The Rapture Part 3

The Tribulation

What exactly is the tribulation?

The word "tribulation," used as a prophetic term, comes from Jesus' Olivet discourse, during which He laid out the future course of human history all the way to its climax at His Second Coming. The Lord said, in response to His disciples’ question, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matt. 24:21).

"Tribulation" is the term for the general era of God's judgment on a rebellious world of earth-dwellers. It is a time that will begin with Antichrist signing a seven-year covenant guaranteeing Israel's peace and security (Dan. 9:27). This era is kicked off, symbolically, beginning with the first horseman of the Apocalypse (Rev. 6:1).

"Great Tribulation" is considered to be the last three and one-half years of that seven-year period known as "Daniel's seventieth week." The last three and one-half years is called "the time of Jacob's trouble" in Jeremiah 30:7, when God's most horrific, but totally righteous, wrath is poured directly upon the rebels of planet Earth. These judgments are portrayed and precisely outlined in Revelation, chapters 6 through 19. The Tribulation will end when Christ returns from Heaven to defeat God's enemies and set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth (Rev. 19:11-16). (1)


Well now we know what the Tribulation is, and where we learn about it, but how do we know whether or not the Rapture will take place before, during or after this time? Though some may say we do not know for certain, I believe it will happen before the tribulation occurs. I do believe that God is a just and merciful God, and as such would spare believers this time of suffering. This is my belief based on scripture.

"And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:22 NKJV

The Tribulation and The Rapture- Simultaneous?

It is a very common belief that the rapture is what triggers the tribulation. This assumption is caused by a streamlining of end-time events. The tribulation does follow the rapture, but a detailed examination of Scripture reveals a gap between these two events.

The timing of the rapture is not known. Jesus said, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Mat. 24:44).

The tribulation will start when the Antichrist signs the seven-year peace agreement with Israel. The treaty will likely be a peace agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors, one that will validate Jewish worship at a rebuilt Temple, which was destroyed in 70 A.D.

"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate" (Dan. 9:27).

Because the rapture is an unknown event (in terms of timing), it cannot occur at the same time as the start of the tribulation. It's anyone's guess as to how big the gap of time will be. It could span a few days or a few years. (2)

(1) http://www.raptureready.com/faq/faq370.html
(2) http://www.raptureready.com/faq/faq432.html

A Study of The Rapture Part 2 by Shalene

I received some great comments yesterday, and wanted to touch on them for a moment. First, though I have a lot of questions about the Rapture, I don't expect that every one of them will be answerable while I am still alive. My questions are only those which, in a perfect world, would be answered. Does this make sense? I have a VERY inquisitive mind, so if I can learn the answers to something, I'll do my best to do so. I do understand that for some of my questions, my faith that it is so, will have to suffice. May God grant me the wisdom to know when to "let go of the bone." Second, I do believe in the Rapture. I do not believe it has happened yet. I believe the Bible is literal not interpretive. I have hope that those that have questions about the Rapture will travel this study with me, and if they don't agree, they're free to do so. I'm not here trying to change anyone's mind about the Rapture; though if it happens, I won't complain. :) Now on to the post.

What about the dead?

But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?" What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. ....The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies....It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised in glory.....they will be raised as spiritual bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,40,42-44 NLT (please read this passage in it's full context for further clarification.)

What does that mean?

What that means is that for whatever reason, we will have new bodies- heavenly bodies- whether we are dead or alive at the time of the Rapture. I don't have an answer for why we need those bodies, except to say "Because God said so." I'm sorry but that's the only answer I have. Faith will have to suffice on this one, I'm afraid. :)

Now what about where the dead are until then?

Well, a good friend pointed out Luke 16:22 to me in reference to this. While it is true that it's a parable, it also gives us a good idea as to where we go when we die.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. ...And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence. Luke 16:22-24, 26 KJV

So, from that I get that the dead are indeed waiting in one of two places for the day that we will all come before the judgement seat of God.

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: 2 Timothy 4:1 NKJV

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV

---Lord, I thank you again for Your Holy Word, that we might find the answers we seek, if we will but seek with a pure and open heart. I thank you for those that you have placed in my path, that my faith walk would be strengthened, and the words that I write would be true to Your Word. I ask that you continue to show me the Way, and that You guide me in the ways that will Glorify Your Name always. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

A Study of the Rapture Part 1 by Shalene

What does "Rapture" mean?

The teaching of the rapture is most clearly presented by Paul in the first books and Thessalonians and Corinthians:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thes. 4:16-18).

Rapture critics like to claim that the word "rapture" is not located in the Bible. It may not be in the King James, but the word "rapture" is found in the Bible, if you have the Latin Vulgate produced by Jerome in the early 400s. The Vulgate was the main Bible of the medieval Western Church until the Reformation. It continues to this day as the primary Latin translation of the Roman Catholic Church. It was Protestants who introduced the word "rapture" into the English language from the Latin raeptius. It was Jerome's Vulgate that translated the original Greek verb harpazo used by Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in 1 Thes. 4:17, which is usually translated into English with the phrase "caught up." The leading Greek Lexicon says that harpazo means "snatch, seize, i.e., take suddenly and vehemently." This is the same meaning of the Latin word rapio "to seize, snatch, tear away." It should not be surprising to anyone, that an English word was developed from the Latin which we use today known as "rapture." (1)


To Summarize:

Ok, well that means that my understanding was correct (and explains why I couldn't seem to find "rapture" in my bible.) The Rapture is the time when Jesus will come like a thief in the night, and all the Christian dead will rise and be caught up, along with all the Christian living in a blink of any eye. This does not mean zombies, for all of you with weird imaginations. The corrupt bodies of the dead will become incorruptible, and ours as well. All will become immortal. When you think of Jesus, having been resurrected from the dead, do you see Him as a zombie- No, you don't. Same concept here.

“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” (1 Cor. 15:51-53).

That leads me to my next question though: If the dead will be caught up with the living, what does that mean? Does that mean that the dead were just "waiting somewhere?" and where was that "somewhere," if they were? If they weren't waiting somewhere, why do they need their bodies? Even if they are to become incorruptible bodies, as Jesus' is? Is it because of the 1000 years that Jesus will reign on Earth, before we all spend Eternity in Heaven? And what is the reason for the 1000 years on Earth? Is there one- I'm sure that there is, because God has a reason for everything He does. So.....Answers to come in my next post, if the answers are to be found. Blessings to you all.

--Lord, I thank you for your providence in giving me the anwswers I sought to my questions. I ask that you give me wisdom and discernment to find the answers that You have provided, if we will but seek them with a pure and willing heart. I pray blessings upon those that read my words, and that You will be glorified in all. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

Sources:
(1) www.raptureready.com ABC's of Prophecy