NOTICE: In case you're reading this at some point in the future, I want to give you this warning to heed. If there has been what the media is calling a worldwide UFO abduction of people, or something to that effect, don't you believe it. The real truth is that the Church; the Ecclesia; the Called Out Ones; the Believers in God's Word have been removed from the earth to be spared the Day of His Wrath and a 3.5 year period known as the Great Tribulation. If this event isn't enough to convince you, perhaps something else soon will ... I can only hope that these writings of mine will help to guide you onto the Path and show you the Way.
This event, known as the "Rapture," is a very controversial issue. The word rapture doesn't appear in the Bible -- except in the Latin Vulgate, produced around 400 A.D. -- but, nonetheless, the concept sure does! For example, the Greek word harpazo (say "har-pad'-zoe"), usually translated caught up, as in 1st Thessalonians 4:17, conveys the idea clearly enough.
Many people don't understand the concept of the rapture ... not because of their lack of understanding about eschatology; the study of last-days prophecy, but because of their lack of understanding about ecclesiology; the study of the Church; the mystery of the Body of Christ.
Nonetheless, the best way around all of this is to apply Acts 17:11 to your concerns -- examine the Scriptures daily and decide for yourself:
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians,
for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Acts 17:11 ~NIV
My understanding is that the rapture involves all believers who have sincerely accepted Yahshua -- Christ Jesus -- as their personal Lord and Saviour; those who have fully given their lives over to Him. These are removed; snatched up; taken off the earth before the so-called antichrist is revealed. These are the ones the Messiah calls His Church ... the ones who are spared the experience of going through the Great Tribulation.
Another interesting point to ponder is that when the Church is raptured, the Holy Spirit is also taken away -- removed, with the Church, from the earth. If you've ever heard references made about the end of the Church Age, this event would be just that. And, I don't know about you, but when I think of what it would be like to be on this earth without the Holy Spirit ... man, oh man ... we're talking about some serious darkness in the world. It is the Holy Spirit who now restrains Satan ... who now letteth the mystery of iniquity work ... until the Holy Spirit be taken out of the way, when the rapture occurs.
"During this age of grace Satan's power on earth is so restrained
that men forget his very existence.
This, indeed, will be the secret of his future triumphs."
~ Sir Robert Anderson | The Coming Prince
I have nine reasons, supported by some thirty-six Scriptures (noted below), showing why I believe that this indescribable event will occur before the Day of His Wrath ... indeed, before the antichrist appears publicly. If you have any problems with that, don't worry about it ... I'll explain it to you on the way up. :o))
•The Church & The Saints
The Church is a specific group of believers in Jesus Christ. It is not a building ... nor is it any particular denomination or religion. Also known as the Body of Christ, the Church is something that began at Pentecost -- see Acts 2:1-4 and culminates at the rapture -- see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. It does not include anyone who was a believer prior to or after the two above-mentioned events. The terms saints or elect refer to another specific group of believers. This group includes all the Old Testament saints, as well as those who become believers in Christ after the rapture.
There is a marked difference in the Bible when you look at references to the Church compared with references to the saints or the elect. The Church is always refered to in very narrow and distinct terms, whereas the saints or the elect are always refered to in very broad terms. More pointed, however, is the fact that the word Church never appears again after Revelation 3:22 -- you'll only see the saints or the elect mentioned throughout the rest of the book -- and this is directly after a very significant reference to the rapture, in Revelation 3:10
In Revelation 1:20 Jesus Himself tells us, "the seven lampstands (candlesticks in the KJV) are the seven churches" ... and in Revelation 4:4-5, where John is describing God's throne in Heaven, he sees twenty-four elders dressed in white, wearing crowns (representing the Church) and he sees those seven lampstands before the throne; the Church is in Heaven before the seven seals are broken.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus tells Peter that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church, while in Revelation 13:7 and Daniel 7:21, Satan makes war with the saints and prevails over them. Again, there is an obvious difference between Church and saints: the saints will be prevailed over, during the Great Tribulation; the Church will not be prevailed over, being in Heaven during the Great Tribulation.
In 1st Corinthians 15:22-23 it says that all those in Christ shall be made alive, but each in his own turn. First, Christ, the firstfruits; the plural here (firstfruits), I believe, refers to Christ and the Church at the rapture, before the Great Tribulation. And then, second, when He comes, those who belong to Him; referring to the Second Coming and the saints, after the Great Tribulation.
Jesus gives a parable in Luke 12:45-46 about a servant who believes his master is taking a long time in coming. His master will come on a day when he doesn't expect him and will assign him a place with the unbelievers. I believe this is saying that the saints are assigned that place (through the tribulation) with the unbelievers ... whereas, as 1st Thessalonians 5:4 clarifies, the Church will not be taken by surprise or assigned that place with the unbelievers -- they are raptured before the tribulation.
•The Rapture & The Second Coming
There is a marked difference in the Bible when you look at references to the rapture compared with references to the second coming of the Messiah.
Christ's chosen ones are not of this world -- John 17:16 -- but of His Heavenly Kingdom, as He points out in John 17:24
There are many references throughout the Book of Revelation that speak of them that dwell upon the earth, such as Revelation 3:10, 11:10, 13:8 and 14:6. Also, in Revelation 12:12 we see reference made to boththem that dwell in heaven and them that dwell on earth.
In Revelation 13:6 the beast blasphemes Yahweh's name, His tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven -- I believe these references to them that dwell in Heaven are to the Church ... those who are raptured, and remain in Heaven. The earth dwellers are those who worship the beast; the antichrist.
One of the most mysterious verses I've ever seen regarding those that dwell in Heaven is found in Isaiah 26:20 where it says hide yourselves in your rooms until His wrath has passed by. Couple that with John 14:2-3 where Jesus says in my Father's house there are many rooms; I go there to prepare a place for you ... and 1st Thessalonians 5:9 where it says God did not appoint us to suffer wrath ... also, consider Psalm 27:5 (that rock is Christ) ... and a very interesting picture begins to present itself.
• An Important Clarification About 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2
I've seen students of the Bible get confused too many times about this passage of Scripture, so I offer this clarification of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 2:7-8:
In verse 3 of Chapter 2, we are told that the Day of the Lord will not come until the Man of Lawlessness is revealed ... whereas, in verses 7 and 8 of that same Chapter, we are told that the Rapture occurs and then the Lawless One will be revealed. Assuming that The Day of the Lord is referring to the Rapture is what causes all the confusion, leading some to think that the Rapture will not occur until the antichrist is revealed. However, this is an inaccurate understanding. The truth is that the Rapture will occur before the antichrist is revealed ... and here's why:
The key to clarity regarding verse 3 lies in understanding that the Day of the Lord speaks of The Second Coming of the Messiah ... not the Rapture. Verse 3 is saying that the Second Coming will not happen until after the Man of Lawlessness, commonly known as the antichrist, is revealed.
The Day of the Lord is what clarifies this truth for us. The Day of the Lord is foretold throughout the Old Testament and is fulfilled in the book of Revelation; it always refers to events surrounding the Second Coming of the Messiah and is always spoken of in regard to Israel as well -- the Church was a complete mystery until it was revealed by the Apostle Paul ... therefore, simple logic alone tells us that the Day of the Lord could not possibly be referring to the rapture.
Note: Most versions of the Bible read the Day of the Lord ... there are a few, however, that read the Day of Christ -- nonetheless, this term is what is referred to in the Old Testament as the Day of the Lord and speaks of the Coming of the Messiah.
Text in red are my clarifications:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (NIV)
Concerning the (second) coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him (the Rapture), we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us (there were pseudo-scriptures being written and passed around as though they were written by Paul), saying that the day of the Lord (the Tribulation) has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day (the Day of the Lord) will not come until the rebellion occurs (the Apostacy; the Falling Away; departure from the faith; defection -- abandoning one's position or association and joining an opposing position or association) and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped (all religions and beliefs, witchcraft, magic, etc., etc.), so that he sets himself up in God's temple (the Temple that is yet to be built in Jerusalem), proclaiming himself to be God.
Note: For an explanation of 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 see next entry, below.
•The Church Is Taken Out Before The Time of Wrath
In Revelation 3:10, Jesus says I will keep thee from the hour of temptation. The word from is the Greek word Ek which means out of and away from the hour of temptation; God's Wrath; the Great Tribulation -- see Strong's #1537 -- He does not say He will keep you safely through it, but out of it ... as in snatched up!
Also, in 1st Thessalonians 1:10, it says that Jesus has delivered us from the wrath to come. The word from, in this example, is the Greek word Apo -- see Strong's #575 -- which means separation and departing or a part is taken ... the implication here is in a physical sense; of distance and of place.
In 1st Thessalonians 4:17, the term caught up is the Greek word harpazo which means to be carried off by force ... to meet the Master in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Master (NIV) -- Jesus is not returning to the earth here; the Church meets Him in the air and ever remains with Him.
Again, in John 14:2-3, Jesus says And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also ... He can only be speaking of the rapture here; at the Second Coming He doesn't take anyone anywhere!
Another one of my favorite, more mystical passages is 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-8 ... check out the way it reads in the New International Version:
2nd Thessalonians 2: 7. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
(NIV)
The lawless one is the Beast ... "Mr. 666" ... aka, the antichrist. The one who now holds lawlessness back is none other than the Holy Spirit ... and the Holy Spirit will continue to hold lawlessness back until the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way. Since the Holy Spirit operates through the Church, I believe this statement about being taken out of the way is a reference to the rapture itself. Verse eight continues by saying And THEN the lawless one will be revealed ... clearly pointing out that the Church is removed before the so-called antichrist -- the Beast -- is revealed; before he becomes publicly known.
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