“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”

Matthew 24:4

Many churches today teach there is no such thing as “the Rapture”; that the word Rapture is not even listed in the Bible; that the concept of the Rapture was first introduced in 1836 by John Nelson Darby; and finally, because we are all sinners we must ultimately pay for our sins by enduring God’s Wrath during the 7-year Tribulation.

If I may, let me debunk ALL these false teachings:

First of all, as I have written about many times (REVIEW: The Rapture – God’s Promise , Paul, who first described the Rapture, was a Pre-Trib Believer, Rest assured, the Rapture IS coming soon!), the Rapture is clearly explained in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming (Rapture) of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep (died). For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up (Greek = harpazo. Latin = rapio. English = caught up/Rapture) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Did John Nelson Darby introduce the Rapture in 1836 or was it already taught and believed from Christ’s Resurrection for over 1,000 years later? I list all the Biblical scholars and prophets, besides the apostles, who mention the Rapture in Why does the world so despise Pre-Tribulation Rapture Believers?

One particular denomination (I won’t mention them by name) teaches the Rapture was never taught until John Nelson Darby introduced this “secret Rapture” in approximately 1836 AD. This is absolutely false and refuted by the writings of the following theologians living during the first part of the Christian Church age.

• Irenaeus – (mid 2nd Century) “When in the end that church will suddenly be caught up from this, then it is said, ‘There will be tribulation such as not been since the beginning, nor will be.’” Against Heresies 5:29.
• Hippolytus – (a disciple of Irenaeus) wrote on prophecy and called the Rapture our “Blessed hope”.
• Cyprian – (250 AD) “we who see that terrible things have begun, and know that still more terrible things are imminent, may regard it as the greatest advantage to depart from it as quickly as possible. Do you not give God thanks, do you not congratulate yourself, that by an early departure you are taken away, and delivered from the shipwrecks and disasters that are imminent? Let us greet the day which assigns each of us to his own home, which snatches us hence, and sets us free from the snares of the world and restores us to paradise and the kingdom.” Treatises of Cyprian 21 to 26.
• Isadore or Ephraim of Seville – (373 AD) “…because all saints and the elect of the Lord are gathered together before the Tribulation which is about to come and be taken to the LORD…” On the Last Times 2

All of this gets to the purpose of this article. A true study of the Bible, not the teaching of any particular denomination, and the seeking of help from the Holy Spirit clearly, I believe explains those who Believe in Jesus Christ will be Raptured BEFORE God unleashes His Wrath on sinful man. He Promised us that in Revelation 3:10!!

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which will come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

The amazing thing to me is many true Christians believe they must pay for their sins by going through the Tribulation. This is not what the Bible teaches but I do not believe people will either go to Heaven or not depends solely on their belief of when the Rapture occurs. Unfortunately, those who do not believe in the Rapture or believe it will occur after the Tribulation may not sense the urgency to repent and ask for forgiveness of their sins NOW. Like the 5 virgins totally unprepared for the unknown future coming of the groom for his bride, they will be left behind and not allowed to enter into the wedding supper (Matthew 25:1-13) !

Basically, this argument comes down to this. The apostles wrote about the Rapture (being “caught up”). Paul wrote about it. Jesus Himself said it. John Nelson Darby DID NOT “invent” the Rapture, he reintroduced it to the church as they were being told to be looking for the things happening soon. It is critical for us to be amongst the 5 virgins who enter the door for the wedding supper, and not amongst the 5 left outside.

As always, the study of the Bible clarifies so many of the deceitful things being taught in churches today. Believe what the Bible says, not what a church teaches outside of what the Bible says. And, don’t forget to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Look up! Our redemption has never been closer! May God Bless you as we await our meeting with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the clouds.