Is that what the Bible says?
I recently received an e-mail with a video clip from
“Final Act Productions” that promotes a pre-tribulation period rapture, and a
secret one at that. This idea, which I was also taught while growing up, is so
blatantly erroneous that I felt I had to address it. Fortunately it has been
addressed many times before. Unfortunately most of ‘Christendom’ has closed its
eyes and ears to the truth that is so plain in the scripture, choosing rather to
believe this fairy tale that is almost as old as Christianity.
This idea was really promoted by the Catholic
Church and proposed by a Jesuit doctor of theology, Francisco Ribera
(1537-1591), in order to deflect increasing attention it was getting by people
who were seeing that the Catholic Church and the Pope fit the prophecies of the
Beast and the Antichrist. Because of this we have been taught there is a
“Church Age” inserted in between the 69th and 70th week of
the prophesy of Daniel – a real stretch of the data.
Getting back to the video: in it a preacher is stressing
Matthew 24:42, in which we are told that we will not know the day or the hour.
This preacher then goes on to say that Christ’s return could happen at any time
– Jesus Christ could come next month, or He might come this week, or He could
even come now. At this moment we hear thunder and most of the people in the room
disappear. Those remaining are looking for the “disappeared” people. Baloney!
This presentation completely ignores Matthew 24:26, 27. Especially vs. 24:
‘For just as lightning strikes from the east and flashes even to the west,
so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.’ This couples with verse 30: ‘and
then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the
tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of
Man coming on the clouds with great glory.’ They will ALL see Him. They
will recognize Him! They will mourn! Hello!? (THEN we get caught up to meet
Him! Vs.31)
What really gets me is the fact that the video then shows
Matthew 24:27 on the screen, making the audience think that this cutesy thunder
thing is what the scripture is referring to. The scripture says the audible sign
of His coming will be the sound of a shout and a trumpet (Matt. 24: 31, 1
Thessalonians 4:16, 17 ).
Don’t be deceived, we WILL know the season of His return,
He said so in Matthew 24: 32 & 33! In fact, that is one of the reasons why He
is giving us this prophecy. He also wants us to understand that we will suffer
persecution. He also wants to warn us of false Christs, especially the
Antichrist!
Will we go through the tribulation then? Of course!
Read the earlier part of the chapter, starting with verse 7.
But wait! This video starts by showing us wars,
tragedies, floods, etc., as proof we are in the end times. Hey, read verses 4
through 8! ‘But all these things are the beginning of birth pangs.’
So who are these people who are teaching this secret pre-trib
teaching? Verse 11: ‘And many false prophets will arise and will mislead
many.’
And then there is 2 Thessalonians 2:8, which states that the Antichrist will be destroyed by Christ “with the breath of His mouth and the appearance of His coming.”
Study your Bible, folks, for in the end He will hold YOU
accountable for what you believe. For those who ask “What difference does it
make, as long as we are saved?” I ask – Why do you think He put it in the
scriptures several times? Is ALL scripture good for instruction? We need to be
ready, for I guarantee you (since it is scriptural) that MOST people who claim
to be Christians WILL NOT be saved! If that video had been more accurate, very
few seats would have been empty in the end!
For more details and Biblical explanation see:
https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/book/e/51/t/the-abomination-of-desolation
and:
Thanks a million for your wonderful blog! I agree wholeheartedly with you! I feel you would enjoy reading “Pretrib Rapture Diehards” and “Famous Rapture Watchers” on Yahoo, Google, etc. BTW, can you guess what Hal (Plagiarist) Lindsey and Tim (Plagiarist) LaHaye have in common? Also take a look at “Deceiving and Being Deceived” by MacPherson on the same engines. Lord bless. Bruce
Thanks, Bruce! I found Dave MacPherson’s site and have done some reading. At this point I would heartily recommend that site to others – there is some great info there from a man who has spent 30 years studying this topic. So, for a lot of detailed info, see: http://www.preteristarchive.com/PartialPreterism/macpherson-dave_dd_02.html
-john
(Watch ye) therefore,
Bride of Christ
Revelation 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the (hour (Greek, hora- season) of (temptation (Greek, peirasmos- adversity or tribulation) which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
The prerequisite to receiving the promise in this scripture is to patiently keep His Word or put another way,to be a consistent doer of the Word,full of faith!
There are many wonderful benefits to being the Bride, but the one that is mentioned in Revelation 3:10 certainly will be a welcome blessing.
The word From in Greek is as”out of” (Greek word, ek)
Jesus promises to keep us “from” or as the Greek word reads, “out of ” the season of tribulation that is about to come upon the whole world to try all those that are left behind to dwell upon the earth.
—————————————————–
(36Watch ye) therefore,
worthy to (escape) all these things that shall come to pass,
(escape)as Rapture
Luke 21:34-36
(And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares)
35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
(36Watch ye) therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
king Jesus Christ prophetically warned, Take heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (overindulgence)and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, so that day come upon you unawares.(Watch ye) therefore, and (pray always) that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things .
(Luke 21:34-36) Here, in praying always, it is the Christians that are instructed to be sober,and not to be overtaken with overindulgence and the cares of this life,not just the unbeliever (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8) First, note that unbelievers do not believe.
Secondly, unbelievers do not pray,and Worship God! nor will they pray always,and Watch which is an explicit Christian directive for saved Christians to be Watching in preparation for King Jesus Christ! Lest That Day overtake them unawares.
We must continue to share,and teach the Powerful Gospel with anyone,and everyone at all Times!
One must remember to Pray the Back sliders, Lukewarm, and unbelievers Wake up(Romans 13:11) get Saved, and abide in King Jesus Christ!
Also we must continue to share, and teach that the Christians need to (Wake up) (Watch)and (Abide) in our wonderful King Jesus Christ!
One must walk with God at all Times! Abide, Dabaq(Hebrew)
Rapture Prophecy(Please Read Rapture of His Bride) on Rapture Prophecy
http://www.raptureprophecy.com
Watching for our Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ to Rapture us to the New Jerusalem(Heaven) (Blessed) are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find (watching:) as shared in Proverbs 8:34,Luke 12:37,and Revelation 16:15 We are told many Times in the Bible to WATCH, and Notice Revelation 3:3 Shares those who are not Watching, He will come like a Thief. Now is the Time to Watch for King Jesus Christ, and Love his Appearing!Infact if you Love his Appearing you will receive a Special Crown! 2 Timothy 4:8
Hi, Blessed! Thank you for the post. Please note that Rev.3:10 is speaking to a certain group of Christians. We must ask ourselves: Are we among that group, and does it refer to all Christians? Secondly Even if it does refer to all Christians, it does not invalidate what I have said concerning the rapture. Certainly we will meet Him in the air as He is returning to the Mount of Olives, but just because we return to the earth does not mean we will suffer the judgment reserved for those who reject Christ. See:
Rev. 7:9-11 ; 8:13-17 ; 9:4
and of course Matt. 24!
The problem with the erroneous reading of scripture that promotes a pre-trib rapture will show itself when weak believers encounter the wrath of Satan (not God), and fall away because of intense persecution – either because they are disillusioned because things did not happen as they had been taught or because they are not willing to endure it for the sake of Christ. Indeed, He said we would have tribulation in this world, and that there would be the most intense tribulation ever right at the end. We are told to be ready for it, not that we will not have to suffer. There is a difference between the wrath of God (not for us), and the wrath of Satan (persecution). The coming of Christ is portrayed in Scripture as an event that takes some time , as judgments are poured out and followers of the Beast makes war on Christ (over the period of an “hour”).
-John
Hey John: Sorry it took me a while to read your post. Very interesting. I do agree a whole lot more with your views than those portrayed in the books and movie. I do find the movie as an excellent conversation starter though.
I hope all is well with you and your family! Say “hi” to Christa and the boys for me! God bless you and keep spreading the faith!