Before starting, I want to apologize for several publication glitches on my part. I am still learning about the technical workings here, and it seems that several articles had been left in "draft" mode without being published. These failings have been corrected, and I would encourage the reader to go back over the posts to see what was missing. Again, I am sorry for the oversight.
Over time, believers in the rapture have gained a pretty bad reputation, especially among the unsaved. Men such as Harold Camping only augment such negative viewpoints. Many of you are familiar with at least the basics of this position, but I will try to explain so that anyone might have an understanding of this topic.
The Bible tells us of a time coming, when true followers of Christ will be "caught up" into heaven to be with the Lord. The dead in Christ shall rise 1st, and then those who are yet alive and remain (in Christ) will also be taken up (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Such an occurrence, and even just the thought of it, can be a great encouragement to believers in this sinfully fallen world. The point of contention comes over when this event will happen.
Probably the most popular view in our time is that of a pre-tribulation rapture. The tribulation is an approximate 7-year period of trouble and judgment for the earth. These 7 years immediately precede Christ's return for His reign of 1,000 years (a.k.a. "The Millenium"). The view of the pre-trib rapture is that believers will be called home before things get really bad here on earth during this 7 year tribulation period.
The theory of this doctrine is relatively new to Biblical Christianity. We can actually trace its origin back to the 1830s, being picked up and promoted by Darby and the Plymouth Brethren. 180 years ago is short, considering that God's finished Word is about 1,950 years old! One might well wonder how this doctrine could escape the notice of so many devout believers for all that time. The great promotion of this view came toward the end of the 19th century. Seeds of this view were sown through Scofield and his reference Bible, until in our time today it is a most popular position. I find it significant that in these last-days, the apostate organized churches cling to such a view. It is a corrupt tree; how can it yield good fruit?
One can understand that this is a popular viewpoint. No one of a sound mind could look forward to the troubling scenarios that are revealed in Revelation, or spoken of directly by Jesus. We are God's "chosen" people; surely He will not allow us to experience such things, will He?
First we will look at the timing of the rapture. One thing was made crystal clear by Jesus; that nobody will know the exact day and/or hour of Christ's return. Jesus said that even He would not have that information, but that God the Father alone would know (Matt. 24:36, Mark 13:32). We were warned by Jesus about false prophets such as Harold Camping (he is only the latest example, not the only one). It boggles my mind how any professing Christian could have been taken in by him, when his "day & hour" prediction of the Lord's return so obviously contradicts scripture- yet apart from God's mercy, we would all fall prey to the wiles of the devil.
Yet there is another equally flawed view leaning in the opposite direction; that the time of Christ's return is completely unknowable- that His return will be a total surprise to everyone. Those believing in a pre-trib rapture often take this stance. Since this view began coming into acceptance, those promoting it were teaching that it could be "any time now." Therefore, esteemed church leaders have been saying this for some 150 years, bringing upon the name of Christ great ridicule. False teachings about the rapture/tribulation have only caused the majority of the unsaved to disbelieve it more, when they ought to be preparing with soberness. BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS!!! The Bible gives us a definite timeline, a sequence of events by which we may pin down the approximate time of the rapture and Christ's return. And as terrible as World War III may be, the occurrence of that event doesn't really help us at all.
Even though we were flatly told that no one could know the exact day or hour of Christ's return, we (Christ's disciples) were told that we would certainly know the SEASON (Matt. 24:33, Mark 13:29). That is why we are to watch diligently; if we couldn't know, why watch? Though the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, those awake and watching will not be caught off guard! Consider the following from I Thessalonians 5:2-6; "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night... But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
The Thessalonians were recipients of the last days' prophecies through Paul. In the second letter to the Thessalonians, the Holy Spirit moves Paul to provide a more substantive time-line regarding "the day of the Lord"; that they might not be given to uncertainty in their thinking about it. They are told that this day will not come, unless there is a falling away first. After this, the antichrist will be revealed (a.k.a "that man of sin", "the son of perdition", and "that Wicked" in II Thessalonians 2). Verse 6 says, "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time."
We find the same person referenced in Daniel (called the "abomination that maketh desolate") chapter 12:9-12. Yes, the reign of antichrist will be 42 months (Rev. 13:5); also called 1,290 days in Daniel- and the believers in Christ shall be here for it all! Christians will be here when the antichrist is revealed, as shown in II Thessalonians, and they will be here throughout his entire reign as shown in Daniel.
Jesus tells us with certainty that the rapture, and His return for the battle of Armageddon, followed by the beginning of His millenial reign, will all happen on one day. Luke 17:26-37 brings this forth, and it is supported by Rev. 19:7-15. "The same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." -v.29,30. Jesus alludes to the rapture in verses 34-36; when the disciples ask where these are "taken" to, Jesus replies, "Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." This is a descriptive view of carrion birds hovering over the dead bodies at Armageddon; those raptured will be taken into the air, and will continue to be with Christ as He shortly returns to fight there. The passage in Revelation also shows the marriage supper of the Lamb to immediately precede this great battle.
In short, there is no pre-trib rapture coming to rescue believers from the evil days of the tribulation. Our reward, our rescue, will be eternal life with Christ, though it may well cost us our lives (Rev. 12:11). These earthen vessels are destined to die, whether it be in martyrdom or old age.
God's views on mercy are not the same as ours. It is only natural not to wish any evil to befall us, but in the end we must yield to our heavenly Father and say, "Thy will be done." Let us faithfully prepare, through the Holy Spirit, for what lies ahead.
"All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked..." -from Eccl. 9:2
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