Some False Views of the Rapture
I. That
the rapture will only include "spiritual" Christians, leaving carnal
believers behind to endure a
seven-year "Protestant
purgatory" of some sort
A. Maybe this is what God should do
1. As it would serve most
of us right
2. But it is not what he is
going to do
B. The rapture
1. The proof of redemption
2. Both based on
a. Grace
b. Not human works
C. Dr. John Walvoord
1. Most of the scriptural
basis for the
partial rapture theory
a. In exhortations to
watch or look for
the coming of the Lord
b. Coupled with the
teaching that some
who fail to watch
will not be ready
when He comes
c. Scripture used for this stand
(1) Matt 13:40-51
(2) Matt 25:13
(3) Mark 13:33-37
(4) Luke 20:34-36
(5) Luke 21:36
(6) Philemon 1:10-12
(7) 1 Thess 5:6
(8) 2 Tim 4:8
(9) Titus 2:13
(10) Hebrews 9:24-28
(11) Rev 3:3
(12) Rev 12:1-6
d. In citing these passages
(1) Little distinction observed
(a) Between references
to Israel
(b) And references
to the Church
(2) And passages referring
(a) To the Second
Coming of Christ
to establish the
millennial
kingdom
(b) Are freely applied
to the rapture
(c) "The Rapture Question,
Zondervan, p.
100"
2. Thus the partial rapture
theory should be
rejected for the
following reasons
a. First,
(1) It confuses grace
(2) With rewards
b. Second,
(1) It divides the
Bride of Christ
(2) How can the
marriage take place
if part of the bride
is left on
the earth
c. Third,
(1) It ignores the
clear teaching to
the contrary
(2) Scripture to support this
(a) 1 Thess 1:9-10
(b) 1 Thess 2:19
(c) 1 Thess 4:14-16
(d) 1 Thess 5:4-11
(e) Rev 22:12
(f) 1 Cor 15:51 - very
important
