When Will Rapture of the Church Happen?

Does the bible tell us when the rapture of the church will happen? Both the old and the new testament speak of this event. Rapture refers to the church being forcefully removed from the earth to be with the Lord Jesus. In 1 Thess 4:13-17 the Apostle Paul says "For the Lord himself shall descend 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 with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Can we trust this statement as being true and accurate?

Once we determine that this event is actually going to happen the next question is when will it happen? Paul had to write back to the Thessalonians because this statement stirred them up to the point that they were expecting it to happen at any moment. 2 Thess 2:1-11  " 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 worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

So we've got an answer to our "when" question. There is a falling away and then the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way. "He who letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way" This verse refers to the rapture of the church. The Holy Spirit is lifted off the earth. The church goes with it. Then the wicked one is revealed. This wicked one is an individual. Daniel 9:27 speaks of him. "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out desolate." Revelation 13:5 speaks of him. "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  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. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" Revelation 11:7 also refers to him "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." The "beast" and the "Antichrist" are synonymous. The Antichrist is an individual while the beast is the world system that he represents.

 In Matthew 24:15, Jesus tells Israel how to deal with this wicked one. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."

What do we know so far? The wicked one is revealed after the church is taken out of the way. The wicked one makes a covenant with many for "one week." This "one week" is the missing week from Daniel's seventy week prophecy. It is also referred to as "the day of the Lord". Matthew 24:36 "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."

Now we have additional information. People won't be expecting the rapture of the church. They will be eating and drinking. There will be weddings, dinners, and events. People will be going to work at the mill or out in the field. Pretty much business as usual. Then it happens. One will be taken, and the other left. This information automatically disqualifies the idea of a post tribulation rapture. At the end of the tribulation period the world as we know it will be pretty much destroyed. It will not be a time of "business as usual". If the rapture is to happen during the tribulation period but sometime before mid-tribulation then how do you explain 2 Thess 2:7? The church is taken out before Antichrist is revealed. Antichrist cannot make a "one week" or "seven year" covenant with many while the church is still here. Daniel is clear. It is an individual that makes the covenant. Not the world system which is pictured as the "beast".

We have a picture of the raptured church in Revelation 5:8.. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Some commentators believe that these elders refer to angels or heavenly beings. I believe they are representative of the church. There is no instance in the bible where the word elder refers to an angel. It is always a person and a representative of the people.

Who are they that are singing this song? They are the ones who are the subject of the verse. Those redeemed to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; These are not angels singing. This is not their song. This is the church singing. We are there with the Lord in heaven before the first seal of the scroll is even opened. The Lord has snatched us away to be with himself before the tribulation period begins. The tribulation period begins with the opening of the first seal of the scroll in chapter six.

In summary, the rapture of the church will happen when there is a falling away. Falling away from what? A falling away from the truth of the gospel. It will be a time when people call good evil and evil good. It will be a time when people attempt to change God's word into something perverted that it does not say. The rapture will happen before the son of perdition or Antichrist is revealed. This individual will then make a seven year covenant with Israel. Have we seen any of these things? We have definitely seen a falling away.

Get ready for rapture!

144,000

Revelation 14:1.. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. These are the same hundred forty and four thousand from chapter 7. They were sealed in their foreheads with the seal of the living God. This event happens before bad things come upon  the earth. Now as we come to the final judgment that will be poured out on the earth we see that this group has been delivered by God. We also find out what the seal is. It is the Father of the Lamb's name.

Verse 2.. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: Verse 3.. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

The hundred and forty and four thousand have their own song. God has delivered them in a very special way. A way in which only they can sing. It is their song. The church has it's own song. Back in chapter 5:9.. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Some commentators say that the four and twenty elder that are singing this song don't represent the church. That these are angelic beings. That doesn't make sense. Angelic beings can't relate to being redeemed to God by the blood of Jesus. This song belongs to the church. Not only that, but elders never refer to angelic beings in the bible. Elders always refer to human beings.

Verse 4.. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Verse 5.. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The description of the hundred and forty and four thousand continues. These are men who take an oath of celibacy. They follow Jesus. (The Lamb). They are the first fruits. In other words these are the first of many to come. The first fruits of the Nation of Israel who come to trust in Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. It would be very interesting to see this group start to emerge. A group of men who take an oath of celibacy and choose to follow Jesus. The group is first mentioned back in chapter 7:4. 7:3 directs the four angels not to hurt the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till these servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. So the sealing occurs before the first trumpet is sounded which brings destruction on the earth. It also occurs after the appearing of the antichrist which is pictured in 6:2. This does not necessarily conclude that the group, the 144,000, does not begin to form before the appearing of the antichrist.

Verse 6.. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Verse 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

In Matt. 24:14 Jesus says " And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. So the failure of the church to reach every person on the earth with the gospel of the kingdom will not prevent the Lord's coming. This task will be performed by an angel. Also note that the gospel of the kingdom is different than the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ involves the death and resurrection of our Savior. The gospel of the kingdom involves fearing God and giving Him glory. It involves God establishing his kingdom on the earth.

Remember the disciples were expecting Jesus to establish his kingdom on the earth. This is what they believed until Jesus revealed his true mission. Peter rebuked him. Matt. 16:21-23.

Verse 8.. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, the great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. We get a detailed description of the fall of this great city in chapters 17 and 18. The great city of the earth which makes possible the aquiring of anything imaginable. People drunk or given to that which she can provide. Fornicating, turned away from the one who can truly provide all that we need.

Verse 9.. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, Verse 10.. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation: and he shall be tormented withe fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: Verse 11: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

So by this point in the tribulation period, many have probably taken the mark of the beast. So why the warning? The reason for the warning is to encourage the saints.

Verse 12.. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Verse 13.. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

So with the bowl judgments yet to come and increased pressure from the beast to convert or die, the saints are encouraged to stay the course. The antichrist no doubt will be increasing his forces and preparing for the massive campaign against the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 14.. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. This isn't necessarily Jesus, although Jesus is wearing many crowns in chapter 19:12. The following verses start with "And another angel came out". So the cloud sitter of verse 14 is probably an angel.

Verse 15.. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. Verse 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. Verse 17.. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. Verse 18.. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. Verse 19.. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.

Joel 3:13 combines both the wheat and the wine harvests. The idea is that the earth is completely filled with wickedness and ready for the wine press. These verses look forward to the final battle between Jesus and the antichrist (beast kingdom and false prophet). Revelation 19:17-21.

Verse 20.. And the wine press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. From Mageddo to Edom is a thousand and six hundred furlongs or 176 miles.

Does Hell Really Exist?

My wife and I had just finished reading Mary K. Baxter's "A Devine Revelation of Hell". We were pondering the different things in the book like the smell and how the souls in that place were in continual torment. They cried out to Jesus for deliverance but to no avail. We considered the demons and their roll in tormenting the people. The book states that hell is down in the earth and that the flesh of the people there seems to be full of worms.

As we were pulling onto the freeway on our way home from church, we saw a man standing on the side of the road hitch hiking. I said "shall we pick him up?". She said "yes." This is something we rarely do. As he got in the car we noticed his broken English speech. He said he was a Christian Jew. He said the Lord had told him to tell people about hell. We couldn't believe what we were hearing.

He said that he had died. It was some type of swimming accident. He had a picture of his dead body lying on the beach. During the two hours that he was dead he was in hell. Jesus was with him and asked him if he knew why he was there. Our hitch hiker could say nothing to Jesus. The first thing he noticed was the incredible stench. He said it was like rotten eggs. The next thing he saw were the people. Their flesh hung loosely from their bones and it seemed to be full of worms. They cried out to Jesus to deliver them from the torment of the place but it was too late. They had sealed their fate by not repenting and trusting in Jesus in their lifetime. Then he talked about the demons. He said in his broken English "they eat the fear of the people". At first we didn't understand. Then we realized what he was saying. The demons of that place are strengthened and energized through the torment and fear of the souls there. We don't have to experience this place! Click here...

America's Aborted Future

Jesus referred to Gehenna or The Valley of Hinnom when talking about hell. This valley is s/sw of Jerusalem and has quite an infamous past.Here was Topheth where children at one time were offered to the fire god Molech. The people were given to pleasure and not God's word. They would give themselves to sexual indulgence and then conveniently dispose of the fruit of their sin in the fires of Molech. In that time, it was acceptable social behavior. The youngster was viewed as a choice, not a life. This place was later to be called "the valley of slaughter."

Can you just imagine the millions of brilliant young minds that have been snuffed out since the Roe VS Wade decision on January 22, 1973? People with skill, insight, and the ability to navigate through the tough times that we are currently experiencing. Approximately 46 million children have been aborted since the ruling. These are young creative minds that are gone! What if God had a young economic genius in the making? Or a brilliant climatic scientist? Not to mention that 46 million people would contribute significantly to the tax base and help support a retiring baby boom population.

Lord what have we done? I'm afraid we've aborted our own future. God forgive us of our great sin. Join with me and pray for our president. Pray that he would turn from his dreadful decision to support world wide abortion with American tax dollars. Pray that Roe VS Wade will be overturned. Pray with all of your strength because America is well on it's way to becoming the next Valley of Hinnom; the land of the great slaughter.