The Rapture

STUDY GUIDE

THE "RAPTURE"

New Testament scriptures about the return of Jesus.

What will happen?

Matthew 24:15-31

Mark 13:14-27

Luke 21:25-28

Acts 1:1-11

I Corinthians 15:50-58

I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

II Thessalonians 2

II Peter 3:1-13

If you accept the Pre-Tribulation return of Christ which is taught in many popular circles

today, you recognize that one of the key events involved is the "secret" rapture (catching

up, removal) of the church (all true believers) from the earth. One would think that such

a key event would be clearly announced and described in the book of Revelation.

Where is the rapture described in the book of Revelation?

How is it described?

There are two main teachings about the rapture:

1. Secrecy, that is , it will be unannounced and unknown to those who remain.

2. That the church (believers, christians) would not suffer through the tribulation.

On a separate sheet of paper, list each of the scriptures above. Under each scripture list

the sights that will be seen and the sounds that will be heard when Jesus returns.

From the above scriptures, make a list of examples of christians suffering during the

tribulation leading up to the return of Jesus.

Is there anything in the scriptures listed above that specifically describes a secret return

of Christ followed by a tribulation period and then another return of Christ seen

universally by all?

Is there anything in the scriptures above that would require us to believe in a secret return

of Christ, or that the church would not go through tribulation?

What do these scriptures say about christian suffering?

1 Peter 4:12-19; Romans 8:17-25,35-39; Hebrews 12:1-13; Acts 14:19-22

.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

The Second Coming and The Rapture

I. Secret Rapture - Jesus is not seen by the unsaved and they do not know what has happened.

A. This is the teaching of those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture.

1. The Tim LaHay novel. Christians suddenly disappear leaving their clothes behind, and those who remain do not see Jesus and for the most part do not know what happened.

B. The Bible does not teach such a thing.

1. 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, which is the most often cited rapture passage, describes a visible, announced return of Jesus "with a shout", "with the voice of the archangel", "with the trumpet call of God".

2. The coming of the Lord. Greek parousia.

para meaning near or beside (parallel).

ousia meaning to be. Literally to be beside, present.

Philippians 2:12, presence contrasted with absence.

2 Peter 1:16-18 describes the mount of transfiguration. Jesus is present with them, they are eyewitnesses.

3. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Just as in Revelation 14, we are removed from the earth before its destruction and the judging of the lost. This can happen at the actual second coming with no problem.

C. Problems with the pre-tribulation rapture.

1. You actually have two returns of Jesus, not one.

2. Matt. 24. Jesus himself describes the "great tribulation" as occurring before his return. He never describes an invisible return. He describes a return with angels and a loud trumpet call during which all the nations will see him coming on the clouds. 1 Thessalonians 4 is perfectly consistent with this description by Jesus.

3. No New Testament scripture describes an invisible return of Jesus.

COMPARISON OF MATTHEW 24 AND 1 THESSALONIANS 4-5

II. Like a thief. Suddenly, not secretly.

A. Those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture often use the thief analogy to justify the idea of Jesus coming secretly and "steeling" the Christians out of the world so that no one who is left knows for sure what has happened.

B. This is not what is being described here in 1 Thessalonians. It is describing Jesus as coming suddenly, unexpectedly; but not secretly.

1. Destruction will come on them suddenly (5:3)

2. Christians will not be surprised (5:4) if they heed Paul's admonition to be alert (5:6).

III. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath.

A. The context here clearly has to do with our salvation.

B. The little word "but".

1. The word wrath here is contrasted with salvation.

2. It is not referring to some period of judgement on the earth.

3. It is referring to the eternal punishment which is in store for those who do not have salvation.

C. NOT suffering or removal (protection)

BUT punishment or salvation.

1. Does your salvation prevent you from suffering right now?

2. "He died for us so that...we may live together with Him."

GENERAL NOTES ON THE RAPTURE

The rapture is not mentioned directly anywhere in the book of Revelation.

The scripture which is most cited as describing the secret rapture of the church

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11) just does not describe a silent, secret rapture.

4:16 - "with a shout" "with the voice of an archangel" "with the trumpet of God"

The idea that the church, saints, christians will not go through the great tribulation just

goes against clear teachings of scripture.

Matthew 24 (verses 22, 30-31)

The claim that the church is not mentioned after chapter three of Revelation is just not

true. While it is correct that the word "church" (ekklesia) is not mentioned, the church or

individual christians are mentioned many times under different names:

Revelation 13:7-10. The beast will make war against the saints. The saints are warned to

exercise patient endurance and faithfulness.

Revelation 7:3; 9:4; 12:17; 14:12; 17:6; 18:24

Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse believed in a pre-tribulation rapture.

His sutdent, Dr. Walter Martin, believed in a post-tribulation rapture and return.

Both are pre-milennial dispensationalists.

"Although the Essenes were conscientious Bible students and some of them were at Bible study during each of the twenty-four hours of the day, nevertheless they had missed the whole Old Testament concept of the Messiah. They actually looked for two Messiahs - the Messiah of Aaron and the Messiah of Israel. They looked for one to be a priestly Messiah and the other to be a political Messiah."

- Kelso, James L., An Archaeologist Looks at the Gospels, Word Books, Waco, Texas, 1969

The dispensationalists have stretched their Messiah into two, a meek priestly Messiah who came 2000 years ago for sacrifice, and a powerful political Messiah who will come in the future to rule over an earthly kingdom.