Introduction to the subject
The Rapture Theory; What Does God's Word Say About It?
From above: Body: #4983 soma =corpse, see {Mt 27:59}. Eagles: #105 aetos = Vultures, see {Mt 24:28} (carcass)
"Waiting for the Rapture that never comes." from: The Rapture of the Saints By Duncan McDougall.
There is a 130 year old false doctrine that has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 30 or so years within the various 'Protestant type' denominations of Christianity. And that is known as "The Rapture Of The Church." I refer to the churches that take part in it as 'Protestant type' because it is impossible to narrow it down to any one specific denominational belief. Unlike, say, the false doctrine of Purgatory, which is immediately identified as a Catholic dogma. Various forms and modifications of Rapture theories are followed by the Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Evangelical, Charismatic, Catholic Apostolic Churches (Irvingite sect), and others independent and hard to categorize. It is said that approximately 50% of
This false doctrine though veilled in its tennants, we simply refer to as the 'Rapture Doctrine' or the 'Rapture Theory'. It incorporates many catch phrases such as the: "Rapture of the Saints", "Rapture of the Church", "Catching away of the Saints", "Taking up", "Gathering together in the clouds”,
These are all terms used by the Rapturist (one who believes in a Rapture theory) describing their belief that prior to the prophesied Second Advent of Jesus Christ, a certain group of Christian people will be pulled off the earth to meet the Lord in the sky. Then, depending on which of the many variations of the Rapture theory you go by, those left on the earth will suffer at the hands of an antichrist and his by then corrupted world for a period of 3˝ or 7 years (or some say a shorter time). Then, they say, will come the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. This does violence to the Biblical end-time chronology (as well as Scripture) in a most irresponsible way.
The Second Advent of our Messiah Jesus Christ is in fact Biblically sound Doctrine, it will happen! However, the Rapture theory fabricates a pre-Second Advent advent, which is not in the Bible. In essence, what they have done is that they have made three advents out of the true two Advents of Jesus Christ as found in among other places, {Zech 9:9+10}. It is a falsehood created by man and added to God's Word. In this Bible study we will thoroughly debunk the Rapture lie and explain not only its dubious origins, but also its cause and effect, and the extreme danger that such a false doctrine poses for God's children.
It will be observed by the reader that the false Rapture doctrines so closely mimic the true plan of God for these end times that it is difficult for those not fully versed in the Scriptures to determine were the truth stops and the crafty lie starts, if the only Bible teaching that someone has received came from a Rapture teacher, does it not stand to reason that their every knowledge of Scripture will turn upon a 'Rapture of the Church' type interpretation? They probably mean well, but their discernment has been compromised by satan's lies slipped in among the truth; oh how satan loves to blur the lines between the truth and a lie! "Who changed the truth of God into a lie..." {Rom 1:25}.
The Rapture 'doctors' (those who create, fabricate, and perpetuate the many different Rapture theories) have searched the Bible over and have found a finite number of Scriptures that they were able to pull violently out of context, twist and mould, reshape and join unnaturally one to the other until they have formed a new product, a new doctrine, seemingly supported by Biblical Scripture, but in reality nothing more than satan's 'house of cards,' built on a foundation of sand, a perversion of God's true end-time plan. We shall also discover not only the satanic origin of such doctrines, but also the immediate spiritual danger to the Christian who is haphazardly seduced by the lie. It is our intention, with the Scriptures, to take down satan's 'house of cards' and reveal the beautiful truth of God's Word that is standing right behind it, with and by the grace of God.
As we have shown through other In-depth Bible Studies on this website, satan (as the antichrist) has a plan to deceive every different 'group' of peoples, all different faiths and belief systems and each specific religion on the planet. Would you really think that satan would do it any other way? In this present Bible study we shall only concern ourselves with satan's plan to deceive the 'Protestant type branches' of Christianity into worshiping him (satan) as the false messiah (antichrist). For as we shall discover through this study, the false Rapture theory is a plant from satan, it is a deception and a lie.
In port
Below, we have quoted from the first few paragraphs of her infamous 'Rapture of the Church' revelation, taken from Ms. Margaret Macdonald's own handwritten account of her 1830 pre-tribe revelation, as included in Robert Norton's Memoirs of James & George Macdonald, of port-Glasgow (1840), pp. 171-176. And also found in The restoration of Apostles and prophets; In the Catholic Apostolic Church (1861), pp. 15-18. And also found in the incredible Cover-up by Dave Macpherson, Appendix A: "I felt this needed to be revealed and that there was great darkness and error about it; but suddenly what it was burst upon me with a glorious light."
Margaret MacDonald (Spring of 1830)
Ms. MacDonald then goes on to outline a series of 'visions' now known as the Rapture Doctrine. The spirit world is very real, but there is the Holy Spirit of God and there are satan's evil spirits, demons and the like. This is why the Bible strictly prohibits the conjuring up of spirits and communicating with the dead (Necromancy). Margaret Macdonald might well have been visited by a spirit on her sick bed that day, an evil spirit!
I John 4:1
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (KJV)
Just as the young girl below who thought she was visiting with the Mother Mary. Observe below as satan fulfils the Scripture: "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" {2 Cor 11:14}: "He was ugly, horribly ugly. You cannot imagine how ugly, he almost killed me with his gaze, I almost fainted. Then Satan went away and Our Lady came and said to me: "...renew the use of holy water, wear blessed objects and holy objects and put them in your homes." " Mirjana Dragicevic, describing a Mother Mary Apparition in Medjugorje
For whatever reason, it just seems as though evil spirits have an affinity for women and children, evident by the majority of false 'Mother Mary' sightings being by women and children. You should find it no small coincidence that both the Rapture Doctrine and Mother Mary worship were channeled through demons in the same year, A.D. 1830; the Rapture doctrine in the Spring of 1830, and Marian worship on July 18, 1830 (see below).
Review of the first Marian Apparition: July 18, 1830
The year 1830 was indeed spiritually significant, however evil, in ways we probably will not ever fully comprehend. For along with the Rapture doctrine that shall take down the Rapturists, and the Marian worship that is destroying the Catholic faithful, 1830 also witnessed the first publishing of the demonically channeled Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith and the founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cult, which among other things, teaches that Jesus Christ and Lucifer were brothers, and that we can all aspire to become gods (eerily reminiscent of New-Age theology).
Another such significant year or time frame revolves around the year 1948 which saw the establishment of the United Nations (1948-1950), the birth of the World Council of Churches (the largest such ecumenical body), the Nation of Israel once again being established (May 14, 1948), the coming to power of the modern Chinese Communist Party by Mao Tse-tung in October 1949, the Dead Sea Scrolls recovered (1947-1956), and 1948 also saw the first of our modern computers - the Super Computer E.N.I.A.C. (first to figure Pie out to 2,037 characters),..
But back to the Rapture theory, why did satan choose women to unleash two of his greatest deceptions (the Rapture theory & the worship of the deceased person Mother Mary) on the
You will remember that in Genesis chapter six, the Fallen Angels came after the women and impregnated them, siring the Giants. And in {1st Cor 11:10} the Bible warns women to have power (a covering to protect) on their heads to protect them from the angels. Women don't need protection from God's Angels, but from satan's Fallen Angels they do And if you don't know what satan did to Eve in the Garden of Eden then you might benefit from the study: WHAT WAS THE REAL SIN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN?!?. Hint: Adam and Eve weren't munching on apples, and Cain was satan's (the serpent's) biological son. Cain and Abel were Fraternal Twins.
Evil angels (The Fallen ones) are very sexual beings, perverted yes, but the Fallen Angels in Genesis chapter six even traded eternal damnation for the opportunity of impregnating flesh women: "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose" {Gen 6:2} and to document that there was a sexual union: "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God [Fallen Angels] came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown." {Gen 6:4}. The punishment for this is spoken of in the book of Jude: "And the angels [the Fallen Angels] which kept not their first estate [Heaven], but left their own habitation [came to earth in Gen 6:2], he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." {Jude 1:6}.
I apologize for the digression, but it seemed like a good place to mention the danger females can be in during the end times. Although, in {1 Cor 11:14} it tells us that the Fallen Angels will also go after men as well, "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" {1 Cor 11:14} (The word 'hair' is covering, a covering from the Fallen Angels, just as the woman is to have that covering over her (power) in verse 10 of that Scripture. I know that this isn't commonly taught, and perhaps it is shocking to tender ears, but then a lot of Biblical things aren't "commonly taught" and are "shocking" to those unlearned in the Scriptures (no offence intended). But the statements that I have just made are in the Scriptures for those who study deeply, as opposed to those who just 'skim the surface' of God's Word. Worship is worship, and Bible study is Bible study, they are both important to the Christian, especially in our time. For the Lord God has said: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" {Hosea 4:6}!
Like I said, the Fallen Angels and evil spirits are perverted, and look at their influence in the world now, what with the incredible push for Church sanctioned homosexuality; And they will have it, and very soon at that! But the Bible warns us that the Fallen Angels are coming back in the final days: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" {Rev 12:9} (Locust Army). If this is something that you never have been taught nor have studied before then you ought to get started, for we are living in the final generation. See THE FALLEN ANGELS AND THE GIANTS OF GENESIS CHAPTER SIX. But let's get back to the subject of satan disguising himself and deceiving the peoples: 2 Cor 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (KJV) Definition from the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:
Transform: Greek word #3345 metaschematizo (met-askh-ay-mat-id'-zo); from #3326 and a derivative of #4976; to transfigure or disguise; figuratively, to apply (by accommodation)
After Macdonald's vision was made known in town, two preachers heard of it, repackaged it as their own and sold it to the world. Hence, the ungodly Rapture 'Doctrine' is born in the Spring of A.D. 1830. There is some indication that the Roman Catholic Jesuit priesthood had some hand in this but as of now I cannot satisfactorily document this.
It seems that God's people just love to 'latch-on' to some new thing, some new revelation, some new doctrine. But in their desire to be 'special' or 'more inspired' than the next Christian they set them selves up to be deceived by satan. Satan works best within the vanities of man:
1 Tim 4:1
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (KJV)
2 Tim 4:2-4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (KJV)
Now as we have stated before, there are many variations of the Rapture theory. There is a Pre-millennial, an a-millennial, and a post-millennial Rapture theory. And then within the pre-millennial theory you have four further divisions: pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation, and the two-stage Rapture. The very fact that they all can't even agree on when their Rapture will happen should raise a warning beacon to all intelligent Christians; As it is written: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." {1 Cor 14:33}.
In this study we shall only cover briefly the differences in all the variations of the Rapture theory. It is not necessary to our study for us to distinguish every little thing different between all the Rapture theories because they are all wrong. Let me explain.
The Rapture theories all unanimously state that Christ shall remove certain Christians from the earth, and then at a later time He will come back and have His Second Advent and remove everyone else. They have fabricated a two-stage Second Advent! But as we shall learn in this study, when Jesus Christ does return at His Second Advent, all people living on the planet shall be changed into their spiritual body at the very same time, 'saint' and 'sinner' alike: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" {1st Cor 15:52} and the millennium period (the thousand years of Revelation 20:3-7 & Ezek chapter 38 onward) shall commence. After that comes Judgment day {Rev 20:12-13} and the casting into the
1 Cor 15:51-52 (the Second Advent of Jesus Christ)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (KJV) You can see from the above Scripture that there is no secret Rapture of selected Christians, hence the use of the word "all" in verse 51. Those that sleep (dead) are raised first because it already had happened to them (raised to their spiritual body at the moment of their death, but they are yet to be judged) and we ALL who are alive at His coming are changed to our spiritual body at the return of Jesus Christ at His prophesied Second Advent.
You will also notice from verse 52 above that this event happens at the LAST TRUMP. There are only Seven Trumps {Rev 8:7-11:19}; the antichrist comes at the SIXTH Trump, and the true Jesus Christ returns at the SEVENTH Trump - the last Trump. We shall cover this verse more in depth later in this study, and we shall show that the Rapturist will be worshipping the great deceiver antichrist at the Sixth trump and sadly will be quite surprised when the True Christ returns at the Seventh Trump - to say the least! "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." {Luke 12:40}.
1Thes 5:1-4
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (KJV)
It says that that day won't overtake us as a thief in the night (unexpectedly), it does NOT say that that day will not overtake us at all! Why would God warn us, whom "are not in darkness" and whom "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" to be careful of Christ's return if we "brethren" are to already have been Raptured out before it happened? And if we are gone prior to the Second Advent then how could it be possible "that that day should overtake you as a thief"??? This Scripture is not written to un-saved sinners or to satan worshippers, or to Muslims, or to Hindus..., it is written to God's servants, brethren of Apostle Paul in Christianity. Why would God warn us if we weren't going to be here for the event?!? He would not!
The answer is because nobody is being Raptured out of anywhere! But many will be deceived into worshipping the false christ (antichrist - satan) because they haven't been taught that satan comes first claiming to the true Jesus Christ prior to the Second Advent. When satan comes here as the false messiah the Rapturist will have been conditioned to run up to him with open arms, for now, they will think, safety and salvation are here, it is their day for rewards and peace - or is it? The Scripture says: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" (verse 3 above). That is why God warned us.
They (those deceived) will even unknowingly deliver up their unbeliever relatives and people that will deny this false christ antichrist to satan for conversion, albeit they do so in ignorance; for they will think that they are interceding for them to the true Jesus: "And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death" {Luke 21:16}. This is the Great Tribulation spoken of, and that is where their false Rapture doctrines shall lead them. But the Rapturists aren't the only ones that the antichrist will deceive, it is written that he (satan - antichrist) "deceiveth the whole world" {Rev 12:9}.
There is a certain pitiful irony in the fact that they call their Rapture doctrine the "Rapture of the 'Saints'." I could point out that it is more than a little presumptuous to go around calling oneself a Saint.... Especially when the Rapture Saints will be worshipping satan (antichrist) when our True Messiah Jesus Christ returns to the earth at His prophesied Second Advent, although they will be doing so unawares.
These Rapturists are not evil satan worshipping people, they are good Christians who truly do love the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, but they will do it in ignorance because they have allowed satan and his false ministers to deceive them with false non-Biblical teachings and the lies of men instead of the truth of God's Word. Even many ministers that teach Rapture doctrines simply teach what they have been taught and ignorantly pass on the lie like the plague - satan's plague.
We shall not even mention all the false religions of the planet, but will specifically concern ourselves with Christians in this study. The first Christians deceived by satan are the clergy, which has already been long since accomplished, the Seminaries have been compromised and teach much false doctrine. Then those ill taught clergy are used to deceive the rest of the world. It is their shame that the Scripture speaks of, as they realize that they have led their entire flock into the bed of satan: "And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb" {Rev 6:16}. They really didn't mean to, sad isn't it? Have you ever wondered just who it is that runs and finances the Seminary Colleges that produce our Clergy.
But think about it, most Christians could not care less about studying God's Word, they find it easier to go to services once a week and swallow every word from the mystery man at the pulpit without checking it out for themselves in God's Word, the Bible. Satan can reach the whole world by deceiving and/or corrupting a small number of souls who are the teachers/preachers within all the world's religions including Christianity. Can you think of a more effective plan? And as it is written, satan DOES have a plan. God warns us of that plan in the Bible that we don't read, but rather we instead listen to satan's deceived false teachers/preachers - Duh!
Jer 5:30-31
30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (KJV
Hosea 6:9
9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness. (KJV)
Don't get me wrong here, there are many good men and women of God who teach truth at any consequence, but then you also have those who teach whatever they are told to teach (by God knows who) for three meals a day, a room, and a pension. The Bible calls them 'hirelings" who forsake the flock {Jn 10:11-16}. Forsake God's children and He will forsake you!
Satan is no dummy, he revolted in the first earth age wherein he caused one third of the souls (God's children) to join him in revolt against God: "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven..." {Rev 12:4}. Satan failed to overthrow God (of course!), and God abruptly ended that age {2nd pet 3:5-8} & {Jer 4:23-27}. But satan has fine-tuned his plan for this age, compare the "seven crowns" {Rev 12:3} to the "ten crowns" {Rev 13:1}. If you do not understand this, put it on a shelf in the back of your mind and let's continue on in this study.
Thank God that the He whom judges us: "knowest the hearts" {IKing 8:39}, and: "trieth the hearts" {Prov 17:3}, and: "pondereth the hearts" {Prov 21:2}, and: "knowest the hearts of all men" {Acts 1:24}, and: "searcheth the hearts" {Rom 8:27}. In other words, God not only looks at our actions, both good and bad, but He also takes into account why we did what we did. We are not to judge the souls of others, God judges, but we are to discern where there is false teaching going on so that we may escape the deception.
God is all knowing, and there is a certain innocence in ignorance; there are many sins that we each have committed in our lives that, if we knew then what we know now, we would not have done them. Forgiveness is freely given by the grace of God to ALL whom ask it in Jesus Christ's name. And there is only ONE The Unforgivable Sin.
If you have sinned, and we all do, then repent to God for that sin, in the name of Jesus Christ. It is just that simple, but it is certainly not free, for Jesus Christ paid an awesome price for our forgiveness! And yes, false teaching is a sin.
I suppose that perhaps it is tempting, even seducing to them maybe, to believe that they will be pulled off of this earth as such holy saints (Raptured) before the troublous times, before they must stand up for the Gospel, before they must put more into their faith than mere lip-service, tithes, and hymns, before they must stand for the true Christ against the antichrist, so that others, by their teaching and witnessing, might have access to the truth in the critical last days of this age during the final assault of that vile one satan upon the children of God, our brethren.
But where would we ourselves be today if John the Baptist was Raptured out before he suffered to preach Baptism and pave the way for the Messiah Jesus Christ, even baptizing Him? What if Apostle Paul wanted to be 'gathered in the sky' before he was to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles? And
There will be no Rapture, God's servants shall serve Him on this earth during the time of the antichrist. As for me, even if there was a Rapture, I wouldn't go, I would stand and fight for my Lord, God willing and with His grace of course. The Disciples all left Christ when He was betrayed and arrested in the
God has always used man to help mankind, and when He did He strengthened them. God didn't need little David to slay Goliath (a giant like those we spoke about earlier from the Fallen Angels impregnating flesh women), but to His glory He used him. God didn't need Moses to lead His children out of captivity, but He used him, God didn't need Debra to defeat Sisera, but He used her. It's just the way God does things, he wants us to help each other, He wants us to care. But God is in control of all things, he always has been, he always will be. To Him we say: "Thy will be done" {Mat 6:10}!
