SPELLING EDITED J-24. Part 4 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-tribulation Rapture!
This is part 4 of a six-part series of an in-depth Bible study on why there will NOT be a PRE tribulation rapture of the church to escape the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation. The 250 reasons for a pre-trib rapture are from a pre-trib website. Again there are not actually 250 reasons. Many of the numbered reasons need to be put together to make a single argument. This study will cover reasons #80 through #111 but the actual number of real pre-trib arguments are only around three. So it is a huge exaggeration to say 250 reasons for a pre-trib rapture. None the less, I will give my comments to each and every one of these so-called 250 reasons for a pre-trib rapture. NATURE OF THE CHURCH AND THE PROMISED RAPTURE #80. People will be CONFUSED about Jesus’ coming FOR His Church if they do NOT understand the TRUE NATURE of the Church as a UNIQUE BODY of God’s people, A BRIDE for Jesus.
No, in reality only those who do not understand the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God are the only ones who are CONFUSED about the SECOND coming of Jesus that does NOT need to be DIVIDED into TWO SEPARATE and DISTINCTLY different comings as supposedly the ONLY WAY to harmonize the APPARENT contradictions in God's word. In truth, every verse of Scripture harmonizes perfectly with the POST tribulation TRUTH, if one RIGHTLY DIVIDES the word of TRUTH, rather than WRONGLY DIVIDING the ONE and ONLY SECOND coming into TWO comings. Just think it through for YOURSELF dear child of God. HOW is it fair for the so-called “tribulation saints” who will suffer persecution that has never before been on the earth nor ever shall be again in this manner or time of GREAT tribulation and then NOT be allowed to partake in being the bride of Jesus Christ? WHY would God take out an already trained group of believers in performing the task of preaching the gospel for the past two thousand years just to train another group of believers to finish the job that Jesus himself gave to the CHURCH? WHO is going to preach the gospel to THEM so that they can BECOME believers? WHO is going to disciple and train these NEW believers to preach the gospel? WHERE are these answers found in the Bible? The clear, plain, and SIMPLE TRUTH, is that the church that has been heavily persecuted since the beginning will REMAIN on the earth and go THROUGH the entire period of great tribulation and some, even many Christians, will boldly and gladly lay down their lives for the one who laid down his life for us.
#81. In Revelation, WRATH is seen 10 times. Revelation 6:16, Revelation 6:17, Revelation 11:18, Revelation 14:10, Revelation 14:19, Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:7, Revelation 16:1,Revelation 16:19, and Revelation 19:15. The Church is “not appointed to wrath.” Romans 5:1 and Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, and Revelation 3:10. The Church, therefore, CANNOT enter into the “great day of God’s wrath.”
Again, this FALSE CONCLUSION is drawn from NOT RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of TRUTH. The book of Revelation is NOT meant to be read or more specifically it is not to be understood in chronological order, as in, the EVENTS are not intended to be INTERPRETED in chronological order. In other words, in order to make sense of WHY the WRATH of God appears in all these places, then you must understand that in the book of Revelation we need to understand the events are REPEATED over and over.
#1. We are shown a sequence of events that take place during the time of great tribulation, during the first SIX seal, the first SIX trumpets, and the first SIX vials.
#2. And then we are shown the rapture of the church, only AFTER each of these three sequences of events described to us in the first SIX seal, trumpets, and vials that occur DURING the time of great tribulation.
#3. And then we are shown the WRATH of God being executed by his Son Jesus AFTER the church is safe with Jesus in the SEVENTH seal, the SEVENTH trumpet, and SEVENTH vial.
So then, upon closer reading of the book of Revelation, it can be clearly seen that the WRATH of God is spoken of several times and it may even APPEAR to be poured out at THREE different times if so be that one dogmatically demands that the book of Revelation be read and UNDERSTOOD in CHRONOLOGICAL order. In other words, there are SEVEN different places in the book of Revelation where we are shown SEVEN types, figures, or examples of the rapture of the church, but there is NOT going to be 7 DIFFERENT raptures of the CHURCH. In other words, there is ONLY going to be ONE period of GREAT TRIBULATION, followed by ONE rapture of the CHURCH, followed by ONE SECOND coming of Jesus executing ONE WRATH of God. I explain the TRUTH of all this in detail with all the sound Biblical evidence to clearly show and explain in simplicity in my study entitled “WRATH OF GOD VERSUS THE GREAT TRIBULATION!” on my website at AMatterOfTruth.com, if you would like a deeper understanding on this subject. But for now, let us continue with the next reason for a pre-tribulation rapture.
#82. In Revelation 3:10, a FAITHFUL and TRUE Church is promised to be KEPT OUT OF the TIME of TEMPTATION which shall COME UPON the WHOLE WORLD to TRY them who DWELL UPON THE EARTH. This TEMPTATION is the EXPERIENCE of EVIL, ADVERSITY, and EXTREME TROUBLE. Jesus TOLD us to PRAY, “and lead us NOT into TEMPTATION, but DELIVER us from EVIL.” While this is correctly interpreted to mean protection from “ordinary everyday troubles” we face on this earth, it can also have an extended meaning. “TEMPTATION” is the VERY SAME GREEK WORD as seen in Revelation 3:10--defined as that TIME of THE WORST EVIL which has ever happened on the earth (Matthew 24:21-22). Why would Jesus ask us to PRAY to be DELIVERED from that EVIL, if there were NO ESCAPE possible? Compare to Luke 21:36. There is INDEED a DELIVERANCE available FROM the tribulation (the MOST AWFUL TEMPTATION EVER)--and it’s called the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church!
Again, the misunderstanding comes from CONFUSING the time of GREAT TRIBULATION to be ONE and the SAME period of time as the WRATH of God, which I have ALREADY clearly and plainly shown without a doubt that these are TWO SEPARATE and DIFFERENT events that occur basically one right after the other but are SEPARATED by SIGNS in the SUN, and in the MOON and in the STARS and the SECOND coming of Jesus to RAPTURE his CHURCH right BEFORE he pours out the WRATH of God. As far as explaining Revelation 3:10 and Luke 21:36 in a sound Biblical manner, BOTH of these verses are speaking of the ESCAPING the WRATH of God and NOT the escaping of the time of GREAT TRIBULATION. We have ALREADY taken a look at Luke 21:36 in its CONTEXT in part 3 of this study of the 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture! And we have already clearly seen that it is referring to the WRATH of God taking place AFTER the SIGNS in the sun, moon, and stars that Jesus himself teaches us to WATCH for so that we will know that our redemption draws near after we begin to SEE these things. So then, now let us now take a CLOSER look at Revelation 3:10 which, in TRUTH, teaches us about the HOUR in which Jesus will RETURN at his SECOND coming to execute the WRATH of Almighty God.
Revelation 3:10-12 being left in the context of where it is found.
“BECAUSE you HAVE KEPT the word of my patience, I ALSO will keep you from the HOUR of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (In other words, this HOUR of temptation is NOT appointed to us, the church, BECAUSE those of us, the church, have been FAITHFUL and we will HAVE KEPT the word of the patience of Jesus. But the ungodly and DISOBEDIENT to the gospel shall suffer the WRATH of God at the second coming of Jesus when Jesus comes with ten thousands of his angels to execute the WRATH of Almighty God.) 11. Behold, I COME QUICKLY: (Speaking of the SECOND coming of Jesus coming to execute the WRATH of God) hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown. 12. Him that OVERCOMES (Overcomes what? Overcomes everything including the time of the great tribulation to endure unto the end of our lives or UNTIL the SECOND coming of Jesus to execute the WRATH of God. The focus of the subject of this passage of Scripture is on BECAUSE we have KEPT ourselves from sin and denying Jesus during the ENTIRE church age which includes the time of great tribulation, then Jesus will keep us, the church, from the HOUR of the WRATH of God that he will pour out at his SECOND coming. Again nowhere in the Bible do we read of Jesus executing the GREAT TRIBULATION. And again the reason is that the time of great tribulation is NOT the same event as the WRATH of God. So Jesus is saying that ONLY those who OVERCOME tribulation great or otherwise) will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
To ME it is CLEAR that this HOUR of temptation is speaking of the WRATH of God and NOT the time of GREAT TRIBULATION. Simply looking at the CONTEXT and observing that the CHURCH is going through great trials and has thus far KEPT the word of God with patience waiting for the coming of Jesus. But for those who do not readily see this, let us take a close look at the phrase “BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY” and compare it with other places we see this same type of wording. Let us begin with what Jesus said to the first church, the church of Ephesus, in Revelation 2:5 where Jesus praised the church at first, but then WARNS them that he does have somewhat against them and IF they do NOT REPENT, then he will COME QUICKLY and REMOVE there candlestick.
Revelation 2:5.
“Remember therefore from whence you are FALLEN, and REPENT, and do the first works; OR ELSE I will come unto thee QUICKLY, and will REMOVE your candlestick out of his place, EXCEPT you REPENT.”
Then in closing his message to this church at Ephesus in verse 7 Jesus WARNS all the CHURCHES that they MUST OVERCOME in order to obtain ETERNAL LIFE.
Revelation 2:7.
“He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES (PLURAL); To him that OVERCOMES will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
Then to the church of Smyrna and to all the other churches as well Jesus gives us the same warning to OVERCOME.
Revelation 2:10,11.
“Fear NONE of those things which thou shall SUFFER: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have TRIBULATION ten days: be you FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES; He that OVERCOMES shall NOT be hurt of the second death.”
Then we read in Revelation 2:16,17 the WARNING that Jesus gave to the third church, Pergamos, as well as all the other churches to REPENT OR ELSE he would COME QUICKLY and FIGHT THEM with the SWORD of his mouth.
Revelation 2:16,17.
“REPENT; OR ELSE I will come unto you QUICKLY, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES; To him that OVERCOMES will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone, a new name is written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.”
So again, to ME I personally do NOT see these words, COME QUICKLY as meaning a SOON return of our Lord that he could come at any moment without having any SIGNS fulfilled. But RATHER I see these words as meaning when Jesus comes again his COMING will be QUICK like LIGHTENING or in a TWINKLING of an eye. In other words, SO QUICKLY that there will NOT be any TIME to REPENT if anyone has unconfessed SIN in their life. And I believe this next passage of Scripture you read will CLEARLY show you this TRUTH. Please read Revelation 3:1-6 where Jesus WARNS the CHURCHES that IF they do NOT WATCH, then he WILL COME upon THOSE IN THE CHRUCH who are NOT WATCHING as a THIEF in the night and they will NOT KNOW when he will come upon them, BECAUSE they are NOT WATCHING.
Revelation 3:1-6.
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things said he that has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars; I know your WORKS, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. 2. Be WATCHFUL, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have NOT found your WORKS PERFECT before God. 3. Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. IF therefore you shall NOT WATCH, I will come on YOU as a THIEF, and YOU shall NOT KNOW what hour I will come upon YOU. (And the opposite of this is equally true. In other words, if we ARE WATCHING for the SIGNS of the coming of Jesus then we WILL KNOW the HOUR of his coming and we will be READY so that Jesus will NOT come on us as a THIEF) 4. You have a few names even in Sardis which have NOT defiled their garments; and THEY (Speaking of ONLY Those FAITHFUL believers who do NOT have SIN in their life and whose WORKS have been found to be PERFECT before God, ONLY THEY) shall walk with me in white: for they are WORTHY. 5. He that OVERCOMES, the SAME shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will NOT blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES.”
Now let us take a look at Revelation 16:15,16 which teaches us WHEN Jesus is COMING QUICKLY as a THIEF in the night upon those who have unconfessed SIN in their lives. Whenever you read about KEEPING your garment clean or spotless this means KEEP SIN out of your life.
Revelation 16:15,16.
“Behold, I COME as a THIEF. Blessed is he that WATCHES, and KEEPS his garments (Or KEEPS SIN out of their life), lest he walks naked, and THEY (Speaking of the ANGELS that Jesus sends to GATHER TOGETHER his CHURCH, lest or for fear that THEY) see his shame. 16. And he GATHERED them TOGETHER into a place called in the Hebrew tongue ARMAGEDDON.”
In other words, at the rapture of the church, we will be caught up into the AIR and Jesus will send his angels to GATHER us all TOGETHER and then take us to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called ARMAGEDDON where we will help Jesus execute the WRATH of God upon the wicked. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we will be taken up into heaven to escape the great tribulation while God raises up a new group of saints called the tribulation saint to preach the gospel and endure the persecution while we eat the marriage supper of the Lamb. But there are verses of Scripture in the Bible that teach us that the SUPPER we eat is the honor given to us by God to help Jesus execute the WRATH of God at the battle of Armageddon. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that when Jesus COMES QUICKLY, as in a TWINKLING of an eye to RAPTURE his CHURCH, Jesus is ALSO coming as a THIEF to execute the WRATH of Almighty God upon the ungodly AND the DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN of God who are NOT WATCHING and KEEPING themselves PURE EVEN as Jesus is pure. So then, Revelation 3:10 is a PROMISE from our Lord, that IF we WATCH and KEEP his WORD with patience THEN he will NOT come upon us as a THIEF to execute the WRATH of God upon us because we will be found WORTHY to ESCAPE all those things that are COMING upon the ungodly and disobedient children of God. Jesus will keep us from the HOUR of God’s WRATH if so be we keep his patience to not take up weapons to save our mortal lives WHEN our lives are threatened IF we do NOT DENY Jesus. In other words, if Christians are faced with the ULTIMATUM that they can continue to live IF they DENY Jesus and take the mark of the beast then they should NOT KILL the one giving them that ultimatum. Please read Revelation 11:5. “And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he MUST in THIS MANNER be killed.” In other words, WARN them of the final Day of Judgment, PROPHESY their destruction in the lake of fire unless they repent and stop killing Christians if they do not convert to Islam. I believe that every person has the RIGHT to defend themselves and anyone else when they clearly feel with their whole being that they or someone else is about to be killed or physically harmed by an attacker. And if killing the attacker is the ONLY way to prevent the attacker from killing you or someone else then that is NOT denying your faith. But there is the price of torment in one's MIND for taking a human life so while I believe in the RIGHT to bear arms it will be the last option I myself would take. I would rather let the armed robber take what they came to steal than to know that I killed another human being to save material goods. While we are here in Revelation 3:10, I want you to notice the word “HOUR” in the phrase “I will DELIVER you from that HOUR of temptation or trial that shall come upon the entire world” Please read Revelation 18:4-20, but for now I will quote the beginning and the ending.
Revelation 18:4,10,17,19,20.
“4...COME OUT of her, my people, that YOU be NOT partakers of her sins, and that YOU receive NOT of her plagues… ...10. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one HOUR is your judgment come... ...17. For in one HOUR so great riches has come to nothing… ...19. And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one HOUR is she made desolate. 20. Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has AVENGED you on her.”
To ME, there is NO doubt that this passage of Scripture is speaking of the WRATH of Almighty God being poured out on the world and GOD'S PEOPLE are called to COME OUT of the world in order NOT to receive of HER PLAGUES, the plagues of the WRATH of God to which WE, the FAITHFUL CHURCH are NOT APPOINTED to receive.
#83. In 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 we see that God will REPAY TRIBULATION upon the ones who have TROUBLED the Church. WHILE that RECOMPENSE occurs, the Church will BE AT REST. The Church will receive a Pre-Tribulation rapture!
As I have said many times, ANY verse when taken OUT of CONTEXT may SEEM to say something that it is not TRULY saying. Therefore, let us read the CONTEXT of verses 6 and 7 by reading 2 Thessalonians 1:4-11 which CLEARLY teaches us that our REST comes WHEN Jesus comes again at his SECOND coming and NOT at a misunderstood PRE-tribulation rapture. When these verses are KEPT in their CONTEXT it is PLAINLY seen the WHEN we REST is WHEN Jesus comes WITH his MIGHTY ANGELS in a FLAMING FIRE taking VENGEANCE upon those who troubled and persecuted the CHURCH during the time of GREAT TRIBULATION.
2 Thessalonians 1:4-11.
“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted WORTHY of the kingdom of God, for which you also SUFFER: 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to RECOMPENSE tribulation to them that trouble you; 7. And to you who are troubled REST with us, WHEN (WHEN will we REST? WHEN) the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven WITH his mighty angels, 8. IN FLAMING FIRE taking VENGEANCE on them that know not God, and that obey NOT the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10. WHEN (Again WHEN WHAT? WHEN) he shall come to be GLORIFIED in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11. Wherefore also we PRAY ALWAYS for you, that our God would count you WORTHY of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:”
CLEARLY, the WHEN here is speaking of the SECOND coming of Jesus and NOT a SO-CALLED PRE-tribulation rapture BECAUSE the WHEN we REST will be WHEN Jesus comes WITH his MIGHTY ANGELS to execute in FLAMING FIRE the WRATH of Almighty God.
#84. The Church will NOT be “overtaken by the Day of the Lord.”1 Thessalonians 5:1-9. The “Day of the Lord” is another phrase that defines the tribulation. The Church will NOT be caught in it.
While it is definitely TRUE that the CHURCH as in those who are WATCHING and KEEPING SIN OUT of their life, the DAY of the Lord when Jesus comes as a THIEF in the night, will NOT come upon those in the CHURCH who have been found to be those good and FAITHFUL servants. HOWEVER, it is DEFINITELY FALSE to teach that the DAY of the Lord is just another phase that defines the time of GREAT TRIBULATION. I have ALREADY CLEARLY and PLAINLY shown that the time of great tribulation is NOT the WRATH of God or the DAY of the Lord.
#85. The believer in Jesus, who has prayed to accept Him, WILL be found WORTHY to ESCAPE the tribulation. Luke 21:36.
We just read in Revelation 3:3 that Jesus comes on UNWORTHY Christians as a THIEF. And then we read in 2 Thessalonians 1:4-11 that the WRATH of God will be poured out on those who do not OBEY the GOSPEL. So just because one PRAYS a prayer to ACCEPT Jesus as their Savior does NOT automatically GUARANTEE that they shall be found WORTHY to ESCAPE the WRATH of God unless they did not sin again before they die or before Jesus returns. In other words, I believe in SINCERE death bed confessions and repenting just before the rapture of the church. My point is that CLEARLY, the WHOLE word of God teaches us that we MUST, without fail, KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament in order to have RIGHT to partake of the tree of ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME. For a deeper understanding of this subject of once saved always saved or eternal security please read my study entitled “IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?” But for now, let us look at the next reason for a pre-tribulation rapture.
#86. In Zephaniah 2:1-3, we see an exhortation from God to His people, which parallels THE ATTITUDE we’re to have BEFORE the tribulation arrives. BEFORE the decree comes forth (the “peace covenant” with the antichrist which STARTS the “tribulation”), BEFORE the FIERCE ANGER of the Lord comes--DO THIS! Seek the Lord in righteousness and meekness. WHY? So that we will BE HID in THE DAY of the Lord’s anger--another reference to a Pre-Trib Rapture.
Here is what Zephaniah 2:1-3 says.
“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; 2. BEFORE the decree bring forth, BEFORE the day passes as the chaff, BEFORE the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, BEFORE the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. 3. SEEK you the LORD, all you meek of the earth, which has wrought his judgment; SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS, seek meekness: it may be you shall be HID in the DAY of the LORD'S anger.”
To me, the emphasis is placed on BEFORE this DAY of the Lord COMES we are to SEEK the Lord and his RIGHTEOUSNESS so much the MORE as we SEE that DAY APPROACHING. Please notice the phrase “it MAY be” which is WHY we need NOT be HIGH MINDED to think that we can never be DECEIVED by the DECEITFULNESS of SIN and that we should WATCH and PRAY ALWAYS to be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to be HID and ESCAPE the DAY of the Lord coming as a THIEF in the night to execute the WRATH of God. First of all this being HID has NOTHING whatsoever to do with a PRE-tribulation rapture to be HID from the time of great tribulation. The CONTEXT of these verses of Scripture is speaking of the WRATH of God and the great tribulation is NOT the WRATH of God. Also, there are several WAYS to be HID from the WRATH of God. One way is THROUGH the GRAVE. Job 14:12-14 teaches us that those in the GRAVE are HID from the WRATH of God until it is past.
Job 14:12-14.
“So man lies down (Or when a person DIES), and RISES NOT (Or is resurrected NOT, or is NOT resurrected): TILL the heavens are no more, they shall NOT awake (Or be resurrected), nor be raised out of their sleep. 13. O that you would HIDE me in the GRAVE, that you would keep me secret, UNTIL your WRATH be passed, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14. If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my CHANGE come.”
So then, CLEARLY, those who DIE in the Lord Jesus Christ will be HID from the WRATH of Almighty God. But ALSO, those who will have REMAINED alive and have SURVIVED the time of GREAT TRIBULATION, who have ENDURED unto the END and who have been found FAITHFUL or WORTHY shall be HID from the WARTH of God in that DAY by the rapture of the church. For you see, being CAUGHT UP into the AIR to be WITH our Lord Jesus Christ as he executes the WRATH of God upon the ungodly, the disobedient to the gospel and those in the CHURCH who are NOT WATCHING and KEEPING SIN out of their lives, is being kept safe from the WRATH of God. The FAITHFUL Christians will be SAFE with Jesus in the AIR. In fact, we will be helping Jesus execute the WRATH of Almighty God. The blood of Jesus will HIDE you from the WRATH of God so long as you repent and confess your sin to remain PERFECT in the eyes of God. So, CLEARLY, it does NOT take a pre-tribulation rapture to be the ONLY WAY to be HID from the WRATH of God. Again, the wrath of God is NOT the great tribulation. Please read the study “WRATH OF GOD VERSUS THE GREAT TRIBULATION!”
#87. It’s God’s character to DELIVER His own (righteous ones) from His judgments. Enoch, Noah, Lot, and Rahab are a few. The judgment could NOT happen to Sodom until Lot was TAKEN OUT OF THERE. So also, the tribulation CANNOT happen UNTIL the Church is TAKEN OUT OF THE WORLD in the Pre-Trib Rapture. Compare Luke 17:28-30 to Genesis 19:15-22--paying special attention the verses 16 and 22.
Nowhere do I find that the Bible teaches that the church is taken OUT of the Earth and back to heaven for 7 years in order to ESCAPE anything. Noah was taken UP by the floodwaters ABOVE the Earth, just like we will be CAUGHT UP in the CLOUDS in the AIR above the Earth, then GATHERED TOGETHER by the angels and TAKEN to MEET Jesus at the place called ARMAGEDDON to be with Jesus as he executes the WRATH of Almighty God. Lot was NOT taken OUT of the Earth to heaven, but rather the SAME DAY that Lot was taken to a PLACE where he would be safe from the fierce anger of the Lord, the very SAME, SELFSAME DAY it rained FIRE and brimstone down, just like it will be when Jesus comes to RAPTURE the CHURCH and then on that SELFSAME DAY in FLAMING FIRE Jesus will take VENGEANCE upon those who trouble and persecute the church. None of these verses even remotely show or prove a pre-tribulation rapture. But they do, indeed, PROVE the PRE-tribulation rapture to be FALSE teaching. See “Part 3 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!”
#88. It’s clear from scripture that there’s an INTERVAL OF TIME between the translation of the Church and the Second Coming of Jesus. John 14:3. Isaiah 26:20.
Here is what Isaiah 26:19-21 actually says and teaches.
“Your dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust: for your dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Speaking of the first resurrection of the DEAD IN Christ) 20. COME, my people, enter you into your CHAMBERS, and shut your doors about you: HIDE yourself as it were for a little moment UNTIL the INDIGNATION be overpast. (Again speaking of the WRATH of God and NOT the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation) 21. For, behold, the LORD comes OUT of his place to PUNISH the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity (Or SIN): the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
Now, those that teach the pre-tribulation rapture of the church WRONGLY INTERPRET this verse to mean that the CHURCH is hidden in heaven for 7 years while the INDIGNATION of the GREAT tribulation of God is poured out to PUNISH the inhabitants of the earth for their SIN. They may use the word WRATH but they MEAN the GREAT tribulation. However, I and others who teach the TRUTH of the POST tribulation rapture of the CHURCH interpret this verse to mean that the people of God are CAUGHT UP into the CHARIOTS of God to be HID or WITH Jesus until the WRATH of God is subsided and Almighty God REMEMBERS MERCY and suspends his WRATH lest all mankind be destroyed. The INDIGNATION is CLEARLY speaking of the WRATH of God because the Lord does NOT come OUT of his place in heaven until AFTER the time of GREAT TRIBULATION. Therefore, the church is not HIDDEN UNTIL the SECOND coming of Jesus to execute the WRATH of Almighty God. As far as John chapter 14 being interpreted to teach that the church is taken up to heaven is also an ERROR in understanding WHAT John chapters 13-16 ACTUALLY teaches. For a deeper understanding of WHAT our MANSION truly is please read my study called “THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER!”
#89. ONLY the Pre-Trib Rapture does NOT DIVIDE the Church (Christ’s Body) on a WORKS BASED PRINCIPLE, as does the Partial Rapture. The Pre-Trib Rapture is the GRAND FINALE to our great SALVATION--by GRACE ALONE!
This is definitely a study in and of itself, therefore, for a deeper understanding on GRACE, SALVATION through WORKS or NOT by WORKS please read all the studies under the heading >>>CAN WE LOSE ETERNAL LIFE?<<< I agree that we receive the END of our salvation AT the COMING of Jesus which is a POST-tribulation PRE-WRATH, PRE-Millennial return of Jesus and NOT a PRE-tribulation rapture of the church.
#90. The scriptures are FIRM that the Church is UNDIVIDED--we are ALL members of ONE BODY in Jesus. (It’s in this PRESENT world that the Church is indeed divided by the CONTINUING OLD FLESH NATURE of believers--which results in dissensions and splits. When the Church is GLORIFIED at the Rapture, there will be no more fleshly divisions.)
I agree. No matter what denominational name is placed upon different believers not agreeing upon certain doctrines does NOT disqualify them from being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The ONLY thing that prevents a believer from taking part in the rapture of the church is SIN. I would also like to point out that the PRE tribulation rapture theory does indeed DIVIDE the body of Jesus Christ between the church and the so-called tribulation saints who ALSO have the testimony of Jesus as their Lord and savior. The ONLY teaching on the rapture of the CHURCH that does NOT DIVIDE the church is the POST tribulation teaching. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE
#91. The Holy Spirit is the RESTRAINER of evil in this world. He CANNOT be taken out as prophesied UNLESS THE CHURCH (which is INDWELLED by Him), is taken out, too. The RESTRAINER is the Spirit-filled Church. 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8.
Here is what 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 actually says and TRULY teaches when it is LEFT in the ENTIRE CONTEXT of where it is found. Please read 2 Thessalonians 1:4-12 right on through the next chapter 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8.
2 Thessalonians 1:4-12 PLUS 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8.
“So that we ourselves glory in you in the CHURCHES of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be COUNTED WORTHY of the kingdom of God, for which you also SUFFER: 6. Seeing IT (Speaking of your SUFFERING persecution and tribulation for the kingdom of God and God SEEING your SUFFERING, IT) is a righteous thing with God to RECOMPENSE (Or revenge) tribulation to them that trouble you; 7. And to you who are troubled (Or to you who are being persecuted) REST with us, WHEN the Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED from heaven WITH his mighty angels, 8. IN flaming fire taking VENGEANCE on them (Or RECOMPENSING those who persecuted the CHURCH) that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9. Who shall be PUNISHED with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10. WHEN he shall come (Or be REVEALED) to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (Because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11. Wherefore, also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12. That 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.”
Now CONTINUE to read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, which is the SAME CONTEXT.
“Now we beseech you, brethren (Or we IMPLORE you or BEG you), by the coming (Or by the appearing and return) of our Lord Jesus Christ (WHEN HE, JESUS shall be REVEALED in heaven in FLAMING FIRE taking VENGEANCE), AND by OUR GATHERING TOGETHER unto him, (To MEET Jesus in the AIR) 2. That you be NOT SOON shaken in mind (Or that you be NOT PREMATURELY shaken in mind), or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the DAY of Christ is at hand (Speaking of the DAY of the LORD where Jesus comes as a THIEF in the night in a FLAMING FIRE and the heaven being on FIRE to execute the WRATH of God. Do NOT be PREMATURELY troubled that THAT DAY of Christ to pour out the WRATH of God is AT HAND) 3. Let NO man DECEIVE you by ANY MEANS: for THAT DAY (Speaking of the rapture of the church AT the second coming of Jesus which is ALSO the GREAT AND NOTABLE DAY of the Lord's WRATH) shall NOT come, EXCEPT there come a falling away FIRST, AND that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (In other words, the rapture of the church will NOT take place until TWO things happen FIRST. And those two things are the falling away and the revealing of the antichrist) 4. Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (Yes, the church will go through the entire 3 ½ years of the great tribulation just like Jesus teaches in Matthew 24:29-31. We will see the abomination of desolation. We will see that antichrist boasts that he is God.) 5. REMEMBER you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (Well, if not, or you do not remember, I just told you AGAIN that JESUS will NOT be REVEALED until HIS TIME and HIS TIME to be REVEALED will NOT come UNTIL there coming a FALLING away FIRST, AND that man of sin the antichrist be made known to us.) 6. And NOW you KNOW what withholds that HE (Referring to JESUS, and NOW you KNOW what is WITHHOLDING or is keeping JESUS from being revealed from heaven, that HE, speaking of JESUS) might be REVEALED in HIS TIME. (Remember the CONTEXT is about the rapture of the church and the REVEALING of Jesus NOT happening UNTIL two things happen first. In other words, verse 6 is NOT about the revealing of the antichrist but rather it is about what is holding back the return of Jesus which is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the antichrist's 3½ year reign. So now you know to NOT SOON be shaken in mind that the day of our Lord’s appearing is at hand. Jesus will not be revealed UNTIL his TIME) 7. For (Or more precisely NO DOUBT) the MYSTERY of iniquity (Or the MYSTERY that which is behind SIN) does already work: only HE (Speaking of SATAN) who NOW lets (Or who now HINDERS) will let (Or HE SATAN, who now presently HINDERS will continue to HINDER and cause trouble to the church), until HE (Speaking of SATAN) be taken out of the way. (Or more precisely, until Satan and his angels are CAST out of the MIDST of the heaven and cast down to the Earth where HE or when SATAN the DEVIL will know that his time is short) 8. And THEN (Or at this time when Satan is cast out of the midst of heaven and down to the earth, THEN) shall that Wicked be revealed, (Or that WICKEDNESS that is behind the MYSTERY of SIN will be made known in the man of sin called the antichrist who will make war with the people of God persecuting them as they have never been persecuted before since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be again) whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”
The HE here that is HINDERING the CHURCH is SATAN. Satan and the ruling principalities and powers of the air HINDER the PRAYERS of the saints as we are taught in Daniel 10:12,13 where Daniel's PRAYER was HINDERED for 21 days as Michael and another angel FOUGHT the principalities and powers of the air over Persia to get the answer to Daniels prayer through to Daniel. Also, the CHURCH throughout the New Testament is always referred to as a SHE and NOT a HE. Therefore the HE here referring to the one who HINDERS is NOT the CHURCH, but RATHER the HE is referring to SATAN who is the MYSTERY behind SIN and who HINDERS the prayers of the CHURCH.
#92. The Holy Spirit’s RESTRAINING work MUST be removed BEFORE the “lawless one” is revealed. (The tribulation BEGINS with the SIGNING OF A COVENANT with ISRAEL--which STARTS the 7 years of tribulation. That act REVEALS antichrist. So, therefore, the Church must be Raptured BEFORE the tribulation begins.) The true Church will NOT see the antichrist revealed.
Again, these are INTERPRETATIONS of verses that can be INTERPRETED in other ways. I personally believe that this so-called signing of a covenant of PEACE with Israel, by the antichrist that then BREAKS this so-called peace treaty at the midpoint of the period of the so-called SEVEN years of GREAT TRIBULATION, is all due to the MISINTERPRETATION of Scripture. I will explain what I mean by this a little later in this study.
#93. While the tribulation occurs on earth, the antichrist will overcome (and PREVAIL AGAINST) the tribulation saints. Revelation 13:7. But for the Church, the gates of hell will NEVER prevail against us, which PROVES that “the saints” of the tribulation CANNOT be the Church. The Church OVERCOMES by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 16:18. Romans 12:21. 1 John 2:13-14. 1 John 5:4-5. Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, and Revelation 3:21. That’s LOTS of OVERCOMING for the Church! This PROVES the Rapture MUST be Pre-Trib.
First of all, here is what Matthew 16:18 actually says and teaches when LEFT in its CONTEXT. Please read Matthew 16:15-18 which teaches us that it is the REVEALED KNOWLEDGE that comes from Almighty God the FATHER, that the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against. This verse says NOTHING about the gates of hell NOT being able to PREVAIL or OVERCOME individual believers in the BODY of Christ. All these references of Scripture are WARNINGS for us NOT to be OVERCOME. They are NOT written guarantees so to speak that it is IMPOSSIBLE for any Christian to be OVERCOME. If you believe in the FALSE teaching of ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED, then I IMPLORE you to read the study entitled, “IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?”
Matthew 16:15-18.
“He says unto them, But whom say you that I am? 16. And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: (WHY? Why was Peter BLESSED?) FOR (Or BECAUSE) flesh and blood (Or because the teachings of man-made doctrines) has NOT REVEALED it unto you, BUT my Father which is in heaven. (Or because it was REVELATION KNOWLEDGE from Almighty God the Father HIMSELF who made this TRUTH known to you) 18. And I say ALSO unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this ROCK (Or upon this KIND of SOLID ROCK REVELATION KNOWLEDGE from Almighty God that I am the Christ, the SON OF the living God and NOT the interpretation of men) I will BUILD my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against IT.”
Referring to the REVELATION KNOWLEDGE, that is made known to us, through the Holy Spirit of Almighty God. That is like a SOLID ROCK FOUNDATION on which Jesus BUILDS his church. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that INDIVIDUAL believers are OVERCOME or PREVAILED against each and every day by incorrect interpretations of men? But the Christians who have been given REVELATION knowledge of the TRUTH straight from the Holy Spirit will NOT back down from the enemy and will NOT be washed away like the house that is BUILT upon sinking SAND. Now, obviously, the gates of hell will not prevail against the church as a WHOLE. In other words, while SOME believers may be OVERCOME there will always, without fail, REMAIN some believers in Jesus who will NOT be prevailed against. My point is that this argument does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture of the church because there is NO doubt that INDIVIDUAL believers in the BODY of Christ have been and will be again PREVAILED AGAINST DURING times of GREAT TRIBULATION. But at the same time, there have been many individual Christians who grew STRONGER under great tribulation.
#94. In Daniel 7:21 and Daniel 7:25, the little horn (antichrist) made war with the saints and PREVAILED AGAINST them, plus the antichrist will speak great words against the most high and shall WEAR OUT the saints. Again, for the Church, the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against us (or overcome us). Again, the Church CANNOT be the saints in the tribulation who are PREVAILED AGAINST, and OVERCOME! Again, this PROVES the Rapture MUST be Pre-Trib.
If this kind of logic were TRUE, then EVERY single believer from day one who was PREVAILED AGAINST by being MARTYRED, killed, or beheaded for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ would NOT be truly part of the CHURCH, BECAUSE they were PREVAILED AGAINST. If this kind of illogical REASONING were TRUE, then EVERY SINGLE believer, who has EVER been OVERCOME by temptation and has given in to the temptation to SIN, is NOT truly part of the CHURCH BECAUSE they were OVERCOME. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord how ridiculous this line of REASONING is in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God? You see it is ONLY those who ARE OVERCOME and who do NOT REPENT who will be PREVAILED AGAINST in the END, because NO WICKEDNESS will ENTER the kingdom of God. But Daniel 7:21-25 corresponds the Revelation 11:7,8 and both passages speak of PREVAILING over the saints as meaning KILLING the saints, in other words, prevailed against equals being MARTYRED for Jesus.
THE BRIDE OF JESUS
#95. The Church is called THE BRIDE of Christ. The comparison to marriage and Christ and His Church is made in Ephesians 5:22-33, and especially seen in verses Ephesians 5:29-32.
The church being the BRIDE of Christ does NOT prove a pre-tribulation rapture. All these stories told about how Jesus would never BEAT his BRIDE does not prove a PRE-tribulation rapture, because Jesus plainly told us that MEN would afflict and persecute us, Revelation 2:10 even says that SATAN, the Devil will cast some, in the church, into prison where they will have TRIBULATION ten days. In other words, it is NOT Jesus who is BEATING his bride to be, but rather it is SATAN, who uses PEOPLE to PERSECUTE and AFFLICT the CHURCH.
#96. The WEDDING of Jesus and His Church follows the Jewish model. Remember Jesus CAME to the Jews, God in the flesh of a man through a JEWISH LINEAGE.
Same as above, this does NOT prove a pre-tribulation rapture. I personally do not use Jewish traditions to form SOUND BIBLICAL doctrine, but rather we are to use the word of TRUTH, the Holy Bible to establish doctrine. And I might add we are to use the WHOLE word of God, and NOT just the verse that fits the teachings that are PLEASING to the ear to hear. The church being the BRIDE of Christ does NOT prove a pre-tribulation rapture. All these stories told about how Jesus would never BEAT his BRIDE does not prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. For you see, Jesus plainly told us that MEN would afflict and persecute us. Revelation 2:10 even says that SATAN, the Devil, will cast some in the church into prison where they will have TRIBULATION ten days. In other words, it is NOT Jesus who is BEATING his bride to be but rather it is SATAN who uses PEOPLE to PERSECUTE and AFFLICT the CHURCH. The plagues during the great tribulation will not be upon the faithful Christians. The plagues will be on those living in sin for them to REPENT of their sins. Please read the following verses of Scripture and you will see that it will NOT be the FAITHFUL Christians that will receive the plagues during the great tribulation.
Revelation 2:20-22.
“Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21. And I gave HER space to REPENT of her fornication; (Before the great tribulation) and she repented NOT. 22. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, EXCEPT they repent of their deeds.”
Revelation 9:20,21.
“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. ”
Revelation 16:6-11.
“For THEY have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given THEM blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and RIGHTEOUS are your judgments. (First of all, God has every right to CHASTISE his DISOBEDIENT children. And such chastisement would not be Jesus beating his wife. Rather it would be Almighty God the father correcting his DISOBEDIENT children. I agree that it is NOT righteous for God to execute his judgments upon his OBEDIENT children that He himself has made Holy and in perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS through the shed blood of his Son Jesus. But the plagues and the judgments during the great tribulation are for the SINNERS to give them one last chance to REPENT of their sin BEFORE God’s WRATH is poured out upon them. The church does not need to FEAR the time of great tribulation as you will see in a moment) 8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which has power over these plagues: and THEY repented NOT to give him glory. 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness, and THEY gnawed THEIR tongues for pain, 11. And blasphemed the God of heaven because of THEIR pains and THEIR sores, and repented NOT of their deeds.”
Yes, there will be persecution of Christians and the Jews during the 3 ½ years of the great tribulation but the plagues and the judgments will be upon the SINNERS and those who take the MARK of the beast to join the kingdom of darkness. Again, I believe that the beast system or kingdom is the religion of Islam and the MARK of the beast will be on those who have converted to Islam and joined the kingdom of darkness who says that THEIR god is the TRUE God. I do not believe that a THIRD Jewish Temple will be built before Jesus returns. I believe that the Temple Satan will enter to possess will be the Muslims. And they will exalt their god Allah to be the TRUE God and they seduce some Christians and some Jews to worship their false god Allah.
#97. In John 14:1-3(where the Rapture of the Church is PROMISED), the structure of the Jewish wedding ceremony is HEAVILY IMPLIED. “In My Father’s house are many mansions.” “I GO and PREPARE a place for you.” “I will come again and receive you unto Myself…”
Again, this is an INTERPRETATION based solely upon the word “MANSION”. The word that is TRANSLATED as MANSION here in John chapter 14 has NOTHING whatsoever to do with a dwelling place in heaven. For a deeper understanding of what I mean by this and the TRUE meaning of the word that is translated as MANSION please read the study “THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER!” But even IF Jesus prepared a literal mansion in heaven for us it still does not prove a PRE-tribulation rapture of the church. We can still live in our mansion with a POST-tribulation rapture just as easily.
#98. In the Jewish wedding, the groom INITIATES an AGREEMENT to marry a woman with the bride’s father. The groom PAYS A PRICE for his bride (the mohar). Jesus PAID THE PRICE for His Church with His own precious blood.
Again, these statements of true facts do NOT prove a pre-tribulation rapture simply because the facts are TRUE. And besides, it is not wise to interpret the Bible, based upon sources OUTSIDE the Scriptures themselves, particularly when the sources being used CONTRADICT what the WHOLE word of God teaches. So then, this WHOLE argument of a Jewish wedding is NOT a valid argument in my opinion because it is not Scripture.
#99. Once the agreement for the marriage is made and the price is paid, the marriage covenant is established. The young man and woman are considered as husband and wife, even though they have not yet lived together. From the payment of the mohar the bride is DECLARED to be CONSECRATED or SANCTIFIED--(“set apart” for her groom). As a SYMBOL of that CONSECRATION, the groom and bride drink a cup of wine over which the betrothal is announced. The Church is SET APART and SANCTIFIED unto Jesus. IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE PRICE that Jesus paid, the Church drinks the cup of communion wine.
Again, perhaps all true facts, as I do not know much about Jewish wedding traditions. But again, using TRADITIONS of men rather than or ABOVE the word of TRUTH is not sound Biblical teaching. You cannot use Jewish traditions to override or to explain away the Scriptures. So again, I do not see that this Jewish wedding tradition is Biblical proof of a pre-tribulation rapture.
#100. After the marriage covenant is established, the groom leaves his bride at her home. He RETURNS to the HOME of his FATHER, where he will remain for about 12 months. After Jesus paid the price with His blood, HE RETURNED TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE IN HEAVEN. The Church is LEFT AT HER HOME (a temporary place) upon the earth.
To me, if the Lord truly meant for the Jewish wedding ceremony to be used as a type of the rapture then it would seem logical to have the groom to be back at his father's house for TWO years in order to parallel the TWO thousand years Jesus has been in heaven rather than just ONE year to parallel the ONE thousand years which is NOT Biblical. Again, this is all extra-Biblical THEORIES which can not be used to teach sound Biblical doctrine because the Jewish wedding feast is a Jewish CUSTOM. It is NOT Scripture.
#101. The bride has time to PREPARE her wedding trousseau, GETTING READY for married life. The Church remains true to Jesus, PREPARING TO MEET HIM SOMEDAY.
Again, it is true that the church is to KEEP herself SPOTLESS as a BRIDE for the groom. But this does NOT prove a pre-tribulation rapture. In other words, ALL these statements of Jewish facts whether they are true or not CANNOT be used as INDIVIDUAL and SEPARATE reasons as the author of these 250 reasons for a pre-tribulation rapture has tried to do. Even her saying that the bride has TIME to prepare does NOT fit the PRE-trib rapture theory that Jesus can come at any SECOND. Keep in mind that in argument #100, she said that the groom would leave for about one YEAR. That is totally opposite of the groom coming back at any second.
#102. At the home of his father, the groom PREPARES A DWELLING PLACE for himself and his bride. Jesus returned to His Father’s house in heaven at the time of His ascension. He promised His followers that while He’s there, He PREPARES MANSIONS for us to dwell in.
Please read the study “THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER!” In that study, you will know and understand that this passage of Scripture in John 14:1-3 has NOTHING whatsoever to do with a DWELLING place of a literal MANSION up in HEAVEN. But rather, Jesus went to the CROSS to prepare a place of power and authority so we could be where Jesus is in POWER and AUTHORITY to do the SAME works that Jesus did THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. And again, if so be, that the Jewish custom of a wedding feast is used as evidence the facts do NOT agree with the pre-trib rapture theory. The wedding feast analogy destroys the so-called IMMENINCY of the rapture because the groom is gone for a year. And that means that for the early first-century church there was NO imminent return of Jesus coming at any second.
#103. At THE END of the period of separation, the bridegroom WILL RETURN--usually at night--to TAKE his bride TO COME LIVE WITH HIM. The groom, his best man, and other male escorts will leave the father’s house and do a torch-light procession to the home of the bride. The bride DOES NOT KNOW THE TIME of her bridegroom’s coming. As a result, the groom’s arrival is preceded by a shout. The TIME when Jesus will DESCEND into the air, to catch His Bride up to Himself is UNKNOWN. Therefore, the Church is exhorted to BE READY. Someday, the SHOUT which precedes Him will reach our ears and we’ll RISE UP TO MEET HIM.
Again, this is the TRADITIONS of men as opposed to the word of TRUTH. The facts may be true but they still do NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. I, myself, find it hard to believe that a Jewish bride is going to wear her wedding dress night and day for days, weeks, and even months in order to be ready for her grooms coming. If she is truly watching then she would be looking out the window to see the SIGN of the burning torches approaching and there would be no need for the groom to SHOUT. The shout of Jesus is to resurrect the dead in Christ. The dead in Jesus, Christians, will hear the voice of Jesus and they will be reunited with their bodies and we will all be changed together from mortal to immortal in the twinkling of an eye.
#104. After the groom receives his bride (together with her bridesmaids), the enlarged group RETURNS to the HOUSE of the GROOM’S FATHER. Jesus and His Church will be united in HEAVEN after the Rapture, at the HOUSE of GOD, THE FATHER.
Definitely NOT Biblical because again the church does NOT go to HEAVEN during the RAPTURE. There are NO verses of Scripture that teach us that the church goes to heaven for seven years to eat the marriage supper and then return back to the earth. I am not opposed to using historical facts or other analogies that support Scriptures but it is ADDING to the word of God to use extra-Biblical facts to teach things that have NO SCRIPTURE to support that teaching.
#105. The bride and groom, shortly after their arrival at the house of the groom’s father, are escorted by other members of the wedding party to THE BRIDAL CHAMBER. The bride wears a veil so her face is not seen. The marriage is consummated. A little later, it’s ANNOUNCED to the wedding guests, AT WHICH TIME the guests have a party for SEVEN DAYS. Once in heaven, Jesus and His Church will have our marriage sealed, and it’s ANNOUNCED in heaven. Then SEVEN DAYS of celebration (corresponding to the SEVEN YEARS of the tribulation) ensues.
In TRUTH, the Bible teaches that the time of the great tribulation is 3 1/2 years and NOT 7 years. See my study “THE TIME OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION!” for all the verses that CLEARLY show that the time of GREAT TRIBULATION is 3 1/2 years, or 42 months, or 1260 days. Even the PRE-tribulation rapture theory teaches that the first 3 1/2 years of tribulation is just the beginning of sorrows and ONLY the last 3 1/2 years in the GREAT tribulation. Also, please read the studies “A NEW LOOK AT THE 70th WEEK OF DANIEL!” and “WHEN IS THE MIDST OF THE 70TH WEEK?” But for now, I want you to THINK for yourself. Look at a chart of the PRE-trib rapture. On that chart, you will see EXACTLY 1260 days then a DOT to represent the MISDT of the week and another EXACT 1260 days. Now, the 1260 days PLUS the 1260 days is EXACTLY 7 Biblical prophetic years which leaves ZERO seconds for anything to happen in the MIDST of the week. That means that there is ZERO TIME for the abomination of desolation, the revealing of the antichrist, and all the other things that must happen during the MIDST of the week. So something is WRONG with the PRE-trib and the MID-trib theories. The TRUTH of the matter is that the MIDST of the week actually began when God turned the GENTILES with the gospel of salvation. So we are IN the MIDST of the week right now. The first 3 ½ years of the 70th week of Daniel has already been FULFILLED during the time when the gospel was preached ONLY to the Jews. And the last 3 1/2 years will be fulfilled DURING the 3 1/2 years of the GREAT tribulation when many Jews will once again be saved by the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Again, I implore you to read the studies that I suggest. They will open your eyes to the truth of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
#106. While the SEVEN days of the celebration takes place, the bride and groom remain HIDDEN in the bridal chamber, called the “huppah.” AFTER the SEVEN DAYS are finished, the groom comes OUT OF HIDING, bringing his wife with him, and her veil is removed so all can see her. At that time, the marriage is ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD AT LARGE. When the SEVEN YEARS of the tribulation is finished, Christ and His Bride will LEAVE THEIR CHAMBERS. Jesus will RETURN to the earth in His Second Coming to set His feet on the Mt. of Olives, and His Bride (the Church) will ACCOMPANY Him! At that time, the marriage is ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD AT LARGE, and people will see the face of the Bride, as she RULES and REIGNS with Jesus.
In TRUTH, the MARRIAGE SUPPER of the Lamb does NOT take place UNTIL the SECOND coming of Jesus. Please read Revelation 19:1-9 which teaches us that the actual MARRIAGE takes place AFTER Babylon is JUDGED and the MARRIAGE SUPPER of the Lamb is ACTUALLY Jesus executing the WRATH of Almighty God upon Babylon.
Revelation 19:1-9.
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2. For true and righteous are his judgments: for he HAS JUDGED the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and HAS AVENGED the blood of his servants at her hand. 3. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up forever and ever. 4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you, his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great. 6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. 7. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: (WHY?) for the MARRIAGE of the Lamb is COME (Or NOW the TIME has COME for Jesus, the Lamb of God to MARRY his BRIDE, the CHURCH), and his WIFE (Or his WIFE to be) has made herself ready. 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9. And he says unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the MARRIAGE SUPPER of the Lamb. And he says unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
Then right after Revelation 19:1-9 in the SAME CONTEXT we read in Revelation 19:11-19 about the SECOND coming of Jesus coming as a THIEF in the night to execute the WRATH of Almighty God which is called the SUPPER of our great God. In other words, the marriage supper of the Lamb is the SAME marriage supper that is called the SUPPER of our great God.
Revelation 19:11-19.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, he does JUDGE and makes WAR. 12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Speaking about the DEAD in Christ who were under the altar, awaiting their CHANGE, to receive their new glorified immortal bodies, these are the SAINTS in heaven that God will bring WITH him when he comes. There is no need for a PRE-trib rapture to take the saints to heaven in order for there to be saints coming with Jesus. It is the dead SAINTS IN Jesus Christ who are IN heaven right now who will be the SAINTS that come with Jesus along WITH an army of angels) 15. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16. And he has on his vesture and on his thigh, a name is written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, (Or a SHOUT) saying to all the fowls that flying the midst of heaven, (Which represents the CHURCH that has just been RAPTURED who are now in the AIR) Come and GATHER yourselves TOGETHER unto the SUPPER of the great God; (It has been said that VENGEANCE TASTES GOOD. And to all the SAINTS will God give this honor of executing vengeance upon the wicked, according to Psalm 149:6-9. “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; Psalm 149:7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; Psalm 149:8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; Psalm 149:9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor has ALL his SAINTS. Praise you the LORD.”) 18. That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. (Keep in mind that there will also be LITERAL birds of prey that will LITERALLY eat the flesh or meat off the bones of the dead that will be slain at the second coming of Jesus. But Jesus teaches us that those TAKEN while the others are LEFT are like the EAGLES gathering over the dead bodies. Please read 17:33-37. “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. (Verses 34 -37 are clearly speaking of the RAPTURE of the church and are GATHERING TOGETHER to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called Armageddon) Luke 17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Luke 17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Luke 17:37 And they answered and said unto him, WHERE, Lord? (Or WHERE will they be taken, Lord?) And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, there will the EAGLES be GATHERED TOGETHER.” Now please read Matthew 24:27-31 to know WHEN the RAPTURE of the church will take place and the saints are TAKEN or caught up into the AIR to meet Jesus. Keep in mind that we who wait upon the Lord shall mount up as wings as EAGLES “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (Or there all the SAINTS who mount up with wings of EAGLES will be GATHERED TOGETHER. And WHEN will this take place? Keep reading the CONTEXT in the next three verses of Scripture) Matthew 24:29 IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” The MARRIAGE SUPPER of the Lamb will take place AT the second coming of Jesus. And we will be caught up into the AIR and GATHERED TOGETHER to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called Armageddon to have the HONOR to help Jesus execute the vengeance and WRATH of God upon the wicked) 19. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.”
#107. The MARRIAGE of Christ and the Church is seen in Romans 7:4. “…that you should be married to another--even to Him Who is raised from the dead.”
True, but this does not prove a pre-tribulation rapture. And why do you not use Revelation chapter 19? Obviously, because Revelation chapter 19 PROVES the POST-tribulation rapture of the church.
#108. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, we, the Church, are “espoused to one husband,” that we may be presented as “a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Same as above. This is not an argument by itself.
#109. In James 4:4, the Church is warned about the lusts of the flesh and love of the world which makes us “adulterers and adulteresses”--a people who turn against their wedding vows (by refusing to keep themselves separate from such things).
I agree that we must keep ourselves pure and spotless to be counted worthy to be the wife of Jesus. But again, this is not an argument that proves a PRE-trib rapture.
#110. The Apostle Paul continually reminds the Church of THE HIGH COST of our PURCHASE PRICE, the BLOOD of Jesus. Paul continually teaches of our COVENANT WITH CHRIST, by which we, His Bride, are SET APART and SANCTIFIED.
True, but this does not prove a pre-trib rapture.
#111. There is clearly a “coming of Jesus” FOR His “Bride” BEFORE His Second Coming to earth. During the tribulation, His Bride is ALREADY in heaven and WILL RETURN to earth WITH Him at the Second Coming. Revelation 19:7-10 and Revelation 19:14. Jude 1:14-15.
NO! ONLY the SOULS of the DEAD SAINTS IN Jesus Christ are in heaven awaiting the first resurrection to receive their new glorified immortal bodies. And there is no need for a PRE-trib rapture to take ONLY the dead saints to heaven. In Jude 1:14,15, we CLEARLY see that these verses are speaking of the SECOND coming of Jesus because Jesus is coming to execute vengeance upon the ungodly. And, we ALSO see that AT this SECOND coming of Jesus that Jesus is coming with ten thousand of his SAINTS. So then the PRE-tribulation rapture theory question arises, “HOW is Jesus going to come FOR his SAINTS when his SAINTS are ALREADY WITH him when he comes again AT his SECOND coming?” Again, the Christians that teach the PRE-tribulation point of view make the CLAIM that the ONLY WAY to reconcile this APPARENT contradiction is to DIVIDED the SECOND coming into TWO different and distinct comings. The FIRST half of his coming will be BEFORE the time of GREAT TRIBULATION in order to RAPTURE his CHURCH and take them back to heaven with him for 7 years while a NEW group of believers is raised up to preach the gospel. And AT his SECOND coming, Jesus will bring those SAINTS WITH him that he RAPTURED BEFORE the time of great tribulation when he comes FOR the TRIBULATION SAINTS. But ALSO at this SECOND coming Jesus will execute the WRATH of God upon the ungodly. However, DIVIDING the ONE and ONLY second coming into TWO separate comings is NOT the ONLY WAY to reconcile the APPARENT contradiction between Jesus coming WITH his SAINTS and Jesus coming FOR his SAINTS. The simple, plain, and clear answer to this APPARENT contradiction can be found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14 which is the same passage of Scripture that teaches that rapture of the church.
1 Thessalonians 4:13,14.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, CONCERNING them which are asleep (In other words, Paul is speaking to the CHURCH about or CONCERNING the SAINTS who have DIED in CHRIST) that you sorrow NOT, even as others which have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, THEM also which SLEEP (Or those SAINTS who have DIED) IN Jesus WILL God BRING WITH him.”
So then, in the very SAME passage of Scripture that is used to teach the pre-tribulation rapture, there is found the answer to HOW is Jesus going to come WITH his SAINTS when AT the SECOND coming Jesus is coming FOR his SAINTS. THEREFORE, there is absolutely NO NEED to DIVIDE the ONE and the ONLY SECOND coming of Jesus into TWO SEPARATE and DISTINCT comings. And thereby make THREE coming of Jesus, when the word of TRUTH clearly and plainly teaches that Jesus will come ONLY TWO times, the FIRST time to suffer and die for our sins and the SECOND time to reign as the King of kings. In TRUTH, the WHOLE word of God teaches a POST tribulation rapture of the CHURCH! Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Again, this a six-part series of in-depth Bible studies covering all 250 so-called reasons FOR a PRE-tribulation rapture of the church. To continue reading this series please click on the link “Part 5 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!” If you have not read Part 1 through Part 6 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture or you would like to reread one or more parts then please click on one of the following links. “Part 1 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!” “Part 2 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!” “Part 3 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!” “Part 4 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!” “Part 5 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!” “Part 6 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!”
I also have many other more SPECIFIC studies on WHEN the rapture of the church will take place but I wanted to be absolutely SURE that I did not MISS any verses of Scripture that are used to try and prove a PRE-tribulation rapture of the church. So please read all the studies under the heading >>>PROPHECY-THE COMING OF JESUS<<<
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
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