Pre-tribulation rapture of the church, Part 1; what last trumpet?
The purpose of this study is to prove (yes, prove) the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, which rapture is different than at least 2 other raptures found in the Bible. I believe the words of the King James Bible to be the divinely preserved wordS of the living God. I acknowledge no other reading. You can critique this post using the King James Bible's words as much as you like, but please dump your nicolaitan use of greek and hebrew at the doorstep. I have no need of it even where it helps the position I defend.
Througout the study I draw very heavily on the writings of men of God who have humbled themselves before the words of God, foremost of which, Peter Sturges Ruckman (verbatim in a number of cases), Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (verbatim in certain cases), Clarence Larkin and James Modlish (verbatim in some cases).
This study presumes a significant minimal amount of Bible-knowledge and is not aimed at new-born believers. Let it be known that I am independent baptist, pre-millennial, dispensationalist.
I strongly recommend printing this out, just for practicality's sake. Please consider seriously as I've invested much in this study. There is much more coming. This part only deals with the so-called "last trumpet".
There are many born-again Christians who believe the church will go through the tribulation and be raptured out of it at some point.
One of the points I am making is that there are indeed verses dealing with a mid/post tribulation rapture. But given that those mid/post tribs can only identify ONE rapture in the entire 66 books of the Bible, they automatically assume that that rapture is the church's.
This church-centric approach to all scripture is the cause also of a
misunderstanding of salvation doctrine in various dispensations. More on that later when we tackle the tribulation.
Let's look at the two greatest passages on the rapture of the church in the New Testament.
1Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be
raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Thessalonians 4:15 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.
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
In talking about the rapture of the church, Paul calls it a mystery (v.51). A mystery is something that has not been revealed before. Now if you believe that Matthew 24:40-41 deals with the rapture OF THE CHURCH,then your first obstacle is why the Holy Spirit calls the rapture OF THE CHURCH a "mystery" in 1 Corinthians 15. You can't explain that one if you only see 1 rapture. You'll have to duck and swerve and play around with the word "mystery" and rush to some mythological Septuagint or something.
The rapture OF THE CHURCH TAKES PLACE
v.52
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
read carefully:
"at the last TRUMP". NOT "at the last TRUMPET"
Why is that important? Well many folks help out the Holy Spirit by adding an "et" to "trump" and search the Bible for "the last trumpET", landing in
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and
there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
a) The trumpet in Revelation 11 raptures nobody! It is blown at the END of the tribulation and it ushers the millennium.
In fact, a rapture has taken place before it in v.12
b) There is no angel in 1 Corinthians 15:52.
There's an
c) That trump is called "the trump of God" in 1 Thessalonians 4:16; it is an angel's trumpet in Revelation 11:1
d) Moreover it is "THE trump", not one trumpet out of seven.
This is not facetious. If you check Zechariah 9:14 there's a trumpet there that God Himself blows.
By going to the Bible to interpret the Bible we learn that the trump is a certain NOISE. The word "trump" bears out that definition in the world
"trump: a sound of, or as if of, trumpeting"
-Webster's 9th Collegiate Dictionary
So a trumpet can, musically, emit more than one trump, more than one note, or sound. So far Paul is saying that at the last noise emitted by a certain trumpet, the rapture of the dead and living in Christ will occur.
We can know from the Bible that as far as heaven is concerned, a trump can span an extended amount of earth time. See
Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
(and again, the VOICE is sounding)
Moving on:
1 Corinthians 15:52
"at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound" The Holy Spirit gave us more details in
1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God:
Here He has given you three noises to look out for.Notice that Paul is careful to say "trump" again, not "trumpet" within a verse dealing with NOISES. How's that for a fit?
This trump, scripture with scripture, is the voice of God speaking.
Now some of you are going to choke on this, but the rapture of the tribulation saints is present in the Old Testament. It is no mystery. That's what Jesus is refering to in Matthew 24.
It's the rapture of the CHURCH that was a mystery. Why? Because the church
itself was a mystery (Ephesians 3:1-6, 5:32) Makes sense, don't it?
First I will show you that it is the voice of God's mouth, not an actual trumpet, that effects the rapture, then I will show you that that voice sounds like the trump of a trumpet.
One should study Psalm 29.
The voice of God (7 times, like the 7 thunders of Revelation, another
coincidental match) is never without its effect on earth.
Now there is a commandment in the Bible to
Job 37:2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
Why? Because
Job 37:4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
After "the sound",which is associated with "the voice",
"he will not stay them when his voice is heard."
Now, you may not have studied or even heard how that the book of Job is a picture of
"he will not stay them" WHERE, when his voice is heard?
Well? Could it possibly, perhaps, be that God won't stay some people on EARTH when his voice is heard? Is that not the kind of operation Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4, though in reference to the church? Flip to John 10 for a moment.
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Again the voice, again the rapture. He we go again.
"leadeth them out" of WHERE, when they hear his voice?
It should be easier this time around. Could it again be out from EARTH and into heaven?
Ok, let's identify that trumpet now. Notice how the
trumpet is said to have a voice in
Exodus 19:16 ...that there were thunders
and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud;
Exodus 19:19
And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and
waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
Notice how the voice of the trumpet is intimitely associated with God's very voice speaking ("answered").
Exodus 19:20 And the LORD came down upon mount
Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went UP.
Observe: trumpet sound, God's call, Moses goes UP!
Skeptical? Ask John.
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a
door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard
Now obey the commandment and hear the noise of his
voice attentively (Job 37:2) Well brother John, what did that voice sound like?
Rev.4:1 was AS IT WERE OF A TRUMPET TALKING with me; which SAID,
There you have it. The Bible defining its own terms. Actually, John had told you that in the first chapter
Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,
and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
How much clearer can it get?
At rapture then, the noise of God's voice is a shout which sounds (Job 37:2) like a trumpet and talks (Revelation 4:1) and at the last sound (1 Corinthians 15:52): wham! born-again believers are out'a here!
It ain't no last trumpet of an angel in Revelation. You have to believe the WORDS of God, not just the word, and search them to see how the Bible defines them. The Bible is its own dictionary. get that.
Given Job 37:4 and John 10:3, what do you suppose God says?
Rev.4:1 COME UP HITHER
Up from where? Earth
Where to? Heaven
Well yeah, he just told you "behold, a door was opened in heaven"
If you go back to John you'll notice there's a door there too.
John 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth;
and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
There's a door also being opened in John. That's the door that John ends up seeing in Revelation 4:1
All those elements fitting perfectly is no coincidence.
Lastly, you will be called by name at the rapture. Something like "(name of person) come up hither!"
but the unsaved will only hear thunder (Job 37:3-4)
John 12:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
So far I have said nothing concerning John representing the church which I know some dispute. All I've dealt with are operational elements of the rapture. That John represents the church will be the subject of an upcoming post.
posted by Revelation 2:17 at 6:07 PM
8 Comments:
Very good study, Rev. I am privileged in that I get to give you my "comments" in person.
Looking forward for part 2.
Matthew 24 does not mention the rapture.
It mentions the gathering of the elect, which probably includes the gathering of the Jewish remnant.
God Bless
Matthew
Hello Rev and all,
I pose to you and others that the context and meaning of these ancient texts have been lost on those confused by the assertions of religious leaders and founders. Ancient wisdom has been purposely recast and obfuscated into religion and mysticism. Consequently, the interpretations presented about the sources and meaning of these texts and the philosophy and cosmology of ancient Hebrew sages is completely wrong. Before you scoff and write me off, you should understand that I speak from personal experience...
Understanding the Fatal Flaws in Judeo-Christian-Islamic Prophecy
Remember the saying that "the truth will set you (and others) free?" How does "opening one's eyes to the truth" relate to "making the blind see again" or "shining the light" or "illuminating a subject?" Notice the inherent symbolism associated with this supposed New Testament "miracle?"
As certain world leaders strive to instigate a fabricated "battle of Armageddon," it is vital to understand and spread the truth about these ancient texts to help bring about an end to such abominable evil. You can never expect philosophies based on lies and great error to lead to peace and harmony. How many more millennia of terrible proof is necessary before humanity finally gets a clue that most have been utterly deceived by the very concept of religion.
Without it, Bush, the Neo-Cons, and their cohorts could never have gained and retained political power by manipulating an already deluded and susceptible constituency. Likewise, their thinly veiled partners in crime, Bin Laden and his ilk, could never have succeeded in their roles in this centuries-old Vatican-led grand deception.
We are all trapped by a web of deception formed by money, religion, and politics. The great evils that bedevil us all will never cease until humanity finally awakens, shakes off these strong delusions, and forges a new path to the future.
Here is Wisdom...
Peace...
I see you too have received a visit from "Seven Star Hand." He looks like a Baha'i to me, just because he puts Islamic writings on the same plane as Jewish and Christian. His work is a copy and paste job, because he posted exactly the same thing on my blog.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ryan, I would actually say that 'Blessed Hope' is a bit weak in places.
A far better Post-Tribulational work is 'The Church and the Tribulation' by Robert Gundry, which also shows that the Pre-Trib rapture is not essential to Dispensationalism.
Every Blessing in Christ
Matthew
"...excellent refutation of the inferential claim of a pretribulation secret rapture. Consider historic premillennialism; it's a more tenable eschatological framework than the dispensational variety."
That kinda went a lil' over my head. I consider the King James Bible, line upon line, precept upon precept.
Eric, yes. Nothing new under the sun. He doesn't realize that he is preaching the exact same thing the folks he mentions are preaching: a man-ushered kingdom of peace. Such are the folks who will play right into the antichrist's hands.
Steve, I'm a bible-believer. I don't much care for religion and political persons blabbing about world peace. That should be clear by now. You'll never have peace without the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of man and Son of God.
SCRIPTURES THAT DESTROYS THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE DOCTRINE:
Rev. 21:9 is about The New Jerusalem, the Bride, the Wife (Married already) of the Lamb (this is after the end of the Millennium, and start of the New Heaven and New Earth)
9 ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGEL who had the SEVEN BOWLS full of the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the BRIDE, the WIFE of the LAMB.”
(I hope we don’t have another bride in mind, like what pretribbers did to Matthew 24:29,30, making it the second rapture/resurrection, which they say is still an integral part of the first resurrection of Rev. 20. Jesus will get His Bride one time only, not several times)
Question:
Why does it have to be ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN BOWLS, after he had done his tasked a thousand years ago, be the one appointed by Jesus to show to John the Bride? Why not one of the seven angels who had the trumpets, or Michael, or Gabriel, or any other Angels? Have you wondered why is this angel worth mentioning in introducing the Bride to John?
Answer:
Checkout Rev. 16:12-15
12 THE SIXTH ANGEL POUR OUT HIS BOWL on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold I come like a THIEF (to snatch or steal away)! BLESSED is the ONE who stays awake (WISE VIRGINS?) and remains clothed (OIL/HOLY SPIRIT/ROBE), so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Matthew 22
Question:
Why this sudden insertion in the execution of the Sixth Bowl Judgement and just prior to the punishment of the Great Whore (opposite of the Bride) and prior to Armageddon? What is the relevance of this passage in the coming chaotic and troublesome scenario?
Answer: So Obvious. Unless Jesus just wanted to mention it for no reason at all.
To make the above more logically valid, here is another scripture to back it up:
Rev. 16:17-19
17 The SEVENTH ANGEL poured out his BOWL into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered BABYLON THE GREAT and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.
Rev. 17:1
17 ONE of the SEVEN ANGELS who had the SEVEN BOWLS came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the GREAT PROSTITUTE, who sits by many waters.
Here is the Logic:
The Sixth Angel who holds the Sixth Bowl Judgement introduced the Bride because he is the one who witnessed the resurrection of the dead in Christ and rapture of the alive in Christ.
The Seventh Angel who holds the Seventh Bowl Judgement introduced the Great Whore because he is the one who witnessed the punishment of the Great Whore/Babylon the Great/Mystery Babylon/Mother of Harlots.
After Jesus snatched his Bride, he then turned and deal with the Great Whore. Just rightly so isn’t it?
Boooom!!! There you have it, no amount of twisting or allegory can refute this scriptures.
God help us in this trying and deceptive end times.
eaglet
Post a Comment
<< Home