THE RAPTURE TEACHING HAS WENT FROM BAD TEACHING TO HERESY
Tit 3:10 “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;”
The word “heresy” simply means to create division. In the Church there are many differences, and not all bad, and actually many are necessary. But when a difference becomes contrary to the Word of God it becomes heresy and must be rejected by the Church. So has become the teaching of Rapture as taught by many today.
The word “Rapture” never appeared in the original manuscripts of Scripture. The word “rapture” is derived from the Latin word “rapturo” = “joyful ecstasy”. This was an effort by the translator at that time to describe the coming blessing to take place during the Resurrection. “Rapturo” was used in later Latin translations of the Scriptures to describe the Greek word “harpazo” = “To seize or catch away”. Whereas in the Latin Vulgate, the first Latin translation of the Scriptures, the word “rapeimur” was used which means “we will be caught up”.
By using the word “rapturo” ,in an attempt to describe the future joy of the Believer during the Resurrection, it has led to the misunderstanding so many hold today that there will be a Rapture, distinct and separate, before the Resurrection/Second Coming of Christ. The Rapture teaching, like any bad teaching, has inevitably led to heresy. The inevitable result of any bad teaching, it will eventually lead you away from Scripture, as the Rapture teaching does today.
Rapturists view Tribulation as a bad thing for the believer.
This is where they take the word “ek”/from” out of context.
Rev. 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
"from" - ek = through
Out of 22 commentaries not a single one takes the meaning of this word as to keep apart from a situation or thing, but all are in agreement that ek is defined as keep through. The word ek is used with the same context in Matt. 19:20 where the rich young ruler stated "All these things have I kept from/ek my youth up:..."
The Bible says in Romans 5:3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;…”
As a Believer the Apostle Paul had such hope, because of the Resurrection he could see the positive side of trials in a person’s life. Such trials the Apostle Peter considered more precious than gold, 1Peter 1:7. The Apostle James tells us we are to even count it all joy, James 1:2. For the Believer we do not shrink back from the persecutions we are told would come upon us if we follow Jesus, 2Tim. 3:12, but rather we see our trials as opportunities to show the world Jesus is worthy.
Paul taught the Resurrection, not a Rapture.
The idea of a Rapture is contained within the Biblical doctrine of the Resurrection, but is simply an aspect of the Resurrection, and not apart or distinct from the Resurrection.
1 Thess. 4:15, 17
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.
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.
"coming" - parousia, par-oo-see'-ah = The Advent/Coming of Christ
"caught" - harpazo, har-pad'-zo = To seize or catch away.
When Rapturists cross the line from bad teaching to heresy.
There is no possibility of salvation without the working of the Holy Spirit.
Rapturists belief is summed up; before the Resurrection Jesus will come back to take His Church out of the world before He punishes sinners by His wrath, and before the Resurrection. They teach the Church will be taken out and the Holy Spirit as well, but during the tribulation period people will be saved.
The false teaching is glaring.
Question: If the Church, God’s people, and the Holy Spirit are taken out, then how do they explain a person can be saved?
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Rapturists, such as Dr. David Jeremiah, John Hagee and others would quickly answer that it would be by the 144,000 Jews that will be saved, or by the Two Witnesses mentioned in Revelation, or by the books, videos, and Bibles left behind. Tragically they disregard the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s work as Jesus tells in John 16.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:7-8
To be able to be saved without the drawing of the Holy Spirit allows an individual to be saved by works rather than by grace through faith, as told in Ephesians by the Apostle Paul, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Eph 2:8
Other questions arise from this bad teaching as well, such as; If a person were able to be saved, apart from the working of the Holy Spirit, wouldn’t that mean the Church is on the earth again, because the Church is not a building, but believers in Jesus Christ.
Lastly, Rapturists blatantly ignore what Jesus says concerning His Second Coming in 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. Matt. 24:29-30
In conclusion, any teaching of the end times that would contradict what Jesus taught His Apostles in Matthew 24 is blatant heresy. Free-will allows a person to believe whatever they choose, so I choose to believe Jesus.
Pastor
Rev., Dr. Philip Williams
Cooperstown Community Church of God
