Part 13- Summary Conclusion

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Proving the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.

Considering all the foregoing of this 13-Part Study Series, we can conclude that Jesus of Nazareth never refers to or taught about the Rapture of the Gentile Church that Paul calls “the body of Christ. Yet, Paul received all this Rapture revelation directly, “by the Word of The Lord” (Thes. 4:15).

“For this we say unto you By The Word of The Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [dead in their graves].” (1 Thess. 4:15 (KJV)

Some dismiss the phrase “By The Word of The Lord saying that Paul was speaking of some conversation Paul had with the Lord, which does not appear in Scripture. But, remember, 1st Thessalonians was probably one of Paul’s first written communications, undertaken about 51AD. Recall also that Paul, while on the back side of the Arabian desert for 4 years after his conversion, received direct revelations (plural) from the resurrected and ascended Lord in heaven.

“For I [Paul] neither received it [the details of Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God,” Acts 20:24) of man, neither was I taught it, but by [rather] the [direct] revelation of [from] Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12 (KJV)

Some then say Isaiah 26:19-21 (below) is an Old Testament hint or shadow of the Rapture of “the church, which is His body.” But this is not so since only Paul received the revelation of the Rapture of the Gentile “body of Christ” to heaven. This Isaiah passage actually refer to the believers of Israel in the “first resurrection” of Rev. 20:6, which occurs at the end of the 7-year Tribulation period at the beginning of the Millennial reign of Christ. All we have to do is read the prophecy of Isaiah 26:19-21 in their context.

19But your dead [Israel’s believers now asleep their graves] will Live; their Bodies Will Rise.

You who dwell in the dust [grave], Wake Up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.

Meanwhile, at the Mid-Tribulation the “abomination of desolation” of Satan occupying the Temple ‘as god,’ the Lord will speak to Israel as seen below.

“… 20Go, MY PEOPLE [Israel], enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while UNTIL HIS WRATH HAS PASSED BY. 21 See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to Punish the People of The Earth for their sins.” (See also Revelation 12:6, 11)

Notice how in v20 how the pronouns change from second person when God speaks of His My people to third person when He speaks of the people of the Earth.” This speaks of two groups that are different. Those called “my people [Israel]” are told to “enter your rooms” because the others, called “the people of Earth are going to be punished for their sins in a period of time called His Wrath.” (cf. Matt 24:12-21)

Not by any stretch of the imagination has Isaiah 26:19-21 at all been literally fulfilled for Israel. Isaiah 26:19-21 is an End of Times Prophecy that promises (v20) the hiding of God’s believing remnant of Israel during the final 3-1/2 years of Tribulation Wrath that is unleashed upon “the people of Earth.” After that, we have the subsequent awakening and raising of the believing dead of Israel, from their graves.

Isaiah 26:19-21 was written about 2,750 years ago. The hiding of the Jews in the desert on Earth, will likely be at ‘Petra’ in the old land of Edom (today’s Jordan) at the beginning of the 2nd half of the Tribulation called the “Great Tribulation” (Rev. 12:14). Isaiah 26:19 cannot in any way be considered as a picture of our Rapture to heaven. This passage has no resurrection TO HEAVEN accompanying it. The mentioned ‘awakening’ of the dead Messianic believers of Israel takes place at the End of the Great Tribulation when those Israel will co-reign with Christ on earth in the Kingdom (Rev. 20:6. 5:10).

We compare Isaiah 26:19-21 with what Paul wrote of the Rapture in 1 Thes. 4-5, noting the differences.

  • Isaiah as a Prophet of Israel wrote: “But [Israel] your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”
  • Paul: The dead in Christ will rise first.” (1Thes 4:16b)
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  • Isaiah concerning the wrath Israel will endure:
  • Paul:
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  • Isaiah wrote concerning the wrath mankind will face: “See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to Punish the People of The Earth for their sins.”
  • Paul, while people are saying; “Peace and safety,” Destruction Will Come on THEM [the unbelievers] suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (2 Thes. 5:3)

These above may look somewhat alike but the wording is different. They’re describing similar but Different Events. Thus, as we’ve seen in this study series, there are sound theological reasons why the Gentile Church of “the body of Christ” will be Raptured BEFORE the End Times 7-year Tribulation Judgments begin.

A key understanding is that the Lord keeps Israel and the Church separate, never dealing with both at the same time (Acts 15: 13-18) or in the same manner. If the primary purpose of Daniel’s 70th week is to finish fulfilling the six promises to Israel as seen in Daniel 9:24, then the Church, “the body of Christ” has to have disappeared, departing from the plant earth.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city [in the last week of years], TO FINISH the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity [of Israel], and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Daniel 9:24 (KJV)

Another is the fact that the Gentile’s Grace-Church was purified at the Cross, at which time all the punishment due us was borne by the Lord Himself for us. From that time forward the Church is considered by God to be as righteous as He is (2 Cor 5:17, 21). The idea that the Church needs to undergo some discipline or improvement in order to become worthy to dwell with God is unscriptural and denies the Lord’s completed finished work of the cross.

The third stated purpose of the “Great Tribulation” is twofold;

1) to purify Israel and,

2) completely destroy the unbelieving peoples of the nations (cf. Jer. 30:1-11).

The Church, the Gentile “body of Christ” is not destined for either of these outcomes. There are also several subtle clues that on their own can’t of themselves be used to support the Pre-Tribulation position, but which underscore the validity of the clear passages I’ve just cited concerning Israel being hid from God’s wrath. Take for instance the fact that;

  • Enoch, who bears a great similarity to the Church, disappeared before the Great Flood.
  • The angels couldn’t destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot and his family were clear.
  • Daniel was missing from the fiery furnace, which was a model of the Great Tribulation.

When the Lord described His 2nd coming in Luke 17:26-29 He said that it would be both like the days of Noah in which eight souls were PRESERVED in the Ark during the flood judgment. Then, as seen in the days of Lot, the unbelieving evil people were “TAKEN AWAY” by the flood, dying.

Paul’s words that don’t require prior knowledge of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture; consider 1Thes. 1:9-10.

“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And To Wait For His Son From Heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which DELIVERED US FROM THE WRATH TO COME.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (KJV)

Of course, we know that some people just won’t be convinced until we can show them how the Rapture will precede the Great Tribulation in those exact words. Obviously, such a verse doesn’t exist. Too bad for them because in 2022, trials likely are coming to Christians, and it's my prayer that this Study Series will help Re-Tribulation believers to be ready for it when it arrives. For us the Cross now, the “crown of life” comes later.

Your King James Bible is very clear, believing Christians living in this grace-age of the Gentile church called “the body of Christ” will not see a single day of the “Tribulation” judgments of God. Nevertheless, the Bible is quite clear that Christians living in these last days of the grace-age should expect tribulations (pressure) as a condition. We are not to be surprised when it comes. Paul wrote to the suffering Corinthians saying;

“I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. Great is my boldness of speech toward yougreat is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I AM EXCEEDING JOYFUL IN ALL OUR TRIBULATION [Grk. thlipsis, pressure, persecution].” (2 Cor. 7:3-4 (KJV)

I write this to prepare you for these last days of the grace-age. We need to have the proper Biblical and understanding and awareness of what may be coming to us. But, of course, the first thing we need is to understand is that the 7-yr. Tribulation period events have almost nothing to do with the expected persecution and trials that we as grace-believers may yet face. We see it already. Paul tells us this is the lot of every Christian living in this Church age of “the grace of God.”

In 2022, trials, and difficulties may come. It's my prayer that the “blessed hope” of His coming at the Rapture will comfort you. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thes. 4:18 (KJV).

- Several segments of this series were significantly adapted and greatly enlarged from https://gracethrufaith.com/end-times-prophecy/defending-the-pre-trib-rapture-again/ by Jack Kelly -