THE RAPTURE TEACHING (Part III)

THE RAPTURE TEACHING (Part III)

THE TIME OF THE “RAPTURE”

Introduction to Part III

Daniel and the King`s Dream

Dan 2:26-29 --- Then the king (Nebuchadnezzar) said to Daniel --- “are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and it`s interpretation?” Daniel answered - “As for the MYSTERY about which the king has inquired; neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who REVEALS MYSTERIES and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in THE LATTERDAYS. --- “As for you O king, while you lay on your bed, YOUR THOUGHTS TURNED TO WHAT WOULDTAKE PLACE IN THE FUTURE. And He who REVEALS MYSTERIES has MADE KNOWN TO YOU WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE.”

To King Nebuchadnezzar the question was no mere matter of idle speculation or natural curiosity. The dynasty of this Empire and his own place in history was at the core of his desperate need. To compound his problem, he could not remember the dream - either that or he had little faith in the abilities of his court magi to provide an accurate interpretation for him. Well we know that many of our own time are men pleasers don't we --- those who seek the approval and acceptance for reward of men – men of influence or just our peers, for reward or hope of personal advancement. There is always a mjoritive audience waiting to have their ears tickled by hearing those things they like to hear. Jer 5:30-31

As for the Magi – their problem was compounded by something far ore vital than reward of advancement. Unless thy came up with the right answer to the riddle --- Nebuchadnezzar was intent on killing the lot of of them.

And as for Daniel-? His motivation in this matter is simply stated in the scriptures and so we are spared need for speculation: :

AH! - If only the king had been willing (or able) to relate the details of his troubling dream to the magi -it might all have been a very different story. Then they might have noted the symbolism highlighted in the dream – they might easily have saved Daniel a night of prayer --- not to mention their own lives. But I guess we all know by now – the truth of the reality world in which we is a world in which the wishful dreams for an “If only” have no place – no existence. Wed like it to be so – but it`s not so. And it`s never going to be so – is it!?

Deut 29:29 - “The secret things belong to the LORD (YHWH) but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever that we might observe all the words of His Law.”

Most Christian teachers do not teach their flocks to embrace the things plainly revealed in such a way as to make primary their devotion to observing all HIS Law. --- well do they?  Because if they do – how is it they yet hold to this lawless gospel of Cheap grace? How is t it they make a V line to my page to take me and other Messianic teachers to task for daring to raise to their hearing the obnoxious question of the Law.? Well like I`ve said already; the day for apologising for proclaiming the truth to Babylon is finished. Enough said.

Another thing you will find, if you look closely enough and objectively at the nature of the grain which is set before you for you to eat --- is that there are a multitude of curious men and women who will eagerly trample like swine over the pearls of the things plainly revealed in order to grab hold of a piece of insight on the SECRET THINGS – as if by their own grasp they can snatch them out of the Hand of the Lord. 
Do they not know how way back in Eden, after Eve had eaten of that certain fruit by which, being beguled, she believed would make her wise like God, that through Adam`s calculated choice for the woman over God, God appointed two CHERUBIM to guard that Tree of Life, “lest they reach out their hand and eat of its fruit and live forever.” Gen 3:22

Well, its only meant to be an intro not a full blown sermon (lol) so Ill say no more for now. But simply ask you all to bear these things in the forefronts of your minds as you continue in this part of the study. And let him who has an ear HEAR with FAITH what The Sovereign Lord Most High is desiring to say to His people.

PRE TRIBUATION? MID TRIBULATION? or POST TRIBULATION?

The Two Tribulation Views

The theory of the "Pre-Tribulation" rapture is often wrongly attributed to a 15-year old Scottish-Irish girl named Margaret McDonald (at that time a “follower” of Edward Irving - who in 1830 had a vision of the end times which describes a post-tribulation view of the Rapture that was first published in 1840.) It was published again in 1861 but two important passages demonstrating post-tribulation were removed to encourage confusion concerning the timing of the Rapture.

*** (I have decided to write a fuller account of the Margaret McDonald vision which I will publish in a few days from now as a separate note – and appendix to this study series.)

The mass popularity and swift ascendency of pre-millennialism towards the end of the 19th century, (significantly so amongst those who were formerly conservative or even “luke warm” Evangelicals) is in large part due to the teaching of John Nelson Darby. -

In 1908, the “doctrine” of “the rapture” was further popularized by an evangelist named William (Eugene) Blackstone. His book entitled “Jesus is Coming” sold more than one million copies. The first known theological use of the word "rapture" in print occurs with the Scofield Reference Bible (JN Darby`s dispensationalist hand book with annotations and “commentary”) (published 1909)

Fifty years later, a Theologian from Dallas Theological Seminary called John Walvoord published “The Rapture Question” lending “scholarly support” to the Pre-Tribulation rapture theory.

One year later, in 1958 J. Dwight Pentecost also published a book supporting the Pre-Trib Rapture theory called “Things To Come.” (A Study in Biblical Eschatology) Mr Pentecost had been instrumental in Rome's post Vatican II offensive to Ecumenise the Evangelical protestants back to the fold. This had in large part been accomplished through the “Charismatic Renewal.”

During the 1970s, Hal Lindsay further popularised the pre trib rapture theory through his best selling book - “The Late Great Planet Earth” Then came the ground breaking movie “A Thief in the Night,” Lindsey proclaimed that the rapture was imminent, based on world conditions at the time. The Cold War and the European Economic Community figured prominently in his predictions of impending Armageddon. (in my opinion the author was obsessed with the subject)

Other aspects of 1970s global politics were seen as having been predicted in Scripture. Lyndsay even suggested that the seven-headed beast with ten horns, (Book of Revelation) was none other than the European Economic Community (EEC) – a forerunner of the European Union which at the time aspired to ten nations; (now 27)

In 1995, the doctrine of the Pre-Tribulation rapture theory was kept burning brightly by Tim LeHaye`s published “series” - “Left Behind!

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TIMELINE DISTINCTIONS? (Maybe – Maybe Not!?)

In the a-millennial and post-millennial and also post-tribulation rapture view there are no distinctions in the timing of the rapture. All regard the rapture as supposedly described in 1 Thess 4:15-17 as coincident to the second advent of Messiah as claimed by Matt 24:29-31, - or maybe a “meeting in the air” with Messiah immediately preceding His second advent.

Within pre-millennialism, the pre-trib position is the predominant view and distinguishes between the rapture and second coming. These events, they say, are two separate events.

There are also two minor positions within pre-millennialism that differ with regard the timing of the rapture, these two views are known as the “mid-tribulation” and “partial rapture” view.

Pre-Tribulation

The pre-tribulation position suggests that the rapture will occur before the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period, and that the second advent occurs at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period. Pre-tribulationists often describe the rapture as “Jesus coming for the church” and the second advent as “Jesus coming with the church.” Many pre-tribulationists are also dispensationalists.

Mid-Tribulation

The mid-tribulation position espouses that the rapture will occur at some point in the middle of the Tribulation period. The Tribulation is typically divided into two periods of 3.5 years each. Mid-tribulationists hold that the saints will go through the first period but will be raptured into heaven before the severe outpouring of God's wrath in the second half of the Tribulation. Mid-tribulationists appeal to Dan 7:25 which says the saints will be given over to tribulation for "time, times, and half a time," - interpreted to mean 3.5 years. At the halfway point of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will commit the "abomination of desolation" by desecrating the Jerusalem temple which is yet to be built on what is now called the Temple Mount, where the abomination of desecration called the Mosque already stands. Mid-tribulationism is a minority view among pre-millennialists.

Pre-Wrath

While we are looking at these things, its worth mentioning the Pre-Wrath view since it also places the rapture at some point during the Tribulation period before the second coming.

This view holds 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. This latter half of the seven-year period is defined as the great Tribulation, although the exact duration is not known. References from Matt 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 (all three Gospel narrativves being accounts of the same sermon) are used as evidence that this tribulation will be cut short by the coming of Messiah to deliver the righteous by means of rapture, which will occur after specific events in Revelation, in particular 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 7^th seal wrath of trumpets and bowls (a.k.a. "the Day of the Lord"). The Day of the Lord's wrath against the ungodly will follow for the remainder of the seven years.

Marvin Rosenthal who wrote the book, "The Prewrath Rapture of the Church" is a primary proponent for the pre-wrath rapture view. His belief is founded on the work of Robert D. Van Kampen (1938–1999); his books "The Sign", "The Rapture Question Answered" and "The Fourth Reich" detail his pre-wrath rapture doctrine.

Partial Rapture

Briefly, we must also include what is known as “The Partial Rapture” view which seems to hold to multiple raptures of believers at the beginning and during the seven year Tribulation period.

The term "partial" refers to the idea that only some Christians will be raptured at a time. This is in contrast to other rapture views which hold all Christians would be raptured in a single event. The criteria for who would be raptured are those who will be faithful and watchful. In this view, the rapture is in essence a reward to the faithful.

The writers for this view interpret certain eschatology parables as revealing the partial rapture, such as the parable of the ten virgins. All ten virgins are seen as genuine believers, in which the five who were prepared are taken while the others are left. Advocates for this view include Robert Govett (1813–1901) and George Lang.

Post-Tribulation

The post-trib position places the rapture at the end of a tribulation period. Post-tribulation writers define the tribulation period in a generic sense as the entire present age, or in a specific sense of a period of time preceding the second coming of Christ. The emphasis in this view is that the church will undergo the Tribulation — even though the church will be spared the wrath of God. Matt 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. Post-tribulationists perceive the rapture as occurring simultaneously with the second coming of Christ. Upon Messiah`s return, believers will meet him in the air and will then accompany him in his return to the earth. 

An Interim Conclusion to Part III

Luke 17:20-21 – Now, having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He (Yeshua) answered them and said; “THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT COMING WiTH SIGNS TO BE OBSERVED – nor will they say “Look here its is” or “There it is!” For Behold! THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST (or literally “within you)

YESHUA said this Himself. Was He right- do you think? Had He interpreted the scriptures right do you suppose? Or was it just His own opinion?

But He said - “THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT COMING WITH SIGNS TO BE OBSERVED – THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.”

You may think that this statement bears more relevance to the question of Millennialism than it does to the teaching on the Rapture; but has anyone of the mentioned thinkers and theologians and pioneers of the Rapture theories listed throughout this series presented to anyone a concept of a Rapture which is apart from its connection to the Millennial rule of Messiah?

The Kingdom of which Yeshua speaks and of which he Himself is made KING – (Dan 7:13-14 ***) is not primarily focused in the temporal dimensions of the physical creation – or the earth. It is first of all SPIRITUAL. It is WITHIN YOU, --- just as HOLY SPIRIT (the Spirit of God) is within you. - And so just as Yeshua first said to the Pharisees that the whole idea about the Kingdom of God is not as they imagined thought supposed or expected. - so too do we say to you all --- the Kingdom of God is Spiritual and has already come in power Yom Shavuot by the coming of Holy Spirit) and this same Holy Spirit is within you also, just as it was first within the 120 believers. (Acts 2) If indeed we are all of Messiah who profess to believe in Messiah.)

(***) - Note on Dan 7 - (for those who think in terms of a literal 1,000 years of millennial reign – which is most people – Christians and MJ`s together --- consider how the KINGDOM received of the father is an everlasting KINGDOM. How van such an everlasting Kingdom be measured in terms of years -- even 1,000 years????)

AUTHOR`S NOTE: -

If you l know me at all, you know this is always a problem to me; I run out of time or in this vcase space. Lol - So anyway, it is now necessary to extend the series by one Part – which means there will be a Part IV

In the next part we really will bring it to and end, by taking a closer and more objective look at the four chief bricks of the Rapture Theory House. - i.e. Matt 24:29-31, I Thess 4:15-17, 2 Thess 2:1-3 and Rev 1:7 - and we will try to establish the proper place and context of these scriptures in reaction to what we might call a Bigger Eschatological Overview.

Ill also make a statement on my own perspective on these issues, and Ill include by way of an appendix – a more detailed account of the Margaret McDonald "Vision ”

Until then, may the true Shalom of our Lord and Messiah Yeshua abide between you and me.