A Bible Study on the Rapture Doctrine in John Chapter 20

Howdy Everyone! Well, at this point, I have shown you Matthew 24:31 and Matthew 19:30. And, All of these verses of Scripture illustrate 1 Week of separation between the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of the Great Day of Atonement which are 2 Feasts of the Lord found in Leviticus Chapter 23. .

So, Let us take a look at yet another example of 1 Week separation by Jesus Christ himself. What Christ does here is so powerful, that if there is still any doubt about the validity of the Pre Tribulation Rapture Doctrine, Jesus Christ will smash that doubt.

Let us take a look now at John Chapter 20. I will not examine the entire chapter, but, rather selected verses to show you the very powerful imagery of this Chapter in what Jesus Christ does.

The first point to make is that Jesus Christ resurrects from the grave. The Second point is that He appears to Mary Magdalene. Then, Jesus Christ departs to Heaven.

Now, Just look at this imagery here for a moment. Resurrection, Appearance, Departure. Resurrection, Appearance, Departure. What an awesome and powerful picture that Jesus Christ paints for us in John Chapter 20. And, We are not finished.

Looking at John Chapter 20, Christ's Resurrection was early in the morning on Resurrection Day. See John 20:1. His appearance to Mary Magdalene was a little later but still morning time. See John 20:14-18.

Please take careful notice here. Christ's appearance to His Disciples in John 20:19 was at evening on the very same Resurrection Day.

So, We have a gap of time here on Resurrection Day. What happened? Christ resurrects from the grave, appears to Mary Magdalene and says that He is going to His Father and our Father, His God and our God. See John 20:17.

Remember the Imagery here. Resurrection, Appearance, Departure. After Christ appears to Mary Magdalene, He departs this earth to appear in Heaven before His Father.

After Christ's appearance in Heaven, He returns on the same day to appear to His Disciples as shown in John 20:19 in the evening time and Thomas was not there at this time.

So, We need to look at why Jesus Christ departed this earth after appearing to Mary Magdalene. Christ departed this earth, being the first to conquer death, hell, and the grave, to take those Jewish Saints resurrected in Matthew 27:52-53 to Heaven. Remember, Christ was resurrected first followed by those in Matthew 27:52-53.

So, Christ gets to Heaven with those resurrected Saints in tow, and then in the evening returns to this earth and appears to His Disciples. See John 20:19. After this appearance, Christ departs this earth again.

So, Where did Christ go? He went back to Heaven to spend 1 Week of time with those Jewish Saints resurrected in Matthew 27:52-53. See Ephesians 4:8.

Now, The Bible says The Disciples are together again with Thomas this time and in John 20:26 the following...and after 8 days again His Disciples were within, and Thomas with them: Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, peace be unto you.

Do you see the picture here? Let us take a look at a graph of John Chapter 20...

Christ's
Resurrection,----I----One Week separation----I----Christ Returns
Appearance,-----------------------------------------------appears to Thomas
Departure

Fascinating isn't. After Christ returns, Thomas sees and believes. Doesn't This graph look like the graph of Matthew 24:31 and Matthew 19:30? Answer: Yes!

With this information in view, The Bible teaches in Deuteronomy 19:15 in part that by the mouth of 2 Witnesses or by the mouth of 3 Witnesses shall the matter be established.

Who are our witnesses here? Moses, Jesus Christ, and the Apostle John. 3 Witnesses establish the matter that there will be a Pre Tribulation Rapture. And, One of these Witnesses is the Son of God. See Matthew 5:17-18.

Rev. Dr. Michael Dickson, Th.D.

The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.