CONCERNING THE TRIBULATION, THE GATHERING, THE RAPTURE

Jesus told his disciples, in speaking of the signs of the last days, “Whoso treasureth up my words, shall not be deceived.” Matt. 24:39 I.V. There is a wealth of material in “His word” that should keep us from being deceived that we, as believers in Jesus Christ, should not need to remain on the earth during tribulation. This is a dangerous teaching and counter to what the Restored gospel tells us. Let us examine some of the scriptures that may help our understanding.

TRIBULATION

Acts 14:22: [Paul and Barnabas] Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Romans 5:3ff: And not only this, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 8:35; 12:12

2 Cor. 7:4: …I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

The above scriptures show that the early saints were not spared tribulation, as the following indicate that saints of the latter days and end times must likewise endure.

Rev. 7:14: …And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

D&C Sec.28:2c: …ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect, for

mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;

d. wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be

gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts, and be prepared in all things, against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked;

e. for the hour is nigh, and the day soon at hand, when the earth is ripe; and all

the proud, and they that do wickedly, shall be as stubble, and I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that wickedness shall not be upon the earth. . .

g. for I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory, with all the

hosts thereof, and dwell in righteousness with man on earth a thousand years….

Sec. 58:2b: For after much tribulation come the blessings. . .

Gen 7:67:And the Lord said unto Enoch, As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfill the oath, which I made unto you concerning the children of Noah.

68: And the day shall come that the earth shall rest. But before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth.

69: And great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve; and righteousness will I send down out of heaven, and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten. . .

70: And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare; an holy city, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion; a New Jerusalem.

How could righteousness and truth sweep the earth, if all God’s people were caught up to heaven before the tribulation?

THE GATHERING, THE HARVEST, THE NEW JERUSALEM, ZION

Matt. 24:22: And again after the tribulation of those days which shall come upon Jerusalem [which came after the crucifixion]…

23: For in those days, there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.

The origin of the theory of the rapture began “in 1830 in Port Glasgow, Scotland, when a fifteen year-old girl, named Margaret Macdonald, had what she believed was a revelation. She declared that a ‘select group of Christians would be caught up to meet Christ in the air before the days of Antichrist.’ She shared this ‘prophetic’ utterance with many other people, and quickly the new and false doctrine spread.” (Dave MacPherson, The Incredible Cover-up, Omega Publications, 1980, p. 93)

Matt. 24:28: And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth.

29: And they shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars. Behold, I speak unto you for mine elect’s sake. [They have been gathered, but are still hearing of wars, etc.]

30: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famine and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places…

32: And again, this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked. [Who will preach the gospel of the kingdom if all the righteous are caught up to heaven?]

As I understand it, the above shows the elect will be gathered “wheresoever the carcass is” or in one of the two appointed gathering places, before and during the earthquakes, pestilence, etc. “…for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem;” Isaiah 2:3

From the Book of Mormon:

1 Nephi 3:229: And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together in multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.

230: And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth;

231: And they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

232: And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon the great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth. . .

237: Then at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants which he hath made to his people, who are of the house of Israel.

After Nephi was told this, the angel showed him Apostle John, who, he said, would write the remainder of these things. Nephi saw to the end, but was not permitted to write it.

3 Nephi 7:27: And I [Jesus speaking to the 12 disciples] command you that ye shall write these sayings, after I am gone…

28: That these saying which ye shall write shall be kept, and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fullness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth, because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer.

29:And then will I gather them in from the four quarters of the earth; and then will I fulfill the covenant which the Father hath made unto all the people of the house of Israel.

The gathering has been in process since the restoration of the gospel. The following was given in1831:

D&C 108:3d: Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.

4a: Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour. Let them therefore, who are among the Gentiles, flee unto Zion.

4b: And let them who be of Judah, flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountains of the Lord’s house. Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon.

From Zion, the final preaching of the gospel will be sent out.

Matt 24:40 tells that Christ will send angels before Him, to gather the “remainder of his elect from the four winds,” perhaps those missionaries who are still in the field when the Lord comes.

Luke 17: 34: I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

35: Two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36: And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord, shall they be taken?

37: And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is gathered; or in other words, whithersoever the saints are gathered, thither will the eagles be gathered together; or, thither will the remainder be gathered together.

38: This he spake, signifying the gathering of his saints; and of angels descending

and gathering the remainder unto them; the one from the bed, the other from the grinding, and the other from the field, whithersoever he listeth.

This gathering, seemingly, will take place as the Lord is coming to earth, and the righteous dead will also come out of their graves and be caught up to meet Him. Then will come the destruction of the wicked.

1 Thessalonians 4:15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that they who are alive at the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who remain unto the coming of the Lord, who are asleep.

16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;

17: Then they who are alive, shall be caught up together into the clouds, with them who remain, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord.

Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Matt 13:22-29

Matt 13:27-29: And the servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them [the tares] up?

28: But he said, nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

29: Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the wheat into my barn; and the tares are bound in bundles to be burned.

D & C, Sec. 84 [He is still telling the angels to wait until the harvest is fully ripe to gather the tares.]

Sec. 98:9a: Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me concerning all the churches, inasmuch as they are willing to be guided in a right and proper way for their salvation, that the work of the gathering together of my Saints may continue, that I may build them up unto my name upon holy places; for the time of harvest is come, and my word must needs be fulfilled. [This was given in 1833]

b. Therefore, I must gather together my people according to the parable of the

wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father, to reward every man according as his work shall be;

c. While the tares shall be bound in bundles, and their bands made strong, that

they may be burned with unquenchable fire.

d. Therefore, a commandment I give unto all the churches, that they shall

continue to gather together unto the places which I have appointed.

Ether 6:4: Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New

Jerusalem upon this land…

6: And that a New Jerusalem should be built upon this land, unto the remnant of

the seed of Joseph…

D&C Sec 45:12c: and with one heart and with one mind, gather up your riches that ye may purchase an inheritance which shall hereafter be appointed unto you, and it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the most high God;

e. and the glory of the Lord shall be there and the terror of the Lord also shall be

there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it; and it shall be called Zion.

13a: And it shall come to pass, among the wicked, that every man that will not

take his sword against his neighbor, must needs flee unto Zion for safety.

b. And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven. . .

Sec. 49:5a: But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness; and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose.

b. Zion shall flourish upon the hills, and rejoice upon the mountains, and

shall be assembled together unto the place which I have appointed.

Section 63:9: I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from

the inhabitants of the earth

b. I have sworn in my wrath and decreed wars upon the face of the earth, and the

wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every man, and the saints also shall hardly escape;

c. Nevertheless, I the Lord, am with them and will come down in heaven from

the presence of my Father, and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire.

d. And, behold, this is not yet, but by and by; wherefore seeing that I, the Lord,

have decreed all these things upon the face of the earth, I will that my saints should be assembled upon the land of Zion;

e. and that every man should take righteousness in his hands, and faithfulness

upon his loins, and lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth…