The Rapture,A coming Event by Anthony Smith
Daniel 2:44-11:35
The Rapture, A coming Event. Are we reserved to go thru the Day of Gods Wrath? The Bible Says no. To begin with, what is prophecy, Its the study of future events. There are those who think that the rapture has already taken place, and that Jesus has already set up His kingdom on earth. These people would love for those that read their statements to believe exactly what they say. This is a deception, that even in the days of Paul, were common. Lets look at 2nd Thessalonians, 2:1-5. A letter had been forged in Paul’s name and was sent to the Church stating that the rapture had already taken place. 2nd,Thes 2:1-5 "That ye be not soon shaken (agitated.)
in mind, or be troubled, nether by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand., Let no man deceive you..... The church at Thessalonia was upset, for they received a false letter in Paul’s name, they were sad because, they thought that they were lost, believing that the church had already been raptured. Or should I say caught away. There must have been discussion, prior to this, Considering Paul’s own words of; ”the day of Christ is at hand.” about a catching away of the Church, otherwise, this confusion would not have taken place. We see this throughout scripture. What a blow that had to be on these people, waiting on Jesus to return and take them home and then hearing that He had already come and gone. Isn’t that what were hearing today? The Day of The Lord that Paul speaks of is depicted as a “falling away first.” There are many interpretations of these words, but that is what interpretation is, ”An Idea.” 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first( References for one interpretation)(1Ti_4:1-3; 2Ti_3:1-3, 2Ti_4:3, 2Ti_4:4 )
, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. This is referring to the tribulation period because of the words close to the end of the verse; “showing himself that he is God.”
Prophecy has to take specific time lines that were set up by God. There are over 230 prophetic verses in scripture that have to line up and be fulfilled before the rapture can take place. There are many that don’t believe in the Rapture, but the rapture is an event that is an Idea of interpretation, that we cannot ignore. There are specific references to a great falling away and a catching up, in scripture. Unless otherwise noted, prophecy must be taken literally to be understood. There are two distinct phases, listed in scripture, may I say, more than once, The first is the rapture(Gathering. Mat 24:31 ) and the second is the glorious appearing. The word rapture is not mentioned in scripture, but we must look at the meaning. The word comes from the word; L. raptus, rapio. A seizing by violence. Rapidity with violence; a hurrying along with velocity;
Some reference for these are, Mth. 24:29-31; Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather (To bring together; to collect a number of separate things into one place or into one aggregate body.) together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Where will this gathering take Place? Mat 24:27 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.1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Scofield says of 1Co 15:52; Two resurrections are yet future, which are inclusive of "all that are in the graves" (Joh_5:28). These are distinguished as "of life"; (1Co_15:22); (1Co_15:23); (1Th_4:14-17); (Rev_20:4) and "of judgment"; (Joh_5:28); (Joh_5:29); (Rev_20:11-13). They are separated by a period of one thousand years (Rev_20:5). The "first resurrection," that "unto life," will occur at the second coming of Christ (1Co_15:23) the saints of the Old Testament and church ages meeting Him in the air (1Th_4:16); (1Th_4:17) while the martyrs of the tribulation, who also have part in the resurrection (Rev_20:4) are raised at the end of the great tribulation.
(5) The mortal body will be related to the resurrection body as grain sown is related to the harvest (1Co_15:37); (1Co_15:38) that body will be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual (1Co_15:42-44); (1Co_15:49).
(6) The bodies of living believers will, at the same time, be instantaneously changed (1Co_15:50-53); (Phi_3:20); (Phi_3:21). This "change" of the living, and resurrection of the dead in Christ, is called the "redemption of the body"; (Rom_8:23); (Eph_1:13); (Eph_1:14).
(7) After the thousand years the "resurrection unto judgment" (Joh_5:29) occurs. The resurrection-body of the wicked dead is not described. They are judged according to their works, and cast into the lake of fire. (Rev_20:7-15).
gather: Isa_11:12, Isa_49:18, Isa_60:4; Zec_14:5; Mar_13:27; Joh_11:52; Eph_1:10; 2Th_2:1, 25:31-46., One of the major verses in scripture that indicates that a special event will take place is in Matthew 24:22; “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Notice in this verse the phrase; ” should and shall, be shortened“ In conjecture, we see an indication for this action, to be set into being, question 1, Is it because of a catching away or 2. Is it because of the harshness of the tribulation period, resulting in the same action?
Rev. 19:11-21. Look at John 14:1-3., 2nd Cor. 5:8-10 and Rev 19:1-10, These last three should be read in conjunction with each other. As you’ve noticed a lot of prophecy times are lined up with each other in one or two single verses. That is the reason we have to look carefully at each verse to see weather there are more than one event taking place. The Day of wrath. Rev_11:18, Rev_16:14; Isa. 13:6-22; Jer_30:7; Joe_2:31; Zep_1:14-18; Rom_2:5; Jud_1:6
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Rev 6:15- And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Note that Rev 6:15 is all inclusive. Is this an indication that only the lost and unrighteous shall be on the earth at this time?)
Rev 6:16-17 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
The day of Wrath is noted in scripture as an event that has a time line and a table. “we shall be saved from wrath through him.” The second coming passages or Glorious Appearing passages are just as long and start from Dan 2:44-45 thru Rev 22:7,12 and 20. Lets look at Daniel and the entire 70 weeks in retrospect. Daniel 9:24-27. 1st we have the Babylonian captivity, Cyrus decree to rebuild Jerusalem, then we have the restoration of 49 years, rebuilding the temple and the city walls under two different men. 1. Ezra and 2. Nehemiah. Next we have the 434 years of silence, or 62 hep tads, until Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself. And Jesus crucified, this is 483 years. That leaves 1 hep tad or 1 seven year period of tribulation for the Jews, which is called in Jer.,30:3-11, the time of Jacobs trouble. ars
