(part 5)
In last week’s Part 4, we saw how the Pretribulation Rapture doctrine became so entrenched in our churches. How John Darby brought his teaching of Dispensationalism and the Pretrib rapture to America and those who adopted that teaching as truth and how this fabrication was spread in the churches and ultimately to church members via theological seminarys and media. In this Part 5, “ESCAPE or ENDURANCE”, I will show why I, and millions of like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ, reject this doctrine as biblical truth. So let’s begin with one basic truth I have come to understand and go from there: There is not one scripture in either the Old Testament or New Testament that [EXPLICITLY] states nor articulates that a Pretribulational resurrection and a second coming (advent) occur as separate events. Not one.
However, there are multiple scriptures that “hint” there are two comings of Messiah Yashua. If one has a preconceived bias for the Pretrib rapture, then any teaching contrary to that would immediately seem like heresy to the reader. The defense shield goes up immediately. With that in mind, there are several scriptures we need to dissect, because they can be construed to mean something that they don’t actually say or mean. One of the most foundational scriptures for this doctrine is John 14:2-3. Let’s put it under the microscope and see what it reveals.
John 14:2-3 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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”.
Up until a couple years ago when my search for the truth started, I, like many of you, believed that Yashua was headed back to Heaven to start a DIY project, building my mansion. Hey, it made sense in my carnal mind, He being a carpenter here on earth. Now, I just can’t imagine the God of the universe, creator of all things seen and not seen, being received into Heaven so He could start some celestial rennovations. Kinda silly when you actually think about !!
“In my Father’s (house - oikia family home - I believe this to be the New Jerusalem) are many (mansions - mone - a staying, residence, abode, dwelling place) Note: in my Father’s house, the abode, the dwelling place, is already there. It is the holy city, the New Jerusalem. Yashua goes to the existing dwelling place to (prepare- hetoimazo - make ready) this place so he can bring us to that place. So how does Yashua prepare this place?
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; I believe this is the preparation He was talking about. Our place in Heaven (the new Jerusalem) is prepared, eternally secure.
The apostle John says:
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, PREPARED as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
King David wrote:
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 2Co 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
2Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
2Co 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. And how will this happen? 1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1Co 15:52 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.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (2Cor5:2; our “house” which is from Heaven).
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Th 4:16 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: 1Th 4:17 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.
And when does this happen? At the last day, the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the changing of the living in Christ (John6:40) Pretrib theorist teach that this is proof that Messiah Yashua comes from Heaven without setting foot on earth, we are caught up to meet him in the air and we return to Heaven and we will be with Him forever in our palatial home. But the truth is, the scripture does not say we will return to Heaven with Him nor does it say He doesn’t set foot on earth. The scripture makes no mention of Him being in the clouds. But yet we know from other scriptures He comes back in the clouds (Acts1:9-12) and it will be at the Mount of Olives. Another scripture that describes Him setting foot on the earth is Zecariah14:4 on the “day of the Lord” at his coming to the Mount of Olives. The “last day” and it is that day that Job looked forward to (Job19:25), his bodily resurrection that Yashua said would happen at the “last day” (John6:39,40,44,54). Exactly described in 1Cor15:51-54; 1Ths4:13-17; 2Ths1:7,10 (all describing the same event). There is something else missing from John14:2,3. Do you know what it is? That’s right: A timeline. There is no mention when this will happen, only, “I will COME AGAIN”. Here is a list of 26 scriptures that speak of His “coming” and not one alludes to any secret or two phase “coming” Mat 24:3,27,30,37,39; 26:64; Mar 13:26; 14:62; Luk 21:27; Job19:25; Joh 6:39,40,44,54; 11:23,24; 1Cor1:7; 15:23; Heb9:28; 1Ths2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2Ths2:1,8; Jas 5:8; 2Ptr1:16; 1Joh2:28. Scripture should interpret scripture. They all harmonize.
Do you remember what His disciples asked Him on the Mt of Olives?
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be THE SIGN OF THY COMING, and of the end of the age? The “sign of His coming” is singular. Do you think maybe this question might also have had something to do with what Yashua told them in Matt 24:2 as well as John14:2-3? I remind you again of Heb. 9:28: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many (at His first coming); and unto them (the church) that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation”. This is the rapture but not just a rapture, but THE resurrection at the last day (Jn6:39,40,44,54).
This is what Heb 9:28 DOES NOT say, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them (the church) that look for Him shall He appear the second time prior to great tribulation and then, a third time, after great tribulation, at the end of the age, at His second advent, will He appear the third time to save the believing Jews”. Christian, do you understand how absurd that sounds in light of what scripture actually says?
There is another very important scripture we should consider in our discussion of Messiah Yashua’s return. When the Apostle Peter was explaining the healing of the lame man to all the people on Soloman’s porch, He writes in Acts 3:21; “Whom the heavens must receive until the restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began”.
When is the restitution of all things? Will it happen at the rapture? Will it happen at His second coming (advent)? Or is it at the end of the age. What did the apostles ask Him would be sign of His coming and the end of the age? Yashua answers, “Immediately after great tribulation” (Matt24:3, 29-31). Scripture should interpret scripture. In harmony with each other.
Part 6 will expose more untruth as we look at scriptures in detail. Continue to pray for our country, for those who rule over us, and for our brothers and sisters around the world who suffer persecution, tribulation and even death for their testimony of Messiah Yashua. Something that is totally unfamiliar to the church in the US. Think about that. Grace.
Max Hill Woodville, TX [email protected]
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