The Rapture (Latin for “caught up”) of all true believers in Jesus Christ is a “fantastic” FACT taught in such passages as 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. All saved individuals who are alive at the time of the Rapture will be changed into immortal beings
in the instant they are caught up along with the newly resurrected dead Christians “to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thes. 4:17) But is the Rapture of believers to meet Christ IN THE AIR and the Second Coming of Christ TO THE EARTH the same event?
THE CHRONOLOGY OF PROPHECY IS THE KEYWe do not know exactly when the Second Coming will occur. Nor do we know when the Rapture will occur. We are told, regarding the coming of Christ, that we cannot know the day or the hour. (Mat. 24:36) However, the Bible lays out a basic chronology, or sequence of events, that will occur in the last days. And from these it is clear that the Second Coming of Christ TO THE EARTH will not occur until after the arrival of the Antichrist, until after the Great Tribulation, and until after the War of Armageddon.
Amazingly, this same sequence of events forces us to place the timing of the Rapture before the Tribulation time. Here’s why.
Believers are commanded to constantly be on the alert (Mat. 24:42) and to await eagerly (expect any-moment ) the appearing of Christ (1 Cor. 1:7; Phil. 3:20). We are told to be watching because we do not know if He will come: (1) in the evening
(2) at midnight
(3) at cockcrowing
(4) in the morning
(Mark 13:35) But you can’t say that about the Second Coming, because it can only come after the arrival of the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and Armageddon. That means the Rapture IN THE AIR is a different event than the Second Coming of Christ TO THE EARTH. Therefore, if we follow our Lord’s command to always be “looking for the blessed hope” (Titus 2:13), then this means that Christ could come IN THE AIR at any moment before the arrival of the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, Armageddon and His Second Coming TO THE EARTH. This is called the imminent (any moment), pre-tribulation (before the Tribulation period) Rapture. That is why we are admonished NOT to say “My master will be a long time in coming.” He will come on a day when we do “not expect him.” (Luke 12:45-46)
ASK YOURSELF: ARE YOU LOOKING FOR CHRIST NOW?
Think of it this way. (1) Are you following the Bible’s command to wait and watch for the coming of our Lord, or (2) are you waiting and watching FIRST for the coming of the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, Armageddon, AND ONLY THEN the coming of our Lord? If you are doing the latter, then you believe that the Rapture is a post-tribulation event, and you can put your “watching” on hold, and say “Not yet! My master will be a long time in coming.” But if you are watching for Jesus today, then you have acknowledged that Jesus Christ could come at any time, “at an hour when you do not think He will” (Mat. 24:44), and that the Rapture is a pre-tribulation event.
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Day or the hour of What?
Written by 'Guest' on 2006-05-14 16:49:24
Many believe we will not
know the day or hour of
the return of Christ for his
body.
In Matt. 24:36 It says we will
not know the day or hour of something. What?
It's not the Rapture!
1. Jesus was talking to Jews
at the Olivet discourse.
2. The church for Gentiles had
not been revealed by Paul.
It was still a mystery in
the mind of God, not yet
revealed to Paul and then
The world.
3. Jesus was telling the Jewish
believers that he would come
for them after the Antichrist
was revealed and after the Great
Tribulation.
4. If Jesus was not talking to
The Church about the rapture
which had not been revealed yet to paul for another 15 years,
what was not knowing the day or
hour refering to?
See it in contect in the prior verse
Matt 24:25. it was refering only
to how long God's word would still
be with us. Till heaven and earth
pass away. Read about it in Rev 20.
Till heaven and Earth pass away
is what no man knows the day or
hour of. Till Heaven and earth pass
away, God's word will still be hear.
LOL, Mark P.
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| Contentious subject
Written by 'Guest' on 2006-04-20 16:44:07
I believe the Rapture is one of the most contentious subjects between different Christian ministries today aside from a few others. I have myself have always held in doubt but not rejected the idea of the pre-tribulation rapture, but this article is a very great reminder which provides a new insight in a different way than I have come across thus far. I would very much like to see a web cast done on the rapture if there hasnt been one already (I couldnt find the web cast link). | no one
Written by 'Guest' on 2006-04-15 23:02:33
Dear Phillip
You imply that if I don’t buy in to the theory of pre-trib rapture that im not really following Christ Teachings. Lets look at what Christ said about the rapture. In the parable of the wheat and tares he said the tares would be taken FIRST then the wheat. After the tribulation he said two would be in the field, one will be taken one will remain. Who is taken first? {the tare}.
Paul said we who are alive and remain shall be caught up. I wonder why he used the word remain?
When Christ talks of the tribulation he starts by saying, When YOU see the abomination of desolation. Who is YOU? The Christian. Your own teaching puts you at least midway 2 Thes 2:1-4. This will cause the falling away. Why should I have to be purified through fire. You said id be caught up.
He that endures to the end will be saved Paul
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