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THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE OF THE TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST First, we need to learn the difference between the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ to earth, to Israel. They are two distinct events. Let's look at some Scripture that reveal the Rapture of the Church: "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 which 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" (I Thess. 4:16 & 17). All Christians dead and alive will be CAUGHT UP to meet the Lord IN THE AIR. The word rapture means to be CAUGHT UP. At the Rapture the Lord does not return to earth. The Bible also says: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (I Corinthians 15:51 & 52). Only Christians will be caught up. The unbelieving world and the Harlot Church of the beast will be left on earth to face the wrath of God during the tribulation. The Bible says: "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth" (Rev. 6:8). "And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great" (Rev. 16:18, 20 & 21). Will the Church enter into this time of trouble and wrath of God? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Christians will not enter the tribulation; not even for one split second! Unless a Christian understands the difference between the Church and Israel, it is impossible to understand Bible prophecy. The Church is not Israel! Israel is not the Church! Israel has a Promised Land. The Church does not. Israel has an earthly holy city (Jerusalem). The Church does not. Daniel, a Jew and a prophet of God to Israel, wrote as he was instructed by Gabriel, an archangel of God: "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon the holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy" (Daniel 9:24). "Seventy weeks (sevens) are determined (decreed)." Who do you suppose decreed these seventy sevens of years (490 yrs.)? If you said God, you are correct. To whom are the 490 years decreed? "Seventy weeks are determined UPON THY PEOPLE AND UPON THY HOLY CITY." Who are Daniel's people and what city is Daniel's holy city? Daniel's people are the Jews, collectively called Israel. Daniel's holy city is Jerusalem. Sixty-nine of the seventy weeks have already been fulfilled and exclusively to Israel (the Jews) and the holy city of Jerusalem. Carefully read the history books of Ezra and Nehemiah as fulfilling Daniel 9:25. The seventieth and final week (7 yrs.) is also exclusive to Israel (the Jews); again with the focus on the holy city of Jerusalem! Not one split-second of the 7-yr. tribulation is decreed to the Gentile Church! Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for the Church to enter into any part of the seven years, not even for one split-second!! AMEN!
No, the Church Age does not lap over into the tribulation,
nor is there any time gap between the end of the Church Age (at
the Rapture) and the beginning of the 7-yr. tribulation. The
Church Age goes up to, but not into, the tribulation. Let me
present an illustration to make a point. One of these days, in
the near future, we're going to hear that an agreement between
Israel and the Palestinians has been reached. Also the date for
a formal public confirmation ceremony will be announced. I repeat,
the confirmation of "the covenant with many for one week"
(seven years) will surely include President Bush's Road Map agreement.
Let's say for example, a confirmation ceremony, with much pomp
and circumstance, would be scheduled to convene on October 20.
Based on past performance, such as Israel's treaties with Egypt;
Jordan; and the Oslo agreements, the announcement of the public
confirmation ceremony always came several days in advance of
the event. So, let's say that on or about October 14, we hear
that a confirmation ceremony is set for October 20. We would
then know that the Church would be caught up to meet Christ in
the air on October 19. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease" (Dan. 7:27). From the book of Revelation we learn that this "week" is actually seven years. As stated above, in the middle of the "week" he stops the Jews' religious ceremonies in the Jews' temple in Jerusalem. Therefore the Jews will soon rebuild their temple. This "week" is divided into two equal parts of three and a half years. For three and a half years (1260 days or 42 months) two men of God will prophesy in Jerusalem: "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the alter, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot FORTY AND TWO MONTHS. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy A THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND THREESCORE DAYS, clothed in sackcloth" (Revelation 11:1-3). After the Gentile dictator (the beast) stops the Jews' religious services in the temple he will remain Israel's protectorate another 42 months. The Bible says: "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue FORTY AND TWO MONTHS" (Revelation 13:5). This terrible time of tribulation begins when the Gentile beast gives his authority to the Israeli-Arab treaty, likely at a signing ceremony with much pomp and circumstance. Now I ask you, can the antichrist guarantee a treaty before there is a treaty? The obvious answer is no. Therefore we must conclude that there must be a treaty before he can guarantee it. Also I ask you, can the antichrist confirm the treaty without having political authority before he guarantees it? Again the answer is no. We then conclude that the antichrist must be in a position of great political authority before the 7-yr. tribulation begins. Have you noticed a Gentile political leader from the West prodding Israel to make a covenant which would divide their "Promised Land" and make Jerusalem the shared capital of an Arab/Muslim state? This blasphemer is the enemy of God and Israel!! WATCH! RAPTURE VS. SECOND COMING
Sets the events of the Rapture parallel to the Second Coming by Pastor Dale Morgan
by Pastor Dale Morgan Retired pastor/teacher James McCutchan jmccutchan@aol.com |