1517. The Rapture Proved by the Saints Escaping the Tribulation
The Rapture Proved by the Saints Escaping the Tribulation
"God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Th_5:9).
There are two things we wish to say, in order to establish the fact that the Rapture of the saints is a necessity before the darkness of the tribulation comes on.
1. God will shield His people Israel from the coming storm
In Isa_26:20-21 we read this statement:
"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity."
A second passage is found in Luk_21:28 and Luk_21:36; which reads:
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
A third passage is found in Rev_12:14 :
"And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
The passages above clearly show that certain ones of Israel will be shielded from satan's wrath and from the dire judgment which will befall the earth during the tribulation period.
Revelation 7 also recounts the sealing of 144,000 of Israel during the day of Jacob's trouble.
Our first argument is this: If certain of Israel are to be protected, shielded, and certain others sealed during the tribulation period, even though they be still upon the earth; we may anticipate in the Word of God definite teaching concerning God's shielding and succoring of His Church during that same period.
The difference is this: The certain of Israel are protected in the tribulation, just like Noah was protected in the flood; the Church, on the other hand, is raptured, and taken out of the tribulation, just like Enoch was raptured and taken out before the flood swept over the earth.
2. God Will Take Out His People, the Church, Before the Tribulation
(1) The saints will be raptured before the tribulation because they are not of the night.
"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; * * for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him" (1Th_5:5-10).
What comfort these words bring! The Lord Jesus Christ, on one occasion said, "The night cometh, when no man can work."
The Prophet of old said, "Watchman, what of the night?"–and the response was, "The morning cometh, and also the night" (Isa_21:12).
The day of tribulation will be the darkest hour of the world's night.
Saints, however, are not of the night, but are of the day, therefore they may put on the hope of salvation because God hath not appointed them to wrath, but to obtain the glory.
This salvation is the same as that of Heb_9:28 :
"Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time, apart from sin, unto salvation" (1911 Bible).
This salvation from wrath, is to be brought unto us at the coming of the Lord Jesus. It is for those who sleep as well as for those who wake. The result of the salvation, is that we shall live together with Him.
(2) The saints will be raptured before the tribulation, because they are destined to rest, instead of to punishment.
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God" (2Th_1:7-8).
The vengeance of this verse culminates at the coming of Christ riding upon the white horse, but it begins earlier in the tribulation when the fire proceeds from the throne, and the angelic ministry of vengeance starts.
Surely, during all this period, the saints will be at rest, and not left in the turmoil of judgment.
(3) The saints will be raptured before the tribulation because the Mat_24:1-51 sets forth the judgment of the tribulation, both the beginning of sorrows, and the sorrows intensified, and the wrath completed.
In this chapter, one of the signs of the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives is the fact that the rapture has taken place.
Two will be in the bed, at the millstone, in the field; one shall be taken and the other left.
(4) The saints will not pass through the tribulation, because when the holy spirit addressed His message to Philadelphia, He said:
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev_3:10).
The above passages along with the fact that the Church is never seen in the anguish of the tribulation period in the Book of Revelation, is sufficient proof that the Church will be raptured and be with the Lord before the earth reels to and fro like a drunken man, under the wrath of Almighty God.
The tribulation is the period of Jacob's trouble, and not the period of trouble appointed unto the Church.
Even the perverse and treacherous sons of Jacob shall be carried through the hour of anguish and shall ultimately inherit the land.
In addition to all that is written, God's unerring taw is this: He always takes out His chosen and elect, before His judgments fall.
Study these facts:
Noah was secured against the deluge. Lot was removed before Sodom burned. Israel was taken out of the Red Sea before the waters returned. The faithful stood aside before the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up Korah's crowd.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR