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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
There are some believers who hold that only faithful Christians will be taken in the rapture, with unfaithful Christians left on earth to suffer through the tribulation. The problem is that the Bib...
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Singapore Moses
Supporter
Only those who are qualified to be taken up will be part of the rapture. Ten Qualifications for the Rapture: 1. To be in Christ (1Th. 4:14,16; 2Cor. 5:17-18). 2. To be Christ's (1Cor. 15:23; Gal. 5:24). 3. To be blessed and holy (Rev. 20:4-6 Heb. 12:14). 4. To be good (Jn. 5:28-29). 5. To be worthy (Lk. 21:36). 6. To be in the Church (1Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:20-23; 4:4-6; 5:27; Col. 1:18,24). 7. To be pure (1Jn. 3:2-3). 8. To be without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27) 9. To live and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:19-21). 10. To walk in the light (1Jn. 1:7; Col. 2:6). Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." - Rev 20:6 Who are part of the First Resurrection? 1. Christ and the many saints that were resurrected after His resurrection (1Cor. 15: 20, 23; Mt. 27: 52- 53 Eph. 4: 8- 10). 2. Afterward they that are Christ's at His coming known as "Church saints"(1Cor. 15: 23, 51- 54 Jn. 14: 1- 3 Lk. 21: 34- 36; 2Cor. 5: 1- 8; Eph. 5: 27; Php. 3: 11, 20- 21 1Th. 2: 19; 3: 13; 4: 13- 17 5: 9, 23; 2Th. 2: 1, 7; Col. 3: 4; Jas. 5: 7- 8 1Jn. 2: 28; 3: 2; 1Pet. 5: 4). Everyone in Christ, dead or alive, will be translated at this time. Not one person will be left on earth who is in Christ (1Th. 4: 16- 17). 3. The "144,000 Jews" saved in the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week (Rev. 7: 1- 8). They will be caught up as the manchild in the middle of this week or 3 1/2 years before the second coming (Rev. 12: 5 14: 1- 5 Isa. 66: 7- 8 Dan. 12: 1). See these scriptures. 4. The great multitude of "tribulation saints" who are saved after the rapture of His Church (point 2 above) and during the whole of Daniel's 70th week (Rev. 6: 1-- Rev. 19: 21). The first martyrs of this period are told to rest until the rest of them are killed (Rev. 6: 9- 11) when vengeance will be taken and all raptured in time for the marriage supper (Rev. 7: 9- 17 15: 2- 4 20: 4- 6). Even those killed by the beast in the last 3 1/2 years of this week have part in the first resurrection (Rev. 20: 4- 6). This proves their rapture in time for the marriage supper (Rev. 19:1- 10) and in time to come back with Christ (Rev. 19:11- 21 Jude 1:14; Zech. 14:5). Six reasons for their beheading: 1. For the witness (testimony) of Jesus 2. For the Word of God 3. For not worshiping the beast 4. For not worshiping his image 5. For not taking his mark upon their foreheads 6. For not taking his mark in their hands These tribulation saints (not church saints) will be resurrected) and reigned with Christ 1,000 years. 5. The rapture of the two witnesses (Elijah and Enoch), ending the first resurrection which began with the resurrection of Christ (Rev. 11:7- 11). 6. Apart from the above resurrected saints, there are last generation natural people who will live from the future tribulation period through the Millennium (but not beheaded or killed) and then on into the New Earth forever-- if they do not commit sin or rebel with Satan at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20: 7- 10 Mt. 13: 39- 50 25: 46). 7. Resurrected people (above points 1 thorough 5) who have part in the first resurrection will be the eternal rulers of the eternal generations of natural people (Rev. 20:4). 8. The resurrected people will not marry or give in marriage (Mt. 22:30); but the natural people who are alive at the second coming and who are permitted to be subjects of the eternal kingdom will marry, have children, and carry out the natural
Anthony Clinton
Supporter
If a partial Rapture means only the Christians that are ready at the return of Christ will go with Him and the others left behind to endure the tribulation and they must not take the Mark of the Beast. I say it is never taught in the Bible and would only be speculation Because the Rapture is also called the end of the world and the final harvest of souls there is a certainty that Christians and Christ's servants who turned back and "drew back to perdition" will never have another chance. For example if a Christian hates his brother at the time of Christ's return. The Bible says he has entered darkness and eternal life no longer abides in Him. This means his hatred for his Christian brother has cancelled all the privileges of having eternal life. 1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. This could not be talking about unbelievers because no unbeliever is our spiritual brother and the command of Christ regarding offenses committed against a brother taught, if the offender refused to be reconciled he was to be treated the same as an unbeliever. Jesus gave us parable of the unjust steward. This parable is talking about Servants of Christ and on His return those servants are found to have been unjust by beating their fellow servants and eating and drinking with drunkards. When the Master returns(second Coming of Christ) He will cut them to pieces and give them the same judgment as unbelievers. Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. So in conclusion, no their will be no partial Rapture because the Rapture is also the “end of the world” and also called “the last day”. Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Donna Virgin
Supporter
The Bible says, if you believe in your heart that Jesus is the son of God and that He died for your sins and was resurrected, and he is your Lord and Savior, you will be saved. No matter what you have done in your past, you are His now! There is no such thing as a partial Rapture. That's like saying you are a partial Christian. You either are or you aren't. And if you are, at the Rapture, you will be taken up to be with Him! Come Lord Jesus!
Meshack Gachago
Supporter
There will be one resurrection of the dead in Christ and the catching up of living believers in the air to be with the Lord wherever he shall be. With a "rapture" before the tribulation or or not, the Lord is well able to keep his own even during tribulation, that is in case (as some scriptures show), that is part of the end time purpose for God's people. He did keep his own in Egypt during the plagues, he can do the same or even more for the Church.
Bob Rutz
Supporter
The Lord Jesus answered this question specifically, with some detail, in Matthew chapters 24 and 25 (without stopping for a break between chapters). In 24:3 He was asked 2 questions: "Tell us, when will this (the destruction of the temple buildings) be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?" Here is part of His answer to the 2nd question in 25:1-14: "Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the Bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, The Bridegroom ! Come out to meet Him.' Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But He replied, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." There's His good answer: Of the 10 expecting His coming, half were ready and made it into the marriage feast. The Lord Jesus is coming for all who have died in Christ, plus all those living and eagerly waiting for His Appearing, per I Thess. 4:13-18. Who are the 5 wise and 5 foolish? The Day of His appearing will reveal it. What will happen to the 5 believing in His coming but short on oil? In my opinion, you could argue for something like LaHaye outlines in his Left Behind series. Instead, they are left to go through the Great Tribulation where they end up as martyrs with their heads chopped off. According to Joel, in the Day of the Lord, God is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. I personally believe that this will result in those Day of the Lord martyrs forming the vast majority of those ruling and reigning with Jesus down through the ages to come. If the above is true, then all the verses saying there are groups of us who are going through the Great Tribulation and all the verses saying there are those who won't go through it are BOTH true! But all this raises a question far more important and relevant to every one of you reading this: How long a delay, and what kind of deception will it take, to put not only the 5 foolish maidens, but the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and finally, the 10th maiden to sleep? "They ALL slumbered and slept!" Why did Jesus ask the question, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" If He came today, that would seem like a dumb question, because we all know dozens of Christians who are eagerly expecting His coming. But Jesus warned of a coming deception powerful enough to deceive even the very elect! Somehow, the "any-minute rapture theory" has convinced too many Christians that "I don't care about all that prophetic stuff ... it's all going to happen after I'm gone." We are simply not prepared for the II Thess. 2:1-12 events where, instead of our Lord Jesus Christ, the man of lawlessness shows up first, with enough supernatural firepower and mighty works of deception to blow away those Christians depending on the views of their favorite eschatologist. This Great Deception may well include things like universal disarmament, worldwide peace, supernatural signs and wonders including a simulated rapture, and other mind-boggling deceptions. Are YOU prepared to survive this "like the days of Noah" false peace where the main things are "eating, drinking, marriage, and giving in marriage" and still be AWAKE and eagerly looking forward to His Appearing?
JD Abshire
Supporter
I am of the opinion there are two important individuals and important principles that have been overlooked. Noah's genealogy shows that he was the Son of Lamech who was the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch. Genesis 5:22 states "And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:" In Genesis 5:24 we read: " And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Although we have little information there must be a very significant reason for Enoch to have been mentioned and then “taken”. In definition, the word "took" is very similar to the NT phrase, "caught up" used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 i.e. taken up, taken out of the way, forcefully removed. Enoch is symbolic, a type of the Church age saints who will be "caught up" and spared the ensuing tribulation period. Noah and his family are symbolic of the Jewish people that will go through yet preserved during the apocalyptic judgments upon mankind and planet earth. In Mark 13:14 “ Christ warned “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:” He was warning the Jews which obviously will not have received the mark of the beast. Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,” Jude 1:15 “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” If The Lord is coming with ten thousands of his saints we have to consider that he is coming from somewhere distinct and different from a previous location. This agrees with Revelation 19:14 “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
Sandra LINDSTROM
Supporter
I don't have a lot to say. Trying to research the scripture I have seen but right now to no avail. However I know that a scripture says. "He is coming back for those who are looking for Him." In this I feel there will be those who are not consecrated who will be left behind. The scripture is clear that He is coming back for those who are looking for Him.
Bob t Ritter
Supporter
These scriptural quotes are taken from a KJV Bible with a small amount of commentary by me. I hope this gives some clarification to the question about the rapture. When will the rapture take place? Please read these Scriptural places below for a hint. JOH 6:39 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. That all which He (The Father) hath given me(Jesus)= The saved JOH 6:40 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. Every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life = The saved JOH 6:44 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. The Father which hath sent me draw him= The saved JOH 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the LAST DAY. Whoso hath eternal life The saved JOH 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the LAST DAY. Even Martha knew that her brother Lazarus who had died before Jesus died and was resurrected knew that The resurrection of the Last Day would be when Lazarus would be resurrected. NOW here is the kicker: JOH 12:48 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 He that rejecteth, recieveth not my (Jesus) words =The Lost Shall be judged in the last day resurrection The saved and the lost will be resurrected in the last day resurrection, Some unto everlasting life others to everlasting condemnation. So the saved and the lost will be raised together? Yes Read Daniel 12: 1-4 1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. As it is written so shall it be. As it is written not as it is interpreted. This is my interpretation.You have to decide for yourself what you will believe. Scripture says it is appointed once for man to die and then the judgement. I personally don't worry about dying. If i have an appointment with my doctor i don't have to worry about the time. God has given us an appointed time to die. What we need to be concerned about is how we will stand in the judgement. We will be raptured when God sees fit.
SaintlyMic MicMic
Supporter
The question many have asked is: Who are those that die at the hands of the antichrist during the great tribulation? Who are those that are caught up and resurrected near the end of the tribulation? What is the second coming? Those who die (who are beheaded) at the hands of the antichrist are Christians. Those who are resurrected and caught up near the end of the tribulation are Christians. And, the second coming is Jesus Christ coming back to earth in Jerusalem to destroy the antichrists, and to start His 1,000 year reign. Please note that the resurrecting and capturing up of Christians near the end of the great tribulation is NOT the same event as the Second Coming of Christ. This resurrecting and capturing up is called THE FIRST RESURRECTION, mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6. Many are teaching that the First Resurrection is the Second Coming, but this is not true. The First Resurrection happens before the Second Coming. The day and hour of the First Resurrection is NOT known. However, the time of the Second Coming is known. But, the timing of the Second Coming serves no purpose for the saved because the saved will have been resurrected and caught up before the Second Coming. So, what about the rapture, the pre-tribulation rapture? Are there two events which are identical? Could there be a pre-tribulation rapture and another rapture called the First Resurrection? See, many people are not asking these questions, and many people are scared and are not wanting to look at these questions. But these questions must be asked, and people need to start looking at the answers. The truth is there is only ONE resurrection, and only ONE time that the Saints are going to be captured up, whether they are alive, or whether they are dead in Christ. I was talking with a man at a church I go to about these very things, and he believes in the pre-tribulation rapture, and I believe in the First Resurrection. We discussed our differences in peace, and politely. A lady sitting next to us was listening to our conversation. Then she jumped up and very loudly said, "IF I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION I WILL TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST!" The man and myself were appalled and shocked to say the least. One thing my dad told me when we discussed this was this. That if the pre-tribulation rapture (which he believes) happens then I will go because I am born again. But, there are those who are teaching that you must believe in the pre-tribulation rapture in order to take part in it. These people have placed more importance on the pre-tribulation doctrine than being saved. Now you have unsaved people believing they will get to take part in the pre-tribulation rapture just because they believe in the pre-tribulation rapture. One last thing... Jesus has shown me that if He wants me to be beheaded and tortured during the great tribulation that He will give me strength to go through with it. I'm not scared of dying for Jesus. I'm not scared of suffering for Jesus. I don't want to have to suffer and die, but at the same time I believe Jesus when He tells me that I will pass with flying colors. If you are scared, then ask Jesus to comfort you, and He will. There is nothing that anyone can say or do that can separate you from Christ Jesus, if you are truly saved and born again by His blood! SaintlyMic
Phillip Ramirez
Supporter
That so many people desire something better than what we currently have on earth is a powerful reflection on the hope the Bible contains. However, in my personal studies without the influence of organized religion, I've found that the rapture for all Christians simply doesn't exist within the pages of the Bible. As a child, I had always heard the phrase "The meek shall inherit the earth." Jesus spoke these words in the Beatitudes during his sermon on the mount. He was actually quoting Psalms 37:10,11, 29. This was my first clue. The second, again, were Jesus own words in The Lord's Prayer: "... thy kingdom come, thy will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven." (emphasis mine) So, at least two different times, Jesus stated that his true followers would be here on earth. Following Jesus and believing in the truth he spoke is VITAL to any Christian. Discount his words for those of his followers, and you are following the wisdom of imperfect men. Moving on, we can now look at how God Himself has dealt with situations where the wicked were destroyed while the righteous were delivered. We will focus on three different occasions: Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Israelites at the Red Sea. Before we begin, however, it is extremely important that you not only believe but FULLY ACCEPT that God is perfect and does not change. Anything less than a total acceptance of God's perfect wisdom and justice will not do. First, Noah. Very briefly, we all know the story. However, the most important thing is "Where were Noah and his family when the floods came?" Were they taken off the earth while the wicked were destroyed? Or were they guided and guarded through it? Every child of five knows that Noah built an ark under God's direction to help them avoid the global punishment of the flood. So if there were to be a rapture of any kind down the road, this would have been the time to set the precedent. Next, Sodom and Gomorrah, another well-known Bible account. Once God determined in his heart to destroy both cities due to their wickedness, he discussed the situation with Abraham. Abraham started with "If I can find 50 righteous people within the city, will you destroy it?" God assured him he wouldn't. Abraham barters and drops his final number down to ten... if he could find just ten righteous people, would God destroy the cities? "I will not destroy the cities," said God, as recorded in Genesis 18. The cities were destroyed, with only four righteous ones escaping its destruction. That one was there to witness the destruction is clear in the example of Lot's wife, who as most Bible readers will know, became a pillar of salt for looking behind and longing for the things of this world. That this example is vital for us today was spoken by Jesus at Luke 17:32. Lot and his family were NOT taken up to heaven while the wicked were destroyed. The Red Sea. Even shorter. The Israelites were in Egypt for the plagues, they were there for the destruction of Pharoah's army at the Red Sea, and they were there at the destruction of the wicked at Mt. Sinai. Three times, God set a precedence: The righteous will not be whisked away from the destruction, but carried through it. This is made clear in the final example at Revelation 7:9,14: A great multitude, which no man can number, will come out of the great tribulation. Like a door, to come out of something, you first go into it... that the number is so great as to be uncountable says a lot. Christians are very easily numbered. This scripture also intimates that the number will not just include Christians. Per the scriptures and the words of the apostle Peter, it would appear that "... whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation."-Acts 10:35. Heart condition determines who will survive armageddon, not religious affiliation. And we will live through it as reporters to those Jesus will resurrect.
Nathan Toronga
Supporter
The bible contains no hint whatsoever about a pre-trib rapture. Those are man's fables. Before I give a detailed discourse on the ACTUAL timing of the rapture, I must clear one serious misunderstanding: The plagues (aka the wrath of God) mentioned in Revelation are NOT the tribulation. The tribulation will commence after. Now, Christians will be shielded from the wrath of God which He will pour on the world. Elsewhere, someone has mentioned the case of the Exodus where the children of Yisrael were spared the wrath poured on Egypt. That is very relevant. You also want to note the protection granted to Jeremiah and Baruch when the exile happened. Now, to the matter at hand, there will be NO pre-trib rapture. It is important to know the truth on this matter, because some who have been deceived will be unprepared for the tribulation,and will break down when put to the devil's trials. They are not prepared, so they will break and receive the mark! But if they are informed in time, they will prepare themselves mentally to defend their faith, even with their lives (which some of us are prepared to do. It's a sobering thought.) There will be no pre-trib rapture. See the following: A. Daniel 12:1. Michael will rise to protect God's faithfuls DURING the tribulation. B. Matthew 24:22 "If those days had not been cut short, NO-ONE WOULD SURVIVE, but for the sake of THE ELECT those days will be cut short." See also verses 23 & 24. The days will be shortened for the sake of the elect - otherwise they would be exterminated! (verse 22). C. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 "According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left TILL THE COMING OF THE LORD, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who ARE STILL ALIVE will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air...." The saints who will be alive will be rescued 'at the last trumpet', 1 Corinthians 15:52, that is, the trumpet that will raise the dead. Matthew 24:31. Immediately after that, we slide into the millennium. All believers will be gathered at the same time, both the dead and the living. We go to heaven AT THE SAME TIME. Of course there are the first fruits - those who rose when Christ was crucified. There hasn't been another resurrection ever since, nor will there be, until the second and final one. There will be NO pre-tribulation rupture. Bless.
George Delmindo
Supporter
The Bible does not support the idea that there will be a partial rapture before the great and terrible Day of the Lord comes. In fact there is no such thing as rapture in the Bible. You will never find the word 'rapture' in the Old and New Testament just like 'purgatory', 'sacrament', 'trinity' etc. Whatever doctrine that is not supported by the Bible or is not found in the Bible is definitely not true. If it is not true then it does not come from God. That is why Paul admonished us to study the word of God earnestly and in all truth. 2 Tim 2:15 - "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." KJV
Kenneth Heck
Supporter
Paul's epistles, which are instructive for everyone, were written to particular churches to address particular problems. For the Thessalonians the problem was the severe persecution and death of believers they were experiencing.The rapture described in 1 Thess 4: 13-18 is Paul's answer to that church. Do his words mean that all Christians will be raptured regardless of circumstances? No - they need to suffer to some degree as the Thessalonians did to qualify for the rapture. The question is who Paul speaking of when he uses the word "we" in verses 14 and 15? It is the Thessalonians in particular, not the entire body of Christ. No Christian is subject to God's wrath, but all are subject to chastisement (Rev. 3:19). The two words are distinctly different and mean distinctly different things. The rapture only applies to those who deserve no further chastisement and are perfected in their faith. God's wrath applies the unrighteous who obstinately refuse to repent.
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