THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH: PART TWO

Part One ended with a quote of Daniel 9:24-27 where I highlighted a few clues to what the Tribulation is all about. "Thy people," "thy holy city," "the sanctuary," and "the sacrifice," are clear evidence that Daniel is referring to Israel. I probably should have included "Jerusalem" with them. I also should take the time to show why the term "seventy weeks" had to refer to a four hundred ninety year period. It is quite clear that the time between the command to rebuild Jerusalem and the death of Israel's Messiah (7+62 "weeks") had to be sixty-nine weeks of years, or four hundred eighty-three years.

That "weeks" refers to periods of seven years is also supported by the fact that the seventieth week mentioned is the Tribulation, the seven year covenant made between Israel and the antichrist (Dan. 9:27). The fact that half of "the week" is described as being forty-two months (Rev. 11:2; 13:5), 1260 days (Rev. 12:6), and "a time, times, and a half time" (Rev. 12:14), proves that the period known as the "Tribulation" (Matt. 24:5-29), "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan. 9:24-27), and the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7), will last seven years.

The Tribulation is described as the "wrath of God," with the second half being called the "Great Tribulation" (Matt. 24:4-22; Jn. 3:36; Rom. 1:18; 2:5; 5:9; 9:22; Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:16; 1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10; 6:16-17; 7:14; etc.). Notice that in Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6, the wrath of God is for the children of disobedience, that is, the lost, both Jew and Gentile. This point is reinforced by the Apostle Paul, who in writing to Christians, said that the Church is "not appointed to wrath" (1 Thes. 5:9).

Because the Tribulation is God's judgment on the entire world (Rev. 3:10; 11:10; 12:9; 13:3; 16:14), and since Christians are "not appointed to wrath," it stands to reason that born again believers will not be present; they will be removed in the Rapture. Even though the word "Rapture" does not appear in the KJV of the Bible, it does in the Roman Catholic Bible. The Latin rapiemur is Saint Jerome's translation of the Greek word ἁρπαγησόμεθα. This is a faithful translation, using a form of the Latin verb rapiō, meaning "to catch up" or "take away". It is found in the Vulgate rendering of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

The removal of the Church prior to the Tribulation, as I have already discussed, is taught by comparing several passages (Matt. 24:36-39; Lk. 21:36; Jn. 14:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thes. 4:15-18; 2 Thes. 2:1-8; 2 Pet. 2:4-9; Rev. 3:8-10; 4:1). The fact that the Church is not mentioned at all in Revelation chapters six through eighteen (the Tribulation), supports the argument that John, in Revelation 4:1, represents the Rapture. The Church returns from heaven with the Lord in Revelation 19:7-18. "Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thes. 4:18). "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20)!