HISTORY OF PRE TRIBULATION AND MID TRIBULATION THEORIES (The History of the

Rapture and its doctrines) Eighteen hundred years passed in church history and no
one taught pre-tribulation rapture. The first work published on the subject was in
1812 and was entitled “The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty” written by
Emmanuel Lacunza, a Jesuit priest form Chili. Lacunza wrote under the assumed name
of Rabbi Benazra. The book was first written in Spanish and later translated into
English by Edward Irvin in 1827 in London, England. By the writing and subsequent
translation of this book the seeds of a pre and mid tribulation and the theories
of a partial rapture were sown. Lacunza first began to teach that the rapture
would be before the Lord’s actual arrival on Earth. He taught that the Lord would
come in the clouds and we would go up to meet him and then go to heaven and come
back later to earth. He taught after the rapture God’s judgments would take place
Then in 1830 Margaret McDonald had a vision when she was 15 years old. Men who
interpreted her vision were not in the truth and misinterpreted her vision. Her
vision said that “the very elect would be deceived. Every soul would be shaken.
The outpouring of the Spirit brings all this on. Be filled with the Spirit, have
the light of God that you may be able to detect Satan and be full of eyes within.”
Rob Norton didn’t believe that only the Spirit filled would make it so he said she
taught a partial rapture. She was actually post tribulation so she was
misrepresented. Rob Norton misinterpreted. Both Lacunza taught the secret rapture
and intervening judgments and the followers of Edward Irvin who translated
Lacunza’s book taught this teaching. Irvin and his followers led J. N. Darby who
was the leader of the Plymouth Brethren movement. Darby was the first man to put
the tribulation before a seven-year period. Originated with Lacunza who taught
forty-five days and Darby who taught seven years. The theory passed on to
Ironsides and then Scofield. Scofield put footnotes in the Scofield Bible which
lent great credibility to it but footnotes are not scripture and many times not
scriptural. From Scofield someone by the name of Dakes was next (who also wrote 89
reasons why God is a trinity) and put footnotes in his Bible as well. Clarence
Larkin took these teachings and put charts with them. (Clarence Larkin said
tongues were of the devil.) This is where our revelations come from? Commentary on
the Rapture as a whole by Min. Steven W. Owen as taught him by his pastor Bishop
Norman Louis Zeno. This history rings true but I say that the Scriptures do not
support a Rapture theory at all. The word is neither found in the Bible nor has it
anything to do with the coming of the Lord. To use it is to do just as the
Trinitarians do add to the Scriptures using the word trinity and use one strange
doctrine or another to describe God as already covered in this publication. Many
of us Apostolics use the word Rapture to describe the coming of the Lord. Despite
the definition as it says here: rap·ture (ràp¹cher) noun 1. The state of being
transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy. 2. Often raptures. An expression of
ecstatic feeling. See synonyms at ecstasy. 3. The transporting of a person from
one place to another, especially to heaven. verb, transitive rap·tured,
rap·tur·ing, rap·tures To enrapture. [Obsolete French rapture, abduction, carrying
off, from rapt, carried away, from Old French rat, from Latin raptus. See rapt.] I
seriously doubt the Lord is going to come and abduct His bride! Therefore
rendering it useless as far as throwing this word in as a peculiar mixture to
describe the coming of the Lord! Furthermore: rapt (ràpt) verb Past participle of
rap adjective 1. Deeply moved or delighted; enraptured: listened to the speaker
with rapt admiration. 2. Deeply absorbed; engrossed: was rapt in thought all
evening. [Middle English, carried away, from Latin raptus, past participle of
rapere, to seize.] - rapt·ly adverb There again! Since when is the Lord going to
come and seize the saints? I’ve said many times that Rapture sounds too much like
capture. Just you remember not all that sounds the same in different languages is
an indication that they mean the same. Let’s not get “carried away” here! I say
again, The Rapture Theory isn’t Scriptural. Especially the pretribulation and
secret Rapture Theories. For it says in Mt 24:29 - 31 Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give
her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens
shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and
then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his
angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect
from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. To back that up we’ll go
to Mark 13:24 - 27 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall
fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see
the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he
send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the
uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. “Immediately after
the” what? “Tribulation”! “But in those days, after that” what? “Tribulation”!
Well, it looks like to me that these Scriptures do not back up the pie in the sky
mess that says, “No tribulation for the church” What about the “Secret Rapture”?
Well, it does say, as we have read already that “they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Also “And then shall
they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Two
witnesses telling you that there will be no “Secret Rapture” in the gospels
according to Matthew and Mark. In Rev. 1:7 it says “Behold, he cometh with clouds;
and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of
the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” So much for a “Secret
Rapture”. Speaking of being “carried away” or being “abducted” or even being
“seized”! What of the ones that are to be “Taken away” and the ones that are to be
“Left Behind”? I’ll concur that the parable of the five wise and the five foolish
virgins wind up with the five foolish having the door shut on them with them
begging for them to be let in by the Lord. But even there the term “Left Behind”
isn’t even mentioned. (Mt. 25:1-13) Even so here in Mt. 24:36-41 it says, “But of
that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father
only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And
knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of
the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the
other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and
the other left.” What took whom away now? And who was left? Man! If we think about
it THE FLOOD TOOK the sinners that didn’t listen to Noe. Those that listened to
Noe were left behind to survive in the ark by God’s mercy. Come on now. It does
say, “as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” How
peculiar! Even in view of all this evidence there are theological talking heads by
the thousands out there teaching and preaching those that are “Left Behind” are
the ones to be lost and the church is to be “Taken Away” in the “Rapture”. I think
we’re getting “carried away” with our own foolishness when we subscribe to such a
theory. Whether it be a pre, mid or even post tribulation Rapture theory (Which
sounds closest to the truth) it is utter foolishness. Foolishness i.e. to
disregard God by adding to the Scriptures in this case. Adding and taking away
from Gods word. Just remember too that “All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness:” 2 Tim. 3:16 And its not to be added to or diminished from.
Everything we add we take away another truth. Net Testament says in, Rev 22:18 &
19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues
that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of
the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life,
and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Old
Testament says, Deut. 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you,
neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the
Lord your God which I command you.” & 12:32 “What thing soever I command you,
observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” Prov. 30:6
“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
Yes, I do acknowledge that it says, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality.” 1st Cor. 15:50-53. I also acknowledge
that it says, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord.” 1st Thes. 4:17 but these scriptures have nothing to do with a “Rapture”
doctrine. The Devil is mad and misery loves company! Don’t be suckered into
swallowing these appendages to the scriptures that do no justice! Get rid of them!
But yet even with all this evidence “theologians” along with preachers, teachers,
witnesses and workers just do the word of God violence every day! If were going to
teach, preach, write books; let us leave out the additives and lean to our
Preservative that is in Heaven, Jesus for wisdom and inspiration! Let us not also
take anything out that will cause us to be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life.
In fact, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20 & 21 This
means if the “prophesy” i.e. preaching/teaching doesn’t add up to scripture you
can dismiss it. How is it that people can be so obsessed with mistranslation?
Well, at least with ideas that can seem “logical”? Human logic is the reason for
this i.e. the absence of the mind of Christ in other words. Well, it just doesn’t
measure up to God inspired faith. A lot of these “mysteries” we hear of are
mysteries all right! They’re mysteries of iniquity to be plain and simple about
it. We either have the truth or we don’t. Why should we roll over and just accept
what they say? Look it up. See if they’re on target or not. Don’t be afraid to
respectfully ask questions about what you’re being taught. This is the reason why
people hardly know the difference between the wrath of God and the tribulation.
Remember what happened in Egypt during Moses’ time? The Children of God did not
partake of any of the plagues poured out on Egypt. Exodus chapters 5-11 while the
Egyptians suffered great damage. There was a difference put between the Egyptians
(a type of the world) and the Children of God. It will be this way again and
really, that’s the way it is now. Who faced wrath and who did not? (Exodus
chapters 5-1) But on their journey to Canaan land (a type of our final goal,
Heaven) they did go through some tribulations the children of God did and failed
miserably for the most part to keep hold of God on through them. They murmured and
complained and really steamed God and many died for it too. The biggest killers
among them were disobedience and doubt. Many teachers/preachers aren’t aware of
who is going to bring the earth to its destruction but most that are worth their
salt know it will be destroyed by fire. Many attribute this to God but I say man
is going to do it. To point this out scripturally we will go to Ge 9:11 where it
says, “And I (God) will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be
cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood
to destroy the earth.” Also: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the
last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the
promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant
of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of
the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with
water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word
are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of
ungodly men.” 2nd Peter 3:3-7 And here it says, “And the four and twenty elders,
which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to
come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the
nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they
should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and
shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Revelation 11:16-18 Put all this
together and you have the answer as to just who is going to destroy the earth and
pretty much, just how. Another thing is that many of us are counting more on the
going of the saints rather than the coming of the Lord. This is not scriptural at
all. True, Heaven and earth shall pass away but we have to remember that which
will replace it and it will come down to replace the old. Pray about the way you
react to things you’re taught, don’t just accept theological or other teachings.
I’m not saying to be untrusting or disruptive but you could be a great help if
you’re able to point out error to the leader of the congregation or whatever
you’re attending for your spiritual feeding ground. Don’t undercut. Go to the
leader in private first respectfully with your questions and such.
Bible plan of salvation is clear
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost. Acts 2:38