Is The Rapture A Real Event?
During an impromptu bible discussion centered around the
introduction of my latest book, “Understanding The Word of God”, I was asked, “In view of the events taking place in our
country and around the world, do you think we are going through the
tribulations spoken of in Revelation, and if so, have we been left behind?” Being left behind is a concept of the Rapture
doctrine that is said to not exist before John Darby invented it in 1830. The
Rapture doctrine which is based upon 1st
Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.” To most, the
Rapture doctrine is a confusing entity, there seems to be a lack of knowledge
as to what happen next. There are those
who believe in it and there are those who do not believe in it. Those who believe are divided into at least four
groups, pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post- tribulation and those who say, “I
don’t know, I just want to be ready when he comes”.
Quite a few years have passed since I had seen the movie
series, Left Behind, and the questions that the movies stirred still remain
fresh in my mind. My search for answers
caused me to engage the minds of pastors, ministers and mostly anybody that was
willing to engage in a discussion of the subject of being Left behind, or the
Rapture. Regardless of the position
chosen, pre-Trib., mid-Trib., or Post-Trib., they all used the Bible to support
their belief. Some denominations teach
that there is no scripture support of the “Rapture” taking place, past, present
or future. To place a seal on the
subject, many pious prelates are content in stated that the word rapture could
not be found in the bible. Furthermore,
any discussion of whether the Rapture is a real event or that it has happened
or will happen does not fit the narrative of the modern day churches.
The proliferation of the churches allows for these diverse doctrines
and interpretation. A doctrine, a set of
beliefs that is taught by the church is often more important to the articles of
faith than in depth Bible Studies. Many of
us who grew up reading a certain translation of the Bible is appalled that
certain Bible publishers are editing the Bible to make it politically
correct. Yet, this is nothing new. In the early 1500’s Martin Luther preformed a
major edit of the Bible, and from his works emerged the King James Bible. Thus began the division or separation of the
Catholic and Protestant Bibles. Through
all of man’s attempts to water down, to shape, and twist the Word of God, it
still emerges with power and conviction to those who are willing to lay aside their indoctrination, open up
their hearts and study.
Now, there are those who hold the belief that as long as the
church is present here on earth God’s wrath will be restrained. It is after the events portrayed in 1st
Thessalonians 4:16-17 have transpired, that the trumpets of Heaven will
continue to sound. According to Revelation
the trumpets indicates that the wrath of God is being poured out. The bases of this belief are, God always
protects his own the same as he did in the day of Noah. Using the church as a marker unfortunately opens
the door to a much deeper and divided discussion. What church is being referenced? In view of the great proliferation of the
church, to use the cliché, the church exists within the heart seemed a bit out
of place. Now the question emerges, did
Christ come back and call the church out long before it became a confused and
divided body? Jesus’s message to the
seventh or the final church of the church age, (Revelation 3: 14-22) is a message
of rebuke to an apostate church. The closing of his message is an indication
that he is no longer speaking to the churches, he is speaking to the
individual. Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches
1 Thessalonians
4:15-18 For this we say unto you by the
word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the
Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
These verses seem to make reference to a time when Christ comes
back in the clouds; not setting foot on the earth, but calling the saints to
meet him in the air. This reference an
event known in the English language as the “Rapture”. True, the word “Rapture” is not found in the
Bible, neither is computers or coffee, but for certain known or unknown reasons, it is a point
of contention for many of the different doctrines that make up the realm of
Christendom. . The phrase “CAUGHT UP” is
in the Scripture and “Caught up” means
the same thing as “Rapture.” The same
argument used to invalidate the Rapture can be used to invalidate many of the
biblical prophecies. The Bible is
filled with prophecies, and it is these prophecies that disturb mankind. If changing the meaning or eliminating
certain words or verses will change the meaning of a prophecy, then this is the
route humanity tends to follow.
The question that plagues many who ascribe to the Rapture doctrine is, can people repent and be saved after the Rapture? The Bible teaches that millions will repent and come to Christ for salvation during the time following the Rapture of the church. John was given a vision of that time after the church had been caught up, he saw millions of people wearing dazzling white robes standing before the throne of God. There were so many that they couldn’t be counted by man. An "elder" in Heaven asked John, who these people were. John didn't know, but knew that the one asking did know. Revelation 7.14: "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to 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."
Matthew 24:7-14 For nation shall rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then
shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be
hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and
shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets
shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love
of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall
be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for
a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
The Bible is explicit in its prediction of
the destruction that is to befall this earth before the end of time. The doomsday scriptures are often overlooked
in favor of scriptures that seems to predict peace, love and tranquility. As I stated earlier, there is a consensus
among many Christians that the wrath of God will not be poured out until the
church is safe in Heaven. Now, again, I
have injected the word ‘church’ into this discussion, a word whose modern day definition is dubious at
best. The prophecies of destruction are
upon us, and the church with its changing manifestos does not seem to be a
haven of protection from the wrath of God. Where
is that glorious church that Jesus spoke of, that church that Jesus said the
gates of hell would not be able to stand against? It has split into more than 30,000 denominations worldwide, each containing varying rules, laws, taboos, rituals, commandments, and doctrines.
Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers
places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall
there be from heaven. Revelation
6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the
great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and
every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks
of the mountains; Revelation 6:17 For
the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Daniel 12:4
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the
time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
There is no doubt that the age of ungodliness and destruction is
upon us. The scoffers and the intellectuals will agree that this is nothing new. Rather than trying to
establish our own timeline and relativity, maybe we should ask, “how long has it been since
the true church was caught up?” After a
moment of reflection and contemplation It is easy to conceded that it seems
as if the
tribulation spoken of in the Bible is upon us, and maybe, just maybe, we have
been left behind.
Next
A Church Left behind
Revelation 3:14-22
