Rapture: Truth Or Fable?

HISTORY OF PRE TRIBULATION AND MID TRIBULATION THEORIES (The History of the Rapture and its doctrines) Eighteen hundred years passed in church history and no one taught pre-tribulation rapture. The first work published on the subject was in 1812 and was entitled “The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty” written by Emmanuel Lacunza, a Jesuit priest form Chili. Lacunza wrote under the assumed name of Rabbi Benazra. The book was first written in Spanish and later translated into English by Edward Irvin in 1827 in London, England. By the writing and subsequent translation of this book the seeds of a pre and mid tribulation and the theories of a partial rapture were sown. Lacunza first began to teach that the rapture would be before the Lord’s actual arrival on Earth. He taught that the Lord would come in the clouds and we would go up to meet him and then go to heaven and come back later to earth. He taught after the rapture God’s judgments would take place Then in 1830 Margaret McDonald had a vision when she was 15 years old. Men who interpreted her vision were not in the truth and misinterpreted her vision. Her vision said that “the very elect would be deceived. Every soul would be shaken. The outpouring of the Spirit brings all this on. Be filled with the Spirit, have the light of God that you may be able to detect Satan and be full of eyes within.” Rob Norton didn’t believe that only the Spirit filled would make it so he said she taught a partial rapture. She was actually post tribulation so she was misrepresented. Rob Norton misinterpreted. Both Lacunza taught the secret rapture and intervening judgments and the followers of Edward Irvin who translated Lacunza’s book taught this teaching. Irvin and his followers led J. N. Darby who was the leader of the Plymouth Brethren movement. Darby was the first man to put the tribulation before a seven-year period. Originated with Lacunza who taught forty-five days and Darby who taught seven years. The theory passed on to Ironsides and then Scofield. Scofield put footnotes in the Scofield Bible which lent great credibility to it but footnotes are not scripture and many times not scriptural. From Scofield someone by the name of Dakes was next (who also wrote 89 reasons why God is a trinity) and put footnotes in his Bible as well. Clarence Larkin took these teachings and put charts with them. (Clarence Larkin said tongues were of the devil.) This is where our revelations come from? Commentary on the Rapture as a whole by Min. Steven W. Owen as taught him by his pastor Bishop Norman Louis Zeno. This history rings true but I say that the Scriptures do not support a Rapture theory at all. The word is neither found in the Bible nor has it anything to do with the coming of the Lord. To use it is to do just as the Trinitarians do add to the Scriptures using the word trinity and use one strange doctrine or another to describe God as already covered in this publication. Many of us Apostolics use the word Rapture to describe the coming of the Lord. Despite the definition as it says here: rap·ture (ràp¹cher) noun 1. The state of being transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy. 2. Often raptures. An expression of ecstatic feeling. See synonyms at ecstasy. 3. The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven. verb, transitive rap·tured, rap·tur·ing, rap·tures To enrapture. [Obsolete French rapture, abduction, carrying off, from rapt, carried away, from Old French rat, from Latin raptus. See rapt.] I seriously doubt the Lord is going to come and abduct His bride! Therefore rendering it useless as far as throwing this word in as a peculiar mixture to describe the coming of the Lord! Furthermore: rapt (ràpt) verb Past participle of rap adjective 1. Deeply moved or delighted; enraptured: listened to the speaker with rapt admiration. 2. Deeply absorbed; engrossed: was rapt in thought all evening. [Middle English, carried away, from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere, to seize.] - rapt·ly adverb There again! Since when is the Lord going to come and seize the saints? I’ve said many times that Rapture sounds too much like capture. Just you remember not all that sounds the same in different languages is an indication that they mean the same. Let’s not get “carried away” here! I say again, The Rapture Theory isn’t Scriptural. Especially the pretribulation and secret Rapture Theories. For it says in Mt 24:29 - 31 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 together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. To back that up we’ll go to Mark 13:24 - 27 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. “Immediately after the” what? “Tribulation”! “But in those days, after that” what? “Tribulation”! Well, it looks like to me that these Scriptures do not back up the pie in the sky mess that says, “No tribulation for the church” What about the “Secret Rapture”? Well, it does say, as we have read already that “they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Also “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Two witnesses telling you that there will be no “Secret Rapture” in the gospels according to Matthew and Mark. In Rev. 1:7 it says “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” So much for a “Secret Rapture”. Speaking of being “carried away” or being “abducted” or even being “seized”! What of the ones that are to be “Taken away” and the ones that are to be “Left Behind”? I’ll concur that the parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins wind up with the five foolish having the door shut on them with them begging for them to be let in by the Lord. But even there the term “Left Behind” isn’t even mentioned. (Mt. 25:1-13) Even so here in Mt. 24:36-41 it says, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” What took whom away now? And who was left? Man! If we think about it THE FLOOD TOOK the sinners that didn’t listen to Noe. Those that listened to Noe were left behind to survive in the ark by God’s mercy. Come on now. It does say, “as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” How peculiar! Even in view of all this evidence there are theological talking heads by the thousands out there teaching and preaching those that are “Left Behind” are the ones to be lost and the church is to be “Taken Away” in the “Rapture”. I think we’re getting “carried away” with our own foolishness when we subscribe to such a theory. Whether it be a pre, mid or even post tribulation Rapture theory (Which sounds closest to the truth) it is utter foolishness. Foolishness i.e. to disregard God by adding to the Scriptures in this case. Adding and taking away from Gods word. Just remember too that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Tim. 3:16 And its not to be added to or diminished from. Everything we add we take away another truth. Net Testament says in, Rev 22:18 & 19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Old Testament says, Deut. 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” & 12:32 “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” Prov. 30:6

“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Yes, I do acknowledge that it says, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1st Cor. 15:50-53. I also acknowledge that it says, “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.” 1st Thes. 4:17 but these scriptures have nothing to do with a “Rapture” doctrine. The Devil is mad and misery loves company! Don’t be suckered into swallowing these appendages to the scriptures that do no justice! Get rid of them! But yet even with all this evidence “theologians” along with preachers, teachers, witnesses and workers just do the word of God violence every day! If were going to teach, preach, write books; let us leave out the additives and lean to our Preservative that is in Heaven, Jesus for wisdom and inspiration! Let us not also take anything out that will cause us to be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life. In fact, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20 & 21 This means if the “prophesy” i.e. preaching/teaching doesn’t add up to scripture you can dismiss it. How is it that people can be so obsessed with mistranslation? Well, at least with ideas that can seem “logical”? Human logic is the reason for this i.e. the absence of the mind of Christ in other words. Well, it just doesn’t measure up to God inspired faith. A lot of these “mysteries” we hear of are mysteries all right! They’re mysteries of iniquity to be plain and simple about it. We either have the truth or we don’t. Why should we roll over and just accept what they say? Look it up. See if they’re on target or not. Don’t be afraid to respectfully ask questions about what you’re being taught. This is the reason why people hardly know the difference between the wrath of God and the tribulation. Remember what happened in Egypt during Moses’ time? The Children of God did not partake of any of the plagues poured out on Egypt. Exodus chapters 5-11 while the Egyptians suffered great damage. There was a difference put between the Egyptians (a type of the world) and the Children of God. It will be this way again and really, that’s the way it is now. Who faced wrath and who did not? (Exodus chapters 5-1) But on their journey to Canaan land (a type of our final goal, Heaven) they did go through some tribulations the children of God did and failed miserably for the most part to keep hold of God on through them. They murmured and complained and really steamed God and many died for it too. The biggest killers among them were disobedience and doubt. Many teachers/preachers aren’t aware of who is going to bring the earth to its destruction but most that are worth their salt know it will be destroyed by fire. Many attribute this to God but I say man is going to do it. To point this out scripturally we will go to Ge 9:11 where it says, “And I (God) will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.” Also: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2nd Peter 3:3-7 And here it says, “And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the

nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Revelation 11:16-18 Put all this together and you have the answer as to just who is going to destroy the earth and pretty much, just how. Another thing is that many of us are counting more on the going of the saints rather than the coming of the Lord. This is not scriptural at all. True, Heaven and earth shall pass away but we have to remember that which will replace it and it will come down to replace the old. Pray about the way you react to things you’re taught, don’t just accept theological or other teachings. I’m not saying to be untrusting or disruptive but you could be a great help if you’re able to point out error to the leader of the congregation or whatever you’re attending for your spiritual feeding ground. Don’t undercut. Go to the leader in private first respectfully with your questions and such. Bible plan of salvation is clear Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38