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The Rapture
This book presents the doctrine of the pretribulational Rapture of the church. Many prophecies are explored with Biblical passages and terms explained from the Scripture itself. Evidence is presented that proves the first century church believed the end times would begin with the return of Israel to her ancient homeland. More than fifty prophecies have been fulfilled since Israel became a state; several more are yet to be fulfilled. Evidence is also given that at least four ancient church fathers taught a pretribulational Rapture. This book also gives many of the answers to the arguments midtribulationists and posttribulationists use against the pretribulational position. It is our hope this book will be an indispensable guide for debating the doctrine of the Rapture. Brought to you by Biblefacts Ministries, Biblefacts.org
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2009
263 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Ken Johnson
138 books90 followersKen Johnson was born in 1965 and became a Christian at the age of 12. He quickly realized there were differences in doctrine in various denominations and sought out to prove to himself the correct interpretation of these issues that divide Christians. After an intensive study of the first century church he sought to bring back the teaching of the disciples of the 12 apostles. He has authored numerous books and made ancient Jewish scrolls available to the English speaking world.
He currently travels to churches inside the USA, speaking on these and other topics. He currently attends Calvary Chapel of Johnson County, located in Olathe Kansas.
He currently travels to churches inside the USA, speaking on these and other topics. He currently attends Calvary Chapel of Johnson County, located in Olathe Kansas.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 27, 2020
Excellent study
Well written evidence of pretribulation rapture. Explores substantiating scripture thoroughly and provides reader with an evidence-based format to easily follow.
Well written evidence of pretribulation rapture. Explores substantiating scripture thoroughly and provides reader with an evidence-based format to easily follow.
February 26, 2022
Very informative. I love the section exposing the pretribulational church fathers (Shepherd of Herman, Iranaeus, Hippolytus, Victorious, Cyprian, and Ephraim the Syrian). My favorite part was probably in Appendix B, where it talks about the scapegoat and Azazel.
March 7, 2020
Plenty of information.
Whether you back the Pre, Mid or Post in the Tribulation, this book gives a fair handshake and information to those who are interested about the subject.
Whether you back the Pre, Mid or Post in the Tribulation, this book gives a fair handshake and information to those who are interested about the subject.
December 9, 2022
Ken Johnson has investigated and studied many manuscripts going on to publish a lot of his work. However you cannot trust everything he broadcasts.
I have analyzed and checked many statements he makes and has published. To go through all the errors is far too long here but will give you 3 examples of numerous fallacies.
1. He dogmatically stated St Augustine of Hippo who was Bishop in Algeria was called bishop since at that time anyone who taught and preached the Gospel was called a bishop. Therefore the title has no connection with the Roman Catholic Church.
The Facts:
- St Augustine after being baptized (after his conversion as an adult) was then ordained a Priest by a Roman Catholic Bishop. After his ordination as a Catholic Priest, he later went on to be appointed a Bishop.
- St Augustine later wrote a document which was an official apology titled - "On the Holiness of the Catholic Church".
- St Augustine was recognized as a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church in 1298 by Pope Boniface VIII and canonized as a Saint. The Catholic Church DOES NOT canonize non-Catholics.
- St Augustine renounced sexuality and embraced celibacy, the Roman Catholic dogma for ordained Priests.
References for the above facts:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusti...
2. Ken Johnson sights Polycarp in his work. Polycarp born in 65 or 67 AD was a disciple of St John, the Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. He died around 100 AD. Ken states there were popes in various countries and that the word, pope, just means ‘church planter’. He adds Peter the Apostle never appointed a successor to be Pope of the Church.
Fact:
The writings of Irenaeus clearly refute this stating Polycarp visited Pope Anicetus in Rome.
Ken Johnson stated:
"Polycarp visited Rome and Anicetus wanted Polycarp to stop celebrating the Passover and celebrate Easter instead”
“Polycarp replied to Anicetus, that St John and the Apostles always celebrated Passover”
The Facts:
* Passover involves the slaughtering of a lamb in remembrance of the Hebrews being liberated from Egypt. Israelites to this day ritually slaughter a lamb on the evening of Passover, and eat on the first night of the holiday with bitter herbs and matzo. This practice was dispensed with by the Roman Catholic Church. However the Asiatic areas of the Church continued celebrating Passover.
* When Polycarp visited Pope Aniectus, the Pope discussed this matter with Polycarp (probably explaining to him the slaughtering of a lamb at Passover is no longer necessary as the True Lamb of God has been sacrificed for all). Polycarp and the Pope didn’t agree and they parted in peace. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes different customs in the different regions of the Church and does not condemn them as long as the important Catholic dogmas of the Church are maintained and no heresies exist. Reference: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/1221...
* Easter, Easter bunny and eggs, does not originate from the Roman Catholic Church but came into practice 200 years ago. It was connected to the Jewish Passover. Full details can be read here https://theconversation.com/why-easte...
3. Ken Johnson is one of the many promoters of the pre-tribulation rapture and refers to an ancient document called “Ephraem” as evidence for this false teaching.
The Facts:
* There are several different versions of this document, but the two most important versions are:
1. Sermon of Pseudo-Ephrem on the End of the World (Syriac version)
2. On the Last Times, the Anti-Christ, and the End of the World A Sermon by Pseudo-Ephraem (Latin version)
* Pseudo-Ephraem does not teach the rapture. Instead it teaches that Christians will experience the tribulation and they can escape it by death, NOT rapture.
* Pseudo-Ephraem is a fraudulent and unreliable document that falsely claims to be written by Ephraem who died in the 4th century. Pseudo-Ephraem was clearly written AFTER the 8th century or later.
* False teachers of the rapture use Pseudo-Ephraem and keep looking for any scrap of evidence of any Christian who believed the heresy of a pre-tribulation rapture before it was invented in the 19th century.
* John Nelson Darby invented the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine around 1830 AD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7R9X...
There are countless more errors and lies stated by Ken Johnson which are too many to address here. However the above sampling is to encourage you and heed as warning of what you follow. There are many modern day enemies which have arisen and continue to rise against the Lord's Church on Earth – the Roman Catholic Church (Pre-Vatican II). Study the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and you will find it has faithfully preserved without error to the present day the teachings and tradition (Lord's unwritten teachings handed down orally) entrusted to it by the Lord Jesus Christ in 33 AD. The Lord Jesus Christ and His Church have had and continue to have many enemies and assaults from Satan. It is in your own best interest not to ignorantly criticize the Lord's Church until you first study its teachings and the accurate account of its founding, history and development. 255 Infallibly Declared Dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8KX7...
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I have analyzed and checked many statements he makes and has published. To go through all the errors is far too long here but will give you 3 examples of numerous fallacies.
1. He dogmatically stated St Augustine of Hippo who was Bishop in Algeria was called bishop since at that time anyone who taught and preached the Gospel was called a bishop. Therefore the title has no connection with the Roman Catholic Church.
The Facts:
- St Augustine after being baptized (after his conversion as an adult) was then ordained a Priest by a Roman Catholic Bishop. After his ordination as a Catholic Priest, he later went on to be appointed a Bishop.
- St Augustine later wrote a document which was an official apology titled - "On the Holiness of the Catholic Church".
- St Augustine was recognized as a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church in 1298 by Pope Boniface VIII and canonized as a Saint. The Catholic Church DOES NOT canonize non-Catholics.
- St Augustine renounced sexuality and embraced celibacy, the Roman Catholic dogma for ordained Priests.
References for the above facts:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusti...
2. Ken Johnson sights Polycarp in his work. Polycarp born in 65 or 67 AD was a disciple of St John, the Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. He died around 100 AD. Ken states there were popes in various countries and that the word, pope, just means ‘church planter’. He adds Peter the Apostle never appointed a successor to be Pope of the Church.
Fact:
The writings of Irenaeus clearly refute this stating Polycarp visited Pope Anicetus in Rome.
Ken Johnson stated:
"Polycarp visited Rome and Anicetus wanted Polycarp to stop celebrating the Passover and celebrate Easter instead”
“Polycarp replied to Anicetus, that St John and the Apostles always celebrated Passover”
The Facts:
* Passover involves the slaughtering of a lamb in remembrance of the Hebrews being liberated from Egypt. Israelites to this day ritually slaughter a lamb on the evening of Passover, and eat on the first night of the holiday with bitter herbs and matzo. This practice was dispensed with by the Roman Catholic Church. However the Asiatic areas of the Church continued celebrating Passover.
* When Polycarp visited Pope Aniectus, the Pope discussed this matter with Polycarp (probably explaining to him the slaughtering of a lamb at Passover is no longer necessary as the True Lamb of God has been sacrificed for all). Polycarp and the Pope didn’t agree and they parted in peace. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes different customs in the different regions of the Church and does not condemn them as long as the important Catholic dogmas of the Church are maintained and no heresies exist. Reference: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/1221...
* Easter, Easter bunny and eggs, does not originate from the Roman Catholic Church but came into practice 200 years ago. It was connected to the Jewish Passover. Full details can be read here https://theconversation.com/why-easte...
3. Ken Johnson is one of the many promoters of the pre-tribulation rapture and refers to an ancient document called “Ephraem” as evidence for this false teaching.
The Facts:
* There are several different versions of this document, but the two most important versions are:
1. Sermon of Pseudo-Ephrem on the End of the World (Syriac version)
2. On the Last Times, the Anti-Christ, and the End of the World A Sermon by Pseudo-Ephraem (Latin version)
* Pseudo-Ephraem does not teach the rapture. Instead it teaches that Christians will experience the tribulation and they can escape it by death, NOT rapture.
* Pseudo-Ephraem is a fraudulent and unreliable document that falsely claims to be written by Ephraem who died in the 4th century. Pseudo-Ephraem was clearly written AFTER the 8th century or later.
* False teachers of the rapture use Pseudo-Ephraem and keep looking for any scrap of evidence of any Christian who believed the heresy of a pre-tribulation rapture before it was invented in the 19th century.
* John Nelson Darby invented the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine around 1830 AD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7R9X...
There are countless more errors and lies stated by Ken Johnson which are too many to address here. However the above sampling is to encourage you and heed as warning of what you follow. There are many modern day enemies which have arisen and continue to rise against the Lord's Church on Earth – the Roman Catholic Church (Pre-Vatican II). Study the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and you will find it has faithfully preserved without error to the present day the teachings and tradition (Lord's unwritten teachings handed down orally) entrusted to it by the Lord Jesus Christ in 33 AD. The Lord Jesus Christ and His Church have had and continue to have many enemies and assaults from Satan. It is in your own best interest not to ignorantly criticize the Lord's Church until you first study its teachings and the accurate account of its founding, history and development. 255 Infallibly Declared Dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8KX7...
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October 25, 2024
This is a short and compelling study. Ken uses scripture and ancient writings from the church fathers as the 'meat and potatos' while not shying away from adding a little gravy from apocryphal texts like the Shepherd of Hermas and the Book of Enoch etc. I am convinced by his teaching in this book and will use it as my authoritative reference material for rapture theology.
December 30, 2021
Just the facts
Not much writing style or commentary from the author just scriptures and facts about the end times. The author does a good job of making his case for a pre trib rapture. A good resource for sermons and Bible studies
Not much writing style or commentary from the author just scriptures and facts about the end times. The author does a good job of making his case for a pre trib rapture. A good resource for sermons and Bible studies
April 17, 2022
Wonderful enlightening and informative
I have been a mild skeptic about the hopefulness of protein rapture belief, but am convinced now. I'm now convinced that scripturally the pretrib rapture is solid Biblically.
I have been a mild skeptic about the hopefulness of protein rapture belief, but am convinced now. I'm now convinced that scripturally the pretrib rapture is solid Biblically.
October 30, 2022
Very Interesting
Enjoyed the studies on this very controversial topic. The research as well as the arguments from the standpoint of the other positions on the Rapture.
Another great study!!
Enjoyed the studies on this very controversial topic. The research as well as the arguments from the standpoint of the other positions on the Rapture.
Another great study!!
April 22, 2022
This book was written in an easy to understand language with clear and definite explanation of biblical truths.
November 12, 2025
Very informative
It goes into a lot of detail as well as establishing well known rapture theology. I learnt quite a bit.
It goes into a lot of detail as well as establishing well known rapture theology. I learnt quite a bit.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews