PRE-TRIBULATION
RAPTURE
2
THESSALONIANS 2:3 DEPARTURE
The
Falling Away Conundrum
by
Luis B. Vega
vegapost@hotmail.com
www.PostScripts.org
‘Now
we beseech you, Brethren, by the coming [Parousia] of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our assembling
[Episunagoges] unto Him, That ye be not suddenly moved
from your mind, nor troubled neither by spirit, nor by
word, nor by letter, as it were from us, as though the
Day of Christ were at hand. Let no man deceive you by
any means: for that day shall not come, except there
come a
Departing first,
and that that Man of Sin be disclosed, even the Son of
Perdition.’ -2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 1599 Geneva
Bible (GNV) with emphasis.
The
purpose of this study is to present a framework of why the
Resurrection/Rapture event is pre-Tribulation, before the
70th Week of Years is to be completed per Daniel. The
study will basically present factors that will look at
several aspects, that for the most part is from a
philosophical angle not covered in the research that has
been available thus far. There is much confusion now in
the Last Days as to the word ‘Apostasia’ in Greek that
means to ‘Falling Away’. The context and question are
found in the passage from 2 Thessalonians 2:3. One of the
roots of the word ‘Apostasia’ is ‘Aphistemi’. It can mean
to withdraw, depart, or remove, in addition to falling
away. The issue is what is the subject? Is it the
departure as in the Rapture of the Bride of Christ or of
one’s Faith? To introduce the debate, this study suggests
first of all, a historical translation argument.
One’s theology and doctrine, as in this case of the timing
of the Rapture is based on historical precedence and on
what version of the Bible was and is being used to
translate this word, to ‘Fall Away’. Consider that up to
the 19th century, the main translations of the
Bible, at least in the West and in English were based
primarily on the Textus Receptus. This is where the
context determined the interpretation of the ‘Falling
Away’ to infer that it was the ‘gathering’ unto Jesus,
i.e., the Rapture. Then there was the introduction or
rather the indoctrination of the liberal Westcott-Hort
Sinaiticus and Alexandrian Texts in the 19th
century. It introduced from there on out, the switch in
the interpretation of the Greek word ‘Apostasia’ to mean a
‘Falling Away’ from the Faith, etc.
The
point is that the majority within the Church Body now
believes this interpretation but only since the mid-19th
century. However, this was not the prevailing thought and
interpretation beforehand. It came along with the newly
found modern translations of the Greek New Testament of
which most, if not all of the modern versions of the
English Bible are based upon now. This is problematic as
it has been shown that numerous passages have been
altered, words are missing. And it has led to such
discrepancies as in this case, what is the most
appropriated rendering of the timing of the Rapture. Is it
no coincidence that the patent and rights to most of these
new translations such as the New International Version,
the NIV for example are owned by the Nestle Corporation?
It
is a Luciferian globalist corporation out of Switzerland,
that in turn is owned by the Rothschilds. And such modern
versions are based in Reformed Theology. And this has led
to much division within the Body of Christ, as it was
exactly planned to do. The true rendering of the
interpretation is that the ‘Falling Away’ refers to the
‘Departure’ of the Bride of Christ from Earth. Why? It is
because it can then only necessitate the revealing the
coming AntiChrist. And it unfortunately is the minority
opinion. To reiterate, the word ‘Apostasia’, in the
context of 2 Thessalonians 2 was always understood to mean
‘The Departing’. The word contextually was alluding to the
Rapture instead of the ‘Falling Away’ from an apostate
spiritual condition. A detailed verse listing will be
provided further in the study to support this assertion.
Thus,
the point is that on the contrary, the post and
mid-Tribulation theories have been a modern invention
introduced by the apostates Westcott and Hort that
translated the modern versions. The purpose of this study
is to offer only some added factors and a philosophical
approach to the perspectives of having studied this topic
for over 40+ years. This is not to say that just by mere
longevity, it is validating the arguments for a
pre-Tribulation Rapture. Those that take the contrary
positions also have ones with 40+ years of study defending
it. And to say that one is in no way attempting to
‘convince’ others to this point of view. This study is
only to encourage and strengthen the faith of all those
that do hold to the pre-Tribulation Rapture sequence.
It is the Blessed Hope that is to come that is not
contingent upon the ‘apostate’ spiritual condition of the
Church Body which has been deteriorating since its
beginning. Also, at the core is the phrase, ‘by our
assembly unto Him’ implies the gathering of all the Body
in 1 place at 1 time. One objection to the pre-Tribulation
Rapture interpretation is that most that argue to the
contrary, believe that the position is ‘escapism’. That it
makes for a Believer of Jesus to become apathetic and
absent-minded to not be fully affective in making change
for the good on Earth with the Gospel. As to the first
objection, guilty as charged. As to the second count,
nothing could be further from the truth.
As
least in one’s own Journey of Faith, the doctrine of the
Rapture before the conclusion of Daniel’s 70th
Week of Years has inspired one to redeem the time; to
witness and warn with urgency. It has not been a longing
or desire to ‘escape’ tribulation as that is what the
Church Age Believers have all but known. It is a promise.
It is the Blessed Hope that when the Tribulation of Israel
and the world comes, the Bride of Christ will have been
completed of the last Gentile. This is currently being
done during this Pentecostal ‘intermission’ period of
Grace called the Church Age and then to be called to
gather. The pre-Tribulation position has been a cause to
prioritize the limited energy and resources one has been
given. The time has been utilized to the maximum capacity
in light of the coming ominous ‘1 Hour of Trial’ upon the
world.
Historical Factor
The pre-Tribulation Rapture will make way for this
coming transformation to occur of that ‘1 Hour of Trial’
upon ALL the inhabitants on Earth. And only then can it
occur as the inhabitants of the Earth will then go through
with the advent of the AntiChrist and Lucifer’s New World
Order, etc.
The
quandary occurs when if the initial Rapture is to take
place anytime within the Tribulation Period, then what is
the Restrainer doing? He must not be doing a good job. It
has been promised by Jesus that the Gates of Hell would
not prevail over the Church Body. Yet, during the
Tribulation Period, power is given to the AntiChrist to
wear-out the Saints and overcome them. This would be
contradictory to what Christ promised in so many passages.
To continue, the backdrop of this study for defending the
pre-Tribulation Rapture interpretation of the Bible is
historical. Why?
As an objection from those that argue to the contrary, a
recurring pattern is observed. Many have not really delved
into the issue by doing their own research and have only
relied on the arguments espoused by the teaching of
others, doctrines of men, etc. One example has to do with
the confusion over the ‘Rapture’ as there are many of them
that have occurred and will. This is due to the multiple
series of Raptures or translations that have occurred and
will, especially in the book of Revelation during which
time, there will be multiple ‘Raptures’ throughout the
7-year Tribulation Period.
Based
on one’s research or the book of Revelation, there are
actually 7 ‘Raptures’ or translations that will occur.
This will be further developed later in the study. Then
there are those that tend to not have read the entirety
nor understand the whole of the Old Testament typologies
that are fulfilled in the New Testament. Why is this an
issue? The Old Testament provides the rationale for the
context and for the purpose of the Rapture(s) or
‘translation(s)’. The point being is that the divine
pattern of YHVH given to His People has always been,
‘warning and rescue’ of the pending judgments of YHVH.
This
pattern is prophetically seen as in the case of the Flood
of Noah and the judgement of the 5 cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah as types of a ‘Falling away’ as in a ‘Departing’
and thereafter a ‘new beginning’ ensues. This pattern is
what will precisely occur, the Rapture first then the New
World Order, etc. If one takes only the isolated passages
of the New Testament without interpreting the context in
direct reference to the Old Testament, as it was delivered
to the 1st audience and time, it thus surely
leads to the current erroneous interpretations.
Case in point is the Olivet Discourse in how many modern
denominations have doctrinally replaced the ‘Church’ with
Israel. So, is it any wonder? If the Church had replaced
Israel, then it would make sense and one would be a
post-Tribulationists and/or pre-Wrath-er. In fact, many of
the Scandinavian Protestant churches have now totally
removed the word ‘Israel’ from the entire Old and New
Testament citations.
The Military
Call Factor
It is
rather amazing that in the small passage of 2
Thessalonians 2 that would seem inconspicuous is packed
with rich prophecy. It delineates from the start the
difference between the 2nd coming of Jesus, the
‘Parousia’ that will be visible, literally, and
physically. It is contrasted to the gathering or
‘Epiphaneia’ unto Jesus, or the ‘Episunagoges’. This
gathering will be invisible at the Resurrection/Rapture
event. From the outset, this is arguably the most
important part of the debate or should be as this
establishes the context of what the ‘Falling Away’ is
directly inferring to, a falling back.
The
context can be seen through the lens of a military
‘retreat’ of a Company that is to ‘fall back’ for
inspection after a war campaign. This is the gathering
that will take place in the air with Jesus, etc. It then
necessitates a ‘Departure’ or ‘falling-out’ of the ranks
of those in position of being stationed currently in the
world as to guarding of a specific time and place. It is a
post of one being a ‘Testimony’ and a ‘Witness’; of being
the ‘Salt and the Light of the World’, etc. This is
exactly what will take place as Christ has commissioned
the Church Body and every individual within to be as a
‘soldier’, stationed and positioned for a post while on
Earth.
In the military, of which one has briefly been privileged
to be part of, the U.S. Army and the Israeli Defense
Force, the rank of Lieutenant is exemplary of this
argument. In what way? The word Lieutenant comes from a
combination of ‘Tenant’, to guard, as in a Sentinel. The
other word is ‘Lieu’, as in a place, to stand in place
from a commission or post, etc. Thus, for those in the
military, it is not beyond the realm of logic that the
‘falling away’ in essence, is a calling to ‘retreat’ as in
to ‘fall back’ and not pertinent to the spiritual state of
one’s Faith.
This is what will precisely occur at the time of the
Resurrection and Rapture event. It will first be the
invisible appearing of Jesus Christ in the clouds with the
Trumpet Call that the Israelites used to summon the camp
in the wilderness with. Israel at that time was configured
by rank and file, divisions, and standards as YHVH saw
them as a ‘church’ and an army marching to the Promised
Land and led by Joshua. This of course is the typology of
what Jesus is doing now in leading ‘many sons to glory’,
etc. This means that likewise, at the sound of the Trump
of GOD, the dead in Christ will rise first and then those
that remain at their station, their post as ‘Lieutenants’
will be gathered-up together.
Thus,
the passage of 2 Thessalonians 2 starts out with the end
gathering of the physical and visible appearing of Jesus
Christ that will be the 2nd coming with the
Saints. But that later, the complimentary component of
such a similar ‘appearance’ is further disclosed to be the
time that Jesus comes invisibly for the Saints, etc. What
is noticeable in this passage is that one sees that this
day, the day of the Resurrection/Rapture is called or
referred to as the Day of Christ, versus the Day of the
LORD that is often referred to Jesus’ 2nd
coming. It is also a euphemism for the time that is coming
to test the inhabitants on the Earth for that ‘1 Hour’,
etc. Is this key? Yes. This is in the context of the ‘Day
of Christ’, that is the Rapture event of the ‘Epiphaneia’.
By contrast, the Day of the LORD is accomplished at the
‘Parousia’.
Thus, the Day of Christ cannot be the Day of the LORD,
meaning that the Rapture cannot be mid-wrath nor
post-Tribulation just before His 2nd coming.
The ‘Departing’, in this case, first has to necessitates
the revealing of the Man of Sin, the AntiChrist, not the 2nd
coming of Christ Jesus. The revealing of the AntiChrist is
currently being impeded by the Restrainer, corporately of
the Holy Spirit indwelling each individual Believer of
Jesus that makes up the Body of Christ on Earth presently.
This is why the ‘Apostasia’ cannot be inferring to Faith
that many have lost, are losing and will lose up to the
Tribulation Period. Why? This factor alone or spiritual
state does not usher in the AntiChrist.
The
Context of Comfort Factor
The subsequent argument, in terms of the context
of the Rapture being pre-Tribulation is the notion of how
it was presented and understood by the Saints originally.
Paul with such passages that specifically delivered the
doctrine of the Rapture as in 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and 1
Corinthians 15 were always in the context of encouragement
and comfort. The Rapture is called the Blessed Hope in
Titus that also echoes the understanding that there first
must be an invisible appearance of the ‘Epiphaneia’ of
‘the Great GOD and Savior’, Jesus. By contrast, whenever
true apostasy was addressed in the churches, it was in
terms of only rebukes and a call for repentance.
And
never to such a degree of apostasy in the Church to
warrant and necessitate the advent of the AntiChrist as
the verse in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is thus misinterpreted.
Thus, the escape from the coming Tribulation Period is to
be viewed as a promise being kept since John 14. This
cannot be said nor seen in Scripture if the interpretation
of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 suggests the ‘Falling Away’ is
pertinent to the apostate spiritual condition of the
Church. If such is the case, such a condition had occurred
since the beginning. So, why would this degenerate
spiritual state be singled out?
This is why then, the ‘Falling Away’ to mean an apostate
state of faith cannot be logically singular in nature nor
occurrence as it is not anything that has always occurred
throughout the life of the Church Age. This thought will
be further developed in the study. Understand that there
is also a confusion of the word ‘tribulation’. The context
of the Rapture was always taught in light of the severe
tribulation. Tribulation has been occurring in tandem with
apostasy, then as it is still occurring now for the Church
Age Saints and will until the end of it harvest. The point
is that there is no double-jeopardy of having such Saints
then be subject to the 7-Seal Judgments of the Lamb of
GOD, that are all inclusive of the ‘Wrath of GOD’. Why?
The Tribulation involved different fruit.
It includes the perceived ‘Wrath of the Lamb’, ‘Wrath of
Satan’, and ‘Wrath of GOD’, etc. Tribulation has occurred
since the time of the Apostles. They warned, as well as
Jesus in the book of Revelation to the 7 Churches of Asia
that there would be tribulation to endure. By contrast,
the Tribulation Saints after the pre-Tribulation Rapture
will be of a different fruit to harvest. Meaning that now
is the time of the Church Age Saint’s tribulation, not the
worlds. It is a time of a coming ‘Wheat Harvest’. There
has not been a time when the whole inhabitants of the
Earth have had their tribulation of that ‘1 Hour of
Testing’ come yet. Such inhabitants though will have their
turn in going through their tribulation, i.e., the 7-Year
Tribulation Period or Daniel’s 70th Week of
Years.
Apostasy or that of leaving the Faith of Jesus has
occurred since the beginning and would through the 1988+
years since the Church of Jesus was birthed at Pentecost.
Apostasy has happened at the corporate and individual
level and still does and will right up to the end of this
Church Age. Thus, the argument that the ‘apostasy’ to mean
the leaving of one’s faith in Jesus would be the singular
or prominent prerequisite and determining factor to reveal
the coming AntiChrist is not consistent contextually. In
the Greek, the article before ‘Departure’ is ‘the’ to mean
a monumental and singular event.
As
noted, at no time in the Church Body history has an
‘apostate’ condition been to such a degree that it
specifically is then associated with ‘the gathering’ and
the unveiling of the AntiChrist -all in the same passage.
It is true that the Apostle Paul warned of increasing
degrees of apostasy and that in the Last Days, the
prevailing condition the Church Body would be one of
rampant apostasy. So, how could Paul single out then this
one in particular of 2 Thessalonian 2:3?
He does not because he is contextually inferring to ‘The
Departure’, i.e., the Rapture of the Bride of Christ from
the Earth instead. To reiterate, by contrast, when the
Apostles spoke and/or addressed real apostasy in the
Church Body or as with Jesus in the 7 Churches of Asia, it
was always in the context of admonition and rebuke. Paul
warned the Elders of Ephesus that the Church Body would
always be plagued by ‘wolves in sheep clothing’. Paul
warned Timothy of those that would ‘shipwreck’ their faith
and/or those that would trample the Blood of Christ
underfoot. Paul admonished the Galatians for being
bewitched or having been cast a spell upon them to return
to legalism, etc.
And
then there have always been the abandonment of the faith
that such individuals like Mark and Demas could attest to.
Even Jesus warned of the Tares to be allowed to grow
alongside the Wheat until the time of the harvest of
souls. The point being is that the ‘apostasy’ as
interpreted to mean a departure from the Faith of Jesus,
to first occur before the Rapture is inconsistent and
misinterpreted based on the contextuality delivered to and
understanding by the Saints. There has never been a direct
link to such ‘apostasy’ as a prerequisite to usher in the
Man of Lawlessness.
The Apostate
Factor
The
following section will compare the context that ‘Falling
Away’ as interpreted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 cannot be
inferred to an apostate spiritual state of the Church
Body. Primarily that the context of the ‘Apostasia’ is
alluding to a ‘withdrawal from a standing position’ as
mentioned prior. This is seen exclusively in 1 Timothy 4:1
in how precisely it will be in tandem with the coming
Rapture event, a ‘withdrawal’ from the Faith is to occur
also. One would contend that it is actually a conspiracy
to confuse the meaning.
To reiterate, there has been a change in the
interpretation of this passage as the new modern Bible
translations introduced by Westcott-Hort who were
essentially New Age Deists. They introduced the switch to
the ‘Falling Away’ to infer to a falling away from the
Faith of Jesus, etc. The following are key passages in
Scripture that clearly portray the condition of a ‘Falling
Away’ that was present from the very beginning of the
Church Age. But it had never been associated with the
unveiling, revealing or advent of the coming AntiChrist.
The description is more akin to a swerving, deviation, or
wrecking effect. The ‘Departure’ of 2 Thessalonians 2:3
that infers a ‘falling-back’ as in a military retreat of
the Bride of Christ is the prerequisite for the unmasking
of the AntiChrist.
1
Timothy 6:21
Estochesan
G795
(to swerve)
‘Timothy,
guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent,
empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called
‘knowledge’, which some have professed and thus
swerved away from the faith.
Grace be with you all.’
2
Timothy 2:17-19
Estochesan
G795
(to swerve)
‘And
the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among
them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have
deviated from the truth.
They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and
they undermine the faith of some. Nevertheless, God’s
firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord
knows those who are His, and Everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.’
1
Timothy 4:1-5
Postesontai
G868
(a withdrawing from a standing)
‘The
Spirit clearly says that
in later times some will abandon the faith and
follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose
consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They
forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from
certain foods, which God created to be received with
thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the
truth.’
1
Timothy 1:18-20
Enauagesan
G3489
(to wreck)
‘Timothy,
my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping
with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them
you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a
good conscience, which
some have rejected and thereby
shipwrecked their faith. Among them are
Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to
Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.’
By
contrast, the following are a list of Bible translations
that did also have the correct rendering as understood to
mean a ‘Departure’ as in an abandoning of a post. The
early English translations used the interpretation of the
‘Departure’, instead of ‘Falling Away’.
Tyndale - 1534 Apostasia G646
Let no man deceave you by eny meanes, for the
lorde commeth not, except ther come a
departynge fyrst, and
that that synfull man be opened, the sonne of perdicion.
Miles Coverdale Bible - 1535 Apostasia G646
Let no man disceaue you by eny meanes. For the
LORDE commeth not, excepte the
departynge come
first, and that that Man of synne be opened, euen the
sonne of perdicion,
Cranmer -1539 Apostasia G646
Let no man deceaue you by eny meanes, for the
Lord shall not come except ther come a
departynge first, and
that synfull man be opened, the sonne of perdicyon.
Great Bible - 1540 Apostasia G646
For the Lorde shall not come excepte ther come
a departynge fyrst and
that sinfull man be opened, the sonne of perdicyon.
The Door of Escape Factor
The
next argument comes from Revelation 2:10 where Jesus
promises the Church of Philadelphia a ‘Door of Escape’ and
thus a prophetic typology. It is not a deliverance through
tribulation but one emphatically out of, or ‘ek’ in the
Greek. The Bride of Christ cannot go through the ‘1 Hour
of Trial’ that is to come upon ALL the inhabitants on
Earth. The post-Tribulationists say that the ‘1 Hour of
Trial’ does not infer to the Tribulation Period. Realize
that at no other time in human history since Christ Jesus
has YHVH visited the whole Earth to include all of its
inhabitants for judgment and wrath. Thus, it can only
infer to the coming Tribulation Period.
The
coming Tribulation Period will be by way of the 7-fold
Seal Judgments, as the ‘1 Hour of Trial’ euphemism will be
unleashed upon the whole world. This contrasts with those
not on Earth but in Heaven. In Revelation, it is even
alluded to by the one and only AntiChrist himself when he
raises his fists at Heaven and curses ‘those that dwell
there’. Why would this be alluding to the Raptured Church
Age Saints? This factor is reminiscent of how Jesus at the
LORD’s Super promised to take His Bride to the dwelling
places, the Mansions in the Father’s House. Lucifer will
be a bit disconcerted because his Seat or Throne and those
of all his fellow Fallen Angel’s thrones will be vacated
and it is the Church Age Saints that will be occupying
them instead.
‘The
Beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and
blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
And the Beast opened its mouth to blaspheme against GOD
and slander His Name and His Tabernacle—
those [Saints] who dwell in
Heaven.[above] Then the beast was permitted to
wage war against the Saints [below] and to conquer them,
and it was given authority over every tribe and people
and tongue and nation.’ -Revelation 13:5-7
These
are the ones that ‘escaped’ through the Door of Heaven
being ushered in by the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, Jesus
at the point of the Rapture. Lucifer would have no
contention with those in Heaven already as that is a
given. By contrast, he then focuses his attention to the
Tribulation Saints below to wage all-out war against and
to prevail over them. So, who would he be addressing this
ire against but those of the Bride that got raptured and
are sitting on his thrones in Heaven watching the ‘1 Hour
of Trial’ unfold? As to the ‘escape’ promised, the Rapture
will be an escape for the Church Age Saints. Such will be
the generation that will not see death. It will be an
escape much like that of Noah and Lot in particular; of
the ‘Secret Rapture’. It is a term that the
post-Tribulationists abhor. The ‘Great Escape’, will be an
invisible event much like a ‘thief in the night’ seeks to
not be noticed, etc.
‘For
you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come
like a Thief in the Night. While people are saying,
Peace and Security, destruction will come upon them
suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers [will],
are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake
you like a thief.’ – 1 Corinthians 5:2-4
Replacement
Theology Factor
The
next argument focuses on what constitutes the
‘Tribulation’. Most that hold to the pre-Tribulation
interpretation also adhere to the notion that the
Tribulation Period is 7 years. That is to say, 2520 days
or 2 half sections of 1260 days. The Prophet Daniel adds
another count of days after Jesus returns. Realize that
the 7-year Tribulation Period does not commence with the
Rapture but with the ‘Confirming of the Covenant’.
That confirmation will be in tandem with the 1st
day that the Daily Sacrifices are initiated with the 3rd
Temple being in place to do so. Why? This day count is
paramount as it will be at the 1260th day that
the AntiChrist puts a stop to them as he then enters the
Holy of Holies to proclaim himself ‘God’ and demand
worship instead. It is at this halfway maker that the
Great Tribulation commences. However, there are those who
espouse to the post-Tribulation Rapture belief that keep
repeating the argument that the Church Body is to ‘endure
till the end’ and that it is only ‘after the tribulation
of these things’, etc.
Again, this error occurs as a direct result of the
Replacement Theology mentioned prior. This time sequence
is erroneously replacing the Time of Jacob’s Trouble with
that of the Church’ trouble. How can such believe this? It
is again predicated on which Bible translation is adhered
to and what doctrine one espouses from. This was caused,
first of all by the teaching of the Roman Catholic,
Augustine with his City of God, etc. This was a time
several centuries into the life of the Church Body where
it compromised with the world in that it fused with Roman
State. And not knowing that the Church Age was to last
nearly 2000 years, the belief that the Rapture was to be
imminent waned. And later on, this position was continued
by the Reformers. The ‘Roman Church’ became prominent as
Israel was sent into its Diaspora, and persecution of
Christians stopped.
In their estimation, the Church Body replaced Israel as
the ‘Elect’. This Replacement Theology made for a
continual confusion of how the promises to Israel and its
status was conveyed over to the Church. Not only that but
its final chapter of judgment then, the Tribulation Period
that is yet to be completed, i.e., Daniel’s 70th
Week of Years or the last Sabbatical Cycle of 7 years,
etc. Thus, it would make perfect sense for those
supporting a post-Tribulation Rapture. The Church would
have to endure the Time of Jacob’s Trouble to the end. And
the 2nd coming of Jesus would be ‘After the
Tribulation’ of all these things. The fact is that as the
Western Church goes, such doctrines have been the mainstay
of the Churches that are essentially just ‘Reformed
Catholics’.
And
consider that the Eastern Church did not go through a
Reformation to speak of.
Such
are the Orthodoxy that also nonetheless believe that the
Church was and is the New Israel. In this context, one can
see why those that still believe in this reformed
orthodoxy naturally subscribe to a post-Tribulation
Rapture that makes sense and how all others should see it
also. It should be noted that the inheritors of this false
replacement doctrine are the likes that have also now been
thoroughly compromised, at least in the West. The
Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutheran, Mennonites, are now
all basically made up of left-wing liberals that do not
even believe in the Bible. As of late, such have had their
seminaries have their students pray and praise plants and
others now worship ‘Mother God’ and/or have gender neutral
pronouns. This is just to show the degree of true
‘Apostasia’ that is pertinent to the Last Days of the
‘apostate’ spiritual state of this last Laodicean
rendition of the Church that closes-out the Church Age.
The Reformed
Camp Factor
Another
facet to consider in the argument for a pre-Tribulation
Rapture has to do with the Mystery of the Church Age,
mainly made up of Gentiles. It was not yet fully revealed
until given to the Apostle Paul. Nor was and is not
accepted by mainstream Judaism. Paul was given this
mystery of ‘the New Man in Christ’, the Church and out of
all the places, at Mount Sinai in Arabia. The Bible tells
that he went there to be instructed of Christ for 14
years, much like Elijah went there at the end of his
ministry, etc. Moreover, this mystery of the coming Church
Age enveloped the further mystery of the Departure, that
is the Rapture from Earth, and of the Bride of Christ that
YHVH was to extract from the Nations for the Son. This
‘Marriage Mystery’ of the Church Age comprised of the
Called-Out ones to have the Son of GOD be presented with a
pure and spotless Bride. When? At the time of the
Resurrection/Rapture event.
This
Bride of Christ was to be composed of all the Followers of
Jesus throughout all the Church Age, but none from either
the Old testament or Tribulation Saints. Why is this
important? It is important because in the context of 2
Thessalonians 2:3, it is the Bride of Christ that then
needs to be presented to Jesus in the clouds and what will
be taken into Heaven. In essence, the coming Tribulation
Period will be to have Israel return as a faithful wife
she once was initially to YHVH, since Mount Sinai when she
was betrothed to GOD the Father, there and then. The main
problem with a post-Tribulation Rapture view is that if
the Rapture is post-Tribulation, the Church Age Saints
will have had the AntiChrist already ‘revealed’ for 3.5
years.
This
sequence contradiction cannot be according to Scripture.
If the AntiChrist is to confirm the Covenant which starts
the Tribulation, regardless if 3.5 or 7 years, it must
coincide with the Temple already being rebuilt as the
Altar of Sacrifices must commence the countdown of the
2520 days with 1260th being the mid-point wherein the
AntiChrist ceases the Daily Sacrifices. If the
mid-Tribulation is when the Rapture of the Church Age
Saints occurs, then this insinuates that the AntiChrist
was revealed 3.5 years prior and this cannot be. If the
‘Falling Away’, inferring a spiritual state will be ‘the
event’, how will that be measured? Will it be the
Americans that fall away or the Europeans?
Europe
is already lost. Perhaps the South Americas, Africans, or
Asians? They are from the areas where revival has exploded
over the last century. So where is the ‘Falling Away’ seen
tangibly if that all, without a doubt to be seen then as
‘The Sign’? The Scriptures clearly state the AntiChrist
will not be revealed until the ‘Falling Away’ or
‘Departure’ occurs first. Why do many believe in the
pre-Tribulation Rapture? Because there is that initial
Rapture call of John by Jesus to ‘Come Up Here’ that
starts the Tribulation. But then, why do others believe in
a mid-Tribulation Rapture?
Because here is a Rapture at the midpoint of the 7-year
Tribulation. In this case, with the Man-Child that is
raptured-up. Why do others believe in a post-Tribulation
Rapture? Because there is a final Rapture as the LORD with
the sickle harvests the souls at the end before His
coming. This is the point, that there are in fact 7 total
‘Raptures’ or translations in the book of Revelation. Such
are determined, yet to occur in sequence and pertaining to
specific types of Believers at that time and place. The
following is the outline taken as an excerpt from the
study on the 7 Raptures of Revelation, #252.
https://www.postscripts.org/ps-news-252.html
1.
chapter 04:01The Rapture of the Bride
2.
chapter 07:09 The Martyrs out from Great Tribulation
3.
chapter 11:12 The 2 Witnesses after 3.5 days (a 1260
coefficient)
4.
chapter 12:09 The Man-Child of the Virgo Vision
5.
chapter 14:01 The Overcomers singing the Song of Moses
6.
chapter 14:16 The Sickle Harvest
7.
chapter 20:04 The Beheaded
The
following is the link to the chart that displays this
assertion of the 7 Raptures of Revelation.
https://nebula.wsimg.com/18d698860346a8c6a33601aa4c532721?AccessKeyId=D40106E1331C24ABD7C3&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
The
Epiphaneia Factor
As
stated, prior, the next factor to consider for a
pre-Tribulation Rapture has to do with the context given
of the 2 Thessalonians 2 passage. If one studies the
opening stage, it sets the context of the 2 appearing or
gatherings of Jesus Christ in one passage. It first starts
with the 2nd coming of Christ, the ‘Parousia’.
But it is to be first promoted by the in-gathering of the
‘Company’ of Believers that is summonsed much like with a
military command of a trumpet blast. In this case, to
assembly in the air, invisibly at the ‘Epiphaneia’. This
‘Epiphaneia’ or appearing of Jesus is initiated at the
point of the Resurrection/Rapture event. The following is
a specific and detailed world study of the word
‘Epiphaneia’ which means ‘to appear’, Epiphaneias G2015 in
the Strong’s Concordance.
It
is defined as in a vision or within a spiritual dimension
as all the verses that follow will be fulfilled not on
Earth but in Heaven, thus an invisible event to the
physical world. This is to say that within the
‘Epiphaneia’, it will eventually lead to the ‘Parousia’ of
Jesus as He will be made manifest in His full glory. This
cannot be said of the ‘Parousia’ as it cannot contain any
measure of an ‘Epiphaneia’. ‘Epiphaneia’ is thus the
unveiling of Jesus in the Air to only the Bride of Christ.
It will be the occasion whereby the Church Age Saints will
receive the Glorification of their new bodies. This occurs
before the AntiChrist is or can be revealed at the point
of the Resurrection and Rapture event before the 7-year
Tribulation Period starts. The following passages in the
New Testament are those that strongly suggest the 2
Thessalonians 2:3 ‘Falling Away’ means to be linked to the
appearing of Jesus.
1
Timothy 6:14 Epiphaneias G2015
That
thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable,
until the
appearing of our Lord
Jesus Christ:
2
Timothy 1:10 Epiphaneias G2015
But
is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath
abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel:
2
Timothy 4:1 Epiphaneias G2015
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;
2
Timothy 4:8 Epiphaneian G2015
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.
Titus
2:13 Epiphaneian G2015
Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
1
Peter 1:7 Apokalupsei G602 (To unveil)
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:
The Parousia
Factor
Now,
in contrast to ‘Epiphaneia’, the literal and physical,
visible appearing or ‘Parousia’ of Jesus Christ at His 2nd
coming will be given. The following word study is
presented to strongly suggest this sequence and type of
appearance/gathering difference. The Greek word,
‘Parousia’ G3952 in the Strong’s Concordance speaks of a
physical presence manifested. It means ‘a coming’ or ‘a
presence’ as in an arrival or advent.
It is thus, the literal future visible return from Heaven
of Jesus along with His Bride that was raptured at the
initial ‘Epiphaneia’. That was the cause to reveal the
coming AntiChrist and thereafter to ‘Confirm the Covenant’
and initiate the Daily Sacrifice, etc. Why is this
sequence important? It is because the 1st day
of the Daily Sacrifices will start the countdown of the
2520 days. Then midpoint will be mathematically precise,
the 1260th day that is tied to the Revelation
12 Sign. This is to say that one can then calculate the
literal 2nd coming of Jesus at the end of the 7-year
Tribulation Period.
1
Thessalonians 3:13 Parousia G3952
To
the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in
holiness before God, even our Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ with all his saints.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 Parousia G3952
And
then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the
spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the
brightness of his
coming:
2 Peter 1:16 Parousia G3952
For
we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we
made known unto you the power and
coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2
Peter 3:12 Parousia G3952
Looking
for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat?
Summary
It
is understandable that those taking sides with the
pre-Tribulation, pre-Wrath, post-Tribulation
interpretations have arguments and verses to support their
understanding. But as of the past decade, the
pre-Tribulation Rapture position has been attacked and
mostly has been vile in nature of being a ‘damnable heresy
sending the gullible to hell’ because of it. Where is that
spirit coming from? It is very unsettling when dealing
with most who hold the opposing interpretations to the
pre-Tribulation Rapture, and it is just that, a difference
of interpretation. It is paramount as such a view will set
one’s theology and view of what the coming Tribulation
Period is to be defined and measured with.
However, if one hears 1 more time that the
‘pre-Tribulation’ Rapture is a hoax invented by John Darby
in the 19th century and that it is a Jesuit
plot to fool the Christians, one will go insane. As one
who attended a Jesuit University and has been Jesuit
taught (Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid), One
can attest that as a Follower of Christ, no they did not.
If Darby would have ‘conspired’ to his interpretation,
then he in his Bible version, like the Geneva Bible would
have rendered ‘Apostasia’ as ‘Departed’, which he did not.
This goes for the Jesuits as they too have rendered the
interpretation the same.
It
was ironically that during the same time span, Darby and
Westcott-Hort contended with their translations and
interpretations. As noted, the later translated
‘Apostasia’ to mean a ‘Falling Away’ from the Faith and
most translations have now followed suit. It was Darby and
others however, that started to bring attention to the
earlier manuscripts and interpretation. Why? It needed to
be revisited as the 19th and 20th century witnessed the
fulfillment of prophecy concerning the reemergence of
Israel. What?
For centuries, if not for most of the Church Age time,
Israel was allegorized and/or set aside and ‘replaced.
Why? There was the rise of the Roman Church. Then it was
realized that the Resurrection/Rapture was not imminent.
However, scholars like Darby and others ascertain
correctly that Israel, as the prophetic time-clock had to
be present in the End of Days, which it has now been
reconstituted. As the Fig Tree, it has recuperated as a
Nation, then Jerusalem as its capital. What is exciting to
realize is that the 3rd Temple is next. Thus,
these developments spurred the reevaluation of the mostly
Reformed Theology and the Amillennialism interpretation of
the Rapture sequence.
The issue is that such theology and doctrine in some
denomination are still the mainstay and orthodoxy and are
reluctant to change toward the original interpretation.
And, if any dear challenge it, it is seen and treated as
heretical by many. Regardless, most would agree that the
Church Age or the ‘Pentecostal Intermission’, in-between
Israel is fast approaching its end. In studying of
Pentecost and how the Church Age is entering the season of
harvest, Pentecost is traditionally observed in 2020 to be
from ether the 28th, 31st of May or
the 6th June. There is however a tiny minority
opinion that holds to the interpretation that Pentecost
consists of a double-count to end sometime in mid-July.
There was a confirmation of sorts about how this
particular time, or dispensation is related to the
in-gathering of the Gentiles at Pentecost as it relates to
the number 50. It concerns the first church of the
Gentiles that was entirely set up by the Apostle Paul in
Acts 19:19. This was Ephesus and the 1st to be
of the 7 Churches of Asia to typify the Church Age with.
It was interesting to note that as the city repented of
their sorcery and magic, they burned all their books of
magic. Then it was specifically noted by the Holy Spirit
that the value of the books was ‘50’ thousand pieces of
silver. It is the metal of redemption coupled with the
numerical coefficient of Pentecost, 50, etc. Will the
Church Age truly end on a Pentecost (a 50-day countdown)
season as it began?
Regardless, this study assessed context and presented
contrasts of the Greek word, ‘Apostasia’ to strongly
suggest that the ‘Falling Away’ is referring to the
‘Departure’ of the Bride of Christ, i.e., the Rapture. And
that it is not the ‘Falling Away’ of one’s Faith,
individually nor corporately as a prerequisite for the
advent of the AntiChrist to appear.
_____________________
Main
Sources
BibleGateway.com
Greek Interlinear: https://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/2th2.pdf
Riplinger, G. A., New Age Bible Versions
Wikipedia.com