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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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THE DOCTRINE OF THE RAPTURE - 2 1Th 4:13-18 (7/17/11) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. SUMMARY OF BASIC RAPTURE BELIEFS A. Pre-Tribulation Rapture View - The
teaching that Jesus comes for His bride, the true Church, before the
Tribulation period begins. B. Mid-Tribulation Rapture View - The
belief that Jesus raptures the Church half-way through the seven-year
Tribulation period. C. Pre-Wrath Rapture View - The belief
that the Church will be raptured just before the wrath of the Day of the
Lord. D. Post-Tribulation Rapture View - The
teaching that Jesus will come for His Church at the end of the Tribulation
period, but prior to the Millennium. E. Partial Rapture View - The view
that teaches that only those believers who are found worthy will escape the
terrors of the Tribulation by being taken in the Rapture. II. BRIEF ANALYSIS OF RAPTURE VIEWS A. Pre-Tribulation Rapture View B. Mid-Tribulation Rapture View C. Pre-Wrath Tribulation View (similar to
Mid-Tribulation View) 1. The Rapture will occur before the Day of
the Lord near the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week (Dan 9:24-27). 2. The Day of the Lord will begin with the
opening of the seventh seal (Rev 8:1). a) Problem: There is no mention of the
Rapture in Rev. 8:1. b) Problem: The twenty four elders (Church)
were already in heaven (Re 4:4) before the first seal (Re 6:1). c) Problem: The Day of the Lord includes the
Rapture (1 Co 5:5; Phil 1:10), Second Coming (1Th 5:2), and final judgment
and events (2 Pet 3:10). d) It is concluded that the day of the Lord
is that extended period of time beginning with God’s dealing with Israel after the Rapture at
the beginning of the Tribulation period and extending through the second
advent and the millennial age unto the creation of the new heavens and the
new earth after the millennium. (Pentecost, Dwight, “Things to Come”, pg. 230-31) 3. The seventh seal (Rev 8:1) is the
beginning of the wrath of God. Everything prior is only the wrath of man. a) Problem: All the seals constitute the
“wrath of the Lamb” (Rev 6:16). b) Problem: Only Christ can open the seals,
not man (Rev 6:1-12) c) Problem: In Rev 6:17, the wrath was not
about to come (future tense), but “has come” i.e. already came and was
there (ếlthon - aorist tense - erchomai). D. Post- Tribulation Rapture View 1. The same Greek terms that are used for
the Rapture are also used for the Second Coming; therefore the events take
place virtually simultaneous and at the end of the Tribulation. Parousia,
means “coming” or “presence” (1Th 4:15 cp. Mt 24:27) Apokalupsis means
“revelation” (1Co 1:7 cp. 2Th 1:7) Epiphaneia means “manifestation”
(Tit 2:13 cp. 2Th 2:8). a) Problem: This is an argument that the
Mid-Tribulation View used. b) Problem: Even though the same word is used
for both events (Rapture & Second Coming), it does not equate that they
are the same event. c) Problem: There can be and are two events
characterized by the same word. The Lord is “coming” (revealed or manifested)
both at the Rapture and the Second Coming. 2. The word “church” is not specifically
mentioned in Revelation chapters 4-19, nor does it say that the church is in
heaven during the Tribulation. However, the term “saints” is used with
reference to those on earth (Rev. 13:7, 10; 16:6; 17:6). a) The twenty four elders, in this
apocalyptic genre of the Bible (Revelation)are depicted as the church and in
heaven: (1) They are dressed in white (Rev 4:4 cp. Rev
19:8). (2) They are seen with crowns (Rev 4:4). (3) Already in heaven (Rev 19:14 cp. Rev
19:7-8) b) “Saints” is a general term and can be used
for believers of any age. (1) There are OT saints (Psa 16:3l; 34:9) (2) There are
saints today (1Co 1:2) (3) There are Tribulation saints (Rev 13:7) E. Partial Rapture View 1. Some passages appear to point to
believers in heaven at intervals and therefore must teach Partial Rapture (Rev
7:9). a) Problem: There will be Jews and Gentiles
who come to Christ during the Tribulation. Rev 7:14 speaks of such Gentiles,
not unraptured believers. b) Problem: 1Cor 15:51-52 says that “all”
believers in the Church Age will be changed, not some. 2. Some passages teach believers must suffer
before they reign with Christ, either now or in the Tribulation. (Rom
8:16-17; 2Th 1:4). a) Problem: There is a difference between
suffering for living righteously in an unrighteous world and suffering the
judgment of God (1 Pet 4:15; Rom 8:1). 3. Since the First Resurrection is a reward,
only the faithful believers will be rewarded the First Resurrection (Rapture)
(Phil 3:11-14; Rev 2:11). a) Problem: Phil 3:11-14 is not talking about
the First Resurrection, but about the resurrection experience of new life in
Christ. b) Problem: The Rapture or the Resurrection
is not a reward (2 Tim 4:8). Crowns are the rewards (Rev 2:10). But any crown
we get is because of the grace of Christ. And it is the true believer who will
overcome and not be hurt by the second death. (Rev 2:11). c) Problem: Rev 20:5-6 speaks of two
Resurrections. The First Resurrection includes various groups of saints
(Church saints, Tribulations saints and OT saints). Only unbelievers are in
Second Resurrection and will experience the second (eternal) death. III. IN CONCLUSION A. The Pre-Tribulation Rapture View is the
view that is most consistent with Scripture, has the strongest arguments, and
has the least major problems. B. Paul taught all believers to look for the
coming of Christ, even in his day. If the Tribulation was to occur before the
Rapture, then Paul would have instructed believers concerning the
Tribulation. No such instructions are found in the Scriptures. IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. The “crown of righteousness” is connected
with those who have loved the appearing of the Lord (2Ti 4:7-8). B. Anticipating the Rapture (The Lord’s
Return) is a by-product of perseverance and righteous living, to which believers
will receive a crown. 1. We want to finish the course so that we
please the Lord (note the perfect tenses - “have done and continue to do”,
“fought,” “finished,” “kept,” and “loved”). 2. We want to finish the course so that we
can see Christ whom we love. 3. We want to finish the course to receive God’s
Riches At Christ’s Expense (GRACE). C. By growing closer to the Lord and maturing
in Christ, we will not only grow in practical righteousness and holiness, but
we will understand, love, and long for the coming of our Lord. |
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