Dear Saints,
Today’s post was kindly sent to me by a good friend and supporter of this ministry. It is a very succinct article covering the ‘rapture’ of the saints in these last days, based firmly upon scripture, and I believe it is ideal for sharing with any believer you may know who is still pacified by modern notions of ‘The Rapture’ – the airlifting of the saints before the Great Tribulation occurs.
Thank you for this timely article brother Vincent.
I am always on the look-out for spirited guest blogs, so if you like to write for the saints then please do consider sending anything which you believe might find a home here.
On a more personal note, I was not able to post Part 2 of my Testimony today. I am still very much working on this next instalment, and it is not something that can be rushed. Part 1 of my Testimony can be read here: ‘A Child Soldier: Part 1‘.
So for now, I am pleased to have the chance of publishing this guest blog instead.
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these last days.
Colin Buchanan
thiswisefool@protonmail.com
Parables.blog — Heart4God — Truthvine.net
‘THE RAPTURE: PRE, MID OR POST TRIBULATION?’
Written By Vincent Logan
Dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ,
As believers, one of the most contentious issues of our times is that of the ‘rapture’ of the church. But by examining scripture in its fullness, it is possible to gain a clear picture of when the rapture will occur.
Most, if not all people do not enjoy pain and suffering. When we ourselves suffer, or we have a loved one who is suffering in pain it is not a pleasant time for those going through a painful experience. It is an attractive doctrine to believe Christians will not have to endure tribulation. But what is the truth? Let’s examine the word of God.
The pre-tribulation rapture teaching was made popular in our generation through the Scofield Bible and best selling books, with movies following from writers like Tim Lahaye and others. The Left Behind books and movies were widely watched and read, and the teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture became for many a widely accepted teaching, especially in the western world.
This teaching chiefly used scriptures found in 1 Thessalonians 4 13-18
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 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. 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. 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
In this scripture we are told the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive will also be caught up (raptured) to be with Christ. The question is when will this happen.
There are a number of doctrinal teachings today that are in conflict with the word of God. You can have your best life now with great prosperity of material wealth, but Jesus said store not treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy, but store up treasure in heaven.
It’s attractive to think you can have great material wealth and comfort in this life, and then go to be with the Lord before any times of tribulation arrive. Yet many in other countries today are experiencing tribulation. Many are persecuted for there faith, and many are killed and martyred.
If Christ is coming for a ‘church bride’ without spot or wrinkle, do you see evidence of that today? Is the bride ready? Is the bride refined? Is the bride without spot or wrinkle?
In the book of Acts we see a church that was persecuted for its faith in Christ. We see the followers of Christ selling all they had and distributing it to those without. We see many martyred for there faith. All but John of the apostles were martyred. John the Baptist who Christ spoke so highly of was beheaded, Stephen was stoned to death, the Apostle Paul endured many hardships before ultimately paying the highest price, Peter was crucified upside down, and so it went on.
Is the church bride ready today? I think not.
What I will share now, some false teachers have tried to explain away by suggesting there are two raptures, but again this is another false doctrine which has no place in the word of God.
Since we know there are not two raptures, lets examine the scriptures that precede the rapture of both the dead in Christ, and those still alive caught up with them.
Revelation 6 – The Seals
“I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.”
Revelation 6 describes the four horseman of the Apocalypse.
1st seal opened and the rider on white horse -Conquers
2nd seal opened and the rider on red horse – War
3rd seal opened and the rider on black horse – Famine
4th seal opened and the rider on pale horse – Death
The first 4 seals describe the coming tribulation.. A conqueror followed by War, Famine and Death.
Then we come to the opening of the 5th seal which informs us that followers of Christ were killed and told to be patient as more Christians were still to follow their fate.
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.”
Revelation 7
Revelation 7 goes on to tell us of a great multitude who come out of this great tribulation as described in the 5th seal of Revelation 6.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
In Matthew 24 Jesus states:
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
Daniel 11 describes the end times tribulation where the wise will instruct many.
“Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”
There are many false teachers in churches today. Many New Age teachings have come into the church. Others speak of a life of prosperity and ease. Many are angels of light. Some teachers speak of Jesus, but we are reminded of Christ’s words when he said,
“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? ‘ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew7:21-23).
Revelation 13
“The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.”
“If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.”
Daniel 12
“I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, ‘My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?‘
He replied, ‘Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.”
Revelation 17
BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
“I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.”
Revelation 20
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
From all the above scriptures it is absolutely conclusive that Christians will indeed go through the great tribulation to be refined and prepared as the bride of Christ. It is a great tragedy that Christians are not being forewarned in preparation for the times of tribulation which are close at hand. The many false or misguided teachers today hold sway over most congregations in the western world. While a pre-tribulation rapture of the church is an attractive proposition for Christianity, it is clearly unscriptual. The church is unprepared both spiritually and mentally for the difficult times about to come upon the earth. Many have an earthly life of storing treasure here on earth, and choose to believe a doctrine that promises them comfort and ease. When difficult times come there will be a great falling away. Already we see God has sent a great delusion where people including many Christians have chosen a man to be their saviour over God. Because of their rejection of God and earthly desires God has sent this powerful delusion.
Biblical Prophecy is being fulfilled rapidly today. When we see the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, and the confirming of the covenant with many which is expected during Donald Trump’s reign, many will hopefully awaken.
The message of Christians going through the great tribulation is challenging.
Nevertheless it is the word of God as he prepares his bride without spot or wrinkle.
In the short term it may appear the world is heading temporarily into a safer place. The following describes the day of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”
There is a saying: “some people are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good” but the truth is “some people are so earthly minded they are no heavenly good.”
It is time for Christians to become heavenly minded. Christ said my kingdom is not of this world. You have been chosen by God for these final days on earth.
Take comfort in knowing Jesus wants you there.
John 17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
Vincent Logan
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