The Revelation of Jesus Christ
“The Transfer and Transformation of the church” Part 2
INTRODUCTION
Last week we focused on the “WHAT” of the rapture or what I like to call the transfer and transformation of the church. Most all biblical scholars agree there are two phases to the return of Christ in the last days. The differences are too stark to ignore. Below is a chart showing the contrast between the two final appearances of Jesus.
RAPTURE 2nd COMING
Meet in the air Return to earth
Transformation No Transformation
Jesus returns to heaven with saints Jesus remains on earth with saints
Earth not judged - sin continues Sin judged and righteousness reigns
Before the day of wrath After the day of wrath
Imminent event Follows predictable signs
No Old Testament revelation Both Old and new revelation
Involves only the saved of this age Involves both saved and unsaved
Only affects those IN Christ Everyone affected human and angelic
Revelation describes the 2nd coming but has little to say about the transfer and transformation state of Christ’s return. For that, we need to consult Paul’s writings. Everyone insists that their view is based on the Scriptures. Proponents from each view demand a specific Scriptural reference from the other, but the reality is that none of them can produce one because there are no specific passages that clearly spell out the placement of the rapture. We must keep to the point. Jesus will return to transfer and transform His bride exactly as promised. No amount of heated debate will affect the timing of that event one bit. Our primary responsibility is to be watching and ready whenever He comes. Scripture calls us to watch and be found faithful at his return; holy and blameless.
I mentioned last week that it is a shame most of the books on the subject of the rapture get so caught up in trying to prove their view of the timing is their correct on they miss the wonder of the event itself. That is why I covered the nature of the rapture first and will take only this week to summarize the issues concerning the timing of the rapture. The rapture of the church includes more than just catching Christians up to meet Jesus in the air. It is more than a change in location. It is more than escaping an uncomfortable circumstance. It concerns the physical uniting of living and previously deceased Christians with their Lord. It is the marriage of Christ and His bride the church after a period of engagement. In order to eternally live with Jesus, we must undergo a fundamental transformation of body and soul. It is not only a rapture or evacuation from the earth but a complete supernatural transformation.
Paul described the journey to perfection to the Romans.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30
Our whole being will function according to the renewed Spirit He gave us at our new birth.
The main views concerning the rapture of the church boil down to four basic views.
• The pre-tribulation rapture where Jesus returns for his church prior to the tribulation.
• The mid-tribulation rapture where Jesus returns for his church after the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation sometimes called pre-wrath rapture.
• Finally there are those who hold to a post-tribulation where Jesus returns in the air to catch up his church and turns right around and descends to the earth to destroy the wicked and to rule and reign during the next 1000 years.
• A minority suggest a partial rapture where Jesus returns only for those who are ready.
Since there are no specific definitive passages that pinpoint the placement of this glorious event, we must take what Scripture we do have and make some inferences. Inferences are not invalid. We must be sure to evaluate them on the basis of how well they answer the questions and fit the facts. There are both strong and weak inferences. In the end we must make our decision on what we think best fits what data we do have.
Example of valid inference.
The neighbor calls and ask me to please come and get my dog out of his yard.
I say to him, “my dog is sitting in front of my fireplace.
The neighbor hangs up realizing that it is not my dog in his yard not because of any specific denial by me but by inference.
Also, the motivation for holding a particular view must not be what is most comfortable.
If you hold to a pre-tribulation view just because you don’t want to deal with the possibility of persecution and tribulation, that is not enough. The fact is, we must all be prepared for tribulation in any age. We must be strong in our faith. We must endure faithful to the end.
Even though Christians are not subject to the wrath of God there is no guarantee we will escape the wrath of fallen man.
Here’s what we know for sure concerning the end times.
1. The return of Christ comes in two stages; one in the air and the other to the earth.
2. All believers will be transformed at the time of the rapture.
3. Some restraining entity must get out of the way before antichrist assumes power.
4. God promises that believers will be delivered from “the wrath to come.”
5. The rapture will be an incalculable, unexpected event (thief in the night).
“No one knows the day or the hour.” Matt 24
6. There will be both Jews and Gentiles who embrace Jesus during the tribulations and enter the Millennium in their natural bodies who will prorogate and continue to be function in nations and specific people groups.
7. Certain heavenly events must transpire between the rapture and the 2nd Coming.
Judgment Seat of Christ and marriage of the Lamb followed by the wedding feast.
8. There will be a separation of sheep (believers) and goats (unbelievers) at the 2nd coming.
9. Prophecies indicate a specific plan for Israel separate from the church.
Paul talks about God dealing with Israel after the time of the Gentiles is over. (Rom 11)
Most who believe in a literal 1,000 year (Millennium) reign of Jesus after His coming agree to most of these facts. (Alliance Teaching)
There is great debate concerning the placement of the rapture. I do not want to get into a long debate over an issue that we ultimately have no control over and which God has seen fit not to include a specific reference. It is not considered a critical or foundational doctrine of our faith.
Two stage return
As we indicated above, there are two stages to the Lord’s return. It is important not to confuse them. They are two separate events.
Transformation of all believers at the rapture
Whenever the rapture occurs, it will involve the gathering and transformation of EVERY believers; “We shall all be changed in a moment of time.”
Suspended restraining function
Paul mentions a specific entity that needs to get out of the way before the restrainer takes power. He wrote to squelch the rumor that Jesus had already returned.
Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 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. 8 Then that lawless one 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. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10
There was something that will prevent antichrist from asserting power. Most believe that it is the Holy Spirit. Since many become Christians during the tribulation the Holy Spirit cannot terminate His regenerating ministry. The confusion comes from the English translation that indicates a removal. Removal indicates a passive verb; taken out of the way. Paul does not use a pass verb. It should actually be translate is gone out of the middle. Rather than seeing this force removed, it is better to see the restraining force removing itself from the middle of the action. This would perfectly fit with the Holy Spirit. He does not leave. He ceases to restrain the antichrist and allows him to assume control. Besides, the only one who can ultimately restrain evil is the Holy Spirit. The church only restrains evil through the power of the Holy Spirit. This passage does not bolster any of the views. Paul’s point was not to pinpoint the rapture but to let them know that events indicating the day of the Lord had not yet transpired so get back to work.
Escape from Wrath
There are numerous promises related to escaping God’s wrath. It is a question of protection or preservation. Some say it is the wrath of man we must face not God’s. Others say we will be here but protected like Israel was amidst the Egyptian plagues.
For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. 1 Thess 1:9-10
This appears to be more than a statement of escape from God’s ultimate wrath.
It is more a specific period of demonstrated wrath like described in Revelation and the seals, trumpets and bowls and Armageddon. Only the pre-tribulation view removes believers from this most devastating holocaust.
Even the midtrib view has trouble getting believers out before the sky falls. They must do some careful calculation of the timing of the seals. I have found it hard to reconcile the severity of even the seals which appear to transpire before the midpoint of the tribulation.
A surprise return
Many have heard a commonly quoted verse from Matthew how no one knows the day or the hour of His return. The rapture is a surprise. The 2nd coming will be preceded by discernable signs. The scripture is very precise in this matter. In fact it calculates His 2nd coming in years, months and even days from a specific event. From the day the Antichrist sets himself up in the temple to the return of Jesus is 3.5 years or 42 months or 1290 days. Anyone who knows the day of that event, which will be a monumental event, would be able to mark the days off their calendar until the return of Jesus.
Post tribulation adherents have to somehow deal with the issue of what is called imminence.
Millennium Citizenry
It is clear that there will be both Jew and Gentile inhabitants of the Millennium who are still in their natural state. They will grow old, have babies, raise families, increase in population, live in people groups and nationalities. Here is the question that must be answered. If all believers are evacuated just prior to the return of Jesus and unbelievers are destroyed at His return, where do the Millennium inhabitants come from?
The Pre Tribulation and mid tribulation view to come extent allows time for a multitude of un-glorified people coming to Jesus and surviving the tribulation left to enter the Millennium.
The Post Tribulation view has difficulty explaining where these citizens come from.
Tribulation events taking place in heaven
Scripture describes certain events that take place in heaven before the 2nd coming.
There is the Judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10; 3:14-15), the purification of the bride for her wedding and the feast (rev 19:8); re-gathering and judgment of the Jews is 65:20-25; Ezk 20:34-38. Where is there time for these events especially for the Post tribulations view?
Separation of the sheep and goats
Matt talks about a time when Israel will be gathered for judgment when Jesus returns. Jesus will separate the true believers from the false believers and unbelievers. Here you have the same problem as before. Where do the sheep come from if they have all been raptured just before the return of Jesus? This appears to be a separation of believing tribulation in Jews from those who continue to reject their Messiah. True believers enter into the millennium and the false are sent to await final judgment.
Specific Plan for Israel
Many of the yet unfulfilled prophecies deal with a clear separate future for Israel as a nation.
Paul talks about the re-grafting of Israel. The coming Millennium is fulfillment of many of the promises made to Israel regarding a restored land and time of peace and safety.
Summary Thoughts
Mid –Tribulation or pre wrath View
My biggest struggle is locating the middle of the tribulation in the revelation chronology.
It seems a strain to put the obvious demonstrations of God’s wrath as described in the seals, trumpets and bowls all in the last half of the tribulation.
My second issue is that the whole tribulation seems to be concerning 70 week of Daniel when God deals with the wicked and Israel. The interlude of the church is over and the clock has restarted from the 69th week. The church on earth is not referenced after chapter four of Revelation.
Other than that, I could entertain a possible mid-tribulation rapture.
Post-Tribulation
My issues with post-tribulation are considerably more serious. Most of them have been referenced above.
Pre-Tribulation
Given no specific Biblical references as to the exact placement of the rapture, I personally feel that that view best reconciles the necessary issues stated above.
Implications
Each view presents particular implications.
• If Jesus will return for His church at any moment prior to the tribulation, we are all called to be ready and waiting at any moment.
It is the view that has the greatest need for vigilance.
Paul instructed the Thessalonians that since the Day of the Lord has not come contrary to what some were claiming, the needed to keep violent and go back to working and endure what tribulation they would still suffer. God was not yet bringing judgment on their persecutors. Other implications are similar to what I mentioned last week. Abide in Him. Purify ourselves. Keep faithful and diligent and continue to share Jesus every chance they get.
• If Jesus comes for His bride in the middle of the tribulation, the church needs to brace themselves for even greater persecution and struggle. They need to be ready to come together in unity.
• If Jesus does not come for His church until the end of the tribulation then the implication are even more serious. The church should even take steps to prepare at a practical level regarding storage of food, and survival for a time of worldwide catastrophe and inability to buy and sell. They should be prepared to lose their life for their faith.
Not matter what view you hold, faithfulness and readiness is the common denominator.
Unity is vital. Encouragement and comfort of one another to keep faithful to the end.
