Dave Reagan (of Lamb and Lion ministry: http://www.lamblion.com/ ) talks about multiple raptures. (Rapture discussion available on video download)
First rapture: Christ was the first fruits, raised from the dead, and caught back up to heaven as the disciples watched as described in Acts 1: 9.
* And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Second rapture: 1 Thess 4: 16, 17 reference where the "dead in Christ", those who looked to Christ (His Church/Bride) will rise first, then we (the living of the Church/Bride) will meet Him in the air.
* 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.
Third rapture: After the Tribulation, the Old Testament saints will be raised (Daniel 12:1, 2) - some to everlasting life, some to everlasting shame.
* And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
* And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
While trying to find that Daniel reference, I came upon a site trying to refute the multiple rapture claiming that Daniel 12:1, 2 refutes it. But as I read that verse, it seems to me that it reads as both redeemed and lost are raised at the same time.
Now, my one question has become two.
The first: If the OT saints are waiting to be raptured, how were Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus on the Mt. of transfiguration?
The second: What's your take on multiple raptures?
(As an aside, Dave asked his partner, Dennis Pollack, if he could explain why Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. Dennis said that it was Moses representing the Law, and Elijah representing the Prophets, and showing that Jesus was above both of them. And God the Father clarified it, after Peter offered to raise temples to all three, with His declaration, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him!")
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You knew i'd have a windy response. I apolgize that it isn't well-organized. Technically, there are more raptures than even those three. Some of these are obvious.
1) Enoch
2) Elijah
3) Christ
4) Us
5) 144,000
6) the 3 witnesses
Now, it would make perfect sense to have 7, would it not?
In Rev 20, we see that the 1st 'resurrection' is of those who died during the tribulation who belong to God. The dead are not resurrected until the Great White Throne (end of tribulation). I do not know of any other time when the bible says the lost dead are resurrected, which means the Daniel scripture is talking about two different events.
This is rambling for my own thought processing... The beast and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire at the end of
the tribulation. The Devil will join them at the end of the millennium.
Interesting that Daniel 12 says 'many' shall awaken, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt. Many? Why not all? I think that is because it is referring to two different times, but I can't be positive. Also, this seems to be talking particularly about Israel. 'at that time thy people shall be delivered'. This is referring to Jews and only Jews.
As for Pollacks summation, I disagree. I've heard that before, but there is much more there than that. This will probably rub some people the wrong way, but I believe Jesus actually walked away from that meeting with a revelation about what was going to happen to Him. "They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem." I really believe He only knew bits and pieces of the plan, as He was a human. Here we have two godly men who could reveal to Him much: Moses,
who had spent the past 1000 years in paradise, and Elijah, having spent the last few hundred years in Heaven. These were two ambassadors, one knowing all the prophecies and the other having had the voice of God Himself.
I also find it interesting that both Moses and Elijah gave us excellent pictures of the rapture with their lives. Moses ascended upon the mountain 'into the clouds' and was concealed for a while. He then returned glowing in the Glory of God, and finding the Israelites worshiping idols, watched a slaughter ensue. Elijah knew he was going, but didn't know when. He was keeping a watch, then he was taken. Only his mantle was left.
As for Peter, He thought it was the end times. He thought the kingdom was about to be set up. That is why he wanted to build shelters (or temples). He actually wanted to build 'booths', which is what all Jews do on the
Feast of Tabernacles. The kingdom of God, set up during the Millennial Reign, is the 7th feast day - the sabbath millennium - the Feast of Tabernacles - when booths are constructed and lived in for one week. Peter was not being shallow - he was actually being very deep and somewhat logical. I've heard very few people give him credit.
From the Revelation, i'm not sure about the 7th rapture, although I
believe one could argue that John was raptured when God said 'Come Up
Here'. That could be the 4th rapture.
I've started answering your questions in reverse order. In regards to your first question, Moses and Elijah are not in the same place. Elijah went up, Moses went down to paradise (hence the ambassadorship). We are talking about miracles here, anyways, so naturally it is possible that IF they were waiting to be raptured, they could still appear on the mount. I believe Samuel is waiting to be raptured, yet he was divined by the sorceress upon Saul's request, making a pre-rapture appearance.
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