RP2. God's Purpose for the Rapture

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GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE RAPTURE IS FOUND IN NOAH AND LOT

Christians have argued and called each other names over the timing of the Rapture; is it Pre-trib, Mid-trib or Post-trib? For now, we can all agree that in everything that the Lord does, He has a purpose. Therefore, it is important to uncover the purpose for the Rapture and when we know this, the issue of timing can be better deliberated. For that, we will need to travel back thousands of years to the Old Testament to a couple of events whose lessons are applicable to the modern world.

THE DAYS OF NOAH

Noah lived over 4,700 years ago. The days of Noah were a time of great wickedness, continuous evil, corruption and violence.

• "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually ... The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." Gen 6:5, 6:11-12 
• And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them ... And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Gen 6:6-7,13

The ungodly world in Noah's time came under God's severe judgment but He "saved Noah ... a preacher of righteousness," (2 Peter 2:5) from His wrath because "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." (Gen 6:8). God in His justness removed a righteous man out of the path of His judgment and this is a picture of the Rapture.

SODOM AND GOMORRHA

Another picture of the Rapture is found in another example of God's judgment that is all to familiar to us.  

• "(God) spared not the old world, ... And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)" 2 Peter 2:5-8

The ungodliness where Lot was residing came to God's attention. Sodom and Gomorrha came under God's severe judgment but He "delivered Lot ... a righteous man" (2 Peter 2:8) from the path of His wrath. Here again, God in His justness removed a righteous man out of the path of His judgment. This is also a picture of the Rapture.

JUDGMENT FOLLOWED BY THE WRATH OF GOD

Both the massive annihilation of the world by water and the utter obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrha by fire serve as examples to man, a reminder of the consequences of ungodliness. His holiness and righteousness are the same yesterday, today and forever. Wickedness will not go unpunished.

As we saw, the world in Noah's days crossed the red line of God's patience and longsuffering. Sodom and Gomorrha similarly crossed God's red line.

The righteousness of God demands a just response to evil. The world has long entered the days of Noah and Sodom and the coming Tribulation judgment must take place. The Lord shepherding Noah into the ark (Gen 7:1) and the angels grabbing Lot by his hands to leave Sodom (Gen 19:15-16) BEFORE God's wrath was unleashed are pictures of the Rapture.

God removed Noah BEFORE the great flood overwhelmed the earth. God took Lot out of Sodom BEFORE raining fire and brimstone on its inhabitants. There is precedence for when God will remove His people BEFORE the Tribulation comes upon the world.

God warned Noah and warned Lot. God is warning His church through last days Bible prophecies of His impending judgment. By means of the Rapture, Jesus Himself will execute the great catching up of His bride before the great and dreadful day of the Lord's wrath.

• "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:" 2 Peter 2:9

So is the Rapture Pre-trib, Mid-trib or Post-trib?

Maranatha Lord Jesus.

Version 22.1.0