Churchwork
06-05-2006, 03:41 AM
Note that Enoch been raptured and Noah left, Elijah was raptured and Elisha was left, and Christ was raptured and the disciples were left. And yes, in total I count altogether 12 raptures or resurrections. The point being, there are lots. Even if there were over hundreds would you still not be convinced? Let's recount them.
1) Enoch and Elijah (overcomers);
2) Christ;
3) Those out of the grave at Christ's death (companion firstfruits);
4) Lazarus raised from the dead & the 12 year old girl that was only asleep (Matt. 9.18-26) - we are only appointed once to die, so then comes rapture;
5) First rapture - firstfruits before the first month of Tribulation signified by the two wave loaves (Jews and Gentiles; first rapture and the harvest rapture) in Lev. 23 at Pentecost. These two wave points also typify from Pentecost to the first rapture based on readiness, watchfulness, patience and holiness in our manner of life;
6) Philip the evangelist, who was raptured while at work (a type) away to Caesarea - reward is related to our work. Rapture and reward are interrelated, such as in the case of Philip.
7) Many martyrs raptured separately and individually during Tribulation (many);
8) Two Witnesses (Enoch and Elijah) raptured at the 1260th+3.5 days of Great Tribulation (a gleaning period of 30 days to the 1290th day-this 30 days is for judgment);
9) 7th trumpet resurrection (final harvest of the last week in Daniel 9) before the 19th month of Great Tribulation, also mentioned in 1 Thess. 4.15-17, 1 Cor. 15.23 and Rev. 14.14-16;
10) Those raptured after the 7th trumpet resurrection from the 19th month to the 24th month of Great Tribulation are gleaned as well (various fragmentary raptures).**
11) Last Revolt end of millennium rapture of unsaved from Hades.
12) Last revolt end of the millennium rapture of saved from Hades.
It is very special to note that anyone who is resurrected is also to be raptured, but not all those who are raptured were resurrected, since they did not die. Even so, a word is used in Rev. 20.4 to refer to the first resurrection overcomers who are those who receive the reward of reigning during the millennial kingdom.
Of course, whether taken or left, all the men and women spoken of in Matthew 24.40-41 are saved—so that the ones left cannot be viewed as being unsaved because of the following reasons:
(1) “Watch therefore” (v.42). The word “therefore” connects with the preceding verses 40 and 41. Since you are saved and have life, you are expected to watch. Those who lack the Lord’s life cannot watch. The determining factor in rapture is not a being saved or unsaved but is a case of one’s works after regeneration. To say that all the regenerated will be raptured together is a serious mistake.
(2) “Your Lord cometh” (v.42). The unsaved do not have the relationship of servant and master with the Lord. Man may misuse this word, but the Lord never will. The unsaved person may consider himself to be a servant of the Lord, but the Lord will not carelessly use such a term as “your Lord” here.
(3) “The thief was coming” (v.43). If a thief comes to steal apples, he will take the ripe ones and leave the unripened ones behind. Thus it is not a difference in kind but one of degree.
(4) The five foolish in the parable of the virgins told of in chapter 25 are not false virgins. They are real, except that they are not wise as are the five wise virgins. The wise ones spare no effort to carry oil in the vessels whereas the foolish are too lazy to make such a provision. Nevertheless, both the wise and the foolish are virgins, and they all go forth to meet the bridegroom.
(5) Judging from typology, those who are left can be the saved as well as those who are taken. Both Enoch (who was raptured) and Noah (who entered the ark) were saved. Yet both Abraham (the intercessor) and Lot (who passed through tribulation) were saved too. But Elijah (the taken) and Elisha (the left) were saved. The disciples whom the Lord in His ascension left behind were all saved ones. Both Philip (the one taken away) and the eunuch (the one left behind) were saved.
We conclude, therefore, that the “taken” and the “left” in verses 40 and 41 are all saved.
1) Enoch and Elijah (overcomers);
2) Christ;
3) Those out of the grave at Christ's death (companion firstfruits);
4) Lazarus raised from the dead & the 12 year old girl that was only asleep (Matt. 9.18-26) - we are only appointed once to die, so then comes rapture;
5) First rapture - firstfruits before the first month of Tribulation signified by the two wave loaves (Jews and Gentiles; first rapture and the harvest rapture) in Lev. 23 at Pentecost. These two wave points also typify from Pentecost to the first rapture based on readiness, watchfulness, patience and holiness in our manner of life;
6) Philip the evangelist, who was raptured while at work (a type) away to Caesarea - reward is related to our work. Rapture and reward are interrelated, such as in the case of Philip.
7) Many martyrs raptured separately and individually during Tribulation (many);
8) Two Witnesses (Enoch and Elijah) raptured at the 1260th+3.5 days of Great Tribulation (a gleaning period of 30 days to the 1290th day-this 30 days is for judgment);
9) 7th trumpet resurrection (final harvest of the last week in Daniel 9) before the 19th month of Great Tribulation, also mentioned in 1 Thess. 4.15-17, 1 Cor. 15.23 and Rev. 14.14-16;
10) Those raptured after the 7th trumpet resurrection from the 19th month to the 24th month of Great Tribulation are gleaned as well (various fragmentary raptures).**
11) Last Revolt end of millennium rapture of unsaved from Hades.
12) Last revolt end of the millennium rapture of saved from Hades.
It is very special to note that anyone who is resurrected is also to be raptured, but not all those who are raptured were resurrected, since they did not die. Even so, a word is used in Rev. 20.4 to refer to the first resurrection overcomers who are those who receive the reward of reigning during the millennial kingdom.
Of course, whether taken or left, all the men and women spoken of in Matthew 24.40-41 are saved—so that the ones left cannot be viewed as being unsaved because of the following reasons:
(1) “Watch therefore” (v.42). The word “therefore” connects with the preceding verses 40 and 41. Since you are saved and have life, you are expected to watch. Those who lack the Lord’s life cannot watch. The determining factor in rapture is not a being saved or unsaved but is a case of one’s works after regeneration. To say that all the regenerated will be raptured together is a serious mistake.
(2) “Your Lord cometh” (v.42). The unsaved do not have the relationship of servant and master with the Lord. Man may misuse this word, but the Lord never will. The unsaved person may consider himself to be a servant of the Lord, but the Lord will not carelessly use such a term as “your Lord” here.
(3) “The thief was coming” (v.43). If a thief comes to steal apples, he will take the ripe ones and leave the unripened ones behind. Thus it is not a difference in kind but one of degree.
(4) The five foolish in the parable of the virgins told of in chapter 25 are not false virgins. They are real, except that they are not wise as are the five wise virgins. The wise ones spare no effort to carry oil in the vessels whereas the foolish are too lazy to make such a provision. Nevertheless, both the wise and the foolish are virgins, and they all go forth to meet the bridegroom.
(5) Judging from typology, those who are left can be the saved as well as those who are taken. Both Enoch (who was raptured) and Noah (who entered the ark) were saved. Yet both Abraham (the intercessor) and Lot (who passed through tribulation) were saved too. But Elijah (the taken) and Elisha (the left) were saved. The disciples whom the Lord in His ascension left behind were all saved ones. Both Philip (the one taken away) and the eunuch (the one left behind) were saved.
We conclude, therefore, that the “taken” and the “left” in verses 40 and 41 are all saved.