Rapture Doctrine

Greetings, Pastor James here. Many people have differing views of the end times events, here is an article I wrote addressing this topic.

Rapture Theology

While some might have guessed, believe Scripture illustrates a Pre-tribulation Eschatology. While holding to this theology would never stop people from fellowshipping with others that may hold to Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, amillennialism, or even no “rapture” theology at all. Believe that our Salvation is not based on our eschatology, but in faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Rapture and heresy, many think that there are many articles and videos all over the internet that claim that the Rapture doctrine was “invented” in 1830 by a man named John Darby. When looking at the Church’s history and the Apostles, sorry, this is so long, but it was a semester in Seminary study. While the writings of the first, second and third-century church fathers are not Scripture, it is informative to see how the early church leaders interpreted Scripture and what they learned directly from those closest to The Lord Jesus Christ.

Moreover, definitively, the few writings still in existence on the end times put the timing of the Rapture before the Great Tribulation. Believe this will also serve to dispel some of the common misconceptions about Rapture theology as something invented in the 19th century by John Darby. Irenaeus (130 A.D. – 202 AD) wrote this Irenaeus is most known for his five-volume treatise, Against Heresies, in which he exposed the false religions and cults of his day along with advice for how to share the Gospel with those who were a part of them. In his writings on Bible prophecy, he acknowledged the phrase “a time, times and dividing of times” in Daniel 7 to signify the 3 ½ year reign of the Antichrist as ruler of the world before the Second Coming of Christ. They also believed in a literal millennial reign of Christ on earth following the Second Coming and the resurrection of the just. On the subject of the Rapture, in Against Heresies 5.29, he wrote: “Those nations, however, who did not of themselves raise their eyes unto heaven, nor returned thanks to their Maker, nor wished to behold the light of truth, but who were like blind mice concealed in the depths of ignorance, the word justly reckons “as wastewater from a sink, and as the turning-weight of a balance — in fact, as nothing;” (1) so far helpful and serviceable to the, as stubble conduces towards the growth of the wheat, and its straw, utilizing combustion, serves for working gold.

Therefore, when the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, “There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.” “For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome, they are crowned with incorruption.” Irenaeus in this passage describes the Church leaving the sinful world just before unprecedented disasters. Note his use of the term “caught up,” which is Rapture terminology as that is the meaning of harpazo, the term for “caught up” in the King James Bible describing the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4. He then quotes Matthew 24:21, where The Lord Jesus Christ says: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Moreover, during this time that those who convert to Christianity during the final years will receive the incorruptible crown mentioned by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:25. In Irenaeus’ belief, the Rapture took place prior to the end times Great Tribulation. Cyprian (200 AD – 258 AD) – During his short stint as leader of the Church, he guided the flock through intense persecution at the hands of the Roman Empire. In 258 AD, after spending seven months of confinement to his home by order of Roman authorities, he was beheaded for his faith. Several of his works still exist today. In Treatises of Cyprian, he wrote in describing the end times Great Tribulation: “We who see that terrible things have begun, and know that still, more terrible things are imminent, may regard it as the greatest advantage to depart from it as quickly as possible. “Do not give God thanks, do not congratulate others, which by an early departure are taken away, and delivered from the imminent shipwrecks and disasters.”

“Let us greet the day which assigns each of us to his own home, which snatches us hence, and sets us free from the snares of the world and restores us to paradise and the kingdom.” Again we see the use of language commonly found about the Rapture as Cyprian describes the judgments of the end times as “imminent.” Furthermore, he makes his belief on the Rapture’s timing when he wrote that Christians would have an “early departure” and be “delivered” from the devastating global judgments that come during the Day of The Lord.

In line with the Apostle Paul, who wrote that “God has not appointed us to wrath, but salvation…” Cyprian expressed joy and encouraged the believing reader to rejoice that the Church would be “taken away” before the disastrous Great Tribulation. The Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 used the same language of one “taken away,” and the other “left.” Additionally, Cyprian references the mansions to which The Lord Jesus Christ promises to come back and take His believers in John 14. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, also believe in me. There are many mansions in the Father’s house: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:1-3. The article “The Red Moon Rapture says “The Biblical Timing of The Rapture,” in both the Matthew 24 passages (“one taken, the other left”) and in John 14 (“..Receive you unto myself…”) the Greek work paralambanō is used for taken and receive. The meaning of that word is “join to one’s self” indicating that Jesus is coming to fully unify with His Church – which takes place at the Rapture. Cyprian believed and taught that the Rapture takes place before the Great Tribulation. Ephraim (306 AD – 373 AD) was made a deacon in the Church in Syria in 338 and later became the bishop of Nisibis. Although he was made a “saint” in the Roman Catholic Church, he was not involved in Catholicism and did not even live in the Roman Empire until the final years of his life. The book Pseudo Ephraim was one of his still existing works. It was called “Pseudo” because of later disputes over authorship. However, the book is one reference to the Rapture is very compelling: In his work, On the Last Times, he wrote: “We ought to understand thoroughly; therefore, my brothers, what is imminent or overhanging.” “Already there have been hunger and plagues, violent movements of nations and signs, which the Lord has predicted, they have already been fulfilled (consummated), and there is no other which remains, except the advent of the wicked one in the completion of the Roman kingdom.” “Why are we occupied with worldly business? Why is our mind held fixed on the world’s lusts or the anxieties of the ages?” Why therefore do we not reject every care of worldly business, and why is our mind held fixed on the lusts of the world or the anxieties of the ages? Why therefore do we not reject every care of earthly actions and prepare ourselves for the meeting of the Lord Christ so that he may draw us from the confusion, which overwhelms all the world? Believe, dearest brother, because the coming (advent) of the Lord is nigh, believe you me, because the end of the world is at hand, believe me because it is the very last time. Or do not believe unless you see with your eyes? See to it that this sentence is not fulfilled among you of the prophet who declares: “Woe to those who desire to see the day of the Lord!” For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins. Thus, brothers most dear to me, it is the eleventh hour, and the end of the world comes to the harvest, and angels, armed and prepared, hold sickles in their hands, awaiting the empire of the Lord. Furthermore, we think that the earth exists with blind infidelity, arriving at its downfall early. Commotions are brought forth, wars of diverse peoples and battles and incursions of the barbarians threaten. Our regions shall be desolated, and we neither become very much afraid of the report nor of the appearance, in order that we may at least do penance; because they hurl fear at us, and we do not wish to be changed, although we at least require penance for our actions!” With a sense of urgency and strong warning, Ephraim writes that the end times are upon this world and could start at any moment. This text clearly states that the saints and elect of God, all born again believers in The Lord Jesus Christ, will be “taken to the Lord” before the Great Tribulation. Ephraim also identifies the Old Testament “Day of The Lord” and the end times Great tribulation as the same event (in line with the Beginning and End Rapture Series). Ephraim quotes Amos 5:18, which says: “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! To what end is it for you?” The day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.” The point he makes is that a Christian should know the Day of The Lord is coming. In the first part of the passage, Ephraim notes that: “We ought to understand thoroughly; therefore, my brothers, what is imminent or overhanging. Already there have been hunger and plagues, violent movements of nations and signs, which the Lord has predicted, they have already been fulfilled (consummated)” And not only that but that true Christians will be taken away before it starts.

Here he describes the first 3 of the first four seals of Revelation 6 – wars, famines, and plagues. These are the same end times signs Jesus Christ describes in Matthew 24: And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? Moreover, what shall be the sign of thy coming and the end of the world? Furthermore, Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. – Matthew 24:3-8. Jesus describes these events as “the beginning of sorrows.” He also says that when these things come to pass, “the end is not yet.” Ephraim’s writing agrees with this interpretation as he says those same events have been “fulfilled (consummated)” in his day, but it was still not the actual Great Tribulation. This statement also aligns with the Beginning and End’s Rapture series, as explained in our article Who Are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? (The first four seals of Revelation six were opened when Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven. Moreover, the Rapture itself does not occur until the opening of the 6th Seal.) Ephraim’s powerful language warns the reader not to be consumed with the world’s cares because the world in its current form is coming to an end. As the Second Advent or Coming of The Lord Jesus Christ grows near, believers look to Heaven and set their hearts on pleasing God. Ephraim distinguishes the Second Coming of Christ from the Rapture, placing the Rapture before the Great Tribulation to come. Although there are not many writings on the end times from the early centuries of the Church, there is no question that there was a belief in the Rapture among the church fathers, and they taught it with solid language and scriptural support. In terms of the timing of the Rapture, the early church fathers placed it before the end times Day of The Lord/Great Tribulation. The writings of early saints in the Church are not Scripture and should not be treated equally as the Bible. These writings also do not “prove” that the pre-Great Tribulation Rapture or the Beginning and End Rapture series are correct. Only rightly divided Scripture from the Bible can determine if a specific belief is accurate or in error.

Nevertheless, the writings of church fathers can serve as valuable commentaries (just as we use Bible commentaries today in our studies) certainly prove that the Rapture doctrine existed well before John Darby. Rapture has been a part of Christian belief since the earliest days of the Apostles.