Since Tim Layhaye and Jerry Jekins started their books series Left Behind, there has been a resurgency of interest in the Rapture. The term Rapture is never found in the Bible. It was coined by a prophetess who said that Jesus Christ will have a First and Second Return. According to this woman Jesus comes back for the elect first and then those left behind must merit the Second Return and survive the Tribulation in the process. Layhaye and Jekins have expounded upon this mythos with their celebrated legacy of books and adaptations. Recently, the fourth Left Behind film was released in theaters, staring Nicholas Cage. I imagine Mr. Cage feels comfortable in his role, for he did a similar film called KNOWING several years ago that has relatively the same plot.
So what is the Biblical basis for being Left Behind? As I mentioned already, there is none. If we examin Matthew Chapter 24, you get the chronological account of the End of Days from Jesus Christ himself. Let us take a look at it:
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[d] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
Cross reference this with the Book of Revelation and you will see that there is not two returns, but Jesus Returns once at the Mt. Olives. The believers who are alive are caught up after the resurrection of the dead believers and they come to Christ's side. What follows afterwards is Judgement and the Millenial Reign. The only credence for the theory of a Third Coming of Christ would be attributed to infering that after the Millenial Reign, when Satan is released from his bonds to tempt man again before his judgement in the Lake of Fire, that people are still roaming about the Earth and considered the Lost or Left Behind. However, the Scripture does not touch on this and at best it is an imaginative Mad Max fantasy.
Terminology in Christianity can be the source of great disputes and debate. The Rapture can have two meanings. The first is the mythos by the prophetess and that Jesus will come back twice. The second is that Rapture and the term Caught Up, which is used in Revelation for all the Saints are synonymns. I once got in debate about the Rapture with another believer, only to discover he meant the Rapture which is Biblically supported and called Caught Up.
The major issue I personally have with the Rapture according Tim Layhaye and Jerry Jenkins is that is sets up Christians brothers and sisters for an easy ride. People are told that if they are chosen or Elect ones, they shall escape the Tribulation and not endure the hardships tell Christ returns. Well if they are wrong as I believe and they do have to suffer the Tribulation, then I imagine these people will lose their faith easily and feel damned. That is why doctrines outside the Bible are dangerious, they have the power to dismantle someone's beliefs if the deception does not hold true.
Finally, my belief about being Left Behind is completely opposite of Lehaye and the prophetess. I believe being left behind means that you are left behind from your calling, that you do not get the chance to do what you were suppose to do on this Earth because you procrastinated or refused to do it. Rather than move in God's Spirit and do what he called you to do, you settled for a system or for what was comfortable. As a result, you arn't damned, you get to go to heaven, but you will not have fulfilled your God given purpose on this planet. That is left behind to me, leaving your purpose behind and waundering the Earth aimless or in denial until Christ comes back or you die.
In the end, arguing over Eschatological (End Times and End Things) things is a waste of breath. We should be focused on Jesus Christ and follow the Holy Spirit. The point should be following the Prince of Peace, not being contentious with our fellow Christians over matters that elude our full understanding. What matters is that we are busy serving the Lord until he comes; that he finds his servants and followers hard at work saving souls.
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