THE DOCTRINE OF THE RAPTURE!
by John Roy Bohlen & John 5:30
Until less than 150 years ago, the “Doctrine of the Rapture” of the Church was virtually unknown and untaught. The word “rapture” is not found in the Bible. Apparently, a couple of single spinster sister ladies came up with the idea, over in Europe.
The study of the End-Times is known as “eschatology”. There are several points of view among those who call themselves Christians, although sometimes these differing points of view are shared in a most un-christ-like way. Let’s define some terms, as a means of clarity:
Eschatology: The study of the End-Times, and End Time events
Rapture- the “catching away of the Church” into heaven.
Millennial - having to do with what many perceive to be a 1000 year reign of Christ with His saints here on earth, prior to the final defeat of the devil and the anti-christ and their forces, prior to eternity.
Pre-millennial - having to do with the idea that Jesus is coming back for His Church before the 1000 year reign.
Post-millennial - meaning that Jesus is coming for His Church after the 1000 year reign takes place.
A-millennial - means that the Kingdom of God will be established gradually, that the world will get better and better, and that, essentially, there will be no sudden catastrophe, and, perhaps no millennium at all.
Restoration Theology: The idea that the Christ in us is so great, that He will become greater and greater in us, and eventually take over the world and establish His Kingdom through us.
Dispensational: The idea that down through history, God has dealt with people at different times in different ways, and that the rules of relating with God changed dramatically from one section (or dispensation) of history to another. Roughly speaking, these dispensations go:
1. The Garden of Eden - the ideal time before the fall
2. Before the Flood - when people did what was right in their own eyes
3. From the Flood until Abraham: when people operated under the
Covenant of Noah.
4. From Abraham until Moses: The Covenant of Abraham
5. From Moses until Christ: The Covenant of Moses
6. During the ministry of Jesus, until the Day of Pentecost
7. The Church Age until the Rapture
8. The Great Tribulation
9. The Millennium
10. Eternity.
The Great Tribulation: A period of 7 years when the devil and anti-christ rules, along with the beast, during which time people will be forced to take the Mark of the Beast
The Mark of the Beast: A special mark, 666 or something, that people will be forced to take, a credit card number or something, in order for people to be able to buy or sell, or be martyred, but if one takes it, they will be damned. Kind of like being forced to sell your soul in order to stay alive. This mark is to be given on the forehead and/or the hand. Some believe that it will be an embedded computer chip or tattoo.
Pre-Tribulation Rapture: That the rapture will take place before the tribulation of 7 years, which would mean that Christians will not have to go through the Tribulation.
Mid-Tribulation Rapture: That the rapture will take place during the middle of the tribulation of 7 years.
Post-Tribulation Rapture: That the rapture will take place after the tribulation of 7 years.
Pan-Theology: The idea that if a person walks really closely and intimately with the Lord, that everything will “Pan” out all right in the End. This mentality follows the idea that if we “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, that all of these things will be added unto us.”, and that if we “delight ourselves in Yahweh Father God that He will give us the desires of our heart.”. and that if we focus on the fulfillment of the Great Commission, that, Lo, Christ will be with us always. The idea is shared that one can have the right doctrine with a wrong heart attitude, a wrong relationship with God, and be left out; as opposed to one who has a sweet relationship with the Lord, but does not have the End Times figured out, but will be taken care of by the Lord, because one is His friend, and is abiding in Him.
Mosaic or Composite of Truth: The story is told of 5 blind men from India, each of whom were asked to stand in a circle and describe an elephant. Here were their respective reports:
1st blind man: “Like a rope.” Upon feeling it’s tail.
2nd blind man: “Like a wall.” Upon feeling it’s side
3rd blind man: “Like a pointy spear.” Upon feeling it’s tusk.
4th blind man: “Like a large leaf.” Upon feeling it’s ear.
5th blind man: “Like a big snake.” Upon feeling it’s trunk.
Each man was sure, positive, totally convinced of their description, to the point that they were willing to defend their description with their lives and reputations. Each was convinced that the other’s perception was wrong, to the point where friendships were ruined, and hatred fighting, and murder resulted.
The “Eclectic” Approach: That approach that draws from the Big Picture, from all of the Scriptures embraced by every theological perspective, that takes the Scriptures as a whole, and refuses to throw out or reason away or ignore ANY Scripture, as if these Scriptures may be part of the End times “mosaic of truth” that makes up the Big Picture. With the first coming of Christ, try to imagine that there were theologians, star gazers, priests, Levites, Sadducees, etc., who were arguing about the first coming of Christ. There were, for example, certain Scriptures that said that Christ would be coming out of Nazareth, other Scriptures that said that Jesus would be coming out of Egypt, and, still other Scriptures that said that Christ would be coming out of Bethlehem. Can you picture these people standing around in the Temple, arguing fiercely about their particular Scriptures? So, today, there are those who pick Scriptures that seem to support a particular bias, so like the five blind men from India, choose the idea that is most appealing to them and insist that their point of view is the correct one.
This eclectic approach would recommend that one live before God in such a way as to be prepared in case of an imminent rapture, or to be about the business of fulfilling the Great Commission as though the Second Coming of Christ depended upon it, but to also be prepared for martyrdom or tribulation of the worst kind. Many of those who have tunnel-visioned themselves into believing in the any-moment rupture, have done so purely because they have an escapist mentality that wants the easy way out. If, in reality, these were called upon to lay down their lives for the cause of Christ,
The REVIVAL BEFORE The RAPTURE!!!
by john roy bohlen & John 5:30
There are many who believe that the next thing on God's agenda is the Rapture. They are dead wrong. The next thing on God's agenda, is Revival! You are probably ready for the Rapture. Are you ready for Revival?!
When I conduct ministers seminars in West Africa, I always ask the people, "When will the End come?" I almost always get one of two answers: 1) Any time from now! And, 2) No body knows. Then I ask them, "Would you like for me to tell you when the End is going to come? They always say "Yes".
Then I quote Matthew 24:14 "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the End come." KJV Perhaps it could be read: "And THEN - - -, And THEN - - -, And THEN the End shall come!"
According to this New Testament portion of the Holy Bible, in Christ's Own words, what must happen FIRST?!!!
WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE??!!!
Mt 24:14
Ps 149
Joel 2: Joel's Army
Glory of Yahweh cover the land
If 2 agree - it shall be done
Weapons of our warfare
100 fold return
God is able to make all grace
Moses' glory was no glory
These signs SHALL follow
I shall build My Church
Church without spot or wrinkle
Dan.7:18 The time came when the saints took possession of the Kingdom!
The violent take the Kingdom by force!
Rev.12 Throne-Room Thinking!!
WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE??!!!
Mt 24:14
Matt 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the End, the same shall be saved. 14 And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the End come."
Ps 149
Ps 149:5 "Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and
(To execute) punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and
(To bind) their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written:
This honour have all His saints! Praise ye the LORD (Yahweh)."
KJV
Joel 2: Joel's Army
Joel 2:1 "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD (Yahweh) cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the LORD (Yahweh) shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the LORD (Yahweh) is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?"
"Glory of Yahweh cover the land as the waters cover the sea."
Hab 2:14 "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD (Yahweh), as the waters cover the sea."
"If 2 agree - it shall be done"
Matt 18:19 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father Which is in Heaven."
Weapons of our warfare
2 Cor 10:4 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
100 fold return
Matt 19:29 "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My Name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."
Mark 10:30 "But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life."
God is able to make all grace
2 Cor 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
Moses' glory was no glory
2 Cor 3:7 "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious."
Same image:
2 Cor 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
As He is - So are we!
1 John 4:17 "As He is, so are we, in this world."
These signs SHALL follow!
Mark 16:17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18.They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
I shall build My Church
Matt 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, 'That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Church without spot or wrinkle!
Eph 5:27 "That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
The time came when the saints took possession of the Kingdom!
Dan 7:18 "But the saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom, and possess the Kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."
The violent take the Kingdom by force!
Matt 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kKingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
Throne-Room Thinking!!
Ps 16; Ps.91; Eph. 1:20, 21; Eph.2:4-6; Rev.12
QUESTIONS:
Who is the Ancient of Days spoken of in Daniel 7?
Who is the Man-child spoken of in Revelation 12?
Who is the Woman spoken of in Revelation 12?
Who are “the rest of her children” spoken of in Revelation 12?
Who is the “Joel’s Army” spoken of in Joel 2?
Who are the “Overcomers” referred to in the Book of Revelation.