The Rapture

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teleiosis

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Rapture​
This word conjures up more controversy and timing it has split eschatology in many varied components. Each seeks to develop a theology around its placement of the Rapture; others work around it and don’t even include it. This portion of this chapter explores various definitions about the word, who is to be included in it, and what kind of transformation the Rapture could entail. However, more importantly, this part of the chapter establishes a coherent sequence of events from the Bible which then determines the Rapture rather than placing the Rapture based on a premise of theology. Within a sequence of events analysis, one Biblical principle remains clear: the Rapture comes before God’s Wrath falls. This is buttressed by examples Jesus gives surrounding the Rapture as well.

The Rapture is part of the first Resurrection. The first Resurrection, being wholly separate from the second (see Appendix C), has various parts. The Rapture is not the whole of the first Resurrection, nor indeed does it make up the bulk of those gathered on the Day of the Lord. However, as a seminal event, nothing is looked forward to so earnestly by Christians as their gathering to Jesus on the clouds.

The word ‘rapture’ comes from the Latin word rapio. It is just the Latin translation of the Greek verb harpazo which Paul uses in 2CO 12:2, 4 and 1TH 4:17. Idiosyncrasies of translation confuse a search of the term Rapture in the English and from the underlying Greek. It is only when an intervening step of translating the Greek into Latin and then into English can it be understood from where this word came into the English lexicon.

The same kind of duality exists with the Hebrew word Yeshua, which means ‘God Saves.’ Going straight from the Hebrew into English, the word is transliterated as Joshua. However when going from Hebrew into Greek, it is transliterated as Iesous. Only when the Greek is transliterated into English does the name Jesus appear. It is important for the reader using English to understand that the names Joshua and Jesus are identical in their original Biblical language whether it is Hebrew or Greek no matter how it is presented in an English version of the Bible.

The concept of the Rapture is contained within the Bible. While it can be traced to a single verb, the action of the Rapture is delineated by many different words. So while the word is not found in itself in the Bible, like the concept of the Trinity, it can easily be discerned. Here are references for all the various terms the Bible uses in the New Testament for this action, and the general sense of the Greek verbs used for each reference.

  • MT 24:31 to come upon, come after
  • MT 24:40 to take over, to receive, to inherit
  • MK 13:27 to come upon, come after
  • MK 16:19 to carry up
  • LK 9:51 a taking up: ascension
  • LK 17:34-35 to take over, to receive, to inherit
  • LK 24:51 to take up, raise
  • JN 14:3 to take over, to receive, to inherit
  • AC 1:9-11 to lift up
  • 1CO 15:51-54 to change
  • 2CO 4:14 to waken, to raise up
  • 2CO 12:2-4 to seize, to catch up, to snatch away
  • 1TH 4:16
  • 1Th 4:17 to seize, to catch up, to snatch away
  • 2TI 2:18 (resurrection) a standing up, a raising up, rising
  • 1TI 3:16 to take up, raise
  • HEB 11:5 to transfer, change
  • REV 12:5 to seize, to catch up, to snatch away
The words the authors use to describe the Rapture indicate various aspects of the action which will occur.

Some word definition is in order. In order to distinguish between those who are resurrected and those who are taken up, some distinction is needed to convey which group is being referenced. As all Saints are “living” as in being alive in the eternal sense, the use of “Living” will designate this group. This comes from Mt 22:32.

“‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

The Rapture is only for living Christians, that is those of the Living who are alive at the time. At the time of the Day of the Lord’s gathering, they would be the only ones qualified to be ‘taken up’ to ‘receive their inheritance’ (both usages come from the same word in the Greek). At this point, it matters little if these “Christians” are mainstream Christians of today, newly converted Christians, or Messianic Jews; the key factor and only qualification for being lifted up is their belief in Jesus.

The Rapture describes the process which happens to those who are alive when Christ comes. Those Christians who have passed on are resurrected from the dead. Those who are resurrected from the grave may include more than just followers of Christ since His first Advent because some people before the time of Christ looked forward to His coming and believed in Him as Job did. However, concerning those who are alive since Christ’s first Advent, the only people who believe in Him are Christian by definition. Not all Christians in name only qualify, but in the sense of believing, only Christians qualify to be saved in the Rapture.

The Resurrection from the dead is separate from the Rapture. While the Rapture is only for the living, the Resurrection from the grave is selective as well; it is only for the “Living” as newly defined here. In this aspect, both those who are alive and believe in Christ, and the Living from those called out from beyond the grave; are selected by God, ergo: Elect.

This separation between Resurrection and Rapture of the Living depends on whether they have passed on in a normal sense by dying from normal causes or are alive at the time of Christ’s coming. If they have died without dying a martyr’s death, then the Living will be resurrected from the dead in a selective calling. This is from an area termed ‘the ends of Heaven’ which has been termed here as: Paradise, the first Heaven. If the Living are still alive and are left as Paul describes them, then they will be part of the Rapture. Saints who have died (without being martyred) will be resurrected from the dead. Saints who are still alive will be in the Rapture.
 

Paul

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... The first Resurrection, being wholly separate from the second (see Appendix C), has various parts. ...

What book are you taking this post from or did you write a book with a number of appendices?
 

242006

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The OP is fatally flawed in that it fails to address the central issues associated with Rapture theory. Those that believe the Bible ahead of Rapture theory do not deny that the Greek harpazo means a forcibly seizure [See Strong's Exhaustive Concordance]. For, indeed, when the Lord returns, that is exactly what will happen.

The central questions that separate Bible-believers from Rapturists are 'who' and 'when'. Who is forcibly seized upon the Lord's return?? And, when will the Lord Return??

As to the question of 'who', Rapturists believe there is a separate seizure of the church. Whereas, Bible-believers know from scripture that there is no separate seizure of the Church -- that all [good, bad, pretty, and ugly] are seized [converted to spiritual bodies -- lose the flesh] at the Lord's return.

As to the question of 'when', Rapturists have been all over the map. When this Rapture theory [combination of the 'Any Moment Theory' and the 'taking of the church'] commenced after the [evil] dream of Margaret Macdonald in 1830, the pre-tribulation theory was widespread within the Rapture movement [which is the endtime apostasy]. After people wised up and could see that pre-tribulation theory could not work within the confines of scripture, some Rapturists defected into the mid-tribulation camp. After mid-tribulation theory was also debunked, some Rapturists have defected into the post-tribulation camp. For these post-tribulation Rapture theorists, the trick is to derive a formula in which the Lord first seizes the church. This theory fails miserably as well.

Of course, Bible-believers know that the true Chuch is needed throughout the tribulation time and will be here at the end when all are harvested [forcibly seized into spiritual bodies] by the Lord. The Bible does not back any of the Rapturists' theories.
 

teleiosis

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The OP is fatally flawed in that it fails to address the central issues associated with Rapture theory.
The original post is fatally flawed. What is that flaw? Oh, that's not said.

Is it that harpazo doesn't mean when we are seized, caught up, or snatched away as the Greek verb is defined? Ah, no. The critic who can't name the fatal flaw says:

[quote]"harpazo means a forcibly seizure ... indeed, when the Lord returns, that is exactly what will happen."[/quote]

I know from scripture that there is no separate seizure of the Church -- that all [good, bad, pretty, and ugly] are seized [converted to spiritual bodies -- lose the flesh] at the Lord's return.
That's not true either. There are four times the Bible mentions two resurrections from beyond the grave.

The first is ONLY for the "Living." The second includes both "Living" (from the Millennium) and those wicked tares of all time, from Cain onward through the future until the world is no more, who are spiritually Dead because they are wicked. At the time of the second resurrection, they were brought out from Hades and after bowing their knee and being judged, will be thrown into Hell.

The Bible does not back any of the Rapturists' theories.
That is not a true statement.

Mark
 

teleiosis

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There are two resurrections to the Heavenly realm.

This does not preclude or include other resurrections to the earthly realm such as Christ’s, Lazarus’ the child who was only sleeping or those who come out of their graves at Jesus’ crucifixion. These instances of “awakening” are miraculous and as such put God’s signature of the Divine on Jesus’ ministry as to authenticate it as coming from the Father. These are the first type of resurrection to the earthly realm besides the ones to Heaven.

Israel will have a hardening until the time of the Gentiles has come in. This happens with the end of the Church age with the First Resurrection. Afterwards, as Zechariah prophesizes, Israel has its eyes opened in the Millennium as Jesus is revealed as a present, literal and physical presence on earth. Those who did not look forward to Christ will be awakened see the Son and weep and so all of Israel will be saved.

Now, the Two Witnesses are also resurrected, but they are called immediately up to Heaven. When they appear in Heaven, they complete the number of those slain for Christ and only then does John proclaim in Revelation that the first resurrection has occurred (in total).

The first resurrection to the heavenly realm is only for the living.
The second resurrection to the heavenly realm is for both living and dead.

There are four instances in the Bible where both are given. The order is always the same. This is the essence of a sequence of events analysis in determining end-time eschatology: the Bible is true and it narrates prophecy in a linear fashion within a passage.

  • Daniel 12:1 versus 12:2
  • Mt 24:31 versus 25:31-33
  • John 5:24-25 versus 5:28-29
  • Revelation 20:5 versus 20:11-15
That the Bible can go from one event to the next without including everything in between is described as bridging a gap in time. God bridges gaps in time by going from one like event to another and spans the chasm of time with a common theme. This is why we have a gap in Isaiah 61:2 between the year of the Lord’s favor with Jesus’ ministry and the day of the vengeance of our God. Both refer to Jesus’ advents: the first and the second, which is still to come.

Mark
 

veteran

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There are two TYPES of resurrection at the time of Christ's coming on the day of The LORD.

John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(KJV)

Zechariah 14 shows some of those who came up against Jerusalem to battle being left after Christ's return, and their being required to go up to Jerusalem from year to year, to worship The King, and hold the feast of tabernacles. In Rev.22, Christ shows there is a separation between those who have right to pass through the gates of the holy city to the tree of life, while outside the gates are the wicked. Those wicked are the "resurrection of damnation." They are outside the gates of the holy city upon the earth.

The wicked are not going to sit out Christ's thousand years reign on earth by wasting in graves only to be resurrected for the great white throne judgment and casting into the lake of fire.

That change at the twinkling of an eye Apostle Paul taught is about ALL still alive on earth being changed, and ALL the dead being raised, not just the saints. That's what Isaiah 25 is showing with the vail cast over all nations being removed at Christ's coming, the Heavenly dimension being revealed UPON this earth to all eyes. Christ's Milennium will be a Heavenly age time upon this earth, in prep for the new heavens and a new earth timing after the lake of fire event.


The "first resurrection" of Rev.20 suggests a second resurrection some time later. But what TYPE of resurrection is suggested? Well, what TYPE of resurrection is the "first resurrection"?

Rev 20:6
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
(KJV)

The TYPE of resurrection suggested with a second later one, is of the SAME TYPE as the "first"! What does that mean? It means the second resurrection likewise, is a resurrection NOT SUBJECT TO THE SECOND DEATH (lake of fire event). That suggests a second resurrection is about those who come to Christ during that time.


At Rev.20:8-9, Satan is shown going out to deceive the nations that are in the "four quarters of the earth", leading them up against the "camp of the saints" on the breadth of the earth. The wicked are there upon the four corners of the earth already! And they are in the same dimension on earth as the saints are at the "camp of the saints" and "beloved city" which ALSO are on the earth.

Rev 20:7-9
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
(KJV)

1. At Christ's coming, ALL upon the earth are changed to the image of the heavenly. But Paul made a distinction between those in Christ that will have put on immortality, and those of the wicked that will still have mortal souls that are still liable to perish in the lake of fire. Those wicked are the "dead", and it means they are spiritually dead, still liable to perish at the second death.

2. All the dead are raised to go through Christ's thousand years reign on earth.

3. Christ joins His saints, of both those changed on earth, and those asleep He brings with Him to the "beloved city" and "camp of the saints" on earth (where Jerusalem is now).

4. Christ with His elect kings and priests rule over the resurrected/changed wicked nations with a "rod of iron", from that "camp of the saints" on earth.

5. The wicked left of the nations will be required to go up to Jerusalem to worship Christ at the feet of His elect during that thousand years, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

6. At the end of the thousand years, Satan is loosed to tempt the nations of wicked that exist upon the four corners of the earth. Those of Gog and Magog (symbolic for those wicked who still decide to follow Satan), come upon the "camp of the saints" and "beloved city" to try and destroy.

7. Then the great white throne judgment happens, with only those of the "resurrection of damnation" appearing before God's Throne, and whoever of that group is not found written in The Book of Life goes into the second death. The SECOND RESURRECTION is of those damned which turn to Christ during that thousand years, and overcome Satan's tempting at the end of the thousand years.

This verse is important:

Rev 20:15
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(KJV)

The purpose of the great white throne judgment is to determine if there are some names to be FOUND written in The Book of Life. And if so, that can only mean a change from the "resurrection of damnation" to the "resurrection of life" through Christ. THAT's the suggested second resurrection, a resurrection of the SAME TYPE as the "first resurrection" unto eternal life through Christ Jesus.
 

Paul

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Maybe if we had 10 or 20 or maybe even 100 more posts on the rapture someone’s mind would be changed. But we all ready have hundreds of posts on the rapture on this board and it hasn’t made a difference yet.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Men’s hearts are all ready turned towards their father!
 

242006

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Maybe if we had 10 or 20 or maybe even 100 more posts on the rapture someone’s mind would be changed. But we all ready have hundreds of posts on the rapture on this board and it hasn’t made a difference yet.

One can only hope that a difference is made with one of the non-posting viewers.

Once an announcement was made that he was writing a book, I concluded that nothing will make a difference to him as God is aiding him in his delusion. In accordance with Isa. 28:13, he has been taught the Truth. Hence, a useful purpose has been served. Unfortunate for him, it seals his fate should he not repent for taking the mark of the beast.
 

242006

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The original post is fatally flawed. What is that flaw? Oh, that's not said.

Is it that harpazo doesn't mean when we are seized, caught up, or snatched away as the Greek verb is defined? Ah, no. The critic who can't name the fatal flaw says:




That's not true either. There are four times the Bible mentions two resurrections from beyond the grave.

The first is ONLY for the "Living." The second includes both "Living" (from the Millennium) and those wicked tares of all time, from Cain onward through the future until the world is no more, who are spiritually Dead because they are wicked. At the time of the second resurrection, they were brought out from Hades and after bowing their knee and being judged, will be thrown into Hell.


That is not a true statement.

Mark

You haven't admitted to your error regarding all of the false doctrines that I, and others, have debunked so far. Now that I see that you are writing a book, I realize that you are currently hopelessly deluded [with God's help {2 Thes. 2:11}]. At this point, you have been provided adequate instruction in Truth as God set forth in Isa. 28:13 [so that you can be taken by Satan]. Accordingly, I see no reason to reply to your post. Only you can decide whether you want to know the Truth or continue on with the tradition-of-man Doctrine of Satan, which you are deluded with now.
 

teleiosis

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There are two TYPES of resurrection at the time of Christ's coming on the day of The LORD.

John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(KJV)
You forgot the verses preceding your quote:

John 5:24-25 vs. John 5:28-29

Jn 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

Jn 5:28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.


There are three times we are "saved." We were saved when Jesus gave up His Life on the cross. We are saved when we first believe in our personal salvation through Jesus. We will be saved when Jesus resurrects us from the grave to life eternal.

The dead will hear the voice of God, Jesus says in verse 25. This is set in two verbs; “is coming” and “has now come” which reflects the nature of salvation as working on more than one level. While both are set in the Greek present tense, the ongoing nature of that tense coupled with ‘is coming’ sets that condition up as a future state. This is the same for “is coming” in John 5:28 which most refer to for the resurrection of the dead because it is unambiguous in its language. However, “those who hear” in verse 25 are likewise addressing people who have physically died. It can also indicate logically that not all hear. This message is selective. Paul refines this by saying the Dead in Christ will hear, which limits it to those who have passed away but are spiritually alive because God is not the God of the dead but of the Living.

Thus, the condition of faith in Christ defines for the Christian the criteria for being part of the first resurrection: righteousness. We are justified through Christ and will not be condemned when we are judged because each of us will have to give an account of our lives before God. In this way, He can reward the one with ten talents and the one with just five talents.

Notice the time stamp Jesus gives to the following verse 28, “a time is coming.” This is also something we are not to be amazed at as Jesus admonishes us.

This second part describes those who will hear his voice as being ALL who are in their grave. If the first resurrection is selective, the second is all inclusive.

Likewise, with this second resurrection, there is a division between good and bad. This follows Daniel 12:2 and Matthew 25:31-33.

Mark
 

veteran

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You forgot the verses preceding your quote:

John 5:24-25 vs. John 5:28-29

Jn 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

Jn 5:28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.


There are three times we are "saved." We were saved when Jesus gave up His Life on the cross. We are saved when we first believe in our personal salvation through Jesus. We will be saved when Jesus resurrects us from the grave to life eternal.

The dead will hear the voice of God, Jesus says in verse 25. This is set in two verbs; “is coming” and “has now come” which reflects the nature of salvation as working on more than one level. While both are set in the Greek present tense, the ongoing nature of that tense coupled with ‘is coming’ sets that condition up as a future state. This is the same for “is coming” in John 5:28 which most refer to for the resurrection of the dead because it is unambiguous in its language. However, “those who hear” in verse 25 are likewise addressing people who have physically died. It can also indicate logically that not all hear. This message is selective. Paul refines this by saying the Dead in Christ will hear, which limits it to those who have passed away but are spiritually alive because God is not the God of the dead but of the Living.

It's much more simple than that.

John 5:24-25
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him That sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
(KJV)

The first example was about the time of Christ's crucifixion and Resurrection. He went and preached The Gospel to the 'spirits in prison' (1 Pet.3; Isa.42:7). It has the idea that some of the dead would 'hear' His voice, and others would not (i.e., some rejecting The Gospel by refusing to hear).

John 5:26-29
26 For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;
27 And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(KJV)

But the second example is associated with the time of His judgment, which will begin at His return when He will separate His sheep from the goats. In that second example "all in the graves shall hear His voice", "And shall come forth..." to either the "resurrection of life" or the "resurrection of damnation". That's pointing to the sound of the trumpet at His return and then separation between the just and the unjust.