Common End-Time Misconception: “The Church will be raptured at any moment”
Posted: August 16, 2011 Filed under: End-Times Leave a comment »1. The popular “pre-tribulation rapture” view teaches that the Church will be “raptured” at any moment, therefore missing the unique dynamics and unusual events of the great end-time drama.
2. The word “rapture” comes from the Latin word ‘raptus’ meaning, “snatching away”. The bible teaches that the Church will be “caught up” (1 Thes. 4:17), however the issue is one of timing. The church will go through the “Great Tribulation” in great victory and power, being “gathered together” at the end, rather than at its beginning (Mt. 24:29-31; 1 Thes. 2:19; 5:10; 2 Thes. 2:1). The “rapture” occurs only after the resurrection of the dead, when the 7th trumpet sounds at Jesus’ second coming (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thes. 4:15-17). This is a serious mistake leaving many unprepared for the future.
1 Thes. 4:16 For the Lord will descend from heaven (second coming)… with the (7th and last) trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (resurrection). Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (rapture)…
1 Cor. 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall al be changed- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet (7th trumpet). For the trumpet will sound (Jesus’ return), and the dead will be raised incorruptible (resurrection), and we shall be changed (rapture).
Mt. 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days (seals 1-5) the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (seal 6). Then… all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Rev. 1:7). And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet (7th trumpet), and they will gather together His elect…
Mk. 13:27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth (rapture) to the farthest part of heaven (resurrection).
