Pre-tribulation Rapture ?
Much has been taught about a pre-trib rapture of the church. Let us see whether the scriptures warrant such a doctrine.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.... For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them... But ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should over take you as a thief.... For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ... 1 Thes. 4:16-5:10
Dear saints, let us examine these scriptures. When do the dead in Christ rise ?
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Jn. 5:28,29 Here we have two resurrections.
Rev. 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them : and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The first resurrection means just that; the 1st. numerically. Words do have meaning.
It is strange that after the supposed pre-trib rapture, there are multitudes saved. Why did they not believe before the rapture?
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall give them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thes.2:9-12
Let's take a good look at this. In 2Thes.1 the saints are being persecuted. Paul writes unto them telling them that through much tribulation they must enter the kingdom of God. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angles, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe( because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. This could only be the 2nd coming.
Many teach that there is nothing to take place, the Lord can appear any moment. However, scripture shows that there are several events to take place:
1) The dead in Christ must rise first. 1 Thes. 4:16. When do the dead in Christ rise ? Jn.6:39,40
2) At the last trump. 1 Cor. 15:52. This is the final trump (Greek).
3) There must be a falling away first. Some have changed this into a departure, i.e. church, body of Christ raptured. It clearly means a departure from the faith ; or apostasy 2Thes. 2:3 .
4) The man of sin be revealed (anti-christ).
5) Exalts himself as God and is worshiped . 2Thes.2:3 ; Rev. 13:4.
6) He sits in the temple of God .Rev. 13:2b.
7) He blasphemes God, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven; overcomes the saints, rules the world. Rev. 13:6,7
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [ 2Thes.2:3 ] shall not come, except there come a falling away 1st..... What day is this ? ... the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him...[ 2Thes2:1 ]
When? And to you who are troubled rest with us, ( Paul includes himself ) when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:....
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints... ( because our testimony among you was believed in that day.) 2 Thes.1:7-10.
The key to understanding the text is the apostasy. It is usually taught that the pre-trib rapture takes away the church; therefore the restrainer is gone.
This now means the spotless, blameless bride is not keeping back lawlessness anymore, she vanished !!??. However, by my observation, the church i.e. His body is not so holy.( I speak as an American in a culture of relative ease). The church has lost much of its salt and has conformed herself to the world. She is not capable of holding back iniquity. In fact some Christians may vote for the man of sin himself! So then, if the church is not restraining the anti-christ, then what is? The answer is it is the church, but not in power of holiness, but of apostasy. Thus, the falling away first must occur; then the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition(doom).2Thes.2:3
Now here is understanding ; between the falling away of the church { Rev.12;7-13 }and the appearance of the man of sin; there is war in heaven. Satan is cast down to the earth.
This is what holds back the Antichrist.
Satan's BASE OF OPERATIONS IN THE HEAVENS IS FINISHED.THE DRAGON MUST ENTER THE MAN OF SIN. THEN THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY WILL COME TO IT'S fullness IN THE INCARNATION OF THE FALSE MESSIAH; THE INSTEAD (ANTI) OF CHRIST. JN.17:12; LK.22:3;JN.6:70
And now you know what with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 2Thes.2:6
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he ( SATAN ) who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2Thes.2:7
The anti-christ finds himself cast down to the earth no more to have access to the Lord to accuse us. His wrath (Satan's, not Gods' wrath) persecutes the woman that brought forth the MAN CHILD (The Lord Jesus Christ) Rev.12:1-12
AND THEN SHALL THAT WICKED (ONE ) BE REVEALED... EVEN HIM, WHOSE COMING IS AFTER THE WORKING OF SATAN WITH ALL ALL POWER AND SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS; 2THES.2:8
His servant, Chaplain Peter
Dispensational Theology The culprit behind much of the confusion in reading the Bible is wrongly dividing the word of God. By setting up unnatural dispensational ages, much harm has been done to God's word . The law was dispensed by Moses, grace dispensed by the Apostle Paul. This is true. However, when did LAW end and GRACE begin? Does GRACE end at the coming of Christ to set up the KINGDOM ?
There are different schools of thought. The Scholfield Bible did much to popularize DISPENSATIONALISM. From about the 4th century till around the mid 1850's the 1,000 yr. KINGDOM reign of Christ was thought to be symbolic by many. Then a man named John Darby of the Plymouth Brethren brought back the literal interpretation of the KINGDOM. Along with this came another supposed truth , the PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE. Why does the recovery of one truth facilitate the need of the other ?
This is where FALSE DISPENSATIONAL DOCTRINE DESTROYS the true meaning of God's word We must believe God's word to let the Holy Ghost illuminate our minds. Man made doctrines will not stand to the real intent of God's word. So let us go to the word of God.
There are two main covenants; the old and the new. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah....I will put my law in their inward parts and will write it in their hearts;....for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jer.31:31-34
The New Covenant that the Body of Christ is under is Israel's New Covenant. This is important. The Lord Jesus is the sacrifice for whosoever. In Romans 11 there is only one (1) olive tree. The olive tree is Israel; the branches of Israel symbolize the 12 tribes. We Gentiles as a wild olive tree are grafted in. How did we get in? because of their unbelief Israel was broken off so the gospel went out to the Gentiles.
For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery,... that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved... For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. Rom.11:25-27
Please note: so all Israel shall be saved. This does not mean all who did not believe. Only those who put their faith in the blood sacrifices before the cross and received Christ as Savior after the cross, are in the olive tree. Heb.3:17-19 ; Heb.9:15 ; Rom.3:25, 26
And they also,( Israel ) if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. R0m. 11:23
Therefore both Jew and Gentile are in one body in Christ . The Mystery Paul writes about is the Body of Christ being a new and separate creation with its position in the heavens and Israel's on the earth
Israel could not be a completed Body without the Gentile believers.
[Heb 11:38-39 KJV] 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Col.1:26, 27
Please get this dear saints.
But now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one,...for to make in himself of twain (2 ) one new man, so making peace. Eph.2:13-15
This is the problem; today's theology teaches that this new creation, the body of Christ is raptured out so Israel's kingdom can come in.
The gentiles cannot be separated from Israel's New Covanant. Outside of Israel there is nothing but damnation. Rev.21:27
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, ( with Believing Israel ) and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel....And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery... to the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Eph3:6-10; 6:12
To whom are the promises given to:
Who are Israelites: to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Rom.9:4,5
Chaplain Peter
Isa.65
20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
The nations that are saved will enter into the New Heavens and Earth. The rest of the dead are raised at the WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT. Whosoever was not found in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the 2nd death. Rev.20
We today that are born again are a special creation of God, given the same body, a glorified body as Our Lord.
That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body ( with Israel ) and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. Eph.3:6 Israel should have been born again at Pentecost if they had believed Peter's message.
Acts 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation...2 Cor.5.17.
Eph.3:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The main reason for a PRE- PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE is to divide Israel from the Body of Christ. Since Paul's gospel, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. Romans 16:25-27; Eph.3.
The Lord will fulfill all the prophecies, promises made to the Nation Israel in the New Covenant, Jer.31:31-34, and the Gentiles will come to Israel's Light. Isa.2:1-5.
Today is a New Creation. The Lord Jesus Christ not only fulfills the 1st covenant, but is also the head of the Body of Christ, a heavenly position with resurrected Glorified bodies. Heb.3:1: Eph.3:3;19-22;Col.3:1-3: 2Thes.2:6-10; Eph.1:10
The Body of Christ continues through to the end of the tribulation to the 1st resurrection. Rev.20:1-4; 22:16 (speaking to the original 7 churches): 1Cor.15:51,52 compare to the Last Trump of Rev. 11:15-19. The 7th Trump is the last one. It is at the end of the Tribulation when the saints are rewarded at the Resurrection/Rapture: the 1st (not 2nd) resurrection.
[1Th 4:16-17 KJV] 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (The resurrection of all the dead) 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ( then Rapture: not rapture followed by resurrection)
Therefore no separation is needed by inserting a spurious resurrection. The future resurrections are based on GOOD AND EVIL, the Judgment seat of Christ, 2 COR.5:10 or The White Throne judgment.Rev. 20. This is the truth on RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. It is not in dividing the church from Israel, but rather truth from error, good from evil, Godliness from ungodliness, righteousness from unrighteousness. His servant, Peter