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Rapture: The Last Trump
And The Second Coming Of Christ
By Mark Watson
http://www.markswatson.com/rapture.html
The Pre-tribulation Rapture
is not a sound and unassailable theological position. The
preponderance of evidence that the translation of the saints and the
second coming of Jesus Christ are one and the same event is extensive.
I know many of you have been taught to believe in a pre-tribulation
rapture by a plethora of biblical prophecy teachers and scholars. The
following paragraphs will explain why, as much as I want to
believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, the scriptures clearly
indicate when the translation of the saints will occur. But first let
me explain why this topic is so very important.
What you believe affects how
you live. If you earnestly believe that you will not go through the
last seven years of extreme trouble commonly referred to as the Great
Tribulation, then you will not make any preparations spiritually or
physically. If on the other hand you know (or even suspect) you will
be here, then you will prayerfully and constantly seek Christ’s wisdom
and guidance and LIVE BY FAITH. It is my considered opinion that God
loves us all, even the most hardened sinner. But he will not be mocked
at judgment day.
We saints of God who
sincerely want to do God’s will must do what Christ tells us to do,
even if it means receiving ridicule and scorn, and having ‘Christians’
separate themselves from us. For many of us this means to live simply
and humbly. Others have been called to exhort and teach while others
are to minister according to Gods good graces.
We, who are among the saved,
must claim Gods promises including the ones Jesus made such as “In the
world ye shall have tribulation,
but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” ( John 16:33b) This
is an (uncomfortable) promise the Son of God makes to his
followers. If you are a true Christian, it applies to you. The
necessity of enduring to the end and of the leading astray, if
possible, even the elect takes on an entirely new meaning if the
Church is to here during the tribulation and the reign of
anti-Christ.
Additionally, it must be
stated here that other than the doctrine of the first coming of
Christ, his death and resurrection and Messiahship, the doctrine of
the Second Coming of Christ is the most important doctrine in
scripture, in short it is the final act in God's promise of
redemption. The return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to save his
Church, the true Israel and heirs to the promise is the single most
important doctrine in the Bible, with the possible exception of
Christ's bodily resurrection.
In short it is the
consummation of the work of Jesus Christ. So how can any believer say,
'It isn't important', or 'it will all come out in the wash' or 'we'll
know when he comes'? That was the mistake the Jews made when Christ
came the first time and THEY WERE REJECTED FOR NOT KNOWING THE TIME OF
THEIR VISITATION. Jesus told us to watch, over and over again he warns
us to watch. How are we to know what to watch for? The answer to that
is in the scriptures, in the writings of the Prophets and in the
Messiah's words.
This is a critical
doctrine, because if you do not get
this right, you will be as a man looking towards the east, when all
the things he should be watching for are in the west. Remember, the
Jews during Christs time, were hell-bound and eventually wound up
hating and murdering the Christ who came to save them because they did
not expect him to do the things that he did at the time that he did
them.
They wanted someone who would
restore the kingdom of David and rid them of Roman Dominance without
really turning towards God and doing the things that he commanded them
to do. Today, believers want Christ to come to save them from the
reign of Antichrist and severe persecution without the true
repentance and more importantly the
complete submission to
Christ's Lordship (obedience) that leads to true salvation. In short,
they want to fly away. Yet the scriptures clearly teach something very
different. Lay hold of this, it is
very important.
The rapture of the saints
cannot occur until the last trumpet is sounded. “Behold I
show you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed.
In a moment, in a 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. (1 Cor 15:51,52). This gives the timing of the
rapture
At the last trump.
Let’s see what else the
scripture says about this,
“For this we say unto you
by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For
the LORD himself shall decent 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 in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air and so shall we
ever be with the LORD. (1 Thes 4:15-17)
The timetable is the
same:
·
The trumpet.
·
The Dead in Christ shall be raised.
·
The remaining saints translated
Paul tells the Church that we
the remaining, still alive believers will not precede those saints who
had already died in the LORD. My goodness, how much more clear can you
get!? Brothers and sisters, this doctrine is no real mystery. It is
not complicated; it is not hidden deep in obscure verses to be
interpreted in a strange and new way. It is in plain black and
white so plain that any honest, literate, spirit-filled Christian
can see for themselves. Unfortunately that is the extreme minority of
Christians in America. Far too many are listening to the false
shepherds of Babylon.
Paul warned the
Thessalonians,
“Now we beseech you,
brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our
gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be
troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as
that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any
means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who
opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing
himself that he is God. (2Th 2:1-4)
Here is a stern warning from
the Apostle. He categorically states with regard to
1. The coming of the LORD
2. Our Gathering unto him
He warns us not to let any
man deceive you BY ANY MEANS (by a secret return of the LORD). Yet the
modern American teachers have found a means. They simply say that
there is another 'secret coming' or a 'secret gathering' that that
Paul isn't talking about. Christ warned us about those who teach of a
secret return of the LORD and told his disciples exactly how he was
going to come, suddenly for all to see and hear.
Wherefore if they shall
say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he
is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not. For as the
lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Mat 24:26-27)
A note here, Paul says that
anyone who says the church won’t be here when the son of perdition
(Antichrist) is revealed is deceiving you.
Those who are teaching that you are going
to fly away before the Antichrist is revealed are deceivers.
Plain and simple.
But there is big, big money
in deceiving the Church, hence they are the ones whom the harlot
religious system honors and promotes with their books, movies and
magazines. Some may be doing it with the best of intentions, but a
false doctrine is still false and a false teacher is still a false
teacher.
Reader Beware. Many of
todays Seminaries and Bible Colleges have pounded the doctrine of the
pre-trib rapture into the minds of denominational Church leaders that
now hold important positions in mainstream Christianity. Many hold
this doctrine because they have never really honestly studied it
fully.
Other have studied it knowing
the pre-trib rapture position is false but remain silent out of
cowardice and fear. Still others don't really believe in a return of
the LORD at all, though they would never actually teach that. In any
event, whatever the motivation of these religious leaders weather it
is laziness, fear, or unbelief the doctrine of a pre-tribulation
rapture is a false one.
What does Jesus say?
“Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall
not give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven and the powers
of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the
son of man in heaven and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn
and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound
of a trumpet and they shall gather his elect from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt 24:29-31)
Jesus said after the
tribulation. And again we see the angels are present and the sound
of a Trumpet.
The book of revelation
identifies when the LAST trumpet sounds. There are seven trumpets
which sound in the book of revelation and the last one is very
different from the first six.
·
The First trumpet - fire hail and blood were thrown to
earth.
·
The Second trumpet - a great “mountain” was cast into
the sea.
·
The Third trumpet - a great star fell from heaven.
·
The Fourth trumpet - the sun moon and stars smitten.
·
The Fifth trumpet - the key to the bottomless pit
opened, locusts released
·
The sixth trumpet - Four powerful angels released to
slay one-third of men.
Then there is a long
description of events which take place BEFORE THE SEVENTH AND FINAL
ANGEL SOUNDS his trumpet.
1. An angel declares the
mystery of God is finished1.
(The seven thunders)
2. There should be no more
delay.
3. The temple of God is
measured.
4. God’s two witnesses
prophesy for 1260 days (who says there are no more prophets!)
5. The two witnesses shall be
killed in Jerusalem.
6. The two witnesses shall be
caught up to heaven.
But at the seventh
trumpet;
1. The kingdoms
of the Earth become the kingdoms of God and Jesus Christ
2. The nations
are angry at Jesus Christ
3. The Judgment
of the dead is at hand
4. The reward of
Gods servants is at hand.
5. Time for
Christ and his servants to destroy those that destroy the earth.
6. The time of God’s wrath
has come.
Indeed these verses show
there is an excellent possibility of a pre-wrath rapture. Consider
that the DAY of the LORD begins with his wrath. And that
on that day many, many things begin to happen, perhaps too many to fit
into a single solar day.
But, beloved, be not
ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2Pe 3:8)
I do not want to take
liberties here for this subject is not so clear, but it is quite
possible that the Last Day (Day of the LORD) that begins with
God's Wrath, is the actually the beginning of the last thousand year
reign also known as the millennium. This is food for serious thought
for after the last trumpet sounds, the rulership of the planet changes
hands and many many things transpire.
The First Resurrection
"And I saw thrones, and
they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and
I saw
the souls of
them that were beheaded
for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of
God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark
upon their foreheads, or in their hands;
and they lived
and reigned with Christ a thousand
years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand
years were finished. This
is the first resurrection - Revelation 20:4-5
This is a most amazing
scripture in the entire debate on the second coming of Christ. First,
look and see who is included in this resurrection; those who
refused to take the mark of the beast. Now we know that the
translation of the saints (rapture) is not until after the first
resurrection (1 Thess4:16-17). This verse tells you that the First
resurrection takes place AFTER the mark of the beast.
In short, NO resurrection and
NO rapture before the mark of the beast. This lines up
perfectly with what Paul so clearly stated, there will be no second
coming of Christ before the Antichrist is revealed. (2 Thess. 2:3).
Indeed, Christ himself was
most emphatic on when he was going to resurrect the dead in
Christ.
And this is the
Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I
should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
(Joh 6:39)
And this is the will of
him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on
him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last
day. (Joh 6:40)
No man can come to me,
except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up
at the last day. (Joh 6:44)
Martha saith unto him,
I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
(Joh 11:24)
Christ makes it abundantly
clear that no one gets resurrected until the last day. The Apostle
Paul makes it clear that no one is going away in any 'rapture' until
the dead in Christ are raised up first. These are clear and
incontrovertible teaching of Christ and his holy Apostles.
I do not see the Second
Coming of Christ and the rapture of the saints as two different
events. Rather, I see clearly it as being one single event.
Nevertheless, even if they are separate
events, neither will occur before the man of sin is revealed and many
Christians are martyred for having refused the mark of the beast.
More importantly, I do not
believe the scriptures teach anything remotely like a pre-tribulation
rapture. Christ is coming for a Church without spot or wrinkle. That
certainly does not describe the millions of worldly, carnal
'Christians' who flock to see the latest 'end-times' movies or buy the
latest, best selling heretical 'Christian fiction' books.
I am not trying to be
condescending, but I believe that in the scriptures, first means first
and last means last, if another trumpet sounds it is
not the last!! Let me make this very clear to those who are
teaching contrary to God’s revealed word, any other definition of last
is no more than a wresting of the scriptures and great spiritual
folly. But I am sure you will find no difficulty in finding
millionaire teachers to convince you “that the Holy Spirit really
didn’t mean last, what he really meant to say was…[Insert your
convenient lie here]...”
The Wrath of God and the
Church.
The church will not
experience God’s wrath. PERIOD. Many teachers see this as evidence
that the church must be raptured first. On the surface this
seems sound, but in reality it is American, it is Laodicean and it
springs from a spirit of lukewarmness. Consider this, Lot was not
translated at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but he was
removed from the danger area, Noah was not translated even though the
flood covered the whole earth, everyone else was dead! At the end of
the tribulation at least a few will survive.
By faith Noah prepared.
Even though he was certainly mocked and laughed at for doing so.
During the plagues of Egypt God supernaturally protected his
people from his WRATH (not from chastisement, tribulation or
persecution, but Gods Holy Wrath). This is one way God may protect us
from the plagues of the last days. However God chooses
to do it, you can be sure he will. It is a non-sequiter that God MUST
translate the church for people to escape his wrath.
God is Sovereign and rest
assured he has the situation under control, even if we are like the
saints in the book of Daniel who were thrown directly into the fiery
furnace and were not burned, GOD IS ABLE!!! I must tell you,
this American Gospel of prosperity, easy believe-ism and name it and
claim it materialism, is not of God and gives rise to the comfortable
no-suffering doctrines which are passed off as truth in the pulpit and
Christian TV. Millionaire Christians who preach this non-sense
put their sheep in great peril because when persecutions and
tribulations come, it shakes the faith of these poor souls.
And if they are taught to
believe that we will not go through the tribulation and finds everyone
still here, what will happen next? Hell's voice will speak in their
troubled minds and say “If your preacher was wrong about the Rapture
what else is he wrong about?” Then unbelief and even apostasy sets in.
Then follows spiritual disaster. Because they were taught the
gospel according to the American flag and the America dollar rather
than according to Christ Jesus. God is not mocked. He who stores his
treasure on earth will reap corruption. Consider this carefully,
it will mean life or death to the mainstream American-Laodicean
Church.
While God has not appointed
us to wrath, there are some hard, hard times that believers will have
to face and endure...to the end. The Antichrist will make war on the
saints and will overcome them.
Revelation 13 says of the
Beast: Vs 7 - And it was given unto him to make war with the
saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all
kindreds, and tongues, and nations. [emphasis Mine]
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