Premillennialism 1 – Will There be a Rapture?

By:  M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

98017

SUBJECT – Premillennialism; rapture

Preached originally – March 15, 1998 – Rapid City, SD

 

I.  Introduction.

A.    As of today…656 days until the year 2000.  The end of the 20th century is upon us!

1.    The closer we approach the end of the millennium the more we hear about events such as:

a.    The rapture.

b.    A period of tribulation and a Battle of Armageddon.

c.     A literal 1000 year reign by Jesus from Jerusalem.

d.    The importance of the nation of Israel

e.    References to “the beast” and to the number 666.

2.    Perhaps we have all heard about these things.  Perhaps we have friends/family that believe in them.

B.    The teachings concerning their doctrines have gone on for some time, although the date of their occurrence keeps getting pushed back.

1.    With each world disaster that comes upon us such was war, flood, famine, El Nino, etc. prophets of doom predict the end of the world is coming.

2.    In 1993, the following appeared in the Indpls. Star.

3.    Twelve prophecy ministers from various parts of the world all agreed the Lord’s return for His church is imminent.  In the near future, January 1, 1993, the New World Order will go into effect.  What does this mean prophetically speaking?  This is the revival of the Roman Empire.  They will choose a leader in the future to be the head of the Order.  He will be the antichrist and rule for 7 years.  The Bible says this man will be mighty and perform miracles.  Even the very elect will be deceived by him.  After the 7 years reign and the Battle of Armageddon, the antichrist, the false prophet, and the devil will be cast into the lake of fire.  The good news is the church of Jesus Christ will be spared from the 7-year reign of the false prophets.  All born again Christians will be with Jesus during this period and then return with Him at the end when He fights the Battle of Armageddon at Jerusalem.  How near are we to the end?  The Bible states that an army of 200 million men will advance from the East to fight the final battle.  China now has that many.  They will cross the Euphrates river on dry ground.  Rev. 16:12 tells us the river will dry up.  In 1990, a dam was built by Turkey to fulfill this prophecy.  The New World order is unfolding so fast it is beyond belief.  Other prophecies, such as earthquakes and plagues are also happening.  It would take a book to write about all of them!

4.    I believe it safe to say that the majority of all people who profess to be Christians would agree with what I read above.  Perhaps not taking place 5 yrs ago but that these events will take place sometime in the future.

C.   In our lesson today we want to discuss the “rapture.”

1.    What is it?

2.    Where did it come from?

3.    Do the Scriptures support such a thing?

D.   This is the first part in a 5 part series on Premillennialism.  Two more lessons on the subject will be given in April, and the last two in May.

1.    We will discuss next time: the period of tribulation and the battle of Armageddon.

2.    Another lesson on the 1000 year reign of Christ

3.    Another lesson on the importance of the nation of Israel.

4.    Final lesson on the “beast,” the number 666, and what John was trying to get across in the book Revelation.

5.    Looking forward to these lessons.  Hope you will also.

 

II.  What is the rapture?

A.    Word “rapture” is NEVER mentioned in the Bible.  It is important to understand this!  Much religious teaching on this subject not based on the Bible!

1.    Word “rapture” comes from Latin word “rapere” which means to seize, snatch out, take away.”

2.    Many apply this word to the idea that Christ will come suddenly and secretly in the air to snatch away from the earth and take to heaven the living saints and the resurrected bodies of saints who have died.

a.    They then take things further and teach that the church will be “raptured” for 7 years while the world is filled with tribulation.  At the end of the 7-year rapture Christ will return & set up His earthly kingdom.

B.    Bumper Sticker: in case of rapture, this car will be unmanned.  We are told that fathers will be shocked by the strange disappearance of a mother, father, or child.  Planes will crash with no pilots found.  A man & wife will be in bed – she will hear a noise – turn her head and find him gone.

1.    In the book, The Late Great Earth Hal Lindsey has called this “Project Disappearance.”

2.    These things are simply science fiction or Bible fiction my friends.  Scripture can’t prove them.

 

III.  Where did this theory/teaching originate?

A.    Lawrence Kelly in Abundant Life (Vol. 29, No. 9 – 09/96) writes …never heard of until 1830 when it was first proposed by a young Scottish girl named Margaret McDonald.  No record of a silent seven-year rapture or a two stage coming of Christ appears in any religious history prior to 1830.

B.    But, proponents do claim to have Scripture to back up their theory.

1.    Rev. 4-5 is often used to describe the scene of a silent return of Christ.  The seven-year period of tribulation is described, they say, in Rev. 4-19.

2.    The primary passage used to support the idea of the rapture is found in 1 Thess. 4:13-17.

C.   As with many things taught in the present day religious world Scripture is not relied upon to teach.  What Scripture is used is taken out of context. As we will see in the next part of our lesson the Bible simply does not support such a theory.

 

IV.  What does the Bible Say?

A.    The foundation of this theory consists of the belief of two separate returns to Earth by Jesus Christ.  Does the Bible support such claims?

1.    First resurrection/return – one for the righteous.

2.    Second resurrection/return – for wicked (those who weren’t good enough to make it first time – but have endured through the seven years of trib.) 

B.    There will be only ONE return by Jesus. This is what the Scriptures teach.  For example:

1.    Jhn. 5:28-29 – ONE resurrection both for the good and the bad.

2.    The problem with this theory is the fact that if it were true man would have a “second chance.” 

a.    If not “raptured” the first time, then simply make it through the tribulation and get “raptured” the second time.

b.    When this life is over – when the Lord comes back – our chances to make things right with God will be forever over.

c.     Why do you think Jesus would teach in Mk. 13:32-37 to Watch – for you do not know the hour that I am coming.  Why would he tell them to be ready if they had a second chance?

C.   The Rapture theory teaches that the return of Christ will be silent in nature.  Remember the bumper sticker…

1.    2 Thess. 1:7-10.  The return of Christ will be anything but silent! 

2.    Even the passage they claim that proves their theory disproves it.  Read 1 Thess. 4:16…

D.   What about 1 Thess. 4:13-17?

1.    This is the passage often referred to.  What is the context of the passage?

a.    Passage not given to deal with the return of Christ. It had a twofold purpose.

1.    To reassure Christians that their deceased loved ones would be able to share in the Lord’s return.

2.    To inform Christians that those who are still living when Christ returns will have no precedence or advantage over those who have already died.

2.  Three terms used to describe the return of Christ in NT.

a.    parousia – means “coming, presence, advent.”

b.    Epiphaneia – “appearing, manifestation, brightness.”

c.     Apokalupsis – “revelation.”

3.  Premillennialists teach parousia (the coming – used in 1 Thess. 4:15; 2 Thess. 2:1) refers to the “rapture.” – {the first coming.}

a.    They teach epiphaneia and apokalupsis (appearing, revelation) refer to the coming of Christ after 7 years to fight Armageddon.  Such Scriptures to support this are found in supposedly in 1 Thess. 3:13; 2 Thess. 2:8 – which they say applies to the anti-Christ.

b.    Yet, if one examines Scripture closely and keeps things in context, all three of these words refer to ONE and the SAME event!

c.     They are used synomously and interchangeably.

 

V.  Conclusion.

A.    From these Scriptures and from keeping them in their proper context, one can see that there is absolutely no Biblical support for the rapture theory.

1.    All will know when Christ will return.

2.    No one will get a second chance by a second return of Christ.

3.    2 Thess. 4:13-17 does NOT teach that there will be rapture.

B.    I look forward to one day being taken up to meet the Lord in the air, not for a mere seven years, but FOREVER as Paul taught in 1 Thess. 4:17.

C.   Don’t fall for the religious science fiction of our day. 

D.   Base your faith in the Bible.  A book that says NOTHING about a silent seven year rapture.

E.    I N V I T A T I O N