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Thursday, February 13, 2014

Satan's Plan: The Rapture Plot Continued

In the Satan's Plan: The Rapture Plot post the Rapture Plot was discussed and taken to task as it is not Scriptural.  Below is a comprehensive review by The Shepherd's Chapel (and available from their library) of two books by Dave MacPherson, The Incredible Cover-Up and The Rapture Plot.

"Will Christ Return Twice?:  Many modern day churches teach that our Saviour Jesus Christ will return twice, one to rapture His church and a second time for judgment known as the Day of the Lord.  Many Christians will be surprised to learn that early churches only taught a single return of Christ at the seventh and last trump of Revelation.  In fact, the "theory" that Jesus would secretly come to "rapture away" His church before the seventh trump has been taught for less than 200 years.  The relatively new rapture teaching in mainline churches has become so pervasive that most of those churches no longer use the term "rapture theory" but now elevate it to the "rapture doctrine."
"What Does The Bible Say?:  Christians have always had to be careful of blindly learning the traditions of men rather than relying solely on God's Word.  If we only listen to the Words of Jesus as found in Matthew Chapter 24 and Mark Chapter 13 there would be no confusion.  Jesus tells us plainly that a great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time, would occur before He would return.  He further says that unless those days of great tribulation be shortened that no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake those days would be shortened.  In other words, His church would exist throughout the great tribulation period."
"How Did The Rapture Theory Spread?:  If the Rapture Theory/Doctrine is not in the Bible then how did it all start and how could it possibly have spread to the point most churches now teach it as doctrine?  The Incredible Cover-Up answers these important questions.  You will learn a key origin of the Rapture Theories in 1830 starting from the babbling of a church member who thought she was dying to a book written by a charismatic minister some 23 years later detailing those babblings and calling them a new revelation of a pre-tribulation rapture of the church.  From that point, the incredible rapture theory story gradually grew into almost universal acceptance as doctrine.  Today, many churches do not tolerate even questioning the rapture by their members.  It is time all Christians learn the truth directly from God's Word."
"More Rapture Theory Background:  Author Dave MacPherson's "The Incredible Cover-Up" created quite a stir among Christians who were surprised to learn the origins of the Rapture Theory taught by most of today's churches.  Through the years Mr. MacPherson continued to learn more details behind the rapid spreading of this dangerous teaching.  Why when faced with the facts about the Rapture Theory have so many religious leaders dug in their heels as they rabidly defend and promote what they now consider to be the Rapture Doctrine?  "The Rapture Plot" now presents even more documentation and provides new evidence and chronological history behind the spread of a false and dangerous teaching."
"Answering The Critics:  Since the publication of "The Incredible Cover-Up" critics have tried to say there is not enough evidence to prove a Rapture Theory link to a few local charismatic churches in the early to mid-1800's in England.  The critics prefer to teach that many 1800's church leaders came to the same conclusion that the Bible can be interpreted to teach pre-tribulation or secret rapture of the faithful church to spare them the torment of the great tribulation.  Dave MacPherson's additional and comprehensive research lays that claim bare.  MacPherson carefully documents literally every piece of information showing the origin and spread of the Rapture Theory and exactly where that information resides.  Now any interested person can duplicate MacPherson's research and come to their own conclusion.  Anyone who has been exposed to the Rapture Theory/Doctrine should read the truth about why this false teaching exists."
"Review of Modern Church Rapture Proponents:  There are now many new books by Rapture scholars which attempt to change history in order to hide the origins of the Rapture Theory.  These works are authored by some of the best known modern church leaders and MacPherson methodically takes them all to task.  The reader will clearly see how some modern teachers have sought to pervert history for their own ends and others have copied their works rather than do their own research.  One can only conclude that some church leaders who teach this false doctrine and traditions have blindly decided to dig in their heels rather than to admit error in the Rapture Theory.  They assume the majority of church leaders must be right, and hence they and their followers fall victim to the traditions of men." 

Monday, February 10, 2014

Satan's Plan: The Rapture Plot

In the Satan's Plan: The Church post Satan's deception through the Church itself was discussed.  The biggest betrayal of God's Plan and His people is that of The Rapture Plot.  Just within the last 200 years, Satan has accomplished such a twisting of Scripture that people no longer try to understand the book of Revelation or realize that Satan will be coming first posing as Christ Himself since they are awaiting a pre-tribulation "rapture".  All of this is lies and just like there not being an "apple" in the Garden of Eden, there is no pre-tribulation rapture in the Bible either.  Following the Rapture Theory posts will soon be a further discussion on the 6th versus 7th Trumps and Satan's ultimate twisting of God's Plan.

The "rapture theory" came into existence in 1830 via a family in Europe who had dreams and visions.  One of those family members was Margaret McDonald and she had a vision while stammering in tongues this "any moment doctrine" and she claimed it felt evil at the first of the vision.

So regardless of the bizarre origin or the blatant disregard for it not being taught in any capacity prior to the mid-1800s, a pre-tribulation rapture is not Scriptural.  So for now let's leave the evil, craziness of its birth, and just look at the Scriptures that are typically utilized for its "proof".

I Thessalonians 4:13-17 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  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 them which are asleep.  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: 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.

In II Corinthians 5:6-8 To be absent from this flesh body is to be present with the Lord and therefore of course those which are dead ("asleep") shall rise first with Christ when He comes in the 7th Trump as they are already with Him (Spiritual & Flesh Bodies).  Meaning they are already transformed to their spiritual bodies and so they precede those who are in their flesh bodies at the 7th Trump.  At the 7th Trump all who are in the flesh instantly transform into their spiritual bodies {more on 7th Trump in upcoming post}.  In verse 17 "air" means "breath of life" or spiritual bodies and "clouds" is a colloquialism meaning large group or large congregation.  I Corinthians 15:51-58 & Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

II Thessalonians 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the  Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

In verses 3-4 Let no man deceive you that there be a "falling away first" meaning apostasy....that antichrist is coming first.  The apostasy is the desolator (Satan) sitting where he ought not (coming in place of Christ) and people worshipping him as Christ.  The son of perdition is Satan.  {more on this and II Thessalonians 2 to be discussed in posts about the antichrist and the 6th Trump}.

In Matthew 24:40 the one taken in the field was not "raptured" but "taken" in the sense of falling for antichrist.  When we discuss the Trumps we will dissect these Scriptures in more detail and the ramifications of being deceived by Satan as antichrist.