The Rapture's Timing

[KaidaMidnight]

There are 3 takes on when people think the Rapture is going to happen (Well, 4 if you count the "not going to happen option), but for those who don't know, let me explain real quick what the Rapture is (mind you, this is just a quick explanation...)

Rapture:  When the people who believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins, and asked for salvation and forgiveness for their sins are "caught up" and taken to Heaven. 

Now, the 3 takes on this are..

1) Pre Tribulation

2) Mid Tribulation

3) Post Tribulation (like, right before the Glorious Appearing of Christ coming back

I believe that the Rapture will happen Pre Tribulation.  Let me explain why I think this is the right time, and why it makes more sense this way...

The Lord Himself promised to deliver us. A promising guarantee of the church's rapture before the Tribulation is in Revelations 3:10: "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth".  The reason that this passage is an important one when it comes to the mid and post tribulation believers is because few if any believers will be left on the earth when Jesus comes at the end of the tribulation.Instead, the saints who have been kept from wrath are with Him as He descends to this earth.  ~ The word "from" in Revelation 3:10 literally means "out of". God is saying "I will keep you out of the wrath to come".  

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Paul says that the Glorious Appearing will not occur until the Antichrist ("lawless one" ) is revealed.  So, from this we know that the Christians in Thessalonica were awaiting the coming of Christ for His church- the rapture. They already knew the tribulation would follow the rapture, and that is the part that God has promised to keep the Christians "out of".   So they were delivered FROM the tribulation... not THROUGH it.

Then there is the point that Christians are not appointed to wrath..  1 Thessalonians 5:9 says "God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."  This passage follows the strongest passage on the Rapture in the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:2-8) and must be considered in light of it's context. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 makes it clear that God did not "appoint us to wrath" (tribulation) but to "obtain salvation", or deliverance from it. Since we know that many saints will be martyred during the Tribulation, there will be few (if any) alive at the Glorious Appearing of Christ. This promise cannot mean, then, that He will deliver believers during the time of wrath, because those saints will not be delivered, in fact, most will be martyred (tribulation saints). To be delivered out of it, the church will have to be raptured before it begins.  Rapture before tribulation, glorious appearing after it.

Not to mention the fact that the Church is no longer mentioned after Revelations 3, until the marriage in chapter 19 (which happens in Heaven, not on Earth).  The church is mentioned about 15 times (I actually think it's like 17 times) in the first 3 chapters of Revelation, but after John (who is a member of the Church!!!) is called up to heaven in chapter 4, he looks down on the events of the Tribulation, and the church is not mentioned or seen again, until chapter 19, when they have the wedding supper, and she returns to Earth with her Bridegroom at His glorious appearing. Why isn't she (the church) mentioned? Because she isn't in the tribulation. She is raptured to be with her Lord before it begins!

I have one last question... Are you ready? :)

 

[cecilmansmom]

Mar. 25, 2009 at 6:12 PM

[KaidaMidnight]

Mar. 25, 2009 at 6:18 PM

(Original Poster)

[serah]

Mar. 25, 2009 at 7:15 PM

yep im so ready! and i totally agree with you. i dont think a groom would drag His bride through the mud. (tribulation)

[KaidaMidnight]

Mar. 25, 2009 at 7:29 PM

hehehe.. Serah, your comment made me giggle, but it is sooo true! :)

(Original Poster)

[vicki1130]

Apr. 1, 2009 at 5:14 PM

Actually, the church is mentioned in ch 4... IF you look. I know you've read about the four and twenty elders that bow down and lay crowns at the feet of God, right. Now, who has been promised crowns that will be laid at the feet of Jesus?

So, here's the church, put IN heaven... NOT on earth.

Not to mention when you study the Jewish wedding, you see that it's only AFTER a seclusion by the Bride and Groom for a total 7 days, that the wedding feast takes place. So chapter 19 shows the wedding, the mini party we have in heaven and the 7 day seclusion we have with Him. THEN those who've come to Him through the Tribulation Period are invited to the wedding feast. Also notice that those tricky little 24 elders are also mentioned in 19 as they were in ch4.

Isn't God totally amazing?? lol

[Mrs.Killer09]

Aug. 9, 2009 at 2:01 AM

awesome