Rapture – Michael (Mike) Copple

When does the Rapture occur in relation to the Seven-year Tribulation? (2)

Today we are continuing with part 2 of our topic about when the Rapture will occur.

Revelation 5 describes the raptured Church praising the Lord Jesus Christ for being worthy to open the seven seals of the scroll and for redeeming us to God by His blood.

The order of events has been

1) Revelation 2-3: The churches on earth;
2) Revelation 4: The Rapture of the Church; and
3) Revelation 5: The Church praising the Lord.

Revelation 6 then reveals the antichrist coming in to conquer, and eventually take peace, kill, cause famine, and death. The end result of the antichrist’s feats will bring God’s wrath in the Great Tribulation.

When does the Rapture occur in relation to the Seven-year Tribulation? (1)

Today’s topic will be posted in 2 parts.

To answer this controversial question, we must realize an important fact about the arrangement of the last Book in the Bible: The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Revelation begins in chronological order, but the sequence changes and repeats some of what has already been written. For example, in chapter 6, six of the seven seals reveal to us the things which must be hereafter. These seals give us a preview of what will take place in heaven and on earth. But when the seventh seal is opened in chapter 8, then the things spoken of before begin to happen.

In comparing the chronological order of the Rapture to the seven-year Tribulation, we must maintain the context while searching the Scriptures. To begin with, keeping in mind that the first 7 chapters of Revelation are kept mostly in chronological order, we see in chapters 2 and 3 that the Lord Jesus is quoted both in rebuking and in commending the seven churches. It needs to be noted that the word churches is the last word used in chapter 3 and will not appear again until the sixth to last verse in the Book. The reason for this is that the Church will not be present on earth until they return with the Lord Jesus’ Second Coming (when He has His feet on earth for the second time) at the end of the seven-year Tribulation.

What is the Rapture?

According to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary,
“Rapture: God’s taking the church out of the world instantaneously.”

Rapture comes from the root word, rap: to snatch, and is closely related to rapt: snatched away; transported. The word rapture is not in the Bible, but the definition is certainly fulfilled in the following Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep [those who have died in belief] in Jesus. ¹⁵For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep [have died]. ¹⁶For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

John 14:3b
“I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet [of the Church Age]. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible [not to die again], and we shall be changed.

Revelation 4:1
After these things [the last messages to all the churches] I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

What is the Church Age and When will it End?

The Church Age is the total length of time from the beginning of the New Testament Church until God instantaneously takes the Church out of the world. The beginning day of this Age was on the 50^th day after the Lord Jesus was resurrected back to life from the dead. It is vitally important to remember—Christ was raised on the first day of the week—and then fifty days later, the Holy Spirit came to begin the Church—also on the first day of the week—Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-2
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

God’s Choices of Whom He will take Up and the Rapture Timing

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

The Rapture

Psalm 49:15b God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me.

John 6:39-40 “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. [Last day refers to last day of Church Age.] And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

When does the Rapture occur in relation to the Seven-Year Tribulation?

To answer this controversial question, we must realize an important fact about the arrangement of the last Book in the Bible: The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Revelation begins in chronological order, but the sequence changes and repeats some of what has already been written. For example, in chapter 6, six of the seven seals reveal to us the things which must be hereafter. These seals give us a preview of what will take place in heaven and on earth. But when the seventh seal is opened in chapter 8, then the things spoken of before begin to happen.

EVER WONDERED TO WHICH OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES MENTIONED IN REVELATION YOU BELONG TO?

DO YOU BELONG TO A CHURCH LIKE THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA?

Posted by Elfriede Copple

This week I am going back to our short study of the church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13).

We need to be aware that Satan has gotten his foot into the door of a number of churches, and is deceiving them. Therefore be on guard by checking God’s word to learn what He expects of His church the believers. The New Testament gives us clear instructions on how to meet and worship.

DO YOU BELONG TO A CHURCH LIKE THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA?

LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU (Part 2)

The Rapture is a frequent topic in our home. The Antichrist, the Tribulation Period, false prophets and today’s false teachers are the center of many discussions. Last week we started part 1 of “LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU,” today we will continue with part 2:

2 Thessalonians 2:5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

We remember from Acts 17:1 that Paul visited Thessalonica and helped “turn the world upside down,” and then travelled on to Berea, Athens, and Corinth. He is writing this Letter from Corinth. So he had verbally taught them, but since then, besides all the contradictory teaching being given to them since he left, they’ve also been fiercely persecuted. Between the false teaching and the suffering they were enduring, they must have thought the Tribulation Period had already begun. In troubles we all forget too easily and need to be constantly reminded of the great truths of our God. It is vitally important to stay focused by staying in God’s Word and by praying without ceasing.

LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU (Part 1)

The Thessalonian saints were apparently confused mixing up a separate split-second event—the Rapture—with our gathering together to Him with the coming of our Lord Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 ¹Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ²not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

The Thessalonian saints were apparently confused concerning two different periods of time—they were mixing up a separate split-second event—the Rapture—our gathering together to Him with the coming of our Lord Jesus. The instantaneous Rapture happens first. Then the period of time begins. This period of time is called the “Tribulation.” Immediately, or nearly so, following our being raptured, the church age ends, and a period of judgment begins—a Day of the Lord—begins. The first event of the period of time is the seven-year Tribulation Period. Those seven years are given over to the false trinity to rule on earth. The first half of the seven years (3 ½ years) is a time of deception, and the second half of the seven years will be the Great Tribulation. At the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period, the next quick-as-lightening event is the Lord’s Second Coming. Immediately after that is our Lord’s 1,000 year millennial reign. That time will be followed by the destruction of this earth and heavens, and the Lord’s creation of a new heaven and earth. The words our gathering together to Him are referring to the Rapture.

“The Rapture—The Hope that Comforts All Believers”

“The Coming of the Lord—His Bringing Us Back with Him”

Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

“Come in” meaning ‘come in to the church’, as believers, that is.

Israel will believe after they see that the Rapture is true. They will realize this truth upon the church {all believers in Christ} disappearing, having been taken up into the clouds.

THE HOPE OF GLORY – A Preview of Things to Come

Warren Henderson, the author of “THE HOPE OF GLORY” was an aerospace engineer who has been serving the Lord in “full time” ministry for many years now. He is an itinerant Bible teacher and has written over 30 books. He is currently writing a “Devotional Study” series on the books of the Old Testament. Study Books on 31 books of the Bible have already been published. Warren’s goal is to complete the series this year.