For a number of reasons, not the least of which is the Middle East crisis, there has recently been an upswing in interest in the matter of the Rapture of the Church.
After Israel regained Nation status in 1948 the world watched developments in the region in anticipation of seeing more fulfillment of things prophesied in the Bible, the reliability of the text would of course be called into question in the event that this did not materialize.
What is involved in the Rapture of the Church?
It is an event that is expected to literally take place on the second coming of Jesus the Messiah. There will be a physical “rapture” of those believers in Christ that are alive when it happens along with those that are already dead who were believers in their lifetime.
will actually be transported up into the sky to meet with the Lord just before His return to the earth where He will set up His Millennial Kingdom over which He is going to rule and reign for 1000 years.
Why is the rapture of the church such a contentious issue? There are very few believers that do not wholeheartedly believe in the event of the rapture. The Bible makes it very clear in fact that it must happen. The big bone of contention is when it will happen!
The Great Tribulation
So this is where the disconnect comes. The Bible describes in the book of Revelation this terrible time called “The Great tribulation” when God pours out His wrath upon the earth to punish the impurity of those that just refuse to hear His voice.
The rapture of the church according to the teaching in some churches is designed to save all the Christians from having to endure the trials and tribulations of God’s wrath as two thirds of the people on earth are killed. The Messiah, Jesus, is said to be going to rescue them and take them to safety before things get bad. Such thinking is called a pre trib position.
Then there are those that teach that all Christians will be present for half of the 7 years of the Great tribulation. Their position is that a period of great turmoil will start. That for 3 and half years there will be severe calamities, strife, unprecedented problems culminating in the emergence of a pseudo savior, the anti-messiah (Anti-Christ) who will deceive the world into believing that He is their savior, uniting the world under one banner and bringing peace to all. These mid-trib thinkers believe that it is just before this point when all of the Christians are effectively lifted out to safety as all “hell breaks loose” on the earth for the final 3 and half year episode of the Tribulation.
Finally, there is the least popular of the three propositions, the post trib stance. Adherents to this theory teach that the Christians have to wait until the end of the 7 years for the rapture. So, they get to suffer through the whole thing with everyone else. The supporters of each of these positions can make very convincing arguments for their cases and they all appear to have substance. Even to the degree that they can find scriptures which appear to confirm their belief that they are in fact right. It is a most interesting debate.
Whats says God regarding this rapture of the church?
I submit to you that this after all is the only definitive opinion you should be concerned about. The Lord exhorts us to “study to shew yourself approved” (2Tim 2:15)
Complacency is a trap that yo should studiously avoid, so be sure to not rely on what other people want you to accept. I was recently blessed by the Lord with an uplifting teaching regarding complacency which may be edifying for you.
What do you need to know about the rapture of the church?
It is this authors submission that the rapture question concerning the church is a “Banner” to attract your attention to something of even greater significance. The Kingdom to come and who will be involved or excluded.
This author prays that from reading these words about the rapture , you will find yourself propelled into the exhilarating discovery of the hidden truths in God’s word concerning the soon to be established Kingdom (closer than most can perceive)
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