Changes

:"''Another key element in this passage is that when the rapture event is described, there is nothing secret or silent about it! Paul's describes Jesus' second coming in a very visible manner, obvious to all.''"

:"''Another key element in this passage is that when the rapture event is described, there is nothing secret or silent about it! Paul's describes Jesus' second coming in a very visible manner, obvious to all.''"

This last statement corresponds to Revelation 1:7 "''Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.''"  

This last statement corresponds to Revelation 1:7 "''Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.''"  

Critics of the secret Rapture doctrine point to a multitude of passages in the New Testament as consistently teaching only one [[Parousia]], one Second Coming of the Lord, not two Second Comings:  

Critics of the secret Rapture doctrine point to a multitude of passages in the New Testament as consistently teaching only one [[Parousia]], one Second Coming of the Lord, not two Second Comings:  

== Matthew 24:39-41 - "took them"..."taken"..."taken" ==   

== Matthew 24:39-41 - "took them"..."taken"..."taken" ==   

According to the majority of [[Exegesis|biblical exegetes]] these verses refer to "''those who did not know''" as referring to the wicked who perished and the wicked who will perish.

According to the majority of [[Exegesis|biblical exegetes]] these verses in Matthew refer to "''those who did not know''" as referring to the wicked who perished and the wicked who will perish.

 

The grammar of the text in Greek and the parallel structure of the three passages 39, 40, 41, textually demonstrate that those who were taken and those who will be taken were evil. The text itself clearly indicates by its grammatical structure that these are the wicked. As the wicked were taken away by the flood after Noah entered the ark, so those who will be taken when the Son of man comes are the wicked, and the righteous will be left.  

:“As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in those days which were before the flood ['''...'''] and they '''did not know''' until the flood came, and '''took ἦρεν''' them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be '''taken παραλαμβάνεται''' and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be '''taken παραλαμβάνεται''' and one will be left. Watch therefore, for you do not know in what hour your Lord comes. ['''...'''] the lord of that [wicked] servant will come in a day when he does not expect it, and in an hour when he '''does not know''' it, and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.” Matthew 24:37-51.

:“As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in those days which were before the flood ['''...'''] and they '''did not know''' until the flood came, and '''took ἦρεν''' them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be '''taken παραλαμβάνεται''' and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be '''taken παραλαμβάνεται''' and one will be left. Watch therefore, for you do not know in what hour your Lord comes. ['''...'''] the lord of that [wicked] servant will come in a day when he does not expect it, and in an hour when he '''does not know''' it, and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.” Matthew 24:37-51.

:“Then the soldiers of the governor '''took παραλαβόντες Jesus''' into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.” Matthew 27:27-31.

:“Then the soldiers of the governor '''took παραλαβόντες Jesus''' into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.” Matthew 27:27-31.

:“Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they '''took παραλαβόν Jesus''', and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.” John 19:16-18

:“Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they '''took παραλαβόν Jesus''', and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.” John 19:16-18

The Greek terms '''ἦρεν''' ''eren'' "take away" and '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' "taken, taken from" have a broad range and variety of meanings and shades of meaning, depending on the context. In accordance with the parallel context of the flood which "took them all away" in this passage (Matthew 24:37-51) the Greek term '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' "taken, taken from" is legitimately understood and interpreted as referring to the wicked as those who are "taken" [away] "from" the earth (removed) to be condemned. <br>'''The same term is used in [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/27-27.htm Matthew 27:27] and [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/19-16.htm John 19:16] when Jesus was "taken" and they "took" him to be judged and condemned, and "took" him out and crucified him.''' <br>'''παραλαβόντες''' ''paralabontes'' "having taken with [them]" Matthew 27:27 <br>'''παραλαβόν''' ''paralabon'' "they took" John 19:16 <br> These Greek terms παραλαμβάνεται, παραλαμβάνεται, παραλαβόν, are keyed to [[Strong's]] [http://biblehub.com/greek/3880.htm number ''3880'' '''παραλαμβάνω''' ''paralambano''—aggressively taken, forcefully taken]. <br> The Greek term in Matthew 24:39 '''ἦρεν''' ''eren'' "took, take away" is keyed to Strong's [http://biblehub.com/greek/142.htm number ''142'' '''αἴρω''' ''airo''—put away, remove, take (away).]

The Greek terms '''ἦρεν''' ''eren'' "take away" and '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' "taken, taken from" have a broad range and variety of meanings and shades of meaning, depending on the context. In accordance with the parallel context of the flood which "took them all away" in this passage (Matthew 24:37-51) the Greek term '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' "taken, taken from" is legitimately understood and interpreted as referring to the wicked as those who are "taken" [away] "from" the earth (removed) to be condemned.  

 

'''The same term is used in [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/27-27.htm Matthew 27:27] and [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/19-16.htm John 19:16] when Jesus was "taken" and they "took" him to be judged and condemned, and "took" him out and crucified him.''' <br>'''παραλαβόντες''' ''paralabontes'' "having taken with [them]" Matthew 27:27 <br>'''παραλαβόν''' ''paralabon'' "they took" John 19:16 <br> These Greek terms παραλαμβάνεται, παραλαμβάνεται, παραλαβόν, are keyed to [[Strong's]] [http://biblehub.com/greek/3880.htm number ''3880'' '''παραλαμβάνω''' ''paralambano''—aggressively taken, forcefully taken]. <br> The Greek term in Matthew 24:39 '''ἦρεν''' ''eren'' "took, take away" is keyed to Strong's [http://biblehub.com/greek/142.htm number ''142'' '''αἴρω''' ''airo''—put away, remove, take (away).]

 

 

A strictly literalist reading which rigidly restricts the meaning of this term solely to the meaning of "received [to myself]" (as valuable, not necessarily money)—not its only meaning—without taking account of its broader usage and meaning in Greek within the context of this passage and its parallel construction, does violence to ''[[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)#The literal sense of scripture|the literal sense of scripture]]'' which accords with the speaker's intent, the spirit of its actual meaning. It is not legitimate. It "takes away from the words" of "this Book" of the Bible (Revelation 22:18-19; 2&nbsp;Peter 2:20; 3:15-18). See the variety of meanings of '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' according to [https://biblehub.com/greek/3880.htm Strong's number ''3880'' especially "'''taken'''", "'''taken from'''", "'''taken up'''"]—"'''I&nbsp;take with me''' [to judgment, to hell]"—"'''taken''' [''entirely'', gone, found no more]"—"'''taken up''' [before the court, for judgment, condemnation]. A knowledgeable [[Exegesis|exegete]] and translator is responsible for choosing an interpretive reading of the Greek which most clearly expresses the meaning in accordance with the context of the whole of the passage, and the intention of the author (see [[Hermeneutics]]). The uninformed literalist who reads the Greek word according to its most limited and restricted mechanical literal meaning in isolation apart from the fuller range of its legitimate usage and not in harmony with the context of the whole of the passage is not reading its literal meaning and is in danger of violating the Word of God and distorting scripture to his or her own destruction (2&nbsp;Peter 1:20; 3:15-18; 1&nbsp;Timothy 4:1-2). "For the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life" (2&nbsp;Corinthians 3:6c KJV).

A knowledgeable [[Exegesis|exegete]] and translator is responsible for choosing an interpretive reading of the Greek which most clearly expresses the meaning in accordance with the context of the whole of the passage, and the intention of the author (see [[Hermeneutics]]). The uninformed literalist who reads the Greek word according to its most limited and restricted mechanical literal meaning in isolation apart from the fuller range of its legitimate usage and not in harmony with the context of the whole of the passage is not reading its literal meaning and is in danger of violating the Word of God and distorting scripture to his or her own destruction (2&nbsp;Peter 1:20; 3:15-18; 1&nbsp;Timothy 4:1-2). "For the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life" (2&nbsp;Corinthians 3:6c KJV).

== John Nelson Darby ==

== John Nelson Darby ==

Beginning in 1824 with the preaching of [[John Nelson Darby]] and the Plymouth Brethren, Matthew chapter 24 verses 40 and 41 have been more widely read by many Christians as referring instead to the [[rapture]] of the righteous who will be taken when the Son of Man returns. The wicked were taken in the flood, and the righteous were left (alive, in the ark), but, in a stunning reversal of [[Semantics|grammatical meaning]], when the Son of Man appears the righteous who have been saved will be taken, and the wicked will be left. The grammatical structure of the text does not support this reading: in ''both'' instances, in "parallel construction", it is the wicked who were taken and the wicked who will be taken; the righteous were left, alive (when the waters receded), and the righteous will be left, alive, with the Lord, "when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." 2&nbsp;Thessalonians 1:7b-8. The wicked will be ''taken away by him''— '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' emphasizes the meaning of "'''''received''''' [to Himself]—the wicked will be ''taken away by him'' to judgment and condemnation and "found no more" ''anywhere'' on earth, and [https://biblehub.com/job/18-14.htm "''marched off to the king of terrors''" <nowiki>[death]</nowiki> (Job 18:14)]. <br>"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall '''gather out''' of his kingdom all things that offend, and '''them which do iniquity'''; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:41-42.<br>"''I passed by again, and he could not be found.''"—compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+37&version=RSVCE Psalm 37. "But the wicked perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures, '''they vanish—like smoke they vanish away'''" (Psalm 37:20 RSVCE ''boldface emphasis added'')]. See also [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+4%3A1-3&version=KJV Malachi 4:1-3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A40-43&version=KJV Matthew 13:40-43]. The righteous will be left.

Beginning in 1824 with the preaching of [[John Nelson Darby]] and the Plymouth Brethren, Matthew chapter 24 verses 40 and 41 have been more widely read by many Christians as referring instead to the [[rapture]] of the righteous who will be taken when the Son of Man returns. The passage states clearly that wicked were taken in the flood, and the righteous were left (alive, in the ark). But, in a stunning reversal of [[Semantics|grammatical meaning]], when the Son of Man appears the righteous who have been saved will be taken, and the wicked will be left.  

 

The grammatical structure of the text does not support this reading: in ''both'' instances, in "parallel construction", it is the wicked who were taken and the wicked who will be taken; the righteous were left, alive (when the waters receded), and the righteous will be left, alive, with the Lord, "when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." 2&nbsp;Thessalonians 1:7b-8. The wicked will be ''taken away by him''— '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' emphasizes the meaning of "'''''received''''' [to Himself]—the wicked will be ''taken away by him'' to judgment and condemnation and "found no more" ''anywhere'' on earth, and [https://biblehub.com/job/18-14.htm "''marched off to the king of terrors''" <nowiki>[death]</nowiki> (Job 18:14)].  

:"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall '''gather out''' of his kingdom all things that offend, and '''them which do iniquity'''; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:41-42.<br>"''I passed by again, and he could not be found.''"—compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+37&version=RSVCE Psalm 37. "But the wicked perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures, '''they vanish—like smoke they vanish away'''" (Psalm 37:20 RSVCE ''boldface emphasis added'')]. See also [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+4%3A1-3&version=KJV Malachi 4:1-3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A40-43&version=KJV Matthew 13:40-43]. The righteous will be left.

== Consistent biblical pattern ==

== Consistent biblical pattern ==

== Tribulation: Greek θλίψις ''thlipsis'' ==

== Tribulation: Greek θλίψις ''thlipsis'' ==

Compare [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/17-15.htm multiple commentaries on John 17:15]; [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/14-22.htm and Acts 14:22], keyed to [http://biblehub.com/greek/2347.htm Strong's number ''2347'' '''θλίψις''' ''thlipsis'']. We must through great Tribulation enter the kingdom of God. The term in Acts 14:22 is the same in Revelation 7:14 and here in Matthew 24:21. <br> See interlinear texts of [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/7-14.htm Revelation '''7:14 θλίψεως''']; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/acts/14-22.htm Acts 14:22 θλίψεων]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/13-21.htm Matthew 13:21 θλίψεως]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/24-21.htm 24:21 θλῖψις] and [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/24-29.htm 29 θλῖψιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/mark/13-24.htm Mark 13:24 θλῖψιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/16-33.htm John 16:33 θλῖψιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/romans/2-9.htm Romans 2:9 θλῖψις]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/romans/5-3.htm 5:3 θλίψεσιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/romans/8-35.htm 8:35 θλῖψις]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/romans/12-12.htm 12:12 θλίψει]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_corinthians/1-4.htm 2&nbsp;Corinthians 1:4 θλίψει]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_corinthians/7-4.htm 7:4 θλίψει]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_thessalonians/3-4.htm 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 3:4 θλίβεσθαι]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_thessalonians/1-6.htm 2&nbsp;Thessalonians 1:6 θλῖψιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/1-9.htm Revelation 1:9 θλίψει]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/2-9.htm 2:9 θλῖψιν], [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/2-10.htm 10 θλῖψιν], [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/2-22.htm 22 θλῖψιν]; ''and'' [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/7-14.htm Revelation '''7:14 θλίψεως'''].

According to the Gospel preached by [[Saint Paul]] and [[Barnabas]] we must through great Tribulation enter the kingdom of God. The term in Acts 14:22 is the same in Revelation 7:14 and in Matthew 24:21. Compare [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/17-15.htm multiple commentaries on John 17:15]; [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/14-22.htm and Acts 14:22], keyed to [http://biblehub.com/greek/2347.htm Strong's number ''2347'' '''θλίψις''' ''thlipsis'']. See also the interlinear texts of [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/7-14.htm Revelation '''7:14 θλίψεως''']; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/acts/14-22.htm Acts 14:22 θλίψεων]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/13-21.htm Matthew 13:21 θλίψεως]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/24-21.htm 24:21 θλῖψις] and [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/24-29.htm 29 θλῖψιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/mark/13-24.htm Mark 13:24 θλῖψιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/16-33.htm John 16:33 θλῖψιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/romans/2-9.htm Romans 2:9 θλῖψις]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/romans/5-3.htm 5:3 θλίψεσιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/romans/8-35.htm 8:35 θλῖψις]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/romans/12-12.htm 12:12 θλίψει]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_corinthians/1-4.htm 2&nbsp;Corinthians 1:4 θλίψει]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_corinthians/7-4.htm 7:4 θλίψει]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_thessalonians/3-4.htm 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 3:4 θλίβεσθαι]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_thessalonians/1-6.htm 2&nbsp;Thessalonians 1:6 θλῖψιν]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/1-9.htm Revelation 1:9 θλίψει]; [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/2-9.htm 2:9 θλῖψιν], [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/2-10.htm 10 θλῖψιν], [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/2-22.htm 22 θλῖψιν]; ''and'' [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/7-14.htm Revelation '''7:14 θλίψεως'''].

The people of Israel was not removed before the Tribulation of the [[Egyptian plagues|ten plagues]] fell on Egypt.

The people of Israel was not removed before the Tribulation of the [[Egyptian plagues|ten plagues]] fell on Egypt.

In Revelation 7:14 those clothed in white robes are not those who have "escaped" the Great Tribulation. They are those "''coming out from among / coming out of the midst of''" the Great Tribulation. The phrase '''ἐρχόμενοι ἐκ''' ''erchomenoi ek'' "coming out of [the midst of]" does not mean "escaped from". The Greek present tense is used: "''These are those coming out '''of / from  ἐκ''' the midst of the great tribulation''". The Greek '''ἐρχόμενοι ἐκ''' is a present tense "continuous, on-going" activity, not a past tense, single, sudden event. The interpretive reading "'''''escaped''' from the great tribulation''" is [[Eisegesis|false]], having utterly no linguistic basis or textual justification in any extant manuscript of the Greek text, including the [[Textus Receptus]]. No forms of the New Testament Greek words for "escape", "escaped from", are used in Revelation 7:14. <br>Compare Strong's numbers ''[http://biblehub.com/greek/575.htm 575], [http://biblehub.com/greek/668.htm 668], [http://biblehub.com/greek/1295.htm 1295], [http://biblehub.com/greek/1545.htm 1545], [http://biblehub.com/greek/1628.htm 1628], [http://biblehub.com/greek/1831.htm 1831], [http://biblehub.com/greek/5343.htm 5343]''. <br> See [http://biblehub.com/multi/revelation/7-14.htm Greek and English versions of Revelation 7:14 '''ἐρχόμενοι ἐκ''' and '''ἐρχόμαι ἐκ''' (biblehub.com)].

In Revelation 7:14 those clothed in white robes are not those who have "escaped" the Great Tribulation. They are those "''coming out from among / coming out of the midst of''" the Great Tribulation. The phrase '''ἐρχόμενοι ἐκ''' ''erchomenoi ek'' "coming out of [the midst of]" does not mean "escaped from". The Greek present tense is used: "''These are those coming out '''of / from  ἐκ''' the midst of the great tribulation''". The Greek '''ἐρχόμενοι ἐκ''' is a present tense "continuous, on-going" activity, not a past tense, single, sudden event. The interpretive reading "'''''escaped''' from the great tribulation''" is [[Eisegesis|false]], having utterly no linguistic basis or textual justification in any extant manuscript of the Greek text, including the [[Textus Receptus]]. No forms of the New Testament Greek words for "escape", "escaped from", are used in Revelation 7:14. <br>Compare Strong's numbers ''[http://biblehub.com/greek/575.htm 575], [http://biblehub.com/greek/668.htm 668], [http://biblehub.com/greek/1295.htm 1295], [http://biblehub.com/greek/1545.htm 1545], [http://biblehub.com/greek/1628.htm 1628], [http://biblehub.com/greek/1831.htm 1831], [http://biblehub.com/greek/5343.htm 5343]''. <br> See [http://biblehub.com/multi/revelation/7-14.htm Greek and English versions of Revelation 7:14 '''ἐρχόμενοι ἐκ''' and '''ἐρχόμαι ἐκ''' (biblehub.com)].

See [http://tribulationrisingcom.fatcow.com/matthew-24-and-the-rapture/ "'''Matthew 24 and the Rapture'''" Richard Kendrick (tribulationrisingcom.fatcow.com)] (''excellent example of Pre-Tribulation Rapture reasoning !!'') While reading, bear in mind 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 4:15-17 "''the dead in Christ will rise '''first'''''" and "''This is the '''first''' resurrection''" in Revelation 20:5-6. Only ''after'' the completion of the whole Tribulation Period of Revelation 6–19 comes Revelation 20:5-6 "''This is the first resurrection''", the same resurrection mentioned in 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 4:15-17 "''and the dead in Christ will rise first''".  

Author and apologist Richard Kendrick offers an excellent example of Pre-Tribulation Rapture reasoning in "'''Matthew 24 and the Rapture'''" <ref>[http://tribulationrisingcom.fatcow.com/matthew-24-and-the-rapture/ "'''Matthew 24 and the Rapture'''" Richard Kendrick (tribulationrisingcom.fatcow.com)]</ref>.  While reading, bear in mind 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 4:15-17 "''the dead in Christ will rise '''first'''''" and "''This is the '''first''' resurrection''" in Revelation 20:5-6. Only ''after'' the completion of the whole Tribulation Period of Revelation 6–19 comes Revelation 20:5-6 "''This is the first resurrection''", the same resurrection mentioned in 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 4:15-17 "''and the dead in Christ will rise first''".  

::Author Richard Kendrick warns "''that those who deny the pre-trib rapture are actually in danger of perishing''", unless they change their minds and hearts and accept the pre-trib rapture that God has clearly revealed and ordained in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. His literal exegesis of the Greek term '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' emphasizes the meaning of "'''''received''''' [to Himself]", those whom Jesus comes to "'''take up / receive'''" to Himself, those He has saved from the wrath which comes on all those disbelievers in the pre-tribulation rapture who are left behind.

 

:[http://prophecy.landmarkbiblebaptist.net/rapture-proofs.html "'''Pre-Tribulation Rapture Proofs'''", by John Henry (landmarkbiblebaptist.net)] (''outstanding example of Pre-Tribulation Rapture reasoning !!'').  

Richard Kendrick warns  

::Author John Henry declares that the whole physical devastation of the Great Tribulation on earth is the Wrath of God (Revelation 6–16), which the saved will escape, citing 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 5:9, "''For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ''". The intelligence of his reasoning is disclosed in the following representative statement, "''1&nbsp;Corinthians 15:51-52 indicates that the Rapture will take place 'at the last trump'. The question is, which last trump?''" He then says there are two. Citing "1 Thess. 4:14; cf. Rom. 4:25, 5:1,&nbsp;9", he says "''The prerequisite for one to go in the rapture is faith in Jesus Christ's death for his sins and resurrection for his justification. This prerequisite is found at the beginning of the 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 4 rapture passage where it says: ‘For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him’.''" This "''prerequisite necessity''" of a consciously aware and understanding faith clearly excludes newborns, babies, children in arms who cannot talk or walk, the mentally incompetent, and the [[Ignorance|ignorant]], all who do not believe simply because they have never heard the Gospel nor were they capable of understanding it. Author John Henry does not represent the Wrath of God as being expressed in the [[Last Judgment|final condemnation]] of the cursed human followers of the Devil and his angels (and of death and even hell itself), he takes no notice of the fact that in Revelation 20:11-15 the Wrath of God is clearly evident in their total and irrevocable condemnation to the Second Death of eternal torment in the lake of fire on the Last Day, but instead he restricts the Wrath of God to the Great Tribulation of Revelation 6–16, ending with chapter 16, the Wrath of God which the saved will escape. <br> Moreover, in the midst of the Wrath of God in the Tribulation, in Revelation 7:2-8 and 9:4, those with the seal of God upon their foreheads were not harmed, evidently because God hath not appointed them unto wrath, but to obtain salvation (1&nbsp;Thessalonians 5:9): as Psalm 91 says, "''A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.''" The author's citation of Revelation 4:1 as the Rapture of 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 4:16-17 before the Great Tribulation clearly contradicts and violates the whole entire biblical sequential context of the position of Revelation 20:6 "''And the dead in Christ will rise first''", "''This is the first resurrection''", which follows the Great Tribulation of Revelation 6–16. <br> The New Testament repeatedly warns believers whose names are written in heaven that their names can be blotted out of the book of life. See KJV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A20&version=KJV Luke 10:20]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+32%3A33&version=KJV Exodus 32:33]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+3%3A5&version=KJV Revelation 3:5]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A3&version=KJV Philippians 4:3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+12%3A2-3&version=KJV Daniel 12:2-3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A41-46&version=KJV Matthew 25:41-46]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1%3A18&version=KJV Romans 1:18]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+2%3A3-11&version=KJV 2:3-11]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A9&version=KJV 5:9]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A3&version=KJV Ephesians 2:3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A3-10&version=KJV 5:3-6]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A3-10&version=KJV Colossians 3:3-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1%3A10&version=KJV 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 1:10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A9&version=KJV 5:9]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+20%3A10-15&version=KJV Revelation 20:10-15]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+22%3A14-15&version=KJV 22:14-15]. See [[Eternal security (salvation)]].

:"''that those who deny the pre-trib rapture are actually in danger of perishing''", unless they change their minds and hearts and accept the pre-trib rapture that God has clearly revealed and ordained in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments.  

:Compare [http://www.michaelsheiser.com/TheNakedBible/Who%20will%20be%20Left%20Behind%20Rethinking%20Matt%2024%20WTJ.pdf "'''Who will be left behind? Rethinking the meaning of Matthew 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-35'''" Benjamin L. Merkle, ''WTJ'' 72(2010): 169-79 pdf] (''excellent !!'')

His literal exegesis of the Greek term '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' emphasizes the meaning of "'''''received''''' [to Himself]", those whom Jesus comes to "'''take up / receive'''" to Himself, those He has saved from the wrath which comes on all those disbelievers in the pre-tribulation rapture who are left behind.

::Author Benjamin L. Merkle presents parallels with Old Testament judgment texts, together with critical grammatical exegesis of the Greek terms '''ἦρεν''' ''eren'' "take away" and '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' "taken, taken from", and emphatically concludes, "''Although many assume that those taken in Matt 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-35 are taken to be with Jesus and those left behind are left for judgment, this interpretation should be rejected. Throughout the context of these passages Jesus uses judgment language reminiscent of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of its inhabitants. Those who were taken away were the ones judged by God whereas those left behind were the remnant who received grace.''" <br> Author Benjamin L. Merkle cites [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+4%3A2-4&version=KJV Isaiah 4:2-4]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah+3%3A11-13&version=KJV Zephaniah 3:11-13]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+13%3A8&version=KJV Zechariah 13:8]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A24-30&version=KJV Matthew 13:24-30], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A36-43&version=KJV 36-43].

 

:[https://forwhatsaiththescriptures.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/rapture-matthew-24-40-41-luke-17-34-36/ '''''For What Saith the Scriptures?'' Is the Rapture in Matthew 20:40-41 and Luke 17:34-36?'''", by Shawn Brasseaux (Berean Assembly)] (''outstanding !!'').

Author John Henry in "'''Pre-Tribulation Rapture Proofs'''" <ref>[http://prophecy.landmarkbiblebaptist.net/rapture-proofs.html "'''Pre-Tribulation Rapture Proofs'''", by John Henry (landmarkbiblebaptist.net)]</ref> also offers an outstanding example of Pre-Tribulation Rapture reasoning. John Henry declares that the whole physical devastation of the Great Tribulation on earth is the Wrath of God (Revelation 6–16), which the saved will escape, citing 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 5:9, "''For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ''". The intelligence of his reasoning is disclosed in the following representative statement,  

::Author Shawn Brasseaux firmly states, "''Who was taken in the Great Flood? Friend, if you know your Bible, you understand it was certainly the unbelievers taken away in the Flood. No believers perished. Remember, the believers were safe in the Ark that Noah built according to God’s instructions. Jesus Christ’s Second Coming will likewise take away the unsaved/lost people, leaving only the believing remnant (Israel and her Gentile blessers) on Earth.''"

:"''1&nbsp;Corinthians 15:51-52 indicates that the Rapture will take place 'at the last trump'. The question is, which last trump?''"  

He then says there are two. Citing "1 Thess. 4:14; cf. Rom. 4:25, 5:1,&nbsp;9", he says  

:"''The prerequisite for one to go in the rapture is faith in Jesus Christ's death for his sins and resurrection for his justification. This prerequisite is found at the beginning of the 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 4 rapture passage where it says: ‘For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him’.''"  

This "''prerequisite necessity''" of a consciously aware and understanding faith clearly excludes newborns, babies, children in arms who cannot talk or walk, who have died before they are able to understand anything, the mentally incompetent, and the [[Ignorance|ignorant]], all who do not believe simply because they have never heard the Gospel nor were they capable of understanding it. Author John Henry does not represent the Wrath of God as being expressed in the [[Last Judgment|final condemnation]] of the cursed human followers of the Devil and his angels (and of death and even hell itself). He takes no notice of the fact that in Revelation 20:11-15 the Wrath of God is clearly evident in their total and irrevocable condemnation to the Second Death of eternal torment in the lake of fire on the Last Day, but instead he restricts the Wrath of God to the Great Tribulation of Revelation 6–16, ending with chapter 16, the Wrath of God which the saved will escape.  

 

Moreover, this strongly contrasts with the fact that in the midst of the Wrath of God in the Tribulation, in Revelation 7:2-8 and 9:4, those with the seal of God upon their foreheads were not harmed, evidently because God hath not appointed them unto wrath, but to obtain salvation (1&nbsp;Thessalonians 5:9): as Psalm 91 says, "''A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.''"  

 

Jesus in Matthew 24:21-22 clearly says that for the sake of the elect (whom God has chosen) the days of the great tribulation will be shortened that they might be saved. If they are not on earth at the time of the great tribulatin, but are raptured before the great tribulation, there would be no reason to shorten the days for their sake.

:"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

 

Author John Henry's citation of Revelation 4:1 as the Rapture of 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 4:16-17 before the Great Tribulation clearly contradicts and violates the whole entire biblical sequential context of the position of Revelation 20:6 "''And the dead in Christ will rise first''", "''This is the first resurrection''", which follows the Great Tribulation of Revelation 6–16. "For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

 

The New Testament repeatedly warns believers whose names are written in heaven that their names can be blotted out of the book of life. See KJV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A20&version=KJV Luke 10:20]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+32%3A33&version=KJV Exodus 32:33]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+3%3A5&version=KJV Revelation 3:5]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A3&version=KJV Philippians 4:3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+12%3A2-3&version=KJV Daniel 12:2-3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A41-46&version=KJV Matthew 25:41-46]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1%3A18&version=KJV Romans 1:18]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+2%3A3-11&version=KJV 2:3-11]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A9&version=KJV 5:9]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A3&version=KJV Ephesians 2:3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A3-10&version=KJV 5:3-6]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A3-10&version=KJV Colossians 3:3-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1%3A10&version=KJV 1&nbsp;Thessalonians 1:10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A9&version=KJV 5:9]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+20%3A10-15&version=KJV Revelation 20:10-15]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+22%3A14-15&version=KJV 22:14-15]. See [[Eternal security (salvation)]].

 

Compare author Benjamin L. Merkle's excellent article, "'''Who will be left behind? Rethinking the meaning of Matthew 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-35'''" <ref>[http://www.michaelsheiser.com/TheNakedBible/Who%20will%20be%20Left%20Behind%20Rethinking%20Matt%2024%20WTJ.pdf "'''Who will be left behind? Rethinking the meaning of Matthew 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-35'''" Benjamin L. Merkle, ''WTJ'' 72(2010): 169-79 pdf]</ref>. He presents parallels with Old Testament judgment texts, together with critical grammatical exegesis of the Greek terms '''ἦρεν''' ''eren'' "take away" and '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' "taken, taken from", and emphatically concludes,

:"''Although many assume that those taken in Matt 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-35 are taken to be with Jesus and those left behind are left for judgment, this interpretation should be rejected. Throughout the context of these passages Jesus uses judgment language reminiscent of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of its inhabitants. Those who were taken away were the ones judged by God whereas those left behind were the remnant who received grace.''"

Author Benjamin L. Merkle cites [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+4%3A2-4&version=KJV Isaiah 4:2-4]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah+3%3A11-13&version=KJV Zephaniah 3:11-13]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+13%3A8&version=KJV Zechariah 13:8]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A24-30&version=KJV Matthew 13:24-30], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A36-43&version=KJV 36-43].

 

Author Shawn Brasseaux in his outstanding article "'''Is the Rapture in Matthew 20:40-41 and Luke 17:34-36?'''" <ref>[https://forwhatsaiththescriptures.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/rapture-matthew-24-40-41-luke-17-34-36/ "'''''For What Saith the Scriptures?'' Is the Rapture in Matthew 20:40-41 and Luke 17:34-36?'''", by Shawn Brasseaux (Berean Assembly)]</ref> firmly states,  

:"''Who was taken in the Great Flood? Friend, if you know your Bible, you understand it was certainly the unbelievers taken away in the Flood. No believers perished. Remember, the believers were safe in the Ark that Noah built according to God’s instructions. Jesus Christ’s Second Coming will likewise take away the unsaved/lost people, leaving only the believing remnant (Israel and her Gentile blessers) on Earth.''"

== Two opposing doctrines of Parousia and Rapture. Two opposing doctrines of salvation. ==

== Two opposing doctrines of Parousia and Rapture. Two opposing doctrines of salvation. ==

There are two mutually exclusive doctrines about what is required for salvation:

There are two mutually exclusive doctrines about what is required for salvation:

:'''''either to''''' (A)—

:'''''either to''''' (A)—

:*Be brought helpless to the laver of salvation, regenerated by Baptism (by water and the Spirit, or by blood, or by an unconscious inner hidden desire to do the whole will of God).

:*Be brought helpless to the laver of salvation <ref>Romans 5:6; Titus 3:5.</ref>, regenerated by Baptism by water and the Spirit (or by blood because of Christ, or by an unconscious inner hidden desire to do the whole will of God which would include being baptized as ordained by God for salvation if they knew of its necessity).

::—No one is excluded from Baptism unto salvation (no one is self-baptized).

::—No one is excluded from Baptism unto salvation, including newborns, babies, children in arms who cannot talk or walk, who die before they understand anything, the mentally incompetent, and the [[Ignorance|ignorant]] who are unaware of the necessity of being baptised (no one is self-baptized).

::—(''if able'') Believe in the Resurrection of the dead.

::—(''if able'') Believe in the Resurrection of the dead.

::—(''if able'') As far as possible learn to do good works pleasing to the Father with faith in Christ.

::—(''if able'') As far as possible learn to do good works pleasing to the Father with faith in Christ.

:*Personally decide to hear the Gospel, understand, acknowledge sin, repent, accept Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and publicly profess Him as personal Lord and Savior.

:*Personally decide to hear the Gospel, understand, acknowledge sin, repent, accept Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and publicly profess Him as personal Lord and Savior.

::–Good works are not required to be saved by faith alone.

::–Good works are not required to be saved by faith alone.

::–All who do not believe because they have never heard or accepted the Gospel, newborns, babies, children in arms who cannot talk or walk, who die before they understand anything, the mentally incompetent, and the [[Ignorance|ignorant]], are not saved if they do not believe with faith.

::–All who do not believe because they have never heard or accepted the Gospel, newborns, babies, children in arms who cannot talk or walk, who die before they understand anything, the mentally incompetent, and the [[Ignorance|ignorant]], are not saved if they do not believe with faith and publicly confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is risen and accept him as their personal Lord and Savior.

::—''Compare [[Traditionalism]]''.

::—''Compare [[Traditionalism]]''.