This Rapture theory is often advocated by those who are putting all their hope in not having to suffer through the much dreaded period known as The Great Tribulation.
And though they claim there is scriptural evidence for such an event as the Rapture occurring BEFORE the Tribulation, Biblical scripture suggests otherwise.
In another post in regards to this topic, we covered a Bible passage that is always used to support the Rapture and of course, it is always assumed that it will occur before the Tribulation.
So in this post once again, we will explore another favorite passage that is often used as evidence supporting this theory. In this case however, we will go beyond the advocated evidence and get to the true meaning of that particular passage. So here is their evidence:
Matthew 24:40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
Matthew 24:41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
This passage found in Matthew, is supposedly evidence of the Rapture. Those being taken are being taken in the Rapture. Those left behind are the unlucky ones who are well, just left behind.
So is this really solid evidence? Some swear by it. Well, not so fast though. Let’s let the Bible tell us exactly where these individuals are really being taken to.
Where Matthew leaves off, Luke picks up:
Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.
Luke 17:35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”
Luke 17:36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.
Luke 17:37 And they said to him, “WHERE, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
So, it is not the Rapture after all! These are actually Christians being dragged away from their places and being put to death during The Tribulation:
Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
Once again, no evidence for a Rapture that is supposedly going to keep Christians from going through The Great Tribulation Period.
The NEWEST Pretrib Calendar
Hal (serial polygamist) Lindsey and other pretrib-rapture-trafficking and Mayan-Calendar-hugging hucksters deserve the following message: “2012 may be YOUR latest date. It isn’t MAYAN!” Actually, if it weren’t for the 179-year-old, fringe-British-invented, American-merchandised pretribulation rapture bunco scheme, Hal might still be piloting a tugboat on the Mississippi, roly-poly Thomas Ice (Tim LaHaye’s No. 1 strong-arm enforcer) might still be in his tiny folding-chair church which shares its firewall with a Texas saloon, Jack Van Impe might still be a jazz band musician, Tim LaHaye might still be titillating California matrons with his “Christian” sex manual, Grant Jeffrey might still be taking care of figures up in Canada, Chuck Missler might still be in mysterious hush-hush stuff that rocket scientists don’t dare talk about, John Hagee might be making – and eating – world-record pizzas, and Jimmy (“Bye You” Rapture) Swaggart might still be flying on a Ferriday flatbed! To read more details about the eschatological British import that leading British scholarship never adopted – the import that’s created some American multi-millionaires – Google “Pretrib Rapture Diehards” (note LaHaye’s hypocrisy under “1992″), “Hal Lindsey’s Many Divorces,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers)” and “Thomas Ice (Hired Gun),” “LaHaye’s Temperament,” “Wily Jeffrey,” “Chuck Missler – Copyist,” “Open Letter to Todd Strandberg” and “The Rapture Index (Mad Theology),” “X-Raying Margaret,” “Humbug Huebner,” “Thieves’ Marketing,” “Appendix F: Thou Shalt Not Steal,” “The Unoriginal John Darby,” “Pretrib Hypocrisy,” “The Real Manuel Lacunza,” “Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism,” “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Pretrib Rapture – Hidden Facts,” “Dolcino? Duh!” and “Scholars Weigh My Research.” Most of the above is written by journalist/historian Dave MacPherson who has focused on long-hidden pretrib rapture history for 35+ years. No one else has focused on it for 35 months or even 35 weeks. MacPherson has been a frequent radio talk show guest and he states that all of his royalties have always gone to a nonprofit group and not to any individual. His No. 1 book on all this is “The Rapture Plot” (see Armageddon Books online, etc.). The amazing thing is how long it has taken the mainstream media to finally notice and expose this unbelievably groundless yet extremely lucrative theological hoax!
Here is another thought…
Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. (Here, JESUS says ‘IN THAT NIGHT”)
Luke 17:35 & 36 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. (Then He talks about two in the field which eludes to DAY – a reference to time differentials throughout the WORLD which ONLY JESUS KNEW ABOUT)
Luke 17:37 And they said to him, “WHERE, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” The “WHERE” is because they are puzzled WHERE a place would be where there would be two in the field working at NIGHT…but JESUS knew about the time differences. Also, the CORPSES – perhaps the physical bodies left behind? Think about this and have WISDOM.
Consider the Parable of the TEN VIRGINS…five were TAKEN to the wedding….five were LEFT BEHIND. They were all VIRGINS but five had lamps filled with oil (the Holy Spirit)…ancient Jewish weddings had the BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM in the chambers for SEVEN DAYS (seven years of Tribulation) and the WEDDING GUESTS (those who make it through the Tribulation – for Revelation 19:9 clearly says BLESSED are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb”) — they are GUESTS NOT THE BRIDE…think about this with PRAYER AND FASTINGS.
The FIVE VIRGINS TAKEN to the wedding were the GOOD ONES so this also shows the Tares & Wheat theory (the Tares are removed and the Wheat left behind) people use to discredit the belief of the Gathering Together of the Saints before the Tribulation DOES NOT APPLY HERE and perhaps is in regards to the evil ones destroyed at the Battle of Armegedon.
LET HE WHO HATH WISDOM ..BLESSINGS!
Terri, I have to disagree with you here.
There isn’t any indication that the Apostles were “puzzled” or preoccupied with any thoughts of ‘WHERE would men be working out in the field at night’- YOU are simply ASSUMING this.
The “night” is clearly referencing the two in bed. The two women grinding and the two men out in the field are clear indications of “daylight” activities. The Tribulation Period will be a WORLDWIDE event. It can be night here and at the same time be daylight somewhere else and vice-versa.
The “WHERE” is a direct response to the remarks of “being taken away” as in SOMEWHERE, and them wanting TO KNOW exactly where.
The “Where” can’t be of where, or what place in the world are men working out in the fields at night, as you infer. Rather Jesus tells us that this “TAKING AWAY” will occur in bed, at the grinding mill and out in the field. An indication that this event will occur during normal and regular 24-hour daily and nightly activities.
The alluding to “day and night” is an indication that the “taking away” will occur in both days and nights during this period when these things are happening.
Then you say,
The “CORPSES” is Jesus own response and answer to the, “WHERE, (are they being taken to) Lord?”
The CORPSES “left behind” after what? Are you insinuating a Rapture here? According to the Rapture Theory, NO CORPSES are left behind. Not even in the graves! Those that are taken in the Rapture- are COMPLETELY taken! The only ones left behind are the unlucky living ones!
But the reference above is to “WHERE are they being taken to?” Those left behind obviously aren’t being taken anywhere- so the “WHERE” doesn’t apply to them, but rather to those who are being taken and Christ clearly associates the “CORPSES” to those being taken away. So I don’t understand your wisdom here.
All the praying in the world won’t change the facts.
Kind Regards…
The Dead in Christ will rise first, the dead who were not in Christ won’t go anywhere in the Rapture. Their Corpses will remain. I believe in the Rapture and I’m thinking it will take place just before the bowls of judgment will be poured out MID TRIB, Jesus often refereed to himself as the bread of life. When he says“Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” He is telling them that( his people )will be with him eating the bread of life. (Jesus) is the corpse and the (children of God) is the vultures. Pray for wisdom and understanding before you read Gods word and he will give freely. Love yall Bye!!