PROBLEMS WITH TIMING

The main problem Christians face when trying to decide the actual timing of the rapture is the distinction between scriptures which relate to the rapture and those of the Second Coming. It is very important to clarify the context of the scriptures before you can accurately determine the time frame of Christ's two comings.

When you look closely at the scriptures you find a shortage of verses actually relating to the rapture, in fact the rapture is only described in detail in four places (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 John 3:2). There are other verses which correspond to the rapture but do not give us a description about the event. (It is these four verses, which make the rapture different to the Second Coming and prove that there are two comings of Christ).

As for the timing of Christ's first return at the rapture we cannot be 100% accurate as to its relationship within the 7-year period of tribulation. Having said that we can with all confidence place the rapture NO later than the mid-point. We can be sure of this as the second half of the tribulation period is known scripturally as the GREAT TRIBULATION (Matthew 24:21, Revelation 2:22, Revelation 7:14).

During this time God's wrath will be exacted on earth and man, Satan will be at his worst and the mark of the Beast will be implemented. In conjunction with this God will seal the 144,000 just prior to the Anti-Christ sealing his followers with the mark (Revelation 7:2-3).

It is important to realise that God does not seal or protect the Church at this time. In fact there is no mention of the Body of Christ, only the the 144,000. These are sealed and protected from the wrath of God, they are Jews, taken from the 12 tribes of Israel. Are we to assume that God has forgotten us? No, of course not the church will not be there. God does not overlap dispensations or times in which He is dealing with the CHURCH, the called and ISRAEL, the chosen. One ends and another starts.

Their journeys are different even if their destination is the same. To achieve their promise the Church must follow a different path to that of the Jew. We are under GRACE whilst the Jew is under the LAW. These two lines can not co-habit in the same spiritual time frame. The Church is looking for the Kingdom of Heaven (Philippians 3:20) and the Jew the Kingdom on Earth (Matthew 24:14).

Another salient point is the scripture which says we are not going to be involved with the wrath of God, which can be found in 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

This verse has been used to denote the wrath during the second half of the seven years of tribulation and has also been associated with the wrath talked of during the final Judgement of God, when all will stand before him (Revelation 20:11-12). Which is it to be? I would say both, as both contain the wrath of God and as it says God hath NOT appointed us to wrath, in whatever form it takes.

We must also look at the Book which the verse is taken from and 'rightly dividing the word' ascertain who it is being directed at. The answer is the Gentiles, and the Thessalonian Church. This is further backed up by the absence of any reference to Old Testament scripture.

People often get confused with the teachings of Jesus, while He was alive, and the disciples. They attribute everything they say to the church and fail to realise that whilst Jesus was alive His ministry was not for the gentile but the Jew, He came not to take us to heaven but to set up a Kingdom on earth, with the chosen nation Israel, as royal priests. Therefore when we read the gospels we must partition or divide the scriptures as requested in 2 Timothy 2:15.

15. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

With this in mind when we look at the myriad of scriptures, which report to talk of the rapture we see, all too often they look to the Second Coming instead. If we look at the scriptures which we can be sure relate to the rapture we get a clear line running through each verse which speaks of a spiritual home and promise, it speaks of an unknown time and a private return, unseen by those who are not involved. This is the opposite of the Second Coming in which all will see Him come in Glory. Matthew 24:30

30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The main problem in deciding when the rapture will take place is finding out at what point the 'day of grace' or 'the time of the gentiles' will end. Because it is this that will determine the time of the rapture. Once God has dealt with the church His attentions will once again turn to the Kingdom and the forming of that Kingdom. The Gospel of Christ to which we hear so much of now will be changed for the Gospel of the Kingdom Mathew 24:14, as it was while Jesus lived (Mathew 9:35).

14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The most important question is not when will IT BE, but will I be IN IT. It should also not be a point of faith which divides the church. It is after all an event which WILL take place whether we believe in it or not. If you find yourself disagreeing with a fellow Christian then I would say as long as the fundamental interpretations of the scripture are being spoken of, and there is no twisting of the Word to suit either party then just agree to disagree, and don't give Satan the benefit of being the winner.