Invasion of the Other-Tribbers (Part 832)

by Michael G. Mickey
(6-17-08)

Right above the area where readers of the site blog are allowed to leave comments, I have written the following:

To save me the hassle of reading and deleting comments, REMEMBER that this is a pre-tribulation rapture website exclusively.

In spite of offering no hope whatsoever to anyone posting a comment contradictory to the pre-tribulation rapture that their comment will be approved, I invariably find myself reading through comment after comment that questions one of the foundational beliefs of the site that is 100% uncompromisable - the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. That leads me to one of two conclusions:

1. People are trying to undermine the site's message.
2. People are genuinely looking for answers or, at the very least, post these comments based on genuine convictions and concerns they have, some of which I can perhaps address.

Thus, what I'm going to do, regardless of this poster's intentions, is give the poster who wrote a lengthy comment to the blog their wish and post their questions and thoughts here on the site, but on my terms because I think it presents us all with an excellent opportunity to revisit the issue of the Rapture of the Church and its timing, as well as an opportunity to dash some fears and misunderstandings.

From this point forward, the comment left on the blog will be posted in blue. I will attempt to address some of its issues and questions raised to the best of my ability from this point forward.

question,
If all of those who are Christs own are raptured off the earth, who is left to be the people of great falling away? How can those left behind, who are obviously not Christs or they too would be raptured be those who perpetrate the great apostasy? Isn't it believers in Christ who will be the apostates, therefore allowing the antichrist to be revealed? Which the bible says we will not know who the antichrist is until he calls himself God seated in the temple of God. Where does it say we will be raptured before tribulation? I know it says before the wrath of God is poured out but I wonder where everyone gets the idea that we Christians are so much better than the Christians before us who had to endure huge tribulation, suffering, and pain throughout their lives.or those in other countries who are even now being murdered and tortured. Just look at the apostles Jesus very own chosen ones,and how they suffered. Are we now a days Christians so much better than the apostles? I don't somehow thinks so.

This line of questioning is born of 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 primarily so let's have a look at what Scripture tells us there.

2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4: 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.

If we use this segment of 2nd Thessalonians alone to form a judgment, as our commenter apparently does in this instance, we're going to have to overlook what is before it that places everything in a brand new light.

2nd Thessalonians 1:2: 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.

In the epistle, Paul is addressing an issue that has jolted the church at Thessalonica. He tells them not to be shaken in spirit, not to be upset by word of mouth, or even by any letter purportedly sent to them by him which he didn't author. In verse 5, Paul asks of the church of Thessalonica, "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"

It seems apparent to me that those in the church at Thessalonica were frightful, fearing that the day of the Lord was upon them based on something they had been told or read, potentially as if a message had come from the Apostle Paul himself that the day of the Lord was upon them. This is why Paul reminds them of what he told them face-to-face and encourages them not to be shaken by anything that would be contradictory of that teaching. Now let's put the first five verses of 2nd Thessalonians 2 together completely.

2nd Thessalonians 2:1-5:

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.

Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

What had Paul told them?

Probably the same thing he'd told the church at Corinth - of a great mystery that was, until then, an unknown.

1st Corinthians 15:51: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

What was this mystery? The Rapture of the Church! That there was going to be a resurrection had always been a known, even in Old Testament times, so, logically, Paul had to be teaching the early Church something that had not, until then, been shared with them. It was something new - a great mystery meant to be specifically revealed to Christ's Church! Of note, Paul's 2nd epistle to the Thessalonians was penned while he was at Corinth where we know he had taught of this mystery.

In 2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7, Paul makes clear to the Thessalonians that something is withholding the Wicked that is Antichrist and that the Antichrist's appearance will occur only when that restraining power is taken out of the way.

2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7: And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way.

I often refer to the Church's role here in the world as Christ did. The Church, the born-again Holy Spirit-indwelled Church is the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt prevents spoilage and light dispels darkness! Remove the light from a room and what fills the void? Darkness, of course. Utter darkness and it does so just as quickly as 1st Corinthians 15:52 tells us the Rapture will occur - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye!

The falling away

Now, having rambled quite a bit, hopefully sensibly, I want to return to the poster's comments in blue above.

The poster presumes that the falling away of the Church occurs inside the Tribulation Period and believes that is what leads to the rise of Antichrist. I have a newsflash for that brother or sister and anyone else who thinks that: The falling away foretold in Scripture is underway right now!

From New Age mysticism parading through our churches to idolatry to embracing homosexuality to failing to support the apple of God's eye (Israel) to the preaching of "feel good" and "prosperity" gospels, today's churches are a doctrinal mess! Only the Father knows how many false converts there are today walking around calling themselves Christians, doing so while embracing with open arms the very things the Most High tells them in His Word to oppose!

Not only are many of today's churches guilty of all of the above and more, most fail to teach Bible prophecy at all! Many Christians today have no concept whatsoever of what the end times are even supposed to look like. On the upside, however, they can balance their checkbooks, feel good about themselves and never once stroll through the door of their church in fear of hearing a sermon that carries any conviction in it.

The falling away? It's all around us and the impact it is having on our society is profound to witness. Sinfulness is running rampant and getting worse by the minute. Meanwhile, the Church is resting on its hands largely, probably because so many churches today are halfway through a five-year sermon series on basket weaving or something important like that.

2nd Timothy 4:3-4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

On the first Sunday morning after the Rapture of the Church occurs, many pew seats in many churches will still be capable of being filled. Many pulpits will still have pastors standing in them as well. And why is that? Because of what we find in 2nd Timothy 4:3-4.

Where does it say we'll be raptured?

I often tell people the pre-tribulation rapture can be established using only one verse of Scripture, Revelation 3:10.

Revelation 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

In Revelation 3:10, the Lord is seen addressing those who have placed their faith in Him - those who have kept the word of His patience. Their reward for this? Being kept from the hour of temptation. What is the hour of temptation? The Tribulation Period.

Revelation 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Does this passage of Scripture reveal Christians will be kept from the Tribulation Period? Absolutely! Could it possibly be any more obvious than it is? Even so, let's look at it more closely.

The same passage of Scripture demonstrates this hour of temptation - the Tribulation Period - will come upon all the world. Are Christians part of the world?

Revelation 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Jesus, speaking of Christians, said, as documented in John 15:19, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

Christians may be in the world, but they're not of the world. As Revelation 3:10 demonstrates, the day is coming when those who've placed their faith in Jesus Christ are no longer going to be in the world either!

Why will they no longer be in the world? Because the hour of temptation, the Tribulation Period, will be coming to try a different group of people - a multitude of people who will still be in the world, both spiritually and physically.

Revelation 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

There is no mistaking the fact this one Scripture is addressing two groups of people - believers in Christ and nonbelievers. These two groups, as shown in the Scripture, have completely different and distinguishable destinies.

Those supportive of a Pre-wrath, Mid-Tribulational or Post-Tribulational Rapture of the Church envision the Church entering the Tribulation Period along with everyone else. Revelation 3:10 doesn't picture it that way at all.

Revelation 3:10 says those who've placed their faith in Jesus Christ will not only be kept from the trial to come, but will be kept safe from the entire period of time - the hour of temptation itself!

The word hour, as used in Revelation 3:10, isn't referring to a 60-minute time period. As used in Revelation 3:10, the word hour refers to a set period of time for a specified activity - in this instance the Tribulation Period.

Did you ever get exempted from taking a quiz or a test when you were in school, but still had to attend the class? Revelation 3:10 promises believers exemption from the entire class! Not only will believers be gone from the world during the world's hour of temptation, they'll be in the presence of the Lord Himself as a result of the Rapture of the Church!

Revelation 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

It doesn't get much simpler than that, does it?

Where do Christians today get the idea that they won't be persecuted?

I don't know that Christians today who have a grasp of what's taking place around the globe and have an awareness of Bible prophecy think for a moment they're not going to be persecuted for our faith! In almost every instance someone writes to me suggesting that there isn't going to be a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church, it is invariably suggested that those of us who believe in it are under the impression we're off the hook when it comes to being persecuted. That's anything but true where I'm concerned.

In my former career as a law enforcement officer, I was persecuted for my faith in Christ to the extent that, arguably, I could've made an excellent case in court that a leader within my department was soliciting people in positions to impact my career to read RaptureAlert.com with very bad underlying intentions. There were at least four co-workers of mine, a number of whom were supervisors, who told me they were asked to do this and found it odd. Others told me it was flatly felt by them that the high-ranking individual behind all of this, who is today even higher ranked than then (Go figure, right?), was trying to make some type of case against me. Fortunately, for both of us, circumstances led to me parting ways with the organization via retirement last year, a number of years after that had taken place. I didn't leave on the terms I particularly wanted to and didn't even take an opportunity to pull that person aside and give them a piece of my mind that was long overdue as this was only one of a string of dirty deeds carried out by this person against me but my memories of those events still sting and, quite frankly, make my blood boil. I'm sure my story isn't particularly unique to any number of my readers. And I think we won't be persecuted? Hardly!

My expectation, barring the Rapture of the Church, is Christians who tow the line where the Word of God is concerned are going to be increasingly persecuted around the globe as Satan and his minions continue in their efforts to eliminate our opposition to their goals. Having said that, no persecution that befalls us as members of the Body of Christ will occur outside the Lord's will. If persecution comes, it comes and we must be ready for it.

Already, as my wife can attest, we have discussed the dangers inherent to what I'm doing here. While I don't make much of it publicly, a direct employee of a prominent new world order proponent whose name I could drop right now and everyone would immediately recognize it has been in my home to talk Bible prophecy with me. And no, I do not believe the purpose of that visit was to ensure that Bible prophecy wouldn't be fulfilled as written. I believe that the powers that be in our world today view Christians who hold what they consider to be fundamentalist views pose a threat to their goals, not ironically because their goals are to do precisely what Bible prophecy says unrepentant and foolish mankind is going to do, namely institute a globalized and godless form of government - a new world order that will ultimately be headed by the Antichrist.

Do I think Christians are going to be persecuted here in these last days? Particularly on this landmark day for the homosexual agenda's furtherance, I guarantee you that, if Jesus Christ's return for His Church doesn't come soon, the ripple effect from today alone is going to lead Christians in the United States into unprecedented persecution, namely because those of us who call it like it's written in the Word of God know that the thousands of gays lining up to be married in California is 100% an abomination in the eyes of God. (Leviticus 18:22)

Because powers and principalities, spiritual wickedness in high places is behind this mockery of God and His institution of marriage, we can rest assured that those of us who oppose the homosexualization of our nation, in the name of a tolerance that those who oppose the Word of God and its teachings never feel any obligation to extend to us, are going to be targeted for attack just as a Christian pastor in Canada was recently.

This man of God was, officially at least, banned from expressing his biblical perspective of homosexuality and ordered to pay $5,000 for "damages for pain and suffering" he caused a homosexual by writing an editorial column in a local newspaper in 2002.

Christians, if you don't think this type of persecution is on its way here, steel your minds now as you're woefully mistaken. Not only are you mistaken, I'd appreciate it if you'd start saving your pennies to bail me out of jail because I offend people on a daily basis it seems. If you don't think so, read the comments posted to my YouTube videos. Even those have been cleansed by me somewhat due to the vulgarity and harshness included in some of them.

Dark Times Lie Ahead

For years now I've heard from Christians who hold beliefs contradictory to a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church occurring in the prophetic future that strongly imply that pre-tribbers don't have the mettle to stand up to any persecution.

A preacher I know here in Kentucky has, hanging on the wall of his living room, a sign that reads: "In God we trust but keep your powder dry." While he is definitely a godly man and hopes for the salvation of every man as do I, he isn't a shrinking violet of a man in spite of the fact he's awaiting the return of his Lord, potentially to occur at any moment. Ditto for me! I don't want a fight with anyone but if a fight is required of me in defense of my morals, values, my nation, my family, my physical health, the rights our forefathers fought and died to earn for us, then a fight is in order and a fight it shall be!

A few days ago, a young buck on YouTube wrote to me of him and his atheist pals:

"While you eagerly await being raptured away because of your childish belief, that life on Earth doesnt matter after you die, the rest of us are working for tomorrow. Stay out of our way old man."

My reply?

"If you and your kind are working for tomorrow and THAT is mankind's hope, there is no future to hope for whatsoever as you are all too busy trying to wish the Almighty away to get anything else done.

Don't hold your breath waiting on this "old man" to yield to the likes of you and your ilk. While your youthful exuberance may lead you to believe you can step wherever you like, reality may prove otherwise, particularly if the ground you wish to walk on is occupied, young man."

I've been criticized on occasion for not showing the love of Christ to people like the young man who wrote those words to me. Prior to writing what I did to him, I'd pleaded with him in the comments section of a different video of mine to come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, warning him that his time to do so was running out. And what was I met with? Pretty much the equivalent of a threat that I'd best step out of the path of the godless as they march along.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, isn't that exactly how we've arrived at this dark juncture in our world's history? Without a doubt which is precisely why I attack the stereotype when dealing with the most vile of the godless.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Truer words have rarely been spoken than those. Amen? Sure, we know the godless are going to triumph for a season according to the Word of God but you know what? It wouldn't kill us (no pun intended) to lift a finger of resistance once in a while to let them know that God's children are still in the fight between good and evil. We need to have a little Holy Ghost-inspired fire in us like our biblical forefathers did.

Moses didn't tow the line where God's enemies were concerned. Neither did Joshua, Elijah, or John the Baptist. The Apostles didn't either, all of whom but John ended up being killed for their refusal to bow to the wishes of the wicked.

Where standing up for our God-given beliefs are concerned, we can do better than we have in the past and we have never needed to more than today!

The Final Word

Having addressed the integrity of the pre-trib rapture doctrine once again, for probably the 832nd time, I'm going to give the poster of this comment the final word.

While the above comments in blue and those below don't reflect the entirety of this brother or sister's attempted blog post, there were questions worthy of being answered in the above and questions raised by the poster below we should truly lend some thought to, particularly in light of the fact that things are going to get worse and worse for Christians living in this sin-ridden world until Christ returns for His Church.

Hopefully, none of my site's readers are presently involved in the falling away of the Church referred to by the poster below. Having said that, the poster challenges us to examine the depth of our commitment to the cause of Christ - and to consider the price we are willing to pay for our faith should we be required to. That question is definitely, regardless of one's viewpoint concerning the timing of the rapture of the Church, worth pondering and, more importantly, praying about.

The Lord's promise is that He will be with us always and more, to the extent that we can say with confidence, "If He brought you TO it, He'll see you THROUGH it."

1st Corinthians 10:13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Now to the poster's thoughts...

I know this is a totally pretrib site and I just hope that you will consider putting this in the site as, being a person that really loves everyone, I just really hope to not see all your readers be part of the turning away. Many say they would not turn away, but I wonder if faced with terrible tribulation they truly would stay in their faith,if the rapture were not pretrib,especially in America. Americans are spoiled in that they have had absolute freedom to practice their faith and worship the Lord freely, we can clearly see that mild persecution has begun in America,but what happens if since nowhere in the bible does it say pretribulation rapture, if it is prewrath rapture how many will have contributed to the great apostasy? How many will face tribulation and say but but we were told we were not to be here for this,and promptly say the bible lied to us? It is very easy to say you wont turn away but very hard to live through severe persecution when you have hope in being raptured before it gets "too bad". What if your child is being tortured in front of you? How many can truly say they will not turn away? Personally though I believe part of Satan's deception is these supposed beings from outer space I do believe that another part of the deception on the whole earth is the belief that many will believe we are not due any tribulation. Jesus said "you will suffer tribulation for my names sake.
One more question how much suffering is too much for you all ask yourselves that one question? Are you prepared to see your loved ones get tortured and even killed? Are you yourself prepared to be tortured and killed for the witness of Christ? Nowhere in the bible does it say the saints that came out of the great tribulation are those that were left behind.
I am sorry if I have angered you that is not what was meant to happen here, besides which rather believing in pretrib prewrath or midtrib or even in post trib we are all Christ's own,therefore all necessary parts of the body, and God's children. We are not to fight but to help one another.
Just a little food for thought,just in case so many have been wrong in believing none of us are to suffer anything for Christ's sake.

What price are you willing to pay?