WILL THE CHURCH BE RAPTURED?
By Jim Gerrish
Today millions of
Christians, particularly in the western world, are certain they will someday
escape the earth in a so-called “rapture.” This event supposedly will take
place just prior to the coming of the Beast or Antichrist and the ensuing Great
Tribulation.
Let us clarify first of all, that while “rapture” is a non-biblical
term, there certainly will be a “catching up” of the saints to meet the Lord in
the air on that last day. This is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17: “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 so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Obviously though, the idea of being caught up to meet the Lord as he is
coming to reign triumphantly on earth, is a far different concept than being
snatched out of a world before the difficult days of battle and testing arrive.
The intent of Jesus’ appearing is clear, since he is bringing all his saints
with him to earth (1 Thess. 4:14).
We might ask, where did the idea of a rapture originate, seeing that the
term is not in the Bible? Did the earliest Christians believe in such a
rapture? Also, what is entailed in the idea? Let us look into this doctrine
briefly.
HOW DID THE RAPTURE GET
STARTED?
When we take a look at
church history we learn that the pre-tribulation rapture teaching began in
Scotland in 1830. The idea was apparently unknown in the church before this
date, and it was unknown to the early Christians, as we will later illustrate.
It is likely that the teaching began in Port Glasgow with a prophecy from a
young woman by the name of Margaret Macdonald. She apparently had some
connections with Edward Irving’s movement, and it was this group that first
began to circulate her revelation.
The idea was soon picked up, publicized and greatly developed by John Nelson
Darby, founder of the Plymouth Brethren. Later the whole scheme of the rapture
was incorporated into the notes of the popular
Schofield Bible.
From there the teaching was spread worldwide. Today it has probably become one
of the most accepted and fervently held eschatological beliefs of western
evangelical Christians.
This whole emphasis, however, seems contrary to the Hebraic and biblical
idea of the righteous remaining on the earth (Psa.115:16). We see this clearly
in many scriptures like Psalm 37:9, 11, where we read that those who hope in the
Lord and those who are meek will inherit the land. The Lord himself even
repeats this promise in Matthew 5:5. In Psalm 37:29 it is affirmed with these
words: “the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” In
Proverbs 2:21-22 the author states: “For the upright will live in the land, and
the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.”
In Proverbs 10:30 it is stated bluntly: “The righteous will never be
uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.” These scriptures are
underscored in the parables of Jesus. They tell us it is the wicked that will
be removed from the earth. This conclusion is also supported by a careful study
of the book of Revelation.
FANCIFUL SCHEMES
Many fanciful schemes
of interpretation have developed around the idea of the rapture as an escape
from earth. Obviously, this whole concept has provided abundant material for
today’s writers. One of these schemes deals with the Marriage Supper of the
Lamb. This supper with Jesus and his raptured church supposedly takes place
during the time of the Great Tribulation, when the Jews who are left behind are
experiencing a terrible holocaust under the Antichrist.
This scenario not only seems non-biblical and non-Hebraic, but also even
appears anti-biblical and even anti-Semitic. How could the Messiah of Israel
rejoice at a festival supper at the exact time the people of Israel, his own
chosen people, are burning in the flames, and even while his beloved Jerusalem
is being threatened? The Bible says of Israel, “In all their distress he too
was distressed” (Isa. 63:9).
Along with this idea also comes the scenario concerning Petra. This is
a concept that has become extremely popular in the last few years as it has been
widely publicized by certain modern preachers and writers. The scenario goes
like this: After Christians “fly away” in the rapture and the Antichrist makes
his debut, the Jews will escape to Petra where they will be sheltered. This
whole idea seems flawed on many counts. It even seems a bit preposterous.
Petra like the rapture also does not appear in the Bible. There are no
promises concerning Petra made by Israel’s prophets. The city is possibly
connected to Sela in Edom, but even that could be questionable since Petra
existed in much later Nabataean times.
Petra, the famous rose city, is in the ancient territory of Edom. We
should note that this land is under an eternal curse from God because of its
long-standing hatred of the Jews. Edom, of course, was the nation founded by
Esau, the brother of Israel. The nation was located in the southern area of
present day Jordan, and was initially blessed by God. However, because they
kept alive an ancient hatred of Israel, God finally cut them off. So, saying
that the Jews would escape and hide in Edom is a lot like saying they would
escape and hide at Auschwitz.
The prophets, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos and Obadiah, all elaborate on
the Edom theme. Isaiah’s prophecies are quite severe. He says, “For the LORD
has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion's cause. Edom's
streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will
become blazing pitch! It will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will
rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will
ever pass through it again” (Isa. 34:8-10). Isaiah even mentions that the
Messiah at his coming will appear from Edom, after having worked terrible
vengeance upon those who hate his people (Isa. 63:1-6). The little book of
Obadiah is also particularly severe in its prophecies against Edom.
One question concerning the Petra scenario begs to be answered. Why
would God publish his plan of hiding Israel so that millions of violently
anti-Semitic Moslems in the Middle East could know exactly where the Israelis
would be located? This would appear to be setting up his people for certain
genocide. Although it may be extremely painful for us, we need to examine and
judge these current teachings in light of the Bible. In the future we need to
relate end-time studies to Israel, which stands at the very heart of all Bible
prophecy.
THE RAPTURE TEACHING IN LIGHT
OF REVELATION
It is a strange fact
that the book of Revelation is highly prized by those who teach the
pre-tribulation rapture. They often point out that the church is not mentioned
after Revelation 3:22, and only appears again in 22:16. They assume by this
that the church will have been taken out in the rapture by the beginning of
chapter four. Obviously this is an argument from silence.
When we closely examine Revelation we see a far different picture
emerging. Rather than seeing a separation of the church and Israel we
immediately see a great unity between the two. The menorah, a very ancient
symbol of Israel is used to include the churches (Rev. 1:12-13). We have an
immediate emphasis upon the coming kingdom of God and the idea of the saints
reigning with him on earth (1:6). We soon learn that these saints are both
Jewish and Gentile.
Next we have urgent messages sent from heaven by the risen Christ to his
churches. All these messages are uniform. They all urge the churches to get
ready to endure difficult times and to begin overcoming for Christ (2:7; 2:11;
2:17; 2:26-27; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21). The churches are sternly warned of a dreadful,
world-wide hour of trial that is approaching (3:10).
We then are given a brief preview of the Great Tribulation and realize
that God’s saints must be prepared to overcome and reign with Christ upon this
earth (5:10). We also see in this brief preview that there will be Christian
martyrs, many of them (6:9). Still, we learn that God’s saints will be
spiritually sealed for this tribulation period (7:3). This sealing will no
doubt protect their minds and hearts, lest they fall away, but still many will
be chosen as martyrs for the Lord. We see in this chapter numerous saints
coming out of the midst of the Great Tribulation (7:14). The Greek verb used
indicates a continuous action; that they are still coming out of this
tribulation and not just merely escaping from it.
There are many more interesting things in Revelation. In chapter seven
and again in chapter fourteen we see an overcoming remnant arise. From these
two chapters we realize that this remnant is made up of believing Jews and
believing Gentiles (7:4, 9; 14:3-4). This seems to be the new man spoken of in
Ephesians 2:11-22; 3:6 (cf. Rom. 8:19).
In light of these passages in Ephesians and Revelation, we should view
with great suspicion any doctrine that tends to separate Jewish and Gentile
believers in the last day. After all, the Lord Jesus is not likely to undo the
graft that he has made, placing Gentile Christians into the olive tree of Israel
(Rom. 11: 17-18). There is much more for us to consider in Revelation. Chapter
twelve seems to be the heart of the book, and in it we see this mystery hidden
in the man-child, or the overcoming remnant. Unfortunately, we do not have
space to deal with this here.
RAPTURE, THE REST OF THE BIBLE AND THE EARLY CHRISTIANS
When we look at the
remainder of the Bible we realize that there are deep problems with the idea of
a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. For instance, it is very plain in
scripture that Christ’s coming and the gathering together of his people (2 Thess.
2:1) will not happen until after the Antichrist is revealed. Paul warns the
church with these words in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, “Don't let anyone deceive you in
any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” This tells us that the
church must still be around as late as chapter thirteen of Revelation when the
Antichrist is made known.
Paul, talking to Gentile Christians, speaks in this wise in Ephesians
6:13-14: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything,
to stand. Stand firm then.” Again, the scripture speaks specifically of “the
day of evil,” and not “a day of evil” or “some day of evil.” Several
commentators feel this is surely a reference to the final evil day. Paul thus
places Gentile Christians right in the middle of the last day’s satanic conflict
and encourages them to be ready for battle. He does the same thing in 2 Timothy
3:1-5. As he speaks of last day abuses and abusers he warns the Gentile
Christians: “Have nothing to do with them” (v. 5). Thus he once more places the
church right in the middle of the tribulation.
We remember that Noah did not leave the world. He was preserved through
much tribulation. Noah’s ark was sealed without and within (Gen. 6:14). He and
his family survived while the world was completely destroyed around them. The
Hebrew children did the same. While Egypt was judged and destroyed, they were
kept safe in the land of Goshen. While the firstborn of Egypt died, Israel’s
sons lived because they were sealed with the blood of the lamb. We must
remember that these events are all biblical types for the last days (Matt.
24:37).
Early Christians uniformly were seeking to be prepared that they might
meet the Lord in victory, without spot, blemish or compromise, on that day (1
Thess. 5:23; 1 Jo. 3:3; 1 Jo. 2:28; 1 Pet. 1:7). It is obvious that this
victory would come through suffering (1 Pet. 1:7).
In short, early Christians were looking to endure to the end (Mt.
24:13), through much tribulation (Acts 14:22) and to meet the Lord in victory.
We might wonder if modern Christians are looking to escape from what appears to
them to be a certain defeat. We see everywhere in scripture that Christ will not
be defeated. This earth is the Lords and so are we (Psa. 24:1). He will not
abandon his earth or his saints to the Antichrist. He will protect them, cover
them and seal them until the wrath is passed over. Then he will remake his earth
in righteousness and his saints will reign on the earth with him.
There is one last consideration. Had the early church really taught a
pre-tribulation rapture we would certainly expect the earliest Christian writers
to be aware of it and to speak of it. Such is not the case. In fact, several
of the earliest church fathers actually comment upon the awful time of
tribulation coming upon the church at the end of the age.* Hermas (c. AD 150)
says: “Happy are you who endure the great tribulation that is coming. And happy
are they who will not deny their own life.” Hippolytus (c. AD 200) speaks of
the tyrant who will “…reign and persecute the church, which flees from city to
city, and seeks concealment in the wilderness among the mountains.” Irenaeus
(c. AD 180) says: “For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which they
are crowned with incorruption – when they overcome.”
In closing, let us remember that genuine love rejoices in the truth (1
Cor. 13:6). People are rejoicing in a lot of things today, and some Christians
seem all too eager to rejoice in false prophecy. Real and lasting joy comes from
the simplicity of God’s pure word and from that inner knowledge that we are
walking in his truth. The early Christians had such a joy. It was contagious
and permanent. May we find the truth they had, and hold to it firmly.
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Jim Gerrish