http://www.prophezine.com/search/database/Issue65/is65.7.html
By Bob Ippolito
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15-NASB
The RAPTURE:
1 Cor 15: 50
"Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
and: I Thess 4: 14
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words."
I believe that the majority of sincere disagreement against the clear and consistent teaching of the Bible on the issue of a PreTribulation Rapture of the Church, is the result of inaccurate handling of the Word of God. This is not being judgmental, but an observation that the Bible exhibits an inherent precision that sometimes defies even the most 'diligent workmen', including this author.
(Items in parenthesis may denote editorial comments within the Scriptures)
PART ONE:
We can start with the very terms Tribulation, Rapture and Church.
A) TRIBULATION
Although there is always tribulation (with a small t) in the world, eschatologically this Tribulation (capital T) is a specific term referring to End Times events outlined in Matthew 24 and 25, known as the Olivet Discourse where Christ answered his followers' questions about the signs of His Coming at the End of the Age.
First, Jesus defines a time of Sorrows (Matt 24:1-14) and a time of Tribulation (birth pangs). He then defines a time of Great Tribulation (Matt 24:15-28) such as the world has never seen nor will ever see again. This latter time period commences (24:15) with the act known as The Abomination of Desolation (hereafter, AoD) spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Dan 9:27) committed by the antichrist on a wing of the temple in Jerusalem. From other Scriptures it is established that this commencement is precisely at the midpoint of a 7 year period known as Daniel's 70th week (Dan 9:27; 11:31). Therefore, the Great Tribulation (sometimes called The Time of Jacob's Trouble) is a precise 3.5 year period commencing with the Abomination of Desolation and ending with the Second Coming of Christ.
B) The ELECT, The SAINTS and the CHURCH
Part of the problem is a misunderstanding of the precise words used to define
the redeemed.
The ELECT:
1588. EKLEKTOS, ek-lek-tos'; from G1586; select; by impl. favorite:--chosen, elect. As mentioned in Matt 24:22, 24, and 31
The SAINTS:
40. HAGIOS, hag'-ee-os; from hagos (an awful thing) [comp. G53, H2282]; sacred (phys. pure, mor. blameless or religious, cer. consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint. 23 times in Rev. Only once before Chapter 4, in 3:7, where it is properly translated 'holy', not 'saints'.
The CHURCH:
1577. EKKLESIA, ek-klay-see'-ah; from a comp. of G1537 and a der. of G2564; a calling out, i.e. (concr.) a popular meeting, espec. a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Chr. community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church. 20 times in 19 verses Not mentioned at all between 3:22 and 22:16
ALL the redeemed are among the ELECT (chosen) ALL the redeemed are SAINTS (holy and blameless) but ALL of the redeemed are NOT the CHURCH!! (the collective Body of Christ on earth)
Then who are the elect and the saints who are not the Church? There are saved Old Testament saints, the 144,000 Jewish evangelists during the Tribulation, the converts of the preaching of the 144,000 who are largely martyred for their faithfulness to Christ and opposition to the antichrist - known as the Tribulation saints. Some say "How can that be if the Church is not on earth, having already been resurrected?"
C) RAPTURE, RESURRECTION and the SECOND COMING:
The Rapture is not the first RESURRECTION, but is a PART of the first Resurrection. At the very minimum, Enoch was a type. Christ was the First Fruits. I Cor 15:19-24 The Church is the main harvest. The Tribulation saints are the gleanings at the end of the harvest.
"Blessed are those who have a part in the First Resurrection. Over them the second death has no power." Rev 20:6
The Rapture is NOT the SECOND COMING.
The Rapture is in Secret. Christ does descend from heaven but returns with us to His Father's house; He does NOT return to earth at that time. Christ, Himself, gathers us at His spoken word and the sound of the trumpet.
RAPTURE CONCEPTS:
The Term PreTribulation applied to the Rapture is one of the clearest teachings in the Bible in that:
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE RAPTURE MUST BE IN HARMONY WITH ALL THE STATEMENTS AND CONCEPTS OF THE BIBLE, and not simply in accordance with someone's private interpretation of one or two scriptures taken out of context, or inaccurately handling the language. 2 Pet 1:20-21
PART TWO:
HOW A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THESE TERMS LEADS TO ERRONEOUS THEOLOGY ON THE RAPTURE:
Examine the following FOUR examples, frequently used to justify the Rapture during or at the end of the Tribulation:
"Now we request you, brethren, with regard to THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND OUR GATHERING TOGETHER TO HIM, (the Rapture)2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that THE DAY OF THE LORD has come. (God's Wrath)
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for IT will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction."
Many have mistakenly said, "concerning the Rapture in verse one, IT will not come until the apostasy comes and the antichrist is revealed, so we have to be here when he's revealed." This is incorrect. First, this would violate all the Rapture concepts. Secondly, re-reading the passage carefully, we realize that there are two possible subjects:
Is the correct subject for the "IT" of verse 3 the first mentioned or the last mentioned of the two choices above. Our choice of subject will determine either of two opposing conclusions. Answer: we can't know until we read more of the passage.
Continuing then:
6 "And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed. (the antichrist)7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY. (the Church)
8 And THEN that lawless one (antichrist) will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved."
This passage clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit's work through the Church RESTRAINS the antichrist from revealing himself, therefore the Church must first be taken out of the way. This answers the question then that the subject for the "IT" of verse 3 is 'the Day of the Lord', IT will not come until the Church is taken out of the way. (the Rapture comes first) The order then is clearly established as: The Rapture and The Apostasy - then the revealing of the antichrist - then the Day of the Lord. The time between events is not given. (The Rapture could be before OR after the Apostasy -this is not made clear.)
Some have incorrectly insisted that all of the above simply indicates a prewrath view - that THE CHURCH WOULD BE HERE UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE ANTICHRIST COMMITS THE AOD and God pours out His wrath on the antichrist kingdom and a Christ-rejecting world, This is according to their interpretation of 2 Thess. 2: 7, 8, where they believe that verse 7 relates to the Rapture (so do I) and that verse 8 refers to the AoD (not necessarily so!).
7 "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains (the work of the Holy Spirit through the Church in the world) will do so until he is taken out of the way (the Holy Spirit is not taken out of the world, but when the 'light of the world/ salt of the earth /Church' is taken out of the world, the restraint work of the Holy Spirit against evil is taken out of the way of the antichrist so that he can be revealed).8 And THEN that lawless one (the antichrist) WILL BE REVEALED whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;" (this verse does not require that the way that he is revealed must be by committing the AoD, therefore it does not follow that the Church be here right up and until the AoD, which would be through the first 3.5 years of Daniel's 70th week.)
Even verse 3 and 4:
3 "Let no one in any way deceive you, for IT (the Day of the Lord, from the discussion above) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God."
(This does not impose any timing requirements upon this antagonist, but simply LISTS some of his actions).
A) THEN (vs 8 above) does not mean immediately, but simply afterwards.
B) WILL BE REVEALED does not require the AoD be the one and only way.
How else then, could the lawless one be revealed, if not by committing the Abomination (AoD)?
In summary:
How do we know WHEN the Church will be raptured? We DON'T, other than the fact that Christ will be wed to His bride in heaven while she is protected from the earthly and spiritual chaos in progress on planet earth. Isa 26:20; Rev 13: 6; 19: 7-9
WILL WE GO CLOSE TO OR INTO DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK AT ALL? Most scholars and serious students conclude that the Church is God's higher plan B, having known that Israel would largely reject her Messiah, thereby thwarting plan A, while God allowed for human choice. The stopwatch stopped for Israel at the end of the 69th week of years (Dan 9:27), then 400 years of silence, then Christ's birth/ death/ Resurrection/ ascent, descent of the Holy Spirit, then: The Church - Pentecost to the Rapture- (the Great Parenthesis) We get grafted into a cultivated olive tree THEN the hardening of Israel is removed when the FULNESS of the GENTILES has come in (Rom 11:25) THEN the Rapture of the Church, known only to the Father (because the fullness of the Gentiles has just come in) THEN the stopwatch is clicked into motion again for the 70th week (of years=7 years) of Daniel, and Israel will clash with the antichrist.
During Daniel's 70th week there will be great Salvation! Rev 7: 9-17; 14:6
Christ says to the angel who says to John, I will tell you about what has been, what is, and what is to come.
Chapter One covers what HAS BEEN.
Chapters Two and Three covers what IS and the word CHURCH is mentioned 19 times in 19 verses. To one of these Churches (Philadelphia- 3:8 and 3:10) Jesus offers a door of escape from what IS TO COME.
Chapters Four to the end, Chapter 22, covers what IS TO COME. Chapter Four opens with John representative as a member of the Church ), standing BEFORE AN OPEN DOOR IN HEAVEN a voice like THE SOUND OF A TRUMPET says COME UP HERE! and I will show you what MUST TAKE PLACE AFTER THESE THINGS. How PERFECT a picture of the Rapture!! I Cor 15:51-52
The rest of the Revelation carefully uses the word HAGIOS for saints 23 times, but never the word EKKLESIA for Church, until all the events have been told and Jesus gives His salutory closing to His Church.
for context: 22 And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have
been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short.
23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,'
or 'There He is,' do not believe him.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will
show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
25 Behold, I have told you in advance.
26 If therefore they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,'
do not go forth, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe
them.
27 For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes
even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.
28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
29 But IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days the sun
will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will
fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken,
30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky,
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son
of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and
THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His ELECT from the four winds, from one end of
the sky to the other."
Many will say, "see, it says that He gathers His elect AFTER the tribulation
of those days; this must be the Rapture".
However, the above passage is NOT speaking about the Rapture, but of the
Second Coming of Christ where: Christ RETURNS to earth Rev 19: 11-13 He
returns WITH the bride Rev 19: 8,14 Every eye will see Him Matt 24: 30
What is notable, is that this GATHERING OF THE ELECT is being done by
angels, and the ELECT who are being gathered are the LIVING believers who
have survived the holocaust of the antichrist.
See vs. 22
See v. 24
And so it is clear that this gathering of the ELECT is NOT the Rapture
of the Church, but is part of the gathering in preparation for the judgement
of the nations discussed in Matt 25:31-32.
The Bible says that in God's KINGDOM the CHURCH will rule over the NATIONS.
Into the millennium will also be the sheep from the separation of the sheep
and the goats in Matt. 26: 31-46.
"And unless those days had been cut short, no LIFE would have
been saved; but FOR THE SAKE OF THE ELECT those days shall be cut short."
(The ELECT are those whose EARTHY LIVES were preserved by the Lord cutting
short the tyranny of the antichrist.)
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will
show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even THE ELECT."
(Only the LIVING ELECT can be misled; the dead are no longer deceived!)
DOES ANY OF THIS MATTER?
YES!!
We are told concerning the signs of the End of the Age:
Matt 24: 33
"when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door."
and: Luke 21: 28
"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
and: Luke 21: 36
"But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."and: Titus 2: 11
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,and finally: Rom 8: 1512 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; "
"For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
As we see the day fast approaching, we do not live in fear of an approaching antichrist, but we lift up our heads, and we look forward to our redemption by Christ.
Let no man deprive us of this Blessed Hope of His Appearing for us!
Maranatha!
Come Lord Jesus.
Bob Ippolito - 9/18/98
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