The Calling Out

Q. Who initially coined the phrase rapture? [Anon]

A. I don't know. I don't use the term myself but to the best of my knowledge it was first used here in the United States around the 1930's. It was used as a emphasis word for being caught up to be with the Lord mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 4:18: Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The word means the time when Christ himself comes to take his bride.

[Timothy]

Q. I would like biblical reference to the pre-tribulational rapture. This is supposed to be when the saved leave the earth first. Please help. [Howard]

A.  Ya know, there is alot of controversy surrounding the millennial doctrines. The Pre-Trib's arguing with the Posts, the Posts with the Mid's, and the Am's with the Pre's. (check at the bottom of this answer for the definitions of all these.) During the 1970's and 1980's there were many a church split over these schools of thought. Why? Was it because people were using their own wisdom to divide the word of God? Not all of them can be right and the Holy Spirit didn't cause certain people to believe one thing and some another. God is not the author of confusion. Within the Baptist church's this was an area of great contention. The debate that should be a reasoning session continues to this day.

As a young man, I was brought up in an Am-millennial (no millennial) church where the belief was that the church would be taken out when God destroyed this earth to make a new Heaven and a new earth. I had agonized for years over the order of events that were to take place and after studying the scriptures could come to one conclusion. Christ will not leave his bride in the path of Gods wrath. (destruction) You see,  The Lord told us there will be a great tribulation, (Matthew:24) such as the world has never seen and the question in my mind is would the church be here when this happened?

Lets consider the scriptures and what the Savior has to say on this matter. Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 17:23: And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 17:24: For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 17:25: But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 17:27: They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 17:28: Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

God will not pour his wrath upon his own!!!!!

And why would we think that Christ will allow his bride to suffer from His wrath that is to come? Is it not written in 1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Even though I studied and gave my ear to very Godly teachers, I wound up so confused that I proclaimed my own doctrine. "PAN millennial" I believed it would all "PAN" out. But God is not the author of confusion and the only one confusing me was myself. I didn't want to offend or argue with anyone so I put my head in the sand and said it will all work out.  After I repented to God and started studying through prayer under the leadership of the Holy Spirit I was able to stand on a solid foundation.  God will do what God intends to do for HE IS GOD!!! His word is true and should not be debated!

I'm not saying that "Pan-millennialism" is wrong though, I still believe that all things will be worked out by the Lord, but God does expect us to study under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We are told plainly in 2nd Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Write back if you wish to discuss this further. Below is a list of the schools of thought pertaining to the millennial doctrines for your reference. Theses doctrines are, as far as I can tell the only things that are still being reasoned out between the Brethren. Keep in mind though that the most important doctrine is "You must be born again". Lets not argue over an order of events but be about the Fathers business by telling others about Jesus and looking for the return of the Savior!!!!!

Please, do not categorize me! The truth is not all these schools of thought can be right! The only thing that should really matter to the redeemed folks is the Jesus is coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the above mentioned brethern, I hope would have in common is that "WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN"  & "BELIEVING IN THE SACRAFICE THAT JESUS MADE ON OUR BEHALF WILL GET YOU BORN AGAIN" & "MAKING HIM YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR MAKES YOU A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE BRIDE, THE TRUE CHURCH"! That's common enough ground to start reasoning out our differences isn't it? Isiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

[Timothy]