The scripture commands us to:
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
When a claim is made concerning a doctrine in scripture we must:
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
What rapture(s)/resurrections does the Bible teach for saints? Both pre trib and post trib depending on which group(s) you're talking about. Pre tribulation rapture is for the church age saints. Post tribulation rapture are for the tribulation saints. Both groups have different conditions that the Lord Jesus has given the regarding how an individual is saved during a particular time period. Scripture is very plain concerning these raptures.
Church age saints must obey the gospel of the grace of God to be saved and be raptured(Acts 20:24/1 Corinthians 15:1-4/Romans 10:9). Notice:
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Before the pre tribulation rapture occurs, the following takes place:
2 Thessalonians 2:1 ¶Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 ¶Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Notice "day of Christ" and the cross references in 1 Cor 1:8, 1 Cor 5:5:, 2 Cor 1:14, Philippians 1:6, 10, 2:16. These are specific to the church age. The "day of the Lord" (see all occurrences in the scripture) refers to a time period where the Lord Jesus Christ will come back to execute his vengeance and set up the kingdom of heaven (Matthew chapters 10 and 24, Revelation 20 and so on). Remember concerning how God sees a day:
2 Peter 3:8 ¶But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
which includes the end of the tribulation (Revelation 19) and the end of the millenial reign (Revelation 20:8-10/Malachi 4:1-6) where Jesus Christ executes his wrath again.
Tribulation saints are saved through faith in Jesus Christ and works of the law/keeping the commandments (Revelation 14:12/Matthew 24:13,14). How do we know this is a post tribulation rapture for this group?
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Some may think what is cited above is a bunch of "scripture twisting." Reading the scriptures in context will show the divisions of the Bible and how God deals with man in different times/ages. Look at how the Lord Jesus Christ gave his commands to his disciples.
Matthew 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Matthew 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Notice that no disciple screamed at Jesus saying "HEY YOU CONTRADICTED YOURSELF!!" The Lord Jesus has the authority to supercede his previous command.
Things to ponder and study on:
The kingdom of heaven vs the kingdom of God and the conditions to enter into either one of them
gospel of the kingdom (of heaven) and the gospel of the grace of God
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
When a claim is made concerning a doctrine in scripture we must:
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
What rapture(s)/resurrections does the Bible teach for saints? Both pre trib and post trib depending on which group(s) you're talking about. Pre tribulation rapture is for the church age saints. Post tribulation rapture are for the tribulation saints. Both groups have different conditions that the Lord Jesus has given the regarding how an individual is saved during a particular time period. Scripture is very plain concerning these raptures.
Church age saints must obey the gospel of the grace of God to be saved and be raptured(Acts 20:24/1 Corinthians 15:1-4/Romans 10:9). Notice:
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Before the pre tribulation rapture occurs, the following takes place:
2 Thessalonians 2:1 ¶Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 ¶Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Notice "day of Christ" and the cross references in 1 Cor 1:8, 1 Cor 5:5:, 2 Cor 1:14, Philippians 1:6, 10, 2:16. These are specific to the church age. The "day of the Lord" (see all occurrences in the scripture) refers to a time period where the Lord Jesus Christ will come back to execute his vengeance and set up the kingdom of heaven (Matthew chapters 10 and 24, Revelation 20 and so on). Remember concerning how God sees a day:
2 Peter 3:8 ¶But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
which includes the end of the tribulation (Revelation 19) and the end of the millenial reign (Revelation 20:8-10/Malachi 4:1-6) where Jesus Christ executes his wrath again.
Tribulation saints are saved through faith in Jesus Christ and works of the law/keeping the commandments (Revelation 14:12/Matthew 24:13,14). How do we know this is a post tribulation rapture for this group?
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Some may think what is cited above is a bunch of "scripture twisting." Reading the scriptures in context will show the divisions of the Bible and how God deals with man in different times/ages. Look at how the Lord Jesus Christ gave his commands to his disciples.
Matthew 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Matthew 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Notice that no disciple screamed at Jesus saying "HEY YOU CONTRADICTED YOURSELF!!" The Lord Jesus has the authority to supercede his previous command.
Things to ponder and study on:
The kingdom of heaven vs the kingdom of God and the conditions to enter into either one of them
gospel of the kingdom (of heaven) and the gospel of the grace of God