Is The Rapture Next?
Thomas McMurray
Let's start our study on the rapture of the church with
the scripture in 1 Cor. 15:50-55 where Paul describes what
will take place at the rapture and gives us a hint as to
when it will occur.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption
inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but
we shall all be changed,
In a moment , in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be
raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall
be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory?
Paul plainly tells us here that the rapture of the
church will occur at the last trump. If we can find in
scripture when the last trump takes place, then we will have
a good idea as to when the rapture will take place. So with
that in mind let's take a look at Matt. 24 verses 29-31,
where Jesus is answering his disciples question as to what
would be the sign of his coming and the end of the world.
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.
In verse 31 Jesus describes the rapture of the church.
He says the trumpet will sound and his angels will gather
his elect together from one end of heaven to the other. This
has to be the last trump. Now let's turn to 1 Thess. 5:1-5.
But of the times and the seasons brethren, ye have no
need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman
with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren are not in darkness, that that day
should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of the light, and the children of
the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
In this passage of scripture Paul clearly tells us that
we are not in darkness like the world is, but we are
children of light and the day of the Lord should not
overtake us as a thief. Let's turn to Rev. 16:15&16 where
Jesus makes this same statement about coming as a thief.
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth,
and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they
see his shame.
And he gathered them together into a place called in the
Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Jesus declares here that he is coming as a thief and in
the very next verse it says he gathered them together at
Armageddon. So he is obviously referring to coming as a
thief in connection with his second coming and not some
secret snatching away. To the world he will come as a thief
because they will not be expecting him, but his church is in
the light and should know when he is about to come. In Rev.
14:14-20 we see another picture of the rapture of the
church, and again it is shown to occur just before the
battle of Armageddon.
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the
cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his
head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a
loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy
sickle, and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap;
for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the
earth; and the earth was reaped.
Verses 14-16 are clearly a picture of the rapture.
Jesus comes on a cloud and reaps his harvest of the earth;
immediately afterwards we get a description of Armageddon.
And another angel came out of the temple which is in
heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out from the alter, which had
power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that
had the sharp sickle, saying Thrust in thy sharp sickle,
and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her
grapes are fully ripe.
And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and
gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the
great winepress of the wrath of God.
And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood
came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles,
by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Next let's look at 2 Thess. 2:1-8. Apparently some of
the believers at Thessalonica were shook up because they had
heard some word or possibly received some letter, supposedly
from Paul, that indicated the day of the Lord was already at
hand. Paul is telling them not to be upset, that certain
things have to take place before Christ returns and gathers
them to himself.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
He is clearly talking about the coming of the Lord at
the time of the rapture of the church.
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us,
as that the day of Christ is at hand.
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, the son of perdition.
We are told here that the day of the Lord will not come
until there has been a falling away,(supposed christians
deserting the faith), and the antichrist has been revealed.
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God
sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is
God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you I told you
these things?
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he
who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the
way.
The question often raised at this point is, Who is
keeping the antichrist from being revealed at the present
time? My answer is, quite frankly, I don't know for certain
because Paul does not tell us. Since the angels of the Lord
are used to battle satan's forces perhaps Paul is referring
to Michael the archangel who is declared to be the protector
and defender of the Jewish people in Dan. 12:1. But whether
you have the answer to this question or not, that is no
reason to discard or distort what is plainly revealed in
God's word.
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:
In the eigth verse Paul tells us that Jesus will
destroy the antichrist at his coming. Paul has not changed
comings; he is talking about the same coming in verse eight
that he started out talking about in verse one. It is clear
from the Word of God that the rapture of the church and the
second coming take place at the same time. God gave us the
book of Revelation, Ezekiel, Daniel and the other books of
prophecy so that we would know what is coming upon this
earth and could prepare for it spiritually, mentally and
physically. God is quite capable of bringing his children
safely through this terrible time that is coming upon the
earth.
There are also some good things that are going to take
place just ahead of us. The Gospel is going to be preached
throughout the whole world for a witness. Multitudes from
every nation, and kindred, and tongue are going to come to
Jesus. We as believers have the opportunity to participate
in the greatest harvest of souls that this world has ever
seen. Yes persecution is going to come and no one likes
persecution, but with the persecution comes the opportunity
for reward. At the same time the world is going to see an
open demonstration of satanic power, the church of Jesus
Christ is going to receive an outpouring of the power
of the Holy Spirit like it has not received since the days
of the early church. This is a great time to be alive and we
should thank the Lord for the privilege of being in this end
time generation. In closing I would just like to quote a few
verses that pertain to the saints of this generation.
Dan. 11:32-35 And such as do wickedly against the
covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries; but the people
that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
And they that understand among the people shall instruct
many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by
captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a
little help; but many shall cleave to them with
flatteries.
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try
them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the
time of the end; because it is yet for a time appointed.
Rev. 14:12&13 Here is the patience of the saints: here
are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith
of Jesus.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Robert Knochenmus
I like the way you actually quoted scripture to support the
truth. Well done!
- Robert
-----------------------------
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep
oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27
Thomas McMurray <squa...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in article
<72t1c3$s...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>...
Dore Williamson
Only hypocrites and fools believe in rapture. Those who never obeyed Christ,
desire to be raptured and have no clue of truth. His words are written
plainly, why are you so blind? Because you desire to please yourself, and
build up your pleasures on earth and deny the Holy Spirit. You dwell in
treasures of materialism, and rather than forsake earthly treasures for
spiritual ones, you are blind to interpretation of scripture truths. Unless
you forsake all to be come a follower of Christ, you are no better than a
blind fool of hypocrisy.
You are going to be hoping for something that will NEVER occur, and while
you wait, destruction takes you away.
Obey every word of Christ and stop believing in fables..
Dore.
Thomas McMurray wrote in message <72t1c3$s...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>...
Pitchfork Bearer
I believe you, NOT!
Your style could do with vast improvement perhaps a little Christian chairty
would help also.
Dore Williamson <hsp...@epix.net> wrote in message
news:73s6e3$pdt$1...@news1.epix.net...
John Massey
FOOL, there is no rapture of any kind. IT WILL NEVER OCCUR!Only hypocrites and fools believe in rapture. Those who never obeyed Christ,
desire to be raptured and have no clue of truth. His words are written
plainly, why are you so blind? Because you desire to please yourself, and
build up your pleasures on earth and deny the Holy Spirit. You dwell in
treasures of materialism, and rather than forsake earthly treasures for
spiritual ones, you are blind to interpretation of scripture truths. Unless
you forsake all to be come a follower of Christ, you are no better than a
blind fool of hypocrisy.You are going to be hoping for something that will NEVER occur, and while
you wait, destruction takes you away.Obey every word of Christ and stop believing in fables..
Well then, if you "obey every word of Christ", then you should not
call this Christian brother a "FOOL".
Read Matt.5:22 ".....but whoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
And, as literally as Jesus came the 1st time, so shall He literally
come a second time as prophesied in Scripture.
Dore.
Trissy5
How can you say that there is no rapture and it will NEVER occur? Have
you read the Bible, Do you believe the Bible?
Your message seemed to be conflicting in areas. Were you saying that the
rapture will never take place and yet we should still forsake all others and if
we don't we are fool of hypocrisy. How can you believe in Christ and not the
rapture? Your note so confused the heck out of my concerning what YOU
believe....I know what I believe. It's real - I know it is and I will be ready
for it to happen.
jeffery Carter
"teach my children to fly, and of those whom sew hankercheifs and pillows
over the outstrectched arms of god to cover them"? And what god and crist
intend to do to those people? I would find out quickly....
Trissy5 <tri...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19981213113938...@ng151.aol.com>...
Templeton
>TO DORE WILLIAMSON:
>
> How can you say that there is no rapture and it will NEVER occur? Have
>you read the Bible, Do you believe the Bible?
> Your message seemed to be conflicting in areas. Were you saying that the
>rapture will never take place and yet we should still forsake all others and if
>we don't we are fool of hypocrisy. How can you believe in Christ and not the
>rapture? Your note so confused the heck out of my concerning what YOU
>believe....I know what I believe. It's real - I know it is and I will be ready
>for it to happen.
I wouldn't waste my time with her if I were you. She's crazy! She
halucinates and if you disagree with her in any way you are deceived
by, if not in league with, the devil.
Templeton
--------------------------------------------------------
"The meek shall inheret the earth."
And that's just what they get:
dirt.
remove SPAM for email reply.
Richard F. Barham
Templeton> I wouldn't waste my time with her if I were you. She's
Templeton> crazy! She halucinates and if you disagree with her in
Templeton> any way you are deceived by, if not in league with, the
Templeton> devil.
Dore is a misguided Christian who needs our support and prayers.
--
Richard F. Barham
rfba...@flash.net
http://www.flash.net/~barham/richard
Dore Williamson
Templeton wrote in message <367b63a5...@news.idx.com.au>...
Dore Williamson
You are all misguided and need to believe in me, for unless you do, you will
NEVER be redeemed.
For when I will be revealed and recognized, the earth will be ravaged by my
fury, and all your doubts and ridicule of me will melt into fear and horror.
Dore
I am
Richard F. Barham wrote in message ...
Daniel Parker
would in Mat 24, Mark: 13 and luke 21: the rapture pertained
to first century christians and Jews, old testament and Jews
of the first century the rapture occurred at the time that
the Jewish temple was destroyed in ad 70 people have been
saying that he is coming he is coming and they will still be
saying it 10,000 years from now, pull your head of the sand
and listen to Christ who you profess to love. Until people
quite this future coming nonsense the cause of Christ will
never move forward. He is with us now all we need do is grab
hold of him and his word and we have eternal life as we
stand. We must understand it is not about our physical
bodies it is about our spirit person and standing before God
alive or dead in the spirit not the body that is only a
temporary vessel If you want to know more about eschatology
(last things ) go to www. livingpresence.com there is a
century of study already accomplished, no need to start from
scratch, questions asked and answered on just about
everything that a serious student of the word of God would
ever want to know about the (end things)
_(www.livingprensence.com)
bobe
walking after their own lusts, And saying, Whre is the promise of his
coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they
were from the beginning of the creation." II Peter 3:3-4
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any shold
perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord
will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shallpass
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." II
Peter 9-10
No need to study eschatology, just study the word of God and He will
teach you all things. Praise God!
--
"Not only does God take you out of Egypt,
He also takes Egypt out of you!"