A young Christian mother recently came into my office with her two children and said, “Will you please explain to my children what the “Rapture” is? Her children had been exposed to the “Rapture” through some of their friends and they were left confused. Most of us have seen bumper stickers that refer to the “Rapture” by saying something to the effect: “In case of Rapture, this car will be empty.” Those who have not been indoctrinated by the proponents of this doctrine scratch their heads in wonder as to what this could mean. Denominational programs on television present the “Rapture” as a doctrine that all should believe. Members of the Lord’s church are not always prepared to discuss this subject with their religious neighbors. Although there are some variations in beliefs about the “Rapture,” in this article we will discuss the most commonly held views.
NOT A BIBLE SUBJECT
Many are surprised to learn that the “Rapture” is not a Biblical
subject. The Scriptures say nothing about it. It is a concept that has been
around for some time, but was highly promoted by Hal Lindsey in his book, The
Late Great Planet Earth, first published in 1970. According to the proponents
of the theory, at the end of the “church age” Jesus will raise the
righteous dead and take them, along with the righteous who are living, to a
special place, presumably like heaven, for seven years where they will be given
rewards and positions. They teach that those people who remain on the earth
will not know where the saints have gone. They will realize they are gone, but
will not be able to explain their disappearance. They will see the open graves
that have been abandoned by the resurrected bodies, but they will have no explanation.
While this “Rapture” is going on in heaven for seven years, the
“great tribulation” supposedly takes place on the earth. This is
to happen primarily during the last three and one-half years of the seven-year
period. During that time there will be fear, anxiety, and death on a massive
scale. Further, those who advocate the “Rapture” teach that at the
end of the seven-year period the righteous will go to Jerusalem with Christ
and reign with Him for a thousand years. Then, at the end of the thousand-year
reign the wicked will be resurrected and condemned to eternal punishment.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE “RAPTURE?”
Is there a Bible basis for the “Rapture” doctrine? No! Will there
ever be such a thing as the “Rapture?” Absolutely not! Is there
a conflict between “Rapture” teaching and the plain teaching of
the Bible? Absolutely! Please notice some of the things wrong with the teaching
of the “Rapture.”
1. The “Rapture” requires too many comings of Jesus. They have Him
coming the first time to take the righteous away for seven years. They have
Him coming again seven years later to go to Jerusalem to reign a thousand years.
Then at the end of the thousand years they have Him raising the wicked and judging
them. Jude 14,15 pictures Jesus coming to execute judgment on the ungodly. So,
according to the “Rapture” proponents, another coming of the Lord
is required for judgment upon the wicked.
How does all this fit with Bible teaching? The answer is, not at all. The Bible
says that when Jesus comes he will execute judgment “upon all,”
not some now and some later, but all at one time. His coming will not be in
stages with years between the comings. “Behold, the Lord comes with ten
thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are
ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an
ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against
Him” (Jude 14,15).
2. The proponents of the “Rapture” say that only a part of humanity
will see Jesus when he comes the second time. Only the righteous dead and the
righteous living will see Him. The remainder of the living will not see him
for at least seven years. Those among the unrighteous dead will not see him
until the thousand-year reign is finished. This cannot possibly be correct because
Revelation 1:7 states that when Jesus comes “every eye will see Him, even
they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of
Him.”
3. The “Rapture” is in conflict with Matthew 25:31-46. Unlike the
“Rapture” theory, Matthew 25 has “all the nations,”
the wicked and the good being judged at the same time in the same judgment.
The “Rapture” has some of the dead being raised while others are
left in the grave. However, the Bible says that Jesus will come to judge all
the living and the dead, the wicked and the good; all in the same judgment.
There will be a great separation. The wicked are placed on the left and the
righteous on the right. Those on the left will be sentenced to punishment in
hell, while those on the right will get to enjoy the bliss of heaven. There
is no room in Matthew 25 for a “Rapture” period, or the “great
tribulation,” or the thousand years between the resurrection of the righteous
and the wicked.
Paul states in 2 Timothy 4:1, “I charge you therefore before God and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge, the living and the dead at His appearing
and His kingdom.” Paul said that Jesus will judge those who are living
and those who are dead at His coming. Matthew 25:31-46 tells us that the judgment
will contain both the righteous and the wicked. Therefore, all the wicked who
are dead as well as those who are living will be judged. At the same time, all
the righteous who are living as well as those who are dead will be judged. In
contrast, the “Rapture” has Jesus coming with no universal judgment,
with only part of the dead being raised, while others are left in their graves.
4. The “Rapture” theory is in contradiction to the clear and positive
teaching of the Lord in John 5:28,29. “Marvel not at this: for the hour
is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And
shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and
they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” While the
“Rapture” has multiple judgments, the Bible says that all humanity
will be judged at the same time, the good as well as the wicked.
5. The “Rapture” does not fit the Bible teaching of the “last
day.” “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that
of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up
again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every
one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and
I will raise him up at the last day. ... No man can come to me, except the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day”
(John 6:39,40,44). “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath
eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54). “He
that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the
word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John
12:48). Jesus taught in John 5:28,29 that the resurrection of both the good
and evil will take place in the same hour. That resurrection and judgment will
take place in the last day. The “Rapture” theory has not just days
but a thousand years separating the resurrection and judgment of the good and
evil.
6. The “Rapture” is in conflict with 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. “Seeing
it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble
you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance
on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in
his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony
among you was believed) in that day.”
In the above passage, Paul spoke of two groups. The first group is composed
of those who have been troubled and persecuted. These are the obedient. The
other group is described as those who do not know God and have not obeyed the
Gospel. He also talks about two compensations. To the afflicted He will give
rest, but to the disobedient He will bring punishment. The rest for the righteous
and punishment for the disobedient will occur in “that day” when
Jesus comes with His angels. The “Rapture” does not have the wicked
receiving their punishment in “that day” as Paul declared, but a
thousand years later! According to the “Rapture” doctrine, the righteous
will be in the air and the wicked will still be on the earth.
7. The “Rapture” conflicts with 2 Peter 3:10-14. “But the
day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing
then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto
the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to
his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye
may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
This passage refers to the second coming of Jesus. When that happens, the earth
and all in it will be burned up. But, the “Rapture” demands a continuation
of the earth after the Lord comes. They say the earth will continue seven more
years until Jesus returns to Jerusalem, and then a thousand more years after
that. They teach that the earth will be renovated to be the resting-place for
those who are not among the fortunate 144,000 who will be in heaven. Compare
this far-fetched theory with the Bible that clearly says the earth and all in
it will be burned up at the Lord’s second coming.
TWO PRIMARY PASSAGES
There are two primary passages that the advocates for the “Rapture” use in an attempt to support this imaginative theory. Neither the word “Rapture” nor the teaching to verify it is to be found in either one. They both refer to the second coming of Christ with no reference whatsoever to a “Rapture.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
The first passage “Rapture” advocates use to support their theory is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. One does not have to look very long to realize this passage in no way verifies the “Rapture.” The proponents of the “Rapture” say that Jesus will come in secret, but this passage tells us that when Jesus comes it will not be in secret. “He will descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (v.16). The coming of Christ mentioned in this passage is the same as the one mentioned in Revelation 1:7. “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” There is no secret coming discussed here. These Scriptures say there will be a shout, the voice of the archangel, the trump of God, and every eye seeing Jesus when He comes again.
2 Corinthians 15:50-58
The second passage that the advocates of the “Rapture” use is I
Corinthians 15:50-58. It is equally lacking in support for the theory. Verse
52 dispels the idea of a secret coming when it tells us that the sound of a
trumpet will accompany the Lord. There is more in this passage that does not
fit the “Rapture.” When Jesus comes, immortality will begin (v.53).
Death will be destroyed at His coming, “swallowed up in victory”
(v.54). In contrast, “Rapture” proponents say that life and death
will continue on earth during the time the righteous are with Jesus. These passages
do not verify the “Rapture,” but in fact, they repudiate this false
doctrine.
The theory of the “Rapture” is false because it is not taught in
the Bible. It came from the mind of men.
By V. Glenn McCoy
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