Around the world there is much disquiet touching us all in some way or another. This has seen a re-awakening in many Christians, now looking for the return of Christ; signs on the earth pointing to the end of the age. While many rejoice at the prospect, there is an important matter to deal with; the doctrine of the Secret Rapture of the Saints.
Church History shows this theology has come to the fore relatively recently. In its present form it is less than two hundred years old, yet it is now imbedded in the curriculum of all but a few Churches and Bible Colleges world-wide. This being the case, and as many rely on its claim, we should examine this doctrine to determine its worth.
Origins
The Secret Rapture was practically unheard of, more to the point, untaught, until around 1830. Such a notion was unknown to the early Church, which was certain in its teaching the faithful would pass through great tribulation before the return of the Lord. Furthermore, the Secret Rapture was not taught by the founders of the Reformed faith either. Wycliffe, Luther, and the Wesley brothers never considered the notion of a Secret Rapture of the Saints. Neither was it mentioned by the Apostles or Paul. So, where did this idea come from; how and when, did this novel concept gain acceptance in mainstream Christian thought?
Inspired in the main by Luther and Zwingli, the new Protestants began to throw off the shackles of Rome and its creeds. Many came to believe and teach the Papacy was the antichrist of Scripture and the Roman Church; the Harlot of Revelation 17. While this belief was itself an error, it became necessary for the Roman Church to take action against such heresy. One of their many responses was the birth of a new school of Scriptural interpretation known as Futurism, established to redress what they believed was an unwarranted attack on the Pope, seen as open profanation of not only his person, but his professed role as the Vicar of Christ. (Vicarius, holding equal power)
Being incorporated for the sole purpose of assailing the Reformation, it will be no surprise to learn the Jesuits were heavily involved from the outset. The Jesuit priest, Ribera (1537-1591) was the first to teach the Futurist explanation of the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Ribera laid the basis of a system of prophetic interpretation of which the Secret Rapture is an integral part.
His first teaching laid down the premise that portions of the Book of Daniel and the Revelation of Jesus Christ, would not be fulfilled until an individual world dictator, the Anti-Christ would arise. Yet in spite of Ribera’s teaching and that of fellow Jesuit, Roberto Bellarmine (1542-1621) their opinion remained undeveloped for almost two and a half centuries. By the early 19th Century, Futurism had entered into the consciousness of Protestant prophetic teaching, and began its journey into conventional Church belief as an end of the age doctrine.
In his book published in 1812, The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty, Emmanuel Lacunza, taught that Jesus returns not once, but twice; the first time to rapture His Church to escape the tyrannical reign of a future despot. In order to avoid any connection with Rome and his Jesuit order, Lacunza, published his book under the pseudonym of Rabbi Ben Ezra, and to gain approval by the mainstream, fabricated the story he was a recent convert to Christ.
In 1826, Dr Maitland, librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury, came across Lucanza’s writings and soon after issued a series of pamphlets giving the Jesuit, Futurist view of prophecy. The idea soon found acceptance in the National Church of England and after a short time began to contaminate the very heart of the Protestant movement in Britain.
The Rapture doctrine further picked up steam through the ministry of Edward Irving, founder of the London based Catholic Apostolic Church. In 1830, Margaret McDonald, a young member of the newly found Church, gave an ecstatic prophecy in which she claimed there would be a special secret coming of the Lord to rapture those awaiting His return. Until his death in 1834, and driven by Miss McDonald’s prophetic disclosure, Irving spread the theory of the Jesuit inspired doctrine as fact.
The Secret Rapture was soon after incorporated into the creeds of Brethren belief by their founder, John Darby. It spread quickly throughout evangelical Christendom infecting all manner of churches, making its way to North America in the 1860’s at the time he founded Dispensationalism. The Rapture doctrine was ultimately given a veneer of respectability when it was popularised the Notes of the Schofield Reference Bible. The Rapture of the Saints reveals the same doctrinal dishonesty seen in the Trinitarian Creed. And, like the word Trinity; the term Rapture is not found in the King James, Revised, or Standard versions of the Holy Bible. You won’t find the word Rapture in recognized bible dictionaries, expository dictionaries, commentaries or handbooks either.
Context
According to Scripture, the Futurist opinion is clearly flawed. And while many have set out to answer this false doctrine by using God’s Word as the only source of truth, the debate has fallen into an abyss. Why? For the simple reason, much of Scripture quoted in opposition to the Rapture premise pertains to another matter entirely; the Mystery of Iniquity or Man of Sin. For perhaps the best dissertation on that subject, visit seventrumpets.co.nz, here where you will find a very important end-time message and call to us all.
One of the great beauties of the Word of God is its unfolding over time. The revelations given by the Prophets, and by Jesus when He was here; Peter and Paul, held a message for each generation. These messages are now at an end. But for the matter in hand, we will look at the statements of Jesus, the Evangelists and the Apostles. We will also look into why much of the Scripture found in many books, articles, and websites opposing the Futurist idea has been incorrectly used for this topic.
The key to right understanding is context; and this comes by good judgment, study, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit. The message for the end of this Church age contains a simple truth though unseen by the world, and the majority of those who maintain a belief in the resurrected Christ. And while this is primarily a rebuttal of sleight of hand rapture doctrine, as the subject demands, we are required to light upon this end time message found in the Seventh Trumpet of Revelation. We will also examine the Falling Away, and most importantly, the Man of Sin.
There are many irregularities inherent in arguments debunking the Secret Rapture myth. The reason is subject confusion, which unavoidably results in misaligned supporting evidence from Scripture. While good-purposed believers have in all good conscience, laboured to place strong rebuttal evidence to throw light on the Rapture falsehood, it has closed the door on a great truth. By the incorrect use of particular Scripture to refute the Rapture theory, it can no longer be effectively used for its original purpose without an element of confusion. If it was used as the LORD required the subject matter would shift dramatically from the exposition of a false hypothesis, to the examination of self. To use the same Scripture to illuminate two totally different matters weakens the argument in both. When we use the Word of God for its correct purpose it becomes unassailable, unlike the matter before us.
There is also uncertainty within the Rapturists themselves, and much ambiguity about the nature of the Rapture within many believers. For hard core adherents, their belief follows the pattern laid down by the Jesuits, which states when Jesus first returns in secret, He will take those deemed worthy to a place of safety. Debate exists as to where this might be, and how long it will last. Others believe to be Raptured, is to meet Jesus in the clouds when He returns. It is not. But it is true the Lord’s chosen will meet Him in the air as described by Paul.
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 ever be with the Lord. (1 Thes 4:17)
To be clear; the Futurist doctrine of a Rapture of the Saints is the imaginary bodily removal of the chosen in secret to keep them from some imagined future harm. The meeting of Jesus in the air (clouds) is a promise of God to the true in Faith still living at the time of His return.
The alleged purpose of the Rapture is to save believers from tribulation at the time of the Antichrist. It is reasoned as the good favour of God upon His church during the reign of the Man of Sin and the Son of Perdition, neither of which is true, nor scripturally accurate. “The Son of Perdition was Judas Iscariot; “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12) And the Man of Sin we will get too shortly.
Now, this perilous doctrine calls for terms and themes from Scripture to be employed, not only out of their proper circumstance, but incorrectly. Descriptive words and phrases like antichrist, man of sin, tribulation, saints, thief, and falling away are used for the purpose of both proving and disproving Rapture doctrine. In this regard the Rapture fabrication is very clever. And, by using emotive words, like antichrist and saints it negates their proper meaning; antichrist describes anyone who is opposed to Jesus and His Gospel, and saint describes a member of the Church He established who keeps His Faith and Commands. (Revelation 14:12) The antichrist is not an individual from some future time who will cause chaos on the Earth, and a saint is not someone the Church appoints as holy.
And here we get to the heart of the matter. Not only is this a rebuttal of errant doctrine, it must by obligation refute earlier attempts to debunk the Secret Rapture by those who have fallen into error in mistakenly applying Scripture meant for another purpose. But I thank God they were of a mind to do something.
The Times
The first thing we must look at in terms of His coming again is the sign of the times. “But as the days of Noe 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 Noe entered into 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. (Matt 24 37-39)
So, we know from this warning from Jesus, we will be living as usual, doing all of the day to day things we do. But, we also know the reason for the Flood: “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth (grieves) me that I have made them. (Genesis 6: 5-7)
Therefore, not only does the Word of God lay out the times, it also sets down the condition of men at the end of the age; great wickedness and evil imaginings continually. The evil, Jesus speaks of is not so much of the flesh, but the spirit, though the flesh is clearly implicated. The vain and evil imagining is that we have raised ourselves above God, and have thrown down and trampled His Gospel.
We reject the truth of the Scriptures and His Prophets, and like Eve and Adam, become as God. The evidence is found in our Church creeds and man-made doctrine. For example; Paul commanded women to be silent in the church, but we know better than Christ’s Spirit who spoke through him. (Galatians 1:12) And as we take no regard of this from Paul, what about the Great Command from Jesus? Yes, we deny that as well and prefer a three person God. (See Mark 12:29) So, in terms of the present state of the world, we sit perfectly in the Nicolaitan age.
Mistaken Scripture
The Rapture doctrine is a sword that wounds by misquoting several passages of God’s Word, causing division and confusion. For example:
So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just… (Matt 13:49) And, then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matt 24:40)
Another is found in Jude: Behold the Lord cometh, with ten thousands of His Saints… which is attached to (Thessalonians 1:4:16-17) that the saints will be …caught up together … in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. This confused doctrine claims Christ comes first with His Saints, and for His saints at an unknown time; I will come on thee as a thief in the night and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Revelation 3:3) And then returns with the saints, after an indefinite period.
The reason given is there will be great tribulation on the Earth; “for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matt 24:21) That the Antichrist will come to wage war with the Saints in a final conflict and reckoning; “… and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (1John 2:18) And at the heart of this reasoning is the falling away when the Man of Sin will be unleashed: “… for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2Thes 2:3-4)
But, what does the Holy Bible actually say about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it, as believed by some, in secret to save His faithful out of the world in a time of great unrest, or is there something more perfect and undeniable that states the case?
Paul: “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an Archangel and the trump of God. (I Thess. 4:16)
And, Jesus Himself declared; “… and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matt 24:30)
We find the same in the Gospel of Mark: “… and then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (13:26)
In the Revelation given to John, we find: “Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindred of the earth shall wail because of him. (Rev 1:7)
Therefore, the Lord returns loudly with a shout and a voice and at the sound of the trumpet of God. He comes on the clouds with great power and glory, and every eye shall see him. All nations will be in awe, and everyone troubled by the sight of Him. There is nothing quiet or secret about the return of the LORD! We are told in the Book of Acts how Jesus was taken up and how He will return.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1: 9-11)
No. He comes not in secret neither does He come in silence. He returns in a display of great power and majesty. And regardless of what you may have been told, (or believe) there is no mention in all of Scripture, the Lord Jesus Christ visibly returns twice after the Resurrection.
Tribulation
Tied to this errant doctrine is the debate on tribulation, which argues verses, from usually the New Testament, whether we are removed from it or endure it. Note: The Hebrew for tribulation is “tsar”, which has several meanings but the intent is; to be in a tight spot, trouble, or distress. The Greek word, “thlip-sis” means pressure (literally or metaphorically). Also troubled, burdened, anguished or persecuted. Both the Hebrew and Greek words signify a form of stress, either within (worry, grief or sorrow) or from an external source (harassment, discrimination or oppression). So, let’s look at some of these verses for and against tribulation in the setting of the Rapture.
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore (promised) unto them. (Deut 4:30-31)
Luke writes of the churches in Iconium and Antioch, established by Paul and Barnabas that they were; “…confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22) Now, Jesus said the following; “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil…” (John 17:15)
Therefore, the tribulation is something we endure, and not an event we are taken out of. Jesus also said this; and if we doubt the true words of the Christ then we are in serious trouble.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt 24: 29-31)
So, Jesus said more than once that we go through a time of tribulation. The Lord also told us of our spiritual condition and the falling of many by the Gospel (the sun) being darkened. The Prophet, Amos warned of this time to come; “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8: 11-12)
The doctrines of Tribulation and Rapture blind us to the correct intent of these Scriptures. By using them as justification for Rapture theory, their true intent is lost. Tribulation is self-examination and humbling ourselves before God. The Apostles, the Evangelists, the Disciples and Paul never, in the entire New Testament, stated Jesus would come to take His Saints in secret, and neither did the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a wicked deception. Therefore, we must reject this cruelty out of hand, and lay before you the truth of the Gospel that you might believe.
THE CALLING OF THE LORD
The Seventh Trumpet
The Seven Trumpets of Revelation have been a mystery to many. There have been various attempts by learned men over the centuries to open their true meaning, all have failed. The reason is simple; they cannot be opened by flesh and blood. Like Peter’s understanding that Jesus is the Christ, they are revealed by the Father. Another reason for their recent opening is they contain an important end-time message. The LORD would not permit their opening before due time. William Branham tried after he was given the Seven Seals, but was denied by the LORD. They were given to another and have been opened only recently, you can find them here. They include the sealed portions of Daniel. We will now look at a portion of the Seventh Trumpet, the Feast of Ingathering. This Holy Feast is broken into four messages.
(1) The Feast of Trumpets – Hear and Believe
It is a Feast that begins on the first day of the seventh month with the memorial blowing of Trumpets; a time to remember the things declared by the LORD’S Prophets; the Law, the Gospel and the Church Angel Messengers. These messengers each declared the LORD in their age. The first was Paul: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism”; Later, Martin Luther “…we are justified by faith”: John Wesley; “we are sanctified by the truth”; and William Branham who declared; “… Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.” Seven Trumpets blown by Seven Angels in the Book of Revelation; the Testimony of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, uttered seven times to call us out of unbelief. And a command that we believe Jesus Christ is the LORD God Almighty as declared by Peter at Pentecost.
(2) The Day of Atonement – Repent and be baptised
On the tenth day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement; a day when we are commanded to, afflict our souls; to regret and mourn. To lament of the gospels born of our own understanding, and for the Tribes of the Earth to mourn for the grievous wounds we have inflicted upon the Testimony of Christ Jesus “…for if you believe not that I AM He, you shall die in your sins” (unbelief).
In the Affliction is found the ordinances of repentance and water. In the Atonement are bound the ordinances of the Blood of Remission. The remission is the washing away of sin and unbelief; the purging of our church coverings, now made white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore let us bow our knee; “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
(3) The Feast of Tabernacles – Receive the Spirit of Christ
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month is the Feast of Tabernacles. This is a Feast that begins on a Sabbath and ends on a Sabbath. It is a time to remember that Israel wandered in the wilderness. It is a time to enter into the Promise through Jesus Christ. He is our Sabbath and our rest. It is a time to Feast on the Word of the LORD who said …take, eat of my body and again …drink of my blood.
In this time the LORD desires to dwell in you and you in him. This is the Feast of Tabernacles; a time to be bound in the revelation “Jesus is Both LORD and Christ!”
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the Voice of the Archangel, and with the Trumpet 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 ever be with the Lord. (1 Thes 4:16-17)
(4) The Jubilee – Restoration
The Jubilee within the Feast of Tabernacles is a Feast, which occurs when the last of the harvest has been gathered in. It is a time of release and joy for the restoration of the fullness of Christ in our hearts at the end time. That time is now! It is a celebration of what the locusts have eaten, the LORD has restored. (See: Joel) A promise established through the blood of God’s purest Grace that has washed us clean in the Blood of the Lamb. The restoration is the Ingathering and Outpouring of the purest love seen in the Book of Revelation.
In here we see a remarkable thing, Jesus calling to His people after His Ascension. The Book of Revelation given to John is a summary of the history of Israel, the elect and the Prophets. It opens the condition of men and the Church. And it identifies the Saints. It shows us the LORD’S Israel and the dividing of flesh and spirit. And it is the final call of the LORD to His flock. The Revelation of Jesus Christ declares not only His divinity, but who He is. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come… (Revelation 1:8)
The Falling Away
When we look through a fixed idea, belief or creed, then that’s what we’ll see. But, if we consider the words of God through the Spirit of Jesus, then that’s what we’ll see. They are as different as night and day. One shows us the world we live in, the other the mind of Christ. One reveals death, the other declares life. So, as we go deeper into this matter, look through the lens of hope; test this opinion in Scripture, and ask the LORD for wisdom, as only He can open you to the truth.
One of the signs for the end of this age is known as …a falling away. Many see this to mean a gradual collapse of the Church through the abandonment of its teachings, and there is some truth in this understanding. The Church today is unrecognizable when compared to the Church Jesus founded, later established by the Apostles and Paul, even the Church of Reformation times. Widespread is the modern teaching of a prosperity Gospel yet, Jesus encouraged our first brethren to sell all they had, and give to the poor.
He spoke of His singular existence, but we would rather divide Him into three persons. Paul declared of Jesus; “Thy throne O God is forever and ever.” (Hebrews 1:8) And, Jesus himself made it clear when he said; “I and (my) Father are one.” (John 10:30) Since Nicaea, all we have done is walk up and down on the testimony of God made plain throughout the Bible. The Churches preach …another Gospel… the same Gospel, Paul warned us about and now we are cursed and live under its plagues.
If we are true to the Gospel and true to ourselves, we will see our lawlessness. It was sown into the early church by men who sincerely believed, but laid down a false witness through idolatrous creeds. Moses warned; when we cast down God’s commands, the plagues bound in His word will follow and consume us. We have, and they have. The moral code that once strengthened us has collapsed across much of society, and we now live in a world of great unease.
But of most importance is the drought and famine we have brought to the Gospel. It has dried up in us, and our spirit is dying of hunger. We are falling away from Jesus and His Commands. We live in a deception that sits at the very heart of the Church by whatever name you call it; in every manner of religion, which opposes the fullness of Scripture. In the falling away mentioned by Paul “…let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed… (2 Thes 2:3) Paul is not talking of an antichrist dictator who will impose his tyrannical rule over Church and men; he is referring to our spiritual condition and character.
The falling away cites all who oppose the full weight and measure of the Word of God and how we devalue it. The Spirit of Christ in Paul is speaking to us directly, pointing out how we have walked away from His truth. We have fallen into a spiritual abyss. We have raised ourselves to be greater than God by casting down His Commands.
Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians continues with these telling words “…who opposes and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2Thes 2:4) Paul revealed this Man of Sin would oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God. This man would oppose the Word of God, the Son of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets who testified of Jesus. He would set himself above everything that is God and is worshipped. He would sit in the temple of God, and deny the greatest of all the Commandments given by Jesus, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; (Mark 12:29) when on this, and the Second Command, hang all the law and the prophets: in other words… everything.
The Sinful Man
When we fall away the result is death of mind and spirit; the mind of good reasoning and the spirit of truth. It is the time when we need to look at the beam in our own eye and examine our faith. Paul writes “…examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (ESV: 2 Cor 13:5) Peter tells us that we are the House of God, and Paul confirms that we are the Temple of God that the Spirit of God dwells within us. But, if the spirit within us is not of God, then we must ask ourselves, whose spirit is it?
When Paul wrote of the Mystery of Lawlessness he was direct and to the point. He did it for the love of his brethren that they would be saved by the truth and resist evil; he saw nothing to be gained by tiptoeing around such an important call to us all.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess: 2: 7-12)
The inevitable outcome of knowing this disorder is within us is the Tribulation we must enter into. It is unavoidable; a vacuum that must be filled. How we respond will determine our relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ, and our future. In this, we can now see Satan as a servant of the LORD. He has placed us on a path to which there are only two courses of action; repentance and life or denial and death. There is no middle ground. The strong delusion Paul speaks of are the Church systems and creeds we now labour under; errant doctrines, ritual and false beliefs …that they should believe a lie. It speaks of self-deception and illusion.
On the other hand, the love of the truth is the love of the LORD, His Gospel and Commands. There is no joy or pleasure that comes out of wrong thinking, its only recompense is destruction of soul and spirit. We must now enter into a process of tribulation; self-affliction and trial. We must now take a hard look at ourselves and our worthiness before God. The rewards Jesus returns with are to repay both good… and evil.
Tribulation
There is no mention in the Bible of any type of tribulation on the Earth under the tyrannical rule of a Man of Sin or Antichrist as implied by the Rapture doctrine. But the times ahead will be trying for many. The Lord has warned us of the sorrows to come and we should prepare for them. The Scriptures about Tribulation relate to one thing; our personal reckoning with Christ, coming to terms with the truth of our nature, our standing, and what we are. Now, watch this: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Rev 13:18)
Contrary to everything you have heard, seen in movies, seen on TV, have read or been told, this is not the number of Satan. If you read the passage carefully you will see it is the number of a man. It is not Satan’s number; it is yours and mine. The beast is of the earth, and the beast is the man without Christ. David wrote of it in Psalm 73 “…so foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.”
The Tribulation we now must enter is reconciling our beastly nature with the divine life of our God given spirit. It is the dividing of our natures. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) This is the meaning of Tribulation.
It is self-examination, as Paul says, the test when we take a hard look at ourselves. To some it is quiet contemplation, for others an ordeal. It is coming to terms with the …stone of stumbling (1 Peter 2:8) and the truth of Jesus, when compared to the opinions of men and the Church. It is placing us in the correct order with the LORD. We are the sheep, not the shepherd. By tribulation comes the understanding of our falling away from this truth. He is the Father, we his children; He speaks, we listen. He that is not with me is against me… He is the potter and we are the clay.
We all go through it, but none can compare to the trial of Paul who met Jesus on the road, and was cast down to the ground by the brightness of His Glory. It was Paul who caused great tribulation in the Church Jesus established, and yet it is Paul who now counsels us on its Godly purpose.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Rom 5: 3-5)
And again: “who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35)
And again: “who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Cor 1:4) Oh, what a great brother we have in Paul!
Luke also shows us what must happen; and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22) You see, we must go through tribulation it to enter the Kingdom; just saying we believe is not enough. It is this process Jesus speaks of when He spoke of the narrow gate. The reason so few find it is because we are afraid to look in the mirror; our ego and pride prevent it.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt 7:13-14)
We are the narrow gate and we must enter into ourselves… It is we who are the Sinful Man; and it is we who fall into the abyss when we deny our LORD and Christ. The examination of self is comparing what we know and believe, with the actual teaching laid down by Jesus, the Prophets, the Apostles, and Paul. If what we read in the Bible jolts with what we believe is true, or have been taught, then we have to weigh the evidence against what we find in Scripture. And the Scripture is testified and true.
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2Peter 1:19-21)
But I certify you, brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after (from) man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:11-12)
In these from Peter and Paul, we are told that the words they wrote are not theirs, but Gods. (And if you happened to see it, Paul shows us an important aspect of Jesus. Compare the agent of revelation in both of these testimonies.)
Our tribulation: our self-examination is the process of settling in our heart and mind who is right and who is not. Is it the teachings of our Church or is it the sure Word of Christ? This is a difficult time. To throw off the chains that have bound us for so long is a hard thing, but in Christ Jesus all things are possible, for He has already broken the binding by His Blood. It is a time of convicting and judgement by the spirit. “…for if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1Cor 11:28-32) It is our time of re-adjustment, re-alignment and to believe the Word of God.
The Antichrist
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:3)
There are only four mentions of antichrist or the antichrist in the Bible, all in John’s Gospel. This is not surprising as John stands apart from the Synoptic Gospels, which are as much a journal as a receptacle for Christ’s good news and teaching. John on the other hand, shows Christ’s divinity and godhead unveiling the unity of Father and Son. He was driven by the knowledge of Jesus as the creative force. John’s Gospel and letters show beyond doubt that he knew Jesus was God manifest in the flesh in union with the Holy Spirit. It was John who conveyed the words of Jesus that; “God is a Spirit, who must be worshiped in spirit and truth. (John 4:24) By his writing it is plain that his calling was to declare this truth to all men.
Now, John used the term, antichrist to mean either an invading evil spirit; a non-believer “…he is antichrist that denies the Father and the Son… or a deceiver as in 1Jn 2:18,” and here in 2Jn 1:7 for many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (Note: an antichrist, not the antichrist)
Due to their wrongful use; words like apocalypse, prophesy, messenger, and antichrist have had their scriptural intent utterly corrupted by movies, television, and most other media. John did not use the term antichrist to describe an individual who would oppress the world. It is descriptive enough of itself to mean what it says. It simply means anyone who is opposed to Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
The Day of the Lord
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (1Thes 5:2)
This is another text that has been taken entirely out of context by the proponents of the Rapture doctrine. The term, as a thief in the night expresses the way in which, Jesus presents Himself to us; quietly in Spirit. He is unseen “…for the kingdom of god cometh not with observation.” (Luke 17:20) It also articulates the unexpectedness of His arriving. It conveys also, the manner in which revelation comes and how with suddenness it may put us to trial “…for the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.” (Isaiah 2:12)
It is the day, Jesus warned will come. “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walks naked, and they see his shame.” (Rev 16:15)
This unpreparedness was felt by the thousands at Pentecost when Peter declared; “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:36-38)
But the glorious aspect of The Day of the Lord is when we realise the fullness of Christ Jesus for the very first time. It is when we see Him as Father, Son and Spirit; the very same understanding given to Isaiah (9:6) John, Peter and Paul, now dawns in our heart and mind. I call it ‘the Thomas moment’ when we finally realize His truth, and see the Lord Jesus Christ as He is; the Ever-Living God. (Read John 8:58) When we believe the truth we do the work of God. (John 6:29) When we are baptised into His Name (not His titles) and keep His Commandments (Mark 12:29) we can enter into His rest. The LORD is calling you to Him one last time.
“These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)
The Sum
The Rapture doctrine is a falsehood. Scriptures errantly used supporting it have buried the truth of another matter, our relationship with the LORD God Almighty. There is no Rapture of the Saints as assumed, only Christ and His Spirit. He does not return in secret to save the Saints, He is already here in those that believe. His Kingdom is within us as He promised it would be.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:16)
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, and open His truth in you.