Well, welcome back, folks.
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Glad you're here.
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Do you think that what we've
been studying is important?
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I think it's vitally important
that we understand these things
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'cause we are living in
the times of fulfillment
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of many of these prophecies
that we find in Daniel
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and Revelation.
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The title of our
study at this moment
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is Secret Rapture Fallacies.
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But before we see
what those fallacies are,
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we want to ask for
the Lord's guidance
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and so I invite you to
bow your heads as we pray.
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Father in heaven, You
have told us in Your Word
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that we should rightly
divide the word of truth.
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We want to handle Your
Bible with reverend hands.
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We want to see what
You want to teach us.
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We don't want to
inject into the Bible
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what we wanted to say.
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So we ask, Lord,
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that as we study about certain
secret rapture fallacies,
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arguments that are used
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that when we look
carefully at them,
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they don't square with scripture
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that you will be
with us in our study.
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We pray this in the
precious name of Jesus.
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Amen.
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I'd like to share with
you the futurist belief
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concerning the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
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Futurists believe
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that the second coming of Christ
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will be in two stages.
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One stage will
be that He will come
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and those
Christians who are ready
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will be rapture to heaven,
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where they will spend
a period of seven years,
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seven literal years.
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After spending seven
literal years in heaven,
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according to this futurist view,
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Jesus will return to the earth
with all of the rapture saints
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and he will set up His kingdom
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here on earth for 1000 years.
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And basically the reason
why they believe this way
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is because Jesus made
two promises to His people.
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First of all,
Jesus made the promise
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that He would take
His people to heaven.
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Did He make that promise?
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You know, John 14:1-3,
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"Let not your
hearts be troubled.
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You believe in
God, believe also in me.
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In my Father's house,"
where's the Father's house?
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Our Father which art in heaven,
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"in my Father's
house are many mansions,
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if it were not so,
I would have told you,
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I go to prepare a place for you.
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And if I go to
prepare a place for you,
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I will come again and
receive you to myself."
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So Jesus promised to
take His people to heaven
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at the Second Coming.
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But Jesus also promised
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that the meek
will inherit the earth.
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So the question is, how can
Jesus fulfill both promises?
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How can He fulfill the promise
to take God's people to heaven,
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and at the same time
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to give them the
earth as their inheritance?
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Well, those who
believe in the rapture,
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they say there's only one
way in which God can fulfill,
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Jesus can fulfill
those two promises.
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And that is, if He comes
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seven years before
His glorious coming
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and He takes
His people to heaven
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for seven years that
fulfills the first promise.
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And then, after the seven years,
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He brings them
back to the earth,
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and then the meek
will inherit the earth.
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So they say in order
to fulfill those promises,
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there has to be a
pre-tribulation rapture.
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Because if there isn't a rapture
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before the Second Coming,
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then if Jesus
just comes to the earth
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to stay on the earth,
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He didn't fulfill both promises.
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Seventh-day Adventists
have a different view.
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We believe that
there's a different way
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in which this can be fulfilled.
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And that is that when
Jesus comes a second time,
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there will only be one stage,
the glorious Second Coming.
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He will come
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and He will take His people
to heaven for a 1000 years.
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And then after the 1000 years,
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He will bring
them back to the earth
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and the meek will
inherit the earth.
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So you don't have to
invent a pre-tribulation rapture
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in order for Jesus to
fulfill both promises.
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Jesus fulfills both promises
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by taking His people
to heaven for 1000 years.
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And then by bringing them back,
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making a new
heavens and a new earth
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and then the meek
inherit the earth.
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And I've heard Adventists say,
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"I want to live
eternally with Jesus in heaven."
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You're wrong.
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You're not going to live
forever with Jesus in heaven.
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You're going to live with
Jesus a 1000 years in heaven.
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And then you're going
to come back to this earth
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and Jesus is coming back
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and the whole
center of the universe
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is coming back here,
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and the meek will
inherit the earth.
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Now in our study,
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we are going to look at
seven futurist arguments
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in favor of a
pre-tribulation rapture.
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And the first argument is based
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on 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
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Before we read verse 3, however,
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I need to give you a little
bit of historical background.
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The Apostle Paul
wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4
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that Jesus would descend
from heaven and then he said,
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"And we who are
alive and remain."
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So the Thessalonians
got the wrong conception
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that the Apostle
Paul was predicting
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that he was going to
be alive when Jesus came
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because he says we
who are alive and remain.
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So the
Thessalonians, they quit working
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and they became
fanatical, you know, and so on.
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And so the Apostle
Paul felt it necessary
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to write them a 2nd epistle
which is 2 Thessalonians.
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And in 2 Thessalonians,
he's going to explain to them
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that the coming of
Jesus is not imminent.
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In other words, the
coming of Jesus in his day
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is not gonna
take place real soon.
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Something needs to
happen before that transpires.
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So he writes to
them a 2nd epistle.
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Now let's read 2
Thessalonians 2:1-2.
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"Now, brethren,
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concerning the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ
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and our
gathering together to Him,
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we ask you not to be soon
shaken in mind or troubled,
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either by spirit or by letter,
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or by word, or by letter,
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as if from us,
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as though the day
of Christ has come."
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The Apostle Paul is saying
the day of Christ has not come.
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And then he's gonna go on to say
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that something needs to
happen before Jesus comes.
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And that's found in verse 3.
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Let no one
deceive you by any means.
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For that day, that is the
day of the coming of Jesus
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will not come
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unless the
falling away comes first
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and the man of sin is
revealed, the son of perdition.
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Now, you'll
notice here that it says
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that Jesus will not come
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until the
falling away comes first.
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Now it's interesting to notice
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that futurists
such as Hal Lindsey says
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that the expression falling away
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needs to be translated
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the departure or snatching away.
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And he applies that to
the rapture of the church.
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In other words, the falling
away is not really an apostasy,
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the falling away is
simply a snatching away
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or the departure of
the saints from the earth
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at the moment of the rapture.
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That's the way that
he translates the word
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falling away,
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which is
actually one Greek word.
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I checked as many Bible
versions as I could find
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to see if it would be proper
to translate snatching away
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or the departure of the
saints to heaven at the rapture.
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I could find only one version
of the Bible, and actually,
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it's not a very well
known version, Wuest's version,
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where it is translated
to make it fit the Rapture.
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All of the other
versions that I read,
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translate this
expression falling away,
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not as the departure
or the snatching away,
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but they translate
it in different ways.
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Let me give you
some of those versions.
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The New International Version
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and the English
Standard versions translate
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until the rebellion comes first.
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The North
American Standard Bible
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has it this way,
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"Let no one in
any way deceive you,
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for it will not come unless
the apostasy comes first."
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So it translates this not
as departure or snatching away,
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but the apostasy comes first,
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and the man of lawlessness
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is revealed the
son of perdition.
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The King James
Version and the New King James
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translates the falling away.
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The Bible and
Basic English translates
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falling away from the faith.
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The Darby Bible
interestingly enough,
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you know, Darby was a futurist,
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but the Darby Bible
translates the apostasy,
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the Douay-Rheims version,
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which is a
Roman Catholic version
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translates not the departure
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or the snatching
away but the revolt.
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Jesus cannot come
before the revolt takes place.
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The New Century
Version translates
00:10:09.80\00:10:12.77
that Jesus cannot come
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until the turning away
from God takes place first.
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The New Living
Translation translates
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that Jesus cannot come
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until the great rebellion
against God takes place.
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And the Wuest
translation translates,
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because that day shall not come,
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except the aforementioned
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departure of the
church to heaven comes first.
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That is the only
version that I found
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that speaks about snatching away
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or the word departure
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referring to the
departure of the saints
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from earth to heaven.
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Now, the
translation of this verse
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should not be very difficult.
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Because the word
that appears in Greek,
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the word that is translated
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departure or revolt or rebellion
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is the Greek word
00:11:04.09\00:11:06.03
apostasia?
00:11:06.06\00:11:10.93
Let me ask you what English
word do we get from apostasia?
00:11:10.97\00:11:15.00
Apostasy, folks.
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Jesus cannot come until
the apostasy takes place.
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What apostasy
00:11:21.91\00:11:24.05
was the Apostle
Paul speaking about?
00:11:24.08\00:11:27.12
He was talking
about the apostasy
00:11:27.15\00:11:28.82
of the Roman Catholic Church.
00:11:28.85\00:11:30.89
Jesus could not
come until the apostasy.
00:11:30.92\00:11:33.76
It's not un-apostasy.
00:11:33.79\00:11:35.66
It has a definite article
00:11:35.69\00:11:37.03
and tell the
apostasy takes place.
00:11:37.06\00:11:40.96
Now, it's interesting this
word appears only one other time
00:11:41.00\00:11:44.30
in the New Testament.
00:11:44.33\00:11:46.10
It appears in Acts 21:21.
00:11:46.13\00:11:51.51
The Book of Acts 21:21,
00:11:51.54\00:11:54.54
only one other time does
this word apostasia appear
00:11:54.58\00:11:59.35
and notice what it refers to.
00:11:59.38\00:12:02.22
Speaking about the Apostle Paul,
00:12:02.25\00:12:05.39
whom they were always accusing
00:12:05.42\00:12:07.26
of not following
what Moses wrote.
00:12:07.29\00:12:09.62
It says, "But
they have been informed
00:12:09.66\00:12:12.13
about you, that is Paul,
00:12:12.16\00:12:14.93
that you teach all the
Jews who are among the Gentiles
00:12:14.96\00:12:18.90
to forsake Moses."
00:12:18.93\00:12:23.27
That word forsake is
the same word apostasia.
00:12:23.30\00:12:26.88
What does that mean
00:12:26.91\00:12:28.24
that they accuse
the Apostle Paul,
00:12:28.28\00:12:29.78
that he was teaching
people to forsake Moses?
00:12:29.81\00:12:32.08
It means that he was teaching
people according to them,
00:12:32.11\00:12:35.05
to apostatize
from what Moses wrote
00:12:35.08\00:12:39.32
that they should not
follow what Moses says,
00:12:39.35\00:12:41.66
but that they should apostatize
from the writings of Moses.
00:12:41.69\00:12:46.83
And so it's properly translated
00:12:46.86\00:12:49.16
that the Apostle
Paul according to them,
00:12:49.20\00:12:52.03
he was teaching the
Gentiles to forsake Moses
00:12:52.07\00:12:55.14
or to apostatize from Moses sent
00:12:55.17\00:12:57.94
saying that they ought
00:12:57.97\00:12:59.31
not to
circumcise their children,
00:12:59.34\00:13:01.11
not to walk
according to the customs.
00:13:01.14\00:13:04.61
By the way, the
verbal form of this word,
00:13:04.65\00:13:08.45
which is apostanai,
00:13:08.48\00:13:11.19
is used in classical
Greek to describe a boat
00:13:11.22\00:13:16.29
that is drifting
away from the port,
00:13:16.32\00:13:19.93
because it is not
strongly anchored.
00:13:19.96\00:13:23.77
That will be an
apostasy from the faith.
00:13:23.80\00:13:26.03
If you are not
anchored well in the faith,
00:13:26.07\00:13:28.74
you will drift away.
00:13:28.77\00:13:30.21
So it can be translated
00:13:30.24\00:13:31.57
until the
drifting away takes place.
00:13:31.61\00:13:34.98
No way in the world can you say
00:13:35.01\00:13:37.01
that the word departure means
the departure of the church
00:13:37.05\00:13:40.82
from earth to
heaven at the rapture?
00:13:40.85\00:13:43.12
That is a private interpretation
00:13:43.15\00:13:46.69
of Hal Lindsey among others,
00:13:46.72\00:13:50.59
Tim LaHaye futurist
00:13:50.63\00:13:52.93
who believe in the
rapture of the church,
00:13:52.96\00:13:54.83
they are
injecting into scripture
00:13:54.86\00:13:56.83
what they believe,
00:13:56.87\00:13:58.20
but it does not fit
with the meaning of the word.
00:13:58.23\00:14:01.87
The second point
that I want to deal with
00:14:01.90\00:14:05.47
that rapturists
use, that futurists use
00:14:05.51\00:14:08.64
to defend their doctrine
of a pre-tribulation rapture
00:14:08.68\00:14:12.51
is found in 1
Thessalonians 5:9-10.
00:14:12.55\00:14:17.15
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.
00:14:17.19\00:14:21.09
Here it says, "For God
did not appoint us to wrath."
00:14:21.12\00:14:25.93
Would you agree with that,
00:14:25.96\00:14:27.30
that God is not
appointed us to wrath?
00:14:27.33\00:14:29.00
Of course, "God did
not appoint us to wrath,
00:14:29.03\00:14:33.94
but to obtain salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:14:33.97\00:14:37.91
who died for us that
whether we wake or sleep,
00:14:37.94\00:14:41.74
we should live
together with Him."
00:14:41.78\00:14:43.71
So God did not
appoint us to wrath.
00:14:43.75\00:14:46.72
So what's futurists say
00:14:46.75\00:14:48.82
is that because God's people
are not appointed to wrath,
00:14:48.85\00:14:52.59
they cannot be here at the time
that God pours out His wrath
00:14:52.62\00:14:56.83
and the seven last plagues,
00:14:56.86\00:14:58.19
because God has not
appointed us to wrath.
00:14:58.23\00:15:01.10
So God's people cannot live here
00:15:01.13\00:15:03.16
during the time that
God is pouring out His wrath
00:15:03.20\00:15:05.37
in the seven last plagues.
00:15:05.40\00:15:08.84
There's a serious
problem with that point of view.
00:15:08.87\00:15:11.94
You say, "Well, what is it?"
00:15:11.97\00:15:14.38
Let me ask you, "Is it true
00:15:14.41\00:15:16.71
that the
outpouring of God's wrath
00:15:16.75\00:15:18.81
at the end of time in
the seven last plagues
00:15:18.85\00:15:21.22
is without any mixture of mercy?
00:15:21.25\00:15:23.15
Is that true?"
00:15:23.18\00:15:24.85
It most certainly is true.
00:15:24.89\00:15:26.76
It's the full wrath of God
without any mixture of mercy.
00:15:26.79\00:15:32.16
Is it possible for God's people
to be here during that period
00:15:32.19\00:15:36.26
and not be appointed to wrath?
00:15:36.30\00:15:39.03
Absolutely.
00:15:39.07\00:15:41.37
Let me ask you this.
00:15:41.40\00:15:43.84
Did God rapture out Israel
00:15:43.87\00:15:45.57
when he poured out
the 10 plagues upon Egypt
00:15:45.61\00:15:50.65
or were they here?
00:15:50.68\00:15:52.38
They were here.
00:15:52.41\00:15:53.75
But what did God do?
00:15:53.78\00:15:55.68
He shielded His people
00:15:55.72\00:15:58.69
so that the wrath that
fell upon the Egyptians
00:15:58.72\00:16:01.02
would not fall upon them.
00:16:01.06\00:16:04.86
Let me ask you,
00:16:04.89\00:16:06.23
did Daniel go through
the lions' den experience?
00:16:06.26\00:16:10.97
Yes. Did he suffer
the wrath of the king?
00:16:11.00\00:16:14.44
Supposedly the
wrath of the king,
00:16:14.47\00:16:16.17
it was the wrath of
the princess really.
00:16:16.20\00:16:19.44
But the king did
00:16:19.47\00:16:20.81
what the princes
said that he should do.
00:16:20.84\00:16:22.98
The law of the
Medes and Persians
00:16:23.01\00:16:24.35
could not be changed.
00:16:24.38\00:16:25.71
So let me ask you,
00:16:25.75\00:16:27.38
"Did Daniel so to speak go
through this severe tribulation
00:16:27.42\00:16:30.79
in the den of lions?"
00:16:30.82\00:16:32.39
Yes, but did God protect him?
00:16:32.42\00:16:35.46
Yes, He did.
00:16:35.49\00:16:36.83
How about the three young men?
00:16:36.86\00:16:38.19
Did they go
through the fiery furnace?
00:16:38.23\00:16:40.00
Where they in the fiery furnace?
00:16:40.03\00:16:42.00
Absolutely.
00:16:42.03\00:16:43.70
But did Jesus
come into the furnace
00:16:43.73\00:16:45.87
and protect them
from being destroyed?
00:16:45.90\00:16:48.94
Yes.
00:16:48.97\00:16:50.31
Now, Daniel 12:1
00:16:50.34\00:16:54.04
tells us that at
the very end of time,
00:16:54.08\00:16:56.78
when the king of the north
00:16:56.81\00:16:58.15
which is the same as a
little horn and the beast
00:16:58.18\00:17:00.28
goes out to kill
and destroy many,
00:17:00.32\00:17:03.25
Michael shall stand up,
00:17:03.28\00:17:05.52
that great prince who stands
00:17:05.55\00:17:07.22
watch over the
children of his people,
00:17:07.26\00:17:09.82
there will be a time of
trouble such as never was.
00:17:09.86\00:17:12.26
But in that time of trouble,
00:17:12.29\00:17:14.03
God will protect
His faithful people.
00:17:14.06\00:17:17.47
In other words, it is
possible to be on this earth
00:17:17.50\00:17:20.50
during the
outpouring of God's wrath
00:17:20.54\00:17:22.74
without suffering God's wrath.
00:17:22.77\00:17:25.51
So just because this verse says,
00:17:25.54\00:17:28.41
God has not
appointed us to wrath
00:17:28.44\00:17:30.58
doesn't mean that we
can't be present here
00:17:30.61\00:17:32.81
when God pours out His wrath,
00:17:32.85\00:17:34.58
and God protect us
00:17:34.62\00:17:36.48
from the
manifestation of His wrath.
00:17:36.52\00:17:40.22
Incidentally, if you
go with me to Psalm 91,
00:17:40.26\00:17:44.36
which is known as
the tribulation psalm.
00:17:44.39\00:17:47.10
It's the psalm of
a time of trouble.
00:17:47.13\00:17:49.86
Notice Psalm 91:7-11,"
00:17:49.90\00:17:53.64
A 1000 may fall at your side
00:17:53.67\00:17:57.51
and 10,000 at your right hand,
00:17:57.54\00:18:00.94
but it shall not come near you.
00:18:00.98\00:18:04.45
Only with your
eyes shall you look
00:18:04.48\00:18:07.72
and see the
reward of the wicked,
00:18:07.75\00:18:10.62
because you have made
the Lord who is my refuge,
00:18:10.65\00:18:13.79
even the Most High,
your dwelling place.
00:18:13.82\00:18:16.56
No evil shall befall you,
00:18:16.59\00:18:19.03
nor shall any plague
come near your dwelling."
00:18:19.06\00:18:23.10
Is it possible to be
here during the plagues,
00:18:23.13\00:18:25.57
and not have the
plagues afflict you?
00:18:25.60\00:18:28.04
Absolutely.
00:18:28.07\00:18:30.47
Once again verse 11,
00:18:30.51\00:18:32.14
"For he shall give
His angels charge over you
00:18:32.17\00:18:35.98
to keep you in all your ways.
00:18:36.01\00:18:39.61
So just because the text says
00:18:39.65\00:18:41.12
that God has not
appointed us to wrath,
00:18:41.15\00:18:43.32
doesn't mean
that we can't be here
00:18:43.35\00:18:45.02
during the
manifestation of God's wrath,
00:18:45.05\00:18:47.36
and that God is
gonna protect us,
00:18:47.39\00:18:49.72
the wrath of the plagues is not
gonna fall upon the righteous,
00:18:49.76\00:18:52.49
it's gonna fall upon the wicked,
00:18:52.53\00:18:54.10
but God's people
will be present here.
00:18:54.13\00:18:57.03
Notice Isaiah 26:20-21.
00:18:57.07\00:19:00.47
Isaiah 26:20-21.
00:19:00.50\00:19:03.71
This speaks about this
time of trouble at the very end
00:19:03.74\00:19:06.68
when God's wrath is being
poured out upon the earth.
00:19:06.71\00:19:11.11
It says there
in Isaiah 26:20-21,
00:19:11.15\00:19:14.22
God is speaking to His people,
00:19:14.25\00:19:15.95
"Come, my people,
enter your chambers,
00:19:15.98\00:19:20.06
and shut your doors
behind you, hide yourself,
00:19:20.09\00:19:24.13
as it were for a little moment,
00:19:24.16\00:19:26.39
until the indignation is passed.
00:19:26.43\00:19:29.43
For behold, the Lord
comes out of His place
00:19:29.46\00:19:31.67
to punish the
inhabitants of the earth
00:19:31.70\00:19:33.77
for their iniquity,
00:19:33.80\00:19:35.14
the earth also
will disclose her blood,
00:19:35.17\00:19:38.17
and will no more
cover her slain."
00:19:38.21\00:19:41.51
So God says for a little moment,
00:19:41.54\00:19:44.21
"Hide until the
indignation is passed."
00:19:44.25\00:19:48.85
And Ellen White wrote
00:19:48.88\00:19:51.35
that not one of
God's people will perish
00:19:51.39\00:19:55.46
during the final time of trouble
00:19:55.49\00:19:56.89
after the close of probation.
00:19:56.93\00:19:58.89
The wrath is not
meant for God's people.
00:19:58.93\00:20:01.70
The wrath is
meant for the wicked.
00:20:01.73\00:20:04.07
But God's people will be here.
00:20:04.10\00:20:06.23
And they shall see as
it says in the Psalms,
00:20:06.27\00:20:09.34
"They shall see the
reward of the wicked."
00:20:09.37\00:20:13.14
The third argument that
is used by those who believe
00:20:13.17\00:20:16.71
in a pre-tribulation rapture
is found in Revelation 3:10.
00:20:16.75\00:20:22.68
Revelation 3:10.
00:20:22.72\00:20:26.99
It says there, "Because
you have kept My command,"
00:20:27.02\00:20:31.83
he is writing to the churches,
00:20:31.86\00:20:33.90
"because you have kept
My command to persevere,
00:20:33.93\00:20:37.57
I also will keep you
from the hour of trial
00:20:37.60\00:20:43.30
which shall come
upon the whole world,
00:20:43.34\00:20:45.67
to test those who
dwell on the earth.
00:20:45.71\00:20:50.05
So what those who believe
00:20:50.08\00:20:51.85
in a future
rapture of the church say,
00:20:51.88\00:20:54.18
see very clearly he says here,
00:20:54.22\00:20:56.79
that God will keep His
people from the hour of trial.
00:20:56.82\00:21:01.06
And that must mean
that God is gonna keep them
00:21:01.09\00:21:03.93
by taking them out of the world.
00:21:03.96\00:21:07.36
Well, fortunately,
00:21:07.40\00:21:09.56
the same verb is
used in another key text
00:21:09.60\00:21:14.94
that shows that
you can be in the world
00:21:14.97\00:21:18.07
at the time of the tribulation,
00:21:18.11\00:21:20.01
at the time of the test
or trial, as it says here,
00:21:20.04\00:21:23.14
and you can be kept in
the midst of the trial.
00:21:23.18\00:21:26.25
Notice John
17:15, where the same,
00:21:26.28\00:21:30.25
this very same verb is used.
00:21:30.29\00:21:33.09
John 17:15.
00:21:33.12\00:21:35.36
Of course, this is the great
intercessory prayer of Jesus
00:21:35.39\00:21:39.16
in favor of His people.
00:21:39.19\00:21:40.86
It says there in John 17:15,
00:21:40.90\00:21:43.93
"I do not pray
00:21:43.97\00:21:45.77
that you should take
them out of the world,
00:21:45.80\00:21:51.04
but that you should," what?
00:21:51.07\00:21:53.24
"Keep them from the evil one."
00:21:53.27\00:21:56.11
Is it possible for God's
people to be in the world
00:21:56.14\00:21:58.71
and still be kept by God?
00:21:58.75\00:22:01.48
So is it
possible that God's people
00:22:01.52\00:22:03.85
will be kept in
the hour of trial,
00:22:03.89\00:22:07.26
in the hour of test
and still be on this earth
00:22:07.29\00:22:10.76
or do they have to be taken
out of the world to be kept?
00:22:10.79\00:22:13.73
No, they can be kept here
because Jesus prayed, He said,
00:22:13.76\00:22:18.23
I'm not praying that you
take them out of the world.
00:22:18.27\00:22:21.64
I'm praying that in
the world, you will what?
00:22:21.67\00:22:24.94
You will keep
them from the evil one.
00:22:24.97\00:22:26.98
Are you understanding?
00:22:27.01\00:22:28.48
And so scripture
interpret scripture,
00:22:28.51\00:22:31.98
once again, those
who believe in futurism
00:22:32.01\00:22:34.32
are injecting their
private interpretations
00:22:34.35\00:22:37.95
into the Holy Scriptures.
00:22:37.99\00:22:40.99
Incidentally,
in Galatians 1:3-5,
00:22:41.02\00:22:45.63
Galatians 1:3-5
00:22:45.66\00:22:48.96
even though the
specific word is not used,
00:22:49.00\00:22:52.47
the specific verb,
the concept is there.
00:22:52.50\00:22:55.54
It says there,
00:22:55.57\00:22:56.91
here the Apostle Paul is
writing to the Galatians.
00:22:56.94\00:22:59.41
"Grace to you and
peace from God the Father,
00:22:59.44\00:23:03.04
and our Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself for our sins,
00:23:03.08\00:23:07.62
that He might deliver us
00:23:07.65\00:23:09.58
from this present evil age."
00:23:09.62\00:23:14.32
Are you understanding
what this is saying?
00:23:14.36\00:23:16.73
So why did Jesus get Himself?
00:23:16.76\00:23:19.26
That He could deliver us
from this evil present age.
00:23:19.29\00:23:22.06
So what does that mean?
00:23:22.10\00:23:23.43
It means that Jesus actually
gave Himself for our sins,
00:23:23.47\00:23:28.50
so that we
could be rapture away.
00:23:28.54\00:23:31.01
No, it's so that even
though we live on this earth,
00:23:31.04\00:23:35.24
he'll deliver us
from this present evil age
00:23:35.28\00:23:37.85
even though we live here.
00:23:37.88\00:23:39.88
He keeps us in the
midst of an evil world.
00:23:39.91\00:23:44.25
The next argument that is
used, this is number four,
00:23:44.29\00:23:48.22
is found in Luke 21:36.
00:23:48.26\00:23:52.09
Luke 21:36.
00:23:52.13\00:23:56.06
And once again,
00:23:56.10\00:23:57.43
those who believe in a
pre-tribulation rapture,
00:23:57.47\00:24:00.47
harp on this
particular verse, and they say,
00:24:00.50\00:24:02.87
"This clearly shows
00:24:02.90\00:24:04.34
that God's people
are not going to be here,
00:24:04.37\00:24:06.51
because they're
going to escape everything
00:24:06.54\00:24:08.18
that's happening on the earth."
00:24:08.21\00:24:09.91
Luke 21:36 says,
00:24:09.94\00:24:12.55
"Watch
therefore, and pray always
00:24:12.58\00:24:16.38
that you may be counted worthy
to escape all these things."
00:24:16.42\00:24:22.09
Jesus has just
described the things
00:24:22.12\00:24:23.89
that are happening
immediate before Second Coming.
00:24:23.93\00:24:26.70
So it says, you know,
when these things happen,
00:24:26.73\00:24:29.50
Luke 21, is
parallel to Matthew 24.
00:24:29.53\00:24:32.60
When you see all of
these things happen,
00:24:32.63\00:24:35.10
he says, "Pray
00:24:35.14\00:24:37.24
that you don't
have to go through them,
00:24:37.27\00:24:38.87
pray that you're worthy
to escape all these things
00:24:38.91\00:24:43.04
that will come to pass
00:24:43.08\00:24:44.41
and to stand
before the Son of Man."
00:24:44.45\00:24:45.78
So basically, the argument
is that you need to pray
00:24:45.81\00:24:48.58
that the Lord
will help you to escape
00:24:48.62\00:24:50.65
this period of tribulation,
00:24:50.69\00:24:52.62
by being rapture
away from the world.
00:24:52.65\00:24:55.42
Is that really
what the text is saying?
00:24:55.46\00:24:57.96
No, let's read again the verse.
00:24:57.99\00:25:00.33
It says, "Watch therefore,
00:25:00.36\00:25:01.70
and pray always that
you may be counted worthy
00:25:01.73\00:25:03.87
to escape all these
things that will come to pass,
00:25:03.90\00:25:07.50
and to stand
before the Son of Man."
00:25:07.54\00:25:11.21
So the big question is,
00:25:11.24\00:25:14.11
how can you
escape the tribulation,
00:25:14.14\00:25:16.01
if you're going to be
standing when Jesus comes?
00:25:16.04\00:25:19.65
Are you following me or not?
00:25:19.68\00:25:21.58
Let's go to Revelation 6:16-17.
00:25:21.62\00:25:25.85
Revelation 6:16-17.
00:25:25.89\00:25:30.99
It's speaking about
the second coming of Jesus,
00:25:31.03\00:25:33.66
remember the word to stand.
00:25:33.70\00:25:36.43
It says there in
Revelation 6:16-17,
00:25:36.46\00:25:39.27
"And the kings of the earth,
the great man, the rich men,
00:25:39.30\00:25:41.77
the commanders, the mighty men,
every slave and every free man,
00:25:41.80\00:25:46.47
hid themselves in the caves
in the rocks of the mountains,
00:25:46.51\00:25:49.94
and said to the
mountains and rocks,
00:25:49.98\00:25:52.45
"Fall on us, and hide
us from the face of Him
00:25:52.48\00:25:55.92
who sits on the throne,
00:25:55.95\00:25:57.32
and from the wrath of the Lamb."
00:25:57.35\00:25:58.85
Is this describing the
second coming of Jesus Christ?
00:25:58.89\00:26:03.09
It most certainly is.
00:26:03.12\00:26:04.46
Is it describing the
outpouring of God's wrath?
00:26:04.49\00:26:08.33
Yes, it is.
00:26:08.36\00:26:09.70
And now the question is asked,
00:26:09.73\00:26:11.53
"For the great day
of his wrath has come
00:26:11.57\00:26:14.50
and who is able to stand?"
00:26:14.54\00:26:20.01
It would be ridiculous to say
00:26:20.04\00:26:21.38
that unless there were
people on the earth to stand.
00:26:21.41\00:26:26.48
Are you following me or not?
00:26:26.51\00:26:28.62
And so when the Apostle Paul
says here, actually Luke says,
00:26:28.65\00:26:33.22
and in a moment, I'm
gonna read a statement from Paul
00:26:33.25\00:26:35.66
in 1 Thessalonians.
00:26:35.69\00:26:37.03
When Luke says
00:26:37.06\00:26:38.39
that you should
be counted worthy
00:26:38.43\00:26:39.76
to escape all these things
00:26:39.79\00:26:41.13
and to stand
before the Son of Man.
00:26:41.16\00:26:42.73
It means that you
will not be caught up
00:26:42.76\00:26:45.07
in the apostasy
you know be caught up
00:26:45.10\00:26:47.37
and be among the unfaithful.
00:26:47.40\00:26:50.11
And that you will be
able to stand when Jesus comes
00:26:50.14\00:26:53.48
when he ask, "Who
will be able to stand?"
00:26:53.51\00:26:56.34
The Apostle Paul in
1 Thessalonians 5:3,
00:26:56.38\00:26:59.88
speaks of those who
will not be able to escape,
00:26:59.91\00:27:03.32
they're the wicked.
00:27:03.35\00:27:04.85
It says, "For when they
say, 'peace and safety',
00:27:04.89\00:27:08.72
then sudden
destruction comes upon them
00:27:08.76\00:27:11.76
as labor pains
upon a pregnant woman,
00:27:11.79\00:27:14.56
and they shall not escape."
00:27:14.60\00:27:19.10
So who are the
ones that escaped,
00:27:19.13\00:27:20.94
the ones that are
rapture off to heaven?
00:27:20.97\00:27:23.04
No, the ones that are faithful
in the midst of the tribulation
00:27:23.07\00:27:27.21
that is described in
the context of Luke 21:36.
00:27:27.24\00:27:31.58
Who is not able to stand
00:27:31.61\00:27:33.52
when the wrath of God
is manifested on the earth?
00:27:33.55\00:27:36.28
Those who are
unfaithful to Jesus Christ,
00:27:36.32\00:27:39.92
but it's not speaking at all
00:27:39.95\00:27:41.96
about a pre tribulation rapture.
00:27:41.99\00:27:45.06
Now, argument
number five that is used,
00:27:45.09\00:27:48.63
is found in Revelation 4:1.
00:27:48.66\00:27:53.03
It says, "After
these things I looked",
00:27:53.07\00:27:55.10
this is the
beginning of the seven seals.
00:27:55.14\00:27:57.94
"After these things I looked,
00:27:57.97\00:28:00.21
and behold a door
standing open in heaven.
00:28:00.24\00:28:04.11
And the first
voice which I heard
00:28:04.15\00:28:05.85
was like a trumpet
speaking with me saying,
00:28:05.88\00:28:08.55
speaking to John, "Come up here.
00:28:08.58\00:28:11.85
And I will show you things
00:28:11.89\00:28:13.72
which must take
place after this."
00:28:13.76\00:28:17.56
So John is told God
tells John, "Come up here."
00:28:17.59\00:28:21.70
Hal Lindsey and others say
00:28:21.73\00:28:24.10
that this is
speaking about the Rapture.
00:28:24.13\00:28:26.87
In other words,
00:28:26.90\00:28:28.24
when John has told come up here,
00:28:28.27\00:28:30.67
that speaking about the
rapture of the church to heaven
00:28:30.71\00:28:34.34
before the tribulation,
00:28:34.38\00:28:36.34
and then he says that everything
00:28:36.38\00:28:38.28
in Revelation 4:1,
00:28:38.31\00:28:41.85
from the point that God
says to John, "Come up here,"
00:28:41.88\00:28:44.69
he says, "That's the
rapture of the church.
00:28:44.72\00:28:46.42
John symbolizes the
church," till Revelation 19,
00:28:46.45\00:28:51.19
Jesus sitting
on the white horse,
00:28:51.23\00:28:52.79
followed by the
armies of heaven,
00:28:52.83\00:28:54.56
He says, "All
of that takes place
00:28:54.60\00:28:56.56
after the church
is rapture to heaven."
00:28:56.60\00:29:01.07
Now we're gonna see that
has serious implications.
00:29:01.10\00:29:05.57
Because if Revelation 4:1
00:29:05.61\00:29:09.04
is speaking about the
rapture of the church,
00:29:09.08\00:29:11.55
church is
snatched away to heaven
00:29:11.58\00:29:14.18
and everything from Chapter 4
to Chapter 19 is still future.
00:29:14.22\00:29:18.25
After the rapture,
00:29:18.29\00:29:20.72
what happens
with the proclamation
00:29:20.76\00:29:22.39
of the three
angels' message now?
00:29:22.42\00:29:27.00
It's not for now,
if you have that view,
00:29:27.03\00:29:30.97
because it's for the period,
00:29:31.00\00:29:33.10
the three angels'
messages will be proclaimed
00:29:33.13\00:29:35.04
after the rapture of the church,
00:29:35.07\00:29:36.87
because Revelation
4:19 describes the events
00:29:36.91\00:29:39.94
that are still future
00:29:39.97\00:29:42.18
and eliminates the
reason for the existence
00:29:42.21\00:29:45.75
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:29:45.78\00:29:48.48
serious stuff.
00:29:48.52\00:29:51.89
Now, it's very interesting.
00:29:51.92\00:29:53.96
You can clearly prove
that when John has told,
00:29:53.99\00:29:58.53
"Come up here," it's not
referring into the Rapture.
00:29:58.56\00:30:01.33
You say, "How do we know that?"
00:30:01.36\00:30:03.60
Because later on in
the Book of Revelation,
00:30:03.63\00:30:05.43
John is on the earth.
00:30:05.47\00:30:09.14
In the three angels' messages
00:30:09.17\00:30:10.51
he says, "I saw an
angel come down from heaven."
00:30:10.54\00:30:13.58
Hello.
00:30:13.61\00:30:15.74
In Revelation 18-1, it says,
00:30:15.78\00:30:17.91
"I see a mighty angel
coming down from heaven."
00:30:17.95\00:30:20.45
What's he doing on earth?
He was rapture in Chapter 4.
00:30:20.48\00:30:24.22
Are you following me or not?
00:30:24.25\00:30:26.19
And in Revelation 10:1-2,
00:30:26.22\00:30:28.16
"He sees an angel
coming with from heaven
00:30:28.19\00:30:31.03
with a little
book open in his hand."
00:30:31.06\00:30:33.13
Obviously, he's on earth.
00:30:33.16\00:30:35.36
So Revelation 4:1 cannot refer
00:30:35.40\00:30:37.87
to the rapture of
the church to heaven,
00:30:37.90\00:30:40.24
because he's
seeing things on earth.
00:30:40.27\00:30:44.31
He's on earth, he's seen
angels descend from heaven.
00:30:44.34\00:30:47.81
And by the way, when God
says to John, "Come up here."
00:30:47.84\00:30:52.65
He's not telling him to
come up there physically.
00:30:52.68\00:30:55.08
Prophets were
taken away to places
00:30:58.92\00:31:04.79
where they were
not at in vision.
00:31:04.83\00:31:09.33
Ellen White, for
example, we know this,
00:31:09.36\00:31:11.27
we know how this works,
00:31:11.30\00:31:12.63
because Ellen white
went through the experience.
00:31:12.67\00:31:14.50
She spoke of an angel
that took her to heaven.
00:31:14.54\00:31:19.37
And she saw the
heavenly sanctuary,
00:31:19.41\00:31:20.88
the Holy in the Most Holy Place.
00:31:20.91\00:31:23.48
What does that mean that
Ellen White was being ruptured?
00:31:23.51\00:31:26.05
No, it means that she
was transported to heaven,
00:31:26.08\00:31:29.12
not physically, but in vision.
00:31:29.15\00:31:34.39
That's why for example,
Revelation 17:3 says that,
00:31:34.42\00:31:39.49
"John is caught away
00:31:39.53\00:31:41.10
in the spirit
of the wilderness."
00:31:41.13\00:31:43.13
In other words, in his mind,
00:31:43.16\00:31:45.23
he's being
transported to another place.
00:31:45.27\00:31:48.50
Although he is
physically present,
00:31:48.54\00:31:50.51
where he's at
receiving the vision.
00:31:50.54\00:31:53.07
In Revelation 21:9-10,
00:31:53.11\00:31:56.75
an angel comes to John
00:31:56.78\00:31:58.28
and transports
him to the holy city.
00:31:58.31\00:32:01.32
But this is
happening, not physically,
00:32:01.35\00:32:03.08
this is not a rapture.
00:32:03.12\00:32:04.59
This is simply
happening in vision.
00:32:04.62\00:32:08.56
And by the way, the
visions were so real,
00:32:08.59\00:32:12.19
that the
prophets actually thought
00:32:12.23\00:32:13.56
that they were there
although they weren't.
00:32:13.60\00:32:18.03
You know, Ellen
White several times.
00:32:18.07\00:32:20.84
When the Lord
took her and showed her
00:32:20.87\00:32:22.30
all the
wonderful things in heaven,
00:32:22.34\00:32:24.17
she said to the angel,
"Don't make me go back."
00:32:24.21\00:32:27.04
Because the vision was so real.
00:32:27.08\00:32:28.51
Let me ask you, have
you ever had a dream,
00:32:28.71\00:32:30.38
where it's so real,
that you wake up sweating?
00:32:30.41\00:32:34.85
You know, like, for example,
00:32:34.88\00:32:36.72
if you're on a train
that can't be stopped
00:32:36.75\00:32:40.56
and you're going
and going and going,
00:32:40.59\00:32:43.12
and you're getting to
the end of the tracks,
00:32:43.16\00:32:45.09
you know, you are breathing deep
00:32:45.13\00:32:47.63
and you are sweating,
even though it's just a dream.
00:32:47.66\00:32:52.90
That's what
happened with the prophets.
00:32:52.93\00:32:55.30
The prophets had the
same basic experience.
00:32:55.34\00:32:58.11
So this argument where
it says, "Come up here,"
00:32:58.14\00:33:02.54
has nothing to do with
a pre-tribulation rapture.
00:33:02.58\00:33:05.85
John is simply being
caught up to heaven in vision
00:33:05.88\00:33:08.88
like he was in Chapter
17, like he was in Chapter 21,
00:33:08.92\00:33:12.65
like Ellen White was
taken away in vision.
00:33:12.69\00:33:15.69
It has nothing to do
00:33:15.72\00:33:17.36
with the rapture
of an entire church
00:33:17.39\00:33:19.89
before the tribulation,
00:33:19.93\00:33:21.26
before the glorious
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:33:21.30\00:33:24.40
Argument number six
00:33:24.43\00:33:27.04
is found in 1
Thessalonians 3:12-13.
00:33:27.07\00:33:31.57
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13.
00:33:31.61\00:33:33.98
And this sounds
pretty plausible.
00:33:34.01\00:33:35.88
You know, when
you're superficial
00:33:35.91\00:33:37.85
in your study of Scripture,
things might make sense.
00:33:37.88\00:33:40.72
But when you study
them more carefully,
00:33:40.75\00:33:42.85
they don't make a lot of sense.
00:33:42.88\00:33:44.69
1 Thessalonians
3:12-13, The Apostle Paul wrote,
00:33:44.72\00:33:49.16
"And I, the
Lord, make you increase
00:33:49.19\00:33:52.23
and abound in
love to one another,
00:33:52.26\00:33:54.73
and to all just as we do to you,
00:33:54.76\00:33:57.80
so that he may
establish your hearts
00:33:57.83\00:34:00.80
blameless in holiness
before our God and Father
00:34:00.84\00:34:05.21
at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ
00:34:05.24\00:34:08.21
with all His saints."
00:34:08.24\00:34:11.51
Are you seeing the
problem in that verse?
00:34:11.55\00:34:14.55
It's saying that Jesus
is gonna come to the earth
00:34:14.58\00:34:16.99
with all His saints,
00:34:17.02\00:34:18.35
and those who
believe in the rapture say,
00:34:18.39\00:34:19.89
He cannot come back with them,
00:34:19.92\00:34:21.52
unless He took
them to heaven first.
00:34:21.56\00:34:24.43
Are you understanding me?
00:34:24.46\00:34:26.19
So how do we deal with this?
00:34:26.23\00:34:27.83
Where it says that
00:34:27.86\00:34:29.20
that God will retain
the hearts of His people
00:34:29.23\00:34:33.03
blameless and holiness,
before God and our Father
00:34:33.07\00:34:36.10
at the coming of Jesus
with all of His saints.
00:34:36.14\00:34:39.04
Well, perhaps we
need to take a look
00:34:39.07\00:34:40.94
at what the word saints means?
00:34:40.98\00:34:45.11
Is that
referring to human beings?
00:34:45.15\00:34:47.48
Or is that perhaps
another interpretation?
00:34:47.52\00:34:50.59
The Apostle Paul is
actually referring back
00:34:50.62\00:34:53.52
to Deuteronomy 33:2.
00:34:53.56\00:34:56.93
Go with me to Deuteronomy, 33:2.
00:34:56.96\00:35:01.40
There's a speaking about
God coming to Mount Sinai
00:35:01.43\00:35:05.17
to reveal his law to Israel
and God did not come alone.
00:35:05.20\00:35:10.81
I want you to
notice who he came with.
00:35:10.84\00:35:13.21
It says in Deuteronomy 33:2,
00:35:13.24\00:35:17.18
"The Lord came from Sinai,
00:35:17.21\00:35:20.85
and dawned on them from Seir,
00:35:20.88\00:35:24.12
He shone forth from Mount Paran
00:35:24.15\00:35:27.29
and he came with
10,000 of saints",
00:35:27.32\00:35:32.73
With whom did God
come to Mount Sinai?
00:35:32.76\00:35:36.70
With 10,000 saints.
00:35:36.73\00:35:38.43
So he's bringing from
heaven, all of the redeemed
00:35:38.47\00:35:41.47
to reveal his Mount Sinai?
00:35:41.50\00:35:44.34
Of course not.
00:35:44.37\00:35:46.31
Who did he come with?
00:35:46.34\00:35:48.81
Who did he come
to Mount Sinai with?
00:35:48.84\00:35:50.41
Who are the saints that
he came to Mount Sinai with,
00:35:50.45\00:35:52.71
when he revealed the law?
00:35:52.75\00:35:54.88
The angels.
00:35:54.92\00:35:57.32
So notice once again.
00:35:57.35\00:35:59.22
It says," He shone
forth from Mount Paran,
00:35:59.25\00:36:02.06
and he came with
10,000 of saints."
00:36:02.09\00:36:04.66
Remember that 10,000
figure, with 10,000 of saints,
00:36:04.69\00:36:09.86
from His right hand came a what?
00:36:09.90\00:36:12.47
A fiery law for them.
00:36:12.50\00:36:14.17
Is this speaking about
the revealing of the law
00:36:14.20\00:36:16.07
at Mount Sinai?
00:36:16.10\00:36:17.67
Was it written
in letters of fire?
00:36:17.71\00:36:19.54
Yes, it was.
00:36:19.57\00:36:20.91
So with whom did
God come to Mount Sinai
00:36:20.94\00:36:23.81
when He revealed His law?
00:36:23.85\00:36:25.18
With 10,000 of what? Of saints.
00:36:25.21\00:36:28.08
Who were those
saints, humans or angels?
00:36:28.12\00:36:31.69
Angels.
00:36:31.72\00:36:33.25
The expression
10,000 refers to angels.
00:36:33.29\00:36:37.16
Notice Revelation 5:11
00:36:37.19\00:36:40.10
and you can also
write down Daniel 7:9-10.
00:36:40.13\00:36:44.33
Revelation 5:11,
what does 10,000 mean?
00:36:44.37\00:36:48.50
Who are the 10,000 saints
00:36:48.54\00:36:51.47
that God comes
to Mount Sinai with?
00:36:51.51\00:36:54.28
It says, "Then I looked and I
heard the voice of many angels
00:36:54.31\00:36:57.65
around the throne,
00:36:57.68\00:36:59.01
the living
creatures and the elders,
00:36:59.05\00:37:00.68
and the number of
them of the angels
00:37:00.72\00:37:03.39
was ten thousand
times ten thousand,
00:37:03.42\00:37:06.82
and thousands of thousands.
00:37:06.86\00:37:09.59
So to what does the
expression 10,000 refer?
00:37:09.62\00:37:13.33
It refers to the angels.
00:37:13.36\00:37:15.56
And so the question is,
when the Apostle Paul says
00:37:15.60\00:37:19.13
that, when Jesus comes,
00:37:19.17\00:37:21.84
He will come
with all His saints,
00:37:21.87\00:37:26.51
is that talking about
Him coming with human beings
00:37:26.54\00:37:29.24
that have been
rapture to heaven?
00:37:29.28\00:37:30.81
No, He's coming with what?
00:37:30.85\00:37:32.65
With the angels.
00:37:32.68\00:37:34.02
By the way, the word
saints is really the same word
00:37:34.05\00:37:39.12
that is translated
holy in the New Testament.
00:37:39.15\00:37:43.09
So it can be
translated with his holy ones.
00:37:43.12\00:37:47.70
Let me ask you, does the Bible
describe the angels as holy?
00:37:47.73\00:37:53.00
Not only does the Bible
describe them as saints,
00:37:53.03\00:37:56.91
the word saints means holy.
00:37:56.94\00:37:58.77
The Bible says
that they are holy.
00:37:58.81\00:38:00.91
Notice Mark 8:38,
00:38:00.94\00:38:03.88
Mark 8:38,
00:38:03.91\00:38:08.15
"For whoever is ashamed of
Me," here Jesus is speaking,
00:38:08.18\00:38:12.92
"and My words
00:38:12.95\00:38:14.52
in this adulterous
and sinful generation,
00:38:14.56\00:38:17.36
of him the Son of
Man also will be ashamed
00:38:17.39\00:38:21.10
when He comes in
the glory of His Father
00:38:21.13\00:38:24.10
with the holy angels."
00:38:24.13\00:38:30.07
So who is Jesus
bringing back with Him?
00:38:30.11\00:38:32.81
Human beings that
have been raptured?
00:38:32.84\00:38:34.94
No, He's coming back
00:38:34.98\00:38:36.54
with all of His angels
00:38:36.58\00:38:41.18
if you allow
scripture to interpret itself.
00:38:41.22\00:38:45.02
The seventh and last
00:38:45.05\00:38:46.39
is what's gonna take
us the rest of our time,
00:38:46.42\00:38:49.12
a little bit more time.
00:38:49.16\00:38:52.23
Let's go to 1
Thessalonians Chapter 4,
00:38:52.26\00:38:56.50
1 Thessalonians Chapter 4,
00:38:56.53\00:38:59.13
and we'll read
verses 13 through 18.
00:38:59.17\00:39:03.47
And in a minute I'm gonna
tell you where the problem is.
00:39:03.51\00:39:06.27
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,
00:39:06.31\00:39:11.81
"But I do not want you
to be ignorant, brethren,
00:39:11.85\00:39:14.95
concerning those
who have fallen asleep,"
00:39:14.98\00:39:17.22
that means those who have died,
00:39:17.25\00:39:19.15
"lest you sorrow as
others who have no hope.
00:39:19.19\00:39:23.43
For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again,
00:39:23.46\00:39:28.36
even so, God will bring with Him
00:39:28.40\00:39:33.30
those who sleep in Jesus.
00:39:33.34\00:39:35.94
For this we say to you
by the word of the Lord,
00:39:35.97\00:39:38.74
that we who are alive
00:39:38.77\00:39:40.54
and remain until
the coming of the Lord
00:39:40.58\00:39:42.61
will by no means
precede those who are asleep.
00:39:42.64\00:39:45.48
For the Lord Himself
00:39:45.51\00:39:46.85
will descend from
heaven with a shout,
00:39:46.88\00:39:48.48
with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God.
00:39:48.52\00:39:51.65
And the dead in
Christ will rise first.
00:39:51.69\00:39:54.62
Then we who are alive and remain
00:39:54.66\00:39:56.83
shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds
00:39:56.86\00:39:59.13
to meet the Lord in the air,
00:39:59.16\00:40:00.90
and thus we shall
always be with the Lord.
00:40:00.93\00:40:04.03
Therefore, comfort one
another with these words."
00:40:04.07\00:40:08.77
Now, where is the
problem in this passage?
00:40:08.80\00:40:13.07
And it's found in verse 14.
00:40:13.11\00:40:16.01
So let's read verse 14,
00:40:16.04\00:40:19.58
"For if we believe that
Jesus died, and rose again,
00:40:19.61\00:40:24.25
even so,"
00:40:24.29\00:40:25.79
now listen carefully,
"God will bring with Him,"
00:40:25.82\00:40:31.06
that is with Jesus,
"those who sleep in Jesus."
00:40:31.09\00:40:36.90
And so the point is,
00:40:36.93\00:40:38.43
that God cannot
bring with Jesus,
00:40:38.47\00:40:43.27
those who slept, unless
He took them to heaven first.
00:40:43.30\00:40:49.04
Are you catching the point?
00:40:49.08\00:40:51.65
Because it says here,
00:40:51.68\00:40:53.28
God, even so God
will bring with him,
00:40:53.31\00:40:57.02
those who sleep in Jesus,
00:40:57.05\00:40:59.32
and so how can He bring those
who slept with Jesus with Him
00:40:59.35\00:41:03.56
if He didn't take
them to heaven before that?
00:41:03.59\00:41:06.59
Now, this problem can
actually be solved very simply,
00:41:06.63\00:41:12.37
by a careful
study of the passage.
00:41:12.40\00:41:15.80
Let's notice the
concepts that we find here
00:41:15.84\00:41:18.61
in 1 Thessalonians 4.
00:41:18.64\00:41:20.44
Did you notice that it
compares the experience of Jesus
00:41:20.48\00:41:24.58
with the
experience of His people?
00:41:24.61\00:41:27.42
Once again, notice,
00:41:27.45\00:41:29.15
let's read verse 13,
00:41:29.18\00:41:34.32
"But I do not want you
to be ignorant, brethren,
00:41:34.36\00:41:36.36
concerning those
who have fallen asleep,
00:41:36.39\00:41:37.89
lest your sorrow as
others who have no hope.
00:41:37.93\00:41:40.26
For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so."
00:41:40.30\00:41:46.13
What happened with
Jesus is being compared
00:41:46.17\00:41:49.10
with what is gonna
happen with His people.
00:41:49.14\00:41:54.98
So let's look at
what happened to Jesus.
00:41:55.01\00:41:58.55
Did Jesus die?
00:41:58.58\00:42:01.12
Did He sleep?
00:42:01.15\00:42:02.75
Yes.
00:42:02.78\00:42:04.15
Did He resurrect?
00:42:04.19\00:42:06.79
He resurrected?
00:42:06.82\00:42:09.82
Was He then
caught up in a cloud?
00:42:09.86\00:42:14.80
Are you with me or not?
00:42:14.83\00:42:16.67
Was He caught up in a cloud?
00:42:16.70\00:42:19.37
Sure.
00:42:19.40\00:42:20.94
Let's read Acts 1:9, Acts 1:9,
00:42:20.97\00:42:25.24
it says, "Now when he
had spoken these things,
00:42:25.27\00:42:28.24
while they
watched, he was taken up
00:42:28.28\00:42:31.11
and a cloud received
him out of their sight."
00:42:31.15\00:42:34.45
So Jesus died, He resurrected
00:42:34.48\00:42:38.89
and 40 days later, he what?
00:42:38.92\00:42:43.59
He's caught up in a cloud
00:42:43.63\00:42:46.19
and where does
the cloud take him?
00:42:46.23\00:42:49.33
The cloud takes him
to His Father in heaven.
00:42:49.36\00:42:54.27
Notice Revelation 12:5-6,
00:42:54.30\00:42:56.71
you allow the Bible
to interpret itself,
00:42:56.74\00:42:58.34
Revelation 12:5-6.
00:42:58.37\00:43:01.04
Speaking about the woman,
it says she born a male child
00:43:01.08\00:43:03.61
who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron.
00:43:03.65\00:43:06.35
And her child was what?
00:43:06.38\00:43:08.65
Was caught up to
God and His throne.
00:43:08.68\00:43:13.25
So when the
cloud catches Jesus up,
00:43:13.29\00:43:16.79
where does the cloud take Jesus?
00:43:16.83\00:43:19.19
The cloud takes Jesus to whom?
00:43:19.23\00:43:22.33
To where the Father is.
00:43:22.36\00:43:25.37
By the way, did
Jesus present Himself
00:43:25.40\00:43:28.04
before His Father alone?
00:43:28.07\00:43:30.57
Or did Jesus
take the firstfruits
00:43:30.61\00:43:32.67
of the dead with Him?
00:43:32.71\00:43:36.98
You remember when Jesus died,
several resurrected with Him.
00:43:37.01\00:43:41.48
Matthew Chapter 27 says
00:43:41.52\00:43:43.85
that many saints who slept
came forth from their graves
00:43:43.89\00:43:48.52
when He
resurrected from the dead.
00:43:48.56\00:43:51.43
Those individuals when
Jesus sent them to heaven,
00:43:51.46\00:43:54.20
Jesus took as a sampling
00:43:54.23\00:43:57.53
of when He's gonna take all
of His sleeping children home.
00:43:57.57\00:44:02.87
So I want you to catch
the picture here, Jesus died.
00:44:02.90\00:44:07.78
Jesus rose again.
00:44:07.81\00:44:10.25
A cloud of
angels came for Jesus.
00:44:10.28\00:44:13.52
Jesus was
caught up in the cloud.
00:44:13.55\00:44:16.65
And the cloud took Him
with the Father's house,
00:44:16.69\00:44:19.49
with the firstfruits
from those who slept.
00:44:19.52\00:44:24.13
Even so will
happen with God's people.
00:44:24.16\00:44:28.70
Because the Apostle Paul
says, as it happened with Jesus,
00:44:28.73\00:44:31.77
even so it will happen
00:44:31.80\00:44:33.97
with His people
at the end of time.
00:44:34.00\00:44:35.87
So let's take a look
00:44:35.90\00:44:37.41
at what happens
with God's people.
00:44:37.44\00:44:40.91
Did God's people die,
00:44:40.94\00:44:42.64
those who are in the grave
when Jesus comes, did they die?
00:44:42.68\00:44:46.51
Yes, obviously.
00:44:46.55\00:44:48.65
Are they going to resurrect
according to this passage?
00:44:48.68\00:44:51.55
They are going to resurrect.
00:44:51.59\00:44:54.09
Is God gonna send some
clouds with Jesus to the earth?
00:44:54.12\00:44:58.39
Was the cloud sent
to pick up Jesus? Yes.
00:44:58.43\00:45:01.46
Will clouds be sent to pick up
the redeemed, those who slept?
00:45:01.50\00:45:06.00
Revelation 1:7 tells us,
00:45:06.03\00:45:08.67
"Behold, he is
coming with clouds,
00:45:08.70\00:45:11.51
and every eye will see
him, even they who pierced him,
00:45:11.54\00:45:15.34
and all the tribes of the earth
will mourn because of him."
00:45:15.38\00:45:17.88
So a cloud is gonna come just
like the cloud came for Jesus.
00:45:17.91\00:45:22.12
Are God's people going to
be caught up in the cloud?
00:45:22.15\00:45:25.65
We just read it
in 1 Thessalonians 4,
00:45:25.69\00:45:27.76
they're gonna be
caught up in the cloud.
00:45:27.79\00:45:30.03
Notice Acts
Chapter 1, Acts 1:11,
00:45:30.06\00:45:34.76
"This same Jesus,
00:45:34.80\00:45:36.46
who was taken up
from you into heaven,
00:45:36.50\00:45:39.70
will so come in like manner,
00:45:39.73\00:45:42.40
as you saw him go to heaven."
00:45:42.44\00:45:46.64
So you'll notice
here, in this passage
00:45:46.68\00:45:49.64
that God's people,
those at least who die,
00:45:49.68\00:45:53.01
they will sleep,
they will resurrect
00:45:53.05\00:45:56.79
a cloud which is
the angels will come,
00:45:56.82\00:46:00.36
they will be
caught up in the cloud
00:46:00.39\00:46:04.06
and then where
will they be taken?
00:46:04.09\00:46:08.13
Where will they be taken?
00:46:08.16\00:46:10.40
They will be taken to heaven.
00:46:10.43\00:46:14.37
So let's review the parallel.
00:46:14.40\00:46:17.51
Jesus died.
00:46:17.54\00:46:19.41
He resurrected.
00:46:19.44\00:46:21.31
A cloud descended for him.
00:46:21.34\00:46:23.61
He was caught up in the cloud.
00:46:23.65\00:46:26.21
And he was taken
to the Father's house.
00:46:26.25\00:46:29.32
With the redeemed,
we have the same thing.
00:46:29.35\00:46:31.92
The redeemed, died in Christ,
00:46:31.95\00:46:35.22
they will resurrect,
a cloud will descend,
00:46:35.26\00:46:38.83
the clouds will
descend from heaven.
00:46:38.86\00:46:41.23
1 Thessalonians says
00:46:41.26\00:46:42.83
that they will be
caught up in the cloud.
00:46:42.86\00:46:45.10
And then they will be
taken to the Father's house
00:46:45.13\00:46:47.44
because Jesus said,
00:46:47.47\00:46:48.80
"In My Father's
house are many mansions."
00:46:48.84\00:46:51.37
So is there a parallel
between Christ and the redeemed?
00:46:51.41\00:46:56.64
Absolutely.
00:46:56.68\00:46:58.58
Now let's read this
text again, verse 14,
00:46:58.61\00:47:03.55
and let's add an
interpretation to the text.
00:47:03.59\00:47:08.62
1 Thessalonians 4:14,
00:47:08.66\00:47:14.56
"For if we
believe that Jesus died,
00:47:14.60\00:47:17.47
and rose again."
00:47:17.50\00:47:20.77
And we know that after
He died and rose again,
00:47:20.80\00:47:23.94
the Father caught Him up
in the cloud to heaven, right?
00:47:23.97\00:47:28.38
"Even so", that means
in the same way, "God,"
00:47:28.41\00:47:33.55
that is the Father,
00:47:33.58\00:47:35.38
"will bring with
Him," will bring with whom?
00:47:35.42\00:47:39.75
"With Jesus,"
00:47:39.79\00:47:42.56
will bring with Jesus where?
00:47:42.59\00:47:46.39
To the earth or to heaven?
00:47:46.43\00:47:49.73
God who is in heaven,
will bring with Jesus,
00:47:49.76\00:47:53.90
"those who slept in Jesus."
00:47:53.94\00:47:58.74
So God, what this is saying
00:47:58.77\00:48:00.64
is that God is
gonna send the cloud,
00:48:00.91\00:48:04.58
the redeemed will be
caught up in the cloud,
00:48:04.61\00:48:07.78
and then God will bring
with Jesus, the redeemed where?
00:48:07.82\00:48:13.66
To the Father's house in heaven
00:48:13.69\00:48:15.06
because that's exactly
what happened to Jesus.
00:48:15.09\00:48:17.96
Are you following me or not?
00:48:17.99\00:48:19.89
Now, some people say,
wait a minute, Pastor.
00:48:19.93\00:48:23.37
Doesn't the Father
come at the second coming?
00:48:23.40\00:48:25.40
So how could it say
that that God is in heaven,
00:48:25.43\00:48:28.40
and He brings the
redeemed with Jesus to heaven,
00:48:28.44\00:48:31.07
those who died and resurrected.
00:48:31.11\00:48:33.88
The fact is that we
develop many times theories
00:48:33.91\00:48:37.31
that don't hold any water.
00:48:37.35\00:48:39.35
There's this theory
that at the Second Coming,
00:48:39.38\00:48:42.02
Jesus and the Father
are coming to this earth,
00:48:42.05\00:48:44.42
the Father is not
coming to this earth,
00:48:44.45\00:48:45.92
the Father is
gonna stay in heaven.
00:48:45.95\00:48:48.82
And He will bring the
redeemed with Jesus to heaven.
00:48:48.86\00:48:52.46
It's not the redeemed
coming with Jesus to earth.
00:48:52.49\00:48:55.83
God is bringing
Jesus with those who died
00:48:55.86\00:48:59.40
and resurrected and
are caught up in the cloud.
00:48:59.43\00:49:01.40
He's bringing them
to the Father's house.
00:49:01.44\00:49:03.41
He's bringing all of
the redeemed who died
00:49:03.44\00:49:06.88
of which the first redeem
that He took at His ascension
00:49:06.91\00:49:09.98
was the sampling.
00:49:10.01\00:49:12.98
The Father's not
coming at the Second Coming.
00:49:13.01\00:49:15.45
Let me read you this statement
from Spirit of Prophecy,
00:49:15.48\00:49:17.62
then I'll give
you a Bible verse.
00:49:17.65\00:49:20.32
This is from Review and
Herald, September 21, 1886,
00:49:20.36\00:49:24.53
"The sacrifice of our
Savior has made ample provision
00:49:24.56\00:49:28.73
for every
repenting, believing soul.
00:49:28.76\00:49:31.50
We are saved because God loves
00:49:31.53\00:49:33.40
the purchase of
the blood of Christ
00:49:33.44\00:49:35.80
and not only will He
pardon the redeemed sinner,
00:49:35.84\00:49:39.71
or the repentant sinner."
00:49:39.74\00:49:41.24
God's not only gonna
pardon the repentant sinner.
00:49:41.28\00:49:44.91
"Not only will He
permit him to enter heaven,
00:49:44.95\00:49:49.18
but he, the Father of mercies,
00:49:49.22\00:49:53.29
will wait at the very
gates of heaven to welcome us,
00:49:53.32\00:49:58.83
to give us an abundant entrance
to the mansions of the blest."
00:49:58.86\00:50:03.93
The Father will be
waiting at the gates,
00:50:03.97\00:50:06.23
and He will bring with Jesus,
00:50:06.27\00:50:09.17
those who rest
or those who died.
00:50:09.20\00:50:10.81
Are you
understanding this verse?
00:50:10.84\00:50:12.94
The verse is clear.
00:50:12.97\00:50:14.31
The emphasis is
not on the descent,
00:50:14.34\00:50:16.21
the emphasis is on
dying, resurrecting,
00:50:16.24\00:50:19.55
being caught up in the clouds,
00:50:19.58\00:50:20.98
and going to the Father's house.
00:50:21.02\00:50:23.59
So bring with Him doesn't mean
00:50:23.62\00:50:25.12
that God is gonna bring with Him
00:50:25.15\00:50:26.49
the saints from heaven.
00:50:26.52\00:50:27.86
It means that God is
gonna bring with Jesus,
00:50:27.89\00:50:29.89
the saints to heaven
00:50:29.92\00:50:31.89
which are the totality
of the saints who slept.
00:50:31.93\00:50:36.26
By the way, Acts 3:20, says,
00:50:36.30\00:50:39.87
"God shall send forth
Jesus at the Second Coming,"
00:50:39.90\00:50:45.07
He shall send forth Jesus.
00:50:45.11\00:50:47.91
Some people say,
"Well, the Bible says
00:50:47.94\00:50:49.28
that Jesus will come in
the glory of the Father."
00:50:49.31\00:50:51.21
Of course, because Jesus
is the glory of the Father.
00:50:51.25\00:50:54.32
According to Hebrews 1:3,
00:50:54.35\00:50:56.18
"Doesn't say He's
coming with the Father,
00:50:56.22\00:50:57.85
it says, He comes in
the glory of His Father.
00:50:57.89\00:51:00.96
So we need to be careful about
how we interpret scripture.
00:51:00.99\00:51:04.39
Now, let me just
00:51:04.43\00:51:08.06
end this particular
study of this argument
00:51:08.10\00:51:14.00
by referring to
Revelation Chapter 4.
00:51:14.04\00:51:17.77
And you don't have to go there,
00:51:17.81\00:51:19.24
I want you to
just catch the picture.
00:51:19.27\00:51:21.18
If you read the last
three pages of Desire of Ages,
00:51:21.21\00:51:24.38
you'll get the complete picture.
00:51:24.41\00:51:26.45
In Revelation Chapter 4,
00:51:26.48\00:51:28.12
God the Father is
seen sitting on His throne.
00:51:28.15\00:51:32.49
He is surrounded,
00:51:32.52\00:51:33.92
or in the midst
of the throne rather,
00:51:33.96\00:51:35.46
are the cherubim and seraphim.
00:51:35.49\00:51:38.13
They're called the
four living creatures.
00:51:38.16\00:51:40.76
Around the
throne of the 24 Elders,
00:51:40.80\00:51:44.60
which are the
representatives of the worlds
00:51:44.63\00:51:46.67
that never sinned.
00:51:46.70\00:51:48.50
Before the throne are
the seven flames of fire,
00:51:48.54\00:51:51.97
which represents the
fullness of the Holy Spirit.
00:51:52.01\00:51:56.28
All of these beings in heaven
00:51:56.31\00:51:58.81
are singing a song in
honor of God, the Father,
00:51:58.85\00:52:02.68
who is sitting by
Himself on the throne.
00:52:02.72\00:52:05.82
And the hymn
that they're singing
00:52:06.02\00:52:07.62
is in honor of the Creator,
no redemption is mentioned.
00:52:07.66\00:52:12.96
Revelation Chapter 4
00:52:12.99\00:52:14.43
is describing the preparation
of the heavenly throne room
00:52:14.46\00:52:18.10
for the return of
Jesus with the redeemed
00:52:18.13\00:52:20.40
because He's left heaven
and He's come to this earth
00:52:20.44\00:52:23.04
to pick up the redeemed.
00:52:23.07\00:52:25.54
That's the reason why
you have all of these beings
00:52:25.57\00:52:28.18
waiting for Jesus to come back.
00:52:28.21\00:52:32.41
Absent from Chapter 4,
00:52:32.45\00:52:35.15
our Jesus, He's
not mentioned there,
00:52:35.18\00:52:37.29
and the angelic
hosts are not there.
00:52:37.32\00:52:39.99
So you say,
"Where are the angels?
00:52:40.02\00:52:41.92
And where is
Jesus in Chapter 4?"
00:52:41.96\00:52:44.29
Well, the fact is that
they're on their way to heaven.
00:52:44.33\00:52:49.00
And so now, we have the
picture in Revelation 5,
00:52:49.03\00:52:52.73
"The Father has sent a
cloud, to pick up Jesus
00:52:52.77\00:52:56.94
with those who have
died and resurrected.
00:52:56.97\00:52:59.87
Jesus is caught up with
His people in the cloud,
00:52:59.91\00:53:03.14
the cloud, bring Jesus to
the Father's house in heaven
00:53:03.18\00:53:07.38
with Jesus are
all of the redeemed,
00:53:07.42\00:53:11.05
who resurrected when He died."
00:53:11.09\00:53:16.69
And as Jesus is
ascending to heaven,
00:53:16.73\00:53:20.06
all the angels that are with Him
00:53:20.10\00:53:22.70
are singing that
song of Psalm 24,
00:53:22.73\00:53:24.83
"Lift, open up the gates
00:53:24.87\00:53:26.23
and the King of
glory will come in."
00:53:26.27\00:53:28.50
And the sentinel angel say,
"Who is this King of glory."
00:53:28.54\00:53:34.04
And the ones
that are outside, say,
00:53:34.08\00:53:35.64
"The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory."
00:53:35.68\00:53:37.65
So you have
this song being sung,
00:53:37.68\00:53:39.48
Jesus is ascending with
those who died and resurrected.
00:53:39.51\00:53:44.95
When He arrives in the city,
00:53:44.99\00:53:47.12
the gates of the city will open,
00:53:47.16\00:53:48.89
there's an explosion of praise.
00:53:48.92\00:53:51.43
You can read this in the last
three pages of Desire of Ages,
00:53:51.46\00:53:55.46
Jesus enters through the gates.
00:53:55.50\00:53:58.20
And when He comes
near to His Father,
00:53:58.23\00:53:59.80
He raises His hands and He tells
00:53:59.83\00:54:01.54
all of the heavenly
beings to keep silent.
00:54:01.57\00:54:05.31
He goes into the
presence of His Father.
00:54:05.34\00:54:09.34
And He presents the firstfruits,
00:54:09.38\00:54:12.18
those who
resurrected from the dead
00:54:12.21\00:54:13.72
when He resurrected,
00:54:13.92\00:54:15.68
and He says,
"Father, I need to know
00:54:15.72\00:54:17.82
that My sacrifice was sufficient
00:54:17.85\00:54:19.55
to bring all of My
people home someday."
00:54:19.59\00:54:23.02
And it's
everything is in suspense,
00:54:23.06\00:54:24.66
everything is in silence.
00:54:24.69\00:54:28.03
And then Ellen White describes
00:54:28.06\00:54:29.56
how the Father
will embrace His Son.
00:54:29.60\00:54:32.67
And He will say,
00:54:32.70\00:54:34.40
"What You have
done is sufficient
00:54:34.44\00:54:35.94
to bring all of Your people
home at the Second Coming."
00:54:35.97\00:54:39.74
And then the Father says
to all of the heavenly beings,
00:54:39.77\00:54:44.68
"Worship Him and
now you can sing,"
00:54:44.71\00:54:47.78
and you have in
Revelation Chapter 5,
00:54:47.82\00:54:49.65
that explosion of praise
00:54:49.68\00:54:51.69
in honor of the
Lamb who has been slain.
00:54:51.72\00:54:55.96
This story is
gonna be repeated again.
00:54:55.99\00:55:00.03
Jesus will leave
heaven with the clouds.
00:55:00.06\00:55:03.87
Those who died and resurrected
00:55:03.90\00:55:06.03
when Jesus comes will
be caught up in the cloud,
00:55:06.07\00:55:08.34
and the journey
to heaven will begin.
00:55:08.37\00:55:11.47
Once again, all the
angelic hosts will be with Jesus
00:55:11.51\00:55:14.34
taking all of the
redeemed from all ages.
00:55:14.38\00:55:18.11
And as Jesus nears the
city, the song will be sung,
00:55:18.15\00:55:21.85
"Open up your gates
00:55:21.88\00:55:23.22
and the King of
glory will come in."
00:55:23.25\00:55:25.09
The sentinel angel will say,
"Who is this King of glory?"
00:55:25.12\00:55:27.96
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory,
00:55:27.99\00:55:30.53
the gates of the
city will open wide.
00:55:30.56\00:55:32.69
The Father will
be waiting there,
00:55:32.73\00:55:35.16
and Jesus and
the saints will enter
00:55:35.20\00:55:38.37
in the midst of
rapturous praise.
00:55:38.40\00:55:43.87
Are you catching the picture?
00:55:43.91\00:55:46.11
That's what 1 Thessalonians
Chapter 4 is talking about.
00:55:46.14\00:55:50.05
So in conclusion, let's
once again read this verse,
00:55:50.08\00:55:54.52
by adding the explanation.
00:55:54.55\00:55:57.25
The Apostle Paul is saying,
00:55:57.29\00:55:58.62
"If we believe that
Jesus died, and resurrected,
00:55:58.65\00:56:01.39
then is if we trust
in Jesus, in His life,
00:56:01.42\00:56:04.16
and in His death,
and His resurrection.
00:56:04.19\00:56:07.63
Even so, in other words, in
the same way, as with Jesus,
00:56:07.66\00:56:12.43
God, that is the
Father, God the Father,
00:56:12.47\00:56:15.67
will bring with Him,
00:56:15.70\00:56:17.77
will bring with Jesus
to the Father's house,
00:56:17.81\00:56:21.38
those who sleep in Jesus.
00:56:21.41\00:56:25.45
So it's not Jesus
bringing the saints from heaven
00:56:25.48\00:56:29.12
that He took seven
years before in the Rapture.
00:56:29.15\00:56:32.49
It's Jesus
coming with the cloud,
00:56:32.52\00:56:34.79
to pick up the saints,
00:56:34.82\00:56:36.32
and bring them to
His Father's house.
00:56:36.36\00:56:40.16
And then the redeemed will
live with the Father in heaven
00:56:40.20\00:56:45.50
and with Jesus for 1000 years.
00:56:45.53\00:56:49.10
And then after the 1000 years,
00:56:49.14\00:56:51.77
God's people will return
to this earth with Jesus.
00:56:51.81\00:56:56.81
And Jesus will make a
new heavens and a new earth.
00:56:56.85\00:57:00.12
He will eradicate evil,
00:57:00.15\00:57:03.25
He will eradicate Satan,
his angels, and the wicked.
00:57:03.28\00:57:07.49
And He will create a
new heavens and a new earth
00:57:07.52\00:57:11.09
in which righteousness dwells.
00:57:11.13\00:57:14.63
Jesus will have
fulfilled both promises
00:57:14.66\00:57:17.03
He made to His followers.
00:57:17.07\00:57:19.30
He will have taken His
people to His Father's house
00:57:19.33\00:57:22.64
for a 1000 years,
00:57:22.67\00:57:24.41
to reign with Him
00:57:24.44\00:57:25.81
and to perform a
work of judgment.
00:57:25.84\00:57:28.04
And He will have
also fulfilled the promise
00:57:28.08\00:57:31.41
that the meek will inherit
the earth forever and ever.
00:57:31.45\00:57:35.58
You don't have to invent
a pre-tribulation rapture
00:57:35.62\00:57:39.02
for Jesus to
fulfill both those promises.
00:57:39.05\00:57:41.46
You need to understand
00:57:41.49\00:57:42.82
that we will be in
heaven for a 1000 years,
00:57:42.86\00:57:45.53
and then we will
come to this earth
00:57:45.56\00:57:48.06
and this will be our
abode forever, not only us,
00:57:48.10\00:57:51.50
but God will come down,
the city will come down,
00:57:51.53\00:57:55.64
and this will be the
capital of the universe.
00:57:55.67\00:58:00.71
I pray to God that in that
day, none of us will be missing.
00:58:00.74\00:58:05.38