Three passages of the Bible have been misinterpreted. Each of the three misinterpretations serves as a basis for the unscriptural "pre-tribulation rapture" of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. If we look closely at each of the three passages, examining their immediate contexts and also thinking about related statements in the New Testament, we can see that the prevailing interpretations are without scriptural support.

Luke 21:36

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36—NIV)

The above verse is employed as a basis for the concept that at any moment the believers in Jesus Christ will be caught up from the earth to Heaven in order to escape Antichrist and the great tribulation. This is a common teaching in Christian churches.

When we superimpose on the verse a belief in the "rapture" it seems to be saying we shall be caught up to Heaven to escape suffering. But there is nothing in the verse itself or in the context that suggests a flight to Heaven. It just as easily could be referring to the Lord leading us to another place on the earth, as in the case of Lot. Or it could refer to our escaping harm, as in the case of Daniel in the lions' den or the three Hebrew young men in Nebuchadnezzar's oven.

In actuality, what it means, as we shall see in the context, is that we must pray in order to overcome the pressures of life on the earth so we may be able to stand before Christ in victory. The emphasis is on standing before Christ, not on escaping.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13—NIV)

Today we are saying that when the day of evil comes God will remove us from the earth. The Bible states that we are to put on the full armor of God so when the day of evil comes we may be able to stand in victory before Christ.

Notice the idea of standing in victory, in the following:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37—NIV)

Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, the sword—we are more than conquerors through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us think logically for a moment, before we turn to the context of Luke 21:36. From the beginning of the Christian Era the believers often have been subjected to much suffering. Even today as I am writing there are countries where Christians are being tortured, raped, and sold into slavery. Christians have suffered as much as it is possible to suffer.

Now, on what logical basis do we claim a special group of believers in the twenty-first century will be removed from suffering? This makes no sense.

To be continued.