The Rapture

IS

Controversial

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”

The Bible warns of a coming day when all who are found waiting in faith for Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha’Mashiach in Hebrew), will be removed from the Earth “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” . . .

What is this strange, bizarre, mysterious, Bible prophecy all about?

The Scriptures warn us Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, will return . . . TWICE:

First, “As a thief in the night” . . . FOR those who waited in faith
Second, “Every eye shall see” . . . WITH those who waited in faith

It might help to understand WHY God feels it will be important to remove this remnant (or ‘body’) of believers from the Earth in such a decisive and startling way. We find the Rapture is somewhat analogous to a loving Bridegroom yanking His young wife (‘betrothed’) off the railroad tracks just as the train goes thundering by … (with the “train” being those terrible events of the coming Apocalypse).

“The Rapture” IS controversial …

The “Rapture of the Church” is controversial. This prophecy should not be a dividing point between believing Christians. Yet, the “Pre-Tribulation” and “Mid-Tribulation” camps have occasionally become a bit contentious in this matter.

However, the only thing that matters is that you don’t get left behind. The door will be shut. We believe the Rapture could happen any moment, and nothing now remains to be prophetically fulfilled before it can take place.

A new “Proverbialist” position on the Rapture

To help reduce divisions within the body of Christ, we now simply call our position “Proverbialist,” (meaning “Don’t Wait!” to take the Bible seriously), per God’s Word found in Proverbs …

“A wise (prudent) man (or woman)
foresees danger (evil) and hides himself.
But, the fool (simple)
go on and are punished (left behind).”
(Proverbs 22:3 & 27:12 … God says this twice!!)

You will find the word “hide” or “hidden” included four times in the following verses concerning the Rapture.

“Worst Case” Scenario

In the world of Robotics, AI, Virtual Reality, and 3D imaging Research and Design, we quickly learned the value of planning and preparing for the “worst case” scenario.

To do so in preparing for the Rapture, our motto is:

“I’d rather be an hour early than one minute late!!!”

We will find the Bible tells us how to plan and be prepared.

Now, let’s look at some of the prophecies found in the Bible which refer to this strange, forceful, prophetic and awesome coming event which we simply call “The Rapture” . . .

THE COMING RAPTURE

“Behold! I tell you a mystery.
We shall not all sleep (die a bodily death),
but we shall all be changed
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet.
(See the “trumpet of gathering” Numbers 10:11-14)
For the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we shall be changed.”
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

“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 (raptured) together
with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

“For in the Time of Trouble (The Great Tribulation … the Apocalypse)
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
in the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a Rock.”
(Psalm 27:5) (The Bible says Jesus is the only “Rock”)

“Who ARE these that fly like a cloud,
and like doves to their windows?”
(Isaiah 60:8)

“Come, MY people,
enter your chambers,
and shut your doors behind you;
hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment,
until the indignation (the great Tribulation) is past.
For behold, the LORD comes out of His place
to punish the inhabitants of the Earth
for their iniquity (the coming Apocalypse);
the Earth will also disclose her blood,
and will no more cover her slain.”
(Isaiah 26:20 – 21)

“Seek the LORD,
all you meek of the Earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness,
Seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
in the Day of the LORD’S anger.” (The coming Apocalypse)
(Zephaniah 2:3)

“Because you have kept
My command to persevere,
I also will keep you from the hour of trial
which shall come upon the whole World,
to test those who dwell on the Earth.”
“Behold, I come quickly (suddenly)!”
(Revelation 3:10-11)

“But of that day and hour no one knows,
no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
(Matthew 24:36)

“Then two men will be in the field:
One will be taken and the other left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill:
One will be taken and the other left.”
“WATCH therefore, for you do not know
what hour your Lord is coming.”
(Matthew 24:40-42)

“Be dressed and ready (in readiness),
and keep your lamps lit.
Be like men who are waiting
for their master when he returns
from the wedding feast,
so that they may
immediately open the door to him
when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those slaves
whom the master will find on the alert
when he comes.
Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour you do NOT expect.”
(Luke 12:35-36,40)

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren,
you have no need that I should write to you.
For you yourselves know perfectly
that the Day of the Lord
so comes as a thief in the night.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)

“WATCH therefore,
and pray always
that you may be counted
worthy to ESCAPE
all these things
that WILL come to pass.” (The coming Apocalypse)
(Luke 21:36)

Who will get “Raptured” (and who will be left behind)?

To simplify things, let’s divide all of the people in the world into four groups:

1. Those who sincerely believe and trust in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. All those (both Jew and Gentile) who believe Jesus Christ willingly and lovingly suffered and died upon the Cross for all of our sins, was buried, and then rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15). Those who have sincerely accepted Him as their Lord and Savior (who saves us from our sins and from Hell). The Bible also promises all those who are “eagerly awaiting” His return in faith will be “counted worthy to escape” (be removed or raptured from) the coming Apocalypse.

2. Those who call themselves Christians, but don’t really believe these things, and have no real faith in Jesus, God, or the Bible. Those who don’t believe they will need a Savior to get into Heaven. Those who have never willingly opened the door of their hearts to invite Jesus into their lives and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Those who don’t believe, or take the Bible (or Christ’s return) seriously, and will not be ready to go with Him when He returns suddenly, “as a thief in the night.” For the Bible warns that no regular church attendance or crosses around our necks can ever save us without Godly repentance (acknowledging and turning away from our sins) and placing all of our faith and trust in Jesus Christ’s completed work on the Cross, where He demonstrated His perfect love for us.

3. “The World.” Those who do not believe, and who ridicule, scoff at, or despise those who do. Those who deny Jesus as Lord and willfully reject His loving offer of forgiveness and His freely offered gift of eternal life in Heaven. Those who think all of this Bible stuff is just plain crazy. These will not escape, but will enter into “The Day of the Lord” … the coming Apocalypse.

4. Israel. Those children of Jacob (Israel) who have not yet accepted Yeshua (Jesus) as their promised Messiah have a clear prophetic destiny. Watch Israel. Israel is God’s timepiece in Bible prophecy, and all the prophecies of the coming ‘Apocalypse’ revolve around the tiny nation of Israel … the only nation which God calls His own.

It appears that only those believers in Group 1 will be “Raptured,” and thus safely removed and hidden before the coming Apocalypse. Many churches, pulpits, synagogues, and pews will still be filled. Many people will be left behind. The Bible warns of a coming world leader who will be revealed sometime soon after the Rapture. This coming world leader has been given many names and titles in the Bible, both in the Old and the New Testaments … one of his ‘titles’ is the “Antichrist.” There are some who feel this coming world leader may even powerfully convince those who are left on Earth after the Rapture that this missing segment of global population was kidnapped or removed by a much different kind of alien “force.”

WHEN will the Rapture take place?

We do not know, and we are told that no man will ever know the day or the hour. However, there doesn’t appear to be anything left in prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before the Rapture can take place, so, it could easily happen any day . . .

“But of that day and hour NO ONE knows,
not even the angels of Heaven,
but My Father only.
(Matthew 24:36)

“WATCH therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour
in which the Son of Man is coming.”
(Matthew 25:13)

The Lord says it could happen at any moment, “In the twinkling of an eye!” He says it will happen at a time when the world will least expect it. We are told we should always be prepared by simply believing in Him and “eagerly” waiting for Him in faith. We are also taught we should help prepare others.

However, prophecies do tell us the “Antichrist” will not be revealed until sometime AFTER the Rapture …

“For the mystery of Lawlessness
is already at work;
Only He who now restrains (the Holy Spirit)
will do so UNTIL He is taken out of the way. (The Rapture)
And THEN the Lawless One (Antichrist)
will be revealed,
whom the Lord will consume
with the breath of His mouth
and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
The coming of the Lawless One (Antichrist)
is according to the working of Satan,
with all power, signs (miracles),
and lying wonders”
(2 Thessalonians 2:7-9)

We are also told the coming Antichrist will be revealed (to those who are left on Earth) when he enforces a coming Peace Plan (“covenant”) upon nation Israel. This specific prophetic event will mark the exact day the 7 years (2,520 days) of the Apocalypse will begin. Since there are many who feel this man is probably alive today, it seems to be a good time to learn what the Bible has to say.

After the Rapture . . . the door will then close

A Warning: The Parable of the Ten Virgins

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to ten virgins,
who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom.
Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Those who were foolish took their lamps,
and took no oil with them,
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight a cry was heard,
‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.’
But the wise answered, saying,
‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you;
but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came,
and they that were ready went in with Him to the wedding;
and the door was shut.
Afterward the other virgins came also saying,
‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
But He answered and said,
‘Verily I say to you,
I DO NOT KNOW YOU.’
“WATCH therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour
in which the Son of man is coming.”
(Matthew 25:1-13)

Note: Throughout the Bible, certain symbols are used consistently as “idioms” or “types.”

– The Bridegroom represents Jesus Christ (who will return for His betrothed at the Rapture)
– The 10 virgins represent those who call themselves Christians
– The oil represents the Holy Spirit
– God promises the Holy Spirit to all who sincerely believe and are “born again” (see below)
– The wedding is “The wedding supper of the Lamb” in Heaven (Revelation 19:6-9)

Be dressed and ready waiting for the Bridegroom …

Blessed are those invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!!!

“And the angel said to me, “Write this:
Blessed (happy) are those who are invited
to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”
And he said to me,
“These are the true words of God.”
(Revelation 19:9)