MATTHEW 24 ~ THE RAPTURE THEORY WHEN WILL IT BE, ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 24? ALSO READ & STUDY THE FOLLOWING... Matthew 24 ~ STRUCTURE & CHARACTERISTICS Matthew 24 ~ DECEPTION Matthew 24 ~ THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST Whilst sharing this teaching Im frequently asked about the timing of the rapture. In other words, when will the rapture occur? Therefore, I feel somewhat compelled to deal with this issue for the sake of clarity. My points of reference being the standard (accepted) position on this subject: Pre-tribulation, Mid-tribulation and Post-tribulation. Firstly, I have not seen or read the actual word ‘rapture’ in our English Bibles. I’m led to believe that in the original Greek/Aramaic documents the English word rapture is rendered Harpuzo. Harpuzo in the English tongue is translated as follows: To be ‘caught-up’ or ‘snatched-away’. Secondly, there is also a great deal of misunderstanding relative to the tribulation period per’se. There is only one reference to tribulation and that is: ‘The Great Tribulation’. The structure of Matthew 24 confirms this. The period commonly referred to as the ‘tribulation’ actually incorporates two time periods; and should be designated ‘sorrows’ and ‘the great tribulation’ respectively. They are so called because of their relationship to the Jewish people and therefore the sovereign state of Israel. COMMONLY ACCEPTED TRIBULATION PERIOD POSITION (PRE-, MID-, POST-TRIB)  POSITION AS PER MATTHEW 24 - POST-TRIB RAPTURE  THE SEVENTH (LAST) TRUMPET BLAST IS THE PRECURSOR TO JESUS’ RETURN 1 Thess 4:15-17 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 precede 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. I Cor 15:51-52 51: Behold, I tell 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.51: Behold, I tell 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. 2 Thess 2:1-12 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. 4: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5: Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6: And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8: And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. 10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. 12: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES THESE EVENTS MUST BE FULFILLED PRIOR TO JESUS' RETURN. 
Compiled by:
The Final Word Internet Ministry
Document may be copied and freely distributed as long as no charge is
levied.
|