Rapture References

[Rick-Parker]

Recently I was challenged to make a list of all the passages in the Bible that hint of a pre-trib rapture. As you may know I believe Paul was the first person on Earth to present a clear pre-trib teaching, about 20 years after the cross. Before that time it was unknown because Jesus didn't teach it to His other disciples during their time together. And since the Olivet Discourse is directed at Israel, there's no mention of it there either, even though the end times is in view. Israel will not participate in the rapture.

Now I'll be the first to admit that doing this requires that you already have a working knowledge of the pre-trib position, because without it you wouldn't recognize some of these references as being pertinent to the subject. But ever since Paul revealed the rapture, scholars have been seeing hints of it here and there, even in the Old Testament.

Before we begin, in 1 Cor. 2:6-8 Paul explained why God's plans for the church had been kept secret until after the crucifixion. He said that if the rulers of this age (Satan & Co.) had understood all that God intended for us they would not have crucified the Lord. Not that they could have stopped it, of course. But had they known God was going to use the murder of His Son to save us all, they wouldn't have gone ahead with it, and in fact would have tried to prevent it. It wasn't until He was on the cross that they discovered the Lord's death was going to become payment in full for all our sins, so instead of it being cause for a great celebration it totally disarmed them and made them into a public spectacle (Colossians 2:13-15). Then, 20 years later, they learned about the rapture. These were both things that God had planned from the beginning, but a good general keeps his strategy a secret in order to take his enemy by surprise, so God didn't let Satan (or anyone else) know about these things until it was too late for him to react. Even now, Satan doesn't know when the rapture is coming. All he knows is what we know, that each new believer could be the last one, the one that takes us all out of here and beyond his reach forever.

I'm convinced that God's plan requires the Church to disappear before Daniel's 70th week begins. Remember, the Lord set aside 70 weeks (490 years) for Israel to accomplish 6 things. (Daniel 9:24) At the end of 69 weeks (483 years) Jesus was crucified, the clock suddenly stopped, and Israel disappeared along with its Temple and Old Covenant worship. Daniel's prophecy was left incomplete and from that time on, God's focus was on the church.

The reappearance of Israel in 1948, the promised rebuilding of a Temple, and resumption of Levitical sacrifice during the 70th week make it clear that the Church didn't end the dispensation of Law but only interrupted it seven years short of its intended duration. We would all agree that if the introduction of a dam into a stream of water interrupts its flow, then it's reasonable and logical to conclude that removal of the dam will be necessary for the flow to resume. Therefore if the introduction of the Church after the 69th week of Daniels prophecy caused the interruption in its fulfillment, it's reasonable and logical to conclude that the Church will have to be removed before the final seven years of the dispensation of Law can run their course and Daniel's prophecy can be fulfilled.

Of course there are other sound reasons why the church has to disappear before the End Times begin in earnest. Not having a destiny on Earth, our presence here would serve no purpose during the time of Earth's liberation from bondage (Romans 8:19-21). Not being subject to judgment the Church has no unfinished business with God that could be concluded during the End Times. Unlike Israel we don't need to be made righteous because we're already as righteous as God is (2 cor. 5:21).

Jeremiah 30:11 says the End time judgments will serve a two fold purpose, to completely destroy all the nations among which Israel has been scattered and to discipline Israel. Since God does not consider the Church to belong to either group our presence on Earth during that time would be irrelevant.

But the most important reason, as we'll see, is that God said we won't be here. Those who teach the Church's presence on Earth during any part of Daniel's70th Week have to re-define grace, re-invent the church and re-interpret the Scriptures to support their position.

With that introduction, let's look at some of the clearest hints God placed in the Scriptures to show He has always planned for a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Naturally, we'll begin in the Old Testament.

Enoch Disappeared

Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took Him away. (Genesis 5:24)

In Matt. 24:37, Jesus said that the time of His coming would be like the days of Noah. He went onto explain that just as all the unbelievers perished in the flood, all unbelievers would perish at the time of His 2nd coming as well. Those who survive the devastation of the Great Tribulation will immediately face judgment and be taken off the planet. The parables of the servant, the ten virgins, and the talents explain this, as does the account of the Sheep and Goat judgment. (Matt. 24:45-25:46)

But if you give the Lord's statement its widest possible application, you can see that as the time of the Great Flood drew near there were 3 kinds of people on Earth. There were the unbelievers who perished in the flood, Noah and his family who were preserved through it, and Enoch, who was taken by the Lord well before it.

Just so, as the End of the Age draws near there will still be three kinds of people on Earth. They are the unbelievers of our time who will perish in the End Times judgments, modern Israel who will be preserved through them, and the Church who will be taken by God well before they begin.

There some interesting similarities between Enoch and the Church. For starters, the name Enoch comes from a root which means to train or teach. To the church Jesus said, "Go and make disciples (students) of all men." (Matt. 28:19) And according to Hebrew tradition, Enoch was born on the day that would become Pentecost. It's the same day the Church was born. I believe Enoch was an early type of the Church and his disappearance before the flood gave the first hint of a pre-tribulation rapture.

Lot Had To Leave Sodom

But flee there quickly, because I can not do anything until you reach it. (Genesis 19:23)

Abraham had struck a bargain with the Lord that if even 10 righteous people could be found in Sodom and Gomorrah He would spare the cities. The fact that the cities were destroyed indicates 10 righteous people could not be found there. But there was one, and though He wasn't bound to do it, the Lord instructed the angels to get Lot out of town before commencing their judgment. Peter referred to Lot's rescue from Sodom as evidence that the Lord does not judge the righteous with the wicked (2 peter 2:7-9) Lot therefore becomes a model of the Church, who with a righteousness imputed by faith, has to be removed from the time and place of judgment before it begins.

Where Was Daniel?

Daniel 3 contains one of the most popular children's stories of the Old Testament. Many don't realize that it's also one of the clearest models of the End Times anywhere in the Bible. King Nebuchadnezzar represents the anti-Christ who decrees that anyone who refuses to bow down and worship the statue he has made will be put to death in the fiery furnace, which represents Great Tribulation. Daniel's three friends, representing Israel, refuse to worship the image and are thrown into the furnace to die. While in there they encounter the Lord, are preserved through the judgment, and are elevated to positions of honor in Babylon.

But where was Daniel? He was a prominent figure both before and after chapter 3. But in this episode his name was not even mentioned. Did he worship the statue to escape judgment? If you think that, you don't know Daniel. Did he refuse to bow down but was not accused? If you think that, you don't know his enemies. After all they rounded up his three closest friends. For the purposes of this story it's as if he has disappeared altogether. In chapter 3, Daniel was a model of the Church, who during the End times judgments will have disappeared altogether, while Israel will be preserved through them, meet the Lord in the midst of them, and be elevated to positions of honor in the Kingdom Age.

Isaiah Said It Best

But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.

Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by.

See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer. (Isaiah 26:19-21)

Without a doubt this is the clearest statement of the Lord's intentions for the Church anywhere in the Old Testament. It can't be tied to any event in history, but clearly awaits a future fulfillment. And it can't be intended for Israel, whose resurrection will come after the time of God's wrath, not before it. (Daniel 12:1-2)

Some day soon a group of people will suddenly rise from the dead. Another group, still living, will be whisked away to rooms prepared for them to be hidden from the time of God's wrath. Then the Lord will punish the people of the Earth for their sins. The fact that the groups being resurrected and hidden are not objects of his wrath is indicated by the switch from second person (resurrected and hidden) to third person (punished). Notice how similar the wording is to 1 Thes 4:16-17 & 5:9, Paul's teaching on the rapture.

But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. (The dead in Christ will rise first).

Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; (After that we who are alive and left will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air)

It's appropriate to insert John 14:2-3 here as well to see what rooms Isaiah was talking about.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

This promise does not point to the 2nd Coming when the Lord will come to Earth to be with Israel here, where they are. This is a promise to the Church that He has gone to His father's house to prepare our rooms for us. Then He will come for us to take us there, where He is.

See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. (For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.)

I'm convinced this is the passage Paul had in mind when he said "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." (1 Thes. 4:15). I say this because with the exception of 1 Thes 4:16-17 there is no passage in all the Bible that so clearly describes the pre-trib rapture of the Church.

This is not the sum of Old Testament verses that point to a pre-tribulation rapture. But it's a good sample of the clearest ones, to help you see that God always intended to take us to be with him before He unleashes the End Times judgments upon the unbelieving Earth

[OneLight]

Using that train of thought, what meaning do you give to the following verses. Can anyone point where we read of Christ coming "secretly" to rapture His own?

Matthew 24:31

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Corinthians 15:50-53

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Revelation 11:15

[ Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed ] Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

I would also like to know if you believe in two raptures, or being caught up? The first is the one Pre-Tribbers consider as the silent one and the second when He returns.

[e lansing]

Parker, until you are able to provide a time line for a pre-trib theory with scripture in context, all you have is conjecture! I will give you one slice of scripture that causes me to pause and say hum! maybe there is a 1.% that a pre theory could happen. Rev 3:10, a verse you have not even mention in above statements. However, REGARDLESS OF WHEN WE MUST BE FAITHFUL TO JESUS TILL THE END!

[OneLight]

Revelation 3:10 (New King James Version)

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Keep you from the hour of trial ... what does that mean? To me it tells me He will protect you, it does not say remove you. Remember, we are in Him and He is in us and in the Father. All who are in the Father will not feel His wrath that will come onto those who are in the world.

[Fez]

Revelation 3:10 (New King James Version)

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Keep you from the hour of trial ... what does that mean? To me it tells me He will protect you, it does not say remove you. Remember, we are in Him and He is in us and in the Father. All who are in the Father will not feel His wrath that will come onto those who are in the world.

I have to agree with OneLight and e lansing. I do not believe that any scripture points directly, or tells us that there will be a rapture. Everything points to Jesus returning, and us here when he does.

[e lansing]

Revelation 3:10 (New King James Version)

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Keep you from the hour of trial ... what does that mean? To me it tells me He will protect you, it does not say remove you. Remember, we are in Him and He is in us and in the Father. All who are in the Father will not feel His wrath that will come onto those who are in the world.

Right! How he will do that is unknown. You are right, it is not a refference to a rapture. Just like you have asked parker to provide a time line for the pre theory, he can not. nor can anybody without conjecture.

[Rick-Parker]

Mr. Kelley has presented scripture to back up his "conjecture." You may present other scriptures that back up your "conjecture." The article speaks for itself - Mr. Kelley speaks for himself. You may choose to challenge him, you can do this by going to GraceThruFaith I obviously agree with Mr. Kelley on his "conjecture" and that is why I posted the article. I am glad that there are those who choose to disagree with the article, but I personally will not engage in debate but refer you to the article or to the website.

edit: you can ask him directly by email: questions@gracethrufaith.com He will answer you and probably post your question and his answer.

Edited February 1, 2010 by Parker1

[OneLight]

Mr. Kelley has presented scripture to back up his "conjecture." You may present other scriptures that back up your "conjecture." The article speaks for itself - Mr. Kelley speaks for himself. You may choose to challenge him, you can do this by going to GraceThruFaith I obviously agree with Mr. Kelley on his "conjecture" and that is why I posted the article. I am glad that there are those who choose to disagree with the article, but I personally will not engage in debate but refer you to the article or to the website.

edit: you can ask him directly by email: questions@gracethrufaith.com He will answer you and probably post your question and his answer.

I am so sorry to hear that you will not give an answer for the hope that is in you, as scripture tells us to.

1 Peter 3:15

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear"

If I wanted to discuss this with him, I would attend his site and do so, but since you brought this to us, I was addressing you on this matter. It sounds to me that you are just hoping that what he is saying is true, not that you completely believe it. I don't blame you in the least, because I also hope that He will find favor in us before the tribulation starts and all the Pre-Tribulation theories are right, yet as I search scripture, I am led to believe they are not, so I prepare for the rapture coming at the end of the tribulation.

[Rick-Parker]

Mr. Kelley has presented scripture to back up his "conjecture." You may present other scriptures that back up your "conjecture." The article speaks for itself - Mr. Kelley speaks for himself. You may choose to challenge him, you can do this by going to GraceThruFaith I obviously agree with Mr. Kelley on his "conjecture" and that is why I posted the article. I am glad that there are those who choose to disagree with the article, but I personally will not engage in debate but refer you to the article or to the website.

edit: you can ask him directly by email: questions@gracethrufaith.com He will answer you and probably post your question and his answer.

I am so sorry to hear that you will not give an answer for the hope that is in you, as scripture tells us to.

1 Peter 3:15

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear"

If I wanted to discuss this with him, I would attend his site and do so, but since you brought this to us, I was addressing you on this matter. It sounds to me that you are just hoping that what he is saying is true, not that you completely believe it. I don't blame you in the least, because I also hope that He will find favor in us before the tribulation starts and all the Pre-Tribulation theories are right, yet as I search scripture, I am led to believe they are not, so I prepare for the rapture coming at the end of the tribulation.

The reason that I choose not to get into a debate on this issue is because there have been numerous topics debated here on pre-, mid-, and post- trib rapture. I am a pre-triber and there is no doubt in my mind about it. Trying to guilt-trip me won't work. I would just provide the same scripture that Mr Kelley provides but which you choose to challenge and deny it's meaning. And I'm cool with that. I post these in order to facilitate thought about the subject; to help others make up their own minds where they stand on this issue. And I do use scripture. You choose to call it conjecture, I could not care less if that is how YOU feel about it. The only way we will know for sure is when the event happens. This is not salvational, just doctrinal, so there is no danger in having disagreement in this area.

Be blessed.

[OneLight]

Mr. Kelley has presented scripture to back up his "conjecture." You may present other scriptures that back up your "conjecture." The article speaks for itself - Mr. Kelley speaks for himself. You may choose to challenge him, you can do this by going to GraceThruFaith I obviously agree with Mr. Kelley on his "conjecture" and that is why I posted the article. I am glad that there are those who choose to disagree with the article, but I personally will not engage in debate but refer you to the article or to the website.

edit: you can ask him directly by email: questions@gracethrufaith.com He will answer you and probably post your question and his answer.

I am so sorry to hear that you will not give an answer for the hope that is in you, as scripture tells us to.

1 Peter 3:15

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear"

If I wanted to discuss this with him, I would attend his site and do so, but since you brought this to us, I was addressing you on this matter. It sounds to me that you are just hoping that what he is saying is true, not that you completely believe it. I don't blame you in the least, because I also hope that He will find favor in us before the tribulation starts and all the Pre-Tribulation theories are right, yet as I search scripture, I am led to believe they are not, so I prepare for the rapture coming at the end of the tribulation.

The reason that I choose not to get into a debate on this issue is because there have been numerous topics debated here on pre-, mid-, and post- trib rapture. I am a pre-triber and there is no doubt in my mind about it. Trying to guilt-trip me won't work. I would just provide the same scripture that Mr Kelley provides but which you choose to challenge and deny it's meaning. And I'm cool with that. I post these in order to facilitate thought about the subject; to help others make up their own minds where they stand on this issue. And I do use scripture. You choose to call it conjecture, I could not care less if that is how YOU feel about it. The only way we will know for sure is when the event happens. This is not salvational, just doctrinal, so there is no danger in having disagreement in this area.

Be blessed.

I can see how you may think that I am trying to "guilt trip" you by my quoting 1 Peter 3:15. I was trying to encourage you, not make you feel guilty. There is a difference, my friend. I know that when I make a statement of faith, and am asked about it, it causes me to consider what I believe, This will either reinforce my belief or show its weaknesses. This is how we grow.

If you carefully read my words, you will see that nowhere did I call your belief conjecture. That was from someone else. I was only trying to have a discussion, but I can see that you are taking offense to me even asking, so I will let you be.

God Bless and my His Peace be with you.

Alan