The Last Time I Teach the Last Times
Chapter 1: Jesus Says (Matthew 24-25)
Ø Chapter 2: Why Left Behind Should Be
Chapter 3: Give Or Take a Thousand Years
Chapter 4: Grinding Out the Tribulation
I don’t want to color anybody’s reading of the Word, especially on this topic! Let’s let the Word of God speak for itself.
There are a few interpretation “rules” we have to review.
1. Verses are to be taken literally unless there is some indication in the context that the words are meant to be taken figuratively.
2. Clearer passages of the Bible will explain more difficult passages.
Chapter 2: Why Left Behind Should Be
(Matthew 24-25, 1 Thessalonians 4.13-5.11)One hesitates to teach people false doctrine, but with this subject, I doubt whether I will be telling anyone anything new. Thanks to the “Left Behind” series, false teachings about the Last Times have been spread like an epidemic! I would encourage all of you to leave Left Behind behind you! Here, in a nutshell, is the teaching of “Left Behind.” We call it “The Rapture.”
The False Teaching Concerning the False Doctrine of the Rapture
As the world progresses to the end, Judgment Day, things will get worse and worse (“The Tribulation”). But wait! Things are going to get really worse very soon (“The Great Tribulation”). But before things get that bad, Jesus is going to come back from heaven, halfway, in the clouds. He will rapture, seize away, all his living believers from the earth at one time, that they may not have to suffer the final woes of the world. They will be safe in heaven while earth experiences the worst sufferings ever. Those left behind will suffer, but will also have time to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus. Then, when Jesus comes, there will be even more chances to believe. Sort of.
I better give you some definitions to explain the timelines.
The rapture is what we are studying right now.
The millennium is the idea that Jesus will come and rule on earth for 1000 years.
The tribulation is a time of terrible sufferings that almost destroys the Church on earth, until Jesus appears to save it and usher in eternity.
Here are timelines showing the two main false conflicting views about the end times.
Pre-Tribulation Millennium
Post-Tribulation Millennium
This teaching of the Rapture is common among Baptist (Green Valley Baptist Church), Non-denominational (Central Christian Church), and Assembly of God (Green Valley Christian Center) fellowships. There are literally dozens of variations on these two basic outlines, whose proponents are willing to fight to the death on it. You can get all sorts of fantastical Biblical interpretations of Daniel and Revelation from this bunch.
People who believe in the Rapture basically point to two proof passages, Matthew 24.39b-41 and Thessalonians 4.13-5.11. The first one is easy—we’ve already studied it! Let’s go to that one, first.
Does Matthew 24-25 Teach the Rapture?
Give two reasons why is this section of the Bible so important to the teachings of the Last Times?
1. __Jesus' clearest teaching on this matter
2. __Explains all other end times passages
Look closely at the context. What is Jesus talking about in Matthew 24.36?
Judgment Day
What is the point of comparison between Judgment Day and the day Noah entered the Ark?
Unexpected destruction.
What is referred to by “the coming of the Son of Man” in Matthew 24.39
The Last Day--Judgment Day
What will happen to the one man taken in the field?
He will go to heaven.
What is the other man in the field left for?
He will be left for hell.
Why does Jesus talk about him being left rather than thrown into hell?
The people outside Noah's ark were left for destruction from the Flood. Jesus is keeping this parallelism. Those taken are the saved in heaven and it implies that others are left.
What will happen to the one woman taken?
She will go to heaven.
What will happen to the other woman?
She will be left to go to hell.
How does this agree with the Parable of the Ten Virgins?
Five let in and five shut out.
What does Matthew 24.42 talk about?
Judgment Day
Let’s put it in a table to clarify the situation.
| Matthew 24. | Reference |
| 36 | Judgment Day |
| 37 | Judgment Day |
| 39 | Judgment Day |
|
40 |
Judgment Day |
|
41 |
Judgment Day |
| 42 | Judgment Day |
| 44 | Judgment Day |
Do you see any indication in the text that verses 40 and 41 talk about a totally different time?
No
Do you see any indication in the text that verses 40 and 41 talk about a Judgment Day, the same time verses 36-39 and 42-44 talk about?
Yes--it is a continuation of them. "That is how it will be (v. 39b)."
So, what is Matthew 24.40-41 talking about?
Judgment Day
What are we to keep watch for in Matthew 24.43-44?
Judgment Day
What are we to keep watch for in Matthew 24.45-51?
Judgment Day
What does the Parable of the Ten Virgins talk about?
Judgment Day
What does the Parable of the Talents talk about?
Judgment Day
What does the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats talk about?
Judgment Day
Does Matthew 24-25 teach the Rapture?
NO
How can you be sure?
It is talking about Judgment Day.
Does 1 Thessalonians 4.13-5.11 Teach the Rapture?
Read the whole section over first.
What is referred to by “the coming of the Lord” in 1 Thessalonians 4.15?
Judgment Day
What is referred to by “the day of the Lord” in 1 Thessalonians 5.2?
Judgment Day
How do Paul’s words about a thief in the night (1 Th 5.2) line up with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24-25? How does that confirm your interpretation about which day 1 Thessalonians 4.13-5.11 is talking about?
Judgment Day will be a day of unexpected destruction, like a thief comes unexpectedly.
What does 1 Thessalonians 5.3 line up with in Matthew 24-25?
No one knows that day or hour--Judgment Day will be unexpected.
So, what day is 1 Thessalonians 4.14-5.3 talking about?
Judgment Day
In 1 Thessalonians 4.14-17 Paul has given us an in-depth time line of Judgment Day.
Judgment Day
4.14 Jesus brings dead believers with him
4.16a Jesus will come down
4.16b Dead in Christ will rise
4.17a Living believers will be caught up in the air
4.17b All believers will be with the Lord forever
Will there be unbelievers present on Judgment Day?
Yes
How do you know?
From the parable of the sheep and the goats, the talents and the ten virgins
Are there unbelievers mentioned in Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 4.13-17?
No
I think this is the kicker for those who believe in the Rapture. The absence of unbelievers leads them to think this day Paul is talking about refers to a day different than the Judgment Day. (Remember, these are the same kinds of people who almost delight in talking about the torments and anguish of the damned on the Last Day!). They have a point. There should be unbelievers mentioned if you are talking about Judgment Day…unless there is some guidance from the text.
Look closely at 1 Thessalonians 4.13. What are the Thessalonians upset about?
The believers who have already died will miss out on the Last Day and are now without hope!
What will happen to the souls of those who have died before the Last Day comes (1 Thessalonians 4.14)?
Jesus will bring them along with him on Judgment Day.
Look closely at 1 Thessalonians 4.15. What false thinking particularly disturbs the Thessalonians?
Dead believers will be second rate at the Judgment Day or may even miss out entirely on everlasting life.
So, instead of talking about sheep and goats, believers and unbelievers, what two groups of people is Paul talking about in 1 Thessalonians 4.13-16?
Dead believers and living believers when Judgment Day comes.
This flow chart may help things.
Saints Alive and Dead at Judgment Day
Put the appropriate letter by the numbered box in the chart above.
a. We will be with the Lord forever
b. Dead in Christ will rise first
c. God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him
d. We who are still alive and left will be caught up with them in the clouds
1 c
2 b
3 d
4 a
Why aren’t the unbelievers mentioned in this discussion on Judgment Day?
They are not the topic of the Thessalonians' question.
Why would this be an encouragement to the believers at Thessalonica?
The dead believers will in no way miss out on Judgment Day or eternal life. In fact, they will have front row seats!
Now Paul goes on in 1 Thessalonians 5 to discuss how we should live that Judgment Day does not surprise us like a thief in the night.
How does this echo Jesus’ words in Matthew 24-25?
Keep watch. He mentions drunkenness and the need for self-control. His imagery matches with Jesus' imagery.
How do we “keep watch” so that Judgment Day does not catch us unawares?
Be faithful, keep living the Christian life.
Does this line up with Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 24-25?
Yes!
Does 1 Thessalonians 4.13-5.11 teach the Rapture?
NO!
But what about the “Alive Believers” when Judgment Day comes? Paul isn’t all that clear about what will happen to the “Alive Believers” on Judgment Day. You have to go to 1 Corinthians 15.50-53. Let’s go back to the chart in fill in a few more items on the basis of 1 Corinthians 15.50-53.
Saints Alive and Dead at Judgment Day
We’ve got boxes 1, 2, 3 and 4 down pat. Review it briefly.
On the basis of 1 Corinthians 15.50-53, what happens at 2A on Judgment Day?
The living believers (we) will be changed.
How do we know 1 Corinthians 15.50-53 is talking about Judgment Day?
Paul is talking of the resurrection of the body on Judgment Day.
Discussion
1. Why do people believe in the Rapture?
They are in the habit of following the teachings of men rather than going by the simple words of the Bible. Let's face it, there's not a lot of publicity to be gained by sticking to the truths of the Bible, but there's a veritable cult of the personality when you go down to the local (false) Christian bookstore and see the full color posters of this generation's latest false prophets. Many people, especially from Reformed circles, are just plain bad Bible students. They read into the Bible what they have been told to find by their religious leaders.
2. Why do people see the Rapture being taught in Scripture?
They are bad Bible students. They are blinded by their false teachers, the devil or their sinful human nature, to simply let the words speak for themselves. They mangle the grammar and sense of the sentences. It certainly is exciting. It certainly is new. And that's the catch. Some people are simply into Christianity for the next great adventure and this gang will never let them stop long enough to catch their breath, putting one of "God's causes" ahead of them without let-up.
3. Do you see any dangers to the teaching of the Rapture?
It takes attention away from the cross of Christ. It can lead to a false security--"Relax," says the super-cool unbeliever--"I'm going to get religion right after the Rapture when I know all this God stuff is really for real." It teaches people to rely more on the teachings of man than the clear words of the Bible. That's what the Pope wanted in the days of Luther! Finally, all false teaching is dangerous for it will eat away at the rest of a person's faith. If only my steak is rotten, but my salad, vegetables, milk, dinner bun and chocolate pudding are fine, I'm still going to get sick if I woof down that steak. Get rid of it and enjoy a wholesome, healthy meal!