Posted by Some Christians believe there will be a Rapture to spare true Believers from suffering through the Tribulation of the End times. Other Christians do not believe God will spare His church from the persecution to come, that we are meant to endure it for Christ. However, the real key may be whether or not we want one. I’m sure there are many who don’t believe in one who would gladly welcome it if given the option. However, what if it is to be a thing, but only available by request?
First, to clarify:
- The Tribulation is the 7-year period defining the end of the world, per the Bible
- This period will mark the rise of the Beast and his One World Government
- All who refuse his Mark will be denied services and persecuted severely
- Half-way though the Tribulation the Beast will demand worship as a god
- The Earth will experience supernatural plagues and extreme suffering
- Those who claim to follow Christ in those days will be hounded and tortured to recant
- The Tribulation will end with the “Second” Coming of Christ in Judgement of the Earth
The Rapture (“to snatch” in Latin) was the name given to a Biblical concept clarified by John Nelson Darby in the 1830’s. He believed as the end times approached those who worshiped Christ would be rescued from the end time suffering by God, Who would whisk them all away beforehand in a “pre-Tribulation Rapture.” The main scriptures supporting this view are:
- 1Thess 4:15-17: “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever.”
- Matt 24:29-31: “That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”
Some Christians believe in this concept known as the Rapture and others do not. Moreover, it is curious how strongly those beliefs are held and how hotly debated. Few topics generate more conflict and enmity among Christians than the notion of the Rapture. Both sides are very adamant and assured of their position, often just agreeing to disagree. Those who deny a pre-Tribulation Rapture believe Christians are meant to follow Christ in their sufferings, as some Believers have since the beginning, starting with Stephen being martyred for the faith. They believe those Rapture passages relate to Christ’s Second-Coming to judge the world.
If this is correct, any Christians still alive when the Lion of Judah comes in His Glory will be “caught-up” in the air with him as He descends with His army on the Earth to exact righteous judgement. So, they agree with a rapture event, but not until to the very end, as a precursor to the Battle of Armageddon and the Final judgement of the world. So, as Jesus goes on the attack against the kings of the Earth with the Sword of Truth, He will have blinked His people, His Elect who are still alive, out of the war zone just as the battle begins.
On the other hand, those who subscribe to the pre-Trib Rapture believe God will whisk the Body of True Believers that constitute His Church off the Earth just as the 7-year tribulation period is set to begin, with all its persecution and suffering. Supposedly, the event would trigger two major happenings, the rise of the Beast to help quell the ensuing unrest and the creation of a new generation of Believers in Christ who realize what has really happened and turn to Him to save their souls. It is also thought by some that there could be a spiritual revelation of Christ to members of the Jewish faith causing them to join the New Church. This would be the body of Believers persecuted by the Beast during the Tribulation.
Now, while each belief can be supported to some degree by Scripture, making it a matter of interpretation, it seems those who oppose the notion are much more adamant and vocal of their position. On the other hand, those who espouse a pre-Trib Rapture seem more quietly secure of their position; almost as if they are in on a secret. Perhaps that is because those who believe in the Rapture have the inner peace of a hope that other Believers lack, especially among Christians who think the end is near.
However, basing a belief or non-belief in a Pre-tribulation Rapture on the interpretation of prophetic events described in in the Bible may not be the best way to account for the possibility. It may be far more indicative of the likelihood by focusing on God’s character and the ways in which He has exacted judgements in the past. It is not in God’s character to allow His children to be judged same as those who have not accepted the gift of salvation.
When God resolved to destroy the wickedness of the world in a flood, He warned Noah and provided an escape plan in the form of an ark. When God sent the angel of death to destroy the first born of Egypt, He protected His people by Lamb’s blood. When Moses came down from the Mountain and found the people rebelling in idolatry and sin, He called for those who were faithful to come to him and then God smote the rest. When Samson was about to bring down the temple, he asked God to let Him die with his enemies, because He wanted to pay for his sins and knew God might otherwise spare him. When God was ready to zap Sodom and Gomorrah, He not only rescued Lot and His family, He let him try to find others worthy of being saved.
Given this track record of God’s Merciful intervention on behalf of those He favored, what should we expect God to do with those who truly believe and are dutifully keeping vigil when the smiting of the plagues, calamities and persecutions of the End Times are about to begin? Do we think He will just attack and punish the Believers like everyone else? Do we think the Beast will succeed in 100% eradication of all Believers? Do we think Jesus will just scoop His people up as He is descending on the attack with His army? Or will He allow a Rapture to rescue His flock from the wrath to come by getting His children out of the way before it gets really bad during Tribulation?
Based on God’s history of sparing the “righteous” in His sight and given His love for His Church, it seems more likely than not that God would rescue His Bride from the misery and persecution of the End Times. Again, why else would He caution us to be vigilant and pray to be spared? Luke 21:34-36: “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
If we are indeed approaching the end times and it is to occur in this generation, what are we supposed to be praying for as Christ commanded? That God would change His mind and not bring judgement? No. It will come at the appointed time, regardless. Should we pray for revival and a stay of judgement? Yes, but that will only delay the inevitable apocalypse. If all the people of the Earth are about to suffer through the great plagues and calamities of the End Times, what should be our prayer request as Christians? For it not to hurt so much? For it to be quick? Maybe for us to not even see it coming? That makes no sense. Why would God throw out the baby with the bath water? That would not be in line with the character of God as revealed in the Bible.
No. It would appear that we should be praying to be delivered from the wrath that is about to come…to “escape” the horror. Jesus pretty much said so there in Luke. Jesus also said, “Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened unto you.” Therein may be the key. It would not be surprising if there were a rapture of believers, but not all were taken, only those who asked to be spared the end time tribulation. When those who remained ask the Lord why He did not take them too, He could very well answer that they had not asked Him too. And why not? Because they didn’t believe in the pre-tribulation rapture or God’s mercy to that extent. Those who believed in God’s Mercy and asked to be spared would have chosen the “better portion.”
This is why I believe, as it pertains to the Rapture, the focal point should not be on the interpretation of Bible verses relating to “prophetic events”, but rather on what God’s character say’s about the potential for such an event based on His Word. Would a Rapture event be consistent with the way God has felt about and treated His people in the past? It certainly seems so. In any event, what would one have to lose in hoping and praying to be raptured? If nothing else it would demonstrate the strength of a worshipper’s hope and his or her ardent belief in God’s Mercy, a tribute pleasing to God. Alternatively, those who deny the pre-Trib Rapture stand to gain nothing by doing so even if they are correct, and if they are wrong, may have robbed others as well as themselves from being rescued from the horror of the end times.
If in the end, I am wrong and there is no Pre-Tribulation Rapture, I am at peace. I would rather be wrong for giving God more credit for His love and mercy if it does not happen, than to be wrong for thinking less of Him if the Rapture does indeed occur. For this reason, I am led to share with others about this wonderful hope and the good reasons for having it. The world has grown so dark and evil is so rampant, just like at the foot of mount Moriah when the Israelites made the golden calf, and God is calling out through His Word and the times for those who truly believe to stake their faith. Time is also running out to warn our loved ones we do not want left behind when we answer the Clarion Call. The Wind of the Spirit blowing through the world now is not just calling us to repentance, it’s also reminding us to have our lamps full and to be ready to greet our King.
Spirit Quest Garden 