels made it clear that Jesus would return in like manner. Then note 1 Thessalonians 4:17 shown above, we will be “caught up” (raptured) with them in the clouds. Jesus does not return to earth, but calls his Bride up into the clouds (heaven).
The wedding feast will take place and rewards will be meted to those Christians who were faithful while on the earth. All of this takes place in heaven during the seven years of tribulation back on the earth.
Matthew 25:1-13 1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord. Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.
The above is the sad state of people left on the earth at the Rapture. Those with the oil, Holy Ghost, born again of eternal life, will be allowed into the wedding. Those who have rejected Jesus will want the Christians (Church) to plead their case to Jesus, but it will be too late. The Christians (Church) will not be able to help them. The Church will be with Jesus in the air and the foolish ones will be left behind on the earth.
Christians, both physically dead and physically alive, will be given new immortal bodies in the twinkling of an eye and meet Jesus in the air. The door will be shut and the Church age will be over. Jesus and the Church will then proceed with the marriage feast in the kingdom. We are commanded to watch and be ready for the Rapture.
Christian’s be concerned with the Rapture and the lost of the world? We should always be about the Father’s business of bringing the “Gospel of Christ” to the lost and the raising our families to honor God.
We should be looking forward to the “Blessed Hope” (Rapture). Christians should anticipate the Rapture and make others aware that it is near at hand. The “Tribulation” (God’s wrath) is not a “Blessed Hope”. The “Blessed Hope” is the Rapture.
The seven years of Tribulation will be the worst period of pain and catastrophes the earth has experienced. Some contend there is no Rapture, and Christians are on the earth during the Tribulation. The Tribulation is not the “Blessed Hope” of Christians. Our Blessed Hope is the Rapture.
Colossians 3:1-4 1If ye then be resurrected with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. 2We are to set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we shall also appear with him in Glory.
It is clear in verse 4 above; we come with him after the Tribulation (in his Glory). The Tribulation will be a time of God’s wrath on the wicked of the earth. The Bride of Christ will not be left on the earth to suffer the wrath of the Bridegroom. We will be with Christ in heaven and will come with him in his Glory to defeat the enemies of God and start the millennial reign after the Tribulation.
2 Corinthians 5:6-7 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(for we walk by faith, not by sight 
8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Christians desire to be with God more than to remain in our sinful flesh. This is the reason we eagerly, but patiently await the Rapture. We walk with Christ now in heavenly places in our spirit, but we are caged in our carnal bodies which betray our spirit. We yearn for freedom from our carnal bodies and wish to be in purity in the presence of Christ.
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
The verse in 2 Peter 1:19 indicates “fulfillment of prophecy” and is another sign of the approaching Rapture. The Church is the light that is shining in the darkness of evil in this world. We see signs of his coming (Middle East & Israel), and the anticipation in our hearts of his imminent return tells us the Rapture is near. Most Christians I know admit they feel the soon coming of Jesus and the Rapture in their hearts. We are aware it is near and we feel his coming. This is the day star arising in our hearts in the above passage.
Titus 2:13 We are looking for that “blessed hope”, and the “glorious appearing” of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The second appearance will be in two phases, the first phase is the Rapture. The wrath of God is poured out on the wicked of the earth during the Tribulation. Jesus does not come to earth in the first phase, but calls the Church up to meet him in the air (heaven).
The first phase will be called the “Blessed Hope”. The second phase, his “Glorious Appearing”, will be with power and his angels to slay the wicked of the earth and set things in order prior to the millennial period.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleeps in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For 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.
16For 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: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Christ (v14) brings all born again souls with him from heaven that is physically dead. Their bodies are resurrected into immortal bodies and united with their spirits in the air with Christ. Remaining Christians, alive on the earth, will immediately be changed into a glorified body to match our born again spirits and we will also meet Jesus in the clouds.
We should comfort one another with these words to let Christians know we will be spared from the Tribulation.
Revelations 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 of a trumpet talking with me; which said, come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.
John was called up into heaven. John’s ascension into heaven is a picture of the Rapture of the Church. John is described as the apostle who loved Christ. The born again (Church) is the Bride who loves Christ.
After John (Church) is Raptured, Jesus shows John (Church) things that must take place on earth before the “Glorious Appearing” of Jesus. The “Glorious Appearing” is at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus comes to defeat the antichrist forces and set up the 1000 year reign.
There have been several dispensations of God’s dealing with different populations of the earth. There were commands to Adam’s descendents by God instructing them of their responsibility of accepting God by faith plus a sacrifice of a lamb (without spot or blemish) each year.
The descendents of Adam knew the requirements, as Abel had righteousness imputed to him because his sacrifice was approved by God. Cain rejected God’s approved plan of salvation. Cain was self-righteous and presented his own works to God, instead of God’s way. Cain’s works were rejected as God told him, “sin lies at the door”. Cain did not have faith in God’s plans; he wanted to offer his own plan. Man’s works are as filthy rags in God’s sight.
The dispensation of law was given by God through Moses. The law proved man could not be his own savior by his own good works. Man had to trust in God by faith as shown in Hebrews 11. Law was insufficient for salvation. God then appeared in the form of Jesus and set up the dispensation of the Church where man is saved by faith and grace. When the Rapture occurs, the dispensation of the Church will be over.
The tribulation period will be a dispensation of salvation by faith in Jesus, but governed by different circumstances. This period will last only seven years. The gospel will be preached by two supernatural witnesses, 144000 evangelistic Jews, and finally an angel who will take the gospel to the entire population.
Those saved during the Tribulation will be saved by faith, but must endure to the end. If they accept Jesus by faith, it means almost sure physical death at the hands of the antichrist. If a person draws back from the faith and accepts the antichrist, in order to save their physical lives, they will lose their spiritual lives. They do not have enough time (seven years maximum) to waver on their commitments to Christ.
The same happens today as stated in Matthew, chapter 13. The parable of the sower says the seed is planted. Over time, each person considers the seed of the Gospel and the seed of Satan (tares). “Man cannot serve two masters; he will love the one and hate the other, or hate the one and love the other”.
In the parable of the sower and the dispensation of the Church (grace), man generally has more time in his life to make a decision. He, through faith, becomes wheat, or rejects the seed of wheat and becomes a tare.
During the seven years of Tribulation, man’s time is limited for his decision. He will either endure with his faith unto salvation and probable martyrdom, or draw back from his faith to save his physical life, thus losing his soul.
Matthew 16:25 -27 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
After the Tribulation, we have the final dispensation of the millennium (1000 years). Jesus reigns on the earth during the millennium. The method used to preach the acceptance of Jesus by faith during the millennium is not covered by the scripture, but we know each person outside the New Jerusalem will have a chance to accept or reject Jesus during the millennium.
All who accept Jesus by faith will live the entire 1000 years. Those who do not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior after 100 years will be accursed.
The Rapture ends the dispensation of grace and the church. The dispensation of the Tribulation then takes over. The Bride of Christ will not be part of the Tribulation.
The Church is the Bride of Christ. The Church is the congregate children of God and do not deserve his wrath, but has his love abiding on them. Jesus calls his bride to meet him in heaven and there will be a marriage of the Bride and Bridegroom. The feast follows, and the judgments of works to decide rewards for the righteous.
Revelations 3:10-11 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon the entire world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man takes thy crown.
Chapters 1-3 of Revelations are about the Church. The Church is not mentioned again after chapter 3 and after John (Church) is called up to heaven. In the passage above, Jesus is talking to Christians of the Church, his bride.
The message above of Christ to the church at Philadelphia was not only for that little church, but also for the church age that is an “open door church”, that is, the evangelistic, missionary-minded church that started about 1785 and exists up to the time Christ comes to rapture his Church.
Jesus comes with power and great glory at the end of the Tribulation to bind Satan and defeat his enemies. Christians, who have been spared this wrath, come with Christ as he descends to earth for the second phase of the end time. Those who have been martyred during the Tribulation will also come. We have been in heaven for the marriage supper and great feast.
2 Timothy 4:1, 8 1Charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. 8Henceforth 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 also that love his appearing.
Note in the above passage, a crown of righteousness is given, and the giver is the righteous judge, who shall determine the value of our fruits of labor as Christians. It seems sensible, that all Christians, whose works are not burned up by fire, will have a crown and the jewels in the crown will probably exemplify our fruits of labor.
Notice also, at the Rapture two groups are mentioned, the “quick” (those living who are changed in the twinkling of an eye) and those whose bodies were “dead” and had to be resurrected to a new glorified body to meet their spirits in the cloud. After the Rapture, we are headed to a wedding, a marriage feast, and rewarding of crowns for the fruits of labors.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may establish your hearts un-blamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Jesus comes with the spirits of those from the Rapture and the martyrs during the Tribulation. We have seen in previous verses that he resurrected their bodies to a glorified one to meet their spirits in the clouds.
The passage below is progressive. We will be gathered together with Jesus (v1). Prior to this, there has been a falling away from God. After we are taken out of the way (v7), the son of perdition is free to present his plans. The Christians and Holy Ghost in the world held a rein on the antichrist. The absence of Christians and the Holy Ghost allows the antichrist to deceive the nations and for his long awaited kingship on the earth.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, 2 that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now let’s will let, until he is taken out of the way.
8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 1This know also, that in the last day perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
The passage in Timothy also indicates the Rapture is near. This description is identical to the present time of this world age.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (We are waiting for the Rapture to be delivered from the wrath of the Tribulation.)
The book of 1 Thessalonians has the second coming mentioned in every chapter. It reassures the Christian of delivery from the wrath of the Tribulation.
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
The Rapture is called the “Blessed Hope”, and the appearance of Jesus on the earth before the millennium, is called the “Glorious Appearing”. The Tribulation (God’s wrath on the wicked) is definitely not a “Blessed Hope”, but the second appearance after the Tribulation is God’s “Glorious Appearing”.
The Tribulation is also called by the Hebrew prophets as “Jacob’s Trouble”. The tribulation is also a special period of God’s dealing with the Jews and the unsaved Gentiles left on the earth after the Rapture. The church is not part of “Jacob’s Trouble”.
Jesus returns at the “Glorious Appearing” in the midst of the battle of Armageddon to conquer the world’s armies against the Jews and usher in the 1000 year kingdom of peace. We will already be with Jesus and will accompany him from heaven at the final appearing. Our coming with him proves we were not on the earth during the tribulation.
1 Corinthians 15:20, 23-26, 50-55 20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25For God must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, and then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Jesus was the first resurrection to a new glorified body. Every man will be resurrected in the order of God’s plan. At the Rapture, he will raise the dead in Christ with incorruptible glorified bodies to unite with their spirits. These spirits will be with Jesus in the clouds. Those, who are alive in Jesus on the earth, will be changed in the twinkling of an eye into immortal bodies united with our immortal souls.
We will forever be with the Lord as his bride and will return with him after the Tribulation. We shall come with him when he comes for His “Glorious Appearing” to take command of all actions after the Tribulation. He will then destroy all enemies and eventually the last enemy which is death.
In the Roman passage below, the suffering indicated is not the wrath of God from the tribulation, but the normal suffering a Christian bears for his master in his everyday life in warfare against Satan. All of this present suffering will be nothing compared to the glory at the “Blessed Hope” (Rapture). As the passage below states, we will be delivered from the bondage of a corruptible body to one redeemed by Christ (glorified body). We are saved by hope (faith) and we patiently wait for the “Blessed Hope” (Rapture).
Romans 8:17-25 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, and then do we with patience wait for it. (We are waiting for the redemption of our bodies to match our perfect souls at the Rapture.)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, so that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For they that sleep in the night; and they that are drunk are drunk in the night.
8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Those who await the Rapture are not in darkness, but see the light clearly. We should watch for the coming of Christ and be sober (sound) in our doctrine of the scriptures until he comes.
He will come as a thief in the night to the non-Christian, but will be expected by the Christian. Again, note the Church (Christians) are not appointed unto the Tribulation (wrath of God) as shown in verse 9. Both those who are living (wake) and those who are dead (sleep) in verse 10 will live together with Christ when raptured. We who are alive in body and those who are dead in the body will both rise to meet Jesus in the air.
2 Thessalonians 1:4-12 4So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Thessalonians passage is an exhortation for us to be faithful until he comes to remove us from the impending Tribulation. Again, he mentions the present suffering we have in our normal Christian activity and warfare against Satan and his allies. Notice verse 6, where God will bring the “Tribulation” to them who trouble us. When we are raptured, the Tribulation will be on the wicked who provided tribulations against us as Christians during our daily life. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord”.
Also, verse 7 states we will be with Jesus in heaven resting with him when his mighty angels pour out the wrath of God on the wicked during the Tribulation.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil. 4And we have confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 5And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
God delivers us, when it is expedient, from unreasonable and wicked men. We know there are times when he has a reason for us to die as a martyr or suffer atrocities, but in a general sense, he protects us from the wicked. We have shown many verses showing God will deliver us by the Rapture from these unreasonable and wicked men just prior to the Tribulation.
There should be no doubt; God will deliver us from his wrath that he pours out on the wicked in the Tribulation. Verse 5 states the Lord will direct our hearts into the Love of God, this does not sound like a God who will leave his Church to be under his wrath reserved for the wicked. We wait patiently for Christ to deliver us from this hour of wrath.
Matthew 24:26-47 36But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For 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, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the Goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus says his coming for his own (Rapture) will be like the days of Noah. Some were taken and some were left. God protected the righteous and placed them in the ark of safety prior to the flood. If the end time is to be like the days of Noah, God will again remove the righteous before he metes out his wrath on the wicked of the world. All who drowned during the flood did not realize that God had already placed Noah and his family into the Ark of Safety until the deluge of rain came on them (v39).
It will take a mini-second (twinkling of an eye) for Christ to call us up to meet him in heaven at the Rapture. Those left will be taken by surprise and will not know immediately “what has happened” until they start missing all who have been raptured.
Matthew 24:21-22 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
There are many similar and more exact passages describing the Tribulation. However, there are many who will be saved during the Tribulation, but will be beheaded for choosing Jesus over the antichrist ruler. Because of many who are saved during this time, and the pleading of the Jews for Jesus to come and save them from destruction by the Armageddon forces, Jesus will shorten the time and deliver Jerusalem from the enemy.
One theory of verse 22 regarding shortening of time is that due to the catastrophes in the earth (dust and smoke around the earth), the sun will only be bright enough to penetrate the haze at around midday. This gives the new Christians a better chance of escaping the sword of the antichrist because of increased darkness during the daytime.
The antichrist will have all new Christians killed that are caught. God’s wrath will be directed to the wicked and not to the new Christians. About 3/4 of the worlds population will be destroyed during the Tribulation. It appears God excludes new Christians from his wrath and partially assists them in eluding the antichrist. There will be millions to accept Christ during the Tribulation, but many will be killed with the sword of the antichrist.
Genesis 18:25 25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be slain as the wicked that is far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Angels told Lot they could not destroy the Sodom and Gomorrah until he and his family were safe).
God protected the people in Egypt who believed in him by faith when blood was smeared over the door posts and lintels. God sent the death angel to slay the first born in the land of all the wicked of Egypt and only the blood protected the first-born from the death angel. The blood of Jesus is the salvation of those who have faith in him. This is another instance of God protection of believers as he destroyed the wicked.
We recall the parting of the sea allowing the Israelites to pass through on “dry ground”, as God closed up the sea and drowned the wicked. It is evident; God does not bring his wrath on his children, but delivers them from wrath provided for the wicked, as shall happen with the Rapture prior to God’s wrath on the wicked.
During the Tribulation, God is bringing death and destruction to the wicked, not the righteous. The saved during the Tribulation, that are killed, will be killed by the wicked, not by God’s wrath.
Why is the Church missing from Revelation after chapter 3? The Church is discussed extensively in chapters 1-3 during the writings to the seven churches of Asia. The words “church” and “churches” are mentioned 17 times in the first three chapters of Revelation. Chapter’s 2-3 shows the church age from A.D. 33 to the Rapture.
As chapter four begins, John is called up into heaven. Jesus said, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place on the earth after this”. This rapture of John to heaven was after the church age had been described to him. Immediately after John was called up into heaven, there was not another mention of the church in the remainder of Revelation. From chapter 4 onward, the church is not mentioned again.
John, a member of the Church is called spiritually into heaven prior to the visions of the Tribulation, just as the Church will be raptured prior to the Tribulation on earth. It is an amazing coincidence that John was called up into heaven where he could look down on the Tribulation. This parallels the Raptured Church who will be in heaven with Jesus while the Tribulation takes place on the earth.
It is also amazing that the church was mentioned 17 times in chapters 1-3 prior to Johns call to heaven. After John was called to heaven the church is never mentioned again in the remainder of Revelation which describes the Tribulation leading up to the 1000 year reign.
In chapters 2-3 of Revelations, the following phrase is repeated seven times, “he, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. After chapter 3 (and John has been caught up to heaven), this phrase is not repeated again in Revelation except one other time.
It is repeated partially in verse 13:9. In this verse, it says, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear”. The rest of the phrase used in chapters 2-3 was omitted in this verse. The rest of the phrase that was omitted is, “what the Spirit says to the churches”. It is evident the latter part of the phrase was omitted because the Church was no longer on the earth during the Tribulation.
Christ promised faithfully to keep his bride, the Church, out of the “hour of trial.
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 the entire world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
God does not need to test the Church; we have made our decisions and wait his coming to take us to the wedding feast in heaven. The Rapture keeps us from the Tribulation. The Tribulation is not for the Bride of Christ; it is for the Christ-rejecting world.
Since the Church does not appear in Revelation chapters describing the Tribulation, it is certainly reasonable to conclude the Church will not be part of the seven-year tribulation period. There is no need for the Church during the Tribulation.
The Church is now present in the world to preach the gospel to every creature and bring forth fruit after our own kind. Most Christians agree we bring forth more fruit of like minded Christians by having children and teaching them the ways of God.
During the seven years of tribulation on the earth, there will be less procreation of mankind. Due to the wrath of God being poured out on the wicked, extreme calamities, and 3/4 of the earth’s population destroyed, procreation will be limited. Birth control during the Tribulation will be at an all-time high rate.
Since the Christians have been raptured, there would be little need for fruits of the Spirit from parents to children. Since there are only seven years during the Tribulation, those saved during this time will have little time to provide a parental witness to any children they might birth in this seven year period. God provides all the other means for preaching of the gospel during the Tribulation.
There will be two supernatural witnesses from the past (probably Moses and Elijah) who will preach to the nations. They cannot be harmed by the wicked antichrist until their preaching is completed.
The eyes of the Jews will be opened, and 144000 Jews, 12000 from each tribe will begin to preach the gospel of Jesus, and finally, God will send and angel around the world to preach the gospel before he comes back to set things in order and start the millennium.
Not only will the Church be absent from the earth during the Tribulation, we read in Revelation, chapter 19, she is already in heaven, because the Church (Bride) comes to earth with Jesus at the end of the Tribulation.
Critics complain that the Pre-Tribulation theory is not covered in a single message. It is noted here that Titus 2:13 gives the titles of the two events (the “blessed hope” and the “glorious appearing”). Then, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 describes the two events (our gathering together to him and the “brightness of his coming) separated by the man of sin and tribulation events. The book of Revelation does the same (“Church age”, “John caught up to heaven”, “the seven-year Tribulation”, and “the coming of Christ in power to earth”).
Father Time
