A Biblical Rapture Perspective

STUDY LESSON 1

A BIBLICAL RAPTURE PERSPECTIVE
OR
THE ELECT ENDURE TO THE END

Something To Consider:
There are several rapture timing perspectives espoused by various groups for different reasons. The best reason for any doctrine, teaching, or tradition to be taught as truth must first and foremost be based entirely from a biblical basis. The truth being sought after and taught must be obtained entirely from the pages of sacred Scripture. Otherwise, the doctrine, teaching, and or tradition, are simply another man-made means of deceiving the masses of individuals in any given generation and beyond. Therefore, a proper biblical rapture perspective is essential for not being deceived, especially for those possibly living in the end times.

Jesus addressed the subject of end time deception on several occasions and especially in Matthew’s gospel chapter 24. In four [4] separate verses Jesus warned of end time deception and cautioned the final generation to not be deceived. Why would Jesus warn those living in the end time generation to not be deceived if there was not a need to be warned?

The answer of course is that He would not have warned us time and again if deception was not to play a major role in end time events. Who better than Jesus, to set the stage for a study into a biblical rapture perspective using Scripture as our biblical GPS and or divine directional compass? And the fact remains, there is no one more qualified than Jesus to address a biblical rapture perspective and that which concerns the end time elect of God.

Therefore, Jesus declared in Matthew 24.4, “Take heed [beware] that no one deceives [misleads] you.” His first words of warning in Matthew chapter 24, which clearly lays out end time events exposed according to Jesus, are, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Jesus followed up in verse 5, by stating, “For many will come in My name [in the name of Jesus], saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”

Notice Jesus predicted that many will come in His name as if Christian, declaring that Jesus is the Christ, and according to Jesus they succeed in deceiving many, not some, but many. Therefore, the warning, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”

Something Else To Consider:
In verse 11 of Matthew 24, Jesus also predicted an increase in religious deception by proclaiming, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” Oh how I wish that was not the case! But Jesus has rightly in advance predicted precisely what has happened within the last 100 years or so, concerning the widespread religious deceiving of many.

And how do we know this to be true? How do we know that false prophets have risen within the ranks of the so-called church? After careful study of Scripture one only needs to look closely at several recent false doctrines that have been fabricated as if the truth and approved by many leaders within the organized church.

An honest and diligent study of the bible should reveal false teaching which would include the timing of the rapture, easy grace without true repentance or requiring any life altering changes, false promises of salvation without any biblical conditions or demand of Scripture to live holy and righteous lives, as well as the health, wealth, and prosperity foolishness that cannot rightly be preached in most third world countries, but is widely preached and excitedly accepted in America.

All of the above have not only been approved and espoused by many so-called religious leaders especially in America, but these false doctrines, contrived concepts, and non-biblical theories have been used to increase the financial coffers of Christianity and their so-called charismatic leaders. But, to the last day church of Laodicea Jesus declared, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’, and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore, be zealous and repent.” And to the true church of this generation Jesus’ message remains a message of repentance when required!

In verse 23 of Matthew chapter 24, Jesus further warned, “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days [the days of the end time great tribulation] will be shortened.”  And again in verse 24 of Matthew 24 Jesus predicted, “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” And so the first question to be asked concerning end time deception should be who are the elect that Jesus mentions while speaking of the end time great tribulation and end time events?

Something More To Consider:
For those who have never really searched the Scriptures for themselves, the immediate programmed answer by most to the question of who are the elect is the nation of Israel. Yes, the nation of Israel was chosen by God to be a nation who He wanted to rightly represent Him to the world, but the nation of Israel rejected God’s Word and His authority over it time and time again.

And finally as a nation, Israel rejected God’s Son Jesus and His atoning death upon an old rugged cross. But, keep your eyes on the nation of Israel and especially the much coveted city of Jerusalem for end time events to unfold. This misconception of the nation of Israel being the elect of God does not have its roots in the biblical record. Like so many unscriptural thoughts, theories, traditions, and unbiblical doctrines of men, this heralded false concept is without validity whatsoever as it pertains to the truth of Scripture.

And what is worse is that a major portion of Christendom have approved just such false conceptions even including the false timing of the blessed hope as described by the apostle Paul, or known by the most recent term rapture. Therefore, if any rapture timing concept or theory is not found within Scripture, do not be deceived by its being much declared by false prophets as forewarned of by Jesus.

The term “elect” is mentioned approx. sixteen times in the bible. They are as follows: ten times the word elect refers to believers in general, two times elect refers to believers who are Gentiles, once the word elect defines believers who were Jewish, twice elect refers to Jesus, and once more the word elect is used of Jacob, the son of Abraham who became a believer in God as did his father of whom God accounted it to him for righteousness through Abraham’s belief, trust, and eventual unwavering enduring to the end faith in God.

A Few Final Words:
Paul, writing in Romans 11.7, speaking of the election of grace, announced, “What then? Israel [nation of Israel] has not obtained that which it seeks for; but the election [believing Gentiles] have obtained it [election by faith through grace], and the rest [nation of Israel] were blind [hardened].” Therefore, the elect of Matthew 24 according to the biblical record are true born again present tense Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ. Are we among that group of enduring to the end elect, and if not, why not?

But how does that biblical truth stand up against the fabricated fables that must be constructed in order to achieve the deception concerning the wrong timing of the rapture? How does this truth answer the man initiated end time theories, confusing charts, and ungodly end time graphs? The bottom line must be, do we believe the truth of God’s Word or man’s created and most deceptive false concepts? There is much too much at stake to believe the lie.

In Closing:
Speaking of end time deception, Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2.10-11, “And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” The true elect of God, the true believers in Jesus, contrary to those who perish, receive the truth of the Word of God and thereby will be saved if they are found by Jesus enduring to the end. Will we, you and I, be among the few of that end time group?

Or will we be further deceived by the strong delusion allowed by God so as to harden unbelievers in their unbelief? If so, it will be because of our rejection of the truth of God’s Word. If so, it will be because of our believing the lie. We must decide either to choose God’s will which may include suffering while alive on earth or God’s judgment which will last an eternity. It is our decision!