NO ONE LEFT BEHIND, Part 2

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THE RAPTURE: A SCRIPTURAL EXAMINATION

The popular doctrine of the secret rapture is that Christ will return to earth, unknown to the world, and will take those who have accepted salvation through him up to heaven before the “great tribulation.” The Left Behind series dramatically depicts the common view that all are taken up to heaven in one instant, leaving cars driver-less or airplanes pilot-less to crash.

The term rapture does not appear in Scripture but has been used by some to denote thefirst resurrectionspoken of in Rev 20:5 and described in 1 Thess 4:13-18 which speaks of Christ’s return and the resurrection of his saints: “...we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.” In this verse, the word “coming” is translated from the Greek word parousia meaning presence and is so rendered in several respected translations. The word “prevent” is the 16th century word for proceedto come before in time. Thus, the Scripture should read: “...we which are alive and remain unto the presence of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep.”

The resurrection of the Church, then, takes place at the Lord’s return starting with those who have been sleeping in Christ—faithful Christians who have died (slept) before the Lord returns. These will be taken to heaven first. After the Lord’s return, the remaining Church members are resurrected one by one as they die. Because it is the spiritual body that is resurrected, this event is not visible to the human eye. 1 Cor. 15:35-44; 1 Thess. 4:15-18

And what of those who are not taken with Jesus at his return? After the completed Church is resurrected, then Jesus and the Church will begin the resurrection of the world at large who will learn righteousness.

HOPE BEYOND ARMAGEDDON

The Left Behind series concentrates on the tribulation upon the people, and yes, the Scriptures do speak of a momentous time of trouble coinciding with the return of Christ and culminating in Armageddon. However, the true purpose of Armageddon is to cleanse the earth of the systems of corruption which have been under the control of Satan and his servants. It is important to understand that the corrupt ecclesiastical and civil systems need to be destroyed—not the ignorant people misled by these systems. “Every valley [the poor, suffering world of mankind] shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill [kingdoms of this world] shall be made low…” (Isa. 40:4)

This is not a time to burn in eternal flames billions of good-hearted people because they have not known and accepted Jesus. The conversion of these people—“the remainder of men”—will be after the cleansing work of Armageddon. This leveling destruction will prepare the way for the righteous kingdom of Christ and his Church, then, under their benevolent reign, “the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” without the fetters of selfish and oppressive powers (religious systems and etc.). Isa. 26:9 speaks of this time, 1Tim 2:3-4 states, Godwill have all men to be saved and to come unto the [Greek—full discernment or accurate] knowledge of the Truth.” Christ’s “ransom for all” guarantees that all who died in Adam will be saved from Adamic death. That is, all will be awakened from the sleep of death and given a full opportunity to learn the Truth of God and His loving character.

In the thousand-year kingdom of Christ “the earth shall [gradually] be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9) Also Jer 31:34 says of that time, “for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest.” Verse 29 shows that, for the majority of mankind, the kingdom will provide the first full, fair opportunity for salvation through the knowledge of Christ. They will no longer die for the inherited sins of their fathers but for their own iniquity (Jer 31:29, 30). Jesus’ ransom sacrifice forallguarantees this full and fair opportunity for allpraise the Lord!

NO ONE will be left behind!

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