In Luke 14:14, we find a similar reference. Jesus says that the believer will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Acts. 24:15 there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
These two resurrections are
separated by a one thousand year period. We
find this in Rev. 20:46. And I saw thrones, and they sat
upon them, and judgement was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for
the word of God, and which had not worshipped
the beast, neither his image, neither had
received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands: and they lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the
dead lived not again until the thousand years
were finished. This is the first
resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that
hath part in the first resurrection: on such
the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with Him a thousand years.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incoruptible,
and we shall all be changed. 1 Cor.
15:52
For the Lord Himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and 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 be with the
Lord. 1 Thess. 4:16
Here is the problem... If the rapture occurs at the beginning of the tribulation, then the dead in Christ are all raised. That includes everybody who has ever trusted and put their faith in Jesus Christ who have died. Now what about all the christians that are martyred during the tribulation? They are found in the book of Revelation. How are they raised if there is only ONE resurrection of the just? You do not have another resurrection of the just. It is not possible. Let's re-visit the story of Lazarus.
If you remember, Jesus was given word that Lazarus was sick, but He tarried two days. When He goes back to Bethany, Martha meets Him as He comes and says, 'If only you had been here, my brother would not have died.' Jesus responds, thy brother shall rise again. And then Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Martha said in the resurrection at the last day. And there is not a hint of Jesus rebuking her, Jesus oes not contradict her. If the rapture teachers had their way, they would have Jesus say, "Your wrong Martha, Lazarus will be resurrected seven years before the last day."
Earlier, when Jesus was teaching in Capernaum, He says exactly what Marth said about being resurrected at the last day. And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:-39-40,44,54
Jesus Himself says, "I will raise him up at the last day." Now if He is going to raise you up at the last day, how can the last day occur seven years before the tribulation? All the problems disappear when you get rid of the rapture doctrine. The problem is the rapture doctrine, which is what we have been taught. There is no problem with the word of God. We do not need to read between the lines or fill in the blanks. The bible is very clear about this subject. The bible interprets the bible, the bible must be taken as a whole, it does not contradict itself. The word of God cannot be broken.
Now many rapture teachers will say that Revelation chapter 4 is the rapture of the church. No, I'm sorry. Revelation chapter 4 is John being taken up in the spirit to receive the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Plain and simple... Now lets go to Revelation 3:10 this is one of the pre-trib rapture teachers favorite verses to quote concerning the rapture. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. The rapture teachers say this is a rapture text because Jesus says He will keep them from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the whole earth. Now the operative words here are "keep" and "from". If you check your margin notes in your bible, you will not find a reference to the other verse in the bible that uses those two words together. Both books are even written by the same author, John. Lets go to John 17:15. Jesus is praying to the Father concerning the believers, and He prays...I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. I pray NOT that you rapture or remove them Father, I pray that you keep them from evil.
For as the lightning cometh out
of the east, and shineth even unto the west;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be. Matt. 24:27
Behold, He cometh with clouds;
and every eye shall see Him, and they also
which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the
earth shall mourn because of Him, Even so,
Amen. Revelation 1:7
Now understand something, I also was brought up to believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Because this is what I was taught. They would bring you the rapture doctrine based upon the teachings that were so skillfully crafted. You've heard them all. Let's see, there will be two in the field and one shall be taken and the other left. And you say, "Yeah, that the rapture." Two women will be at the mill, one will be taken and the other left. And you think, "Yes, that's the rapture." And then there's these two guys sleeping in bed, and the one is taken and the other left. And you say, "Of course, that's the rapture."
But you don't even bother to read the text. What does the text actually say? If you recollect, the passage is found in Matthew 24:40, and the entire context is speaking about the flood of Noah.
But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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. Matt. 24:36-42
Now they will usually say, 'Thats the example, thats the type, thats the shadow, that's the historical analogy. Jesus said it would be like Noah, and what happened? Why, the righteous were removed and then the judgement came, so thats the rapture.
That is not at all what Jesus says here. He said it will be just like it was in the days of Noah. What happened to Noah? Noah was warned of judgement and Noah prepared. Noah stored food, Noah brought in animals. Noah built an ark. It took Noah 120 years to build a huge boat so he could withstand the judgement that was to come. Noah was never removed. There was no rapture. The boat was not removed, the flood came and took them all away. Who got taken away? Not Noah. Read the text, that is the bottom line. That is where everybody falls down, they do not read the text.
Verse 39. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away. That can't be referring to Noah, he knew the flood was coming didn't he? Didn't God tell him, didn't he spend 120 years preparing for this day? Noah knew the flood was coming, so the ones who knew not that the flood was coming and it took them all away were who? Who got taken away? The evil, the heathen, those who were eating and drinking and giving in marriage, they were taken away. That's not describing Noah. "They" are everybody except those in the ark. They knew not until the flood came and took them all way; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left. Who gets taken away here? Not a rapture, there is no rapture there. He is describing a judgement. A very discriminating judgement, two people shall be standing, the one shall be taken and the other remains.
If this passage still hasn't come clear to you yet, then lets go to Luke 17:26-27. And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Well, that verse pretty much nails it on the head. Can't get much clearer then that can we? Sure doesn't sound like a rapture to me. Noah entered the ark, the flood came, and DESTROYED them all.
Luke 17:34-37... I tell you in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other 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. And they answered and said unto Him, "Where Lord?" And He said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Now think about it, He is saying that one will be taken and the other left, and the disciples ask 'Where Lord'. Where will they be taken? And you can paraphrase Jesus' answer. It doesn't matter where, for wherever theres a dead body, that is where the vultures will be flying overhead. And so His answer with the eagles is describing those that are taken. Listen to Jesus in Mattthew 24:28... For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Those that are taken die.
End of Part III
back Home
The Rapture - Part IV