Why it will be a pre-trib rapture and why the rapture takes place.

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Jan 12, 2019
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I think the main thing is we are so far off on the basics of Life and Death on what the Bible says. It would be hard to explain this far along in the study.
Its hard because you don't want to read the verse literally.

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." .

What could be clearer than that verse?
 
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Yet, Hebrews 11:5 uses the word "translation [G3331 - metathesis - noun (used 3x)]"...

[from BibleHub] - *G3331 -
Definition: a change, removal
Usage: (a) change, transformation, (b) removal.



3x -

Hebrews 7:12 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ νόμου μετάθεσις γίνεται
NAS: there takes place a change of law
KJV: of necessity a change also of the law.
INT: also of law a change takes place

Hebrews 11:5 N-GFS
GRK: γὰρ τῆς μεταθέσεως μεμαρτύρηται εὐαρεστηκέναι
NAS: that before his being taken up he was pleasing
KJV: his translation he had this testimony,
INT: indeed the taking up he was commended to have well pleased

Hebrews 12:27 N-AFS
GRK: τῶν σαλευομένων μετάθεσιν ὡς πεποιημένων
NAS: denotes the removing of those
KJV: signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken,
INT: of the [things] shaken removing as having been made



Hebrews 11:5 -

"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation [*G3331 - metathesis] he had this testimony, that he pleased God."


:unsure:
So, when you combine with what Jesus stated in John 3:13, and what the Holy Spirit said thru Peter in Acts 2:34, what is the obvious conclusion that scripture wants us to draw?
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
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Why couldn't Elijah have written the letter before he was translated and it was delivered later? Which would be the reason that it is a letter that is mentioned here. No reason to have him coming back down as you say.
This is exactly what I believe the text indicates, for the following reasons:

--the wording of the text just states "Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, which stated: [...]"... the verse does not state that Elijah then sat down and penned him a letter, or anything to that effect; and

--this is the exact kind of thing I've been pointing out about Paul's point in 2Th1 & 2... about the TWO DISTINCT *responses [/beliefs]* ppl will come to embrace/believe FOLLOWING "our Departure/Rapture" (when they are in/within the trib yrs)... which I won't go into in this post (again)... but the similarity is that Paul has [also] already "written the letter" and in the letter mentions ppl who will be existing on the earth FOLLOWING "our Departure/Rapture" also, see... ;) (tho in his letter, he covers both the positive responders AND the negative ones [those who will believe "the LIE / the FALSE / the pseudei"]... not merely the negative segment, as in Elijah's letter under [our present] discussion)
 
Jul 23, 2018
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My point being is that, since those at His coming are next, then there was no one resurrected immortal and glorified in between.

Jesus was the first fruits and those who are next will be those at His coming. The patriarch's and OT saints will all be resurrected sometime towards the end of the age.



Those people who came out of their tombs died again. There were not raise immortal and glorified, any more than Lazarus or Jairus daughter. They all died again. The next group to be resurrected immortal and glorified will be the church at the Lord's appearing.

"But each in the own order: Christ the firstfruit, then those of Christ at His coming"

This Means that Christ was the first fruits and those at His coming are next, i.e. the church. Therefore, no one in between has been resurrected immortal and glorified. All of the patriarchs and the OT saints will be raised towards the end of the tribulation period. Consider what the angel told Daniel regarding this issue:

"At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt

That "time of distress" is synonymous with the great tribulation mentioned in Matthew 24:15-22 and which is the time period when Daniel's people will be resurrected/delivered, i.e. sometimes during the end of that last 3 1/2 years.

That's how I read it. Currently, Jesus alone has been resurrected immortal and glorified, next will be the church (those at His coming) and then the OT saints, then after Christ returns to the earth the saints who will have died during the great tribulation will be resurrected immortal and glorified.

Jesus was the first fruits and those who are next will be those at His coming. The patriarch's and OT saints will all be resurrected sometime towards the end of the age.
you neeed to re read vs 20.
It says "OF THOSE THAT SLEPT" past tense....IOW the patriarchs.

EPHESIANS 4:8-11: “Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)”
MATTHEW 27:50-53: “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.”
1 PETER 3:18-19: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison.”
LUKE 23:43: “And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.’ ”​
Now that “Paradise” has been moved from “Hades” into the “third heaven” where God dwells, the spirits of Christians who die, go immediately to be “with” Jesus in heaven.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:2-4: “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago— whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”
2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-8: “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:21-23: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”​
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
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you neeed to re read vs 20.
It says "OF THOSE THAT SLEPT" past tense....IOW the patriarchs.
Hello Absolutely!

The reference to the KJV 'slept' as in "the first-fruits of them that slept," is not inferring that they are no longer sleeping. That is the king James interpretation. However, the interlinear has it "But now Christ has been raised out from the dead, the firstfruit of those having fallen asleep." Therefore, Jesus is the first fruits of those who will be resurrected immortal and glorified, with those at His appearing being next, which is the church and which is what we have all been waiting for. It does not infer that they are no longer sleeping nor does it infer that they have been raised immortal and glorified.

According to Daniel, the OT saints of Israel do not resurrect until sometime during the end of the last 3 1/2 years, just before Christ returns to the earth to end the age.

However, if you believe that the patriarchs have already resurrected immortal and glorified, it is not something that divides us. You are free to believe that. But my personal belief based on what I know, is that so far Jesus is the only one who has resurrected an immortal and glorified body and that the church is next.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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According to Daniel, the OT saints of Israel do not resurrect until sometime during the end of the last 3 1/2 years, just before Christ returns to the earth to end the age.
You are referring to Daniel 12 I assume?

12
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.


3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
 

laymen

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Apr 6, 2014
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faithlife.com
Its hard because you don't want to read the verse literally.

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." .

What could be clearer than that verse?
Its hard because you don't want to read the verse literally.

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." .

What could be clearer than that verse?

13. No man. No man can speak with authority about “heavenly things” unless he has been in heaven (cf. v. 11). Men discern the secrets of heaven only by revelation, never by speculating about them.
Ascended up to heaven. That is, no human being has gone to heaven to learn of “heavenly things” (v. 12). Only the Son of man, who came from heaven, has ever been there, and He alone can reveal them. (SDABC)
 
Jan 12, 2019
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13. No man. No man can speak with authority about “heavenly things” unless he has been in heaven (cf. v. 11). Men discern the secrets of heaven only by revelation, never by speculating about them.
Ascended up to heaven. That is, no human being has gone to heaven to learn of “heavenly things” (v. 12). Only the Son of man, who came from heaven, has ever been there, and He alone can reveal them. (SDABC)
So you are saying that verse meant "no human being has gone to heaven to learn of “heavenly things”, but there can be human beings who went up to heaven for other reasons?
 

laymen

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Apr 6, 2014
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So you are saying that verse meant "no human being has gone to heaven to learn of “heavenly things”, but there can be human beings who went up to heaven for other reasons?
No one on earth had ever went to heaven and come back, for Jesus came down first so therefore no one could teach as he could. this is not saying Moses or Enoc did not go to heaven.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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No one on earth had ever went to heaven and come back, for Jesus came down first so therefore no one could teach as he could. this is not saying Moses or Enoc did not go to heaven.
I see, alright then, I respect that you have a different interpretation of that verse from me.
 

TheDivineWatermark

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Aug 3, 2018
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No one on earth had ever went to heaven and come back, for Jesus came down first so therefore no one could teach as he could.
Agree that this is the basic CONTEXT.

It has to do with what He'd just said to him (in vv.10-12) about "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? [...] We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen... [...] If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I TELL you OF HEAVENLY THINGS?"

...and then also uses the "Son of man" term (in v.13), but note that it says "which IS in heaven" (thus He is making a point).

this is not saying Moses or Enoc did not go to heaven.
This is also how I see it.





However, as I've said in past posts, I believe the OT saints will be "resurrected" at the END of the trib yrs (per Dan12:13, and other verses).
 
Jan 12, 2019
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Agree that this is the basic CONTEXT.

It has to do with what He'd just said to him (in vv.10-12) about "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? [...] We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen... [...] If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I TELL you OF HEAVENLY THINGS?"

...and then also uses the "Son of man" term (in v.13), but note that it says "which IS in heaven" (thus He is making a point).



This is also how I see it.





However, as I've said in past posts, I believe the OT saints will be "resurrected" at the END of the trib yrs (per Dan12:13, and other verses).
But if you believe the OT saints will be resurrected in the future, are you also saying they are currently not alive now?

Is Moses and Elijah among them too?
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
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You are referring to Daniel 12 I assume?

12
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Hello Guojing!

Yes, that is correct.

"and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered"

"That time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation event to that same time," is synonymous where in Matthew 24 Jesus said, "For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again," which is referring to the time of God's wrath. Both of these link Daniel's people as being delivered/resurrected, during that time of trouble. Where in opposition, the church is resurrected and caught up prior to God's wrath and that because believers in Christ are not appointed to suffer God's wrath, because Jesus already did.

One might ask the question, "why is the church not appointed to suffer wrath, but Israel and the great tribulation saints, do." The answer is that God has different programs for the unbelieving nation Israel and the great tribulation saints. Neither of those two groups will have believed in Christ prior to His promise and therefore will not be watching or ready for Christ's appearing to gather His church. This is why Jesus and the apostles continue to warn believers to be watching and ready, else that day close on us like a trap. For in the same way that we don't know at what time a thief would break into our house, we therefore must always have to be on guard, watching and anticipating His return to gather us.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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One might ask the question, "why is the church not appointed to suffer wrath, but Israel and the great tribulation saints, do." The answer is that God has different programs for the unbelieving nation Israel and the great tribulation saints. Neither of those two groups will have believed in Christ prior to His promise and therefore will not be watching or ready for Christ's appearing to gather His church. This is why Jesus and the apostles continue to warn believers to be watching and ready, else that day close on us like a trap. For in the same way that we don't know at what time a thief would break into our house, we therefore must always have to be on guard, watching and anticipating His return to gather us.
Do you also believe that, when God focus his attention on Israel once again during those 7 years, the gentile nations will again be judged by how they helped or refuse to help Israel during those 7 years?

For example, if you refuse to offer food, drinks, clothes to the people of Israel who will be persecuted by the antichrist, your faith in Christ alone will not save you too (Matthew 25:41-46).

For those tribulation saints who are saved during that time, the Antichrist will emerge to persecute the nation Israel during those 7 years.

Everyone in Israel will have to flee to the mountains and pray that this flight takes place neither in the sabbath nor the winter, as Jesus prophesied.

So if you are a gentile then, and still want to be considered saved at the end of the Tribulation, it takes more than just faith in Jesus alone.

Like what it popularly quoted from James, they need to have works together with that faith, which if you read that passage by Jesus in (Matthew 25:41-46), you are also required to feed and take care of the Jews, those who didn't manage to flee, who are being persecuted by the antichrist then.

At the end, Jesus on his throne will welcome you to his kingdom, because, as he said, if you did it for them, you are doing it for him.

You will be saved thru the nation Israel, just like how gentiles were in time past.
 
Jul 23, 2018
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Hello Absolutely!

The reference to the KJV 'slept' as in "the first-fruits of them that slept," is not inferring that they are no longer sleeping. That is the king James interpretation. However, the interlinear has it "But now Christ has been raised out from the dead, the firstfruit of those having fallen asleep." Therefore, Jesus is the first fruits of those who will be resurrected immortal and glorified, with those at His appearing being next, which is the church and which is what we have all been waiting for. It does not infer that they are no longer sleeping nor does it infer that they have been raised immortal and glorified.

According to Daniel, the OT saints of Israel do not resurrect until sometime during the end of the last 3 1/2 years, just before Christ returns to the earth to end the age.

However, if you believe that the patriarchs have already resurrected immortal and glorified, it is not something that divides us. You are free to believe that. But my personal belief based on what I know, is that so far Jesus is the only one who has resurrected an immortal and glorified body and that the church is next.
If it were future it would not be past tense.

It would say "...of those that sleep"

Firstfruits is fulfilled.
The dead in Christ that come to life at the rapture ,as well as those alive in Christ, are main harvest,not firstfruits.

So actually it ONLY FITS the patriarchs.
 
Jul 23, 2018
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Hello Absolutely!

The reference to the KJV 'slept' as in "the first-fruits of them that slept," is not inferring that they are no longer sleeping. That is the king James interpretation. However, the interlinear has it "But now Christ has been raised out from the dead, the firstfruit of those having fallen asleep." Therefore, Jesus is the first fruits of those who will be resurrected immortal and glorified, with those at His appearing being next, which is the church and which is what we have all been waiting for. It does not infer that they are no longer sleeping nor does it infer that they have been raised immortal and glorified.

According to Daniel, the OT saints of Israel do not resurrect until sometime during the end of the last 3 1/2 years, just before Christ returns to the earth to end the age.

However, if you believe that the patriarchs have already resurrected immortal and glorified, it is not something that divides us. You are free to believe that. But my personal belief based on what I know, is that so far Jesus is the only one who has resurrected an immortal and glorified body and that the church is next.
Eph 4
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
MATTHEW 27:50-53: “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.”
1 PETER 3:18-19: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison.”

Now read 1 cor 15 vs 20.
"....Jesus the firstfruits of them that slept"

It is clear.
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
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2,376
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If it were future it would not be past tense.

It would say "...of those that sleep"

Firstfruits is fulfilled.
The dead in Christ that come to life at the rapture ,as well as those alive in Christ, are main harvest, not firstfruits.

So actually it ONLY FITS the patriarchs.
Have fallen asleep is past tense

Interlinear:

Now however Christ has been raised out from [the] dead first fruit of those having fallen asleep

Strong's Concordance
koimaó from NG2749: sleep, fall asleep, die
Original Word: κοιμάομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: koimaó from NG2749
Phonetic Spelling: (koy-mah'-o)
Definition: sleep, fall asleep, die
Usage: I fall asleep, am asleep, sometimes of the sleep of death.

Fallen asleep would infer that they had already done that and that is there present state, i.e. they are sleeping.

By the way, I've never claimed that the church are apart of the first fruits. Christ was the first fruits, then those who belong to Him at His appearing.