Why the Rapture Must Happen
Before the Tribulation
(Pt. 2)
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
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This is Part 2 of a three-part Bible study.
Click on the links below to access the
other parts of this study.
Part 1
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Part 3
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Nowhere to Run and
Nowhere to Hide
According to the Bible, the soon-to-occur Tribulation period is 7 years of God’s judgment sent upon a Christ rejecting world – with the last 3 ½ years (called “the Great Tribulation”) being the most destructive. Jesus said it’s a judgment involving intense tribulation of a kind that has never happened before and will engulf “the whole world” (Mark 13:19 and Luke 21:25).
Unlike all the other Divine judgments
recorded in the Bible - this one will
be so intense and destructive that
there will be no place on planet earth
where anyone can take refuge. It will
be similar in its destructive power to
Noah's flood, where God had to use an
Ark specifically designed "to float
above" the judgment taking place on the
earth below in order to preserve a
remnant of the animal life and the lives
of Noah's family. This is one reason
Jesus warned:
As it was in the days of
Noah, so it will be also
in the days of the
Son of Man.
(Luke 17:26)
As a result, if the Church of Jesus Christ (also called the Body of Christ) remains on earth during this time, it will be forced to endure judgment from which God said they were legally exempt, provided by the redemption of His Son at the cross.
This is the subject Saint Paul addresses in his epistles to the Thessalonians, where all blood-bought living believers are “caught up” from the earth to meet the Lord in the air. It represents God protecting His name (character and reputation) as “a just judge” by evacuating (as He did with Noah and his family) His redeemed children (the exempted Church of Jesus Christ) from the earth – shortly before His judgment falls. Scripture cites Lot and his removal from the city of Sodom as another Old Testament example (type and shadow) of this evacuation. The only difference is that Lot and his family was escorted by angels to a place of safety outside of Sodom (but still on earth) where God’s judgment was not in operation.
But, according to Jesus - the only
place that exists during the
Tribulation where there is no
judgment is away from the earth,
which is a place of safety where
the Bible says all believers will
be taken to be joined with Jesus
IN THE AIR
and will remain with Him forever.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Why Is All This Talk of
a Rescue Important?
Just before His death on the
cross, Jesus cried out;
“IT IS FINISHED.”
(John 19:30)
Various denominations and churches teach that the Church and its individual members must endure the judgments of the Tribulation – either in full or in part. For those familiar with eschatology (the study of Bible prophecy) these two popular doctrines are often referred to as “mid-tribulationalism and post-tribulationalism”. Yet, in both cases the most common reason given for this judgment is to provide additional purification (from sin) for the Christian Church – especially those who are less-obedient and deficient in good works and behavior ... who will receive the most painful experiences during this time.
There is also a third doctrine that claims the rapture occurs before the Tribulation - but God leaves all of the less obedient Christians - or those deficient in good works and Christ-like behavior behind for additional purification. The group that is left behind (which are often said to be “authentically saved Christians”) are thought to be a majority. The various church leaders and their followers who embrace this doctrine believe that God will only rapture, save or “catch away to Heaven” the few who are the most devoted and obedient. Some Bible scholars refer to this third doctrine as “the partial rapture error”. The word “partial” is used in the description because its supporters insist that God uses good works, devotion and personal behavior to decide who goes in the rapture – and who stays behind. The description also contains the word “error” because - contrary to many popular end-time teachings, the rapture of Christ’s blood-bought Church is not governed by such rules. The “partial rapture error” originates from what Saint Paul describes as “another Jesus and a different gospel” found within Galatian religion and discussed later in this study. It preaches a false “works and merit based salvation” that God ultimately rejects.
More detailed information concerning
this subject is available HERE
These types of misleading evangelistic
messages are taught by those who
reject the truth that Jesus bore all our
sin in His body on the cross. If they
truly believed that Jesus bore all our sin,
they obviously would not teach that
the Tribulation is needed to provide
additional purification for the sin that
remains. This is an issue that continues
to separate true believers from those
who have unknowingly placed their faith
in a “different gospel”.
(Galatians 1:6-8)
Martin Luther, considered by many to be the Father of the Protestant Reformation issued this same warning by saying …
"Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want."
-- Martin Luther (1483-1546) --
The New Testament Scriptures warn
that … following the cross God only
uses the all-sufficient blood of His
Son to purify the Church of sin, which
leaves no sin remaining. It completely
purifies all its believing members who
have placed their trust and faith in
Christ according to Grace; apart
from their merit, works and
behavior.
(Romans 4:4-8, Titus 3:5-7)
A Popular Teaching that
Denies Christ’s Finished
Work, But Continues To
Call Itself “Christian”
Preaching an evangelistic message that claims God uses the Tribulation period to provide additional purification for the Christian Church is a blatant denial of the sufficiency of Christ’s blood to accomplish its perfect sin cleansing work – and results in the need (and repeated call) for additional sacrifice and purification. This kind of Bible teaching is found throughout Christendom in countless types and variants - and proclaims to the world that Jesus Christ did not complete the work to secure our complete salvation. As a result, the believer is required to perform the additional work that Jesus failed to complete – in order to possess eternal life. Yet, Jesus announced that He did indeed finish His redemptive work just before He died on the cross – which allows God to declare eternal life as His free unmerited gift (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:4-8, Titus 3:5-7) . Claiming that “less obedient” believers require additional purification contradicts and invalidates what Jesus said at the cross - and empowers His critics to accuse Him of lying. This is why the Bible sounds a sober warning about this popular yet false Christian teaching … where believers must be judged for the sin that the blood of Jesus didn’t cover – and labels it a grievous Christ-denying “doctrine of man” (Mark 7:6-7). Tragically, many who embrace this message are prominent pastors and evangelists (and their followers) - who claim to be committed Bible-believing Christians.
How God Applies the
Blood of Jesus Christ
to Purify the Believer
of All Sin
Those of us who follow Bible prophecy usually hear many confusing and contradictory things about end-time events and the Second Coming of Christ. Among the worst of these teachings is the claim that the rapture is a reward for Christian service, good works and exceptional devotion to Christ. Why? It’s impossible for any Christian to know when (and if) they’ve satisfied these conditions. As a result, if we use these popular misappropriated rules based on the Old Testament program of Law, it now becomes impossible to know if we are qualified to participate in the rapture until it occurs. We also discover that these same rules destroy our assurance of obtaining and keeping salvation (eternal life), since we can’t know if we’ve repented enough - or performed enough righteous works and Christian service to secure our place in heaven.
Counterfeit Faith in Christ
When studying the Scriptures, we find that these beliefs are part of a false theology that appeared in the first century and nearly destroyed the early Galatian Church. The doctrine was examined and rejected by the ruling apostles and elders in Acts chapter 15. Saint Paul later wrote his “Epistle to the Galatians” to address the problem in more detail. Today, this same brand of theology travels under countless different names and labels and has become the foundation for many of the various denominations that make up the institutional Christian Church. Since Paul discussed the specifics of this error in his Epistle to the Galatians, some Bible scholars choose to call it “Galatianism, the Galatian error or Galatian religion”. It’s a deceptive and persuasive counterfeit form of Christianity that God ultimately rejects. Unfortunately, it now dominates many sectors of the church. As a result, what many professing Christians (but thankfully not all) refer to as “faith in Christ” and “the gospel” – is often some variant or brand of Galatian religion. Its goal is to mix Old Testament Law (good works and godly behavior) with Grace (God’s unmerited favor) – and claims that both Law and Grace are necessary to obtain and keep eternal life. It is often referred to as “Biblical Christianity” and is commonly found in churches that embrace various brands of Holiness theology, Calvinism and Reformed theology. Contrary to Paul’s command to “rightly divide the Word of God” (2 Timothy 2:15) – these popular systems of faith tend to interpret the Bible by mixing everything together into one integrated or “unified theology” - with Jesus and His crucifixion “added in”.
As a result, the followers of Galatian
religion generally believe that God
deals with individuals and their sin
in the same (or similar) way after
Jesus died on the cross – as He did
before the cross under the Old
Testament program of the Law.
But, there is one major problem with
this popular doctrine;
THE CROSS - ALSO REFERRED
TO AS THE NEW COVENANT
CHANGED ALL THE PREVIOUS
RULES GOVERNING HOW
SALVATION IS OBTAINED AND
KEPT - AND MADE THE
OLD COVENANT PROGRAM
ALONG WITH ITS RULES;
OBSOLETE. (Hebrews 8:6-13)
"In that He (Jesus Christ) says, ‘a new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Read all of Hebrews 8:6-13)
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)
The rapture is a unique event connected to the redeemed Church of Jesus Christ which now exclusively operates under the New Covenant initiated at the cross. As a result, the rapture is not governed by the previous Old Testament rules concerning sin and righteousness, which are now replaced by an entirely new and different program – where all sin is taken away by the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) – and makes righteousness an imputed free gift .
"But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense (Adam’s) many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:15-19)
Christ’s New and Living Way
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He (Jesus) consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh …”
(Hebrews 10:19-23)
After the cross, all the spiritual benefits of our salvation, including its fulfillment at the rapture operate according to a Biblical principle known as “imputation”. Simply understood, this is an exchange of benefits and liabilities that God initiates between two individuals. In this unique situation (Jesus calls it the new covenant in His blood - Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:25), one person (the undeserving sinner) freely receives all the benefits and resources belonging to (or owned by) the other person - who is Jesus Christ. To complete the exchange, Jesus receives and bears all the liabilities and their consequences belonging to the former. For the Christian – the Bible declares this to be a divine exchange based only on faith and does not depend on the merit or works of the one receiving the benefits. The following Scripture perfectly illustrates how imputation works on our behalf.
"For He made Him who knew
no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness
of God in Him."
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
God’s Son, who had committed no sin - accepted and carried the believer’s entire sin debt to such an extent that He became sin on the cross. Jesus did this for us and not for Himself. As a result, God must now assign (or impute) His very own righteousness to those He previously rejected and condemned – because their sin has now been transferred to Christ and no longer exists – which is why He claims to no longer remember it. Contrary to the teachings of churches that embrace various forms of Galatian religion, this “imputed righteousness” doesn’t just continue until we sin again – and then goes away until we repent. (Note: repentance from sin is important for other reasons discussed at the end of this study)
This sinless condition (also described as “being justified freely by His Grace” in Romans 3:24-26) continues uninterrupted for the remainder of the believer’s life - despite the fact that everyone, including Christians, continue to sin in some measure and in various ways (Romans 3:23). Once again, the Amplified Bibe emphasizes this truth by saying …
"FOR GOD'S GIFTS AND HIS CALL ARE IRREVOCABLE. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]" (Romans 11:29 Amplified Bible)
Since Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God, has successfully taken all sin out of the way, God refuses to charge (or impute) any of it to our account (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). One of the benefits of Christ’s “new and living way” is that sin has been forever stripped of its Old Testament authority to condemn the believer to eternal death or what Scripture calls hell (Romans 6:14). This is why sin, following the crucifixion of Christ, cannot cancel Christ’s imputed righteousness now assigned to the believer through New Covenant faith.
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14)
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)
This is how the cleansing power of Christ’s blood removes all our sin. Jesus bears our sin in its entirety, pays the ransom for its removal with the blood of His cross (known as redemption) - and imputes (assigns or reckons) His own perfect righteousness to us in exchange. It is this “imputed righteousness of Christ” that makes the believer worthy to partake of eternal life and participate in the rapture. It represents the only way personal worthiness is obtained after the cross.
Who Goes?
According to Scripture, anyone who claims to be a Christian, but is not justified (or saved) according to the New Covenant type of "faith in Christ" (the Divine exchange) - is in danger of not being included in the rapture of the Church, regardless of their godly intentions, good works or spiritual service. The reason is simple: They are not truly "justified" according to God's definition and design. Rather, they are demanding that God accept them according to their own religious rules and personal merit (the Old Testament way) - and not according to Christ’s divine exchange, which Saint Paul calls “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2-4) and “the new and living way of Christ” (Hebrews 10:19-23) ... or the New Covenant way. Unfortunately, the disastrous consequences of their misdirected faith (salvation comes through a faith where Jesus Christ is the believer’s substitute) will not be evident until the rapture occurs. Many falsely religious Christian people, who claim to believe and practice the teachings of the Bible, unknowingly fall into this category. Being "justified freely by His Grace", as taught in Romans 3:24-26 – is not only an extraordinary blessing – it is also the way we qualify to participate in the rapture, which represents the Church's "escape (or exemption) from judgment".
The Two Groups of
Professing Christians
THE FIRST GROUP
These are professing Christians, who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their substitute and receives, through imputation, His perfect imputed righteousness. As a result, this group places no dependence upon their imperfect merit or behavior (or what the Bible refers to as “the flesh”) to obtain salvation and secure their place in the rapture. They place no dependence or faith in the flesh because the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ (the divine exchange) now supplies everything that God requires. The New Testament identifies this group as those who base their faith on;
- Grace - the unmerited favor of God (Ephesians 2:4-9)
- Christ’s new and living way (Hebrews 10:19-23)
- The Spirit that gives life (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
- The “Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2-4)
- The New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6-13)
- Their position “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
THE SECOND GROUP
These are professing Christians who also claim to believe in Christ, yet insist that their personal merit and behavior (or what the Bible refers to as “the flesh”) are additional requirements needed to obtain salvation and secure their place in the rapture. This dependence on and faith in “the flesh” is an outward indication that they do not accept Jesus Christ as their sole substitute. They rely on their own imperfect works and Christian behavior to achieve their righteous standing before God – instead of Christ’s perfect imputed righteousness that comes through a faith without works (also called Grace – Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7). The New Testament identifies this group as those who possess a counterfeit religious faith based on;
- The law of sin and death (Romans 8:2-4)
- The letter that kills (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
- Another Jesus and his different gospel (Galatians 1:6-8, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4)
- Being Justified by the Law (Galatians 5:4)
Both groups claim to be
Christian and each one
holds a different belief
concerning the rapture.
But, God accepts only
one group.
As a result, the Bible
makes the following
statements;
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us (or imputed to us) who do not walk according to the flesh (or trying to earn salvation through works or religious merit) but according to the Spirit (or our faith in the finished work of Christ that does not require our works)." (Romans 8:2-4 – Emphasis and Comments Added)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Note: The term “in Christ” is applied only to those who have received Jesus Christ as their substitute through the divine exchange of the New Covenant. This term is used over 120 times in the New Testament to describe our salvation. This “in Christ” designation means that God now reckons believers to possess everything Jesus Christ possess, including His salvation and all His perfect character attributes.
Unfortunately, not everyone
who claims to be a Christian
or a Bible-believer is
“in Christ”.
"You have become estranged (separated/cutoff) from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:4)
“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His (or doesn’t belong to God)” (Romans 8:8-9)
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith”. Yet the law is not of faith …” (Galatians 3:10-12)
"Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight". (Romans 3:20)
"And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;
For the letter (known as
Old Testament Law) kills,
but the Spirit gives life."
(2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
The following paragraphs explain
how imputation works in reference
to the rapture.
Only perfectly sinless people (Jesus refers to them as
"those who should pray to be accounted worthy to escape"
in Luke 21:25-36) are allowed to participate in
the rapture. In this situation, worthiness suggests
holiness - or sinlessness. Yet, the Bible warns that
no one can achieve this "worthy" status - after the cross
through good behavior, righteous living and religious
service performed through human strength and willful
determination. This means no one, regardless of how
righteous and holy they try to live and behave, can meet
the conditions to be in the rapture of the Church unless
they can obtain this perfectly worthy status another way. This
"other way" is only available through the Divine exchange
of the cross, where Christ's attribute of sinlessness is
imputed to their life through "a faith apart from works".
The Bible calls it Grace. This special unmerited and
undeserved transfer of righteousness is what the New
Testament calls;
"FREE JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH".
(Romans 3:24-26)
Only those who are "justified" according to this New
Covenant principle of imputation (or imputed righteousness)
will qualify to be included in the rapture of the Church,
since God will now reckon them to possess the same
sinlessness and perfect righteousness that His Son
possesses. Contrary to popular traditional teaching, God
does not choose the rapture participants according to
their own worthiness and ability to live righteous and
sinless lives. They are chosen according to whether or
not they possess the imputed worthiness and perfect
righteousness of Jesus Christ their Lord. This is why
all believers, from the least to the greatest, who are
"freely justified by faith" will be included in this
great end-time departure of the Church. All others,
regardless of their many good works, noble intentions
and devoted religious service ...
are in extreme danger of being left behind.
Since both salvation and our place in the
rapture depends on having the right kind
of faith, we can better understand the
importance of Paul’s warning;
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are
in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not
know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
you? - unless indeed you are disqualified.”
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
Romans 4:4-8 describes this unmerited
imputed righteousness which not only
allows all believers in Christ to possess
eternal life, but also secures their place in
the rapture.
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on him who justifies the ungodly (Jesus Christ), his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin."
In Galatians 5:4 (quoted earlier), Paul did not use the phrase "estranged from Christ" (which means "separated or cutoff") by accident or to be dramatic. He was warning of the serious unintended consequences, which will befall many professing Christians, who think they are justified before God because of their commitment, devotion, behavior and obedience to certain religious rules and laws. These are characteristics of Galatian religion and not true Christianity. This is one of the strongest warnings found in the New Testament. Yet, most consider it to be "just a difference of opinion".
But, thank God - according to the
New Covenant, the blood of Jesus
Christ is totally sufficient to exempt
the Church and all its true believing
members from God's future judgment
concerning the world's sin, which
takes place during the entire 7 year
Tribulation period.
According to Scripture
the Rapture Occurs in
Two Phases
In this study we tend to give more attention to how the rapture affects living believers. But, what about those who have died? The Bible teaches that when a Christian dies, their spirit immediately goes to be with the Lord, but their body remains on earth in the grave. In the first phase of the rapture, the spirits of these departed believers are reunited with their bodies (given immortal bodies at this time) – and resurrected from the grave in the same way the Lord Jesus Christ (the firstfruits) was raised from the grave after His crucifixion. The Bible makes it clear that the resurrection of believers who have previously died must occur first – then those who are alive and remain on earth are changed (given immortal bodies) - and both groups ascend to meet Jesus in the air. The following Scriptures describe these events.
"But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, EVEN SO IN CHRIST ALL SHALL BE MADE ALIVE. BUT EACH ONE IN HIS OWN ORDER: CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS, AFTERWARD THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST'S AT HIS COMING. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power." (1 Corinthians 15:20-24 - Emphasis Added)
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, AND THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?'" (1 Corinthians 15:50-55 - Emphasis Added)
"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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 - Emphasis Added)
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This is Part 2 of a three-part Bible study.
Click on the links below to access the
other parts of this study.
Part 1
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Part 3
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