THE RAPTURE TRUTH
by Brother Elliott
Enoch and Elijah are the only two men mentioned in Scripture that have been raptured or "caught away." In other words, they were taken to be with God without seeing death. For this reason, many early Christians believed that Enoch and Elijah will be the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 11).
Of Enoch, the Bible states:
Genesis 5:24
[24] And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5
[5] By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Of Elijah, the Bible states:
2 Kings 2:11
[11] And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
The early Christians like Irenaeus did not believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture as many evangelical leaders, teachers, films and books teach today such as the Left Behind series. The early Christians taught, as the Scriptures teach as well, that the Rapture would occur in the end after the Great Tribulation.
Irenaeus (c. 180, E/W), 1.558
When in the end the church will suddenly be caught up from this, it is said, "There will be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, nor will be." For this is the last contest for the righteous. When they overcome in this contest, they are crowned with incorruption.
Phillipians 3:20,21
[20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
[21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
As the Scriptures will show, Yeshua will simultaneously rapture His church at His second coming on the Day of the Lord. The purpose of the Rapture will be to save genuine Christians from the wrath of God. True Christians will suffer under the wrath of Satan, but will be delivered from the wrath of God (the seven bowl judgments spoken of in Revelation) on the Day of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Peter 2:9
[9] The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
In sum, this study will present and establish the following points of interest:
1. The angels will be sent to gather the elect (the Rapture) after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-27).
2. The Rapture will be at His second coming, not before and not after (1 Corinthians 15:23).
3. The Rapture will occur at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:52).
4. The last trumpet (the Rapture) will be on the Day of the Lord (Revelation 14:15-20).
5. The Christians alive and remaining on the Day of the Lord are those that will be caught up in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
6. The Day of the Lord (the Rapture) cannot occur until after the man of sin is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).
7. Antichrist is then given power to overcome the saints (Revelation 13:7).
8. The Rapture will occur at the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).
9. The resurrection (and the Rapture) will occur on the last day (John 6:54, 11:24).
10. The Rapture will not occur until the end of the harvest or the end of the world (Matthew 13:30-41).
2 Peter 3:3,4
[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
[4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
It is logical that the false doctrine of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture will be a large cause of the falling away and apostasy of many Christians resulting in scoffers saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?"
THE ANGELS WILL BE SENT TO GATHER THE ELECT (THE RAPTURE) AFTER THE TRIBULATION
Mark 13:24-27
[24] But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
[25] And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
[26] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
[27] And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Notice Mark states, "after that tribulation . . . shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven."
Matthew 24:27,29-31,33
[27] For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[29] 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:
[30] 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.
[31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
[33] So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Matthew states, "immediately after the tribulation . . . he shall send his angels . . . and they shall gather his elect."
THE RAPTURE WILL OCCUR AT YESHUA'S SECOND COMING, NOT BFEORE AND NOT AFTER
1 Corinthians 15:20,23-28,51-54
[20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
[23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
[24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
[25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
[26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
[27] For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
[28] And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] 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.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Again, Paul speaks of the resurrection and Rapture as being, "afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."
THE RAPTURE WILL OCCUR AT THE LAST TRUMPET
1Corinthians 15:52
[52] 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.
1 Corinthians 15:52 pinpoints the precise time of the Rapture at the last trump. Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Thus, we know that the Rapture must occur at the very end at His coming because His coming or the Day of the Lord occurs at the very end.
THE LAST TRUMPET WILL BE ON THE DAY OF THE LORD
1 Corinthians 15:52 tells us the Rapture will occur at the last trumpet. Again, we can establish and conclude through the Scriptures that the last trumpet will be on the Day of the Lord. Therefore, the Rapture will be on the Day of the Lord. First, we will establish the chronology of the Book of Revelation leading up to the Day of the Lord. The seven seals occur (Revelation 6) which could correspond to the events spoken of in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24; Luke 21; Mark 13). It should also be noted that the fifth seal is martyrdom (Revelation 6:9-11) which occurs after great tribulations described in the seals prior implying many Christians will not have been raptured before persecution but will, in fact die as martyrs.
Revelation 6:9-11
[9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
[10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
[11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
This Scripture informs us that Christians will not yet have been raptured at the opening of the fifth seal in the time of great tribulation. The Christians will be delivered from God's wrath but not from the wrath of Satan. The Scripture says, "it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."
Revelation 12:11,12
[11] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
[12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
The sixth seal and seventh seals corresponds to the events spoken of taking place on the Day of the Lord, the day described by Matthew, Mark, Luke and the Old Testament prophets Zephaniah and Joel as a day of trumpets, darkness, earthquakes and clouds at the very end of the harvest:
Revelation 6:12-17
[12] And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
[13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
[14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
[15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
[16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
[17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Revelation 8:1-6
[1] And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
[2] And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
[3] And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
[4] And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
[5] And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
[6] And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
It's possible there will be an overlap between the seven seals, seven trumpets (Revelation 8:7-13; 9:1-18; 10:1-11; 11:1-18) and seven bowl judgments (Revelation 15:1-8; 16:1-21). It's seems likely that the opening of the sixth seal begins the seven trumpets, then the seventh trumpet and seventh seal begins the seven bowl judgments of God on the Day of the Lord. However, the last trumpet will be on the Day of the Lord at the very end either before or after the bowl judgments of God, but, nonetheless, on the Day of the Lord.
Mark 13:27
[27] And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Matthew 24:31
[31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Thus, in the Rapture, the angels will gather together the elect. This is also confirmed in Revelation 14 that the angels gather together God's elect at the end of the harvest during the Day of the Lord with a fourth angel (v. 15), a fifth angel (v. 17) and a sixth angel (v. 6).
Revelation 14:15-20
[15] And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
[16] And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
[17] And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
[18] And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
[19] And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
[20] And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Consistent with those who hold to a futurist interpretation of the seventieth week of Daniel and the Olivet Discourse, another passage in Revelation also confirms the placement of the Rapture at the end of the seventieth week and at the end of the Great Tribulation. According to the futurist interpretation of the Olivet Discourse, the first four seals correspond to the birth pangs of the Olivet Discourse. The sixth seal corresponds to the sign of the Day of the Lord which cuts short the Great Tribulation immediately preceding the Rapture and Day of the Lord.
ONLY CHRISTIANS REMAINING ALIVE ON THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL BE RAPTURED
We've already established that the Rapture will occur on the Day of the Lord. Furthermore, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 informs us that there will be Christians alive and remaining on that day. These are those Christians that will be raptured.
1 Thessalnians 4:13-17
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[16] 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:
[17] 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.
Notice Paul says, "that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord . . . shall be caught up together with them in the clouds." He speaks of those who are alive and remaining at the coming of the Lord on the Day of the Lord and not before! Therefore, if we can properly place the Day of the Lord, then we can know when to expect the Rapture. Obviously, there are Christians remaining on the Day of the Lord to be raptured.
Tertullian (c. 207, W), 3.462
He says that those who remain unto the coming of Christ, along with the dead in Christ, shall rise first, being, "caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." . . . By the mouth of Isaiah, it was said long ago, "Who are those that fly as clouds unto me, as doves with their young ones?"
THE DAY OF THE LORD AND THE RAPTURE CANNOT OCCUR UNTIL THE MAN OF SIN IS REVEALED
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
[1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Because the Day of the Lord cannot occur until after the man of sin be revealed, likewise the Rapture cannot occur until after the man of sin is revealed. Thus, we learn from 2 Thessalonians 2:3 that the Rapture will not occur until after the Antichrist (the man of sin and son of perdition) is revealed (1 John 2:18; Revelation 13:4; Daniel 7:8; 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9). Likewise, the Rapture will not occur until after the falling away.
Notice, early Christian Hippolytus supported a Post-Tribulation Rapture declaring the saints would be persecuted by Antichrist before the Lord appears:
Hippolytus (c. 205, W), 5.179
When the times are fulfilled, and the ten horns spring from the beast in the last days, then the Antichrist will appear among them. When he makes war against the saints and persecutes them, then we can expect the manifestation of the Lord from heaven.
ANTICHRIST IS THEN GIVEN POWER TO OVERCOME THE SAINTS
The main point is that Christians will have to suffer under Antichrist's persecution in the last days. In fact, the Scriptures declare Antichrist will overcome the saints! Antichrist will be permitted by God to overcome the saints. If Christian saints were raptured before the Great Tribulation and before the man of sin was revealed, there would be no mention of them in the Book of Revelation:
Revelation 13:7
[7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Revelation 12:17
[17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Commodianus (c. 240, W), 4.212
Those persons will also come who overcame cruel martyrdom under the Antichrist. And they themselves live for the whole time and receive blessings because they have suffered evil things.
Revelation 7:9,13,14
[9] After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
[13] And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
[14] And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
There is a certain distinction made between these saints spoken of in Revelation 7 and the saints spoken of Revelation 6. Those saints in Revelation 6 are described as "souls" that do not yet have their resurrected bodies and will not have them until the Millennium begins as described in Revelation 20. Whereas, the saints in Revelation 7 were taken in bodily form to heaven or raptured like Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).
Revelation 6:9
[9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Revelation 20:4
[4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
THE RAPTURE WILL OCCUR AT THE RESURRECTION
1 Thessalonians 4:16,17
[16] 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:
[17] 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.
Therefore, the dead in Christ will rise before them which are alive. Thus, the Rapture must occur at the resurrection of the saints or immediately afterwards. The dead in Christ shall rise first. Those dead in Christ that rise first will include the Old Testament saints of which Isaiah wrote:
Isaiah 26:19-21
[19] Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
[20] Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
[21] For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
THE RESURRECTION WILL OCCUR ON THE LAST DAY
From the previous understanding of the prior Scriptures, we can read 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 as follows:
1 Thessalonians 4:16,17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout [on the Day of the Lord], with the voice of the archangel, and with the [last] 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 . . .
Thus, the Rapture must occur at the resurrection of the saints or immediately afterwards. If we knew when the resurrection will be, we can also conclude that the Rapture will be on the same day immediately afterwards. Finally, Yeshua speaks of the resurrection of the dead occurring on the last day!
John 11:24
[24] Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Notice Yeshua doesn't correct Martha when she speaks of rising again on the last day, or the Day of the Lord. Furthermore, Yeshua Himself speaks of the resurrection and judgment being on the last day or the Day of the Lord.
John 6:39,40,44,54
[39] And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
[40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
[44] No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
[54] Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Thus, if the elect will rise on the last day (the Day of the Lord), then this is also when the Rapture of the church will occur on the last day. Thus, if Yeshua himself said He would raise all of His whom the Father gave Him on the last day, then the Rapture will also occur on the last day occurring with the resurrection of the dead. According to Yeshua, the resurrection is on the last day; thus, we can read 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 as follows:
1 Thessalonians 4:16,17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout [on the Day of the Lord], with the voice of the archangel, and with the [last] trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first [on the last day]: Then [on the last day] 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.
THE RAPTURE WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE END OF THE HARVEST
Thus, the Rapture will be on the last day, also known as the Second Coming and the Day of the Lord. This is consistent with Yeshua's parables. Yeshua told us plainly in His parables that the Rapture would not occur until the end of the harvest or until the end of the world.
Matthew 13:47-51
[47] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
[48] Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
[49] So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
[50] And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
[51] Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
Matthew 13:30,39,40,41
[30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
[39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
[40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
[41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Thus, the wheat and tares will grow together until the harvest (until the end). Otherwise, if there was a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, the Christians would be immature. The harvest is the end of the world.
Matthew 3:11-12
[11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
[12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Luke 3:17
[17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Thus, the wheat (genuine Christians) will be gathered into the barn or Messiah's kingdom and the tares or chaff (false Christians and unbelievers) will be gathered together for the Battle of Armageddon and God's wrath. This is why Yeshua pressed upon believers to overcome and endure to the end, the end of the world or age.
2 Thessalonians 1:4-8
[4] So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
[5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
[6] Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
[7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
[8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Luke 17:22-37
[22] And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
[23] And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
[24] For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
[25] But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
[26] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
[27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
[28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
[29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
[30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
[31] In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
[32] Remember Lot's wife.
[33] Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
[34] I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
[35] Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
[36] Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
[37] And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Notice the type and shadow of the days of Noah and the days of Lot to the Rapture. It was on the day that Noah entered the ark that judgment came against the unrighteous and unfaithful generation; and it was on the day that Lot left Sodom that fire rained down from heaven and destroyed the ungodly. Likewise, it will be on the day that the Lord returns that God's people will be delivered by the Rapture.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. It has been suggested that these passages in Luke 17:36 and Matthew 24:40 are referring to the Rapture of the church in the end times. However, when the disciples specifically asked Yeshua, "Where, Lord?" He said, "Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together," referencing from Job 39:27-30. Yeshua simply said that those who are taken will be slain and perish, not be raptured.
Job 39:27-30
[27] Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
[28] She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
[29] From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
[30] Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
We know from the words of Yeshua that not everyone who calls themselves Christian or acknowledges Him will be saved or raptured, only those who trust Him and obey His commands.
Matthew 7:21-23
[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 25:1-13
[1] Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
[2] And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
[3] They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
[4] But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
[5] While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
[6] And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
[7] Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
[8] And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
[9] But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
[10] And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
[11] Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
[12] But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
[13] Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
SUFFERING
Romans 9:13
[13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
It's interesting that the servant Jacob whom God loved endured much affliction while his brother Esau, whom God hated, prospered on earth. God's true servants will suffer, just read the book of Job. Our suffering and persecution is part of our chastisement of God. Those who are without chastisement are bastards and not children of God.
Hebrews 12:6-8
[6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
[7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
[8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
The Bible does not teach that Christians will be saved from hardship and suffering. In fact, God's word teaches us the very opposite, so a Pre-Tribulation Rapture would be inconsistent with the message of the Bible. The disciples rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer with Yeshua that they could be glorified together with Him:
Acts 5:41
[41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Romans 8:16,17
[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5
[3] We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
[4] So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
[5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
1 Peter 4:12,13
[12] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
[13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
CONCLUSION
It is quite clear that the Rapture of the church will not take place until the Day of the Lord, the last day. However, the Rapture does not necessarily have to take place before God's final wrath upon the world is poured out in the seven bowls or vials. Christians can be present during God's wrath without being recipients of His wrath in the same way that the children of Israel were protected from the ten plagues upon Egypt (Exodus 7-13) and Noah and his family were protected during the flood (Genesis 6). God has protected His people in the past from His wrath. The following Scriptures certainly confirm, again, that there will not be a Rapture before the great tribulation, but that God will keep His children in the world and keep them from evil. Yeshua said of His disciples:
John 17:15
[15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
2 Peter 2:4-7,9
[4] For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
[5] And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
[6] And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
[7] And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
[9] The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Psalm 91
[1] He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
[2] I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
[3] Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
[4] He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
[5] Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
[6] Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
[7] A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
[8] Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
[9] Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
[10] There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
[11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
[12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
[13] Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
[14] Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
[15] He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
[16] With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.