I will start by saying that the rapture and the 1st resurrection are the same thing.by thingsabove
I do not believe that the bible teaches a pre-tribulation rapture, altho it is the most widely taught "theory" in scripture. I believe some of the leading personalities in Christendom today are teaching a false interpretation of this event.by Smokey
I am sincerely glad to hear this, for at first, I thought I was the only one. The Lord has recently brought this topic to the forefront of my attention and has lead me to write some things in this regard. I will share with you what I have been lead to write, and what the Lord has shared with me.
Great Misconception
I heard it said the other day that the rapture will come before the "great tribulation" to occur at the end of times. Knowing in my heart that which the Lord told me, this theory seemed wrong, and so I researched this in the bible to find confirmation. What I found in scripture does not support this, but something all together different.
Christ spoke of this "great tribulation" in Matthew 24:4-31, Mark 13:5-27, and Luke:5-28. The Lord starts by giving warning as to prepare His people of the coming age. He stresses particularly this time of tribulation speaking about this time in more detail than His own coming. He warns them of things to come and continually tells them to be prepared. If the plan of God had originally been to rapture His people before the tribulation, then why would Christ give such warnings? Obviously, the Lord gave warning because of the trials His people would face.
In all three gospels, Christ tells His people of this tribulation period which speaks of a great apostasy where the abomination of desolation will be established, and many false prophets will arise. The Lord warns us to be aware of these lies and falsities, keeping our faith until the end. He tells us of the sign marking the end of the tribulation when He will return and deliver His people. Matthew 24:29-31 says, "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."(NIV) If you notice, the Lord says He will gather His elect at the end of the tribulation. The elect are God's chosen people. The Lord will gather His people at the trumpet call. This marks the beginning of God's wrath being executed on earth.
The gathering of the Lord's people, or the rapture, occurring after tribulation is mentioned in several other scriptures. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul says "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first"(NASB). Additionally, in the book of Revelations 7 it speaks of a "great multitude" of people who come from everywhere on the earth. They will be praising their Lord for the salvation He brings. In verse 14 it says, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (NASB)
As can be seen above, the bible shows that the Lord's people will endure the tribulation. The question is, what is this tribulation and why would the Lord allow His people to suffer these things?
Jack Van Impe, in his Dictionary of Prophecy terms under the entry of "rapture", says that the Church would not go through the tribulation on the basis of 1 Thessalonians 5:9, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," (NASB) This, of course, is assuming that the tribulation is God's wrath being manifested on the earth. However, the does the bible support this? Is the tribulation a period of God's wrath and judgment being executed on earth?
There is no evidence that the tribulation is God's wrath. In every moment where God has executed His wrath, the Lord did not withhold destruction. He did not send a storm here and there, or oppress people by toying with them. His judgment was final and all encompassing. No person lived that God did not carry through. During the time of Noah, the flood came swiftly and covered the entire earth. Noah survived because God lead them out first. At Sodom and Gomorra, the Lord destroyed the entire city swiftly. The woes on each were immense. The tribulation is not a period of destruction, but rather a period of trial and hardship. When God executes His wrath, no stone will be left unturned.
The greek word used in the bible for tribulation is "Thlipsis" which means, "a pressing, pressing together, pressure." It is a metaphor for oppression and affliction. The Lord is not oppressive. The Lord does not hold people down under pressure. Rather, he has allotted us freedom to make choices and to seek Him. He has given us freedom to accept or reject Christ freely. At the time of judgment, the Lord will not oppress people, but rather judge them. His judgment will be final, and people will be sent accordingly to their fate. Oppression is something executed in order to keep a person down. God has no desire to keep anyone down.
Oppression is an act of evil where that which is good and righteous is being held under pressure. Evil attempts to defy good, or cause those who are righteous to fall. This will occur through a great apostasy that will attempt to lead many astray. Many false prophets will arise to lead God's people astray. There will be immense persecution, trials, and tribulation like the world has never seen upon the Lord's people, in an attempt to destroy God's Holiness. In Matthew 24:9-13, Jesus says, "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved." (NASB) If you notice, the Lord says, "they will deliver you into tribulation." The tribulation is not God's wrath, but rather the Devil's oppressive force meant to test God's people. The Church will face great tribulation.
This is also spoke of in the book of Daniel 12:7 where it says, "as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these {events} will be completed." Further in verse 10, it says, "Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand." (NASB) Those who are truly among Lord's people will endure to the end where the Lord will come and deliver them. This period of tribulation the Church will endure will clearly separate God's people from the world. The Church will be cleansed and refined. She will be a spotless bride presented before Christ.
During this time of great tribulation, the Church will suffer and endure many trials. In Matthew 24:18, The Lord says, "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!"(NASB) How terrible it will be for God's people as the Anti-Christ seeks to destroy the faith of us all. He will set Himself up to be God, and anyone who does not worship or obey His false idol will suffer immense persecution. Those who worship the false idol, however, will be living life as usual. It will be like the days of Noah. In Luke 17:26-29, the Lord says, "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed." (NASB)
Until Christ comes, the world apart from Him, will be alive in lawlessness. They will be given over unto all earthly pleasure, and partying as if the Master of the house was away. In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Paul said, "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape." Those who worship the Anti-Christ will think they have found their God. They will be rejoicing and given over to all sorts of wicked pleasures. However, in their darkness, they will be deceived. Christ will come and judge the entire earth.
Throughout the gospels, the Lord warns of this great tribulation. A great apostasy will arise. He has warned us to be aware of this time as many will fall away. We should take heed and beware. This time is nearing. We will not always have the freedoms we do now. We will suffer under the oppression of lies. The wicked will give into this great apostasy. They will hate us. They will turn against us. They will take our Church buildings and turn them into temples of idolatry. They will turn Christianity into a false religion. They will turn against the bible and discard it. We will face a great tribulation.
At this point, a person might ask, "Why would God let such a thing happen?"
This is an opportunity for God to be glorified in us, for the bride to prepared for the coming of her husband, and for Christ to be shown as just in His judgments. The Church will be cleansed by fire and purged of her wickedness. Those who are wicked will be clearly wicked, and will know the judgment against them is just.
This is explained by Paul. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 "11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."
When Christ comes there will be a clear separation of God's people from the world. The world will hate Christians and seek to kill them in the name of the Lord. It will be a time when our faith will be proven with our life. We will be held in front of a gun and told to deny Christ or die. There will be no "fake" Christians because we will truly have to give our life unto Christ. No one will dare say they are Christian or else they face death or torture. Christians will not be able to buy or sell. We will be mocked. The apostle Peter said this: 2 Peter 3:3-4
"3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.'"
The Lord will be glorifed by the giving of our lives. We will be redeemed by our Lord in Heaven. Also, the Church will be cleansed. Only Christians who have the Spirit in them will be able to pass the test of giving our lives unto death for the name of Jesus. These will be the ones who make it to the end and are saved. These are the ones who will never taste death as foretold. Lastly, when Christ comes, the wicked will know of their sin. When they see Christ, they will run in fear because they will know all the prophecies are true. Of course, the anti-Christ will try fight against Jesus, and thus, the great war will begin. Thankfully, the Lord will take us to Heaven into His safety.
May Christ be yours,
In Him,
Blake