Thursday, July 16, 2015

Have We Been Left Behind? (Part 1 of 3)

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