GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
05-29-2022
PASTOR ROBERT R. MCLAUGHLIN
PDF: GBC05292022NOTES
Christian Soldier 76, Doctrine Of The Rapture, 2.
We have are now begun the:
The Doctrine of the Rapture
Point 1. Introduction.
And we spent a lot of time on the introduction so I will summarize it by reminding us that
There is a time coming on this earth which is called "Satan's time of desperation"
"It is also called the day of wrath.”
It is a period of the greatest power struggle in all of human history.
And it involves not only people but angelic creatures as well.
It is not a time that you would want any of your family members, friends, neighbors, and if you truly understood it, even your enemies to have to go through.
It is a great period of wrath on this earth, both from God and from Satan, Zep 1:14-18.
It is a time of great judgment on the earth like never before, REV 6:16-17.
REV 6:16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
REV 6:17 for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand?"
It is said to be a great time of indignation, Isa 26:20-21.
ISA 26:20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms, And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while, Until indignation runs its course.
ISA 26:21 For behold, the Lord is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed, And will no longer cover her slain.
The hour of testing, Rev 3:10.
Since we are in the book of Revelation, look at REV 3:10.
REV 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that {hour} which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.
It will also be…
A time of Destruction, JOE 1:15 Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, And it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Darkness, JOE 2:2 A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. There has never been {anything} like it, Nor will there be again after for many generations.
Desolation, Dan 9:27;
DAN 9:27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate."
Punishment, Isa 24:20-21.
ISA 24:20 The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard, And it totters like a shack, For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again.
ISA 24:21 So it will happen in that day, that the Lord will punish the host of heaven, on high, and the kings of the earth, on earth.
It is a very difficult time to be alive and it is called the Tribulation period!
And the "wrath of God" will be poured out upon the world during the great Tribulation period.
And according to the word of God, it is a time that could take place on this earth tomorrow.
And this is because of the immanency of the Rapture!
Immanency means it could happen any moment.
The nature of the Tribulation is also one of practical importance as it relates to the Doctrine of the Rapture.
And that is because……
If the Church is destined to endure the persecutions of the Tribulation, it is hopeless to proclaim the coming of the Lord as an imminent hope and joy.
Instead,
It should be recognized that Christ cannot come until these predicted sorrows have been accomplished.
On the other hand,
If Christ will come for His Church before the predicted time of trouble, Christians can regard His coming as an imminent daily expectation and joy.
So,
Because of a theological event known as the Rapture, the Church, the body of Christ will not go through this period.
And this is because….
The Rapture is used in a technical theological sense for the Resurrection of the Royal Family of God.
Since the Church or Royal Family of God is the first spiritual building to be completed, it is the second phase of the first resurrection following the resurrection of Christ.
And so,,,,,,
The Rapture or the resurrection of the Church is God's means of terminating the Church-age and delivering us from the wrath to come; 1TH 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath.
Point 2. Definition.
Another very important point concerning the definition of Rapture of the Church is that:
The Lord Jesus Christ will remove the Church from this world which was unknown before that Church-age because they could not know it as it was a mystery to them.
How do we know that?
EPH 3:4 And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
EPH 3:5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
ROM 16 the mystery has been kept secret for long ages past
COL 1:26 {that is,} the mystery which has been hidden from the {past} ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints.
This all means that the Church could not have been in view in the Old Testament prophecy concerning the Tribulation period which is to come upon the whole earth.
And there can be no question that this period will see the wrath of God poured out upon the whole earth.
Rev 3:10; Isa 34:2; 24:1,4-5, 16-21 and, many other passages make it very clear as well.
Jer 30:7 says this period is particularly called the time of Jacob's trouble and Jacob refers to Israel.
Now, in Dan 9:24, God says 70 weeks are determined upon "thy" people (Jews not the Church.
DAN 9:24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression,
This whole Tribulation period will have as special reference to Daniel's people Israel and Daniel's holy city, Jerusalem.
In the Old Testament, the seventy weeks of prophecy are weeks of years.
In Gen 29:26-27 and Dan 9:24, one week is equivalent to 7 years.
70 times 7 = 490
At this time, because the Jews ignored the year of Jubilee, where they were commaned not to work for an entire year, the Lord said that the Jews would pay for disobeying the year of Jubilee, so God disciplined them for it.
He said, “You owe Me 7 more years of your divine discipline because you disobeyed Me,” so the Tribulation period is really the end of the dispensation for Jews only.
A jubilee is seven cycles of seven years = 49 years.
And so…….
They were disciplined by God for 490 years, God has already fulfilled 483 years of that divine discipline and owes Israel seven more years.
They have had divine discipline for 69 weeks already, i.e., 483 years.
Therefore, the Jews will pay what they owe God which is seven more years of Tribulation which is also related to our Doctrine of the Rapture.
And Since the Church had no part in the first 69 weeks which are related only to God's program for Israel, then it can have no part in the 70th week which is God's program for Israel.
The Rapture is the blessed hope or the happy guarantee that God is going to take us out from the wrath to come upon the Jews in the Tribulation .
1Th 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.
Please notice the Rapture removes sorrow and grief and gives rest and hope.
Rev 2:22 indicates clearly that the unsaved professing Church will experience the Tribulation period, REV 2:18-22.
REV 2:18 "And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
REV 2:19 'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
REV 2:20 'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond‑servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
REV 2:21 'And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
REV 2:22 'Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.
REV 2:23 'And I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the Churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
Remember, the professing Church is composed of those who make a profession of faith in Christ but it is:
Another Jesus (2Co 11:4)
Another Spirit; (2Co 11:4)
Another Gospel (Gal 1:6)
Another Doctrine (1TI 4:1)
So, the "True" Church will not and cannot go through the Tribulation period which is coming upon this earth and therefore the Church must be taken out from the earth which is the Rapture.
Rev 3:10 describes the promise:
REV 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I also will keep you from or take you out from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.
The Rapture of the Church is basically held by two schools of theology.
The Pre-Tribulation view, and the post-Tribulation view.
Their position is basically promoted through the "kingdom now theology, which adheres to the notion, that the Church will usher in a world peace.
And that the goal of the "kingdom now theology today is to clean up the devil’s world.
Post (after) Tribulation theology believes that the Church will go through the great tribulation, and then be raptured, and return with Jesus Christ to reign in the Millennial.
Where as Pre-Tribulation Rapture theology believes that Christ will remove His Church before the great Tribulation.
Then the Church will return with Christ at the Second coming to establish the Millennial reign of Christ.
It is said to be a great time of indignation, Isa 26:20-21.
The hour of testing, Rev 3:10.
REV 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that {hour} which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.
Destruction, Joel 1:15.
Darkness, Joel 2:2.
Desolation, Dan 9:27.
Punishment, Isa 24:20-21.
The nature of the Tribulation is also one of practical importance.
If the Church is destined to endure the persecutions of the Tribulation, it is hopeless to proclaim the coming of the Lord as an imminent hope.
Instead, it should be recognized that;
Christ cannot come until these predicted sorrows have been accomplished.
On the other hand,
If Christ will come for His Church-before the predicted time of trouble, Christians can regard His coming as an imminent daily expectation of joy and happiness.
So, because of a theological event known as the rapture, the Church, the body of Christ will not go through this period.
And this is because the Rapture is used in a technical theological sense for the resurrection of the royal family of God.
Point 3. Twenty Six Principles (Alphabet) that establish the position of a pre-tribulation Rapture.
- (1) First of all, the great Tribulation is punishment for a Christ-rejecting world, and the nation of Israel, who rejected her Messiah, Rev 6:12-17.
- (2) The nature of the church, and the promises of Christ forbid the church from going thro¬ugh the great Tribulation.
- (3) There must be an interval of time between the rapture and the second coming.
This is when the Judgment Seat of Christ takes place and believers either receive rewards or lose rewards, 1Co 3:11-15, 2Co 5:10.
- (4) The scripture's which deal with the great tribulation have particular reference to the Jew, Mat 24:1-31; Mar 13:14; Luk 21:23-36.
- (5) The Tribulation is mentioned as a gross time of darkness, evil, and sin, where none have faith. Isa 60:2; Jer 13:16; Luk 18:8.
- (6) Satan persecutes the women in the Tribulation (Israel). The church is not to come under condemnation. Rev 12:1-4; Rom 5:9; 8:1; 1Th 1:10; 5:9; 1Co 15:55-57; 1Th 4:13-18.
- (7) The Church is not of the world. Joh 17:14; Phi 3:20; 2Ti 2:3-4.
The church is a spiritual extension of Jesus Christ, with promises that are heavenly related. Eph 1:3; 2:6.
- (8) Christ is preparing a home for His body the Church, and has promised to return and to take His bride back with Him, Joh 14:3; 1Th 4:13-17.
- (9) The Church has been promised deliverance from the wrath to come. Rom. 5:9; 1Th 1:10; 5:9; Rev 3:10.
- (10) The believer is told to watch, or have an attitude of anticipation for the Lord's coming.
If believers are to go through the great Tribulation, they would be advised to watch for the signs of the prophecies of the coming of Jacob's trouble, Rom 8:23; 1Co 1:7; Gal 5:5. Tit 2:11-13.
- (11) God has always protected His people in unique fashions in the face of judgement.
Enoch before the flood; 2Pe 2:6-8.
Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah.
- (12) The instructions by the apostle Paul never include any preparation or warning that the church will encounter the great Tribulation.
- (13) If the Church goes through the Tribulation, then the Jew's as well as the Gentiles of the Tribulation period would become part of the Church.
After the Tribulation the Jewish remnant would go into the promised earthly Millennial reign; but the Gentiles of the Church would be caught up to be with Christ in glory.
The body of Christ would become dismembered.
- (14) The church at Thessalonian would not be concerned of any disadvantage of the dead in Christ if those who were alive had to go through the great Tribulation, 1Th 1:4.
- (15) The message of the church is the message of the Gospel of grace, and peace which secured at the cross by Jesus the Christ.
Eph 2:8-10.
The message of the great Tribulation is one of God's judgments. Rev 7:4-8; 12:17; 19:10; Mat 24:14.
REV 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
- (16) The iniquity of the anti-Christ cannot be released until the Holy Spirit, the restrainer is removed with the Church. 2Th 2:3-7 (mystery of lawlessness).
2TH 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2TH 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
2TH 2:5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?
2TH 2:6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed.
2TH 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
2TH 2:8 And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
2TH 2:9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
2TH 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
- (17) The church is called to pray for those in authority, 1TI 2:2, so if the church was on earth in the great Tribulation why would they pray for the destruction of those in authority?
- (18) Christ's return for His church is unconditional, and He returns to heaven, Joh 14:1-3.
The great tribulation is conditional, and based upon the abomination of desolation. Mat 24:15-16.
- (19) Christ returns for His bride in the air and does not touch down upon the earth at the Rapture.
He then returns to heaven.
Joh 14:1-3; at the second coming he comes down to the earth.
- (20) The bema seat judgement takes place after the Rapture.
All believer's will be judged according to their works.
Wood hay or straw, or gold, silver, and precious stones.
This represents the divine production in the Spirit or in the flesh. 1Co 3:12-15.
- (21) Time is needed for the bema seat, and the marriage of the Lamb, and His pure bride dressed in white, the church.
The seven years of the great tribulation provides for this time.
- (22) The Rapture is a mystery and secret, the second coming is a world display of power. 1Co 15:51-52.
1CO 15:51 Behold, I tell 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 trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
1CO 15:53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1CO 15:54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.
1CO 15:55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
1CO 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
1CO 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1CO 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
- (23). The Rapture comes at a time of false peace and safety.
The promise of the anti-Christ.
1TH 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
1TH 5:3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
- (24) After the Rapture (Rev 4) the day of the Lord begins with the opening of the first seal, Rev 5.
- (25) The Church is never mentioned from Rev 4-19.
- (26) The 144,00 Jews from Twelve Tribes; the two prophets’ probably Elijah and Moses and the angel witness the gospel, Rev 11:3.
The church is never mentioned as fulfilling Her great commission during the great Tribulation.
So, the hope of the Church is the return of Christ at the Rapture, who will deliver them from the greatest outpouring of judgment in the history of the universe, Tit 2:11-13; 1Th 1:10; 4:18; 5:11.
A Theologian from Dallas Theological Seminary created by Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, who said that Colonel Theime was without a doubt the greatest Bible student ever said J. Dwight Pentecost on pg. 200 of his book "Things to Come" writes the following:
"Since the church is the body, of which Christ is the head (Col 1:18), the bride, of which he is the bridegroom (1CO 11:2), the object of his love (Eph 5:25), the branch of which he is the root and stem (Joh 15:5).”
The building, of which He is the foundation and cornerstone (1CO 3:9; Eph 2:19-22), there exists between the believer and the lord a union and a unity.
The believer is no longer separated from him, but brought into the closest oneness with him.
If the church is in the Seventieth Week or the Tribulational period, she is subjected to the wrath, judgment, and indignation which characterizes the period.
And because of her oneness with Christ, He, likewise, would be subjected to that same visitation in standing behind you which is impossible according to 1Jo 4:17,
For he cannot be brought into judgment again. inasmuch as the church has been perfected and delivered from all judgment (Rom 8:1; Joh 5:24; 1Jo 4:17),
If she is subjected to judgment again the promises of God would be of none effect and the death of Christ would be ineffectual so
who would dare to assert that the death of Christ could fail to accomplish its purpose?
While the members may be experimentally imperfect and need experimental cleansing, yet the church, which is his body, has a perfect standing in Christ and could not need such cleansing.
The nature of the testing in the seventieth week, as stated in rev 3;10, is not to bring the individual to cleansing, but to reveal the degradation and need of the unregenerate heart; the nature of the church prevents such a testing." (end)
Now, Rev 13 makes it clear that all who are in the 70th week or the Tribulation period are brought into subjection to the beast and through him to Satan who gives the beast power.
Rev 13:1 And he stood on the sand of the seashore. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;
Rev 13:4 and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"
Rev 13:5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty two months [3 12 years] was given to him.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
Rev 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the lamb who has been slain.
Rev 13:9 if anyone has an ear, let him hear.
Now, if the church were in this period she would be subjected to Satan and Christ would either lose His place as head or because of His union with the Church, He would be also subjected to Satan's authority.
Such a thing is unthinkable and blasphemous!
Point 4, Another principle concerning the rapture is the doctrine of imminence.