Question: What is a Pre-Tribulation Rapture or Tribulation?
Question: What does it mean that the dead in Christ shall rise first in 1Thessalonians 4:16?
This is Paul’s description of the order events, when the so-called “Rapture” of Christians takes place at or approx. the same time as Jesus the Christ returns to Earth!
The timing of the Rapture of Christians (1Cor. 15:51), (Christ's Body) is the subject of much debate, and has been over many centuries. Some say prior to the "70th week" of Daniel's prophecy quoting 2Thess. 2:7, which has veracity, others at the same time as the saving of the "remnant" of Jews, which is approx. at the end of the “70th week”; (see Daniel) and many other ideas abound. However, one overriding comment repeatedly seems to give the main clue, (Rom. 5:9) which speaks of exclusion from "wrath", in fact wrath is reserved for those that "hold down", or suppress the Truth (Rom. 1:18). The most convincing and probably conclusive is 1Thess. 1:10 and 5:9, which shows not only exclusion from wrath, but also uses the word "rescued", from the wrath to come.
After that wondrous event, whatever its timing, there is time alone for the Body (True Church) with the Lord, which is a refining and reward time for individual Christians, who are then in a different “body” or state (Rom. 14:10), (1Cor. 3:10-15) and (2Cor. 5:10), but we are then with the Lord forever (ALWAYS) (1Thess. 4:17). The "ALWAYS", here in the Greek, has the flavour of not just time but also at His side, (or in His presence).
The Lord must then arrive on Earth the second time (called the 2nd Advent), to rescue the remnant of His people Israel, (in their flesh), to subdue and defeat by force the Nations ranged against them, to Judge the Nations, and to set up and Preside in the Millennial reign. As we are told by Paul that we (true Christ-ones) are "ever", with the Lord, it is the opinion of the writers that we arrive on Earth with Christ (1Thess. 3:13) and (Jude 14).
There are some Groups that will not accept the Rapture as Scriptural, and make rather flimsy arguments to the contrary. A recent comment from the USA is that the idea originated from a woman (Margaret McDonald) in the UK in AD 1830. They assert that the well-known J.N. Darby was influenced by her at a Charismatic meeting, when she was in a "trance like state", and that the whole concept of the "Rapture" is from her!
They clearly had not done their homework carefully, as Darby had come to the Rapture conclusion three years earlier in AD 1826/7, and in fact was confirming the conclusion of many Biblical Scholars trailing backwards to AD 306 as recent documentation confirms!
See: http://www.revelationsmessage.co.uk/The%20Rapture%20Those%20Taken%20and%20Those%20Not.htm
It is noted in Scripture, that there are many references to Christ Jesus’ return to Earth in Power! Are they referring to the same, or multiple events? In the opinion of the writers, they may be multiple, and some are commented on below.
Our Lord was at pains to show His disciples that “I have other sheep not of this fold”, (John 10:16).
Most teachers think the meaning of this statement means other lands, or countries; and the Missionaries in the past have worked valiantly at that endeavour in foreign lands. That reasoning is partially valid in our opinion, as God the Father wants all to be Saved if that was possible. However; we believe there is possibly a double meaning which shows in conclusion in Rev. 17:14, which shows the “Chosen”, and “faithful”, are involved with “Him” in His warfare with Satan’s people of the end time of the Millennial Dispensation. The “Chosen” people are probably the people of Jeshuran (ideal Israel); and the “faithful” those of the Lord’s True Body (1Cor. 12:12-25 which is described by Paul after Acts 28:28). Both groups will have experienced a resurrection and calling to Christ before then; the Jews that of Dan. 12:1-13, and the Body of Christ at 1Thess. 4:14-17!
See:
RAPTURE (THE) of Christians and Overcomers (Study)
Rapture (The) Those Taken and Those Not. (Study)
If you have questions or comments, please click here.
Subjectindex or
www.revelationsmessage.co.uk or