Rapture deception (March 2010) | back

  One of the biggest deceptions in the church today, is the rapture theory. The main reason for this is by misinterpreted scripture. According to the rapture, all the good people are going to fly away in the clouds before the anti-Christ returns and will escape the tribulation. This is a flat out lie and deception from Satan himself. Neither Christ Himself, or any of the Apostles ever taught about the rapture. The fact of the matter is, you will not find rapture in the Bible. You will only find it by ones who try to twist the Scriptures to suit their own comfortable beliefs. They have no faith in the Heavenly Father to keep them from harm during the tribulation, so they want to be gone during this period. What about Daniel in the lions den, or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were cast in the fiery furnace. They had faith in our Father, and not a hair on their head was touched.

  The question is, do you have enough faith in our Heavenly Father to see you through the tribulation? Or are you looking for the easy way out by believing in a false doctrine such as the rapture that could lead you right into one of Satan's biggest deceptions?

  Many believe the rapture theory came about in 1830 by a disturbed woman from Europe named Margaret MacDonald. It was said that she had a dream and vision of the flying away of the saints. It was reported to a few local clergymen that continued the teaching. Reference Book: ("The Incredible cover up" by: Dave MacPherson) Many others believe that it came about by John Nelson Darby around 1827, and was also later picked up by C.I. Scofield who was the author of the Scofield reference bible. But there is also evidence of these teachings way before this time. In 150 the Rapture idea was preached by the Shepherd of Hermas. In 270 Victorinus, the Bishop of Pettau, a Catholic leader preached it. In 350 Ephraim the Syrian, In 400 Jerome in the Latin vulgate. In 1304 Reverend Dolcino proclaimed the Pre-trib Rapture. In 1400 Bible translations in the native tongues led to a new propagation of the Pre-trib Rapture. In 1627 Joseph Mede, 1627 Increase Mather, 1687 Peter Jurieu, 1700 John Asgill, 1738 Philip Doddridge, 1748 John Gill, 1763 James McKnight, 1744 Morgan Edwards, 1792 Thomas Scott, then came MacDonald and Darby. Quite a list of believers. Let us go to the scriptures to see what God really says about those who want to fly away to be saved.

  We begin in the old Testament Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 13 - Prophecy against the false prophets. Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. (Ezekiel 13:20) God is against those who will teach people of a flyaway doctrine! Another Old Testament reference: Zechariah Chapter 5, Vision of a flying scroll.

  Some scripture in which the rapture is built on starts in the Book of Matthew: Chapter 24 - The Coming of the Son of Man. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:40) Many believe that this is when Christ will rapture them away before the tribulation. If you start at the beginning chapter, you will find that Christ was saying he would not return till after the anti-Christ returns first. There are many who also believe that those who are taken in the field are raptured by the anti-Christ, but if there is no rapture by Christ, then there is no rapture by anti-Christ. (Keep in mind that we are talking spiritually here). They are spiritually taken by anti-Christ through deception. No one is going to physically fly-away whether they believe in the rapture or not.

  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place. (Matthew 24:15) Speaking of Satan who will return first claiming to be Christ.

  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22) We will all be here for the tribulation, but the time will be shortened for those in Christ.

  Christ would go on to say: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:29-30) Christ will not return till after the tribulation.

  Christ compares his return to the days of Noah: But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:37-39) The ones that were taken by the flood were the wicked. The righteous remained with Noah. The same happens when Satan returns first to rapture away all he can deceive in believing he is Christ. Spiritually speaking, Christ is coming back for a virgin bride (His people) for a Spiritual marriage. And if he finds you giving in marriage with Satan and his fallen angels, which many will, you will not be around for the true Christ.

  Going to the Book of Mark: Chapter 13 - Signs of the End. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. (Mark 13:11) Not only will we be here for the tribulation, but we may be delivered before the anti-Christ. We are not to speak, but let the Holy Spirit speak for us.

  Christ goes on to say: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Mark 13:13) The ones who stay till the end will be saved, not those who let themselves be deceived by Satan.

  Now we can clear up the final rapture deception about the dead in the graves that will rise first and the living will meet them in the clouds. This misinterpretation is found in the book of Thessalonians: 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. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17) Paul was speaking of the dead already with Christ. Keep in mind that Paul spoke colloquial Greek. The verse "caught up together in the clouds" would mean with a group or crowd of people. Such as in (Hebrews 12:1) "a great cloud of witnesses" which would be a "great crowd of witnesses." We use this in our own English language as if we were to say "look at that cloud of birds" etc.

   We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (II Corinthians 5:8) When you die, your soul or (self) goes directly back to the Father from which it came.

  Now as for the ones which are alive to meet the Lord in the air; We must go back to the original Greek to translate air which is (Aer = Breathe, Strong's 109 Greek Dictionary) prime from (Psucho = To Breathe, 5594) prime from (Psuche = Breath or Spirit, 5590) prime from (Pneuma = Spirit or Breath of Life, 4151) When Christ returns we will be changed into our Spirit bodies to meet him because He is that "Breath of Life" to all who believe. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body , and there is a spiritual body. (I Corinthians 15:44). 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. (I Corinthians 15:52)

  Paul explains the first letter he wrote to the Thessalonians to clear up the confusion. NOW we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letters as from us, as the day of Christ is at hand. (II Thessalonians 2:1-2)

  Paul would go on to explain to them that the gathering back to Christ would not be till after the son of perdition (Anti-Christ) is revealed and has returned first. Let no man deceive you by any means: for the day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (II Thessalonians 2:3-4)

  Now here is another area of misinterpretation that many rapturists believe the church will be raptured away. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (II Thessalonians 2:7-8) Here is the key phrase; "until he be taken out of the way." The church has no article here. The subject we are speaking of here is the Anti-Christ, the wicked one, Satan. You must follow the subject and the object of the complete chapter. Break it down even further "he be taken." Lets take the Word "Taken" back to the Greek in the Strong's Concordance #1096, and we find it means (Ghinomahee), to cause to be, to become, or come into being. Again we are speaking of the Anti-Christ who come into power before the real Christ returns.

  It is written that God has blinded many to the truth because they will not believe what the Word says, but would rather believe something dreamed up by man or traditions of men. God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that do not see, and ears that do not hear; unto this day. (Romans 11:8) Because they will not search for the truth believing anything that is popular in religion, God will let them believe a lie. God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. (II Thessalonians 2:11) Has a delusion been put on you, or are you smart enough to search for the truth?

  As for the rapture theory, I would not be in to big of a hurry to fly out of here with the anti-Christ who will come first. You may find yourself right in the midst of one of Satan's biggest deceptions. Hang till the end, for the reward from our Father will be well worth the wait.

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Keep The Faith,
Pastor Bart