Less well-known Rapture verses. The case for the Rapture is compelling.

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Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
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Not only that but only select Jews are sealed against the flying scorpions during the trib.
IOW no believers are present because they are in heaven.
Plus rev 19 has the bride becoming the wife in heaven....so how did we get there?
Agreed! Scripture states that only those with who have seal of God in their forehead are exempt from the torment of those demonic locusts, which would be that 144,000 out of Israel who will have been sealed in Rev.7

"They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads."

And they never answer the question as to how in Rev.19:6-8 it identifies the bride/church at the wedding of the Lamb, which takes place in heaven, receiving her fine linen white and clean and then in verse 14 reveals that army following Christ out of heaven to the earth riding on white horses and wearing the same fine linen that the bride was given at the wedding. Then there is this excerpt from Rev.17:14, which also supports the church returning to the earth with the Lord:

"They (beast and ten kings) will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
 
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And they never answer the question as to how in Rev.19:6-8 it identifies the bride/church at the wedding of the Lamb, which takes place in heaven, receiving her fine linen white and clean and then in verse 14 reveals that army following Christ out of heaven to the earth riding on white horses and wearing the same fine linen that the bride was given at the wedding.
Here are the pertinent verses from ch 19-
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

Notice the wording of the red words and the first set of blue words. If the wedding was NOW, instead of "has come", we would see the words IS HERE and the bride IS READY. This would show timing of th wedding to be IN heaven.

But the wording is what we would expect when something that is about to happen (but not happening NOW). Such as a vacation trip. Even before the car leaves the garage with the family all loaded up, it could be said "the vacation has (finally) come".

My point is that one can say that something "has come" even before is is actually here.

Or seeing a train from a distance coming to the station and saying, "well the train has come". When it hasn't actually arrived yet.

Oh, one more thing. The phrase "has made herself ready" refers to the blue words in v.8. In John's day, it was customary for the father of the bride to provide "wedding garments" to wear to the wedding. v.8 describes that custom.

So, the wedding guests are ready, and then follow Christ on horses.

Then this follows-

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

This shows that, while the wedding is imminent (has come), Jesus heads out on His horse, with the "armies of heaven" following Him.

This would be all believers who are already in heaven, including all OT saints. So it's not just NT believers.

Then there is this excerpt from Rev.17:14, which also supports the church returning to the earth with the Lord:

"They (beast and ten kings) will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
This is a summary comment about what is about to occur, in ch 19.

We KNOW ALL believers, OT and NT, who have died are in heaven now, will return to earth when Jesus returns at the Second Advent.

None of what you have noted supports a pre-trib rapture and return to heaven.
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,159
2,373
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Here are the pertinent verses from ch 19-
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

But the wording is what we would expect when something that is about to happen (but not happening NOW). Such as a vacation trip. Even before the car leaves the garage with the family all loaded up, it could be said "the vacation has (finally) come".

Notice the wording of the red words and the first set of blue words. If the wedding was NOW, instead of "has come", we would see the words IS HERE and the bride IS READY. This would show timing of th wedding to be IN heaven.

My point is that one can say that something "has come" even before it is actually here.
The words "has come" means that the time of the wedding 'has arrived,' which is why the church/bride is receiving her fine linen, white and clean which are the brides wedding clothes. That scripture demonstrates that the time for the wedding has come and is taking place at that time. And most importantly, this demonstrates that the bride/church is already in heaven by being given her fine linen, white and clean, which kills the false teaching of the post tribulation gathering of the church, because the bride is already in heaven. Then in verse 14, she follows the Lord out of heaven wearing the same wedding clothes that she will have just received.

Also, the words "has come" are the same words used at the opening of the sixth seal where it states that "The great day of their wrath has come and who can endure it." The words "has come" includes the wrath that will have already taken place, which are seals 1 thru 5 and includes the seventh seal, seven trumpets and seven bowls that are yet take place. In both scriptures "has come" is in the aorist, indicative, active tense. Revelation 19:6-8 is describing the wedding as it is taking place and therefore, 'has come' means that the wedding has arrived.

Or seeing a train from a distance coming to the station and saying, "well the train has come". When it hasn't actually arrived yet.
That's just ridiculous! When you guys are presented with the truth, you always try to find ways of distorting and/or circumventing it. However, you're grasping at straws! The context clearly showing that the marriage of the Lamb to His bride/church, is taking place in heaven, which is why she is receiving her wedding clothes. Sometime after the wedding, it will be time for the Lord to return to the earth to end the age and the bride/church will be following behind Him riding on white horses.

Oh, one more thing. The phrase "has made herself ready" refers to the blue words in v.8. In John's day, it was customary for the father of the bride to provide "wedding garments" to wear to the wedding. v.8 describes that custom.

So, the wedding guests are ready, and then follow Christ on horses.
And your point is? By saying that the wedding guests are ready and then follow Christ on horses, still shows the bride as already being in heaven, which is what we have been discussing, i.e. a pre tribulation gathering of the church.


Then this follows-

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

This shows that, while the wedding is imminent (has come), Jesus heads out on His horse, with the "armies of heaven" following Him.

This would be all believers who are already in heaven, including all OT saints. So it's not just NT believers.
Again, 'has come' means 'has arrived' and does not mean that the wedding is imminent taking place at another time. That whole scene there is the wedding taking place. You guys will go to any lengths to get rid of the truth!

This is a summary comment about what is about to occur, in ch 19.

We KNOW ALL believers, OT and NT, who have died are in heaven now, will return to earth when Jesus returns at the Second Advent.

None of what you have noted supports a pre-trib rapture and return to heaven.
False! How can you have the church being caught up (raptured) when she is already in heaven receiving her wedding clothes and is following the Lord out of heaven. Simply put, in order to follow the Lord out of heaven, you would already have to be in heaven.

You people are just plain bent on not believing the truth! You try to come up with these weak reasonings that just do not fly. In further support of the church already being heaven and following the Lord to the earth, we also have the following:

"They (beast and ten kings) will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Once again, in the scripture above, we see Jesus returning to the earth to end the age and with Him will be the church, which are those called, chosen and faithful followers who will have been gathered prior to God's wrath. The point being, that the church will have already been in heaven. You can't follow the Lord out of heaven, unless you're already in heaven to do so.

But the most important reason, which I have been driving home, is that the church cannot be gathered when the Lord returns to the earth to end that, because that would put the living church through the entire wrath of God, which we are not appointed to suffer. The church is no where mentioned in the narrative of God's wrath, which is chapters 6 thru 18. The reason for the absence of the word church is because we are no longer on the earth during that time.

I wish that you guys would just stop with this nonsense.
 
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The words "has come" means that the time of the wedding 'has arrived,' which is why the church/bride is receiving her fine linen, white and clean which are the brides wedding clothes.
Well, I explained all that. Sorry it doesn't make sense to you.

What is missing from your view is the actual wedding. Because, after the wedding "has come" and the Bride "has made herself ready", by putting on the wedding garments, the VERY NEXT EVENT is Jesus coming on His horse along with the "armies of heaven" on their horses. It's all rather clear.

That scripture demonstrates that the time for the wedding has come and is taking place at that time.
First phrase is correct, but the second phrase cannot be shown from the text. The wedding IS NOT TAKING PLACE AT THAT TIME.

And most importantly, this demonstrates that the bride/church is already in heaven by being given her fine linen, white and clean, which kills the false teaching of the post tribulation gathering of the church, because the bride is already in heaven.
What is also rather clear, is that probably 99% of the Bride is already in heaven by the time of the tribulation. So your point is pointless.

Then in verse 14, she follows the Lord out of heaven wearing the same wedding clothes that she will have just received.
That's correct. The wedding HAS COME and now they can get on with it after the horse ride to earth. They are ready.

Also, the words "has come" are the same words used at the opening of the sixth seal where it states that "The great day of their wrath has come and who can endure it." The words "has come" includes the wrath that will have already taken place, which are seals 1 thru 5 and includes the seventh seal, seven trumpets and seven bowls that are yet take place.
Please read what the seals include. We're already seeing the first 4 seals in action. If you've been watching any news lately.

And just because the words "has come" are the same words at the opening of the 6th seal proves nothing.

In both scriptures "has come" is in the aorist, indicative, active tense. Revelation 19:6-8 is describing the wedding as it is taking place
There is NOTHING that describes a wedding taking place in heaven.

and therefore, 'has come' means that the wedding has arrived.
It is about to arrive. When the wedding party arrives on earth. Didn't you read the example of a vacation "having arrived" even before the family gets in the car and takes off?

That's just ridiculous! When you guys are presented with the truth, you always try to find ways of distorting and/or circumventing it.
This is really funny, given that NO pretribber can point to any verse that describes the rapture to occur and mentions anything about raptured people being taken up to heaven.

You don't have the truth. That's the problem with your view. Just loads of speculation.

However, you're grasping at straws!
oh, that's funny. You, who have NO verses describing raptured believers being taken to heaven.

The context clearly showing that the marriage of the Lamb to His bride/church, is taking place in heaven
No. "having come" does not mean "taking place".

which is why she is receiving her wedding clothes.
Wedding clothes is the preparation for the wedding. They don't get dressed at the wedding. They sure do get dressed before the horse ride to earth though.

Sometime after the wedding, it will be time for the Lord to return to the earth to end the age and the bride/church will be following behind Him riding on white horses.
The text doesn't allow your fantasy. The Bride gets ready and THEN the horse ride to earth. There is NOTHING about "some time aftrer the wedding" in the text. You just want it to be there.

And your point is? By saying that the wedding guests are ready and then follow Christ on horses, still shows the bride as already being in heaven, which is what we have been discussing, i.e. a pre tribulation gathering of the church.
<sigh>

By the time of the Tribulation, at least 99% of ALL believers from Adam on will already be in heaven. Your point is, again, pointless.

Of course MOST of the Bride will already be in heaven when the Trib begins. So what? That doesn't prove the theory of a pre-trib rapture.

The cold hard fact is that there are NO verses that describe resurrected and raptured believers going to heaven. Zero.

Again, 'has come' means 'has arrived' and does not mean that the wedding is imminent taking place at another time.
Once again, I never said "is imminent taking place another time". The Bride does get ready in heaven and then get on horses and follow Christ to earth. That is the clear text.

What is missing from your view is the wedding taking place. OR, some time between getting the wedding garments on and the horse trip. the text all flows together.

That whole scene there is the wedding taking place.
I've already shown how "has come" can legitimately be used of an event that is about to occur, like a vacation.

You guys will go to any lengths to get rid of the truth!
I've gotten rid of nothing. I HAVE shown that your story has huge holes in it.

Speaking of truth, why don't you have any verse that describes resurrected and raptured believers going to heaven?

Because it's not truth.

False! How can you have the church being caught up (raptured) when she is already in heaven
Easy. Only the living believers will be caught up. Again, 99% will already be in heaven.

receiving her wedding clothes and is following the Lord out of heaven.
That is exactly what the text shows. There is NO gap in time between getting the wedding clothes on and leaving on horses.

Simply put, in order to follow the Lord out of heaven, you would already have to be in heaven.
The ones in heaven are the ones who accompany Christ to earth. Just read 1 Thess 4 again. The living believers will JOIN the ones already in heaven who have come down with Jesus.

You people are just plain bent on not believing the truth!
Please look into a mirror when you say that.

You try to come up with these weak reasonings that just do not fly.
Given you don't have any verse that describes what you believe, that's funny.

btw, I DO have a verse. 2 Thess 2:1-3. The gathering up occurs AFTER the Trib when Christ comes back.

In further support of the church already being heaven and following the Lord to the earth, we also have the following:

"They (beast and ten kings) will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
I don't argue that the vast majority of church age believers will already be in heaven when the Trib begins.

You can't follow the Lord out of heaven, unless you're already in heaven to do so.
Well, I guess you maybe haven't read 1 Thess 4-
14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

The red words refer to all believers who have already died and ARE IN heaven when the Trib begins.
The blue wordes refer to all the living believers at the end of the Trib.

But the most important reason, which I have been driving home, is that the church cannot be gathered when the Lord returns to the earth to end that, because that would put the living church through the entire wrath of God, which we are not appointed to suffer.
Who says the church will suffer God's wrath? I know what God did for Israel in Egypt, and there is no reason He won't do the same again.

The church is no where mentioned in the narrative of God's wrath, which is chapters 6 thru 18.
This proves nothing. If the church is there and God is protecting the church from His wrath, why should it be mentioned anyway?

The reason for the absence of the word church is because we are no longer on the earth during that time.
Pure speculation. The real reason is it is unnecessary to mention the church.

However, Rev 1:1-3 plus the first 3 whole chapters of Rev PLUS Rev 22:16 are bookends of the entire book. And the church is mentioned in both bookends.

So don't tell me the church isn't involved throughout Revelation.

I wish that you guys would just stop with this nonsense.
It is nonsense to claim that resurrected and raptured believers are taken to heaven, regardless of when that happens because there are no verses that describe such an event, EVEN in the verses that clearly mentions a rapture.
 
Jul 23, 2018
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The words "has come" means that the time of the wedding 'has arrived,' which is why the church/bride is receiving her fine linen, white and clean which are the brides wedding clothes. That scripture demonstrates that the time for the wedding has come and is taking place at that time. And most importantly, this demonstrates that the bride/church is already in heaven by being given her fine linen, white and clean, which kills the false teaching of the post tribulation gathering of the church, because the bride is already in heaven. Then in verse 14, she follows the Lord out of heaven wearing the same wedding clothes that she will have just received.

Also, the words "has come" are the same words used at the opening of the sixth seal where it states that "The great day of their wrath has come and who can endure it." The words "has come" includes the wrath that will have already taken place, which are seals 1 thru 5 and includes the seventh seal, seven trumpets and seven bowls that are yet take place. In both scriptures "has come" is in the aorist, indicative, active tense. Revelation 19:6-8 is describing the wedding as it is taking place and therefore, 'has come' means that the wedding has arrived.



That's just ridiculous! When you guys are presented with the truth, you always try to find ways of distorting and/or circumventing it. However, you're grasping at straws! The context clearly showing that the marriage of the Lamb to His bride/church, is taking place in heaven, which is why she is receiving her wedding clothes. Sometime after the wedding, it will be time for the Lord to return to the earth to end the age and the bride/church will be following behind Him riding on white horses.



And your point is? By saying that the wedding guests are ready and then follow Christ on horses, still shows the bride as already being in heaven, which is what we have been discussing, i.e. a pre tribulation gathering of the church.




Again, 'has come' means 'has arrived' and does not mean that the wedding is imminent taking place at another time. That whole scene there is the wedding taking place. You guys will go to any lengths to get rid of the truth!



False! How can you have the church being caught up (raptured) when she is already in heaven receiving her wedding clothes and is following the Lord out of heaven. Simply put, in order to follow the Lord out of heaven, you would already have to be in heaven.

You people are just plain bent on not believing the truth! You try to come up with these weak reasonings that just do not fly. In further support of the church already being heaven and following the Lord to the earth, we also have the following:

"They (beast and ten kings) will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Once again, in the scripture above, we see Jesus returning to the earth to end the age and with Him will be the church, which are those called, chosen and faithful followers who will have been gathered prior to God's wrath. The point being, that the church will have already been in heaven. You can't follow the Lord out of heaven, unless you're already in heaven to do so.

But the most important reason, which I have been driving home, is that the church cannot be gathered when the Lord returns to the earth to end that, because that would put the living church through the entire wrath of God, which we are not appointed to suffer. The church is no where mentioned in the narrative of God's wrath, which is chapters 6 thru 18. The reason for the absence of the word church is because we are no longer on the earth during that time.

I wish that you guys would just stop with this nonsense.
It is almost as if our job is to make them oppose the bible.

.....a very easy job.
 
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It is almost as if our job is to make them oppose the bible.

.....a very easy job.
No, but you and your ilk seem to have a very easy job of opposing the Bible.

You've been given a very clear verse that proves that the rapture occurs at the "coming of our Lord", which means the Second Advent. And you just very easily oppose that fact.

All while having zero verses that describe resurrected/raptured believers being taken to heaven.

And NONE of the rapture verses describe that. Why is that? Because it doesn't happen. No other reason.

And going to a Matt 25 parable to try to prop up your theory is a very weak defense indeed.