More prophecy teachers today are calling for the Rapture, more so than any time since I started looking for the Blessed Hope back in 2007. However, according to some, the Pre-wrath and post-tribulation position on the rapture are spreading like wildfire within the church. That is, Christians will go through the first half or all the Tribulation. The Apostle Paul believed in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church. There is much to be celebrated and immense joy in the Rapture.
Remember, the devil has three objectives: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:” John 10:10. Surely, he wants to steal from Christians the joy of the Rapture and destroy any “hope” we have of leaving this earth before the Tribulation. Error always comes in when one teaches with an accusatory spirit; accusing one of not believing the truth because it is seen in a different way. Truth comes when teaching a blessing in a positive light. The Bible is clear when the Rapture will take place and is determined by only two conditions. Even at the beginning of Church history, Paul had to address the Thessalonians as they were already “deceived” into thinking they were in the Tribulation and had missed the Rapture.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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. 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; 2 Thes. 2:1-3.
Paul is letting the Church at Thessalonica know that they were not in the Tribulation when they thought they were. This teaching is in the bible for the reason we see now. The key to this passage is “let no man deceive you”. That includes Bible teachers, myself included. He goes on to say, “that day shall not come”; what day? The day of the Tribulation. The first condition: a falling away takes place. The “falling away” or apostasia as the Greek says, must be something specific, something measurable. The common consensus view on the apostasy is that of the Church departing from the faith towards the end. But how does one measure that? This view never really made sense to me. Yes, some of the Church has left “sound” doctrine as the prophecy foretold in 2nd Timothy 4:3 (perhaps Pre-wrath and Post-Trib falls in this category), but there are still many bible believing churches today full of faith. The Lord has been on the move lately with revival around the country which will increase next year I believe. So, what is the “falling away” if not the church? There is another view, one to which I subscribe. The Apostasy in a spiritual sense is that of the Jewish acceptance of the Antichrist by signing the 7-year covenant which includes the ability to have temple sacrifices, and the world in general with their acceptance of the Antichrist as savior. That is a specific event that can be seen immediately. The majority of the early Church fathers associated the Antichrist with the “falling away” some even going so far as giving the Antichrist the title of “The Apostasy”. At the time of signing, the Jewish leaders know it is wrong yet, choose to do regardless of the scriptural truth they know. Instead of receiving protection, Israel increases her troubles exponentially. Idolatry at its worst.
Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. Isaiah 28:14-18
One could say the Jews fell into a falling away already when they rejected Jesus by ignoring the Old Testament prophecies that foretold of His first coming. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. John 5:43. Here, Jesus is prophesying the Jews will accept the Antichrist when he comes. The second condition: the Antichrist is revealed. Well, the revealing happens right after the falling away when Israel signs the 7-year covenant (Dan. 9:27). So, if you look around and see the 7-year covenant signed and the Antichrist revealed, then you missed the Rapture. If you don’t see these two conditions, then the Tribulation is yet to come. The Bible never once calls on Christians to look for the Antichrist, but to look for “that Blessed Hope” Titus 2:13.
Speaking of the Antichrist, Revelation speaks of a beast (The Antichrist) rising out of the sea, having seven heads. One of those heads receives a deadly wound, but then is healed.
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. Rev. 13:1-3.
It has been suggested that this ‘head’ is one of the world rulers or politicians at the time who is slain; the soul goes to hell but Satan revives the body and inserts a soul of a previous Roman Emporer that becomes the Antichrist. The world will see this happen and “all the world wondered after the beast”. The Old Testament confirms this deadly wound, giving further credence to the Apostasy of the Jewish people at the time of the signing since they will clearly recognize this “Idol” Shepherd by his specific wounds mentioned in Zechariah.
And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. Zech. 11:15-17
This passage in Zecharia finds ultimate fulfillment when the Antichrist comes. The word “Idol” means worthless. We can see this shepherd will receive a wound to the head, specifically the eye and his right arm. Interestingly, Jesus sits at the ‘right hand” of the Father and here the Antichrist loses his right arm. However, perhaps the resurrected soul is not that of a former Roman emperor.
The Bible says there is nothing new under the sun. “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” Ecc. 1:9. I believe Satan’s original sin was that as a traitor committing treason against God in which he took a third of the Angels with him causing an ancient war within Heaven and our Solar system. But that is a story for another day. John and Luke record an instance when Satan enters into Judas in order to betray Jesus. Judas becomes a traitor, committing an act of treason against Jesus.
Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. Luke 22:3
And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. John 13:27.
God allowed Satan at this time to directly enter Judas to control his soul so the prophecy of Christ’ death and resurrection could be fulfilled. When Judas died after hanging himself on a tree, the Bible says he went to his “own” place. That is a specific indication he went somewhere outside the normal location of unbelievers in hell. “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place” Acts 1:25. It is possible upon death that Satan was also allowed to retain Judas’ soul for his own purposes.
Revelation calls the Antichrist the “son of perdition”. Perdition means destroying, utter destruction. “Son of perdition” is used exactly two times in the Bible.
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; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:12
Jesus in the book of John names Judas the “son of perdition”.
Maranatha!
Looking for that Blessed Hope! 