Sermon 7-29-07

1 Thessalonians 4:16-28 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Matthew 24:36-42 (The words of Jesus concerning the end times) “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

Sermon-

Are you ready for some controversy? Today, we’re going to pit one person in this congregation against another person in this congregation because we’re going to get into a subject that has been causing controversy in the Bible-believing Christian Church since the year 1830. Today, we’re continuing our series on the End Times. Some of the questions I’ve heard over the course of time are “What is the scenario of events that lead up to eternity? What is the Rapture? What about those bumper stickers that say ‘In the event of the Rapture, this car will be unmanned’? What about the Left Behind Series, talking about how all of a sudden believers were taken out of this world?” We’re going to deal with those questions today. I learned long ago in ministry to keep my opinions to myself, so what I’m going to do is present the two views on the End Times; you pray and decide where God is leading.

Before 1830, when people talked about the end times and the Second Coming of Christ, there wasn’t a lot of controversy. When you read books or listen to sermons that were written before 1830, the basic concept is Christ died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and said He will be coming in the clouds in the future - the Second Coming. In Matthew 24:21 Jesus talks about a time of tribulation, a time of great distress. “For there will be a great distress unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect (those who have confessed their sins, who believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior, who have forgiveness of sins and are reconciled to God), those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24 then talks about false christs appearing, which we talked about last week. Then, verse 27, “For as lightening that comes from the east is visible even in the west so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”; and verses 30 and 31, “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call; they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” What we have is Christ’s death, His resurrection, His ascension, and His promise that He will return. There’s going to be a period of great tribulation and sometime in the future Jesus Christ will return in such a manner that everyone will see Him all at once. It’s going to be the Final Judgment Day, the dead are raised and the believers are caught up in the air to meet the Lord – which can be termed a “rapture” because rapture simply means “to be raised up”. The epistle reading for today, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-28, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever”, is for believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is for you. When Christ returns and takes you with Him to Heaven will be the greatest day of your life. That, basically, is the first scheme.

But things got complicated in 1830 when a man by the name of John Darby from the Church of Ireland came up with a new scheme. He said that sometime during the time of tribulation, there’s going to be another kind of rapture, another raising up, a “half-return of Christ” because the only people who are going to see Him return are the believers. This will happen at either at the beginning of the tribulation “pre-tribulation rapture”, the middle of the tribulation “mid-tribulation rapture” or the end of the tribulation “post-tribulation rapture” where the believers are raised up and taken out of this world so they don’t have to endure portions of the tribulation. This is the basis of the book “Left Behind”, the theory being that those taken out are the “true believers”, so that they don’t have to endure portions of the tribulation. Those “left behind” are the unbelievers who must go through the tribulation. John Darby’s scheme has created controversy in the Church ever since1830.

I remember when I first heard Darby’s scheme. I thought about these passages in Matthew 24, especially verses 38-40, “For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. (key words – taken away) That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” John Darby and the people who wrote “Left Behind” said these verses refer to the rapture; those taken out of this world go to be with the Lord, those left behind are the unbelievers who go through the tribulation and hopefully repent and turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That’s Darby’s scheme.

Why is there such controversy and why has this “left behind” idea come under such criticism? Before we can answer those questions, we first need to understand that interpreting the meanings of words must be done in relationship to their context in the sentence. If we don’t know the context of the sentence, we have no idea of what the word means. As an example, what does the word p-r-e-s-e-n-t mean? Is it PREsent or preSENT? The meaning of the word depends on its context in the sentence. Even when we know how it’s used in the sentence, there can still be several meanings. Suppose this word is PREsent, it still could mean a number of things; it could mean “gift” as in a birthday present, it could mean “attendance or appearance”, as you are present in church this morning, or it could mean “time”, as we are living in the present. We have no idea what this word means until we get it from the context of the sentence. This happens in every language, the meaning of the word comes from its context in the sentence. That’s why context in Biblical interpretation is so important.

We’re going to analyze the verses that talk about one taken, the other left and analyze taken and left to find out who are the taken and who are the left, and we will look at the context of the sentences to do it. In verses 38 and 39, the context is: “In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark, they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.” People are taken away. This Greek word for taken has the meaning of to put away or remove. In the context of the verse, the taken or taken away at the time of the flood were the unbelievers who perished. The believers were in the ark.

Now, the next sentence, “That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” There is a comparison between the coming of the Son of Man and how things were at the time of the flood. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken.” One would assume here that, in the Greek, this is the same word that was used above. But a different word is used in verses 40 and 41 for the one taken and that word means to take with. It can also have the sense of to have seized or taken prisoner. This same word is also used in Matthew 27:27 when the soldiers took Jesus, as in they seized him and took Him away as a prisoner.

Who are the taken in verses 40 and 41, and who are they taken with? That becomes the point of controversy. Are the ones taken with Jesus, as in John Darby’s Rapture Scheme or are they taken away with and grouped with the unbelievers who perished in the flood? John Darby and the people who wrote “Left Behind” say they are taken to be with the Lord. The other point of view states that the context says, doing a comparison with the flood, they are taken to be with those who perished in the flood, the unbelievers. So, flip a coin folks!

But, we could do something different. We could look at the “left”, the “left behind”, in verses 40 and 41, “One person is taken the other is left.” Maybe that would give us some insight as to who are the “taken”. The word “left” is one of the oldest words in the Greek language. The meaning of this word in the Greek is “to forgive”, “to forsake” “to cry”, “to remit” “to lay aside” (as in separation), “to leave” or “left” (as in some are taken, some are left). We can look at the context of the sentence for the meaning. We can look at how Matthew, as a writer, moved by the Holy Spirit, uses this word. He used in the Lord’s Prayer where it is translated as “forgive” (Matthew 6:12). Jesus says “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. It’s used there to mean forgive, or a forgiven group. Also significant is that Matthew uses this word fourteen other times in his gospel always in the context of forgiveness of sins. The New Testament uses this same word forty-two times to mean forgiveness. Only four times does the New Testament another word to describe forgiveness. So, from context, it would appear that there is a pretty good case that this word means forgiveness. That’s the problem that the Bible-believing Christian Church had with John Darby’s interpretation of the rapture and the Left Behind Series. Looking at the context of the Bible verses, it would appear that there is good evidence that those taken are the ones who are taken with those who perished in the flood. They are the ones who perish; the unbelievers. Those left are the ones who are left with the Lord; the forgiven. This is the controversy.

At this point you’re probably saying “Why in the world did I even come to church today? I’m more confused now than when I walked in!” What can we do with this information? First, pray that the Holy Spirit will give you insight – because He will! Secondly, we can look at several other points. What, again, is the context of those taken and those left? Verses 36 and 44 contain a grouping of thoughts. The thought-group begins in verse 36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” The thought-group is concluded when you drop down to verse 44 “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” The thought-group in verses 36 and 44 is be ready because you don’t know when Jesus is coming. Jesus says “It will happen, God is aware of it”; we are given some details about a scheme of things that will occur; and there’s the taken, and the left; the separation of believers from unbelievers. God knows the scheme. He’s not too detailed on it and you can get two schools of thought, but the important thing it that it’s coming and we must be ready! That’s the thing we need to do, we need to be sure we’re ready.

How are we to be ready? One of the great things to realize is that Jesus Christ came and He was seized, taken away, numbered with the transgressors as Isaiah says, for you and me because He took your sins and my sins upon Himself. He was taken away, seized, where he suffered the punishment for your sins and my sins. He was taken away, seized for us so that you and I would never be taken away, seized with those who perish. He died on the Cross, He paid for our sins, He rose from the dead and He says “Believe in Me, believe that I am your substitute” And because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven, which means we’re reconciled to God, which means that when He does return, in whatever fashion he returns, if you believe in Him as Lord and Savior, you’re going to be o.k. That will be the greatest day of your life; that’s the day you need to be looking forward to, when you are caught in the air with the Lord to be with Him forever in the paradise of Heaven. But He says, “Be ready.” Be ready by having confessed your sins and believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior; that’s how you’re ready.

Not only do we need to be ready, but again, looking at the context, this day is going to come quickly. People are going to be about their normal daily activities as they were in the times of the flood. They were marrying and giving in marriage - normal activity – and all of a sudden the flood came and swept them all away. It will be the same way at Christ’s Second Coming; no matter if it’s the pre-coming, the half-coming, or the post-coming; people will be going about their normal daily activities, there will be a separation, the believer goes to be with the Lord and the other one goes to be with those who are perishing. The important thing is to know Jesus as Savior. And I think God is vague on some of this simply so that we don’t get caught up in the details. That’s why He didn’t give us the day or hour that He would return. He didn’t even give us a three-year time span! The important thing is, don’t get caught up in the details, keep the main thing the main thing – He’s coming quickly! We need to be ready and we need to spread the Gospel so that other people are ready. If I were to say to you, “Meet me a noon today at the Church Office out at the school on Maple Avenue”, what’s the important thing? Being there for the meeting or getting there? There are three different ways to get to the Church Office from here, so it’s not the way you take to get there; it’s that you’re ready for the meeting. The important thing is that we prepare people so that they’re ready; that they know Jesus as Lord and Savior. That’s the important thing.

One of the criticisms about Darby’s scheme is that it takes believers out of the tribulation. We like that, right? Who wants to go through a Great Tribulation? Darby’s scheme is very appealing in that regard. But the Bible says that God never promised to spare us from tribulation, in fact, God uses tribulation. We did a sermon on tribulation; you may remember the Circle with a “T” in it where the “T” stands for tribulation. We looked at Revelation 3:10, the words of Jesus saying, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world ...” Many times we look at this verse as meaning that God keeps us outside the of the tribulation, protected. But when you get into the original language you can see it means that we are right there amidst the tribulation in life, but it’s God, His power, His might, His strength, His Holy Spirit, His word that guards us in the tribulation.

Don’t fear the tribulation. It’s a time when you’re going to know God’s power and God’s strength, because He’s going to protect and preserve you in that tribulation. Most of you have already gone through great tribulations in your life and have seen God’s power and strength. A lady who was in my congregation in New York went through six months of great tribulation. She was right there in and among it and when it was all over she said “It was terrible, but it was wonderful!” What she meant was that, in the tribulation, she saw God’s strength and God’s power protecting and preserving her, helping her experience God. Every time she would get out her Bible and read, she would have God’s power and strength. She actually saw God working in her life. His power became real to her.

In the tribulation we have a responsibility to unbelievers. When they see your suffering, you have an opportunity to tell about the Good News of Jesus Christ. Just a couple of months ago I was talking to a lady in this congregation who had gone through a tribulation. Her neighbor had said to her, “I don’t know how you survive, you have all these difficulties in your life, how do you survive? What an opportunity for the member of our congregation to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ into her neighbor’s life, which she did. She said “It’s God Who enables me to survive!” Our responsibility in times of tribulation is to give our testimony so that others can see God at work and know that He’s real. This is so important because the end is going to come and it’s going to come quickly. There’s going to be a separation of believers from unbelievers and people need to know Jesus Christ as Savior. God has never promised to spare us from tribulation even though that’s what some churches teach. Expect problems in your life, it’s how you make an effective Christian witness. Make a testimony to the rest of the world in your problems and tribulations. If you’re not making an effective Christian witness to the rest of the world, you’re wasting all that suffering; going through it for nothing. Don’t go through it for nothing, make your testimony.

We need to keep things simple. We talked about this in Testimony Time this morning. We have such a tendency to complicate things. God tells us to love Him above all things and love your neighbor as yourself. How many laws do we have on the Law Books telling us how to do that? People complicated things with Jesus, too. They asked, “Who is my neighbor?” So then some laws had to make up about neighbors. Think about how the church has complicated things. They’ve put weight on one sin and not so much weight on other sins. There are the mortal sins, there are the venial sins, there’s Purgatory, there’s the good works concept, the great faith concept – so complicated. Don’t complicate things. The Bible is simple; God’s scheme is simple, for all people to believe easily. Don’t complicate the plan of salvation. Jesus died in your place and my place to reconcile us to God. If you believe that, you’re going to Heaven. Simple.

I was at a Christian Concert on Jones Beach in Long Island last summer. The guy was talking about faith and said, “If you believe in Jesus, stand up and form a people train; start marching around the auditorium, singing with your hands in the air” and, there’s nothing wrong with that! But then he said “and if you’re not doing it, your faith is phony! You’re in one of those mainline denominations, you have dead faith, and Jesus is going to come send you to Hell” Well, I believe that Jesus died and paid for my sins. It had been a long day; I didn’t feel like getting up dancing. I just wanted to sit there and listen to the music. Yet he’s telling me that even though I believe Jesus died for my sins, it’s not good enough. He complicated things. Don’t complicate things, don’t let any one tell you that if you don’t do x, y, or z, what ever they come up with, you’re not going to Heaven. It simple. Believe in Jesus as your Savior and you’re going to Heaven.

Jesus is going to return, that’s assured. There’s going to be a separation and we’re going to be with the believers, caught up to meet the Lord in the air, the dead are going to rise and we’re going to Heaven. We know the end is coming, we’re looking forward to it, and our job right now is to help other people join this group. That’s the scheme. Simple.

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