Guetapens,
have you ever heard that word before? It was the winning word in the 2012
spelling bee, and the average American Christian is in one—a guetapens—a trap or snare.
Let’s
first consider what the average American Christian is like and then I will show you how they are in a trap. I ran acrossa great article the other day that
does a good job of summing up what the average American Christian is like.
(Note: Post-trib view.)
Here
are some snippets from the article showing what he believes the average American
Christian is like.
The Western church reports obesity rates
identical to the secular population. Consumer debt among believers averages $96,000
per household. Christian media consumption tracks with mainstream entertainment
metrics. Pharmaceutical dependence for mood management is statistically
equivalent between churchgoers and non-attendees. Traditional disciplines
including fasting, extended prayer, prison visitation, and refugee hospitality
have declined to single-digit participation rates in most denominations.
Meanwhile, church facility spending has increased 340% since 1990. A theology
that interprets these conditions as divine favor addresses a felt need…
The Western church has created a Jesus in its
own image: a Jesus who cares about your credit score, your vacation plans, and
your retirement portfolio. A Jesus who would never let His people suffer. A
Jesus who is essentially a divine butler, delivering comfort on demand and
extracting you before the real trouble starts.
Personally,
having rubbed shoulders with many American Christians, I agree with his
assessment and am very disheartened at what I have seen in the average church
attendee. I see way too much worldliness and a glaring lack of discernment about what is right and wrong.
And
how has the average American Christian trapped themselves? The have trapped
themselves with their worldliness and their false pre-tribulation rapture theory, as the author linked above so eloquently describes.
The rapture doctrine is the perfect theology
for a lukewarm church. It requires no repentance. It requires no preparation.
It requires no sacrifice. It requires no cross. It tells you that your obesity
is “prosperity,” your debt is “blessing,” your apathy is “waiting on the Lord,”
and your entertainment addiction is “Christian liberty.”
And
how has the modern pre-tribulation theory, which wasn’t invented until the 1800s,
trapped the modern Christian? It has trapped them because it has left them totally
unprepared for the tribulations that will occur in the end times, including the
great tribulation—the persecution of the antichrist—which will include not
being able to buy or sell without the biometric I.D.—the mark.
Now think about this; what if someone doesn’t think that they are in the end times, because the
rapture has not occurred yet, and they take the biometric I.D., what will
happen to them.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying
with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his
mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the
wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his
indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence
of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth
up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the
beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Rev 14
The
average American church member is in a Guetapens. It’s time for the church to
wake up, suffering is coming and the less that a person is spiritually,
mentally, and physically prepared for what is coming the worse off they will
be.
And if we are in the last 7 years now, which I believe that as of 10/13/2025 we are, then the time is very short.
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." — Luke 21:36
Are you uncertain about your eternal destination?
The end times are knocking on the door, but so is Jesus. He wants to save you—will you let Him? Do not wait until the door is closed.
WW III;
many voices are saying we are in it now! Here is some of the pertinent WW3 data I have come across over the years.
Behold a Pale Horse:
Behold
a Pale Horse by William Cooper, details the “plan” to take over the world,
which includes WW III.
It is true that
without the population or the bomb problem, the elect would use some other
excuse to bring about the New World Order. They have plans to bring about
things like earthquakes, war, the Messiah, extraterrestrial landing, and
economic collapse. They might bring about all of these things just to make ...
sure that it does work. They will do whatever is necessary to succeed. The
Illuminati has all the bases covered ... Can you imagine what would happen if
Los Angeles is hit with a 9.0 quake, New York City is destroyed by a
terrorist-planted atomic bomb, World War III breaks out in the Middle East, the
banks and the stock markets collapse, Extraterrestrials land on the White House
lawn, food disappears from the shelves, some people disappear, the Messiah
presents himself to the world, and all in a very short period of time? [William
Cooper, "Behold A Pale Horse", Page 177]
The Armageddon Script:
Here is
another description of the “plan” to bring about the new world order, which includes WW III. It is
described in an Illuminati blueprint book; The Armageddon Script: Prophecy In
Action, by author Peter Lemesurier.
But then war will seldom
be absent from the world-scene during the last twenty years of the century.
There will be numerous local conflicts in the Far East, the Middle East, and
Africa. A hair-raising nuclear confrontation in Korea may, towards the end of
the period, threaten man's very survival. P. 222-3.
Albert Pike 3 World Wars:
And
here is another voice describing “the plan” involving three world wars to produce the New World Order with
the antichrist as the ruler of the world. The framework of this plan was given
to Albert Pike on January 22, 1870. This plan was kept secret for many years,
but was revealed by former Illuminati, Doc Marquis, in his book Secrets of the
Illuminati. Marquis tells us that Pike received this plan from a “guiding
spirit.” In other words, he received this plan for the establishment of the New
World Order from satan or one of his demons. The major components of the plan
entailed the fighting of three world wars.
The
First World War was designed to overthrow czarist Russia and establish
communism.[1] The Second World War was to be started by Britain and Germany and
had as its eventual goal the strengthening of Russia into a superpower.[2] As
we know from history, both objectives were fulfilled.
Officially,
some claim Pike’s letter is a fake. However the contents of the letter were
revealed to the public just after WWI, and the fact that WWII fulfilled the
plan in the letter is proof that it is authentic.
The
Third World War is supposed to be triggered by war between Judaism and Islam
and will eventually spread to the whole world. Listen to what Albert Pike said
about WWIII:
The third World War
must be formented by taking advantage of the differences caused by the
‘agentur’ of the ‘Illuminati’ between the political Zionists and the leaders of
Islamic World. The war must be conducted in such a way that Islam and political
Zionism mutually destroy each other. Meanwhile the other nations, once more
divided on the issue will be constrained to fight to the point of complete
physical, moral, spiritual and economical exhaustion…Then everywhere, the
citizens, obliged to defend themselves against the world minority of
revolutionaries, will exterminate those destroyers of civilization, and the
multitude, disillusioned with Christianity…will receive the true light through
the universal manifestation of the pure doctrine of Lucifer, brought finally
out in public view.[3]
Atlas Shrugged:
The
book Atlas Shrugged is reported to be an illuminati fictional novel which
portrays their plan to take over the world written in code. The timetable
presented in the book ends with this “When the lights of New York City go out
for the last time, we will have the World!" This will most likely be a
result of an action associated with WW III.
The Shape of Things to Come
Another illuminati writer, H.G. Wells, has further detailed that WWIII will start from an event that occurs in Basra. He was given this information from a demonic Guiding Spirit in 1933 in which he wrote about in his book entitled, "The Shape of Things To Come."
"…the plan for the 'Modern World-State' (New World Order) would succeed in its third attempt (WWIII) and would come out of something that would occur in Basra, Iraq." The Coming Epiphany; Chapter 9
I surmise that this would refer to the hottest part of WW3, which may be the nuclear part.
The Van-Rensburg Prophecies:
In the
late 1800s and early 1900s there lived a man in South Africa named Seiner
Van-Rensburg. Van-Rensburg gave many prophecies of which many have come true.
You can also read a short biography of him here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siener_van_Rensburg.
Van-Rensburg
gave some very detailed prophecies about the coming WW3. One of the aspects of
his WW3 prophecies concerned Russia, Britian, and America as explained below.
During 1942/43 a
member of the Ossewa-Brandwag, ‘Oupa’ Krause gave an almost unbelievable
description to Mr. E.L. Brits, of the Seer’s visions on the outbreak of a
future world war.
Because England fears
a Russian bomb attack, they connive in secret with the Russians. They betray
Western military secrets to Russia and sign treaties with Russia against the
USA. Russia mistrusts the English; the USA learns of this treachery and
realizes the danger of English betrayal against it. The great clash between
American and British troops takes place in Egypt after the next world war has
started. The English army is defeated and those still alive after the battle,
are taken prisoner. It is also there where our troops are stopped and disarmed.
The English attempt
to get help in secret from the Japanese, but are unsuccessful. During the night
Russia storms through Turkey (Iraq) en route to the Suez region, while Turkey
offers no resistance. The Russians make contact with the American army in Syria
and Palestine where they (the Russians) are stopped by the Americans. Palestine
is destroyed during the fighting. Some Arabs side with the Americans. Many
oilfields in the Middle-East are set alight. The Red Army is defeated by the
more advanced secret weaponry of the USA.
The Russians break
through to Spain en route to Gibraltar, and when they are stopped there, they
turn on England and attack them from the air. England is totally destroyed.
Many secret weapons
and gas is used everywhere. While horror (atomic?) bombs sow death and
destruction, nations will be annihilated. While some nations cease to exist,
others will still survive, but will be worthless. It will be a devastating war
and everyone will be expected to go and fight.
Our Boer nation will
not be destroyed, for we have a purpose and destination. England will be a very
minor factor. Ireland also gains its freedom and drives the English from their
country. Holland surrenders without a whimper. France will somehow survive;
Russia will be finished and although the USA will not be destroyed, it will be
a very weak nation. The Germans declare peace in Europe and become the strongest
nation in a very short time.
The Beginning of
Oppression War breaks out in Europe around April or May (year unknown) as soon
as the thaw sets in, but by the time there is no more ice and snow, it will
have progressed considerably—so much so that it seems if the Russians are
winning.
An atmosphere of
oppression will prevail not only in Europe, but also in our own country. The
Germans will make use of the opportunity to take revenge on England, which will
be totally annihilated. As usual, the USA in Europe will initially flee, but
return later with a strong military force and stop Russia in Spain.
Van Rensburg says the
Germans will be fully armed—probably with secret armaments from underground
arsenals, which, indeed, is the case. The war will be very swift, destructive
and dreadful. Nations will be annihilated very quickly by means of air attacks,
horror (nuclear?) bombs and germ warfare. Laser Beams? The worst will be
‘electric beams’ sowing death and destruction above and below; even the soil
will be destroyed and few people will remain alive.
3 And when
he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there
went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat
thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another:
and there was given unto him a great sword. Rev 6
The Aftermath of WW III:
The aftermath of WW III and the other 3 Seals will be the establishment of the new world order.
1 And I
stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having
seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads
the name of blasphemy.
2 And the
beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a
bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power,
and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw
one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed:
and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they
worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the
beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there
was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was
given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he
opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it
was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power
was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all
that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the
book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any
man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that
leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword
must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the
saints.
11 And I
beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a
lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he
exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth
and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was
healed.
13 And he
doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth
in the sight of men,
14 And
deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he
had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the
earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a
sword, and did live.
15 And he had
power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the
beast should be killed.
16 And he
causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a
mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that
no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name.
18 Here is
wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it
is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Rev 13
When
are people going to wake up to the times that we are in? Will you have to first
see the average person in the world having to spend a day’s wages to buy a
measure of wheat, or will you have to see one fourth of the world’s population
die?
And if
someone never wakes up to the fact that the last 7 years has begun because they think that the rapture has to occur first, then they
are in danger of taking the mark—the biometric I.D.—without realizing that it
is the mark—don’t hit the snooze!
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." — Luke 21:36
Are you uncertain about your eternal destination?
The end times are knocking on the door, but so is Jesus. He wants to save you—will you let Him? Do not wait until the door is closed.
Get a solid grasp on what is coming and learn how to prepare physically and spiritually. Download our FREE guide, 'Escape God's Wrath: A Beginner's Guide to the End Times' and find out how to navigate the future with confidence.
The Future Is Not for You to Fear—It Is for You to Know
If you are tired of confusing theories and failed predictions, discover the clarity you've been looking for. The Coming Epiphany, trusted by thousands of readers since 2004, offers a comprehensive and literal explanation of end-time prophecy grounded firmly in scripture.
This updated edition goes far beyond our blog articles to reveal the critical answers you need right now, including:
The true nature and timing of the Day of the Lord.
The key events that must precede the rapture.
America's surprising end-times fate.
Practical ways to prepare for what is coming.
An end-times chronology reconciling the date parameters of 1260, 1290, 1335, and 2520.
In a world filled with questions about the future, you do not have to guess what happens next. Know exactly what the scripture reveals.
God reveals to us several things that must occur before
the rapture—Day of the Lord event. 2 Thessalonians reveals to us that there
must be a falling away first, the man of sin or antichrist revealed, and for
him to perform the abomination of desolation.
2 Thes 2:1-4
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so
that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Acts 2:20 reveals to us that the sun must be darkened, and
the moon turned to blood, before the Day of the Lord—rapture event.
Acts 2:20
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before the great and notable
day of the Lord come:
This is also echoed in the Matthew 24 passage.
Mt 24:29-31
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 powers of the
heavens shall be shaken:
And
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven:
and then shall all the tribes of the earth 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 great sound of a trumpet,
and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of
heaven to the other.
Question:
What must occur before the rapture?
Answer:
A falling away, the antichrist revealed, the abomination of desolation, the sun
darkened, and the moon turned to blood.
Question:
Is the rapture imminent?
Answer:
No, because several things must occur first, which have not occurred yet.
That may be a shocker to you; that the rapture is not
imminent, but that is exactly the issue that God through the apostle Paul
addressed the Thessalonians on. They thought the rapture was imminent or that
it had already occurred and they missed it. They were clearly told that it
cannot happen until several things occur first. Read the passage again.
2 Thes 2:1-4
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand. (Imminent)
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of
God, shewing himself that he is God.
Question:
As discussed above one of the events that must occur before the rapture is the
abomination of desolation and the taking over the world by the antichrist. When
in the end times does the antichrist perform the abomination of desolation and
take over the world?
Daniel 9:11 reveals to us that the abomination of
desolation occurs 1290 days before the end.
Dan 9:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken
away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a
thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Thus, the abomination of desolation occurs near the
midpoint of the last 7 years. And passages in Revelation reveal to us that his
reign over the earth will last for 1260 days, thus his reign will begin at the
midpoint.
Rev 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great
things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months.
Question:
When in the end times does the antichrist perform the abomination of desolation
and take over the world?
Answer:
Respectively just before and at the midpoint.
Question:
Two other events previously discussed that must occur before the Day of the
Lord—rapture is that the sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood. When
in the end times are the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood?
That is a very easy question to answer for scripture
tells us succinctly that they occur after the opening of the Sixth Seal.
Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal,
and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of
hair, and the moon became as blood;
Question:
When in the end times are the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood, etc.?
Answer:
After the opening of the sixth seal.
Question:
What else occurs after the opening of the sixth seal?
God tells us that several other things occur after the
opening of the sixth seal the most prominent are that Jesus appears in the sky,
men hide, and God’s wrath begins.
Rev 6: 12-17
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo,
there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair,
and the moon became as blood;
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a
fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled
together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
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;
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide
us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb:
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be
able to stand?
It is interesting to note that there are only two events
during the end times when Jesus will appear, at the rapture and at Armageddon.
Question:
What else occurs after the opening of the sixth seal?
Answer:
A great earthquake moving every island and mountain, a meteor shower, the sky
splits open, men see Jesus in the sky, and God’s wrath begins.
Question:
Considering all the previous scriptural facts, when in the end times do the scriptural
facts tell us that the rapture will occur?
Let’s put everything together and make a definitive
statement based on the Biblical evidence presented as to when in the end times
the rapture will occur. Realizing that the rapture occurs at the Day of the
Lord event and that the Day of the Lord occurs after the sixth seal is opened;
therefore, the rapture must occur after the sixth seal is opened. This truth is
confirmed by the fact that Jesus appears in the sky, men hide, and God’s wrath
begins after the opening of the sixth seal.
Question:
Considering all the previous scriptural facts, when in the end times do the
facts tell us that the rapture will occur?
Answer:
After the opening of the sixth seal.
Question:
When in the last 7 years or the end times is the sixth seal opened and the
rapture occurs?
Let me make it clear no one knows the day or hour of the
rapture and thus the opening of the sixth seal except God the Father.
Mark 13:32
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the
angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
But we can know a general timeframe in which it will
occur. Obviously the sixth seal is opened after the opening of the fifth seal,
which is the persecution of Jews and Christians by the antichrist.
Rev 6:9-11
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony
which they held:
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O
Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that
dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it
was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their
fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled.
The antichrist makes war against Jews and Christians
during his 42-month reign which begins at the midpoint and ends at Armageddon.
Rev 13:5-7
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great
things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to
blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints,
and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues,
and nations.
Therefore, the sixth seal and the rapture occur sometime
after the antichrist takes over the world at the midpoint.
Question:
When in the end times is the sixth seal opened and the rapture occurs?
Answer:
The sixth seal is opened, and the rapture occurs at an unknown time after the
midpoint.
To be continued
Here is a song by Peace Light that sums it all up.
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." — Luke 21:36
Are you uncertain about your eternal destination?
The end times are knocking on the door, but so is Jesus. He wants to save you—will you let Him? Do not wait until the door is closed.
Get a solid grasp on what is coming and learn how to prepare physically and spiritually. Download our FREE guide, 'Escape God's Wrath: A Beginner's Guide to the End Times', and find out how to navigate the future with confidence.
The Future Is Not for You to Fear—It Is for You to Know
If you are tired of confusing theories and failed predictions, discover the clarity you've been looking for. The Coming Epiphany, trusted by thousands of readers since 2004, offers a comprehensive and literal explanation of end-time prophecy grounded firmly in scripture.
This updated edition goes far beyond our blog articles to reveal the critical answers you need right now, including:
The true nature and timing of the Day of the Lord.
The key events that must precede the rapture.
America's surprising end-times fate.
Practical ways to prepare for what is coming.
An end-times chronology reconciling the date parameters of 1260, 1290, 1335, and 2520.
In a world filled with questions about the future, you do not have to guess what happens next. Know exactly what the scripture reveals.
The rapture
is one of the most controversial topics in all of the end times. Some don’t
believe there will be a rapture, and those that do, cannot agree on when it
will occur. But a careful examination of questions about the rapture and their
answers are for most, quite shocking and will reveal hard truths that you will
wish you had known a long time ago. These rapture truths may even keep you from
making the biggest mistake in your life.
So, let’s
begin our study by first identifying why there are so many conflicting views
about the rapture. I believe that the root of the problem is the failure to
take all of scripture into view, instead of a just a few select passages.
Taking all of scripture into view is essential to forming any correct doctrinal
view. Any correct theological view must agree with all of scripture and
contradict none of scripture.
It is with
this in mind that I will present and answer several important questions
involving the rapture. I warn you that some of the answers to those questions
may go against what you have been taught all of your life. I ask that you to
not reject the answers just because they are different from what you have been
taught, but to let the truths of God’s Word speak to you—for the truth shall
set us free. Let’s begin.
Question: Is the rapture in the Bible
and if so, what does the rapture entail?
The word
rapture is not in the English Bible, however a quick study of the linguistic origins of the word rapture readily show that the rapture is an
event talked about in the Bible many times.
The
linguistic origins of the English word "Rapture" in Christian
eschatology, tracing it back to how Saint Jerome translated 1 Thessalonians
4:17 from the original Greek into the Latin Vulgate:
Original
Greek: ἁρπαγησόμεθα (harpagēsometha), which means "we shall be caught
up" or "snatched away".
Latin Vulgate
Translation: rapiemur, which translates to "we are caught up" or
"we are taken away".
Latin Root
Verb: rapio, meaning "to catch up," "take away," or
"seize".
Because the
Latin Vulgate was the dominant Bible used in the Western Church for over a
thousand years, the Latin root raptura (and the verb rapio) eventually evolved
into the Middle French word rapture, which was then adopted into English to
describe this specific biblical event.
As we will
soon see the concept of believers being caught up or raptured during the end
times is mentioned many times in scripture.
Question: Is the rapture in the Bible
and if so, what does the rapture entail?
Answer: Yes, there is a rapture
during the end times and the word rapture describes the end times Biblical
event where the saints are taken up into heaven.
Question: Where in the Bible is the rapture mentioned?
There are many places in the Bible where the rapture is mentioned.
1 Thes 4:16,17
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.
2 Thes 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
1 Cor 15: 51, 52
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Mt 24:30, 31
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth 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 great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mt 24:40 - 42
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Luke 17: 34-36
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Question: Where in the Bible is the rapture mentioned?
Answer: It is plain to see that the rapture is mentioned many times in the Bible.
Question: What is the reason for the
rapture?
Realizing
that during the end times God’s wrath will be poured out upon the world, and
also realizing that God’s children will not be subjected to God’s wrath, which
the Bible clearly states in 1 Thes 5:9.
For God hath
not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
We can
therefore easily conclude that the rapture is for the purpose of removing God’s
children from the earth before His wrath is poured out. God’s children can and
are subject to tribulations but not God’s wrath.
Question: What is the reason for the
rapture?
Answer: The reason for the rapture is
to remove Christians from the earth before God’s wrath is poured out upon the
world.
Question: What specifically happens
at the rapture?
I Thes 4 tells
us succinctly what occurs. “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.”
Question: What specifically happens
at the rapture?
Answer: Jesus comes to the clouds, a trumpet
sound is heard, the dead in Christ rise, and the saints are caught up to
heaven.
Question: What phrases or words in
the Bible refer to the rapture?
In reading
the many passages above we see the following phrases that refer to the rapture;
“caught up,” “our gathering together unto him,” “we shall be changed,” “shall
gather together his elect,” “one shall be taken.”
Question: What phrases or words in
the Bible refer to the rapture?
Answer:“Caught
up,” “our gathering together unto him,” “we shall be changed,” “shall gather
together his elect,” “one shall be taken.”
Question: What other name is given to
the rapture event?
Another name
given for the rapture event, which also helps to identify when in the end times
it will occur is the phrase, “the Day of the Lord.” This Day of the Lord—rapture
connection is quite readily seen in first and second Thessalonians.
1 Thes 4:
15-5:2
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.
But of the
times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For
yourselves know perfectly that the day
of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
2 Thes 2:1,2
Now we
beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together unto him,
That ye be
not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by
letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand.
The phrases
the Day of the Lord and the Day of Christ use the same Greek words, so they are
synonymous terms. And those terms are used to describe the rapture as evidenced
in the Thessalonian passages above.
Question: What other name is given to
the rapture event?
Answer: The synonymous terms the Day
of the Lord or the Day of Christ.
To be continued...
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." — Luke 21:36
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An end-times chronology reconciling the date parameters of 1260, 1290, 1335, and 2520.
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William Frederick, M.Div., is a researcher, author, and the voice behind The End Times Forecaster. With formal theological training and a passion for biblical prophecy, he helps readers navigate current global events through a scriptural lens. He is the author of several books, including The Coming Epiphany.
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