“The Rapture”

1. “The Rapture” Will anyone Be “left behind?”

2. rap·ture –noun 1. ecstatic joy or delight; joyful ecstasy. 2. Often, raptures. an utterance or expression of ecstatic delight. 3. the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence. 4. the Rapture, Theology:the experience, anticipated by some fundamentalist Christians, of meeting Christ midway in the air upon his return to earth. 5. Archaic. the act of carrying off.

3. Much has been made of the idea of “The Rapture” Recently, a set (16) of novels (the “Left Behind” series) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins made the ideology even more prominent (and made them tons of money)

4. There is even a website (“You’ve Been Left Behind”) that employs a “dead man’s switch” which will send emails (for a $40 annual maintenance fee, of course) to your addressees once you have been “raptured” The concept is foreign to Scripture; purely fictional, just like its mother, Premillennialism

5. “The Rapture” theory

6. Although there are many variations to it, “the rapture theory” basically claims that the Lord will appear secretly to “snatch away” His saints (both dead and living) Some claim this will occur before a supposed 7-year tribulation period; some, in the midst of it; some, afterwards

7. The righteous (it is claimed) will be “caught up” suddenly, leaving cars, jobs, homes and other things abandoned, causing complete chaos to those left behind While the righteous will be enjoying heaven during this 7-year period, the wicked will be undergoing a period of tribulation on earth

8. At the beginning of the “tribulation period,” the Jews will be miraculously restored to Palestine, make a covenant with the “anti-Christ,” rebuild the temple, begin Jewish rituals anew and convert many In the middle of this period, the “anti-Christ” will break the covenant and demand to be worshiped

9. Great persecution will ensue, resulting in the deaths of many of these “tribulation saints” At the end of the 7-year tribulation, Jesus will return from heaven with His saints, defeat the “anti-Christ” in the “battle of Armageddon,” resurrect the dead “tribulation saints” and establish His 1000-year earthly kingdom and reign

10. While this may make good novel material and fascinating science fiction-type reading, it is not Biblical As Foy E. Wallace once defined Premillennialism: “Pre” means “before” “millennial” means “thousand” “ism” means “it ain’t so”

11. The History of “The Rapture” theory

12. To many it is both amazing and shocking to discover that neither the word rapture nor the doctrine/teaching of a "rapture" is to be found in any Bible translation It is not even mentioned in any “Christian" literature prior to the year 1830

13. Dave MacPherson, (author of The Unbelievable Pre-Trib Origin) reveals that the "rapture" teaching was born in England during the mid-1800's His research reveals that a Church of Scotland minister, named Edward Irving, was the first to preach the "rapture gospel"

14. Because of his strange views on spiritual gifts, Irving was dismissed from the Church of Scotland and formed the Catholic Apostolic Church, a forerunner of modern-day Pentecostalism Prior to his dismissal, during one of his sessions, a young Scottish girl (Margaret McDonald) fell into a “trance” lasting several hours

15. During her “vision” and “prophesying,” McDonald revealed that Christ’s return would be in two phases- one, visible only to the righteous; the second, visible to all This “secret rapture” was then promoted by Irving, who then claimed that he had been told by God to preach it

16. An Englishman (John Darby) was fascinated by Irving’s claims and, after speaking with him, began to champion the movement, adding some “Biblical support” for it It became wildly popular in England and, later, in the U.S., mainly through the influence of Cyrus Scofield’s notes in his “Scofield Reference Bible” (also by Hal Lindsey)

17. It was never taught by the apostles or the Lord; it is not found in the Bible Both Premillennialism and “the rapture” are of recent origin and are heretical in their teachings

18. The false doctrine of “The Rapture” theory

19. The fact of its recent origin should be enough to convince anyone that it is false (Jude 3) The “rapture theory” requires too many comings of Jesus It requires one coming for Him to “catch away” the saints, a second at the end of the “7-year tribulation,” and a third at His final coming to judge the world

20. The Bible reveals only one coming of Jesus

21. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

22. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46 When?

23. 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. John 5:28, 29

24. And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24:15

25. The Bible reveals only one coming of Jesus The “rapture theory” maintains that only a part of humanity will see Him when He returns

26. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7

27. The Bible reveals only one coming of Jesus The “rapture theory” maintains that only a part of humanity will see Him when He returns The “rapture theory” requires too many judgments by Christ: one for the righteous; one for the wicked

28. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; II Timothy 4:1

29. 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. John 5:28, 29

30. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: Matthew 25:31, 32

31. While the Bible speaks of “the day,” the “rapture theory” has not only days, but years involved in the resurrections of the just and the unjust

32. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Matthew 25:31, 32

33. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:54

34. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 6:54

35. While the Bible speaks of “the day,” the “rapture theory” has not only days, but years involved in the resurrections of the just and the unjust The “rapture theory” demands a continuation of the earth after the coming of Jesus

36. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,

37. wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. II Peter 3:10-14

38. Two main passages Of “The Rapture” theory

39. Proponents of the “rapture theory” depend upon two main passages to support their doctrine, neither of which sustain it First Corinthians 15:50-58 First Thessalonians 4:13-17

40. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and Secret, silent, invisible coming?

41. this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. No more death

42. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord At Christ’s 2nd coming, God will raise the dead (Jn. 5:28, 29), and bring the spirits of the departed righteous with Him (I Thes. 3:13), having taken them from paradise (Lk. 16:19-31) In “the twinkling of an eye” the spirits will be rejoined with their bodies and changed to that which is incourrptible (I Cor. 15:50-58) The subject under consideration; not all the dead, just those “in Jesus” Those living shall not precede those which are dead; the dead shall rise first; God is orderly To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints (I Thessalonians 3:13)

43. 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: 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. I Thessalonians 4:13-17 But not to the earth How can this be a secret, silent, invisible coming of the Lord in “the rapture?” Not all the dead; the dead “in Christ;” the subject under consideration Not a separate resurrection (for there will be only one); these “rise first” before the living (vs. 17)

44. 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. John 5:28, 29

45. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John 6:39 Note that only the righteous are under consideration in this passage

46. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 12:48 Note that only the wicked are under consideration in this passage

47. And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24:15

48. 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: 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. I Thessalonians 4:13-17 Since this is His one and only coming, Jesus will never set foot on the earth again Note the location- “in the clouds” Neither the dead nor the living outside of Christ under consideration here; must go elsewhere for information about them (just like I Cor. 15) Covers all that Paul was referencing in this passage; the wicked (either dead or living) not considered This is the group “first” references

49. Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Acts 7:49

50. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Zechariah 6:13