There are those who have said and will say that if all Saints are not raptured such doctrine that proclaims that truth will divide the Church, is an attack on the plan of salvation and the doctrine of grace, and will destroy the unity of the Church as the body of the Bride of Christ. Frankly, I had rather explain away these concerns or answer such well-meaning men as will cling to the doctrine of the universal translation of all "true believers", than have to try and explain away definite, clear parts of the scriptures and to assert that these scriptures from God's word are but symbolic, or have a different meaning than the clear import of the words, or by a forced construction to render them to be meaningless, just veiled threats when the command the redeemed to endure, abide, keep our Lord's commandments, watch, be prepared, bear fruit, have love, etc.
To these good people I will answer that the Bride of Christ will be intact at rapture, the non-abiding, non-enduring, non-fruit bearing, non-prepared, non-watching Saint pruned out of the Bride of Christ by God, as our Lord said in John 15:6 and Paul wrote in Romans 11:22 .
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (KJB)
Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (KJB)
Further, such pruning out of the Church is in harmony with Revelation 3 and explains the number of tribulation Saints so large that John could not count them in Revelation 7. And remember, no Saint has to be pruned out. The pruning will come just at rapture, with each "true believer" afforded the opportunity, the choice, to be prepared, to be watching, to be bearing fruit, to be enduring in love, and to be keeping the commandments of Christ.
FIVE REASONS FOR RAPTURE
In considering all of the above scriptures, and the practical application of such scriptures to the "true believer" at the hour of rapture, did you ever consider the reasons for rapture? I believe, after studying God's word, that rapture is for at least five purposes, consistent with the master plan of God to offer redemption to all of mankind.
First, rapture will permit His Church to be physically united with the Savior, for the purpose of a symbolic marriage of the Church, as the Bride of Christ, with the Son of God, then to be in a physical position to return with Christ to Earth in a triumphant re-entry – the second coming of our Lord.
Second, rapture will be a miracle, and like the purpose of all miracles of God, will show mankind again the power, glory, and majesty of God, in the furtherance of calling unsaved man to the worship of their Creator.
Third, rapture will prevent the obedient children of God, then alive, from having to endure the period of tribulation
Fourth, rapture will be an example to Israel of the love and appreciation of God for His children being obedient, enduring in the love and word of God and not falling away as Israel did.
Fifth, Rapture will fulfill prophecy, to the further glory of God.
NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF END TIMES
Regarding prophecy, and as a prelude to a discussion of certain other scriptures pertaining to our instant subject – the composition of the rapture – it could be helpful to ascertain exactly where we are today in the timetable of prophecy concerning the end times.
Matthew recorded in chapters 24 and chapter 25 of his gospel the most in-depth prophecies or teachings in the gospels concerning the events that will lead up to rapture and that will occur during and at the end of the period of tribulation. Beginning with verse 1 and continuing through verse 31 of chapter 24, Christ teaches the events that must and will transpire from after His death and resurrection until after He returns again to Jerusalem from His Father's House.
We now know that the prophecy of the destruction of Herod's Temple was fulfilled in the century of our Lord's death [Or Was It? See Jerusalem Destruction], during the time of Titus, the Roman general who laid siege to Jerusalem. Even though Titus had given order that the Temple was not to be destroyed, the elect themselves laid waste to the structures, so that the Temple would not fall into the hands of pagans, fulfilling the prophecy of Matthew 24:2 .
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (KJB)
Matthew 24:4-6 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (KJB)
Here, Christ taught that following the destruction of the Temple, that wars and rumors of wars would occur, and that there would come, to both His disciples and the world, false religions, even some claiming to be Christ, leading many astray, but that these things must occur BEFORE THE BEGINNING of the end times. Surely these prophecies have been fulfilled many times since 100 A.D., even during this century.
Matthew 24:7-8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (KJB)
Our Lord is saying here that the BEGINNING of the SUFFERINGS (plural) that would occur prior to "the end" (of the church age, as has been discussed above,) would be marked by wars (nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom) and by famines and earthquakes in various, unrelated places. Today, there is more famine involving more people than ever in recorded history, and earthquakes have become universal, one after another, even in areas that seldom, if ever, have quakes.
As far as nations rising against nations and kingdoms rising against kingdoms, leading to both wars and threats of wars, even hostile disputes arising between traditional allies, nothing need be written to confirm that fact as a present, continuing occurrence. Surely this prophecy of the beginning of the end has been fulfilled and is being fulfilled, even as I write. Nations in Saudi Arabia against Kingdoms – Arabs against Arabs – Arabs against Jews ... what more evidence could we possibly need? Surely the "time" is at hand!
[November 18, 2002 – As we study our text and reflect back on the history of Western Civilization, has any one noticed how much things have NOT changed? We recall the Crusades and how Islam & Christianity have been enemies of time itself. Look up my brothers and sisters – your redemption draweth nigh. Read: WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?]
[November 22, 2003 """""]
Matthew 24:32-33 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (KJV)
Matthew 24:9-12 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (KJB)
This prophecy also has been fulfilled many times over. These matters even occurred during the lives of our Savior's own apostles; they being delivered up to tribulation, hated by all of the nations of that generation, and with each apostle killed by his persecutors, except possibly two, as traditionally taught. Again, many have fallen away from their love of Christ and have betrayed one another to save their own hides; and hatred has abounded, even today, between Christians of different denominations, and even Christians within the same church. As well, there is Northern Ireland as a vivid example!
As concerning false prophets, have you ever walked through Stapleton International Airport in Denver? – Washington D.C?
This nation alone is a manifestation of wickedness. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (verse 12), and while many church buildings are full on Sunday mornings for one hour, the love for God and for our fellow man is becoming extinct, not just cold. You have to live in the REAL world of 1991 [2002], as I did for many years, to even begin to understand the actual hatred for both God and man by our generation!
After these things, and only after these FEW THINGS stated above have occurred, as prophesied, our Lord said "the end will come", if His gospel has been preached to all nations."The end will come" WHEN "this gospel of the kingdom (is) preached throughout the whole world." (Matthew 24:14.) Soon this gospel will be preached to all nations, whether the churches of this nation do it or not! In fact, there are missionaries entering into the United States today to preach to us Christ's redemptive gospel. With the falling of the Iron Curtain, and the weakening of Communism, there is absolutely no place on the face of the globe where the gospel of Jesus Christ is not now being preached. The only hold-out at this time and date is China. However, the China Inland Mission has continued in that country for several years. Even the people of China have opportunity to hear and accept salvation. What is remarkable, it is quite possible that there are more staunch Christians filled with determination and endurance in China than in any other part of the Earth! Even so, come Lord Jesus, come quickly!
Matthew 24:15-31 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (KJB)
These prophecies concern the tribulation period, the end of tribulation, and the return of our Lord, physically, to Earth – the second coming.
Matthew 24:13-14 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (KJB)
Here is revealed, as well as in other scriptures printed in other parts of this study, the translation of the Church (rapture) will occur at the end of the Church age, just before the Anti-Christ comes to power at the beginning of the seven year period of tribulation. Our Lord's disciples asked Him when these things would take place. He answered:
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (KJB)
ALL of these things include rapture and tribulation, and possibly begin with the first sufferings of Matthew 24:7 .
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (KJB)
Many evangelical Christians believe and teach that the beginning of "this generation" was the return of the Jews to Palestine and the re-establishment of the nation of Israel by action of the United Nations in 1948, as a fulfillment of other prophecy. All I will now say is that a nation of Israel in Palestine had to be re-established and must be in existence at the beginning of the period of tribulation as prophesied in Daniel.
Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (KJB)
And, in that according to prophecy the government of Israel will enter into a treaty or compact with the government of the nations of the Anti-Christ, that will permit Israel to occupy the site of Solomon's Temple, and immediately construct another Temple, which will be built on the present location of the Dome of the Rock in old Jerusalem. Rapture will immediately PRECEDE that event. All prophecy has been fulfilled to permit rapture at any time, God only being constrained by the failure of the Church to fulfill its commission, to this very hour.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (KJB)
Those words were spoken nearly 2,000 years ago. I am led to believe that NOW the Son does know the day and hour, constrained only until His Church finally does it's duty. He will CAUSE His Church to do it's duty, if He must, to keep His Father's timetable.
Matthew 24:38-39 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (KJB)
Again, here, a picture of this generation, and a more vivid picture than that of any prior generation.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (KJB)
Next, Christ adds a warning in Matthew 24:45-51 :
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(KJB)
This warning was concerning TWO SERVANTS OF A MASTER, one waiting and prepared for the master, and one not prepared because he thinks his master will tarry. The prepared servant is set over all of his master's possessions upon his master's return; just like the Church, (that is raptured and returns as the Queen with Christ,) will rule with Christ over all of the Earth and judge all nations. As for the unprepared servant, not waiting with patient endurance, the master "will punish him" (Matt 24:51a). How? By "putting him with the hypocrites; there men (where the hypocrites are) will weep and gnash their teeth." (Matt 24:51b.)
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (KJB)
Note that Christ did NOT say that the unprepared or unfaithful SERVANT OF THE MASTER would become a hypocrite, or become lost or be sentenced to damnation, but that because the servant was "beating his fellow servants" (not having love for his fellow man) and "eats and drinks with the drunken" (living in the world, not apart from the world), that HIS SERVANT is not eligible to be set "over all his possessions", but rather will be "put with the hypocrites" – left in the world for tribulation with the unredeemed, where men (redeemed and unredeemed) will be involved in the worst tribulation period of all times, surely weeping and gnashing their teeth.
The prepared servant will rule with Christ on His return; the unprepared servant will remain with other men in tribulation. Who much clearer does our Lord need to make it? "He who has an ear, let him hear!"
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