Rapture: The Last Trump And The Second Coming
Of Christ
Feb 26, 2003
The Sound of A Trumpet
A vital well documented Word based and grounded in truth message to those who
love the truth and fear God of being sent a "strong" delusion, because
they loved not the truth enough to be taught it. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11; Isaiah
66:4; Isaiah 30:9-10. Rosemary LaVigne
Rapture: The Last Trump And The Second Coming of Christ
By Mark Watson
The Pre-tribulation Rapture is not a sound and unassailable theological
position. The preponderance of evidence that the translation of the saints and
the second coming of Jesus Christ are one and the same event is extensive. I
know many of you have been taught to believe in a pre-tribulation rapture by a
plethora of biblical prophecy teachers and scholars. The following paragraphs
will explain why, as much as I want to believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, the
scriptures clearly indicate when the translation of the saints will occur. But
first let me explain why this topic is so very important.
What you believe affects how you live. If you earnestly believe that you will
not go through the last seven years of extreme trouble commonly referred to as
the Great Tribulation, then you will not make any preparations spiritually or
physically. If on the other hand you know (or even suspect) you will be here,
then you will prayerfully and constantly seek Christ’s wisdom and guidance and
LIVE BY FAITH. It is my considered opinion that God loves us all, even the most
hardened sinner. But he will not be mocked at judgment day. We saints of God who
sincerely want to do God’s will must do what Christ tells us to do, even if it
means receiving ridicule and scorn, and having ‘Christians’ separate
themselves from us. For many of us this means to live simply and humbly. Others
have been called to exhort and teach while others are to minister according to
Gods good graces. We, who are among the saved, must claim Gods promises
including the ones Jesus made such as “In the world ye shall have tribulation,
but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” ( John 16:33b) This is an
(uncomfortable) promise the Son of God makes to his followers. If you are a true
Christian, it applies to you. The necessity of enduring to the end and of the
leading astray, if possible, even the elect takes on an entirely new meaning if
the Church is to here during the tribulation and the reign of anti-Christ.
Additionally, it must be stated here that other than the doctrine of the first
coming of Christ, his death and resurrection and Messiahship, the doctrine of
the Second Coming of Christ is the most important doctrine in scripture, in
short it is the final act in God's promise of redemption. The return of the
Messiah, Jesus Christ, to save his Church, the true Israel and heirs to the
promise is the single most important doctrine in the Bible, with the possible
exception of Christ's bodily resurrection. In short it is the consummation of
the work of Jesus Christ. So how can any believer say, 'It isn't important', or
'it will all come out in the wash' or 'we'll know when he comes'?That was the
mistake the Jews made when Christ came the first time and THEY WERE REJECTED FOR
NOT KNOWING THE IME OF THEIR VISITATION. Jesus told us to watch, over and over
again he warns us to watch. How are we to know what to watch for? The answer to
that is in the scriptures, in the writings of the Prophets and in the Messiah's
words. This is a critical doctrine, because if you do not get this right, you
will be as a man looking towards the east, when all the things he should be
watching for are in the west. Remember, the Jews during Christs time, were
hell-bound and eventually wound up hating and murdering the Christ who came to
save them because they did not expect him to do the things that he did at the
time that he did them. They wanted someone who would restore the kingdom of
David and rid them of Roman Dominance without really turning towards God and
doing the things that he commanded them to do. Today, believers want Christ to
come to save them from the reign of Antichrist and severe persecution without
the true repentance and more importantly the complete submission to Christ's
Lordship (obedience) that leads to true salvation. In short, they want to fly
away. Yet the scriptures clearly teach something very different. Lay hold of
this, it is very important.
The rapture of the saints cannot occur until the last trumpet is sounded.
“Behold I show you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be
changed. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the
trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be
changed. (1 Cor 15:51,52). This gives the timing of the rapture
At the last trump.
Let’s see what else the scripture says about this, “
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 decent 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 in the clouds to
meet the LORD in the air and so shall we ever be with the LORD. (1 Thes 4:15-17)
The time table is the same:
The trumpet.
The Dead in Christ shall be raised.
The remaining saints translated
Paul tells the Church that we the remaining, still alive believers will not
precede those saints who had already died in the LORD. My goodness, how much
more clear can you get!? Brothers and sisters, this doctrine is no real mystery.
It is not complicated, it is not hidden deep in obscure verses to be interpreted
in a strange and new way. It is in plain black and white so plain that any
honest, literate, spirit-filled Christian can see for themselves. Unfortunately
that is the extreme minority of Christians in America. Far too many are
listening to the false shepherds of Babylon.
Paul warned the Thessalonians, “
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.
(2Th 2:1-4)
Here is a stern warning from the Apostle. He categorically states with regard to
1. The coming of the LORD
2. Our Gathering unto him
He warns us not to let any man deceive you BY ANY MEANS (by a secret return of
the LORD). Yet the modern American teachers have found a means. They simply say
that there is another 'secret coming' or a 'secret gathering' that that Paul
isn't talking about. Christ warned us about those who teach of a secret return
of the LORD and told his disciples exactly how he was going to come, suddenly
for all to see and hear.
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth:
behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not. For as the lightning
cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming
of the Son of man be.
(Mat 24:26-27)
A note here, Paul says that anyone who says the church won’t be here when the
son of perdition (Antichrist) is revealed is deceiving you. Those who are
teaching that you are going to fly away before the Antichrist is revealed are
deceivers. Plain and simple. But there is big, big money in deceiving the
Church, hence they are the ones whom the harlot religious system honors and
promotes with their books, movies and magazines. Some may be doing it with the
best of intentions, but a false doctrine is still false and a false teacher is
still a false teacher. Reader Beware. Many of todays Seminaries and Bible
Colleges have pounded the doctrine of the pre-trib rapture into the minds of
denominational Church leaders that now hold important positions in mainstream
Christianity. Many hold this doctrine because they have never really honestly
studied it fully. Other have studied it knowing the pre-trib rapture position is
false but remain silent out of cowardice and fear. Still others don't really
believe in a return of the LORD at all, though they would never actually teach
that. In any event, whatever the motivation of these religious leaders weather
it is laziness, fear, or unbelief the doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture is a
false one.
What does Jesus say?
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the shall the sun be darkened
and the moon shall not give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven and
the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 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. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they
shall gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other.” (Matt 24:29-31)
Jesus said after the tribulation. And again we see the angels are present and
the sound of a Trumpet.
The book of revelation identifies when the LAST trumpet sounds. There are seven
trumpets which sound in the book of revelation and the last one is very
different from the first six.
The First trumpet - fire hail and blood were thrown to earth.
The Second trumpet - a great “mountain” was cast into the sea.
The Third trumpet - a great star fell from heaven.
The Fourth trumpet - the sun moon and stars smitten.
The Fifth trumpet - the key to the bottomless pit opened, locusts released
The sixth trumpet - Four powerful angels released to slay one-third of men.
Then there is a long description of events which take place BEFORE THE SEVENTH
AND FINAL ANGEL SOUNDS his trumpet.
1. An angel declares the mystery of God is finished1. (The seven thunders)
2. There should be no more delay.
3. The temple of God is measured.
4. God’s two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days (who says there are no more
prophets!)
5. The two witnesses shall be killed in Jerusalem.
6. The two witnesses shall be caught up to heaven.
But at the seventh trumpet;
1. The kingdoms of the Earth become the kingdoms of God and Jesus Christ
2. The nations are angry at Jesus Christ
3. The Judgment of the dead is at hand
4. The reward of Gods servants is at hand.
5. Time for Christ and his servants to destroy those that destroy the earth.
Indeed these verses how there is an excellent possibility of a pre-wrath
rapture. Consider that the DAY of the LORD begins with his wrath. And that on
that day many, many things begin to happen, perhaps too many to fit into a
single solar day.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord
as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2Pe 3:8)
I do not want to take liberties here for this subject is not so clear, but it is
quite possible that the Last Day (Day of the LORD) that begins with God's Wrath,
is the actually the beginning of the last thousand year reign also known as the
millennium. This is food for serious thought for after the last trumpet sounds,
the rulership of the planet changes hands and many many things transpire.
6. The time of God’s wrath has come.
The First Resurrection
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto
them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus,
and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his
image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;
and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the
dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection - Revelation 20:4-5
This is a most amazing scripture in the entire debate on the second coming of
Christ. First, look and see who is included in this resurrection; those who
refused to take the mark of the beast. Now we know that the translation of the
saints (rapture) is not until after the first resurrection (1 Thess4:16-17).
This verse tells you that the First resurrection takes place AFTER the mark of
the beast. In short, NO resurrection and NO rapture before the mark of the
beast. This lines up perfectly with what Paul so clearly stated, there will be
no second coming of Christ before the Antichrist is revealed. (2 Thess. 2:3).
Indeed, Christ himself was most emphatic on when he was going to resurrect the
dead in Christ.
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath
given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
(Joh 6:39)
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son,
and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the
last day. (Joh 6:40)
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will
raise him up at the last day. (Joh 6:44)
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at
the last day. (Joh 11:24)
Christ makes it abundantly clear that no one gets resurrected until the last
day. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that no one is going away in any 'rapture'
until the dead in Christ are raised up first. These are clear and
incontrovertible teaching of Christ and his holy Apostles.
I do not see the Second Coming of Christ and the rapture of the saints as two
different events. Rather, I see clearly it as being one single event.
Nevertheless, even if they are separate events, neither will occur before the
man of sin is revealed and many Christians are martyred for having refused the
mark of the beast. More importantly, I do not believe the scriptures teach
anything remotely like a pre-tribulation rapture. Christ is coming for a Church
without spot or wrinkle. That certainly does not describe the millions of
worldly, carnal 'christians' who flock to see the latest 'end-times' movies or
buy the latest, best selling heretical 'Christian fiction' books. I am not
trying to be condescending, but I believe that in the scriptures, first means
first and last means last, if another trumpet sounds it is not the last!! Let me
make this very clear to those who are teaching contrary to God’s revealed
word, any other definition of last is no more than a wresting of the scriptures
and great spiritual folly. But I am sure you will find no difficulty in finding
millionaire teachers to convince you “that the Holy Spirit really didn’t
mean last, what he really meant to say was…[Insert your convenient lie
here]...”
The Wrath of God and the Church.
The church will not experience God’s wrath. PERIOD. Many teachers see this as
evidence that the church must be raptured first. On the surface this seems
sound, but in reality it is American, it is Laodicean and it springs from a
spirit of lukewarmness. Consider this, Lot was not translated at the destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah, but he was removed from the danger area, Noah was not
translated even though the flood covered the whole earth, everyone else was
dead! At the end of the tribulation at least a few will survive. By faith Noah
prepared. Even though he was certainly mocked and laughed at for doing so.
During the plagues of Egypt God supernaturally protected his people from his
WRATH (not from chastisement, tribulation or persecution, but Gods Holy Wrath).
This is one way God may protect us from the plagues of the last days. However
God chooses to do it, you can be sure he will. It is a non-sequiter that God
MUST translate the church for people to escape his wrath. God is Sovereign and
rest assured he has the situation under control, even if we are like the saints
in the book of Daniel who were thrown directly into the fiery furnace and were
not burned, GOD IS ABLE!!! I must tell you, this American Gospel of prosperity,
easy believe-ism and name it and claim it materialism, is not of God and gives
rise to the comfortable no-suffering doctrines which are passed off as truth in
the pulpit and Christian TV. Millionaire Christians who preach this non-sense
put their sheep in great peril because when persecutions and tribulations come,
it shakes the faith of these poor souls. And if they are taught to believe that
we will not go through the tribulation and finds everyone still here, what will
happen next? Hell's voice will speak in their troubled minds and say “If your
preacher was wrong about the Rapture what else is he wrong about?” Then
unbelief and even apostasy sets in. Then follows spiritual disaster. Because
they were taught the gospel according to the American flag and the America
dollar rather than according to Christ Jesus. God is not mocked. He who stores
his treasure on earth will reap corruption. Consider this carefully, it will
mean life or death to the mainstream American-Laodicean Church.
While God has not appointed us to wrath, there are some hard, hard times that
believers will have to face and endure...to the end. The Antichrist will make
war on the saints and will overcome them.
Revelation 13 says of the Beast: Vs 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. [emphasis Mine] One of the first mistakes
made by modern and apostate teachers is that the Church will not be here when
the 'end times' begins. This is palpably false and there is no real scriptural
evidence for this. Those who hold this view must ignore or 'reinterpret' the
words 'saints' and 'believers' and 'those who obey God's commandments' as
something other that the true followers of Jesus Christ, better known as the
Church. Redefining terms is a tool the devil has always used to obfuscate and
confuse the truth and finally deceive people. Saints means saints. If you have
difficulty in knowing who the saints are, then do a word study(See Bottom of
this Page2). Most of you will not STUDY the word of God, to show yourselves
approved and that is why so many will not believe what the scripture teaches,
but rather believe what the false teachers are teaching.
Rev. 14:9-14 clearly teaches 3 things:
The saints of the tribulation are those who hold the true faith of Jesus Christ
(Vs 12)
They are to have patience because the mark of the beast is here and they must
not take it (vs 9-12)
There is s special blessing in those who die from that time onwards (Vs 13)
I also believe that these teachers are setting up the people of God for a very,
very vile deception. I do not know exactly what this deception is, but the
Spirit bears witness that the doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture figures in
heavily. But whatever it is, it will be strong enough to deceive God's most
precious elect, if it were possible. Very few believers fall into that category.
Very few. If it is strong enough to deceive them, what about the millions of
half-baked lukewarm minions who call themselves Christians who bring great
dishonor to Christ with their sinful lifestyles, and doctrines of devils? Did
not the Apostle Peter warn of these types of people when he said that God would
send them a strong delusion because they loved not the truth? Bear this in mind,
saints of God, Satan is not sending this delusion, though he may be the
instrument. God himself is sending this one.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the
spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even
him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and
lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Th 2:8-12)
Whatever this deception is, it has been in the works since at lest the days of
Paul in the 1st Century (2Thes2:7). Therefore, if you are not firmly rooted and
grounded in the word, knowing the times and the seasons of God's prophetic
timetable, you will be like a man who goes into battle without a map, weapon or
a battle plan.
Such people will be the slaughtered on the great day of the LORD, with all who
loved the lie rather than the truth.
The Spirit bears witness that the doctrine of Christ's Second Coming is a
foundation one. It is almost as important (though not quite) as salvation by
grace and repentance from dead works. It is especially important to THIS
GENERATION. God does not make foundational doctrines difficult to understand for
his TRUE FLOCK. It is up to the Devil to confuse, obfuscate, misdirect, and
otherwise DECEIVE those who receive not the love of the truth. Brothers and
sisters, please let that not be you.
I know I have been uncompromising on this and I cannot apologize, I sense deeply
that there is a great deception coming and this doctrine ( the pre-tribulation
rapture doctrine) is an important part of it. It is going to fool a lot of
Christians. Even now some are teaching that it will be OK to take the mark of
the Beast because it is only an 'economic mark' (????). Please study this
doctrine and know the times and seasons it is the only way to properly watch
unto salvation.
I humbly submit that I have been given no special divine revelation, no special
angel has visited me with special messages regarding the rapture, no dream has
revealed this mystery nor has any spiritual being spoken to me about these
matters. I profess no special unction from God nor do I seek to have
'followers'. Additionally, I do not wish to create dissension in the true Church
of God. My only tools in unraveling this mystery are rightly dividing the word
of truth (for many years) and deep and sincere prayer. Many will gainsay this
message as it is contrary to the common teachings of the American Pulpit and the
Government Corporations passing themselves off as Churches. Also, many who have
claimed to have had 'special revelation' from God will also revile this message.
I am undaunted and unconcerned with them. If they cannot teach the truth
clearly, concisely from the scriptures, I want nothing to do with their
uninspired opinions and half studied doctrines that are deceiving many well
meaning Christians. Let them be judged by the living God for what they are.
Please keep in mind that this writing is not a personal attack upon anyone. It
is a look at the doctrine of the rapture/last trump as it is taught clearly and
concisely in the Bible, without fanciful interpretations of apocalyptic
symbology or exegetical mistakes that imputes or assumes events that are not
clearly and concisely taught in scripture. Before any of you readers get all hot
and bothered with what I have written, read, study and pray sincerely for wisdom
and it will be granted... if it is asked for in faith.
“And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch” (Mark 13:37)
This mystery, the angel declares, has already been revealed to the God servants
the prophets. It is in your scriptures and if you study them for yourself, you
will know what this mystery is.
Here is the word used for saints in the New Testament. You may look each up
yourself and get a clearer picture of who the saints are and how the world is
used in scripture.
Strongs Word - 40 -
agiov hagios
From ἅγος hagos (an awful thing) compare G53,
[H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially
consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint.
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