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There persist a myth that the doctrine of the Pre-tribulation Rapture is a recent invention of man. Some say that it began in the early 19th century by Christian fundamentalists. Others have said that it goes back to the Catholic Jesuit order in the 16th century. But the issue is not “When does the man-made articulation of the pre-tribulation rapture begin?”, but rather, “What does the Bible teach?”
You see, the Bible predates all of the human discussion on the subject. And the Bible judges all truth claims. The articles on “The Rapture” at www.prophecywatch.com demonstrate the clear Biblical teaching of the imminent return of Jesus Christ, and thus the earliest and only reliable basis for the Pre-tribulation Rapture doctrine. But since some feel they must persist in the debate of “who said what first,” apart from the Bible, there are inferences of Pre-tribulation Rapture teaching down through church history from the earliest “fathers,” and a few very clear references that pre-date even the 16th century!
The original “pre-millennial, pre-tribulational” views can be traced throughout church history. The essentials of these views appear in the Epistle of Barnabas, (AD. 100) and other early writings: Irenaeus, in Against Heresies; Hippolytus, a disciple of Irenaeus (2nd century); and Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho. These views also show up in The Approaching Deliverance of the Church, by Peter Jurieu, 1687; Philip Doddridge’s Commentary on the New Testament, 1738; Dr. John Gill’s Commentary on the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 1748; James Macknight’s Commentary on the Apostolical Epistles, 1763; and Thomas Scott’s Commentary on the Holy Bible, 1792. The recent discovery of the writings of Ephraem the Syrian also confirm this view: Thomas D. Ice and Timothy J. Demy, Bibliothecra Sacra, July--September 1995. (see Chuck Missler, The Magog Invasion, Western Front LTD., Palo Verdes, CA, 1995, p.274.)
An excerpt from The Shepherd of Hermas reads,
“...this beast is a type of the great tribulation that is coming. if then ye prepare yourselves, and repent with all your heart, and turn to the Lord, it will be possible for you to escape it, if your heart be pure and spotless, and ye spend the rest of the days of your life in serving the Lord blamelessly.” (The Shepherd of Hermas, 1.4.2; Written 90-140 AD)
The passage from the sermon “The Last Times, The Antichrist, and The End of the World” by Ephraem the Syrian (possibly Pseudo-Ephraem) reads as follows,
“Why therefore do we not reject every care of earthly actions and prepare ourselves for the meeting of the Lord Christ, so that he may draw us from the confusion, which overwhelms all the world?...For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins.” (composed sometime between the fourth and sixth century AD)
Again, refer to www.prophecywatch.com “Rapture” articles for evidence that the Pre-tribulation Rapture is taught in the Bible—the only testimony that really counts! |
off topic but important
Written by 'Guest' on 2006-05-10 22:13:22
PLEASE LOOK AT THIS
I know the Christian world with any hint of biblical knowledge can agree that in the end there will be great tribulation. When a question will be asked, which path shall I take? That question would be easy to answer in the comfort of our own homes with our bellies full of food. But what if we in the near future, are thrust in to another world where our words that have given us strength have no place and all that we thought we knew has gotten lost in someone else’s back seat, as we’re taken to a place where pain and peer pressure can be vary present and persuasive obstacle!
Would we still make the right choice? Where tattoos and implants are already the norm this can be a possibility. On a conscious level this can be done! Then later removed when we have come to our senses. But can we look for a moment to something that is already being implemented within and against us on a supernatural and subtle level.
Have We Already Received This Mark With Out Knowing It?
Rev 13:16-17
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Exodus 13:8-9
8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law, may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
Rev 17: 5-8
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Rev 7:2-3
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 9:4
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Rev 9:20-21
20 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.
Jeremiah 3:2-4
2 Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.
3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?
Ezekiel 9:4
4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Rev 13:14-18
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Rev 14:1
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 13:
9 If any man has an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
| Chris Chambers
Written by 'Guest' on 2006-05-03 21:59:49
I'm looking at Matthew 24:13-31 and Rev 7:13-14 which clearly speaks of a gathering of saints AFTER the great "Tribulation." Also, Luke 21:7-28 points out that we should not be deceived, for there are Prerequisites before his coming and that all shall see it. No secret rapture at all! | Written by 'Guest' on 2006-04-16 03:35:41
Why is it that people are so "fixated" on the Rapture that they forget that it happens AFTER another big event ????? The Resurrection is totally ignored ! It is so curious . |
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