Some Die Once – Many Die Twice [Part 30]
In Part 30 of our series of Blog Posts from our upcoming book titled “One Way or Another Your Eternal Destination is Guaranteed” the question today looks at: “When will the Rapture Occur? Part 1”
There is only One Absolute!”
The story has been told about a professor who declared to his class, “There is no such thing as absolute truth.” A student raised his hand and asked, “Is that statement absolutely true?” The teacher was stumped, for if he said, “Yes” then he would be contradicting himself. And if he answered, “No” then his original statement would be flawed and untrue. With sound reasoning then, there is, indeed, absolute truth.
The Rapture Occurs When?
By rightly dividing God’s Word we cannot find the answer to the question, “When will the Rapture occur?” But we can learn much from His truth on this unsolved matter. The reason for us to not know when this event will occur is that only the Father knows when He will send His Son.
The only thing we know for sure is that the Second Coming happens at the end of the Seven-year Tribulation (Revelation 19:11-20); but this means we would need to know when the Tribulation period begins. We know it begins shortly after the Rapture; but we do not know when the Rapture will occur.
We only know that, at this moment while this is being written (and, if it hasn’t happened yet, as you are reading) it is surely about to suddenly take place. In Scripture when He tells us that only the Father knows, Jesus is referring to the Second Coming. But the timing of the Second Coming is, in a sense, dependent upon the Rapture preceding the Tribulation events. Jesus is quoted:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36
In That Day
The words “in that day” are in the prophecies of Isaiah over 45 times, in Zechariah 17 times, and in the other Minor Prophets 17 times.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25:13
Day of the Lord/Day of Christ
The words “day of the LORD” appear in the OT 18 times, normally speaking of God’s furious wrath. This can lead one to believe that the words “day of Christ” (KJV and NKJV) which we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:2, are speaking of the Second Coming of Christ. In thinking of terms of consistency this would be true. But when considering the context of the passage in 2 Thess. 2:1-8 it leads us to believe it is with reference to the Rapture. However, we have no desire to be dogmatic about it.
The Thessalonians apparently thought they were not faithful enough to be raptured. Paul taught them to not be deceived by any false teacher either saying or writing that the Rapture had already happened.
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin [the Antichrist] is revealed, the son of perdition. 2 Thessalonians 2:3
And now you know what is restraining [the Antichrist from appearing], that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery [hidden truth] of lawlessness is already at work; only He [the Holy Spirit who is indwelling the Church (Rom. 8:9; Eph. 2:19-22)] who now restrains will do so until He is taken [raptured] out of the way. And then the lawless one [the Antichrist] will be revealed, 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8a
The Holy Spirit
When the Rapture occurs and all believers are taken up off the earth and gathered together, the Holy Spirit of Almighty God who is indwelling the believers will be taken up with them.
Now, therefore, you [believers] are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
Verse 22 above is the confirmation that the Holy Spirit indwells the saints, and illustrates the fact that the Rapture will take up the Holy Spirit indwelling the Church body of believers.
Pre-, Mid- or Post-Tribulation Rapture
Regarding the disagreements about pre-, mid-, and post-tribulation Rapture, some questions need to be asked:
“Would God have less care for His saints who are alive and remaining at the time of the Rapture than those who have died and are already with Him in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8)? Would my mother, whose soul and spirit is already safely in heaven want to think that her son would suffer the Tribulation even though her son believes in God just the same as she? Would God treat any of His adopted children with more loving kindness than any others? Would our just and impartial God allow those believers who are still living at the time of the Rapture to suffer the wrath of any part of the Tribulation, yet did not let any of this happen to those who’ve died and whose souls and spirits are already with the Lord?”
Impartial God
Luke wrote that God is not partial in the following verse where he quotes Peter preaching to the Gentiles:
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” Acts 10:34
Paul writes the following:
For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11
But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. Galatians 2:6
Some seem to believe that God’s impartiality implies that male and female believers are both approved by God to perform church elders in the worship meeting. However, God’s Word does not agree with such an interpretation. Controversy stems from Gal. 3:28:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Salvation from Wrath
The above verse (Gal. 3:28) applies to the believers’ salvation—salvation from God’s wrath and for eternal life—not to church leadership. Elders should be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2). In telling His truth, God‘s Word says the following:
Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority [spiritual authority] over a man, but to be in silence. 1 Timothy 2:11-12
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. 1 Corinthians 14:33-35
Escape the Second Death
We feel sure that some of these purely truthful passages, even though if not kept to the pleasure of God, will probably not prevent a believer from entering into God’s kingdom. In other words, they will escape the second death. But the rewards will surely be of a lesser degree.
If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15
However, if an unbelieving person is searching for some spiritual influence in his life and happens to attend a church that is practicing things that God warns not to do, it can be eternally fatal. Once a church starts down the slippery slope, it is difficult to get back up.
Rightly Dividing God’s Word
Scripture makes clear that the Rapture occurs prior to the Seven-year Tribulation period.
We of mankind are all human. In this book we hope and strive to rightly divide the Word of God, but if we have not done so, we invite correction. We would never want to say anything other than God’s pure truth. If we did, we stand to be corrected. It is a serious matter to keep God’s Word the way He intended it to be received. We are not to use our imaginations, but we are to be diligent in rightly discerning and keeping His Word:
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Your word is very pure: therefore your servant loves it. Psalm 119:140
When mankind adds to, takes away, or changes anything in God’s Word, it is then no longer truly God’s Word—but has become man’s word.
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8
-to be continued-
Next Blog Post on December 04, 2025:
“The Falling Away! – Part 2 of When will the Rapture Occur?”
Pray that people will come to the saving knowledge of the Truth before it’s too late, and love their children to teach them the Truth.
Thank you for reading and God bless you!
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version, unless stated otherwise. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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