“Amazing Prophecies of the End
Times”
Lesson
# 2
“The
Rapture”
Start with video clip “Are You Ready?”
In 1995 the book “Left Behind” by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
appeared; which was a fictional account in which millions of Christians are carried away
instantly into heaven. Since that time this series of books has sold millions of copies
and has brought end-times prophecy again into the world’s view.
Jeffery
MacDonald has offered the opinion that, “Since September 11, Americans have taken a serious interest in
biblical predictions for how the world will end. A Time/CNN poll said 59 percent expect
the events of Revelation to come true, while more than 33 percent are paying more
attention now to possible connections between world events and the end of time.”
[G. Jeffrey MacDonald. “Why Pop
Theology Should Be Left Behind.” (Plain Truth Magazine. March/April 2003) p. 13]
Tonight
I want to examine a series of questions with you concerning the subject of the Rapture.
First,
“What Is The Next Event In Biblical Prophecy?”
Perhaps the most basic question on
everyone’s mind concerning Biblical Prophecy is, “So, what is the next event in God’s
prophetic program?” The next event for the believer is the translation or the rapture of the saints
In John 14:3 where Jesus is seeking to reassure his anxious disciples by promising
them, “I go to prepare a place for you” but it was also coupled with a second promise “I will come again and receive you unto myself: that where I am you
may be also.”
We need to remember as we discussed in the last lesson, the two phases of the
Second Coming. First, his coming “for
the saints”, this will be the secret coming in the air for believers – a secret
coming that will be a blessing to all those who participate in it, called the
“rapture.” Believers are to be caught up together with resurrected saints who
had previously died.
The second phase, his
coming “with the saints” some
years later, in which Jesus will actually step foot on the earth (Zech 14) and set up a
political kingdom in Israel.
Although there are no signs given for the
Rapture we were given many signs for the Tribulation. We can look to those signs because
the rapture will take place before the Tribulation.
We believe that the rapture of the church will
precede the seven years of the Tribulation, however, the rapture is not the event that
triggers the beginning of the tribulation. That event will be the signing of a peace
treaty between Israel and her enemies, brought into being by the AntiChrist (Daniel 9:27).
Secondly, “What Are The Arguments
Against Belief In A Rapture?”
First, is the argument that the term “rapture” does not occur in the Bible. That is true. You might be surprised
to learn that neither does the term “Trinity” but we do not doubt the existence
of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. According to Dr. John Walvoord, one of the foremost
authorities in the field of Biblical prophecy, the term rapture itself is derived from the
Latin Vulgate version of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 where the expression ‘caught
up’ is translated “rapturo.”
Secondly, is the argument that the doctrine of the “rapture” is a recent addition to Christianity. Some
critics of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture say the whole doctrine was brought about by a
Plymouth Brethern pastor, named John Nelson Darby, who came up with the pre-Tribulation
Rapture “theory.” They contend that then it was men such as C.I. Scofield,
author of the Scofield Study Bible that who disseminated it world-wide.
Yet the teaching of this doctrine can be found among the early church fathers as
early as 373 in the writing of Ephraem, the Syrian.
[Dr. Dale Johnsen. “Why I Expect A
Pre-Tribulation Rapture.” www.nwinfo.net/~dmjohnsen/20PreTrib.htm]
Third, “What Are The Major Views Of The
Timing Of The Rapture?”
There are at least three different views held
as to the timing of the “Rapture’. I not only want to give you a description of
each position but I want you to see a timeline of what the end times would look like if
this position is held.
· The Pre-Tribulation Position
. |
Rapture |
Abomination of Desolation |
Second Coming |
. |
Church Age |
Ý 3 ½ yrs | ð |
3 ½ yrs ß |
Millennium | Final Judgment |
| Increasing Apostasy |
. |
Tribulation Period |
. |
. |
In support of this teaching the church is spoken of nineteen times in the first
three chapters of the Book of Revelation. Then John, the prophet who was given the
revelation, hears the words, “Come up hither.”
(Rev 4:1). The church is not mentioned again in the Book of Revelation until chapter nineteen when Christ returns with the
armies of Heaven to put to an end man’s rebellion at Armageddon. This shows that the
church is no where in view during chapters 4-18. [Which describe the cataclysmic
destruction on earth in the Tribulation.]
2. The Mid-Tribulation
Position. This is also referred to as the Pre-Wrath
Position.
m |
Rapture |
Second Coming |
m |
Church Age |
Ý 3 ½ yrs | 3 ½ yrs ß |
Millennium | Final Judgment |
Tribulation Period |
m | m |
3. The Post-Tribulation Position
m |
. |
Rapture |
Second Coming |
m |
Church Age |
Tribulation Period (7 years) | Ý |
ß | Millennium | Final Judgment |
Some adherents do not believe in a millennial kingdom.
Fourth,
“What Are The Reasons For Believing In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture?”
1.
Because Scripture contains several foreshadowing’s of translation in the Bible.
The first of these foreshadowing of translation in the story of Enoch
(Genesis 5:21-24, Heb. 11:5) “Enoch lived sixty-five
years and begot Methuselah. [how would you like to have your first child at 65?] (22) After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred
years, and had sons and daughters. (23) So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and
sixty-five years. (24) And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”
We find the New Testament Commentary on this
passage in Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken
away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken
him…” Enoch is to be our
first foreshadowing of a believer being translated into heaven without going through death
and resurrection but he is not our last.
Elijah (2
Kings 2:11)
“Then it happened, as they
continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and
separated the two of them and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
Philip (Acts 8:39-40)
“Now when they came up out of
the water [from the Baptism of the
Ethiopian Eunuch], the Spirit
Philip
is supernaturally removed from the desert and materializes at the city of Azotus where he
continues his preaching. The word in (v. 39) is (harpazo)
the same word found in 1 Thess. 4:17.
2.
Because of the belief that the scriptures dealing with the Rapture must be interpreted literally not allegorically.
We
are told that We Will Be Changed by God (1 Cor. 15:50-58). In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul is dealing with
believer’s who were afraid that Jesus had already come and taken away the church and
the day of the Lord had already occurred. They thought they had been left behind. In I Corinthians 15:50-58 the Apostle Paul,
after presenting the fundamental teaching about the resurrection, concluded his discussion
by introducing what he called a “mystery” (v.
51). “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood can not
inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. (51) 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. (55) O
Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? (56) The sting of Death is
sin, the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in
vain in the Lord.”
When the word “mystery”
as it is used in Scripture does not refer to something mysterious or difficult to
understand, but rather refers to a truth not previously
revealed.
What then was the “mystery”? It was that some believers would be
translated into God’s presence without having experienced death and resurrection. As we have already seen there
were several foreshadowing of translation or rapture in Scripture.
After having revealed the mystery of
translation into heaven without death and resurrection Paul now proceeded to tell them how
this will happen (v.52). The first thing he tells them is that it will take place in
“the twinkling of an eye.” [Pentecost.
Prophecy for Today p. 29 ]
We are told that We Will Be Caught Up With Christ (1
Thessalonians 4: 13-18). “But I do not want you to be
ignorant brethern, concerning those who have fallen asleep; [died] lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. (14) For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (15)
For this we say to you by the world of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until
the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (16) For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, ands with
the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will raise 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. (18) Therefore comfort on another with these words.”
Verses 15-17 reveal the process by which the
church will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The resurrection of the dead
believer’s will be followed by the catching away of the live
believers.
3. Because Christ promised to keep the
Revelation 3:10
“Because you have kept My
command to persevere, I also will keep you from
the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the
earth”
1 Thessalonians 1:10
“and to wait for His Son from
heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9
“For God did not appoint us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In the two passages in Thessalonians Paul,
4. Because
of the prophecy of the
The only thing powerful enough to restrain
Satan is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells within the body of believers. The only
way the Holy Spirit can be removed is to take the believers with Him. The removal of the
Holy Spirit would be the rapture or the catching away of the church.
Finally, “What About Those Who Are Left Behind?”
What
Will life be Like here on Earth During the Tribulation?
We will of course look at this in depth in our
sermon on the Tribulation but I want end tonight by giving you just an overview. The seven
years of the Tribulation period described in the Book of Revelation will surpasses any
horror that the world has thus far witnessed. During the first part of the tribulation
period, a world leader [the Anti-Christ] will arise on the scene bringing temporary world
peace. Shortly thereafter war will break out and many people will be killed. The war will
be followed by famine and high inflation. The war, the famine, and the plagues that will
occur will kill over ¼ of the world’s population. The Tribulation is God’s
judgment falling on an unbelieving world. He will send a total of 21 judgments, three
series of seven judgments each.
The Scroll
Judgments (Rev. 6:1-8:1)
The Trumpet
Judgments (Rev. 8:2-15:6)
The Vial
Judgments (Rev. 15:7-18:24)
Can
those who are Left Behind Still Be Saved?
Some say, “Well if the rapture takes place and I’m
left behind, at least I will know what to do to get saved.” But if you are not
willing to give your life to Jesus now, what makes you think that you will be able to
then, knowing that the sakes will be much higher? I believe that to become a Christian in
that day, and there will be people saved [scriptural
support], that most will have to forfeit their lives.
Charles Stanley has said, “Jesus said, ‘I don’t know when I’m coming back
… not even the angels in heaven know: only my Father knows.’ Matthew 24:27 and
Matthew 24:36-41 …remind us of his warnings. He is coming without a warning; He is
coming instantly without a warning. The skies are going to break open. The shout, the
sound of a trumpet, And I believe that only believers are going to hear and only believers
are going to know what is taking place… I
wonder how many of us really do watch, wait, look forward to, think that at any moment
Jesus Christ could come. There’s not a single thing that has to be done before Jesus
comes… I don’t have to worry about when it going to happen. All I have to do is
be ready.” [William
T James. ed. Prophecy at Ground Zero. (Lancaster, Penn; Starburst Pub., 2002) p.
209]
Conclusion
My
faith does not rest in the rapture but in the return of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If happen to be wrong and I am still alive when the Anti-Christ emerges as a world leader,
then I’ll switch to being Mid-trib. If I’m around long enough to see the
Anti-Christ commit the “abomination of desolation” and demand to be worshipped I
will switch to being Post-trib. But until then I believe the scripture says that the Lord
is coming to kept us from or out of these things.