The “rapture” notion teaches that “the saints” who are alive on the earth will miraculously fly to heaven either before, during or after a time of great tribulation on Earth. The main body of the "rapture notion" was invented by Franciso Ribera, a Catholic Jesuit theologian who published his work shortly after the Massacre of St. Bartholomew in 1572. The blood of that horrific Catholic inspired massacre of French Protestants was still being washed off the streets of Paris when the Jesuits presented their "rapture" notion, designed to take pressure off the Catholic Church system that was being fingered as the Antichrist, the Beast, and/or the Whore of Revelation.

To excuse themselves from this embarrassment the Catholic Church developed a “futurist” theology that suggested they could not be the Harlot Church who sits on the Seven Hills of Rome. They began posturing that Revelation speaks of “futurist” prophecies that are not yet fulfilled. (The head of the Vatican was so delighted with his massacre in Paris that he struck a coin to commemorate it.)

Ribera wrote: “None of the wicked shall understand,” yet thousands of “Bible teachers” today maintain that Ribera’s idea of a future personal Antichrist is the right interpretation, and that the Reformers’ view of the papacy as the Antichrist was wrong. From 1580 to 1830, the official teaching of the Church of Rome was that an individual personal Antichrist would appear in the future; while the Protestants held that the reign of Antichrist extended all through the Dark Ages, from the Fourth Century onward.

In the mid 1700’s Emanual Lacunza, a Chilean Jesuit of Spanish descent wrote a book entitled, “The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty,” which launched a theory that The Messiah was to come TWICE; once for his saints at a secret rapture and then again with an army of his saints. But he also wrote that the priesthood of the Catholic Church would apostatize at the coming of the Antichrist and that the Antichrist himself would take over the Roman Catholic Church and persecute Catholics.

However, Lacunza also yielded to one of the main contentions of the Protestants that the Antichrist was not a man but a system or body of men animated by one spirit. Lacunza had taken the Reformer’s perspective and melded it with Rome’s but, of course, this publication was immediately put on the Vatican’s list of prohibited books – so, for whom was it written? It came with a commendation of being condemned by the Pope.

Lacunza also wrote his book under the name of “Rabbi Ben Ezra” claiming to be a learned Jew who became a Christian who was out to convert his Jewish brethren to Christianity. “Ben Ezra” became famous among Christians under the cloak of the converted Jew. Did Lacunza really expect to reach Jews by pretending to be an ex-Jewish Rabbi? No, because he was aiming at the Protestants. Lacunza was found dead on June 17th, 1801.

There was no record of what caused his death, but after his death his book found its way to Oxford and Cambridge and into the library of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the official head of the Anglican Church and the people of England. In the course of time, the librarian to the Archbishop, Dr. Maitland, became smitten with the teachings of “Rabbi Ben Ezra the converted Jew,” and the ideas of Lacunza the Jesuit rose from the dead and “ministered” to Protestants everywhere.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11

http://www.shalomroanoke.com/

But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, and the trustless shall be plucked up out of it. (Proverbs 2:22, HRV 2009). This year, has bought speculations and thoughts, that the end of this age will occur, such and such dates. To the best of my memory, I recall what begins to happens then starts at Genesis Chapter 49, and goes on about the coming days throughout the whole Bible. But there are those, whom believe the Ribera (some call it "Darby") Doctrine of a "Rapture" where "saints" will be elevated from the Earth, as opposed to the Wicked being laid Waste (as was such in the times of Noah).

One of the things that can be utilized is called AUTO-SUGGESTION, which primes the human mind, to make us believe things when they are not real. Commentators, and the such, will actually quote scripture verses and passages, even per verbatim, and interpolate and interject comments that makes the mind the think something else other than what the Scriptures actually say, like to gloss over words in the texts ("as if" those words are not even there), and at times, redefine words which the Source Texts (e.g. Hebrew/Aramaic, or even Koine Greek) with a different definition, and/or out of contexts way (since at times, the words have to be defined in context, ESPECIALLY in Hebrew/Aramaic).

And as in the days of Noah, thus will be the coming of the Son of man.

Matthew 24 (AENT 2012)

34. Truly I say to you, that this tribe will not pass until all these things happen.
35. Heaven and earth may pass, but my word will not pass.
36. About the day and about the hour no man knows, not even the Messengers of heaven, but the Father alone.
37. And as in the days of Noah, thus will be the coming of the Son of man.
38. For as they were before the deluge, eating and drinking and taking women and giving them in marriage to men up to the day that Noah entered into the ark,
39. And they did not know until *the deluge came and took them all*, thus will be the coming of the Son of man.

Mankind was given 120 years from Genesis 5:4 to straighten up! Noah warned them, but very few listened, a remnant amount.

1 Thessalonians 4

16. Because our Master (Y’shua) will himself descend from heaven with the mandate and with the voice of the chief Messenger and with the Qarna{9} of Elohim; and the dead who are in the Messiah will first arise;
17. and then we who survive and are alive will be caught up{10} together with them to the clouds to meet our Master (Y’shua) in the air; and so will we be ever with our Master. (AENT 2016)

FOOTNOTES: {9} "Qarna" = trumpet, sometimes used as a synonym for a shofar.

{10} Please See Text Above.

1 Corinthians 15:47-58

47. The first man was of dust from the earth; the second man was Master YHWH from heaven.
48. As he was of the dust, so also those who are of the dust; and as was he who was from heaven, so also are the heavenly.
49. And as we have worn the likeness of him from the dust, so will we wear the likeness of him from heaven.

50. But this I say, my Brothers that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven: neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

51. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,{84} 

52. Suddenly, as in the twinkling of an eye, at the last shofar, when it will sound; and the dead will arise, without corruption; and we will be changed. 

53. For this which is corruptible, is to put on incorruption; and that which dies, will put on immortality. 

54. And when that which is corruptible, will put on incorruption, and that which dies, immortality; then will take place the Word that is written, “Death is absorbed in victory.”

55. Where is thy sting, O death? And where is thy victory, O Sheol? 

56. Now the sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is Torah.{85} 

57. But thanks be to Alaha that gives us the victory, through our Master Y’shua the Messiah.
 

58. In conclusion, my Brothers and my beloved, be steadfast in truth, and not weak willed; but be at all times generous in the work of Master YHWH; seeing you know that your labor is not in vain in Master YHWH.

TNs: {84}  Or possibly, “renewed” as in given new life by passing into spirit form.

{85} When Torah is diminished, the knowledge of sin is diminished; when Torah is increased the knowledge of sin is increased.

The strength of sin is Torah, because it is Torah which makes it clear or plain what sin is; Torah explains sin and clarifies it.

The sting of death is brought on by sin; the strength of sin is elucidated in Torah.

Please see also, THE CATCHING UP, which is an excerpt of this context. Please also Compare:

Hyperbole Preterism

#Tribulation #Rapture #Darby #Ribera #Darbyism #Darbyists #Lacunza #Schofield #Scripture #Bible #Scriptural #Biblical #Hebraic ::: #Hebrew / #Aramaic