The "Rapture of the Church"?

Question

This event is very confusing on it's timing? I want to know for sure when this will happen so I can truly be prepared for the future. Can anyone give me any scriptures that supports either of the 3 views(post, mid, pre etc.)

Answer 1

Do a search on Dispensationalism or Dispensationalist and you will find that the rapture of the church is a relatively new idea and is not grounded in scripture but rather in the fevered dreams of a young girl and her pastor.

Answer 2

In response to BrotherMichael, Pseudo-Ephraim does not teach a pre-trib rapture. Many pre-trib supporters want to throw out Matthew 24 and say it only applies to Israel. If you look at the entire paragraph (2nd paragraph of Pseudo-Ephraim's sermon) that you took your excerpt from, you will see that leading up to this section, it is talking about things being fulfilled that are in Matthew 24 that contradict a pre-trib rapture. If you look at the final paragraph of the same sermon, Pseudo-Ephraim says that after 3.5 years have been completed - the time of the AntiChrist - the sign of the Son of Man will come, the angelic trumpet will sound and declare: "Arise O sleeping ones, arise, meet Christ, because his hour of judgment has come!" Then comes the judgment of God. Sorry but that sounds like Pseudo-Ephraim would be better used to speak of a mid-trib rapture.

Whether or not Pseudo-Ephraim was teaching a pre-trib or mid-trib rapture doesn't matter though. The name Pseudo means that he wasn't really Ephraim. Why should we believe someone who had to lie about their identity so that they could be taken seriously? No document of this type has ever been used to support a doctrine of the conservative evangelical church. If you accept this Pseudo-author, why not accept the others that teach heresy?

As for answering the original question, we cannot know for sure exactly when the rapture of the church will take place. I believe the Pre-Wrath view of the Rapture. This teaches that the church will be present for the majority of the tribulation. The first 3.5 years are a time of peace, then the beginning of the second 3.5 years is the time of the Antichrist's wrath. The Antichrist's time will be cut short (Matthew 24:22) and then the rapture will occur and the time of God's wrath begins (the Day of the Lord). We don't know how short the time will be cut, so according to the Pre-wrath rapture, we cannot know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36). 1 Thessalonians 5:4 in speaking of the Day of the Lord says "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." So, while we don't know the exact day or hour, we can know the general timing because we will see the events of the tribulation around us.

We are given the example of Noah, who as soon as he was on board the ark, the rains began. In the same way, as soon as the church is taken away, the wrath of God begins. According to Post-trib, instead of being raptured at this point, the church stays on earth, but are protected.

Do a comparison of Matthew 24 and the passages in the Thessalonian epistles that speak of the day of the Lord and what we have termed the "rapture." You will see that there are many parallels showing that Matthew 24 is indeed relevant to the church, not just Israel. Another reason that Matthew 24 applies to the church is that it speaks of people being persecuted for his NAME and turn away from the FAITH. This is confessional language which applies to believers - not a nation or people. Also, Romans 11:7 says that not all Israel are part of the elect, but Matthew 24 specifically mentions the elect - once again believers, not nation.

Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (the end of the chapter) which speaks of the rapture with the beginning of chapter 5 which speaks of the Day of the Lord. This agrees with the Pre-Wrath view that as soon as we are raptured, the Day of the Lord begins. They coincide.

I hope this helps you in some way. God bless.

Answer 3

I believe the Bible supports the pre-trib view. It is consistent with the whole of Scripture. It is the oldest of the beliefs contrary to what some think. I have a sermon, written by a person named "Pseudo-Ephraim". This was a person who wrote under the name "Ephraim the Syrian," probably to give his writing credibility and added weight. But, historians doubt that these later documents were actually penned by the original saint.
Now, one of these documents in question is called "Sermon on the End of the World." There is considerable variation over the time of its authorship, although estimates range anywhere from 373 to 627 AD. Now, this sermon is relatively short, just under 1500 words. It is preserved in four Latin manuscripts, but there are also Greek and Syriac versions remaining. Evidence leads scholars to conclude that the first version of the sermon was most likely written in Syriac, translated into Greek, and from there into Latin.
What's interesting about the multiple early manuscripts, all dating from around the same period, is that the original sermon appears to have been so popular that it was quickly translated into the major languages of the day in order to circulate it widely among the early Church. This was not a hidden, or "shadowy" bit of teaching. This was a popular and well-read document.

Here is the passage:
"Woe to those who desire to see the day of the Lord!" For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins.

We cannot know the day it will occur, but it will happen quickly. Just live out your faith, day to day, and leave the rest to God.

Answer 4

no way to know
no way to time it
the Second Coming of Christ no one knows not even the Father in Heaven

Answer 5

Don't waste your time with a man made story book.

Answer 6

another lie