What the Bible Says about the Rapture, pt. 1

INTRODUCTION
Essentially there are three basic viewpoints regarding the Church and the Tribulation. They are the Pre-Tribulational, Mid-Tribulational, and Post-Tribulational viewpoints.

In this paper we will examine the various viewpoints from the Scripture in order to present the viewpoint which we hold, namely, the Pre-Tribulation viewpoint. It is the view of Calvary Chapel, Choctaw, that true believers will be raptured from the earth to heaven before the Tribulation period begins.

While we believe that this is an important issue for the believer, we do not believe that this issue should divide believers or separate us from fellowship with one another.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO RIDICULE THE IDEA OF THE RAPTURE
They insist that the word “rapture” is not even in the Bible. This is true, but only when you consider which Bible you are using. The Latin Vulgate translation of the Scriptures (from Greek to Latin) is one of the oldest translations of the Bible; it is from this translation that we get the term rapture. The English word caught up (I Thessalonians 5:17), is from the Greek word, harpazo (har-pad'-zo), to be snatched away violently. The Latin Vulgate translates this Greek word as the Latin word, Raptus, the past participle of Rapio, to take away by force. Our word rapture comes from this Latin word. It is sort of the long way to get there, but we arrive none the less.

While the word Rapture is not in the KJV, or NKJV (or some others for that matter), the concept of the rapture or being caught up is. So to argue that the Rapture is not in the Bible is, at the least to argue from a position of ignorance, and at the worst to argue from a position of deliberate deception.

So we will begin by looking at the various viewpoints commonly held within Christendom historically and today.

THE PRE-TRIBULATIONAL VIEWPOINT
The Pre-Tribulational viewpoint holds that the Church will be removed from the earth scene before the tribulation. This is our viewpoint which we will examine in further detail later in this paper.

However, there is within the Pre-Tribulational viewpoint what is known as “The Partial Rapture Position.” This view holds that only those believers who are watching and waiting for the Rapture will actually be taken.

Those that teach this viewpoint point to a number of Scriptures as proof for their position (Matthew 25, The Parable of The Ten virgins). According to this view, some level of spiritual attainment must be reached to be counted worthy of the Rapture. The key to the parable is found in verse 12, “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’” The foolish virgins weren’t ready because they did not know the bridegroom. We are as Christians to watch and be ready, even as Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming,” (Matthew 25:13).

Those that hold to the Partial Rapture view hold that those who were not ready were Christians who were not watching. They even go so far as to teach that, since they had no oil for their lamps, and since oil in the Scripture is a type of the Holy Spirit, these did not have the Spirit or were not filled with the Spirit. Every true believer is born again by the Spirit (John 3:5-6), and is baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13). (We at FBC do believe that there is an overflowing or infilling of the Spirit that can be both concurrent with and subsequent to salvation. Please see our pamphlet, What the Bible says about the Threefold Relationship of the Holy Spirit with Men for our view on this subject). The point of the parable is to be ready. If you want to be ready for the coming of Jesus you must first know Him through confession of sins, and receiving Him as Lord and Savior. Other Scriptures they point to, in teaching that only those who are watching and waiting will be taken, are “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man," (Luke 21:36). Also, Titus 2:3, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” And, Hebrews 9:28, “…to those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

Problems with the Partial Rapture Viewpoint
There are at the least some problems with the Partial Rapture viewpoint. First, it devalues the propitiatory work of Christ. Our worth comes from Christ and His death for us. He has made us worthy to escape not only the punishment for our sins, which is death, He also has made us worthy to escape the Tribulation. To pray to be worthy is to be certain that you are “in Christ,” as a true believer, having received Jesus as your Savior and Lord. It is only in Him that we are worthy. Second, this viewpoint is faith plus works. You must do something in addition to faith in Jesus. So now the emphasis is not on what Jesus has done for you, but now is on what you must do. Additionally, this viewpoint creates a higher class of Christians, those who are somehow closer to God and are somehow more spiritual because they are watching and waiting for Jesus to come for His church at the Rapture as opposed to those who are not.

Certainly we should be watching and waiting for Jesus to come for His church, not so that we will be left behind if we are not watching (as this view suggests), but so that we are not ashamed before Him when He comes, “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming,” (I John 2:28). We want to be found watching, working, and waiting when Jesus comes for His church at the Rapture.