Saturday, August 10, 2024

August 10th - The Rapture of the Church

There have been all kinds of theories proposed over the centuries regarding the Rapture, a non-biblical word used for the time when the resurrection of believers will occur. 

Here are my thoughts.

First, Jesus did not promise believers they would not suffer tribulation, in fact he said that they would. He did promise we could have "peace" while we go through "tribulation".

"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)

The governments of humanity have cause much "tribulation" in the world and believers who are alive when Jesus returns are not exempt from the tribulations caused by the governments in power at the time. However, the Bible says there is coming a time called the "Day of the Lord" when God will pour out His wrath from heaven on human government, and Paul says believers are NOT destined for that wrath.

"Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the DAY OF THE LORD is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. BUT YOU, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day...For God HAS NOT destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us...Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11)

Isaiah called the Day of the Lord “the DAY of vengeance” and "a YEAR of retribution".

"Come, my people, enter your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until His wrath runs its course. For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their wrongdoing." (Isaiah 26:21)

“For the LORD has a DAY of vengeance, a YEAR of retribution for the cause of Zion.” (Isaiah 34:8)

"Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The retribution of God will come, but He will save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4)

It seems to me that the "Day of the Lord" is a “YEAR of retribution” where the wrath of God is poured out on unbelieving humanity just before Jesus returns. When Jesus came the first time, He read the following prophecy from Isaiah in the Synagogue . Then He said He had fulfilled it at that time.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD anointed me to bring good news to the humble; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable YEAR of the LORD.” (Isaiah 61:1-2a; Luke 4:18-19)

He stopped at that point because it was not time for the "favorable YEAR of the Lord" to begin. The Bible calls this year a favorable year for BELIEVERS because they are to be delivered from it. Isaiah's prophecy then continues where Jesus stopped and says this...

“And the DAY OF VENGEANCE of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So, they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:2b-4)

During the favorable year of the Lord and “day of vengeance", God will pour His wrath out from heaven on the unbelieving governments of humanity. Just before that year begins there will be silence in heaven for half an hour. 

“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” (Revelation 8:1-5)

Believers have been promised deliverance
 from that "wrath". So, I think all believers will be raptured during the half hour of silence just before the wrath of God is poured out on the faithless governments of humanity.

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11)

This is how Paul says the event called the Rapture will occur...

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as the rest of humanity does, who have no hope...For the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Then we, the living WHO ARE SURVIVING, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-18)



December 23rd - Merry Christmas Israel!

"For a Boy, He is born to us; a Son, He is given to us, and the Chieftainship shall come to be on His shoulder, and one shall call His ...