Summary: The end times begins with an earthquake, not a rapture. Popular belief gives many a false hope and leaves them unprepared.
1n 1988, millions of Evangelical Christians were eager for a rapture because Christ said, "This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." Matthew 24:34. He was referring to a fig tree parable and many believed it represented Israel's replanting in the Holy Land in 1948. 40 years is a biblical generation, leading to rapture expectancy by 1988.
With the passing of another 20 years, and the sale of millions of books (admittedly fictional) in the "Left Behind" series and millions who have seen movies based on the book, it's time to revisit this issue.
1. When Christ said, "One shall be taken, and the other left" (Matthew 24:39-40), Luke has more details. The disciples asked, \\\"Where, Lord? And He said unto them, Wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered." (Luke 17:37).This helps us see that those who are taken are not raptured to heaven; they become dinner for vultures, Revelation 19:17,18.
2. The rapture is contrary to God's way of dealing throughout history. History supports that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom." Acts 14:22. Our belief that it won't happen to us is based on a few texts that can be explained to mean something else. Everyone in history lived through trouble and died, except for Enoch and Elijah (below).
3. Christ said, "As it was in the days of Noah" (Luke 17:26). Noah wasn't raptured; he came through the storm. Enoch was raptured before Noah was even born, so his being taken to heaven had nothing to do with avoiding the Flood or tribulation.
4. Elijah was taken to heaven, but only after he dealt with false worship. As Elijah confronted Baal, we may confront Antichrist when a New World Order marks everyone or implants them with a microchip. Revelation 13:17; 14:9,10 is the Bible's strongest warning.
5. "As it was in the days of Lot," Luke 17:28. No rapture for Lot; he was told to flee. Christ told us to flee because of tribulation, Matthew 24:15-21; Mark 13:14-20.
6. "Broad is the way, that leads to destruction." Matthew 7:13. Millions of fictional books on the rapture suggest a broad following for the rapture.
7. Christ said to understand Daniel who faced death; there is no hint of a rapture in Daniel.
8. "By their fruits ye shall know them" Matthew 7:20. Believing in the rapture results in a lack of study in Revelation, because people think they won't be here. Revelation is the only book that Christ promises a blessing for reading and \\\"keeping those things that are written therein.\\\" Revelation 1:3. Revelation uses imagery that we can understand if we are familiar with other parts of the Bible.
9. Would Christ rapture "lukewarm...miserable" Christians? Rev 3:17. We should rather expect "the Lord, whom [we] seek, shall suddenly come to his temple...But who may abide the day of his coming...for he is like a refiner's fire," Malachi 3:1,2. If we prove faithful through trials, we can look forward to Christ's coming in the sky, 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17.
10. An earthquake ended the last lukewarm church as shown in Young's Analytical Concordance and many encyclopedias. This initiates the "day of the Lord" in passages like Joel 2:10,11 and Zephaniah 1:7,10. Calamity leads us to anticipate a "wake up" call as Paul said-" the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes." 1Thessalonians 5:2,3.
Like the blind men examining the elephant, each with a different story to tell, let's keep studying' God says He will reveal anything He intends to do. Amos 3:7. But most people don't read the next verse. It says, "The lion has roared, who will not fear?" Christ is the Lion of Judah in Revelation 5:5. "The Lord also shall roarand the heavens and earth shall shake," Joel 3:16. This is not just another earthquake; it will probably be felt world-wide. - 16890
1n 1988, millions of Evangelical Christians were eager for a rapture because Christ said, "This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." Matthew 24:34. He was referring to a fig tree parable and many believed it represented Israel's replanting in the Holy Land in 1948. 40 years is a biblical generation, leading to rapture expectancy by 1988.
With the passing of another 20 years, and the sale of millions of books (admittedly fictional) in the "Left Behind" series and millions who have seen movies based on the book, it's time to revisit this issue.
1. When Christ said, "One shall be taken, and the other left" (Matthew 24:39-40), Luke has more details. The disciples asked, \\\"Where, Lord? And He said unto them, Wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered." (Luke 17:37).This helps us see that those who are taken are not raptured to heaven; they become dinner for vultures, Revelation 19:17,18.
2. The rapture is contrary to God's way of dealing throughout history. History supports that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom." Acts 14:22. Our belief that it won't happen to us is based on a few texts that can be explained to mean something else. Everyone in history lived through trouble and died, except for Enoch and Elijah (below).
3. Christ said, "As it was in the days of Noah" (Luke 17:26). Noah wasn't raptured; he came through the storm. Enoch was raptured before Noah was even born, so his being taken to heaven had nothing to do with avoiding the Flood or tribulation.
4. Elijah was taken to heaven, but only after he dealt with false worship. As Elijah confronted Baal, we may confront Antichrist when a New World Order marks everyone or implants them with a microchip. Revelation 13:17; 14:9,10 is the Bible's strongest warning.
5. "As it was in the days of Lot," Luke 17:28. No rapture for Lot; he was told to flee. Christ told us to flee because of tribulation, Matthew 24:15-21; Mark 13:14-20.
6. "Broad is the way, that leads to destruction." Matthew 7:13. Millions of fictional books on the rapture suggest a broad following for the rapture.
7. Christ said to understand Daniel who faced death; there is no hint of a rapture in Daniel.
8. "By their fruits ye shall know them" Matthew 7:20. Believing in the rapture results in a lack of study in Revelation, because people think they won't be here. Revelation is the only book that Christ promises a blessing for reading and \\\"keeping those things that are written therein.\\\" Revelation 1:3. Revelation uses imagery that we can understand if we are familiar with other parts of the Bible.
9. Would Christ rapture "lukewarm...miserable" Christians? Rev 3:17. We should rather expect "the Lord, whom [we] seek, shall suddenly come to his temple...But who may abide the day of his coming...for he is like a refiner's fire," Malachi 3:1,2. If we prove faithful through trials, we can look forward to Christ's coming in the sky, 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17.
10. An earthquake ended the last lukewarm church as shown in Young's Analytical Concordance and many encyclopedias. This initiates the "day of the Lord" in passages like Joel 2:10,11 and Zephaniah 1:7,10. Calamity leads us to anticipate a "wake up" call as Paul said-" the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes." 1Thessalonians 5:2,3.
Like the blind men examining the elephant, each with a different story to tell, let's keep studying' God says He will reveal anything He intends to do. Amos 3:7. But most people don't read the next verse. It says, "The lion has roared, who will not fear?" Christ is the Lion of Judah in Revelation 5:5. "The Lord also shall roarand the heavens and earth shall shake," Joel 3:16. This is not just another earthquake; it will probably be felt world-wide. - 16890
About the Author:
Dr. Richard Ruhling is an author and conference speaker. For a free download of a high value ebook, visit http://www.ChooseABetterDestiny.com His blog offers more information on Bible prophecy and the wedding parables at http://www.theBridegroomComes.com Click here to submit article.
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