Chapter 6:
Partial Rapture Of The Body Of Christ
Chapter 7 is probably the single most revealing and important new piece of information in this book. Chapter 7 is why this book is different from other End Time books, and therefore, why this book was written! Just as we know that salvation comes through faith and grace, and NOT by works (Eph 2:8-9), it is very well known and discussed that regarding salvation it is very important to make a distinction between faith and works. In this chapter, regarding the Rapture, the new revelation here is that a distinction must be made between The Bride Of Christ and The Body Of Christ. Most current Pre-Tribulation Rapture teachers are saying that all saved, all the Body of Christ, will go up in the Rapture. But that's not what Jesus reveals in the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches (Revelation 2 & 3), and other teachings. If you continue to read on don't forget Acts 17:11.
When a person comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and believes, he (or she) becomes a part of the church, the Body of Christ, and their walk with Christ begins. And as their walk continues they accumulate oil in jars for their lamps (Matt 25). At some point the Lord Jesus will return for His Bride, His Pure Bride, which He will snatch off the face of the earth and take to the wedding supper. According to the Parable of the 10 Virgins, if a believer has enough oil in his jars for his lamp then he is ready and able to participate in the Rapture of The Bride of Christ; and if there is a shortage of oil for his lamp, then he will be a part of the Body of Christ that is left behind at the Rapture, and must undergo further cleansing purification through the Great Tribulation. Again, as illustrated by the Parable of the Ten Virgins we are all part of the Body of Christ that is looking and awaiting the Lord's return, but only those who go up in the Rapture are a part of the Bride of Christ that are able to enjoy the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath,” but a part of the Body of Christ will suffer. (1 Thess 5:9) Not all believers will be raptured. When speaking of End-Time events in Luke 21, Jesus warns:
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36)
Regarding Jesus warning, the New King James version says, “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36 NKJV). Apparently, a believer wrapped up in “carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life” will not be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
If the NIV says that one is to “pray that you may be able to escape"and the NKJV says that one should “pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape”, then what does the Bible say in the original Greek text? The Interlinear Bible, verse Luke 21:36, states in Greek, “Then you be watchful at every time, begging that you be counted worthy to escape all these things about to occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Whoa There! In the Greek, Jesus is saying that in our prayers, we should be, “begging that you be counted worthy to escape all these things about to occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
That’s heavy, and a strong admonition. What’s Jesus know that we don’t know?
Other believers, ministering in His name, will not be counted as worthy:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matt 7:21-23)
Jesus’ warning about worthiness is because the coming Rapture is not automatic for all believers. Jesus has several other very clear warnings: The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25), the Parable of The Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24), and The Seven Letters to the Seven Churches (Rev 2 & 3). In these passages Jesus illustrates and warns that not all believers will be worthy of escaping all that is about to happen.
Parable of the Ten Virgins
Without a doubt, it is the Church, the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ, the Ecclesia, that is anxiously waiting and watching for the Second coming of Christ.
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, a significant and recognizable sign, whatever that might be, will be seen by the Church, by the Body of Christ. Apparently the whole Church will rise up, in anticipation of the Rapture, with the foolish virgins scrambling for oil only to come up short. Whether seconds, minutes, hours or a week, the time frame is too short for those left behind to fill their jars with the required amount of oil. Interestingly, after Noah built the Ark, the Lord told him to enter the Ark and then the Lord closed the door behind him. Noah, his family and the animals were locked safely in the Ark for Seven days before the rain came. His neighbors had seven days to ponder, and ridicule. Perhaps we'll have a week as well.
"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
"'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
(Matt 25:1-13)
Apparently, just prior to His return, there will be a recognizable sign and the Body of Christ will jump up and trim their lamps. And while the unworthy are fretting and running off to get oil for their lamps, Jesus will arrive and Snatch away the PURE Bride of Christ, and close the door to the left behind Body of Christ. At this time, and unfortunately too late for the Rapture, many of the prodigals as well as the remaining Body of Christ will quickly, and finally, “come to their senses.” (Luke 15:17) For those left behind, anxiety and fear will grip them because they will know that chaos, destruction, death, and martyrdom await them as the seven years of tribulation are about to begin. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Again, according to this parable, it is the Pure Bride of Christ, and NOT the whole Body of Christ, that is actually raptured from the earth to go to the wedding banquet. The Body of Christ encompasses all believers, all the virgins, whereas the pure Bride of Christ are the worthy believers, the virgins who are ready and have oil in their lamps. The Body of Christ is all believers who have come to salvation through Jesus, whereas the Bride of Christ are not just saved but who have also made Jesus Lord of their Lives as well. Oil is typically symbolic of the Holy Spirit, so perhaps oil is accumulated through acts, works and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' Seven Letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation 2 & 3 also list many things that Jesus doesn't like as well as what pleases Him. Do what he likes and accumulate oil for your lamp. Do what Jesus doesn't care for and we probably loose oil from our jars. Also, Abortion issues bring judgment to believers and non-believers alike (read Chapters 10 & 11 regarding Abortion and Judgment).
Regarding the wedding banquet, Jesus says, “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matt 22:14) Those not chosen “will be weeping and gnashing their teeth” during The Great Tribulation. (Matt 22:13) Believers should be “begging” to be one of the chosen.
Angels are careful in their selection of the righteous, perhaps even too careful, erring on the side of judgment that selects someone that does not belong at the wedding feast rather than forgetting to select someone who does belong:
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.
"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
"For many are invited, but few are chosen." (Matt 22:1-14)
Perhaps those at the Wedding Banquet will recognize this person as being a great person, having many great and awesome accomplishments for mankind while living on earth during his (or her) lifetime, but unfortunately, a believer with too little oil in his lamp or not being a true believer at all. Perhaps this is me, you, or someone one of us knows.
Psalm 12 presents another illustration of The Bride of Christ disappearing from the earth:
Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.
May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips--who is our master?"
"Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them."
And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men. (Ps 12)
“The godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Short, and to the point. No righteous, or godly people left on the earth, so now, as with Sodom and Gomorrah, the Wrath of God, the Great Tribulation can begin the cleansing process, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
Great Banquet In The Kingdom Of God
When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'
"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'
"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'
"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'
"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
"'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'
"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'" (Luke 14:15-24)
The cares of this life are no excuse for not being ready for the Great Banquet, or the Wedding Feast of The Lamb: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36 NKJV). The cares of this life do not put oil in ones lamp, but rather anger the master of the house, The Father who is preparing the Wedding Banquet for His Son.
Seven Letters to Seven Churches
Church of Philadelphia has an open door to be Raptured out:
I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut...
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (Rev 3:8, 10)
Church of Thyatira is left behind:
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
(Rev 2:22-23)
Some of the Church of Sardis is left behind:
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Rev 3:3)
and some of the Church of Sardis is taken out:
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. (Rev 3:4)
And the lukewarm Church of Laodicea is left behind:
So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
(Rev 3:16-19)
Jesus may seem to be harsh towards the Church of Thyatira: "I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds," but there's no doubt that He means what He says, and He says what He means. Jesus also says, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent". Repenting prior to the Tribulation will be much easier than repenting after the Tribulation begins. Jesus is coming back for a PURE Bride, and those not ready will be left behind, to finish their purification process.
The above passages clearly reveal that the Rapture Is Not automatic for all believers! The Rapture is not just about Salvation since these passages, and many others, show that worthiness, heart, and mind, as well as Salvation are all weighed in the balance. So, “Then you be watchful at every time, begging that you be counted worthy to escape all these things about to occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Is the Rapture by faith, for those who believe and pray? You decide that one, but remember to take Jesus’ words literally, as He is not out to mislead the Body of Christ. His words are faithful and true (Rev 3:14, 9:11).