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266
“The Pre-Tribulation Rapture”
by Art Sadlier   
February 1st, 2006

The nation of Israel rejected and crucified Christ because they did not recognize Him as their Messiah. They failed to recognize that the Old Testament prophesied of two comings of the Messiah. The consequences were disastrous.

The Disciples of Christ made the same mistake. Instead of rejoicing in what God was doing on the cross, they stumbled in fear and unbelief and sorrow.

As two of the Disciples of Christ made their way to Emmaus, they were filled with fear and confusion. Jesus said to them, “O fools (simple ones) and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken”.

He was saying you don’t understand prophecy. You don’t understand all the prophecies concerning Christ! You understood some of the prophecies but not all of the prophecies.

You understood that Christ was coming in Power and Glory to rule and reign, but you didn’t understand that Christ was going to suffer and die, in meekness and humility, for the sins of men.

Understand that nowhere in the Old Testament does it say that there would be two comings of Christ, but rather we have two scenarios of Christ’s coming which could not be fulfilled in one time frame. The Scriptures left us to deduce that Christ must, of necessity, come twice to fulfill the prophetic promises.

First Prophetic Scenario:

Isaiah 53:3-9 Christ is coming in meekness and humility to suffer and die for the sins of man. This is found in many other Old Testament Scriptures.

Second Prophetic Scenario:

Isaiah 9:6,7 & Psalms 2:8,9 Christ would come in Power and Glory to destroy the rebellious nations and to rule and reign upon the earth in a Kingdom centered in Israel.

Which is it?

To suffer and die or to rule and reign? These are two different comings of Christ; they cannot be fitted into one time frame, or one coming. It is obvious that we are to deduce that the Word of God is talking about two separate comings of Christ.

On several occasions the two comings of Christ are found in one verse with no commentary or explanation as in Isaiah 61:2 and Isaiah 9:6.

The leaders of Israel and the disciples both failed to understand that there would be two comings of Christ.

Many today also fail to understand that there are yet two comings of Christ. They say “give me chapter and verse where it states that there will be two comings of Christ”.

However, the New Testament is exactly as the Old Testament, instead of stating there would be two comings of Christ, the New Testament gives two scenarios of Christ’s future coming.

  • Christ would come when LIFE is NORMAL. Mt 24:36-39.
  • Christ would come when LIFE is ANYTHING BUT NORMAL. Mt 24:29,30

Which is it?

Peace, Safety and Normalcy or Total Devastation and Fear. These two scenarios cannot be fitted into one time frame, or one coming of Christ.

  • Christ comes when no one expects Him. Mt 24:44
  • Christ comes when everyone is expecting Him. Mt 24:29,30
  • Christ comes 7 years after the Peace Treaty is signed with Anti-Christ.
  • Christ comes 3 ½ years after the Abomination of Desolation
  • Christ’s Second coming will be the most recognized date in all of history. Even Antichrist will expect Him.

Which is it?

You cannot fit these prophecies into one time frame, into one coming of Christ. In the New Testament, just as in the Old Testament, you can easily deduce that Scripture is talking about two separate and distinct comings of Christ, which are yet future.

  • Christ returns for His Saints. John 14:3, 1 Thess 4:13-17
  • Christ returns with His Saints. Jude 14 Rev.19:8,11-14

Which is it?

It can only be two different comings of Christ.

  • Christ comes to earth to take His Saints, and Satan is left to create havoc in the earth. Rev. 12:12
  • Christ comes to set up the Kingdom and Satan is bound. Rev 20: 2,3

Which is it?

It is two separate comings.

Let us not be like Israel and the Disciples in the first century and fail to understand all that the prophets foretold of the coming of Christ.

The Lord wants us to know, and understand, what He is going to do, that we might be ready and useful to Him, as He begins to move toward carrying out His grand program for the Jews, the Gentiles and the Church. Isa 46:9, 10 1 Cor 10:32

The result of not understanding all of God’s Prophetic Program can be disastrous for us. Understanding that there yet remains two comings of Christ, will keep us from the great last days’ deception Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:5,11,24.

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