Is the First Rapture a Foregone Conclusion for the Whole Church?

Referring to believers in Christ, "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Matt. 24.40,41; cf. Mark 13.32).

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (v.42)

Isn't this a condition for first rapture to be watchful, so that not everyone who is born-again who is alive at the time of the first rapture ("before the throne" Rev. 7.9) will be "taken"? So how can it be said everyone in the Church is ready? There are many carnal Christians tied down to the world like a balloon to a poll unwilling to be released so would need further dealing. God comes to steal the best first, like a thief in the night, so stand guard and not let your house be broken into unaware, and who are watchful as there are advanced parties and harbingers in every sphere.

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21.36). These things that are come to pass is the Tribulation and to stand before the Son of man is at Rev. 7.9, before the trumpets of the Tribulation commence (not in Revelation 4 which is John receiving the vision in the spirit). Are all Christians praying always? Revelation 4 is not rapture, but the picture of the universe from the perspective of heaven with the 4 creatures and 24 archangels, the eldest elders of the universe and angels who take up the prayers of the saints in Revelation 5. Revelation 6 is the past 20 centuries commencing with the cross without an arrow because Satan has been given a deadly wound on the cross. The 6 seals are the past 20 centuries, the 7th seal opens up the 7 trumpets of the Tribulation and the 7th trumpet pours out the 7 bowls in the last 24 months of the Tribulation. The 1st woe or 5th trumpet commences at Rev. 9.1, lasting 5 months, and the 2nd woe is 13 months, leaving 24 months for the 3rd woe.

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3.10). Do all Christians keep the word of His patience? No, of course not, therefore, not all believers are raptured before the Tribulation, but only a portion, about 1/7th as represented by the Philadelphia overcomers.

Others that may be included in the first rapture (Rev. 12.5) are the martyrs from the past 20 centuries (6.9-11) and the virgin firstfruits (14.1-5). When martyrs die during the Tribulation, they will be raised up like the Two Witnesses (Enoch and Elijah) 3.5 days after they go to rest. The 5th seal says wait ye a little longer until the blood of the martyrs is complete. The wrath of God occurs concurrently with the wrath of Satan in the bowls particularly, but by that time both the first rapture and the general resurrection have taken place with only some gleaning resurrections and raptures to occur during the last 24 months.

What might be the negative consequences of claiming everyone in the Church is ready? What danger does this pose? Well, when you enter the Tribulation and you notice millions have bee taken up, would you accuse the brethren day and night (Rev. 12.10), for you had assumed if you were saved you would have automatically been received. Would you refuse the mark of the beast if you don't even realize it is the Tribulation when it is happening? If you deny first rapture you take away the hope of the church and will not be an overcomer believer: a word to all posttribulation or pre-wrath onlyists out there! Don't harden your hearts by taking away the hope of the Church.

Isn't it better to realize that first rapture is according to readiness so that if you do enter the Tribulation it is because though you have eternal life which can never lost, you were not ready to be received at that time, humbly accepting that fact and must go through the time of testing which you still yet may overcometh before the pre-wrath rapture and resurrection (before the bowls are poured) seen at 1 Cor. 15.23,50-52; 1 Thess. 4.14-17; 5.2,4; 2 Thess. 2.1-4; Rev. 11.15, 14.14-16, 19.1) unto rewards for the millennial reign of Christ (Matt. 25.1-13).

Please pray on this for correct teaching in your heart.