| Among the many elements concerning the last day’s scenario, Peter gave one particular point of identification that is clearly present with us today. That is the presence of scoffers.
2 Peter 3:1-7
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His Coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the Earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the Earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Peter is telling us that scoffers will come in the last days, denying the 2nd Coming of Jesus, which is clearly stated in scripture. (Zechariah 14:4, Revelation 19:11-16) Their argument and justification for doing so are; Jesus has been gone a long time, and we’ve heard about this since the church fathers died. Peter then says, those who scoff at the 2nd Coming forget that Jesus 2nd Coming is in judgment and the final judgment will not be in the water but in the fire, which hasn’t happened yet.
The Rapture deniers of our day employ the same practice as those who deny the Second Coming, they ignore what is clearly stated in scripture by claiming neither Jesus nor Paul believed in or taught the Rapture of the church.
John 14:1-3
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Revelation 19:7-8
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 19:11-14
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
Jesus said He would come again and receive those who believe in Him that they may be where He is. Like many words in the English language, the Greek word translated “receive” can mean several things. It can mean; to associate with or to receive near. However in the context of what Jesus said the word can be rightfully translated as, to take up. Jesus said He is coming again to “take up” believers to where He is.
Revelation identifies those who return with Jesus by their apparel, fine linen, and those clothed in fine linen white and clean return with Jesus when He returns to the Earth.
That means John 14:1-3 cannot be referring to the 2nd Coming because at the second coming, the saints of God come down to Earth with Jesus, which requires them having been previously taken up to be with Him where He is, which is in His Father’s house.
The argument of the Rapture denier today is that belief in the Rapture gives people false hope and leaves them unprepared for the tribulation that is coming upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the Earth.
Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the Earth.
There is a difference between tribulations and “the tribulation.” In this life, we will have tribulation, but we will not go through “the tribulation.” It is a time that tests those who dwell on the Earth, and the saints of God are never referred to as “earth dwellers.” We are called pilgrims and sojourners whose citizenship is not of this world but is in heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the Coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
To claim there is no Rapture and that we need to prepare for the horrors of the tribulation is not very comforting, and that’s because it is not Biblical.
Jesus is coming to “take up” His church to where He is, and then He is coming “with” His church to judge the Earth and rule and reign in righteousness for a thousand years.
The Rapture is clearly taught in scripture, and so is the 2nd Coming. Distinct from one another but equally comforting to consider.
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus! |
