Rapture Wrath Avoidance
STUDIES & DOC
Rapture or Wrath?
By Dan L Baxley
Those who teach the Rapture are not in agreement about the timing of this, supposed, event. Some teach a Pre-Tribulation Rapture and others a Post-Tribulation and still others a Mid-Tribulation Rapture. What they all agree on concerns the Wrath of God. So, Rapture or Wrath, which is it?
Jeff Kinley, in his book, Uncovering the Secrets of Bible Prophecy, expresses the view nearly all of the Rapture teachers share, on pages 127-128 --
“Believers are never promised exemptions from trouble, suffering or persecution. We are, however promised exemption from God’s wrath, be it apocalyptic wrath on the earth or external wrath in hell (Romans 8:1).”
Response:
(Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in the messiah YaHshua, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
How that verse translates into escaping what is to come on this world, is hard for me to understand. That verse says nothing about escaping the Wrath to come. Yes, it would be nice to escape all trials and tribulations and the Wrath of God. Still, what Jeff Kinley expresses is what is agreed, true Christians will not have to go through, or suffer the Wrath of God. And, how is this done? By escaping this Earth in a Rapture of the Saints up into the Heaven of Heavens – you know, where the Angels live and where the Throne of the Father is and where YaHshua, our Savior is right this minute. As previously mentioned, however, there is disagreement on just when this Rapture is to take place.
Some have used examples, like Noah and his family, and how they escaped. But wait, they were not condemned to death, as were their fellow humans, they survived but they still experienced the Wrath that fell on the world as the flood waters covered the whole Earth. Imagine, the trauma, the frightening events they had to endure – the work they put in on building the Ark, their survival box, bobbing around on the high seas. While things ended for those who were condemned and perished, Noah and his family had to endure many physical and mental strains and stresses. (Gen 6 and 7). This would be a better understanding than one of escape – certainly Noah and his family were not in a RAPTURE up to Heaven -- think about it.
Another example quoted by Jeff and many, many others, is found in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians –
(1Th 1:9-10) For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even YaHshua, which delivered us from the wrath to come. KJV
And:
(1Th 5:9-10) For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord YaHshua the Anointed, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
And:
(Rev 3:10) Because you have kept the word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
These are the verses used to teach that Christians will escape the coming Wrath of God -- by escaping to Heaven. Imagine, if you will, the words in Revelation 3:10, being spoken to Noah – very similar – Noah and his family are forewarned and they believe what they are told and build a boat and are saved from what came upon the whole Earth. But, what about the message to the Thessalonians? “Delivered from the Wrath to come” and “God has not appointed us to Wrath”?
These are the verses that those who teach the Rapture theory hang everything on, making assumptions, hearing what they want to hear to support what they want to believe and want you to believe. They translated in their minds that in these couple of verses are a promise to all the Saints/Christians that they will escape what is to come, His Wrath, by being snatched up to Heaven itself, to sit out the 3 years of utter devastation. By jumping to the conclusion that all Christians must be Raptured off of this Earth and into the safety of Heaven, they fulfill the desire of the flesh -- to escape all discomfort.
If you don't accept this "theory", this "great assumption", you will be one of those left behind, and if a believer, but not believing in the Rapture, you will be left behind to fight against the Beast and his False Prophet. The Rapture, they say, is for those who accept JESUS as Savior. The First thing wrong with this assumption, is if all the Believers, who confess in the name of JESUS are raptured, then there would be not Christians, as they define themselves, left. Who would be the believers left behind to fight the Beast? Remember, the Rapture is supposed to be a snatching up of those professing JESUS, into Heaven itself, for a minimum of 3.5 years of safety, while believers not so fortunate are left to fend for themselves against the Mark of the Beast, against the Beast himself, and his False Prophet. The Second thing wrong with the claim, or rather, promise of protection during the Tribulation period, is that those professing in the name JESUS, having the WRONG NAME. JESUS is not His Name. The Name they say you must profess, and confess, is not the name of our Savior. That name was invented around 400 years ago -- For more about who the antichrist are go to this link.
If you will read Acts 4:12, in the first sermon the Apostle Peter delivered, you will see, and understand that His Birth Name was, and is a big deal, a very big deal. The fake name, JESUS, is not His birth name, period. Is that being to legal? Is it being too legal to insist on the Word being handled correctly, honestly? Is it a big deal to require His Birth Name be restored? Is it a big deal to agree with the 10 Commandments, delivered by God Himself and recorded in the Torah? Is it a big deal to believe the Word over the words of men, and their twisting of the Word -- Rom 3:4? If we are going to put everything on the One we Confess, then we had better have the right Messiah, the correct Savior, and how better than to be calling on, confessing His Holy Name?
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved
It is agreed that the One we Confess is very important. The One whose Name we are baptised into, is very, very important. It is so important that nearly the whole of John's Gospel centers around this one issue, His Holy Name, the Name He came in, the Name He give to His Apostles for protection. It is truly, all about the Name in which we confess our repentance, the Name we call on --
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.
First we are told that there is no other name found among men, by which we must be saved, just as the Apostle Peter tells us, quoting from Joel 2:32, and applying this to YaHshua, in His Birth Name, a Name found among men, a Name found in the OT writings, even one Book bearing this very name, as in the Old English, even to this day -- Joshua. This name is nowhere near the pronunciation of the bogus, replacement name, JESUS, a name some pronounce as, HeyZeus. Restoring His Birth Name to you own bible, in your readings and studies, and you will see a dynamic change in the Word.
Santa Claus Effect -- Old Saint Nick Threat
The Santa Claus threat -- You better watch out, you better be pout, you better be good, and I'm telling you why -- You won't go to heaven -- a threat based on fear. The Late Tim LaHaye, a leading teacher of the false Rapture Doctrine, used to say that the Rapture doctrine has made more good Christians, and kept them safe than any other Christian Doctrine . If that is not a teaching in FEAR, I don’t know what is. Such hypocritical statements and teachings should demonstrate to us, who seek the truth what is really going on -- .
In fact, Jeff Kinley’s book, mentioned above, does this very thing. On page 127, he says, “Obedience isn’t the qualification for inclusion in the rapture, Salvation is. Besides the Body is not raptured in pieces but as a whole. Rewards for faithfulness and obedience are given at the bema, which occurs in heaven following the rapture."
This view appears to stem from the legalistic add-on (by their own definition) to the rapture doctrine, possibly in an attempt to motivate obedience through fear. It is not uncommon for the guilty party to accused everyone else for doing the very thing they are doing -- it is called, misdirection, and deception.
Next, on page 129, when talking about the other doctrinal theory of “imminence” (That our Lord can Return at any Moment): “If we knew when the rapture was going to occur (midtrib, postrib), we could simply set our timers and wait for it. But because it could happen at any moment, we are motivated to always be pure and prepared (I John 3:1-3).”
Motivated? By what? By the fear that He may come back while you are bad mouthing your neighbor, or buttering your morning toast. The ”Imminence theory”, is just that, a theory that is easily proven to be incorrect, as you will see. This doctrine of Imminence, goes hand and hand with the Rapture teaching, also a theory, and can be proven wrong as well – sorry Jeff.
I can hear you now – “Prove it”. The Immanency theory is the easiest to prove wrong and when I prove it is wrong, then all you Christians can start being as bad and evil as you want – you know, with the doctrine about His Imminent return, you know the “any moment return”, then no more fear – go have fun. Yes, I am being facetious and a poor attempt at humor. A practicing Christian does their best to live a righteous life and walk in the Words of their Savior, and the sincere need not be threatened with being Left Behind. Yes, there are things to fear but our Salvation is not one of them -- it is a promise made, but so long as we are in the flesh, we will not be good enough, and this is why we need our Savior, and to accept what He has done for us -- no rapture to heaven needed. Besides, He told us that no one going to Heaven, and He said that only that which is from Heaven can go there, meaning Himself -- John 1:18 and I would take it as an insult to suggest that most believers are kept in line by the fear of His return at any Moment.
Okay, Okay, here is the simple and undeniable proof that He cannot and will NOT come at any moment – Prophecy, Biblical Prophecy, His Prophetic Word prove He is who He say He is and so, He would not do anything contrary to His Heavenly Father’s Prophetic plan. In the Book of Revelation we read, in Rev 6:12-17, about the SIGN of His Coming and the Events that will happen and appear BEFORE He returns and until this opening of the 6th seal is complete, He will not Return. The Sign of His Coming is also called His Wrath, the Wrath of the Lamb. The events are very specific and parallel our Lord YaHshua’s words recorded in Matthew 24:29-31.
Of course, the Rapturist will argue that this event is after the Rapture, you know, the Secret coming? This, of course, is not a Secret but it will be a big surprise because, most likely, most will not recognize these events for what they are, until it is too late to, well, apologize (repent). Just think about it. Read the record in both Revelation and Matthew, then, you decide.
What about the Rapture Theory, can it be proven to be wrong? Yes, but there are many more details and more involved in untwisting the word and the worldly thinking. But, there is one quick example that should give everyone pause and a reason to question this theoretical doctrine – it is actually being taught as Truth – not as a maybe or a theory of a speculation but as a solid Truth – which brings to mind – 2 Tim 3:12-14.
Here is something over looked by many -- A teaching parable looking into something very revealing, the Parable of the Tares, that is Weeds – Read this teaching, Matthew 13:24-30 – here is the last verse – After the Servant Angels asked if they should pull up the weeds (bad people) that are growing up among the good grasses (those deserving to enter the Kingdom). They were told hold off, as this last verse explains.
Remember, according to the Rapture theorist, it is the good that are pulled up, or snatched up first. While the Good Seed are going to be Resurrected, this teaching parable puts thing is a better “light”.
(Mat 13:30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares (weeds), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.
First the weeds are gathered up to be burned.
This, of course, should give everyone buying into the Rapture Doctrine a reason to take a second, even a third and fourth look at this.
If you want to know more then go to this link for a fuller look into this doctrine of false hope.