The Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and the Rapture Part 2
I was wrong
For nearly the forty years of my life as a believer I believed and later taught that at any moment Christ could come and rapture the church after which the "Tribulation" would commence. I was wrong.
Early on my understanding of the timing of the catching up of the saints was largely fashioned by the various groups of churches and preachers that made up my fellowship. The teaching of my father, who early on was my pastor, was principle among them with hundreds if not thousands of other pastors, teachers, and evangelists reinforcing the Pre-Trib rapture narrative to me. Until all but a few years ago I was comfortable with the consensus of the multitude of my peers. This consensus kept me from questioning the teaching of a Pre-trib rapture of the Church.
For many years, my method of study relied upon a limited quantity and range of study materials in book, pamphlet, and article form. Before the digital age the assimilation and proving (being a Berean) of such materials was very long and laborious and often lacking evidence, the end result being an incomplete understanding of certain doctrines presented in the Holy Scriptures.
However, as I matured as a believer and later was called to the position of Pastor my understanding greatly moved from resting in the scholarship and consensus of “good godly men” to having a mastery of the various doctrines of Scripture derived from my personal time in the Word and listening to and reading the teaching of other gifted men of God (“He gave some...teachers”).
With the introduction of the digital age and the internet I have been able to put together a digital library of books, sermons, commentaries, theological journal articles, historical church documents, etc.. These allow me to efficiently process and examine teaching that has often exposed blind spots in my understanding and has given me the information I lacked to have sound judgement concerning various doctrines of Holy Scriptures.
Concerning my previously held belief and teaching of the Pre-trib rapture, I used these tools to become, what I had believed to be, a master over the subject. I had accumulated the teachings and apologetics of the men at the forefront of the defense of the pre-trib rapture position and made them my own. I had become very skilled in the hermeneutical gymnastics of defending and promoting this long held fundamental Baptist position. Some of those I followed and studied were: Dr. Thomas Ice, Dr. Dwight Pentecost, Dr. John Walvoord, Dr. Norman Geisler, Dr. Richard Mayhue, Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. Ed Hindson, Dr. Wayne Brindle, Dr. Renald Showers, Dr. David Hunt, Dr. Charles Ryrie, Dr. C. I. Scofield, Dr. Clarence Larkin, and many many others.
However, after my wife and I entered into a year and a half period of thorough study to examine and prove from the Scriptures our long held eschatological beliefs I found that the pre-trib rapture system which I once believed and taught had been exposed as an error.
Making wrongs right
This is part 2 of an ongoing series the purpose of which is an attempt to make right the error that I have believed and contributed to through my teaching.
I thank God for the mercy and grace that He has directed toward me in allowing me not only to see clearly the truth in this matter but also to give me opportunity to correct the error I have propagated with my teaching. Glory to His name.
The reason I did not see this error before is that I would not hear
One of the greatest dangers that anyone can be in is a position where they cease to hear the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, concerning a matter. I understand the reason that error continued uncorrected for so many years was that I refused to listen to those who taught the plain Scriptural position of the rapture of the church. The eschatological system that I held caused me to discount the truth before even hearing it. In fact, my blindness was even such that instead of thoroughly examining what recently has been called the “Pre-Wrath Rapture Model” as many teach it, I simply relied upon the plethora of Pre-trib rebuttals to it, thinking that they accurately presented the pre-wrath position. I know now that this was a great error.
(Note: “Pre-wrath Rapture” is a recently given name to the long-held belief of the church concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.)
I beg you please follow Paul's admonition to the Thessalonians not to quench the Holy Spirit’s work or despise preaching and teaching. It is through this that we learn, grow, and mature. Hear first, then prove all things. That which is found to be right, hold onto. That which is found to be wrong, put away from you.
1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
1Th 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Again, please do not do what I did for so long. First hear me out then make your decision. I believe that an honest hearing of the “pre-wrath” position for the timing of the rapture will settle this question forever in your mind and leave you with the same enthusiasm that the Lord has given me for His soon return.
The various views on the timing of the gathering of the Church
The Scriptures are very emphatic that at some point in the future all believers in Jesus Christ will be gathered unto Him. In John 14:3 Jesus said if I go away “I will come again, and receive you unto myself.” Paul describes this in much detail in 1 Thes. 4:13-17, which is the standard passage concerning the rapture. He says:
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
These are just two of many passages of Scripture that make reference to the Second Coming of Christ and the Church’s rapture or gathering to Him. It is the importance of this future event that has led to the development of a handful of eschatological models or systems to explain its timing.
Concerning the second coming of Christ
This study is going to take for granted that the coming and continuing presence (parousia) of Christ will take place before the millennial period of Christ’s literal physical reign on the Earth as spoken of in Revelation 20. So, this teaching is from a Premillennial position concerning the coming of Christ with both Amillennialism and Postmillennialism being rejected entirely.
The four views concerning the gathering of the saints
There are today four prominent teachings concerning the timing of the rapture. Each have their own distinctives.
The Pre-tribulational Rapture Model
This position is characterized by a belief in:
· The Lord will remove the saints of God (the church) from the Earth before dealing with Israel again
· This removal is imminent “could happen at any moment”
· There are no signs that need to come before this catching up (rapture)
· The church is exempted from the wrath of God and therefore raptured before it is poured out
· The rapture must take place before the 70th week of Daniel (last 7 years of this age) commences
· The 70th week is the “tribulation period” and “the Day of the LORD”
· The last 3.5 years are known as the “Great Tribulation”
· It is secret, Christ is not seen by the earth dwellers
· The rapture is distinct from the second coming of Christ
The Mid-tribulation Rapture Model
The mid-trib position is like the pre-trib position except the wrath is said to begin half way through the 70th week of Daniel. So, the church being not destined for God’s wrath is raptured at the mid-way point.
· The 70th week is the “Tribulation Period”
· The last 3.5 years is the “Great Tribulation” and “the Day of the LORD”
· The rapture must take place before the last 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th week commences
The Post-Tribulation Rapture Model
It is almost universally recognized that the vast majority of historical church documents available to be examined today have been categorized as holding a post-trib position concerning the timing of the rapture. This is especially true of those of the reformation period. There are many variations of the post-trib model but in its classic sense post-tribbers believe:
· The 70th week is the “Tribulation Period”
· The church must endure the entire 7 year period, to be raptured at the end of the tribulation.
· God will protect his own through His wrath.
The Pre-Wrath Rapture Model
Last of all there is the newly named “Pre-Wrath Rapture” position. Those who have held this position long were lumped together with the other three depending upon which point of truth was being emphasized at the time. It can be shown that many historic Christian writers who are claimed by both the Pre-tribbers and the Post-tribbers alike instead held the “pre-wrath” position.
The Pre-Wrath position is not a new position of the Church. The only thing that is new is the name. The view that the church would see the Antichrist and be removed prior to God’s judgment was without question, the view of the early church fathers.
Those who hold the Pre-Wrath position believe:
· The church is not appointed unto God's wrath.
· The “great tribulation” is not God's wrath upon the earth dwellers, it is Satan’s wrath upon the saints of God.
· The church will see the Antichrist and go through the “great tribulation.”
· The “great tribulation” begins three and a half years into the seventieth week.
· The “great tribulation” is shortened to save some of the elect alive.
· The “great tribulation” is shortened by the arrival of the Day of the Lord.
· The arrival of the Day of the LORD is announced by a great earthquake and the sun, moon, and stars going dark.
· While the lost world hides the saints look up and are raptured before God's wrath is poured out upon the earth dwellers upon the Day of the LORD.
· The rapture and the singular second coming are one and the same. They are also referred to as the Day of the LORD and the Day of Christ.
These are the four primary models concerning the timing of the rapture and first resurrection in relation to the last seven years of this age (Daniel’s seventieth week).
Expectancy is not imminency
Aside from the false understanding that the entire seventieth week is the period of God’s wrath, the false teaching of imminency did more to hold me in the Pre-trib camp than any other. The so-called doctrine of imminency, as I had taught it and as it is taught by Pre-tribbers today, purports that the Bible teaches that a secret rapture could happen at any moment and that the condition has been such since the days of the Apostles. Many passages which communicate an air of expectancy are referenced in support of this teaching. However, this is just another of the false notions which support the Pre-trib rapture model.
After coming to understand that the wrath of God does not begin until the sun, moon, and stars go dark at some point in the second half of the seventieth week, thereby allowing the rapture to fall after the great tribulation, I began to examine the other pillars which held up the Pre-trib model of eschatology. Among them was the “any moment rapture.” In investigation of this I took all the verses I had used to support the any moment return of Christ and asked of each of them the question: does this verse say that Christ could rapture His church at any moment? Let’s look at each of these supposed proofs for the doctrine of imminence.
Before each passage of Scripture, I have written a short statement of what is communicated in it concerning the rapture and Christ’s coming. You will notice that not even one of these passages say that Jesus will return unexpectedly at “any moment.” To help you further understand the Scripturally unsupportable position of the pre-trib model of the rapture all of the verses which pre-tribbers claim are referring to the rapture are in blue and the verses that pre-tribbers claim refer to the second coming but not the rapture are in green. To prevent too much redundancy by going back to look at these verses later I will make some observations concerning most of them following the texts at this time.
Jesus says he will come again to receive His own to Himself
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 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.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
All creation is waiting for the day the saints come into the fullness of their inheritance
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Co 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The living believer will be changed in an indivisible point of time at the last trump following the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 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.
The Lord is coming
1Co 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
Looking for our Saviour and our glorification
Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
The Lord is near
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
When He appears we shall appear with Him
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
We are to wait for Jesus to rescue us from the coming wrath
1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
For the believer to be in the Lord’s presence at His coming is Paul's ultimate reward
1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
Jesus is coming to take unto Himself both the dead and the living in Christ. Those alive shall be caught up together with the dead in Christ into the clouds to be forever with the Lord.
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The believer, whether living or dead, is not appointed unto wrath but to be saved from it.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Paul prayed that the whole man would be blameless unto the Lord’s coming
1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ’s coming and our gathering to Him (the day of Christ) will not be at hand until the ap-os-tas-ee'-ah and revealing of the man of sin comes
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Paul tells Timothy to keep the commandment until Jesus appears
1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Jesus will judge the living and dead at His appearing and His kingdom
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Believers are to live right as they look for that blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
For many years, it has been taught that the blessed hope is the rapture/resurrection of the dead in Christ and that the glorious appearing is something altogether separate. But this is absolutely false. The rapture is an integral part of the Parousia (coming and continuing presence) of Christ.
Jesus will save or rescue those who look for Him when He appears the second time
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Be patient waiting for the Lord’s coming, it is getting nearer
Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Jas 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Be rewarded at the revelation of Jesus by passing the test when your faith is tried
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Peter says that the trial of our faith we will be rewarded at Christ's appearing. The Greek word translated appearing in this passage is the same one from which we get the title of the book of Revelation in Rev. 1:1. It is the word (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis) which is a disclosure, revealing, or manifestation of something or someone. In this text it is the revelation or appearing of Jesus Himself. The word is used to describe this event seven times in the New Testament.
Paul speaks of this event using the same Greek word. It is here translated “revealed”.
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Notice that His revelation is when the saints will be able to rest from the tribulation they are experiencing. His revelation is when He comes in vengeance with the mighty angels. It is when he will be glorified in His saints (That is when the principalities and powers in heavenly places see the wisdom of God in the redemption of mankind [“his saints”] and the Eternal God is glorified [Eph. 3:10]. The redemption that brings God glory is complete at the first resurrection/rapture when the saints receive their immortal bodies [Luke 21:28, Rom. 8:23, Php. 3:21, 1 Cor. 15:51-52]).
It really isn’t hard to see, that again and again the Scriptures tell us that the rapture/resurrection and the revelation/second coming are part of the singular return of Christ (parousia) and they happen at the same time.
Be completely confident that at His revelation Jesus Christ will come with favor toward you
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Peter says that it is at Christ’s revelation that we are to with confidence expect his favour, implying that we meet Him then. This is the revelation (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis).
Paul tells Timothy to keep the commandment until Jesus appears
1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Jesus will judge the living and dead at His appearing and His kingdom
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Believers are to live right as they look for that blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
For many years, it has been taught that the blessed hope is the rapture/resurrection of the dead in Christ and that the glorious appearing is something altogether separate. But this is absolutely false. The rapture is an integral part of the Parousia (coming and continuing presence) of Christ.
Jesus will save or rescue those who look for Him when He appears the second time
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Be patient waiting for the Lord’s coming, it is getting nearer
Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Jas 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Be rewarded at the revelation of Jesus by passing the test when your faith is tried
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Peter says that the trial of our faith we will be rewarded at Christ's appearing. The Greek word translated appearing in this passage is the same one from which we get the title of the book of Revelation in Rev. 1:1. It is the word (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis) which is a disclosure, revealing, or manifestation of something or someone. In this text it is the revelation or appearing of Jesus Himself. The word is used to describe this event seven times in the New Testament.
Paul speaks of this event using the same Greek word. It is here translated “revealed”.
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Notice that His revelation is when the saints will be able to rest from the tribulation they are experiencing. His revelation is when He comes in vengeance with the mighty angels. It is when he will be glorified in His saints (That is when the principalities and powers in heavenly places see the wisdom of God in the redemption of mankind [“his saints”] and the Eternal God is glorified [Eph. 3:10]. The redemption that brings God glory is complete at the first resurrection/rapture when the saints receive their immortal bodies [Luke 21:28, Rom. 8:23, Php. 3:21, 1 Cor. 15:51-52]).
It really isn’t hard to see, that again and again the Scriptures tell us that the rapture/resurrection and the revelation/second coming are part of the singular return of Christ (parousia) and they happen at the same time.
Be completely confident that at His revelation Jesus Christ will come with favor toward you
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Peter says that it is at Christ’s revelation that we are to with confidence expect his favour, implying that we meet Him then. This is the revelation (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis).
Have confidence and not shame before Christ at His coming and appearance by continuing in Him
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
John here clearly says that it is at His coming (parousia) that we, the church, stand before him.
We will be like Christ when He appears
1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Guard your love for God as you confidently await His mercy unto eternal life
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jesus tells the faithful in Thyatira to maintain their faithfulness till He comes
Rev 2:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Because of their faithfulness those of the church in Philadelphia will not experience the time of trial that will come upon the earth dwellers
Rev 3:10 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.
The texts that we have just looked at are the 26 prominent passages used to teach imminence, the any moment return of Jesus Christ to rapture His church. However, as it has been demonstrated, not a single one of them says that Jesus will appear at any moment to rapture away His church. In them we are told that He will at some future time gather His own unto Himself. We are also told that we should patiently wait for His return. But not a single one says to expect Him at any moment.
Imminency is a false doctrine
After honest investigation, I realized that imminency was a false doctrine. In fact, the teaching of an “any moment” return of Christ was a subtle twisting of the true Bible doctrine of watchful expectancy for Christ’s return.
Imminency as I taught it and as it is taught today by pre-tribbers was developed and has become entrenched as an essential support for the pre-trib rapture model. As such it has found a place in the doctrinal statements of evangelical churches right alongside of the Deity of Christ and Christ's future literal, physical, premillennial coming. For roughly the past hundred years, believers without any critical scriptural investigation have believed in the “any moment” return of Christ for His church.
For years I taught, that from the earliest days of the church the Apostles taught that Jesus could come, without sign, at any moment. Now I marvel that I was so blind. One single passage of Scripture is all it takes to expose this as a false teaching.
Peter didn't preach imminency
Jesus says to Peter in the forty days after His resurrection:
Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Joh 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Jesus told Peter how he would die, saying that he would be an old man. That being true, it is certain that Peter could never have believed or taught that Jesus could come at any moment and rapture him away. Jesus spoke of Peter’s death, how he should glorify God. Peter would die as a martyr in his old age, he would not be raptured.
That passage alone should strike the death nail to the false doctrine of imminency. Yet there are many more scriptural observations which make it clear that the any moment rapture is unsupported by the Holy Scriptures.
Paul didn't preach imminency
It is also true that Paul didn’t believe or teach the any moment rapture either. At the time of Paul’s conversion, it was promised that he would bear Christ’s name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel and that he would suffer great things for Christ’s sake.
Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
God also spoke through Agabus concerning Paul’s future.
Act 21:11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
Later the Lord told Paul that he would witness in Rome also.
Act 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Paul when writing to Timothy spoke of his soon departure from this life (his death as a martyr).
2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
All this being true, there is no way that Paul taught an “any moment” rapture. In fact, he taught exactly what Jesus did, which is that there must first be a falling away (a great departure from the faith) and that the antichrist would be revealed before the coming (parousia) and our gathering together unto Him.
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Continued
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