The Church,
February 6, 2008
The Rapture or the catching away of the Saints was still a mystery when Jesus was foretelling the events that will lead up to the end of the age as well as the end itself. Unfortunately, this has caused much confusion through the centuries as many have not understood one event from the other. Yet here is a help in understanding, the Church finds its events in what was written to the Church in particular – the epistles to the Church. (While there is teaching in the Epistles that concern the events that take place after the Church is removed from the earth, the removal of the Church is only seen in the letters to the Church.) The Old Testament and the Gospels, (when dealing with end time events), deal with that which affects
The time of the end of the age is given in Daniel 9:24-27 -
(“Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. 25 Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”) from the order to restore
There is a lapse in time from the time that Messiah is cut off and when the last seven years concerning
In the Gospels, (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21), the teaching is on the second coming of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred about 70 A. D. in which the Jewish Christians fled Jerusalem being prophetically warned. The Church was largely saved and the Jews were scattered all over the
Luke 21:24
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If there is a time implied for the rapture of the Church as concerning events and times it would be the time between Matthew 24:8 and verse 9, but this chapter could also speak to Israel at rest under the peace treaty of the Antichrist with the treaty being broken in the middle of the seven year span.
Daniel 9:27
“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” (See Matthew 24:15-31 and Mark 14-23 for the time covered by Christ concerning the breaking of the treaty.)
In Revelation most consider that Revelation 4:1 stands as the rapture because there is no reference to the Church being on earth after that point. After that point the Church is in heaven until the return of the Lord to earth.
Part of the confusion over teachings is that at the return of Christ to earth, there is a gathering of the believers and Jews on earth to share on the reign of Christ and a removal of the unbelievers. (See Matthew 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27) Also there are the references to “one being left and one taken,” (See Matthew 24:36-44) as this is made to apply to the Rapture of the Church. While the teaching can apply in general to this time as well as the second coming of the Lord, it actually is given concerning the return of the Lord to earth and could apply to people in flight for their lives, (only the quick and ready will survive), or of the gathering of believers and removal of unbelievers at the time of the Lord’s return as referenced above with the angels gathering the righteous. (Also the teaching in Luke 17:22-37 is taken as dealing with the Rapture and can parallel this time but is given concerning the return of Christ to reign on this earth and the events in the days preceding His return.)
We should stay mindful of the signs of the end but we the Church must rest in the promise that we will be kept from wrath, (See Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9) and continue to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to the world while it is still light!
2 Peter 3:8-9
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
