Your question:

Hi. I am a fellow born again Christian, and am very interested in the "last days". I was very pleased with your website, which I just happened to stumble upon, and, like I'm sure you are, I am excited for Christ's return. I read your response to a question on when the rapture will occur, however, and I wanted to share a few points on why I am inclined to disagree with you. I believe that Jesus will "rapture" his church (us) before the horrors of tribulation start. It says in Revelations 3:10, "Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on earth." The Greek translated word for from, ek, literally means "out of". So, God is saying he will keep us out of the trials and tribulations. Also, God refers to the end times as being similar to the days of Noah. Note that before the rains fell, and the people of the earth were ultimately destroyed, God took Noah, the only true follower then, out of these terrors, and protected him in an ark. In addition, it says of the antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed..." Until he is taken away. Until Jesus, and the spirit on earth is taken away, the lawless one will not be revealed. We, who have the spirit of Jesus in us here on earth, must be taken out of the way. Then nothing will stop the evil and sin of the world. Imagine the tribulation that will be allowed to occur once we are gone! How can the tribulation happen with us here to keep and spread His word? I thank you for taking the time to read my viewpoints. I encourage you to pray to God and ask him to help you understand his word on the "end times". I will do the same. He says, though, that we are not to know everything. Whenever the rapture occurs, I hope to see you in heaven!

 My answer:

Hi,
Thanks for the e-mail.

You said: I was very pleased with your website, which I just happened to stumble upon, and, like I'm sure you are, I am excited for Christ's return.

My response: Thank you and yes I am very excited about the return of my LORD!

You said: I believe that Jesus will "rapture" his church (us) before the horrors of tribulation start. It says in Revelations 3:10, "Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on earth." The Greek translated word for from, ek, literally means "out of".

My response: There is no reference in the Bible to the tribulation (desolation) as being the hour of trial. The hour of trial is the time of God's wrath. God's wrath is on the last day when He comes and takes His kingdom by force. We, as believers, are not subject to God's wrath, hence our rescue from it (! Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Peter 2:9). A rescue is fundamentally different from an evacuation. An evacuation suggests that we are pulled out before the wrath comes. But the Bible says that we are rescued from the coming wrath. Rescue means that we are pulled out from its midst. We cannot ignore that Jesus told us He would raise us on the last day (Read John chapter 6). The resurrection is our salvation. We are saved from deserved wrath through the gate of resurrection, Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life."

Very often the tribulation is referred to erroneously as the time of God's wrath. This is only partially true. This is a time of supernatural judgments to be poured out on the earth and more specifically Israel. The wrath in the tribulation is directed at Israel by God through her enemies as the final punishment for her rebellion. Again we are not subjects of God's wrath.

Jesus does not make three appearances. He makes two. The first has already happened to make payment and make claim on those who are His. The second time He comes He brings salvation by redeeming His claim. (Hebrews 9:27-28)

You said: So, God is saying he will keep us out of the trials and tribulations.

My response: Where does God say such a thing? We are not subjects of wrath, but who do we think we are that we feel above the disciplining and refining hand of God? The judgments of the desolation are not the wrath of God and because the faithful are marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit we are passed over by these supernatural judgments (Ephesians 1:13-14). But persecution will be the tool allowed by God to refine us, this will happen at the hands of men who are under the delusion sent by God.

You said: Also, God refers to the end times as being similar to the days of Noah. Note that before the rains fell, and the people of the earth were ultimately destroyed, God took Noah, the only true follower then, out of these terrors, and protected him in an ark.

My response: Note that Noah wasn't saved from a tribulation but from God's wrath upon the world. Noah and family were saved the day God's wrath ensued. It was by God's hand that the door was sealed and the deluge followed immediately after(Genesis 7:13-16, Luke 17:26-37). God did not save them from terror, but from His wrath.

You said: In addition, it says of the antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed..." Until he is taken away. Until Jesus, and the spirit on earth is taken away, the lawless one will not be revealed. We, who have the spirit of Jesus in us here on earth, must be taken out of the way. Then nothing will stop the evil and sin of the world.

My response: Where does it say that the Spirit of Jesus will be taken out of the way? The one who has always been assigned to the protection of Israel will be taken out of the way. The chief prince and protector of Israel is Michael (Daniel 10:13 & 21). Israel's rebellion against the covenant will cause the LORD to withdraw Michael's protection over Israel. On the last day Michael will rise again to protect Israel (Daniel 12:1).

You said: Imagine the tribulation that will be allowed to occur once we are gone! How can the tribulation happen with us here to keep and spread His word?

My response: You are assuming that it is the church holding back wickedness. Look around you, we have not done a very good job. Much of what the world looks like now is how the world will appear during the desolation. Satan will wage war against the church and will be very successful. Many will turn from the faith while others will be deceived. The remainder who are faithful will be in hiding, captured or killed. For the sake of the elect God will intervene or we all would be massacred.

You said: I thank you for taking the time to read my viewpoints. I encourage you to pray to God and ask him to help you understand his word on the "end times". I will do the same. He says, though, that we are not to know everything. Whenever the rapture occurs, I hope to see you in heaven!

My response: I always pray to God to show me where I am wrong before I answer anyone, including you. I am gravely aware of my responsibility before the king and to my fellow brothers and sisters. Jesus once told the leaders of His day that they are ""surely in error because they do not know the scriptures or the power of God." Many well intentioned believers will be deceived because they love not God enough to seek him in His word. They will not part from the doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). They are spoken of in scripture as having surrounded themselves with false teachers who tickle their ears with what they want to hear. We are immersed in a sea of false teachers in our time (2 Timothy 4:3-4). I would love to be raptured right now, but the word says differently. Most of those who believe in a pre-trib rapture also believe that they will not be here when the antichrist is present. Therefore they will not understand those times or identify him and therefore will be deceived by him. I plant these seeds will the solemn understanding God has given me.

I pray that I have been a blessing.

In the service of LORD Jesus,

Randy