Letter to John Hagee Ministries RE: Rapture
John Hagee Ministries
P.O. Box 1400
San Antonio, TX 78295-1400
Dear Pastor Hagee,
I am on the last chapter of your book "Beginning of the End," which I recently picked up at a local Thrift Store. While I agree that the End is near, you (as well as countless other preachers) speak of the Rapture as occurring before the coming period of Tribulation. I have read the Old Testament passages that you, and others, point to as proof of this assertion, but I can’t reconcile these with the New Testament passages in Matthew where Jesus specifically foretells the order in which the events will occur.
The passages I am referring to are Matthew 13:24-30 –
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
and Matthew 13:36-43 –
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
According to this passage, in the words of Jesus Himself, it would appear as if both the good and the wicked are to suffer the same tribulations on Earth. Only when these trials are completed, are the wicked and the Chosen to be separated. Surely, there can be no period of Tribulation if the evil followers have already been cast into the pits of Hell.
One other passage comes to mind to illustrate my point – Mark 13:4-27 –
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
One can only assume that, in detailing End Times to His Apostles, Jesus would assure them that His Church would not endure the trials that awaited the rest of mankind. However, that is not how He describes the End. He does warn them that they (the Church) shall be tortured for their rejection of Satan (v. 9, 11, 13 and 18).
From this passage, I can only deduce that, during the Last Days, the Holy Spirit will still be present among His elect (v. 11).
From verse 20 we read, “And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” In verse 27, “…after that tribulation…” (v. 24), “... shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect…” Would not the elect have already been taken during the Rapture?
This is not meant as an argument or as any disrespect. I am simply trying to understand why so many believe that the Rapture, if it is to occur, will precede the Tribulation.
I also apologize for the full quotations that I have presented. I have learned over the years that Scripture verses taken out of context can be seen in any number of ways. When I am discussing the Bible, I prefer to make known all elements surrounding the quote I am focusing on. Then there is no way possible for the quote to be taken out of context.
Yours in Christ,
Derek Tombrello
