The Rapture (Part 3): God is Against It

Before We Begin: A personal Reflection

Before we begin today’s lesson, I want to share something because I feel it’s important. When I first considered starting this website to pass on what I’ve learned, I was hesitant – partly because the thought that I might “get something wrong” or unintentionally write something that could lead anyone astray weighed heavily on my heart. It wasn’t just the fear of God’s judgment of false teachers. It was also because I love our Father and never want to misrepresent His Word or disappoint Him.

It’s something I had to work through with Him in prayer. I prayed about it then, and I still pray every time I write a lesson.

I’ve come to the conclusion that if we waited until we were perfect to plant seeds and share what we’ve learned, nobody ever would. After all, as the Lord Himself said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8). While we do our best to understand, only God sees the whole picture. Paul wrote, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Yet, we are still called to teach and to sow the Word. It is a responsibility that we all should take seriously, but one that we do not need to be afraid of as long as we teach God’s Word and not our own.

So, I encourage you to study along with me, test everything against Scripture, and trust that God knows your heart (and mine) as we seek His truth together.

A Warning for the Final Generation

In part 2 of this series, we learned that we’ll be here during the tribulation, along with anyone else who is alive when it begins. Being left behind means we remain (endure) working in the field (world) for our Heavenly Father, as we faithfully wait for Christ to return.

In this last lesson, we will examine the great book of Ezekiel, because there is a warning from God that we all need to understand in this final generation. Speaking of which, do you know and understand the meaning of the “parable of the fig tree?” It’s something God commands all of us to learn (Matthew 24:32).

For today, let’s turn to Ezekiel 13. I think it’s important to keep in mind that this chapter specifically addresses false prophets and teachers (both male and female) who knowingly lie in God’s name. They claim, “The LORD said,” when He did not, often to gain power, recognition, status, money, or other personal benefits.

While most Christians who share the rapture doctrine mean well, it’s still one of the most harmful teachings in the church today.

By the time we get to the end of this lesson you will see that the rapture is mentioned in the Bible, but not in the way it’s commonly taught. God is very clear that He is against the fly-away doctrine. Why? Because it’s a dangerous deception that will cause God’s children to worship the antichrist and possibly lose their eternal life. It teaches them that they don’t need to prepare for the tribulation of the antichrist because they won’t even be here. That’s why they’re often told there’s no need to study the book of Revelation – it’s not “for them.” God hates it when His children are lied to and He makes it crystal clear in this chapter what He intends to do about it.

Some might ask, “Would God really hold people accountable if they were deceived?” The answer is yes, because He has instructed us to study and rightly divide His Word (2 Timothy 2:15). God has warned us repeatedly, in plain, easy-to-understand language, about what will happen, in what order, and what to watch for. If we ignore that, it’s not God being unfair. It’s us refusing to listen.

Each of us has the responsibility to spend time studying God’s Word. If we obey, we won’t be deceived because He promises to bless us with wisdom, understanding, and discernment (James 1:5, Proverbs 2:3–6).

So, with that promise from our Heavenly Father in mind, let’s get started.

Woe to False Prophets: God Didn’t Send Them

This is not Ezekiel speaking. It’s God speaking to him. He’s also speaking to us (this will be documented in verse 5). So we had better pay attention and listen carefully.

God is saying to speak against those who are teaching from their own hearts. They teach their own thoughts and words instead of what God says.

When we teach God’s Word, it better come from Him – His heart and His Holy Spirit, not our own. And when you’re learning from preachers, teachers, etc., don’t listen to foolish ones. How do we know if they’re foolish? By checking for ourselves to see if what they say aligns with what God says in His Word.

The word “foolish” and its prime is interesting. Let’s look it up in the Strong’s Concordance to get the full understanding of what it means.

Our Heavenly Father tells us over and over and over again to look out for false teachers and doctrines, and here He calls them stupid, wicked, and vile (foolish). In the end they will fall away and fail because God will see to it that it happens.

What does this mean? Foxes are sly and sneaky. They are scavengers who sneak in and you won’t even know they’re around.

Foxes, (H7776) in the Strong’s, can also be jackals: sly scavengers that live in ruins and desolation. The word deserts (H2723) means a place laid waste, a ruin, or spiritual desolation.

So, who exactly are these foxes today? False Prophets, teachers, preachers, and anyone else who teaches God’s Word falsely. You’ll find them everywhere, and they’re sly. They’re mixed in among God’s children, and they cause spiritual desolation and confusion. They run through the vineyard spreading confusion and false hope, destroying faith before it even matures (see also Song of Solomon 2:15). Many are Kenites (descendants of Cain) and are deliberately lying for status or money. These false teachers may sound good. They may look religious, but they are there to deceive and destroy. God will put a stop to it, and as we’ll learn, He makes sure His children have the opportunity to know the truth. God loves His children and He is always fair.

The day of the Lord is the millennium. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. This lets us know that this isn’t just about Ezekiel’s day, it’s also about the last days too. We must always be on the lookout for false teachers.

God is saying that these preachers and teachers are supposed to be building a wall and putting a hedge of protection around God’s children by teaching them the truth (God’s Word), including what’s coming and how to endure and stand during the tribulation. Instead they teach them they won’t even be around because they’re going to be raptured out of here, when it’s written over and over that the antichrist comes first. And when Christ does return, He’s setting up His kingdom right here on earth. We’re not going anywhere. It’s lies, and purposeful or not, God’s children are not being prepared.

The word “vanity” means desolation or emptiness. God is saying these visions that they claim to see are nothing but empty worthless lies.

Let’s look at the definition for the word divination and its prime root:

So this means they’re not just lying, which would be bad enough. They’re pretending to speak something divine, something God told them. They’re making up Prophecy, saying it’s from God when He never sent them. Again Many are profiting from their lies.

The worst part? They’re giving people false hope. This verse says they “made others to hope that they would confirm the word.” In other words, because of their lies these false prophets cause people to trust and believe something that God never said. That’s dangerous and destructive. It’s exactly what the rapture doctrine does. It sets Christians up to be deceived into worshipping the antichrist during the tribulation.

God is calling them out now. He’s asking, haven’t you seen fake visions and spoken lies? Haven’t you claimed to speak for Me when I didn’t say a word?

Sound familiar? Think about some of the preachers you see on TV. While there are many sincere teachers reaching people through media, there are also those who are anything but sincere. You know the ones standing on a flashy stage saying, “God is telling me there’s someone out there with cancer, and He’s healing you right now!” It sounds spiritual, emotional, hopeful, powerful. But is it from God, or just a performance?

Meanwhile, they are living in multi-million-dollar mansions and flying private jets to their next “revival.” And of course, “the blessing won’t come unless you send that donation.” They’re selling false hope and using God’s name to do it.

That’s what God is warning us about here. He’s not just angry, they’ve crossed a serious line and our Father doesn’t like it. They may be getting rich hurting God’s children in this flesh age, but it comes with a heavy price. Why? Because they’re using our Heavenly Father’s name to spread lies and manipulate people, many of them at their most vulnerable moments, who really want to believe. And God says, “I have not spoken.” That should send chills down anyone’s spine who claims to speak for Him when they know they’re lying and they’re doing it for personal gain.

I want to be clear that I believe in God’s divine healing because it’s written in His Word. But let’s compare those false teachers to how Jesus healed people in the Bible. He didn’t stand on a stage with flashing lights and a donation ticker running across the screen. He didn’t say, “sow your seed offering now and your miracle is coming!” No, He walked among the people, humbly and freely. He healed the woman with the blood issue, as she reached out in faith simply to touch His garment. He didn’t ask her for anything. He stopped, looked at her with compassionate love, and said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 5:25–34).

He made mud with His own spit and healed the blind man at the pool of Siloam (John 9)..There was no flashy display, no charge. Just mercy and the power of God.

He touched the lepers who were outcasts to everyone else. No one was selling tickets. No one was collecting offerings.

Sometimes, He even told people not to tell anyone (Mark 1:43-44). Why? Because He wasn’t there to perform. He was there to serve, to fulfill prophecy, and to demonstrate the true love and power of God.

Because they’ve spoken vanity (empty, worthless nonsense) and seen lies (false visions or made up prophecy), God says “I am against you!”

Let that sink in. This is so much more than a simple correction, it’s God saying He is against these people. He’s not saying He’s mad, disappointed, or warning them to do better. He’s declaring Himself as their opponent. That’s a place you don’t want to be, especially for someone claiming to represent God.

These false teachers were doing all of this in His name. They were pretending to be spiritual leaders, speaking on behalf of God Himself. That’s why this is so serious.

This verse is also a reminder for anyone who teaches or shares God’s Word. We should never speak something and claim “God said it” unless God actually said it. And only teach what lines up with His Word, His Spirit, and His truth. Always compare what anyone, including myself, teaches you against scripture. Why? So you’re not deceived. When judgment day comes you won’t have your teacher or preacher standing there next to you to blame. God holds each of us accountable for our own actions, so don’t take anyone else’s word for God’s own. Our Heavenly Father tells us to study for ourselves and it’s our duty (and in our best interest) to obey.

“Mine hand shall be upon the prophets…” This is not meant in a good way, it’s God’s hand of judgment. These are the ones who see vanity (empty visions) and divine lies (make up false prophecies, pretending they hear from God when they have not). Now we find out what He’s going to do about it:

• They will not be in the assembly of His people:

They may be considered prophets and teachers now, but if they don’t repent and change their ways they will be cut off. Anything they gained here with their lies will do them no good.

• They won’t be written in the writing of the house of Israel:

This likely refers to the Book of Life that will be opened at the Great White Throne Judgment. What does this mean for them?

• They will not enter the land of Israel:

These false prophets will have no place in the inheritance God promised to His people. For us today, the land of Israel refers to the promised land, God’s eternal Kingdom where we will live with our Heavenly Father (Hebrews 11:9–10, 11:16; Revelation 21:3). The physical land given to Abraham was only a shadow of the greater promise to come: A heavenly city built by God, where He will dwell with His people forever.

And then He says, “And ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

No one will have to guess who is in charge or what’s true. God will make it unmistakably clear that HE is the only God.

This verse should make any teacher, preacher, or prophet stop and think hard about what they say. Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17, James 3:1), and if someone is hurting God’s children by speaking lies in His name for status, power, or money–God sees it and He knows who they are. His hand will be against them. Not a situation anyone should want to find themselves in. And also a very real reminder to be aware of false teachers. How do you recognize them? If what they say does not align with God’s Word then it’s not from Him.

Now God explains exactly why He is against these false teachers, and it’s because they have seduced His Children. In other words they are deliberately leading them astray for their own gain. The truth in God’s Word isn’t always popular and it can be controversial, that’s not how you fill seats and make money. But you know what? When you have God’s Word, you have way more than all the riches in the world. You have our Father’s blessings and eternal life.

Okay, so how were these false teachers seducing God’s people? They were saying, “peace!” “Everything’s fine, nothing bad is coming. Don’t worry, you’re safe.” But God said there was no peace. Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and there will be no true peace until He returns. These false prophets were calming the people down when they should’ve been sounding the alarm so that they knew the truth and could prepare for it.

What does it mean for us today? They’re doing the same thing. Instead of warning God’s children about the coming tribulation and antichrist, they’re telling people to relax, leading them to let their guard down and believe a lie: You won’t be here for the tribulation because Jesus is going to return any moment now to rapture you out of here. Even though Scripture clearly teaches that the tribulation comes before Christ’s return (Matthew 24:29-31, 2 Thessalonians 2).

“One built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter.” untempered morter (H8602) means whitewash or plaster. But figuratively, it refers to falsehood and something made to look solid when it’s actually weak and worthless.

The rapture doctrine is that fake spiritual wall, and others come along and smear a thin layer of fake holiness over it to make it look legit. It may look solid on the outside, but underneath it’s completely unstable. It’s a cheap fix over a crumbling structure and it will not stand.

This is exactly how false doctrines work. They offer comfort, but they’re not rooted in truth. They dress up lies with religious language and just enough Scripture to sound convincing (satan’s M.O.), but when tested against God’s Word they fall apart.

That’s why God says they’ve seduced His people. They’ve given them a false sense of security. And the wall they’re building is going to collapse because, as Ezekiel 13:11-17 shows, God Himself tears it down. When Christ returns at the seventh and final trump every knee will bow, and all will know who God is. There will be no more confusion or false teachers lying to His children.

The Rapture Deception: A Warning From God

Now let’s jump to Ezekiel 13:18 and read exactly what God thinks about the rapture doctrine.

This verse is saying woe! to those who sew pillows (conceal) every joint of God’s outstretched saving hands (armholes).

Let’s look up the word pillow and its prime root in the Strong’s:

As shown, the word pillows in this verse means to cover or conceal. Now let’s look up the word armholes and hand:

So, Armholes represents God’s open hands, specifically the knuckles or joints. So what is this verse saying?

God is saying woe to those who conceal every joint of His outstretched saving hands with lies and deception to “hunt souls.” He is reaching out to His children through His Word, and these false teachers conceal the truth with lies. They claim God spoke to them when He did not speak. They give them a false sense of security instead of preparing them to be ready. Why do they do this?

Many do it for money, power, reputation, or status. Some hunt souls to fill pews in churches that often refuse to teach anything beyond salvation, which is definitely needed and important. But what about the meat of God’s Word and preparing the congregation to endure the tribulation of the antichrist? And worse, when they speak lies that are not in the Word of God at all. They say things like “you don’t need to worry about the tribulation because you won’t even be here.” Or, “There’s no need to understand Revelation because it doesn’t apply to you.” Some even claim the Old Testament doesn’t matter anymore, even though Jesus Himself quoted from it many times. In fact, there’s more written about the millennium in the Old Testament than the New.

The day is coming when God is going to rip those pillows and kerchiefs (covers) off and expose the truth for everyone to see.

Read that again because in this verse I truly believe God speaks directly against the rapture theory. This fly-away escape plan is not from Him. Do you know where it originated? It was the so-called visions of a mentally ill woman named Margaret McDonald, in 1830. She later said that these visions seemed evil. Others picked up on it and satan did what he does best: used it to deceive God’s children.

Our Heavenly Father told us that we are to recognize the signs of the second advent. He explains exactly what will happen and in what order. We can’t know the hour of Christ’s return, but we are to know and understand the season we’re in. We are told to be watchmen (Matthew 24:42). God never said we don’t need to be concerned about these things, He said we need to pay attention, be prepared, put on the full armor of God. Why? To stand, not to fly away.

“…even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly…”

All souls belong to God (Ezekiel 18:4), and He’s not happy with His children being misled or lied to. His language lets us know exactly how He feels about it. Why is He so angry about the fly-away rapture doctrine? I’ve heard people say it’s not a big deal, if I’m wrong I’ll know when the time comes. But it IS a very big deal (especially in this generation), because when satan and his angels are here they will appear human, but they’re supernatural. They can and will perform miracles that no human is capable of, like making lightning appear on command. It’s not some harmless theory floating around that doesn’t matter. Father’s truth is His seal, and it will protect you from deception.

God’s Children are not being taught how to recognize the antichrist when he comes first, disguised as the real Christ (antichrist means “instead of Christ”). So they’re being set up to bow down and worship him when he arrives at the tribulation. That’s a very serious situation that has everything to do with the eternal life of your soul. We can never underestimate satan’s ability to deceive. In fact, the tribulation is cut short by God so that His elect (who know and understand the truth) are not deceived by Him. That should remind us how cunning and convincing satan is.

Notice that God is not only speaking against the rapture Himself, but He’s also telling us to do the same. He does not want us believing or spreading man’s tradition instead of His Word. Jesus specifically warned the Pharisees and scribes about this very thing:

The word tradition (G3862) means ‘a giving over, a handing down; specifically of instructions, doctrines, or precepts from men.’ (This definition combines the Strong’s Concordance and Thayer’s Greek Lexicon for better understanding.)

In other words, these were religious teachings of man passed down over time. but they didn’t come from God, and Jesus said these traditions made God’s Word ineffective or void.

That’s exactly what happens when people cling to the rapture doctrine. Even though it’s been handed down and widely accepted, it didn’t come from God. It came from man, and by believing it we make void the very truth God gave us.

Paul gives a similar warning in Colossians:

When Jesus returns at the seventh and final trump, the millennium begins. The covers that once concealed God’s hands–those lies and deceptions–will be torn away. God is going to make sure His children have a chance to know the truth. And the false teachers who claimed to speak for Him, when He said no such thing, will know that He is the LORD. They will face judgment for speaking from their own hearts instead of His Word.

There will be no more false teachers or deception. Everyone will know the truth.

The Rapture theory strengthens the hands of satan. How? It sets the stage for God’s Children to accept and worship the antichrist, thinking he’s their savior. It promises an easy way to eternal life, when in reality they’re being led to eternal loss of life.

There will be many good Christians who have truly loved God and faithfully attended church, who will mistakenly worship the antichrist. Why? Because they were never taught the truth, and they didn’t study for themselves. The moment they realize what they’ve done, the sorrow and shame will be so overwhelming that many will wish for mountains to fall on them. Can you imagine having to face God after bowing down to satan? I can’t think of anything that would hurt more.

Our Heavenly Father has feelings too. He is a jealous God, not in a fleshly or selfish way, but in a holy and protective way. Why? Because He created us, loves us, and desires our love, loyalty, and worship in return. That’s why the very first of the Ten Commandments is: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” When we turn to false gods, it grieves Him deeply and stirs His righteous anger. There are consequences for that disobedience. But even then, His love remains everlasting, and upon repentance He is faithful to forgive us. In fact, the only unforgivable sin mentioned in the Bible is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In my own opinion this sin can only be committed during the tribulation, when one of God’s elect is delivered to give a testimony before the synagogue of satan (Mark 3:29; Matthew 12:31–32).

It is written in God’s Word that during the tribulation, His elect will be delivered up before councils and synagogues to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through them as a testimony to the world:

This is not you speaking, but God’s Holy Spirit speaks through you. That testimony will reach many who had been deceived into worshiping the antichrist, and their eyes will be opened.

God is always in control, and Jesus explains that this moment is part of Father’s plan:

This means the words spoken in that hour come directly from God, not from man, and they will have power to pierce through satan’s lies and deception.

These verses prove that some who were misled will realize the truth and return to Him. Why? Because they were given the chance to hear the truth. And our loving Father always judges fairly. He will always forgive those who turn to Him in repentance (Acts 17:30; Ezekiel 18:21–23).

What about those who do not realize they were deceived before Jesus returns at the seventh trump?

The Millennium: A Time of Teaching

During the Millennium (Christ’s thousand-year reign) those who were misled, or for various other reasons never had the chance to learn, will be taught the truth. Satan will be bound during this time, so no one will be influenced or deceived by him. Our Heavenly Father’s desire is for everyone to repent and spend eternity with Him (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Peter 3:9), and He provides every opportunity for us to choose to love Him. Not everyone will.

Sadly, even at the end of the Millennium, when satan is released for a short time, many will knowingly choose to follow Him instead of God. But no one will be able to say they weren’t given a fair chance (Revelation 20:7–9).

Conclusion

As we’ve seen throughout this study, God’s Word does not support the idea of a secret rapture that removes “true Christians” before the tribulation. Instead, He tells us to watch, stand firm, and be prepared. We have work to do for our Heavenly Father, and He will be right beside us every step of the way.

The fly-away doctrine may sound comforting, but it’s a lie, a very dangerous deception. It leaves God’s Children unable to recognize the antichrist when he and his army of fallen angels arrive.

I hope that this lesson encourages you not to take anyone’s word for these things (including mine), but to search the Scriptures for yourself and ask God for understanding. He is always faithful to answer.

Personal Reflection

I started this lesson with a personal reflection, and I’d like to end it the same way. I fully admit that I have strong feelings about false preachers who lie and manipulate people for financial or personal gain. As you’ve seen, God also has strong feelings about this.

That said, I also understand that not everyone with a large ministry or who earns a living through preaching falls into this category.

There are faithful teachers and pastors who genuinely love God and serve Him and His people with integrity. They study hard and try their best to understand God’s Word and follow the guidance of His Holy Spirit. They’re not perfect, none of us are. They may get some things wrong, we all do, but they don’t deliberately deceive and exploit God’s Children. There is a difference and I believe this chapter of Ezekiel, as well as many other scriptures, makes that distinction very clear.