Will the Rapture protect you?

Monday, January 14, 2013 (All day)

Does the Bible teach you will be protected in heaven during the tribulation?

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[Steve Myers] Have you ever thought of a Bible passage and then when you actually read what that passage said, it said something a little bit different than what you thought it said.

A situation like that came up over the weekend, had a question on our program on the rapture. On Beyond Today we had the program, "The Rapture: Hope or Hoax? " and the question came in, someone messaged to me and said, "One reason I believe in a rapture is that God says He promises to protect His people in heaven." And of course they're referring to the Great Tribulation because they put up this passage in their message. And in that message they cited the book of Revelation and in 3:10 was that message, or that passage that they were referring to.

So I got out the Bible to make sure I remembered exactly what it says, and here's what that passage actually says, it says, "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth."

And so reading that passage, you put it in the context of the letters to the churches that John was recording here that God's people it says - you could certainly imply they will be protected.  It says God will keep you from the hour of trial, which seems to certainly imply the Great Tribulation.

Now here's the question though. If protection is being mentioned here, is it telling us where that's going to be?

See, JJ who messaged to me assumed that it was saying protection in heaven so that somehow you'd be raptured off to heaven and protected from the Tribulation. But when you actually read that passage it doesn't say that at all. It mentioned a protection, "I'll keep you from the hour," but it doesn't say where. So when you put all of the passages together you can plainly see that it doesn't mean heaven. In fact, a few passages a little bit lower Revelation 12:14 talks about a place in the wilderness. It doesn't even talk about heaven at all. So I think that's something that we should all take to heart that if we really think a passage says something be sure and check it out.

Get out your Bible. Look it up. Notice what exactly it says, and then we'll be able to tell more specifically what the Bible really is talking about. So don't take anything for granted. Look it up. Hopefully you'll take that challenge and see what the Bible really says.

That's BT Daily . We'll see you next time.

5 comments
Submitted on Jan 14, 2013, 5:44 pm

KARS

KARS's picture

Over the years I have found that many Bible teaching tools take the scriptures or theologians teachings out of context. I have seen charts done in this way.

It is best to look up all scriptures and like Mr. Myers said; read it in context.

Good advice.



Submitted on Jan 16, 2013, 6:49 am

linda effenberger

linda effenberger's picture

We read in the Bible to prove all things. It takes reading the Bible personally as a complete book, both the old and the new testament, to find the truth and not relying on someone's interpretation of a specific passage. The Bible will explain itself if we approach it with a willingness to know the truth revealed in the written Word of God as we also ask God to help us understand what we read.

Can we say that there are mistranslations in the Bible? Could it be more of a misunderstanding than a mistranslation?



Submitted on Jan 24, 2013, 12:33 pm

Webelieve

Webelieve's picture

I mean no disrespect but I am having a very difficult time believing in a 'rapture'. Am I the only one? There are a few verses in the New Covenant that mention 'caught up with Jesus" and I understand caught up to mean 'violently grabbed' but I can find no mention in the Old Covenant of this rapture. Also, wouldn't the rapture infer a 3rd coming of Christ our Savior? I'm sorry but I just cannot believe in this rapture thought. Please educate me! Thanks and many of G-D's blessings to UCG and your labor of love.



Submitted on Jan 25, 2013, 1:01 am

Ivan Veller

Ivan Veller's picture

Hello WeBelieve,

Yes--the Bible teaches that "as...he has appeared once for all...so Christ...will appear a second time" (Hebrews 9:26-28, ESV 2011), and prophesies that "the things that cannot be shaken" will "remain" (Hebrews 10:12-13 ESV). May I recommend these resources:

1. The Rapture: Hope or Hoax? http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/doctrinal-beliefs/rapture-hoax-o...

2. The Rapture: A Popular but False Doctrine http://www.ucg.org/doctrinal-beliefs/rapture-popular-false-doctrine/



Submitted on Jan 25, 2013, 1:03 am

Ivan Veller

Ivan Veller's picture

My apologies: The second scriptural reference was Hebrews 12:27.



Submitted on Feb 8, 2013, 3:00 am

Skip

Skip's picture

Hello Webelieve,
Congratulations! We do not believe in a rapture either.
That concept was a creation of a human mind, not God breathed Truth.
Continue to search out the Truth. UCG can help you do that.



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