Why I don't believe in the rapture

This is something of a response to a blog post I came across here, regarding belief in the pre-tribulation rapture. It's entitled Eschatology 102: why I believe in the rapture, by Jesse Johnson, and is said by him to have been written to "explain why I believe in a rapture at all." As I read, I felt inspired, for some reason, to write this response in order to examine the scripture passages which were presented to prove the pre-tribulation rapture. While I don't believe those who adhere to belief in a pre-tribulation rapture are heretics or not brothers in Christ, the use of the scripture compelled me to, perhaps, offer a counter-viewpoint.

Our author states at the beginning that "the Bible does describe this event in at least three places," each of which we'll examine one at a time, starting with the first one (the quotes from the blog will be in purple):

In John 14:3, Jesus tells the discouraged disciples that he is going to leave them and return to his father. But he tells them that when arrives in glory he is not going to be idle. Instead, he is going to be busy preparing a place for believers to dwell. He says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am.” In this passage, Jesus describes an act of removing Christians from the earth, and taking them to heaven—or wherever it is that he is preparing a place for us.

The immediate problem here is that we forget Christ is not simply speaking to Christians of a certain generation, but to Christians in general - we know this because this entire address (from chapter thirteen up to the high priestly prayer) is being given specifically to the disciples. While I don't deny that most in this chapter would be relevant to modern day Christians as well, there are many places in this section where it is quite clearly being addressed to and/or would be directly relevant to the disciples (cf. Jn 15:26-27; 16:2; 16:4b-7; 16:16; 16:22; 16:32). What this means is that, if Christ were speaking of a pre-tribulation rapture, it would have been completely irrelevant to the disciples, as none of them can experience the pre-tribulation rapture in the manner described.

Our author states here that this verse describes "an act of removing Christians from the earth." He will go on to say, in the same article, that this speaks of "a physical removal of believers from the earth," and "a time when believers will be physically removed from the planet, meet the Lord Jesus in the air, and be with him forever." However, there is nothing here directly implying that this is Christ's intent or meaning, nor is there anything implying that this will take place in the pre-tribulation period. This has to be read into the verse.

Most commentators throughout history have referred this to the general return of Christ and the coming day of judgment. In this sense, these passages would be relevant not only for the disciples, but all Christians who came after them. Christ is speaking of preparing "dwelling places" for us, and that a place will be prepared for all Christians (not just those in the pre-tribulation rapture), and when Christ returns it will be to unite all believers with Him, so that they would truly dwell with him. However, this does not require belief in the pre-tribulation rapture in order to be true. As was stated before, nothing about a tribulation is even mentioned here, only a fulfillment of Christ's promise that the places reserved for believers would be granted to them after he returns.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul uses very similar language. He explains that when the Lord comes in the air with the souls of those who have already died, he will raise their bodies from the earth. And: “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” Both Paul and Jesus describe a physical removal of believers from the earth. And notably both say that their new home will be with the Lord, in glory, forever.

Certainly a physical removal of believers is described here. That it is involved in a pre-tribulation rapture, however, is not. One could very well interpret this section of scripture as the bringing up of the living and the dead (who are mentioned in vv. 13-15) at the end times, when Christ returns to judge the world.

First Corinthians 15:51-54 is the most detailed account of this rapture. Here, Paul describes it as happening in an instant, “in the twinkling of an eye” (v. 52). He says that the trumpet will sound (cf. 1 Thess 4:16), our physical bodies will be “raised” and “changed” (v. 52), and our mortal flesh will put on “immortality” (v. 54).

Our author is not incorrect in the description of what the verses say - the issue, however, is the claim that this describes a pre-tribulation rapture. The apostle Paul, in speaking generally of the resurrection, touches on the subject of flesh and blood in regards to the resurrection, saying in verse 50: "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." He goes on to say in verse 52: "the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." Paul's emphasis here is not on any rapture (nor does he even hint at a pre-tribulation rapture), but rather on the nature of our bodies and how they will be treated at the resurrection.

Our author continues his three main verses, going on to discuss the rapture a bit more in detail:

Other passages hint at the reality of the rapture. The day of the Lord is described as both a time of judgement on the earth and a time of rescue for believers. Revelation 3:10 pledges that believers who endure the trials of this age will be kept from the time of tribulation to come. 

This is perhaps the first verse we have seen which might suggest the teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture within scripture. The issue, again, is in the context.

Revelation 3:1-13 is a section of the letters from Christ to the various churches in Asia Minor, and is the one specifically addressed to Philadelphia (now Alasehir in modern day Turkey). Let's review the context of the verse quickly:

"I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie - I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God and My new name." [Revelation 3:8-12]

Let us now speak about a few realities concerning this passage:

1) This passage is directed specifically to the church in Philadelphia - the "you" throughout the verses. Now, while I would agree with those in the spiritual camp (who believe the letters to the churches in Revelation provide timeless lessons for churches throughout history), we have to also remember to whom these passages are written and the historical context. Otherwise, we become like those who abuse Revelation 3:20, applying it to unbelievers asking them to convert, when in actuality it is addressed to believers telling them to repent. Certainly, many who interpret Revelation from a futurist mindset recognize that these letters are addressed to specific churches in a specific context, hence why some argue that these letters are written to future churches in those cities, rather than churches that existed in that time period.

2) On this note, Christ is dealing with specific issues pertaining to this church. These Christians had been harassed by the local Jewish population (as Christians were well into the second century AD) whom Christ referred to as "the synagogue of Satan" (v. 9). These Jews had, through whatever means, attempted to compel the Christians in Philadelphia to disobey God's word and deny Christ's name (v. 8). The faithful in Philadelphia were experiencing temptation to deny God's word and to fall out of faith, and yet, as we shall see, they had resisted this and remained faithful.

3) Christ states that, because the believers in Philadelphia have "kept the word of [His] perseverance" (meaning the perseverance of believers; Re 13:10), he will also keep them from "the hour of testing" which is "about to come upon the whole world" to "test those who dwell on the earth" (v. 10). Note very importantly: this promise is directly tied to the perseverance of the believers in Philadelphia; because they have kept the perseverance of faith, God will keep them from the "hour of testing" about to come upon the world. In fact, a grammatical play on words is being used here with τηρέω, or "to keep": because the believers in Philadelphia kept (ἐτήρησας) the faith, Christ will have them kept (τηρήσω) from the "hour of testing." Again, there is an obvious tie between the believers in Philadelphia and the hour of testing, not a future generation completely unrelated to the specific church addressed here.

No doubt many will harp on the use of the words "whole world" and "earth" in verse 10. However, we must understand that when scripture often speaks of "whole world" or "earth," we must not immediately apply it to our modern day context of "the literal entire world." Those who would contend this must go to Luke 2:1 and ask themselves what the evangelist meant when he wrote "all the world" was to be taxed. Are we to assume that Caesar Augustus sent Roman tax collectors to ancient China? That he sent Roman tax collectors across the seas and taxed the Native Americans? That Roman ships visited each of the Pacific islands, taxing the Samoans and Hawaiians? Obviously not. The context here, most likely, refers most likely to the "whole world" of the Roman Empire, or that region of the world. This makes much more sense in the context of the audience, as we know this letter is addressed to the church in Philadelphia, and is they who are going to be spared from the "hour of testing" about to fall on the "whole world."

It must also be noted that there are two examples of begging the question in this use of Revelation 3:10:

1) While "keeping" is mentioned in the verse, it is not explicitly stated what the "keeping" entails, let alone is there anything to make us assume that it involves a rapture that will bring all believers from the earth to heaven. Many believe that this "keeping" to simply mean God's granting strength to believers and preventing the "hour of testing" from being as bad upon them as it will be for unbelievers or false Christians. This would certainly fit with the context of the passage, in which Christ tells them that he has "put before [the Philadelphia believers] an open door which no one can shut" (v. 8), referring to a secured eternal salvation (cf. Re 21:25).

2) While an "hour of testing" is mentioned, it is never directly tied to the tribulation (which John mentions as a present reality for himself and his contemporary Christians; Re 1:9). In the immediate context, given that perseverance of faith is being discussed and the next verse has Christ commanding them to "hold fast" so that "no one will take your crown" (that is, the crown of life; Re 4:10), it is a testing of faith and repentance. Some will no doubt argue that those who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture do believe that the tribulation will be a test of faith and repentance for those on the earth, however we must remember that it has been established this is addressed to the church in Philadelphia, not a future, pre-tribulation generation.

Our author continues:

First Thessalonians 5:9 says that despite the coming judgment in the Day of the Lord, that believers will be spared that wrath.

Let us review the context of the verse quickly:

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. [1 Thessalonians 5:2-10]

While it is true that the verse says believers will be spared from wrath, it is not the wrath of the tribulation. The apostle Paul does speak on the day of the Lord, and describes it as coming "like a thief in the night," and hence commands that believers to be "sober," rather than living sinfully and as if they were unconverted, that is, those who live in darkness. Paul then explains why we should live soberly: because God has not destined us for wrath, but "for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him" (vv. 9-10). In other words, this is speaking of the wrath of God's judgment. This verse is not speaking of believers being carried up in a pre-tribulation rapture to be spared from a coming tribulation upon the earth.

Is the World Ending on May 21, 2011?

Recently there's been a lot of hooplah about the supposed prediction by Harold Camping that the end of the world will be on May 21, 2011. The immediate passage many Christians may be thinking of is the words of the Christ to the disciples:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." [Matt 24:36; NASB]

Christ seems to make it clear that the day and hour of His return no one knows except the Father in heaven. Why, then, does Harold Camping seem to know?

Well, in his tract No Man Knows the Day or the Hour? (source), Harold Camping (or at least, the writer of the tract) seems to have an answer:

...we learn that during the church age there would be a great curiosity concerning the time of the end, but believers were not to be at all preoccupied with this question. They were to concentrate and focus all of their attention on the task of bringing the Gospel to the whole world.

Therefore, regardless of how brilliant or how learned a theologian or Bible student might have been, or how diligently they studied the Bible or faithfully served Christ, it was impossible to learn from the Bible the timetable for the end of the world. Anyone who claimed he knew the time of the end was always wrong.

Nevertheless, there is a very striking statement in the Bible. It is recorded in Ecclesiastes 8:5. There God declares:

Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth [better translation: will know] both time and judgment.

In the Bible a wise man is a true believer, to whom God has given a profound trust in the authority of the Bible. True believers have been in existence since the beginning of time. But the timeline of history as it is revealed in the Bible was never revealed to the hearts of the true believers....However, it was not until a very few years ago that the accurate knowledge of the entire timeline of history was revealed to true believers by God from the Bible. This timeline extends all the way to the end of tirne. During these past several years God has been revealing a great many truths, which have been completely hidden in the Bible until this time when we are so near the end of the world.

Alarm bells should be going off in our head about now. Any time someone speaks about "revealing a great many truths," especially those which have been "completely hidden in the Bible until this time," it is usually in the spirit of false prophecy.

In fact, before we continue, something important must be noted: Harold Camping has already been shown to be a false prophet. He had before predicted the world would end somewhere between September 15-17 in 1994 (source). At another recorded time, he pinpointed it to be September 6, 1994 (source). Guess what didn't happen that September?

Scripture is very clear about false prophecies:

"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." [Deuteronomy 18:22]

For the sake of discussion, however, let's continue to review Camping's claims about 2011, since many people may be curious about the claims made by him and his followers.

Perhaps the biggest shock to most learned Christians at this point is the completely false application of Ecclesiastes 8:5. Camping interprets this as meaning that a true believer will be made known about the end times. Is this really what the writer of Ecclesiastes is talking about? Let's review the context quickly.

I say, "Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases." Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, "What are you doing?" He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man's trouble is heavy upon him. [Ecclesiastes 8:2-6]

Is the author of Ecclesiastes saying that "true believers" will come to know the hour and day of the end times? Not at all. The point the writer was trying to make was that a wise man (not a "true believer," but simply someone with a deeper sense of tact) knows how to handle various situations. One cannot possibly come to another conclusion unless one springs verse 5 from its immediate context and invents new meanings to its words...something Harold Camping has unfortunately done and, in later interviews and discussions, has done over and over again.

Some nights ago, I was on Skype with a friend, and brought up this very subject. Without saying anything beforehand, I asked him to turn to Ecclesiastes chapter eight, then asked him (since he had the KJV, which Camping also uses) to read aloud verse five. Even he, without any teaching from either side and simply going to the text itself, recognized that Camping was being both erroneous and eisegetical with this verse.

In any case, I'd like to point out something here with the use of Ecclesiastes 8:5: we have completely jumped from our train of thought. What do I mean? We had earlier established that Christ had warned His disciples that no one knows the day or the hour, not even Him. Christ made it abundantly clear that the only one to know when the end time would be was the Father alone. What is Harold Camping now doing? He has jumped from that text, and is now declaring, "Oh! Well, actually, according to this verse in Ecclesiastes, any true believer knows the day and the hour!" How did we jump from "the Father alone" to "any true believer"? Those are two contradicting points.

This is something that happens all too often when a person, faced with a scripture or verse that contradicts their theology, becomes guilty of a non sequitor in an effort to distract from the chain of thought. The greatest fault in this is that, in jumping to another verse, the person refuses to deal with the interpretation of another. This is similar to people who don't like the reading of Romans 3:10-11 and so will jump to another verse to try to prove their point, never seeming to realize that in doing so they are contradicting both the apostle Paul and the Psalmist. With Camping we have something similar, though given that one comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and one comes from previously proven false prophet Harold Camping, I think I know which one to place my money on.

From here, Camping moves on to justification that such revelation would take place in the end times.

In the book of Daniel God has much to say about end-time events. Much of this was understood by Daniel, and because it was such awful information, great agony came upon Daniel. We read for example in Daniel 8:27:

And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

But then God told Daniel in Daniel 12:4 and 9:

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. And He said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

In other words, God is telling us that there is important information concerning the time of the end that has been recorded in the Bible ("the book") but is not to be revealed by God until the world is near its end.

Note, first off, the immediate assumption: that the book spoken of in Daniel was the Bible. Was this possible? Absolutely not. For one, the Bible had not yet been completed, whereas the book which Daniel held was completed, and in fact was ordered to be sealed until the end times. The book referred to by Daniel is, in fact, merely the book of written prophecies which Daniel had seen. The statement made "seal the book" was one made by prophets as a statement of judgment against people who did not understand (Isa 29:11), and was intended for a revelation that would not come to pass until much later. Remember that, in Revelation, John is told not to seal up his book of prophesy (Rev 22:10) by contrast.

Also note that the book discussed had been written by Daniel...did Daniel write the entire Bible? So even Matthew through Revelation and all that we know of as the New Testament was written by a prophet before any of those events even came to past? These questions, along with the previously stated facts, are what I mean by the fact that this book simply cannot be the Bible. That is simply a bold assumption read into the text.

Camping goes on to write:

In Revelation 22:18-19 we read:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book

These verses absolutely assure us that after the Bible was completed about 95 A.D. no other words could ever be added to the Bible. Therefore, whatever end-time information had been given to Daniel, but was not to be understood until the time of the end, had to have been included in the Bible before the Bible was completed. However, God wrote it in such a way that it could not be understood until the world was almost at its end. Remember, understanding comes only from the Lord Jesus Christ, as we read in Luke 24:45: "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures." This explains why the Bible is written in such complex and difficult-to-understand language.

Of course, we see that again Camping and his followers commit the same erroneous application of any use of the word "book" as meaning the Bible. Yet what does John himself record at the end of Revelation? "If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy." Much like Daniel was only referring to his book of prophecy, John is only referring to his book of prophecy.

Note also the dangerous application of Luke 24:45. When Christ opened the eyes of the disciples, why was this? So that they may understand that He was seen in the Old Testament (see Luke 24:44-47 for greater context). This, however, was personally given by Christ, and it was given to the apostles so that they may preach Christ crucified from Holy Writ. What application is being made here? That Camping is receiving this teaching directly from Christ, and that by his teaching the scripture is made more clear. Any time a man claims to speak directly from Christ, especially in regards to prophecy which only he can substantiate, we must be wary.

The strange statement at the end, which says the Bible was "written in such complex and difficult-to-understand language" seems to demand a special teaching authority, something often done in cults. Of course, the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. " (2 Tim 3:16-17). He likewise wrote to Timothy: "from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 3:15). That some of the Bible may be difficult for the laymen (in particular the prophetic passages) is true; however, that all of the Bible is written in "complex" and "difficult-to-understand" language is something that even scripture itself says is untrue. Any time a person claims scripture is so difficult that an outside authority must be relied on in toto, it is usually the first sign of a false teaching.

In the next section, after a lengthy quotation of Revelation 5:1-9, Camping writes:

These verses teach that there is a book that had been sealed and that was to be opened by Christ, Himself. The only book that can be in view is the book that the Bible describes in Daniel 12.

Note, again, an immediate assumption made without explanation of why the conclusion should be drawn. Nowhere in Revelation is this tie-in to Daniel's book made, nor is the book (often translated as "scroll") seen in Revelation 5:1 in any way connected to Daniel's book. In fact, if we wish to compare it with Old Testament events, there's many more similarities to the scroll seen by Ezekiel (see Eze 2:9-10) than the book written by Daniel. Yet the plain facts from scripture are that the scroll seen in Revelation 5 is specific to these events in Revelation: the seven scrolls represent the seven time periods which the breaking of each scroll will cause, none of which are recorded of in Daniel's prophecy.

Note also the contradictory thinking. We had established that the book in Daniel was supposedly the Bible, yet now we are claiming that the book in Revelation 5 is the book written by Daniel...is God therefore holding the Bible? Was the Bible given seven seals, which no one could open until the end times? Why, then, do so many people have Bibles? Why were large chunks of the Bible (namely the Old Testament) so readily available during the earthly ministry of Christ? Camping tells us, "The only book that can be in view is the book that the Bible describes in Daniel 12"...Yet wasn't that book in Daniel 12 the Bible? So the Bible is saying it came along in Daniel 12 but can't be opened except by Christ itself, yet we're reading that it can't be opened even though we have to open a Bible to read that? I hope people can understand why this logic is so astoundingly circular. I also recognize many will argue that the "seals" are supposed to be "that which figuratively seals someone from true understanding," but that is not the context given in Revelation 5.

At this point, I won't touch on much after section of the tract because all coherency and logic falls apart. The dates and numerology stray far, far from what scripture says and how Christians should read scripture. Should we be worried that the world will end on May 21, 2011? If it didn't happen around September of 1994, and scripture says not to worry about men who prophesy falsely, then chances are we have nothing to worry about.

Here I'd like to reiterate something that many others have: the danger here is not whether or not Christ will return on May 21, 2011...the danger here is what damage this will do for many out there in the world. How many people who become involved in this will fall away from the faith when nothing occurs? How many more will see this as what "real Christianity" is, and use it as a strawman to mock all Christians? How much damage will this do to the fact that someday Christ will return, and that we should all be living with willing readiness for whenever that day may be?

Let us all take this as an example of why discernment of the scriptures is so important, and why the most important factor in a Christian's life is not when Christ will return, but would we be ready if He should return today? God bless.

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EDIT - FEBRUARY 1, 2011: A Harold Camping supporter attempted to post a response to this, but due to the nature of the email I haven't allowed it to go through. What do I mean by "nature"? Well, let me post some excerpts:

...even if you doubt the bible look at the signs of the times moron...

...now d---head let me tell you what that means you ignorant a-- whole in the day of noah just in case u didnt pass 5th grade because everybody knows the noah story, god told noah that he was going to detroy the world in 7 days noah told everybody but no body listen they did exacly what your duma-- is doing ingoring it eating and drinking acting like everything is normal...

...so before you say the world not ending do your research and try not to look like a jacka-- because you do look pretty stupid.

...every thing thats in the bible is true and for d--- head a-- morons to say sum s--- like this p--- me off read your bible and prey for understanding them mabe you will be caous of what you say d--- head...

I'm especially amused that I'm told to read the Bible and listen to the words of God, then in the same breadth I'm called a chain of expletives. An immediate verse of scripture comes to mind, namely the lament of the apostle James with: "from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way" (James 3:10).

If this person wishes to have dialogue on this blog, I might give a word of advice: I do not allow name-calling or curse words. We are all adults here, and we should interact as adults. Likewise, if we are going to talk about the word of God, we should do it with respect for the subject matter. In the meantime, I ask my readers to pray for this individual, that his eyes might be opened to the deceit he has apparently supported with great fanaticism.