THE "RAPTURE TEACHING" (Part I)

THE “RAPTURE” TEACHING

An Introduction to The Rapture Teaching

and my reasons for presenting this to you all in this way.

From the first day I believed, I studied the Scriptures. And from my first encounter with Mainstream Evangelical Christian Eschatology, I could not embrace the confusion of theories by which the Evangelical view of “Millennialism” is presented. Much less could I subscribe to the mythical notion which is popularly called the RAPTURE of the saints

I have never once, in 31 years of faith, found sufficient bricks to build a house or doctrine supporting this absurd and foolish notion – which in my humble opinion for what it may be worth to any one of you, is nothing more than a great error of textual interpretation by the natural mind of man, nor the grounds to support the slightest hint that in the last days the believers in Messiah shall be taken out of the earth either before , in the midst of or after the time of the Great Tribulation. 

Recently, however, I have received any number of questions about this Rapture; articles and notes which promote the “doctrine” – from all its varying positions, there have been many questions asked of me, “what do you think about all this?” etc. =- and in recent days I have been involved in two discussions about this subject – the first discussion was amongst pro Rapture theorists the second where the majority shared my own conviction of faith.

 I think its time to say something about all this. And so this is the reason for this series – which I will publish here on FB and elsewhere in various format, including audio CD messages for our growing Word of God catalogue.

What Are We Talking About?

Essentially we are exploring the theology of what we must rightly identify as Western Gentile Evangelical Protestant Perspective on ESCHATOLGY – the study of the last things Or those events which are eternally decreed, prophetically proclaimed, and thus destined to occur in the earth in the “end times    or the “last age.”. 

In  order to speak with any understanding of the doctrines of the Scriptures, it is necessary to first both know and understand what the scriptures have said. And since in so many cases with which we find ourselves involved and in dispute of – it is also necessary to understand the grounds by which such doctrines are constructed. It is necessary if we are to render any kind of judgement or appraisal on such doctrines to know and understand the root, authority for, the history and evolution of such teachings; and it is reasonable to acquire knowledge and understanding of the causes of the confusion which arises from such doctrines so as to cause the schism of sectarianism and faction amongst even the ranks of those who hold to the doctrine, itself, as it is classically, stated and popularly believed.

I fully appreciate that some of you will soon become disinterested with this article because of the numerous Theological technicalities I find it necessary to employ. I am sad for this – but I stand by my decision to include them all, and for the reasons stated above.

So introduction over. Now, lets take a closer look at the Rapture theory.

(Part I) THE THEOLOGY OF THE RAPTURE

The Rapture is an event in the so called “futurist” interpretation of popular Christian Eschatology in which it is believed that the “Christians” will be “gathered together in the air” to meet Messiah. 

The term (rapture) means “to be taken up  and is derived from the Latin raptus  and is seconded by translation scribes from the original Greek term “hapazo” to be presented in the English language as rapture. 

In truth, the Bible doesn't speak of a rapture at all – nor support it – nor provide legitimate Tanakh authority for its existence. It exists then by the assumption of Greek minded “teachers” form the reading of what is written to believers in Thessolonica by the apostle Paul's statement of 1 Thess 4:17  where he says “harpazo ” - translated as "caught up" 

Harpazo  means "to carry off," "snatch up," or "grasp hastily." The translation from harpazo to "rapture" involved two steps: first, harpazo became the Latin word; second, raptus became the English word "rapture." 

Denominational Christians (both present and former) are divided on whether this will occur at the immediate time of his second advent, or in a several year period prior to this. The primary passage used to support this idea is  1 Thess. 4:17 - "...and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up  together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” Paul`s term “harpazo” rendered here as “caught up” is offered to us as the authority by which to establish this Rapture and “proof” of this authority is presented by the words pf Yeshua in Matt 24 regarding the 2nd advent of Messiah – which they insist is for the purpose of gathering the believers. 

Essentially, there are TWO VIEWS common to Denominational Christianity regarding this so called “Rapture of the saints.” The views are presented as “doctrines” and divided into two chief themes:

(a): with regard to the timing of Messiah`s second advent. Whether this is a separate event to the Rapture or gathering  (b): regarding the destination of the 1 Thess 4 aerial gathering: For now we shall examine only the first of this divisions or distinctions.

Dispensationalist Pre-millennialists and neo Pentecostal Evangelicals, (especially in the United States) hold the return of Messiah to be in two stages.1 Thess 4:15-17 is seen to be a preliminary event to the return described in Matt 24:29

Both views describe the return of Messiah “- in the clouds with angelic activity, trumpets, heavenly signs, and for one faction “the gathering of the saints” is presented as a separate event. The first event being “unseen” - whilst the “rapture” is visible to all, when the saved are prophesied to be 'caught up,' from whence the term rapture is taken.

To others, the 'second advent of Messiah is held as a “universally visible” event – for the purpose of determining with finality the warfare of “Armageddon

The majority of dispensationalists teach that the first event immediately precedes the period of The Tribulation. - and together with Dispensationalist Pre-millennialists and neo Pentecostal Evangelicals, (especially in the United States) believe that the return of Messiah is in two stages. 

The majority of dispensationalists hold that the first event immediately precedes the period of Tribulation. 

A third faction, known as Amillennialists (Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Lutheraniism and the Presbyterianism of the PCUSA view the event to be figurative, rather than literal. - but nevertheless, all three of the major Millennialist factions regard the return of Messiah as a single event, and take their stance for this from the "word of the Lord" cited by Paul in  1 Thess 4:15-17  is the Prophetic disclosure of Yeshua to the Jews in Matt 24:29-31.

In truth however, Amillennialists hold to what is more rightly called the "Postmillennial" positiin (prevailant amongst a minority sect of U.S. Presbyterians) -whilst the majority of the other factions favour the more Historic Pre millennial perspective of the Calvinistic Baptists 

It is commonly held amongst Rapture theorists that all passages of scripture by which they build their doctrine (i.e. Matt 24:29-31, I Thess 4:15-17, 2 Thess 2:1-3 and Rev 1:7 with specific regard to the return of Messiah “in the clouds” amidst trumpets, with angelic activity and heavenly signs, such as astronomic symbols universally witnessed, and the resurrection of the dead. - Only some of them hold that this single event also included the Rapture – i.e. the “gathering of the saints.”

Although the doctrinal relationship of the rapture  and the Second Advent are the same in all three major factions of Millennialism, Historic Pre-millennialism will use the term "rapture " to make a clear distinction between their own beliefs and those of the Dispensationalists.

MY CONCLUSION TO PART I

It is my conviction in the faith of Yeshua Messiah, and as an emissary of Yeshua Messiah, that I am called to - “pay attention to myself and to my teaching and to persevere also in those things – for if I do this I will insure salvation both for myself and for those who hear me. 1 Tim 4:16

It is also my conviction in the faith of Messiah that I am called to “Be diligent to present myself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth ” 2 Tim 2:15

Therefore, because of this conviction, and by the fruits of this conviction, I may confidently say to the Western Gentile Protestant Evangelical Christian, and in the light of this, my conviction of faith, I say this much; - It is the undeniable and indisputable factual evidence of your own Church History that, from 325 AD to this present day – that before the spurious conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine  (who is without doubt the Little Horn  depicted in the apocalyptic prophecy of Daniel 7 – no one within the assemblies and congregations of the authentic faith of Messiah believed or even knew of such a doctrine as this Rapture teaching. In fact to be precise, and in order that you all who are sincere seekers for truth above false hope of delusion, to prove to you all that the Rapture teaching is a man made myth – find me one presentation of this teaching as it`s many adherents hold it, to be written or presented prior to the latter years of the 19th century. You will not be able to my friends, because just as our brother and Rabbi David Taylor has pointed out: THERE NEVER WAS A RAPTURE TEACJHING PRIOR TO THE LATE 1800`s

In light of this, it is more than safe to confidently assert to you that this doctrine therefore originated in the Greek mind and outside of the era of the publishing of the Law Torah  and the proclamation of the Prophets Nevi`im 

It is also a fact that Christian thinkers, scholars and theologians, the Greek minded scribes who by their various commentaries establish to the ministers they train the doctrines of the faith, are just as fond of constructing their doctrines from the writings of the NT apostles as they are from TheTestimony of Yeshua  or even Tanakh (OT)

Conversely, Paul and all the other NT apostles took their authority to teach from Tanakh – the Law and the Prophets. And even Yeshua Himself (n the whom the WORD of GOD was found in flesh) did not introduce any new teaching in the three and one half years that He walked amongst the Jews. What He really and actually did was shine a Greater Light on the Tanakh (OT) than the prophets including Moses had been able to shine. Heb 1:1-2

However, the Christian ministers taught and equipped by these Greek minded Christian theologians will pass these doctrines to the sheep of their folds where you and cointless millions like yu sit and seek to feed. This they set before you all as the Truth of Gods word. And for the Christian Church, rooted in the religious system called Christianity, but it is flawed, errant and misleading; and it has been so for the Christians of the Western world for more almost 1700 years.

My friends, and all who are faithful and true in the faith of Messiah; there are a number of scriptural reasons why I reject this false teaching called the Rapture Teaching, and I will, in the course of this series, reveal them all in full. But one of the chiefest of these is rooted in three principal scriptures which I use as a key to approaching every so called doctrine presented by every so called apostle, rabbi, teacher and professing believer of every faith or religion. The scriptures are these.

(1): - “The Testimony of Yeshua is the spirit of prophecy" Rev 19:10

(2): - “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of ones own private interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by Holy Spirit spoke from God.” 2 Pet 1:20-21 

(3): - For thus the Lord spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people – and to bind up the testimony, (of Yahweh through His servants the prophets) (and to)seal the  (teaching of  the) Law among my disciples. (those who hear our teaching) - To the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn "  (not the first glimmering of enlightenment in the truth of God`s word. Isa 8:11,16,20 

And this is the principle reason by which I reject the teaching of the Rapture as false. It is not in accordance with the Testimony of God by His servants the prophets, nor the teaching of the Law given by Yahweh to Israel through the servant prophet called Moses. As it is classically presented to you, this doctrine offers no authority from Tanakh – and what is more had no existence as a teaching at all prior to the Dispensation al Darby-ism of the late 19th  century.

Because of these things and by the authority of this word – I reject this Teaching of the Rapture and judge it (appraise it if you prefer) to be worthless, false, deceptive and contrary to the testimony of God and the Lord Yeshua Messiah.

Therefore know this: that I shall vigorously and earnestly contend for the faith with any individual, so called teacher or professing believer, who seeks to present this nonsense to myself, or to any for whom I have care. My friends, the day for us to apologise for proclaiming the truth to you all is finished.

To you all I say - look to the OT if you will – if you care to know the truth of what I and other teachers are saying to correct this foolish delusion of false hope. Look to Tanakh – look even to Torah and to Enoch – for it is true to say that Enoch walked with God and was no more (Gen 5:24)– but is this a Rapture?

Look again to the prophets – for it is no less true to say that Elijah the Tishbite was snatched away to heaven by the chariot of fire, as Elisha watched and caught his mantle (2 Kngs 2:1-11) – but again – is this a rapture?

Next time, as God wills, we will examine the views concerning the destination of those raptured or gathered up. And also, begin to explore the opposing perspectives on the Rapture in relation to the period of the Tribulation. Until then - SHALOM