Rapture

The Question of a Rapture

Let us begin by saying that this section will report the popular theories about the Tribulation Period and the Rapture Theroy. CCHM is Post-Tribulational and New-millennial in belief. We do not support a Secret Rapture Theory, as we believe that Christ is only coming back ONE Time and not twice. He will take His saints during His Second Coming appearance and not prior to that time.

In Popular Theory About the Rapture

In Christian eschatology, the Rapture is the name given to the future event in which it is believed that Jesus Christ will descend from Heaven, accompanied by the spirits of all the saints of God, both from the pre-incarnation period and after, who have passed on prior to the Rapture, and then the bodies of the saints are joined with their spirits in a resurrection - the First Resurrection - to meet the Lord. Immediately after this, all true Christians alive on the earth are simultaneously transported to meet the Lord and all of those who have preceded them (also in the air), having been transformed into immortal bodies like Jesus' body, often referred to as the "resurrection body," or a celestial body, an indestructable spirit body of many dimensions. This event has also been called the "Sealing," and referred to as the "Translation."

There is much disagreement among most Rapture proponents over when the Rapture will occur in relation to the Tribulation, a seven-year period preceding the Second Coming of Christ to the earth, if the duration of the Tribulation will be a seven year period, or only a 3 1/2 year period. Some understand the Tribulation of Matthew 24 as having already taken place in 70 AD, at the destruction of Jerusalem. This theory can be found in the beliefs of Preterists. Three different views dominate: the first is that it will take place sometime prior (Pre-trib) to the Tribulation; the second is that it will take place mid-way (Mid-trib) through the Tribulation; the third view is that it will take place after (Post-trib) the Tribulation. This is when Christ comes to earth to establish His Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, taking over rulership of the world for 1,000 years. This period is called the Millennial, and there are several theories about that as well. A fourth view is the Pre-Wrath view. Read below under Pre-Wrath Theory.

Rapture Etymology

"Rapture", when used in eschatological terms, is an English word used in place of the Latin word raptus; taken from the Vulgate, which in turn is a translation of the Koine Greek word harpazo, which can be found in the Greek New Testament manuscripts of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. In many modern English translations of the Bible, harpazo is translated; "caught up", or "taken away". "Harpazo" \har-pad'-zo\ Koine Greek; "forcibly snatched away", "taken for oneself," or "translated or sealed."

Doctrinal History

The Catholic and Orthodox churches as well as the Reformed denominations have no tradition of such a teaching and reject the doctrine, in part because they cannot find any reference to it among any of the early Church fathers. Gee! Go figure! Some also reject it because they interpret prophetic scriptures in either an Amillennial or Postmillennial fashion, as being more spiritual than physical.

In a Catholic version of the Bible, The Douay Rheims Bible, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and then in 1 Corinthians 51-55 seem clear on this subject. These passages describe "The resurrection of the living" or "First Resurrection" which other denominations have named "The Rapture."

Proponents of the Rapture insist that the Doctrine of Amillennialism originated with Alexandrian scholars such as Clement and Origen and was later brought wholly into Roman Catholic dogma by Augustine. Hence, the Catholic Church up until then held to Pre-Millennial views, which see an impending apocalypse from which the Church will be rescued after being raptured by the Lord. This is even extrapolated by some to mean that the early Church espoused Pre-Tribulationism.

Some Pre-Tribulation proponents maintain that the earliest known extra-Biblical reference to the "Pre-Tribulation" Rapture is from a sermon falsely attributed to the fourth-century Church Father Ephraem the Syrian, which says, "For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the Tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins." However, the interpretation of this writing, as supporting a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, is still debated. This whole statement is wholly questionable. However, CCHM supports the Pre-Tribulation Theory of the Rapture.

There exists at least one 18th century and two 19th century Pre-Tribulation references, in a book published in 1788, in the writings of a Catholic priest Emmanuel Lacunza in 1812, and by John Nelson Darby in 1827. However, both the book published in 1788 and the writings of Lacunza have opposing views regarding their interpretations, as well.

The rise in belief in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is sometimes attributed to a 15-year old Scottish-Irish girl named Margaret McDonald (a follower of Edward Irving), who in 1830 had a vision that was later published in 1861.

The popularization of the term is associated with teaching of John Nelson Darby, prominent among the Plymouth Brethren, and the rise of Pre-Millennialism and Dispensationalism. This was found in English-speaking churches at the end of the 19th century. In 1908, the Doctrine of the Rapture was further popularized by an evangelist named William Eugene Blackstone, whose book, Jesus Is Coming, sold more than one million copies. The first known appearance of the theological use of the word "rapture" in print, occurs with the Scofield Reference Bible of 1901.

In 1957, John Walvoord, a theologian at Dallas Theological Seminary, authored a book, "The Rapture Question," that gave theological support to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture; this book sold over 65,000 copies. In 1958, J. Dwight Pentecost authored another book supporting the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology. His book sold 215,000 copies.

During the 1970s, the Rapture became popular in wider circles, in part due to the Hal Lindsey publication of The Late Great Planet Earth, which has reportedly sold between 15 million and 35 million copies and by the movie "A Thief in the Night" which based its title on the scriptural reference 1 Thessalonians 5:2. Hal Lindsey proclaimed that the Rapture was imminent, an idea that he based on world conditions at the time. The Cold War and the European Economic Community figured prominently in his predictions of impending Armageddon. Other aspects of 1970s global politics were seen as having been predicted in the Bible. Lindsey suggested, for example, that the seven-headed beast with ten horns, cited in the Book of Revelation, was the European Economic Community, a forebear of the European Union, which at the time aspired to ten nations; it now has 27 member states.

In 1995, the Doctrine of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture was further popularized by Tim LaHaye's book series, Left Behind, which sold tens of millions of copies and was made into several movies.

The Doctrine of the Rapture continues to be an important component in Fundamentalist Christian eschatology today. Many Christians continue to feel that world conditions point to the Rapture, Tribulation, and Return of Christ occurring soon, very soon! CCHM supports the Pre-Tribulation viewpoint, and hopes to go soon.

Scriptural Basis

Supporters of the Doctrine of the Rapture generally proof-text the following primary sources in the New Testament. All scriptures listed below are quoted from the NKJV.

* "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:2–3)

* "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

(Philippians 3:20-21)

* "And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 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. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 'O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?'" (1 Corinthians 15:49–55) Note that the saying that is quoted toward the end of these passages comes from the Old Testament as follows: "Death is swallowed up in victory" is from Isaiah 25:8 and "O Death, where is your sting?" is found in Hosea 13:14.

* "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." (1Thessalonians 4:15–17)

* "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-7)

The Rapture's Timing

One of the tenets of the Dispensationalist interpretation of Bible prophecy is that in the prophecy of 70 weeks from the book of Daniel (Daniel 9:27), between the 69th and 70th weeks there is a break, lasting an unspecified period of time. Thus, the 70th week of seven years has not yet occurred. This seven-year period will mark the end of the current dispensation, and is referred to as the Tribulation. There is considerable debate among Christians who believe in the Rapture "regarding the timing of the Rapture relative to the Tribulation." Most views hold that Christian believers will be either removed from, or protected from the judgment of God's wrath.

The Pre-Tribulation Theory

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the view that the Rapture will occur before the beginning of the Tribulation period. According to this view, the Christian Church that existed prior to that seven-year period has no vital role during the seven years of Tribulation, and will therefore be removed. Many people who accept Christ after the Rapture will be martyred for their faith during the Tribulation (Revelation 20:4).

Saint John the Divine, which some believe is the apostle John, is seen in Revelation 4:1 as representing the Church caught up to Heaven. John hears the Trumpet and a voice that says, "Come up hither", and he is translated in the Spirit to Heaven and then sees what will happen to those left on earth. The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the most widely held position among American Evangelical Christians and therefore, this Rapture theory has become popular in recent years around the world and through the work of Dispensational preachers such as Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost, Tim LaHaye, Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Chuck Smith, Dr. Chuck Missler, Jack Van Impe, and Dr. Grant Jeffrey.

Some who believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture warn that the Rapture is imminent, saying that all of the prophecies concerning the latter days have been fulfilled to the extent that the Rapture could take place at any moment. Others suggest that certain requirements must first be met before a Rapture can occur, such as:

1. The nations of the world must unify their currency onto a universal standard.

2. There will be peace in Israel (Ezekiel 38).

3. There will be a one-world government, to correspond to the 7th beast that is found in Revelation, prior to the Antichrist's 8th beast government.

4. The Jewish temple in Jerusalem must be rebuilt in its original place.

5. Observance of Old Testament commandments concerning animal sacrifices must be reinstated.

6. There will be a great falling away and the Antichrist will be revealed. 2 Thessalonians 2

The Mid-Tribulation Theory

A minority view, with few proponents today, claim the Rapture happens half-way through the seven-year Tribulation. This view is supported by the 7th chapter of Daniel (Verse 25), where it says the saints will be given over to tribulation for a "time, times, and half a time" which is interpreted to mean three and one half years. That is, half way through the seven years of the Tribulation. At this juncture, the Antichrist commits the "abomination of desolation" by desecrating the Jerusalem temple that will have been re-built on the The Temple Mount.

The Pre-Wrath Theory

The Pre-Wrath Rapture view is that the Tribulation of the Church begins toward the latter part of the seven-year period, being Daniel's 70th week, when the Antichrist is revealed in the temple. The Great Tribulation, according to this view, is of the Antichrist against the Church at this time. The duration of this Tribulation period is unknown, except that it begins and ends during the second half of Daniel's 70th week. References from Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are used as evidence that this Tribulation will be cut short by the Second Coming of Christ to deliver the righteous by means of a Rapture. This will occur after the sixth seal is opened and the Sun is darkened and the moon is turned to blood. However, by this point, many Christians will have been slaughtered as martyrs by the Antichrist. After the Rapture comes God's seventh-seal wrath of trumpets and bowls, which to many is known as "the Day of the Lord." The Day of the Lord's wrath against the ungodly will follow for the remainder of the seven years. This will be true hell on earth.

The Post-Tribulation Theory (CCHM Stance)

The Post-Tribulation Rapture, or "Post-Trib" view places the Rapture at the end of the Tribulation period, based on passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, seen as quoting the words of "the Lord" as indicated in Matthew 24:29-31. From this perspective, Christian believers will be on the earth as witnesses to Christ during the entire seven years, until the last day of the Tribulation period.

Post-Tribulation advocates find no scriptural support for the so-called "Yo-Yo Theory", which they describe as the first-Second Coming of Christ in the clouds for the Rapture and then coming back again for a second-Second Coming (sometimes called the Second Coming in two parts or the Second and Third Coming). However, the Pre-Trib believers would say that they do not support two comings of Christ. Go figure this one! The first is for the Church (and not a return)- then Christ will return to the Earth to set up the Millennial Kingdom. The Rapture is not considered to be the coming of Christ but a specific snatching away of the Church. Hey folks, a "return," is a "return," is it not?

The Post-Tribulation view brings Christ's "appearing" and his "coming" together in one all-encompassing, grand event. Matthew 24:29–31; "Immediately after the Tribulation of those days…they shall gather together his elect…", is cited as a foundational scripture for this view. Pat Robertson describes the end times this way in his 1995 novel The End of the Age. Another supporting scripture is John 17:15-16, where Jesus prays that the Father not take his (Jesus') disciples from the earth, but that he (the Father) would nevertheless "keep them from the evil one." This is taken to preclude a Pre-Trib or a Mid-Trib Rapture to heaven at any time. Prominent authors supporting this view are Walter Ralston Martin, John Piper, George Eldon Ladd, Robert H. Gundry, and Douglas Moo. Matthew 24:2931 ASV and1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ASV

Stated in Matthew 24:29-31 ASV, "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ASV "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

The Pan-Trib Position

This is a lesser-known position that maintains that the Scriptures are intentionally unclear about the relationship of the Rapture to the Tribulation. As a result, believers could anticipate the Return of Jesus to the clouds at any moment while yet watching for the rise of the Antichrist. This position claims to harmonize two seemingly contradictory threads, and believing that things will 'pan-out' in the end. I believe that God is much more organized and deliberate than this viewpoint gives Him credit for being.

Date Setting: Dangerous

Generally, believers in the Rapture of the Church no longer make predictions regarding the exact timing of the event itself. The primary scripture reference cited for this position is Matthew 24:36, where Jesus is quoted saying, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone" (NASB).

Any individual or religious group that has dogmatically predicted the day of the Rapture, referred to as "date setting", has been thoroughly embarrassed and discredited, as the predicted date of fulfillment hs come and gone without event. Some of these individuals and groups have offered excuses and "corrected" target dates, while others have simply released a reinterpretation of the meaning of the scripture to fit their current predicament, and then explained that although the prediction appeared to have not come true, in reality it had been completely accurate and fulfilled, albeit in a different way than many had expected. These religions and their leaders are full of heffer dust and should be considered as false religions and false teachers/leaders.

Conversely, many of those who believe that the precise date of the Rapture cannot be known, do affirm that the specific time frame that immediately precedes the Rapture event can be known. This time frame is often referred to as "the season". The primary section of Scripture cited for this position is Matthew 24:32-35; where Jesus is quoted teaching the parable of the fig tree, which is proposed as the key that unlocks the understanding of the general timing of the Rapture, as well as the surrounding prophecies listed in the sections of Scripture that precede and follow this parable.

Some notable Rapture predictions since the publishing of Hal Lindsey's work in 1969 which was really the most recent catalyst for such dating.

* 1981 - Chuck Smith undogmatically predicted that Jesus would likely return by 1981.

* 1988 - Publication of 88 Reasons why the Rapture is in 1988, by Edgar C. Whisenant.

* 1989 - Publication of The Final Shout: Rapture Report 1989, by Edgar Whisenant. More predictions by this author appeared for 1992, 1995, and other years.

*Numerous posters placed in public locations around the New England area in 1992

1992 - Korean group "Mission for the Coming Days" predicted October 28, 1992 as the date for the Rapture.

* 1993 - Some Christian Thinking on the theory of "seven years before the year 2000." The Rapture would have to start to allow for seven years of the Tribulation before the Return of Christ in 2000. Multiple predictions.

* 1994 - Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church in Los Angeles predicted June 9, 1994. Radio evangelist Harold Camping predicted September 27, 1994.

* 1997 - Stan Johnson of the Prophecy Club predicted September 12, 1997.

* 1998 - Marilyn Agee, in The End of the Age, predicted May 31, 1998.

* 2011 - Harold Camping's revised prediction has May 21, 2011 as the date of the Rapture.

* 2060 - (Of future interest) Sir Isaac Newton undogmatically proposed, based upon his calculations using figures from the book of Daniel, that the Rapture could happen no earlier than 2060.

Amillennialism Theory

Amillennialism is a theological view concerning the 1000-year reign of Jesus Christ that is mentioned in Revelation 20:1–6. In particular, Amillennialism is the perspective that there will not be a future literal 1000-year reign of Christ upon the earth. The inseparable Latin prefix a means “no” and the term “millennium” is Latin for “1000 years.” Thus, Amillennialism literally means “no 1000 years.”

It should be noted that the term Amillennialism is a reactionary title in that it denies the presence of a future literal 1000-year reign of Christ on earth that premillennialists affirm. However, Amillennialists do in fact believe in a millennium; what they reject, though, is the idea of a future literal 1000-year reign of Christ on earth after the second coming of Christ.

According to Amillennialism, the millennium of Revelation 20:1–6 is being fulfilled spiritually in the present age before the return of Jesus Christ. Thus, the millennium or kingdom of Christ is in existence now. Amillennialists affirm that the millennium began with the resurrection and/or ascension of Christ and will be consummated when Jesus returns again to establish the Eternal Kingdom that is discussed in Revelation 21–22.

For amillennialists, Satan is presently bound and Christians are now enjoying the benefits of the millennium. Some amillennialists claim that the millennium also involves the reigning of saints who are now in heaven. Amillennialists claim that the 1000-year period that is mentioned in Revelation 20:1–6 refers to a long indefinite period of time between the two comings of Christ and is not a literal 1000- year period that occurs after Jesus’ return. Because amillennialists believe Christ is currently reigning in the millennium, some, like Jay Adams, believe the title “Realized Millennialism” is a more appropriate title than “Amillennialism.”

In regard to the end times, Amillennialism affirms the following chronological scenario:

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Christ is now ruling in His kingdom while Satan is bound from deceiving the nations.

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Tribulation is experienced in the present age even though Christ is ruling.

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Jesus will return again to earth.

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After Jesus returns there will be a general bodily resurrection of all the righteous people and a general judgment of all unbelievers.

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The Eternal Kingdom will begin.

Post-millennialism Theory

In regard to the end times, Amillennialism affirms the following chronological scenario:

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Christ is now ruling in His kingdom while Satan is bound from deceiving the nations.

•

Tribulation is experienced in the present age even though Christ is ruling.

•

Jesus will return again to earth.

•

After Jesus returns there will be a general bodily resurrection of all the righteous people and a general judgment of all unbelievers.

•

The Eternal Kingdom will begin.

New Millennialism Theory (CCHM Stance)

This belief is the most biblical and less complicated of all the theories. It professes the following points:

(1) This millennial period is 1,000 years long and follows the Second Coming of Christ and continues until Satan is unbound from the pit.

(2) During this period, those individuals who lived through the Tribulation Period and were somehow safely ushered into this 1,000 period were unsaved individuals from the world.

(3) During this period, there will be suffering and dying, but most of such suffering and dying will occur at the end of the 1,000 year period.

(4) Those who die during this period will be from either batlling Satan and his forces that will gather to do battle against the Lord, at the conclusion of this period, or those who die 100 years after they are born, having learned about Christ and His Second Coming, how it all happened and occurred, and about the Lord's offer of salvation, but refuse to believe those stories and accounts of Christ, and reject His offer of salvation. They will be considered a child at 100 years old, but die at that age if they reject His salvation.

(5) The world will progress and have new sociieties, nations and cultures, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be delivered to each person living or born into this 1,000 years period.

(6) When the 1,000 years are up, those individuals who lived through the world's Tribulation Period, and later accepted Christ, due to His miracle return and tur gospel, may get weary of the gospel and fall away - many will remain loyal to Christ, yet some of those who were born into this 1,000 year period, and accepted the Lord, may now reject what they first heard.

(7) Satan and this demonic angels will be loosened from the abyss to attempt to dissaude the nations one last time. Thos unbelievers on the earth will join him and fight against the believers on the earth and the Holy forces who will be led by Christ.

(8) Satan and his demons will lose and be cast into the pit of sulfer and fire (hell), to be tortured and burned for eternity.

(9) There will be a gathering of the sheep and the goats and a separation of those nations and peoples, and the next Resurrection, that of the evil dead from all periods of time upon the earth, will occur, and those evil dead will be judged along with those evil folks alive, who were separated from the good folks alive, and all will stand before God a the the Great White Throne Judgment.

(10) Those who are found not listed in God's Book of Life, their names not being written in it, are immediately found gullty and thrown into the Lake of Fire with satan and this demonic hordes, and thus will suffer the Second Death! This lasts for all Eternity.

(11) Those whose names are written in the Lord's Book of Life, will enter into the New Jerusalem which is part of the New Heavens and the New Earth. This is where they shall dwell in perfect paradise without any suffering, harm, injury, crying, worry and death - and so forth.

(12) After the Second Coming of the Lord, the First Resurrection will occur and those good saints who died, will be resurrected, the last dead being the first to come back and then those who died, systematically right afterwards. It will be an orderly resurrection and all done within a fraction of time. All saints willbe given new heavenly bodies, or what is called resurrection bodies. They will all either be chosen and selected by God to either teach the Gospel to those who lived through the Tribulation and need to hear and understand the Word. . .and accept it or die, while other saints will govern as kings and judges over the peoples of the earth.

(13) This resurrected individuals will those who were found worthy and had their names already written in the Book of Life when they died. Their spirits which are kept in the presence of God, in some heavenly place, will be joined with their living souls, which have slept, and with their news bodies, and become holy living beings of a celestial nature which cannot be hurt or injuredm nor can they die, and yes, they are greater than angels. They will rule with earth along with the return of the Holy Spirit who will assist in teaching the gospel through the celestials beings, and through the new human converts living during the 1,000 period.

(14) One great difference between those who lived before the Tribulation Period and those who made it through the Tribulation Period, is that everyone prior to this 1,000 year time period die before they ever reached 120 years of age, but now these folks live to be 1,000 years old.

(15) From Heaven Christ reigns with His angels, and perhaps, some of these celestial beings, but this part about the celestial beings is solely conjecture baaed indirectly, vicariously of in some way led to believe such was possible, from what Scripture either said or denoted.