THE RAPTURE

The term "rapture" is not found in the English Bible. It is derived from a Latin word which means to be caught or snatched up. The meaning of rapture is expressed in the following verse.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

There is a great deal of confusion about the "Rapture" in the church world. The confusion is mostly caused by believers allowing others to read the Bible for them rather than going to the work of studying the scriptures for themselves. It is certainly easier to simply read the opinion of an organization or study a particular book or pamphlet. However, reading the Bible through someone else's guidebook and not studying the scriptures for ourselves is the principle way in which false doctrines and ideas are spread.

No effort will be made in the following article to stretch or twist the scriptures to make them say something they do not actually say. We will begin at the very foundation of the incorrect teaching of the pretribulation rapture. This is the assumption that Jesus was not speaking about the rapture of the church in Matthew, chapter 24 and other places in the gospels where he spoke of his coming.

WHAT IS NOT TRUE ABOUT THE RAPTURE

According to the false pretribulation teaching, there are two comings of the Lord, one to catch the church up to meet Christ in the air and another about seven years later in which Christ will return to the earth with all the saints. This incorrect teaching assumes that Matthew, chapter 24 is speaking of Christ's return to earth while 1 Thessalonians, chapters 4 & 5 are speaking of Christ's coming in the air without returning to the earth. So, the big question is whether or not these two places in scripture are indeed speaking of two different events, or was the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians, chapters 4 & 5 simply reiterating the words of Jesus from Matthew, chapter 24 as well as other places in the gospels.

Those who believe in a pretribulation rapture cannot acknowledge that these two discourses in the scriptures are speaking of the same event because Jesus made it plain that his coming in Matthew, chapter 24 will take place immediately after the great time of trouble that will come on the earth.

The pretribulation teachers must attempt to separate Matthew, chapter 24 from I Thessalonians, chapters 4 & 5 because to acknowledge them as the same event would destroy the pretribulation rapture doctrine. Notice in the comparison below that even the order of events in these two accounts match perfectly!

Let's review the proof that both in Matthew chapter 24 and in 1 Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5 are speaking of the same event -- the coming of the Lord Jesus.

1. The coming of the Lord is the event spoken of in both accounts.

2. In both accounts there will be a great trumpet.

3. God's people will be gathered together in the Lord's presence in both accounts.

4. In both places in the scriptures no person knows when the Lord's coming will occur.

5. In both places in scripture the Lord's coming will be as a thief (suddenly and unexpectedly).

6. Believers are instructed that they should stay awake and be ready for the Lord's return in both accounts.

7. Recorded in both accounts is the sudden and unexpected destruction at the Lord's coming.

8. In both accounts believers will escape God's wrath at Christ's coming and instead be blessed.

The verses above provide instruction to those who have ears to hear. It is falsely claimed that believers could not possibly be on the earth during the future tribulation because they would know the exact day and hour of the Lord's return. Their argument ignores the scriptures. In Matthew 24 the Lord spoke of his return which will occur "after the tribulation of those days" (Mat. 24:29). As he spoke, he warned the believers who would be on the earth at his return that they should not be found sleeping but they should be ready because he is coming as a thief.

In Matthew 24 Jesus clearly warned the believers who will be on the earth "after the tribulation of those days" that they would not know the day or the hour of his coming. He warned them that he is coming as a thief (suddenly and unexpectedly) and that they should watch and be ready. Make no mistake. Based on God's word, there will be believers on the earth at Christ's coming after the tribulation. These believers will not know exactly when their Lord is coming. This is the simple truth of the scriptures as taught by the Lord Jesus.

THE CHURCH WILL SEE ANTICHRIST.

The scriptures plainly tell us the truth of this matter. Is the coming of Jesus to take the church away a separate event from the second coming of Christ to set up his kingdom on the earth? Is it true that the church will not even see antichrist? One need only read the scriptures to absolutely know the answers to these questions.

Below is a portion of scripture that is never quoted by the pretribulation rapture teachers. When you read it you will not wonder why it is never quoted by the pretribulation rapture teachers.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, (2) that you should not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand. (3) Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, (4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.

Notice in the verses above how Paul refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus and our gathering together to him as the same event. He also refers to this event as "the Day of Christ". Paul then warns believers not to be deceived on the matter of when the day of the Lord will occur in the order of prophetic events. He states, "For that day will not come, unless "a falling away" (apostasy) comes first, and the "man of sin" is revealed who is the "son of destruction".

Paul the apostle made it clear to the Christians that the day of Christ's return and our gathering together to him will NOT take place until after the revealing of Antichrist. That's right, first Antichrist will come to oppose God and God's people. After this, Christ will come in glory and receive the church to himself. Again, this is the clearly stated truth of scriptures. We would do well to heed the word of God rather than to search for some way to explain the truth away or twist the scriptures.