Post by iris89 on May 2, 2008 10:43:50 GMT -5
Rapture – An Untrue Dogma:
INTRODUCTION:
Rapture is the dogma or belief that faithful Christians will be bodily caught up from the earth, suddentl taken out of the world, to be united with Jesus (Yeshua) Christ ‘in the air.’ The word ‘rapture’ is understood by some persons, but not by all, to be the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. However, the word ‘rapture’ does not occur in the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Creator of all there is, the Bible.
Now a look at 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in several Bibles:
(American Standard Version; ASV) then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(Authorized King James Bible; AV) 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.
(Darby 1884 Version; Darby) then *we*, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall be always with the Lord.
(Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB) (4-16) Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air: and so shall we be always with the Lord.
(Young's Literal Translation; YLT) then we who are living, who are remaining over, together with them shall be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in air, and so always with the Lord we shall be;
WHAT DID THE APOSTLE PAUL MEAN WHEN HE SAID THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD BE ‘CAUGHT UP’ TO BE WITH THE LORD?
Now what did the Apostle Paul mean when he said that Christtians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ would be ‘caught up’ to be with the Lord?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 cast some light on this as follows,
“But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep.[[“those who sleep in death” per the New English Bible of 1970]]; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen 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 that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (English Revised Version; (English Revised Version; ERV))
Verse 15 shows that there are faithful ones who “are left unto the coming of the Lord,” that is, they are still living at the time of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ coming at the culmination of the End Times. What will be their fate? According to Romans 6:3-5, “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;” (American Standard Version; ASV), and 1 Corinthians 15:35-36 and 44, “But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? 36 Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die:” & “it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (ASV); they must die before they can gain heavenly life. But there is no need for them to remain in death awaiting Jesus (Yeshua) Christ return. They will be instantly “caught up,” “in the twinkling of an eye,” to be with the Lord, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as shown by 1 Corinthians 15:51-57,
“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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:
57 but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (English Revised Version; ERV).
And Revelation 14:13, “and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth.” (ERV).
WILL CHRIST APPEAR VISIBLY ON A CLOUD AND TAKE THEM AWAY?
Now, let’s consider when did Jesus (Yeshua) say whether the world would see him again with their physical eyes? He never did as revealed by John 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also.” (ERV). And 1 Timothy 6:16 says, “who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.” (ASV), clearly showing spirit creatures are invisible to human eyes.
Now what is the meaning of the Lord’s ‘descending from heaven’? Now a little reasoning, could Jesus (Yeshua) ‘descend fro heaven,’ as stated at 1 Thessalonians 4:1116, without being visible to physical eyes? Now in the days of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, Almighty God (YHWH) said that he was going to ‘go down to see’ what the people were doing per Genesis 18:21, “I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.” (ERV); but when Almighty God (YHWH) made that inspection, no human saw him, although they did see the angelic representatives that he sent per John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (ASV). Similarly, without having to return in the flesh, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ could turn his attention to his genuine (true) followers on earth to reward them.
Therefore in what sense will humans ‘see’ Jesus (Yeshua) Christ ‘coming in a cloud’? Remember Jesus (Yeshua) foretold at Luke 21:27, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (ERV). In no way does this statement or similar ones contradict what Jesus (Yeshua) said as recorded at John 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also.” (ASV). Now let’s consider what occurred at Mount Sinai when Almighty God (YHWH) came as stated at Exodus 19:9, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.” (ERV) . Here Almighty God (YHWH) was invisibly present; the people of Israel saw visible evidence of his presence, but none of them actually saw Almighty God (YHWH) with their eyes. Likewise, too, when Jesus (Yeshua) said that he would come ‘in a cloud,’ he must have meant that he would be invisible to human eyes, but that humans would be well aware of his presence. To wit, they would ‘see’ him with their mental ‘eyes,’ discerning the fact that he was present.
Now, let’s consider whether it is possible for Christians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, to be taken to heaven with their physical bodies? 1 Corinthians 15:50 clearly shows this to be impossible, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (ERV). Now, of course some will contend that the experience of the prophet Elijah contradicts this, but it does not. It must be understood in the light of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ’s statement at John 3:13, “And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven.” (ERV), that although Elijah was seen as he ‘went up by a whirlwind into heaven,’ at 2 Kings 2:11, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (ERV); this does not mean that he went into the spirit realm. Why not? Because he is later reported as sending a letter of reproof to the King of Judah at 2 Chronicles 21:12-15 “And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah;
13 but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like as the house of Ahab did; and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself: 14 behold, the LORD will smite with a great plague thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance: 15 and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.” (ERV). Thus, this shows that Almighty God (YHWH) used his own means (a fiery chariot and a whirlwind) to lift Elijah off the ground into the heaven where the birds roam and to transport him to another place per 2 Chronicles 21:12-15, just quoted.
WILL CHRISTIANS PERHAPS BE TAKEN TO HEAVEN SECRETLY WITHOUT DYING?
Some contend that Christians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, will simply secretly disappear from earth without dying, but is this in harmony with the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH)?
No, as Romans 6:3-5 clearly shows, “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with him by the likeness of his death, we shall be also by the likeness of his resurrection;” (ERV); and 1 Corinthians 15:35-36, “ut some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? 36 Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened, except it die:” (ERV), and 1 Corinthians 15:44, “it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (ERV). So the scriptures clearly show the dead in union with Jesus (Yeshua) Christ are raised as spirit beings and NOT as fleshly beings.
WILL ALL FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS BE TAKEN FROM THE EARTH BY CHRIST BEFORE THE CULMINATION OF THE END TIMES?
Some ask if all faithful Christians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, will be somehow taken from the earth before the culmination of the end times, but this is NOT to be the case as clearly shown by Matthew 24:21-22, “for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (ASV); and Revelation 7:9-10, “After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (ASV); and Revelation 7:14, “And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (ASV),
WHAT IS THE RAPTURE – REVISITED – THE CONCLUSION:
Many have different views as to what the rapture means. Some look at it as an escape plan for Christians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, i.e., that this is the way to escape the coming great tribulation at the culmination of the end times. This term is neither Biblical nor do those claiming to believe it have a clear understanding of just what it is supposed to be.
But in any case, it is just some more false dogma in keeping with 2 Corinthians 4:4, “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.” (ASV).
To learn more, check out the following:
[1] religioustruths.proboards59.com/ An Educational Referral Forum
[2] www.network54.com/Forum/403209 A Forum Devoted to Exposing The False Religion of Islam
[3] jude3.proboards92.com/ A Free-Speech Forum For All
[4] www.freewebs.com/iris_the_preacher My web site.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
INTRODUCTION:
Rapture is the dogma or belief that faithful Christians will be bodily caught up from the earth, suddentl taken out of the world, to be united with Jesus (Yeshua) Christ ‘in the air.’ The word ‘rapture’ is understood by some persons, but not by all, to be the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. However, the word ‘rapture’ does not occur in the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Creator of all there is, the Bible.
Now a look at 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in several Bibles:
(American Standard Version; ASV) then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(Authorized King James Bible; AV) 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.
(Darby 1884 Version; Darby) then *we*, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall be always with the Lord.
(Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB) (4-16) Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air: and so shall we be always with the Lord.
(Young's Literal Translation; YLT) then we who are living, who are remaining over, together with them shall be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in air, and so always with the Lord we shall be;
WHAT DID THE APOSTLE PAUL MEAN WHEN HE SAID THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD BE ‘CAUGHT UP’ TO BE WITH THE LORD?
Now what did the Apostle Paul mean when he said that Christtians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ would be ‘caught up’ to be with the Lord?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 cast some light on this as follows,
“But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep.[[“those who sleep in death” per the New English Bible of 1970]]; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen 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 that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (English Revised Version; (English Revised Version; ERV))
Verse 15 shows that there are faithful ones who “are left unto the coming of the Lord,” that is, they are still living at the time of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ coming at the culmination of the End Times. What will be their fate? According to Romans 6:3-5, “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;” (American Standard Version; ASV), and 1 Corinthians 15:35-36 and 44, “But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? 36 Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die:” & “it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (ASV); they must die before they can gain heavenly life. But there is no need for them to remain in death awaiting Jesus (Yeshua) Christ return. They will be instantly “caught up,” “in the twinkling of an eye,” to be with the Lord, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as shown by 1 Corinthians 15:51-57,
“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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:
57 but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (English Revised Version; ERV).
And Revelation 14:13, “and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth.” (ERV).
WILL CHRIST APPEAR VISIBLY ON A CLOUD AND TAKE THEM AWAY?
Now, let’s consider when did Jesus (Yeshua) say whether the world would see him again with their physical eyes? He never did as revealed by John 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also.” (ERV). And 1 Timothy 6:16 says, “who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.” (ASV), clearly showing spirit creatures are invisible to human eyes.
Now what is the meaning of the Lord’s ‘descending from heaven’? Now a little reasoning, could Jesus (Yeshua) ‘descend fro heaven,’ as stated at 1 Thessalonians 4:1116, without being visible to physical eyes? Now in the days of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, Almighty God (YHWH) said that he was going to ‘go down to see’ what the people were doing per Genesis 18:21, “I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.” (ERV); but when Almighty God (YHWH) made that inspection, no human saw him, although they did see the angelic representatives that he sent per John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (ASV). Similarly, without having to return in the flesh, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ could turn his attention to his genuine (true) followers on earth to reward them.
Therefore in what sense will humans ‘see’ Jesus (Yeshua) Christ ‘coming in a cloud’? Remember Jesus (Yeshua) foretold at Luke 21:27, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (ERV). In no way does this statement or similar ones contradict what Jesus (Yeshua) said as recorded at John 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also.” (ASV). Now let’s consider what occurred at Mount Sinai when Almighty God (YHWH) came as stated at Exodus 19:9, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.” (ERV) . Here Almighty God (YHWH) was invisibly present; the people of Israel saw visible evidence of his presence, but none of them actually saw Almighty God (YHWH) with their eyes. Likewise, too, when Jesus (Yeshua) said that he would come ‘in a cloud,’ he must have meant that he would be invisible to human eyes, but that humans would be well aware of his presence. To wit, they would ‘see’ him with their mental ‘eyes,’ discerning the fact that he was present.
Now, let’s consider whether it is possible for Christians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, to be taken to heaven with their physical bodies? 1 Corinthians 15:50 clearly shows this to be impossible, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (ERV). Now, of course some will contend that the experience of the prophet Elijah contradicts this, but it does not. It must be understood in the light of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ’s statement at John 3:13, “And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven.” (ERV), that although Elijah was seen as he ‘went up by a whirlwind into heaven,’ at 2 Kings 2:11, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (ERV); this does not mean that he went into the spirit realm. Why not? Because he is later reported as sending a letter of reproof to the King of Judah at 2 Chronicles 21:12-15 “And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah;
13 but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like as the house of Ahab did; and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself: 14 behold, the LORD will smite with a great plague thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance: 15 and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.” (ERV). Thus, this shows that Almighty God (YHWH) used his own means (a fiery chariot and a whirlwind) to lift Elijah off the ground into the heaven where the birds roam and to transport him to another place per 2 Chronicles 21:12-15, just quoted.
WILL CHRISTIANS PERHAPS BE TAKEN TO HEAVEN SECRETLY WITHOUT DYING?
Some contend that Christians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, will simply secretly disappear from earth without dying, but is this in harmony with the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH)?
No, as Romans 6:3-5 clearly shows, “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with him by the likeness of his death, we shall be also by the likeness of his resurrection;” (ERV); and 1 Corinthians 15:35-36, “ut some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? 36 Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened, except it die:” (ERV), and 1 Corinthians 15:44, “it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (ERV). So the scriptures clearly show the dead in union with Jesus (Yeshua) Christ are raised as spirit beings and NOT as fleshly beings.
WILL ALL FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS BE TAKEN FROM THE EARTH BY CHRIST BEFORE THE CULMINATION OF THE END TIMES?
Some ask if all faithful Christians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, will be somehow taken from the earth before the culmination of the end times, but this is NOT to be the case as clearly shown by Matthew 24:21-22, “for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (ASV); and Revelation 7:9-10, “After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (ASV); and Revelation 7:14, “And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (ASV),
WHAT IS THE RAPTURE – REVISITED – THE CONCLUSION:
Many have different views as to what the rapture means. Some look at it as an escape plan for Christians, the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, i.e., that this is the way to escape the coming great tribulation at the culmination of the end times. This term is neither Biblical nor do those claiming to believe it have a clear understanding of just what it is supposed to be.
But in any case, it is just some more false dogma in keeping with 2 Corinthians 4:4, “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.” (ASV).
To learn more, check out the following:
[1] religioustruths.proboards59.com/ An Educational Referral Forum
[2] www.network54.com/Forum/403209 A Forum Devoted to Exposing The False Religion of Islam
[3] jude3.proboards92.com/ A Free-Speech Forum For All
[4] www.freewebs.com/iris_the_preacher My web site.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89