What is the doctrine of Rapture?
The idea of Rapture is NOT in the Bible! “According to some millenarian teaching, it is the “transport” of a “believer” from earth to heaven at the Second Coming of Christ.” They actually purport that “the chosen” will be lifted up bodily into the sky, leaving nothing but a pile of clothes behind.
Many characters in Roman mythology, including the Roman progenitor, Aeneas, have been lifted up bodily into heaven. He is recognized by them as the god, Jupiter, from whom they got the Black Madonna. Millenarianism itself is actually based in Zoroastrianism which is an ancient pagan, Persian religion.
Belief in “Rapture”
One important thing to know is: There is NO agreement between so-called Christian denominations on the details of what they think might occur in the final events of this world’s history. Most importantly, none of this nonsense is in agreement with the Word of God but is based solely on the “vain imagination” of whoever came up with it! In Deuteronomy 18:20 it states that any prophet who presumes to speak in God’s Name, but has not been authorized to do so, “that prophet will die.” So when ever one speaks in the Name of God, he better get it right! As the prophet says, “What is the chaff to the Wheat?”
Don’t be deceived
When Jesus/Y’hoshua was asked by his disciples what would be the signs of the end times (Matt 24), his first admonition was this (24:4): “Take heed that no man deceive you, for MANY shall come in MY NAME and will deceive THE MAJORITY.” (7:13) “…for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there are which go in thereat.” He said in Mark 7:7, “…in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men… Full well you reject the commandments of God that you may keep your own traditions.”
The Book of Enoch is addressed to the “Righteous” who will exist in the time of Tribulation. He says of the wicked that they will write many books in their own words. God’s Word is filled with a warning not to be deceived by false prophets and wicked shepherds as Eve was in the very beginning.
Lost Sheep of the House of Israel
The prophecy of the prophet Isaiah says (53:6), “All we, like sheep, have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way.” Jeremiah says (50:6) “My people have been lost sheep, their shepherds have caused them to go astray.” Y’hoshua said (Matt 15:24) that he was not sent but to the “Lost sheep of the House of Israel.”
The Time of Tribulation
The time of “Tribulation” is spoken of by many of the prophets in the Old Testament. It coincides with “The Day of the Lord.” Y’hoshua said in Matthew 24, “But of that day and hour no man knows, not the angels of heaven but my Father only.” But he gave us a hint, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Adam be… and they didn’t know till the flood came and took them all away…” That is to be “caught in unawares.” Also in Luke 17:28: “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot…” He said in Luke 21:28, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.” In other words: “Pay attention!”
Doctrines of men – A Cover for the Anti-Christ
The doctrine of “Rapture” is nothing but a doctrine of man, specifically a Jesuit Catholic priest named Francisco Ribera in 1585. His mission was to “remove the papacy of the Catholic Church from consideration as the Antichrist” as the Protestants began to identify him in the time of the Reformation. He took it upon himself to attempt to interpret the Book of Revelation, known in the Catholic Bible as the Book of the Apocalypse. This was nothing but a foolish attempt since it says within the book itself, “behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Until that one comes, it’s all speculation by ministers of Darkness and those who are the deceivers who “come in his name and fool the majority.”
Another doctrine known as “preterism” was put forth by a Spanish Jesuit, Luis de Alcasar, (1554–1613) who wrote the first systematic preterist exposition of prophecy (published in 1614)—during the Counter-Reformation. His mission was to convince people that the events in the Book of Revelation/Apocalypse had already taken place. Preterism holds that Ancient Israel finds its continuation or fulfillment in the Catholic church. The so-called “fulfillment” or supersessionism holds that God’s chosen people, Israel, have been replaced by Roman Catholics while their priesthood has usurped “Apostolic Succession” from its rightful heirs.
Dangerous Doctrine
The doctrine of Rapture is dangerous because it gives the people a false sense of security. If one believes he or she will magically disappear before the Tribulation, that person won’t be paying attention to the signs of the end happening all around and that day will take them in complete unawareness. Rather Y’hoshua/Jesus said, “Take heed… lest that day come upon you in unawareness. For as a snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Adam.” Luke 21:36 “For as in the days that were before the Flood… they didn’t know till the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Adam be.” Matt 24:36-44 Only Noah and those who were with him escaped!
Pay Attention!
God has not forsaken Israel
“They shall know that I the LORD their God am with them and that they, even the House of Israel, are My people, saith the Lord God. And you My flock, the flock of my pasture, are people, and I am your God.” says the Lord GOD. Ezek 34 “Return to Me and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts…” Mal 3:7 He told Elijah He has saved to Himself a Remnant. Seek to be among them! For apart from them, the Lord did not speak.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the LORD” Mal 4:5-6 Elijah, where are you?
A brief history of Rapture… very brief…
“Rapture” and the “one-man” antichrist doctrine are very recent additions to the body of “Christian” religious doctrine. John Nelson Darby, influenced by Francisco Ribera and many others along the way, popularized “pre-tribulation rapture” doctrine in the 1830’s and can be credited with getting it into the main stream of “Christian” doctrine. More recently writers like Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye have further popularized this false doctrine by incorporating it into their FICTIONAL works.
Ps 118:8 “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man”. So… looking to the Word of the LORD we find that there is no mention of rapture in scripture and the word antichrist, found only in the epistles of John, does not refer to a single person when taken in context. Don’t believe it? Open the Bible app on your phone and search for the words rapture and antichrist.
A thousand is used in the bible plenty of times and it seems to mean “a great number” or “uncountable, a great amount”. A thousand years means “a process of time that takes as long as it takes to rid the world of evil”, which is the day of the Sabbath, the coming of the son of Man. The sabbath is for man, man is not for the sabbath and that is the way to look at the time period of “a thousand years”. Thanks.
Hello Maarten, Thanks for your comment. There is a definite time appointed by God for evil to come to an end. Just as in the days of Noah.
The Apostle Peter said, “…Beloved, don’t be ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness… But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night… Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness…” 2Pet 3
Please read the “Urgent Message” for a more in depth understanding of this thousand year time period. (Under “start here” on the menu above)
“As the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the Son of Adam be. For as in the days that were before the Flood, they were eating and drinking… (not paying attention) until the day that Noah entered the Ark. And knew not until the Flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Adam be.” Matthew 24
Also, in regard to the use of “thousands”, when giving the Ten Commandments to Moses for the Children of Israel, God said He would have “mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My Commandments.” (Exo 20:6)
The culmination of all this is to be found in the Book of Revelation. The “New Heaven”, the thousands that keep His Commandments, the Son of Adam on his throne, the man on the white horse who comes with “thousands of his saints”, and evil finally vanquished and all things made new. Quite a book!
Problem is, one can take a snapshot from many historic eras- and find the ‘days ofNoah ‘
being re-enacted.
Does our own sense of importance make us feel we must be ‘the generation ‘?
There are many aspects to what you have said. First of all, to see what the “days of Noah” were like, you have to go back to Genesis 6, and see that the whole earth was corrupt, and Noah was the only one God found to be righteous and perfect before Him. Watch the Presentation video (“Proof of the Creator” on the ‘Start Here’ menu above) to see the dimensions of the Ark and to what they relate.
As the end time is compared to a woman in travail/labor, sometimes the initial signals are not conclusive. But when the time finally comes, she knows it’s time!
Giving the signs of the end times, Jesus/Y’hoshua said, “Now learn the parable of the fig tree; When it’s Branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So likewise, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door. Truly I say to you, This generation (that sees these things) will not pass till all these things are fulfilled.” This is the same generation spoken of in Psalms 78, who will remember the wonderful works He has done for Israel and keep His Commandments and His Covenant. And Psalm 24:6, “Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.” (Deu 4:27-40 – These are the Righteous.)
Finally, the world has been deceived into thinking that the “Parable of the Fig Tree” was fulfilled in 1948 when Rothschild set up shop in the Middle East and called it ‘Israel.’ That is simply not the case! Their own sense of importance has deceived them!