The Rapture Question

          In a continuing effort to bring light and understanding to the prophetic Scriptures on various topics, both from the secular world as well as the Biblical testimony blogs have been offered over the preceding weeks.  Each has been thoughtfully prepared to inform as well as edify the searching reader, and designed to support the author’s title, These Prophets and the Revelation, (Mindstir Media, 2013, available at Amazon.com or through major book retailers). This is recommended reading to gain a full and comprehensive perspective on the various issues related to future developments as revealed prophetically by the prophets of God, as well as significant commentary on current world events.           As concerns the rapture question it must first be noted that the word “rapture” is not a Biblical term and in fact appears nowhere in the Bible. The

term has been borrowed by theologians and ultimately adopted by many Christian denominations and religious assemblies who hold to a dispensational interpretation of the Bible. Those who contend for this doctrine proclaim that there will occur a pre-tribulation “rapture” of all believers living on the earth seven years prior to the final judgments and administration of the millennial kingdom. This alleged rapture is to remove all of the living “church” (Christians) from the earth transforming them and translating then into heaven.  According to their theological belief, at that time God will return to his dealings with Jewish people who they believe to be God’s “chosen people”, i. e. those who they identify as Israel. This seven year period, which they hold to be a time of great trouble and judgment on the earth, and also which they say corresponds to the unfulfilled “seventieth week” of Daniel’s prophecy.   The “church” having been removed from the earth to heaven will then enable the Lord to establish the Jewish nation as his earthly people and they will be converted to Christ as their Messiah (even all of them). According to this theology Christ will then set up an earthly kingdom reigning from Jerusalem and Israel over the nations. So according to this doctrine two kingdoms will emerge; one in heaven for the Church, and one on the earth for Israel (Jews). This briefly summarizes the final phase of the theological system known as, and now commonly taught as dispesnsationalism.    Is this the truth according to the Scripture?

            The premise for this pre-tribulation “rapture” rests on a few verses in the epistle of  I Thessalonians (verses14-17),  which reads in part: “ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him……..that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep (dead)…………The dead in Christ shall rise first: then those that are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord.”  According to the footnotes in the Scofield Reference Bible commentary: “This central passage is the blessed hope of the Church…..setting forth the return of Christ, the rapture of the Church, and the reunion of all believers.” Clearly from the words of the text this is more than a “rapture”, but is a full and complete resurrection including all those believers who have previously died. This Scripture text does not attach to the event any words that its occurrence is a time prior to a period of tribulation, nor does it stipulate a “blessed hope” for any who may come to believe during that prophesied period of tribulation.   The Scofield Reference Bible footnotes clearly state in the commentary that it is “the reunion of all believers.”                                              

          In truth the Thessalonian passage states the same exact truths as are contained in the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:29-31 which reads in part:  “Immediately after the tribulation of those days…….shall appear the Son of man in heaven: and then shall the tubes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds 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 and from one end of heaven to the other.”  This is the resurrection, which is described here and spoken of in several other places in the New Testament, and it is the same event which is described in I Thessalonians, chapter 4.  Matthew 24 gives many further details of the conditions of the tribulation as well as the fact that; “And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all of the world for a witness to all nations: and then shall the end come.” (Matthew: 24:14).  So clearly the gospel of the kingdom continues to be preached to all nations during the tribulation of three and one-half years not seven as they proclaim, and not just to the Jews which is their contention, but to all nations.   Where then is the “blessed hope” for those who receive the gospel and believe during that time?  Of course, it is covered in the words of the Lord contained in the Matthew text cited above and occurring after the tribulation.

          The reunion of all faithful believers occurs in the resurrection after the tribulation, and the pre-tribulation “rapture” doctrine proclaiming the complete involvement of the entire Church is a theological aberration.

David Lance Dean

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