1 Thess 4:13-18 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. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For 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. (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: (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. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Good morning, Reader! Today’s verses cause born-again believers all over the world to shout with joy and anticipation at the upcoming reunion with Christ, our Lord! That day to come is the conclusion of all the years of longing to be with the Lord Jesus. The caveat is that the born-again believer that is alive at the time of the Rapture will not die! What a gift that is!
I felt it necessary to discuss the Rapture today because I have a dear friend who has been led astray by what I consider to be a false teacher. This false teacher is cunning and is deceiving many. All these years, my friend believed that the Rapture would occur before the Tribulation. Why was she misled? I believe the reason is that she did not study the matter out so that she was convinced from the Scriptures.
Acts 17:11 tells us that these people would listen to a message and would then search the Bible to make sure that what they were being taught was in line with the Bible’s teachings. Too many people today are being misled by preachers who “tickle the ears.” (Ephesians 4:14) They listen to a message and taken in false teaching without question. They wouldn’t do that with their finances but yet when it comes to the things of God, they allow the devil to creep in and lead them astray. Yes, I say it’s the devil’s doing because he has been corrupting God’s Word since the Garden of Eden. He corrupted God’s words and convinced Eve that God was keeping her from attaining something greater. The devil will do whatever it takes to distract the believer from God’s Word. He will fill the mind with lies and corruption because that is who he is and what he does (John 8:44).
Today’s verses tell us how the Rapture will occur. If the Rapture were to occur at the end of the Tribulation, as my friend believes, it would be difficult to go up to meet the Lord in the air only to immediately return with Christ to earth to fight the Battle of Armageddon. This theory does not jive with the Scriptures. Jesus said that when He left the earth, He would go to prepare a place for believers in His Father’s house; a house which has many mansions. He didn’t say He would prepare a place for us in the future. No! He said “I go to prepare a place for you.” So where did Jesus go after His ascension? He returned to Heaven! This is the place where we will go to meet Him.
Joh 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) 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. (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.
Furthermore, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”
So let’s get back to today’s scripture from 1 Thess 4:13-18. The Apostle Paul didn’t want his readers to be misled by false teachers. He wrote so his readers would be encouraged and comforted! He didn’t want them to be ignorant of this teaching; he prepared them and taught them. So how will the Rapture happen? Paul says that Jesus will come down from Heaven with a shout and with the trump of God. The word “trump” only appears twice in the Bible: 1 Cor 15:52 and 1 Thess 4:16. Both refer to the Rapture. The trump in today’s Scripture is the “trump of God,” it is not a trumpet used by man but of God Himself. This trump is a big deal! God Himself is calling the saints together! Paul reaffirms that his words are told to us by the word of the Lord! Christ wants us comforted and not fearful. Furthermore, Paul tells us to comfort each other with this information! What comfort is there if we are to go through the Tribulation??? It’s a time in which the world has never experienced the horrifying judgments that are about to happen!
Paul says those who died from the beginning of the church age until the time of the Rapture will rise first; then believers who are still alive on the earth will rise immediately after. Where are we meeting Jesus? We (the dead in Christ and those who are alive at the Rapture) are caught up to meet the Lord IN THE AIR. Jesus Christ’s return after the Tribulation is Christ coming to EARTH.
Those saints will be kept from the coming wrath which will descend upon a wicked world. Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6 state that God’s wrath is to come on children of disobedience. Why would Jesus allow His bride to go through His wrath? What husband does such a thing? The born-again believers (prior to the Rapture) are not children of disobedience so therefore, we are not the ones to go through the Tribulation. Granted, people will be saved during the Tribulation, but they were children of disobedience prior to the Rapture!
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Col 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Paul again exhorts the Christians that they should not let anyone deceive them with vain words. Unfortunately, my friend has been deceived to believe that she would experience God’s wrath upon the earth. Why would God put His children (the saints) through His wrath? We are not children of disobedience; we are born-again and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit! Furthermore, as I said above, we are His Bride! The Perfect Groom, the Lord Jesus, would not put his wife in harm’s way, yet alone through torture; but this Perfect Groom would protect her. What husband allows an intruder to harm his wife??? As well, all born-again believers are members of Christ’s own body, of Christ’s flesh, and of Christ’s bones (Eph 5:30). Since we are part of Him, why would He put us through His wrath? It makes no sense! Jesus Christ is not going through the Tribulation nor is His Bride, who is a part of Him!
As if this isn’t enough, how can we be raptured at the end of the Tribulation and then immediately come back with Jesus Christ to conquer the antichrist? Jesus went to prepare a place for us, as we read at the beginning of this post. If the post-tribulation theory is correct, we won’t be going to Heaven at all to enjoy the place He prepared for us in His Father’s house. That does not make any sense at all. One cannot listen to a false prophet’s words and leave out the other parts of Scripture that totally contradict what the false prophet is saying! The Bible says in:
Rev 19:11-14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
The raptured Saints will be coming back with Jesus as part of His army! It says in verse 14 that we were in heaven! How do I know that the “we” is comprised of born-again raptured believers? Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, white and clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. This cannot be an army of angels because this army is clean! Angels cannot attain salvation; only mankind. Those who are made clean are those who accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour (1 John 1:7). It is the blood of our precious Saviour that makes us clean and clothes us in fine, white linen! We are clothed with Jesus’ righteousness!
Dear Reader, if you are born-again, do not believe every wind of doctrine. Study it for yourself as I have and stop listening to what others teach. Let the Holy Spirit be your Teacher (Luke 12:12). There is nothing encouraging about going through the Tribulation. There is nothing comforting about experiencing the wrath of God. During the Tribulation, God’s wrath will descend on a wicked, unbelieving world! His judgment fell on the world when Noah finished building His ark. His judgment fell on Sodom and Gomorrah after Lot and his family were pulled out.
Even during the Tribulation, His mercy is still shown by placing the Two Witnesses (Rev 11:3) and 144,000 Jews (Rev 7:1-8) to spread the Gospel. Those who believe during the Tribulation will pay the price of being martyred for their faith (Rev 6:9-11 and Rev 7:9-10, Revelation 7:13-14). Many will die as a result of believing in Christ during this horrific time. They will pay a price for having waited to accept His salvation.
Won’t you accept Christ now before the Rapture occurs, friend? Please don’t wait! There are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven plagues which will make up God’s wrath during this horrifying time (Matthew 24:21). You must remember that Jesus said in that verse that it will be a time that has never come upon this earth! Why would you want to suffer through these? I know some may think that they will take their chances and live like they want to live now and deal with these judgments later. But Reader, God knows your motives and will not allow you to try to “trick Him”! Romans 1:28-32 tells us that those who do wickedly will be given over to a reprobate mind; yes, even those who try to deceive Him. Noah Webster’s dictionary defines this as:
REPROBATE, a. [L. reprobatus, reprobo, to disallow; re and probo, to prove.]
- Not enduring proof or trial; not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected.
Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. Jer 6. - Abandoned in sin; lost to virtue or grace.
They profess that they know God, but in works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. Titus 1. - Abandoned to error, or in apostasy. 2 Tim 3.
Do you want to take a chance that this could happen to you? You may think you are not this evil but James 2:10 says that if you have stolen, for example, you are guilty of all the Ten Commandments, not just stealing. Romans 3:23 says that ALL have sinned; yes, you too! The only way you can prevent going through the horrible Tribulation is by accepting Christ as your Saviour; not just “in words” but with a heart conversion which changes you from the inside out! (2 Cor 5:17) Jesus took all our sins upon Himself so we could be reconciled to God through Him! (2 Cor 5:20-21)
There will come a time when it will be too late. You will spend eternity burning in Hell and the Lake of Fire. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved and you laughed it off and ignored it. Just read the account of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). That rich man knew what was happening to him in Hell. He recognized his own sins and desperately wanted his family to be warned so they would not experience what he was experiencing. I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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