The Rapture - A Doctrine of Danger

Zechariah, John the Baptist, Stephen, James, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Andrew, Peter and Jesus – all people of important note – and all have what in common? You guessed it – they were all martyred for the crime of being faithful. God could have protected them but did not.  Have you ever wondered why?

Who Wants to be Hurt?

Jesus prayed, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me" (Mt 26:39)

I don’t, I doubt any of the Apostles did, Isaiah unsuccessfully hid, Jesus tried to escape.  So I don’t blame those who desire safety – those who want to be whisked away from the great tribulation, though understandable, a great big rapture for the saints is not in God’s plan.

Two Tribulations

"pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth" (Rev 16:1)

The daily headlines and scripture constantly remind us of many terrible things to come.  But keep in the back of your mind that there are two tribulations ahead of us.  One is by man, the beast power (perhaps future Muslim powers) and the other from the Almighty.  The scenario is simple –if you are of God then you are a target for the Muslims.  And if you are of the devil then then prepare to meet the wrath of God.

Escaping the Wrath of Man

"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer."(Rev 2:10).  

The rapture is a dangerous doctrine because it can lead to false ideas and hopes.  Let’s say that the tribulation is happening and you are in it – yet your false teacher said you would be whisked away but somehow that didn’t happen – so maybe you think you should temporarily pretend you’re a Muslim – after all God is supposed to protect - right.  Well maybe not always…."But if not [God does not protect], be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods" (Dan 3:18)

Scriptural Facts

"they...searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11)

Matthew Chapter 24 is often quoted in support of the rapture, allegedly because some people are taken – but that’s it – no deep dive – no serious study of what it really says.  So what are the facts?  Well in Matthew 24 Jesus talks about His return, He talks about how “they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you”.  He talks about the great tribulation coming upon mankind and it is within the confines of this great tribulation that some will be taken and some will be left.  The disciples listening to Him wanted to know where those ‘taken’ would be took.  So He answered them saying it would be like during the time of Noah’s flood when many were taken (swept away - drowned) and just to cement what He was speaking about He said in the parallel chapter of Luke 17, “Wherever the [dead] body is, there the eagles [vultures] will be gathered together”. In other words – you don’t want to be taken because that would mean you would be a dead evil person.

Revelation Chapter 7 tells that some of the elect – God’s chosen people will be in the tribulation.  This is because you cannot COME OUT of something that you were not in.  For example, you cannot come out of a room that you were never in.

“Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from… So he said to me, “These are the ones who COME OUT of the great tribulation” (Rev 7:13-15)

Speaking of being made white, in Daniel Chapter 11 the Bible teaches that one way in which the elect are made white (perfected), is through death. 

“the people who understand … shall fall by sword and flame [be killed]… those of understanding shall fall [die], to refine them, purify them, and make them white” (Dan 11:33-35)

Daniel 11 teaches us that falling equals death, 2 Thessalonians tells us that “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” will not occur until “the falling away comes first” (2 Thess 2:1-3) , which means many of God’s people will be murdered. So this clearly indicates that God’s elect will be killed during the time that the “man of sin” is revealed which is just before the return of Christ.  These people are made white through death which makes sense since Revelation 7 says they came “OUT OF” the great tribulation.  This means they were IN IT and they were killed IN IT.  They came out of it in a new body – a spiritual body which is the only kind of body that a resurrected saint comes in.

After reading this you may begin to understand that one reason that the rapture is dangerous is because escapism may deny you the great opportunity (use proper context) to die for your faith.  Though I’m not pushing for this, one could say that this final purification just about guarantees you a place with Christ provided you did not deny Him by also keeping His law as it says in Rev 12:17 & “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jn 2:4.)

The escapism of the Rapture is dangerous because it teaches a type of preservation that tends to rub opposite what Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Mt 16:25)

And Opposite of the World

"the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1Jn 5:19)

If you believe that God’s word is the truth and that Jesus is the truth and the way, then sometimes you can look for people and entities that oppose Him and find truth by reversing their teachings.  What do I mean?  Muslims hate and oppose Christianity.  They approve of lying to advance their cause and for this very fact alone one must always assume that when speaking to a Muslim concerning their cause that they speak lies.  In their own Quran and Hadiths we read: “Allah is the best of schemers.[LIARS]” (Qur'an 3:54) or “I may say things just to cheat my enemy” (Bukhari 84:64) or “Allah has already ordained for you [Muslims] the dissolution [breaking] of your oaths.” (Qur'an 66:2)

And what do they teach?  Well to "Make war upon such of those to whom … believe not in God, …do battle with them…make it victorious over every other religion…” (Qur'an 9:29-33) because “To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah,- whether he is slain or gets victory - Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value).” (Qur'an 4:74)

This is opposite of the Bible.  God show that the slain saints receive a reward, not the demonically backed slayers.

Protection

"I also will keep you from the hour of trial" (Rev 3:10)

Those who use this scripture as proof of the rapture have gone out of their way to take severe liberty by inserting all manner of doctrines into it which it does not say.  All it says is, "I also will keep you from the hour of trial".  So we need to ask questions like what trial?  Is this man’s trial of the great tribulation or is it the wrath of the Almighty?  Both are indeed trials, but we shouldn't be so fast to jump to conclusions.  Nonetheless let’s say we are talking about keeping you out from the great tribulation of man (even though Revelation 7 shows some of the elect coming out of it).  Does it say how you will be protected?  No it does not.  One way would be if you died before the tribulation.  If you were hidden in a secret cave with food then you certainly would not be in it.  So why assume a whisking away?  Well I think in part because of the scripture which says, "we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (1 Thess 4:17).  But as we will see those who believe in the rapture have somehow pasted these scripture together with some funny glue.  For one, the timing is wrong because the previous verse says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven" (1 Thess 4:16).  And when does Jesus descend?  Matthew says, "after the tribulation of those days [the appearing of the man of sin - the great tribulation previous verses 15 and 20]...Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, ...and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."(Mt 24:29-30).  The elect can only be on these clouds after the great tribulation which means those on the clouds were IN the great tribulation.

But let’s take a further look at being kept "from the hour of trial".  If we back up just 7 verses we read for, "you will not know what HOUR I will come upon you." (Rev 3:3)  So this could just as well be the trial – the wrath of God – His hour of trial which is not man’s great tribulation under the beast power.  This would make sense.  Because if you belong to God then why would He punish you with the worst of His wrath if He considers you His?  Why would His anger upon the wicked include His own chosen?  The answer is it would not.  In Revelation 7, just before the elect come out of the great tribulation, God does something special to protect those who are His which is just prior to His vexation.   It reads, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads" (Rev 7:3).  This (not a rapture) is their protection.

So the moral of the story is that God has put many to the death test.  It will occur again in the future.  Revelation says, "the beast should both speak and cause as many…to be killed." (Rev 13:15) and "those who had been slain for the word of God...cried ...How long…until You judge and avenge our blood ...and it was said to them … until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." (Rev 6:9-12)

Strong evidence for the flood

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Can God keep you out of the Kingdom for breaking His Commandments?

The answer is a resounding yes. For if not, the Bible cannot enforce or say what you are about to read,  the following scriptures which are formed upon the law, which are the Commandments of God:

Based solely on the law, a homosexual will not enter the kingdom of God.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1Cor 6:9-10)

Based entirely on the law a murder will not enter the kingdom of God.

"Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that NO murderer has ETERNAL LIFE abiding in him." (1John 3:15)

Predicated entirely on the law someone who covets will not enter the kingdom of God.

"For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE." (Eph 5:5)

And according to Revelation 14 it is only those who keep God's Commandments who WILL enter the kingdom of God

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of God … and THEIR WORKS follow them.” (Rev 14:12-13)

But some will say to me that scripture says we are not saved by works of the law, by the letter of the law, that we are saved by grace and expect that I should now twist in the wind and be tied up tighter than a pretzel.  I suspect that this may be in reference to, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  NOT OF WORKS" (Eph 2:8-9)

Taken on its face value Ephesians 2 seems at odds with the above scriptures, as if the Bible had contradicted itself.  But nothing could be further from the truth. Those who use such passages like Ephesians 2 with the secret inward hope of circumventing the law are not only committing licentiousness (grace as a license to sin), probably do not understand grace, repentance or the bigger picture of what Paul wrote.

So let me give a nickel tour for each of these items before I help you understand the bigger picture.

GRACE

What is grace, well grace is simply a case where a judge (in this case Jesus) pardons you for a transgression, for a sin. For example let's say you stole a car and the penalty for stealing a car is one year in jail.  However because you begged and pleaded for mercy (as Jesus said, “I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.” (Mt 18:32)) the judge decides to let you off with just a warning. Does this in anyway negate the law?  Does it in anyway give you permission to steal another car without penalty or punishment, does the law still stand?  Of course it does.  Grace is simply Jesus being kind and merciful to you – you cannot earn grace – you have to beg for it – just as you might have to throw yourself upon the mercy of the court.

REPENTANCE 

Can a rock repent?  What you say?  Yes a rock can repent. Repentance means to change. Under enough heat and pressure a rock can change, for example limestone can change into marble. Once changed the rock does not go back to what it was before. However people can and often do. This is akin to people who “have escaped the pollutions of the world…[but then] turn from the holy commandment delivered to them [the law of God.  Like] A dog [that] returns to his own vomit…(2Pe2:20-22)”.   Repentance means YOU CHANGE from lawlessness into a keeper of the law.  It means YOU CHANGE and not the law, otherwise your doing away with a law makes you a “judge [of] the law, [and if so, then] you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (Ja 4:11)”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

So then, what was Paul saying when he said salvation is not by WORKS?  Well if you reference my definition above, grace is something you cannot earn, it is merciful pardon from the Judge – you can beg for it – but you certainly cannot earn it.  It also means you cannot freely recommit the same sin.  Nonetheless what WORKS was Paul referring to here?  Was he referring to laws like murder or adultery – in effect saying – quit trying to be faithful to your wives or don’t worry about the next person that you stab?  No he was not.  The WORKS mentioned here are those imposed by the Pharisees and the group of the circumcision.  It was mostly a reference to their man-made added laws.  Read the entire New Testament and notice how often Paul encountered the group of the circumcision – the people who wanted power over the new disciples of Christ.  Read the Mishnah with its hundreds of codified laws that were supposed to somehow ADD something to man – that by doing them man could somehow become perfect.  These were added laws and often ended up in misinterpretations, for example, like how the Sabbath should be kept (note: not IF it should be kept) and were things that Jesus became embroiled with against the Pharisees.  If you then read Ephesians 2 with this frame of mind you will clearly see the footprints of the Pharisees – those of the circumcision.  You will also see that the laws that Jesus made obsolete were the “commandments contained in ordinances” and were Pharisaical laws.

Therefore as scripture says, the righteous “keep the commandments of God … and their works follow them.” This scripture is without ambiguity.

But then someone will say to me – are we to keep all of the Old Testament laws – like the laws in Leviticus exactly as spelled out?  Are we now to become legalistic?  The answer is NO.  If you then mistakenly take the path of a legalistic literalist and someone who strives to keep the letter of the law – you will have failed.  When you try to codify the law – you have failed.  This is what the Pharisees did – and in doing so could actually set up a situation where they actually transgressed the law.  Jesus pointed this out in examples like in Matthew 15:5-6 saying, “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.”

What law did the Pharisees transgress with their added laws?  Well it clearly was the 5th commandment which says to honor your parents.  How did they transgress?  Well by giving something to God in cases where it should have gone to their parents.  For example, in the extreme, what if your Mom needed money for a lifesaving operation and you said – I would – but I’m using it instead to pay for a Church evangelizing trip to Africa? Hopefully you can see that the codified and added man-made law of the Pharisees which were supposed to add to someone, to impart a man made perfectness actually did the opposite and this also is something Paul also strove against.

So then – if we do not codify the law – how do we proceed?  Well we proceed by following the spirit of the law, we follow the law in the spirit in which it was given.  We apply the law as our inward hearts says it should be applied which often is according to the situation.  Paul said, “the law is spiritual” not according to the letter but according to the spirit.  I suspect that if the laws of God were written upon our hearts that we would not need any of the commandments.  For example, we would know every form of lying, misleading, misdirecting, shuffling the deck and shading of the truth, little white lies were wrong.

But one must be extremely careful with the spirit of the law, for as it is written, “Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind” as to how you handle the spiritual intent of the law.

As an example we know that Rahab lied in order to save lives but is considered faithful.  This does not negate the law in the ninth commandment to “not bear false witness” but it shows situation and spiritual intent can and must be carefully applied.  When you understand this, you can also understand that Ephesians does not negate other laws like the 4th commandment, the Sabbath, where it says don’t let someone judge you with a set of Sabbath codifications,  “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths (Col 2:16)”

Therefore keep all of the law – but according to the spirit in which it was intended.  But do not use this freedom as an excuse to go around the law.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage [added and codified laws of the Pharisees - Gods laws are not bondage, a good Christain does not dispise the law or consider them bondage - they consider them as good things that lead to Christ - to what He wants us to be]. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised [Pharisaical law], Christ will profit you nothing. (Gal 5:1-2)"

A Better Understanding of the Law.

As Christians how are we supposed to view the law?  Are we supposed to keep it?  Is it just a nice to have bunch of suggestions?  Didn’t Christ fulfill it so we don’t have to as those who say that we are no longer under the law but under grace so are not required to keep the law.  However if we take that position I suppose there has to be that slightly nagging feeling in the back of some minds that well certainly murder, lying and adultery cannot be ok which is maybe why someone once told me that if we believe in Christ we will want to keep the law – however, not that it is a requirement – and certainly we are not saved by keeping it.  Nonetheless into this complex stew we have to add some direct quotes from the Bible that almost seems to contradict one another.  In one case Paul said, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” (Gal 3:11).  In another Paul said, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” (Ro 3:31).

A Missing Ingredient

Something I discovered perhaps some 15 years ago was that many, including myself were overlooking something very important.  It was like an elephant standing in the middle of the room.  Something that Paul shouted from nearly every page he wrote.  I believe this was strongly in his mind nearly every time he spoke.  Even Jesus spoke about it.  As a matter of fact an entire chapter, Acts 15, was all about it – and no – it wasn’t just about circumcision.  It was about the power of the government and the laws of that government.  This was a government comprised of Pharisees and Sadducees who had their own set of rules and laws – these were laws that were supposed to be based on the laws of God – but somehow they went astray.  One could say that they were trying to codify what I will call a spiritual aspect of the law (more on this in just a bit).  For example, it’s ok to walk five miles on the Sabbath, but not six.  It’s ok to get off a boat on the Sabbath if a gentile worked to put the plank out.  There were many other such laws, many not Sabbath related.  The Mishnah would be a good resource to get an understanding of how complex these regulations could get.  Not to get off track – but I also know of a nearly defunct modern organization that had quite a power trip of their own going with sets of rules that ran parallel this same ideology, i.e. women, could not wear makeup, etc., but I digress.  So the ones in charge – the Pharisees – were the one’s back then who would tell you how to apply the laws of God.  They ruled – you did not question their authority – even if their laws seemed stupid - for to do so could prove fatal.  As one young Man once said, “You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”  Statements like that would later prove to be fatal for Him.  Nonetheless I challenge you to read Mark 7:1-13 where I found this at and not see what Jesus was attempting to convey is that in their zeal to uphold the law, they actually transgressed it.

So where are we now?

The information I want you to walk away with at this point is that when in scripture you see the law being talked about – you need to immediately ask yourself whether this may be the laws of God or the added interpretations of the doctors of the law.  So for example when the law was allegedly nailed to the cross, was it the 10 commandments or was it Jesus making dead the rule of the Pharisees and their laws and setting up something I call spiritual based laws – a newfound freedom in Christ?   Well let’s look over some key elements leading up to those famous lines.

“Beware lest any man [Now I’m thinking Pharisees, the doctors of the law here – also known in other parts of scriptures as those of the group of the circumcision] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ…And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:…Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, [Now are God’s laws of don’t steal, don’t murder really against us?] which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col 2:8-15)

May I suggest that Christ replaced not the commandments of God, rather the then governments as the Head?  Remember that before He paid the penalty, He once said, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat;  so practice and observe whatever they tell you...”  But at His death He replaced them – not the laws.  Now if I am right on this, it is to the shame of any individual to let any organization - or leader come between you and Christ and interfere in any way with what I will talk about next – which is the spiritual application of the law.

Spiritual Law

1Pe 2:16 as the early Christians were told that they were free’ “free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice [wrong doing – which implies laws that can be transgressed – is your head hurting yet?]”  So they were free, but free from what?  Well the law.  But which law?  Well here I believe it is a complicated combo of Pharisaical added law and God’s laws – I’ll explain more in a moment.  

A parallel scripture of Galatians 5 says,“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; [freedom] only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [that by the way is a perfect example of the spirit of the law]”  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [letter of the law slash added law- but you are under the spirit of the law]”

Ok so what is this spirit?  Some would say – Holy Spirit.  Well that’s partially true, it is the spirt of God – but does not quite hit it on the head.  Then what is it?  Well, have you ever seen where a bunch of lawyers write out a legal document with the intent of covering every possibility toward enforcing some rule, but then someone who seemingly transgresses that rule gets away by getting a smart lawyer who finds a loophole in the original document?  What often follows is the rule is revised until the next loophole is found, and then on and on until the next thing you know is that there are a bunch of clauses and pages of documents for just that one item.  I think I remember signing a pile of legal documents last time I bought a car, and I paid cash and I just wanted a car.  Nonetheless when the smarter lawyer finds a loophole does that always make him smarter or would some say that in some cases he really just managed to circumvent the spirit of the law?  Or as we could say – the really smart people always knew what the intent of the original document was anyway so quit trying to get around the intent.  That is – the law was not designed for someone to find a loophole now was it?  It then follows that someone intent on following the spirit of the law does not need a hundred clauses, a list of do’s and don’ts do they?  Maybe this is why when Jesus spoke of adultery He could speak spiritually saying, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  To me that would be the application of the spirit of the law.  In some cases it adds to the law.  In some cases it modifies based on situation, for example, by eating grain, plucking it from the field on the Sabbath because you were hungry.  This does not do away with the Sabbath nor does it place undue burdens on it either via badly written codification.  Laws are sometimes situational; remember that Rahab lied [in order to save lives] but is considered faithful or which is why it is written, “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath.”  In other words keep the Sabbath – but as it is written, be careful or, “Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind” as to how you handle abiding by the spiritual intent of the law.  The law still stands, all of it still stands, as Jesus said, “Think not that I have come to abolish the law”.

So this then brings me around to my closing comments.  To the person who said a Christian will want to follow the law (not have to keep God’s laws) I would answer that this is partially true – a true follower wars in his soul to do right – but he wars against the lusts of the flesh which want to pull him away from obedience.  Numbers two is that if it is just a matter of “want to” and not have to, then Jesus cannot keep you out of the kingdom of God or request that you overcome.  Yet there are plenty of scriptures that say things like, “I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things [transgression of the law] shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” or “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God”.  So then the conclusion is that the law is fully in tact – but not with a bunch of rules trying to codify the law, which may be why Paul exclaimed, “the law is spiritual”.  Indeed it is and we are to follow it by the spirit and in the spirit in which it was intended.

Remember we don't need a border.
http://www.cnsnews.com/video/cnsnews/flashback-obama-mocks-gop-border-security-they-ll-want-moat-and-alligators-moat

I say yes - Support Officer Wilson
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It is hard to imagine or even stomach these modern day Christian tragedies that are taking place.  If you say the Bible is not true - how do you account for these things?