Pre-Tribulation Rapture Part 1

This is my favorite time of the year. I especially look forward to the Lords return during this autumn season.

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" 1 Corinthians 15:51:52.

The word rapture is not in the Bible but the word for "caught up" or "snatched away" is in the Word of God.

Rapture is a Latin word that means: Raptus "a carrying off, abduction, snatching away."

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18

harpazó: to seize, catch up, snatch away

Original Word: ἁρπάζω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: harpazó

Phonetic Spelling: (har-pad'-zo)

Short Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery

Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery.

There is a famous song called, "I'll fly Away." It says,

Some bright morning when this life is over

I'll fly away

To that home on Gods celestial shore

I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory

I'll fly away in the morning

When I die hallelujah by and by

I'll fly away

I hate to tell you this but you can flap your wings all you want but there is no flying done when we are raptured. Whether we are ready or not, Jesus is coming and He is coming for His bride.

Today there is very little comfort in the teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture. Many are teaching we must prepare. We must prepare for the wrath of God. Store up your food, water, and survival gear. Personally, I think they are going through the tribulation. Not because it is foreordained that Christians must suffer end time mayhem but because they have not prepared to meet God. They have not trusted in Jesus for their salvation.

There are two gospels in the last days. One is of works and the other is of grace. Paul made it clear,

 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" Romans 11:6.

"Nothing But The Blood"

What can wash away my sin

What can make me whole again

For my pardon this I see

For my cleansing this my plea

Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow

No other fount I know

Nothing, nothing, nothing but the blood of Jesus

Nothing can for sin atone

Not of good that I have done

This is all my hope and peace

This is all my righteousness

Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow

And no other fount I know

Nothing, nothing, nothing but the blood of Jesus

Nothing, nothing, nothing but the blood of Jesus

Now by this I'll overcome

Now by this I'll reach my home

Glory, glory, this I see

All my praise for this I bring

All my praise for this I bring

All my praise for this I bring

Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow

No other fount I know

Nothing, nothing, nothing but the blood of Jesus

Nothing, nothing, nothing but the blood of Jesus

Grace is not being taught in most Churches. Many teach a work theology:

"The bottom line is that God will judge us in the end by our actions done throughout our entire lives. Throughout our lives we can choose to remain in God’s friendship or not. We have free will to choose whether to obey God or not and if we choose to disobey God, which is to sin, then we choose not to remain in God’s friendship."

It sounds religious enough, If you sin, you become the enemy of God. The idea that men are redeemed by the blood of Christ and then sent out to live perfect lives with never a slip up is rubbish. Christians do not go to hell when they backslide. If that was the case, we would have to be saying a perpetual prayer of, "Lord be merciful to me a sinner" around the clock, day and night. If we were catholic we would have to live in the confessional booth. We would have to constantly confess our sins which are many. 

Did you know that even our thoughts are tainted with sin,

"The thought of foolishness is sin" Proverbs 24:9.

Do you really think God approves of you watching television? If you laugh at a nasty joke from your favorite comedian do you really think you are godly? If you lived by the words of most pastors, you have lost your salvation and on your way to hell. You have become an enemy of God.

Don't get bent out of shape. God is merciful and has provided a covering for our sin. Jesus is our covering,

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:3-4.

There is nothing good about you. You are so evil that you have become dead. Apart from Christ you are stench in God's nostrils. However, there is good news. By trusting in Jesus you are hidden in Him. There is safety in the Lamb of God. The judgment that you deserve was given to Christ instead of you. He has taken your punishment and died in your place in order to satisfying God's requirement for sin. However, don't get smug. You are still evil but have been forgiven by grace through faith in Christ.

"Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" Romans 4:8.  

Christians are forgiven but in their flesh they are far from being holy. Our holiness comes by being in Christ. The new man (born of the Spirit) is blessed with the holiness of God. We are in Christ and our sins are hidden in Him.  

 kruptó: to hide

Original Word: κρύπτω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: kruptó

Phonetic Spelling: (kroop'-to)

Short Definition: I hide, conceal, lay up

Definition: I hide, conceal, lay up.

If you were so holy, God would not have to conceal or hide your life. He has given us a new life in Christ in place of our corrupt life that is now hidden.

TO BE CONTINUED