Does your rapture theory matter? Some
say; “No” and even say that it is wrong for Christians to haggle over the
issue. However scripture tells us differently, in fact your rapture belief has
the possibility to be a life or death matter, and thus it is very important to
have a correct rapture belief.
First off let me assure you that there will
be a rapture, for some teach that there will be no rapture. The fact of the
rapture is clearly taught in scripture by verse and in principal and has been
taught by the church throughout the ages.
Then shall two be in the
field; the one shall be taken, and the other left Mt 24:40
What has been a relatively new addition
to the rapture doctrine is the pre tribulation rapture theory. In summarizing
the development of the pre-tribulation doctrine, H. L. Nigro says this:
The development of the pretribulation rapture is
generally attributed to John Darby of the Plymouth Brethren, who formalized the
theory around 1830. Prior to this time, the return of Christ was seen as a
singular event. Jesus would return to earth once, to rapture His Church, to
redeem lost Israel, and to judge the wicked and rebellious world, and this was
seen either as a midtribulational or posttribulational event. Darby was the
first to formally theorize that Jesus would return in two stages: first in
spiritual form to rapture the Church, then in bodily form seven years later to
judge the world. This allowed Jesus to return triumphantly at Armageddon while
keeping the Church out of the 70th Week.. The Coming
Epiphany, Chapter 5.
Now back to the original question; does
your rapture theory matter? Yes it does and here is why it matters. If you
believe in a pre-tribulation rapture and you are wrong then you will be
unprepared for the events that directly precede and follow the rising of the
antichrist—namely Seals 1-5.
Seal
1: Conquering world power
Seal
3: World financial collapse
Seal
4: Death; 1 out of 4 will die
Seal
5: war against Jews and Christians
Being unprepared for those events could
lead to great suffering and even death. Thus your rapture theory matters—it can
be a matter of life or death.
So which rapture theory is correct? God
has clearly shown us. Let’s start by examining the verses below that give us a
name for the event in which the rapture will occur.
15 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.
16 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:
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.
18 Wherefore comfort one
another with these words.
1 But of the times and the
seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 Thes
4:15-5:2
Notice in the verses above that the
rapture is described as the event in which we will be caught up into the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. Then in verse two God gives a name to the catching
away/rapture event. God calls it the Day
of the Lord. Here is another passage that clearly shows this.
1 Now we beseech you,
brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together
unto him,
2 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. 2 Thes 2:1,2
Verse one clearly describes the
rapture—our gathering together unto Him—and then in verse two we are given a
name for when this event will occur—the
Day of Christ. The phrases the Day of the Lord and the Day of Christ use
the same Greek words and are synonymous.
Thus God clearly and succinctly tells us
that the rapture occurs at the Day of the Lord event. God also clearly tells us
when the day of the Lord/rapture event occurs.
The sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the great and notable day of the Lord come:
Acts 2:20
Plain and simple; the rapture/Day of the
Lord event occurs after the moon is turned to blood. And when is the moon
turned to blood?
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; Rev 6:12
Putting
it all together; the rapture occurs during the Day of the Lord, the Day of the
Lord occurs after the moon is turned to blood, the moon is turned to blood
after Seal 6 is opened, therefore the rapture occurs after the opening of Seal
6. Here is the order; Seal 6—moon to blood—the Day of the Lord/rapture.
Now for a conformation; notice what
people say after Seal 6 is opened and ask yourself why?
13 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.
14 And the heaven departed as
a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved
out of their places.
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;
16 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:
17 For the great day of his
wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The people of the earth say; hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne. Why
do they say that? They say that because they have just seen Jesus appear in the
sky at the Day of the Lord rapture event!
You have been clearly shown when the
rapture will occur. Why will you still not believe and prepare? Remember your
belief in this case has the potential to be a life or death decision. The
sudden destruction of the Seals are coming, you need to prepare.
3 For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in
darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of
light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep,
as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thes 5
For a more in thorough explanation of
why the rapture will occur after Seal 6 is opened see The
Coming Epiphany—FREE
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If you are not saved, you will not be
raptured, and will be subject to God’s wrath. Find out what you must do to be
saved. Read a short message entitled; God’s Gift of Salvation.