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In the first two messages I spoke about those who advocate the belief that the whole church will be raptured before the tribulation, and I pointed out the lack of an adequate reason and biblical basis in their arguments. In the last message I spoke about those who advocate the belief that the whole church will go through the tribulation and showed that even though their arguments are more biblically based, they are not without flaws. In this message we will consider whether the Bible teaches that the whole church will go through the tribulation.
It is a fact that saints will have to go through the tribulation, and there are biblical proofs for it. However, the Bible never says that the whole church will have to pass through the tribulation. On the contrary, it says that some will not pass through the tribulation. Let us consider the following verses.
Revelation 3:10 says, "Because you have kept the word of My endurance, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial, which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth."
First of all, we have to decide on one thing, what is the time referred to by "the hour...which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth." Every reader would agree that this is the time of the great tribulation. This verse says that there are some people who will be kept out of the hour of trial. This verse shows both the unreasonableness of those who advocate the whole church being spared from the tribulation as well as the unreasonableness of those who advocate the whole church will go through the tribulation. This verse shows us that a group of people, those who have "kept the word of My endurance," will be kept from the great tribulation. This verse is a problem to those who believe that the whole church will go through the tribulation; it is hard for them to bypass this verse. At the same time, this verse also shuts the mouths of those who believe that the whole church will be spared from the tribulation.
This verse was given to the church in Philadelphia. The church in Philadelphia was a very good church at that time in Asia Minor. Although the seven churches in Asia Minor signify the seven stages that the church goes through, they were, nevertheless, seven actual local churches at that time. When the apostle John wrote Revelation, this promise was not given to the six other churches. It was given only to the church in Philadelphia. This shows that this promise was not given without restrictions. Although the Lord promised Thyatira that it would receive the "morning star," which appears to be a promise of the rapture, the only explicit promise of the rapture is given to the church in Philadelphia alone. If the promise of the rapture had been given to all seven churches, it would mean that it was given to the whole church. Since it was not given to all the churches but only to the church in Philadelphia, this shows that the rapture is conditional. The rapture is not based on our status as children of God, nor on salvation and eternal life; rather, the promise of the rapture was given only to those like the church in Philadelphia. Therefore, in order to be raptured, there are conditions which have to be met besides being saved and having eternal life.
What is the meaning of the expression, "Because you have kept the word of My endurance"? The word of endurance is not any ordinary kind of endurance; it is the word of "My endurance." It is not a common endurance but an endurance that has to do with Christ. Christ endures patiently for the day of His reigning to come. He is not anxious today, and He does not seem to mind others' persecutions and opposition. When a person opposes Him today, He does not get revenge by sending bolts of lightning. He has not stood up to speak for His own right or position; He is waiting for God to make His enemy His footstool. This is the endurance of Christ.
Today we endure with Him. When John wrote to the seven churches, there was such a word in his introduction: "Fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in Jesus." There are three things that one partakes of in this sentence: tribulation, kingdom, and endurance. If a Christian partakes of the tribulation and the endurance on earth today, he will partake also of the kingdom.
Only those who keep the word of the endurance of Christ will be kept from the hour of trial. If anyone says that the whole church will be kept from the hour of trial, I have to ask, has the whole church kept the word of His endurance? All those who have some position in society, some money in the world, and some activities in the political realm have not kept the word of Christ's endurance. Those who want a name for themselves who want to fight for their rights, and who want to gain something for themselves are not keeping the word of Christ's endurance. The promise of the rapture is not for this kind of people.
Christ is now waiting for His kingdom to come. He is also calling His believers to wait with Him and endure with Him. While we are on earth, we should renounce all our legal rights and endure men's despising and opposition. The position of a Christian in the world should be the same as the position Christ took when He was on earth. This is to keep the word of the endurance of Christ. The Lord will keep such persons out of the hour of trial which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth.
Those who advocate the belief that the whole church will go through the tribulation say that keeping does not refer to the rapture but to a deliverance from the tribulation only; it is merely a preservation from falling away. For example, if this house is on fire today, and the kitchen is preserved while the rest of the house is burned to ashes, one can only say that God has provided a place in the house that keeps a person from the fire while the rest of the house is burning; God has not kept him away from the house. These ones say that to be kept from the hour of trial means to be preserved by God in the midst of the great tribulation; it does not mean to be taken away from the tribulation.
We have to notice that the Greek text here does not mean that one is preserved in the midst of the tribulation, but that one is kept away from the tribulation. It is like the word church, which means to be called out, and those in the church are the called-out ones. The original meaning of the expression "keep you out of the hour of trial" means to be brought out. It means literally to be delivered from. It is not to be preserved in the midst of the tribulation but to be brought out so that one does not have to go through the tribulation.
According to the direct translation of this verse, is the Lord Jesus promising the church in Philadelphia that they would be kept from the trial or from the hour of trial? It is not from the trial but from the hour of trial. For example, last year on January 28 there was war in Shanghai. This was like the tribulation. At that time some of our brothers were living in Jia-pei. Although the bombers, bombs, and tracers all flew over them, thank the Lord, they were preserved. This means that God had saved them from the trial. Some other brothers who were also living in Jia-pei moved away the first day the fighting started on January 28 to Southeast Asia. They were delivered from the danger of that day. In this case God had saved them from the hour of trial. There is a great difference between being kept from the trial and being kept from the hour of trial. Those who are kept from the trial need not leave the place of trial; they only need to be kept from the trial. But those who are kept from the hour of trial are kept from seeing the trial at all; as such, they must be delivered completely from the scene of the trial. Since such ones are delivered from the time of the trial, they must also be delivered from the place of the trial. A man can be preserved in the midst of the trial, but he can never be kept from the hour of the trial and still go through the trial.
Some have said that to be preserved from the trial is like the Israelites in the land of Goshen in Egypt; when God punished the Egyptians, the Israelites were preserved by God. But the Bible (Rev. 3:10) says that they will not even see that hour. If the Bible only says that they are kept from the trial, there will still be the possibility for them to go through the tribulation; they can still pass through the tribulation and be preserved by God in the midst of it. But the Bible says that they are kept from the hour of trial. They will not even meet the hour. How then can they pass through the tribulation? Therefore, our friends' argument cannot stand that being kept means to be preserved from falling and being hurt.
How can one be kept from the hour of trial? There are only two ways: one is by death and the other is by being raptured. Once a man dies, the tribulation will not come to him. Once a man is raptured, the tribulation also will not come to him. Which kind of preserving is the one spoken of here? It is the rapture. If a believer is living today, is God going to preserve him by sending him to death? He will not. Although Revelation 3:10 does not mention the rapture explicitly, nevertheless, it clearly hints at the rapture. From this verse we can see that the rapture does not all take place before the tribulation nor all after the tribulation. Those who keep the word of Christ's endurance will be kept by the Lord from the hour of trial. The Lord has opened up such a way for us.
The believers' condition on earth today should not be different from that of Christ in heaven today. This is the time of Christ's endurance, and believers should endure the same on earth today as Christ endured when He was on the earth. If they do this, they are qualified to be raptured.
Luke 21:36 says, "But be watchful at every time, beseeching that you would prevail to escape all these things which are about to happen and stand before the Son of Man."
This verse clearly says that we will not see the whole church going through the tribulation. If we want to understand the teaching of Luke 21:36, we have to know what Luke 21 is about. Both Luke 21 and Matthew 24 are prophecies concerning future events. Luke emphasizes the destruction of Jerusalem. Although Matthew also mentions the destruction of Jerusalem, its emphasis is on the coming of the Lord. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman prince, Titus, in A.D. 70. Luke not only mentions the destruction of Jerusalem at that time, but specifically says that during the great tribulation, Jerusalem will be trodden by the Gentiles. The prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem will see its complete fulfillment in the future. The destruction in A.D. 70 was only a foretaste for the Jews. Luke refers to the time of Titus, on the one hand, and to the time of the great tribulation, on the other hand. On the one hand, it speaks of what the Jews would suffer under the hand of Titus the prince. On the other hand, it speaks of what they will suffer under the hand of Antichrist at the time of the great tribulation. Therefore, Matthew pays attention to the rapture and the judgment, whereas Luke pays attention to the great tribulation.
In Matthew 24:3 the disciples asked the Lord three questions: (1) "When will these things be?" This means the time when Jerusalem will be destroyed. (2) "What will be the sign of Your coming?" and (3) "What will be the sign...of the consummation of the age?" Luke 21:7 only says, "When therefore will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" In Luke the Lord was not asked concerning His coming and the consummation of the age. This shows that there is a difference of emphasis for Matthew and Luke. Matthew emphasizes the Lord's coming, whereas Luke emphasizes the coming great tribulation. Luke shows us what the tribulation will be like. It shows us what the tribulation would be like at the time of Titus and the condition of the coming great tribulation. Luke 21:8-16 speaks about the events that will take place before the end, verses 17-19 speak about the suffering those ones will experience, and verses 20-28 include the two destructions of Jerusalem, one at the time of Titus and the other at the time of the great tribulation.
We can see that this passage seems to tell us that all Christians will have to pass through the tribulation, because it says that while Jerusalem will experience such and such, they will still be there. They will see the situation, which means that they will be there. "And when these things begin to happen, stand erect and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (v. 28). This seems to indicate that Christians will be there. In verses 29-33, the Lord seems to be guaranteeing that such events will surely occur. If the words stopped at verse 33, no Christian would be raptured, and everyone would have to go through the tribulation. However, after verse 33, the Lord changes His tone. Before this verse, the Lord seems to indicate that everyone has to go through the tribulation. But from verses 34 to 36, He changes His tone; it seems that the restriction has been relaxed.
Verses 34 and 35 say, "But take heed to yourselves lest perhaps your hearts be weighed down with debauchery and drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day come upon you suddenly as a snare. For it will come in upon all those dwelling on the face of all the earth." Is there a way out? There is! Verse 36 says, "But be watchful at every time, beseeching that you would prevail to escape all these things which are about to happen and stand before the Son of Man." This is the way prepared for us by the Lord; it is the rapture (we will prove this later). Luke 21 shows us the two destructions of Jerusalem and what Christians will go through. But Luke also tells us of a way out. If all the Christians will be raptured, there would be no need for verse 34. On the other hand, if all the Christians will have to pass through the tribulation, verse 36 would not be fulfilled. Therefore, from verses 34 through 36, we see that the rapture is conditional; only those who are watchful at every time and are beseeching will be raptured.
How can we escape the coming great tribulation? There are only two ways: one is by death and the other is by being raptured. Does the Lord promise that we would escape the coming things by death? No, it is not by death. The Lord promised that we would be able to "stand before the Son of Man." To stand in the original language is "to be placed." We cannot stand before the Son of Man; we are placed there. What is this if it is not the rapture? Surely this refers to the rapture. Death is not a blessing. Is Luke 21:36 telling us to hope for death? Surely it is not.
Those friends who advocate the belief that the whole church will be raptured before the tribulation come into conflict with the words of Luke 21:20-28 because clearly this passage describes the scene of going through the tribulation. But because there is verse 36, we cannot say that the whole church will go through the tribulation; those who practice verse 36 will be raptured before the tribulation. Can we say that all the Christians are watching at every time and beseeching? One older Christian said that every Christian has the work of verse 36 because he has believed in the Lord Jesus and is surely watching and beseeching. But the word of the Bible is specific here. Among all the saved ones, only those who have the work of verse 36 can be placed before the Lord. Moreover, the "watchful at every time, beseeching" does not refer to daily praying and beseechings that we have. In the original language, this expression qualifies what is described afterwards. After the word beseeching there should be a colon. This means that one watches at every time and beseeches by saying, "Lord, deliver me from what is coming, which is the great tribulation." Watching at every time and beseeching does not refer to ordinary watching and beseeching, but to watching and beseeching for deliverance from the coming tribulation.
Many brothers and sisters have prayed for their daily living, parents, children, and own spirituality. But have they prayed for this matter before? If we do not believe that the world is evil, how can we pray for deliverance from the world? Who would pray for deliverance from sin when his heart loves sin? Who would not want to strike a fortune when his heart is for money? Beseeching God to deliver us from these things is to acknowledge that all these things are vanity and that the coming tribulation is a fact. This is why there is the prayer, "God, save me from the coming tribulation." May we all have such a prayer.
"Stand before the Son of Man." According to the original language, this phrase can be translated "be made worthy to be placed before the Son of Man." Therefore, it is not a question of grace but a question of work. Whether or not one will be raptured is a question of worthiness. If you are a person who is watching at every time and beseeching, God will consider you worthy of being placed before the Son of Man; you will be considered worthy of being raptured. What is it to be worthy? God cannot take you to a place where you do not want to go. Many people do not want to go to heaven. Heaven would be a place of suffering to them. In heaven one will have to pray, read the Bible, and sing forever. How tiring that will be! In heaven there will not be all the amusements. How dull that will be! Many people are not spiritual and heavenly enough to be raptured to heaven. There is a fable that says that an eagle once found a cat and told him how wonderful the sky is and how wonderful the sun, moon, and snow on the mountaintop are. The cat said, "I only ask one thing: `Are there mice in the sky?'" If there were no mice, nothing would be attractive to the cat. If all that a Christian thinks about is children, money, position, and fame, he would have no interest in heaven. If he is not zealous for the Lord, and finds all the heavenly things dull, he cannot blame God for not being gracious to him, for he will have no heart for heaven and will not want it.
Last summer a brother was preaching that the whole church would be raptured before the tribulation. I asked him, "Are there saved Christians who watch movies?" He said yes. I then asked, "Are there saved Christians who commit fornication?" He said yes again. I then asked, "Suppose when the Lord comes back, these ones are watching movies or committing fornication. Will they be raptured?" If they will be raptured, what kind of doctrine is this? The Lord said that these kind of people are not worthy to be raptured. Being raptured is a matter of being worthy. If we hold onto the things of the earth, God will not take us away against our will. For example, a helium balloon goes up by itself, but if a piece of stone is tied to it, it will not ascend. Therefore, the rapture does not depend on whether or not one has life but on whether or not one's heart is free from the world. The Lord says, "Lest perhaps your hearts be weighed down with debauchery and drunkenness and the anxieties of life" (v. 34). It is a question of the things that are holding down one's heart.
Verse 36 shows us clearly that the whole church will neither escape the tribulation, nor go through the tribulation. The Lord gives us a promise here: whoever is watching at every time and beseeching will be raptured. If no one will pass through the tribulation, there would be no need for this verse. If everyone will pass through the tribulation, this verse will not be fulfilled. It is because of the possibility of a rapture before the tribulation that there is such a promise from the Lord. Otherwise, of what use is this verse?
Our friends say that "all these things which are about to happen" (v. 36) does not refer to the great tribulation but to the debauchery, drunkenness, and anxieties of life mentioned in verse 34. They say that as long as a Christian can watch at every time and beseech, God will deliver him from such things as debauchery and drunkenness. But they leave out the words "which are about to happen." Are the things in verse 34 things that are here today, or are they things that are about to happen? The debauchery, drunkenness, and anxieties of life are all things of today. They are things that people need to be delivered from today. How can one wait until the future to be delivered from them? Furthermore, the deliverance from these things is not a matter of worthiness; a person should be delivered from these things in any case as long as they are here. Therefore, "all these things which are about to happen" in verse 36 refers to the great tribulation. These things which are about to happen are not here today. From this verse, we can see that the theory of the whole church passing through the tribulation is unfounded, for the Lord clearly promises "that you would prevail to escape all these things which are about to happen." I will only mention these two major proofs. At least in Revelation 3:10 and Luke 21:36, the Bible shows us that some saints will not pass through the tribulation. The verses we read in the last message say that saints will pass through the tribulation, whereas the verses we read in this message say that there is a way out. Generally speaking, the church will pass through the tribulation. But the verses we read today say that a minority of believers will be raptured before the tribulation. If we read Matthew 25 carefully, we will see that the five prudent virgins are believers, and the five foolish virgins are also believers. Those who are raptured are believers, and those who are left behind are also believers.
Without the way out mentioned in Luke 21:36, it would be impossible to understand many passages of the Bible. The rapture is a hidden thing, because the Bible says that the Lord will come as a thief (Matt. 24:43; 1 Thes. 5:4). This means that the Lord's coming is hidden and is not open. But then, on the other hand, the Bible says that we should not let the day come upon us as a thief, which means that the Lord's coming is open. On the one hand, it is hidden, and on the other hand, it is open. How can we explain this if there are not two comings of the Lord? How can we reconcile these two groups of Scriptures unless a small number of believers are raptured before the tribulation and the majority of them are raptured after the tribulation?
In addition to these verses, Revelation 12:5 speaks of being caught up to the throne of God. Revelation 14:3 says that these ones are before the throne. Luke 21:36 says that they will be placed before the Son of Man. All these refer to a rapture to heaven. But there are also other verses that speak of being raptured to the air. For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says "to meet the Lord in the air," and Matthew 25:10 says, "The bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast." This also happens in the air. The harvest in Revelation 14:14-16 also takes place in the air. If the rapture all takes place before the tribulation, or all after the tribulation, how can these two groups of verses be explained? Therefore, it is indeed a biblical teaching to say that a minority of the believers will be raptured before the tribulation, whereas the majority of them will be raptured after the tribulation. Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain many verses.
Moreover, the Bible says that no one knows the day of the coming of Christ. But at the same time, the Bible also says that the day of the coming of Christ can be known. On the one hand, it says that Christ will come at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, at the blowing of the last trumpet. On the other hand, it says, "concerning that day and hour, no one knows" (Matt. 24:36) and "at an hour when you do not expect it, the Son of Man is coming" (v. 44). If there is only one rapture, how can you not know His coming? Since the Bible has said that He will come at the blowing of the seventh trumpet, you can find out the time of Christ's coming by counting three and a half years from the time Antichrist begins sitting in Jerusalem. Why then does the Bible say that concerning that day and hour, no one knows? This means that some will be raptured before the tribulation, because no one knows the time of the rapture before the tribulation. But anyone can find out the time of the rapture after the tribulation. I dare not say that there are only two raptures. But I can say that according to the Bible, there is such a distinction in the rapture. On the one hand, it cannot be known, but on the other hand, it can be known. On the one hand, it is hidden, but on the other hand, it is open. On the one hand, men cannot see it, but on the other hand, many can see it. If we have any prejudice, it will be impossible for us to interpret these verses.
Those who oppose having different kinds of raptures have their reasons also. But let us consider if their reasons are valid.
Our friends say that the rapture of the church cannot be divided into separate times; there can be only one rapture because the church is the Body of Christ, and if there is more than one rapture, it would be divided up into pieces. How can the Body of Christ be divided up?
However, we know that the Body of Christ is a metaphorical expression. Its main significance is that there is only one life. It does not mean that this Body is physically connected together like our physical body. If it means that, then the Body of Christ is divided today. Christ the Head is in heaven, while we the Body are on earth. Does this not mean that there is already a division? Some believers have died. Does this not also mean a division? Some believers have not been born. Does this not also mean a division? If the difference in the time of rapture will divide the Body of Christ, these separations that we have mentioned have already divided the Body of Christ. Can such an argument be valid?
Our friends argue that the rapture is a part of redemption. Romans 8:23 says, "Eagerly awaiting sonship, the redemption of our body." If it is part of redemption, then it is grace. If the redemption of the body is by grace, then there should not be one group being raptured first and another group left behind.
However, please remember that the rapture is not the redemption of the body; it is something apart from the redemption of the body. The rapture has to do with God's grace. In fact, everything is a matter of grace. Yet the rapture is with a condition. There are only two books that speak about the position of the church. They are Colossians and Ephesians. In these two books the highest point the church has attained is death, resurrection, and ascension. Is the rapture mentioned? No, it is not mentioned. Before the rapture, there is the need for transfiguration. Resurrection is a grace of God, but the rapture is not. It is significant that Colossians and Ephesians do not mention the rapture. Do the four Gospels mention the rapture as a grace? No, they do not.
One brother said, "If, as you said, some will be raptured before the tribulation whereas others will be raptured after it, will not the church lose its hope for the rapture this way? It is most cruel to say, as you have advocated, that a minority will be raptured first, while the majority will be left behind to pass through the tribulation before they will be raptured."
My answer is that the hope of the whole church's being raptured before the tribulation is an empty hope in any case, because the Bible never says that the whole church will be raptured before the tribulation. Since this is a vain hope anyway, it is better that we tell people about it. In this way they will know that the rapture is not based on their salvation in life, but on the scriptural works that they perform after they have received such a life.
Our friends quote 1 Corinthians 15:23, which says, "But each one in his own order: the firstfruits, Christ; then those who are Christ's at His coming." Here it only mentions "those who are Christ's" without making any further distinction; it does not say how a person's work should be after salvation, and it does not say anything about watching and beseeching.
What they say is true for this passage, but they cannot add other things to the passage. For example, there is a law in China which says, "Every Chinese citizen has his right as a citizen of China." But as soon as a citizen of China breaks some law, he will lose his right as a citizen. Can he argue that he still has a right based on the clause, "Every Chinese citizen has his right as a citizen of China"? Of course, he cannot. John 3 says that those who are born again can enter the kingdom of God. But there are many other Scriptures that tell us that those who have been regenerated and have eternal life may not necessarily receive the kingdom.
Moreover, 1 Corinthians 15 is not on the rapture but on resurrection. From the first verse until the last verse, it is on resurrection. The rapture is something that men put into their reading. It is true that the resurrection of a Christian is based on the fact that he belongs to Christ.
Our friends ask that if this is the case, what will happen to those believers who are dead? If those Christians who do not do well will have to pass through the tribulation and will suffer more, what will happen to those Christians who have not done so well and have died? Does this mean that they will not have to pass through the tribulation? If that is the case, does it not mean that they will come off better than the first group?
My answer is that we do not have to worry about this. God will never be unjust. As Abraham said, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25). This is not our business but God's business. At the same time, it seems that this group of people will indeed suffer something. Perhaps they will not go through the tribulation, but they will have to stand before the judgment seat and will receive their recompense, because 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done through the body according to what he has practiced, whether good or bad." This has nothing to do with salvation or perdition, but it has to do with the kingdom. The entrance of the kingdom is something decided by us ourselves.
Our friends quote 1 Corinthians 15:51, which says, "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed." Does not the word "all" denote that there will be only one rapture? One brother said that the Bible only distinguishes the wheat from the tares but does not distinguish the wheat from other wheat. As such is the case, there is only one rapture.
It is true that there is the distinction between the wheat and the tares. But there is also the distinction between one kind of wheat and another kind of wheat. Leviticus 23 is one example of it. First there is the firstfruit, and then there is the general harvest, and finally there are the gleanings. Not only does Leviticus say this; Revelation 14 has this distinction also. First there is the firstfruit, and then there is the general harvest.
I also believe that we all will be changed. But the Bible is limited to saying that we all will be changed; it does not say that we all will be raptured at the same time. Moreover, 1 Corinthians 15 is on resurrection; it is not on the rapture. I admit that 1 Corinthians 15 runs parallel to 1 Thessalonians 4, but the emphasis in 1 Corinthians 15 is different. It is true that we will all be changed. But the Bible does not say that we will all be raptured at the same time. Why should we add on something that the Bible has not said?
First Thessalonians 4:15 says, "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep."
This is a strong reason to these ones. They ask if 1 Thessalonians 4:15 is on the rapture. Yes, it is. But what does this verse say? It says that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. If one group of people will be raptured before the tribulation, whereas most of the people will be raptured at the sounding of the seventh trumpet (at which time the dead will be resurrected), does this not mean that those who are living will precede those who have fallen asleep? First Thessalonians 4 says that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. This shows that our rapture will not be before the resurrection of the dead. How then can one say that there will be a group who will be raptured before the tribulation, whereas the rest of the people, including the dead ones, will be raptured after the tribulation?
This verse is comparatively a more reasonable proof among all the verses these ones have quoted. They say that the rapture of the living cannot precede those who have died. However, my Bible says "who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep." Not only does verse 15 have the words "living, who are left remaining"; verse 17 has the same words. We should not misread these words. Does not "living" mean that these are in the world? Why is there the need to say "who are left remaining" again? If to be "living" is to be alive, and to be "left remaining" is also to be alive, why is there the repetition? The New Testament does not have such repetition for no reason. What then do the words "living, who are left remaining" refer to? The group who are "living, who are left remaining" includes fewer than those who are merely "living." Saying "living" refers only to the believers who are living. But "living, who are left remaining" refers not to all the living believers, but to those who are (1) living and (2) remaining. Therefore, to be "living, who are left remaining" means that another group who is living have been taken away, while this group is not only living but is left remaining. The group which is left behind are the "living, who are left remaining." Being living is versus being dead, while being left remaining is versus being taken away. The "living, who are left remaining" is versus the living who have been taken (raptured). What does it mean to remain? It means that another group has left first. For example, if ten guests are invited, and if we ask how many guests are here, and the answer comes that ten came but that only five are left remaining, this means that the other five have left. Does this not hint that one group has left?
Our friends ask, "Would this not mean that even Paul has become the second group?" My answer is that Paul did not go on living and was not left remaining anyway. The word "we" that he used does not refer to any persons in particular; it is only a way of expression. It can be compared to the way, in preaching the gospel, when we say that "we" have committed this and that kind of sins. This does not mean that we ourselves have indeed committed this or that kind of sins. Likewise, when Paul mentioned "we," he did not mean to put himself as one of those who will be left behind. It is merely a way of expression.
Brothers, in making such discernments on these verses, we can see that the proposal that the whole church will be raptured before the tribulation is a vain theory; it is an assumption and does not have any basis in the Scriptures. Those who say that the church will go through the tribulation have more of a basis in the facts. However, it is equally wrong to say that the whole church will pass through the tribulation. The Bible says that only those who keep the Lord's word of endurance and who are watchful at every time and beseeching will be raptured before the tribulation. The rest of the people will be raptured only after the tribulation. This is the teaching of the Bible. At any rate, according to the Bible, a minority will be raptured before the tribulation, whereas the majority will be raptured after the tribulation. As to how many raptures there will be and how the raptures will take place, these are things beyond the scope of this message, and we will not delve into them.
If we are prepared, we will be raptured. If we are not prepared, we will pass through these many tribulations. Therefore, there is only one thing that is sure: either we have to pass through death today, which means that we have to take the way of death, dying to the self-life and the world, so that we can be raptured, or we will have to wait for that day to pass through death. We have to taste death anyway. During these two weeks, I have had the feeling that many believers will pass through the tribulation and will see the Antichrist. But at that time the Holy Spirit will come in double measure. By that time, tongues, prophecies, and miraculous gifts will increase and will become more prevalent than at Pentecost. Therefore, if a person is unfortunately left behind, he has to be strengthened and stand fast. By that time, everyone will have to face the Antichrist. At the same time, every one of us will have to pass through sufferings that no human being can endure. But at that time, we will endure them. If we can be raptured ahead of time, we will praise the Lord for it. If, unfortunately, we are left behind, there is nothing to do but to fight the Antichrist. All of us have to be prepared to fight, sacrifice our life, and engage him in the final struggle in an unrelenting way, until we die.
Let me say a few more words. Some take the attitude that as long as they are saved, they are satisfied and they would not be bothered about anything more. They do not aspire to be anything, and they do not want to think about what will happen in the future. But I must tell you that by that time, no one will say that he does not want to think about it, because everyone will be forced to think about it. If we are not prepared, and if we are not ready to offer up everything to God, we will not be raptured but will instead be left behind. By that time, if we are Christians and are still around, we will not be able to get by. It may be that those who are not yet born will be more blessed. But those who are born will surely have to go through these things. May we be those who are watchful and prepared.
