THE RAPTURE PART 1THE RAPTURE PART 1

Charles Russell, Judge Rutherford and their Charles Russell, Judge Rutherford and their Watch tower publication have predicted Watch tower publication have predicted that end would come in 1843, 1844, 1877, that end would come in 1843, 1844, 1877, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1925, 1931, 1939, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1925, 1931, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1946, 1955.1940, 1943, 1946, 1955. Hal Lindsey predicted that the end would occur around 1988 in his book in 1970. Then in 1994 he changed his prediction to the rapture occur sometime in the new future. In 1981 Billy Graham said he thought that Armageddon would happen soon.

Dispensational premillennialist – Simply Dispensational premillennialist – Simply defines their belief of what will happen in defines their belief of what will happen in the end times.the end times.

““In case of the In case of the Rapture, this car Rapture, this car

will be will be unoccupied”unoccupied”

A general summary of the premillennialist A general summary of the premillennialist view:view:

• They believe the OT prophecy pointed to They believe the OT prophecy pointed to Jesus establishing a earthly kingdom but Jesus establishing a earthly kingdom but the kingdom had to be postponed because the kingdom had to be postponed because of the Jews.of the Jews.• We got the church instead of the kingdomWe got the church instead of the kingdom• They believe that Mat. 24 shows the signs They believe that Mat. 24 shows the signs of our time prove that Jesus is coming soon of our time prove that Jesus is coming soon and we have now entered into the last days. and we have now entered into the last days.

• In the near future a Jewish and Roman In the near future a Jewish and Roman antichrist will make a pact to protect Israel. antichrist will make a pact to protect Israel. • They are the 1st and 2nd beast of Rev. 13. They are the 1st and 2nd beast of Rev. 13. • The dead and alive Christians will be The dead and alive Christians will be raptured or taken from the earth into raptured or taken from the earth into heaven at this timeheaven at this time• This begins the 7 years of tribulationThis begins the 7 years of tribulation

The first 3 ½ years wont be to bad but the The first 3 ½ years wont be to bad but the last 3 ½ years are filled with great last 3 ½ years are filled with great tribulationtribulationDuring the first 3 ½ years:During the first 3 ½ years:• The temple will be rebuilt The temple will be rebuilt • Moses and Elijah will come back as the 2 Moses and Elijah will come back as the 2 witnesses in Rev. 11witnesses in Rev. 11• The Roman antichrist kills them and The Roman antichrist kills them and everyone will see their dead bodies on TV everyone will see their dead bodies on TV for 3 ½ daysfor 3 ½ days• Animal sacrifices will be reinstitutedAnimal sacrifices will be reinstituted

During the last 3 ½ years:During the last 3 ½ years:• Egypt will invade IsraelEgypt will invade Israel• Russia will run Egypt out of Israel and Russia will run Egypt out of Israel and then conquer Egyptthen conquer Egypt• The Roman antichrist takes 1million The Roman antichrist takes 1million soldiers and defeats the Russians in Israel soldiers and defeats the Russians in Israel only to find themselves in battle against only to find themselves in battle against 200 million Chinese.200 million Chinese.• This last battle takes place in the valley of This last battle takes place in the valley of Megiddo which is the battle of Armageddon.Megiddo which is the battle of Armageddon.

At the end of this 7 years:At the end of this 7 years:• Christ returns again with the raptured Christ returns again with the raptured ChristiansChristians• He then defeats His enemy and He then defeats His enemy and establishes His kingdom for a 1000 years.establishes His kingdom for a 1000 years.• Jesus will now raise all the righteous that Jesus will now raise all the righteous that lived under the OT and He will judge those lived under the OT and He will judge those who are alive per Mat. 25 who are alive per Mat. 25 At the end of the 1000 year earthly reign:At the end of the 1000 year earthly reign:• The wicked dead will be raised and then The wicked dead will be raised and then cast into hellcast into hell• Finally, eternity in heaven begins.Finally, eternity in heaven begins.

The Biblical view of the end times: The Biblical view of the end times: • Jesus will return a 2Jesus will return a 2ndnd time but there are time but there are no signs of His return no signs of His return • When He comes it will be the final When He comes it will be the final judgment dayjudgment day• Both the righteous and the unrighteous Both the righteous and the unrighteous dead will be resurrected and those that are dead will be resurrected and those that are living will be transformed into their new living will be transformed into their new bodiesbodies• The righteous will go to heaven and the The righteous will go to heaven and the unrighteous to hell and the earth will be unrighteous to hell and the earth will be destroyed. destroyed.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you to 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive that we who are alive and and remain until the remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven will descend from heaven with a shoutwith a shout, with , with the the voice of an archangelvoice of an archangel, and with the , and with the trumpet trumpet of Godof God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 . And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive Then we who are alive and and remain shall be remain shall be caught upcaught up together with them in the clouds to together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.always be with the Lord.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and clouds, and every eye will see Himevery eye will see Him, even , even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amenso, Amen

Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And while they looked steadfastly sight. 10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11who men stood by them in white apparel, 11who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.go into heaven.””

Matthew 24:27 "For as the lightning comes Matthew 24:27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.also will the coming of the Son of Man be.Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will wait for Him He will appear a second timeappear a second time, , apart from sin, for salvation.apart from sin, for salvation.2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with heavens will pass away with a great noisea great noise, , and the elements will melt with fervent and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.in it will be burned up.

John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this; for the John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which hour is coming in which all who are in the all who are in the gravesgraves will hear His voice 29 "and come will hear His voice 29 "and come forth -- those who have done good, to the forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. condemnation. Acts 24:15“I have hope in God, which they Acts 24:15“I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be themselves also accept, that there will be a a resurrection of the dead, both of the just resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjustand the unjust..

2 Corinthians 5:10For we must 2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all appearall appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.whether good or bad.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their worksdead were judged according to their works, , by the things which were written in the by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his were judged, each one according to his works.  works.    

John 12:48“He who rejects Me, and does not John 12:48“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him—the word that I have spoken will judge him him in the last dayin the last day..

Matthew 13: 24Another parable He put forth to Matthew 13: 24Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25“but man who sowed good seed in his field; 25“but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26“But tares among the wheat and went his way. 26“But when the grain had sprouted and produced a when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27“So the crop, then the tares also appeared. 27“So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28“He said to them, ‘An then does it have tares?’ 28“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29“But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the 29“But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30‘Let both grow together until the harvest, and 30‘Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”my barn.” ’ ”

36Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went 36Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37He answered and said to them: “He the field.” 37He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38“The who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38“The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39“The enemy who sowed them is the wicked one. 39“The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40“Therefore as the tares reapers are the angels. 40“Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41“The Son of Man will send the end of this age. 41“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42“and will cast them into practice lawlessness, 42“and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43“Then the righteous will shine gnashing of teeth. 43“Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!who has ears to hear, let him hear!

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- 52 in a but we shall all be changed -- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal this mortal must must put on immortality.put on immortality.

Jesus teaches us 4 times that the righteous Jesus teaches us 4 times that the righteous will be raised on the last day (John will be raised on the last day (John 6:39,40,44, 546:39,40,44, 54).For premillennialist to be right the last day would have to be 1007 years before the end of time which makes no sense whatsoever.