The Rapture Question
Many Christians are confused about what is meant by the Rapture of the church and Christ’s Second Coming. Are they one event or two separate events? Some people are even asking, “What is the Rapture of the church?” “Why do Christians hold different views on the Rapture?” Today, more than ever, these questions and many others arise as believers anticipate the Coming of the Lord. The woGet More Articles—Subscribe Today!
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I also think about when Enoch walked with out and then was not and Elijah and the fiery chariot. Also, when Phillip was with the Ethiopian and then was then caught up north from where he was in the blink of an eye.
We as believers don’t deny those rapture like examples happening, without using the word itself. Also with a road so narrow to Christ even the non believers who listen to our discussions lean to the post tribulation, that is enough to make me question it myself. I know that we need to be ready either way.
I asked to David Levy, I want to know if that the body of Christ, whose are the fifth saints tribulation is a part of it?
I also, the Holy Spirit still going to through the first half of the tribulation because the 144K witnessing to people will receive the Holy Spirit until the man of sin will take it over therefore the Holy Spirit will leave immediately?
I has had struggle with fit in 2Thessalonians 2:3? can you explain it to us as soon as feel free time.
The Holy Spirit isn’t removed from the earth. He still plays a role in salvation, conviction, drawing, etc. If He were removed, there’d be no salvation occurring on earth during the Tribulation. But as we see in Revelation 7:9-17, there are multitudes being saved during this time. The church, the bride of Christ, is closed with the rapture thus ending the church age but not closing out the dispensation of grace. Anyone saved after the rapture is a tribulation saint but not a church saint. They will reside and reign on earth whereas church saints will reside in and reign from New Jerusalem.
The pre-tribulation view is definitively the correct view. While there are some people who see them as two separate events there are some who see them as the same event but in separate stages. It’s one of the few times where differing views are actually correct. The second group sees them as separate stages because they view the rapture in terms of the first resurrection which actually happens in 3 stages. Stage 1 was the resurrection of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:20, stage 2 is the rapture when the saints of the church age are resurrected and stage 3 is at the revelation where Jesus sets His feet on the Mount of Olives. According to Daniel 12:2 this is when Old Testament saints are resurrected along with the martyred saints of the Tribulation period. Regardless of how you choose to view the pre-trib rapture the important thing to remember is that it is our blessed hope and we need to be prepared for it as if it could happen at any moment, not tomorrow, but today. Incidentally, 2 Timothy 4:8 says there’s a crown associated with discerning the correct timing and being prepared for it in the prescribed manner. Not only did Paul mention it but Jesus did as well in Revelation 3:11
Thanks David for the explanation provided in this piece providing clear cut distinction between all views on the Rapture. As your concluding sentence pinpoints also, I believe the pretribulationism is correct.