Is the rapture(A taken away) and Armageddon supported by scripture ?

Question

I noticed that some believe neither of the two are if I have read their answers right. So I wanted another chance to present my view from the bible and allow others to give theirs also. This is a hot topic for me and since I've done the research, can I challenge their theory with the facts in a friendly approach to this ? I hope so....

As breif as I can i want to dive into this with the scriptures and allow the truth to from the bible to stand as our guide.#1. the rapture is not a word found in the bible or scriptures directly. It does means by Merriam-Webster's difinition: Transported. The bible scriptures does uphold the teaching of being caught up in the air to be with the Lord (1 Thess.4:16-17) kjv" Caught up.....in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; so shall we ever be with the Lord"verse 17. Another scripture supports it by the mouth of Jesus testimony in (Matthew 24:30,31) " gathering his elect" . Now when it comes to the order which perceeds which the bible clearly put it in sequence. In revelation 16:14-16, "Armageddon" is mentioned as a place that a war between God and Satan's Kingdoms that will take place after Jesus comes back after the 1000yrs. (Rev.17:14)" These shall make war with the Lamb..." All those that had their name written in the book of life ,sins washed clean away by the blood comes to.

The second thing to notice about this is the fact the bible states that, Satan will get certain peoples of aceint times and their children to join along with trying to destroy God's new capital on earth "New Jerusalem" (Rev. 20:5 -9). Verse 9 says"And compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city..." The scriptures in revelation describe this war throughout this book. Why is there a war ? Satan is very angry with God's redeemed church which is called a remnant in(Rev.12:17)."And the dragon(Satan) was wroth with the woman, and went to make WAR with the remnant of her(Church/ those from Adam's wife) seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". Now the tribulation, seven last plagues,and the seven trumpets have alot to do with the coming of christ. More info www.Amazingfacts,com. It is supported without any shadow of doubts.

Answer 1

The Bible says that the rapture happens at the end of the world.

“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?’ He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.’’” (Matthew 13:24 – 29 KJV)

Now that is an interesting story, and it can be a little confusing; fortunately, because the disciples found this story a little confusing they also and asked Jesus to explain if further. Because our God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), Jesus explained what this parable meant.

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, ‘Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.’ He answered and said unto them, ‘He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.’” (Matthew 13:36 – 42 KJV)

A closer study of this parable would seem to completely disprove the theory of a secret rapture of the church. Let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say about the time of the end through this parable. There are two groups on the earth represented by the wheat (the good or the church) and the tares (the evil). The workers of the field (probably representing angels) are troubled by the tares that the evil one (the devil) has planted. They ask the farmer (Jesus) if they should gather the weeds now and purify the field (the world). The farmer (Jesus) said that it should not happen that way because some of the wheat may come up with the tares. He then declares, “Let both grow together until the harvest (the end of the world): and in the time of harvest (the end of the world) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” I find it hard to be a proponent of a secret rapture for the church when Jesus said that both the good and the evil will grow together until the harvest (the end of the world). How can the church be raptured, leaving the evil on the earth, when Jesus said they will be together until the very end?

There is another issue raised by this parable. Many well intentioned Christians use the story in Matthew 24:40 & 41 and Luke 17:34 – 36 as key proof of a secret rapture for the church, but if we examine this story about the end times with the earlier story Jesus told about the end times in Matthew 13, we get a completely different picture from what most Christians interpret this story to mean. Let’s look at what Jesus said in these verses.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40 – 42 KJV)

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34 – 36 KJV)

Now I do not think that I am wrong in thinking that most Christians interpret these stories to mean that the man taken from the field, the woman that is taken while grinding, and the man taken in his sleep are the ones that belong to the group that is the church and are ruptured. This does not seem to be a plausible explanation however. Jesus gives an order for things to happen back in Matthew 13. “Gather ye together first the tares (the evil), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat (the good or the church) into my barn.” Jesus clearly says that the evil will be gathered first. If we take this understanding and apply it to Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we get a very different understanding. The ones that are taken are not in the group we want to be in. The ones who are taken are the tares (the evil) that are being gathered to be burned, but the ones that are left are the wheat (the good) that are saved.

There is another metaphor that many well intentioned Christians use to support a secret rapture for the church; I feel that this too is an invalid interpretation of a story.

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43 & 44 KJV)

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:39 & 40 KJV)

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15 KJV)

Here again, most Christians would attempt to say that this metaphor of a thief in the night is depicting a secret rapture for the church. I believe that most Christians have misinterpreted this too. First, Jesus explains what this metaphor means. He says that the meaning is not that the second coming is a secret but we do not know when it will occur. If we knew what day the Lord was to come, we would get ready the day before it, but since we do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), we must be ever ready! Just examine what Peter had to say of this metaphor in 2 Peter 3:10; he says that when the Lord comes as a thief,” the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therine shall be burned up.” Now I am not sure how all that could be kept a secret from anyone or how people would be able to live on the earth when it has passed away, burned up, and all the elements in it have melted.

Answer 2

How does your Bible read at Acts 28:6? Why does it there translate the Greek word occuring without an article ('a' or 'the') as "a god" but not the same way in John 1:1 where the Greek word is likewise used without an article in describing The Word? Also, how does your Bible read at John 1:6? Does it speak of John as 'Man' or 'a man'? The Greek just says 'man' without an article. And what about John 4:19. Does the Samaritan think that Jesus is 'Prophet' or 'a prophet' in your Bible. Again the word for prophet is used there in the Greek without an article. So given these other instances in your own Bible, why should John 1:1 not be translated as "...the Word was a god"? Only so that biased/misled translators can beat some support out of the ancient Greek to support an unscriptural doctrine? .

Answer 3

The raputre is a man-made concept, it has no roots in the testimony of Jesus or of His witness John.

To see Jesus or the kingdom of heaven, your body must be dead.

The roots of this is in "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Matt 24:22

Those days shall be shortened is referring to Half-a-Time or a Dividing of Time, which in either case is 980 years, and is the 7th seal or 7th age. ( Times is called Times because there are 2 of equal time (1960 years) the 5th Age was 1960 years and the 6th age was 1960 years.

The 5th age (seal) begin with Abraham (born 1680 BC) and ended 280 AD,

The 6th age (seal) begin 0 BC/AD and ended 1960 AD.

The 7th age (seal) begin 1960 AD and will end 2940 AD
The real rapture is spoken of by Jesus as the time of the Blessed (Matthew 5:3-11) and will take place in the year 2800 AD. (Daniel 12:12 is written 1003530 days)

The 5th and 6th ages a generation was 40 years long, 1 day was 280 years long, therefore, 7 days = 1960 years

The 7th age is Half-a-Time or 1 generation = 20 years, 1 day is 140 years, therefore, 7 days = 980 years.

Answer 4

Armageddon is supported by scripture in the book of Revelation or in some texts the book of Revelations.

***The Bible is fine art.*** That is why almost every verse is controversial and subject to interpretation. Protestant Christians claim to believe in the O.T. and the N.T. Jewish people have a set of books called the Tanakh which is equivalent to the O.T. but the overwhelming majority of them don't believe Jesus Christ was the messiah, or have any use for the N.T. Then the Catholics not only hold onto the O.T. and the N.T. but the apocrypha, another set of books that Protestant Christians refute.

It's a big mess, especially when you throw in a bunch of Bible translations.

The book of Revelations is one man's revelation. It's up to you whether to choose to believe in one man's mind and life interpretation.

I no longer regard the Holy Bible as true or even holy. I don't believe in "revealed" religion and certainly not in any religion or faith that is rooted in the Bible. I do believe in a creator, my idea of God is based only on reason and personal experience. I went to church got the "whole story" for years but then I found out I was being told half truths,

The promised land was occupied and the people that lived in it were annihilated by the Israelites, taken prisoner, or probably escaped with any luck at all.

I dropped out of church for good last Dec. 06. I read the gospels first, then jumped to Revelation in 2006 then started at the beginning from Genesis and read all the way through the O.T. this year. I read the New Revised Standard Version.

If you're interested in reading about my thoughts, my journey and my confrontation with truth view my 360 blog.

Answer 5

The Lamb already fought that battle, and He won that battle when He rose from the dead. The Lamb was ALREADY sacrificed, He was tempted by Satan, but overcame that temptation, and He was hanged upon a cursed tree, but was victorious OVER sin and death, which is Satan.

Revelation 16:16-17, "And he gathereD them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon". Notice the past tense GATHERED. (17), "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the TEMPLE of heaven, from the throne, saying, IT IS DONE". Jesus is the Temple of God, and upon that tree He said, IT IS FINISHED. When the Word became flesh, the whole purpose was to fight Satan for us, and to overcome him for us. When He fought that battle, He left nothing undone; IT WAS FINISHED. He won that battle, ONCE FOR ALL.

The rapture doctrine is foretold in the book of Ezekiel chapter 13. These false prophets are building a WALL and daubing it with UNTEMPERED MORTER. What is this wall?
Isa. 26:1, "...We have a strong city; SALVATION will GOD APPOINT FOR WALLS, and bulwarks". This wall is a church body of "the saved", but it is put together with untempered morter. What is meant by this untempered morter? 1st Corinthians 12:24, "...but God hath TEMPERED the body together...". This body wasn't tempered by God, but by man.

Look at Ezek 13:18, "...Will ye HUNT THE SOULS OF MY PEOPLE, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?" The key is they do the hunting and the saving not God. Why? For gain, "handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread". (20), "...I...will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them FLY". (22), "Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous SAD, WHOM I HAVE NOT MADE SAD". Telling those whom God made righteous that they will fly away leaving loved ones behind to suffer the torments of being "left behind". No, the Gospel is good news, not this evil which places burdens upon God's people which are "too grievious to be born".

Answer 6

Yes they are, although the word 'rapture' doesn't appear anywhere in the bible. You can find scriptures on what we Christians refer to as the rapture in: Matthew 24:36-42, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. (KJV)
Some scriptures about Armageddon are in Daniel, Ezekiel, and of course, Revelation.

Answer 7

The closest thing I can find to the rapture is this, from Proverbs 2:21, 22 of the KJV:

"For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it."

Answer 8

Isaiah 40:1-2, "COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE, SAITH YOUR GOD. SPEAK YE COMFORTABLY TO JERUSALEM, AND CRY UNTO HER, THAT HER WARFARE IS ACCOMPLISHED, THAT HER INIQUITY IS PARDONED: FOR SHE HATH RECEIVED OF THE LORD'S HAND DOUBLE FOR ALL HER SINS".

Romans 2:28-29, says we are Jews who are circumcised in heart. Who paid double for ALL her sins?

Jesus said in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might HAVE PEACE. In the world ye shall have tribulation:::: but be of good cheer; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD".

Christ fought Satan while he walked in flesh, and he did indeed overcome the world, and when He does something, it is done well. He doesn't have to fight Satan again.

Luke 17:34-37, Jesus tells us that some will be "taken" and others "left", and in verse 37, they asked him, (Taken) Where, Lord? Jesus' answer, "Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together". Dead bodies taken as by birds of prey. They are "taken" by the flood of lies which proceeds out of Satan's mouth. The flood of today is not of water, but of lies; Rev 12:16, Psalms 18:4.

Answer 9

Armageddon- YES!
Rev. 16:14, 16: “They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty. And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Har–Magedon [Armageddon].”

Rapture- NO!
The belief that faithful Christians will be bodily caught up from the earth, suddenly taken out of the world, to be united with the Lord “in the air.” The word “rapture” is understood by some persons, but not by all, to be the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The word “rapture” does not occur in the inspired Scriptures.

Answer 10

the rapture is found in 1 thessalonians 4:16-17. In verse 17 it speaks of being "caught up." In the Latin, the phrase is "raptus" from where we get our English word Rapture. The bible also speaks of Armageddon, but that is not the blessed event Christians await. the rapture is.