Why the "rapture" is not Biblical Part 2

Here is the first reason why we should not accept the idea of the "rapture."

1. The primary Biblical defense of the rapture is the “two second comings” theory .

Here is a link for an article by Dr. David Reagan about the rapture: http://www.lamblion.com/articles/prophecy/sc/sc-04.php Dr. Reagan is one of the more respectable authors on the premillenial viewpoint, with none of the virulent harshness that is associated with so many others. (He’s also associated with independent Christians Churches!) Check out the article for a good defense of the rapture

Below is a lengthy quote from a separate article by David Reagan. The link to the article is below - Note his Scriptural evidence for the rapture:

The New Testament contains only two detailed descriptions of the Lord’s return. One is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; the other, in Revelation 19:11-16. When the two are compared, it becomes very evident that the only thing they have in common is that they both focus on Jesus. Otherwise, they are as different as night and day. Consider the differences:

1 Thessalonians 4 - Jesus appears in the heavens. Revelation 19 - Jesus returns to earth.

1 Thessalonians 4 - He appears for His Church. Revelation 19 - He returns with His Church.

1 Thessalonians 4 - He appears as a Bridegroom. Revelation 19 - He returns as a Warrior.

1 Thessalonians 4 - He appears to claim the righteous. Revelation 19 - He returns to condemn the unrighteous.

1 Thessalonians 4 - He appears as a Deliverer. Revelation 19 - He returns as King of kings.

These two passages are obviously talking about two different events. The passage in 1 Thessalonians 4 describes what has come to be known as the Rapture — the snatching of the Church out of the world. Revelation 19 describes an event that will take place later — the return of the Lord to the earth.

This method of reconciling these two passages solves a serious problem that emerges when you think of only one future coming of the Lord. That problem relates to the emphasis that the Scriptures give to imminence. What I am referring to is the constant warning of the Scriptures that the Lord may appear any moment and, therefore, we are always to be ready for His return. (See Matthew 24:36, 42, 44 and 25:13.)

If there is only one future coming of the Lord, then these warnings are a waste of time, and there is no imminence because there are many prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled before the Lord can return. I have in mind such things as a peace treaty that will bring true peace to Israel and enable the Jews to rebuild their Temple (Daniel 9:27). There must also be a seven year period of Tribulation during which the Antichrist will terrorize the world (Revelation 6-18).

These are just a few of the events that are clearly prophesied in Scripture as occurring before Jesus returns to earth. If there is only one future coming of the Lord, and it must take place after these events, then the Lord’s return is not imminent. We should not be living looking for Jesus Christ, as the Scriptures instruct us to do (Titus 2:13). Rather, we should be looking for the Antichrist.

The only way there can be imminence is for there to be two future comings of the Lord, one of which — the Rapture — can occur any moment. And the Rapture truly is imminent because there is not one prophecy that must be fulfilled for it to occur. It is an event that could happen any moment.2

This is a well written and classic defense of the pre-trib “poof-rapture.” Immediately the problematic issues are seen. The first is the problem of the “two second comings.” If the description of Jesus coming in 1 Thessalonians seems to be different than the description of Jesus second coming in Revelation 19, then there obviously must be two second comings, right? Or maybe, there is an interpretation issue that must be dealt with before we come up with a “first second coming” and a “second second coming.”

Could it be that this is the exact same event, described in a slightly different way for the author’s purpose? The Bible is filled with examples of this – with the most obvious being the four Gospels. Different Bible writers, all inspired by the Holy Spirit, would talk about the same event or teaching using different details and a different focus to meet the specific purpose of his writing to his readers. Consider Dr. Reagan’s chart point by point:

1 Thessalonians 4 - Jesus appears in the heavens. Revelation 19 - Jesus returns to earth.

To say that “Jesus appears in the heavens” in 1 Thessalonians 4 is really missing the point. In fact, in both Scriptures, Jesus is returning to earth. The two different passages focus on different details to be sure. 1 Thessalonians 4 specifically says three loud obvious sounds would accompany His return. Why can Revelation 19 be interpreted literally while 1 Thessalonians is not interpreted literally?

The sequence starts in verse 1 Thessalonians 4:16: 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God… So when Jesus comes, he will come out of the sky, descending, just as he visibly “ascended” into heaven in Acts 1. This is a physical, literal, visible event.

This great event is accompanied by three “sound effects” – just in case someone might think that this be a quiet, secret, in the dark thing, three times we are told that there will be loud noises – a loud command, or as in the KJV, a “shout.” This word meant a spoken order or command that was loud and clear – it is a loud, authoritative shout. In case you missed the shout, there is also the voice of the archangel.

This is the chief messenger angel of God, proclaiming out loud that Jesus was coming, just as the angels proclaimed Jesus birth to the shepherds, so Jesus second coming will be heralded by the voice of the archangel.

And just in case you missed the shout and the angel’s voice, there is also the trumpet call of God. God used the trumpet in the Old Testament as His instrument of choice in calling His people together. There was a trumpet blast at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19, along with the clouds and smoke and thunder and lightning – God gave His people an overwhelming audio/video demonstration that they needed to pay attention and listen to Him.

In every discussion of 1 Thessalonians 4 by a subscriber to the “poof-rapture” idea, not one I have read yet (I would love to see one) has addressed the idea of the shout, the voice of the archangel, and most importantly, the trumpet, because the trumpet is always associated with Christ’s return. Can we simply dismiss those important words? The message is clear – Jesus’ return will be obvious to all.

Again, here is Dr. Reagan’s chart:

1 Thessalonians 4 - He appears for His Church. Revelation 19 - He returns with His Church.

It is unfortunate that in each of the chart points, Jesus is said to “appear” in Thessalonians and not to “return” as in Revelation 19. Why is that? I just am dumbfounded as to the nature of this distinction. I am also greatly puzzled why this second chart point says that in Rev. 19 that Christ returns with His Church. Nowhere in Revelation 19 does the text even remotely say that Jesus is returning “with” His Church. Revelation 19:14 does say that the armies of heaven would be following Him, but that would be a huge stretch to say that meant that the entire Church was returning to earth with Jesus Christ. Christ’s “armies” would more likely be His warrior angels – sent out to gather the saved (Matthew 24:31) and to bring destruction on the wicked.

In fact, it would be easier to make an argument that Christ is returning with His Church from 1 Thessalonians 4:14, if you were trying to “squeeze” that idea out of one of the two passages:

14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

I’ll address other Scriptures that are “squeezed” to find a “poof-rapture” later on.

Beside that, the whole Second Coming passage in 1 Thessalonians extends into chapter 5, where we see that that the “Day of the Lord” is not just Christ’s coming for the church, but also to bring judgment upon the wicked.

1 Thessalonians 4 - He appears as a Bridegroom. Revelation 19 - He returns as a Warrior.

1 Thessalonians 4 - He appears to claim the righteous. Revelation 19 - He returns to condemn the unrighteous.

1 Thessalonians 4 - He appears as a Deliverer. Revelation 19 - He returns as King of kings.

I am going ahead and placing the final three points of the chart here because they can all be addressed at once. As was just mentioned, there is more than mere “appearing” in Thessalonians, and how can the contextual implication of 1 Thessalonians 5 be avoided?

1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

So, as in every description of Christ’s second coming, Christ’s literal, visible return is to bring reward and eternal life to those who walk faith & obedience to Jesus Christ, and judgment to those who don’t. In both passages, Christ returns as the Bridegroom of the Church and as the Warrior against the ungodly. In both passages, Christ returns to claim the righteous (Rev. 19:9) and to condemn the unrighteous. In both passages, Christ returns as the Deliverer of the Church and as the King of Kings over all the kingdoms of the earth.

Consider other Second coming passages – they tie the salvation of the righteous and the judgment of the wicked together:

Matthew 24:30-31 (make sure and read this entire passage in context!)

30“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Bottom line - the idea that there are two second comings is not Biblical.

1
John Hagee, Should Christians Support Israel? (San Antonio, TX: Dominion Publishers, 1987), [P. 1]. (As quoted in CRI article http://www.equip.org/free/DH005.htm)

2
Dr. David Reagan “The ‘Left Behind’ Series: Fact or Fiction? A Review and Analysis” http://www.lamblion.com/articles/prophecy/viewpoints/Views-05.php