INTRODUCTION

The effect of these six false teachings is that the blessed hope of the ‘Church’ (Ti. 2:13), which is the ‘Rapture,’ has become the most controversial and the least appreciated of all the major doctrines taught in the New Testament of the Holy Bible! The reason for this is the inability, by all, to conclude when the ‘Rapture’ will take place in regards to the ‘seven years of tribulation’ or 2,520 days that precede the ‘Second Coming’ of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth. This has led to teachings known as a ‘pre-trib,’ ‘pre-wrath,’ ‘mid-trib,’ and ‘post-trib Rapture.’

THE TEACHINGS & THE REASONS

False Teaching 1
The first false teaching arises from the misinterpretation of the word ‘mystery’:
The accepted teaching is that the word, mystery, when used in the Holy Bible, means "something never before revealed" or it is a “previously hidden truth now divinely revealed.”

The reason for the first false teaching:
An English definition for the English word ‘mystery’ is used, by Christians, instead of the Greek definition for the Greek word, ‘musterion,’ from which mystery is translated.

The true teaching:
The Greek definition for ’musterion’ is, "What is known only to the initiated." [Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company) p. 682 and Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, (Royal Publishers, Inc.) p. 769. Musterion was a common word used among the many Greek fraternities in ancient Greece!

The reason for the true teaching:
Most Bible scholars agree that the Rapture was clearly taught by the apostle Paul, in his two letters to the Church in Thessalonica (1 Th. 1:3, 10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:2, 9-11, 23; 2 Th. 2:1, 3, 7; 3:5). Most Bible scholars will also agree that the two letters Paul wrote to the Thessalonians were written BEFORE he wrote his two letters to the Church in Corinth. The apostle Paul used the Greek word, musterion, in his first letter to the Church at Corinth before teaching about the Rapture to them (1 Cor. 15:51). Thus, since the letter in which the Greek word, musterion is used was written AFTER Paul’s letters to the church at Thessalonica, the English word mystery, cannot possibly mean "something never before revealed" or a “previously hidden truth now divinely revealed.”

The reason the apostle, Paul, used the word, musterion, in his first letter to the Church in Corinth is because he, as a member of the ‘fraternity’ of Christ, is now revealing the doctrine of the Rapture to both the fraternity of Christians in Corinth and to the world at large. It was the same as if a fraternal brother in a Greek fraternity was revealing a secret of his fraternal order to both new members and nonmembers alike. The mystery was now to be known by all!

False Teaching 2
The second false teaching concerns the Lord Jesus Christ and the Rapture:
The second false teaching is that the Rapture was never taught, referred to, alluded to, or ever mentioned by the Lord Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth.

The reason for the second false teaching:
It is impossible for the Lord Jesus Christ to have said anything about the Rapture since the apostle, Paul, wrote that the Rapture was a mystery in 1 Corinthians 15:51. This false teaching is based upon the error of using the English definition for the word, mystery, and not the Greek definition for the word, musterion, from which mystery is translated. 

The true teaching:
The Rapture was often taught by the Lord Jesus Christ as the following Scripture references prove, if they are read using the literal method of interpretation (Mt. 7:21-23; 24:37-51; Lk. 12:35-40, 42-48; 13:24-27; 17: 26-30, 34-36; 21:34-36; Jn. 4:34-35; 14:1-3). The Lord Jesus Christ also described what it would be like before, during, and after the Rapture by way of the “Parable of the Ten Virgins." This parable is about ‘true’ and ‘professing’ Christians who are unaware that the Rapture is about to take place (Mt. 25:1-13; 2 Cor. 11:2; 13:5).

The reason for the true teaching:
The Lord Jesus Christ declared, “But take heed; behold, I have foretold you ALL things" (Mk. 13:23) [caps added for emphasis]. The question that must be honestly answered by those who believe the Lord Jesus Christ never taught about the Rapture is, "how could He say that He foretold ALL things without including His return known as the Rapture? The apostle Paul knew that the Lord Jesus Christ had taught about the Rapture, which is why he wrote just prior to telling of it, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord ... " (1 Th. 4:15). Thus, the teaching of the Rapture was, indeed, taught by the Lord Jesus Christ!

False Teaching 3
The third false teaching is about the day of the Rapture and the Second Coming:
This teaching says that no one can know the day of the Rapture or the Second Coming.

The reason for the third false teaching:
What the Lord Jesus said. "But of that day and (Mt. 24:36a; Mk. 13:32a) that (Mk. 13:32b) hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels (Mt. 24:36b; Mk. 13:32c) of heaven (Mt. 24:36c), who are in heaven, neither the Son (Mk. 13:32d), but (Mt. 24:36d; Mk. 13:32e) the Father (Mk. 13:32f), my Father only (Mt. 24:36e). Take heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is.” (Mk. 13:33) [This is a composite of Mt. 24:36 and Mk. 13:32-33] The proponents of this teaching will always quote Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32 and Acts 1:7 to support their position. In addition, they will use 1 Th. 5:2 while ignoring 1 Th. 5:1 and 1 Th. 5:4-6.

The true teaching:
The day of the Rapture and the day of the Second Coming will be known. Only someone who gave the day, time and place of their arrival, could expect to be met by those who were given that information. The watchman must know what to watch for! (2 Ki. 9:17; Isa. 21:11-12; 52:8; Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 3:17; 33; Hab. 2:1)

The reason for the true teaching:
When the Lord Jesus Christ said, "But of that day and (Mt. 24:36a; Mk. 13:32a) that (Mk. 13:32b) hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels (Mt. 24:36b; Mk. 13:32c) of heaven (Mt. 24:36c), who are in heaven, neither the Son (Mk. 13:32d), but (Mt. 24:36d; Mk. 13:32e) the Father (Mk. 13:32f), my Father only,” (Mt. 24:36e) it was true when it was said. His knowledge was dependent upon the Father (Jn. 5:19-20, 30). However, that did not mean that it would remain true at the time when it took place (Mt. 10:24-26). This was His answer to the question, “And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” (Mk. 13:4b) What is overlooked, by proponents of the false teaching that no one can know the day when the Rapture will take place, is that the father of the bridegroom was the one who said when his son was to go and claim his ‘bride.’ (Mt. 25:1-13; Jn. 4:34-35; 14:1-3) Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ would not have known the day of the Rapture when He was asked this question!

Questions that need to be answered include, “Is anything now unknown to the Lord Jesus Christ who presently sits at the right hand of ‘God the Father’?” (Heb. 1:1-3) Also, “How could the apostle Paul say that the Rapture should not overtake us as a thief?” (1 Th. 4:13-5:2, 4-5) The false teaching that one cannot know when the Rapture or the Second Coming will take place is contrary with God's practice of ‘always’ telling mankind WHAT He was going to do, WHY He was going to do it, and WHEN He would act. There is not one time where it can be shown, by way of the Holy Bible, where God has ever played the game of ‘gotcha’ with mankind. (Isa. 44:6-8; 45:21; 46:9-10; 48:3, 16; Amos 3:7; Mk. 13:23; Rev. 1:19) Thus, God is a date-setter!

There is another question that must be answered by those who teach the Lord Jesus Christ never taught about, referred to, alluded to, or ever mentioned the teaching known today as the Rapture. The question being, "How can you quote something the Lord Jesus Christ said, to refute the belief that we can know when the Rapture will take place?" Have you forgotten that your stated position on the subject is predicated on your belief that He never taught about the Rapture or ever alluded to the subject? The fact of the matter is that the two teachings cancel each other out. Thus, to champion both of these beliefs is illogical and intellectually dishonest!

False Teaching 4
The fourth false teaching is that the Rapture could take place at any moment:
This teaching is known as the ‘Imminency of the Rapture’. This means the Rapture could take place at any moment, in any day, of any year.

The reason for the fourth false teaching:
This teaching is based upon the fact that the Church at Thessalonica believed the Imminency of the Rapture to be true. Since the apostle Paul did not correct this Church by telling them that their belief was false, it has been assumed that this belief must be true. Thus, the teaching of the Imminency of the Rapture was ‘revived’ by students of ‘eschatology’ and is believed to be true by most today. (1 Th. 1:3, 10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:2, 9-11, 23; 2 Th. 3:5)

A new argument to support this false teaching is that the warnings given by the Lord Jesus Christ to watch for the Rapture is further proof that this blessed event could take place at any moment. (Mt. 24:42-44, 48-51; Mk. 13:33-37; Lk. 21:34-36) This is but another example of an ‘assumption’ that is being taught as a fact. The context for these warnings is they were given to alert both ‘Christians’ and ‘non Christians’ alike so they might know when the Rapture is soon to take place and for them to be alert. It would seem that after 1,900 plus years, people would realize the members of the Church at Thessalonica were incorrect in believing this teaching to be true. Unfortunately, this is not so.

The true teaching:
The Rapture can only take place on the “Feast of Trumpets" and on no other day!

The reason for the true teaching:
The Feast of Trumpets was the third and final ‘harvest’ feast of the year for the people of Israel. (Lev. 23) This festival was to be observed in the seventh month of the year or four months after the “Feast of Weeks” [Pentecost]. (Jn. 4:34-35) The third and final harvest of the year was to end the moment the field workers of Israel heard the sound of the ‘shofar’ which was blown by the high priest. The hearing of the shofar would cause the field workers to immediately stop their work of harvesting and assemble together to worship the LORD. The Feast of Trumpets would then begin to be celebrated! The field workers knew when the shofar would sound and that they were not allowed to return to the fields to harvest any crops that remained when this festival ended. Thus, they would work ever harder to ensure that as little of the crop as possible would be ‘left behind.’ (Ex. 23:16; 34:22; Lev. 23:23-25; Num. 29:1-6)

There has been a great harvest taking place ever since the Day of Pentecost in 30 A.D. It  is  a  harvest  comprised  of  Jewish  and  Gentile  ‘believers’  (Jn. 10:11-16),  who  have  been redeemed through the hearing of and trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for their ‘personal’ salvation (1 Cor. 15:1-4), by faith alone (Rom 4:5; Eph. 2:8-9; Col. 1:14). The work of the members of this assembly of ‘believers, who are alive on the earth, will cease immediately upon the sound of the shofar from heaven when they will be snatched out of the earth by their great high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. They will then assemble with those of the Church who had preceded them in death and worship their ‘Savior’ in the holy Temple in Heaven. (Mt. 24:36-42; 25:6-10; Mk. 13:32-37; Lk. 17:26-30, 34-36; Jn. 4:34-35; 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Col. 3:2, 4; 1 Th. 4:13-5:5; Heb. 3:1; 4:15; 5:5-10; 1 Jn. 2:28; 3:2-3; Rev. 3:3, 10-11; 4:2-3, 6, 10-11; 22:12-13, 20) The faithfulness of Christians who are alive on the earth will become known at the time of the Rapture. (Mt. 24:45-51; Lk. 12:42-46; 1 Cor. 4:2)

The reason why the apostle Paul did not correct the Church in Thessalonica for having the false belief of the Imminency of the Rapture is because he did not know that the ‘Seven Holy Feasts of the LORD’ were ‘prophetically significant’ for Christians during the Age of Grace, since the Scriptures were not yet complete. Paul only knew in part (1 Cor. 13:12), and did not know that the Lord Jesus Christ would literally fulfill each of these seven feast days!

The English word, ‘feast’ is translated from the Hebrew word, ‘moed,’ meaning: “appointed sign, appointed time, appointed season, place of assembly, set feast.” A synopsis of  how the Lord Jesus Christ has and will fulfill each of these festivals or feast days now follows.

The Lord Jesus Christ HAS fulfilled: 1. "The Feast of the Passover" with His death. 2. "The Feast of Unleavened Bread" with His burial. 3. "The Feast of First Fruits" with His bodily resurrection from the dead. 4. "The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)" with the birth of the Church.

This assembly of Jewish and Gentile believers is commonly known as the ‘body,’ (1 Cor. 12:12-14) the ‘bride,” (Rev. 21:9) and the ‘Church’ of Christ! (Heb. 12:23)

The Lord Jesus Christ WILL fulfill: 5. The Feast of Trumpets [Ingathering] with the Rapture. 6. The Feast of a Day of Atonement with His Second Coming to planet Earth. 7. The Feast of Tabernacles [Booths] with His 1,000 year reign on earth from Jerusalem.

The Jewish field workers knew when their high priest was to blow the shofar and that it would signal their work of harvesting was over for the year. The same will be true of those Christians who become aware of the many “signs of the times.” The sign that will wake up the ‘sleeping’ bride of the Lord Jesus Christ will be the gathering of armies under the leadership of Russia to invade Israel as described in Ezekiel 38 and 39. The troops of this army will come from Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Turkey (Ezek. 38:1-5). It is this event that will wake up unaware [sleeping] Christians to enable them to know the Rapture is about to take place. (Mt. 25:1-13)

Knowing their time of service during the ‘Church Age’ is coming to an end will cause many to share the “Good News of Jesus Christ” with vigor and strive so as not to let anyone be ‘left behind.’ The doctrine of the Rapture of the Church has always caused Christians to be zealous in sharing their faith with others. It is the doctrine of the Rapture that motivated the Church in Thessalonica to evangelize their city, state and country. (1 Th. 1:1-10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:18; 5:11, 23; 2 Th. 3:5) The Church was NEVER to look forward to the Second Coming to earth by the Lord Jesus Christ. The 21 judgments of God which are listed in the book of ‘Revelation’ that will take place prior to His Second Coming is the reason why. It has always been the Rapture that the ‘bride’ of Christ was to eagerly anticipate. The Feast of Trumpets has been supplanted by the Jewish holiday known as "Rosh HaShanah." Unlike the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23), there is no authorization from the LORD to be found in the holy Scriptures for Rosh HaShanah.

False Teaching 5
The fifth false teaching is that “nothing needs to happen” prior to the Rapture:
This teaching is based upon the”Imminency of the Rapture.”

The reason for the fifth false teaching:
The Thessalonians expected the Rapture to take place at any moment. Thus, it is assumed that nothing needs to happen prior to it taking place. There is no Scripture to support this teaching!

The true teaching:
According to the apostle Paul, ‘three things’ must happen prior to the Rapture.

The reason for the true teaching:
The apostle Paul wrote, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.” (2 Th. 2:1) The “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him” is the Rapture. However, prior to the Rapture Paul says, "Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come [the] falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. (2 Th. 2:3) Thus, Paul is saying these two things must take place prior to the Rapture!         

The first thing that must happen according to the apostle Paul, was "[the] falling away." (2 Th. 2:3a) This prophecy has been fulfilled  during the last two decades of the 20th century with the advent and apostasy of many ‘pseudochristian churches and movements.’ These churches and movements are led by ‘professing’ Christians who deny the fundamental, biblical truths of historic Christianity (Mt. 7:15-20). These professing Christians do not believe or teach the Holy Bible to be infallible or inerrant nor interpret its contents ‘literally’. Thus, they pervert what the Holy Bible says about God, mankind, sin and salvation!

The second thing that must happen prior to the Rapture is, "that man of sin ['the Antichrist'] be revealed." (2 Th. 2:3b) The meaning for the word revealed is to ‘uncover, or unveil, or disclose’ from the Greek word, apokalupto. Thus, to reveal who the Antichrist is before he comes into a position of power (2 Th.2:8-10) would be simply a fulfillment of Paul’s prophecy. I, personally, have believed the Antichrist to be Mr. Romano Prodi from the day he became the President-designate of the European Commission on March 24, 1999. This influential position allowed Mr. Prodi to oversee the currency known as the ‘Euro’ for the European Union. This is a man who has also twice been prime minister of Italy and is a renown economics professor.

The third thing that must happen according to Ezekiel and Paul, is for Israel to have peace and a sense of safety. (Ezek. 38:8, 11-12, 14-16; 1 Th. 5:3) This third thing has yet to happen!

False Teaching 6
The sixth false teaching concerns the inability to be ‘saved’ after the Rapture:
This teaching says that all who hear of the “Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ” before the Rapture, and are left behind when it takes place, cannot be ‘saved’ afterward. (2 Th. 2:6-12) In other words, they cannot ever become believers [Christians] after the Rapture. 

The reason for the sixth false teaching:
A faulty interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 and a disregard for the ‘grace’ of God towards sinful mankind. (2 Pet. 3:9) This false teaching could cause ‘Christians’ NOT to share the Gospel of Christ for fear the hearing unbeliever, who is left behind, will be forever lost!

The true teaching:
The Age of Grace which began after the Lord Jesus Christ gave up His spirit while on the cross at Calvary will not end until He physically returns to earth at His Second Coming. (Acts 1:9-12) The ‘way’ of salvation will remain the same for those who are left behind, after the Rapture, as it was for the thief on the cross (Lk. 23:39-43), and for the Church. That way being to simply ‘believe’ [trust], (Jn. 3:14-18; 14:6; 20:30-31) the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient as ‘payment in full’ for ALL sin and to justify believers before God! (Heb. 9:16-28; 10:4, 10, 17)

The reason for the true teaching:
The Scriptures tell of seven ministries being performed by ‘God the Holy Spirit’ in this Age of Grace. They are: 1. regeneration (Jn. 3:3-8; Ti. 3:5), 2. baptizing [identifying] (Rom. 6:3-4;
1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27-28; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:9-12), 3. indwelling (Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20; 1 Jn. 3:23-24; 4:11-16), 4. sealing (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30), 5. filling (Rom. 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16; Col. 2:6; 1 Th. 5:19), 6. convicting (Jn. 14:26; 16:7-11), 7. restraining. (2Th.2:7).

It is ONLY the restraining ministry of ‘God, the Holy Spirit,’ towards sin in the world that will cease with the Rapture. (2 Th. 2:7) God, the Holy Spirit, will continue to perform His other six ministries until the Second Coming to earth by the Lord Jesus Christ. This event will end the Age of Grace and begin the 1,000 year ‘Age of Messiah’s Kingdom.’ (Rev. 20:4-6)

CONCLUSION

The number of people who will come to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal ‘Savior’ during the seven years or 2,520 days that precede His Second Coming to earth is so great that the apostle John could not number them. (Rev. 7:9-17) These people, who will find themselves left behind after the Rapture has taken place, will hear of the ‘Good News of the Coming Kingdom of Christ’ from Enoch and Elijah (Mal. 4:5-6; Rev. 11:3-12), and the 144,000 Jewish evangelists chosen by God (Rev. 7:1-8), and an angel from Heaven. (Rev. 14:6-7)

The Rapture will be the ‘sign’ that people will be reminded of, to authenticate the message of Enoch, Elijah, the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, and the angel from Heaven. The world will not be able to explain away the Rapture in a natural or scientific way and will not be able to forget it took place. This includes the Antichrist who will not only blasphemy against God but also those taken in the Rapture. (Rev. 13:6) The Rapture will truly be the greatest supernatural event, since the ‘bodily’ resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Amen!