NO IMMINENT RAPTURE
This teaching is to show that there will be a rapture of the believing Christians but that at this time(July 2012) it is NOT imminent and CANNOT happen at any time. I must admit however, that I wish it could happen this second! Contrary to what is commonly taught and believed there are things which must happen before it is to occur. I will be giving Bible proof and not opinion. Opinions are like noses and we can all pick one! Bible truth is truth. Put all preconceived notions aside and learn what the Bible really says.
What is "the rapture"?
1. The term "rapture" comes from the Latin word rapiemur found in 1 Thes. 4:17 and is the translation of the expression "shall be caught up".
2. The idea of the "rapture" is that the Lord will come back to receive those who believe in Him and take us to heaven. He will not actually come
to earth, but remain in the air(clouds) as we are taken up to him.
3. Those who have died with faith in Him will rise first. 1 Thes. 4:16
4. Then those believers who are still alive will be taken up. 1 Thes. 4:17
5. The bodies of the people in both groups will be changed into glorious bodies(whatever that entails). 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Jn. 3:2
Now let's look at some key verses which will help illuminate the answers for our n
2 Thes. 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 Thes. 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at
hand.
2 Thes. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thes. 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God.
The above passage in 2 Thes. will help answer "What needs to happen in world history before the rapture can take place?"
1. The temple must be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
2. The sacrificial system of the Jewish law will be reinstated.
3. The order of priests will be trained and established.
4. The high priest will be selected and in authority.
We know these 4 things must happen because in the passages of Dan. 9:24-27; Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14 the temple is defiled and the sacrifices and oblations are ceased by the antichrist. This can only happen if they were occurring in the first place.
5. The anti christ must be revealed
A. 10 nations must come together Dan. 7:8,20
B. Of these, 3 will be subdued or fall away Dan. 7:8,20
C. Among these but not of these 10 nations, the antichrist will arise. Dan. 7:8
6. The temple will be made abominable and desolate Dan. 9:27.
A. This cannot refer to Antiochus Epiphanes as some believe because Jesus refered to it as a sign in Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14; and Jesus was speaking
many years after Antiochus defiled the temple. So there will be a future defilement coming.
7. The false prophet will be revealed
8. There will be a falling away(apostasy) of Christians. While there have been periods in history where the church has had people leaving it, they will
not compare to the dramatic turn that will happen in the future.
My intent was not to write a lengthy dissertation. I wanted to give enough information and facts to state Bible truth. If you disagree, you disagree
with God. The scriptures are plain and undeniable. There are enough scriptures here to get started on a study.
What is "the rapture"?
1. The term "rapture" comes from the Latin word rapiemur found in 1 Thes. 4:17 and is the translation of the expression "shall be caught up".
2. The idea of the "rapture" is that the Lord will come back to receive those who believe in Him and take us to heaven. He will not actually come
to earth, but remain in the air(clouds) as we are taken up to him.
3. Those who have died with faith in Him will rise first. 1 Thes. 4:16
4. Then those believers who are still alive will be taken up. 1 Thes. 4:17
5. The bodies of the people in both groups will be changed into glorious bodies(whatever that entails). 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Jn. 3:2
Now let's look at some key verses which will help illuminate the answers for our n
2 Thes. 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 Thes. 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at
hand.
2 Thes. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thes. 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God.
The above passage in 2 Thes. will help answer "What needs to happen in world history before the rapture can take place?"
1. The temple must be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
2. The sacrificial system of the Jewish law will be reinstated.
3. The order of priests will be trained and established.
4. The high priest will be selected and in authority.
We know these 4 things must happen because in the passages of Dan. 9:24-27; Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14 the temple is defiled and the sacrifices and oblations are ceased by the antichrist. This can only happen if they were occurring in the first place.
5. The anti christ must be revealed
A. 10 nations must come together Dan. 7:8,20
B. Of these, 3 will be subdued or fall away Dan. 7:8,20
C. Among these but not of these 10 nations, the antichrist will arise. Dan. 7:8
6. The temple will be made abominable and desolate Dan. 9:27.
A. This cannot refer to Antiochus Epiphanes as some believe because Jesus refered to it as a sign in Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14; and Jesus was speaking
many years after Antiochus defiled the temple. So there will be a future defilement coming.
7. The false prophet will be revealed
8. There will be a falling away(apostasy) of Christians. While there have been periods in history where the church has had people leaving it, they will
not compare to the dramatic turn that will happen in the future.
My intent was not to write a lengthy dissertation. I wanted to give enough information and facts to state Bible truth. If you disagree, you disagree
with God. The scriptures are plain and undeniable. There are enough scriptures here to get started on a study.