PREMILLENNIALISM (5)

The Rapture (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

          One of the principal elements of Premillennialism is “The Rapture.”  Evangelical preachers like John Hagee warn that the rapture is coming.  We see bumper stickers that read:  “In case of the rapture, this car will be unmanned.”  In the Left Behind prequel series, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have a book entitled:  The Rapture. 

          In this article, we will discuss The Rapture.  Let’s begin with this affirmation:  The word “rapture” is not found in the New Testament of Jesus Christ.  There are two passages, however, that indicate that a rapture of some sort will take place.  In Matthew 24:40-41, we read these words of Jesus:  “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.   Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”  It is said that the phrase, “the one shall be taken,” refers to The Rapture.  The second verse is 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.  “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:  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.”  The words of the verse that indicates a rapture are “caught up.”  These words mean:  “to seize, to carry off, to snatch away.” 

          Some believe that The Rapture was taught in some way as early as the Second Century.  One of the early Church Fathers, the Shepherd of Hermas, taught Christians that it was possible for them to escape the Great Tribulation if they kept their hearts pure and spotless.  In an article entitled:  “The Origin of the Concept of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture,” we learn that The Rapture was affirmed by Ephraem the Syrian who lived from 306 to 373 AD.  He was one of the leading theologians of the early Byzantine Church.  The author of the article tells us that Ephraem wrote a sermon encouraging believers to prepare for the Lord’s coming because “all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins” (The Origin of the Concept of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture | Rapture | Lamb and Lion Ministries).

          In that same article, we read of a list of books written by men in the 17^th and 18^th Centuries that speak of The Rapture:  Approaching Deliverance of the Church, Peter Jurieu, 1687); Philip Doddridge’s commentary on the New Testament (1738), and John Gill’s commentary on the New Testament (1748).  “James Macknight (1763) and Thomas Scott (1792) taught that the righteous will carried to heaven, where they will be secure until the time of judgment is over” (Ibid.).  In the late 1800s, it was John Darby who popularized the doctrine of The Rapture. 

“After John Darby refined the concept, it spread rapidly through Europe and America.  The viewpoint has always been blessed by gifted communicators.  In 1878 the very first best-selling book incorporated the idea.  It was Jesus is Coming Soon by William E. Blackstone (1841-1935).  In 1909 the very first study Bible ever published – The Scofield Study Bible – developed the scriptural arguments for the viewpoint in detail.  Then came the amazing charts and diagrams of Clarence Larkin (1850-1924) in his book Dispensational Truth.  Harry Ironside (1876-1951), the popular pastor of the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, preached the concept in his sermons and books during the 1930s and 40’s.  In 1970 Hal Lindsay published The Late Great Planet Earth and once again the viewpoint was expressed in a best seller.  The 20^th Century ended with the view being espoused in the ‘Left Behind’ block-buster series of books written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins” (Ibid.).

          Those hearing the proclamation of The Rapture might believe that the facts of The Rapture are set in stone among those who believe in Premillennialism.  This, however, is not the case.  There are four different views of The Rapture.  One view is called “The Pre-Tribulation Rapture.”  This view asserts that before the seven-year tribulation period, the saints will be raptured from the earth.  A second view is referred to as “The Mid-Tribulation Rapture.”  This view affirms that the church will suffer through 3-1/2 years of the tribulation and will be raptured prior to The Great Tribulation.  A third group of premillennialists teach that Christians will not be raptured until the end of the tribulation period.  This view is known as “The Pre-wrath Rapture.”  A fourth view is somewhat unique.  It proclaims that  true Christians will be raptured before, in the midst of, and after the tribulation depending upon one’s genuine conversion to God and the truth.  The most widely held view of The Rapture is the Pre-tribulation Rapture. This will be the one we will discuss at length in our next article on the subject of Premillennialism.