no rapture but tribulation and ressurection??

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Rapture or tribulation first ??



Subject: Rapture or tribulation first ??

IS THE RAPTURE BEFORE, DURING; OR, AFTER THE TRIBULATION PERIOD?

Question: Will the Church, or as some call it, the Body of Christ, be raptured before, during, or after the 7-year Tribulation of God’s Judgment? I have heard so many views on this.

Answer: The Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost, over 2,000 years ago, and will end with the Rapture. The Rapture will begin the 7 years of tribulation, which will end with Christ coming to the earth and establishing His Kingdom for a 1,000 years. We will confine ourselves strictly to the question you have asked. I will list some of the false claims and show from Scripture why they are not true.

1. The Post-Tribulation Rapture.

One false claim is that the Rapture is the same event as the coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. This has confused many, leading them to believe in what is called the “Post-Tribulation Rapture.”

Refutation: First of all, at the Rapture, the saved are “caught up” or taken to be with Christ in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). In Matthew, Chapters 24,25, we have Christ coming to the earth and judging the nations.

Matthew 24:40 is used by some, saying it is the Rapture.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
Notice, as we quote Matthew 25:31-34, which makes it perfectly clear that this judgment involves 3 things: (1). Christ comes to the earth, (2). He will sit on His throne, (3). He will separate the saved from the lost.

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (31) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep (saved) from the goats (lost): (32) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ( 33) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” ( 34)
Matthew 25:41 tells us what happens to the lost.

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
Notice carefully, the difference between the Rapture spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 and Christ’s Coming, spoken of in Mathew, Chapters 24,25.

At the Rapture, Christ does not come to the earth, as we are caught up to meet Him in the clouds. Whereas, in Matthew, Christ comes to the earth to establish His Kingdom. Notice carefully, at the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians, the saved are the ones taken while the ones left are the lost. Just the opposite takes place in Matthew. Those that are taken are the lost; while those that are left are the saved who enter into the Kingdom in their earthly bodies. Therefore, it is imperative for the Bible student to understand that these two events are entirely different, being separated by the Seventieth Week of Daniel, known as the 7-Year Tribulation Period. Without acknowledging the difference between Christ’s coming for his Church and His coming to establish the Kingdom; one will only be led into more error concerning Bible prophecy.

Note: A good principle to remember is, whenever Christ’s return is spoken of in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, it is never the Rapture; but, rather, the return of Christ at the conclusion of the Tribulation. The Rapture was a mystery, revealed unto the Apostle Paul after the Church Age had begun. (Ephesians 3:1-10).

2. A Pre-Tribulation Rapture Is What The Bible Teaches.

Now let us examine the proof:

1 Thessalonians 1:10:

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
In examining this verse there are three things we need to recognize:

Paul was writing to Christians (1:1 and 5:25). They were already delivered from the wrath of Hell. (John 3:36).

Notice “which delivered us” is translated in the past tense. This is incorrect, as the Greek has it in the future tense. It should read as “who delivers us,” or, “which will deliver us.” The “wrath to come” is not in reference to Hell; but, rather, to the Tribulation Period. Revelation 6:17, “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

Therefore, the Christians that are alive at the Rapture will not go into the Tribulation, known as the “day of his wrath.” Notice the word “us,” which includes all Christians, the spiritual and the backslider. As many say, “The Church is not ruptured; but, raptured!”

1 Thessalonians 5:9:

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath
(Tribulation wrath, same as 1:10);

but to obtain salvation
(i.e., “deliverance”)

by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Greek word for “salvation” is “SOTERIA” and denotes “deliverance, preservation, salvation.” For example: In Acts 27:34, the word “health” is from the Greek “soteria.” In other words, in Verse 33 we find the sailors had gone 14 days without eating. In Verse 34 Paul said, “…take ( or eat) some meat: for this is for your health," (i.e. "your deliverance") from getting sick or dying.

Also, in Philippians 1:19, “salvation” should have been translated “deliverance,” since he was speaking about his deliverance from the prison from which he had written to the Philippians. A literal translation of Verse 9 would read,

“For God hath not appointed us (Christians) to the wrath of the tribulation, but to obtain deliverance from it, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes for His Church.”
In Chapter 4, verses 13-18, we have the Rapture. Chapter 5 continues with Christ’s return at the Rapture, assuring all Christians that they will be delivered from the Tribulation Period.

3. Spiritual & Carnal all Raptured At the Same Time.

The following Scriptures refute the erroneous and false teaching that only the spiritual Christians will be raptured; while the carnal Christians will have to go through the Tribulation. We will continue; as we examine and analyze the next verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:10.

“Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep; we should live together with him (Christ).”
We will look at 3 important words in the above verse.

“Wake.”It is the same Greek word “gregoreo” as trans-lated “watch” in Verse 6. “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us WATCH and be sober.” “Sleep.” The Greek word for “sleep” in Verse 10 is the same as that for “sleep” in Verse 6. “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Therefore, sleep is in reference to those Christians who are “lying down on the job” and not serving the Lord. Some perverted minds try to proclaim that “sleep” here is referring to “death.” If that were true—how would you “watch and be sober” if you were dead?

Preposterous!

“Together.” The Greek word is “hama” and means “to-gether at the same time.” (Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words).

Now, let us put Verse 10 together and write it out, including the meaning of each of the 3 words we have examined.

“Who died for us, that, whether we wake (watching and serving the Lord)or sleep, we should live together (at the same time) with him (Christ).”
These Scriptures clearly set forth the truth that ALL Christians, those serving the Lord and those who are not, will be raptured together at the same time.

4. The Rapture Is The Redemption of Our Body.

A partial Rapture is Satan’s trickery to lead one to believe that you must suffer and/or have good works to complete God’s salvation. One must remember that the completion of our salvation is the redemption of our bodies! Notice Romans 8:23,

“…even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY.”
At the Rapture our salvation is completed. Those who have died, receive their resurrected bodies from the grave; while those that are alive have their bodies transformed as they go up to be with the Lord. (Philippians 3:20,21).

Those who propagate a partial Rapture have succumbed to Satan’s subtlety. (Genesis 3:1 and 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15). If Satan cannot convince you that good works are necessary for salvation; then, he will attempt, through his ministers, to con-vince you that those that are backslidden must go into the Tribulation. Some that hold this view have told me that, this is to have them suffer for their disobedience and give them a chance to redeem themselves. This, supposedly, shows God they are really Christians by now being faithful while being persecuted. Sounds good—except it contradicts God’s Word!

This damnable philosophy denies the Judgment Seat of Christ for all Christians, as well as Christ’s completing our salvation by His death and Resurrection. Therefore, they do not believe one is saved eternally; but, rather, must have good works in order to maintain their salvation. Very subtly, they accuse God of being a liar and unfaithful to His Word when He promised all believers they would “never perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

5. Both Spiritual and Carnal Christians Go At The Rapture.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, WE shall be like him; for WE shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
The “we” is all-inclusive of the spiritual and the carnal Christian. No distinction between the two is made here.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but WE shall ALL be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51)
At the Rapture, ALL or every Christian, whether spiritual or not, will be changed, i.e., receive their glorified bodies. Notice the last 4 words in Verse 52,

“…and WE shall be changed.”

The “WE” is all-inclusive of every Christian. Again, a partial Rapture philosophy disintegrates in the light of God’s Word. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, notice the "WE."

“Then WE which are alive and remain shall be caught up together w