This article is for the express purpose that as of the time of this writing we who hold to The Rapture as the blessed hope know that it is an imminent event. It is undeniable that the end time signs are everywhere. Israel is the key to understanding this. We continue to receive many questions concerning the “Rapture” of the church and its apparent contrast with the “Second Coming” of Jesus Christ. Where does this strange view come from? Is the term “rapture” even in the Bible? Did it happen? There will be great confusion and many lies have been prepared to explain this evnet. Dr. Ed Hindson gives clear concise advice shoul you have missed this event.
What to do if you miss The Rapture
Rapture Series. For more related teachings & info. Also the coming deceptions that will be presented after the rapture of the Church.
What To Do If You’re Left Behind
“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them who are 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 who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
Amazing words from the Word of God. But what do they mean? This passage foretells an amazing event we have come to call the Rapture of the Church. It is the time when God will take all living, believing Christians out of the Earth instantaneously:
“Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we all shall be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” 1 Corinthians 15:51
When will this amazing event take place? It will take place at the onset of a terrible 7-year period of time the Bible calls the Tribulation. During those gruesome days, over half the population of the world will die amidst wars, natural catastrophes, plagues, as the result of economic manipulation, and especially at the nefarious hand of an evil world ruler known in the Bible as the Antichrist.
Are we close to that event even now? Well, if you are a Christian, the answer is “Happily, yes!” The Bible is full of signs that indicate the approach of the Tribulation. Globalism, a united Europe, interlaced economies and mounting technology all point to the nearness of that time.
However if you are not a Christian, the answer for you is “Sadly, yes!” Sadly, because if you do not move quickly and come to believe in Jesus as Savior before the Rapture, you will be left behind after the Rapture to take your chances with the Antichrist and the world of his oppression. Your chances of survival will be less that 50/50, and most of those who will survive will be forced to join the new Satanic world economic system. But beware, the Bible says that joining that economic system (called the Mark of the Beast) will involve aligning yourself with the Antichrist, which will erase any chance you have to come to salvation.
But there is hope! Now, before the Rapture, you can believe on Jesus and become a Child of God. And even after the Rapture, you will have an opportunity to become a Tribulation Saint, enduring plagues and persecution, and probably being beheaded for the testimony of Christ.
The Imminent Gathering
Clearly, the Bible teaches us to expect Him at any moment. This is called the Doctrine of Imminency: it is next on the program and may take place very soon.
(The word “imminent” should not be confused with “immanent,” which, in theological contexts, means that God is not only transcendent, or far above us, but that He is always with us and active on our behalf. Nor should it be confused with “eminent,” which is a title of honor reserved for persons of outstanding distinction.)
Imminency expresses hope and a warm spirit of expectancy, 3 which should result in a victorious and purified life. 4 Believers are taught to expect the Savior from heaven at any moment. 5
Paul seemed to include himself among those who looked for Christ’s return. 6 Timothy was admonished to “keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 7 Jewish converts were reminded that “yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” 8
Some have concluded that the expectation of some were so strong they had stopped work and had to be exhorted to return to their jobs, 9 and have patience. 10
Two Events?
There are many that hold to the view that emerged in the Medieval church (Catholic and Protestant) that the “Second Coming” of Christ and the “Rapture” are somehow the same. Yet there seems to be a number of indications that these are distinct and separate.
In contrast to the imminent gathering of His church, there are numerous passages that deal with precedent events which must transpire prior to the “Second Coming” to establish His kingdom on the earth. Some of the passages referring to the Rapture and the Second Coming are summarized at the the table below.
|
Rapture |
Second Coming |
|
John 14:1-3 |
Dan 2:44-45 |
|
Rom 8:19 |
Dan 7:9-14 |
|
1 Cor 1:7-8 |
Dan 12:1-3 |
|
1 Cor 15:1-53 |
Zech 14:1-15 |
|
1 Cor 16:22 |
Matt 13:41 |
|
Phil 3:20-21 |
Matt 24:15-31 |
|
Col 3:4 |
Matt 26:64 |
|
1 Thess 1:10 |
Mark 13:14-27 |
|
1 Thess 2:19 |
Mark 14:62 |
|
1 Thess 4:13-18 |
Luke 21:25-28 |
|
1 Thess 5:9 |
Acts 1:9-11 |
|
1 Thess 5:23 |
Acts 3:19-21 |
|
2 Thess 2:1-3 |
1 Thess 3:13 |
|
1 Tim 6:14 |
2 Thess 1:6-10 |
|
2 Tim 4:1 |
2 Thess 2:8 |
|
Titus 2:13 |
2 Peter 3:1-14 |
|
Heb 9:28 |
Jude 1:14-15 |
|
James 5:7-9 |
Rev 1:7 |
|
1 Peter 1:7, 13 |
Rev 19:11-20:6 |
|
1 John 2:28-3:2 |
Rev 22:7, 12, 20 |
|
Jude 1:21 |
|
|
Rev 2:25 |
|
|
Rev 3:10 |
Why So Many Views?
There are, of course, many differing views, especially regarding matters of eschatology – the study of “last things.” This diversity derives from several factors: the disciplines associated with hermeneutics – the theory of interpretation – as well as the need to integrate an understanding of the entirety of God’s revealed plan of redemption: “the whole counsel of God.”
The need to relate the various elements of end-time events, such as the Great Tribulation, the events surrounding the Seventieth Week of Daniel, the Millennium, and other related issues, requires precise definitions and diligent study. We will address many of these in our subsequent articles in the hopes that they will prove helpful in understanding these issues and assisting you in formulating your own views regarding these challenges. (We will discover that some of the principal controversies are more an issue of ecclesiology than eschatology! But more of this next time.)
These are not “peripheral” issues (as they may have seemed in the past). We believe we are being plunged into a period of time about which the Bible says more than it does about any other period of human history-including the time that Jesus walked the shore of the Sea of Galilee and climbed the mountains of Judea! It is the most exciting time to be alive! But if we are to be diligent stewards, we need to carefully revise our priorities to match His!
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If your rapture happens at the 7th trump…then there is no way any christians will be here because satan comes in the 6th, Jesus at the 7th…..why teach your people to fly as it says in Isaiah…i thought we were sent to fight the enemy, not escape like cowards…..God forbid the disciples had this mindset or where would christianity be today…..And christian ministries will probably be first to condemn the very elect who are the only ones left fighting anti-christ!!!! Only the deceived don’t know they are deceived….open your mind and rethink your stand on this, and allow the Holy Spirit to show you the truth….for it is the teachers who will be the first in line to answer for their teaching…..God forbid you are wrong and have to answer for the thousands who have followed your teaching to their peril…I’d rather have a teacher who prepared me for battle than one who taught me to fly away and then be caught in the midst of war with no ammunition…..As for me, I say, anti-christ, come on, we’re ready for you!!!! We might be small in number but we have on our armor and Jesus by our side!!!!!
Julie, Thanks for your comment. We recommend you do a study on the various Trumpets found in the bible. There is the Shofar, Silver & a Gold Trumpet. Try our Rapture audio series. We cover this and some other common issues that come up. God bless, you!
I am with Julie on this one. The bible clearly says when the rapture comes. This is a comfortable false teaching.
But immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the Sky and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, AND THEN THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN WILL APPEAR IN THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and THEY WILL GATHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WINDS, FROM ONE END TO THE SKY.
MATTHEW 24:22 there is no secret rapture, nor 3rd coming.
Behold He is coming with the clouds and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even those who pierced Him, rev 1:7
For THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN
( He comes down for us doesn’t secret rapture us out) with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first.THEN WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL 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.
1 thes 4:16. There are many others i van quote, but wont. I realize Pre-trib is a very nice teaching but your setting the church up for the slaughter. The bible is clear that the saints are here. It would be better to prepare saints with the power of the gospel then let them believe there having a party while the earth is going through tribulation. We will be refined and purified and God will test us to know who is truly faithful. Jesus said when you see these things take place, run to the hills. why would he tell them run to the hills if he was going to rapture them out? There is not one clear scripture that the church is out of here 7 years earlier. We have studied all the defenses that are taught in Greek. scriptures are taken out of context or misinterpreted.
I love your ministry otherwise, but this is a dangerousness teaching during the times we are living in.
Blessings!
Jenny, Thank you for your comment. I respectfully disagree on the Rapture is NOT the 2nd coming. There is much confusion on this topic. I would recommend the following for study and come to your own conclusions. It took me years and I still take in new information. It is NOT an essential element and WE firmly believe the Church may see some serious persecution before to purify her of her worldliness.
The Second Coming the Lord returns to the earth after the Tribulation (Daniels 70th week) which is for Israel & Jerusalem.
Run to the hills is for the people in Jerusalem and He was speaking to Jews before the Church was born, speaking of the Great Tribulation (The Second half of the Tribulation) Matthew 24:15-16, 42months. The mystery of the Church had not yet been revealed (the gentile) portion yet. By Paul, Ephesians 3. The gathering here is not the Rapture. But He further in Matthew 25 explains that those who survive the Great Tribulation will be sorted out “The elect will go into the Millenium and the goats into the Great White Throne Judgement.
At least that is my understanding. Context is key to all these verses as mentioned above. Original audience, the questions where about Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Matthew 24:3 That is the context and the Rapture still had NOT yet been revealed. Paul had the privilege…
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Cor 15:50-57. Mystery means mystērion (Greek) means hidden thing, secret, mystery up to that point. Now we are in the know.
https://amos37.com/2007/07/28/daniels-70-weeks/
See this article for some timing elements. My studies have shown that all other positions fall apart. Pre-wrath, Mid & Post.
https://amos37.com/2012/08/29/jewish-wedding-and-the-rapture/
https://amos37.com/category/prophecy/rapture-series-audio/
God bless, Keith @ Amos