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Rapture: Prophecy or Heresy?
By H. Speed Wilson
1 Chapter 1 Rapture a very im****tant question
1)"The Rapture question is far too im****tant even critical and urgent, =
to be ignored by responsible " apostles, prophets, evangelisits, pastors =
and teachers"(Eph 4:11). God holds them responsible for the doctrines =
they proclaim. Jesus said " Anyone who ;shall offend (deceive or cause =
to stumbel one of thes who believe in Me, it were better for him to have =
a millsotone hung about his neck and cast into the sea to drown."
b)If the Rapture were a real thing there would be many scriptures on it. =
(Instead there is only one ( 1 Thess 4:16) and it is very vague due to =
similarity to Matth24:30.)
2 Chapter 2 The Prophetic Words of Jesus
1)"A sudden removal of all true Biblical believers in a rapture would =
certainly be a most sepctacular event (sign) to both those departing and =
those who remain on the earth. Therefore, we would expect Jesus to =
include such an event (sign) in his prophetic answeres to the questions =
about the "end of this age" and "His coming." There would certainly be =
no point in His disguising or hiding such and im****tant thing, after =
all, why would Christians have to know much about the end of time and =
the "great tribulation" if we are not going to be here?
2)Jesus chose specifically to not pray for a rapture
John 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, =
but that You should keep them from the evil one.
2.1 Examples of Jesus telling about the wicked being taken and the =
righteous left:
a)Matt 24:37-40"But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of =
the Son of Man be.38 "For as in the days before the flood, they(the =
wicked) were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until =
the day that Noah entered the ark(Noah and family entered the ark 7 days =
before the flood),39 "and (they - the wicked) did not know until the =
flood came and took them ( the wicked) all away, so also will the coming =
of the Son of Man be.40"Then two men will be in the field: one(wicked) =
will be taken and the other left. 41 "Two women will be grinding at the =
mill: one(wicked) will be taken and the other left.42"Watch therefore, =
for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.(NKJ)
b)Luke 17:26-27"And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in =
the days of the Son of Man:
27"They(the wicked) ate, they(the wicked) drank, they (the wicked) =
married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah =
entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them(the wicked) all. =
Luke 17:34-37 "I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one =
bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.35 "Two women will =
be grinding together: the one(the wicked) will be taken(destroyed) and =
the other left.36"Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken =
(destroyed ) and the other left."37 And they answered and said to Him, =
"Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the =
eagles will be gathered together."(NKJ)
c)2 Pet 2:4-9For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast =
them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be =
reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved =
Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the =
flood on the world of the ungodly;6and turning the cities of Sodom and =
Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an =
example to those who afterward would live ungodly;7and delivered =
righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked8 =
(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous =
soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--9 then =
the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to =
reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,(NKJ)
2.2 Examples of Jesus saying that the taken ones are devoured
a)Luke 17:37 And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He =
said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered =
together."(NKJ) (eagles =3D vultures =3D large bird that lives chiefly =
on decaying flesh of a dead body)
b)Rev 19:17-1817 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried =
with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of =
heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,18 =
"that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh =
of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the =
flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."(NKJ)
c)The taken ones cannot be Christians because they are to be "alive and =
remain" 1 Thess 4:15-17
2.3 Four Examples of wicked taken 'out' of the earth and destroyed and =
righteous 'remain'
1) Matth 13:24- 30 Parable of wheat and tares (Matth 13:37-43 =
Interpretation)
Matt 13:37-43 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed =
is the Son of Man. 38 "The field is the world, the good seeds are the =
sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 =
"The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the =
age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 "Therefore as the tares are =
gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. =
41 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of =
His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, =
42"and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing =
and gna****ng of teeth. 43"Then the righteous will ****ne forth as the sun =
in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him =
hear!(NKJ)
1)Luke 17:28-30"Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, =
they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 "but on =
the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from =
heaven and destroyed them all. 30 "Even so will it be in the day when =
the Son of Man is revealed.(NKJ)
3) Matt 13:47-50 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that =
was cast into the sea("multitudes of people" Rev 17:15) and gathered =
some of every kind,48 "which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and =
they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad =
away.49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come =
forth, separate the wicked from among the just,50 "and cast them into =
the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gna****ng of teeth."(NKJ)
4) 1Thes 5:2-4 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the =
Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they(the wicked) say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden =
destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And =
they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that =
this Day should overtake you as a thief.(NKJ)
..
2.4 The Elect (believers) are in the Tribulation because the days must =
be shortened for them.
1) Mark 13:19-20"For in those days there will be tribulation, such as =
has not been from the beginning of creation which God created until this =
time, nor ever shall be. 20"And unless the Lord had shortened those =
days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, =
He shortened the days. (also Matth 24:21)(NKJ)
a)Luke 18:7 "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and =
night to Him, though He bears long with them?(NKJ)
b)Rom 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who =
justifies.(NKJ)
c)Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on =
tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;(NKJ)
d)Titus 1:1Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, =
according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the =
truth which accords with godliness,(NKJ)
e)The elect are not Jewish evangelists but all believers
2) (Why shorten the Tribulation days for the 'elect' if the believers =
are raptured away from it. The believers are in the tribulation, that is =
why it must be shortened for them.)
2.5 No MidTrib Rapture (how else believers see these things after the =
tribulation)
1) Matt 24:29-34 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the =
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars =
will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 =
"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the =
tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming =
on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31"And He will send =
His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather =
together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the =
other.
32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has =
already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is =
near.33 "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is =
near-- at the doors!34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by =
no means pass away till all these things take place.
(NKJ)
a)how could believers see all these things if they were raptured in the =
middle of the tribulation
2) John 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, =
but that You should keep them from the evil one.(NKJ)
3) Matt 24:13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.(NKJ) ( so =
believers in tribulation till the end)
3 Chapter 3 The Law the Prophets and the Psalms
1)We can learn about the Rapture from the Old Testament
b)John 10:35"If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and =
the Scripture cannot be broken),
c)2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is =
profitable for doctrine,=20
d)Matt 22:29Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not =
knowing the Scriptures (the OT)
e)Rom 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our =
learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures =
might have hope.(NKJ)
f)1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and =
they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have =
come.(NKJ)
g)Acts 3:24"Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, =
as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.(NKJ)
h)Acts 26:22 "Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I =
stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than =
those which the prophets and Moses said would come--(NKJ)
i)Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to =
you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which =
were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms =
concerning Me."(NKJ)
j)Acts 20:27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel =
of God. (not just 1 vrs in NT)
3.1 Psalms teach the wicked are removed and the righteous stay (opposite =
of the Rapture):
a)Ps 125:1Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot =
be moved, but abides forever.
b)Ps 145:20 The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He =
will destroy.
c)Ps 101:8 Early(first) I will destroy all the wicked of the land, that =
I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD. (similar to =
tares destroyed 1st in Matth 13:30)
d) Ps 119:119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; =
therefore I love Your testimonies.
e)Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, =
I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they =
comfort me. (John17:15 Jesus pray to not remove them)=20
f)Ps 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it =
forever.=20
g)Ps 37:9-11 For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the =
LORD, they shall inherit the earth.For yet a little while and the wicked =
shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it =
shall be no more.11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall =
delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (no rapture for the meek =
!)
h)Ps 37:34-40 Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you =
to inherit the land; when the wicked(tares) are cut off(destroyed), you =
shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power(like the beast of =
Rev 13), and spreading himself like a native green tree.Yet he passed =
away, and behold, he was no more; indeed I sought him, but he could not =
be found. Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the =
future of that man is peace.38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed =
together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the =
salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the =
time of trouble. 40And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; he =
shall deliver them from the wicked, and save(protect) them, because they =
trust in Him.(NKJ)
9)The righteous and those who trust in the Lord are not raptured out of =
the world but are kept safe and sound on the earth.
j)Ps 91:7-16 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your =
right hand; but it shall not come near you.8 Only with your eyes shall =
you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 9Because you have made the =
LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10No =
evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;11 =
For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your =
ways.12 In their hands they (his angels)shall bear you up, lest you dash =
your foot against a stone.13 You shall tread upon the lion and the =
cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.14 =
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I =
will set him on high, because he has known My name.15 He shall call upon =
Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver =
him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My =
salvation." (God see's the righteous through tribulation he does not =
rapture them out of it)
k) Ps 104:35 May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the wicked be =
no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! (coming is as days =
of Noah when the flood took the wicked away)
l) Ps 52:5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; he shall take you =
away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, and uproot you from the =
land of the living. Selah (wicked taken + righteous left)
3.2 Proverbs teach the wicked are removed and the righteous stay =
(opposite of the Rapture):
a)Prov 2:21-22 For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless =
will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and =
the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
b)Prov 10:30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will =
not inhabit the earth.
c)Prov 11:31 If the righteous will be recompensed(rewarded) on the =
earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.=20
d)Prov 24:4 By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and =
pleasant riches.
e)Prov 25:4-5 Take away the dross from silver, and it will go to the =
silversmith for jewelry. Take away the wicked from before the king, and =
his throne will be established in righteousness. (this happened when =
Jesus kingdom was established)
3.3 Chaff removed and righteous remain in Job and Malachi and Isaiah
a)Isa 29:5 "Moreover the multitude of your foes shall be like fine dust, =
and the multitude of the terrible ones like chaff that passes away; yes, =
it shall be in an instant, suddenly.=20
b)Job 21:18 They (the wicked) are like straw before the wind, and like =
chaff that a storm carries away.
c)Job 38:13 (speaking to God)That it might take hold of the ends of the =
earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? This agrees with
- Heb 12:27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those =
things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the =
things which cannot be shaken may remain.(NKJ)
d)Mal 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all =
the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which =
is coming shall burn them up," says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave =
them neither root nor branch.=20
e)Isa 1:28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be =
together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.=20
f)Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and =
fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners =
from it. (like Col 3: 6 wrath of God is coming on the sons of =
disobedience)
g)Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and =
through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through =
the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.=20
(the righteous kept safe in the world not removed from it)
Question: Above is more than two dozen scriptures that state clearly =
that the righteous remain and the wicked are destroyed out of the world. =
Can you find two dozen scriptures that state as clearly that the =
righteous will be removed from the world in rapture? (clearly is a key =
word here)
a)can you find 3 Old Testament scriptures where God says the righteous =
will be removed from the world.
b)Can you find 5 scriptures where Jesus says the righteous will be =
removed from the wicked
3.4 The wrath of God comes on the wicked while the righteous are on the =
earth not after they have been raptured
a) Ezek 9:4-10 and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the =
city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of =
the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within =
it."5To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city =
and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 "Utterly slay =
old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not =
come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." So =
they began with the elders who were before the temple. 7 Then He said to =
them, "Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!" =
And they went out and killed in the city.8 So it was, that while they =
were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried =
out, and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel =
in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?"9 Then He said to me, "The =
iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the =
land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they =
say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!'10 "And =
as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I =
will recompense their deeds on their own head."
b) Rev 9:3-4 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to =
them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.4 They =
were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, =
or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their =
foreheads.
c) those who do not have the mark of God on their foreheads are =
destroyed while they are still among those who do have God's mark.
4 Chapter 4 Bible Examples
4.1 Examples where believers were not raptured out of trial/testing but =
learned to be overcomers
1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things(testings) happened to them as examples, =
and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages =
have come.
1)Job was not raptured out of his testing
2)Joseph not raptured out of Pit or Prison (Gen 37-46)
3)Daniel not raptured out of Lions Den (Dan 6:7-28)
4)King David overcame much tribulation and was rewarded in the world
5)Israelites were kept safe during 10 pagues and were examples to the =
Egyptians
6)Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went through the furnace and were =
overcomers and examples
g)God saved them from the furnace He did not rapture them out of it. =
They were a witness to Babylon.
7) Jesus and the Apostles were overcomes and examples not raptured out. =
(Paul 2 Cor 11:23-27 Trials)
Rev 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the =
word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. =
(not rapured out)
Summary:
a)No rapture for believers at the end of the age out of the plagues of =
God's wrath; rather power to witness at the risk of their lives! For God =
to remove his people during time of trouble at the end of the world =
(tribulation) would be completely against every example He gave us.
b)If believers were raptured out there would be no such witness on the =
earth to draw multitudes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
c)There are no examples of God's elect being raptured out of their times =
of testing/tribulation
a)Enoch and Elisha were not taken out ot tribulation - they just went to =
be w/ the Lord
b)God's men were not removed from the battlefield - they were victorious
d)Mal 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; (so why should he change =
in 70AD)
e)Heb 3:10-11Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, 'They =
always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.' So I =
swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' "
5 Chapter 5: 1 Thessalonians 4:17
1Thes 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a =
shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And =
the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with =
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always =
be with the Lord.
5.1 This is the only scripture that even suggests the believers will be =
caught up from the earth.
a)the common interpretation of 'being caught up' is in direct =
contradiction to some 50 scriptures
b)John 10: 35 The scriptures cannot be broken + 1 Cor 14:33 God is not =
the author of confusion
c)Therefore there must be something wrong with the common interpretation =
of 1 Thess 4:17
d)The word rapture does not appear in any Bible
5.2 We should not establish doctrine on one single scripture (this is a =
violation of a Biblical Principle)
a) Gen 41:32 "And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the =
thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
a)Deut 17:6"Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the =
testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the =
testimony of one witness.
b)2 Cor 13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the =
mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."
5.3 What does "Caught up" Mean ?
a) caught =3D harpazo =3D to take for oneself to prefer or choose
a)Strongs: 726 harpazo (har-pad'-zo); from a derivative of 138; to sieze =
(in various applications):=20
KJV-- catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
b)Thayers: 726 harpazo
1) to seize, to carry off by force=20
2) to seize on, to claim for oneself eagerly=20
3) to snatch out or to snatch away
b)None of the below 12 scriptures containing "harpazo" have anything to =
do with the physical removal of living people from the earth/world to =
heaven=20
Harpazo =3D Catch
1) John 10:12 "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does =
not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; =
and the wolf catches(Harpazo) the sheep and scatters them.
Harpazo =3D Catch away
2)Matt 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not =
understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches(Haprazo) away what =
was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.=20
3)Acts 8:39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the =
Lord caught (Haprazo) Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; =
and he went on his way rejoicing.=20
5.3.1 Hapazo =3D Caught up
4 ) 2 Cor 12:2-4 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether =
in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God =
knows-- such a one was caught up(harpazo) to the third heaven.3 And I =
know such a man-- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, =
God knows--4 how he was caught up (harpazo) into Paradise and heard =
inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.=20
a)The questions of whether Paul was in the body or out of the body =
(i.e., in the spirit) is resolved by John in=20
1)Revelations 1:10 where he says, "I was in the spirit on the Lord's =
day"
2) Rev 4:1-2 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing =
open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet =
speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things =
which must take place after this."2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and =
behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
3)Rev 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod =
of iron. And her Child was caught up(harpazo) to God and His throne.=20
d)In context starting at Rev 11:14,15 this occurs during "the third woe" =
and after " the seventh angel sounded" ( the seventh trumpet), and is =
clearly taking place in heaven. So, her child was not caught up from the =
earth to heaven, but was, as the Scriptures says, "up to God and to His =
throne." Up to a higher level in Heaven.=20
e)2 Cor 12:2I know a man(John) in Christ who fourteen years ago-- =
whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not =
know, God knows-- such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
Harpazo =3D Pluck
1)John 10:28-29 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never =
perish; neither shall anyone snatch (Harpazo) them out of My hand. "My =
Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is =
able to snatch (Harpazo) them out of My Father's hand.
Harpazo =3D Pull
7) Jude 1:22-23 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but =
others save with fear, pulling (Harpazo) them out of the fire, hating =
even the garment defiled by the flesh.=20
Harpazo =3D Take by Force
8)Matt 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the =
kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force =
(Harpazo).=20
9)John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come =
and take Him by force (Harpazo) to make Him king, He departed again to =
the mountain by Himself alone. (Jesus knew the people wanted to force =
and earthly kingdom on Him.)
10)Acts 23:10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, =
fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the =
soldiers to go down and take him by force(Harpazo) from among them, and =
bring him into the barracks. (The captain used force to save Paul from =
the Sanhedrin.)
5.4 What does meet the Lord "in the air" mean?
a) air =3D aer
1)Thayers 109 aer-
a) the air, particularly the lower and denser air as distinguished from =
the higher and rarer air=20
b) the atmospheric region
2) Strongs 109 aer (ah-ayr');
from aemi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow); =
"air" (as naturally=20
circumambient):=20
KJV-- air. Compare 5594. ***. atha. See 3134.
b) The following scriptures show we are "in the air" right now
1)Acts 22:23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and =
threw dust into the air(aer),
2)1 Cor 9:26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: =
not as one who beats the air(aer).
3)1 Cor 14:9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy =
to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be =
speaking into the air(aer).=20
c)There is another Greek word which is translated, air. It is 'ouranos' =
and it means:
air =3D ouranas
1)Strongs: 3772 ouranos (oo-ran-os');
perhaps from the same as 3735 (through the idea of elevation); the sky; =
by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, =
power, eternity; specifically, the Gospel (Christianity):=20
KJV-- air, heaven ([-ly]), sky.
2) Thayers 3772 ouranos-
1) the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it=20
a) the universe, the world=20
b) the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the =
tempests gather, and where=20
thunder and lightning are produced=20
c c) the sidereal (starry) heavens=20
2)the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things =
eternal and consummately perfect=20
d where God dwells and other heavenly beings
d) 'ouranos' appears in the following scriptures where 'air' is in bold =
type:
1) Matt 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor =
reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father
2) Matt 8:20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the =
air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
3)Matt 13:32 "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is =
grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds =
of the air come and nest in its branches."
4)Mark 4:4"And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the =
wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.=20
5)Mark 4:32 "but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than =
all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air =
may nest under its shade."=20
6) Luke 8:5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some =
fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air =
devoured it.
7) Luke 9:58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the =
air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."=20
8) Luke 13:19"It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his =
garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air =
nested in its branches."
9) Acts 10:12In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, =
wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came =
to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
10) Acts 11:6"When I observed it intently and considered, I saw =
four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and =
birds of the air.=20
e)Conclusion:=20
1)If 1 Thess 4: 17 is talking about a rapture peoples heads would go no =
higher than about 10 feet above the ground - no higher than you can =
throw dust into the air (aer).=20
2)So we are " in the air (aer)" now with our feet on the ground (earth) =
and so shall we remain (1 Thess 4: 15,17)
Note: Some rapture promoters make much of Noah being lifted up above the =
earth by the flood waters as a type of rapture. Notice Noah was not =
lifted up to heaven, but did remain in the air(aer).
5.5 What does "with them(the resurrected saints) in the clouds" mean ?
In the following scriptures the divine cloud came down to earth
1)Matt 17:5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud =
overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, =
"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (also =
Mark 9:7, Luke 9:344)
2) 1 Cor 10:1-3Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that =
all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all =
were baptized into Moses in the cloud (must have come down)and in the =
sea, all ate the same spiritual food,
3) Heb 11:36-12:2 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, =
yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in =
two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in =
sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented 38 of =
whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, =
in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good =
testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having =
provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect =
apart from us. CHAPTER 12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by =
so great a cloud of witnesses(the spirits of departed saints), let us =
lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let =
us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto =
Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was =
set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down =
at the right hand of the throne of God.
5.6 Review 1 Thess 4:13-18 as a whole:
1Thes 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning =
those who have fallen asleep(this scripture is primarily about the =
departed/dead saints in Christ), lest you sorrow as others who have no =
hope(the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection). 14 For if we =
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so (in like manner) God =
will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you =
by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain(on earth) =
until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are =
asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven( Acts 1:11 =
Jesus went directly from earth to heaven and shall return "in like =
manner" directly from heaven to earth. No rapture back to heaven for a =
later third coming) with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and =
with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise(Greek word, =
anistemi: to set up or be resurrected) first. 17 Then we who are alive( =
1 Cor 15:51 "We shall not all die, but shall be =
changed/transformed/transfigured" ) and remain ( on the earth in the =
aer)shall be caught up (made one -harpazo) together (at the same time) =
with them (the dead in Christ) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air =
(on the surface of the earth). And thus we shall always be with the Lord =
( in the air(aer) here on earth ).18 Therefore comfort(reassure) one =
another with these words. (Notice, the Lord "descended form heaven" =
before we are caught up to him; just as the "New Jerusalem" came down to =
dwell with us - Rev 21:2).
Another look at Harpazo:
1) to translate harpazo to the English phrase "made one" is as accurate =
an option as any of the 6 other ways it is translated in the King James =
bible. "Made one" removes 1 Thess 4:17 as a contradiction to and in =
conflict with the many other scriptures and biblical examples. This =
would make 1 Thess 4:17 the answer to the prayer of Jesus in=20
John 17:21-23 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and =
I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe =
that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, =
that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I in them, and You in Me; =
that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that =
You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.=20
2) Martin Luthers German translation of 1 Thess 4:17 translated into =
agerman word which could mean, " the lesser was included into the =
greater ". We christians are the lesser and Jesus is the greater.. John =
10:12 the worf 'harpazo' the sheep =3D the wolf ate the sheep and they =
were "made one" or the lesser was included into the greater".=20
The same is true in Matthew 13:4 and 19 in parable of the sowing of the =
'seed':
a)Matt 13:4 "And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the =
birds came and devoured them.=20
1)devoured =3D2719 katesthio (kat-es-thee'-o)=3D to eat down, i.e. =
devour (literally or figuratively):=20
b)Matt 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not =
understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches ( harpazo) away =
what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
a)the wicked one 'harpazo' that which is sown" the fowls =
devoured/ate/consumed the seed/word. They were 'made one' or "The lesser =
was included in the greater". It seems Martin Luther did not see harpazo =
as being caught up.
1)We are transfigured/Changed right here on earth (No promised about =
being removed from the earth):
b)1 Cor 15:51-53 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, =
but we shall all be changed 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, =
at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be =
raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (we - the living are not =
resurrected: we are changed - made one fully redeemed - imprecebtible =
because it is spirit not fleshly thing) 53 For this corruptible must put =
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this =
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on =
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: =
"Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O =
Hades, where is your victory?"=20
c)Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe =
away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people he will take away =
from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. (rebuke of his people taken =
away but Gods people remain when death is swallowed up.)
d)I Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been =
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we =
shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
e)He comes to Us we don't go to Him:
6)John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he =
will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to =
him(not bring us to him) and make Our home with him.(here on earth)
7)Rev 21:1-4 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first =
heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. =
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of =
heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I =
heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is =
with men, and He will dwell with them,(down w/ us on earth) and they =
shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. =
4"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no =
more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the =
former things have passed away."=20
8) It is interesting to note the resurrected saints were not seen =
streaking through the sky : Matt 27:52-53 "and the graves were opened; =
and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and =
coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy =
city and appeared to many."=20
9)John 14:2,3 ?
1 Thess 4: 17, 18 We will meet the Lord in the air (here on the surface =
of the earth): and so (in that exact manner; in the air and on the earth =
- not in heaven) shall we forever be with the Lord. (in the New =
Jerusalem where God will dwell with us). Notice it is "forever" that we =
shall be with the Lord in the air on the surface of the earth and not in =
heaven for seven or three and one-half years to return with Jesus in a =
third coming.
5.7 A Spiritual Interpretation of 1 Thess 4:16,17 from Dave =
Curtis+Donald Hochner's web sites
1)What does "we shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air" =
mean?
a) "in the air"
1)Eph 2:1-21 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and =
sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, =
according to the prince of the power of the air<109>, the spirit who now =
works in the sons of disobedience,
2) air =3D aer =3D same Greek word in 1 Thess 4:17
3) air =3D heavenly or sprititual realm. Jesus has taken over that =
sphere and rules in the "air" with the saints since the destruction of =
Jerusalem (Rom16:20). If that is the same air where the saints were to =
meet and be gathered, then there is no necessity for us to believe that =
the rapture gathering and meeting was to be physical. It was =
accomplished when the faithful remnant of Jewish believers with the =
ingrafted Gentiles was transformed into Christ's new spiritual Israel =
when the old covenant was taken away. The "gathering together" is the =
heavenly places in Christ - the spiritual kingdom of God. Being caught =
up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air is simply =
accommodative language denoting the end of the age gathering together of =
God's elect.=20
a)Eph 1:10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He =
might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in =
heaven and which are on earth-- in Him.=20
b) "meet the Lord"
a)meet =3D<529> apantesis (ap-an'-tay-sis); a (friendly) encounter: , to =
meet one.
b) Apantesis (meet) is used 3x in the bible, each time signifying the =
sending of an advance party to meet a dignitary, and then escort him =
back to where they came from.
3)Acts 28:15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came =
to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he =
thanked God and took courage.=20
d)The Christians in Rome went out to meet Paul Paul at Appii forum , and =
then they escorted him back to their homes.
5)Matth 25 parable of ten virgins , the kingdom of heaven is likened =
unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the =
bridegroom. The word used to 'meet' the bridegroom is 'apanteas', which =
means to meet to escort back, as is evidenced by the fact that they met =
the bridegroom, and then went in to the house from which they came.
f)Matt 25:10"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those =
who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
2) When Christ came in the clouds , he literally, yet spiritually, =
gathered those that were alive to be caught up in the kingdom with Jesus =
Christ and Jesus Christ spiritually returned with the believers to the =
earth, to ever be with them. This was a spiritual event that was visibly =
manifest in the destruction of Jerusalem.
5.8 A Spiritual Interpretation of "the gathering together" from Don =
Preston's Web site
The gathering together: (This is discussed in Matth 24:29-31, 1 Thess =
4:16,17 (being caught up together), 2 Thess 2:1-4)
2 Th 2:1-14 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus =
Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon =
shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as =
if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive =
you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away =
comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who =
opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is =
wor****ped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself =
that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I =
told you these things? 6And now you know what is restraining, that he =
may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is =
already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken =
out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the =
Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the =
brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according =
to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 =
and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they =
did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And =
for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should =
believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe =
the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to =
give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because =
God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by =
the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our =
gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.=20
1)Paul was appealing to "our gathering together to him" as something =
well-known to the Thessalonicans. Paul had taught them about eschatology =
while he was in the city, not to mention in his first epistle (2 Thess =
2:5). Where did Paul get the idea of the gathering of the saints at the =
coming of Jesus ?=20
b)Matt 24:30-31"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, =
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the =
Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. =
31"And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they =
will gather (episunago) together His elect from the four winds, from one =
end of heaven to the other.=20
1) This is apocalyptic language and is to be interpreted as apocalyptic =
language is intended. Therefore, if 1 Thess 4:16,17 and 2 Thess 2:1 is =
talking about the same thing then they should also be interpreted the =
same way that Matth 24 is interpreted(i.e., in a literal spiritual sense =
not in a literal physical sense).
2) Matth 24:29-31 is the source of the language in 1 Thess 4:16,17 and 2 =
Thess 2:1. How can the coming on the clouds, angles, fire and trumpet =
not be interpreted as a literal physical thing and then say 'the =
gathering' is a literal physical thing(i.e., to one geographical place). =
Jesus NEVER use episunago to refer to any other eschatologyical =
gathering than His coming in judgment at the end of the Jewish Age. Why =
would Paul change the use of the word(in 2 Thess 2:1) to refer to some =
other coming. How many comings of the Lord, with his angels, in fire, in =
power and glory, to gather the saints, are there in the New Testament ?
1)Jesus used a very distinctive word to predict the gathering of the =
saints(Matth 24:31). Paul used that identical word to speak of the =
gathering( 2 Thess 2:1) to speak of the gathering. Jesus predicted that =
false teachers would come saying Christ had returned. Paul was writing =
to the Thessalonicans to thwart false teachers who were saying Christ =
had returned. Jesus said there was to be an apostasy before he returned =
to destroy Jerusalem. Paul said the apostasy had to happen before Christ =
returned. Jesus predicted the coming of lying wonders and signs before =
the fall of Jerusalem; Paul said the the Son of Perdition who would work =
all sorts of false miracles and lying wonders was on the scene but being =
restrained. (The point here is that Matth 24 and Thessalonians are =
talking about the same event and therefore Thessalonians ought to be =
interpreted nonphysically because Matth 24 is interpreted nonphysically)
2) 1996 episunago-
1) to gather together beside, to bring together to others who are =
already assembled=20
2) to gather together against=20
3) to gather together in one place
3) 1997 episunagoge (ep-ee-soon-ag-o-gay'); from 1996; a complete =
collection; especially a Christian meeting (for wor****p): assembling =
(gathering) together.
4) episunago is used in all its forms a total of nine times in the New =
Testament and mostly in eschatological contexts. The other places it is =
used are:
1.Matthew 23:37Jesus laments over Jerusalem: "How often would I have =
gathered thy children"
2.Luke 13:34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and =
stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your =
children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you =
were not willing!=20
3. Mark 1:33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. (Non =
Eschatological)
4.Luke 12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had =
gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to =
His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, =
which is hypocrisy. (Non Eschatological)
5.Matt 24:31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a =
trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, =
from one end of heaven to the other.
6. Mark 13:27"And then He will send His angels, and gather together His =
elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the =
farthest part of heaven.=20
7.Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is =
the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as =
you see the Day approaching.
a) Heb 9:19, Heb 10:37 indicate the context for this is an =
eschatological gathering where they enter the Holy of Holies
8.2 Th 2:1-14 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus =
Christ and our gathering together to Him
5.9 Thessalonians themselves did not interpret the rapture passage to be =
a rapture passage (Summary of Notes from Don Preston's Web site)
II Th 2:1-2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus =
Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon =
shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as =
if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.=20
a)How could they have thought the event being in past if they had an =
idea of everyone being raptured. All they would have to do is look =
around and see the mature believers were not raputured and so they would =
know the day had not come. However, if they viewed 1 Thess 4:16,17 as =
not being a physical rapture then they could have thought it had already =
come(i.e., it is more difficult to discern the fullfillment of spiritual =
events than physical events).
b)Paul in the latter part of 2 Thess 2 did not correct their =
understanding of the concept of the gathering together to him (i.e., he =
left them with their same understanding that it would be a spiritual =
thing not a physical thing). He only corrected their timing of it. Paul =
does not correct their understanding of the nature of the gathering he =
only corrected their understanding of the timing of the gathering. (Don =
Preston has a good website on this titled "How is this Possible")=20
c
6 Chapter 6 (Refutation of) Rapture Sup****t Arguments=20
6.1 Rapturist say "the Church" is not mentioned past Rev 4
The Saints stay on the earth
a)Eph 4:11,12, + Eph 5:27 .equipping of the saints That He might present =
it to himself a glorious church
1) point is Church =3D saints
b)Rev 13:7 "the beast makes war against the saints". So saints not =
rapture out of the beasts war.
c)All through Revelation the word "saints" appears and they are on the =
earth in the context.
d)Matt 25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is =
coming; go out to meet him!(not go up to meet him)'
6.2 Rapturists say the saints mentioned in Rev 4 are 144K Jewish =
Evangelists
a)How could this be if all true believers are raptured out before hand=20
b)How can they hear w/out a preacher (Rom 10:13,14) if=20
6.3 Rapturists saw we not under God's wrath 1Thes 5:9 For God did not =
appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus =
Christ,
a)obtain =3D get possesion of by trying, to prevail , to be victorious
b)Heathen get God's wrath, the saints went through Man's wrath (or evil =
ones wrath) not the wrath of God
c)Examples of God Mark His people so they would protected when He =
brought judgement
4.Exodus 12:21-29 Moses instruct the Israelites to take a hyssop branch =
and dip it in the blood of a sacrificed Lamb and 'Mark' their doorposts =
with theis blood, so that the destroying angel of the Lord will not harm =
them.
5.Ezek 9:4 "and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, =
through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the =
men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." =
Ezek 9:6"Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and =
women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My =
sanctuary."=20
6.Rev 7:3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we =
have sealed(Marked) the servants of our God on their foreheads."=20
6.4 John 14:2,3 Says Jesus takes us to his mansions=20
John 14:2-3 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, =
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. "And if I go and =
prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; =
that where I am, there you may be also.=20
a) Jesus said he will come to us not we will go to him
c b) House (Gk =3D oika )
d1)used 111 times and is translated 5 different ways: home(5), =
house(102), household or family (3), temple (1)
e2) Strongs: 3614 oikia (oy-kee'-ah);
ffrom 3624; properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) =
an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication a family =
(especially domestics):=20
g
hc) Manisions (Gk =3D mone )
1)used 119 times and is translated 14 different ways. It is translated =
mansion only 1 time. By far the most consistent translation is =
abide/abode(60x), (Mone appears 5 x in this chapter and is translated =
manison invers 2, dwelling 2x nf verses 10 and 17 and abode in verse 23.
2) from Thayers: 3438 mone-
a staying, an abiding, a dwelling, an abode=20
to make one's abode=20
metaphorically, used of God (the Holy Spirit) who indwells believers
d) The phrase "that where I am, there you may be also"
1)The word 'there' is not in the original Greek (i.e., the there is not =
there)
e) A more accurate , consistent and understandable translation might =
read as follows:=20
"In my Father's abode there are many enduring (permanent) abodes: if it =
were not so, I would have told ;you. And if I go and prepare a place for =
you, I will come again, and receive you into Myself; that where I am you =
may be also."
f) In the context of this chapter and other scriptures what we are being =
told is: (John 14:1,2,23)
"In my Father's dwelling place there are many dwelling places (vrs 1,2); =
I fit were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a (dwelling) =
place for you (among My Father's many dwelling places). (After I have =
prepared a place for you) I will come again,"(vrs 23), "We (My Father =
and I) will come unto him and make our abode with him(dwelling place)"=20
1)Notice,They come to us. We do not go to them.
2)Also, Jesus prays, John 17:21-24 "that they all may be one, as You, =
Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that =
the world may believe that You sent Me.22 "And the glory which You gave =
Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I in =
them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the =
world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have =
loved Me. 24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be =
with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given =
Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
c)Physically Jesus was standing on the earth, spiritually he and his =
Father were just as Jesus prayed we shall also be one, here on earth
d)Col 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the =
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the =
hope of glory.
e)II Th 1:10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints =
and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony =
among you was believed. .. II Th 1:12that the name of our Lord Jesus =
Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace =
of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
f)1 Pet 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the =
crown of glory that does not fade away.=20
g)Ward Fenly has an article called "Rapture, Light, and Glory" that has =
more detail on this issue.
g) Summary: Jesus comes to us and lives in us , we do not go to him( =
John 14:3,18,23)
6.5 Luke 21:36 says if we are worthy we will escape
Luke 21:36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted =
worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand =
before the Son of Man."
a)worthy (Gk =3D axios means deserving or merit)
b)Rev 3:4-5"You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled =
their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are =
worthy. 5"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I =
will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his =
name before My Father and before His angels.
c) worthy ones must overcome - overcomers go through not fly away
d)Rev 12: 11 overcome by blood of lamb+ testimony ,Rev 5:2-9 No one but =
Jesus is worthy to open the book,
6.6 Enoch and Elijah were raptured
a)Jesus said Matt 24:37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the =
coming of the Son of Man be."
2)Jesus said it would be as the days of Noah not as the days of Enoch =
and Elijah
3)In the days of Noah the wicked were removed and the righteous taken
d) Enoch (Gen 5:24) and Elijah(2 Kings 2:11) were not removed because =
some tribulation was upon them, rather, God chose to end their lives on =
earth in this manner. Enoch was an example that he pleased God (Heb =
11:5) he was not an example for the Church to be raptured.
6.7 1 Thess2:5-8 Says Church is taken away in rapture before man of sin =
is revealed
II Th 2:5-8 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told =
you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be =
revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at =
work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the =
way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will =
consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of =
His coming.=20
a)For people to be saved after the tribulation the Holy Spirit and =
believers must still be around:
2)John 16:8 "And when He(the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the =
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
3) Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not =
believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? =
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
d) The He who now restrains was:
5)Claudious Caesar preventing Nero(the man of sin) from coming to the =
throne
6)The man of sin himself(Nero) restraining the church and was himself =
taken out of the way
a)2 Thess 2:1-3 the day of Christ's coming and our gathering together to =
him could not take place until after the man of sin would be revealed. =
Therefore the church could not be taken away before he is revealed =
(because Christ's coming and our gathering is after the man of sin is =
revealed)
b)Paul was careful not to mention the restraint by name when writing to =
the Thessalonians ( so not name Rome Caeser which would prevent the =
circulation of the letter). If the Holy Spirit was doing the restraining =
he would have no reason to not mention this.
c)How could the church=20
6.8 If we are not going to be caught up why are there so many heavenly =
scenes in the Book of Revelation
a)Luke 11:2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: our Father in =
heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on =
earth as it is in heaven.=20
b)There is a new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness
c)Rev 21:1,5 The new Jerusalem is coming down (to earth) not us going =
up.
d)Rev 5:9-10And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take =
the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed =
us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and =
nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall =
reign on the earth."=20
e)The rapture was not the blessed hope rather Titus 2:13 looking for the =
blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus =
Christ,=20
f)God is more interested in getting heaven into us than getting us into =
heaven
g)Look for the appearing of Christ not the disappearing of the saints
7 Chapter 7 The Origin of the Rapture
1)Margaret Macdonald of ****t Glasgow Scotland in 1830. Through visits to =
Margaret Macdonald, John Darby, organizer and promoter of the Plymouth =
Brethren movement, received this new revelation of a Pre-Tribulation =
Rapture. (This was not taught in Church History until 1800's)
2)Next the doctrine was accepted by C.I. Scofield who included it in his =
very popular Bible
3)Finus Dake also promoted it in his annotated Bible and commentaries.
4)With these references the fundamentalist churches included it in their =
doctrines and taught it in their seminaries and Bible Schools
5)Cautions on Erroneous interpretation of Prophecy:
f)2 Pet 3:15-16 and account that the longsuffering of our Lord is =
salvation-- as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom =
given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, =
speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to =
understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own =
destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.=20
g)Rev 22:18-19 prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, =
God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if =
anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall =
take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from =
the things which are written in this book.=20
h)Matt 15:6 'then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have =
made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. (see also =
Mark 7:8,9)
i) Col 2:8Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty =
deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic =
principles of the world, and not according to Christ.=20
j)Examples: Movie "The Day After", 88 Reasons the Rapture will be 1988
8 Chapter 8: What did Happen (Preterist) /What May Happen (Futurist)
1)Matt 6:9-10"In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, =
hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth =
as it is in heaven.=20
2)The fullfilment is : Rev 21:2-3 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New =
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride =
adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, =
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, =
and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their =
God.=20
c)note: God comes to us we do not go to him going up in a rapture would =
cause the church to miss this
d)The new Jerusalem is symbolic
5)John 17:21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I =
in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that =
You sent Me.
6)Heb 8:11 "None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, =
saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them =
to the greatest of them.
7)I Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been =
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we =
shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
8) 1 Pet 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the =
crown of glory that does not fade away.
9)Col 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear =
with Him in glory.=20
10)II Th 1:7-10 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the =
Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming =
fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do =
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished =
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the =
glory of His power,10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His =
saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our =
testimony among you was believed.
11)1 Pet 1:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more =
precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire(not =
raptured), may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of =
Jesus Christ, This testing was during the falling away (2 Thes 2:3)
12)Dan 12:1-2 "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who =
stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of =
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. =
And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found =
written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the =
earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and =
everlasting contempt.
a) time of trouble, deliverance of God's people, and resurrection of the =
dead are all happening at the same time.
13)Ps 37:32-40 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. =
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is =
judged. 34 Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to =
inherit the land(not be raptured); when the wicked are cut off( =
destroyed), you shall see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, =
and spreading himself like a native green tree. 36 Yet he passed away, =
and behold, he was no more; indeed I sought him, but he could not be =
found. 37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the =
future of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed =
together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the =
salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the =
time of trouble.40And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; he =
shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in =
Him.=20
14)John 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them(the believers) =
out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (This =
prayer was answered and the believers were not taken out of the world)
15)1 Cor 15:51-54 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, =
but we shall all be changed-52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, =
at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be =
raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible =
must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So =
when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put =
on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is =
written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
p)1 Cor 15:51-54 and 1 Thess 4:13-18 are both talking about the =
resurrection of the dead in Christ and the transformation of the living =
Christians. The transformation right on earth. "we shall always be with =
the Lord"(1 Thess 4:17) right here on earth, "in the air".=20
q)The shout and the voice of the archangel with the trumpet of God(1 =
Thess 4:16) are saying Rev 11:15Then the seventh angel sounded: And =
there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world =
have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall =
reign forever and ever!", (There is only one forever and ever and only =
one always be with the Lord)
18)The saints must overcome not fly away:
s)Rev 2:7, Rev 2:11,Rev 2:17,Rev 2:26,27, Rev 3:5, Rev 3:12, Rev 3:21, =
Rev 21:7,
t)Overcome =3D to get the better of in competition, to master, surmount, =
overwhelm, to pour down, to bury beneath, to crush, overpower
21)Rev 7:2, Rev 9:4 (like Ezek 9:4-6) The believers are marked so that =
they are not hurt in the tribulation (
22)Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift =
up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (not your rapture)
17) I left out some of the author's idea's here. The author is a partial =
preterist and believes this is still a future event. He thinks the =
changing and transformation is what happened to Jesus at the =
transformation (Mark 9:2-12).
9 Chapter 9: What we must do
1)Much of this chapter is about working together and the baptism in the =
Holy Spirit and is not relevant to "The Rapture" question
2)Hebrew Feasts and Holy Days were prophetic types and shadows of things =
that were to come
Three Feasts of Israel's annual cycle of religious ceremonies were:
1)The Feast of the Passover (in the first Hebrew month)
2)The Feast of Pentecost (in the third Hebrew month)
3)The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths ( in the seventh Hebrew month)
3) The Feast of Passover (or Feast of Uleavened Bread). The following =
are 3 events in the Feast:
1)The Passover (Ex 12:1-23, Leviticus 23:4,5, Deuteronomy 16:1-8)
2)The Unleavened Bread (Ex 12:18, 23:15, Leviticus23:6-8, Deuteronomy =
16:3,4)=20
c)removal of sin from our lives
4)The Sheaf of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10-14) We are now the new =
fruit-presentable to God !
5)Note: Exod 12:2-7 "This month shall be your beginning of months; it =
shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 "Speak to all the =
congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every =
man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, =
a lamb for a household. 4 'And if the household is too small for the =
lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to =
the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make =
your count for the lamb. 5 'Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male =
of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 =
'Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then =
the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at =
twilight. 7 'And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two =
doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.=20
4) The Feast of Pentecost (or Feast of Weeks or Harvest of Firstfruits)
1)Exodus 23:16, Leviticus 23:15-21, Deuteronomy 16:9-12, Acts 2:1=20
2)We now have power to live victorously
5) The Feast of Tabernacles (or Feast of Booths of Feast of =
Ingatherings)The following are 3 events in the Feast:
1)The blowing of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24,25)=20
a)Anouncing the 2nd coming
2)The day of Atonement or Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:29-34, 23:27-32)
a) All men are judged at the 2nd coming
3)Feast of Tabernacles (Ex 23:16, Leviticus 23:34-44), Deuteronomy =
16:13-15)
d)Believers can paise and wor****p God forever
4)Note: Lev 23:41-44 You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven =
days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You =
shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 'You shall dwell in booths =
for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths,43 =
'that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell =
in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD =
your God.' " 44 So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts =
of the LORD.=20
1)Look where the Feasts were instituted:
2)Passover in Egypt as slaves
3)Pentecost in the wilderness but free
4)Tabernacles in the promised land and at the time of harvest=20
a) Matth 13:39 The harvest is the end of the age
10 Chapter 10: Blinding Doctrines of Today
1)This chapter refutes the following doctrines
a)When the Messiah comes he will re-establish the geographical political =
nation of Israel
b) The so called gap in Daniel's 70 weeks
c) The temple must be rebuilt in Jerusalem before Jesus returns
11 Chapter 11: Consequences Of the Rapture Doctrine
1) The main point being that the consistent theme of scriptures is for =
Christians to be overcomers and not be raptured out of tribulation. I =
left this out because it does not refute the rapture idea with =
scripture.
12 Other Non Rapture Comments (not from Wilson's Book)
12.1 Notes after discussions w/ Todd Dennis on what the Transformation =
is in 1 Corinthians 15:51 which is the same as the gathering in Thess =
4:16,17
1) This is not a physical Rapture because our physical bodies do not go =
to heaven only our spiritual body
ca) 1 Cor 15:44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual =
body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
db) 1 Cor 15:50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot =
inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
ec) The Transformation =3D Redemption =3D salvation (not just a =
positional change). When we were born again it was more than just a =
positional change. When people in this generation confess to Jesus =
Christ and are initially born again they are transformed the same way as =
the early church was when they were born again for the first time.
6)Rom 13:11And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to =
awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first =
believed.
7)et 1:4-5 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does =
not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of =
God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
8)Heb 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those =
who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, =
for salvation.=20
9) Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift =
up your heads, because your redemption draws near."=20
12.2 Notes on 1 Thess 4:16,17 from the Book "The Rapture A Question of =
Timing" by William Kimball
(note: William Kimball is a partial preterist)
a) Descend
P 132 " a final note on the word "descend" (katabaino) employed in 1 =
Thess 4:16 is also helpful at this point. The word is consistently =
employed to characterize an uninterrupted descent. This is substantiated =
in those passages mentioning the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ =
at His baptism (Matt. 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32,33). It is =
also borne out in passages which refer to Christ's first advent (John =
3:13, 6:38, 41,42,50,51,58). It is also employed numerous times in the =
New Testament in which its context clearly states or suggests an =
uninterrupted descent. When a change of direction in the descent is =
stated, a specific statement is included to qualify it."
b)Meet the Lord in the air
P128-130 "Pretribulationsts claim that since the saints will be caught =
up to "meet" the Lord in the air that this heavenward ascent lends =
sup****t to their defense of a two-stage coming. They naturally assume =
that our translation skyward is a clear indication of our heavenward =
destination immediately following our redezvous in the air.
However, opponents of the two-stage concept argue just the opposite. =
They maintain that Christ's descent to the earth will be uninterrupted =
at the rapture. They claim that the scriptures say nothing about a =
change of direction in the Lord's descent after the saints have joined =
Him in the air. Though pretribulationists like Walvoord maintain that, =
"First Thessalonians 4 says nothing about continuing the journey to the =
earth," it should be pointed out that this verse says nothing about a =
return trip to heaven either. On the basis of direct statements, neither =
posttribulationsists or pretribulationists can conclusively prove their =
position. However, the internal evidence associated with the distinctive =
usage of the word "meet" lends strong sup****t to the argument against =
the two-stag theory.
Interpreting this "meeting" of the Lord in the air by both the =
resurrected, dead saints and the translated, living saints to mean that =
Christ will then book them on His return flight to heaven to wait seven =
years before coming back to earth again violates the precise meaning of =
the word "met." The word translated "meet" is derived from the Greek =
word apantesis. It is a unique word used in reference to the coming of a =
king or magistrate to visit a city. As Bruce noted:
When a dignitary paid an official visit or parousia to a city in =
Hellenistic times, the action of the=20
leading citizens in going out to meet him and escorting him on the final =
stage of his journey was called the apantesis (F.F. Bruce New Bible =
commentary)
A careful correlation of the manner in which this distinctive term is =
employed in other New Testament passages demonstrates that it contains =
essentially the same meaning. When King Jesus descends, believers will =
rise o meet Him in the clouds and then promptly proceed to escort Him =
and His angelic host back to the earth.
The noun apantesis is found only three times in the New Testament. =
Besides 1 Thess 4:17, it is used in Matthew 25:6(in some manuscripts it =
is also found in verse 1), and Acts 28:15:
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took =
their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And at midnight =
there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to MEET =
[apantesis] him (Matt 25:1,6)
..And so we went toward Rome. And form thence, when the brethren heard of
=
us, they came to MEET[apantesis] us as far as Appii forum, and the three =
taverns (Acts 28:14b-15).
In the parable of the ten virgins, which is clearly eschatological in =
nature, a direct parallel is made between an Oriental wedding and the =
Lord's return for his church. When the announcement of the bridegroom's =
arrival was sounded, the virgins arose and hurried out to meet the =
approaching bridegroom to escort him back to where they had been =
waiting. According to Eastern wedding custom, the attendants to the =
bride (the virgins in the parable) went out form the bride's home to =
join the bridegroom's procession and accompany him back to his waiting =
bride. It would be ridiculous to imagine the virgins going out to greet =
the approaching bridegroom only to turn around and retreat to where he =
had come form. This would amount to an abrogation of the wedding =
ceremony. In this parable, the word "meet" (apantesis) does not imply a =
reversal of direction.=20
The Acts account employing the apantesis describes and incident in the =
final leg of Paul's journey to Rome. The word "meet" is used in =
reference to a delegation of Roman Christians who rendezvoused with the =
Apostle Paul at Appii forum and then immediately proceeded to escort him =
to his intended destination of Rome. It does not suggest that Paul got =
as far as Appii forum, met the delegation of brethren, and then promptly =
returned with these brethren back to Caesarea from where the journey =
originated.=20
An honest examination of the distinctive usage of the word conclusively =
demonstrates that it meant that as one party was making a journey (the =
Lord, the bridegroom, and the Apostle Paul), others came out to meet =
them, and then accompanied them to the end of their original destination =
without changing direction. Nowhere else in the scriptures is this word =
so used. It is consistently used to suggest the concept of an unimpeded =
advance in the same direction. In the case of 1 Thessalonians 4:17, that =
direction would be a descent of the Lord from heaven to earth.=20
In commenting upon the application of this unique word, Arthur =
Katterjohn added,
Another pretribulation distinctive is associated with the word "meet." =
It teaches that when we have met the Lord in the air, He will reverse =
direction, lead us back to heaven, and there we will pass the seven year =
period in which tribulation racks the earth. Does the word "meet" mean =
to change direction and return along the path just traveled? It is used =
only three times in Scripture: Matthew 25:6, Acts 28:15, and here (1 =
Thess 4:17) . If the word "meet" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 has essentially =
the same meaning as in the other two occurrences, then we get a picture =
of Christ descending to the earth, being met by His people in the air, =
and continuing down to set right the heresies of the tribulation. The =
saints, and not Christ, reverse direction. The Captain of the hosts does =
not retreat on His way to victory. He continues on." (Arthur D. =
Katterjohn, The Tribulation People)
12.3 Non Rapture comment from "He shall Have Dominion" by Kenneth Gentry =
p 312
"Peter urges the perseverance of his readers(1Pet1:6) and warns against =
shortsightedness(1:9). It is only through long-term perseverance that we =
may expect access to the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ(1:11)
Peter expects to die soon (1:13-14; as did Paul, 2 Tim4:6-8). =
Consequently, he urges his readers to recall these things after he is =
gone(1:15), apparently not expecting a rapture of the Church in A.D. 70.
12.4 Comments on two body Resurrection scriptures (from a discussions w/ =
Todd Dennis and Ward Fenly)
1) Phil 3:20-21 For our citizen****p is in heaven, from which we also =
eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform =
our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according =
to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
a)'our' is plural, 'body' is singular. If this was talking about our =
physical bodies it should say "transform our lowly bodies".
b)This could be talking about transforming the cor****ate body of death =
under the old covenant which was being transformed with the new =
covenant. The Church is the body of Christ that was transformed. (Eph =
1:22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head =
over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him =
who fills all in all.)
c)2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror =
the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from =
glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.=20
d)Col 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the =
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the =
hope of glory.
e)Philip 3:20 Is Jesus transforming our lowly body(the old covenant =
cor****ate body of death) into his Glorious Body (the New Covenant =
cor****ate body =3Dhis church). Changing believers by Christ in us the =
hope of glory =3Dthe consumation of the marriage. Heb 9:8 the Holy =
Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet =
made manifest while the first tabernacle was(Gk.present tense =3D is) =
still standing.=20
1) The way into the holiest of all was made manifest at the destruction =
of the first tabernacle and was realized by Jesus dwelling in believers =
not Jesus rapturing mature believers and leaving the less mature still =
around.
2) Rom 8:23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the =
Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for =
the adoption, the redemption of our body.=20
a)'our' is plural, 'body' is singular. If this was talking about our =
physical bodies it should say "transform our lowly bodies".
b)Same comments as for Philip 3:20
12.5 A few scriptures indicating a spiritual resurrection
1)1 Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot =
inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
2)1 Cor 15:44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. =
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.=20
c)this could also be talking about the natural body being the old =
covenant body of believers and the spiritual body being the new covenant =
body of believers that were gathered.
1)John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My =
kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should =
not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
4) Luke 17:20-24Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom =
of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does =
not come with observation; 21 "nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See =
there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." 22Then He said to =
the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of =
the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23"And they will =
say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them or follow =
them. 24 "For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven =
****nes to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in =
His day.=20
2)Jesus pre-incarnate (before his first coming) existance was spirit not =
flesh. He then returned to that after leaving earth (maybe?).
c)John 1:14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld =
His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of =
grace and truth.
d)Rom 1:3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the =
seed of David according to the flesh,
e)1 Tim 3:16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: =
God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by =
angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received =
up in glory<1391>.
f)Luke 9:30-31 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and =
Elijah,31 who appeared in glory<1391> and spoke of His decease which He =
was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
1)1391 doxa- (Thayers)
1) an opinion, a judgment, aview=20
c 2) an opinion, an estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone in =
the New Testament always a=20
dgood opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honor, and glory=20
e3) splendor, brightness=20
fa) used of the moon, sun, stars=20
gb) magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace=20
hc) majesty=20
i1) a thing belonging to God; the kingly majesty which belongs to Him as =
supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the =
deity=20
j2) a thing belonging to Christ=20
ka) the kingly majesty of the Messiah=20
lb) the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the =
majesty=20
m3) used of the angels; as apparent in their exterior brightness=20
n4) a most glorious condition, most exalted state=20
oa) used of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ =
was raised after He had achieved his work on earth=20
pb) the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and =
promised that true Christians shall enter after their Savior's return =
from heaven
12.6 Table from Internet that shows Matt 24 and 1 Thess 4:16,17 are =
about the same event (not 2 different events separated by thousands of =
years).=20
The purpose of this section is to show more clearly that Matth 24 and 1 =
Thess 4:16,17 are talking about the same event at the same point in =
History. (Therefore if Matth 24 is to be interpreted spiritually then so =
should 1 Thess 4:16,17.)
Matt 24:30-31 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, =
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the =
Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. =
31"And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they =
will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of =
heaven to the other.
1Thes 4:16-17For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, =
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the =
dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain =
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in =
the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.=20
1) Christ Himself Returns Matt 24:30 1 Thess 4:16=20
2)From Heaven Matt 24:30 1 Thess 4:16=20
3)With a shout Matt 24:30 (in power) 1 Thess 4:16=20
4)Accompanied by Angels Matt 24:31 1 Thess 4:16=20
5)With Trumpet of God Matt 24:31 1 Thess 4:16=20
6)Believers Gathered Matt 24:31 1 Thess 4:17=20
7)In Clouds Matt 24:30 1 Thess 4:17=20
8)Time Unknown Matt 24:36 1 Thess 5:1-2=20
9)Will Come as a Thief Matt 24:43 1 Thess 5:2,4=20
10)Unbelievers Unaware of Impending Judgment Matt 24:37-39 1 Thess 5:3=20
11) Judgment Comes as Travail upon Expectant Mother Matt 24:8 1 Thess =
5:3=20
12) Believers to Watch Matt 24:42 1 Thess 5:4=20
13)Warning against drunkenness Matt 24:49 1 Thess 5:7=20
(note: This table was seen and taken from both David Curtis and Donald =
Hochner's Web Sites )
1Thes 5:1-7 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have =
no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly =
that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when =
they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, =
as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But =
you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you =
as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not =
of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others =
do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at =
night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
a) Note that the destruction is to come upon the unbelievers. This is =
consistent with the wicked being removed and the righteous inheriting =
the earth (they have to be on the earth to inherit it).
12.7 A few Questions to answer if there was a rapture
1)Jesus was building his church to kick in the gates of hell. Why would =
he take our the watchful saints (i.e., all useful church leader****p) and =
leave the immature (who are going to most likely have a real attitude =
and be disillusioned that they did not get to go) to disciple the =
nations ? (Matth 25 it seems to indicate that those who were left were =
not Christians(i.e., they missed out on the marriage feast) rather than =
just foolish Christians)
2)Why tell people to flee the city and then rapture them ?=20
3)Why be watchful if you were just going to get yanked up ?
4)Why is such a significant event only talked about in one scripture =
(and that one scripture is not at all clear).=20
5)Why are there so many other scriptures that teach just the opposite =
(i.e., saints inherit the earth, Jesus specifically not praying to take =
the church out of the world, tares pulled from the wheat, bad fish =
pulled from good fish, etc.)
6)Why are there no Old Testament shadows of this extremely significant =
event.
7)If he was talking about a positional change in the spirit (not born =
again to born again) why is that not significant. What could be more =
im****tant to promise. Why do you think that it is not a significant =
thing that would be a let down to the Thessalonians.
8)Why is there a consistent theme in scripture of the wicked being =
removed from the righteous rather than the righteous being removed from =
the wicked.( Matth 13 parable of wheat and Tares, parable of Dragnet, =
Matthew 24 like days of Noah wicked taken and righteous left.
I read somewhere on the Rapture:
1)God is more interested in getting heaven into us than in getting us =
into heaven
2)The early church was to look for the approaching Christ not the =
dissappearing Saints
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<DIV><FONT face=3D"CentSchbook BT"><FONT color=3D#7f0000 size=3D6>
<P>Rapture: Prophecy or Heresy?</P></FONT><I>
<P>By H. Speed Wilson</P></I><B><FONT size=3D6>
<P>1 Chapter 1 Rapture a very im****tant question</P></B></FONT>
<P>1)"The Rapture question is far too im****tant even critical and =
urgent, to be=20
ignored by responsible " apostles, prophets, evangelisits, pastors and=20
teachers"(Eph 4:11). God holds them responsible for the doctrines they =
proclaim.=20
Jesus said " Anyone who ;shall offend (deceive or cause to stumbel one =
of thes=20
who believe in Me, it were better for him to have a millsotone hung =
about his=20
neck and cast into the sea to drown."</P>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<P>b)If the Rapture were a real thing there would be many scriptures on =
it.=20
(Instead there is only one ( 1 Thess 4:16) and it is very vague due to=20
similarity to Matth24:30.)</P></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR><B><FONT size=3D6>
<P>2 Chapter 2 The Prophetic Words of Jesus</P></B></FONT>
<P>1)"A sudden removal of all true Biblical believers in a rapture would =
certainly be a most sepctacular event (sign) to both those departing and =
those=20
who remain on the earth. Therefore, we would expect Jesus to include =
such an=20
event (sign) in his prophetic answeres to the questions about the "end =
of this=20
age" and "His coming." There would certainly be no point in His =
disguising or=20
hiding such and im****tant thing, after all, why would Christians have to =
know=20
much about the end of time and the "great tribulation" if we are not =
going to be=20
here?</P>
<P>2)Jesus chose specifically to not pray for a rapture</P>
<DIR>
<P>John 17:15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, =
but=20
that You should keep them from the evil one.</P></DIR><B>
<P>2.1 Examples of Jesus telling about the wicked being taken and the =
righteous=20
left:</P>
<DIR></B>
<P>a)Matt 24:37-40"But as the days of Noah were, so <U>also will the =
coming of=20
the Son of Man be</U>.38 "For as in the days before the flood, =
they<I>(the=20
wicked</I>) were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, =
until the=20
day that Noah entered the ark(<I>Noah and family entered the ark 7 days =
before=20
the flood</I>),39 "and (<I>they - the wicked</I>) did not know until the =
flood=20
came and <B>took them<I> ( the wicked)</I> all away</B><U>, so also will =
the=20
coming of the Son of Man be</U>.40"Then two men will be in the field:=20
one(<I>wicked</I>) will be taken and the other left. 41 "Two women will =
be=20
grinding at the mill: one(<I>wicked)</I> will be taken and the other=20
left.42"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is=20
coming.(NKJ)</P>
<P>b)Luke 17:26-27"And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also =
in the=20
days of the Son of Man:</P></DIR>
<P>27"They(<I>the wicked</I>) ate, they(<I>the wicked)</I> drank, they =
(<I>the=20
wicked)</I> married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day =
that Noah=20
entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them(<I>the =
wicked)</I> all.=20
Luke 17:34-37 "I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one =
bed: the=20
<U>one will be taken</U> and <U>the other will be left</U>.35 "Two women =
will be=20
grinding together: the one(<I>the wicked)</I> will be =
taken(<I>destroyed</I>)=20
and the other left.36"Two men will be in the field: the one will be =
taken=20
(<I>destroyed</I> ) and the other left."37 And they answered and said to =
Him,=20
"Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the =
eagles will=20
be gathered together."(NKJ)</P>
<DIR>
<P>c)2 Pet 2:4-9For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast =
them=20
down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved =
for=20
judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, <U>but saved Noah</U>, =
one of=20
eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood <U>on =
the world=20
of the ungodly</U>;6and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into =
ashes,=20
<U>condemned them to destruction<I>, making them an example to those who =
afterward would live ungodly</I></U>;7and delivered righteous Lot, who =
was=20
oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked8 (for that righteous man, =
dwelling=20
among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and =
hearing=20
their lawless deeds)--9 <U>then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly =
out of=20
temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of=20
judgment</U>,(NKJ)</P></DIR><B>
<P>2.2 Examples of Jesus saying that the taken ones are devoured</P>
<DIR></B>
<P>a)Luke 17:37 And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He =
said to=20
them, "Wherever the body is, there the <U>eagles will be gathered=20
together</U>."(NKJ) (eagles =3D vultures =3D large bird that lives =
chiefly on=20
decaying flesh of a dead body)</P>
<P>b)Rev 19:17-1817 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he =
cried with a=20
loud voice, saying to all the <U>birds that fly in the midst of =
heaven</U>,=20
"Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,18 "that you =
may=20
<B>eat the flesh</B> of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of =
mighty men,=20
the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all =
people,=20
free and slave, both small and great."(NKJ)</P>
<P>c)The taken ones cannot be Christians because they are to be "alive =
and=20
remain" 1 Thess 4:15-17</P></DIR><B>
<P>2.3 Four Examples of wicked taken 'out' of the earth and destroyed =
and=20
righteous 'remain'</P></B>
<P>1) Matth 13:24- 30 Parable of wheat and tares (Matth 13:37-43=20
Interpretation)</P>
<P>Matt 13:37-43 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good =
seed is the=20
Son of Man. 38 "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of =
the=20
kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 "The enemy who =
sowed=20
them is the devil, the harvest is the <B>end of the age</B>, and the =
reapers are=20
the angels. 40 "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the =
fire, so=20
it will be at the end of this age. 41 "The Son of Man will <U>send out =
His=20
angels</U>, and they will <B>gather out</B> <U>of His kingdom</U> all =
things=20
that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42"<U>and will cast =
them into=20
the furnace of fire</U>. There will be wailing and gna****ng of teeth. =
43"Then=20
the righteous will ****ne forth as the sun in the kingdom of their =
Father. He who=20
has ears to hear, let him hear!(NKJ)</P>
<DIR>
<P>1)Luke 17:28-30"Likewise <U>as it was also in the days of Lot</U>: =
They ate,=20
they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 "but on =
the day=20
that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven =
<B>and</B>=20
<B>destroyed them all.</B> 30 "Even so will it be in the day when the =
Son of Man=20
is revealed.(NKJ)</P></DIR>
<P>3) Matt 13:47-50 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that =
was=20
cast into <U>the sea</U>("<I>multitudes of people" Rev 17:15</I>) and =
gathered=20
some of every kind,48 "which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and =
they sat=20
down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.49 "So =
it will=20
be <B>at the end of the age</B>. The angels will come forth, <B>separate =
the=20
wicked from among the just</B>,50 "<B>and cast them into the furnace of=20
fire</B>. There will be wailing and gna****ng of teeth."(NKJ)</P>
<P>4) 1Thes 5:2-4 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the =
Lord so=20
comes as a thief in the night.</P>
<P>3 For when <B>they<I>(the wicked</I>) say, "Peace and safety!" then =
sudden=20
destruction comes upon them</B>, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. =
And=20
<B>they shall not escape</B>. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, =
so that=20
this Day should overtake you as a thief.(NKJ)</P>
<P>.</P><B>
<P>2.4 The Elect (believers) are in the Tribulation because the days =
must be=20
shortened for them.</P></B>
<P>1) Mark 13:19-20"For in those days there will be tribulation, such as =
has not=20
been from the beginning of creation which God created until this time, =
nor ever=20
shall be. 20"And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh =
would be=20
saved; <B>but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the =
days</B>.=20
(also Matth 24:21)(NKJ)</P>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<P>a)Luke 18:7 "And shall God not avenge <B>His own elect</B> who cry =
out day=20
and night to Him, though He bears long with them?(NKJ)</P>
<P>b)Rom 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against <B>God's elect</B>? It is =
God who=20
justifies.(NKJ)</P>
<P>c)Col 3:12 Therefore, as <B>the elect of God</B>, holy and beloved, =
put on=20
tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;(NKJ)</P>
<P>d)Titus 1:1Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, =
<B>according to the faith of God's elect</B> and the acknowledgment of =
the truth=20
which accords with godliness,(NKJ)</P><I>
<P>e)The elect are not Jewish evangelists but all =
believers</P></DIR></DIR></I>
<P>2) (Why shorten the Tribulation days for the 'elect' if the believers =
are=20
raptured away from it. The believers are in the tribulation, that is why =
it must=20
be shortened for them.)</P><B>
<P>2.5 No MidTrib Rapture (how else believers see these things after the =
tribulation)</P></B>
<P>1) Matt 24:29-34 "Immediately <B>after the tribulation</B> of those =
days the=20
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars =
will fall=20
from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 "Then the =
sign of=20
the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the =
earth will=20
mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven =
with=20
power and great glory. 31"And He will send His angels with a great sound =
of a=20
trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, =
from one=20
end of heaven to the other.</P>
<P>32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has =
already=20
become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 "So =
you=20
also, <B>when you see all these things</B>, <U>know that it is near-- at =
the=20
doors</U>!34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means =
pass=20
away till all these things take place.</P>
<P>(NKJ)</P>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<P>a)how could believers see all these things if they were raptured in =
the=20
middle of the tribulation</P></DIR></DIR>
<P>2) John 17:15 "<U>I do not pray that You should take them out of the=20
world</U>, but that You should keep them from the evil one.(NKJ)</P>
<P>3) Matt 24:13 "But he who endures <B>to the end</B> shall be =
saved.(NKJ) ( so=20
believers in tribulation till the end)</P><B><FONT size=3D6>
<P>3 Chapter 3 The Law the Prophets and the Psalms</P></B></FONT>
<P>1)We can learn about the Rapture from the Old Testament</P>
<DIR>
<P>b)John 10:35"If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came =
(<B>and the=20
Scripture cannot be broken</B>),</P>
<P>c)2 Tim 3:16 <B>All Scripture</B> is given by inspiration of God, =
<B>and is=20
profitable for doctrine</B>, </P>
<P>d)Matt 22:29Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, =
<I>not=20
knowing the Scriptures</I> (the OT)</P>
<P>e)Rom 15:4 For whatever things were <B>written before</B> <B>were =
written for=20
our learning</B>, that we through the patience and comfort of the =
Scriptures=20
might have hope.(NKJ)</P>
<P>f)1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened to them <B>as =
examples</B>, and=20
they <U>were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages =
have=20
come</U>.(NKJ)</P>
<P>g)Acts 3:24"Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who =
follow, as=20
many as have spoken, have also <B>foretold these days</B>.(NKJ)</P>
<P>h)Acts 26:22 "Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I =
stand,=20
witnessing both to small and great, <B>saying no other things than those =
which=20
the prophets and Moses said would come</B>--(NKJ)</P>
<P>i)Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke =
to you=20
while I was still with you, that all things <U>must be fulfilled which =
were=20
written in the <B>Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms</B> =
concerning=20
Me</U>."(NKJ)</P>
<P>j)Acts 20:27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you <B>the whole =
counsel=20
of God.</B> (not just 1 vrs in NT)</P></DIR><B>
<P>3.1 Psalms teach the wicked are removed and the righteous stay =
(opposite of=20
the Rapture):</P>
<DIR></B>
<P>a)Ps 125:1Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, <B>which =
cannot be=20
moved</B>, <B>but abides forever</B>.</P>
<P>b)Ps 145:20 The LORD <B>preserves all who love Him</B>, but all the =
wicked He=20
will destroy.</P>
<P>c)Ps 101:8 Early(<I>first</I>) I will destroy all the wicked of the =
land,=20
that I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD. (similar =
to=20
tares destroyed 1<FONT size=3D2>st</FONT> in Matth 13:30)</P>
<P>d) Ps 119:119 <B>You put away all the wicked</B> of the earth like =
dross;=20
therefore I love Your testimonies.</P>
<P>e)Ps 23:4 Yea, though <B>I walk through the valley of the shadow of=20
death</B>, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your =
staff,=20
they comfort me. (John17:15 Jesus pray to not remove them) </P>
<P>f)Ps 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, <B>and dwell in it=20
forever</B>. </P>
<P>g)Ps 37:9-11 <B>For evildoers shall be cut off</B>; but those who =
wait on the=20
LORD, they shall inherit the earth.For yet a little while and the wicked =
shall=20
be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall =
be no=20
more.11 <B>But the meek shall inherit the earth,</B> and shall delight=20
themselves in the abundance of peace<I>. (no rapture for the meek =
!)</P></I>
<P>h)Ps 37:34-40 Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt =
you to=20
inherit the land; when the wicked<I>(tares)</I> are cut =
off<I>(destroyed)</I>,=20
you shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power<I>(like the =
beast of Rev=20
13),</I> and spreading himself like a native green tree.<B>Yet he passed =
away,=20
and behold, he was no more</B>; indeed I sought him, but he could not be =
found.=20
Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that =
man is=20
peace.38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future =
of the=20
wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is from =
the=20
LORD<B>; he is their strength in the time of trouble</B>. 40And the LORD =
shall=20
help them and deliver them; he shall deliver them from the wicked, and=20
save<I>(protect</I>) them, because they trust in Him.(NKJ)</P>
<DIR>
<P>9)The righteous and those who trust in the Lord are not raptured out =
of the=20
world but are kept safe and sound on the earth.</P></DIR>
<P>j)Ps 91:7-16 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at =
your right=20
hand; but it shall not come near you.8 Only with your eyes shall you =
look, and=20
<B>see the reward of the wicked</B>. 9Because you have made the LORD, =
who is my=20
refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10No evil shall befall =
you, nor=20
shall any plague come near your dwelling;11 For He shall give His angels =
charge=20
over you, to keep you in all your ways.12 In their hands they <I>(his=20
angels)</I>shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.13 =
You=20
shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent =
you=20
shall trample underfoot.14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, =
therefore I=20
will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My =
name.15 He=20
shall call upon Me, and I will answer him<B>; I will be with him in =
trouble; I=20
will deliver him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him,</B> =
and=20
show him My salvation." <I>(God see's the righteous through tribulation =
he does=20
not rapture them out of it)</P></I>
<P>k) Ps 104:35 <B>May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the =
wicked be no=20
more</B>. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! <I>(coming is as =
days of=20
Noah when the flood took the wicked away)</P></I>
<P>l) Ps 52:5 God shall likewise <B>destroy you forever</B>; <B>he shall =
take=20
you away</B>, <B>and pluck you</B> out of your dwelling place, and =
uproot you=20
from the land of the living. Selah (<I>wicked taken + righteous=20
left</I>)</P></DIR><B>
<P>3.2 Proverbs teach the wicked are removed and the righteous stay =
(opposite of=20
the Rapture):</P>
<DIR></B>
<P>a)Prov 2:21-22 For the upright will dwell in the land, and <B>the =
blameless=20
will remain in it</B>; <B>But the wicked will be cut off from the =
earth</B>, and=20
the unfaithful <U>will be uprooted</U> from it.</P>
<P>b)Prov 10:30 <B>The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked =
will not=20
inhabit the earth</B>.</P>
<P>c)Prov 11:31 If the righteous will be <B>recompensed<I>(rewarded)</I> =
on the=20
earth</B>, how much more the ungodly and the sinner. </P>
<P>d)Prov 24:4 By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and =
pleasant=20
riches.</P>
<P>e)Prov 25:4-5 Take away the dross from silver, and it will go to the=20
silversmith for jewelry. Take away the wicked from before the king, and =
his=20
throne will be established in righteousness. <I>(this happened when =
Jesus=20
kingdom was established)</P></DIR></I><B>
<P>3.3 Chaff removed and righteous remain in Job and Malachi and =
Isaiah</P>
<DIR></B>
<P>a)Isa 29:5 "Moreover the multitude of your foes shall be like fine =
dust, and=20
the multitude of the terrible ones <B>like chaff that passes away</B>; =
yes, it=20
shall be in an instant, suddenly. </P>
<P>b)Job 21:18 They <I>(the wicked)</I> are like straw before the wind, =
and=20
<B>like chaff that a storm carries away</B>.</P>
<P>c)Job 38:13 <I>(speaking to God)</I>That it might take hold of the =
ends of=20
the earth, and <B>the wicked be shaken out</B> of it? <I>This agrees=20
with</P></I>
<P>- Heb 12:27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those =
things=20
that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that <U>the things =
which=20
cannot be shaken may remain</U>.(NKJ)</P>
<P>d)Mal 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and =
all the=20
proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the <B>day which is =
coming=20
shall burn them up</B>," says the LORD of hosts, "That will <B>leave =
them=20
neither root nor branch</B>. </P>
<P>e)Isa 1:28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be =
together,=20
and those who forsake the LORD <B>shall be consumed</B>. </P>
<P>f)Isa 13:9 Behold, the <B>day of the LORD comes, </B>cruel, with both =
wrath=20
and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He <B>will destroy its =
sinners=20
from it</B><I>. (like Col 3: 6 wrath of God is coming on the sons of=20
disobedience)</P></I>
<P>g)Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and =
through=20
the rivers, they shall not overflow you. <B>When you walk through the =
fire, you=20
shall not be burned</B>, nor shall the flame scorch you. </P></DIR><I>
<P>(the righteous kept safe in the world not removed from it)</P></I><B>
<P>Question: Above is more than two dozen scriptures that state clearly =
that the=20
righteous remain and the wicked are destroyed out of the world. Can you =
find two=20
dozen scriptures that state as clearly that the righteous will be =
removed from=20
the world in rapture</B>? (clearly is a key word here)</P>
<DIR>
<P>a)can you find 3 Old Testament scriptures where God says the =
righteous will=20
be removed from the world.</P>
<P>b)Can you find 5 scriptures where Jesus says the righteous will be =
removed=20
from the wicked</P></DIR><B>
<P>3.4 The wrath of God comes on the wicked while the righteous are on =
the earth=20
not after they have been raptured</P></B>
<P>a) Ezek 9:4-10 and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the =
city,=20
through the midst of Jerusalem, and <B>put a mark on the foreheads of =
the men=20
who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done</B> within =
it."5To the=20
others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; =
do not=20
let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 "Utterly slay old and young =
men,=20
maidens and little children and women<B>; but do not come near anyone on =
whom is=20
the mark</B>; and begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders =
who were=20
before the temple. 7 Then He said to them, "Defile the temple, and fill =
the=20
courts with the slain. Go out!" And they went out and killed in the =
city.8 So it=20
was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on =
my face=20
and cried out, and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will You destroy all the remnant =
of=20
Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?"9 Then He said to me, "The =
iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the =
land is=20
full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, 'The =
LORD has=20
forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!'10 "And as for Me also, My =
eye=20
will neither spare, nor will I have pity, <U>but I will recompense their =
deeds=20
on their own head."</P></U>
<P>b) Rev 9:3-4 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And =
to them=20
was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.4 They were=20
<B>commanded not to harm</B> the grass of the earth, or any green thing, =
or any=20
tree, <B>but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their=20
foreheads</B>.</P>
<P>c)<I> those who do not have the mark of God on their foreheads are =
destroyed=20
while they are still among those who do have God's mark.</P></I><B><FONT =
size=3D6>
<P>4 Chapter 4 Bible Examples</P></FONT>
<P>4.1 Examples where believers were not raptured out of trial/testing =
but=20
learned to be overcomers</P></B>
<P>1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things<I>(testings)</I> <U>happened to =
them</U>=20
<B>as examples</B>, and they were written for our admonition, on whom =
the ends=20
of the ages have come.</P>
<DIR>
<P>1)Job was not raptured out of his testing</P>
<P>2)Joseph not raptured out of Pit or Prison (Gen 37-46)</P>
<P>3)Daniel not raptured out of Lions Den (Dan 6:7-28)</P>
<P>4)King David overcame much tribulation and was rewarded in the =
world</P>
<P>5)Israelites were kept safe during 10 pagues and were examples to the =
Egyptians</P>
<P>6)Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went through the furnace and were =
overcomers=20
and examples</P>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<P>g)God saved them from the furnace He did not rapture them out of it. =
They=20
were a witness to Babylon.</P></DIR></DIR></DIR>
<P>7) Jesus and the Apostles were overcomes and examples not raptured =
out. (Paul=20
2 Cor 11:23-27 Trials)</P>
<P>Rev 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the =
word of=20
their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (<I>not =
rapured=20
out)</P></I><B>
<P>Summary:</P>
<DIR></B>
<P>a)No rapture for believers at the end of the age out of the plagues =
of God's=20
wrath; rather power to witness at the risk of their lives! For God to =
remove his=20
people during time of trouble at the end of the world (tribulation) =
would be=20
completely against every example He gave us.</P>
<P>b)If believers were raptured out there would be no such witness on =
the earth=20
to draw multitudes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.</P>
<P>c)There are no examples of God's elect being raptured out of their =
times of=20
testing/tribulation</P></DIR>
<P>a)Enoch and Elisha were not taken out ot tribulation - they just went =
to be=20
w/ the Lord</P>
<P>b)God's men were not removed from the battlefield - they were =
victorious</P>
<DIR>
<P>d)Mal 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; (so why should he =
change in=20
70AD)</P>
<P>e)Heb 3:10-11Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, =
'They=20
always go astray in their heart, and <B>they have not known My =
ways</B>.' So I=20
swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' "</P></DIR><B><FONT =
size=3D6>
<P>5 Chapter 5: 1 Thessalonians 4:17</P></B></FONT>
<P>1Thes 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a =
shout,=20
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the =
dead in=20
Christ will rise first.</P>
<P>17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be <B><U>caught </B>up</U> =
together=20
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the <B><U>air</B>.</U> And =
thus we=20
shall always be with the Lord.</P><B>
<P>5.1 This is the only scripture that even suggests the believers will =
be=20
caught up from the earth.</P>
<DIR></B>
<P>a)the common interpretation of 'being caught up' is in direct =
contradiction=20
to some 50 scriptures</P>
<P>b)John 10: 35 The scriptures cannot be broken + 1 Cor 14:33 God is =
not the=20
author of confusion</P>
<P>c)Therefore there must be something wrong with the common =
interpretation of 1=20
Thess 4:17</P>
<P>d)The word rapture does not appear in any Bible</P></DIR><B>
<P>5.2 We should not establish doctrine on one single scripture (this is =
a=20
violation of a Biblical Principle)</P></B>
<P>a) Gen 41:32 "And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh <U>twice</U> =
because the=20
thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.</P>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<P>a)Deut 17:6"Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on =
the=20
testimony of <U&g |
