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To Deceive The Elect - The Rapture Fact or Fiction?
Part 1 of 2
by
Col. Gordon (Jack) Mohr, AUS Ret.

DON'T WANT TO READ ANYTHING!
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING!
I DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING!

"I have made up my mind, please don't confuse me with the facts."

IT'S TOO LATE TO BE AN OSTRICH - LEARN THE TRUTH FROM GOD'S WORD!!! AND SAVE AMERICA!

Recently (May 1991) I received the following newsletter from a Christian patriot pastor, in which he made statements which are consistent, with moderate differences, with what is being taught in most fundamentalist churches in America. I am bringing this to your attention, for scripturally I believe this man is a "false prophet," not intentionally so, but false nevertheless, who is preaching a doctrine that has done more to harm Christian soldiers, than anything the enemy has thrown at us.

Here are his remarks regarding the RAPTURE:

"Like all true evangelists, fundamentalist pastors, teachers and missionaries, we believe that Jesus is returning soon, even before the final tribulation begins! Dr. Jack Van Impe (who is a Christian Zionist - Editor Mohr) believes we have less than five years to prepare for a coming World War Ill. We agree! That means that Jesus Christ will come back to take us off this planet (rapture) anytime.

"Then we shall return (all 50-million of the estimated American Christians), after about seven years, with Jesus Christ, back to this earth, to rule over the earth for 1,000 years.

"Millions of post-tribulation Catholics, Lutherans, and other Protestants still DO NOT BELIEVE this truth! Nevertheless, like great Christians of the past, we still believe in the PRE-TRlBULATION-RAPTURE, even after sixty years.

"I personally think every true Christian shall be caught up into a huge angelic spacecraft in a split second of time, whether they individually believe this or not: WE SHALL ALL GO TOGETHER! AMEN! Perhaps before you read this letter we shall be caught up together! (See you then!)" (UNO.)

After a good deal of prayerful consideration, I was led by the Spirit, I believe, to answer this confused brother as follows:

Dear Brother __________________

I do not understand why I am wasting my time writing this letter, except to say that I am being strongly pushed by the Spirit into doing it. I sincerely doubt that it will cause you to change your mind, since it seems to be "set in cement", and only the power of God will blow away the years of false teaching you received in fundamentalist circles.

Of course, I am referring to your latest newsletter, in which you upheld one of the most Satanic and destructive doctrines which has ever plagued Christianity, that of a Pre-Trib RAPTURE. I know something regarding the fundamentalist teaching, since I was raised in a Southern Baptist church, and on reaching manhood, as a Fundamentalist Baptist. To augment this teaching, I have two degrees in religion from one of the most prestigious fundamentalist Baptist seminaries, which is noted for its PRE-TRIB stand. So I'm pretty sure I know what it's all about. I was also a fundamental Baptist evangelist for eighteen years, with speaking engagements in some of their largest churches, and in such places as Bob Jones University and Tennessee Temple.

In all my time rubbing shoulders with these men, I never heard a pastor or seminarian discuss why, when Jesus was telling His disciples about His return, in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, He never so much as hinted at a RAPTURE. It always seemed to me, even when I was in fundamentalist circles, that He would most certainly have mentioned such an important event. But when I asked the professors about this, all I received were rebukes about my faithlessness, or stony silence.

I do know what Jesus said about His return, for I can read it in the scriptures. He said there would be "wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilence and earthquakes." These were to be a sign to us of His return (see Luke 21:28), for when we see them take place, we would KNOW that our REDEMPTION was drawing near. But there was no hint of a RAPTURE here! In Matt. 24:9, and again in Luke 21:12, He said that Christians would be persecuted, and some killed, and even strongly hinted who the persecutors would be, when He said this would happen in "synagogues". But there was not the slightest hint of a RAPTURE.

In verse 13, He did say: "He that endures to the end shall be saved." Of course, you must know that He was not speaking about "spiritual salvation," for we know this is of "grace through faith and not through works." He was speaking of physical salvation from the tribulation which would be afflicting the world.

Then in verse 22, He goes so far as to predict that unless the days of this Great Tribulation were shortened, no flesh would be saved on the earth. But He goes on to say, "thank God," that "for the ELECT'S sake" these days would be shortened. There is no hint here that Christians would escape going through the Tribulation, for the word ELECT is never used, in either the Old or New Testament, to refer to the people we now call JEWS. In the OT it was used for Israel, and in the New for "the spiritual seed of Abraham," those we know as Christians.

The first hint of His return in Matt. 24, comes in vs. 29, which follows "immediately after the tribulation of those days." In Luke 21:25, 26, He tells us that men's hearts would be failing for fear, as they saw the signs of His return, but that for the "true Christian" this should be a time of rejoicing.

The RAPTURE Theory was never taught in the early Christian church until about 1850, when it was brought to this country by John Darby of the Brethren Church, and was popularized in fundamentalist circles by the profligate Baptist, C. I. Scofield, in his Scofield Reference Bible. This has become so popular in many Baptist circles, that to many, Scofield's footnotes have the weight of Holy Writ.

Where in the world did you ever come up with the strange idea that 50-million American Christians would return with Christ for this fictitious RAPTURE? I know they are out there all right, but how can you say that most of these folks are "saved," when this country has "gone to hell" faster during the period when there was the largest growth among the "born agains?" Could it be, do you suppose, that it is because these Christians have been listening to the "ear tickling" RAPTURE doctrine? I have had many good Christians come up to me after hearing me preach and say: "Brother Mohr, we agree with everything you said about the dangers to our country and our people. But I'm born again, you know, and I don't have to worry about those things, since Jesus will come back for me before things get all that bad!" Talk about being wrapped in a sheet of self righteousness, those folks are "wrapped in a shroud."

There have been more "soldiers of the cross," neutralized and turned into "panty-waisted, sissy-britches" religious cowards by the teaching of this heresy, than by any other weapon which the enemy has ever used against us in modern times. For instead of being on the "battle line" where they belong, most of these Christians are hiding in their comfortable, air-conditioned, "spiritual foxholes," folding their holy hands in prayer, while they ask God to handle the dirty work He gave them to do, and rescue them from the mess caused by their apathy.

Jesus was talking about religious folks like this when He said in Matt. 5:13 - "Ye are the salt of the earth, but when the salt has lost its savor (the ability to act like salt and hold back corruption) ...it is good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the foot of men."

I say that the vast majority of your 50-million Christians will fall into this category, and will be the one's who will hear the Master say to them: "Depart from me! I never knew you!" (Matt. 25:41) How can I make such a shocking statement? "By their fruits shall ye know them," and very few of these 50-million, are bringing forth good fruit. If they were, things would be changing for the better.

You say that these 50-million will come back to "rule with Christ for a thousand years." Don't make me laugh! Are you so naive as to believe that people who don't have enough courage to say "grace" in a restaurant before they eat, will "rule with Christ?" Where's your scripture for that? Mine, coming direct from the King James Version says in Revelation 2:7,17,26; 3:5,12, and 21, that only the OVERCOMERS will "reign with Him." In every case, the Word, not Jack Mohr, but the WORD says: "To him that OVERCOMETH will I grant to sit with me in my throne."

Then to be so bold as to say that we will be caught up in a huge angelic spacecraft, is to lead people astray, for I am sure you have no scripture to back this assumption.

You quote from Jack Van Impe, who is a Zionist Christian. In other words he is a man who evidently does not believe the Master's words, when He said "Ye cannot serve two masters. For Van Impe gives utmost loyalty to the anti-Christ's of Zionism-Judaism. There is no reason to argue about this. just read his writing and find out for yourself. How can you place trust and respect in a man who turns his back on God's Word, as found in 2 John 10,11, where it tells Christians that if they support the anti-Christ's (see 1 John 2:22, 23) for a definition of such, they "become partakers in their evil deeds."

Brother, God will hold you responsible for the doctrines you teach and preach. This is why I am taking time to write. Its because I believe you will listen to me, but because I never want you to be able to stand before the King and use the standard excuse: "No one ever told me differently!" If you read this letter in its entirety, you will never be able to use this excuse (Read Matt. 18:6 and Luke 17:1,2). God holds each of us preacher, evangelist, and layman alike, responsible for questioning doctrines and teachings, by exhorting us to "Search the scriptures daily to see if these things are true, (Acts 17:11)

Have you ever thought about what might happen if Christians who have been taught the RAPTURE theory, suddenly find themselves in the middle of the Great Tribulation? They will become prime candidates to take part in the great "falling away" of 2 Thess. 2:3. Not only that, but they will be seeking out the false prophets who taught them, to do them physical harm! This is a warning to you!

Jesus promise's OVERCOMERS, the right to "rule and reign" with Him in His Kingdom, and if there is a RAPTURE, then would be gain. But to blindly accept the RAPTURE, with no consideration that God may have other plans for His people, might be tempting God, and this is a dangerous thing to do.

Recently I came across this RECIPE FOR PERPETUAL IGNORANCE, which I have found prevalent among many professing Christians:

1 - Be sure in your mind that only you have the whole truth;

2 - Be content with what you have already been taught and believe and never seek further truth, for it may come as a shock to you to find out that you have been wrong.

I know something about this traumatic experience, for after having been taught the RAPTURE fallacy for years, when one day I was illuminated by the Holy Spirit into accepting the truth, I had to admit I had been wrong and this was exceedingly difficult for me to do. Strangely, for admitting this error, I lost most of my so-called fundamentalist friends.

If you ever accept the potentially disastrous consequences of accepting the RAPTURE theory, then and only then, will you see the importance of searching for and finding the TRUTH.

You say that most "true evangelists" and "fundamentalist pastors, teachers, and missionaries," have accepted the RAPTURE. This is an outright falsehood and you know it! I could name many of these, but do not have the time in this letter. I do know it was never accepted in fundamentalist circles prior to 1850.

There are many in your group who are not sure just what they want to accept regarding this theory, so they have come up with "pre-trib," "mid-trib", and "post-trib" theories. They can't all be right, and it is very possible that ALL of them are wrong.

Van Impe, and others of his stripe, have made a lot of money by writing books on when and how the RAPTURE will occur. Some have gone as far as setting dates, even though the scripture clearly states that "no man knows when the Lord will return." The book 88 REASONS THE RAPTURE WILL OCCUR IN 1988, was a good example of this kind of fraud, with the writer explaining that he had merely made a mistake in his calculations.

You may say, but Jesus told the church that it would be spared from the horrors of the Tribulation. Just how big is your God? If He is powerful enough to physically remove you from this earth by means of a physical rapture, then He most assuredly is capable of protecting you on this earth in the midst of "holocaust," no matter what it may be. Of course this is not nearly as exciting as the RAPTURE, and you can't get as many good sermons from it; or as many good collections. I know, for I have seen evangelists use this teaching for this purpose.

The Rapture Doctrine has been one of the most divisive of modern day doctrines, and how can the world believe Christians when they keep on preaching things which are obviously wrong? It is just like the Jews being the Chosen People Theory, which has been proven false.

Christ tried to give His disciples an understanding of who was to be taken from this earth at His return, and did this in two Parables "the wheat and tares," and the "good and bad fish," in Matt 13. In both cases, it was the "good that remained while the "evil was cast out or removed." Neither of these Parables needs any explanation.

Going back to the scripture I discussed earlier, when I mentioned that the days of tribulation would be shortened for the "elects" sake. In Luke 18:7, we read about: "His (God's) own elect." In Romans 8:13, "...God's elect;" in Colossians 3:12, "the elect of God..." and in Titus 1:1, "...God's elect," again. If all Christians are removed from this earth via a RAPTURE, why would God shorten the duration of the "great tribulation for the elect's sake?"

To perpetuate a Bible doctrine, based on a single verse of scripture, as found in 1 Thess. 4:17, is inconsistency of the worst kind. It is a violation of the Bible principle which requires "two or three witnesses," and puts that one verse in direct conflict and contradiction with at least fifty other scriptures which refute it. There MUST be something wrong here, since Jesus said: "...the scripture cannot be broken," (John 10:35) and we KNOW that our God is not the "author of confusion," (1 Cor. 14:33). "God is not a man that He should lie (have contradictions in His Word)..."(Numbers 28:19)

So, perhaps your understanding of 1 Thess. 4:17 is wrong. Maybe it is in the translation from Greek to English. Or it could be in the fabrication of terms which theologians love to use. I will not argue with you about this belief, except to plead with you, to honestly sit down with your Bible and a Strong's Concordance. Put aside all the preconceived ideas you have acquired over the sixty years you have been a fundamentalist, and let the Word of God speak to you on it's own. I DARE YOU TO DO THIS, HONESTLY!

I will pray that God will open your eyes to the truth, for you are too valuable a man in the Kingdom work, to be led astray by false doctrine.

Your brother and servant in the King's service,

Jack Mohr

Spurred on by this letter, and as the Holy Spirit leads, I will attempt to answer this burning question. IS THE RAPTURE DOCTRINE, TRUE SCRIPTURE TEACHING, OR IS IT ONE OF THE GREATEST HOAXES OF THE MODERN CHURCH AGE? It appears to me, that it is a weapon, put out by the enemy, to sap the morale of Christian soldiers, and turn them into "foxhole" dwellers, even before the battle begins.

In this article, I am deeply indebted to Brother H. Speed Wilson, Col. USMC Ret., for his book RAPTURE: PROPHECY OR HERESY! For a detailed analysis of this doctrine, I would suggest you write for this book to:

H. SPEED WILSON,
c/o Daring Books,
913 Tuscarawas St., N.W.,
Canton, OH 44702.

We know from a study of the scriptures that they cannot be broken. John 10:35, is a passage where Jesus Himself assures us that "...the scripture cannot be broken (will not disagree, nor contradict itself in any part) and will come to pass, (be fulfilled)." In 2 Timothy 3:16, we learn that "ALL scripture (Old and New Testament alike) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness..." Jesus rebuked the Pharisees in Matt. 22:29 and Mark 12:24, because they "erred, not knowing the scriptures."

I find it difficult to understand how some Christian leaders seem to believe that the Old Testament is not meant for modern day Christians. The Lord and His Apostles, continually quoted from it. Romans 15:4, certainly indicates that everything which was written in the Old Testament was meant to "teach us," (Christians). It states that the stories in the Old Testament were meant to be examples, or types, and were written as warnings for us. In Acts 20:27, we are told that we should accept the "whole counsel of God." Not just a few verses we take out of context to prove our point.

Can we learn anything about a so-called RAPTURE from the Old Testament? While this word is not used in either the Old or New Testament, I believe we can. Here are a few examples:

1 - Ps. 125:1 - "They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but which abideth forever." This agrees with 2 Cor. 9:9, which says: "...His (God's) righteousness remains forever."

2 - Prov. 2:21, 22 - "For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall REMAIN in it, but the wicked shall be CUT OFF (taken/destroyed) from the earth, and transgressors shall be ROOTED OUT of it."

3 - Ps. 145:20- "The Lord preserveth all that love Him; but ALL the wicked He will DESTROY." This agrees with 2 Peter 3:7.

4 - Prov. 10:30 - "The righteous shall NEVER BE REMOVED; and the WICKED SHALL NOT INHERIT the earth." (It is always the wicked who will be REMOVED, not the righteous.)

I do not believe these foregoing scriptures need any further explanation.

5 - Prov. 11:31 - "The righteous shall be recompensed (rewarded) in the (world) earth."

6 - Ps. 119:119- "All the wicked of the earth you (God) will DISCARD (throw away) like DROSS (garbage)."

Remember in the New Testament Parables of the "Wheat and Tares; and the Good and Bad Fish" in Matt. 13, that it was the "bad" which were always removed. The "good" remained behind.

When Jesus prayed in John 17:15: "Father, do not take them (Christians) out of the world, but keep them from evil." He was repeating the words of the Psalmist in 23:4, 5 - "Yea, though I walk through (no rapture here) the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."

Ps. 37:29 says that it is the "righteous who shall inherit the land (earth) and dwell there FOREVER." Vs. 9-11 states that "evildoers (those who transgress God's Law, see 1 John 3:4) shall be CUT OFF (destroyed); but those who wait upon the Lord shall INHERIT (remain) on the EARTH."

In no instance, in any scripture, will you find reference to the "righteous, the perfect, the upright, and those who trust God," being RAPTURED out of this world.

In my favorite Psalm 91, sometimes called THE SOLDIER'S PSALM, vs. 7 says: "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it will not come nigh thee, only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward (destruction) of the wicked."

In Colossians 3:6 we learn that "The wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience." In Isa. 43:2, we are told: "When thou passeth THROUGH the waters I (God) will be with thee; and THROUGH the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou WALKEST through the fire (atomic maybe?} thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the fire kindle upon thee." (See Daniel 3:27.) In other words, God's people shall be safe in this world, no matter what kind of a catastrophe may hit.

There are a multitude of scriptures which indicate that the righteous will remain in this world, while the evil will be removed. In no instance is it the other way around.

Some Rapturists will come back with the statement that the destruction of the wicked takes place after Christians have left this world via a RAPTURE. But nowhere does the scripture teach such a thing.

Read Ezekiel 9:4-6 and see how God has a mark placed on those who love and honor Him, so that they will be spared from destruction. This agrees with Rev. 9:3, 4, where we are told how during the grievous "plague of scorpions," in the last days, God's people will be spared. (He is not talking about Jews.)

The only scripture which even remotely suggests that Biblical believers may be removed (RAPTURED) is in 1 Thess. 4:17. But scripture itself, charges us not to establish any scriptural belief on the witness of a single passage. (See Gen. 41:32; Job 33:14; Deut. 17:6; 2 Cor. 13:1).

There are many Christians who do not follow Christ's example of washing one another's feet before partaking of Holy Communion (John 13:14,15), because this is the only time it is mentioned in the scriptures. Yet some of these same people base their belief in the RAPTURE, on a verse which is much more vague than the passage in John 13.

We know that the word RAPTURE does not appear in any translation of the Bible. It has been my observation, that terms fabricated by theologians, instead of Bible terms, severely hampers one from honestly "searching the scriptures." Examples of this are RAPTURE: JEWS ARE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE; JESUS WAS A JEW; ANTI-SEMITISM, etc.

If you look into the two most popular Bible Concordances, Young's and Strong's, under the word CAUGHT, which is what the English word RAPTURE means (caught up), you will not find 1 Thess. 4:17 even listed. If you look for the word UP, you will not find it listed in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

Strong's and Young's agree, and point out that the Greek word "harpazo", which is derived from the word "haireomai", when translated into English means: "to take for oneself; to prefer; to chose." This same Greek word, "harpazo," is used in - John 10:12, where it says: "...and the wolf catcheth (harpazo) them (the sheep)."

In Matt. 13:19 - "...then the wicked one comes and catcheth away (harpazo) that (the word) which was sown in his heart."

Acts 8:39, after Philip had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch: "...the Spirit of the Lord CAUGHTAWAY (harpazo) Philip."

In John 10:28, 29 this word is used in a verse which says: "...and they shall never perish, neither shall any man PLUCK (harpazo) them out of my hand."

In Jude 23, "harpazo" has been translated as "pulling," ...and others save with fear PULLING (harpazo) them out of the fire."

In Matt. 11:12, it is translated ''take by force.'' ''...until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent TAKE IT BY FORCE," (harpazo).

Another "key" phrase in RAPTURE phraseology, found in 1 Thess. 4:17, is "to meet the Lord in the air." By this they intimate that this means we will ascend into the sky to meet the King.

But the Greek translation of the English word AIR, in both Strong's and Young's Concordances is "AER". It is used in Acts 22:23 "...and threw dust into the air (AER)." In 1 Cor. 9:26 - "...not as one that beateth the air (AER); 1 Cor. 14:9 "...for ye speak into the air (AER)."

There is another Greek word for AIR which is used in the New Testament. It is "ouranos", and appears in Matt. 6:28; 8:20; 13:32; Mark 4:4, 32; Luke 8:5; 9:58; 13:19, and Acts 10:12; 11:6. In each case it refers to the "fowls of the air" (OURANOS).

So according to what the scriptures teach, the RAPTURISTS are not going to suffer from nosebleed, because they rise into the stratosphere, since there is no honest way the Greek word AER, can be changed to mean "heaven." We are in the AER now while our feet are firmly planted on the GROUND.

The Rapturists try and use Noah as an Old Testament type of the Rapture, by saying that as he was lifted off the earth by the flood waters, so they will be lifted off earth by the Rapture. But please note that Noah did not go to heaven, he still remained in the air (AER).

Another phrase the Rapturists like to use in this passage is "with them (the resurrected saints) in the clouds." There are several scriptures in which "divine clouds" came down to earth. In Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7, and Luke 9:35, we learn how Jesus was "transfigured on the mount and a cloud came down and overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud..."

The Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 10:12, spoke about Israel's passing through the Red Sea, by saying: "...and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud (which must have come down) and in the sea."

In Hebrews 12:1, we are told that Christians today are "compassed (Greek "perikeimai" - meaning: "enclosed; encircled; hung about") about with so great a CLOUD of witnesses .

In 1 Thess. 4:17, this "great cloud of witnesses," are the same saints we find in Rev. 6:10, who are crying to God for vengeance against those who have killed and persecuted them.

In vs. 15, of 1 Thess. 4, we find these departed saints returning to earth with the King, to be united with their resurrected bodies and to be made perfect along with those who are alive and remain on earth at His coming.

But let's look back a bit and see what this passage really says, beginning with vs. 13. "But I would not have you ignorant (without understanding) brethren, concerning them which are asleep, (this verse deals with departed/dead Christians) that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (Those who die in an unsaved condition. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again (I'm sure that those of you read this, believe this), even so (in like manner) them also which sleep (are dead) in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by word of the Lord, that we (Biblical believers) who are alive and remain (on earth) unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede; have an advantage over them) them which are asleep. (Notice that these Christians who have died are not in heaven with Christ, as most churches teach, but are ASLEEP). For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven (compare this with Acts 1:11, where Jesus went directly from earth to heaven, and it was predicted that he would return in exactly the same manner, nothing is said, or even hinted, about a Rapture back to heaven, and a Third Coming.) with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump(et) of God: and the dead in Christ shall RISE (Greek "anestemei" - "to sit up; to be resurrected") first. Then we who are alive (see 1 Cor. 15:51) and remain (on the earth in the AER) shall be caught up (made one; "harpazo") together (at the same time) with them (the dead in Christ) in the clouds (the "great cloud of witnesses" who have been made perfect here on earth), and so shall we always be with the Lord. (In the AER, on earth forever.) Wherefore comfort (reassure) one another with these words."

(Notice that the "Lord descended from heaven," before we are made part with Him (harpazo); just as the New Jerusalem of Rev. 21:2, comes down to dwell with believers here on earth. We do not go to heaven to get into the New Jerusalem.

Wasn't this what Jesus meant when He taught us to pray in Matt. 6:10 - "Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done, IN EARTH, as it is in heaven?"

If we choose the Greek meaning, and there are six of them, for the word "harpazo," which is "to be made one," then we will have removed the contradictions the Rapturists have brought to this wonderful and comforting scripture. This would make 1 Thess. 4:17, the answer to our King's prayer in John 17:21, when He prayed: "that they (Christians) all may be one (harpazo); as thou Father art in me, and I in Thee, that they may also be one in us: that the world (order) may believe that Thou hast sent me."

A translation of this Thessalonian passage by the great Reformer Martin Luther in German, reads: "the lesser was included in the greater." We Christians are the "lesser;" Jesus Christ, the King, is the "greater."

Jesus Christ was transfigured (changed; transformed) in the air (AER) right here on earth in the same manner that we will be changed. (Refer again to 1 Cor. 15:51-54.)

We are told again about this physical change in Cor. 3:4, where we read: "When Christ, who is our life shall appear (here on earth at His Second Coming, not in a Rapture), then shall ye (Christians) also appear with Him in glory." 1 John 3:2 elaborates on this by saying:"... now are we (Christians) the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He (Christ) doth appear (at His Second Coming), we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (This will take place, here on this earth, in the "AER". It will not be in a Rapture in the sky.)

In John 14:23, Jesus states that if we love Him and keep His words (commandments, see 1 John 3:4), then the Father will love us and both He (Jesus) and the Father (God) will come unto him, (notice we do not go to Them, They come to us), and will make our abode with(in) him." (On this earth!) No mention of a RAPTURE! No mention of "going to heaven," but God and the Son will come and make their abode in us. HALLELU'YAH!

In 2 Thess. 2:7, we read another passage which is used by the Rapturists to prove that both Christians and the Holy Spirit are out of this world during the days of the Great Tribulation, when the anti-Christ takes over. It says: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, (remember this was written in the First Century A.D.): only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."

The English word "letteth" comes from the Greek "katecho" which means: "to have, hold, to hold down fast, possess, retain, seize."

During my study on this subject, I came across these old "study notes," which were written, believe it or not, before I became aware of the Rapture hoax. In other words, I was still preaching it. But you can see that even then, the Holy Spirit was dealing with me about this subject. These were written prior to 1975.
 

Continue on to Part 2 of 2:-  To Deceive the Elect

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