THE "RAPTURE" (Not in Bible) [ONE PLACE THEY GO FOR THIS DOCTRINE] Matthew 24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple. Matthew 24:2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." [The main topic is the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.] Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" [3 questions] Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. Matthew 24:6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. Matthew 24:10 "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Matthew 24:11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Matthew 24:12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), [Unclean pigs were offered on the altar.] Matthew 24:16 "then let those who are IN JUDEA flee to the mountains. Matthew 2l:17 "Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. Matthew 24:18 "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. Matthew 24:19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those with nursing babies in those days! Matthew 24:20 "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. Matthew 24:21 "For then there will be great TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:22 "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. Matthew 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:25 "See, I have told you beforehand. Matthew 24:26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. Matthew 24:27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:28 "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. Matthew 24:29 "Immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [This is the answer they wanted, but we know stars can't fall unless they are "luminaries" - important people in charge. See Isa 13:10; Joel 2:10; Gen 37:9-11] Matthew 24:30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. Matthew 24:33 "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the very doors. Matthew 24:34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled. Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:38 "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, Matthew 24:39 "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:40 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. [Their Rapture] Matthew 24:41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Matthew 24:42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:43 "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Matthew 24:44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him. Matthew 24:45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Matthew 24:46 "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Matthew 24:47 "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. Matthew 24:48 "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' Matthew 24:49 "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, Matthew 24:50 "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, Matthew 24:51 "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mark 13:19 "For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. [This it the parallel to Matt 24.] Mark 13:20 "And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. Mark 13:21 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. Mark 13:22 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Mark 13:23 "But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand. Mark 13:24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; Mark 13:25 "the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in heaven will be shaken. Mark 13:26 "THEN they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. [AFTER the other things Jesus prophesied.] Mark 13:27 "And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven. [ANOTHER SET OF SCRIPTURES THEY USE INCORRECTLY] Revelation 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" Revelation 7:14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of THE GREAT TRIBULATION, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. Revelation 20:2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; Revelation 20:3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. [CAN'T BE LITERAL ANY MORE THAN THE BEASTS ARE] Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison Revelation 20:8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. [THIS IS LITERALLY THE WAY IT HAPPENS when THE DAY comes.] 2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until THE DAY of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:10 But THE DAY of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the EARTH and the works that are in it WILL BE BURNED UP. [Will the reign be in fire?] 2 Peter 3:11 Therefore, SINCE ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE DISSOLVED, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 2 Peter 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of THE DAY of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Luke 21:27 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Mark 13:26 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 2 Thessalonians 1:6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 2 Thessalonians 1:8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 These shall be punished with EVERLASTING [PERMANENT] destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 2 Thessalonians 1:10 when He comes, in THAT DAY, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 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 THUS we shall ALWAYS be with the Lord. [NO TEMPORARY 1000 YEARS] 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that THE DAY of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; 1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on IMMORTALity, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." Luke 20:35 "But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; Luke 20:36 "nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for MEN to DIE once, but AFTER THIS the JUDGMENT, [NO OTHER INTERVENING AGES] Isaiah 34:4 All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their host shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine, and as fruit falling from a fig tree. Revelation 6:13 And the STARS of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. [See vs 15] Revelation 6:14 THEN the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, Revelation 6:16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! Revelation 6:17 "For THE GREAT DAY of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; there the mighty men shall cry out. Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT DAY; Jude 1:7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of ETERNAL fire. John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at THE last DAY." John 6:54 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at THE LAST DAY. [Christians eat the communion.] John 11:24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at THE last DAY." John 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 2 Peter 3:10 But THE DAY of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the EARTH and the works that are in it WILL BE BURNED UP. 2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. [There was the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and now the last age or dispensation. is here. THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS BEFORE THE JUDGMENT DAY.] Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. Hebrews 1:2 has in THESE LAST DAYS spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 1 Peter 1:20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in THESE LAST TIMES for you Daniel 12:4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." [Signs of the end] Matthew 26:64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Luke 14:14 "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." Luke 20:35 "But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; Luke 20:36 "nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice John 5:29 "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. [As soon as the good are raised to meet Him in the clouds, the judgment for all happens. See Matt 25:32-33; Acts 1:11] [My comments] Mel