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Are Christians Correct to Expect the Rapture?

Saturday, August 22, 2009 By

Perhaps no other doctrine in all of Christianity creates more buzz and yet controversy than the yet-future advent known as the rapture.

Whereas many Christians believe in rapture, many others do not; even amongst those who believe, there are opposing views as to whether the rapture occurs before, during, or after the tribulation.

This diversity amongst Christians is not bothersome, though, because rapture is not a salvation issue. A born-again believer is not going to lose his or her salvation based on the acceptance or denial of rapture doctrine. Therefore, I choose not to bicker, contend, or argue about it with Christians. On such matters, I prefer instead simply “to agree to disagree.”

That said let me now state that I do see sufficient evidence in the Bible to support a rapture and wholeheartedly accept the view that Christians will be raptured prior to the tribulation.

What is the Rapture?

The rapture is an event in which born-again believers that are alive and remaining on this earth during some prescribed future time known only to God will miraculously and suddenly be transformed from flesh to spirit and taken into the presence of Jesus Christ.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God…Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with Him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
In other words, rapture is the physical removal of believers from this planet.

Does Scripture Suggest a Rapture?

The most compelling evidence in Scripture that Christians will be raptured concerns Israel. But we’ll discuss that in a moment. First, let me share something else (perhaps not as persuasive) but indeed noteworthy.

In the first chapter of the Book of Revelation, inside His instructions for how John was to write the prophecy, Jesus used three distinct tenses: past, present, and future. “Write the things which you have seen…”, “Write…the things which are…”, “Write…the things which will take place after this.”

The first, “the things which you have seen” is in the past tense. This could only have meant what John had seen moments earlier when he beheld Christ. Thus corresponding with John’s eyewitness account of the risen and glorified Son of God as contained in Chapter One.

The second, “the things which are” is in the present tense. Which, when taken in conjunction with the letters Jesus addressed to the Church in chapters Two and Three, denotes that that Jesus was speaking of the Church (which did exist during the time of John).

The third, “the things which will take place after this” is in the future tense. This corresponds with the yet-future events shown to John beginning in Chapter Four after he is subsequently taken in the “Spirit” to heaven and shown the future (Revelation 4:1-2).

Many believe (as do I) that these series of events leading from how Jesus outlines the prophecy to John’s rapture into heaven after the Church is addressed are an anti-type of the rapture of the Church prior to the tribulation. Also suggestive is the fact that the Church is never seen on earth throughout all the grim events of the tribulation, and when represented, only as being in Heaven.

Fair enough. But there is a more compelling reason to believe the Church will be raptured prior to the tribulation that surrounds the Nation Israel and as such, suggests the explanation for the tribulation.

Why a Tribulation

Christians generally believe in a tribulation. Therefore, the issue amongst most Christians is not the reality of a tribulation but its purpose; and this is where doctrinal beliefs about rapture differ.

The opposing camp would say that the tribulation is for the purification of the Church, and therefore reject the idea that God would enable Christians to escape what He intends for a cleansing.

On the other side, of course, others discern Scripture teaching something entirely different from that view. And for any number of conclusions, have little cause to doubt that the rapture will occur and absolutely believe that it will occur at some point or the other.

For me personally, the most convincing proof that there will be a pre-tribulation rapture is inside Daniel’s prophecy regarding the Nation Israel and the fulfillment of Israel’s “seventieth week”.

Israel’s Seventy Weeks

Seventy years after Daniel and his people had been carried away captive and Jerusalem destroyed by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chronicles 36:17-21), Daniel, from his understanding of the book of Jeremiah, knew that these “desolations” were nearing an end (Jeremiah 25:11; Daniel 9:2). As a result, he was praying for an understanding as to the future of his “city” and his “people” (Daniel 9:3-19) and while in prayer, was visited by the angel Gabriel and given this message.

“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself…” (Daniel 9:24-26).

Upon close inspection, several truths are undeniable. That the prophecy pertains to Daniel’s people and holy city (Israel and Jerusalem), that there is an allotment of time of seventy weeks in which God has vowed He would complete a miraculous work in the Nation, and finally, that along with a scheduled starting point (“from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem”) it is also clear that the time-line is interrupted and a portion of God’s vows for the Nation are yet unfulfilled.

Okay, now let’s take a closer look.

First, let’s consider the measure of time. The Hebrew word for “weeks” is shabua, meaning literally a “seven”, including a week of seven days, a week of weeks, a week of months, and a week of years. It will become clear shortly that the word shabua used here refers to “years of sevens” or “seven-year periods”. Likewise, that the allotment of time in this prophecy is a period of four hundred and ninety years (70 X 7 = 490).

Secondly, we must recognize that the “weeks” are not contiguous. Rather than one period of 490 consecutive years, there is an explicit interval between the 69th and 70th weeks. In other words, 483 consecutive years (69 weeks) to the time when “Messiah shall be cut off” and a remaining 7 years (the 70th week) reassigned to the future.

Thirdly, let’s consider the historical date scheduled to begin the countdown of this allotment of years. Gabriel identifies it as “the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem”; which did occur years later on March 14, 445 BC  when King Artaxerxes of Persia gave the decree to Nehemiah to return to and rebuild Jerusalem (see—Nehemiah 2:1-8). In his book entitled “Daniel’s Prophecy of The 70 Weeks”, author Alva J. McClain describes in detail how the 483 years (69 weeks) from March 14, 445 BC to when “Messiah shall be cut off” ends on April 6, 32 AD—the very day when Jesus was presented as “Messiah the King” to Israel and rejected (Luke 19:28-44).

Fourthly, six promises made by God in the prophecy are still awaiting completion and have yet to be fulfilled.

(1)    to finish the transgressions;
(2)    to make an end of sins;
(3)    to make reconciliation for iniquity;
(4)    to bring in everlasting righteousness;
(5)    to seal up the vision;
(6)    to anoint the Holy of Holies

It is Not Coincidental

As Bible and prophecy teacher, Chuck Missler, once remarked, “Coincidence is not a kosher word to God.” That a prophecy surrounding Israel has yet a time allotment of seven years (the length of the tribulation) and promises of healing and reconciliation still pending cannot be coincidental. Likewise, the notion that God will not fulfill His promise to the Nation, or somehow meant something other than what He told Daniel in response to the prophet’s prayer for his people and Jerusalem is beyond comprehension.

Naturally, one day we will all know the truth about rapture. But for now, I am fully persuaded that the final yet-future tribulation concerns God’s divine purpose and plan for the Nation Israel and the Church will not be here to endure it.

More exciting still is that rapture can happen in our lifetime. The next breath we inhale here on earth might very well be exhaled in heaven in the presence of Jesus. It’s a wonderful thought “Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

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Revelation 4:9-11, the Crowns

Saturday, August 15, 2009 By

v.9-11 “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.’”

With nothing in themselves worthy to offer Jesus for His Great Work, the elders remove their crowns and lay them at the feet of God. They offer only that which He has given them; their crowns (read supplementary notes).

Here’s a thought, dear ones.

Whereas a crown of life was promised to the over comers in Smyrna (2:10), an admonition to hold fast to their crowns was given to those in Philadelphia (3:11). In other words, crowns can be gained or lost. We can enter heaven with a crown or without a crown. Perhaps we should contemplate the moment we behold Jesus and consider whether we will possess a crown as an offering to Him or simply stand in His presence empty-handed. With such a glorious opportunity to revere Him, it would be sad for us to miss it.

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Revelation 4:6-8, John Describes the Four Living Creatures

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 By

v.4-5 “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed with white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightning’s, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

As he beholds the throne, it becomes clear to John how magnificent it is. Not only is it crowded with light and a wide spectrum of colors, but there are lightning flashes and thunderclaps, voices, and groups of spirit-beings.

Around the throne are twenty-four elders seated upon smaller thrones, each draped in a white robe and wearing a golden crown. Who are they? I tend to agree with some commentators that these are the twelve patriarchs from the twelve tribes of Israel plus the twelve Apostles (the full representation of both the whole Israel and the whole Church). They are clothed in the same white robes Jesus will give to all of us who enter heaven, each wearing the crowns Jesus has given them as a reward (check—2Tim.4:8).

The “seven Spirits of God” is the Holy Spirit (see notes—Rev.1:4).

v.6 “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.”

Having seen the One upon the throne, those seated around the throne, the thundering and lightning’s coming from the throne, and the Spirit before the throne, John describes what he observes at the base of the throne: a “sea of glass” as clear as crystal.

Rather than a vast translucent ocean of water, however, most commentators believe that this “sea of glass” alludes to the Tabernacle laver called the Sea. According to Scripture, the Sea (a great basin of water) was the temple furnishing where the priests of Israel ceremonially cleansed themselves whenever they were required to minister at the tabernacle (1Kings 7:23; Ex.30:18-21). This was, as it probably is here, an anti-type for the Lord Christ Jesus Himself, in whom we are made eternally clean, pure, and holy by the washing of His blood (Rev.1:5).

Finally, in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, John sees “four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.” Please note, however, that the term “creature” is an unfortunate translation. For these aren’t beasts like those that the term creature denotes but highly alert angelic beings of the highest rank and order that would better be described as the “living ones”.

v.7-8 “The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’”  

As other symbols revealed in Revelation, the uniquely distinct forms and features of these “living ones” isn’t intended to be a literal resemblance but characterizations of something far more significant. When I refer to my truck as a “work horse” for instance, you would understand that it describes the sturdiness and reliability of my vehicle and not a literal horse. This is how we must consider the symbols. In this case, the four “faces” of these angelic beings are characterizations of Jesus Christ.

(1)    The “lion” – this speaks of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed…” (Rev.5:5)
(2)    The “calf” (a beast of burden) – this speaks of Him as the suffering Servant. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Mark 10:45)
(3)    The “man” – this speaks of Christ in His incarnation as the Son of Man, the God who became Man. “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Phil.2:6,7)
(4)    The “flying eagle” (the greatest of all birds) – this speaks of Christ in His Deity as the Son of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:1, 14)

Okay, now let’s consider the uniqueness of their employment. They yield both life and breath inside a ministry of praise to Almighty God—non-stop, without rest, day and night. Listen to them:

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come”

He is Lord, Jehovah, the God of Redemption; He is God, the Strong One with all power in Himself; He is the Almighty, Creator, the One Who is the source of life, strength, and nourishment. Little wonder that one whose heart has beheld God could refrain from declaring, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord…” (Ps.150:6)

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