There is an ongoing argument between some preterist
groups concerning an actual rapture event. One
camp takes the bible literally while the other attempts
to spiritualize the subject into fuzzy dogma that
nobody can ever really figure out. In this article I
am not going to analyze the whole rapture scenario
but I am only concerned with why it was a necessary
event that had to occur at an exact period of time and
for an exact reason. If you want to learn more about
the event, I highly recommend getting a copy of
“Expectations Demand a First Century Rapture”
by Ed Stevens at www.preterist.org .
There are several places in scripture where a
rapture is mentioned. The English phrase would be
“caught up”, the Greek would be ”harpazo” and the
Latin, “rapio”. I only mention that because there is
someone out there that is going to say that the word
“rapture” isn’t even in the bible. Well, if you read it in
Latin, then it is. It depends on which language you
are reading it in. So, my question is; “Why did
there have to be a rapture anyhow?” To answer that
question we need to delve into what was happening
during the first century.
As we know, Jesus was crucified in the year
AD 30. After his personal resurrection he
returned for 40 days to instruct his disciples
on their personal mission which would last for
almost 40 years. In acts 1:8 Jesus informed
them that they will be receiving power to become
His witnesses.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you; and you shall
be [c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This power, or “inspiration” set the apostles apart from all
other human beings as they had power to loose and
bind and to produce scripture and miracles such
that no others had. While others also received the
Holy Spirit, they did not have the power of inspiration
that the apostles held. Daniel predicted this very
time, and time limits were set on it.
Daniel 9:24“Seventy [e]weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
[f]To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint [g]the Most Holy.
My focus is on the last sentence where
Daniel is told that vision and prophecy would
be sealed up. The true message of God
has always been a controlled substance. As
you make your way through the bible from beginning
to end you find that certain people called prophets were
given special insight into the spiritual realm. That is why
they were often called seers. This prevented “just
anyone” from speaking the word of the true God or
from performing miracles. Once Jesus arrived he was
a prophet and of course more than a prophet.
Once the Messiah finally appeared and his message
established there would be no more reason for inspiration.
Jesus predicted an end to Judaism and gave his
disciples the power to be witnesses of Him until that
mission was complete. Jesus clearly told them that it
would occur before that generation fully passed away.
When the time came for Jesus to return in glory
and put an end to his unfaithful wife, Judaism, and
to marry a faithful wife, the Christian Church, he
created an absolute delineation point by rapturing
up his inspired apostles and Christians of that period
and at an exact point in time which we now know was
in AD 66 (see my article “The Day and Hour Revealed”).
This put an end to inspiration such that the apostles
had. This is an important event because it now
prevents anyone else from adding to or subtracting from
scripture. For example, Mohammed, Buddha, Hare
Krishna, Joseph Smith Jr., Charles Taze Russell,
and anyone else has absolutely no right to claim prophet
status. It puts them all into the cult category.
Because people do not understand this simple doctrine,
they fall for all sorts of false teachings. They are still
waiting for a future rapture and end of the world event
that isn’t going to happen. This ignorance opens them
up to be deceived by any smooth talking scam artist.
However, once you familiarize yourself with the truth
of a first century rapture and, close of the age, you will
no longer be subject to liars.
