100 Percent Proof that there is No Rapture
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Well written and presented, but there are unwarranted assumptions, mistranslation, and errors.
A "cloud" is a shapeless, or definitely-shaped, mass covering the heavens.
Assumptions:
1) Metaphor is not slang.
It is rhetorical (skillful or artistic) use of a word or phrase denoting one kind of object (cloud) or idea in place of another (crowd), suggesting a likeness (shapeless mass covering the heavens) between them.
2) When "cloud" is used as a metaphor, we always know the metaphor is warranted from the context,
wherein is stated the noun to which the likeness is suggested, as in:
"cloud of witnesses" - witnesses (people) are metaphorically likened to clouds (Heb 12:1).
These men are "mists driven by a storm." - men are metaphorically likened to mists (2Pe 2:17).
Apart from the context showing "clouds" are being used metaphorically,
there is no license to assume that clouds are not literal.
We find no mention of nouns (witnesses, men, etc.) in the following to which the likeness of clouds is suggested, therefore, the clouds here are literal:
on the mount of transfiguration (Mt 17:5),
which covered Israel in the Red Sea (1Co 10:1-2),
seen in the apocalyptic visions (Rev 1:7, 10:1, 11:12, 14:14, 15, 16),
in connection with the rapture (1Th 4:17),
Christ's second coming (Mt 24:30, 26:64), or
at the ascension (Ac 1:9).
So, we have no license to assume that
the catching up in the "clouds" with the resurrected saints at the rapture,
which occurs at Jesus second coming on the clouds (1Th 4:17),
means caught up in a "throng" of people
rather than in actual clouds (Jesus is not coming on a "throng" of people).
Mistranslation:
In 1Th 4:17, "air" is the Greek aer, which means "atmosphere,"
while pnoe means "breath",
and pneuma means "spirit".
Paul did not use pnoe or pneuma because he did not mean "breath" or "spirit", respectively,
he used aer because he meant "atmosphere."
And we have no license to assume that
meeting the Lord in the "air" at the rapture
means meeting the Lord "in the spirit."
Errors:
This taking unauthorized license with the words of the texts is yielding misinterpretation and error.
Paul states we will be caught up in the clouds (not crowds)
to meet the Lord in the atmosphere (not in the spirit).
We have no license to assume otherwise.
A "cloud" is a shapeless, or definitely-shaped, mass covering the heavens.
Assumptions:
1) Metaphor is not slang.
It is rhetorical (skillful or artistic) use of a word or phrase denoting one kind of object (cloud) or idea in place of another (crowd), suggesting a likeness (shapeless mass covering the heavens) between them.
2) When "cloud" is used as a metaphor, we always know the metaphor is warranted from the context,
wherein is stated the noun to which the likeness is suggested, as in:
"cloud of witnesses" - witnesses (people) are metaphorically likened to clouds (Heb 12:1).
These men are "mists driven by a storm." - men are metaphorically likened to mists (2Pe 2:17).
Apart from the context showing "clouds" are being used metaphorically,
there is no license to assume that clouds are not literal.
We find no mention of nouns (witnesses, men, etc.) in the following to which the likeness of clouds is suggested, therefore, the clouds here are literal:
on the mount of transfiguration (Mt 17:5),
which covered Israel in the Red Sea (1Co 10:1-2),
seen in the apocalyptic visions (Rev 1:7, 10:1, 11:12, 14:14, 15, 16),
in connection with the rapture (1Th 4:17),
Christ's second coming (Mt 24:30, 26:64), or
at the ascension (Ac 1:9).
So, we have no license to assume that
the catching up in the "clouds" with the resurrected saints at the rapture,
which occurs at Jesus second coming on the clouds (1Th 4:17),
means caught up in a "throng" of people
rather than in actual clouds (Jesus is not coming on a "throng" of people).
Mistranslation:
In 1Th 4:17, "air" is the Greek aer, which means "atmosphere,"
while pnoe means "breath",
and pneuma means "spirit".
Paul did not use pnoe or pneuma because he did not mean "breath" or "spirit", respectively,
he used aer because he meant "atmosphere."
And we have no license to assume that
meeting the Lord in the "air" at the rapture
means meeting the Lord "in the spirit."
Errors:
This taking unauthorized license with the words of the texts is yielding misinterpretation and error.
Paul states we will be caught up in the clouds (not crowds)
to meet the Lord in the atmosphere (not in the spirit).
We have no license to assume otherwise.
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The Bible does say that there will be a resurrection of the saints,then the wrath of God poured upon the earth,and then God will come back with His children to fight the world which is the battle of Armageddon.
1 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [SUP]2 [/SUP]For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee(Zechariah 14:1-5).
It is God's purpose to gather the world together to fight against Israel,which is the battle of Armageddon which is part of the wrath of God.We read that when God comes to fight the world that the saints are with Him,so God does not come back and the saints are on earth but God takes His children where they receive their glorified body and then comes back with them to fight the world.
1 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [SUP]2 [/SUP]For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee(Zechariah 14:1-5).
It is God's purpose to gather the world together to fight against Israel,which is the battle of Armageddon which is part of the wrath of God.We read that when God comes to fight the world that the saints are with Him,so God does not come back and the saints are on earth but God takes His children where they receive their glorified body and then comes back with them to fight the world.
Your assertion is based on the assumption that the word "clouds" is always a metaphor for "crowds."
Both grammatically and Biblically your assumption is not true.
A metaphor is a comparison of one thing with another (two things) suggesting a likeness between them.
There are no metaphors in the NT usage of "cloud" in the following Scriptures because
no comparisons of two things are found in them:
on the mount of transfiguration (Mt 17:5),
which covered Israel in the Red Sea (1Co 10:1-2),
seen in the apocalyptic visions (Rev 1:7, 10:1, 11:12, 14:14, 15, 16),
in connection with the rapture (1Th 4:17),
Christ's second coming (Mt 24:30, 26:64), or
at the ascension (Ac 1:9).
That "cloud" in the above Scriptures is a metaphor for "crowds" has no Biblical basis
because no comparison of two things is made in any of them.
It is merely an assumption without either grammatical or Biblical warrant.
The "clouds" of 1Th 4:17 are actual masses of vapor in the sky, and not "crowds" of people,
as clouds are crowds in the actual metaphors of Heb 12:1 and 2Pe 2:17, where we do find
comparisons of one thing to another (two things) suggesting a likeness between the two things.
Both grammatically and Biblically your assumption is not true.
A metaphor is a comparison of one thing with another (two things) suggesting a likeness between them.
There are no metaphors in the NT usage of "cloud" in the following Scriptures because
no comparisons of two things are found in them:
on the mount of transfiguration (Mt 17:5),
which covered Israel in the Red Sea (1Co 10:1-2),
seen in the apocalyptic visions (Rev 1:7, 10:1, 11:12, 14:14, 15, 16),
in connection with the rapture (1Th 4:17),
Christ's second coming (Mt 24:30, 26:64), or
at the ascension (Ac 1:9).
That "cloud" in the above Scriptures is a metaphor for "crowds" has no Biblical basis
because no comparison of two things is made in any of them.
It is merely an assumption without either grammatical or Biblical warrant.
The "clouds" of 1Th 4:17 are actual masses of vapor in the sky, and not "crowds" of people,
as clouds are crowds in the actual metaphors of Heb 12:1 and 2Pe 2:17, where we do find
comparisons of one thing to another (two things) suggesting a likeness between the two things.
It is the GREEK word translated (coming) and means the body presence........and in 2nd Thessalonians 2 it is used in what is known as a Grandsville sharp in the Greek....
We beseech you brethren, by the (coming) body presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is to say our gathering together unto HIM.......
We beseech you brethren, by the (coming) body presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is to say our gathering together unto HIM.......
Re: The Rapture Could Be Now!
I agree with you, there is no Post Trib Rapture either, unless we are talking about 1,000 years or so after. The Rapture happens on the last day of earth. That's the only view that 100% agrees with all other passages.
The judgment is on the LAST DAY
The resurrection is on the LAST DAY
The old heaven and earth dissolve on the LAST DAY
Death is defeated on the LAST DAY
The Rapture (changing of living) also happens on this same LAST DAY
I agree with you, there is no Post Trib Rapture either, unless we are talking about 1,000 years or so after. The Rapture happens on the last day of earth. That's the only view that 100% agrees with all other passages.
The judgment is on the LAST DAY
The resurrection is on the LAST DAY
The old heaven and earth dissolve on the LAST DAY
Death is defeated on the LAST DAY
The Rapture (changing of living) also happens on this same LAST DAY
Jesus is due to return. 'Everyone' knows this. Those who want to continue to sin think He comes back twice. Those who don't want to sin, trusting by faith in His Word, know He comes back only once. To rule earth.
When Jesus comes back, He catches up the sleeping believers to Himself in the sky, proceeding to rule on earth with them. Yes, for one thousand years. Since He is here already, He doesn't come back at the end of the thousand years. He is already here for the thousand years, ruling, from the time He returns and stands on the mount of Olives.
There's a lot of details argued about. That's okay. There are those who keep on sinning, and those who turn away from sinning. That's what makes the difference in a persons life- does he turn to serve God and by grace in Jesus stop sinning, or continue serving sin?. God willing he gets saved......
When Jesus comes back, He catches up the sleeping believers to Himself in the sky, proceeding to rule on earth with them. Yes, for one thousand years. Since He is here already, He doesn't come back at the end of the thousand years. He is already here for the thousand years, ruling, from the time He returns and stands on the mount of Olives.
There's a lot of details argued about. That's okay. There are those who keep on sinning, and those who turn away from sinning. That's what makes the difference in a persons life- does he turn to serve God and by grace in Jesus stop sinning, or continue serving sin?. God willing he gets saved......
So what you are saying is that if you don't understand timing or definition of things like the Bride/groom concept, and the belief that the AC kills everyone who won't worship the beast and the time of Gentiles that it is okay to invent a "fly away to heaven" doctrine that is not taught and not found in the Bible???
Wouldn't it be more prudent to ask yourself that since there is no fly away doctrine that maybe you should figure out how these things fit and what they mean without inventing an incredible (yet fictitious) event such as a "Rapture."
Wouldn't it be more prudent to ask yourself that since there is no fly away doctrine that maybe you should figure out how these things fit and what they mean without inventing an incredible (yet fictitious) event such as a "Rapture."
.
No. I am strongly against Antinomianism (i.e. abiding in unrepentant sin (such as murdering, hating, lying, lusting, etc.) with the thinking that you can still be saved). For not only is the Pre-Trib Rapture supported by lots of Scripture that others like to ignore, the Pre-Trib Rapture promotes Godliness, too.
#1. You won't be caught up in the Pre-Trib Rapture if you are not looking and if you are not living righteously (i.e. being ready with any oil in your lamp).
#2. Those who think they can sin and still be saved (Believers who are not ready) and those who are not looking for Him (Believers who deny what Scripture says about the Rapture) are all going to be very sorrowful when they miss out on the Pre-Trib Rapture. They are going to either fall away from the faith, or they are going to repent and re-examine everything they thought they knew about the Scriptures. In other words, those who think they can sin and still be saved will miss out on the Pre-Trib Rapture and will wonder why God did not take them. Those who believe the Lord is coming at an hour they say (Rather then at any moment), will also be very sorrowful that they could have believed what the Scriptures said (But chose to ignore them). For Jesus says, those who think the Lord delays His coming with that of an evil and lazy servant. Why? Because if the Lord delays His coming, then that means folks can slack off. So you have it backwards, my friend. For if Jesus can come at any moment, then one needs to be ever the more ready for Him.
For the Pre-Trib Rapture is the Marriage to the Lamb (See Parable of 10 Virgins in Matthew 25).
And the Second Rapture is the Lord's Return from the Wedding and the Gathering of those Guests unto the Marriage Supper (See Luke 12:36 and those passages on the Marriage Supper in Revelation).
Note: - The Marriage Supper is the saints fighting at Armageddon and not a meal in Heaven.
#1. You won't be caught up in the Pre-Trib Rapture if you are not looking and if you are not living righteously (i.e. being ready with any oil in your lamp).
#2. Those who think they can sin and still be saved (Believers who are not ready) and those who are not looking for Him (Believers who deny what Scripture says about the Rapture) are all going to be very sorrowful when they miss out on the Pre-Trib Rapture. They are going to either fall away from the faith, or they are going to repent and re-examine everything they thought they knew about the Scriptures. In other words, those who think they can sin and still be saved will miss out on the Pre-Trib Rapture and will wonder why God did not take them. Those who believe the Lord is coming at an hour they say (Rather then at any moment), will also be very sorrowful that they could have believed what the Scriptures said (But chose to ignore them). For Jesus says, those who think the Lord delays His coming with that of an evil and lazy servant. Why? Because if the Lord delays His coming, then that means folks can slack off. So you have it backwards, my friend. For if Jesus can come at any moment, then one needs to be ever the more ready for Him.
For the Pre-Trib Rapture is the Marriage to the Lamb (See Parable of 10 Virgins in Matthew 25).
And the Second Rapture is the Lord's Return from the Wedding and the Gathering of those Guests unto the Marriage Supper (See Luke 12:36 and those passages on the Marriage Supper in Revelation).
Note: - The Marriage Supper is the saints fighting at Armageddon and not a meal in Heaven.
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