Partial Rapture Theory

[WilliamL]

8 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

So what about the promise to the church in Philly, where the Lord tells them "if" (a conditional standard being placed), then He will keep them from the hour of trial (tribulation) - is that not a possible partial? (Of course, one may not think the vehicle for keeping this promise  is a rapture . . .)

Rev. 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."

This verse is too vague to pin a partial rapture on. As you call it; I would call it one of multiple raptures, if that is what it is referring to.

However, itt may simply mean these people will be taken, or led, to a safe place to sit out the trib. Because they have been more faithful than more lukewarm believers won't be so protected.

 

[Marilyn C]

4 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

On another thread, a few people seemed interested in talking again about the Partial Rapture Theory.  

 

Hi VA,

God`s word designates 3 callings, - the Body of Christ, Israel and the Nations. And there are 3 time slots for those groups also. 

 

In Hebrew and Greek the word ` Day, ` refers to a period of time and a specific day. Thus context is important to know which.

1. The Day of Christ. (Phil. 1: 6 - 10) 1 Cor. 1: 7 & 8)

This period of time is not only the first in chronological order of fulfilment, but is the greatest in importance in the Divine predestinations. Each reference relates entirely and exclusively to the Church, the Body of Christ, in the specific time-slot identified with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It signifies completion of the highest of God`s purposes, the supreme expression of Divine revelation.

All other expressions of His ordinations are dependent on its completion.

2. The Day of the LORD. (1 Thess. 5: 2 - 9, 2 Peter 3: 10)

This has to do with Israel and the nations and is invariably connected with the wrath of God poured out in judgment on an unbelieving world. It refers to that period of time from the termination of `The Day of Christ,` through the tribulation and millennium and terminating with the creation of the new heavens and earth which precludes `The Day of God. `

3. The Day of God. (2 Peter 3: 11 & 12)

The Day when God will purge and purify the heavens and the earth by fire. Peter is the only one who uses the phrase, `The Day of God.` (It concludes `The Day of the LORD.` )

[WilliamL]

17 minutes ago, RdJ said:

Revelation 3 It's said to the faithful church. This is not said to everyone in Laodicea.

10 Because you have kept [c]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. 

Answered in my post above.

Regarding the 10 virgins prophecy, I'll admit that this could be a partial rapture verse, so thanks for bringing it up.

20 minutes ago, RdJ said:

And Matthew 24

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming ["Parousia"] of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

This can't be about when He comes back, because this is Laodicea and that church who lets Jezebel be before the trib. During the trib you can't even buy food without the mark of the beast, so then they can't be self absorbed marrying and eating and not noticing anything.

This is about the Lord's Parousia, right there in verse 37; the same Parousia mentioned in 24:3, 27, and 1 Thes. 4:15, all referring to the time of the rapture. Well before the Beast ever arrives on the scene.

24 minutes ago, RdJ said:

And you can just count the days until Jesus comes back from the point of the peace treaty or when the ac sits in the temple...

You, like many, have been woefully misled about the meaning of Daniel 9:27, which has nothing to do with the End Times.

[RdJ]

8 minutes ago, WilliamL said:

Answered in my post above.

Regarding the 10 virgins prophecy, I'll admit that this could be a partial rapture verse, so thanks for bringing it up.

This is about the Lord's Parousia, right there in verse 37; the same Parousia mentioned in 24:3, 27, and 1 Thes. 4:15, all referring to the time of the rapture. Well before the Beast ever arrives on the scene.

You, like many, have been woefully misled about the meaning of Daniel 9:27, which has nothing to do with the End Times.

It's also in 2 Tessalonians 2.

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of [a]Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits [c]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

 

Edited April 26 by RdJ

[AdHoc]

3 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I also would like @AdHoc to chime in.

Thank you for the invitation. Here, very briefly, is my understanding.

In Matthew 13 the Lord Jesus gave seven parables on the Kingdom. By Kingdom I mean that area or sphere where Jesus is King and His instructions are followed. While He was on earth the demons were subject to  Him and angels ministered to Him, making Him King of the principalities of heaven. But our Lord never interfered with the kings of men. So, during the gospel age, the "Kingdom of Heaven" pertains to the Church only. The seven parables of Matthew 13 show the development of this Kingdom of Heaven (NOT Kingdom IN Heaven). In these parables certain opposition was to be expected. Unfruitful Christians, Counterfeit Christians, a mustard seed that brings forth Nebuchadnezzar's Tree and Leaven are put there by the enemy. Three of four Parables told from the boat have a harvest and one alludes to a harvest, being bread. And the Lord was clear that the end of the age for the Church was a HARVEST (v.39).

Moving to prophecy on the end of the age, we see four harvests (Rev.14). 2nd Peter 1:20 forbids private interpretation of prophecy. That leaves only the Bible and Nature to interpret prophecy. And if we study the harvest in nature and the harvest in the Bible (Leviticus 23) it is clear that any harvest is divided into three sub-harvests. It is ONE HARVEST, but no farmer will reap unripe fruit. That which is first ripe is NOT left on a Tree or bush. It is taken into the farmers HOUSE because he has waited long for the sweet fruit. Some time later the rest of the crop ripens and a general harvest takes place. The crop goes into the farmers BARN. The law of the harvest says that gleanings must be left for the weak, sickly, disadvantaged like widows and fatherless children. That gives THREE GATHERINGS in ONE HARVEST. And so is the rapture - by the mouth of Jesus Himself (Matthew 13:39).

But this is not all. If there are "partial raptures" and the rapture is split into gatherings for a harvest, we can expect to see SOME Christians in the clouds with the Son of Man while SOME are left to face the Great Tribulation. And this is the case! In at least THREE scriptures we see Christians saved from the Great Tribulation. The most notable is Revelation 3:10. There, AS A REWARD, Overcomers will be "KEPT FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL" that encompasses the WHOLE earth. Note the grammar. It is NOT "Kept IN the hour". It is "kept FROM the hour" And the usage of the "HOUR" means that some are ABSENT for the TIME of the Great Tribulation.

Next, Luke 21 is different to Matthew 24 and 25. It deals mainly with 70 AD. But this prophecy ends in verse 24 with the times of the Gentiles FULL. The Lord Jesus abruptly changes to the signs of His coming. Like many prophecies, He jumps over time that is not relevant - like Joel's prophecy that Peter quoted in Acts 2. 2,000 years are skipped over. In Luke 21 the Lord has not yet come because in verse 26 his COMING is mentioned but verse 27 refers the reader BACK TO WHEN THESE THINGS BEGIN. According to Matthew 24 the coming of Jesus in great glory is "AFTER the Tribulation of those days". So in Luke 21:35-36 the diligent and watchful Christian who gets to stand before the Son of Man does so WHILE HE IS STILL IN THE CLOUDS. Notice too, like Revelation 3:10, it is CONDITIONAL. It is a REWARD for watching.

Next, in Philippians 3:9:14 Paul is opening his heart abut his state of Christian maturity. Paul was not sure that he was mature enough. This had serious consequences. Paul says that he would need maturity to "ATTAIN to the resurrection" and to get the PRIZE of the "Upward call". he is addressing the SAME SUBJECT as 1st Thessalonians 4:13-17 - a special resurrection (like Revelation 20:1-6) and a PRIZE of a call to go upwards! The KJV is not wrong in its translation, but it is misleading. The New King James corrects it. It is a "calling on high", not a "High calling". So Paul says that there is a "out-resurrection", or "exceptional-resurrection" to be ATTAINED and a PRIZE rapture to be gained ONLY IF YOU ARE MATURE.

Conversely, there are at least FOUR scriptures that show saints going through the Great Tribulation. In Revelation 7:9-16 we find a huge crowd from every nation who went through the Great Tribulation. The reason given is that their "garments" needed washing. "A Garment in parable is one's works (Rev.19:7-8). In Revelation 12:17 those who "had the testimony of Jesus Christ" must flee to a wilderness and be helped by the earth from the persecution of the Dragon. No escape for them! In Revelation 13:7 the Beast makes war with the saints during his rule AND OVERCOMES THEM! In Revelation 18:4 we find God's people in Mystery Babylon.

With these, and more proofs, a split rapture, or multiple partial rapture is fact. The only objection left is; "why did the Holy Spirit not mention that a pre-tribulation rapture was a PRIZE in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-17"? But if you read the whole letter the answer is given. The Thessalonians are the best Church in the New Testament. No moral problems are attributed to them.

[AdHoc]

30 minutes ago, WilliamL said:

Rev. 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."

This verse is too vague to pin a partial rapture on. As you call it; I would call it one of multiple raptures, if that is what it is referring to.

However, itt may simply mean these people will be taken, or led, to a safe place to sit out the trib. Because they have been more faithful than more lukewarm believers won't be so protected.

 

I think your argument fails with the word "WHOLE" or "ALL" (the earth). There is no place to sit it out. The rest of the verse agrees. "Those ON EARTH" will be tried. Added to this the wording is not "KEPT IN THE HOUR", but "KEPT FROM THE HOUR". Added to this the word "HOUR" cannot mean a PLACE. It means that some are ABSENT DURING THE TIME of trial.

The verse seems far from vague. It seems emphatic to me. They had already been awarded "crowns" but are warned that they could be lost.

[AdHoc]

42 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi VA,

God`s word designates 3 callings, - the Body of Christ, Israel and the Nations. And there are 3 time slots for those groups also. 

 

In Hebrew and Greek the word ` Day, ` refers to a period of time and a specific day. Thus context is important to know which.

1. The Day of Christ. (Phil. 1: 6 - 10) 1 Cor. 1: 7 & 8)

This period of time is not only the first in chronological order of fulfilment, but is the greatest in importance in the Divine predestinations. Each reference relates entirely and exclusively to the Church, the Body of Christ, in the specific time-slot identified with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It signifies completion of the highest of God`s purposes, the supreme expression of Divine revelation.

All other expressions of His ordinations are dependent on its completion.

2. The Day of the LORD. (1 Thess. 5: 2 - 9, 2 Peter 3: 10)

This has to do with Israel and the nations and is invariably connected with the wrath of God poured out in judgment on an unbelieving world. It refers to that period of time from the termination of `The Day of Christ,` through the tribulation and millennium and terminating with the creation of the new heavens and earth which precludes `The Day of God. `

3. The Day of God. (2 Peter 3: 11 & 12)

The Day when God will purge and purify the heavens and the earth by fire. Peter is the only one who uses the phrase, `The Day of God.` (It concludes `The Day of the LORD.` )

Hey Sister ..... NICE!

[Marilyn C]

1 hour ago, AdHoc said:

Hey Sister ..... NICE!

Thanks Ad Hoc, I got it from my teachers of long ago and put it in a diagram.

[farouk]

2 hours ago, RdJ said:

It's also in 2 Tessalonians 2.

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of [a]Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits [c]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

 

Hi @RdJ I think there is a distinction between the church and tribulation saints also..........

[seeking the lost]

6 hours ago, RdJ said:

I can see why they say mid trib when I read revelation, so it wouldn't surprise me if it's pretrib and midtrib. At least there are 2 raptures, because the 2 witnesses get raptured as a seperate event.

Rapture is different from ascension.  Rapture is when those who are alive and remain are caught up and changed.