To believe the rapture theory is to believe a lie,for the message that God will cause His people to be taken out of the earth before the tribulation is just not scriptural. The main support of this theory is taken from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that explains when Jesus returns and brings with Him former saints and then we who are alive at His coming will meet them in the clouds,and so shall we ever be with the Lord. This passage speaks of the final return of Christ and not a pre visit from Him before He really returns forever. Verse 16 clues us in that this is the second and FINAL return of the Lord as it says “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”. The trump spoken of here is the seventh trump we read of in the book of revelation when the seventh angel sounds before the return of Christ! (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.
Although it would be wonderful to just be taken away before the tribulation,God is doing nothing of the sort! He did not fill His people with the power of the Holy Spirit and tell them to put on His whole armour if He was going to remove them for a battle they are armed to endure!(Ephesians 6:10-17).
Why would a loving God send His Son to die and return three times? once at the resurrection,then again for a rapture and return again as His final return?There is not one thread of truth that our Lord returns to the earth three times. Only twice is recorded in scripture. The first being after His death at the resurrection and then returns again with power as Lord of Lords and King of Kings…..PERIOD!
In Matthew 24 we see Jesus’ disciples ask Him how will it be before His return? and there is not one mention He will be coming to take anyone away. He does however explain and give a clear picture to His disciples how it will look before His return including His people WHO ARE HERE will be offended,delivered up to be afflicted and even be killed. They will betray one another,iniquity will abound and the love of many will grow cold. We will be hated for His name sake…….. BUT HE THAT SHALL ENDURE UNTO THE END,THE SAME SHALL BE SAVED.
The rapture theory comforts those who do not want to face any persecution or anything unpleasant, yet true christians know that they are appointed to suffer trials tribulations for their Lord, and it is for our glory that we endure for our faith this fate (Ephesians 3:13) Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. We find these true and faithful servants WHO WENT THROUGH THE TRIBULATION in the book of revelation stating they were given white robes (Revelation 7:13,14) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Precious Sheep Of Renown 
Amen! Good exposition. I have often said that the whole “Left Behind” pre trib rapture theory that began with Scofield’s Bible in the early 20th century was dangerous. It leaves Christians unprepared for the trials to come, and will cause them to question their faith when they realize the tribulation has come and they are still here. There are way too many warnings for us to be ready to believe we will be removed when thing’s get hard. And many would argue that we are already in the beginning stages. And thr persecuted church around the world would have a thing or two to teach us about living through trials and persecution. Keep preaching sister!
Yes! When the “Left Behind series” came out I cringed. Great point as you say: “It leaves Christians unprepared for the trials to come, and will cause them to question their faith when they realize the tribulation has come and they are still here. “
When we look at the worlds condition today we would be hard pressed to not see the tribulation has begun….. Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes are all on the rise and reflect our Lords words from Matthew chapter 24 when the disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His return……
God Bless and Keep You Always.
Julia
Great job Julia. People who remain faithful through great tribulation will get special rewards. Those that endure through the great tribulation will wear white robes and receive special acknowledgement. I always wonder why people think God would spare all the Christians living now from tribulation and not all the other believers throughout history. They say God wouldn’t want them to suffer. I guess God did want all the other martyrs to suffer, just not them? I agree that the rapture teaching will leave many confused and bitter against God when the rapture doesn’t happen. It’s such a harmful teaching and I feel it’s the devils work to mislead Christians. This might be what causes the great falling away.
You have amazed me Mary at your comment!!! Such good points I have not thought about, yet makes so much sense. You say: “ I always wonder why people think God would spare all the Christians living now from tribulation and not all the other believers throughout history.” BRILLIANT THOUGHT!…… YES this is definitely something that should have been considered. Thank you for this. I fully agree the rapture is a very harmful teaching and satan does have his hand in it, since it steers people from the truth. Stay strong in your walk with God.
Julia
You too! We’ll need to be strong definitely.
Hi Julia, interesting topic. I’m doing a deep dive into this subject myself and have uncovered some very interesting information I wasn’t aware of previously. I always believed like you did, at the 7th trumpet, but, what you may not be taking into account is Jesus was born into the Jewish culture and He became the PASSOVER LAMB on the Feast of Passover for the Jewish people. He also fulfilled the Feast of Unleavend Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost. All Spring Feast on the Jewish calendar. But the Feast that have not been fulfilled are the Fall feast which includes, The Feast of Trumpets, Day of Attonement and Feast of Tabernacles. And during the Feast of Trumpets the trumpets are blown 100 times throughtout the day and the last blast is known as the last Trump. Which in the KJV this is exactly how the scripture reads, at the last Trump. The Feast of Trumpets is also the only Feast that the Jewish people never knew the actual day or hour it would begin. Which happens to be the same wording that Jesus used regarding when He would appear.
Remember, the bible is all about the Jewish people, the culture and there turning away from God until He made a New Covenant. Being someone who lives in the United States only allowed me to see the scriptures from the eyes of a Westener. But, since Jesus was born into the Jewish culture, my eyes have to be readjusted.
Hope you find this interesting and start doing research of your own. God bless and a wonderful topic.
You are not alone in believing the seventh trump is as a shofar sounding as they do at the “Feast of Trumpets”, but what people fail to see is revelation is speaking of the 7th angel speaking “SOUNDED=SPOKE” and the word Feast is not mentioned once.
When the 7th angel speaks all is finished and Christ will then reign forever! There will not be the sounding of a shofar.
In your post titled Feast of Trumpet Rapture? You write is it possible the rapture will occur on the Feast of Trumpets? The answer is no it will not, for there is not scripture to support this belief.
The Seventh Trumpet
Rev 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.
Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
May this be helpful in your study. Blessings.
Julia
Hi Julia, I understand your position and appreciate your thoughts and where you’re coming from because I was the same way until I started studying, researching and spending time specifically on these scriptures and looking at them from a Jewish perspective. Everything Jesus did was by the Jewish culture, so when He returns it will also be the same way. Remember the scripture Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. He will not abandon His Jewish culture, when He comes back they will know who He is, the Messiah they rejected.
I get where you’re coming from, but, when they speak of the Rapture actually it should be the resurrection because this is how it’s described, the dead will rise first and then those who are still alive will be changed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So the rapture happens at the time of the resurrection.
Sorry Julia I left out a passage for you to read it’s found in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, but specifically, verse 9.
God bless you and many, many blessings to you.
One other thing to think about, you said that believers will not be raptured until the 7th trumpet, but, according to the scriptures when the Kingdom is proclaimed and the 7th Trumpet is sounded, it doesn’t say ANYTHING about the Rapture of the Church occuring.
But here’s the thing, I DO belive we should all have our hearts prepared for persecution because the early Church did go through it, the Church in the Middle East is going through it now and we’re already seeing the trickling of it here. And while the early Church Apostles believed and taught in the Rapture occuring after the man of lawlessness is revealed, it only makes sense for believers to be prepared.
Just my thoughts….have a wonderful week and God bless…Robin
A lot of people have been taken in by the lie of the rapture theory, and this is a device the enemy of our soul is using to take many away from the truth. The word speaks for itself and to believe God would equip His people with His whole armor only to remove us when tribulation starts is unscriptural. (Ephesians 6:10-18).
It makes no sense to believe in a theory that Gods people who shine as a light in this dark world would be taken out of it when it is in the worst condition as it will be just before our Lords return. No one is going anywhere, and sadly people continue to believe “The fly away doctrine”.
The persecutions and tribulations we go through are for our glory as Paul taught. (Ephesians 3:13).
Blessings.
Julia
Believe it or not, I do agree with you with one exception. Believers will be gathered to Christ or Raptured, although, it want happen before the tribulations. Because the scriptures are clear, we will not be removed until the man of lawlessness is revealed and he tries to corrupt everyone. So I’m going to be connecting this to the book of revelations and hopefully more believers will understand through the scripture connections I’ll make.
That pertains to the Tribulations, however, I do believe we’ll either be taken out before God’s wrath or Protected. Not sure on that one yet. Got to do more scripture studying.
I’m actually writing about the timing on this now and would love your in thoughts once it’s posted.
Thank you so much for your patience and hospitality, God bless you Julia…
I am saddened to hear you believe people will be “Taken out” or removed” as you wrote the following two statements:
“Because the scriptures are clear, we will not be removed until the man of lawlessness is revealed and he tries to corrupt everyone.”
“I do believe we’ll either be taken out before God’s wrath or Protected. Not sure on that one yet.”
I understand where your belief has come from that people will be “Caught up” as written in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and this is the whole basis of “The rapture theory”.
These passages are speaking of the Lords return to the earth where He will then REMAIN, and the saints will be caught up with Him as He is RETURNING to the earth and notice HE IS BRINGING WITH HIM OTHERS THAT HAVE DIED IN HIM. (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
Why would He be bringing anyone with Him if He were coming to take out or remove anyone?
It’s important to see here the word REMAIN “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. (1 Thessalonians 4:15).
It is encouraging to see you want to write the truth and are studying to do so. There is one other point to be made as you wrote:
“I do believe we’ll either be taken out before God’s wrath or Protected. Not sure on that one yet. Got to do more scripture studying.”
We have an excellent example how God will protect His people even through the tribulation and not be removing them. We see early in scripture when God brought upon Pharoah 10 plagues He did not remove the Israelites. He kept them through all ten plagues, and also on their journey through the wilderness for 40 years God did not remove them but protected them so much so that even their shoes did not wear out!
What a miraculous God we serve!
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