Gary Ashcraft of Ashcraft Ministries

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ashcraftministry.blogspot.com/

 

 

The Bible verses used to prove the "Pre-Trib" Rapture,

instead_prove the_ "Post-Trib" Rapture, _at

 

this conference held at Country Church in Redding, California,

and was attended by 800 men. Common sense should tell us that

there can't be two Second Comings. Hebrews 9:28 (paraphrased)

"...He comes once as a suffering Messiah, then a second time...

unto salvation." No third time mentioned in God's word, nor is

there any mention of dividing the second coming into two events.

So, lets reason together, He has already been here once, which

would leave one more event, The Second Coming of Christ,

that the Bible clearly states occurs after the great tribulation.

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Futhermore, there isn't a single scripture in the entire Bible that

states Christians are removed before the Tribulation. If anyone

can find one, would you please Email me? Then, I promise you, I

would remove this webpage from every search engine. Please, no

assumptions, analogys or verses taken out of context.

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The three senior pastors that spoke at this "Endtime Conference"

used nine scriptures to prove the "Pre-Trib" Rapture. However,

out of the nine they used, seven were taken out of context, and

the other two were based on assumptions._ Below are the nine

scriptures they used to "try" to prove the "Pre-Trib" Rapture:

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(All verses quoted are KJV, but for an instant reference in the

English Standard (ESV), place the cursor on chapter and verse).

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#1. I Corinthians 15:51-52

 

51"Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we

shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead

shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

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Read the last two lines in the above verse slowly, think about the

"order" (sequence) God inspired Paul to list these three events:

#1 The Last Trump,#2 The Resurrection,#3 The Rapture,

(we shall be changed). Paul would have listed the Rapture first,

instead of third, if this was to be a pre-tribulation Rapture. Also

Jesus says four times in John 6:39, 40, 44, 54, the resurrection

is on the Last day. So, if the Resurrection is on the Last Day,

as stated by Jesus, and in I Cor 15:52, Paul lists the Rapture

after the Resurrection. Paul has told us the "sequence" of

these (3) events and Jesus told us "when", (on the Last Day).

Is this such a difficult concept to comprehend??_Clearly, these

two verses teach a.....Post-Tribulation Rapture..... at the

Second Coming of Christ. How can the Last Trumpet sound,

the Resurrection, and then the rapture happen, seven years

before the "Last Day" ? ?

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#2. I Thes.4:16

 

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,

with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:

and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

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Again the word "trump" is used, but the Thessalonians were

unclear as to "when" this would happen. Paul apparently heard

that they were troubled about this, so he then wrote a _second

letter _to clear this up, and this reads as follows:

 

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II Thes 2:1,2,3,4 (v-1) "Now we beseech you, brothern, by

the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering

together (Rapture) unto him,___ (v-2) That ye be not soon

shaken in mind,_or be troubled,_neither by spirit,_or by word,

nor by letter from us, _as that the _day of Christ_ is at hand.

(v-3) Let no man_deceive you_by any means: for_that day

shall not come_except there come a falling away first, and

that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition"(false Christ).

 

.

 

In this, second letter, Paul, this time_ makes it _very clear

that the false Christ_ comes first,__and (v-3) not to let anyone

deceive you. Then, refering back to the first letter he wrote, then

(after false Christ) the Lord descends, with a shout, with the voice

of the arch angel, with the"trump" of God: and the dead in Christ

shall rise first. This is the second coming of Christ, after the

tribulation_ So, with this_second letter_ Paul is making it

clear that this "trump"_ is not before the tribulation _its

after!! Its a post-tribulation rapture, on the Last Day!!

 

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#3. Revelation 3:10

 

"Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will

keep thee from the hour of temptation, that shall come upon

all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth."

 

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Notice that Jesus says, "....I will keep thee from...." , He does

not say, "...take thee out of..." . So, for a better understanding

of Rev. 3:10, Lets prove the Bible, with the Bible, and not assume

anything._ Lets let Jesus clearify this verse, which He does in

John 17:15, "I pray not that thou take them out of the world,

but that thou should keep them from the evil."

 

 

 

Jesus clearly says__"not" to take them out__in John 17:15.

So, how can the_I will Keep thee from_of Rev. 3:10_ mean_

I will take thee out of_? As pre-trib teachers would have you

believe. Jesus does "not" contradict Himself !!__For the

Greek meaning of "Keep thee from". See side column Note #2->

All of the early church fathers taught that the "Antichrist" comes

first (see link at the end of this post on "Early Church Fathers."

 

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Gods wrath does not fall on us,"only those who had the mark

of the beast" (Rev 16:2). And those who "do not have the seal

of God" (Rev 9:4). Like the "144 thousand" of Rev. 7:3, we have

the seal of God._ See Eph.1:13 "....after you believed, you were

sealed......" And Eph.4:30 "......you are sealed unto the day of

redemption." There are several verses that clearly state, after we

accept Christ, we are sealed, (protected from Gods wrath).

 

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#4. Matthew 24:27

 

"For as the lighting cometh out of the east, and shineth even

unto the west; so shall also the coming of the son of man be."

 

Go down two verses, Matt.24:29 tells you "when" this will be:

"Immediately__ after the tribulation__ of those days...."

Now Matt.24:30 "....then shall appear the sign of the son of man

(Jesus)..." Now Matt.24:31, "..with the great sound of a trumpet,

and they shall gather together (rapture) his elect...." Again the

same trumpet as in other verses, now back to Matt.24:26, Jesus

tells them not to believe people that tell you that He (Jesus) is

in a secret place (like a secret pre-trib rapture). Matt.24:27

is another verse that was clearly taken out of context, Its a post

tribulation rapture, at the second coming of Christ.

 

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#5. Matthew 25:1-13

 

The parable of the "ten virgins"___ Here Jesus does not

talk about the "time" of His return, because He had just told

them a few minutes before about the time, (see the paragraph

before this one_Matt.24:29_definitely after the tribulation).

The Wedding Feast can only take place after the tribulation,

because the Resurrection dosn't happen until the Last day.

Jesus said four times that the Resurrection is on the Last

Day (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54). _ Then the bridegroom (church)

goes into the wedding feast after the second coming of Christ,

and guess who else is at this Wedding Feast?___1 The Old

Testament saints__2 The tribulation saints__3 The prophets.

4 The 144,000 new Christian Jews. There would have to be two

wedding feasts_two resurrections, and_two last days_ for the

"pre-trib" rapture to work. And_one verse_would also be nice!!

 

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#6. Mark 13:6-37

 

In this entire chapter Jesus is talking about the events that

happen durning the tribulation, and that they were _not_ to

look for Him until_after_ certain events happen first, then in

Mark 13:24, 25, 26, 27, (paraphased) "...after the tribulation

of those days, then they shall see Him..." So Jesus again told

them He's coming back after the tribulation, making this a post-

tribulation rapture at the Second Coming of Christ.

 

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#7. Luke 21:6-38

 

Basically this chapter is the same as the above chapter, where

Jesus returns__after__the tribulation, at the second coming of

Christ, except in v-36, He says, "....pray that you be accounted

worthy to escape all these things.."And we will, because we have

the seal of God, (Eph. 1:13, Eph. 4:30, II Cor 1:22, John 6:27).

We are protected (sealed) from Gods wrath, like the 144 thousand

of Revelation 7:4.

 

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#8. II Peter 3:10

 

"...The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night."

Now lets let the Bible prove the Bible and go to I Thes. 5:2, where

the exact same words are used, "...the Day of the Lord so cometh

as a thief in the night." Then in I Thes.5:4, (paraphased) "But

[we] are not in darkness that this day should overtake [us] as a

thief." Why? Because I Thes.5:5 "... [we] are children of the light."

And Jesus says "Behold I come as a thief" right after the 6th

Vial is poured out at the end of the tribulation (Rev.16:12,15).

And this begins the Last Day. (I inserted "we" for "you" because

Peter and Pauls letters were to the Gentiles (non Jews_"us").

 

 

#9. Revelation 22:12

 

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me." So,

when does He give out rewards? See Rev. 11:15, 18, "And the

7th angel sounded...[its time]...that thou give rewards...unto

the saints..."_Its after the 7th trump!!__At the end!!

Rewards are given out after the post-resurrection rapture,

after the Second Coming of Christ.

 

 

[A]

 

Now, all of the (9) verse references listed above, was all

that was presented to prove the "Pre-Trib" rapture

by the three pastors at this conference. You can see

that they were all taken out of context, or based

on assumptions. God was very angry with the

ten spies, who made Israel fear the Giants that were in

the land that God promised them (Num.13:1-2), and_they

were afraid to go in (Num.13:31,32,33). We are doing the

same thing today, by fearing the "Giant" (anti-Christ) _we add

"pre-trib" to Gods word, without a single verse to prove it,

this is very dangerous, (see Rev. 22:18). It is not my intent to

belittle these three pastors, I am sure they are sincere Christians,

but if they can't come up with one single verse that specificy

places this event before the tribulation, who can?_can you?

 

 

[B]

 

Its really very simple, if its not in Gods word, its not going to

happen. Again, I want to repeat that these nine scriptures were

all that was used to prove the "pre-trib" rapture that day, I was

there! The senior pastor of this church has read this article, (the

nine verses) and made a comment to me via Email, and he did not

question that these verses were all that was used to support this.

 

 

[C]

 

Note: The "pre-trib" view is a new doctrine, you will not find

pre-trib writings or documents in any church history until about

the year 1830. Edward Irving, (Catholic Apostolic Church) and

soon after, John Darby, (Plymouth Brethren) both of England,

were teaching the pre-tribulation rapture. _However, the most

important reason for the acceptance of this "pre-trib" rapture

view in the United States was the Scofield Reference Bible. In the

footnotes he split the second coming of Christ into two events:

 

Coming for the saints, then (7yrs later) Coming with the saints (at

which time we enter into God's millennium kingdom on earth). My

question is where do we go for the seven years? The Bible clearly

states (KJV)"The righteous (saints) shall never be removed: but

the wicked shall not inhabit the earth." (Prov.10:30) see also

Ps.37:29 and Prov.2:21-22.

 

 

[D]

 

Some may ask:_"what difference does it make if Christ returns

before the tribulation, or after"?_ There are sincere Christians on

both sides. However, the Bible says in I Thes.5:21, to "prove all

things."_And in II Tim.4:4,"And they shall turn away their ears

from the truth, and shall be turned into fables." (fiction) Like

the "Left Behind" book and movie, cars & planes crashing, etc.

Millions killed before the tribulation even starts, when all these

people still have/had a chance to be saved during this time. The

truth was Left Behind, in the making of this movie, yet it sells

well in the religious marketplaces. The "Pre-Trib" doctrine has

become amusement for the masses, a multi billion dollar business

 

 

[E]

 

If such a major event as the "pre-trib" Rapture is true, why

isn't it found in Old Testament prophecy?__or in Jesus's

own teachings?__ or His disciples?__or any of the New

Testament writers?__Jesus said in Mark 13:23,__ "I have

foretold you all things."__He would have told us!!

 

 

[F]

 

Others may say: "That the tribulation is only for the Jews,"

(the 144 thousand) and that they are the people that God uses in

this time to bring people to Christ. This may be true, in part, but

look at Rev. 7:1,2,3,4 where God puts a seal on this small group.

And because of this seal, they are protected!! The woman

(Israel) is protected in the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation

(Rev. 12:13-14). This, in turn, makes the sepent (Satan) angry,

so he goes after us in Rev.12:17, those who have "the testimony

of Jesus Christ." _Again, go back to Rev. 7:9, "After this (the

sealing of the 144000) I beheld, and look, a great multitude...

of all nations...". Now skip to Rev.7:13, who are these people,

and where did they come from?_Then Rev.7:14, "these are

they that came out of great tribulation...". And God just

stated in Rev 12:13-14, that the woman(Israel, the 144,000 Jews)

are protected. So, who do you think this great multitude is that

has the "testimony of Jesus Christ", if its not us??

 

 

[G]

 

So, there are untold millions, along with the Jews that are in

this period of time. To say this time is only for the Jews is another

assumption and not valid. They base this on Isaiah 45:4, where

Israel is called Gods "elect" (in the KJV) so then in Matt. 24:31,

when Jesus sends his angels to gather His "elect" after the

tribulation, that this event (the second coming of Christ) is only

for the Jews who have to go through the tribulation.__ After we

(non Jews) accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our saviour, we then

become Gods "elect."__ I will back up this statement with

Pauls letters to non Jews, the Galatians and the Colossians :

 

 

[H]

 

1. Gal.3:28-29 (paraphrased)"There is neither Jew or Greek,you

are all one in Christ...you also are Abrahams seed..."(elect)

 

.2. Col 3:11-12, "....there is neither Greek or Jew....but Christ

is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the __Elect of God...."

 

.3. I Peter 1:1-2, Peter writes a letter to different nationalitys

and calls them the _"elect of God"_ because they have been

"washed in the blood of the Lamb"__ like we have been.

So, Israel_"and"_the church_"are"_Gods elect!!

 

Jesus has one bride! He created the miracle of uniting Jew and

Gentile alike into one bride. Let's just "reason together", does it

make any sense that Jesus would rapture out a partial bride?

What parts would He take first? And then...what? Pick up the

other parts later - with whatever the results the 144K Jews are

able to accomplish during the 7 years? Why would Jesus remove

only some?

 

And... if He was going to do this, don't you think He would have

told us? At least one verse stating that He was going to take some

out first? Jesus said in Mark 13:23, "I have foretold you all

things." He would have told us!! And do you suppose Jesus

would have the wedding feast with His "raptured" church (bride),

without the tribulation saints, the Old Testament saints, the

prophets or the 144K?? Let's think about this, are we really

this special?_ Compared to them?_I think not!

 

 

 

I am going to add a few scriptures, (that were not mentioned at

this conference) that are also used to support the pre-tribulation

rapture, so that you will have a complete list of all the verses,

assumptions and analogys this "new" doctrine was based on:

 

 

[I]

 

1. I Thes.5:2 "...the Day of the Lord so cometh as a "thief

in the night." But is not valid to be used for "pre-trib" because

this happens after the "6th vial" is poured out at the end of

the tribulation, after Rev. 16:12, then Jesus says in Rev.16:15,

"Behold, I come as a thief."_Its after the tribulation, at the

Second Coming of Christ.

 

 

[J]

 

2. Matt. 24:40, is another one,_"...One shall be taken, and

the other left."_Jesus made this statement just minutes after

He had just told them "Immediately after the tribulation

of those days..." (Matt.24:29). Thats when "one will be taken and

and the other left." Not seven years before!

 

 

[K]

 

3. The 'Noah' analogy__Many analogys are used by the Pre-

Trib Rapture teachers, for lack of scripture proof (like, not one).

However, Noah is their main one, so I will deal only with this one.

Everyone is aware of the fact that Noah warned the people that

a flood is coming and to repent, but _they refused to listen.

The Pre-Trib Rapture teachers say "thats like the Rapture", so

as Noah was saved out of the flood, we are going to be "Raptured"

out of the Tribulation. Its an analogy!!_ It Proves nothing!

 

 

The Post-Trib 'Noah' analogy_We, the Post-Tribulation

Rapture teachers, are warning you that a flood is coming

(the Tribulation) , but you refuse to listen, just like in the

days of Noah.But Instead of a flood of water, it's a flood of Satanic

deception that started with a small wave in 1830 with the new

pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. Now this wave of deception has

covered the entire western world and has blinded us to the huge

wave that may soon be upon us. Because millions refuse to hear

the truth, many will fall in this dark time, and be deceived into

taking the "Mark of the Beast" and be forever lost. However,

post-trib rapture teachers don't have to use analogys to prove

their view. But even with two dozen solid scriptures, the people

still _refuse to listen!!

 

 

[L]

 

4. Mark 13:32, is also used_ "But of that day and that hour

knoweth no man..." _Jesus told them this a few minutes after

telling them in Mark 13:24 "...in those days after that tribulation,

the sun shall be darkned, and the moon shall not give her light..."

And goes on to say in Mark 13:28-29 that we will know this day is

close because next He says in Mark 13:30, that the generation

that sees these things (the tribulation events He just spoke of),

would, (back to Mark 13:26-27) "...see the Son of man coming in

the clouds...to gather His elect from the...uttermost parts of the

earth..." We still will not know the exact day, only that it is close.

This is the second coming of Christ after the tribulation.

 

 

[M]

 

Some people ask me, "why is it that the vast majority of

Christians believe in the "pre-trib"?_When Jesus came to the

earth the first time, the vast majority of the religious people

(the church) of that time, rejected him, even after many Old

Testament prophecys fortold of this event. But they did not want

a suffering Messiah, they wanted a conquering king. In this

case the vast majority was wrong!! Now, today, we want the

Messiah to take us out before a certain event, not after!! But,

guess what, we don't get to choose. He only comes to the earth

two times (Heb 9:28). Once as a suffering Messiah, and then as a

conquering KING at the Second Coming of Christ.

 

 

[N]

 

We soon may be entering the last seven years of this age, the 70th

week of Daniel. We will not be 'up in the bleachers' (as our

endtime preachers would have us believe) and we need not fear,

God is with us. Jesus said "...I will build my church; and

the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt 16:18)

 

 

[O]

 

No mater what view we hold, we still need to accept each other as

Christians. Those of us that hold to the post-tribulation rapture

view, should not be thought of as troublemakers, we are only

concerned that millions may fall during this time, a time when we

(the church) can be used by God. "..The people that do know their

God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand

among the people shall instruct many..." (Daniel 11:32-33)

 

And, then we can be overcomers as in Rev. 7:9,13,14 "...a great

mulitude, which no man could number, of all nations.."

v-13 ( paraphrased) "...who are these people and where did

they come from?" _ Then v-14, "...these are they which

came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes, and

made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."

 

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Print this article_think about it!_The nine scriptures used

by these three pastors was all they had to prove the "pre-trib"

rapture in a_ six hour_ conference.?? Something is wrong!!

 

 

Post Script...Important

to read brief quotes from the early

church fathers on what they believed and taught on the Second

Coming of Christ, and the Antichrist. Most of these apostles and

teachers lifespan overlaped each other from the year 30 to 1900.

 

"Early Church Fathers" earlychurchbelief.blogspot.com/

 

 

Very brief answers on the Eternal Security Doctrine (OSAS).

"Eternal Security ?" osas-question.blogspot.com/

 

 

The first four of God's 7-angels that execute the seal, trump,

and vial plagues are the, "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,"

4horsemen4.blogspot.com/

 

 

The antichrist empire that will center in the middle east is the,

"Endtime Beast Empire," endtimebeast.blogspot.com/

 

 

Mystery Babylon (Rome) the mother of harlots,

"The Woman

On The Scarlet Beast" ancient-harlot.blogspot.com/

 

 

Questions?...

Roger Armstrong... lassenview@gmail.com

 

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Read, "GLORY TRAIN"-A Play, by Dr. Gavin Finley. A drama

on a endtime theme, endtimepilgrim.org/glorytrain.htm

 

 

Dr. Finley has several links on the Post-Tribulation Rapture topic,

AKA-"The Second Coming of Christ."

Done