Rapture Ready News educates making rapture ready. One way of doing this is by contrast, showing Bible examples where believing falsehood about the rapture of Christ led to disaster:
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Mat 24:7-11)
They Weren’t Rapture Ready:
Prophecy didn’t unfold as they expected, they lost their faith and turned on each other. Then false prophets rose, comforting them with lies. When their predictions failed, there was more offense, betrayal. Mockers arose, creating even more offense and betrayal (2 Pt. 3:3-4; Jude 1:18), “where is the promise of His coming” they sneered.
False prophecy caused them to betray one another. They became mockers, claiming Christ’s coming would never occur, everything was still the same as before (2Pet. 3:3-4). Others had their faith overthrown:
who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. (2 Tim. 2:18 NKJ)
These believers thought they had been left behind, that the ““pre-wrath rapture” followed by angels gathering the elect from the four winds at Christ’s coming, harmonizes all the Biblical data. For example, pre-, mid- and post-tribulation schemes all require a seven year long Great Tribulation. That contradicts the prophet Daniel who was told the “great tribulation” consists of an intense period of persecution of the church that will begin 30 days after Daily Sacrifice is taken away[1], which occurs after 3 ½ years of the “man of sin” (2 Thess. 2:3-4) “Chancelor Adonikam” reigns. Then like a “Star Wars Sith lord” he morphs into the Antichrist Beast Emperor “Son of Perdition” and slays the two witnesses Moses and Elijah (Rev. 11:3-7). Note the transition from “kingdom beast” (Rev. 13:1) to “big mouth beast” (Rev. 13:5; Dan. 7:8, 20-21, 24-27). As the Emperor Beast he reigns for another 3 ½ years beginning the “Great Tribulation” during which most the (faithful) Christian Church is slain:
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Rev. 13:5-7 KJV)
This period of intense persecution of Believers lasts for 45 days and then the dead and those remaining alive are raptured:
7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. 8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” 9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. 11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. (Dan 12:7-12 NKJ)
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (Rev. 14:12-16 KJV)
So the “great crowd” no man can number are raptured AFTER the Great Tribulation, but before the bowls of God’s wrath are poured out. So it is a pre-wrath rapture:
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands…And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. 7:9-14 KJV)
It is confirmed they are in heaven before the bowls are poured out:
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Rev. 15:1-3 KJV)
“But wait,” someone will protest, “the great crowd appears before the seventh seal is opened (Rev. 7:9 cp. Rev. 8:1) and they appear “after these things” (Μετὰ τοῦτο Rev. 7:9), all the events listed under the sixth seal (Rev. 6:12-16). The objection is invalid, in context “after this” (μετὰ ταῦτα) refers to the timing of this scene in the vision, not to when it chronologically occurs on earth:
The mere presence of μετὰ ταῦτα in 18:1 [and 7:9] does not indicate a chronological distinction between the chapters. It only shows that the events revealed to John by the second angel were shown after he had viewed the woman on the beast.”-Dyer, C. H. (1987). The Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17–18, Bibliotheca Sacra, 144, 306–307. [Bracketed reference mine as Dyer includes that text in his proofs]
Dyer cited the occurrences of “after this” in Revelation to prove his point. “Temporal use” Rev. 4:1; 7:1, 9; 15:; 18:1; 19:1. “Eschatological Use” Rev. 1:19; 4:1; 9:12; 20:3.
The four references not associated with verbs of perception seem to indicate chronological distinctions between future events. However, those with verbs of perception only indicate the order in which the parts of the vision were viewed by John-Dyer, Ibid.
Many Will Be Rapture Ready:
All true believers on earth are raptured at that time. Although we are given the precise number of days after the start of the end time Seven year “week” this rapture will occur, we cannot know the “day or hour” (Mt. 24:36). Symbolic dates may approximate literal time. For example, events occur after the victorious return of our LORD Jesus Christ, but its implied the seven years ended when the Beast is thrown alive into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20 cp. Rev. 13:5). I’d wager the timing will be conceded to be “miraculously, wonderfully precise”, once hindsight reveals the precise chronology. This explains Paul’s proof the “day of Christ” wasn’t at hand, the gathering that precedes it hadn’t left the Thessalonians behind (cp. 2 Tim. 2:18) . The “man of Sin” hadn’t appeared, he hadn’t “morphed” into the Emperor Demon known as the “Son of Perdition.” Therefore, the tribulation the Thessalonians were experiencing (2 Thess. 1:4-6) was not “the Great Tribulation”, the lying spirits, word and letters were wrong, the “resurrection-rapture-gathering to Him” was not past (2 Tim. 2:18).
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 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. 3 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; 4 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. (2 Thess. 2:1-4 KJV)
Believers After the Rapture?
But many become believers AFTER the rapture. That is why Christ sends His angels to gather these when the “opening” appears in heaven through which He and His Holy Myriads enter our matrix (Rev. 19:11):
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt. 24:30-31 KJV)
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Dan. 12:1-4 KJV)
End Notes
[1]The time when “the daily sacrifice shall be taken away” must be at the beginning of the seven years, not in the middle of the week. The 1290 days and 1335 are different points on the same time line containing also the 1260 days when the Beast rises up breaking covenants scattering the power of the holy people (Dan. 12:7; 9:27). Some object confusing the “sacrifice (02077 זֶבַח zebach) and the oblation (04503 מִנְחָה minchah) in Daniel 9:27 with the “daily (08548 תָּמִיד tamiyd)” in Daniel 12:11. The “Daily sacrifice” ended with the apostasy of the Church at the beginning of the week, when it received the false Christ. The “Man of Sin” appears to a “fallen away church” as a false Christ condoner of sin, at midway he morphs into the Beast Son of Destruction Antichrist (Dan. 7:25; 9:27; 12:7) ending all “sacrifice and oblation” worldwide (2 Th. 2:3-4; Rev. 11:7; 13:5). Is it sound to interpret the “daily sacrifice of the Temple” as figurative of Christian taking up the cross daily and serving Christ? Yes, that is 100% consistent with the NT applying Temple language to the church (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:19-21). Peter identifies the church as a spiritual house “a holy priesthood, to offer up “spiritual sacrifices” (πνευματικὰς θυσίας) acceptable to God” (1 Pet. 2:5). In Hebrews we are admonished to “offer (399 ἀναφέρω anaphero) sacrifice (2378 θυσία thusia)” and that word is used in the Greek Septuagint to offer (399 ἀναφέρω anaphero) the whole burnt offering that in Hebrew is the “daily” (08548 תָּמִיד tamiyd) 1 Ch. 16:40; 23:31; 2 Ch. 2:3; 24:14. Our sacrifice of praise is to be offered “continually” (1275 διαπαντός) to God. In Hebrews 13:1-17 the ethical exhortations being an expansion of the acceptable duties priests offer God daily (Heb. 12:28 λατρεύωμεν εὐαρέστως τῷ θεῷ). Christ is our perpetual sacrifice for sin (Heb. 10:11-18), it follows “that the daily sacrifice “shall be taken away” (05493 סוּר cuwr; 868 ἀφίστημι) is taken away by the church’s apostasy when it receives the false Christ man of sin, which occurs at the commencement of the seven years. Not taking up the cross daily for Christ, doing service to the false Christ, is the apostasy that removes the daily sacrifice of praise and offerings to God and that marks the beginning of the end time week as does the arrival of Moses and Elijah to prophesy in Jerusalem (Rev. 11:3-7) Some object its unhistorical NT usage define OT meaning, but that is not pertinent to prophecy whose words are sealed (Dan. 12:9) until the generation it was written for had arrived (1 Pt. 1:12). Confirming this, the angel said the righteous and wise would understand in the end time (Dan. 12:10). Consistent with this, righteous and wise Daniel (Dan. 1:17; 4:9-10, 18; 5:10-12, 14-16) could not understand because he was not in the end time when the unsealed meaning of the words would be known.” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>pre-wrath gathering” on the Day of Christ was already past, and the Wrath of God was about to begin.
The Thessalonians believed the same false prophecy. They were enduring tribulation (1Th. 3:4. 2Th. 1:6) and wondered why they weren’t raptured. So Paul reminds them, they haven’t seen the Antichrist rise yet, therefore the tribulation they endured cannot be the “great tribulation” during which the church is raptured:
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 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.
3 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;
4 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.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (2 Thess. 2:1-5 KJV)
What do you think will happen to pretribbers when the fallen away church begins to mock them about the rapture? The “man of sin” will morph into the Beast “son of pedition” at mid-week, and everyone will know who he is. Yet pretribbers will still be on earth, thinking they were “left behind”. Of course they will react just as Paul told Timothy some did, lose faith. They will be offended, and begin betraying one another.
The Rapture happens AFTER the Beast martyrs most of the church for refusing his mark:
11 “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write:`Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Rev. 14:11-16 NKJ)
Need more proof?
The fallen away church will be indistinguishable from Babylon the Harlot in the end time. We know this because God calls His people to come out of the Harlot in the end time:
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues…she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. (Rev. 18:4, 8 KJV)
This is well after the Beast rose up in Revelation 13:1-5, 18. The Harlot embraced every religion on earth, and in that wilderness the church hid and was nourished by God. Although the Reprobates cast out into the outer court trampled the Holy city, they true people of God were protected in the sanctuary (Rev. 11:1-2) But when the Beast slays Moses and Elijah God’s two witnesses (Rev. 11:7). God wouldn’t leave them behind, the rapture didn’t happen before the beast from the abyss rose up and slew them. Therefore, the teaching of a pretribulation rapture is false prophecy. When it fails to occur, those believing the lie will be offended, and begin betraying one another to the Beast.
Still don’t believe it?
Look at these sign and wonder working Christians, they think they can appeal to their former relationship with Christ, that He not cast them into eternal fire on Judgment Day:
22 “Many will say to Me in that day,`Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 “And then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt. 7:22-23 NKJ)
“That day” = Judgment Day. They address Jesus affectionately as “lord lord” and appeal to “eternal security,” once saved always saved. “We cast out demons and did miracles in your name! We are saved!”[1]
Then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me” (Mt. 7:23) “you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41 NKJ)
They knew accepting the Mark of the Beast meant eternal damnation but they refused to have patience and keep the faith of Jesus:
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10 “he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (Rev. 14:9-12 NKJ)
How many of their fellow believers did they betray to the Beast during the Great Tribulation? No doubt many:
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
(Rev. 6:9-11 NKJ)
Do not believe the false prophecy of pretribulation rapture, you will be just as upset and dismayed when it fails to occur, as the Thessalonians were. Rather you should mentally steel yourself for the worst now, lest you react wrongly when its time to be martyred for the faith. Its not a time for self defense, there will be no way to resist the inevitable. Rather, looking up to the author and finisher of your faith, let them have your head:
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Rev. 13:8-10 NKJ)
To paraphrase a line from the AMC’s “The Walking Dead”:
“If forced to eat a crap sandwich, its best not to nibble”.
End Notes – Be Rapture Ready. Don’t Be Caught Unaware.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me,`Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 “Many will say to Me in that day,`Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 “And then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt. 7:16-23 NKJ)
“In that Day” (Judgment Day) former Christian prophets exorcists and miracle workers protest being cast into everlasting fire for accepting the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 14:9-11). They imply they still know Jesus personally, affectionally calling Him “lord lord.” Citing the doctrine of “Eternal Security” (Rom. 8:30; John 10:28-29; 3:16; Phil. 1:6. 2Tim. 2:13. 2Th. 3:3. 2Cor. 5:18-19) they point to powerful works done in Jesus’ name as proof they were saved, and therefore cannot be cast into the fire.
Jesus replies “I never knew you,” [`Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Matt. 25:41 NKJ)] “you who practice lawlessness” (Mt. 7:23).
As Jesus NEVER knew them, none of the miracles were done by His Spirit and Power—in His name. The antichrists were deceived by “another Jesus”, “another spirit” (2Cor. 11:4) had disguised itself as Jesus, an antichrist spirit and him they received.
When a child of God asks for Holy Spirit, NEVER will he receive a serpent (Luke 11:11-13).
But when a child of the devil asks, God ignores the request (Lk. 8:12).
Then the working (1753 ἐνέργεια energeia) of Satan (spiritism) creates the delusion of a personal relationship with Christ and via “supporting” power signs and lying wonders the deluded believe the strong delusion they were saved.
Scripture is very clear, all who accept the Mark of the Beast were NEVER saved, their names were not in the book of life:
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13:8 NKJ)
The “mystery”(spiritism inspiring) lawlessness is the polar opposite of the “mystery of Godliness” (1Tim. 3:16. Gal. 5:22. Eph. 5:9) (Holy Spirit) inspiring LAWFULNESS, obedience to God’s word of Truth the Bible:
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 Jn. 4:6 NKJ)
The outward physical evidence Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit is presently dwelling within is love of God’s truth the Bible, to obey it (Ac. 2:42. 1Jo. 3:8-10), not in signs and wonders (Ac. 2:43).
The antithesis to the mystery of lawlessness is the mystery of Godliness and the contrast is evident in these texts (2Thess. 2:9-17. 1John 2:3-24. 1Jn. 4:1-6. 1Tim. 4:1-3. Mt. 13:24-43, 47-50. Rev. 14:9-19. Lk. 8:12. 2Cor. 4:34; Rev. 18:2-4. 1Th. 3:5. 1Cor. 12:1-2. 2Pet. 2:10-22. Jude 1:8-13. Jer. 23:24-32. Isa. 8:16-22.).
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matt. 7:15-20 NKJ)
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Excludes the Pretribulation Rapture
The Pre-Wrath Rapture
The Katechon Restrainer of the Mystery of Lawlessness: Who is He?
The Sign of Jesus’ Coming will be an Opening in the Heavens
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed