Every year, through nature, God tells the story of His plan over and over again. This natural revelation provides insight into His purposes for humanity. Let’s begin with spring, when life begins to sprout up everywhere. Trees begin to blossom, flowers come out of the ground, and fruits and vegetables begin to grow. Obviously, this is a picture of life beginning—life is beginning in the spring.
Then comes summer. In the summer, we experience many things that reflect God’s plan. The days are longer, representing a time of growth and productivity. Plants mature and bear fruit, symbolizing the work God is doing in our lives during our earthly existence. Summer represents the fullness of life, the time when we are most active and productive in God’s service.
Following summer comes autumn. During this season, leaves change color and fall, and plants begin to prepare for dormancy. Autumn represents the transition from life to death, the process of aging that all humans experience. It’s a beautiful season that speaks of the natural progression toward the end of life, reminding us that death is part of God’s plan.
Finally, winter arrives. In winter, much of nature appears dead, but beneath the surface, life is waiting to burst forth again in spring. Winter represents death, but it’s not the end. It’s a necessary part of the cycle that leads to renewal and new life. Just as seeds must “die” in the ground to produce new life, so too must physical death precede the resurrection life God has promised.
This annual cycle in nature reveals God’s plan for humanity: life, growth, transition, death, and resurrection. It’s a beautiful, continuous story that God tells through His creation, reinforcing what He has revealed in His Word.
The Biblical Pattern of Death and Resurrection
Throughout Scripture, we see a consistent pattern: death precedes resurrection. This pattern begins in the Old Testament and continues through the New Testament, establishing a principle that contradicts the idea of escaping death through a rapture.
Consider the example of the seed, which Jesus used to illustrate this principle: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). The seed must die before it can bring forth life. This principle applies not only to plants but to the spiritual realm as well.
Jesus Himself experienced death before resurrection. Though He was sinless, He submitted to death on the cross, demonstrating that even the Son of God was not exempt from death. His resurrection three days later established the pattern that all believers would follow: death first, then resurrection.
The apostle Paul expands on this in 1 Corinthians 15, often called the resurrection chapter. He writes, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
Notice the sequence: Christ was raised first as the first fruits, then those who belong to Christ at His coming. There is no mention of believers being caught up to meet Christ before death. Instead, the pattern is clear: death precedes resurrection.
The Misinterpretation of Key Rapture Passages
Those who teach the Rapture doctrine often point to several key passages of Scripture. Let’s examine these passages in their proper context to see what they actually teach.
One of the most frequently cited passages is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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.”
At first glance, this passage seems to support the idea of believers being caught up to meet Christ. However, a closer examination reveals a different meaning. Paul is addressing the Thessalonian believers’ concern about their fellow believers who had died. He assures them that the dead in Christ will not be at a disadvantage when Christ returns. In fact, the dead in Christ will rise first, and then those who are alive will be caught up together with them.
The phrase “caught up” (Greek: harpazo) refers to being snatched away or seized, but it doesn’t necessarily mean being taken to heaven. Instead, it describes believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air as He returns to earth. The purpose is to join Christ in His triumphal return, not to escape earth forever.
Another passage often cited is 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Again, this passage is often interpreted to m ean that some believers will escape death through the Rapture. However, Paul is speaking of the transformation that will occur at Christ’s return. Some believers will have died (“sleep”), while others will still be alive when Christ returns. Both groups will be changed—given immortal bodies—but this transformation happens at the resurrection, not before death.
The Biblical View of Death for Believers
The Bible presents death not as an enemy to be escaped but as a transition to be embraced. For believers, death is not the end but the doorway to eternal life with Christ. Paul writes in Philippians 1:21-23: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.”
Paul viewed death as “gain” and something “far better” than continuing to live in the flesh. He didn’t fear death or seek to escape it; instead, he saw it as the means by which he would be “with Christ,” which was his ultimate desire.
The author of Hebrews writes, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). This verse establishes death as a universal appointment for all human beings, including believers. There is no exception for those who will be “raptured.”
Even Jesus, the Son of God, experienced death. Though He was sinless and had power over death, He submitted to death on the cross. His death was not a defeat but a victory, as He conquered death through His resurrection. As believers, we are called to follow His example, embracing death as part of God’s plan and trusting in the promise of resurrection.
The Hope of Resurrection, Not Rapture
The true hope of believers is not escaping death through a rapture but the promise of resurrection. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
This passage describes the transformation that occurs at the resurrection. Our mortal bodies, subject to corruption and death, will be raised as incorruptible, glorious, powerful, spiritual bodies. This is the true hope of believers—not escaping death but being transformed through death and resurrection.
Paul continues in verses 54-57: “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Victory over death comes not through escaping it but through Christ’s resurrection and the promise of our own resurrection. Death has been swallowed up in victory through Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
The Biblical Sequence of End-Time Events
A careful study of Scripture reveals a sequence of end-time events that contradicts the pre-tribulation rapture teaching. According to the Bible, the sequence is as follows:
- Christ’s return (the Second Coming)
- Resurrection of the dead in Christ
- Transformation of living believers
- Judgment
- Establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth
Nowhere in this sequence is there a rapture of believers before death or tribulation. Instead, the Bible teaches that believers will face tribulation and possibly death before being resurrected or transformed at Christ’s return.
Jesus Himself described the tribulation that believers would face before His return: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). He did not promise an escape from tribulation but strength to endure it.
Paul also wrote about the tribulation believers would experience: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Again, there is no promise of escape but rather an expectation of suffering for the sake of Christ.
The Danger of False Hope
The doctrine of the Rapture presents a dangerous false hope that can leave believers unprepared for the reality of tribulation and death. If believers are taught that they will escape death through a rapture, they may be unprepared spiritually and emotionally when faced with persecution, suffering, or death.
Jesus warned His disciples about the danger of false teaching and the importance of being prepared for tribulation: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8).
Jesus went on to describe the tribulation that would precede His return, including persecution of believers, the rise of the Antichrist, and great tribulation such as has never been seen before. Throughout this description, there is no mention of believers being raptured before these events. Instead, Jesus encourages His followers to endure to the end: “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
The Biblical Call to Endurance
Rather than promising an escape from tribulation, the Bible calls believers to endurance. James writes: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4).
The trials and tribulations we face are not meant to be escaped but endured, as they produce patience and spiritual maturity. Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 5:3-5: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
The biblical call is not to look for an escape from tribulation but to stand firm in the faith, trusting God’s promises even in the midst of suffering. The book of Revelation portrays the faithful endurance of believers during tribulation: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).
These believers were not raptured before tribulation; they endured it faithfully, even unto death, and were rewarded with eternal life and reign with Christ.
The Beauty of God’s Plan
When we embrace the biblical truth about death and resurrection, we discover the beauty of God’s plan for humanity. God’s plan is not to rescue us from death but to transform us through death and resurrection. This plan is beautifully illustrated in nature and consistently revealed in Scripture.
Death is not an accident or an unfortunate part of God’s plan; it is an integral part of His redemptive work. Through death, God demonstrates His power over sin and death, and through resurrection, He reveals His promise of eternal life.
The apostle Paul captures the beauty of this plan in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
This passage reveals the glorious transformation that awaits believers—not an escape from death but victory over death through Christ’s resurrection. Our mortal bodies will be transformed into immortal bodies, and death itself will be swallowed up in victory.
The Call to Biblical Faithfulness
As we conclude this examination of death and the rapture, the call to biblical faithfulness becomes clear. We are called to be like the Bereans, who “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). We must be willing to unlearn traditions that contradict Scripture and relearn the truth as God has revealed it.
This requires humility, courage, and a love for truth above tradition. It means being willing to question long-held beliefs in light of Scripture, even when doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
The doctrine of the Rapture, as commonly taught, contradicts the clear testimony of Scripture regarding death and resurrection. Instead of looking for an escape from death, we are called to embrace God’s plan, which includes death as the doorway to resurrection and eternal life.
May we have the courage to unlearn what is untrue, relearn what is true according to Scripture, and faithfully endure whatever trials may come, trusting in God’s beautiful plan of redemption through death and resurrection
God’s Plan Revealed in Nature: The Seasons of Life and the Inevitability of Death
In our journey through life, we experience a multitude of activities and events—some good, some bad. Sometimes those things we enjoy end up hurting us, like when you go water skiing and fall, breaking your leg. It was fun, but there were consequences. Others go mountain climbing or cliff diving and get injured. These are all part of summer experiences, but they teach us valuable lessons about life.
The Seasons as God’s Divine Pattern
In the summer, we learn lessons about life. During this season, we’re creating a contrast—a vibrant display of energy and activity that defines the peak of living. Then, all of a sudden, fall arrives. Things begin to change color. Leaves fall from the trees. We love fall because of the beautiful colors, but they point to a deeper truth: the end is near.
Fall is nature’s way of signaling that change is coming, that the current season of abundance is drawing to a close. Then finally, winter arrives, and everything just stops its operations. Winter is the picture of death. For some people, winter is a very depressing time. For others, it’s a time of reflection, a time of hope looking forward to the next stage in God’s program.
And then finally, winter releases its grip, and the most beautiful thing happens: spring arrives. Life begins to sprout again. Flowers bloom, the earth brings forth its buds, and it all points to one thing: resurrection, restoration, and reconciliation. Everything is brought back to the original state that it was originally in.
So in nature, we have the perfect picture of God’s plan and God’s design for man, and it’s a beautiful plan. Spring brings life. In the summer, we enjoy this life. In the fall, we know the end is coming. And in winter, everything seems to be sleeping and cold. But then spring brings life from the dead again.
This process has been repeated since the beginning of time, every single year. By now, you would think that mankind would know how God works. The seasons are not random; they are a divine pattern that God established to teach us about His plan for humanity.
The Biblical Confirmation of Death’s Inevitability
The Bible provides numerous verses that confirm what nature so clearly illustrates: we will all die. In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, we read: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die.”
Yes, that’s what God said. There’s “a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which was planted.” I love that verse. It begins with “to every purpose under the heaven.” Now, a purpose is a design—something that is planned with the end in view. In verse 1, you have season and purpose. So yeah, every season does have a purpose.
Every season has a purpose that God wants you to see. God wants us to understand the cyclical design in the seasons because they all express a purpose that God placed into them that are visible to everyone who lives in this world. Even people who are blind can still understand the four seasons. They know it smells different in the spring than it does in the winter. God placed that into man to automatically know.
So there’s a time to die. No one has ever proved this absolutely irreversible truth to be wrong. Death is still one piece—still one piece from the beginning of time until today.
There is a day coming, however, when this will change. In Revelation 21:4, we read: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
From the point that there is a time to die—which even Paul confirms—that there is a time to die, and it’s passed upon all men, and you even have an appointment with it… you have an appointment with this.
But Paul himself confirmed this. You know, it’s not like this is not part of the dispensation of Grace. Paul said, “In Adam all die,” and that death passed upon all men. And then the writer to the Hebrews, whoever he was, says that “it’s appointed unto men once to die.” They all confirmed this.
But if Paul knew that there were some people who were going to cheat death, he would have said it. This would have been the perfect place to say it: “But some of us are not going to die; we’re going to be taken up in the rapture.” Listen, let’s come, let us reason together, saith the Lord. Okay, let’s think about this.
The Confusion Surrounding the Rapture Doctrine
Such an important truth as the rapture should be made easy to understand so that there would be no confusion about it whatsoever. But there is a lot of confusion that surrounds the eschatological point of view of a catching away. You’ve got pre-tribulation rapture, mid-tribulation rapture, post-tribulation rapture. You’ve got amillennialism, premillennialism, postmillennialism.
How in the world is it that some of the greatest minds in the world cannot arrive at a meeting of the minds on what seems to be the most important doctrine in Christendom? It’s not—it’s not an important doctrine, but because you were fed this from the time you arrived at whatever place you went to, you were fed this, and you bought into it and you believed it.
How is it that the greatest minds in the world cannot arrive at a meeting of the minds on this subject? I shared a few weeks ago that “this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Where there’s confusion, it’s not from God. It’s not from God. God’s not the author of confusion.
The fact is that a truth of this magnitude should not be shrouded in the midst of a basket of confusion. It should not be shrouded in mystery, and you know, you got to be Sherlock Holmes to figure this thing out. The teaching of the Rapture should be as clear as the noses on our face, but it’s not. And it’s not because it’s not part of God’s plan that you are going to cheat death. “Thou shalt surely die.”
Remember, the doctrine of the rapture, as we noted a few weeks ago, came into existence in the 1800s with a 15-year-old girl who was going through some sort of sickness, some sort of fever. She was having visions, and that’s where the doctrine of the Rapture came from. Congratulations, you bought into it, didn’t you?
But those who came after that, who built on those visions, created a theological framework that has confused millions of believers and diverted attention from the clear teaching of Scripture about death and resurrection.
The Seasons as a Divine Object Lesson
God designed the seasons to be a perpetual object lesson about His plan for humanity. Each season teaches us something important about our spiritual journey and God’s redemptive plan.
Spring represents new life and new beginnings. It’s a picture of birth and regeneration. In spring, we see life emerging from what appeared to be dead ground. This points to the new birth we experience in Christ and the new creation that God is making in us.
Summer represents the fullness of life. It’s a time of growth, maturity, and fruitfulness. In the natural world, summer is when plants reach their peak growth and produce fruit. Spiritually, it represents the season of our lives when we are growing in Christ, bearing spiritual fruit, and enjoying the fullness of life in Him.
Fall represents transition and the recognition that endings are part of God’s plan. The changing colors and falling leaves remind us that life is seasonal and that endings are not necessarily bad—they are part of God’s design. Fall teaches us about the importance of letting go and trusting God’s timing.
Winter represents death and dormancy. It appears that life has ceased, but beneath the surface, God is still working. Winter teaches us about the necessity of death in God’s plan—how sometimes things must die so that new life can emerge. It’s a season of rest, reflection, and preparation for what God will do next.
Then spring comes again, and the cycle repeats. This annual cycle is God’s way of continually teaching us about His plan: life, growth, transition, death, and resurrection. It’s a beautiful, repeating lesson that God has been teaching humanity since the beginning of time.
The Biblical Foundation of Death’s Universality
The Bible is unequivocal about the universality of death. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture consistently teaches that death is the appointed end for all human beings. This is not a pessimistic view but a realistic acknowledgment of God’s design and plan.
In Genesis 3:19, God tells Adam, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” This establishes death as the consequence of sin and the appointed end for all humanity.
The psalmist writes in Psalm 89:48, “What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?” This rhetorical question expects the obvious answer: no human being can escape death.
Ecclesiastes 3:20, in the same chapter that speaks of seasons and times, states, “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” This emphasizes the universality of death for all humanity.
In Ezekiel 18:4, we read, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” This verse confirms that death is the wages of sin, and all have sinned.
Romans 5:12, as previously mentioned, states, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” This New Testament confirmation establishes death as the universal human condition.
Hebrews 9:27 removes all doubt: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” This verse is clear and unambiguous—death is an appointment that every human being will keep.
These verses, and many others like them, establish beyond any reasonable doubt that death is the universal appointment for all human beings. There is no exception mentioned for those who will be “raptured.” The doctrine of the rapture, as commonly taught, contradicts this clear biblical teaching.
The Origin and Development of the Rapture Doctrine
The doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture, as it is commonly taught today, is a relatively recent development in church history. It did not exist in the early church, was not taught by the reformers, and only began to gain popularity in the 19th century.
The origins of the modern rapture doctrine can be traced to the early 1800s and a young Scottish girl named Margaret MacDonald. In 1830, at the age of 15, MacDonald claimed to have received a revelation during a visionary experience. She described a vision of a secret coming of Christ before the visible second coming, where believers would be caught up to meet Christ in the air.
This vision was picked up and popularized by John Nelson Darby, a founder of the Plymouth Brethren movement. Darby systematized MacDonald’s vision into a theological framework that included a pre-tribulation rapture, a seven-year tribulation period, and a premillennial return of Christ.
The rapture doctrine was further popularized in America through the Scofield Reference Bible, published in 1909. Cyrus Scofield’s study notes included Darby’s dispensational theology and pre-tribulation rapture teaching, making it accessible to millions of readers.
In the 20th century, the rapture doctrine gained even wider acceptance through the writings of authors like Hal Lindsey, whose book “The Late Great Planet Earth” (1970) became a bestseller. More recently, the “Left Behind” series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins has popularized the rapture doctrine in fictional form.
Despite its popularity, the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine is not found in the early church writings, is not taught in the historic creeds of Christianity, and contradicts the clear biblical teaching about the universality of death.
The Problems with the Rapture Doctrine
The doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture faces several significant problems when examined in light of Scripture:
- It contradicts the clear biblical teaching that death is appointed for all human beings. As we have seen, numerous passages establish death as the universal human condition, with no exceptions mentioned for those who will be raptured.
- It creates confusion rather than clarity. As mentioned earlier, there are multiple views of the rapture (pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation, pre-wrath, etc.), and even proponents of these views cannot agree among themselves. This confusion is not characteristic of God’s truth, which brings clarity and understanding.
- It is not found in the early church writings. If the rapture were a central doctrine of Christianity, one would expect to find it taught by the early church fathers. However, it is conspicuously absent from their writings.
- It often leads to a fatalistic attitude toward the world. If believers expect to be raptured out of the world before tribulation, they may be less motivated to work for positive change in society or to prepare for suffering.
- It can lead to disappointment and disillusionment. Throughout history, there have been numerous predictions of the rapture’s timing, all of which have proven false. This has led many to question their faith when the predicted rapture did not occur.
- It distracts from the central message of Christianity. The core of the Christian faith is not about escaping tribulation but about Christ’s death, resurrection, and the hope of eternal life through Him. An overemphasis on the rapture can shift focus away from these central truths.
The Biblical Hope: Resurrection, Not Rapture
The true hope of the believer is not escaping death through a rapture but the promise of resurrection. The Bible consistently points to resurrection as the means by which believers will receive their glorified bodies and eternal life.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Notice the sequence: Christ was raised first as the firstfruits, then those who belong to Christ will be made alive at His coming. There is no mention of believers being caught up to meet Christ before death. Instead, the pattern is clear: death precedes resurrection.
Paul continues in verses 42-44: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
This passage describes the transformation that occurs at the resurrection. Our mortal bodies, subject to corruption and death, will be raised as incorruptible, glorious, powerful, spiritual bodies. This is the true hope of believers—not escaping death through a rapture but being transformed through death and resurrection.
The hope of resurrection is not a new concept but is rooted in the Old Testament. Job, in the midst of his suffering, expressed this hope: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:25-26).
Daniel also spoke of the hope of resurrection: “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” (Daniel 12:2).
Jesus Himself affirmed the hope of resurrection: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29).
The biblical hope is not escaping death but experiencing resurrection. This is the promise that sustains believers through suffering and death—the knowledge that death is not the end but the doorway to eternal life with Christ.
The Beauty of God’s Plan for Life and Death
When we embrace the biblical teaching about death and resurrection, we discover the beauty of God’s plan for humanity. God’s plan is not to rescue us from death but to transform us through death and resurrection. This plan is beautifully illustrated in nature and consistently revealed in Scripture.
Death is not an accident or an unfortunate part of God’s plan; it is an integral part of His redemptive work. Through death, God demonstrates His power over sin and death, and through resurrection, He reveals His promise of eternal life.
The seasons of nature, with their annual cycle of life, growth, transition, death, and renewal, are God’s perpetual object lesson to humanity. They remind us year after year of His plan and His faithfulness.
In spring, we see the promise of new life. In summer, we experience the fullness of life. In fall, we recognize the transition that leads to death. In winter, we witness the apparent cessation of life. And then spring comes again, bringing resurrection and renewal.
This cycle has been repeated since the beginning of time, and by now, humanity should understand how God works. The seasons are not random; they are a divine pattern that teaches us about God’s plan for redemption.
The beauty of God’s plan is that it includes death as part of the journey to eternal life. Death is not the enemy to be escaped but the doorway to resurrection and eternal life with Christ. As Paul writes in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
For the believer, death is not a defeat but a victory. It is not an end but a transition. It is not something to be feared but something to be embraced as part of God’s beautiful plan.
The Call to Embrace God’s Plan
As we conclude this examination of God’s plan as revealed in nature and Scripture, the call is clear: we must embrace God’s plan for life and death, rather than seeking to escape death through a rapture that is not taught in Scripture.
This call requires humility—a willingness to unlearn traditions that contradict Scripture and relearn the truth as God has revealed it. It requires courage—a willingness to stand for biblical truth even when it is unpopular. And it requires faith—a trust in God’s plan even when we don’t fully understand it.
The seasons of nature continue their annual cycle, teaching us year after year about God’s plan. Spring brings life, summer brings growth, fall brings transition, and winter brings death. And then spring comes again, bringing resurrection and renewal.
This is God’s plan. This is His design. This is the beautiful truth that nature proclaims and Scripture confirms. May we have eyes to see it, minds to understand it, and hearts to embrace it.
For in embracing God’s plan for life and death, we find true hope—not in escaping death through a rapture, but in the promise of resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Rapture Doctrine: A Direct Challenge to God’s Truth
When we examine the Rapture doctrine through a critical biblical lens, we encounter a startling perspective: the Rapture, as commonly taught, may actually be designed to reverse what God has said and effectively make God’s word a lie. This isn’t a light accusation but a serious theological concern that strikes at the heart of biblical integrity.
The teaching of the Rapture, according to this viewpoint, makes God a liar while elevating what “the devil said” to the status of truth. Think about that for a moment. If the only way a Rapture could occur is if God’s established word is false, then we must question whether we’re aligning ourselves with divine truth or human tradition.
As Isaiah 1:18 invites us, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord.” This call to reason isn’t an invitation to blind acceptance but to careful examination of what we’ve been taught versus what Scripture actually reveals.
The Biblical Reality of Death and Judgment
The Bible clearly states “there is a time to die” and points to a future time “when there is no more death.” This fundamental truth about human mortality sets the stage for understanding God’s plan rather than escaping it through a secret Rapture.
When we look “under the sun” at the place of judgment, we discover that judgment isn’t merely about punishment—it’s about making things right, about correction. True judgment brings alignment with God’s standards. As we study this in Scripture, it becomes increasingly clear that God’s judgment serves a corrective purpose for all creation.
Interestingly, the biblical observation reveals that in the place of judgment, wickedness was present, and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was also found. This leads to an uncomfortable but necessary realization: there’s ultimately not much difference between human wickedness and human righteousness because “there is none righteous, no not one” and “there is none that seeketh after God.”
The Universal Need for Divine Correction
Both human wickedness and human self-righteousness require serious correction. This isn’t a popular message in an age that emphasizes self-affirmation, but it’s biblically accurate. God’s judgment will address both—correcting wickedness and human righteousness alike.
The Scripture tells us, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked.” Both will be made right, both will be corrected. This is the essence of divine judgment—not merely punitive but restorative, bringing all things into alignment with God’s perfect standard.
This understanding challenges our modern categories of “good enough” and invites us to recognize that all humanity stands in need of God’s corrective judgment, regardless of how righteous we may appear in our own eyes or in comparison to others.
Human Mortality: Our Shared Fate with All Living Creatures
Perhaps most challenging to our human pride is the biblical teaching that humans, in terms of our physical nature, share the same fate as animals. As the speaker notes, “I said in mine heart, concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.”
Before anyone takes offense, remember that this isn’t a human opinion but what God has said. It’s a humbling reminder that despite our intellectual and spiritual capacities, we are physical creatures subject to mortality. The speaker even acknowledges with some humor that we all know people who act like beasts—especially when someone disagrees with them!
Scripture emphasizes this truth: “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.”
Embracing Our Mortality and God’s Greater Purpose
This shared mortality with animals isn’t meant to demean human dignity but to humble our pride. According to Paul, man was “subjected to vanity for a reason”—a reason connected to God’s love being manifested and the contrast being created during this life.
The fundamental reason humans have no preeminence over beasts is our shared mortality: “death is our lot.” This sobering reality reminds us that “all go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”
Rather than seeking escape through doctrines like the Rapture, perhaps we’re called to embrace our mortality, recognize our need for divine correction, and trust in God’s greater purpose for creation—including His plan to ultimately make all things right through His judgment.
In doing so, we align ourselves not with human traditions that may contradict God’s word, but with the biblical narrative of redemption that acknowledges our mortality while pointing to God’s ultimate victory over death itself.
The Perfect Continuity of Scripture on Death and Resurrection
What stands out most clearly when examining Scripture is the perfect continuity and confirmation of truth throughout all of God’s Word. Consider Ecclesiastes 12:7: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” This verse confirms what Scripture consistently teaches about human mortality and the spirit’s destiny.
There are many such verses throughout the Bible that establish this pattern. While repetition can be beneficial for learning, it’s worth focusing on how these truths connect to form a coherent biblical narrative. The continuity of Scripture on death and what follows is remarkable—and it doesn’t support the idea of escaping death through a secret Rapture.
God’s Foreknowledge and the Certainty of Death
The beautiful thing about Genesis 2:17 is that it demonstrates God’s perfect foreknowledge. When God warned Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die,” He knew Adam would indeed eat.
This wasn’t a surprise to God—Adam’s sin didn’t catch Him off guard or blindside Him, as that would contradict His omniscience. The certainty of death is confirmed throughout Genesis 5, where the refrain “and he died” repeats again and again, establishing death as the universal human condition.
The Resurrection: God’s Solution to Death
What fixes the reality of death is not the Rapture but the resurrection. Death is not a problem for our Father—He has already shown us the solution in Jesus Christ. The resurrection is God’s answer to death, delivering us out of death rather than allowing us to cheat it.
The hope that fixes our mortality is not based on escaping death but on God’s power over death. The Rapture, by contrast, would make God’s warning about death a lie while making the devil’s words (“Ye shall not surely die”) true. That’s the fundamental problem with the Rapture doctrine—it contradicts what God has clearly established.
The Problem with an Escape-from-Death Mentality
Imagine being in the eternal state and encountering someone who suffered a horrible, painful death. If you could say, “I didn’t die,” what would that imply about God’s justice and the human experience? Such a scenario creates an unbiblical hierarchy among believers and contradicts the universal nature of death that Scripture so clearly establishes.
This isn’t hypothetical—it’s a certainty. God said “surely” you will die, and His word stands. The Rapture doctrine attempts to circumvent this divine decree, creating an escape route that Scripture never intended.
The Spiritual Readiness Question
Consider this: if the Rapture were to happen right now, are you truly ready to stand before Jesus Christ? What about your thoughts this past week? What about the attitudes you’ve harbored—anger, impatience, judgmentalism, unforgiveness? Can you stand before Christ with these issues unresolved in your soul?
The honest answer is no—none of us are ready in that sense. This is why the resurrection, not the Rapture, is God’s plan. The resurrection delivers us from death after we have experienced it, transforming us in the process.
First Corinthians 15: The Resurrection Chapter
Have you ever heard anyone call First Corinthians 15 “The Rapture Chapter”? No—because it’s universally known as the Resurrection Chapter. That’s what it’s about—the resurrection of the dead and the transformation of believers.
If it’s clearly about resurrection, how do some find a Rapture in this chapter? Because the Rapture represents a hope that allows you to cheat death, while the resurrection delivers you out of death. God’s plan is not to help us avoid death but to overcome it through resurrection power.
Job’s Understanding of the Resurrection Hope
Job understood this hope clearly. He asked, “If a man die, shall he live again?” and then answered his own question with a resounding yes. He declared, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”
Job’s “appointed time” refers to the time of his death, after which he would wait for his “change”—the resurrection. This is the biblical pattern: death comes first, then resurrection. Not escape from death, but victory over death through God’s power.
The Rapture doctrine, by contrast, suggests an escape from death that Scripture never promises. It creates a hope based on cheating death rather than God’s power to deliver us out of death. The resurrection is God’s good plan—the one established throughout Scripture and confirmed in Christ’s own death and resurrection.
Job’s Understanding of Death and Resurrection
Job understood something profound about God’s plan. When he spoke of “all the days of my appointed time,” he was referring to the biblical truth that “it is appointed unto men once to die.” Job knew he would wait in death for a specific purpose—waiting “till my change come.”
This “change” Job anticipated is what happens in the resurrection. It’s not an escape from death but a transformation after death. Job’s hope wasn’t in avoiding death but in God’s power to transform him after death had run its course.
The Biblical Timeline of Resurrection
Paul provides further clarity on this resurrection hope in 1 Corinthians 15, explaining that this change happens “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” While there are seven trumpets in Revelation, the seventh trumpet is not the last trumpet. The true last trumpet is the one Paul references here, when “the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
This transformation involves both body and soul: “This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” As Scripture reminds us, only God has immortality inherently—human beings receive it as a gift in the resurrection. The spirit that returned to God at death is reunited with the body, and the soul receives immortality, enabling eternal life.
The Problem with Identifying This as the Rapture
Here’s where we encounter a significant logical problem if we try to identify this event as the Rapture. Paul declares that when this transformation happens, “death is swallowed up in victory.” If death is truly swallowed up, then we’ve reached a place where there is no more death.
The problem is that after the supposed Rapture, according to traditional dispensational theology, there’s still a lot of death to come—throughout the entire millennial reign of Christ. If death continues after the Rapture, how can this event be described as the moment when death is swallowed up in victory?
This logical inconsistency reveals that this passage cannot be referring to the Rapture. Whatever this event does, it results in the complete elimination of death, with no more death following it.
The Resolution: Recognizing This as the Resurrection
When we properly identify this event as the resurrection—which we know in our hearts it is—everything fits into place perfectly. If this is the resurrection, then the sequence makes sense: this event swallows death up completely, and there will be no more death afterward.
This aligns with Revelation 21:4, where we’re told that in the new creation, “there shall be no more death.” The resurrection leads directly to the eternal state where death has been completely defeated.
God’s Beautiful Plan: From Death to No More Death
God’s plan for humanity follows a beautiful progression from “Thou shalt surely die” to “No More Death.” These are the two extreme points that every human being will experience—the beginning of humanity with the reality of death, and the end when death is swallowed up in victory.
Every single man, woman, boy, and girl will experience this progression. This is the Lord’s plan, and it is truly beautiful when understood properly.
The Purpose of Life: Creating Contrast
Between these two extremes—”Thou shalt surely die” and “No More Death”—lies your life. Your life right now is creating a contrast that will enable you to truly appreciate the eternal state in a way you never could have otherwise.
Consider how we see stars in the sky—only because of the dark background that creates contrast. Without that contrast, we couldn’t fully appreciate them. Similarly, “the heavens declare the glory of God,” but it’s the contrast that allows us to appreciate that glory fully.
Between these two extreme points of human existence, a contrast is being created in your life right now. This contrast serves a divine purpose, enabling you to appreciate God’s glory and the eternal state in a way that would otherwise be impossible.
This understanding transforms how we view our current existence. We’re not merely waiting for an escape from this world but participating in God’s beautiful plan of creating contrast that will ultimately lead to a greater appreciation of His eternal glory.
Life’s Challenges as Divine Contrast
All the pain, turmoil, anguish, sickness, and disappointments that come with life are serving a profound purpose. They are creating a contrast that will enable us to fully appreciate the sinless eternal state that awaits us. When we finally reach that place, we’ll be able to say, “Oh wow!” as we comprehend the glory of a reality where “God will be all in all.”
This perspective transforms how we view suffering. Rather than being meaningless or arbitrary, our struggles are part of God’s design to create a contrast that will heighten our appreciation for eternity. Just as stars shine brightest against the dark backdrop of night, the glories of eternity will shine brightest against the backdrop of our present sufferings.
The Rapture: A Non-Essential Doctrine
No matter what your views are on the Rapture—whether pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, pre-wrath, or post-tribulation—it’s important to recognize that these positions are not essential doctrines of the Christian faith. They are not doctrines over which believers should separate or divide.
The proper and only godly response to someone who holds a different view on the timing of the Rapture is simply, “We’ll see.” That’s all any of us can honestly say, since these are matters of future fulfillment that none of us can prove with certainty.
Taking an adamant stance on a non-essential doctrine reflects spiritual immaturity. The Rapture is not our hope—those exact words aren’t even found in your Bible. Our true hope is “the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ,” which refers to His visible return to establish His kingdom, not a secret appearing.
The Danger of Division Over Non-Essentials
Reexamining 1 Corinthians 15:51
Many have traditionally interpreted 1 Corinthians 15:51—”We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed”—to mean that not all believers will die. However, the speaker now understands this differently. All believers will die, but some will not “sleep” in the earth (remain buried for an extended period). Instead, they will be resurrected immediately.
This understanding aligns with the fact that 1 Corinthians 15 is the resurrection chapter, not the Rapture chapter. Getting this distinction straight in our thinking is crucial for properly understanding biblical eschatology.
Living with Purpose in Light of Eternity
This perspective on death and resurrection affects how we live our lives. The speaker mentions doing everything possible to live longer—juicing, exercising, lifting weights, walking daily—because he believes he will remain on earth until his natural death. While here, he wants to help others see what he sees in the Bible.
His approach isn’t about changing minds through argumentation but about sharing what he sees in God’s word as truthfully and honestly as possible. After 30 years of ministry, his commitment to God and His word remains unchanged, even as his understanding of certain doctrines has developed.
Death as a Transition to Rest
AS we acknowledge that one day we will die, entering into a period of rest that will seem like sleep. Even for Old Testament saints like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, when they are resurrected at Christ’s second coming, it will seem to them as though no time has passed at all. As Ecclesiastes tells us, “the dead know not anything.”
This understanding brings peace and perspective. Death is not an enemy to be feared or escaped but a transition to rest, followed by resurrection and eternal life. It’s part of God’s beautiful plan that moves from “Thou shalt surely die” to “No More Death,” with our present lives creating the contrast that will enable us to fully appreciate eternity
Rethinking Heaven, the Rapture, and What Happens When We Die
Questioning the Traditional View of the Afterlife
The common teaching that believers go directly to heaven while they’re dead doesn’t make sense when we examine all the relevant scriptures. This perspective challenges one of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in modern Christianity, yet it deserves careful consideration.
We’ve attempted to lay out these biblical truths in a comprehensive way, and we’ve compiled these teachings in our book for those who want to study them more thoroughly. There’s something valuable about being able to read and reread complex theological concepts rather than just hearing them once in a sermon.
The Challenge of Listening vs. Reading
Let’s be honest about how our minds work during preaching. When we listen to someone preach, our minds often wander. The speaker says something, our thoughts drift elsewhere, we miss the next point, and suddenly we’re wondering, “Where is he now?” This is simply how the human brain functions—often incapable of just listening without infiltrating the message with our own thoughts and ideas.
We experience this too when listening to preachers, which is why we listen to fewer and fewer these days. Even with gifted orators like TD Jakes—whose passion and booming voice draw us in—we found ourselves inserting our own thoughts rather than hearing everything being said. When we read a book, however, we can stop, go back, and ensure we’ve grasped everything that was said. There’s often much that we miss in preaching that becomes clear when we can read and reflect.
We’re deeply grateful to Kimberly Bowden for contacting us and offering to help write this book. She did an amazing job, and we want to be transparent that she has been compensated for her significant work on behalf of this ministry and this truth.
The Rapture: An Irrelevant Doctrine?
We want to be clear: we never intended to cast away people who disagree with our teachings about what we now consider an irrelevant doctrine. Even if you believe in the Rapture, it’s not something you should be passively waiting for. You have things to do—go do those things!
So many people are just packed up and ready to go, as if the Rapture could happen at any moment. We would say instead: get your affairs in order. You have things that you will leave behind to others—get those things in order. Because according to the word of God, we’re all going to die.
But that’s actually a good thing! It’s God’s plan. We’re moving from “Thou shalt surely die” to “No More Death.” That’s the journey we see clearly taught in Scripture. What we’re teaching is what we know the Bible teaches.
Examining All the Rapture Theories
We’ve thoroughly investigated all the Rapture theories—pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation, pre-wrath. None of them make sense when examined closely.
Many people have latched onto a particular view without even understanding why they believe it. They think they understand Daniel’s 70th week, the 70 weeks determined, and the Messiah being cut off. They think they know what all that means, but unless they’re Hebrew or Israelites with deep cultural and linguistic understanding, they probably don’t. They learned these interpretations from people who have agendas, who have things to prove. And we can make the Bible say anything we want if we take verses out of context.
The Reality We All Face
One day, your husband or wife might call us and say, “Would you come preach my husband’s funeral? He was a Rapture proponent, but unfortunately it didn’t happen yet.” Our response would have to be: “Well, it’s not going to happen because there is no Rapture as commonly taught. You’re going to die, we’re going to die, we’re all going to die.”
But imagine when this happens—when death is finally swallowed up in victory! That part of the whole journey for all humans will end, and we’ll enter into the Eternal State. How it all happens, every little detail—we don’t know. We don’t see it all yet. But we know these things are true, and that’s what we’re going with.
The Greater Work of Christ
What Jesus Christ accomplished through His death is greater than what Adam accomplished and greater than what many in Christendom have been led to believe. We’ll be exploring this more as we move forward in our study.
This is our last message on this subject. We’re now done. We know that in the group we recently left, everyone freaked out. It was like dealing with a bunch of babies going on and on. Their whole life seems focused on trying to destroy this ministry because we don’t see the Rapture the way they do. Well, that’s up to them.
But Jesus Christ died, and if we simply acknowledge that truth, our lives will change too.
A Prayer of Acceptance and Trust
Let’s pray:
“Our gracious God and Father, we’re thankful for Your Word. We’re thankful to know the truth that has never been rescinded in Scripture about death. Death is a certainty, and it will happen. We’re not saying we look forward to it, but we know that when it happens, it is Your plan. And we will rejoice in it—all of us will rejoice in the outworking of Your plan and Your purpose for mankind. We pray these things today in that name that is above every name, the name of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”
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