The Rapture is Not a New Teaching
1st Thessalonians 4:17-18, “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.”
There are some people today who claim that the
teaching of the Rapture is not found in the Bible, and that the doctrine has
only been in existence for the past 150-years.
May I say, the Bible plainly teaches the doctrine of the Rapture in 1st
Thessalonians 4:17-18. The doctrine of the Rapture is not new, although it
has gained much attention over the past 150-years due to Communism, which
aims for global control. Revelation 17:10-13 teaches that a global
government (the 7th king) will rule the world, and the 8th will be the
Antichrist. Today, it is commonly reported in the mainstream news that the
New World Order is here. I believe that the Lord's return is imminent.
Please notice in 1st Thessalonians 4:17 that believers will be "CAUGHT UP"
into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. That's quite amazing. This is
in sharp contrast to the Second Coming of the Lord 7-years later, which we
read about in Jude 1:14, "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his
saints." At the Rapture, the Lord is coming FOR His saints; but at the
Second Coming, the Lord is coming WITH His Saints. We will already be with
Him at the Second Coming.
The words "caught up" are exactly what the word "Rapture" means. The word
"Trinity" is not found in the Bible either; however, the word "Godhead" is
found in Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20 and Colossians 2:9 of the King James Bible
(which is the only Bible I trust). All modern versions of the Bible have
wrongfully removed the word "Godhead." The New International Version removes
the name above every other name, Jesus, in 38-places. That fact alone should
alarm anyone who loves the Lord Jesus Christ. Please use only the King James
Bible.
The doctrine of the Rapture IS found in the Bible. 1st Thessalonians 4:17
was written nearly 2,000 years ago. And so we see that it is certainly not a
new teaching.
The Bible teaches a pre-tribulation Rapture, i.e., the Rapture will occur
BEFORE the Tribulation Period. The reason why is quite evident as we study
the Scriptures. 2nd Thessalonians 2:4 teaches that the Antichrist will
declare himself to be god from the temple in Jerusalem half way into the
Tribulation Period (a 7-year period of purging for Israel, to prepare the
nation to receive her King; and a time of God's wrath being poured out upon
the wickedness of mankind). The Antichrist will declare himself to be god
and demand worship. The masses of the world will be ordered to worship an
image of the Antichrist, i.e., the Beast, or be killed (Revelation 13:15).
This event Scripturally is known as THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
(Matthew 24:14). Daniel also prophesied concerning this event in Daniel
9:29; 11:36. It will be obvious to anyone living upon the earth at that
time, who understands the Scriptures, that the Second Coming of Christ is
exactly 3 1/2 years away from that event. Daniel 11:33, "And they that
understand among the people shall instruct many." Even today, it is the few
who understand that are instructing many.
Thus, the Rapture cannot occur at the end of the Tribulation Period, because
Jesus plainly taught that no man knows when He will return (Matthew 25:13).
Once the Antichrist declares himself to be god from the temple, there will
only be 3 1/2 years remaining before the Second Coming and the Battle of
Armageddon.
The important thing is that we make sure we're ready to meet our Maker. Have
you been born-again? Jesus adamantly stated that a man MUST be born-again to
enter into Heaven (John 3:7). Another way to put it would be to say, "One
must have He, Who is the Beginning, born in you." In Revelation 1:8 Jesus
proclaimed, " I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the
Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
It's this simple... we are SINNERS and Jesus is the SAVIOR. Eternal life is
the gift of God (Romans 6:23). A person need only acknowledge their debt of
sin, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for forgiveness.
Acts 10:43, "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name
whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins."
May we always keep in mind Revelation 19:10 while studying Biblical
prophecy, which states, "...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy." Jesus is precious! The primary purpose of all prophecy in the
Bible is to testify concerning Jesus Christ. In John 5:39 Jesus said, "Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they
are they which TESTIFY OF ME."
