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1. Eschatology Seminar Lecture 02: The Rapture Presented by Eternal Answers Ministry www.EternalAnswersMinistry.org

2. Summary Thusfar… Jesus pointed us to several passages from the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24): • He pointed us to Genesis: • 37] But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. • We’ll be taking a look at this later on….

3. Summary Thusfar… Jesus pointed us to several passages from the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24): • He keyed us with Jeremiah: • 21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened • We’ll see how this keys into the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble”…

4. Summary Thusfar… Jesus pointed us to several passages from the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24): • He keyed us with numerous passages with the following: • 8] All these are the beginning of sorrows. • This oblique reference to birth pangs was used in the same context of the End of Days by several prophets before Him to which He is now presumably pointing us; we’ll see how today…

5. Summary Thusfar… Jesus pointed us to several passages from the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24): • He gave us cause to view several references in Daniel: • 15] When ye therefore shallsee the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) • 16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: • We reviewed the statue in Daniel Ch2 & questioned who the mysterious “they” might be…

6. Summary Thusfar… Jesus pointed us to several passages from the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24): We also want to take note of what Daniel said about the “abomination of desolation”: DANIEL CH 9: The 69 Weeks– 25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the King shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

7. Summary Thusfar… Jesus pointed us to several passages from the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24): We also want to take note of what Daniel said about the “abomination of desolation”: DANIEL CH 9: The Interval – 26] And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

8. Summary Thusfar… Jesus pointed us to several passages from the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24): We also want to take note of what Daniel said about the “abomination of desolation”: DANIEL CH 9: The 70th Week – 27] And he shall enforce the covenant with the many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

9. Summary Thusfar… Jesus pointed us to several passages from the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24): Lastly, He launches into this mornings first major topic, the Rapture: 40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42] Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. - In Mark’s account of this conversation, he adds that “two men shall be in one bed, one shall be taken, one left.” - This is interesting as it indicates that Jesus understood the world to be a sphere!

10. Is the word “Rapture” in the Bible? Yes! If you’re reading the right Bible! 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. -I Thes 4:17-18 “Caught up” = Gr. harpazomeans “grasped hastily; snatched up to oneself; forcibly lifted and transported.” =Arc.Lt. rapiemur meaning “to be carried off” from the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible Deindenos qui vivimus qui relinquimursimulrapiemur cum illis in nubibusobviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus

11. Is the word “Rapture” in the Bible? Yes! If you’re reading the right Bible! 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. -I Thes 4:17-18 Deindenos qui vivimus qui relinquimursimulrapiemur cum illis in nubibusobviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus = Mdv.Lt. raptūra =OEng. rapture meaning "the act of carrying off" {dictionary.com} -To argue that the Scriptures do not teach the Rapture is merely to indulge in the subtle game of semantics. The Bible teaches the Rapture.

12. What is “The Rapture?” -- The Ancient Jewish Wedding The Church is consistently referred to as the “Bride of Christ” (Joel 2:16; Matt 9:15; 25:1ff; Mark 2:19). For a deeper understanding of Christ’s work prophetically in the life of the Church, it might be helpful to review how 1st century Jews got married. This would seem to serve as a reasonable basis for a model/type of Christ's wedding to the Church: • 1. The Ketubah- the betrothal -- the man & woman are promised & sanctified to one another; from this point on, they are considered married 2. The Mohare - the price paid by the groom for the bride; once this is paid, the betrothal was sealed by sharing a cup of wine confirming the bride has been set apart for the bridegroom

13. What is “The Rapture?” -- The Ancient Jewish Wedding 3. The bridegroom would depart for his father’s house to prepare a home for his bride & himself; he might be gone a year or more; there was no condition of which the bride would be aware for his return so she had to be prepared to receive him at any moment, day or night. The groom’s father would determine when the new living quarters was appropriate & the groom anytime afterwards could go to claim his bride. 4. When he did return & come for his bride, it was a surprise preceded by shouts usually at night (Jer 7:34, 16:9; 25:10; Ps45:8-15; Mt 25:1-13) • 5. The Huppah was the wedding proper-the bride & groom entered the bridal chamber alone & consummated the marriage. • 6. The groom would exit alone, announce his satisfaction that the marriage was complete which would commence a 7 day feast (Judges 14:12; Mt 9:15; 22:11-14; Jn 2:1). Guests arriving at the feast were given & expected to wear robes & garments provided by the host. Bringing your own to wear instead of &/or refusing the host’s coverings would get you thrown out!

14. What is “The Rapture?” -- The Ancient Jewish Wedding With this background in mind, we can almost track Christ’s relationship with the Church, see where we are now in this process & match what clues He has given us to gauge our expectations for the future: • 1. The Covenant has been established (I Cor 11:25) 2. The Purchase Price has been paid (I Cor 6.19-20) & the Bride set apart (Eph 5:25-27; I Cor 1:2; 6:11, Heb 10:10; 13:12) 3. The Bridegroom has left for His Father’s house (Jn 14:1) 4. Escort will accompany Him upon His return to claim His bride (I Thess 4:16-17) 5. There must be a week set aside for His marriage supper (Dan 9:27) after He has escorted His Bride to her chambers (Is 26:20-21)

15. The Doctrine of Imminence (Mk 13:32; Mt 24:42, 44, 25:13 ; Luke 12:40 , Acts 1:7) -The groom may return at any moment; no conditions need precede it (Phil 3:20; Titus 2:13 ; Heb 9:28; I Thess 1:10, 4:18, 5:6 , Rev 22:20). -This argues most strongly against the post-trib position since all kinds of things must happen before His return, not the least of which is the whole of the Great Tribulation & little things like that! -We are instructed "Occupy until I come" (Luke 19:13; I Tim 6:14)

16. The Doctrine of Imminence Do not become paralyzed with the peculiarly American disorder of “Rapturitis” or “Rapture-flu” so that you become so heavenly minded that you become no earthly good! • This particularly afflicts comfortable Americans because we seem to think we will not have to ever endure what most of the Church has had to suffer through most of history ie persecution • The church in America may yet endure much persecution before the Great Tribulation arrives; the promise of protection from the latter is no guarantee of insulation from the former!

17. The Doctrine of Imminence Do not catch a case of “Rapturmania” which sees the victim so obsessed with the Rapture that they start setting dates, have no back-up plan for when those dates fail & forget that they, their spouses & their children have God-given lives to live! These have a long tradition; just surveying this past millennium: • 1260 Joachim of Flores • 1365 Militz of Kromeriz • 1660 Joseph Mede • 1688 John Napier (formulator of logarithms) • 1689 Pierre Jurieuof France • 1715 William Whitson • 1734 William Whitson again • 1836 JA Bengal • 1843 William Miller • (“The Great Disappointment”) • 1844 William Miller again • 1847 Joseph Wolff • 1866 William Whitson (posth.) again • 1874 Charles Taize Russell • (Jehovah’s Witnesses) • 1916 Charles Taize Russell again • 1925 “Judge” Rutherford (JW’s again) • 1975 Jehovah’s Witnesses (anon.) again • 1988 EC Whisenant– 88 Reasons for 1988 • 1989 Hal Lindsey • 1994 Harold Camping • 2000, 2012, et al…

18. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 - Paul is answering questions about believers who have died before Christ’s return - Paul had obviously taught the young church in Thessalonica about the imminent coming of Christ for His own 4:13— But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.4:15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. King James English-"prevent" means "precede";

19. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:13— But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.4:15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. -The Thessalonians were upset that those who died would not be able to experience Christ's return in glory. They were not worried about not seeing them again as Paul did explain resurrection to them. But, remember, in Judaism, the resurrection occurs at the end of time ie dead loved ones would not be here for the Return. - Paul explains here that, in fact, they precede us in seeing His glory though not with their resurrection bodies & in fact, they will be coming back with Him. -The nature of their concern argues that Paul had preached a pre-trib position. Consider, wouldn’t they have tended to be glad if their friends had died & been spared the Great Tribulation if he had preached post-trib?

20. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:16For 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: “Shout” is a word of command. The Greek word is the same (a military command) that Jesus uses to raise Lazarus “Voice” — the voice of the shout is like that of an archangel, referring to the quality of the voice of the Son of God. It speaks of majesty and authority. “Trump of God” has no reference to the ridiculous thought that Gabriel actually blows a trumpet. Rather, the voice of the Lord Jesus is like a trumpet both in quality & force of effect: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. (Revelation 1:10) This was His method when He raised the dead — He spoke directly to them. He did not need an archangel or a trumpet to assist Him in raising the dead. “Lazarus, come forth!”

21. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:16For 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: -Moreover, some who hold the post-trib position try to equate the "last trump" here with the 7th Trumpet judgment of Rev. There is no basis for this. -The trumpet was used for battle calls clear up into the 20th century. Each unit on the field had a distinct call & each order had a distinct cadence. This way a unit’s "call sign" could be sounded followed by an order cadence. -The military language Paul uses in these passages (in Ch5 he even begins speaking about helmets & amour!) indicates that this is the last order cadence for this unit ie the Church. - Given the context, this seems more reasonable than an arbitrary association with Revelation

22. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:16For 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: -Besides, Ezekiel speaks of trumpets in the Millennium. Thus, even the “last trumpet” in Revelation is not the last trumpet of all time! To interpret the language in this fashion is to demonstrate ignorance of the ancient context. -BTW: This has some interesting implications for the events Paul describes in I Cor 15:50-55 where he talks of our being changed in the “twinkling of an eye” at this “last trump.” - Note that it is the Lord “himself” He does not deputize some angels be fetch us; He will meet you personally.

23. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:17Then 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. -Note, we meet The Lord “in the air”; He does not return to earth at this time (BTW- It is interesting to note that the letters to Thessalonica are the earliest records of correspondence we have from Paul meaning that this was part of the original Christian message, not some contrived idea later pasted onto the tradition. Some 15 years later, in his letters to the Corinthians, Paul will still be identifying himself as part of that group that hopes to be raptured.)

24. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. -This is to be a comfort to believers. The Tribulation is a terror to the world & would be for believers if we, too, had to go through it. -Think carefully & contemplate upon what a post-trib rapture would mean to us as Christ’s Bride. “Hey honey, let me beat the snot out of you, then we’ll go get married! How ‘bout it?” - Feel comforted? • Further, a post-Trib Rapture turns the Marriage Supper of the Lamb • into a Snack Lunch!

25. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. -In fact, Paul not only ends Ch4 with these words (remember, Paul did not write his letter with the chapter breaks! They were added centuries later), he spends all of Ch5 telling us why & how we should be comforted by this. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and theyshall not escape. -I Thess 5:2-3

26. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and theyshall not escape. -I Thess 5:2-3 -This seems to be echoing the Lord Himself in Matt 24:42 – also Matt 24:36, 42, 44; 25:13; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:40; Acts 1:7 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. -But is this the case? -Let us look more closely—

27. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and theyshall not escape. -I Thess 5:2-3 -The Lord comes as a thief for those who are not prepared! -Taking note of this important distinction, let us re-evaluate Matt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. -Jesus simply tells us to watch, presumably so we will be prepared!

28. The Process-I Thes. 4:13-18 4:18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. -But what does Paul say of those who are prepared?... But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ -I Thess 5:4-9

29. Daniel Ch 3 – The Fiery Furnace Lastly, Studying Daniel ch 3, one can see a type of Christ comforting believers through great tribulation. However, for those who argue for a post-trib rapture or no rapture based upon this text, the fact is this text argues against such a position. • Consider, who ends up in the furnace? • Not the faithful servant, Daniel but his friends. Daniel is gone! For some reason he is out of the picture (most presume, that as sort of a de facto prime minister, he was out of town on diplomatic duty) • Daniel’s enemies wait for his absence to besiege his friends. • Thus, if the fourth figure in the furnace is Christ, Daniel’s buddies are tribulation saints & Nebuchadnezzar is the antichrist, one could argue that Daniel is the raptured Church; that had he been present, such an event would not have happened. Daniel 3 does not aid a post-trib position.

30. Why would God have to save the Church from the Great Tribulation? For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ -I Thess 5:9 • Put that promise in your pocket & never let it out! • The Great Tribulation is God pouring out His wrath upon the world as the world persecutes Israel (which God allows in order to bring them to the Messiah) • The Church cannot be present as this wrath is poured out liberally upon the planet • But Revelation speaks of believers in Jesus during the time of the Great Tribulation • Who are they?

31. Why would God have to save the Church from the Great Tribulation? For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ -I Thess 5:9 • Who are they? • All Church members are saints; not all saints are Church members • There are Old Testament saints that were not members of the Church who nonetheless believed in the promise of the Messiah & by their faith were saved (Heb 11) • There will be many who come to faith in Jesus after the Church is gone whose salvation will be on the same basis

32. Why would God have to save the Church from the Great Tribulation? For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ -I Thess 5:9 • Who are they? • Many who have a problem with the Rapture, do not necessarily start with an un-Biblical eschatology • Rather they have a skewed view of the church—an un-Biblical ecclesiology • The Church with the indwelling Holy Spirit may be subject to persecution from an outside source (eg Satan), but it cannot be subject to God’s wrath (eg as in the Great Tribulation) since then it would be as God punishing Himself ie His own indwelling Spirit.

33. Is the Rapture in the Old Testament? To start off this examination, we should recognize that the Church has been promised shelter from God’s wrath specifically in numerous places & the Great Tribulation is God pouring out His wrath upon the earth. We need go no further than the opening of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians to find one such promise: 1: 9 For . . . ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 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. • Paul explains elsewhere that this was a “mystery” in the OT. There are examples where individuals are “raptured” (taken directly to heaven eg Enoch, Elijah) & there is a teasing, cryptic passage in Isaiah 26

34. Is the Rapture in the Old Testament? Isaiah 26: 17Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. 18We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. • Does this sound familiar? (Mark 13:8; Matt 24:8) 19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. • This is an astounding statement as it is God who is talking! When did God have a dead body?

35. Is the Rapture in the Old Testament? Isaiah 26: 20Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. • The rapture? What are we promised in the Father’s house? A mansion, yes? (John 14:1-3) Is such not our “chambers?” • “until the indignation be overpast” = “For God hath not appointed • us to wrath?” • “to punish the inhabitants of the earth” = “The Great Tribulation?”

36. Why don’t we see the Rapture in Revelation? • 1) In Rev 4 •   In Rev 1:20, the 7 Lampstands are explicitly identified as the Church(es) • In Rev 4:1 John is told to “come up” & he is taken up to heaven to watch what is to come “hereafter” • From here on will be the detailing of the Great Tribulation • When John arrives, the 7 Lamps are in heaven already, before the Throne of God identified as Spirits of God • So, when John has his vision of the “things that are” ie the 7 Churches represented by the Lampstands, they are with him on earth (Rev 1:20); when he is taken to heaven (Rev 4:1) to watch what is to come “hereafter,” the indwelling Spirit of the Churches is already in heaven BEFORE the commencement of the Great Tribulation on earth (Rev 4:5).

37. Why don’t we see the Rapture in Revelation? • 2) In Rev 5 • The 24 elders identify themselves as the “redeemed” ie the Church, they speak for the Church (perhaps the bodily Church) • They are in heaven & worship the Lamb BEFORE He opens the seven sealed scroll which commences the Great Tribulation • QED the Church is in heaven before the Great Tribulation

38. Why don’t we see the Rapture in Revelation? • 3) In Rev 12:5 And she [Israel] brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. • Here the word “harpazo” is even used! • When we & most scholars read this, we automatically think of Acts Ch1 & the Ascension, and that may be absolutely correct • However, it was GH Pember who was one of the first modern day scholars to see the potential association of this verse with the Rapture

39. Why don’t we see the Rapture in Revelation? • 3) In Rev 12:5 And she [Israel] brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. • Consider: The tie-in with the use of the word “harpazo” It is the single body of Christ that is taken up to the Father’s throne Only from this point forward in this particular side-story within Revelation, does the Great Tribulation start; This side-story seems to be an explanation for the Great Tribulation ie the Dragon wishes to devour the body of the man-child (the Church) when it is born, but cannot for it is taken up before the Dragon can get to it, so the Dragon settles for persecuting the mother (Israel).

40. Why don’t we see the Rapture in Revelation? • 3) In Rev 12:5 And she [Israel] brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. • With careful reading of the passage, it becomes clear that both the Ascension (the literal body of Christ) & the Church (the allegorical Body of Christ) may be in mind here • This would be typical of the Book of Revelation with its multi-layered, image-laden language meant to convey multiple significant meanings within a multi-level, metaphorical structure

41. What's the difference between "Tribulation Saints" & "the Church?" • Jesus makes a distinction between those who are members of the Church (“the kingdom of heaven”; “the Body of Christ”; “the Bride of Christ” etc.) & those believers who come before & after the Church: Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he…For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. -Matthew 11:11 (/Luke 7:28) & 13 (/Luke 16:16) • John the Baptist brought the Old Testament (and the age of Old Testament saints) to a close. • As we will see later when we deal with the Great Tribulation, God has placed Israel on hold while He offers salvation to the entire world

42. What's the difference between "Tribulation Saints" & "the Church?" • However, at a set time, to fulfill a very specific purpose, God brings the Church (and the age of Church saints) to a close. • This will commence the age of Tribulation saints. • No longer will the Holy Spirit “indwell” believers; they will be as they were in the Old Testament • You might say there is a Trinity of Saints: • Old Testament Saints of the Father who are promised the Son • New Testament Saints of the Son who are promised the indwelling Spirit • Tribulation Saints of the Spirit who are promised peace • They are all members of the “elect”

43. What's the difference between "Tribulation Saints" & "the Church?" • It is firmly established by Christ that Satan, Hell, the Forces of Darkness, etc, cannot overcome the Church: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. -Matthew 16:18

44. What's the difference between "Tribulation Saints" & "the Church?" • And, yet, there are places in prophetic scripture, where Satan & his minions are clearly given power to overcome “the saints”: I beheld, and the [Anti-Christ] made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days [ie God] came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. -Daniel 7:21-22 And it was given unto [the Beast] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. -Revelation 13:7 • So, in both these cases, it is the Anti-Christ who makes war on these saints & overcomes them

45. What's the difference between "Tribulation Saints" & "the Church?" • If Christ promised that Satan, nor anyone who worked for him, could overcome the saints of the Church, yet these saints are being overcome by the Anti-Christ, that can ONLY mean that these saints are not saints belonging to the Church. • As a comparison with Old Testament saints, there were 9 that were saved from the flood; Three groups:

46. What's the difference between "Tribulation Saints" & "the Church?" Other Old Testament Patterns of the Rapture: • Isaac’s absence from the text after his offering until being presented with his bride (Gen 22:19-24:62) • Ruth during the Threshing Floor Scene (Ruth 3:7-9) • Daniel’s absence from the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 5)

47. Isn’t the Rapture just confused with the 2nd Coming? • As one collects passages of describing similar events, comparing the details, one begins to see there seems to be two distinct events being described. • As one collects these passages into two buckets, as it were, one gains a profile of these two events as occurring separately, for different reasons, involving different groups, at different times.

48. Isn’t the Rapture just confused with the 2nd Coming? • Comparing these verses, one begins to see two events come into focus. • They describe details & circumstances such as:

49. Ultimately… “whether we wake or sleep”- Pre-trib, Post-Trib, Pre-mil, Amil: this is not a make or break issue affecting salvation. It affects our hopes & fears—God would that we should have hope not fear. That is why He tells us all this. • Recall God’s conversation with Abraham under the palms of Mamre: And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do -Gen 18:17 • Nevertheless, whether we get it right or not, as long as our faith abides in Him & His Gospel (I Cor 15), He’s got our backs! • Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. • -I Thes 5:11

50. Christ is not the question He is the answer!