Again! Again! (rapture, Babylon)

The Rapture and the 2nd Coming

These two sets of scripture passages show that the rapture and the second coming are two separate, mutually exclusive events.

SCRIPTURE REF. FOR RAPTURE
Mat. 24:36-50, 25:1, 31
Luke 12:46, 17:24-30
1 Cor. 15:51-52
1 Thes. 4:14-17, 5:2-4, 9
2 Thes. 2:2-7
2 Timothy 2:18, 3:1-5, 13, 4:3-4, 8
Titus 2:13
2 Peter 3:3-12


SCRIPTURE REF. FOR 2ND COMING
Gen. 3:15, 49:10-12
Num. 24:17-19
Ps. 2:1-12, 16:10, 22:1-31, 110:1-7
Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-16, 40:1-5, 42:1-4, 13-16, 53:1-12
Jer. 23:5-6, 30:4-9
Ezekiel 34:22-30
Micah 5:2
Zech. 6:12-13, 9:9-10, 14:9
Mal. 4:1-6
Mat. 24:9-34
Acts 2:20
2 Thes. 2:8-12
2 Timothy 2:18
Jude 1:14-15
Rev. 19:13-14, 19

For the rapture, Jesus comes:
--at an unexpected time
--when people are going about their usual business
--during a time of peace
--to meet us in the air and take us to heaven

For the second coming, Jesus comes:
--at a predictable time
--when the world is in great distress
--during a time of global war
--to bring his people and angels to earth, to conquer the Antichrist

The Church is the “interruption” between the 69th and 70th weeks of the prophecy of Daniel concerning Israel. The 70th week is called the time of JACOB’s trouble, meaning it concerns Israel and not the Church. The Church is not to suffer the judgment of God on the earth, since it is covered by the blood of Jesus who already paid for our sins.

In the OT there are seemingly conflicting prophecies which can only be reconciled by two comings: the Messiah would be rejected by his people and be killed but would reign forever and rescue Israel. So the OT passages concerning the Messiah set a precedent for the concept of two comings. Even though there are no expressed words such as “the Messiah will come twice”, it is the only way to reconcile all the prophecies. Likewise, in the NT there are two sets of prophecies which can only be reconciled by two comings. So in both testaments the concept is only implied.

The important thing to remember about the rapture is that it is a signless event; there are no events which must take place before it. This is known as the concept of imminence, meaning the rapture could have happened any time after Jesus returned to Heaven and the Holy Spirit was given. Jesus’ parable of the ruler who was gone a long time (Mt 25:19) could have been a hint to the first century Christians that a long time would transpire before his return; but even if that had been understood, the people were to be in a constant state of readiness (Mark 13:35).

Some people have spread the lie that the pre-trib Rapture is the invention of a vision from the middle ages. But the above scripture references show that the concept of a pre-trib rapture is Biblical. Others claim that the word Rapture is not in the Bible, but this too is a lie. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses the phrase "caught up", which in Latin is Raptus. Both are accurate translations of the Greek arpageisometha (excuse my poor transliteration, but I don't think I can put Greek characters in here).

Who is Mystery Babylon?

It's wise to use caution when attempting to identify fulfilled prophecy. For example, some believe that the Tribulation already happened in 70 A.D. but many aspects of the Trib did not happen then. In my personal opinion, fulfilled prophecies must fit like a key in a lock. It can't be mostly accurate, it must be completely accurate.

That being said, I don't see America as meeting all the criteria for Mystery Babylon. Certainly no one would deny the great evil running rampant here, but there are too many discrepancies. Let's take a look at how Babylon is described in Revelation 17 and then see who fits ALL the criteria.

--sits on many waters
--committed adultery with the kings of the earth
--sits on a beast
--is dressed in royal colors and jewels
--is drunk with the blood of the saints (Christians)
--is a great CITY
--sits ON SEVEN HILLS.

As the text itself explains, the waters are many nations. Even though she is a city, she does business with many nations and controls them because of her great wealth. She rides on the beast, meaning she controls the world government for a while, but later it turns on her and devours her. Only a married person can commit adultery, so she must have ONCE BELONGED TO GOD (elsewhere in the Bible God describes Israel as committing adultery when they turn away from him to other gods). She has killed a multitude of Christians. She is the Babylon of chapters 17 and 18 (compare 18:9 with 17:2, 18:10 with 17:18, etc.).

There are only two groups of people who are designated in the Bible as being chosen by God: Israel and the Church. The US has been given no such distinction. Since Mystery Babylon once belonged to God she can't be anyone but Israel or the Church. The US does not sit on seven hills. The US has not made a habit of killing Christians. And the US is a nation, not a city.

If she isn't the US, then who is she? What CITY is known as a "city on seven hills", has a history of killing Christians, operates in the world like a nation, is unbelievably wealthy, has control of many nations, is dressed in royal splendor (purple and scarlet and gold), and once belonged to God?

Who else but the VATICAN is a city that does things only nations should do? The Vatican is incredibly wealthy, with its artifacts, statues, jewels, paintings, and the many “dues” it collects from its subjects. Rome is known as “the city on seven hills”. She is known for her crusades and inquisitions, wherein many Christians were murdered. She pretends to be the one true church, which is why John was so astonished to see her. He knew the church as poor, humble, and clean, but now he can hardly recognize her. No wonder the merchants mourn over her when she is destroyed. She has been responsible for much of the world’s economic activity, and suddenly it is all gone.

(Dave Hunt’s book, A Woman Rides the Beast, is a well-documented exposé of the Catholic Church. With over 800 footnotes, and with many quotations from the church’s own archives, he identifies it as the Great Prostitute/Babylon beyond any doubt.)