*
Tribulation--affliction, trouble, pressure, distress
(John 16:33).
* The Tribulation--the final seven years before Christ
returns to the earth. Also referred to as Daniel's 70th week.
* The Great Tribulation--the last 312 years before
Christ returns to the earth. This will be the most intense and difficult time
of trouble the world has ever known (Matt. 24:21).
* The Day of the Lord--A time when God directly
intervenes in the affairs of men especially by judgment but also by way of
blessing. It is often used in the Bible to describe the judgment and wrath of
God poured out upon the world during the Tribulation period.
* Daniel's 70th Week--based on Daniel 9:24-27. This
refers to the final seven years before Christ returns to the earth (the
"week" being a period of seven years, not seven days).
* The Rapture--this term is derived from a Latin verb
which was used to translate the Greek verb harpaz ("caught
up") found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This Greek verb means to be snatched
away, taken away suddenly, quickly removed by force from one place to another,
as when Philip was caught away to another place (Acts 8:39) or when the Lord
Jesus was suddenly taken up to heaven at the time of the ascension (Rev. 12:5).
When Christ returns for His Church, believers will be "caught up,"
and suddenly taken from earth to heaven (compare John 14:3).
* Pre-Tribulation Rapture--the Church will be raptured
before the seven year Tribulation begins. Thus the Church will pass through
none of the Tribulation. This is the correct, Biblical view as will be
demonstrated in this paper.
* Mid-Tribulation Rapture--the Church will be raptured
at the midway point of the Tribulation, 312 years before the Lord returns to
the earth. This view teaches that the Church will pass through half of the
Tribulation.
* Pre-Wrath Rapture--the Church will be raptured
approximately midway through the second half of the Tribulation, or about 112
or 2 years before the Lord returns to the earth. This view teaches that the
Church will pass through three-quarters of the Tribulation.
* Post-Tribulation Rapture--the Church will be
raptured at the end of the Tribulation period at the time when the Lord returns
to the earth. This view teaches that the Church will pass through all of the
Tribulation.
In answer to the question, "Will the Church go through Tribulation?"
we must answer "YES!" In answer to the question, "Will the
Church go through THE Tribulation?" the answer is "NO!
The following verses demonstrate that believers living in the Church Age must
go through tribulation:
* (John 16:33b) In the world ye shall have tribulation: but
be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
* (Acts 14:22) Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting
them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter
into the kingdom of God.
* (Rom. 5:3) And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
* (1 Thess. 1:6) And ye became followers of us, and of the
Lord, having received the word in much affliction [tribulation], with joy of
the Holy Ghost.
* (1 Thess. 3:3-4) That no man should be moved by these
afflictions [tribulations]: for yourselves know that we are appointed
thereunto. (4) For verily, when we were with you, we told you before
that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
* (2 Tim. 3:12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Believers living in this Age are not exempt from times of trouble and distress
and intense pressure and persecution. However, there is a specific time of trouble
which Church Age believers are exempt from: "Because thou hast kept the
word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which
shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth"
(Rev.3:10).
Believers are appointed unto tribulations (1 Thess. 3:3), but believers are not
appointed unto wrath (1 Thess. 5:9, "wrath" referring to a specific
time when God will pour out His wrath upon the earth). Believers must pass
through the fires of affliction, but we will not pass through the specific
fires of affliction that are reserved for Daniel's 70th week. TRIBULATION? Yes!
THE TRIBULATION? No!
The clearest and most complete chronological prophecy that God has given to us
is the 70 week prophecy in the book of Daniel (9:24-27). These 70 weeks involve
490 years of Jewish history (each "week" equals 7 years). The first
69 weeks (483) years have been fulfilled in history. The last week, known as
Daniel's 70th week, is a seven year period which has not yet taken place in
history. This is also known as the seven year Tribulation period.
After the first 69 weeks the Messiah was cut off and the Church Age began just
53 short days after the Messiah was cut off and crucified. Daniel's 70th week
will not begin until a covenant or treaty is made between the Antichrist and
Israel (Daniel 9:27).
The Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts chapter 2. The Church Age
is thus nearly 2000 years in duration. How then can we explain this amazing
"GAP" between the 69th week and the 70th week? It is as if God's
clock for Israel has stopped, waiting to start ticking again at some future
time. What has God been doing in the meantime?
During this 2000 year gap God has been:
1. Building His Church (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 3:6-9; 12:18; Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Pet.
2:5).
2. Taking out of the nations a people for His Name (Acts 15:14).
3. Bringing in the fullness of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:25).
4. Placing believers into a living organism (1 Cor. 12:13).
5. Saving a "showcase" that will eternally display His matchless
grace (Eph. 2:7).
6. Manifesting Himself through His Body which is upon the earth (1 Tim.
3:15-16).
Just as the Church had an abrupt beginning shortly after the conclusion of the
69th week (the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost), so we should
expect the Church to have an abrupt removal shortly before the beginning of the
70th week. The Pre-Tribulation model harmonizes perfectly with Daniel's 70th
week prophecy while at the same time recognizing the parenthetical and
mysterious nature of the Church Age (mysterious in the sense that it was not
revealed on the pages of the Old Testament). The Pre-Tribulation model best
explains this 2000 year gap and also keeps us from mixing up the Church Age
with prophetic Jewish history.
Here is the Pre-Tribulational model of the 70 week prophecy (Daniel 9) as it
relates to the Church Age. Notice that the Church Age is completely distinct
from Daniel's 70 weeks. The Church Age is found in the gap between the 69th
week and the 70th week:
Here is the Post-Tribulational model of the 70 week prophecy (Daniel 9) as it
relates to the Church Age. Notice that this model has the Church on earth
during Daniel's 70th week (the seven year Tribulation period)
Here is the Pre-Wrath model of the 70 week prophecy (Daniel 9) as it relates to
the Church Age. Notice that this model is very similar to the
Post-Tribulational model. The only difference is that the Church is on earth
during three quarters of the Tribulation rather than during all of it.
Which model best fits the data? Which model best explains the 2000 year GAP?
Which model best distinguishes between dispensations? Which views erroneously
mix the Church Age with Jewish history? Which view is the least complicated?
Without controversy the Scriptures present the Rapture of the Church as a
comforting and encouraging hope (John 14:1; 1 Thess. 4:18). The glorious
reality awaiting those believers who are alive and remain unto the coming of
the Lord is that "we shall not ... sleep" (1 Cor. 15:51). If the
Church were destined to pass through the Tribulation, then these words would be
of little comfort. Tribulation saints do not have the joyful expectancy of
being alive unto the coming of the Lord and being exempt from physical death.
To stand for Christ in that day will often mean martyrdom (Rev. 7:14; 13:15;
20:4).
This does not mean that Tribulation saints are without comfort. The comforting
promise that the Lord gives to Tribulation believers is this: "Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord" (Rev. 14:13). Thus the Tribulation saints
are not without hope, and yet the comfort given to them by the Lord is of a different
nature than at present. In the Tribulation God will comfort those facing an
imminent death. Now He comforts those facing an imminent Savior: "We shall
not all sleep." "Wherefore comfort one another with these
words."
If the Rapture does not take place until the end of the Tribulation, then we
are faced with the enormous problem of how the Millennial earth will be
populated with people in natural bodies. The Scriptures teach that there will
be people in the Millennial Kingdom in mortal bodies. These people will grow
old, procreate, and give birth to children, many of whom will never get saved
(Isaiah 65:20; Rev. 20:7-10, etc.).
We know according to 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 that when the Rapture takes place,
all the saved will be resurrected and will thus have resurrected, immortal
bodies. We also know that when Christ comes to set up His Kingdom, He will
judge all the ungodly, and all the unsaved will be taken away in judgment
(Matt. 13:40-43,49-51; 25:41-46). If the Rapture takes place at the end of the
Tribulation, then all the saved are in resurrection bodies and the unsaved are
removed from the earth. Who then will be left to re-populate the Millennial
earth? The Post-Tribulationists have no satisfactory answer to this dilemma.
For the Pre-Tribulationist this poses no problem because the Church is received
up into heaven seven years before Christ comes to set up His Kingdom. It is the
surviving Tribulation saints, both Jews and Gentiles, who will enter the
Kingdom in natural bodies.
The purpose of the seven year Tribulation period would favor a
Pre-Tribulational understanding for the timing of the Rapture. Daniel's 70th
week relates specifically to the nation Israel ("seventy weeks are
determined upon thy people"--Daniel 9:24). The Lord will deal in a special
way with His chosen people so that they will be ready for the coming of the
Messiah (Jer. 30:4-17). There is no reason why the Church needs to be on earth
during this special time in Jewish history. The Church does need to be
on earth until:
1. The fullness of the Gentiles comes in (Rom. 11:25).
2. God has finished calling out a people for His Name (Acts 15:14).
3. Christ finishes building His Church and adding to it (1 Cor. 3:6-9; 12:18;
Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:5).
4. The last believer has been placed into the Body of Christ, the Church (1
Cor. 12:13).
5. The Church is received up into Glory (1 Thess. 4:13-18 and compare 1 Tim.
3:15-16).
There is no reason why all these things could not be fulfilled prior to
Daniel's 70th week, and thus prior to the time of the seven year Tribulation
period.
The coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church is presented in the New Testament
as an imminent hope and expectancy. That the coming of Christ is
"imminent" simply means that our Lord may come at any time.
Nothing needs to happen before He comes. No prophecy needs to be fulfilled
before He comes. It may be today! Such an expectation is well supported by an
abundance of Scriptural testimony:
1. (John 14:3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye
may be also.
2. (Rom. 13:11) And that, knowing the time, that now it is
high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer
than when we believed.
3. (1 Cor. 1:7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting
for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. (1 Cor. 11:26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and
drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.
5. (1 Cor. 15:51-52) Behold, I show 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.
6. (1 Cor. 16:22) If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ,
let him be Anathema [.] Maranatha ["Our Lord cometh!"].
7. (Phil. 3:20) For our conversation [citizenship] is in
heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. (Phil. 4:5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The
Lord is at hand.
9. (Col. 3:4) When Christ, who is our life, shall
appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
10. (1 Thess. 1:10) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom
He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath
to come.
11. (1 Thess. 4:17) Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
12. (Titus 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
13. (Heb. 9:28) So Christ was offered once to bear the sins
of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart
from sin, for salvation.
14. (Heb. 10:25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and
so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
15. (James 5:8) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for
the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
16. (1 John 2:28; 3:3) And now, little children, abide in
Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed
before Him at His coming.And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as He is pure.
17. (Jude 21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for
the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
18. (Rev. 22:20) He which testifieth these things saith,
Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (cf. Rev. 3:11;
22:7,12).
As the above passages indicate, believers are to be constantly waiting for and
looking for and expecting His coming and His appearing. We are to look for and
eagerly await the glorious appearing of our Great God, even our Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ (Tit. 2:14). It is interesting that we are not told to be
looking for the man of sin (the Antichrist) to be revealed. We are not told to
be looking for the 144,000 Jews who will be sealed by God during the time of
Daniel's 70th week. We are not told to be looking for "the abomination of
desolation" to be set up in Jerusalem. We are told to be looking for
Christ Himself.
None of the Tribulation events will take place prior to the removal of the
Church; otherwise the Rapture would not be imminent. If the Rapture were not to
take place until sometime during the last 312 years (as the Pre-Wrath Rapture
view teaches), then this would destroy the doctrine of the imminent return of
Christ. We would know that before the Rapture could take place, the treaty
(covenant) would need to be made with Israel at the beginning of Daniel's 70th
week (Dan. 9:27) and "the abomination of desolation" would need to be
set up at the middle of Daniel's 70th week (Matt. 24:15). We would look for
these events to happen before we could even begin to expect Christ to come for
His Church.
Was Paul looking for the imminent return of Christ? Paul expected that Christ
would come for him because he considered himself part of the group that would
be alive on earth at the time of the Rapture. Notice that Paul includes himself
by using the personal pronoun WE--"WE which are alive and remain
unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are
asleep.Then WE which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:15,17).
Of course we now know that Paul was not part of that group of believers living
at the time of the Rapture. Instead he was part of the "dead in
Christ" group mentioned in verse 16 (also described as "them who are
asleep"--verse 15). But because of his belief in the imminent return of
Christ, Paul believed he might be found among the believers living on earth at
the time of the Lord's coming for His Church.
Notice also Paul's use of the pronoun "we" in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52,
"Behold, I show 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." Notice that Church Age believers are divided
into two groups: (1) the dead that shall be raised and (2) those alive at
Christ's coming who will not sleep (who will not die physically) but who will
be changed. Paul believed he might be part of this second group, although we
now know that Paul was actually part of the first group. Paul, living in the first
century, expected that he might be among the generation of believers who would
not see physical death. How much more ought we to have this blessed
expectation!
John's closing words in the book of Revelation were these: "Even so, come,
Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20). Why did John close the book of Revelation with
these words? John had been privileged to catch a vision of the glorious
Millennial Kingdom of Christ (Rev. 20). Even during the Lord's earthly ministry
John was one of the select few who saw the Son of man coming in His Kingdom by
means of the preview afforded by the transfiguration (Matt. 16:28-17:1-6; 2
Peter 1:16-18). Since John knew so much of the glories of the Kingdom, why did
he not close his book with this prayer: "THY KINGDOM COME! LET THY KINGDOM
COME!" (compare Matt. 6:10)?
When the Lord gave the model prayer of Matthew 6:10, the Kingdom was indeed
imminent (cf. Matt. 3:2; 4:17;10:7); and indeed, the prayer of the Tribulation
saints will certainly include this petition: "THY KINGDOM COME!" But
the aged Apostle John hoped that lie might be alive and remaining unto the
coming of the Lord according to the Lord's promise in John 21:23-24: "What
if he (John) tarry till I come?" John was looking for Christ, not the Kingdom.
Rather than look for the Kingdom, he was looking for the KING. Even so, be
coming, Lord Jesus!
In 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Church Age believers are told that "God hath not
appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."
Thus as we look to the future we should expect SALVATION and not WRATH.
What did Paul mean when he spoke of WRATH and what did he mean when he spoke of
SALVATION?
(1) WRATH. Believers are not appointed unto wrath. We have been delivered from
the wrath that is coining (see 1 Thess. 1:10). Although it is true that
believers are delivered from the wrath of God which the ungodly will forever
face in the lake of fire, Paul's focus in 1 Thessalonians 5 is upon the
"day of the Lord" (verse 2-3), a very specific time when God's wrath
will be poured out upon earth dwellers. This period of wrath is also described
in Revelation chapters 6-19. It is also known as the greatest time of trouble
or tribulation the world has ever known (Matt. 24:21). God has not appointed us
to face this time of wrath. Instead we have an appointment to meet the Lord in
the air prior to the unleashing of God's fury upon the earth.
(2) SALVATION. People obtain salvation the moment they believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), but the SALVATION spoken of by Paul in 1
Thessalonians 5:9 refers to the believer's final salvation when Christ comes
for us to complete the great salvation which He began! Thus, instead of facing
God's wrath being poured out on the earth, we will enjoy the consummation of
our so-great salvation. What a comforting hope (verse 11 and compare 1 Thess.
4:18)!
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 we learn that the man of sin will not be revealed
until the Restrainer is taken out of the way (out of the midst). Who is this
Restrainer?
In verse 6 He is described in neuter terms: "And now ye know what
withholdeth [lit., that which restrains] that he might be revealed in
his time." In verse 7 He is described in masculine terms: "For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [restrains] will
let [restrain], until He be taken out of the way."
How can the Restrainer be both neuter and masculine? This only makes good sense
if the Restrainer be God the Holy Spirit. He is masculine because He is the
blessed third Person of the Triune Godhead. He is neuter because the Greek word
for "Spirit" (pneuma) is always neuter in gender. Thus the
Bible sometimes describes the Holy Spirit in masculine terms (see John 16:13-14
and notice how many times the pronoun "He" is used) and sometimes
describes the Holy Spirit in neuter terms (see Rom. 8:16, KJV, "The Spirit
itself...").
That which is restraining evil today is the Blessed Person of the Holy Spirit
who is now dwelling in a unique and special way in the Church which is Christ's
Body (Eph. 2:22; 1 Cor. 3:16; John 14:17). When the Church is removed by means
of the Rapture, the Spirit of God will be taken out of the way. That is, He
will no longer be on the earth in the sense of indwelling a body of believers.
Just as He came on the day of Pentecost in a special way, so He will
"leave" at the time of the Rapture (though obviously He will still be
working in the hearts of men during the Tribulation just as He was working in
the hearts of men prior to Pentecost). The Church must be removed before the
man of sin is revealed. The man of sin will be revealed when he makes a treaty
with Israel (Dan. 9:27), and this will mark the beginning of Daniel's 70th
week. Thus the Church must be removed prior to the beginning of Daniel's 70th
week (prior to the 7 year Tribulation).
The God-given outline of the book of Revelation harmonizes perfectly with the
Pre-Tribulation position. The outline of the book is given in Revelation 1:19--
"the things which thou hast seen" (Chapter 1)
"the things which are" (Chapters 2-3)
"the things which shall be hereafter" (Chapter 4-22).
Thus the book could be outlined as follows:
"THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN"
Chapter 1--John's Vision of Christ
"THE THINGS WHICH ARE"
Chapters 2-3--The Church (7 churches of Asia Minor)
"THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER"
Chapters 4-19--The Tribulation (Daniel's 70th Week)
Chapter 20--The Millennial Reign of Christ
Chapters 21-22--The New Heavens and New Earth
It is significant that although the Church is mentioned repeatedly in chapters
1-3, it is never mentioned as being on the earth in chapters 4-19, the chapters
that deal with the Tribulation period. The reason is obvious: the Church is
removed from earth to heaven by way of the Rapture (John 14:3). The Church will
thus be kept from the hour of testing which will come upon all the world, to
test them that dwell upon the earth, according to Revelation 3:10.
Another key chapter which focuses upon the Tribulation is Matthew chapter 24.
The Church is not mentioned in this chapter either.
The Key
Pre-Tribulational Passage
The most important single passage dealing with the timing of the Rapture is
Revelation 3:10, "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also
will keep thee from [out of] the hour of temptation [testing, trial], which
shall come upon all the world, to try [test] them that dwell upon the earth."
The promise is made specifically to the first century church of Philadelphia in
Asia, but students of prophecy recognize that this verse was given for Church
Age believers of any age as an encouragement to remain loyal to the Lord in the
midst of difficult times. Indeed, the first century believers that made up the
assembly in Philadelphia never lived to see the time of trouble that this verse
describes. "The hour of testing" spoken of by the Lord would not be
fulfilled for some two thousand years, and yet the Lord was true to His promise
to the Philadelphian believers even as He is true to this same promise with
respect to Church Age believers living today.
There is coming a day when the entire world will be on trial. God will be the
awesome Judge and all those who dwell on the earth will endure this time of
terrible testing. Isaiah describes it as "a consumption [decisive
destruction], even determined upon the whole earth" (Isaiah 28:22). It
will be a time of great testing for Israel, described by Jeremiah as "the
time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:6-7). The Lord Jesus described this time
as a unique time of trouble which would be worldwide in scope: "For then
shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to
this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matt. 24:21). It will be a time that
will involve the terrible plagues and judgments described graphically in
Revelation chapters 6-16.
The Lord's promise is conditional: If you keep My Word, I will keep you from
the hour of testing. Who are those who keep His Word? Who are those who keep
His command? In Revelation 12:17 and 14:12, we learn that it is the saints
(true believers) who keep God's Word (God's commandments). The same is true of
John 8:51: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he
shall never see death." The true believer, the one who has eternal life
and who never sees death, is here described as the one who keeps His
command/Word.
Believers are not always obedient to the Word of their Master. Every believer,
if honest, would recognize areas of his life where he has not been obedient to
God's Word. However, as God views the life of the true believer in its
totality, it is a life characterized by obedience. It is a life characterized
by keeping His Word: "And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep
His commandments" (1 John 2:3). The person whose life is characterized by
disobedience is the person who does not truly know Christ in a saving way (see
1 John 2:4).
Our Lord's disciples were not always totally obedient to their Master. Peter,
for example, seriously denied His Lord and later was rebuked by Paul for not
walking uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel of grace (Gal. 2:11-14).
And yet, when the Lord Jesus viewed the lives of the disciples, including
Peter, He made this amazing statement, "they have kept Thy Word"
(John 17:6). Though they had their faults and were at times guilty of
disobedience, yet their lives in general were characterized by obedience.
Thus in Revelation 3:10, those who have kept His Word are those who are saints,
that is, true believers. It does not refer to a group of "obedient
believers" in contrast to other believers who are not obedient. If this
were the case, then only the "obedient believers" would be "kept
from the hour" and removed from the earth, resulting in a partial rapture.
But there is no such thing as a partial rapture. The Rapture includes all
living believers without exception.
Notice that the Lord promised believers in Revelation 3:10 that they would be kept,
not just from the TESTING which would severely test the earth dwellers, but
that they would be kept from the HOUR of testing. They would not only be
kept from the testing, but they would be kept from the TIME of testing. "I
also will keep thee from the hour [TIME] of temptation [testing], which shall
come upon all the world, to try [test] them that dwell upon the earth."
The only way to be kept from the HOUR of testing is to be removed from
the earth before that "hour" commences.
The Second World War was a time of trial and trouble for much of the world.
Suppose you lived on earth prior to this great war, and you were given this
promise: "You will be kept from the trial of World War II." This
means that you would not face any of the bullets or bombs or battles of the
war. Perhaps you would be located in a part of the world not directly involved
in the conflict. You could still be in the world, but protected from the war.
But suppose you were given this promise: "You will be kept from the TIME
of World War II." For this to be fulfilled you could not be on earth
during the entire period of years from 1941 to 1945. To be exempt from the
time is to be absent at the time when the event takes place.
The expression "kept from" is very important. It does not mean
"preservation through" or "preservation in" but it means
"exemption from." The Post-Tribulation view and the Pre-Wrath view
both see the believer staying on the earth during the Tribulation period.
"Preservation through" would fit their view because they understand
that God will preserve the Church through the Tribulation or through most of
the Tribulation. "Exemption from" best fits the Pre-Tribulation view
because the Church is not on the earth at all during the Tribulation and thus
the Church is exempt from the trials and troubles associated with that time.
The term "kept from" best fits the idea of "exemption
from."
Literally this phrase means "to be kept out of" [Greek, ek].
Its meaning is similar to how we use these terms in English. To be kept out
of jail means that the person will not be behind bars. To be kept out of
the swimming pool means that the person is exempt from getting wet. To be kept
out of the army means that the person was not allowed in the army, and thus
he was exempt from serving in the army. If a basketball player was kept out
of the entire ball game, it means that he did not get to play at all. He
did not see any action. If a sign on a person's property said, "KEEP
OUT!" then this means that the person did not want you on his property at
all. He did not want your presence there at all. Moses was kept out of
the promised land, which means that he did not enter Palestine at all. To be
KEPT OUT OF "the hour of trial" that will come upon all the world
means that the person will not enter that time at all. He will be exempt from
that time. He will not be present on earth during that time.
The phrase "kept out of" is used by the Apostle John in one other
place. It is found in John 17:15, "I pray not that Thou shouldest take
them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from [out of] the evil
[one]." The Lord's will for His believers of this present Age is not to be
removed from this world, but to be His witnesses in the world. We are in the
world but not of the world. The key issue in this verse involves the believer's
relationship to the realm of Satan, the evil one. As saved people, are we still
IN the realm of Satan, or have we been delivered out of that realm? Does God
keep us out of the realm and power of the evil one or are we still in it?
The answer is found in Colossians 1:13-- "Who hath delivered us from [out
of] the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of
His dear Son." We once were in the realm of the power of darkness, but we
have been delivered out of that realm when we were saved.
The Apostle John sets forth this truth in 1 John 5:18, "We know that
whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth
himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." In harmony with our Lord's
prayer in John 17:15, believers are kept from or out of the wicked one so that
he (Satan) does not touch them at all! He no longer has any kind of a hold on
us. We have been removed totally from his kingdom and from his realm. We now
belong to the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us! Yes, we are in
the world, but we are kept OUT OF the evil one! As far as having Satan for our
ruler, we are totally exempt!
Another passage written by the Apostle John is significant in understanding
Revelation 3:10. It is found in John 12:27, "Now is my soul troubled; and
what shall I say? Father, save Me from [out of] this hour: but for this cause
came I unto this hour." Although the verb "to keep" is not used
in this verse, it is similar to Revelation 3:10 in that the preposition
"out of" [Greek, ek] is used as well as the word
"hour." It is clear that our Lord prayed for exemption from the hour
when He would bear the sins of the world and be separated from God His Father:
"Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me" (Luke 22:42).
But the Lord Jesus must follow the path of obedience to His Father's will:
"But for this cause came I unto this hour.nevertheless not My will, but
Thine be done." (John 12:27; Luke 22:42). The Lord Jesus did not want to drink
the cup of the wrath of God. He prayed that He might be exempt from that hour;
but most of all He wanted to obey His heavenly Father regardless of the cost.
CONCLUSION: In Revelation 3:10 the Lord promised His Church Age believers that
they would be exempt from the hour of trial or trouble that would come upon all
the world. He did not promise to keep us through this time or to keep us in
this time, but He promised to keep us out of this time. He will keep us out of
this time by removing us from the earth prior to Daniel's 70th week. This great
event is described in John 14:1-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and in several
other passages.
The Lord
says:
"Surrely I come quickly."
The Church responds:
"Even so, come, Lord Iesus!" --Rev.22:20
Yes and no. It is not found in the English translation of the Bible (KJV), but
it is derived from a Latin verb (rapere, to snatch, seize) which was
used in the Latin Bible to translate the Greek verb "caught up" (harpaz)
in 1 Thessalonians 4:17-- "Then we who are alive and remain shall
be CAUGHT UP [raptured] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." It is very interesting
to see how this verb "caught up" is used in the New Testament. Study
the following verses: Acts 8:39 ("caught away"), 2 Corinthians 12:2,4
("caught up"), Revelation 12:5 ("caught up"); John 10:28-29
("pluck out of"), etc.
Yes, on several occasions. Enoch was suddenly removed from earth by God. God
took him (Gen. 5:21-24). Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings
2:11). Philip was raptured (suddenly removed) from one place to another (Acts
8:39). Paul was raptured to the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2,4). The Lord Jesus
was raptured to heaven at the ascension (Rev. 12:5). But that a whole
generation of believers will suddenly be removed from earth to heaven without
seeing physical death is an event unprecedented in the history of the world
(compare 1 Cor. 15:51).
This is a common term used by men who deny the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the
Church. In what sense is the rapture a secret? In 1 Corinthians 15:51 the truth
pertaining to the Rapture is called a "mystery." This means that it
was a truth that was unrevealed to men in previous ages. Moses, David, Isaiah
and John the Baptist knew nothing of the rapture of the Church. It was a secret
or mystery that had not yet been revealed. However, a New Testament
"mystery" is something that was once hidden but now revealed. God has
made it known to His saints and it is a secret no more. Paul said, "I shew
you a mystery." If he showed it to us, then it is no longer hidden. It is
clearly revealed to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.
The Rapture is also a secret event in the sense that it will occur suddenly and
be unannounced to the world. There will be no forewarning. It will take place
at God's appointed time and it will take the world by surprise. It will be over
before the world has time to realize that it happened.
When Christ calls His Church to Himself there will be sounds and noise
involved. "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" (1 Cor. 15:52b). "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" (1 Thess. 4:16).
How much of this noise the unsaved will hear is not revealed in Scripture. The
event will happen so suddenly and will take place so quickly that it is
probable that the only thing the unsaved will notice is the sudden
disappearance of those who are true believers. So it was in the case of Enoch.
He was there and suddenly "he was not; for God took him" (Gen. 5:24).
This is answered in 1 Corinthians 15:52, "in a moment, in the twinkling of
an eye." The word "moment" is interesting. It is the Greek word
"atom." The word atom means "not cut, you cannot
cut it anymore." Suppose you were to keep cutting up a pie into smaller
and smaller pieces. If you had a knife sharp enough and small enough you could
keep cutting the pieces down to the point where you could not cut the pieces or
particles any smaller. We call this an "atom." [However, we now know that
you can even cut atoms into smaller particles].
The term "atom" is also used of time. We can cut time into
years and into days and into hours and into minutes and into seconds. An "atom
of time" is the smallest measurement of time (the point where you can't
cut time anymore). In English we might call this a "split-second."
How fast will the Rapture take place? In a split second, in the twinkling of an
eye. If you blink, you will miss it!
This is answered in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
FIRST, God (in the Person of Christ) will come down from heaven and He will
bring with Him the souls of those "which sleep in Jesus," that is,
who have died in Christ (see verse 16 and verse 14).
SECOND, those who have died in Christ will rise first (v. 16). Their bodies
will be raised from the graves.
THIRD, those believers who are alive and remain unto the coming of Christ will
be caught up or raptured. Thus those who have died in Christ and those who are
alive when Christ returns will together meet the Lord in the air, to be with
Him forever (v. 17 and see John 14:3).
The Rapture was not revealed until the Lord spoke the words "receive you
to Myself" found in John 14:1-3 the night before He died on the cross.
Don't make the mistake of looking for the Rapture in Matthew chapter 24. His
coming mentioned in Matthew chapter 24 is His coming to the earth following the
great Tribulation.
Edgar Whisenant wrote a book entitled, 88 Reasons Why The Rapture Could Be
In 1988. Of course, the Lord did not come in 1988 so a new book might have
been written: 89 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Take Place in 1989. Someone
surmised that the added reason given in the new book could be this:
"Reason #89--Because He did not come in 1988."
Many others have foolishly tried to set dates. (1) How unwise to try
to announce that which God has chosen not to reveal? God has not told us the
time. He wants us to be ready always.
The best selling book Left Behind and the film by the same title depict
all infants and young children being removed and raptured from the earth,
including infants and children of unsaved people. Mothers were running around
in panic crying out, "Where is my baby?", etc. But does the Bible
really teach this?
The rapture is when Christ comes to remove ("catch up"1 Thess.
4:16-17) the church (all true believers) from earth. He will come to receive
His bride and bring her to heaven. Thus, the rapture is for those "in
Christ," those who are part of the body and bride of Christ.
Infants are not saved and they are not in Christ; nor are they part of the
church. It would be wrong to point to a living infant and say, "That baby
is saved and has eternal life and his sins are forgiven!" On the contrary,
every baby is born in sin and every infant has a wicked sin nature (Rom. 5:12,
Psalm 51:5; Job 14:4; Psalm 58:3). Babies are not saved and they do not possess
eternal life. If this were true, then does this mean that when they get older
they become UN-saved and forfeit eternal life? This is Biblically absurd. It
would also be absurd to say that all the unsaved children around the world
growing up in Hindu and Muslim and Buddhist homes part of the church that is in
Christ.
Keep in mind that an infant that is a year old at the time of the rapture will
be approximately 8 years old at the time when Christ returns to this earth to
rule and reign, and thus will be certainly old enough to make a responsible
decision for or against Christ at that time or even prior to that time.
Whether or not Christ takes infants that belong to saved parents is not
revealed in the Scriptures, though it does seem reasonable to suppose that God
would take such infants instead of leaving them parentless and defenseless. One
thing we do know for sure is that God will do what is right (Gen.
18:25; Rom. 9:14). God is certainly far more concerned for every infant and
young child (saved or unsaved) than we are.
What kind of concept of God does the Left Behind book and film convey to
the world when unsaved mothers are going around in deep panic crying,
"Whereıs my baby?" It makes God look like a kidnapper! This gives
Reformed men and others all the more reason to mock our "secret rapture
theory" (as they call it).
It is important to realize that the issue under discussion is not what happens
to infants who die. Though it is not our purpose here to defend the doctrine of
infant salvation, yet we are assured, based on Scripture, that they will be
SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS (see the helpful book by Robert P. Lightner entitled Heaven
For Those Who Cannot Believe). The issue is this: What happens to infants
that are alive at the time of the rapture? This is an entirely different
question.
The book LEFT BEHIND is a fictional book based on prophecy, but it does teach
doctrine. One of the very questionable doctrines it teaches is that at the time
of the rapture pregnant women will suddenly become un-pregnant (that is, the
unborn babies will be taken in the rapture, leaving the unsaved mother many
pounds lighter!). A rapture for embryos! The following is found on pages 46-47
of the book LEFT BEHIND:
Most shocking to Rayford was a woman in labor, about to go into the delivery
room, who was suddenly barren. Doctors delivered the placenta. Her husband had
caught the disappearance of the fetus on tape. As he videotaped her great belly
and sweaty face, he asked questions. How did she feel?
Then came the scream and the dropping of the camera, terrified voices, running
nurses, and the doctor. CNN reran the footage in superslow motion, showing the
woman going from very pregnant to nearly flat stomached, as if she had
instantaneously delivered. "Now, watch with us again," the newsman
intoned, "and keep your eyes on the left edge of your screen, where a
nurse appears to be reading a printout from the fetal heart monitor. There,
see?" The action stopped as the pregnant womanıs stomach deflated.
"The nurse's uniform seems to still be standing as if an invisible person
is wearing it. Sheıs gone. Half a second later, watch." The tape moved
ahead and stopped. "The uniform, stockings and all, are in a pile atop her
shoes." Etc.
According to this teaching, after the rapture there will be a period of nine
months when no babies will be born anywhere in the world (the only exception
being some babies conceived after the rapture that may be born pre-mature)!
Maternity wards in hospitals will be empty for months! Later in the book there
is an argument between Rayford and his flight attendant, Hattie, about Hattie's
sister who is out of work because she worked at an abortion clinic and there
simply arenıt any abortions to be performed. In summary, the film and book
teach that at the time of the rapture all infants on earth are raptured and
taken to heaven including all unborn children.
The tribulation is a period of time when Godıs wrath will be put on display. It
will be the most severe period of judgment the world has ever known. It will be
similar to the plagues that fell on Egypt, only on a world-wide scale and more
severe. It is helpful to think back through history on other occasions when
Godıs judgment fell in order to see what happened to infants. 2
Is it unthinkable that God should expose helpless infants to a terrible time of
judgment? What about the babies in Jericho? Were they supernaturally delivered?
What about the children of the kingdom of Bashan and the children of the
kingdom of Heshbon (see Deut. 3:6)? In Egypt the firstborn of each household
was slain from the palace of Pharoah and on down. In Bethlehem God allowed
babies to be slain due to Herodıs jealous rage (Matthew 2).
Children often in Scripture and in life bear the consequences of their parentsı
unbelief. Is this principle going to be overthrown at the rapture? Unsaved moms
going around and saying, "Where is my baby?" eliminates one of the
horrors of that time of judgmenthaving your children suffer with you
throughout that period. It undercuts one important reason to be savedthat is,
for the sake of our children and other family members (Acts 16:31; 2:39; 1Cor.
7:14 etc.). Was not one of the rich manıs worst torments in Hell (Hades) the fact
that his brothers were going to join him (see Luke 16:27-31)? One of the
greatest reasons to be saved is for the sake of family and friends that we may
influence, that they may save themselves from this wicked generation. Cornelius
is to be the example of us all, who called together his kinsman and friends to
hear the gospel (Acts10:24).
Why would God deliver infants and unborn of the unsaved just prior to the first
half of the tribulation, which is much milder, and have other infants suffer in
the last half which is more severe (Luke 21:23)? Why would God allow pregnant
women to be ripped up in other historical judgments and do extraordinary things
to avoid it in this last one (2 Kings 8:12; 2 Kings 15:16; Hosea 13:16; Amos
1:13; Isa. 13:15-18)? See also Deuteronomy 28:54-56 and Lamentations 2:20 for
other examples of children suffering (being literally devoured) in historical
judgments.
The fact that people have experienced historical judgment does not
automatically mean they have come under damnation. Moses is the classic
refutation of this. He came under historical judgment which involved death, but
certainly he was a saved man ( Hebrews 11: 24-26; Matt. 17:3-4). Are we to
believe that all the infants that drowned in the flood are in hell because they
experienced an historical judgment? Certainly not.
Those who advocate that all babies throughout the world will be raptured might
reason in this way: Since infant salvation is true, then infant rapture must
also be true. The rapture of infants of the unsaved is a very bold
extrapolation on no Biblical grounds and seems an unwarranted sensationalist
device for creating a dramatic effect in a book or film. The real horror is not
babies disappearing, but remaining to grow up in those awful times. "Woe
unto them with child and to them that give suck in those days" (Matthew
24:19).
Consider the message our Lord gave to the women of Jerusalem who were bewailing
Him on His way to the cross. "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but
weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming,
in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never
bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the
mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us [compare Hosea 10:8 and Rev.
6:16]. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the
dry?" (Luke 23:28-31). If what God has done in the past is a indication of
what He will do in the last great historical judgment, then this passage has
great bearing. Children suffered greatly in the destruction of Jerusalem in
70AD which is a prototype of the last great judgment.
"But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in
those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this
people (Luke 21:23). This passage is significant because Luke seems to connect
the sufferings in 70AD with end time events in the future at the return of
Christ. The future tribulation will be a time of special suffering for those
who are pregnant and for those who have small children who are nursing.
The days of Noah are parallel to the days just prior to Christıs coming to
earth (Luke 17:26; Matt. 24:36ff). Certainly the unsaved babies of Noahıs day
did not escape the terrible judgment that came upon the entire world (and the
fetuses did not escape either). They all drowned. I am not commenting on the
eternal destiny of any of these children, but the historical judgments in this
life certainly are experienced by them. Why would the judgments of the
tribulation be any different than those of the past?
It seems far more in line with Biblical teaching to suggest that infants of
unsaved parents at the time of the rapture will enter the tribulation along
with their parents, and with their parents will face whatever those frightful
days will bring. If an infant should suffer physical death during the horrors
of the tribulation period, God will take care of this person based on His
abundant mercy and the work of Christ on the cross. The benefits of Christıs
cross-work (justification, etc.) are applied to this person at the time of
death and not before.
There are some who teach that those who do not get saved prior to the Rapture
have no hope of being saved after the Rapture. This view is based upon a
misunderstanding of 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: "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." They understand this passage to mean that if a person
rejects the truth prior to the Rapture, he will be deluded and unable to
believe following the Rapture. Who then will be saved during the Tribulation?
They teach that those saved during the Tribulation will be only those who never
heard the Gospel prior to the Rapture.
What does the passage really teach? These verses in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 are
not talking about people who reject the truth before the Rapture. They
are referring to people who reject the truth during the Tribulation.
These are people who wilfully decide to follow the devil's man (see the context
of 2 Thess. 2:3-9). These are people who reject the truth and receive the LIE
that the man of sin is to be honored as God and worshiped. These are those who
deliberately choose to take the mark of the beast and worship this evil man.
According to Revelation 14:9-11, those who take the mark cannot be saved. Their
destiny is Hell. Thus, during the Tribulation, those who wilfully identify with
the devil's man are doomed and damned (2 Thess. 2:12). In that
day the issue will be very clear: worship God (Rev. 14:6-7) or worship the
devil's man (Rev. 14:9-11). One's choice will determine one's eternal destiny.
If a person refuses to believe on Christ prior to the Rapture, there is still
hope that he will trust Christ after the Rapture. His earlier rejection was not
final and not fatal. God still reaches out to men in grace during the
Tribulation. However, it is always dangerous to reject the truth, no matter when
you live. The time to be saved is today, not tomorrow. If a person refuses to
be saved today, what guarantee does he have that he will be willing to be saved
in the future?
If a person refuses to trust Christ today when it is easy (for many, little or
no persecution), why should this person be willing to trust Christ tomorrow
when it will be very difficult (great persecution for believers during the
Tribulation). Those who reject the Gospel today are in danger of rejecting the
Gospel tomorrow. The person who rejects the Gospel before the Rapture could
very well be one of those who will worship the man of sin during the
Tribulation. Those who are unbelievers today will probably be unbelievers
tomorrow.
God can certainly save a person who at one time strongly rejected the truth.
Remember Saul of Tarsus. Remember how you yourself once rejected the truth
before you were saved! During the Tribulation, God will be willing and able to
save all those who will turn to Him. The same is true today: "Therefore He
is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since
He always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25).
The time to believe is now. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now
is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). It is never safe to delay such a
decision. The time to be saved is now, prior to the Rapture.
Isaiah summed up the duty of man regardless of what dispensation he lives in:
"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is
near: (7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon Him;
and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).
As taught by our Lord (John 14:1-3)
As taught by Paul (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
"Let not your heart be troubled."
"Comfort one another with these words."
"Ye believe in God, believe also in
Me." "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."
"If it were not so, I would have told
you." "This we say unto you by the Word of
the Lord."
"I will come again."
"The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven."
"and receive you unto Myself."
"We...shall be caught up... to meet the Lord in
the air."
"That where I am, there ye may be
also." "and so shall we ever be with the
Lord."
Adapted from God's Prophecies For Plain People, William L. Pettingill
(Philadelphia School of the Bible, 1923), pages 22-23.
1. Harold Camping predicted that Jesus Christ would return on or between
September 15, 1994 and September 27, 1994. A 10 page review of his book is
available from Pastor George Zeller for $1.00.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The
Middletown Bible Church
349 East Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-0907 More articles under Prophecy
This article is from William Newell, early 20th Century author.
William R. Newell
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In order to understand the place of the Church in prophecy we must understand
the purpose of the Church in Scripture. This calls for an examination of both
the Old Testament (O.T.) and New Testament (N.T.) for their teaching concerning
the Church. We will consider [references to] the Church in the O.T., the
Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles, and the Revelation.
1 - The Church in the Old Testament --
The Church did not exist during the O.T. period. It was vaguely foreshadowed in
types, but never predicted in prophecy. The reference found in Acts 7: 38 to
"the church [ekklesia] in the wilderness" is not a reference
to the Church as it would be in the N.T. It is rather calling attention to
Israel as God's "called out" people (called out of Egypt) for the
purpose of being the divine channel of redemption. They were a people separate
and distinct from all the other people with a different purpose and destiny;
but they had no organic relationship with the N.T. Body of Christ.
The Church, as we know it, was unknown to the prophets of the O.T. (See Eph.
3:1-10; Rom. 16:25,26; Col. 1:24-27).
The Church is not an O.T. institution in N.T. form. It is something entirely
new and peculiar to the N.T. This is what constituted its mystery, namely, that
a new body would come into existence of which both Jew and Gentile would be
members (Eph. 2:11-16). The saved of the O.T. period (Heb. 11: 13) are not a
part of this N.T. Body of Christ, but form a separate company known as
"the friends of the Bridegroom" (John 3:29).
And the Church is not the Kingdom. It is rather something within the Kingdom.
The Kingdom is the over-all purpose of God extending from eternity to eternity.
Because this is so, the business of the Church is not Kingdom business. It is
not the task of the Church to bring in, or establish the Kingdom. When the
Kingdom comes it will be political as well as spiritual. It will exercise
universal government over all the earth. To bring in such a Kingdom by
evangelizing the world is not the task of the Church. That can only be done by
the direct intervention of God at the Second Coming of Christ.
Failing to "rightly divide" between the Kingdom and the Church will
lead to a wrong conception of the Bible and a false interpretation of its
truths and application of its promises. One of the first things that will
happen will be to spiritualize the Kingdom promises of the O.T. and attempt to
make them apply to the Church of this age. This only results in confusion and
conflict.
The fact that the New Testament Church does not have any connection with the
Old Testament Kingdom does not in any sense rob the Church of the spiritual
values of the teaching of the O.T. Paul carefully states that ''all these
things happened unto them for ensamples (types): and they are written for our admonition
(1 Cor. 10: 11; Rom. 15: 4). We can take the spiritual values of these types
and apply them to our Christian experience. For instance, there is no greater
instruction for the believer's life in all the Bible than the parallel between
Israel's conquest of the new land (Canaan) and the Christian's conquest of the
new life.
But to attempt to appropriate the Kingdom promises of Israel to the life of the
Christian is fatal to a right division of the Word of God.
The purpose of the Kingdom and the purpose of the Church are totally different.
Earthly
Heavenly
Material Spiritual
Universal Individual
Government Grace
Restoration Reconciliation
Political Evangelical
The purpose of the Church in this age is not to form a kingdom by securing
subjects for the King, but to call out and perfect those who will reign with
the Lord Jesus in His coming Kingdom (Rom. 8: 17- 19; Phil. 1: 6; 2 Tim. 2: 12;
Rev. 20:6).
2 - The Church in the Gospels -- The
point of view in the four Gospels is largely that of the O.T. The Lord Jesus is
revealed as the chosen Seed coming to Israel for His ministry of redemption to
the whole world.
The Church is still something anticipated. It was not in existence in the
lifetime of the Lord Jesus on earth. He only spoke of it three times. It is
mentioned first and only in Matthew and then only in two Scriptures (Matt.
16:18; 18:17). The Lord Jesus spoke of the Church as something future (Matt.
16: 18).
The Gospel of Matthew contains other matters of importance to an understanding
of the place of the Church in prophecy. Here are found the parables of the
"Kingdom of Heaven" (Chap. 13). The expression "Kingdom of
Heaven" is found 32 times in Matthew and nowhere else in the N.T. It
literally means the Kingdom of the Heavens. These parables declare the
"mysteries" (vs. 11) which will be true on earth while the King is in
heaven "to receive for Himself a kingdom and return" (Lu. 19:12).
They cover the period between His rejection and return.
These parables do not immediately refer to the Church as the Body of Christ,
but rather to "Christendom," in which the Church exists during this
age. They do not describe the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, but rather the
character of the earthly aspect of our present dispensation. They have to do
with the sphere of Christian profession where one sees both wheat and tares as
good and evil. The Church comes into view only as it exists during the age
within the sphere of this "kingdom of heaven."
The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are not the same
although the same things may be true of both in many instances. The Kingdom of
God is the rule of God over all creation, all creatures and during all time. It
is as broad as the universe. It is both physical and spiritual. In its
spiritual aspect it is entered only by the new birth. It belongs to all ages
from the Garden to the City.
It is not manifested, but is something within. The Kingdom of Heaven is the
rule of God in relation to the earth, literally heaven's rule over the earth.
It is the present external form of the earthly kingdom yet to come
(millennial-Davidic).
The Kingdom of Heaven embraces both professing and true Christians. It is
characterized by wheat and tares. It is in existence now in mystery (Matt. 13).
It is the earthly phase of the universal Kingdom of God. It merges with the
Kingdom of God when the Lord Jesus delivers up the Kingdom to God (I Cor.
15:24-28).
These parables refer to the present age in mystery form. It is the
"Kingdom of Heaven" which is the present mystery; not the Church. The
Church was a mystery in the O.T. age, but now is revealed (Eph. 3:1-5). These
parables cover the time of the prophetic pause between Daniel's 69th and 70th
week. The 69th week ended with the Cross. The 70th week (Tribulation) has not
yet commenced. Between the 69th and 70th weeks is the present period of
mystery. There is no prophetic schedule for it in Daniel's prophecy. But when
we come to Matthew 13 we find the Lord Jesus giving a prophetic description of
the course and character of the age which falls between these weeks and which
comprises our present age when the Kingdom is a mystery waiting for its
manifestation in the Millennium that follows the 70th week of the Tribulation.
These parables also refer to the conditions which will be true in the world
when the Church exists as God's "called out people." The age will end
with the return of the Lord Jesus and the rapturing of the Body after which
Christendom (not the Church) will move into the Tribulation. During the course
of this age, God is forming the Body of Christ by calling out of the world a
"people for His name," while Israel remains in spiritual blindness
and temporary rejection.
3 - The Church in Acts -- The Church
began and was empowered at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4 and 1 Cor. 12:13). It becomes
God's corporate witness in the world to the salvation message of grace and is
the organic body for the believers of that message. Its formation began at
Pentecost and is continuing through our day for since that time the Lord has
been adding "unto the Church daily such as should be saved" (Acts
2:47).
The Church "could not have existed before the Cross; for it must be
reconciled unto God by that Cross. It could not have existed before the
resurrection, for its members must partake of His resurrection life. It could
not have existed before His ascension, for it would have been a body without
its head (Eph. 1: 22,23). It could not have existed before Pentecost, for until
then there could have been no organic union by the baptism of the Spirit into
one body (1 Cor. 12:13)." --L.S. Chafer
The Church is made up of such as are called out of the world of Adamic life and
are made partakers of the last Adam's new life by the new birth. This
"calling out" process will continue until the Body is complete. When
it is completed it will be raptured for its final judicial perfecting at the
Reward Seat of Christ. After this the Lord Jesus will return with His Bride to
establish His Millennial Kingdom (Acts 15:14-16; Col. 3:4). The hope of the
Church is not back to Pentecost, nor the Garden of Eden, but to that Blessed
Hope, which is the goal of its perfection and the hope of its manifestation.
4 - The Church in the Epistles -- Here
both the Church and churches are in view. The Church is the mystical Body of
Christ. The churches are bodies of believers such as received Apostolic
Epistles, namely the church of Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, etc. Acts
records the history of the founding of the Church, while the Epistles contain the
doctrines for the conduct of the Church.
The Church is found in the Epistles under several figures:
a. As a Body - - Eph. 1: 22, 23; Col. 1: 18; 2: 19; 1
Cor. 12: 13, 27.
b. As a Building - - 1 Cor. 3: 9- 17; 2 Cor. 6: 16;
Eph. 2: 20- 22; 1 Peter 2: 4- 7.
The proof that the Lord Jesus referred to Himself as the one on whom He would
build the Church when He said to Peter, "Upon this rock I will build my
church" (Matt. 16: 18) is found in 1 Cor. 3: 11 and 1 Peter 2: 6 where He
is set forth as the foundation of this Building or Temple, which is the Church.
The Church is built upon Jesus Christ, not upon Peter. Whatever share the
Apostles may have in the foundation, Jesus Christ is always the "Chief
Cornerstone" (Eph. 2: 20).
c. As a Bride - - Eph. 5:25-27,32; 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev.
19:6-9.
The next prophetic event in the expectation of the Church, which is the Bride,
is the call of the Bridegroom. This will lead to the Marriage Supper of the
Lamb after the Reward Seat of Christ. For this coming the Church is charged to
"watch," "wait," "look," "love," and
"be ready." The time and event is a mystery (1 Cor. 15:52), but the
fact constitutes the Church's "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13).
5 - The Church in Revelation -- The
Book of Revelation reveals the consummation of the purposes of God in respect
of redemption. In chapters 2 and 3 is recorded the entire course of the Church
from Pentecost to the Rapture.
From chapters 4-19 the Church is in her raptured state having been removed from
the world prior to the Tribulation (Rev. 4: 1). Before God declares war on the
world (Tribulation) He will call His ambassadors home (Rapture).
Chapter 20 tells of the Millennium when the Church reigns with Christ, while
chapters 21 and 22 record the concluding events which begin the eternal ages.