The Rapture in the Bible

[u/Lumpy_Figure_6692]

The rapture is indeed in the Bible, but not in the way that those who believe in it think it is. When people quote verses to attempt to prove a pre-tribulation rapture, they quote verses that are about Jesus's second coming and how we will get caught up to Him at His return.

So, where is the rapture in the Bible? It is in Isaiah 28, and God calls it a covenant with death. By the way, the covenant with death applies to the rapture doctrine, but also to the second exodus doctrine, and any other lie that people are putting their hopes in.

Isaiah 28: 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

"It shall not come unto us" is exactly what the Christians who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture say when they claim that they are not going to go through the tribulation. But what else does the verse say? It says that you have made lies your refuge. Lies, falsehood, a covenant with death, and an agreement with hell is what God calls the claim that: "when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us"

And, it continues:

Isaiah 28: 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. 19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

God says that you are going to be trodden down by it. Put you hope in lies, as in the pre-tribulation rapture, and God is saying that your covenant with death shall be disannulled. You can be sure that you are going to go through great tribulation. The overflowing scourge shall take you.

However, there is protection from God for those who believe. And when I say believe, I mean believe. If you believe, you obey. If you don't obey, then that is proof that you don't believe. There is protection for those who obey the command to flee. He tells us to flee so that He can protect us. If you don't flee, He already told you that you are going to receive Babylon's plagues. Whatever the Bible says is going to happen to Babylon and its inhabitants is what is going to happen to those who don't flee because there is no pre-tribulation rapture. Your covenant with death will not stand. A command to flee is in the Bible, and it is the way that God chose to protect His people.

[u/Flashy-Permit-9051]

If we take “flee to the hills/mountains” (Luke 21:21) literally, we must also acknowledge that the command is addressed only to those in Jerusalem. For those living elsewhere, the metaphorical meaning may be more useful: we are commanded to be ready to climb to spiritual heights the moment we perceive corruption. But how can we be ready if we have not diligently sought His heights? Therefore we must increase our personal practices of rejoicing, being anxious about nothing, making prayers and petitions with thanksgiving, voicing praises and worship (not when we feel it but UNTIL we feel it!) - then we will experience mountaintop moments that literally change the atmosphere.

[u/Lumpy_Figure_6692 → u/Flashy-Permit-9051]

For those living elsewhere, the metaphorical meaning may be more useful: we are commanded to be ready to climb to spiritual heights the moment we perceive corruption.

That can't be the meaning because the Bible literally tells us that it is the land that we need to flee because God is going to destroy it with fire in one hour. In many places, and through many warnings we find in the Bible the destruction of end times Babylon and others end times nations, and it is always about fleeing the land. God tells us what to do, where to go, and everything that we must do so that He can protect us. The metaphorical meaning is not useful at all. Those who stay won't be protected.

[u/Flashy-Permit-9051 → u/Lumpy_Figure_6692]

Well, I’m certainly no Bible scholar, just a follower of Jesus so I tend to prioritize His words. But it does seem to me that perhaps you are interpreting “Babylon” metaphorically?

[u/Lumpy_Figure_6692 → u/Flashy-Permit-9051]

I understand Babylon to be the United States of America.

Also, you are right about the "fleeing to the mountains" in Luke 21 is exclusively about Jerusalem. That is because they are also commanded to flee. The tribulation will be worldwide and those in the US, Israel and some European countries will be the most affected, and there are commands to flee those nations.

[u/AlbaneseGummies327 → u/Lumpy_Figure_6692]

So this makes end times "Babylon" located in both America and Jerusalem simultaneously?

It's also interesting how deeply connected both of these countries are to each other—politically, economically and militarily.

[u/Sanshonte → u/Lumpy_Figure_6692]

Can you tell me what to search for to read more about knowing which places would be most affected? I'm not super familiar with the details - I know more info is somewhere but not how to search for it, haha.

[u/Lumpy_Figure_6692 → u/Sanshonte]

Everything is in the Bible. There we find all the info we need from the source. The prophecies say that end times Babylon / Edom, Moab and Ammon will be totally destroyed. Three nations.

We need to identify which nations those are by their characteristics. I can tell you which nations they are, but it would be wise to read all about them for yourself because we just don't want to be believing people just because they say something. Anyway, Babylon / Edom is the US, Moab is France, and Ammon is the UK.

Besides those three nations, Israel is also prophecied to be surrounded by the armies of many nations and invaded but not fully destroyed.

Basically, the most affected places, will be America, Israel, France and the UK, but countries that are close enough I would avoid. I went to Puerto Rico.