The purpose of this section is to show that there is no spiritual difference between physical Jews and physical Gentiles when we become believers in Jesus. As we are all part of the same church, the same body of Christ, how then can some be raptured before the others? This would require a separation equivalent to an amputation of the body of Christ to get some to heaven, while others are left behind to go through the tribulation, and obviously the scripture does not teach this. If every Christian were raptured before the tribulation, there would be none to preach the gospel during it; no apostles, or prophets, or evangelists, or pastors, or teachers; so even if people could be saved, they could not be perfected (Eph 4:11-12). The wicked will have been deluded so that they cannot be saved (1 Thes 2:11-12), and "the fullness of the Gentiles" will have come in before God fully opens the spiritual eyes of the Jews (Rom 11:25). Everywhere that we have examined, the scriptures teach that all the righteous go together (See #1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4), and so refutes any idea of a pre-tribulation rapture or mid-tribulation rapture for separate a Gentile church.
JOHN 4:21-22 (Jesus)
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Note: Jesus himself testified, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15:24), and when he chose his disciples, who were the New Testament church at that time, they were all Jews. The early New Testament church was completely Jewish until God ordained Gentiles to become part of it (Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-18; 15:7-11). There is therefore no such thing as "a Gentile church" which will be raptured before the tribulation, or during the tribulation.
ROMANS 11:16-25 (Paul)
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the
root and the fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafft in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these,
which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own
conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Note: Paul here is talking about Israel and the Gentiles (Rom 11:25). Figuratively
speaking, we could say that Christ is the olive tree, and the Jews are the natural branches, some of which were broken of through unbelief (Rom 11:20),
showing that the olive tree is symbolically Jewish. The Gentiles are the wild olive branches which are grafted in, because Paul is talking to "you
Gentiles" (Rom 11:13) when he says, "thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them," (Rom 11:17). The attachment to the olive tree is for
"natural" and "wild" branches by faith (Rom 11:20), showing that there is no such thing as "a Jewish church" and a "Gentile church", where
one could be raptured, and the other go through the tribulation.
Jesus also likened himself to being a vine (John 15:1; 15:5), in which all believers are branches, and either had to abide in the vine, or be cast into
the fire and burned (John 15:6). The only way that we can bear fruit is to abide in the vine (John 15:4). The vine is Jesus, and he is both holy and
Jewish: there is no such thing as a Gentile olive tree or a Gentile vine. There can therefore be no such thing as a Gentile church which can be raptured
before the tribulation, while the Jews are left to go through it. Paul said, "if the root be holy, so are the branches." (Rom 11:16); he could also have said, "If the
root be Jewish, so are the branches." To become part of the church, Gentiles need to become spiritual Jews (#7.3).
ROMANS 2:26-29 (Paul)
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his
uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge
thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the
letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
ROMANS 9:4-8 (Paul)
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth
the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and
the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom concerning the flesh Christ came,
who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are
not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all
children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not
the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
GALATIANS 3:26-29 (Paul)
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for
ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are
ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Note: Paul made it clear that a real spiritual Jew was anyone who is circumcised in the heart (Rom 2:8), whether they are Jews or Gentiles (Rom 2:26-27). They are those who "keep the righteousness of the law," (Rom 2:26), and "fulfil the law," (Rom 2:27; 8:4), which is done by love (Rom 13:8; Gal 5:14). This includes all those who are saved through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Gal 3:26-29), even "every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him," whom Jesus will rasie up together on the last day of this pre-millennial age (John 6:40; #2.1). These scriptures therefore refute that there is any separate "Jewish church" or "Gentile church", one of which could be raptured while the other goes through the tribulation.
JOHN 8:33-44
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then they said to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning,
and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
ROMANS 9:6-8 (Paul)
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Note: The Jews claimed to be "Abraham's seed," (John 8:33), because they were
perhaps hoping to inherit the promises which were made to Abraham and his seed:
(Gal 3:16) "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."
The promises came down through Isaac and Jacob to Christ, so that those who believe in Jesus inherit the promises made to Abraham:
(Gal 3:29) "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Just as then, the promises made to Abraham did not pass to all his physical children, but only came through Isaac who was promised (Rom 9:7), so now all
Jews do not inherit Abraham's promises, except through Christ, who was the promised seed. Gentiles who belong to Christ also inherit the promises through
him (Gal 3:29), by becoming spiritual Jews (#7.3). Therefore there will not be any separate rapture for a Gentile church, because "There is neither
Jew nor Greek ... ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28; See #7.5). With no separate Gentile church there can be no
pre-tribulation rapture, or mid-tribulation rapture for it.
ROMANS 10:11-13 (Paul)
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
GALATIANS 3:26-29 (Paul)
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
EPHESIANS 2:11-22 (Paul)
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that
which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made with hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise,
having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 That he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
COLOSSIANS 3:9-11 (Paul)
9 Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Note:
No one need look any further than these scriptures to see that Jews and Gentiles are all part of one church:
(Rom 10:12) "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:"
(Gal 3:28) "There is neither Jew nor Greek ... ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
(Eph 2:16) "That he might reconcile both unto God in one body"
(Eph 2:22) "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
(Col 3:11) "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, ... but Christ is all, and in all."
All this refutes the idea that there is a separate Gentile church, and so there can be no pre-tribulation rapture, or mid-tribulation rapture for it.
JEREMIAH 31:31-34
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt;
which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the
LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least
of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
HEBREWS 8:6-13
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he
is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house
of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they
continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I
will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Note:
In the Old Testament, a mixed multitude came out of Egypt with the Israelites (Exo 12:38; Num 11:4), and when God made the covenant with Israel, these "strangers"
had to keep the law the same as the Israelites (Exo 12:19; 12:48-49; 20:10; Lev 16:29; 17:12; 18:26; etc.). In the New Testament God has made no separate
covenant with the Gentiles, but only with "the house of Israel," and with "the house of Judah." (Jer 31:31; 31:33; Heb 8:8; 8:10). So how then do
Gentiles become part of this new covenant?
(1) By being grafted into the Jewish olive tree (#7.2).
(2) By being circumcised in the heart, and becoming spiritual Jews (#7.3).
(3) By becoming children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:26-29).
(4) By hearing God's word (Exo 24:7-8; Isa 55:3), which is how we get faith (Rom 10:17).
(5) By having God's laws in our hearts (Jer 31:33; Heb 8:10; 10:16).
(6) By speaking God's word (Isa 59:21; Mal 2:5-6), which comes from our hearts (Matthew 12:34-5; 15:18-19).
(7) By knowing God (Jer 31:34; Heb 8:11), which means obeying his commandments (1 John 2:3-4).
(8) By crucifying our "old man" (Rom 6:7; Heb 9:16-17).
(9) By sacrifice (Psa 50:5; 51:17).
All this confirms that there is no such thing as a separate Gentile church, and so there can be no pre-tribulation rapture, or mid-tribulation rapture for it.
REVELATION 21:10-13 (John)
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names
written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Note: The question is obvious. If we are part of a separate Gentile church, which is raptured before the tribulation, and do not become spiritual Jews, that is "of Christ", which gate do we enter the new Jerusalem at? There is no gate for Gentiles! All Christians should be able to go in at the gate of Judah, because we are spiritually the seed of Jesus, and confirms that there is no such thing as a separate Gentile church and so there can be no pre-tribulation rapture, or mid-tribulation rapture for it.
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This is the end of this Bible Study about "No Pre-tribulation Rapture or Mid-tribulation Rapture for a Separate Gentile Church"