The Rapture Question

Author Note: This was written years ago. Information still applies, now more so than ever.
 

This   is an excerpt from a previous 2007 correspondence concerning a “guest”   on a popular radio program that vividly highlights the overall  apostasy  that has taken root and hold of millions of Christian  believers. Most, I  guarantee you most Christians have absolutely no  idea of what they are  getting into when they go along with the false  doctrine of the Rapture. I  know and fully understand that this sacred  cow is something that has  morphed into a myriad of dogmatic error that  is set like a trap to  ensnare otherwise prudent Christians. At any  rate, it was brought to my  attention by a person who not only has my  respect but admiration for  being out there on the front lines but is  honestly seeking the truth in  God’s Word. The radio show concerned  pertains to a well respected woman  that has her forte in nutrition and  is trying to help people maintain  & enhance their health. She just  happened to air a Rapture pastor  who showed his true colors. Without  further adieu, this is the body of  the recent letter that I wrote and  expanded here. Names will be  concealed because I am more interested in  providing the truth than get  involved in any personal skirmishes (they  taught us in the Marines to  choose your battles wisely):
 

Body of letter: 
 

XXXXXXX,  I  just listened to the audio clip. Very interesting info on Obama.  We’ll  have to see how that one plays out. If the economies go kaput  & he  relocates to Jerusalem then I’d say yes, he’s definitely the  bad guy. A  lot of people believe that the Antichrist will come out of a  revived  Roman Empire. This I don’t believe because right now Europe is  barely  hanging on and will not “revive” financially, politically, or   religiously that I can see. Besides, they have no leadership at the   forefront to speak of. 
 

As  far as pastor XXXXXXX goes  - he is a dyed in the wool dispensational  rapturist (used to be one  myself) until I found out who I was in Christ  identify-wise as Spiritual  Israel. It’s sad the rapture cult crowd  twist scriptures to purport  their theology. They say the Jews are the  “chosen people” and those same  rapturist Christians in effect give up  their birthright because they  rationalize they’ll be in heaven for the  tribulation. And,, the Jews are  still -last time I checked- antichrist.  I mean, how twisted can it  get?? But they have to do this in order to  substantiate and maintain  their position. 
 

XXXXX  on the clip even went so far as to infer  (say) that the Israelites  were “taken up” (raptured) when they were  escaping pharaoh. Whoa… If  that is not twisting the scriptures, then I  don’t know what is…
 

But  I am so glad you brought this up. In a  nutshell, it all centers around  Daniels 70th week, and if someone  doesn’t get this right  theology-wise, it creates things like the false  teaching of Preterism  (Historicism) and the false Rapture Cult  paradigm. 
 

It’s  actually a very simple sequence but just one  element of it out of  context and it confuses almost everyone. It all  centers around what a  lot of people call the last 7 year tribulation  period where “the prince  that shall come” shall confirm the covenant  with many for one week…  But, it can be proved theologically this has  already happened with  Jesus fulfilling the first 3 and 1/2 years. So, as  a result, this  throws off all their misplaced theology. 
 

Absolutely   nowhere in scripture does it say anywhere that the “church” will be   raptured. This is all originated in Scotland/Britain about 170 years  ago  and imported to America. Christian Chinese, Christian Sudanese, and   Christians all over the world have been getting killed and tortured  but  you have all these American Churches saying they’re special and  will get  raptured.. 
 

They  say God does not suffer his people to wrath.  This is true but, he also  prepared and separated them during the plagues  in Egypt and led them  into and through the desert. What is interesting  is that only Joshua  and Caleb of the 12 spies sent out to inspect the  Promised Land later  said that God would conquer the giants for them  whereas the other  tribes paraphrased said no way was it possible. BTW,  only Joshua and  Caleb did get to see the Promised Land. So now we have  all these poor  people who are not spiritually preparing themselves to go  “through” the  tribulation desert (to the Promised Land). Reminds me of  the 5 foolish  virgins who asked the 5 wise virgins for some of their  oil. The 5 wise  virgins had their lamps trimmed and burning (lit) so  they could see in  the dark of the night. Then when the Lord came for  them in the middle  of the night at midnight (when it was the darkest)  the 5 foolish  virgins were NOT ready or prepared. 
 

Not only that but the Lord technically comes back right before Armageddon Rev 16:14–16. There is only one second coming.
 

14   For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth   unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to   the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 
 

15  Behold, I come  as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth  his garments, lest  he walk naked, and they see his shame. 
 

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 
 

—Then, back in Rev 7:13-14 – it identifies who these people are that “keepeth his garments” and came “out of” great tribulation:
 

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 
 

 14   And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are   they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes,   and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 
 

 15  Therefore are  they before the throne of God, and serve him day and  night in his  temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell  among them. 
 

 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 
 

 17   For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and   shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe  away  all tears from their eyes.
 

So,  the rapturists have a quandary  if they say the “Church” is not found  in Revelation between chapter 4  “come up hither and I will whew thee  things which must be hereafter” and  chapter 19:14 where it says: “And  the armies which were in heaven  followed him upon white horses, clothed  in fine linen, white and clean.  While twisting the Scriptures to say  that this is where the raptured  saints come back with the Lord; Pastor  XXXXXXX even made a joke about  how he would ask someone to leave and  then “come back” into the room  etc..  Somehow, I seriously doubt the  Lord is laughing at his twisted  scriptural humor since it says: “the  armies which “were” in heaven (read  previously present and NOT in an  implied 7 year holding pattern waiting  to pop back to earth). Does any  sane Christian think for one moment  that during the whole course of  Christianity not to mention God’s Holy  Angelic Host that the so-called  “Tribulation Saints” comprise the  aforementioned armies??? This is how  the rapture cult has done grave  damage to the Holy Writ and  misappropriated it to their own interest  (and demise for that matter).  This scripture absolutely DOES NOT say  that the “armies” are the  Tribulation Saints. This is extremely sad how  he can voice this false  doctrine (I’m trying to be nice) and get away  with it. But then again –  you know what the Word says about itching  ears… 
 

THE DISPENSATION/RAPTURIST APOSTACY:
 

There  are  many, many sub-categories to their false doctrine but suffice it  to say  the granddaddy of them all is the total misrepresentation of  Daniel  9:24-27 (comments in parenthesis)
 

 24  Seventy weeks (total) are  determined upon thy people and upon thy 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. (Jesus Christ  fulfilled each and every one of these 7  elements)
 

 25  Know  therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the  commandment  to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the  Prince shall be  seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: (483 years  total- 49 years.  The 50th year by the way being a “Jubilee year” and  from the 49th year  plus 434 years to the time of Christ’s fulfillment  was ACCOMPLISHED.  Read Ezra 1:2 and Nehemiah 2, 2:8, 2:17, 5:14, 6:15,  4:6, and 4:16. Also  Ezra 1:5, and Psalm 48:2, and Lev 25:10. Plus,  Malachi as the last book  of the Bible preached the “messenger of the  covenant” and “acceptable  year of the Lord” which Jesus also  accomplished; Mal 3:1 and Luke  4:18-19) the street shall be built  again, and the wall, even in  troublous times (Neh 4, 4:16-17 chronicles  the turbulent restoration and  rebuilding of Jerusalem). 
 

 26  And after threescore and two  weeks (exactly as it says above about the  same time period) shall  Messiah be cut off (the Lord was crucified),  but not for himself (i.e.  He died for our sins that we might live  through Him. He did it and was  cut off FOR US): and the people of the  prince that shall come shall  destroy the city and the sanctuary (This  IS NOT the Antichrist as the  rapturists say. This was however, as any  history book will tell you  Titus of the 10th Roman legion in 70 AD that  the Lord referred to when  He said “see ye not all these things”  referring to the rebuilt temple in  Jerusalem that would be “thrown  down” Mat 24:2); and the end thereof  shall be with a flood (this is a  spiritual metaphor as like Rev 12 –get  very familiar with this chapter  in Revelation 12 as well which speaks of  THE LAST 3 and ½ years of the  “one week” below), and unto the end of  the war desolations are  determined (scripture already talked about above  concerning the  “sanctuary” and the siege of Jerusalem from 66 AD and  culminating in 70  AD by the “people” of the prince i.e. the Romans and  the prince being  Titus). 
 

 27  And he shall confirm the covenant  with many for one week (this was  Jesus Christ NOT the Antichrist. Read  Galatians 3:17): and in the midst  of the week he shall cause the  sacrifice and the oblation to cease  (this was Christ who fulfilled this  with His perfect ONE TIME sacrifice  when He said “it is finished” as  propitiation for our sins NOT the  Antichrist), and for the overspreading  of abominations he shall make it  desolate (this “it” is the rebuilt 2nd  temple keeping in point of fact  that - Seventy weeks are determined  upon thy people and upon thy holy  city… Read Luke 13:34-35 and look for  the word “desolate”. Jesus caused  the sacrifices to stop due to His  PERFECT sacrifice hence no further  need to resume plus the temple is now  spiritual), even until the  consummation (the ultimate goal, end,  fulfillment), and that determined  (to put an end to/terminate) shall be  poured upon the desolate.  (desolate = devoid of inhabitants, deserted,  barren, lifeless, bereft  of friends or hope; sad and forlorn; ABANDONED.  When Jesus Christ was  crucified – He fulfilled ALL THESE REQUIREMENTS  in Daniel 9:24-27 so  that you and I through faith in Him might have  eternal life. The most  important part here is the old covenant physical  nation was  “translated” to a new covenant spiritual nation born again  hence the  “physical” nation after they crucified the Lord is still now  to this  very day desolate)
 

Salient points:
 

There  is no  Revived Roman Empire anywhere per the rapture cult spoken of in   scripture. The Scriptures do repeatedly speak of a cabal or   confederation of ten kings that “will give their power and strength  unto  the beast” Rev 17:12-13. However, this global “template” is yet to  be  seen (soon I suspect with the way the economy is going) But, it  will not  be hard to identify once we get to that next (soon to occur)  paradigm.
 

The   “prince that shall come” is erroneously confused with the Antichrist.   Titus was “the prince” in Daniel 9:26 before he officially became   Emperor/Caesar.
 

The only scripture where a gap is implied is found “in the midst of the week when the Messiah is cut off”.
 

Jesus   told the Jews: “the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given  to  a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Mat 21:43)
The Christians are the spiritual Jews (Rom 2:28-29)
 

As   an adjunct - the interpretation by the rapturists of the 144,000   physical Jews in Revelation somehow becoming spontaneous evangelized   reconstituted Christians is totally bizarre on it’s face but in light  of  the false dispensational/rapturist thinking is that - they have to   twist this scripture in order to justify them being in heaven during  the  so-called 7 year tribulation. 
 

The  “he” that shall confirm the  covenant makes no mention whatsoever of  the Antichrist. This attributes  the work of GOD to THE DEVIL. NOT GOOD.  Nor, does it ever mention  anything whatsoever claiming to be a 7 year  treaty that the rapturists  allege.
Furthermore,  per the dispensation rapturist false doctrine;  the 7 year treaty  (between the Jews and Arabs which is found nowhere in  Scripture), 7  year tribulation, rebuilt 3rd temple, and Antichrist that  breaks the  treaty with the Jews and enters the rebuilt temple claiming  to be God;  is twisted from the 27th verse. Keeping in mind that up to  this point  it was Jesus Christ that fulfilled all the previous elements.
 

Nearly   all of the dispensation and rapturists talk about the “Red Heifer” and   the “Temple Mount Faithful” that they believe will be the earmarks to   usher in the rebuilt 3rd temple, daily sacrifices, and Antichrist (and   their free ride out in the case of the rapturists) and they don’t get   the fact that since the Lord was rejected and cut off, even from the   time of His death in circa 33 AD till the time of the obliteration of   the 2ndtemple in AD 70; the Jews RESUMED the daily sacrifice after His   death. That right there is the epitome and coup de grace (perfect   example) of “desolate/desolation” which flew in the face of Christ’s   perfect “it is finished” sacrifice.   And, if all that were not enough,   the rapturists say that the church is found nowhere after the 4th   chapter of Revelation because they say John was told “come up hither  and  I will whew thee things which must be hereafter” that they twist  and  superimpose to mean that the “church” got raptured. This is how  obscene  it gets in their theology. The truth is – is that the church  “is” in the  second half of Daniel’s last week (i.e. last 3 and ½ years  of recorded  history) and takes the form of the Woman who rides the  Beast (501c3). In  other words the marriage of church and state that  most people are in  denial about. I know pastor XXXXXXX in the audio  clip claims to be a non  registered church but that is beside the point  of him being a  rapturist.
 

Personally,  I don’t desire or want to be in the  tribulation (latter half of  Daniel’s last week) but I do trust God and  am trying every day to get  more oil in my lamp for when it gets  incredibly dark out (like right  now).
 

Where we are headed:
 

one-world economy,
one-world government, and
one-world religion. We are hurtling headlong right now into this final manifestation of evil. 
 

Most   hard-core rapturists will never “get it” while all their so called   flock are in grave danger of being disillusioned. These are the very   dear people a few of us are so very worried about…
 

We pray that the Holy Spirit wakes them up in time before it’s too late.