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Is There Going To Be A Rapture?
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Copyright (c) 1987, Robert F. Harkrider
Everyone would like to have insight into the future. This explains
why in an educated and civilized society so-called fortune tellers
and psychics have their followers, and why every large newspaper
prints the astrology charts. Why? Because people would like to know
the future. But what if a man takes the Bible and claims he has
found prophecies which are soon to be fulfilled? He will have an
even greater popularity, for many who would doubt astrology charts
can be easily persuaded if the claims are supposedly founded upon
scripture.
Many modern preachers have taken advantage of this innate desire of
mankind. The doctrine of premillennialism has become popularly
taught mainly because it claims the Bible has foretold both current
world events as well as those soon to occur. Although there is
general indifference toward God, the Bible, and the church in our
society, many preachers have discovered that a theme of this nature
will arouse interest. People need to be stirred up for the Lord and
urged to prepare for His second coming, but to do so by playing
Biblical hopscotch will ultimately result in far more harm than
good.
I. WHAT IS THE BASIC THEORY OF PREMILLENNIALISM?
A. The Word Itself Means " Pre" (Before); "Millennial" (1,000
Year Reign).
1. This doctrine affirms we are now living in a period
before the 1,000 year reign of Christ. The basic claims of
this theory are as follows:
a. Christ originally came to establish His kingdom;
b. However, the world was too wicked, thus He was
crucified;
c. The church was established as a parenthesis till He
comes again;
d. A rapture of the saints will occur at His coming;
e. Seven years of tribulation on earth will be caused by
the Anti-Christ;
f. The battle of Armageddon will be the time Christ puts
down all evil;
g. He will then establish His kingdom and reign for 1,000
years;
h. Finally, there will be judgment which is followed by
heaven and hell.
2. The fact that there is much disagreement among advocates
of this theory is evidence in itself the Bible does not
deal plainly with these topics. For example, some disagree
as to when the rapture will occur, whether it will be post-
mid-pre/tribulation. Others disagree about where Christ
will return to reign, because the Mormons say it will be
in Independence, Mo., yet the majority say it will be in
Jerusalem. But in the above outline are the basic tenets
of all premillennialists.
H. Is There Going To Be A "Rapture"?
1. This lesson was almost titled, "What Does The Bible Say
About The Rapture?" However, if it had been, nothing else
would follow. The word is not even found in the Bible!
2. However, the "rapture" is a vital link in premillennial
thought. If the rapture is not supported by the
scriptures, other suppositions involved are at least
suspect.
3. It is often referred to as though it is a clear Bible
subject. "In case of rapture somebody grab the wheel."
"In case of rapture this car will be unmanned." Such
statements are often seen on car bumpers. What does it
mean?
4. Actually premillennialists use the word "rapture" to
describe a secret catching away of the church, both
resurrected and living saints, who are caught up to meet
the Lord in the air. Some use the term "translation" of
the saints. They suggest that the doctrine is found in
1 Thess. 4:16-17: "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."
II. DOES 1 THESS. 4:16-17 SUPPORT THE RAPTURE THEORY? IF SO, THEN
A. It Is Not Silent!
1. Though 1 Thess. 4:17 uses the expression "caught up"
(HARPAZO), it talks about a time when the Lord shall come
"with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with
the trump of God ..." (v. 16).
2. 1 Cor. 15:52 — describes the second coming as "at the
last trump: for the trumpet shall sound ...."
3. 2 Peter 3:10 — "... with a great noise"
B. It Is Not Secret!
1. 2 Thess. 1:7-9 — He shall come "with His mighty angels,
in flaming fire ...."
2. Rev. 1:7 — "He cometh with the clouds; and every eye
shall see Him ..."
C. It Will Not Be Only For Seven Years!
1. 1 Thess. 4:17 — "So shall we ever be with the Lord."
2. John 6:39,40,44 — The resurrection will occur at the
"last day."
a. Heb. 1:1-3 — We are now living in the "last days" (a
contrast of our time with earlier dispensations). But
if there is yet to be a 1,000 year reign, should it be
called "last-er days"?
b. John 12:48 — Judgment will be in the "last day."
3. 1 Cor. 15:23-26 — "... at His coming. Then cometh the end
...."
D. There Will Not Be Two Comings Of Christ!
1. In order to get a "secret" coming, premillennialists
emphasize two Greek words: PAROUSIA, 1 Thess. 4:15 and
EPIPHANIA, 1 Tim. 6:14, saying these are two different
events.
2. However, 2 Thess. 2:8 uses both words to speak of the
same occasion as it describes "the brightness (EPIPHANIA)
of His coming (PAROUSIA)."
E. There Will Not Be Two (Nor Three) Resurrections!
1. This theory demands one at the rapture, another at the
end of the tribulation, and another at the end of the
1,000 year reign.
2. John 5:28-29 — describes both the wicked and righteous
being raised at the same time.
3. 2 Thess. 1:7-9 — blessing and punishment both occur at
His coming.
4. Acts 24:14-15 — judgment will be both of the just and the
unjust.
5. Matt. 25:31-32 — the sheep and the goats will then be
divided.
III. UNDESIRABLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE THEORY OF PREMILLENNIALISM
A. The Kingdom Prophecies Are Made Void.
1. Dan. 2:31-45 described the kingdom would be established
during the Roman Empire.
2. Isa.2:2-4 predicted the "mountain of the Lord's house"
(God's rule) would be established in the "last days."
Peter said he was in that time period, Acts 2:16-17. Are
the scriptures dependable? If so, the kingdom is
established!
B. God's Power Is Limited.
1. Premillennialists contend the reason the kingdom wasn't
established is because the world was not ready for it.
What will keep that from happening at the second coming of
Christ? Jesus said, "the time is fulfilled," Mark 1:14-15.
2. Jesus said the kingdom would come with power in the
lifetime of some then living, Mark 9:1. Power would come
with the Holy Ghost, Acts 1:8. Therefore when the Holy
Ghost came on Pentecost, power came, and with it the
kingdom was established, Acts 2:4.
C. Christ Is Dethroned.
1. Zech. 6:12-13 prophesied Christ would sit and rule as
king and priest. But if He is not yet king, neither could
He be our priest!
2. Acts 2:29-36; Eph. 1:20-23; Heb. 8:1 — all declare He is
now ruling!
D. A Material Kingdom Is Sought.
1. Premillennialists make the same mistake the Jews made in
expecting an earthly kingdom. Jesus said it was not "with
observation," Luke 17:20-21.
2. John 18:36-38 — He reigns in a kingdom that is not of
this world, but spiritual.
E. The Church Is Made A Substitute.
1. Premillennialists believe the church is a "parenthesis"
of God until the kingdom can finally be established. It
makes the church an afterthought of God.
2. Eph. 3:10-11 declares the church was in God's eternal
plan.
3. In Matt. 16:16-18 Jesus speaks of the church and the
kingdom in the same breath as though they are one and the
same.
F. The New Testament Writers Are Made To Sound Confused.
1. If the kingdom is not already established the apostles
did not know it, for the brethren at Colosse were
described as being in the kingdom, Col. 1:13.
2. The apostle John thought he was in the kingdom, Rev. 1:9.
3. John furthermore described those purchased by the blood
of Christ as being made a "kingdom and priesthood" (ASV),
Rev. 1:5-6;5:9-10.
G. The Plan And Purpose Of Christ's Death Is Ignored.
1. One cannot teach it both ways! When talking about
salvation, most premillennialists describe the plan of God
as foretold by the prophets, Isa. 53; Psalms 22. The death
of Christ was not because Satan was stronger than God, but
rather it was by "the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God," Acts 2:23. Had He not died, we
could not have hope of the resurrection, 1 Cor. 15:17-22.
2. But premillennialists want to teach it both ways, for
when talking about the kingdom, they say He was crucified
because the world was not ready to receive Him as king
yet. Which is it? Was He crucified by God's predetermined
plan or by one made up as an after-thought?
CONCLUSION: The theory of premillennialism has too many
contradictions with plain and simple passages of the Bible. Not
only must the rapture theory be rejected because it is unsupported
by the Bible, but also the doctrine with which it is associated.
