Introduction
Considerable of the mainstream of western Christendom has been taught that its members will be caught up into safety and isolation from the period of tribulations found in the Book of Revelation, in what is commonly known as the end-times “Rapture.” And yet the events described through the first fourteen chapters of Revelation, in the letters, seals, and trumpet judgments, make no mention of any such “Rapture.” The text of the Book of Revelation makes a clear distinction between the escalating warnings in the form of tribulation events, and the final wrath of Elohim’s Bowl judgments found in Chapter 16 of Revelation.
In fact the progression of tribulation events, with disasters and judgments increasing in severity, represent Elohim’s final effort to get the attention of unrepentant mankind. The mainstream teaching on the “Rapture” has not distinguished between the tribulation event warnings and the final wrath judgments for those who will ultimately reject a covenant relationship with their Maker.
Historical Background
The English word “Rapture” is derived from the Latin verb “Rapere,” meaning “to carry off” or “to catch up.” There is no known record of the “Rapture” theory prior to 1830. In essence this theory postulates an extra (but unseen) coming of Messiah Yeshua to “rapture” believers up to heaven prior to His visible second coming. The Rapture concept apparently originated with a Scottish preacher named Edward Irving. It was then promoted by Irish evangelist John Nelson Darby (known for the theology of Dispensationalism, which is totally non-Biblical), and moved into the mainstream by Cyrus Scofield, of the Scofield Bible, which became popular in the 1950’s through the 1980’s. The theory continued to grow among evangelicals, primarily through the preaching of William Eugene Blackstone (1841 – 1935).
Adherents to this Rapture theory typically cite Revelation 4:1-2 as a “proof text” for their hypothesis. However, this passage is a command to John to “come up here” at an open door in heaven for the purpose of being shown “… things which must take place after this.” But this involves one man only (John), not the whole body of believers, and is oriented towards the revelations to which John is to be exposed.
Discussion
The general belief as taught within Christendom is that at the end of this present age the church body will be “raptured” up to heaven, while others (including non-believers and Jews) will be left behind on earth to suffer through the tribulation period. This belief has as its basis the erroneous Replacement Theology, which is totally non-Biblical. It is also based on the pre-tribulational rapture teaching prevalent in many Christian circles, typically citing the verses found in 1 Thes. 4:13-18. These views fail to make the distinction between the tribulation events and the wrath of Elohim (Rev. 16). See also, 1 Thes. 5:1-11.
Within the whole “Rapture” theory there are three sub-theories regarding the time in which the Rapture of the church will take place. These theories are the pretribulation, the mid-tribulation, and the post-tribulation rapture. As with many of man’s misinterpretations from Elohim’s written Word, factioning soon begins to happen. The “Rapture” theory has been no exception.
In the Futurist view of Christian eschatology, the tribulation period will see worldwide hardships and disasters, and precede judgment of the wicked of the Earth, when the second coming of Yeshua takes place. Pretribulationists tend to believe that those who choose to follow Elohim will be raptured before the Tribulation, and thereby escape the sufferings. Posttribulationists (Christians who believe the rapture will coincide with the resurrection that takes place after the Tribulation) believe Christians must endure the Tribulation as a test of their faith. Also, according to dispensationalists, who hold to the futurist view, the Tribulation is thought to occur before the second coming of Yeshua, and during the end-times. In this view, the Tribulation will last seven prophetic Hebrew years (360 days each year) in all, but the “Great Tribulation” will be the second half of the Tribulation period (they cite Matt. 24:15 and 24:21) showing the “Great Tribulation” is after the Abomination of Desolation, which marks the mid-point of the Tribulation. In this view, the seven-year period is considered to be the final week of Daniel’s prophecy of seventy weeks, found in Daniel Chapter 9. It is thought that each week represents seven years. The time period for the above is based on “time, times, and half a time,” which is interpreted as three and a half years from the Book of Daniel. The corresponding period from the Book of Revelation, at 11:3, is “forty-two months (of 30 days each month).” Thus, 1260/30 = 42 months, or 3.5 years.
In the Preterist view, the Tribulation took place in the past when Roman legions destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 70 A.D., and it only affected the Jewish peoples, rather than all of mankind.
In the Historicist view, the Tribulation is the period known as the “persecution of the saints,” taken from Daniel Chapter 7, and Revelation Chapter 13. This is believed to have occurred with the period after the “falling away” when Papal Rome came to power. They believe that the Tribulation is not a future event, but that it intensifies at the end to a time such as never seen before. Historicists tend to see prophecy as being fulfilled down through the centuries. Some modern historicists see the Tribulation on the Jews as beginning in 70 A.D. and continuing for centuries, covering the same time span as “the times of the Gentiles” during which “Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles (Luke 21:24).”
In the Idealism view, the “Great Tribulation” corresponds to the ordeal that is endured as a result of Satan’s expulsion from heaven. Satan is thrown down to earth following Yeshua’s exaltation (Rev. 12:17). The “great wrath (Rev. 12:12)” that Satan afflicts on Elohim’s people corresponds to the “Great Tribulation” mentioned in Rev. 7:14. This period of affliction continues throughout the present until Yeshua defeats Satan at His second coming.
Generally the Roman Catholic Church and the various Orthodox communions refrain from using the term “Rapture.”
Summary
Biblical textual analysis surrounding the subject of end-time events and outcomes strongly supports the conclusion that all peoples (believers and non-believers alike) will experience the tribulation events outlined in Revelation Chapters 1 – 14. For those who have entered into a covenant relationship with Elohim, through the saving blood of Messiah Yeshua, and have obeyed the commandments of Elohim and walked out their faith in Messiah Yeshua, as He came to demonstrate (see Rev. 14:12), these will become the Bride of Yeshua upon His return at the time of the seventh trumpet (Rev. Chapter 11), and before release of the Bowl judgments of Rev. 15 and 16. And it is these who will be “caught up” as Messiah takes His Bride home.* Others living at this time will experience the horrendous wrath of Elohim through the seven successive Bowl judgments. Many will perish, both physically and spiritually.
Finally, Scripture foretells that many will grow cold, even in their belief in Elohim, in part through the delusion of the end-time “Rapture” teaching (See Matthew 24:12, 1 Timothy 4:1). Please read all of Chapter 24. As various catastrophes begin to occur with the Bowl judgments, even the faith of some believers will waver as they realize that Yeshua is not returning in the manner and time frame they were expecting. Persecution, temptation, and deception have their most debilitating impact when faith in Elohim’s Word takes on the appearance of having failed to come true. This is exacerbated when His Word has been misinterpreted, as in the case of the “Rapture” teachings.
* It is always in the Torah where we see the end is in the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). This is true in what will happen in the last days, as put forth in the Book of Revelation. In Deuteronomy Chapter 30, Elohim speaks through Moses, telling the Children of Israel of the blessings and curses that were expounded upon in Chapter 28. The admonition was that they would be scattered to the nations if they disobeyed His Word. In Deuteronomy 30:4, Moses tells the Children of Israel if they obey his voice and keep all His commands with all their heart, mind, and soul, He will bring them (including you and me) back from captivity from where Elohim has scattered them (us). He said He would gather them (us) from the farthest parts under heaven. That is the true end-time “catching up,” not the “Rapture” as has been portrayed by Christendom only for the past 190 years.
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