Rapture Guilt

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I’ve been hearing a line of thought from many different sources in the community of believers. There seems to be a feeling of guilt about the harpazo, more commonly known as the rapture. These are all personal observations from scripture so I encourage you to search the scriptures to make sure that what I say is in accordance with the whole council of God. If not, then please tell me. I believe this line of reasoning for this guilt is birthed of deception and let me explain why.

The train of thought seems to be that it is unfair for a select group of “holy” Christians to get saved from all the doom and gloom while perfectly nice people have to go through it. First off, let me say that Christ is the ONLY way to salvation. Let’s also not forget that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Our salvation is not works based Galatians 2:16 and anyone is free to choose Christ and be part of the harpazo. By a lack of faith or a misinterpretation of scripture, some people don’t even believe in a harpazo, or catching away of the bride of Christ. I disagree with this train of thought because of what the Bible says.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

It’s not unfair, it’s laid out in scripture. If you choose to believe its unfair, then that is something to take up with God. He is the one catching us away. He is very clear that we are loved and that He would prefer not to see us suffer. 2 Peter 3:8-9 But some people, for their various reasons, REFUSE to believe in Christ. God knows who are His, but even some of those who say they’re waiting for Him are not prepared. Matthew 25:1-13 The time is fast approaching for the fullness of the Gentiles and the catching away of the bride of Christ. Do you have your oil ready?

I believe there is a fundamental misunderstanding regarding what the harpazo is for. In Revelation 19:7-14, we see that the marriage of the Lamb occurs in heaven before Christ returns in glory at Armageddon, and therefore before the “first resurrection” of Revelation 20:4-5. We must have been taken to heaven before Armageddon in order for the church, the bride, to attend her own wedding. If the marriage of the Lamb is before Christ returns in glory, then I would think we should all want to be caught away if we want to be the bride of Christ. That is our blessed hope! Titus 2:13

God hates pride. James 4:6 | Proverbs 16:5 Pride caused the first sin when Lucifer wanted to exalt himself above God. We all know what happened to him because of that. Heaven cannot hold any sin in order for the Bible to be true. The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, so if you have faith in that fact to be true, no pride can exist there. We have all sinned. A quick test. Have you ever lied? What does that make you? A liar. Go through the 10 Commandments. What are the wages of sin? Death. Romans 6:23 So without Christ’s blood covering sin, the Law must be carried out. It is impossible to live by the Law because our hearts are incurably evil. Genesis 8:20-22

Don’t put yourself down because people chose to not believe. Don’t feel bad because you are going to see your Lord, it should be a joyous time. The joy on your face constantly should induce others to at least check out why you are so happy! Laughter is contagious and so is joy when hope is present!

So we must understand why the tribulation is taking place and realize that since the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and it says the tribulation will happen, there is nothing we can do to stop it. It is there for a reason, so leave it in God’s hands. Pray for His will to be done and it will be. I believe that Christians going through tribulation tests their hearts. Are they like Job, or will they turn from God at the risk of their life or limb?

Isaiah 13:9-13
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Isaiah 26:7-11
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Let favor be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

Isaiah 26:16-21
LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

We are told right here that the Lord is coming out of His place (heaven) to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and that the Lord’s judgments in the earth are to teach the wicked righteousness.

Ephesians 5:1-11
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Matthew 22:1-14
(God the Father) which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (refused Christ who clothes us or covers us by His death for us) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (What would you say if you really didn’t understand why?) Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

Again a parable of a wedding is used to describe the kingdom of heaven. Those who are not “covered” properly will not see the wedding no matter how “nice” they are. Christ is the only source for the wedding garment, without it, we don’t attend the marriage.

Revelation 19:6-9
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Notice she is no longer called the bride at this point, but the wife. She is then clothed in the same attire worn by those following Christ when He returns in glory. Revelation 19:11-21 I don’t believe the marriage of the Lamb and the marriage supper of the Lamb are the same event. I explain my reasons here.

Now missing the harpazo doesn’t automatically mean that you can’t be saved. It just means you won’t be the bride of Christ. Once the door is shut, it’s shut until Christ returns in glory. Even then, everyone remains on the earth for the next 1,000 years. That time after the door is shut until Christ returns in glory is about 3½ years. Lest you be worried about God not getting everyone who are His, read on.

Ephesians 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Genesis 18:22-33
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake. And he said unto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Abraham asks God, successively lowering his numbers, how many righteous would have to live in a city for God not to destroy it. He goes from fifty to ten. At this point, probably fearing that he was annoying God, he stops. But still, 10 out of a city of possibly hundreds of thousands and God refuses to destroy the city. My guess is that Abraham could have gone to one and God’s answer still would have been the same. Kind of like the US military, not a man left behind. Then Lot and his family are saved in God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Showing God to be true to His Word, as always. 

Luke 17:26-37
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife.  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Now ask yourself, would that not hold true today with the coming and impending judgment of the earth?

Hebrews 1:1-14
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

The Hebrews passage speaks to me of our place as joint heirs with Christ. Look at what Christ is given. He is placed higher than the angels, as we will be when we receive our glorified bodies. Christ has begotten us who accept His gift of eternal salvation and being joint heirs, thereby we too are God the Father’s sons through our becoming one with Christ and His fellow heirs.

Hebrews 1:9
Thou (Yeshua) loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, (God the Father) hath anointed thee (Yeshua) with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

This is also a trickle-down to us through Christ. Those in Christ are given the oil of gladness above our fellows here on earth. I believe that the oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 25:1-10
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil (Holy Spirit) with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. (Are they being selfish? I think not. We are His bride! Each person is responsible for their own relationship with God. Nobody can make your relationship for you.) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Read this analysis of Jewish wedding tradition. There is also a very good site about Doors and their symbology in scriptures. The kingdom of heaven is specifically likened to ten virgins with oil lamps. Keep in mind the bride/bridegroom theme that occurs over and over in the end times prophecies from the Bible. We are the bride of Christ (virgins) and we are filled with the Holy Spirit (oil). With this oil (fuel) we can have a light to shine.

Matthew 5:14-18
Ye [believers] are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

We are waiting for Yeshua (bridegroom) and we need oil (Holy Spirit) in our lamps in order to shine in the darkness (sin of the world). We get that oil from Yeshua by accepting Him into our lives as the head of our lives and our personal savior.

Ephesians 1:13
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

So when we trust in Christ’s promise to each of us, He fills us with the Holy Spirit (oil) and we therefore have plenty of oil in our lamps as we wait expectantly for His return not being distracted by the deceptions of this world.

Ephesians 4:20-32
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Again, the Holy Spirit is shown as a seal of God on His believers (bride). 

Luke 21:28-36
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. [Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948 and is referred to in scripture related to the fig tree Hosea 9:10] So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

What will come to pass is the day of the Lord, which comes as a snare upon those not watching. They live their lives as normal until the sudden destruction of God’s wrath. So you see the desire to be taken in the harpazo isn’t selfish, it’s foretold in the scriptures and our blessed hope!

What is selfish is when we don’t warn others of the coming judgment so they can also repent and escape these times with us. Christians shouldn’t think we’re better than anyone else, we just chose Christ by faith. Some are just offended by the Word of God. I believe the wrath of God is meant as a righteous judgment and last-ditch effort to shake up and wake up the slumbering before they make eternal choice without really thinking about it.

In their distress, I believe people will seek the Lord and they will find many believers on the earth who made the choice only after they realized that the scriptures really were literally true. Remember that 50% of those waiting for Christ have the door shut on them, even though they have good works. Matthew 7:13-23 I’m not saying who will be taken in the harpazo and I would never judge that thing which I know not of. It is the Lord’s decision, He knows the hearts of all men, we don’t. I just read the Bible and believe what it says.

You don’t have any reason to feel guilty about being taken in the harpazo. Those who aren’t, really weren’t Christians and the bride of Christ is only comprised of those who love the Lord and obey Him. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 | Hebrews 5:8-9 | 1 Peter 4:16-19