Behold, I tell you a secret; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (1 Corinthians 15.51-52).
Introduction
Great controversy and confusion exists in Christendom regarding the doctrine of the Rapture. This unfortunate state is a result of not understanding Pauline theology–a failure of both Biblical neophytes and theological professionals. Much of the failure is simply unbelief–a refusal to believe the straightforward message of the Scripture. This study will examine the Pauline texts with the goal to end the confusion and turn unbelief to faith.
The Word “Rapture” (ἁρπάζω)
The word “rapture” does not occur in our English Bibles. We get the word by way of St. Jerome (c. 347-420 A.D.). In his work of revising the Latin New Testament from the Greek New Testament, he translated the Greek word ἁρπάζω into the Latin “rapiemur.” The Latin verb form is “rapio” and means to be “caught up” or “taken away.” From these Latin words come our English word “rapture.” While Paul used the word ἁρπάζω only once (1 Thessalonians 4.17), he taught the doctrine of the Rapture in other places using other expressions. The Greek word ἁρπάζω means to “seize” or “snatch away.” It is used 13 times in the following verses: Matthew 11.12, 13.19; John 6.15, 10.12, 28-29; Acts 8.39, 23.10; 2 Corinthians 12.2, 12.4; 1 Thessalonians 4.17; Jude 1.23; Revelation 12.5.
What is the Rapture?
To begin to understand the Rapture we must first define it. The Rapture is the resurrection of the Church, the body of Christ. It is part of the great Biblical doctrine of resurrection in which all who have put their trust in the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, will receive resurrection bodies and be with the Lord forever. The resurrection of the Church occurs when Christ returns to earth in the clouds for His Body. The Lord meets us in the air because heaven is our destiny and abode. The Church is God’s heavenly people. Contrasted to His return for His body is His return for Israel and the nations. This is His second coming, when He returns to earth (Acts 1.11; Zechariah 14.4). Israel is God’s earthly people who have an earthly destiny (Matthew 6.10). After this advent, God will establish His long-promised kingdom on earth in which Israel will be preeminent among the nations (Deuteronomy 28.1, 13). But the Rapture comprises the largest ingathering of believers in the resurrections unto life. For Paul, the Rapture WAS the return of Christ.
The Key to Understanding the Rapture
Some have stated that the Rapture is wholly Paul and that Jesus never predicted such an event.1 This is correct. The Old Testament prophets and John the Baptist knew nothing of it. Jesus, in His earthly ministry taught nothing about it. Nor did the Twelve. The resurrected, glorified Lord revealed this truth to Paul alone.
Paul provides us with the key to understand the Rapture in 1 Corinthians 15.51. He wrote the Corinthians,
Behold, I tell you a secret; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed (1 Corinthians 15.51).
Paul wrote that the Rapture was a “secret” (μυστήριον). This is key to understanding the Rapture: it was a secret. The Greek text is “ἰδοὺ μυστήριον ὑμῖν λέγω” and may be translated, “Look!, I am telling (λέγω, present active indicative) you a secret!” Paul worded his sentence emphatically to get his readers’ attention. He wanted them to understand that he was revealing something new and important.
A μυστήριον is something hidden, a secret. If something is a secret, what does that mean? It means that it is unknown, hidden, and previously unrevealed. What Paul revealed to his audience was an event God had kept hidden. He did not reveal it to His Old Testament prophets, Jesus did not disclose it in His earthly ministry, and the Twelve knew nothing about it. God revealed this secret to Paul alone.2 Had God revealed the resurrection? Yes. Job knew about it (Job 19.26), Jesus taught it (John 5.24-25, 28-29, 11.23), and the common people during Jesus’ time knew about it (John 11.24). The Pharisees taught it (Acts 23.6,8) and the Sadducees rejected it (Matthew 22.23). Paul was not revealing something new when he wrote about resurrection. But the revelation of the Rapture was new, a secret part of the resurrection.
The Order of Resurrections
Paul liked the resurrection to a harvest, based upon what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 15.20-23. According to Leviticus 23.9-10, 19.9-10, Israel had three harvests: the first fruits, the main harvest, and the harvest of the gleanings and corners of a field left for the poor. Jesus was the first fruits along with some Jewish saints buried around Jerusalem (Matthew 27.51-53). The main harvest is the body of Christ. Last is the harvest of the Old Testament and Tribulation believers. All these resurrections are part of what Jesus called the resurrection unto life (John 5.28-29). The resurrection unto death will occur at the end of the Messianic Kingdom at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20.11-15). At that judgment, Jesus will judge all who have rejected Him and His salvation. Below is an outline of the resurrections.
| The Order of the Resurrections Likened to Harvests | |
| I. The Resurrection of Life (ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς), i.e., the resurrection of all who have put their trust in Christ (John 5.28-29) occurs in 3 separate “harvests.” | |
| A. Harvest of First Fruits (Leviticus 23.9-10) |
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| B. Main Harvest | The resurrection of the Church, the Body of Christ, a.k.a. the Rapture and the Day of Christ (1 Corinthians 15.23, 52-53; 1 Thessalonians 4.14-17; 2 Thessalonians 1.1-6). |
| C. Harvest of Gleanings and Corners Leviticus 19.9-10) |
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| II. The Resurrection of Condemnation (ἀνάστασιν κρίσεως) involves those who have rejected Christ and His salvation (John 5.28-29) and follows the 1,000 year Messianic reign of Christ (Revelation 20.11-15). | |
The Rapture Texts
Paul taught the doctrine of the Rapture in several texts. They include the following: 1 Corinthians 15.51-52, 1 Thessalonians 1.9-10, 4.13-18, 5.1-5, 5.9-11, 2 Thessalonians 1.6-10, 2.1-12, Philippians 3.8-11, 21.
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15 is the great resurrection chapter of the Bible. Paul taught more about the resurrection in that passage than all other Biblical texts combined. Paul made the following points in the passage.
- The death and resurrection of Christ is the gospel. Believing it is how one becomes a Christian, that is, how one is saved (1 Corinthians 15.1-4, 5-11).
- If no resurrection exists, Christ Himself has not been raised. If this is so, no forgiveness of sin exists (1 Corinthians 15.12-19).
- The resurrection occurs in a sequence. Christ was the “first fruits” as in a harvest. All “in Christ” will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15.20-34).
- Two different kinds of bodies exist: earthly and heavenly. A resurrection body is heavenly and eternal (1 Corinthians 35-50).
- Not all believers will experience physical death. Some members of the Church, the body of Christ will receive resurrection bodies while they remain alive. Their earthly bodies will be transformed into heavenly, eternal bodies. This was a secret before Paul (1 Corinthians 15.51-52).
- The resurrection of the believer’s body is his ultimate victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15.53-58) and constitutes the final phase of salvation. It was made possible by the Lord’s glorious resurrection after his victory over sin and death.
1 Corinthians 15.51-52
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery [secret]; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
From the passage above we learn the following about the Rapture.
- The Rapture was a secret (μυστήριον).
- All members of the body of Christ (the Church) will not sleep (Paul’s euphemism for death) but all will be changed (ἀλλάσσω–to change from one thing to another). Paul used this word in Romans 1.23 and Galatians 4.20. In Philippians 3.21, Paul used the term μετασχηματίζω to describe this transformation.
- The transformation will occur instantaneously, in a “moment” (ἄτομος–“that which cannot be divided” from which we get our word “atom” and in the “twinkling of an eye”–ῥιπή–a throw, stroke, beat, a moment of time).
- The event will occur at the last trumpet.3
- Just as the resurrection has an order, the Rapture occurs in a sequence. Members of the body of Christ who have died will be raised first and given resurrection bodies. Then, members of the body of Christ who are alive will exchange their earthly bodies for resurrection bodies. Paul’s use of “we” in verse 52 indicated he expected the event to occur in his lifetime.
With regard to the sequence (5 above) Paul wrote the following in 1 Corinthians 15.22-25:
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.
A universal truth that exists for the human race is 1) all “in Adam” die and 2) all “in Christ” will be made alive. No hope exists for mankind outside of Christ. All that awaits men and women apart from Christ is death (eternal separation from God). Every human being inherits death from Adam (Genesis 2.17). We obtain life from Christ. In verse 23, Paul explained that the resurrection has an order (τάγμα). The word means something set in a particular arrangement and was used of a body of soldiers. Christ was the first fruits of the resurrection order. Second in order will be the body of Christ, the Church. These are those who have believed Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4), “those who are Christ’s at His coming.” Usually, when Paul spoke of the Lord’s coming he meant the Rapture (Titus 2.13).
1 Thessalonians 1.9-10
9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
Most theologians regard Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians as the first letter he wrote. In this letter, Paul revealed he had taught the Thessalonians about the Rapture even though they were new believers. The “wrath” to which Paul referred was future, the prophesied Day of the Lord or Tribulation in which God will pour His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting world. Believers will not go through this horrific period for God rescues (ῥύομαι) them (us) from it. Paul had much to say about this rescue in the following passages.
1 Thessalonians 4.13-18
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
In verse 13, Paul comforted his readers regarding believers who had died “are asleep.” Sleep was the language Paul used to describe believers who had died. Paul reiterated the gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) and the hope members of the body of Christ have, that God will bring with Him (Christ) all who have died (verse 14). In verses 15 through 17, Paul gave the sequence of the Rapture. He wrote that his information came by direct revelation from the ascended Christ, “by the word of the Lord” (verse 15). The sequence of events was the following:
- Those who are alive when the Lord returns will not precede those who have died. Those who are “asleep” will be raised (given resurrection bodies) first.
- The Lord will vacate heaven with a shout (κέλευσμα). The Greek word translated “shout” is a galvanizing command, e.g., “Now!” Concomitant to the Lord’s shout will be the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God. These commands signal the rising of the dead in Christ (the body of Christ).
- Second in resurrection sequence will be believers who are alive. They will be transformed (earthly bodies will be exchanged for heavenly bodies). Both groups will be “caught up”, “seized” “snatched away” (ἁρπάζω) to be forever with the Lord.
Paul told the Thessalonians to comfort one another with these words. The word “comfort” is παρακαλεῖτε, the present, active, imperative of παρακαλέω. Thus, it was an ongoing command. Paul commanded believers to comfort one another with the doctrine of the Rapture. Those who reject the Rapture have refused the Lord’s orders.
1 Thessalonians 5.1-5
1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day: we are not of night nor of darkness;
Paul had given the Thessalonians a full course on end-time events so that he could write them that they needed no more instruction. Some ask why study or teach prophecy or end-time events. One answer is that Paul did. Another reason is that prophecy comprises about one-fourth of the Word of God and “all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable” (2 Timothy 3.16). Lastly, prophecy provides the believer with the assurance that God knows the end from the beginning and that all is under His control.
You and Them
The Thessalonians knew from Paul about the Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1.1-18) and that it would come like “a thief in the night.” That day will come unexpectedly. Pay attention to Paul’s words. When he spoke about believers he used the 2nd person pronoun “you.” When he spoke about unbelievers he shifted to third person pronouns “they,” “them,” e.g., “destruction will come upon them,” “they will not escape.” He then returned to the 2nd person, “but you” to tell his readers that the Day of the Lord would not overtake them as a thief, etc. Paul indicated that not only did the Thessalonians know about these events, they would not experience them. The reason they would not experience them was they were members of the body of Christ. They would be removed from the earth when the Lord returned in the air. This is as clear a teaching as anything Paul wrote. It is impossible, if we believe the Scriptures, for members of the body of Christ to go through the Tribulation. This one passage eliminates all possibility of a mid-Tribulation or post-Tribulation Rapture. How anyone can miss this point in light of this text is hard to understand.
1 Thessalonians 5.9-11
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Paul reiterated that believers will not go through the horrors of the Tribulation, He wrote, “God has not destined us for wrath.” The wrath to which he referred was not hell. The context of the passage is the Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1.1-18), not salvation from sin, death, and hell. Paul taught that believers would not experience the Day of the Lord in which God will pour out his wrath upon the earth. The “salvation” to which Paul referred was salvation from the Day of the Lord. In verse 10, Paul declared that because Christ died for us, whether we are awake or asleep (alive or dead), we will live together with Him.
2 Thessalonians 1.6-10
6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
In the above passage, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians believers who were undergoing persecution as a result of their faith. He indicated God would afflict those who were persecuting them and “give relief (ἄνεσις) to you who are afflicted.” Paul believed the Lord would return soon–in his lifetime. When that occurred, the Lord would rescue them from the persecution they were undergoing. After this event, God would initiate the Day of the Lord. During that period He will punish all who “do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
2 Thessalonians 2.1-12
1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? (2 Thessalonians 2.1-5)
These words follow-up Paul’s earlier teaching in 1 Thessalonians. Apparently, false teachers had troubled the Thessalonians by telling them that the persecution they were experiencing was the Day of the Lord. These were the first post-tribulationalists. Paul was quick to crush this teaching. He wrote them to “not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the Day of the Lord has come.” The Day of the Lord was prophesied throughout the Old Testament and Jesus referred to it as the Tribulation (Matthew 24.21-22). Paul admonished them that no matter what they heard or from whom, from a spirit (angel), or some other “message” (λόγος) or letter purportedly from Paul, to pay no attention to it. They were to stick with Paul’s teaching that when the Lord came, He would gather (πισυναγωγή) them to Himself before God poured out His wrath–the Day of the Lord.
In verse 3, Paul provided more information about the coming Day of the Lord. He warned them not to let anyone deceive them. Paul wrote that the Day of the Lord would not come unless (ἐὰν μή) “the departure” (ἡ ἀποστασία) came first. The word ἀποστασία means “depart” (cf. Acts 21.21) and in this content is synonymous with the Rapture.4
Paul then reminded his readers that he had already taught them these things (verse 5).
6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word (2 Thessalonians 2.6-17).
In the above verses, Paul declared that this “secret of lawlessness” had already begun. As it was at work during Paul’s day it is still now. What did he mean? He meant that Satan, as the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4.4) has a plan to insert his man to rule the world. Satan is not beyond time and his knowledge of the future is limited. He may have someone ready to fulfill his plan in each generation. The one who restrains (ὁ κατέχων) this evil is God the Holy Spirit. The revelation of Satan’s man cannot occur until the Holy Spirit is “taken out of the way” (ἐκ μέσου γένηται). Literally, this phrase reads, “he becomes out of the middle.” Standing in the middle, between Satan’s plan to establish his man into the world and our present world, is God the Holy Spirit. God will remove His restraint when He comes for the body of Christ (the Church) since God the Holy Spirit indwells every believer. When this occurs, Satan will recognize his opportunity and move to promote his man. After seven years, when God’s wrath has run its course, at the end of the Tribulation, the Lord will return (Luke 13.35) and destroy him (Revelation 19.20, 20.10).
In verses 9-16 Paul revealed that this man, empowered by Satan, the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4.3-4), will display Satan’s power by supernatural wonders and deceive the world. The world will be deceived “because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” God is fair and allows each person to choose for or against Him. Paul explained that they will not believe the truth because they “took pleasure in wickedness.” Paul ended this passage by reminding them of their salvation and encouraged them to hold to the teachings he had taught them.
Philippians 3.8-11
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a record of Paul’s joy and celebration of his life in Christ. Written from prison (Philippians 1.7), Paul declared that what he had lost for the sake of Christ was but refuse or garbage (σκύβαλον) compared to his life in Christ. In verse 10, Paul desired to know Christ, the power of His resurrection (ἀνάστασις) and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death (Romans 6.3-8). In verse 11, he declared he wished to attain to the resurrection (ἐξανάστασις) from the dead. What did Paul mean by these statements?
Paul had no doubt he would be resurrected. Even before he put his faith in Jesus he believed in the resurrection: he was a Pharisee. In verse 10, he expressed his desire to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection. By this, Paul meant the power to overcome sin daily and live a Christ-empowered (resurrection empowered) life (Romans 6.3-8, 8.10-23). In verse 11, we find something different. He changed from using ἀνάστασις to ἐξανάστασις. The latter word is a hapax legomenon (transliteration of ἅπαξ λεγόμενον). It is used only here in the Bible. Paul coined this word to express the hope he held dear. Literally, the word means “out resurrection.” Paul formed the word by combining the Greek preposition ἐκ (out) with ἀνάστασις (resurrection). What was the “out resurrection?” The “out resurrection” was that resurrection in which believers who are alive will be taken from the earth to meet the Lord in the air to receive a resurrection body. The “out resurrection” is the Rapture–the “blessed hope” (Titus 2.13).
Philippians 3.20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Paul concluded chapter 3 by reminding the Philippians that our citizenship (πολίτευμα) is heavenly and await eagerly (ἀπεκδέχομαι) the Lord’s return (Romans 8.23; 1 Corinthians 1.7). When He comes, He will transform us to have immortal, resurrection bodies. The word translated by the NASB as “transform” and KJV “change” is μετασχηματίζω. This word (metaschematization) is similar to the the word metamorphose but emphasizes the process of change rather than its result (e.g., from catapillar to butterfly). When the Lord returns, he will fashion our bodies to enjoy eternity with Him. Now that’s a hope!
Conclusion
- The Rapture was a secret God kept hidden until He revealed it to Paul (1 Corinthians 15.51).
- Paul coined a new word for the Rapture, ἐξανάστασις “out-resurrection” (Philippians 3.11, the “blessed hope” (Titus 2.13).
- The Rapture is a part of the great doctrine of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.20-24, 35-58, 51-53).
- The Rapture occurs according to a sequence (1 Corinthians 15.20, 22-23, 51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18)
- Believers who are alive will not experience God’s wrath, the Day of the Lord, i.e., the Tribulation, but will be delivered from it. When the body of Christ is complete God will remove His Church and refocus His work upon Israel to fulfill His covenants (Romans 5.9; 1 Thessalonians 1.10, 5.9-10; 2 Thessalonians 2.1-2; Romans 11.25-26).
- We are commanded to proclaim the Rapture to comfort one another until the Lord comes (1 Thessalonians 4.18).
- The Rapture is a separate event from the Day of the Lord and the return of Christ to the earth (2 Thessalonians 2.2, 10-12, 12; 1 Thessalonians 4.17; Zechariah 14.1-4; Acts 1.11-12). See the author’s study on The Day of Christ.
1 See Farewell to the Rapture by N. T. Wright. Ignorant of Pauline theology, the Bishop of Durham, and others who reject the Rapture, may be likened to Apollos who required instruction from Aquila and Priscilla to understand Paul’s teaching (Acts 18.24-26 cf. Galatians 1.11-12, 2.7-9).
2 The ascended, glorified Lord revealed many truths to Paul He had not revealed previously. Paul named these revelations “secrets.” God most likely revealed some of these new truths to Paul after his conversion when he was in Arabia (Galatians 1.15-17). Later, Paul most likely received other revelations. Without an understanding of Paul’s “secrets” one cannot understand his theology. Indeed, without this understanding one cannot understand Christianity. See the author’s study on Paul’s Mystery.
3 This “last trumpet” has nothing to do with the trumpets of the book of Revelation. The trumpets in Revelation signal God’s judgments upon the earth. No hint of judgment exists in Paul’s passage. Indeed, we find the opposite. Paul’s passage deals with the believer’s victory over sin and death and the receipt of a sinless and eternal body. This “last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15.52) is a “trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4.16) whereas the trumpets in Revelation are angelic trumpets (Revelation 8.2, 6). The “trumpet of God” which Paul described is signals completion of the Church, the body of Christ and Christ coming for it, not judgments (Revelation 8.7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 9.1-13, 14-11.14, 11.15-19).
4 Only Luke and Paul used the noun and verbs ἀποστασία and ἀφίστημι. Paul used ἀποστασία with the definite article “ἡ”–“ἡ ἀποστασία.” Unlike English, a definite article in Greek is unnecessary to make a noun definite. It can be definite without a definite article depending on the context. The definite article was used originally as a weak demonstrative pronoun, i.e., “this,” “that,” “these,” “those.” Its inclusion draws attention to the object. Thus, Paul’s use of the definite article ἡ with ἀποστασία emphasized its identity: “THE departure.” This “departure” was synonymous with ἁρπάζω of 1 Thessalonians 4.17. See the author’s study on 1 and 2 Thessalonians for more information on ἀποστασία.
©2011 Don Samdahl. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold.
Updated December 26, 2011
Jesus introduced the precept of the gathering process, or Rapture, first in the Olivet Discourse in Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus offered a separate sister prophecy in Luke 17:22-37 explaining the two days of the Son of man to come. Paul was adding information to this precept when he gave us the mystery in 1 Cor. 15:51-54. There are seven revelations in these verses, not only the two you offer as a precept on Rapture. Death will be swallowed up in victory, mortal must put on immortality, corruptible must put on incorruption, the last trumpet will sound, we will not sleep, we will be changed, all in the twinkling of an eye. Paul recorded many precepts for us, but this is not a new precept, this mystery adds key information to the taken and left prophecies Jesus offered in the gospels. Jesus introduced the Rapture precept while He walked with His disciples. This was veiled language to the Jews, but after the cross it is not. The taken are the other fold Jesus told His disciples about in John 10:16, the Christians; when the Rapture occurs, the left will not be changed as we will be, they will remain on this planet, and the great tribulation mentioned in Matt. 24:21 will be added to them at this time. Great tribulation begins in Israel, and it begins the day that wretched soul steps into the soon to come temple. That’s the first revelation in this chapter, the beast commits the abomination of desolation, the second revelation is the Son of man coming in the clouds, and He comes to take, or gather together His elect, and He comes in the clouds of heaven. How can this not be the Rapture? The abomination of desolation is precisely the act that will cause us to look up, because our redemption is drawing near. We will not be disappointed, we will see the Son of man in heaven. This act will make God the Father very angry, this is when He will send His Son to gather His body. I hope you truly consider this long response in the reality to come, after the Abraham Accords are signed by many and prophecy begins again. This is an amazing thing, the prophecy in Dan. 9:27 can be fulfilled any day now, yet none speak of this reality.
Daniel,
The Rapture was a secret the risen Lord revealed to Paul. It is not found in the Old Testament, gospels, or the writings of Peter, James, John, or Jude. There are several differences between Christ’s 2nd Advent and the Rapture. The Church is outside of prophecy and Israel and the Gentiles are inside prophecy. Theologically, it was not possible for Jesus to introduce the Rapture for it concerns only the Church and the Church did not come into existence until Paul. Paul thought he would experience the Rapture. The other writers thought they would experience the Tribulation. The “last trumpet” Paul wrote of does not mean last in a series but last in the sense of completion, the completion of the Church, the body of Christ.
Why are these not Rapture words? 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 power of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a sound of a great trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matt. 24:29-31. He will send His angels with a great trumpet sound, these angels will gather together His elect, He will appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. I have to ask again, Why are these not Rapture words in your mind?
Daniel,
The Rapture concerns the Church. Jesus made no mention of the Church. The Church was a secret. The Church is outside prophecy. The Rapture was a secret. How could one write about the Rapture of the Church when the Church did not exist? These words concern the Lord’s 2nd Advent. The sun being darkened, etc. is a quotation of Joel 2, which Peter quoted in Acts 2. These words reveal Christ; He will be seen returning in great glory. None of this occurs at the Rapture.
Daniel,
I’m a layman and don’t pretend to know much. I do read in Matthew 24:36 that Jesus, the Man-side of what’s called the hypostatic union, didn’t know everything either. To say that Jesus spoke of the Rapture when Paul, who was taught by the risen Lord, says the Rapture is a mystery (1 Cor 15) I believe it (Rapture) is one of those mysteries Paul speaks of in Romans 16. Paraphrased
—unknown by anyone since the creation of the world. —
Comingling prophecy with mystery is a slippery slope in my opinion.
“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:” Jesus did tell His disciples about Christians, even if very few notice the meaning to these words. He also gave us two characteristics of the Rapture in the same verse. John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Daniel,
Sheep are always used for Israel, Jews, never for Gentiles, never for the Church. The “sheep not of this fold” referred to Jews not of Jesus’ generation, who would believe in Him—in particular, Jews who will believe in Him in the Tribulation. Ultimately, this is fulfillment of Ezekiel 37, unification of believing Israel, which Paul called “all Israel” in Romans 11.26.
Don,
We will have to agree to disagree. If the Rapture happens before the covenant is signed, you will in heaven get to tell me I told you so, but if Israel begins the temple after the many sign the covenant, our dispute will also be solved.
Daniel,
That’s fine. Numerous Scriptures explicitly declare the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation. I do not understand how one cannot see that the Rapture and the 2nd Advent are different and that the Rapture was a secret (unless one believes Paul was a liar or that the Scriptures are false). We meet Christ in the air, He does not come to earth in the Rapture. But in the 2nd Advent, He comes back to earth (Acts 1.11).
Daniel Stanton is clearly in the wrong and his pride will not allow him to see the error. Let go of false doctrine, especially doctrine which does not conform to salvation, that is, the rapture is NOT a salvation doctrine. Either we live till he returns and are changed in the twinkling of an eye, or we die a natural death and to be absenty from the body is to be present with the Lord. So why hold to an erroneous doctrine except in pride?
The fact that no man knows the hour or the day is a reference to the two day feast known as the Feast of Trumpets based on sighting of the first sliver of the new moon; therefore the rapture will be during the feast of trumpets, a two day feast (as I wrote) which is known as the day/hour no man knows because of vagaries of sighting the new moon.
I understand that the entire 7 years is a period of G0d’s wrath on Earth, and that believers will not esperience this. The Spirit ruach hakodesh must be taken from the middle in order for Satan to reveal the man he has chosen to be his own, in a perverted imitation of Yeshua on Earth.
Dr. Ramon de Torres,
Thank you. The Rapture was a secret and as such is outside of God’s covenant and prophetic plan. For this reason it cannot be associated with something like the Feast of Trumpets, which is Jewish. The Beast will be revealed at the beginning of the seven years but in the middle, he will be indwelt by Satan and become superhuman. Satan will raise him from the dead, imitating the Lord’s resurrection. This act will cause the world to worship him.
I believe the Rapture is a different event from the second advent, but you are correct that I do not believe the Rapture was a secret, and I do not believe it will come quietly. I do not believe Paul was a liar, I do not believe your interpretation that Paul was informing us the Rapture was a secret, there is a difference. I believe Jesus brought us the precept of the Rapture, between the Olivet Discourse and the sister prophecy in Luke 17:22-37, Jesus teaches us the Son of man will be revealed the same day the antichrist reveals himself in the new temple. I know that no one knows the day or the hour of His return, but the information is there to understand that the abomination of desolation, and the coming of the Son of man occur on the same day. I also know great tribulation will not be manifest, until after the abomination of desolation.
Daniel,
Paul wrote the Rapture was a secret (1 Corinthians 15.51). Jesus could not reveal the Rapture for it was a secret. The Rapture only concerns the Church and the Church did not exist. Paul revealed several secrets, the Church, the gospel of grace, the blinding of Israel, the Rapture, etc. Almost everything Paul taught was a secret because the Church itself was a secret. As such, all Church theology was a secret distinct from prophecy which concerns Israel and the nations. Paul was God’s unique apostle, not an extension of the Twelve. This was why Peter had such difficulty understanding Paul. The Tribulation lasts 7 years according to Daniel 9. The book of Revelation describes a time period of seven years. The last 3 1/2 years are “great” for the Beast is indwelt by Satan. When that occurs, the Beast enters the Temple and declares he is God—that is the abomination of desolation. The world will be ordered to take his mark or die. The Lord will not be revealed until the end of the Tribulation. Then, He comes with the clouds (not rain clouds but the angelic host) and every eye will see Him.
Tribulation does not begin with the signing of the covenant, it begins after the abomination of desolation, the covenant begins the final seven years of Israel’s history, not the beginning of tribulation. Luke 17:22-37 And he said unto the disciples, the days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where,Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. The events Jesus described in this prophecy will manifest the same day the abomination of desolation occurs, this is simple to corroborate by comparing these words to the words in Matt. 24. Matt. 24 shows both revelations, but Luke only speaks of the Son of man being revealed. These two prophecies are linked to the same day, but Luke’s prophecy shows us the Rapture will take place after 6 p.m. Israel time on the day these two revelations are manifest to the whole world. “I tell you, in that night” begins the second day of this prophecy. As in Matt. 24, the Son is revealed in heaven, in the air, He also gathers His own in this prophecy, and getting down to the morbid truth, the taken are the bodies we leave for the birds, in both prophecies, the taken do not bring this filthy rag we are housed in to heaven. The left will have to deal with great tribulation, because they missed the Rapture. Thank you for allowing me to freely express my understanding.
Daniel,
We know from the numbers given in Revelation that the Tribulation lasts 7 years. That accords with the “week” of Daniel 9.27. This is the basis for a 7 year Tribulation. It makes sense that it begins with the acceptance of the Beast covenant for this action will kick off all the prophetic events that will take place, ending in Christ’s return. I can see no Scriptural basis for the Tribulation beginning at the abomination of desolation. That occurs at the mid-point of the 7 years. The “one taken. . .,” etc. has nothing to do with the Rapture. The “one taken” is taken into judgment. The “one left” goes into the kingdom. The problem with all this is that it mixes God’s program with Israel and the nations with His program of the Church. This is the chief problem in Christendom which has caused most of the confusion and has resulted in thousands of denominations. God is not the author of confusion. We have created confusion because of faulty theology. If people saw how different Paul was in the theology of the Church from God’s covenant program 99% of the disagreements would disappear.
These words all speak of the same day, the day Jacob’s trouble begins. Matt.24 15-21 When ye therefore
shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. I have to ask, If the taken go into judgment as you say, who are the carcases in Matt. 24:28, or the bodies in Luke 17:37, left for the birds? These bodies are the bodies we leave on the earth, when we are taken to heaven.
Daniel,
At the mid-point of the Tribulation, Jesus told the Jews to flee to the mountains. The abomination of desolation is the Beast going into the Temple, stopping the daily sacrifice, and demonstrating he is God. Paul wrote about this in 2 Thessalonians 2 and explicitly stated the Rapture had occurred and this was not something they had to worry about. The carcasses are the bodies of all those the Lord has killed at Armageddon when he treads the wine press (Isaiah 63.1—6; Revelation 14.14-20, 19.11-21).
The first reaping, the one the that the one like unto the Son of man performs in Rev. 14, is for those that will gain the victory over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name. These will be taken out after the beast has his three and a half years. But those taken in Matt. 24, are taken out the same time the beast reveals himself in the temple, and Jesus reveals Himself in heaven. We that are taken out when Christ is revealed in the midst of the final seven years do not suffer great tribulation, because great tribulation also begins after these two revelations occur. Those that will be victorious over the beast will suffer great tribulation, they will suffer because they were lukewarm, or unbelievers, when the Blessed Hope is manifest for His own. After the Rapture, the beast receives his 42 months, he is dispatched at the “supper of the great God”, recorded in Rev. 19: 11-21, but the “three unclean spirits like frogs” will abandon the false prophet, the beast, and the dragon before the supper of the great God, because this is the beast’s final day, not Satan’s. Satan will be bound during the “battle of the great day of God Almighty”. Satan abandons the three to gather the participants that will join him in the place called Armageddon, and this will all manifest when the sixth vial is poured out. Rev. 16:12-16 And the sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. The battle of the great day of God Almighty is when Satan is bound, and will occur a time and a season beyond the supper of the great God. This period of time between the beast’s demise and the time it takes for the three frogs to gather those destined for Armageddon is recorded in Dan.7:11-12 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body was given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. So the beast will be slain, along with the false prophet, these will receive the bodies they earn and will be tossed into the lake of fire, but the frogs will live on for a season and time, until they show up at Armageddon, and get pummeled by very large hail. Don, thank you, I still am amazed and pleased with what you have created, whether we agree with you or not, you post our thoughts, this definitely impresses me.
Daniel,
The problem with what you have written is that I can see no Scripture to support it. We have several Scriptures that teach the Church is removed by Christ before the Tribulation begins. How do you reconcile them with what you have written? The Scripture is clear Satan will not be bound until after Christ returns, during the period of the 1,000 year kingdom (Revelation 20.1-3). The view you have proposed sees no difference in the Church and God’s prophetic program with Israel and the nations. Paul wrote that there are three theological groups: Jews, Gentiles, Church (1 Corinthians 10.32). When one believes Paul’s gospel one is no longer Jew or Gentile. One is Church. The Church must be removed before God can proceed with His prophetic program. The Church is nowhere present in any of the prophetic writings. How do you reconcile your view with the many Scriptures that are to the contrary? You might be interested in my book, Understanding the Jewish Writings: An Examination of Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, and Revelation and Understanding 1-2 Thessalonians: An Examination (shameless promotion) where these subjects are explained.
I did mention we do not suffer great tribulation. I also have to mention the next group of people to report to heaven is the 144,000 recorded in Rev. 14:1-5, not the Rapture people, but we will quickly follow them. Rev. 14:1-5 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. The very next verses put those who dwell on the earth in the days of the antichrists reign. These 144,000 are sealed (redeemed) first in Revelation chapter 7, before the great multitude, which no man could number, stand before God’s throne. This means Rev. chapter 7 is also the same time when the beast begins his rule, in the midst of the final seven years, the day after he commits the abomination of desolation. I know that many teach the 144,000 remain on the earth, but the verses I recorded say, these 144,000 are the firstfruits to God, the next group of people to report to God’s throne. The elders are present, but the great multitude has not arrived yet, we that belong to the great multitude report to the throne a small amount of time after the 144,000 do.
Daniel,
The 144,000 are not the firstfruits of death but the firstfruits of life. The are saved at the beginning of the Tribulation. Again, how do you reconcile the numerous verses that declare the Church is removed before the Tribulation? Why is there no mention of the Church or Church language in Revelation? The Beast is ruling before the abomination. What happens at the mid-point is that he is no longer just human, but superhuman, indwelt by Satan as the son of the destruction, like Judas.
What happens at the midst of the seven years, is the beast is revealed when he commits the abomination of desolation, there will be war in heaven, and this is when Satan will be ejected from heaven. The Son of man will then be revealed in heaven, and we are out of here. During the beginning of this seven years Israel will build the temple, and begin all that the Judean religion demands, this period of time will not have tribulation, tribulation begins after the day the antichrist reveals himself, not before. The 144,00 are saved at the beginning of tribulation as we also will be, but they will be the first. I do not even understand what you mean when you say, firstfruits of death, or firstfruits of life, I just know the Bible teaches me the 144,000 are the next group of people to report to God’s throne. The church language in Revelation is in Rev. 7:9-17 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no one could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. I have to break here and comment before I continue with the remainder. These people that are from everywhere are Christians that stand in front of God’s throne, and in front of Jesus Christ, we have our white robes, and our palm branches, and we are THANKING God with all we have inside, and we are thanking Them for the Salvation of our souls. Also notice that the first two words are after this, after this, is immediately after the 144,000 are sealed, or redeemed from the earth, as we learn in chapter 14. Therefore, all that belong to Christ at His revelation will report to the throne of God, and all are recorded here in chapter 7. The following two verses record the angels reaction to all this redemption they have just witnessed, and the final five verses again apply to the redeemed Christians, I’ll skip the two verses, and move forward to Rev. 7:13-17, notice these redeemed Christians are taken out of great tribulation, because great tribulation does not begin until the revelation of the beast, the abomination of desolation. I also have to mention, we know these are Christians because we are the only group of people who are under the blood of Christ. Rev. 7:13-17 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and he shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Daniel,
Again, and finally, the Church is not in view. Why? The Bible says so. What you have written concerns Israel and the nations. The Church is nowhere in Revelation. Nor do you have a response to the verses that clearly state the Church is removed before the Tribulation. I encourage you to revise your theology for it is with Scriptural foundation. As long as one conflates God’s prophetic program with His program to the Church, one cannot understand Church theology.
Don,
I’m sorry you missed it, but I did record five different times, Christians do not see tribulation. Our difference is in the timing of the Rapture. I maintain we will be taken out after the two revelations recorded in Matthew chapter 24, and we disagree as to who introduced the Rapture. I will not bother you with this stuff anymore. Thank you for sparring with me.
Daniel,
Thank you. If Christians do not see the Tribulation, it means they must be removed before the 7 year’s begins—before the “week” of Daniel 9. Either the Rapture was a secret or it wasn’t. Paul said it was. If so, no one revealed it before Paul. If the Church was a secret, which Paul declared it was, it means the Church has nothing to do with God’s prophetic plan. Therefore, nothing in the Gospels, Revelation, etc. concerns the Church.
Don, what do you think of the popular ‘Left Behind’ series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins? Arguably, the franchise sensationalizes and commercializes the Rapture doctrine, but I wonder if it’s also been a very effective evangelistic tool that’s reached millions of people who wouldn’t normally have anything to do with Christian doctrine/theology. I know it’s not 100% accurate theologically as LaHaye didn’t completely know the exact dispensational divisions as you teach. LaHaye seems to mix things as Ryrie, Swindoll, Hodges, etc., have done.
Brian,
I never read the series so cannot comment.
I’m wondering about 2 Cor 12:2. Who is the man? I know what most commentaries say. Is it possible to argue for John, the author of Revelation?
Anders,
Paul is speaking of himself. It cannot be John, for John wrote what he saw. Also, Paul’s ministry was outside the Twelve. No mixing.
Good point. John wrote what he saw. But isn’t there something special about John? He is a mix in some way, isn’t he?. Why are his letters and his gospel so different? How should we understand Joh 14:3?
Anders,
As far as John being special, yes and no. John proclaimed the same message as the others, but his gospel emphasizes Christ’s deity, e.g., the eight signs construct, the “I am” statements, the lack of mention of “the kingdom of God,” lack of prophetic events, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, etc. As far as John 14.3, Jesus’ “preparation” concerns the dwellings believing Jews will occupy on earth. The destiny of believing Jews is earth, not heaven. Jews never had an idea of dying and going to heaven. When Jesus counseled His disciples not to lay up treasures on earth, it did not mean they would enjoy treasures in heaven. It meant that only treasures kept by the Lord (in heaven) would be secure. So in this aspect, John is no different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Don, Robert Breaker teaches that according to 2 Thessalonians 2:3 the rapture will immediately occur after the anti-christ is revealed. He said that after Obama was elected in 2008, he ran out of his house looking up at the sky thinking the rapture could occur then. He’s a little silly sometimes. But you maintain that according to the scriptures the rapture will occur before the anti-christ is revealed. It may be another non-essential issue, but many fundamentalists agree with Breaker’s position.
Brian,
We will likely not know who the anti-Christ will be. 2 Thessalonians states the Rapture occur before the anti-Christ is revealed. That revelation may be immediate or it might take 20-30 years. We are not given a timeframe for this.
Don, a Christian friend thinks in heaven we will be transformed into light itself. I told her the bible says we will receive incorruptible bodies like Jesus has and He went through windows and doors after He was resurrected. Her response was: “Isnt that light? We will no longer be matter. Spirit.”
How do I respond to her?
Craig,
The Bible says we will have bodies like Christ’s resurrection body. That body was corporeal. The apostles touched Him, He ate, went through wall, doors. You friend’s view is imagination. God created us body, soul, spirit. These things define us as humans and remain forever.
Hi Don. I got a question on rapture and resurrection in Paul’s gospel. All those who trust in Christs death and resurrection for our sins will be raptured and changed. Will that include the twelve, early Jewish Fathers and early Jewish Christians whose hope is on earth in the Kingdom gospel? Or do they resurrect after the Trib at the second coming on the last day like Martha said? Thanks
David,
The Twelve are not members of the Church, the body of Christ, but part of God’s prophetic program. They are resurrected with all the OT saints at the end of the Tribulation to enjoy the kingdom.
Hi Don thanks for confirming to me I’m not crazy or a heretic! God really has turned my world upside down with this: “Paul’s Gospel!”
David,
You’re welcome. All of us need a bit of shaking to see truth! I speak from experience.
Asking the question is pointless, I know, since no one knows the answer and can only speculate, but I’ll ask your opinion anyway. Surely there are many variables to consider, but based on the war happening in Israel and the possibility of escalation from enemies in surrounding nations, does it seem the Rapture is even more likely to occur? With the uncertainty of the timing of the Gog Magog battle, God only knows if this is the preparation for it. And potentially there can be a gap between the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation. With the whole of events happening globally in preparation for the time of Tribulation, it can seem that the Rapture is overdue, but I know God will call us out at His perfect timing. I am desperately awaiting our departure. Just when one thinks it couldn’t get any worse, it always does.
Sheryl,
The globalists are doing everything in their power to establish a one-world government and remove freedom from the people. It is not clear how this is going to work out. In another year it should be clear. If the globalists are successful, I would say the Rapture is extremely close. If not, we have more time. If freedom is removed in the US, the whole world falls.
Don, I was taught and always believed that Luke 21 happened back in 70 AD. After reading this and trying to reconcile the mystery/prophecy view I wonder if I’ve been wrong. What do you think after reading this? Thank you
Off a website:
The most glaring error in saying Luke 21:24 was fulfilled in A.D. 70 is to insert the prophetic program into the mystery program. We have the awkward transition from mystery to prophecy and back to mystery again. The Dispensation of Grace (mystery program) is operating with Paul’s ministry in Acts, but it would have to give way to the prophetic program in A.D. 70 so Jesus’ words in Luke 21:24 can be fulfilled. We now have Jesus in His earthly ministry predicting an event in the Dispensation of Grace, which weakens the “secret” emphasis of said dispensation. Mystery somehow (?) returned after A.D. 70, which is where we find ourselves today. If all prophecy has been fulfilled, then the prophetic program is permanently terminated instead of temporarily interrupted.
If the “A.D. 70 interpretation” stands, unanswerable confusion results. There is no smooth narrative in the Bible passages. Two attacks of Jerusalem are not in view in the Olivet Discourse of Matthew chapter 24, Mark chapter 13, and Luke chapter 21. These verses look toward one attack of Jerusalem future from us—just prior to the Second Coming of Christ. In no way would Jesus in His earthly ministry speak of an event that would happen in the Dispensation of Grace. Jesus Christ would never reveal the Dispensation of Grace in His earthly ministry because that information would be kept secret until He revealed it to Paul (Ephesians 3:1-11).
While much more could be said, this author believes the dangers of “A.D. 70” have been underscored enough that this study can now conclude. A.D. 70 has nothing to do with anything in the Bible and the Bible has nothing to do with A.D. 70.
Joe,
God suspended prophetic program at 70 A.D. Until then the potential existed that national Israel would repent. Had they, the Church would have been raptured and the Tribulation would have ensued. Those saved under the gospel of the kingdom continued to live under the Law. Only those saved by Paul’s gospel lived under grace, not the Law. The author has created an error that does not exist. I see no “unanswerable confusion.” The kingdom program and the Church program co-existed for a time—until 70 A.D.
Jesus gave His disciples the precept for the Rapture in Luke 17:22-37. This prophecy has two days involved in it. The first day the Son of man is revealed, the second day begins in verse 37, with the words, “I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left”. The taken will be those looking for His revelation. He spoke these words on the way to His crucifixion, He then added the Olivet Discourse just before He gave His life. These are words that describe our departure, we do not take this vile body to heaven, we leave our bodies for the birds. God has fashioned us a new body for eternity. Verse 37 teaches us this truth, the taken are we that will be gathered, and our bodies will be left on the earth as a carcase, as the counterpart verse words it. Matt. 24:28, For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. I realize nobody agrees with my point of view, because I have never heard another say this body has no place in heaven.
Daniel,
These verses concern Jews taken to judgment on one hand or remaining on earth to enter the kingdom on the other. Jesus did not speak about the Rapture. Had He, He would have revealed it as a secret (1 Corinthians 15.51). One cannot mix prophetic Scriptures with Church doctrine without creating confusion.
You will soon be proved incorrect on the timing of the Rapture, what will you tell your readers after the covenant is signed?
Daniel,
If I am wrong, I admit it. My goal is to reveal truth and understanding of the Scriptures.
Regarding the blindness of Israel, is this why the Holocaust occured? Are they not under covenant protection during the gospel of grace?
When the Rapture occurs, and those that are sleeping are raised…what has happened to their souls during their sleep. Were they waiting or in heaven and come with Jesus to unite with the glorified body?
Cigmd,
The Holocaust occurred because anti-Semitism is Satanic. Satan is the god of this age. He twists minds. When the UN votes, almost all nations, almost all the time vote against Israel. Israel, the Jewish people, occupy a unique position. God has made them promises and they must continue for God to complete His plan. Destroy the Jews and defeat God. That is Satan’s strategic plan. We are in a great spiritual war between good and evil. The rise of anti-Semitism in the “elite” universities is worse than what began in Nazi Germany. Hitler hid his plan of genocide. But students brazenly shout for extermination of the Jews. Most of the presidents, deans, faculty are atheists. They refuse to denounce these shouts but will crush you if you use the wrong pronoun. Most students are secular, knowing nothing of God or the Bible, and can be swayed into Satanic thinking. Paul warned extensively about this.
Soul and spirit never sleep. At physical death they go to be with the Lord. At the Rapture, soul and spirit are united with a resurrection body.
Don,
Why .isn’t Jn 14 vs 2-3 a rapture reference? Isn’t the Kingdom on earth the eventual home for OT and tribulation saints? Is “my Father’s house” in Heaven?
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also
Joe,
Paul stated the Rapture was a secret. If John 14.2-3 is a Rapture passage, Jesus contradicted Himself. Until Jesus returns and establishes His kingdom on earth, all possessions and rewards are kept in heaven (cf. Matthew 6.19-20). The “mansions” are in heaven for safe-keeping but will be enjoyed on earth. This is clear from v.3, Jesus will be on earth as King.
Who will received glorified bodies, and when will they receive their glorified bodies?
You can check out on the answers here
https://truthdefender2.wordpress.com
If Paul says the dead are asleep and you wrote “Members of the body of Christ who have died will be raised first and given resurrection bodies”, then where are our ancestors? I thought they had died and gone to heaven? Almost all Christians believe that, it’s basically a part of every funeral we’ve been to. help! Thanks.
DJ,
Sleep is Paul’s euphemism for death. All believers are presently in heaven.
If our believer ancestors are already in heaven, what does this mean:
“Members of the body of Christ who have died will be raised first”
Aren’t they already raised if they are in heaven?
DJ,
Only souls and spirits, not bodies are in heaven. Resurrection bodies for members of the Church are given at the Rapture. See 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4.
After the tribulation, during the 1000 year kingdom, are you saying the Jews will rule over all the nations, meaning the non-Christians left on earth like Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, etc.? Thanks.
DJ,
In the kingdom, Israel will be the greatest nation on earth. See Deuteronomy 28.1, 13; Micah 4.2; Zechariah 8.20-23, 14.9.
“The destiny of believing Jews is earth, not heaven. Jews never had an idea of dying and going to heaven”
I thought you said the Pharisees believed in resurrection (but Saducees did not). Isn’t Talmudic Judaism and Chabad modern Phariseeism? Thanks.
DJ,
The Pharisees believed they would be resurrected an live on earth in the kingdom.
“The rise of anti-Semitism…”
The rise of anti-Semitism is a reactionary phenomenon. Nobody just wakes up and decides to hate Jews, or because they are under control of Satan. Anti-Semitism is the result of Jews’ conduct towards the rest of humanity. You can say they have to do so many racist, hate-filled, greedy things because they are following God’s OT plan for them, but then how does that explain what we are seeing in Gaza? Jewish participation in promoting homosexuality, porn, Hollywood, diminishment of Christianity, Talmudism, the occult Kabballah/freemasonry, etc.? E. Michael Jones wrote a book chronicling all of this over 2000 years since the foot of the cross, it’s call the Jewish Revolutionary Spirit, and it’s thesis is that Jews refuse to accept God Jesus Christ who is the order of all things, so they are constantly fighting order — which results in a backlash. It’s not an irrational backlash. Thanks.
DJ,
There are good Jews and bad Jews, just as there are good Gentiles and bad Gentiles. The Scriptures declare all divine blessing comes through the Jews (Genesis 12.1-3; John 4.22). Antisemitism is Satan’s primary strategy to defeat God’s prophetic program. Those who oppose the Jewish people are under the influence of Satan, the forces of darkness. Gaza is a terrorist encampment, controlled by Hamas. The Palestinians have not fought Hamas but have allowed them to control the area. Hamas’ central tenant is destruction of the Jewish people and state. How would you deal with a group that only exists to destroy you?
Who are the good Jews? The Talmudic orthodox (antiChristian) and Kabbalah (Metatron/Sephirot tree) dark-occult types, and arch-racist Zionists who spit on Christians?
I thought St. Paul wanted neither Gentile or Jew, but followers of Jesus! Thanks
DJ,
Who are the good Gentiles? When one believes Paul’s gospel one becomes neither Jews nor Gentile. One becomes Church, a new identity.
“The Pharisees believed they would be resurrected and live on earth in the kingdom.”
So, to be clear the Pharisees didn’t believe they’d (or any Jews) go to heaven?
How long is the Kingdom to last according to Jews? Thanks again
DJ,
Nothing in the OT shows Jews believed they would go to heaven. The idea of dying and going to heaven is a Pauline truth. Since Jews do not accept the NT, they would say the kingdom is forever.
Don,
We (my wife & I) became aware through the Scriptures that all people, at least for our present purpose, were defined as either “circumcision/Jews”, “uncircumcision/Gentiles”, “a new creature/church of God” (Gal. 6.15; 1 Cor. 10.32). It is obvious that this division does not sit well with many in present Christendom. We have terms such as “Messianic Jew” and “completed Jew” thrown at us continuously. Despite Gal. 3.28, “There is neither Jew (circumcision) nor Greek (Gentile/uncircumcision) … in Christ Jesus” (a new creature/church of God), or Gal. 5.6, “For in Jesus Christ (a new creature/church of God) neither circumcision (Jews) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision” (Gentile), there is resistance to this Biblical precedence. Are we just talking about “semantics” here or is there something else going on? Is it “mean spirited” to insist on Paul’s view of humanity? Your thoughts?
Blessings!
Michael,
It is not mean-spirited. It is affirming truth. Either believers are a new creation or we are not. As cited, 1 Corinthians 10.32 states three categories of humanity now exist, Jew, Gentile, Church. Before Paul there were two, Jew and Gentile. The reason this does not “sit well” with many in Christendom is they either reject or are ignorant of Paul, Church doctrine. God has given us the Scriptures to instruct us. If one is offended by them, that is a problem between the person and God. Paul declared that believers are to separate themselves from believers that do not agree with his teachings.
“ Since Jews do not accept the NT, they would say the kingdom is forever.”
If the Jews believe their messiah will usher in a 1,000 (or forever?) year reign where they are the top nation on Earth, then even if they had accepted Jesus how do we reconcile that Jesus didn’t preach supremacism to them and nothing in Gospel of Jesus Christ would lead anyone to believe that by (Jews) following it they would become superior to Roman Empire, and so therefore not the top nation existing. Right? Thanks.
DJ,
See Romans 15.8.
Another question: If the Jews had accepted Jesus, than the New Covenant (for Jews, not gentiles) would have come to fruition. What would that have looked like under the Roman Empire?
DJ,
The Antichrist would have become manifest, the Tribulation would have occurred, and Christ would have returned. It is not altogether clear hat would have occurred regarding the New Covenant (Revelation never mentions it). Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant (forgiveness of sins and indwelling Spirit) but James, Peter, John, Jude, do not talk about it and do not discuss the operational aspects of the indwelling Spirit as Paul does. It seems the New Covenant becomes fully manifest for Israel in the kingdom (when all God’s promises are fulfilled).
Don,
If we could impose upon you for a moment. Paul instructed Timothy concerning “strifes of words” (1 Tim. 6.4) and “strive not about words” (2 Tim. 2.4). He also admonished Titus to “avoid foolish questions, and genealogies” (Titus 3.9). However, much of our increase in “the” faith (1 Cor. 15.1-4) has come by way of examining “words”. In doing so, as someone has once said, “the Scriptures fit together like a jigsaw puzzle”. Howbeit, we do understand that what we mostly have in our hands are “translations” of the “autographs”. There are too numerous translation errors to mention. The “translations” must bow their knee to the “autographs” (2 Tim. 3.16). “Words” seem to be at the center of our “warfare”. Do you have any idea of what Paul was referring to in this instruction to Timothy? Blessings!
Michael,
In the 1 Timothy passage, Paul wrote,
3 If anyone teaches another doctrine and does not agree to sound words, to those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching about godliness, 4 he is proud and understands nothing, but has a sickly interest in disputes and verbal quarrels from which come envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, 5 bickerings of men who have corrupted their mind and are destitute of the truth, who think the godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw from such.
Paul’s instruction was to reject and withdraw from those who taught differently than he taught. Cf. Romans 16.17; 2 Thessalonians 3.6, 14; Titus 3.10-11.
Paul argued with the Jews at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) and with the Jews in Rome (Acts 28). His life was filled with arguing. Paul’s admonition was to avoid foolish talk but to contend for the faith. Earlier in 1 Timothy 1, Paul wrote Timothy:
18 I commit this command to you, child Timothy, according to the prophesies that went before on you, 15 that by them you may fight the good fight, 19 by holding faith and a good conscience, which some, who have rejected the faith, became shipwrecked, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, so they might be taught not to blaspheme.
Don,
Your last reply to DJ contains a statement that we ourselves have been confronted with. “Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant (forgiveness of sins and indwelling Spirit) but James, Peter, John, Jude, do not talk about it and do not discuss the operational aspects of the indwelling Spirit as Paul does”. Exactly! As we have finally realized that all “new creature” (Gal. 6.15) doctrine comes from Paul we are somewhat confronted with noticeable differences in the “operational aspects of the indwelling Spirit” between “the gospel of the kingdom” and “the gospel of the grace of God”. It is well documented by Scripture that those that believed in “the gospel of the kingdom” still placed themselves (i.e., James, Peter, John, Jude, cf. Acts 21.20) “under the Law”. This is in obvious conflict with “new creature” doctrine that specifically teaches “for ye are not under law, but under grace” (Rom. 6.15). Being “led” by, or “walking in” the Spirit (instruction to the “new creature”) would seem to conflict with being “under Law”. The “gospel of the kingdom” believers were even “baptized with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 1.5) by Jesus Christ Himself (John 1.33). There is only one Spirit, however, there seems to be some very stark differences in the “operational aspects of the indwelling Spirit” between “the gospel of the kingdom” (the Gospels and the Jewish epistles, Revelation) and ” the gospel of the grace of God” (the Pauline epistles). Your thoughts on this are valuable. Blessings!
Michael,
I have mulled over this and the only way I have able to understand it is that God’s covenant promises will not come into full operation until the kingdom. Since the kingdom did not come, the full exercise of the Spirit among those saved under the gospel of the kingdom was delayed. I have not seen anyone address this issue.
Don,
Believers during the Church age are filled with the Holy Spirit. Assuming the verse below refers to the HS are we to understand we as ‘sealed’ believers will be taken when and because the HS is taken? Also, are we to believe the HS returns for the tribulation but not as a ‘sealing’ indwelling HS but as an external power/force outside the individual believer.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Joe,
The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. He indwells us but also remains to bring people to the Lord during the Tribulation. I have translated verse 7 as, For the secret of the lawlessness is already working. Only the One who now restrains (is) until it should happen to become out of the midst. The last “it” is the presence of the Church (the Rapture).
Don, please forgive my question, but given that the Holy Spirit indwells and seals all believers, will or does He continue to do so after we either die or are raptured and enter Heaven, and then later the new Heaven and new Earth? Ephesians 4:30, for example, states “… sealed unto the day of redemption.” I may be getting unnecessarily technical given that all believers are guaranteed to spend eternity with the Lord, but I am curious about it nonetheless.
Brian,
Technical is good. The text you cited, translated, “unto the day of redemption,” εἰς ἡμέραν ἀπολυτρώσεως, I have translated “for the day of redemption.” The “unto” does not mean “until,” but “for” or “for the purpose.” The “day of redemption” is the Rapture, resurrection. I do not find anything to indicate the Holy Spirit will leave us at death or the Rapture.
Don: can you explain Revelation 2:9 and 3:9?
Thanks
DJ,
These words are similar to what Jesus told the Jews in John 8 who wished to kill Him.
Don,
Concerning the three men in the fire in the book of Daniel and why wasn’t Daniel one of them. This is the thinking of another bible teacher:
What do you think?
The third possibility is the one that most scholars accept, and that is that he was away from the capital city when the event occurred. This would explain his absence from the narrative, and also why the other administrators had the courage to accuse his friends.
The fiery furnace event becomes a model of the Great Tribulation. Nebuchadnezzar represents the anti-Christ who erects a statue of himself and requires everyone to worship it on pain of death (Rev. 13:14-15). Daniel’s three friends are a type of the believing Jewish remnant who remain faithful and are preserved through the fire. And Daniel models the Church, missing throughout the entire event.
Joe,
I agree with paragraphs 2 and 3.
I have some good questions. I do want to believe but cannot get past some points. Why do none of the apostles have any knowledge of this? Needs to be answered if its that hopeful. What is wrath vs tribulation? The Great tribulation are one and the same? The last trumpet indicates there are more and it’s too coincidental that it isn’t Revelation because it deals with the end. I see promise for sure but still need iron clad answers.
At the first vial, the Kingdoms of this world have become the Lords and wrath is complete indicated eithers only with these vials alone or indicated also the trumpets too completes his wrath. I appreciate your theology writings and have helped me understand covenant theology as most don’t understand, ty.
David,
The ascended Christ revealed all Church doctrine to Paul. The Twelve were apostles of Israel. They knew nothing of the Church, it was a new program, a new creation. When Paul wrote of God’s wrath, he meant the Tribulation, the seven years of Daniel 9. The book of Revelation deals with God’s prophetic plan concerning Israel and the nations. The Church is outside prophecy. The expression “last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15 means last in the sense of completion, not last as in a series as the trumpets in Revelation. The last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15 signals completion of the Church, the body of Christ. Paul wrote the Church is outside of God’s wrath (Romans 5.9; 1 Thessalonians 1.10, etc.) so the Church is never found in Revelation.
Hi Don, hope all is well. Lately with everything going on, wars, eclipses, meteors, the overall darkness that is this world. There’s a big contingency out there that swear the rapture is coming very soon, like in the next few weeks (around the feast of trumpets). And make a pretty good case. Part of me is surprised it hasn’t happened yet and part of me thinks it could certainly get much worse before it does. I understand that the feast of trumpets is a Jewish holiday, as you commented in a reply. As a learned man, with a deep knowledge of scripture, I would love to know your thoughts? Of course, only God knows the day and hour, but we can surmise perhaps on the season or closeness based on the world around us? Thank you for your time and dedication to our LORD and the many people you have blessed with your site, myself included.
Jeremy,
The spiritual and the political realms are closely aligned at the moment. We may be close to the Rapture. I think we are presently experiencing a preview Tribulation. God is giving people a taste of what is coming, an opportunity to come to Him, to draw near to Him. The majority want freedom and are confused and upset with the direction of the country and that of the world. Illegal immigration is destroying the country, crime is increasing, the economy is terrible and getting worse each day, massive child and sex trafficking is occurring. There is vast propaganda and deception about viruses, climate change, January 6, the 2020 election, confusion over sexual identity. We are on the brink of war with Russia, Middle East, China, North Korea, which the globalists’ want for it will hide all their crimes and allow them to consolidate power. Most countries considered free are not free but are being run as dictatorships against the peoples’ wishes: England, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, etc. and are on board with the globalists vision of world government aided by the WHO, WEC, etc. The US is also being run as a dictatorship by Democrats, neocons, RINOs, deep state actors in the federal government. The legacy media are propaganda outlets of the deep state and globalists. The polls are fake. The only trustworthy polls are the raw polls. As the US goes, so will go the world. The 2024 election will determine the US fate as well as the world. Will we be a free country or go into full dictatorship with fake elections joining the globalists? We are in the greatest crisis and spiritual battle since the days of Noah. If Democrats remain in the White House I think the Rapture is very close. If not, we will have some more years of freedom. We are close to finding out. Things are going to become extremely ugly and frightening over the next few months with ever-increasing chaos and deception. The Democrats will do anything to retain power. More possible assassination attempts. Stay awake, stay close to the Lord, and vigilantly pray. The Lord knows all and is in control. Do not fear. If God is for us, who is against us?
WOW, mind blown! You Sir, are freakin’ smart. It’s refreshing to know that other people see the world as it exactly is. Our LORD has blessed me with great faith, and it has been my place of comfort in this world. And your words of understanding have only added to it. Thank you!
Jeremy,
I don’t know how smart I am; I just try to look at the data and draw a correct conclusion. We will soon see how all this plays out. The next few months are critical. God bless you.
Hi, so I understand your point about Pauline doctrine and do see the differences.
However I see a flaw in your rapture timing.
2 Thes 2 says that 2 things need to happen “before the day of the Lord”.
You define the day of the lord as “his wrath”.
But then you go to imply “it’s 7 years long”.
Well that presents a problem. 2 Thes 2 says “the man of sin must be revealed” as a precursor to the day of lord, and goes on to say that this happens when “he sits in the temple and declares himself to be God”.
Well other scripture tells us that this happens at the midpoint of the final week, or 3.5 years into it.
Hence, scripture is telling us that God’s wrath, the day of the lord, at a minimum doesn’t start till the midpoint! Could be after as it doesn’t say the day of lord starts right at apastacy or revealing of the AC, but they just must happen first.
So many people claim a pre-trib, and claim the entire last 7 years is “trubulation”, but christ himself only calls the last 3.5 “tribulation”.
It great because it CONTAINS God’s wrath and Satan’s wrath, at the same time.
Nowhere in scripture do I see all 7 of the last years defined as “the day of the Lord”.
How do you account for this problem of timing?
Peace,
Brother Mark
Mark,
There’s no timing problem. I take it you wish to make the point that the Rapture occurs at the mid-point of the Tribulation. But the Rapture’s timing irrelevant to when wrath begins, at the beginning of the seven years or the midpoint (Jesus only said that “great tribulation” begins at the mid-point) for the Church is outside of God’s prophetic program for Israel and the nations. The Church does not participate in God’s prophetic program. God must remove the Church to return to His prophetic program which concerns Israel and the nations. The Church is never mentioned in Revelation or any of the prophetic Scriptures. Paul wrote there is Jew, Gentile, and Church (1 Corinthians 11.32). The first two began when God called Abraham, dividing the world into Jew and Gentile. The Church began with Paul according to 1 Corinthians 3.10-11; 1 Timothy 1.15-16; Ephesians 3. See my articles, The Church (the Body of Christ) and Paul: Chief of Sinners? So when wrath begins is irrelevant to God’s removal of the Church, the Church must go before the prophetic program begins. It is quite possible the Church will be gone a number of years before the Beast appears. Satan does not know when God will remove His Church and he has to prepare someone for the role of the Beast.
1. What happens to a believer that does not believe in the Rapture?
2. What is “the faith” vs “faith”¿
Cigmd,
1. A believer who does not believe in the Rapture is one who is either ignorant or lacks faith.
2. “The faith” is what is believed, usually, Paul’s gospel. “Faith” is the act of believing, the exercise of faith. The definite article indicates content, what is believed.
What is your take of Lordship Salvation?
If a believer accepts the gospel, but states there is no Rapture, what happens to them?
Cigmd,
Lordship salvation is false teaching. A true believer will experience the Rapture even if he rejects it. Great embarrasment!
Don,
I am writing from Africa, Nigeria to be precise. I am a great admirer of your scripture intelligence and insight (right division). I am also a rightly divider and have great appreciation for your understanding. You did mention that if Democrats win, we are close to rapture. Now that the Republicans win (I am a fan of Trump) and prayed they won as it has happened.
Please I am not trying to be political here, just desiring to know your valuable insights on this great comeback staged by Trump represents in American political history.
Emmanuel,
Thank you for your prayers for America. The Democrats are doing everything to thwart Trump and his nominees. The people chose Trump overwhelmingly, even though there was massive cheating (10 million illegal votes) as in 2020. Trump’s cabinet choices want to remove the tyrants who have taken freedom from the people and return power to the people according to the Constitution. We are in a great battle between good and evil, freedom and tyranny. If Trump is successful it will encourage and empower other nations and peoples. We see good examples in Argentina and El Salvador. How this will work out is unknown. The Democrats and globalists are doing everything to increase war, the latest being Biden, UK, France’s declaration that Ukraine can fire long-range missiles into Russia. They want war because war’s confusion and crisis will cover their crimes and let them curtail freedom and political reform under the guise of national security. We know God is in control and will bring about all He has revealed. We just do not know the timeline. Our duty is to continue to pray, be courageous in the face of tyrants, and expose those who hate God and freedom. God bless you and God bless the people of Nigeria.
That was really an insight Don. I am greatly encouraged. The Christian community here in Nigeria are relentlessly praying for Trump to succeed. I have noticed some of his nominees have the passion for the offices they are appointed into.
We perceive that God has a hand in the return of Trump’s presidency as occasioned by his survival of assassination attempts.
I wish to deeply appreciate you for helping my understanding of scripture rightly dividing. I have used some of your articles to teach in our Study Group. I have been accessing your site for almost two years now and I find the materials and resources quite valuable.
Thank you so very much for your prompt reply.