Posted by (+204) 13 years ago
The Revelation of the Rapture Theory
We see statements on bumper stickers like, "In case of the rapture this car will have no driver." Ironically, with all the emphasis on the word "rapture" it is never found in the Bible. It is another doctrine that man has created. This false premillennial idea of "the rapture" states that there will be a secret catching away of the saved into the air where they will be with Christ for 7 years. During these seven years there is to be a "great tribulation" period here on the earth. Great suffering is to be inflicted on the people. But after 7 years Jesus is to again appear to bring the tribulation period to a close. Talk about a fairy tale! This is some stretch of the imagination! This is all false as it in no way lines up with any of the most basic investigation of scripture. Let us briefly see what the Bible says will happen when Christ comes back and perhaps we can see once and for all how unrealistic this doctrine truly is.
We read in 1 Corinthians 15:52 when the Lord comes back it will be "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye..the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Then in John 5:28-29 Jesus says, "For the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of damnation." There is only going to be one resurrection not the three that the "rapture" theory requires.
So when the Lord comes, what is going to happen to this earth? If we look at 2 Peter 3:10-12 we can see as Peter says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat." The people advocating a "rapture" are not going to be able to come back to the earth for their 1000 year reign, because the earth will be burned up at the Lord's appearing. Simple logic would dictate that this passage alone defies the very idea that there is going to be an event such as the rapture. The rapture is another false doctrine of man.
There are some variations to the false doctrine of premillennialism but most theories run like this: that Jesus intended to set up an earthly kingdom, but the Jews did not allow Him to do so by defeating His purpose. Can you imagine anyone being able to defeat the purpose of God where God would have to change His plans and try it all over again at some future date? According to this theory God apparently did not know this was going to happen. This is absurd (see Isaiah 53). This theory says that instead Jesus set up the church as a substitute and plans to return to earth at a later time, fight the war of Armageddon, and set up his earthly kingdom in Jerusalem and rule for 1000 years on David's throne. Many denominations are filled with this theory and teach it as fact. Let's see what the Bible says.
When asked about His kingdom Jesus said in John 18:16, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world My servants would fight so that I would not be delivered to the Jews." Jesus never intended to have an earthly kingdom. The Lord is now reigning over His spiritual kingdom, the church, and we are now in it if we have, as Paul said, "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart that form" (Greek: tupos; pattern) "of teaching to which you were committed" (Romans 6:17). What was this "form" Paul refers to? He spells it out clearly in verses 3-6 of the same chapter. Paul says when we are buried in the watery grave of baptism we are buried into His death and raised as He was to walk in newness of life. At that point we are transformed into the kingdom of Christ as we are added to His church. Colossians 1:13 says that God "has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." We are now in His kingdom. Remember 2 Peter 3:10 tells us, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat: both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." We can only conclude from this passage that there is not even going to be an earth here to have a thousand year reign on.
The church of our Lord was not an accident, but was established according to the eternal purpose of God (Ephesians 3:10-11). 1 Corinthians 15:24 tells us how things will end after the order of the resurrection, "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father." When Jesus comes again He will not come to establish a kingdom, but to deliver His kingdom, the church, up to God.
Friends, we are living in the so called tribulation period described in the Revelation to John where Satan has been loosed upon the earth (Rev. 20:7-10 remember this is symbolic language not to be taken literally). May we avoid the doctrines of men and allow God to speak directly to us through His Word so that we know our lives are in line with His will and our salvation is assured because we have trusted in Him and not in man. We need to think for ourselves and not let so called "scholars" think for us. God bless, have a great week, and keep working in the Word.
In His Service,
Jim Lynch, Evangelist
Miles City Church of Christ
234-3775
http://www.milescitychurch.community.officelive.com
We see statements on bumper stickers like, "In case of the rapture this car will have no driver." Ironically, with all the emphasis on the word "rapture" it is never found in the Bible. It is another doctrine that man has created. This false premillennial idea of "the rapture" states that there will be a secret catching away of the saved into the air where they will be with Christ for 7 years. During these seven years there is to be a "great tribulation" period here on the earth. Great suffering is to be inflicted on the people. But after 7 years Jesus is to again appear to bring the tribulation period to a close. Talk about a fairy tale! This is some stretch of the imagination! This is all false as it in no way lines up with any of the most basic investigation of scripture. Let us briefly see what the Bible says will happen when Christ comes back and perhaps we can see once and for all how unrealistic this doctrine truly is.
We read in 1 Corinthians 15:52 when the Lord comes back it will be "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye..the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Then in John 5:28-29 Jesus says, "For the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of damnation." There is only going to be one resurrection not the three that the "rapture" theory requires.
So when the Lord comes, what is going to happen to this earth? If we look at 2 Peter 3:10-12 we can see as Peter says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat." The people advocating a "rapture" are not going to be able to come back to the earth for their 1000 year reign, because the earth will be burned up at the Lord's appearing. Simple logic would dictate that this passage alone defies the very idea that there is going to be an event such as the rapture. The rapture is another false doctrine of man.
There are some variations to the false doctrine of premillennialism but most theories run like this: that Jesus intended to set up an earthly kingdom, but the Jews did not allow Him to do so by defeating His purpose. Can you imagine anyone being able to defeat the purpose of God where God would have to change His plans and try it all over again at some future date? According to this theory God apparently did not know this was going to happen. This is absurd (see Isaiah 53). This theory says that instead Jesus set up the church as a substitute and plans to return to earth at a later time, fight the war of Armageddon, and set up his earthly kingdom in Jerusalem and rule for 1000 years on David's throne. Many denominations are filled with this theory and teach it as fact. Let's see what the Bible says.
When asked about His kingdom Jesus said in John 18:16, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world My servants would fight so that I would not be delivered to the Jews." Jesus never intended to have an earthly kingdom. The Lord is now reigning over His spiritual kingdom, the church, and we are now in it if we have, as Paul said, "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart that form" (Greek: tupos; pattern) "of teaching to which you were committed" (Romans 6:17). What was this "form" Paul refers to? He spells it out clearly in verses 3-6 of the same chapter. Paul says when we are buried in the watery grave of baptism we are buried into His death and raised as He was to walk in newness of life. At that point we are transformed into the kingdom of Christ as we are added to His church. Colossians 1:13 says that God "has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." We are now in His kingdom. Remember 2 Peter 3:10 tells us, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat: both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." We can only conclude from this passage that there is not even going to be an earth here to have a thousand year reign on.
The church of our Lord was not an accident, but was established according to the eternal purpose of God (Ephesians 3:10-11). 1 Corinthians 15:24 tells us how things will end after the order of the resurrection, "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father." When Jesus comes again He will not come to establish a kingdom, but to deliver His kingdom, the church, up to God.
Friends, we are living in the so called tribulation period described in the Revelation to John where Satan has been loosed upon the earth (Rev. 20:7-10 remember this is symbolic language not to be taken literally). May we avoid the doctrines of men and allow God to speak directly to us through His Word so that we know our lives are in line with His will and our salvation is assured because we have trusted in Him and not in man. We need to think for ourselves and not let so called "scholars" think for us. God bless, have a great week, and keep working in the Word.
In His Service,
Jim Lynch, Evangelist
Miles City Church of Christ
234-3775
http://www.milescitychurch.community.officelive.com