The Case For Three Raptures (Part 5)

As I've stated SEVERAL TIMES throughout this series -- THIS IS NOT A SALVATION ISSUE. What you believe about the Rapture has ABSOLUTELY NO EFFECT ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE SAVED and will spend eternity with Jesus Christ when you die. None.

We're talking about the RAPTURE, not SALVATION, which we also know is secure in grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross on our behalf. Case closed.

Yet, while our Salvation is not a works-based, level of holiness issue I must ask what if the Rapture is a works-based, level of holiness issue? What if? Furthermore, what's the harm in asking that question? If I'm correct, then what's my crime? Motivating myself and other Brothers and Sisters in Christ to actually work harder to live the kind of life our Lord intends us to live? Is that really such a bad thing?



You know, I just can't shake one of the excerpts I included in the last piece in this series:

> The cold, hard truth of the matter: "We draw the conclusion that only those who are mature in their faith, walking the narrow road of obedience, prepared and watchful will be taken. What a troubling thing to contemplate. The remaining unrepentant believers will be left behind. This vast group of people who have accepted a gospel of mediocrity will likely miss the first rapture. Knowing beforehand this probing exercise will likely rouse some uncomfortable emotions and responses, I encourage you to forge ahead with me along this amazing journey of discovery. Though I am not God and certainly not the judge, this could serve as a POSSIBLE list of those who may not be adequately prepared:

Those who made a commitment to Jesus sometime in their life but did not continue to maturity ( Matthew 13:21; Hebrews 10:39).

Those who have not surrendered their will to God, but continue to pursue their own self-gratifying desires (Matthew 7-24-27; Romans 8:6-8; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

Those who believe they will go to heaven because they live by the Golden Rule and are a good person (Matthew 19:13, 22; Romans 3:23).

Those who believe willful, casual, and occasional sin is acceptable for a believer (Galatians 5:21; Hebrews 10:26-27).

Those who have ignored the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).

Those weakened by poor church leadership or who become lazy and unfruitful because of the eternal security doctrine (Matthew 25:14-30).

Those trapped in the bondage of habitual sin and who refuse to confront the truth and seek deliverance (2 Timothy 3:5; 2 Peter 2:17-22).

Those who are sincere people exposed to and seduced by pseudo-Christian prophets and teachers, who became deceived through false teaching (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:24-25; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 4:1,16; 6:3-7; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Jude 1:4).

Those who focus on outward appearances while they quietly sweep issues under the carpet or nurtture their pet sin in the closet (Matthew 23:1-36; 1 Timothy 5:24-25).

Those injured by someone in the church and it was not properly reconciled. Un-forgiveness still exists (Matthew 18:21-35).

Those confused and frustrated because of church schism and disunity. They fail to realize the church is a place where iron sharpens iron. It is also a place Satan loves to attack. Church should be viewed as a rehabilitation hospital, not a museum of perfected saints.

Those who believe church involvement to be irrelevant, boring, ineffective, or unattractive (1 Corinthians 2:14; James 2:14-26).

Those with faith, yet were found distracted by life's issues. Rather than finding a way to serve the Lord, they pacify themselves with worldly pleasures (Matthew 13:22; 25:5; Luke 21:34; James 4:1-4).

Those who horde their wealth and their heart and security is with their treasures (Matthew 6:19-21; 19:23-24; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Timothy 6:7-10, 17-18; Hebrews 13:5; James 5:1-6; Revelation 3:14-22).

Those who believe they have paid their dues by serving in their church for a time and have withdrawn themselves from service (1 Corinthians 15:58; James 2:14-26, 4:17).

Those whose faith is rooted in the institution of the church, its leadership, history and traditions rather than the person, Jesus Christ (Matthew 15:1-9; Hebrews 12:2).

Those who pray or worship icons, angels, saints, idols, or any other graven image. They have entertained and permitted intermediate agents to intercede for them rather than seeking personal intimacy with Jesus Himself (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Those who have become desensitized through the cry-wolf syndrome. The church has been preaching about the second coming for years (James 5:7-11). [pages 170-173]

Sobering, isn't it? That's a ton of Scriptural evidence to suggest that a certain type of lifestyle as a Christian is more appealing to God than any other type, isn't it?

Let's be honest here -- God expects us to try to live holy lives (to become a model of Jesus Christ in this world) and to CONSTANTLY REPENT each and every time we commit sin after being saved. If you doubt that we're expected and instructed to live holy lives after we're saved, then please watch the following earth-shaking message by Paul Washer:



Forget all the times he mentions the Baptist denomination (because I know that there will be some people who will close their ears to the truth the moment they start to hear that word) because there is an abundance of cold, hard truth in his sermon.

I included this sermon here because in this late and urgent hour I believe it's absolutely critical for us to take a good, long, hard look at ourselves in the mirror, drop the facade, humble ourselves, and recognize the truth of the matter. I believe this particular message from Washer nails it, and that it's extremely relevant to this Rapture debate.

I think the problem with "Churchianity" today is that we're complacent in a sense whether we know it or not, or that we're a reflection of the very same culture and society we claim and say we detest.

What do I mean? What's the application to this entire discussion then? It's simple really.

Precisely that just like WE CANNOT UTTER A 30-SECOND SINNER'S PRAYER AND THINK THAT THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO DO TO PLEASE GOD (sure, we might be saved, but then we go about our daily lives and routines without giving God and His holy Word more than a passing thought on Sundays or when we need Him the most, let alone change our lifestyle), by the same token, WE CANNOT JUST SIT BACK AND REST ON THIS NOTION THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE OK AND THAT THERE ARE NO WORRIES FOR US WHEN IT COMES TO DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK BECAUSE WE'LL ALL BE RAPTURED OUT OF HERE BEFORE THE GOING GETS TOUGH because we know that's simply not the case!

Many saints will actually be martyred so how do we explain that? Are these only those who are saved AFTER the Tribulation begins? They could be, but I currently believe this 3 Rapture scenario carries more weight than that idea.

The 3 Rapture scenario MOTIVATES US TO GET OUR SPIRITUAL HOUSE IN ORDER NOW AND IT KEEPS US FOCUSED ON BEING THE BEST WE CAN BE IN THIS LIFE -- ON AN ON-GOING BASIS. What if those who get to escape in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture are REWARDED FOR LIVING SUCH A LIFESTYLE? Then, those seeking the error in their ways, are the believers who then repent and refocus and they get to go in the next Rapture? I'm just suggesting that it's food for thought in light of Lamb's presentation and Washer's comments on holiness after Salvation.

Again, I'm just putting this out there for people to decide on their own. I know people have concerns. I know people have questions. That's a good thing. For those people, even if the 3 Raptures scenario is true there's still a "Pre-Trib" Rapture that's part of it and therefore it would remain the "blessed hope" right? How do we know if we're "holy enough"? That's a good question. Perhaps that's why Jesus commands us to always "pray that we're counted worthy to escape the things that are coming upon the Earth".

What if the way it worked was like this:

ALL BELIEVERS WILL BE RAPTURED. The only thing in question is at what point along God's prophetic timeline that happens. When you get to "escape" is sort of like your reward for your level of holiness (sort of like the various crowns we're rewarded in Heaven, right?) since we're instructed to model ourselves after Jesus Christ in this life.

It's just a thought.

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