In today’s episode, we delve into the contentious topic of the pre-tribulation rapture theory, inspired by the popular ‘Left Behind’ series. We explore how this theory, originating from a 19th-century vision, has caused division among believers. By examining biblical prophecies, we discuss their incomplete nature and the underlying nuances that drive these debates, highlighting the significance of remaining steadfast and discerning in one’s faith.
The CEM Network is pleased to present Ronald L. Dart and Born to Win.
SPEAKER 02 :
An old friend of mine used to say that if the devil can’t get at you any other way, he will waste your time. I got a letter recently asking me to do a radio program on the question of the pre-tribulation rapture of the saints. This is the whole idea that’s behind that very successful left-behind series of books. So I did the mandatory Internet search on this phrase, rapture theory. I got nearly a million and a half web pages that used that expression. So I switched over. I searched on pre-tribulation rapture, and I got nearly a quarter million on that. Now, I’m not going to tell you that I did a comprehensive search to determine who was on which side of the issue and where the majority of the argument lay. But trust me, there were exhaustive and exhausting arguments being raised on both sides of it. And it struck me as I looked at it, I thought, what a massive amount of time has been wasted on this issue. Now, reason and common sense should say something to us when we encounter something like it. If the Bible were all that clear on the issue, do you suppose we would have this breadth of disagreement or all the hyperventilating about the disagreement? Actually, it turns out there are four theories on the rapture, not just two, and they have managed to create schism across a wide range of believers. Now, until I decided to waste some time on this issue, I didn’t know that the doctrine had never been advanced before about the year 1830. By accounts, it came in a private vision to a Scottish lass named Margaret MacDonald. She was a prophetess in the Catholic Apostolic Church. The fear was picked up and carried forward by one John Nelson Darby of the Brethren movement, and he refined it into something like what is taught today in any number of churches. Now, frankly, I think all these people who are bickering about the rapture and separating themselves brother from brother ought to be ashamed of themselves. There is, though, one interesting thing about the vision that the Scottish lass had said about this, and I think it opens a door to understanding. Christian journalist Dave McPherson wrote a book on the subject of the origin of the pre-tribulation rapture, and he said this, We have seen that a young Scottish lassie named Margaret MacDonald had a private revelation in Port Glasgow, Scotland, in the early part of 1830, that a select group of Christians would be caught up to meet Christ in the air before the days of Antichrist. End of quotation. Now the words I want to call to your attention from that are these, a select group of Christians. It may surprise you to learn this, although after you think about it, it’ll make sense. Underlying most schisms in the Christian faith is this idea that there is a select group. Never mind that all Christians are a select group. These folks are the best of the best, the select of the select. It is an almost irresistible appeal to being an insider. And it reminded me of something C.S. Lewis said. He was speaking before a college group, and he spoke of what he called the temptation to the inner circle. Lewis, describing this desire to be in the inner ring, said, Of all the passions, the passion for the inner ring is the most skillful in making a man who is not yet a very bad man do very bad things. And one of the bad things that can be done and has been done is to divide brother against brother. Now, this whole thing is a prophetic theory, right? And there are a few things about prophecy that ought to be obvious but apparently are not. Let me point them out. 2 Peter 1, verse 20. Peter, writing, says this. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. So don’t ever imagine that because someone begins to interpret the Bible in a given way that this comes from God. That’s not the way prophecies in the Scripture come about. Now, someone will say, though, yes, but this girl McDonald was carried by the Spirit. Maybe. But here is what the Apostle John says about that. 1 John 4. Beloved, believe not every spirit, But try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. My goodness, do you mean someone might show up and say that they have had a vision from God and lie about it? Yeah, apparently they would. Would it be possible that someone may have just had a bad dream and interpreted it as being from God? Yes, it’s entirely possible. Well, now, if we’re supposed to test the spirits, to try them, what standard can we use to try them by? Well, all we have that we can really depend on is the Bible, Holy Scripture. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 8, writing about love, said, “…love never fails.” But where there are prophecies, they will cease. Where there are tongues, they will be stilled. Where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. Now, the word for perfection in the original Greek here is teleos, which means that which is complete as opposed to something that is in part. Now, I want to put a statement out here on the table for you to think about. Here it is. All prophecy is incomplete. You know, I’m not saying it’s wrong, not saying it’s mistaken. I’m not saying your ideas about it are right, wrong, or indifferent. All I’m saying is that when the prophecy manages to make its way down to our consciousness, it comes there incomplete. Paul just said it, didn’t he? We prophesy in part. But when that which is complete comes, that which is in part disappears. Unfortunately, the purposes of prophecy are not well understood among Christian folk. Consider, for example, why should God reveal anything about the future to us in the first place? I mean, what’s the point? You know, I guess if he were going to reveal to us it would be a big bank crash next Tuesday, it would be useful to us to know if we had stock to sell them and get out of the way. But God doesn’t do that. He couldn’t care less about whether you lose a little money in the stock market. So why does he tell anybody anything about the future? Is it to turn us into insiders so we can say, I know something you don’t know? No, of course not. There actually are two important purposes served by prophecy. One, it gives us a chance to repent and change the outcome. One of the great classics of this is the book of Jonah, where Jonah comes wandering into Nineveh saying, yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown. He wasn’t there just to tell them what was going to happen. He was there to give them a chance to turn it around, and turn it around they did. They repented, 40 days came and went, and Nineveh didn’t fall. The other reason why God tells us the future in any degree at all is it enables us to see God’s hand in history when it happens. We aren’t left there just standing with our face hanging out and saying, my, that was just awful bad luck. No, because we have prophecy. We know why it happened, and we know that God did it. Now, prophecy in the Bible is like an oil painting. The closer you stand to it, the less you see. Prophecy gives us an overview of what is coming so we can make better decisions and understand what’s coming down. If you approach biblical prophecy this way, you will probably find the whole argument about the rapture largely irrelevant. Now grab a pencil and paper. I’ve got a free offer for you. And when I come back, we’ll step back and take a look at the big picture.
SPEAKER 01 :
The Real Profits series, which includes the entirety of the prophet Jeremiah, is available in album form. If you would like to get in on this story from the beginning, write or call and ask for your free introductory CD titled Real Profits. Write to Born to Win, Post Office Box 560, White House, Texas 75791. Or call toll free 1-888-BIBLE44. That’s 1-888-242-5344. And tell us the call letters of this radio station.
SPEAKER 02 :
So following my analogy of the oil painting, let’s take a step back and get an overview of prophecy in this matter. As mysterious as the book of Revelation is, it does have an outline that anyone who looks at it really can see. First, there is a seal, actually a scroll, that’s sealed with seven seals. John is carried off to heaven in vision. He said he saw one sitting on a throne in the middle of the living creatures and the elders, and he saw something in his right hand. It was a book, a scroll, written inside and on the backside and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaim with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? And no one in heaven, no one in earth, no one under the earth was able to open the book or even to look on it. And John’s just weeping. His heart would break because nobody was found worthy to open and read the book or to look at it. Even, I suppose, the one sitting on that throne. And one of the elders said to him, Oh, don’t weep. Behold, the lion of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof. And John turned and he looked, and there out in the middle of all this stood a lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.” Now, you’ve got to realize when you’re reading Revelation, you’re seeing all kinds of symbolism. And seven horns probably means all power. Seven eyes means all seeing. And he came and he took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts, the 24 elders, all fell down before the Lamb. They had harps and vials full of odors, the prayer of all the saints. And they sang a song saying, You are worthy to take the book and to open the seals of it. Why? For you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. The Lamb of God had earned the right to open this book by dying. No one else could do it. Now, the logical assumption follows that this event takes place at a point in time, and the sequential opening of the seven seals follows in time. One seal follows on the heels of another. Perhaps having been opened, the first seal remains open while the second one is being opened. But nevertheless, there is a sequence happening. So we begin to find the format of the outline of the book of Revelation. When the seventh seal finally is opened, this is talked about in Revelation 8, verse 1. When he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Everything went quiet. And I saw seven angels that stood before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. And then another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer. And to him was given much incense that she would offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar before the throne. Now, we have come down through time through seven seals. The opening of the seventh seal introduces another set of seven. And the seven angels will now sound their trumpets in succession and all hell breaks loose upon the earth. So the seventh seal is comprised of seven trumpets. And thus far, one event seems to follow on the heels of another. Then comes the seventh and last trumpet. By this time, you would think that nearly every organized activity on the face of the earth has come to a halt, but probably not. In Revelation 11, verse 15, the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Now, you don’t have to know a lot about the Bible to know where you’re at. We now come to the establishment of the kingdom of God under Christ, to the return of Christ and his control over this earth. And the 24 elders that were before God, they fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which are and were and are to come, because you have taken to you your great power and have reigned. So now we come to a pivotal point in time. It’s been preceded by two sets of seven, and we have finally come to the end of that. The nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and you should give reward to your servants, the prophets and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great, and that you should destroy them which destroy the earth. Wow, it looks like the environmentalists will have their day. And the temple of God was opened in heaven. There were seen in his temple the ark of his testament. There were lightnings and voices and thunderings, earthquake and great hail. So, following the seventh trumpet, there then followed the seven last plagues, which are said to be the wrath of God. But wait. We’ve passed up an important event. It’s hinted at in what we just read in the fact that God will judge the dead and give reward to his saints. But we have to now back up to 1 Corinthians 15 for something that takes place in this context. 1 Corinthians 15 is called the resurrection chapter because it seems to be about the resurrection from front to back. Paul writes in chapter 15, verse 21, “…for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits. Afterward, they that are Christ’s at his coming. So, when do we get to be raised from the dead? At Christ’s coming. Later, in verse 51, Paul says, Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, this mortal must put on immortality. So then when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, when this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. So, at the last trumpet, the dead are raised, and we, and the way Paul uses this, I think he’s talking about those of us who are alive, shall be changed. The resurrection takes place at the last trumpet. I don’t know where you could find any disagreement, any serious disagreement among Christian folks on that. If you’re dead, you’re going to stay dead until the return of Christ and that seventh trumpet in that sequence of seven is blown. So, when does this rapture take place? This time when saints are caught up. That’s what the word rapture means. It comes from a word you can catch away. The idea being that before the general resurrection, before the time of the Antichrist, before the Great Tribulation, some saints are carried off. When? This takes us back to 1 Thessalonians. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, mind you, we’re staying stepping back. We’re not going to get the magnifying glass out to look at brushstrokes yet. He said, I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you sorrow not like others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep. Now, this is really a fascinating statement he makes here because on the face of it, he assumes the possibility of the return of Christ in his own lifetime. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone because, after all, Jesus said no man knows the day or the hour. That means Paul didn’t know. But at the same time, he says, well, if it’s going to happen that way, this is the way it would be. That those of us who are alive and remain to the coming of Christ are not going to precede those who are dead. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of the archangel, the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, not last. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Now comfort one another with these words. Now you can parse this any way you want, but the overview is plain enough. All the saints, living and dead, are caught up, raptured, at the same time, all together. And when is that? It is at Christ’s return at the last trump. Now, I fully understand there are explanations, there are proof texts for all the pre-tribulation rapture theories. But for me, they are like a person who has been shown a fine oil painting, a still life. It’s a bowl of fruit that is so real you can almost taste the apple. And this person says, well, wait, just look at it with this magnifying glass. See those brush strokes? That’s no apple. It’s just paint. Well, yes, it is. But there’s more. Stay with me through this short break.
SPEAKER 01 :
And when I come back, we’ll look at it further. For a free CD of this radio program that you can share with friends and others, write or call this week only and request the program titled Rapture and Resurrection. Write to Born to Win, Post Office Box 560, White House, Texas 75791. Or call toll free 1-888-BIBLE-44. That’s 1-888-242-5344.
SPEAKER 02 :
There is one enigmatic statement of Jesus that sometimes people use or think this applies to the rapture. Jesus in the Olivet Prophecy, it’s Matthew 24, verse 36, is talking about the time of his return. He says, “…of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” But as it was in the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark. And they didn’t have a clue until the flood came and swept them all away. So also the coming of the Son of Man shall be. Two will be in the field, one taken, the other left. Two women should be grinding at the mill, one shall be taken, the other left. Watch, therefore, for you don’t know what hour your Lord does come. Now, that’s a very serious warning and one that every Christian should take seriously. We should be living our lives day by day as though his coming might come any moment. In a way, for you or I, we could step off the curb and look the wrong way, and he will have come for us right then, right there when that car hits us. But, you know, it sort of makes you think about the bumper stickers you see on cars sometimes. In the event of a rapture, this car will be driverless. I see that, and I think, well, now, wait a minute. They don’t want me driving my car talking on my cell phone. Maybe it should be that people who believe they might leave this car driverless should give up their driver’s license. But what’s Jesus’ point in saying this? The point is simple enough. You need to be ready, my friend, because you just don’t know. And that’s the whole point. And how can one say that it’s not at the same time as the general resurrection? Because after all, we just saw the resurrection takes place at the return of Christ. And that’s what he’s talking about in this passage of Scripture. Now, mind you, there is an argument that can be made. And there are people of good faith on both sides of this issue. But the question I have to ask is, why bother with it? What value is there in knowing that one person may be caught away and another one left there to ride his car into a brick wall somewhere? The value is only in knowing that you need to be ready for Christ all the time. And don’t we know that? There is another scripture that is sometimes used in this regard. It’s in Revelation 3, verse 7. It’s the letter to the angel of the church at Philadelphia from Christ. These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens. I know your works. I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it, because you have a little strength, and you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Now, there are two extremely important things. These people had maintained Christ’s word, and they had not denied their relationship. They had not denied him in any way, shape, form, or fashion. He says, look, I’m going to make those of the synagogue of Satan that say they are Jews and aren’t, but lie, I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you. And then comes this statement. Because you have kept the word of my patience, I will also keep you from the hour of temptation that shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell in the earth. So, you know, there is, after all, a promise here that some people will be kept. But why? The answer is because you have kept the word of my patience. Now, I would think the important thing for us to understand from this, the important thing to take away, the thing that would save our lives, is knowing that we have to be patient in keeping his word. Do we need to persevere in keeping his word? This is what makes the difference, not the fact that we know this or that about some obscure scripture. Behold, he said, I come quickly. Hold fast what you have, that no man take your crown. I take away from this scripture one important thing, and that is that it is important how I live my life that’s going to make all the difference at the time of the end.
SPEAKER 01 :
not whether I have figured out this or that prophecy. Ronald Dart will be right back. If you would like more information or if you have any questions, write to Born to Win, Post Office Box 560, White House, Texas 75791. In the U.S. and Canada, call toll free 1-888-BIBLE-44 and visit our website at borntowin.net. When corresponding, please be sure to tell us the call letters of this station.
SPEAKER 02 :
In all my written material, I provide footnotes for my references. Obviously, I can’t do that on the radio. Nevertheless, we post all of our radio programs on our website for free download, and we include program notes which include what would in a book be footnotes. We provide links where they are available so you can go read them for yourselves, and also scripture references as well. One other thing that might be useful to know, if you’re on the Internet, these programs are available for listening or download 24-7. In fact, there are two weeks’ worth of programs available on our website at any given time. By far, the easiest way to get them, though, is by subscribing to our email newsletter. Just go to our website at www.borntowin.net, look in the What’s New box, and click on the link for email newsletter. It’s free. In fact, most of our material is free. Our policy is we give away all we can afford, and then we sell the rest. One more thing. Drop us a line or give us a call, even if you’re not asking for anything, and tell us you’re listening to this station. It’s the only way we can evaluate this station. Once again, our phone number is 1-888-BIBLE44, and the address is Post Office Box 560, White House, Texas, 75791. Until next time, I’m Ronald Dart. Thanks for listening.
