The Rapture Debate Jesus was born in a small village outside of Jesusalem called Bethlehem, presumambly the son of Mary and Joseph who themselves were descendants of King David. The ancient Hebrew prophets had long before written many things concerning Jesus. Hundreds of specific statements are found throughout the Hebrew scriptures that speak with clarity and authority hundreds of years before His birth. Soon after birth, Jesus lived for a short time in Egypt and then most of His life in northern Israel in the hill country of Galilee. At about thirty years of age, Jesus began a public ministry mostly in the area around the Sea of Galilee with an occasional appearance in Jerusalem and elsewhere. Around Him was gathered a close group of 12 men while many others often flocked to be near Him as well. These early seekers listened to words of wisdom, instruction in righteousness (often not the typical traditional line) and were witness to countless miracles of healings, casting out demons, and even raising of the dead. He taught both privately and out in the open, even teaching in the Hebrew Synagogues. Often, Jesus was found in conflict with religious authorities, especially when He traveled to Jerusalem. Despite a constant display of kindness, love, and compassion, Jesus was accused of many things; violating the Sabbath, organizing rebellion against Rome and repeatedly claiming that God was His Father (blasphemy). The establishment would have none of it though many regular folks thought otherwise. To them, this just might be the long- awaited Messiah, the king so clearly written of by the prophets. “Maybe”, they reasoned, “Our hopes and aspirations are here at last. Surely He will overthrow the Romans. Surely He will restore the glory to Israel. Surely The Golden Kingdom Age is upon us”. What a great hope. God’s plan, however, was to be a little different. The Son of God was to be executed upon a Roman cross. He would be buried and He would rise from the dead. God’s plan was that sin would be atoned for by the very blood of His Son. God’s plan was that death would be conquered and death would become obsoleted by the resurrection of Jesus. Now that’s a plan! Sin causes death. Jesus paying the penalty for sin was the death of death itself. Resurrection meant death loses it’s grip. Life without end and life without sin is the future. Soon after resurrection, Jesus left this world behind and went to the throne of His Father in the heavens. Numerous great promises were left to fill the void. Among these are: One, “I will send you my Spirit”. Two, “I will come back”. At His return, the resurrection and rapture will occur. Specifically the dead in Christ rise first then those who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Note that the resurrection occurs according to the following scripture, “when He comes”.

1Co 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1Co 15:23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Now let’s cut to the chase here. Jesus said He was coming back. He also clearly instructed His followers to look for His return. When He returns He will set up His kingdom upon the earth. Have you ever wondered why the says the meek shall inherit the earth.

1Th 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who sleep, that you not grieve, as the rest also, not having hope. 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 1Th 4:15 For we say this to you in the Word of the Lord, that we the living who remain to the coming of the Lord will not at all go before those who have fallen asleep. 1Th 4:16 Because the Lord Himself shall come down from Heaven with a commanding shout of an archangel's voice, and with God's trumpet. And the dead in Christ will rise again first. 1Th 4:17 Then we who remain alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to a meeting with the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 So, then, comfort each other with these words.

The word most commonly used to describe what will happen to those still alive at the second coming is “rapture.” The word rapture is not found in the Bible. The word rapture is based on a Greek word which means “caught up”. They will be caught up alive. Their bodies will be transformed from bodies of mortal flesh into glorious eternal bodies. The rapture is a fact of scripture. The timing of when it will happen is not a settled fact by any means. Words you may hear associated with the timing of the rapture are imminence, secret rapture or it could happen at any moment. Additionally, you may hear these words. Pretrib, Midtrib, and Posttrib. Read this to get started:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The Bible teaches that just prior to the second coming of Christ the world will be filled with wars, disease, pestilence, economic upheaval, earthquakes, persecutions, one world religion, antichrist, and so it goes. This period described is generally known as the tribulation period and is designated to last seven years. Many are convinced that the rapture will take place prior to the tribulation period, pretrib. Lots of books, lectures, movies and sermons have certainly expounded this belief. This view says the current state of moral decline, wars, earthquakes, persecutions, and mayhem all indicate that the tribulation period is about to begin. If the seven year tribulation period is about to commence then the rapture or gathering to the Lord is imminent…it can happen at any moment so they say. If true, some believers will completely avoid the process of death and resurrection and even the difficult times of the tribulation as well. No trouble seeing why this view is appealing.

Here is a synopsis of the general concept: The current world is in state of upheaval. War, disease, earthquakes, and degradation all indicate that the tribulation is about to begin. The modern State of Israel being established in 1948 is often is considered the greatest of all signs All indications, they say, point to a certain rendezvous with end-time Bible prophecy. The apparent sequence about to unfold is this; rapture, seven year tribulation, and then the second coming of Christ. Accordingly, God will be punishing and judging this sinful Christ- rejecting world for seven years then Christ will return. Believers alive in their mortal bodies will be snatched away alive just before the tribulation gets underway and will not experience all those terrifying events brought into view in the Book of Revelation.

Calvary Chapels and many other churches are very strong in teaching and promoting this idea. It’s rapture by surprise…at any moment. The movie series “Left Behind” is based on this concept. Numerous best selling books such as “The Late Great Planet Earth” and scores of other sources in print as well as numerous teachers on the radio and in media are all in agreement. Sounds good? Is it true?

A case from the 1800’s to consider. A very serious-minded Baptist preacher named William Miller in New York began preaching about the coming or advent of Jesus. He convinced thousands of people that Christ was going to take them away Oct 22, 1844. They sold or gave away their worldly goods and waited in vain. The date was soon recalculated…still nothing. Next came a redefinition of what the second coming and return of Christ actually is. An invisible coming? Coming only for the very tiny group of true believers? This all became known as “The Great Disappointment”. Miller’s followers were disillusioned and eventually went in several directions, e.g. 7th Day Adventists, Quakers, Shakers, and even ’s Witnesses.

More recently you may recall that a pastor named Harold Camping made quite a stir by predicting the rapture for May 21, 2011. He at least apologized for his falsehood in 2012 shortly before passing away in 2013. Neither the Millerites nor the Harold Camping crowd were quite on target. Before proceeding any further let me clearly state a few facts: 1. No one should be putting a date on the second coming or the rapture. 2. The early apostles and early church never taught an imminent rapture. 3. Jesus will return. Resurrection and rapture are prophetic facts. Both will assuredly happen.

Let’s continue on. In the 1830’s a Scottish woman by the name of Margaret MacDonald claimed to have received visions, dreams and revelations. Supposedly it was revealed to her that the second coming of Christ was to come in two phases. The first phase was to be without warning, in secret, and just prior to seven years of tribulation. Fair to say, some debate that and say she predicted a midtrib rapture concept. Either way, once the seven year tribulation ran its course then came the visible return of Christ, thus a space of 3 ½ or 7 years separating the rapture and resurrection. This idea was picked up by a pastor named Edward Irving (Often called the Father of Modern Pentacostalism). Irving actually visited Margaret MacDonald and was convinced she had true revelations. He added the notion that prophecy, dreams, healings and the gift of tongues must return in order to usher in the second coming of Christ.

Another individual generally given the most credit for popularizing the pretrib rapture theory was a man named John Darby. Darby was the founder of a movement in Ireland known as the . Darby is also well-known for publishing his very own bible translation known as the “Darby Bible” and is widely considered the Father of Dispensationalism and Futurism. It would appear that he developed his doctrines apart from MacDonald and Irving though close to the same time and location. Research shows him to be described as the main source of spreading this concept in the USA most notably at the upstate New York Niagra Bible Conferences of 1876-1897. From there the belief was adopted by many including a man named Cyrus Scofield who published the very popular with its many notes supporting the pretrib rapture theory. Since that time many teachers and pastors have relied heavily on Scofield’s notes. It should be noted that Scofield was a man who lived a very checkered life. A quick internet search will fill you in on that. Over the years the pretrib rapture theory has been widely disseminated through the Pentacostals, the Baptists, and many others.

I have often heard it said that the Apostle Paul taught the pretribulation rapture. I’ve also heard that evidence exists that this doctrine has been demonstrated from the writings of a man known as Ephraem the Syrian from the fourth century, i.e. well-before Darby and Irving and Scofield, thus proving that the pretrib rapture was taught in the early church. Truth is, Ephraem the Syrian is also known as Psuedo-Ephraem. Many scholars are of the opinion that the so-called fourth century manuscripts are actually forgeries. Casting that aside, authors like Grant Jeffrey and others state that these early writings indicate support for a pretrib rapture concept that was present from the dawn of the church age. In fact, these writings do not indicate being raptured at all. They speak of being gathered to the Lord in death, not being raptured alive before the time of the tribulation. Certainly no evidence of any kind demonstrates the pretrib position occupied any significant sway in the early church. Let’s take a look at a passage from the pen of the Apostle Paul. Paul writes to correct a false belief embraced by the church in Thessolonica. The Thessalonians experienced difficult times and concluded they were in the midst of the the tribulation period. If this were true they reasoned, Jesus was about to return very soon. When you read the passage please note two key points. Number one, the Thessalonians erroneously believed they were already in the tribulation period therefore they were not pretrib in their thinking. Number two. Paul proves to them that they could not possibly be in the tribulation period and that Christ is about to return because the anti-Christ, the man of sin, must appear first and desecrate the temple. The implication is very clear. The church will be present, not raptured out, and will be alive to witness the antichrist. Scripture teaches that this terrible man of sin will be revealed at the midpoint of the tribulation period. Indeed, sight of the antichrist and the abomination of desolation will be a predictive sign that precedes the second coming by approximately 3 ½ years. No, Paul did not teach a pretrib rapture, just the opposite. Here is our scripture passage: 2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2Th 2:2 that you should not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand. 2Th 2:3 Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, 2Th 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God. Well does this settle the issue? It should but not to some. Like lawyers in a court room, the arguments and debates are endless. Opinions are held in the tightest of grips and no ground is easily surrendered. Hopefully you have learned a few things in this short esay. Many long boring books are easily available if you if you feel the urge. Questions and comments are welcome. Blessings, Ron LaCroix (Yorba Linda, CA 3/2020)