We hear of a "rapture" as though it were found on every page of the Bi­ble! Even bumper stickers bear such ludicrous messages as, "Beware - in case of the Rapture, this car will be unmanned." What do its exponents mean by it? Consider...

”Someday, a day that only God knows, Jesus Christ is coming to take away all those who believe in Him. He is coming to meet all true believers in the air... These believers will be removed from the earth before the great tribulation" (Late Great Planet Earth, p. 137, Lindsey). Or, "The scriptures predict that the church will be raptured or 'caught up' to heaven at the coming of the Lord for them" (The Rapture Question, p. 9, Valvoord). What do they mean by such terms? By the "great tribulation" they look to a time when they say the Holy Spirit will be taken away as a restrainer of sin, and this ushers in the "great tribulation. " During this time the "raptured" saints will be somewhere with the Lord in the air, after which he is supposed to bring them back to earth for his millennial reign. Some even dare to make predictions when this will happen. Lindsey says: "We are in the general time of his coming" (LGPE, p. 17). The rapture theory then is based on the assumption that the church will go through this great tribulation, and they like to "prove" it by Matthew chapter twenty four. But that text plainly refers to the destruction of Jerusalem , and not the end of the world.

One of their favorite passages is in First Thessalonians 4:13-18 (please read), and most other passages they use are presented in light of this one. But this does not fit the theory because the coming of the Lord will not be silent as they claim. Rather, the Lord shall descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. Also, after the saints (risen and living) rise to meet the Lord in the air, Paul said "so shall we ever be with the Lord." But they claim the rapture is only for a seven year period.

In order for the theory to be true, there must be at least two resurrections ­- one of the righteous when the rapture begins, and one of the wicked when it is over with. But the Bible only knows one resurrection (Acts 24: 15; John 5:28-29). Furthermore, John teaches that the resurrection of the righteous and the judgment of the wicked will be on the same day - the "last day" (comp. John 6:40 with 12:48 ).

There will be no separation between the righteous and the wicked until the end of the world. The Parable of the Tares makes this plain (Matt. 13:24­-30, 36:43). Also, note that all will be judged at the same time (2 Cor. 5: 10 ).

Consider further some of the "proof texts" of this theory. In Matthew 24:21 we read that the disciples were told to "flee to the mountain" when the time of persecution came. But how could they do this, since at the rapture, they will all be in the air with the Lord? There would be none left to "flee to the mountain!" They even like to go to whatever prophet seems to fit their theory. Such a prophecy is Jeremiah 30:7 ­- "alas! for that day is great, so that none is like unto it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." According to the rapture theorists, this is supposed to refer to the "great tribulation" just be­fore the rapture. Of course, the true fulfillment of this passage was in the destruction of Jerusalem by the king of Babylon and the taking away of the Jews into the captivity.

Then they like to go to Daniel 9:24-27 (please read), and apply that to their "great tribulation" theory. In his book, The Millennium (p. 202) Boettner says: "The correct interpretation of Daniel's prophecy is, we believe, that the events of the 70th week were ful­filled during the public ministry of Christ in Palestine , including the completion and abolition of the Old Covenant." We believe Boettner is substantially correct in this.

We urge a further study of this ques­tion by Bible students; more than we have the room to consider here. Learn what the Bible truly teaches on such subjects, and not loosely apply (or misapply) passages that have no bearing on this subject, a doctrine of men and not of God. - Bill Moseley

 

My Dad used to tell of the farmer who gave one of his hi s a jug of "moonshine" for Christmas. Later, he asked the fellow how it was, and was told: "It was just right - if it had been any worse, I couldn't a drunk it - and if it had been any better, you wouldn't a give it to me! It was just right!"

I fear that is about the way we are with our Christianity at times. We can't get too involved, for that would take time away from other things we had rather be doing. On the other hand, we must do something, else our conscience bothers us. So - we settle down into our comfortable positions of "just right" and play around with Christianity.

Satisfaction with mediocrity is a shame; more than that, it becomes a curse. May the Lord deliver us from the idea of "I'm just right in my Christianity. I know I could be busy working harder, but at the same time if I do that, there will be other things I won't have time or money to do."

God wants us to abound (the word literally means to "exceed the mini­mum") in his work (1 Cor. 15:58 ), and not be slack in it. Why just be "barely right" when you can be right an the way? - Bill Moseley