Rapture: When?

By Timothy Duke

I will address three questions. 1.) What is "rapture"? 2.) How many raptures have and will occur? and 3.) Once we get to heaven are we all equal?
The concept of "Rapture" or being removed from earth and taken to heaven to be with God for eternity is vigorously contested among people. One of my goals is to open the minds and to encourage people to take God out of the little box they have put him, which is limiting God to one rapture or for some, no rapture. I will reveal the verses that support a rapture so you can discern how many raptures will occur in the past and future. Always remember that God wants all of His children saved and therefore gives us more than one warning to repent and ask Jesus to forgive our sins. I believe a rapture is a pattern to the other warnings or encouragements from God to His children before judgment. I do believe God has a final rapture for those that choose to spend eternity with Him and the others choosing to spend eternity in Hell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387294435

Book preview

Rapture: When?

Rapture When?

by Timothy Duke

Copyright © 2017 by Timothy Duke

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal. 

First Printing: 2017

ISBN: 978-1-387-29443-5

POB 1091

Marion, IN  46952

[e-mail]

Cover image by Linda D Moore titled The Rapture. 

Poems by Linda Moore at http://www.voicesnet.org/allpoemsoneauthor.aspx?memberid=99640

Table of  Contents

Caveat

Rapture

Shemitah

Tribulation

Translation Problems

Bible Codes

Jesus words supporting Rapture

Jesus taught about Rapture

Revealing

Amillennial versus Millennial versus Post Millennial

Divided House

Enoch

Elijah

Moses

The Gospel of Nicodemus, Vol 8, Chapter I:

Revelation - Gospel of Jesus

Revelation chapters 2 & 3

Revelation chapter 4 - The Future - Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Revelation chapter 5 - Kings & High Priests

Revelation chapter 6 - 3 raptures

Revelation chapter 7 is parenthetical

Revelation 8 - similar to Joshua conquering Jericho

Revelation Chapter 11 - The 2 Witnesses

Revelation Chapter 13

Revelation Chapter 14 – Rapture of 144,000 Jewish people

Revelation Chapter 20

Old Testament foreshadows of a Rapture

The Noahic Flood

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Joseph - Foreshadow of Jesus

Rahab and the Jewish Spies

Abigail and David

Solomon's Song

Isaiah's Hint

The Prophet Daniel

Zephaniah's Clue

Malachi's Hint

Other Examples

New Testament List of Rapture verses

Conclusion

Caveat

Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

A translation of this verse is: Be a Berean, do not believe a word I say, but listen with open ears and search the Word to discern the truth of what I say.

After writing and speaking about rapture, I believe that satan has made this a divisive topic.  Lucifer's goal is to divide the believers and conquer the weaker, divided fractions.  The specific time a person is raptured is not an issue of salvation but more of a carnal issue; ego or pride.  The ego asks: Are we raptured first or last? Pride tells you that you can take more woes and sorrows than others can!   I am tougher or have a stronger faith than you!  As your chest puffs out you proclaim I was first in line to be raptured. 

Pastors preach, if you are not now ready, you are doomed for eternity in Hell, in an attempt for you to ask Jesus to save you now and not have to endure the tribulation sorrows, woes or wrath.

Many people forget that all of God's children are given many chances to repent, some additional chances for backsliders to return to God's loving hands and a renewed relationship with Him.  We all know people or ourselves that have a close and loving relationship with God.  We all know some people that had a relationship with Him and then turned away from God.  We all know others that have never had a relationship with God or even heard the Good News.  So why should we think that there is only one time in the future that God will rapture all His children at one time?  We all know people that have found God and be saved when they were desperate or hitting the bottom of the barrel.  Some people need stronger motivations than others to ask Jesus to be saved.  The tribulation will provide that motivation for some people while most people will choose to spend eternity in Hell.

Jesus did tell us that the "house" (church) will fall if we are divided.

Mar 3:24  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. ²⁷  No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Jesus tells us that satan will fail if his house is divided in verse 26.  We can understand the converse; God's house will fall if it is divided.

Mat 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Jesus did warn us about judging others in Matthew.

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged. ²  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

I think those that believe in one specific time period of being raptured or caught up, and no other time period are putting God in a very small box.  Those people are arbitrarily limiting God's Supernatural abilities.  Let us consider some Pre-tribulation raptures.  Enoch as raptured in Gen 5:22, before God's judgment of the flood, Elijah was raptured in sight of Elisha and 50 other men. The 50 men did not see the rapture in 2 Kgs 2:11, but did notice that Elisha had Elijah's mantle.  Moses in Jude 1:9. Other saints in Mat 27:52, Rev 3:10 and Rev 4.  Between Pre and Mid-tribulation is the rapture in Rev 2:10.  Mid-tribulation of the 2 witnesses in Rev 11:12 and others in Rev 14:15.   Post tribulation people point to the Great White Throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. 

Some believe in no rapture and they are responsible for repopulating the earth during Jesus millennial reign.  Since the Bible tells us of many pre-tribulation and other time frames being raptured, we should at the least be civil and respectfully agree to disagree on this subject with people of other beliefs.  Perhaps evaluate the size of the box you have put God.  Remember, a rapture belief or a no rapture belief is not a Salvation issue, just like the thief on the cross next to Jesus who was raptured to heaven that day.

I do have a question for those who believe in no rapture.  The following verses in Revelation 20 appears to be at odds with a no rapture belief.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ⁵  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

These three verses state that men on earth are now in Heaven.  These people must have been raptured since they were born on earth and are now in Heaven.  The 5th verse states " rest of the dead" will be raptured after the 1,000 years of Jesus' millennial reign.  I think those people are those who lived before Jesus came and were not some of the 12,000 saints raptured when Jesus died on the cross in Matthew 27 and those who were unknowing of Jesus after He started His ministry.

Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  ⁵³  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

With the righteous dead before Christ having to wait another 1,000 years, they appear at the Great White Throne judgment.  The people who died after knowing about Christ had a choice of being saved and being part of the first resurrection or choosing satan and appearing before God at the Great White Throne judgment in Revelation 20: 11-15.

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹²  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which

Reviews for Rapture

[NoitsNotMe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent Book, (you should see "THE END TIMES REVEALED LIKE NEVER BEFORE" BY Alain Dubreuil)
Yes there is the Pre-Tribulation Escape of the Watching, Bride, a Mid-Tribulation Rapture of the Left Behind Sleeping, Waiting Church and Lost Gentiles and When the LORD Returns for the Jews and steps Feet down on the Mount of Olives.