The Rapture: Solving the Missing Persons Dilemma

The Rapture: Solving the “Missing Persons” Dilemma

By David W. Lowe

There is an explanation for how the world will react to millions of missing persons at the time of the rapture that has thus far escaped consideration by most scholars of prophecy, despite the fact that it possesses the strongest Biblical support: a global catastrophe that will serve to mask the disappearance of those who are part of the rapture of the church.

What student of Bible prophecy hasn’t pondered the question of how the world will react to the news of the rapture? Will those left behind notice that millions of people have just gone missing? How will it be explained? Will the earth experience a topographical change just after the resurrection and rapture? Will the news networks feature 24-hour full coverage with reports of millions of people suddenly missing all over the globe? Questions like these have spawned dozens of books and movies, hoping to provide answers.

I recall past broadcasts of the Search the Scriptures Daily radio show on which Bible prophecy scholars Dave Hunt and T.A. McMahon of The Berean Call attempted to address these questions. Various possible answers discussed during these broadcasts to the inevitable questions about the vanishing of millions of people as a result of the rapture included:

• Abduction by aliens, or “space brothers,” of all those who needed to undergo “evolutionary reprogramming.”
• The New Age has come, and those who did not practice yoga to proceed to Homo Noeticus, the next stage of human evolution, were taken away to learn new age principles.
• The world will be so advanced that human teleportation, or a “Beam me up, Scotty” scenario, will be a possible explanation for the disappearance.
To their credit, neither Mr. Hunt nor Mr. McMahon believed these bizarre explanations will be necessary. During a broadcast entitled, “How In the World Will the World Unite?,” Dave Hunt explained what he believes will be the response to missing persons after the rapture:

If a hundred million people vanish from this planet, the terror that would result is unimaginable. We can’t even begin to think about it. ‘Where did they go? Who took them? Why didn’t they take me?’ I mean, that’s a logical question: ‘Why was I left behind?’ And no one will believe it was the rapture because the Bible says God will give them a strong delusion to believe the lie.

While a “strong delusion” is an interesting possibility for how the world will be shielded from the truth that the rapture has taken place, it is taken from II Thessalonians chapter 2 in the context of the Satanic miracle-working power of a person called the “man of lawlessness.” The coming of this lawless one will feature deceptive powers, signs, and lying wonders, according to Paul, and I believe it is this encompassing scenario to which Paul was referring when he wrote of “the lie” which those who were perishing would believe, not the rapture.

There is another explanation for how the world will react to millions of missing persons at the time of the rapture that has thus far escaped consideration by most scholars of prophecy, despite the fact that it possesses the strongest Biblical support: a global catastrophe that will serve to mask the disappearance of those who are part of the rapture of the church.

The Earthquake Resurrection and the Last Trumpet of God: Global Shaking

It is well established that the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and the transformation of their bodies into incorruptible ones, will precede the rapture of the church. There is a pattern found in scripture of the power of a resurrection to an immortal body causing a shaking of the surrounding earth. The pattern is evident with the two recorded historic instances of a resurrection into immortal bodies, Jesus Christ and the “many saints who had died” in Matthew chapter 27, as well as with the future resurrection of the two witnesses recorded in Revelation chapter 11. This pattern of a shaking of the surrounding earth at the resurrection of the dead to immortality, when applied to the future resurrection of the dead in Christ, portends a scenario in which a worldwide surge of supernatural power could cause massive seismic, tsunamic, and volcanic activity.

In addition, this future resurrection of the dead in Christ will be preceded, according to Paul in I Corinthians chapter 15 and I Thessalonians chapter 4, by the “last trumpet,” also known as the “trumpet of God.” A study of the events of Mount Sinai in Exodus chapter 19, and Paul’s recounting of the events in Hebrews chapter 12, reveals that the trumpet of God is his voice. Paul stated in Hebrews 12:26 that it was God’s voice that shook the earth at that time, and that his voice will “once more” shake not only the earth but also the heavens. This final shaking by God’s trumpet voice is equivalent to the “last trumpet,” the last time the trumpet voice of the Lord will shake the earth.

Combining the pattern of the power of the resurrection to immortality shaking the earth, and the shaking of the earth when the last trumpet voice of God shakes the earth and the heavens, it can be concluded that the future resurrection of the dead in Christ, followed soon after by the rapture of these resurrected and transformed believers along with those believers who had not yet died, will coincide with a global catastrophic shaking event. An event that will surprise the world and bring sudden destruction for those left behind.

Escaping the Trap?

Many may be resistant to the idea that the resurrection and catching-up event will be ushered in by a worldwide catastrophe that would likely cause the deaths of many people. Yet, that is exactly what both Jesus and Paul stated would be the case. First, according to Paul, the day of the Lord will be introduced with “sudden destruction:”

I The 5:2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. 5:3 Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden [aiphnídios] destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape [ekphúgōsin].

A thief in the night comes when the people are sleeping, unaware of the sudden danger to come upon them. From a spiritual perspective, the coming of the Lord will catch unbelievers in an unprepared state, unable to escape what Paul described as “sudden destruction.” The Greek words used by Paul in explaining the quick destructive power that introduces the day of the Lord are the same used by Jesus when he was explaining the day of the Lord to his disciples:

Luk 21:34 “But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap [aiphnídios]. 21:35 For it will overtake [pagís] all who live on the face of the whole earth. 21:36 But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape [ekphígein] all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Notice that the same Greek word is used to describe the escape, ekpheúgō, which was used by Paul in describing the fate of those who will be caught by surprise by the sudden destruction. In addition, both of the passages use aiphnídios to describe the swift and severe manner in which the destruction will come. The Greek pagís is a noun which means a trap set for animals resulting in their destruction and capture. This noun was used to describe the fate of all those who are not ready at his coming.

Sudden Destruction: The Days of Noah and Lot

Most popular books and movies about the future catching-up event feature a globe in basically the same physical condition after the event as before it. But one need only examine Luke chapter 17, where Jesus himself warned that the time of his revealing would feature destructive events patterned after those in the days of Noah and Lot, to see that Jesus also warned of a destructive event at the time of his coming. He began a discourse on prophetic events to his disciples with a reference to his appearance in the sky, comparing it to a flash of lightning from one side of the sky to the other.

In contrast to those who will be looking for the Lord to first appear on the earth, Jesus stated there will be an appearance in which he comes just as quickly as the lightning flashes through the sky. This description is in agreement with Paul’s description of the resurrection and transformation event taking place in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, in which Jesus will return in the sky to catch up all believers who are resurrected and transformed. Jesus continued the discussion by providing two dramatic, historic examples of what to expect on the earth at the time of this lightning-flash appearance:

Luk 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 17:27 People were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage—right up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

First, he compared the time of his coming to the days of Noah. Up until the day Noah entered the ark, the unbelieving world had no reason for panic. However, on the day the flood began, they quickly realized their predicament. The violent changes that took place on the earth destroyed all of them. The day overtook them as a thief, and the planet underwent legendary changes. Jesus stated it would be the same when he returns in the sky, but in what way? It will be a surprise just like the flood, but it will also cause destruction on the earth.

More proof of a destructive event coinciding with the Lord’s return at the rapture is found in the next verse when Jesus reminded the disciples of the conditions during the days of Lot:

Luk 17:28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; 17:29 but on the day Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 17:30 It will be the same on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

The sudden destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, as chronicled in Genesis chapter 19, resulted from the cities being pelted with supernatural fire and sulfur from the sky. Jesus then stated it will be “the same” when he returns. Not only will earth’s inhabitants be shocked and taken by surprise, but they will experience a destructive event when Jesus Christ appears, just as those who experienced the events of the days of Noah and Lot.


Masking a Global Disappearance

The global destruction caused by the power of the resurrection of the dead in Christ to immortality, in concert with the trumpet voice of God shaking the earth, will provide a masking effect such that it is possible that millions of missing persons will not even be noticed. How so? Recall the devastating December 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia. In addition to the deaths of over 200,000 people and the injuries of many more, there were an estimated 164,000 people that could not be accounted for and were labeled “missing persons” among the disaster and chaos. After a certain amount of time, these missing persons were added to the number of the dead.

Imagine the chaos that would ensue at the resurrection of the dead in Christ if the effects of the Southeast Asian catastrophe are multiplied many times over on a worldwide basis. Many millions could be missing in the rapture, and as such, those believers who were living and remaining prior to the event, but could not be found afterward, may simply be declared by those who survive the event as part of a massive group of missing persons, and would eventually be declared dead in the catastrophe.

If this scenario proves to be correct, flash newscast reports of millions of people disappearing around the earth would be severely hampered, if not impossible, due to damage to technological infrastructure. This was clearly seen in previous disasters, such as the Southeast Asian tsunami and a recent earthquake in Taiwan disrupted Internet access of millions of people across Southeast Asia for several weeks. Multiply this many times over at the resurrection of the dead in Christ worldwide, and imagine the destruction and chaos to the world’s communication systems.

Conclusion: A Rapture Explanation that Agrees with Scripture

The speculation about how the left behind world will attempt to explain the disappearance of millions of people at the rapture of the church – alien abductions, Star Trek-like transportation, New Age reprogramming, or even a strong delusion from God – is no longer necessary. The global catastrophe model agrees with the words of the prophets, Jesus Christ, and the apostle Paul who all foretold a sudden destructive event accompanying the coming of the Lord Jesus and the day of the Lord’s wrath. In addition, it is supported by the reaction to missing persons in the aftermath of previous natural disasters, such as the powerful 2004 Southeast Asian earthquake and resulting tsunami.

The rapture will truly be a sudden catching up, a snatching out of harm’s way, just as the meaning of the Greek verb harpazo conveys. In the midst of a global disaster, those who survive will have much greater worries than the whereabouts of missing persons. Indeed, while they will have survived perhaps the greatest global disaster since the flood, they will be ushered into the day of the Lord’s wrath in the midst of a globe in chaos and ruin. Let us warn unbelievers and exhort fellow believers with the strongest of Spirit-led convictions until the glorious return of Jesus Christ.

Learn more about the global catastrophe model for the resurrection and rapture of believers at the author’s site www.earthquakeresurrection.com, or by reading Earthquake Resurrection: Supernatural Catalyst for the Coming Global Catastrophe © 2005 and Then His Voice Shook the Earth: Mount Sinai, the Trumpet of God, and the Resurrection of the Dead in Christ © 2006.

We Could Learn Alot From These Two...

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Is Christ in You?

2009 Fasting and Prayer

Feel free to share your thoughts, and anything the Lord speaks to you, during this three day fasting and prayer.

There are a total of 17 persons around the nation, one in Canada, one in Argentina, and one in South Africa, who have contacted me and agreed to participate.

Below I have listed what others have sent to me regarding what they feel led to pray about, or what they would like others to pray for. As you feel led, include these in your thoughts and prayers during the next three days:

Mike:
1. The state of the believers in the World
2. The state of our country and its position
3. My precarious financial position
4. Passing the actuary exam

Parents of Mike:
1. Mike's sister (their daughter) for deliverance

Lorraine:
1. An evangelism explosion in this country.
2. All those meant to come to Christ seeing in those believers around them the love of Christ in all there actions, motives and words.
3. That existing believers in Christ will be lead to reach out to all around them with love to bring them into God's Kingdom.

Jodi:
1. Physical and spiritual protection for those who have converted from Islam to Christianity.
2. That whatever calamities 2009 may bring, many will repent and come to the Lord.

Kim:
1. The Lord to equip those for what He has called them to do.
2. Diligence in daily Bible study and prayer.
3. Obedience to God's Word.

Vance:
1. A move of the Holy Spirit in our church (Evangel A/G) demonstrated by love, unity, and the miraculous.
2. The healing of the six people in our church with cancer.
3. That people in our church will find meaningful relationships with one another. That people in our church will care for one another.

Stephanie:
1. Salvation and Spiritual growth for immediate family members.
2. For personal deliverance from a longtime physical stronghold.
3. For our finances for 2009.

Tamara:
1. Salvation for husband, Frank; mother, Levern; father, Carson; sister Laurae; and brother Whitney.
2. That the "church" (all believers) in Grande Prairie AB would have a knowledge of the truth, to work together and love one another as the body of Christ.

Barbara:
1. That saints will walk worthy of Him
2. That we will be Overcomers
3. The situation in Israel

Vanessa:
1. To be led by the Spirit every day in all matters.
2. For the Lord's church to be empowered and productive these last days, i.e. winning the lost and edifying the saints.
3. Spiritual discernment and guidance during the testing times of 2009.

Dave:
1. That America will turn from it's evil ways
2. That the Spirit will work on the hearts of those that are leading this nation to turn to him
3. Not my will be done but that the Lord's will be done

Randy:
1. Pursuit of holiness
2. To be used in a significant way for Kingdom work/personal ministry
3. To be debt-free in 2009

Vivienne:
1. For boldness in sharing her faith with others
2. For unity in Christian marriages
3. That Christians will pray without ceasing in 2009

David:
1. To be led by the Spirit every day in all matters.
2. That through humility and repentance, many will turn from their sins to follow Jesus Christ in 2009.
3. That Spirit-filled believers will pray and intercede for each other.

Mariano:
1. A true understanding of God´s will
2. A true repentance as a result of that in all Christian souls around the world
3. The daughter of a friend of mine who has a bad tumor and will be in the hands of surgeons next week... Her name is Lucia Blanchet.

Dustin:
1. Salvation for Daniel Gilliland. I'm attempting to witness to him. He's been spiritually searching for years, but is opposed to Christianity. He's extraordinarily intelligent, probably to his own detriment.

The Bridge: A Father's Choice

A Cinematic Story of a Father's Love...
Faced With an Unfathomable
Circumstance and Choice.
bridge¹--noun: ¹A connecting or transitional route; a way towards. (Matt 7:13-14)

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Earthquake Resurrection Flash Video

Many thanks to Susan and Patrick Bradley for the creation of this excellent flash video presentation of Earthquake Resurrection and Then His Voice Shook the Earth! This was produced shortly before my trip to Dallas to the 2007 PTRC Conference.

Globalists Aim to Destroy the United States through Climate Change

A Special Report - by David W. Lowe

March, 15, 2008
[approximate time needed to read: 10 minutes]

The perceived threat of global warming, or climate change, is now being used as reason for nations to give up their national sovereignty. This includes the United States of America.

Richard N. Haase is the president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He was also named by Presidential hopeful Governor Mike Huckabee as political advisor to the campaign and would no doubt be a member of a Huckabee Administration. Former CFR presidents include Vice President Dick Cheney.

The CFR bills itself as a think tank that provides opinion and guidance to the United States government on a myriad of foreign policy topics. The truth is that the CFR has as its goal the destruction of the United States as a sovereign nation, the destruction of national boundaries, and the establishment of global governance. This was so declared by CFR member and establishment insider Carroll Quigley. In addition, Admiral Chester Ward, former CFR member, stated that "the main purpose of the Council on Foreign Relations is promoting the disarmament of U.S. sovereignty and national independence and submergence into an all powerful, one world government."

Any questions?

In a February 2006 publication on the CFR website titled "Sovereignty and Globalism," CFR President Haase candidly cited global climate change as a reason that nations should give up their national sovereignty.

Confused? Here is how Haase attempts to spin this:

"Some governments are prepared to give up elements of sovereignty to address the threat of global climate change. Under one such arrangement, the Kyoto Protocol, which runs through 2012, signatories agree to cap specific emissions. What is needed now is a successor arrangement in which a larger number of governments, including the United States, China and India, accept emission limits or adopt common standards because they recognise that they would be worse off if no country did. All of this suggests that sovereignty must be redefined if [nation] states are to cope with globalisation."

The entire publication is an attack on national sovereignty. Over and over, Haase provides reasons for nations to no longer be seen as nation states, but rather as a one-world global conglomerate subject to one-world government. Here are some additional quotes from the publication [emphasis added]:

• "Moreover, states must be prepared to cede some sovereignty to world bodies if the international system is to function."
• "Some governments are prepared to give up elements of sovereignty to address the threat of global climate change."
• "All of this suggests that sovereignty must be redefined if states are to cope with globalisation."
• "Globalisation thus implies that sovereignty is not only becoming weaker in reality, but that it needs to become weaker."
• "States would be wise to weaken sovereignty in order to protect
  themselves, because they cannot insulate themselves from what goes on
  elsewhere."
• "Necessity may also lead to reducing or even eliminating sovereignty
  when a government, whether from a lack of capacity or conscious policy,
  is unable to provide for the basic needs of its citizens."
• "Our notion of sovereignty must therefore be conditional, even contractual, rather than absolute."
• "The goal should be to redefine sovereignty for the era of globalisation..."

This should cause anyone with dedication to the U.S. Constitution to shudder and shiver to the core. The U.S. Constitution is the ultimate law of the land and is clear on the notion of national sovereignty, and this man is treating it as toilet paper in order to advance global governance ...ultimate power residing in a global body in which citizens around the world have no national identity.

And what happens if we dare not heed this advice? Why, the drug cartels and the terrorists will be able to run wild! This is a lie, but they know the uninformed will fall for it because it sounds right. The truth is these groups have thrived and flourished without the threat of global climate change and would continue to flourish in the future with or without it. In addition, elements of the governments of the world, including the United States, are themselves responsible for funding and enabling terrorists, drug cartels, and other criminal elements.

For many years, those in favor of global governance have been searching for a global threat around which they could rally in order to drive humanity toward a one-world government. In 1991, the Club of Rome, another global "think tank," published a report titled, "The First Global Revolution." In this report, the Club admitted that they were "searching for a common enemy against whom we can unite." And what enemies did they come up with? Pollution [can you say carbon emission standards?], the threat of global warming, water shortages and famine. So, they would choose one or all of these "enemies" to rally around. Since human beings are responsible for all these dangers by intervening in natural processes, they mused, they concluded that "the real enemy then is humanity itself."

Did you get that? You are the enemy.

This was in 1991. And so now we have the publication by CFR President Richard N. Haase in 2006 proclaiming global climate change is reason for nations to give up their sovereign status.

But that's not all. In 2007, there was a flurry of activity around the threat of global climate change. But this time, the talking point was that global climate change is a threat to national security. Yes, that right. For some reason, now, and never before this time, the threat of global warming and severe weather is a direct threat to the security of the United States.

Want proof?

In March 2007, Senators Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) introduced a bill titled the "Global Climate Change Security Oversight Act" which commissioned the highest intelligence branches of the government to come up with an assessment of whether global warming is a threat to our national security. It seems, though, that Durbin already had his mind made up by stating, before the investigation had even commenced, "We now need to consider it [global warming] as a security concern."

In April 2007, the U.S. Navy funded and teamed up with CNA Corporation to put out a report titled "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change." A military advisory board consisting of retired generals made recommendations to this project. They concluded “Climate change can act as a threat multiplier for instability in some of the most volatile regions of the world, and it presents significant national security challenges for the United States.”

In November 2007, two more global think tanks teamed up to produce "The Age of Consequences: The Foreign Policy and National Security Implications of Global Climate Change." The think tanks were the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Center for a New American Security, and authors of this particular publication included former Clinton Chief of Staff John Podesta, and former CIA director R. James Woolsey. This report features the globe in the eye of a hurricane that also doubles as a whirlpool. It gives off the impression that the globe, in its current state, is heading down the drain unless we listen to their recommendations. They also jerk with your emotions by showing a polar bear climbing on an iceberg, appearing to look out at the surrounding water with disdain. This is, of course, the fault of global warming...so they want you to think.

Again in November 2007, Dr. Joshua Busby published for the CFR an extraordinarily silly paper entitled, "Climate Change and National Security" in which he concluded that our national security is at risk due to the threat of severe weather that could result from global warming. On its face, this is patently ridiculous, but to read it for yourself is extremely rewarding. For example, on page 6 of this piece of propaganda, Busby wrote [emphasis mine]:

Climate change could, through extreme weather events, have a more direct impact on national security by severely damaging critical military bases, thereby
diverting or severely undermining significant national defense resources.

Got that? In other words, global warming could cause extreme weather events. And if those extreme weather events materialize, they could hit our military bases. This is about as likely as an asteroid hitting the earth, folks. And if even a military base somewhere happens to be hit, there plenty of other bases around the country...indeed, around the world...to cover for any temporary loss.

And how is that global climate change is reason to strengthen national security, while at the same time reason to weaken national sovereignty?

What is more troubling to me is that even when our military bases are in perfect functioning order, they cannot protect us. On September 11, 2001, military jets were not scrambled to protect either New York or Washington D.C., even though bases were just nearby. They were ordered to stand down by Dick Cheney, according to eyewitness testimony of Norman Mineta. Thus, this "national security threat" posed by global warming and severe weather is simply ridiculous. There will always be unpredictable severe weather events for all nations, just as there will be unpredictable terrorist attacks.

I've read these publications, and they are pure crap. Each and every one of them. The conclusions are weak and based on a whole bunch of "what-if" scenarios about global warming that may never take place.

One the key phrases that they use to prove that we must do something about global warming is that global warming is a "threat multiplier for instability" in certain parts of the world. But please recall one of most devastating global catastrophes in the history of the world: the December 2004 Sumatra tsunami. Did this cause thousands of deaths? Yes, it was a horrific tragedy and human disaster. But, was it a threat multiplier for instability?

NO! It was the exact opposite. Not only did nations of the world come to their aid to help, but local parties that were in disagreements at the time of the disaster actually came together in unity after the disaster, agreeing to temporarily put aside their differences in a time of tragedy. Instead of being a threat multiplier for instability, the tsunami disaster was a threat multiplier for stability.

Consider this quote by former President Bill Clinton, who teamed with former President George H.W. Bush after the tsunami? "I am grateful for the opportunity that this terrible tragedy gives for religious reconciliation in the world. . .[in which people around the world are] “reaching out for the Muslims of Indonesia, for the Hindus and the Buddhists, and the Muslims and the Christians in Sri Lanka to reconcile." Indeed, there are many examples of reconciliation between enemies in the times of major disasters caused by hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Thus, this argument is in complete disagreement with historical fact.

The conclusion to this is that the globalists are using global warming, also known as global climate change, to:

1. Argue for the ceding of national sovereignty by nation states, including the United States.
2. Argue that our national security is at risk.
   
3. Argue for a global tax on carbon emissions.
4. Rally around a common global threat to all peoples in order to get them to accept global governance.

That's really what this is all about. I have done a lot of work in putting together all the documents in one place so you can do your own homework. Global warming is not a threat to our national security. It is not a threat multiplier for instability. It is NO THREAT AT ALL, in fact, if you believe the mountain of evidence put forth by scientists who explain the sun is currently in a cycle of slightly higher temperatures, and this cycle will end and bring on slightly cooler temperatures.

We must not let these globalists continue to lie to the American public about global warming. We must educate our friends neighbors about the dangers of the globalist agenda.

If you like this report, please consider reading my report on the biblical view on global warming.