8. Christ’s promise (Luke 21:36)
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
While this wonderful promise gave hope to believers at all times during the Church age,it is especially addressed to those who live just before the second coming of Christ (v.25-27). In the 28th verse, Jesus said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up you heads for your redemption drawers nigh.” When these events “begin to come to pass,” is the time for believers to be looking for the completion of their redemption — an event which occurs at the pre-tribulation rapture. To be ready for this great even, men ought to pray always that they be “accounted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man.”
9. The promise of the Philadelphia church.
“Because you have kept the word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly: hold fast which you have, that no man take your crown.” (Rev. 3:10)
Here is a promise to be kept from the great tribulation. The Antichrist is permitted to try those who dwell on the earth, to see whom they will really serve. The words of Christ came to the faithful Philadelphia church as a definite promise that the faithful will be kept from that hour. Christ sets before them “an open door” (v.eight). Revelation 4:1 shows that this “open door” is rapture to heaven.
There is also a particular admonition for those of the Philadelphia church to hold fast “that no man take your crown” (v. 11). In Rev. 4:4, there is a group in heaven presented as having crowns — these are the First-fruits. The tribulation saints of Rev. 7:9-14 and 15:2-4, are later brought before the throne of God, but they are not given crowns. They will reign with Christ, but they are not of the group who sit on thrones (Rev. 20:4).
10. John caught up to heaven is a type of rapture.
His catching away, the “door” that is opened in heaven, the voice of the “trumpet” calling him, all speak of the Furst-fruit rapture. John, the beloved, one of the apostles of the Lamb, who will sit on the thrones of Israel (Matt. 19:28), is certainly a representative of the First-fruit rapture. Notice all the saints included in the rapture scene of Rev. 4, either sit on thrones, or are promised a throne.
11. The 24 elders of Rev. 4:4 who sing the song of the redeemed sit on thrones and declare that they shall reign as kings and priests on the earth (Rev. 5:10).
They have been raptured or resurrected. Crowns are not given to disembodied spirits who are not resurrected. The crown is to be given at “that day”. Therefore, the rapture has certainly taken place in the Rev. 4 scene. It is the Furst-fruit rapture. The harvest rapture has not yet taken place, and will not, until after the great tribulation.
There are five more reasons that prove a pre-trib rapture.
Stay tuned…
If interested, please look back at Part 1 & 2 of my blogs on this topic.
I hope they are a blessing to you.
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