Let me first say that there are 3 view points on the rapture or resurrection of the church/Body of Christ. Thank God it’s not a Heaven or Hell issue. Yet, there are disagreements or opposing views on this issue. Some believe a certain way according to the conclusions they came to in the scriptures and are still earnestly seeking God for What is correct on this issue. The main thing is to believe Jesus is coming back!
3 View Points:
1) Pre-Trib Rapture = Raptured before Tribulation
2) Mid-Tribulation= Raptured in the middle of the Tribulation
3)Post-Tribulation Rapture= Raptured at the End of the Tribulation.
One Pastor said he’s “Pan Trib”. He’s going to sit back and eat how it all pans out! Hahaha! He sure did say that. But the Bible does tell us to watch and pray.
Let’s get into why most Christian’s, including myself believe in the pre tribulation rapture.
John14:1-3
[1] "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also".
Jesus is coming back to receive us and take us to where he will be. He is preparing a place for his bride. So when the Trumpet sounds, we will be received by him on that day. Many times in Revelation he talks about coming as a theif between Revelation chapter 2 and 3. There is also the the story of the 10 virgins. 5 were left and 5 were taken because they were ready. 5 wise and 5 foolish.
The Word or Term Rapture is a theological term which comes from the greek word "HARPAZO", Which means to be Caught Up or taken by force.
☆☆ Ist Thessalonians 4:13-18 says:
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 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:
17 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
There should be a comfort in this crazy world that Jesus is coming back to take us home one day. That's why Titus 2:13 calls it "The Blessed Hope"!
We are not CALLED TO REMAIN HERE THROUGH THE 7year Tribulation as Daniel refers to. In which the other 3 and 1/2 years will be Great Tribulation. The first 3 and 1/2 years will be peace different under the rule of the Antichrist.
☆☆Ist Thessalonians 5:9-11 says:
9 For God hath not appointed us to WRATH, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Let's highlight the word "Wrath". There's difference between the judgment of God and the Wrath of God. Right now, I firmly believe we are under the judgment of God. When the church is Raptured, and caught up, then the World will experience the WRATH OF GOD(hence verse 9), in which we observe after the church is no longer mentioned in Revelation(starting in chapter 4), till we see Jesus coming back with a Host of saints again in Chapter 19:11-21 of Revelation.
☆☆Luke 21:36(To be read in context w/verses 34 & 35 above it):
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that SHALL COME TO PASS, and to stand before the Son of Man".
It's not us as believers having an escapist mentality. But the things that are coming on the earth are not meant for the church to go through and endure concerning the 7 year Tribulation. Will people still be saved? Yes! Because many will be convicted of sin, and there will be people who repent and be saved, as well as those who will now lose their lives for not taking the mark of the Beast. If you are Worthy to escape, or should I say ready like the 5 wise virgins, you would be doing as the 2 Verses said before verse 36 of Luke chapter 21. We have to Spiritually be ready, having our hearts right with God. We will escape all of the craziness coming upon the earth.
☆☆THIS TIME OF THE TRIBULATION AND GREAT TRIBULATION after the Church is gone or Caught up IS ALSO KNOWN AS:
JACOBS WOE, Or Jacobs Sorrow. Jacob, referring to Israel.☆☆
☆Now! The Rapture is NOT The 2nd Coming, even though the word "come" and "coming" are used in certain passages of scripture concerning both events.
A.) The Rapture event is in Ist Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1st Corinthians 15:51-54
B.) The 2nd Coming happens in Revelation 19:11-21[Here, Jesus will come to make war against the Antichrist and False Prophet. He will set up his Kingdom and rule with a Rod of Iron for 1000 years known as the Millennial reign].
If I come to your house and don't come in to visit or stay, but instead just honk the horn for you to come out and get in my car....then, I haven't really came to visit or stay a while. I just hit my horn so you can come and go with me. Likewise, when the Trumpet of God sounds, the dead in Christ shall rise first, and we which are alive shall be caught up together to be with the Lord! Then at the end of the Great Tribulation, we(those who went up in the Rapture and those who died in Christ before in time past)shall appear together with the Lord, coming back with Him, Praise God!!
Blessings in Jesus name,
Barry Lipscomb, Jr.
Evangelistic Outreach Ministries