A. The Timing of the Rapture.

A. The Timing of the Rapture.
 The Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost, over 2,000 years ago, and will end with the Rapture. The Rapture will begin the 7 years of tribulation, which will end with Christ coming to the Earth and establishing His Kingdom for a 1,000 years. I will list some of the false claims and show from Scripture why they are not true.
1. The Rapture Is Not The Same Event As The Coming of Christ at The End of The Tribulation.
There are some who teach the Rapture takes place at the end of the Tribulation Period. This has confused many, leading them to believe in what is called the “Post-Tribulation Rapture; i.e., the Rapture does not take place until after the 7-Year Tribulation Period of God’s judgment. Therefore, combining the Rapture and the Revelation both as one event.
2. Refutation:
First of all, at the Rapture, all the saved are “caught up” to be with Christ in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Then we which 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
In Matthew, Chapters 24, 25, we have Christ coming to the Earth and judging the nations, which takes place AFTER the Tribulation Period. Matthew 25:40 is used by some, falsely, saying it is the Rapture. As we shall see, it cannot be the Rapture.
“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
Notice, as we quote Matthew 25:31-34, it becomes perfectly clear that this judgment involves 3 things:
1. Christ comes to the earth,
2. He will sit on His throne,
3. He will separate the saved from the lost.
a. Matthew 25:31-34.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (Matthew 25:31).
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep (saved) from the goats (lost): (Matthew 25:32). 
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (Matthew 25:33)
Then shall the King say unto them on his riht hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
b. Matthew 25:41 Tells Us What Happens To the Lost.
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, DEPART FROM ME, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
1. Notice carefully, the difference between the Rapture spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, and Christ’s Coming, spoken of in Mathew, Chapters 24, 25.
2. At the Rapture, Christ does not come to the Earth, as we are caught up to meet Him in the clouds.
“Then we which 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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
3. Whereas, in Matthew, Christ COMES to the Earth to establish His Kingdom.
4. Notice carefully, at the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians, the saved are the ones taken to Heaven; while the ones left are the lost. 
5. Just the opposite takes place in Matthew. Those that are taken are the lost, cast into the Lake of Fire; while those that are left are the saved who enter into the Kingdom in their earthly bodies.
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, COME, YE BLESSED of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:34)
Therefore, it is imperative for the Bible student to understand that these two events are entirely different; being separated by the Seventieth Week of Daniel, known as the 7-Year Tribulation Period. Without acknowledging the difference between Christ’s coming for his Church and His coming to establish the Kingdom, one will only be led into more error concerning Bible prophecy.
Note: A good principle to remember is, whenever Christ’s Return is spoken of in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, it is never the Rapture; but, rather, the return of Christ at the conclusion of the Tribulation to judge the nations. The Rapture was a mystery, revealed unto the Apostle Paul after the Church Age had begun. (Ephesians 3:1-10) The Church does not go through, or into, the Tribulation Period!
3. A Pre-Tribulation Rapture Is What the Bible Teaches.
Now let us examine the proof: The Church Is Delivered From the Wrath of The 7-Year Tribulation as we learn from 1 Thessalonians 1:10,
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, WHICH DELIVERED US from the wrath to come.”
In examining this verse there are three things we need to recognize: Paul was writing to Christians ( 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:25).
1. They were already delivered from the wrath of Hell. (John 3:36)
2. Notice “which delivered us” is translated in the past tense. This is incorrect, as the Greek has it in the future tense. It should read as “who delivers us,” or, “which will deliver us.”
3. The “wrath to come” is not in reference to Hell, as they were already delivered from Hell; but, rather, to the Tribulation Period as stated in Revelation 6:17.
“For the great day of his WRATH is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
Therefore, the Christians that are alive at the Rapture will not go into the Tribulation, known as the “day of his wrath.” Notice the word “us,” which includes all Christians, the spiritual and the backslider. As many say, “The Church is not ruptured; but, raptured!”
4. The Church Is "Delivered" From Wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). 
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath (Tribulation wrath, same as 1 Thessalonians 1:10); but to obtain salvation (i.e., “deliverance”) by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Greek word for “salvation” is “SOTERIA” and denotes “deliverance, preservation, salvation.” For example: In Acts 27:34, the word “health” is translated from the Greek “soteria.”  In other words, in Acts 27:33, we find the sailors had gone 14 days without eating. In Acts 27:34 Paul said,
“…take (or eat) some meat: for this is for your health, (i.e. “your deliverance).”
...from getting sick, or dying. Also, in Php_1:19, “salvation” should have been translated “deliverance,” since Paul was speaking about his deliverance from prison from where he had written to the Philippians. A literal translation of Php_1:9 would read,
“For God hath not appointed us (Christians) to the wrath of the tribulation, but to obtain deliverance from it, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes for His Church.”
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we have the Rapture. Chapter 5 continues with Christ’s Return at the Rapture, assuring all Christians that they will be delivered from the Tribulation Period.
5. Spiritual and Carnal Christians Are Raptured At The Same Time!
The following Scriptures refute the erroneous and false teaching that only the spiritual Christians will be raptured; while the carnal Christians will have to go through the Tribulation.
We will continue, as we examine and analyze the next verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:10.
“Who died for us, that, whether we WAKE or SLEEP; we should live together with him (Christ).”
We will look at three important words in this verse.
a. “Wake.” It is the same Greek word “gregoreo” as translated “watch” in 1 Thessalonians 5:6.
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us WATCH and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
b. “Sleep.” The Greek word for “sleep” in Verse 10 is the same as that for “sleep” in Verse 6. 
“Therefore let us not SLEEP, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
Therefore, "sleep" is in reference to those Christians who are “lying down on the job” and not serving the Lord. Some perverted minds try to proclaim that “sleep” here is referring to “death.” If that were true—how would you “watch and be sober” if you were dead? Preposterous!
c. “Together.” The Greek word is “hama” and means “together at the same time.” (Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words).
Now, let us put Verse 10 together and write it out, including the meaning of each of the 3 words we have examined.
“Who died for us, that, whether we WAKE (watching and serving the Lord); OR, SLEEP (not serving the Lord), we should live TOGETHER (AT THE SAME TIME) with him (CHRIST).” (1 Thessalonians 5:10)
These Scriptures clearly set forth the truth that ALL Christians, those serving the Lord and those who are not, will be raptured together at the same time.
6. No Partial Rapture.
This is Satan’s trickery to lead one to believe that you must suffer and/or have good works to complete God’s salvation. One must remember that the completion of our salvation is the redemption of our bodies at the Rapture! Notice Romans 8:23,
“…even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY.”
At the Rapture our salvation is completed. Those who have died receive their resurrected bodies from the grave; while those that are alive have their bodies transformed as they go up to be with the Lord.
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Php_3:20)
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Php_3:20-21)
The word “conversation “is the Greek “POLITEUMA” and means “citizenship.” It is said of the heavenly status of believers, and should have been translated as such.
Those who propagate a partial Rapture have succumbed to Satan’s subtlety. (Genesis 3:1 and 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). If Satan cannot convince you that good works are necessary for salvation; then, he will attempt, through his ministers, to convince you that those that are backslidden must go into the Tribulation. All false teaching is satanically inspired!
Some that hold this view have told me that, this is to have them suffer for their disobedience and give them a chance to redeem themselves. Thus showing God they are really Christians by now being faithful while being persecuted. Sounds good—EXCEPT it contradicts God’s Word!
This damnable philosophy denies the Judgment Seat of Christ for all Christians,
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Therefore, they do not believe one is saved eternally; but, rather, must have good works in order to maintain their salvation. This is very cunning; as, they accuse God of being a liar and unfaithful to His Word when He promised the believers they would “never perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
7. No Partial Rapture (1 John 3:2).
“Beloved, now are WE the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear WE shall be like him; for WE shall see him as he is.” 
The “we” is all-inclusive of the spiritual and the carnal Christian. No distinction between the two is made here.
8. No Partial Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51).
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but WE shall ALL be changed.”
At the Rapture, ALL, or every Christian, whether serving the Lord; or not, will be changed, i.e., receive their glorified bodies. Notice the last 4 words in 1 Corinthians 15:52,
“…and WE shall ALL be changed.”
The “WE” is all-inclusive of every Christian. Again, a partial Rapture philosophy disintegrates in the light of God’s Word.
9. No Partial Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17). 
“Then WE which 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.” 
Again, the Holy Spirit uses the word “WE.” This eliminates any distinction between the spiritual and carnal Christian; thus, illuminating the false teaching of a partial Rapture.