Page 67 - Prophetic Word Newsletters Archive 2006 by Pastor Randy Shupe

This present newsletter will not be an exhaustive look at the subject of the rapture, but rather it shall focus
mainly on the erroneous aspect that “no man knows the day nor the hour.” If you want a complete in-
depth study of this subject I have two suggestions for you:

1. There is presently a 16 page newsletter about the rapture
posted under the classic section of “Newsletters” on my
website ( PastorRandyShupe.com ).

2. Shortly, a complete, in-depth DVD series will be available on
this subject as soon as I finish teaching it in our local fellowship.
We will let you know when it is available for ordering.

For centuries, the teaching of the church has been taught contrary to Paul’s teachings on this subject. I do
not know how far back the concept of “no man knows the day nor the hour” has been applied to the
rapture, but it has generally been believed that Jesus could come for His church at anytime and at any
moment. However, this is not what Jesus taught. Remember that in Paul’s two dissertations on the
rapture (1 Thess. 4:17 and 1 Cor. 15:51-52), he states that the rapture will take place immediately on the
heels of the resurrection of the dead. We cannot divorce the rapture from the resurrection of the dead.
This is a specific event that Jesus addressed four times in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. Read it
and you will see that the resurrection of the dead takes place specifically at “the last day” rather than “any
day, anytime, or any hour.” The rapture can occur only AFTER the resurrection of the dead. When will
that “day” take place? Jesus says four times in one chapter that it will take place “at the last day” ( Jn.
6:39, Jn. 6:40, Jn. 6:44, Jn. 6:54). We will speak more in our next newsletter of that “Last Day” in which
the resurrection of the dead (and the rapture) will take place.

It is true that the scriptures state that Jesus will come “suddenly or quickly.” However, this is not implying
that it can happen at anytime or at any moment in time. Paul states in his dissertation in 1 Corinthians 15
that the event of the rapture will happen “in a twinkling of an eye” which refers to how fast the event will
occur rather than at what moment it might take place. Jesus stated also to the faithful church in
Philadelphia, “Behold I come quickly!” (Rev. 3:11). He did not say he was coming “soon” but “quickly.” This
passage also speaks of how suddenly or quickly the event will take place rather than conveying that it
could, “spring out of nowhere” at “any time or at any moment in time” as generally believed.

It is true that the scriptures state Jesus will come as a thief on SOME believers who are “not looking for
Him” and at a time when “they are not aware” as stated in Luke 12:40-46. There is a clear warning given
to the FOOLISH virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 to “Watch, therefore for you (foolish virgins) know neither the
day or the hour in which the Son of Man is coming (Mat. 25:13). However, this too, like Luke 12:40-46, is a
warning to those who are not watching nor living in such a sanctified manner that they would be
considered among “they who were ready” (Matt. 25:10). Jesus is bringing a reproof to the foolish virgins
(believers) that it was they that did not know the day or the hour in which Christ was coming. The cure
was to “watch.” He is not saying “no man can know”, but rather that the foolish virgins did not know, and
therefore were not aware or ready at His coming. When warning about the tribulation that was coming
upon the whole world, Jesus exhorts His followers:

“BUT TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES, LEST YOUR HEARTS BE WEIGHED DOWN WITH CAROUSING,

DRUNKENNESS, AND CARES OF THIS LIFE, AND THAT DAY COME ON YOU UNEXPECTEDLY.

FOR IT WILL COME AS A SNARE ON ALL THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH.

WATCH THEREFORE, AND PRAY ALWAYS THAT YOU MAY BE COUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL

THESE THINGS THAT WILL COME TO PASS, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN.” Luke 21:34-36

The scriptures always stress that a state of awareness and readiness should mark the believer as the
possible day of the rapture approaches. It always contrasts those who are ready with those who are not.
This day will come unexpectedly upon those who are not aware of the day and the hour. Paul taught
“…this day should (not) overtake you as a thief…” (1Thess.5:4). You will find no scriptural support for the
“laissez-faire” teaching that “no man (CAN) know the day nor the hour”, or that Jesus is coming “anytime,
or at any moment in time.” The time of the rapture, the very day and hour (not the year) can be, and
should be known! Only the careless and carefree do not live in awareness, watchfulness and readiness!