The Phased Raptures

The Phased Raptures

The First Rapture know as "The First Fruits Rapture" or "The Separation" is the first event in the Phased Raptures this is the (open door) in Rev 4:1. The people taken in this Rapture will be the Bride of Christ.

Rev 3:8 (KJV)
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

God himself has promised a special “open door” to the faithful Christians of the Philadelphia church "the overcomers" in Revelation. This special open door is the promised Pre-tribulation Rapture that will keep these and only these faithful Christians (overcomers) from the hour of temptation (this is when the Antichrist in in charge).

Rev 3:10 (KJV)
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

A very few verses later in Revelation 4:1 the Apostle John looks up and sees this special open door into heaven (this open door is the first rapture).

Rev 4:1 (KJV)
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

The Bible makes it clear that everything spoken of in the book of Revelation after chapter 4 verse 1 takes place AFTER the first rapture.

This is the Pre-tribulation Rapture of the church as believed by the majority of Christians today, but most overlook the fact that this special open door was only promised to the faithful Philadelphia Christians (the overcomers) ALL Other Christians such as those in the church of Thyatira (lukewarm) are told that they will be cast into great tribulation if they do not repent. They do not receive an invitation to the special open door (they will not be taken in this first rapture). In other words the true "overcomers" of sin in their lives will be taken in the first rapture, the lukewarm and backslidden Christians and Christians that are not watching and praying for the rapture will not be taken in this first rapture

Rev 2:22 (KJV)
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

The timing of the Rapture is one of the most controversial issues in the mainstream Church today. The student of Bible prophecy should ask himself why so many faithful Christians believe in a Mid-tribulation Rapture if the Pre-tribulation Rapture of the entire Church is the correct view. The answer is simply that there are Scriptures that confirm a Mid-tribulation Rapture. Christians on both sides of the issue fail to consider that the Bible teaches both a Pre-tribulation Rapture and a Mid-tribulation Rapture. So both views have some truth to them but both are incomplete. The facts are there will be two raptures

It is very interesting that the pre-tribulation rapturists expend great efforts in trying to rebut the Scriptures that confirm a Mid-tribulation Rapture, and the mid-tribulation rapturists do the same thing with the Scriptures that confirm a Pre-tribulation Rapture. An honest and forthright exposition of Scripture reveals teachings for both. The Firstfruits Rapture (i.e., the taking out of faithful, mature, Philadelphia Christians) is pre-tribulational, and the Main Harvest Rapture (i.e., the final taking out of the remaining Christians who have been refined and purified by the tribulation) is mid-tribulational. This is confirmed both doctrinally and typologically throughout the Scriptures, as will be seen.

The Pre-tribulation Rapture is the most popular view held in the mainstream Church today, but popularity is not an accurate measure of Scriptural truth. If popularity determines truth, then we should all convert to Islam, since that is the fastest growing religion in the world today. The very popularity of the sole Pre-tribulation Rapture mitigates against its truth. The fact that pre-tribulationists refuse to take a close look at the Scriptures on the rapture should also raise a warning flag for sincere seekers of truth from the Word of God. It has been said that to find the truth one must search for it with an open mind and heart.

Perhaps one of the reasons the Pre-tribulation Rapture is the most popular view is that it requires the least accountability in living the Christian life. It is very comforting for the average Christian to believe that he can sit back and enjoy the pleasures of life and dabble in the things of the world, while all the time believing that he will be miraculously removed before any hard times or persecution sets in during the tribulation. Any teaching that Christians might experience hardship, persecution or maybe even martyrdom is resisted by the majority of Christians today. It is difficult for Christians to understand that our present comfort is not the primary goal of our heavenly Father, the fact is if we are not suffering for Christ we are not "overcomers" and we will not be worthy to be a part of the frist rapture in accordance with the following Scripture:

1 Pet 1:7 (KJV)
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

God the Father has promised to meet all of our physical needs if and only if we seek the Kingdom of God (i.e., the millennial kingdom) (Matt. 6:33), but the Scriptures are replete with examples of faithful followers of Christ suffering the most horrible circumstances imaginable. The first news that Paul received after his conversion was that he was going to have to suffer a great deal for the sake of Jesus Christ. The Church in America today does not really grasp what suffering is all about, and many consider it suffering to drive a used car and live in a modest house. Again if your are not suffering for Christ you are doing something WRONG!

Prosperity is a difficult test that God has provided for the Church in America, and the majority of Christians are failing this test miserably. Pastors are among the casualties with their fancy houses and cars without a care in the world of all the people that are in need and these pastors should be more concerned about these needy people then about having all the comforts of this life. Some are even preaching a gospel of prosperity, which states that financial success is a sign of being a faithful Christian. This false doctrine is so far removed from what the Scriptures really teach that no rebuttal is necessary. The primary point to be made is that the Church is not exempt from persecution and hardship of this life. In fact, the Lord even allows the ones He loves the most to go through fiery trials in order to purify them and increase their heavenly rewards.

So if you think the lord loves you more than others because he has given you a perfect life you better think again.

In the final analysis, Christians will be ever so thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for the three and one-half years of suffering during the tribulation after they see the rewards for faithfulness that will be received at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The tribulation will be a final period of refining and purifying for those Christians who have not allowed themselves to be cleansed and purified during the present time.

The truth is that only a very small segment of Christians are preparing themselves for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (the first rapture). The majority of the Church is concerned with building large churches with gymnasiums, plush seats, carpets, stained glass windows and numerous other superficial accoutrements designed to impress our fellow Christians and other local churches. This describes the church age called Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-19. If you attend one of these churches GET OUT NOW. In verse 20 Jesus says He stands and knocks at their door, but most Christians do not open their door to Him. Jesus Christ rejects this church at the Firstfruits Rapture. The Philadelphia church, however, is given an "open door" in verse 8, and this is the Firstfruits Rapture. The Sardis church and the church of Thyatira will also be rejected by Jesus Christ at the Firstfruits Rapture.

Faithful Christians can see why the Pre-tribulation Rapture is so popular, since the largest segment of Christianity today is made up of Christians in churches typified by Sardis, Thyatira, and Laodicea. Sardis is represented in the world today by the Protestant churches, Thyatira is represented by the Catholic churches and offshoots from the Catholic Church, and Laodicea is represented by the charismatic and Pentecostal churches. Philadelphia is represented by the numerous but small and weak home churches. Christians in Sardis, Thyatira and Laodicea are the unwatchful, the doctrinally weak, the backslidden and the lukewarm Christians who are opposed to any suggestion that faithfulness will be the criterion for reward, let alone a special rapture prior to the tribulation. Pointing out the numerous Scriptures that clearly depict a Firstfruits Rapture is not convincing to many lukewarm Christians, since searching the Scriptures to see if these things are true is not a part of their lifestyle. They simply quote the Scriptures that point to a Pre-tribulation Rapture and glibly say that salvation is by grace and not works. For them, everything good in the Bible is for the saved, and everything bad is for the lost. They even use Revelation 3:10 as a proof text for the Pre-tribulation Rapture, but they overlook that the promise of being “kept from the hour of trial” is only directed to the faithful Philadelphia Christians (Rev 3:7). The churches of Laodicea, Sardis and Thyatira are often labeled as mere professing Christians, tares, the false church or some other tag that relegates them to the ranks of the lost. The fact that Jesus Christ himself clearly identifies these groups of believers as part of his Church apparently makes little difference.

In consideration of the above, this is not written to the great majority of unteachable Christians who have their minds made up, and are not really interested in searching the Scriptures for the meat of the Word. This is written to Christians who are open to the Word and who are hungry to learn. The reader should study and pray for understanding about what the Scriptures have to say about the rapture of the Church. The Bible is the only test for the truths in this message. Ignorance of the Bible will not be an excuse at the Judgment Seat of Christ. You are now forewarned and it's up to you if you believe the truth and change your ways or be one of those Christians that finds himself or herself LEFT BEHIND

The Main Harvest Rapture of the Church (Rev. 7:9-17)

Rev 7:9-17 (KJV)
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Before the seventh seal can be opened and the Day of the Lord begins, the Main Harvest Rapture of the Church must take place, since the Church is exempt from the Day of the Lord. Revelation 7:9-17 above is the description of the main body of the Church in heaven around the throne.

9. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

a. After the 144,000 Jewish Firstfruits are sealed for the time of Jacob's trouble, the main body of the Church is now in heaven around the throne. It is an extremely large group of people from "all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues." Included in this group are the souls who were under the altar in Rev. 6:11 who were given white robes to wear after their resurrection. This also includes the ones who were persecuted by Antichrist in Rev. 13:7.

b. It is important to note that there is no mention of these sitting on thrones or wearing crowns. They are "before the throne" of God. They are not joined to the throne as the four living creatures, and they are not associated with its Occupant as one who rules and reigns, but they are in heaven, and they are clothed with white robes. These are the robes of righteousness and faultless splendor acquired through the Savior's blood. They were once sinners, but now they are holy.

c. The palm is symbolic of beauty and prosperity, and it is a picture of the glad exultation over deliverance. It was used to build the booths to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles, and palms were thrown in the path of Jesus when he rode into Jerusalem on the donkey. Therefore, the Church is in heaven around the throne celebrating the establishment of the millennial kingdom. The joy of the feast of tabernacles is theirs.

10. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

a. The whole body of the Church is worshipping the Lamb who is seated upon the throne. The Church body is a unit and they cry with one voice.

b. Salvation is attributed to the Lamb who sits upon the throne.

11. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

a. The picture in this verse is that of the Lamb seated on the throne with the four living creatures connected to the throne. The 24 elders (these 24 elders are the people taken in the first fruits rapture) are seated on thrones in a semicircle behind and around the throne, and the angels are in a semicircle behind and around the elders. The multitude is standing before the throne on the glassy sea, which symbolizes a fixed state of holiness.

12. Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

a. The angels are saying this in worship of God.

13. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

a. One of the 24 elders (the 24 elders are those taken in the first fruits rapture) asks John to identify who the new people are in heaven around the throne who are wearing white robes. The Greek word for answered is apokrinomai (ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee) and it means the elder is asking a question soliciting a response, but he has already come to a conclusion about the identification of the ones in the white robes (these people in white robes were taken in the main harvest rapture).

b. The ones in white robes cannot be saved Jews or Gentiles who were saved in the first half of the tribulation period because they are God's earthly people, and they will be confined to the earth in their bodies of flesh and blood. Also, the ones in white robes are clearly of the same class of saved individuals as the 24 elders and the four living creatures with the exception that the ones in white robes have no crowns and no thrones.

14. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

a. John answers the elder by recognizing that the elder knows who they are in the white robes. The elder's response is a clear identification that the ones in the white robes are Christians who went through great tribulation. This one verse establishes that these Christians are the Main Harvest Rapture Christians who were members of the churches of Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea (Lukewarm Christians that did not overcome sin before the first rapture).

1. In Rev. 2:22 Thyatira was told that she would be cast into "great tribulation." These Christians came out of "great tribulation."

2. In Rev. 3:4 the main body of Sardis was told that they had "defiled their garments." They have now "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

3. In Rev. 3:18 Laodicea was naked and ashamed, but verses 9 and 13 confirm that they now have white robes to wear.

b. It is not enough to identify these in white robes as tribulation saints since there are three classes of tribulation saints.

1. The first class of tribulation saints includes all Christians who were rejected as the Bride and her court. This includes those in the churches of Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea who were "cut asunder" or separated from those Christians who were found as faithful. These are Christians who did not attain unto the out-resurrection, the better resurrection, the abundant entrance, or the open door into heaven.

2. The second class of tribulation saints includes all Jews who are saved after the Separation takes place. If they were saved before the separation, they would be among the first class of tribulation saints.

3. The third class of tribulation saints includes all Gentiles who will be saved after the separation takes place. If they were saved before the Separation took place, they would also be among the first class of tribulation saints. In the Church there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, but there is a difference outside of the Church Age.

15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

a. The Greek word for before is enopion, (en-o'-pee-on), and it means to be in the presence of or in the sight of the throne. This is substantially different from being connected to the throne itself, as is the case of the four living creatures, or to have a throne, as is the case with the 24 elders.

b. They serve God night and day in his temple. This is further confirmation that these are members of the Church, since the Church is a royal priesthood according to the following Scripture:

1 Pet 2:9-10 (KJV) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

c. The word “serve” is the Greek word latreuo, (lat-ryoo'-o); from latris (a hired menial). It is clear that these individuals are in a blessed position, and they are no longer subject to the vicissitudes and weariness of mortal life. However, theirs is an inferior position in heaven, as there are higher dignities and sublimer joys for those who occupy the positions of rulership from the throne of Christ (the four living creatures) and from other thrones (the 24 elders) directly accountable to the throne of Christ.

d. Christ himself shall dwell among these Christians, and their home will be the New Jerusalem. This is further confirmation that these are not Jews or Gentiles who will become believers during the tribulation period. Their dwelling place will be upon the earth in bodies of flesh and blood. Their inheritance will be earthly and not heavenly.

e. In addition, everything in this passage of Scripture in chapter 7 is taking place in the middle of the tribulation period, and the judgments of Israel and the saved Gentiles who are saved during the tribulation period do not take place until the end of the tribulation period.

16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

a. These Christians have been delivered from the straits, wants, and painful necessities of mortal life. They have now reached their blessed home where earthly burdens, vicissitudes, and deaths are no more. They have now been delivered from their aching, wasting, dying natures, and they know what it is to have abiding rest.

b. There is no more sunburn or heat stroke, which accompanied the curse under which man was to work by the sweat of his brow. Work will still be accomplished, but it will not be toilsome and unpleasant. These Christians now have glorified bodies that will not tire or suffer pain.

17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

a. This verse states the reason that these Christians fare so well in verse 16. The Lamb or Jesus Christ who is at the very center of the throne shepherds or feeds them, and He guides them into fountains of living water. The living fountains of waters are a picture of the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit, and the perpetual state of cleanness. There will be no more washing of feet and hands (i.e., confession of sin), because these saints will remain cleansed.

b. The change in subject from the Lamb to God, who "shall wipe away all tears from their eyes," is an allusion to the future time after the millennium when Jesus Christ turns the kingdom back over to the Father, and everyone enters into the eternal ages. All tears are not wiped away until the end of the millennium.

May God bless you all.

Rev. JR Seabolt

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