NOV 3

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Memorise 1 Corinthians 15:51-58
“O death where is thy sting?”

Concerning the time of the rapture, there are 5 views: (1) Pretribulational rapture view which teaches that the rapture will happen before the 7-year Great Tribulation period begins; (2) Mid-tribulational rapture view which states that the rapture will happen in the middle (i.e. when it reaches 3½ years) of the Great Tribulation period; (3) Pre-Wrath rapture view which believes that the rapture will happen at the ¾-point of the Great Tribulation period; (4) Post-tribulational rapture view which says that the church will go through the Great Tribulation, and the rapture will happen only at the end of it; and (5) Partial rapture view that says that very spiritual believers will be raptured in the beginning, not so spiritual ones will be raptured in the middle, and the carnal ones will only be raptured at the end of the Great Tribulation period.

The Partial rapture view which advocates multiple raptures is untenable for a couple of reasons: (1) the rapture is stated as a single event that takes place at the last trump, and (2) the Great Tribulation period would be a sort of Protestant purgatory if believers have to go through the Great Tribulation. The Post-tribulation rapture view is also untenable because it would mean believers have to suffer the wrath to come. This contradicts 1 Thessalonians 5:9 which says that believers are not appointed unto wrath. Moreover, if all believers were raptured and all unbelievers destroyed at the end of the Great Tribulation, who would then inhabit the millennial kingdom of Christ on earth (Revelation 5:10)?

The only tenable views are the Pretribulational, Mid-tribulational, and Pre- Wrath rapture views. We should be charitable and not be dogmatic over which of the three is the correct view. Whether it is Pretrib, Mid-trib or Pre-wrath, the most important thing is to be sure that when Christ finally comes in the clouds, we will be caught up to meet Him in the air. We need to be sure of our salvation. But if you have no assurance of salvation, it is like a traveller studying three or four airline flight schedules from Singapore to New York, but has not bought his ticket. Whichever plane is leaving now, this very hour, how can you join the flight? Alas, to be stranded when others in your family are gone above!

Thought: Make sure of your salvation today!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, hear my humble cry: do not pass me by.